Jean Cocteau, Orphée [Orpheus]

Candice Nicolas (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

Ed. by David Houston Jones, University of Exeter
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.5.2.06: French Writing and Culture: Early Twentieth-century , 1900-1945.
Vol. editors: Kate Averis (University of Western Australia), Hugo Azerad (University of Cambridge), Patrick ffrench (King's College London), Edward Forman (University of Bristol), Akane Kawakami (Birkbeck, University of London), Siobhán McIlvanney (King's College London), Sinan Richards (King's College London), Tim Unwin (University of Bristol), David Williams (University of Sheffield)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1926

Places

France (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Play

Resources

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Shortly after “L’Ange Heurtebise”, Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) adapted the legend of Orpheus and his descent into Hell to rescue his wife, Eurydice, for the stage (1926). With only one act and very few characters (Orpheus, Eurydice, Heurtebise, Death and her helpers), the play revolves around a story of love and death, in a universe where time is abolished and horses make poetry. Cocteau’s work deals with the inner personality of the poet and his relentless inclination towards, and fascination with, Death, as well as his preference for her over living people. Focusing particularly on Orpheus’ metaphorical descent into Hell, the play took to the screen in 1950. The main characters return, with an internal psyche treated even more intensely than in the previous version. The film…

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2576 words

Citation: Nicolas, Candice. "Orphée". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 15 August 2011 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=11531, accessed 21 November 2024.]

Jean Cocteau, Orphée [Orpheus]

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