Norma Coverdale, B.A.: the treatment of women in selected works of Henry de Montherlant

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to determine how women are treated in selectedworks of Henry de Montherlant. This is explored by examining their relationshipswith other women as well as with men. Inevitably, this leads to an analysis ofthe multifaceted area of love. Part I researches Montherlant's prose work and included in this section is the investigation of the importance of 'l'ordre male' to the author and the influence this exerts over his early prose work in the areas of tauromachy, war and sport, and where the male adherence to this concept leaves women. The 'syncretisme et alternance' which is central to Montherlant's thinking is explored in this section.Part 2 is concerned with Montherlant's theatre in which the psychological development of the main characters is of great importance. It is in this section that a comparative study is made of the influence of Mme. Elisabeth Zehrfuss' written contribution to La Reine morte. Her unpublished notes are set out in full in the Appendix. The thesis also draws on the unpublished correspondence between Henry de Montherlant and Elisabeth Zehrfuss between the years 1934 and 1945. An investigation is made as to whether or not there are any differences between the way women are treated in Montherlant's prose and in his theatre and the conclusion is drawn that there are.