La Pitié suprême
Encyclopedia
La Pitié suprême is a long poem in fifteen sections, by Victor Hugo
, published in February 1879 but in fact written in 1857-8.
It was originally part of La Légende des Siècles
, and was linked with the immense poem La Révolution which was supposed to be at its centre. The two long poems which would follow La Révolution -- Le Verso de la page and La Pitié Suprême -- would serve to explain or justify God's permission of the violence of the French Revolution
by pointing to its ultimate effect of liberation.
La Légende des Siècles developed differently, however, and the central episode was set aside. Le Verso de la page was separated into several pieces, and La Pitié Suprême published alone (but in the same stretch of work as Le Pape
, L'Âne and Religions et religion
, forming a kind of philosophical testament), two years before its original parent La Révolution appeared as part of Les Quatre Vents de l'esprit in 1881.
The decision to publish in 1879 was motivated by Hugo's wish for amnesty for the Communards; the poem's theme, clemency, was seen as appropriate for the occasion.
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
, published in February 1879 but in fact written in 1857-8.
It was originally part of La Légende des Siècles
La Légende des siècles
La Légende des siècles is a collection of poems by Victor Hugo, conceived as an immense depiction of the history and evolution of humanity....
, and was linked with the immense poem La Révolution which was supposed to be at its centre. The two long poems which would follow La Révolution -- Le Verso de la page and La Pitié Suprême -- would serve to explain or justify God's permission of the violence of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
by pointing to its ultimate effect of liberation.
La Légende des Siècles developed differently, however, and the central episode was set aside. Le Verso de la page was separated into several pieces, and La Pitié Suprême published alone (but in the same stretch of work as Le Pape
Le Pape
Le Pape was a political tract in verse by Victor Hugo, supporting Christianity but attacking the rigid organization of the Catholic Church. Although written in 1874-5, it was not published until 29 April 1878, two months after the beginning of the papacy of Leo XIII...
, L'Âne and Religions et religion
Religions et religion
Religions et religion was an 1880 political tract by Victor Hugo supporting belief in God but attacking organized religion....
, forming a kind of philosophical testament), two years before its original parent La Révolution appeared as part of Les Quatre Vents de l'esprit in 1881.
The decision to publish in 1879 was motivated by Hugo's wish for amnesty for the Communards; the poem's theme, clemency, was seen as appropriate for the occasion.