LA VERTU ET L'ANTI-VERTU DANS LA NOUVELLE « LÉGENDE POLDÈVE » DE MARCEL AYMÉ

Traditional conceptions of virtue are often centered on traits of religious obedience, bigotry and charitable gestures. These characteristics are encouraged and are generally seen positively, being keenly opposed to all that diverges from this quite rigid moral model. In one of his fantasy stories, “Légende Poldève”, Marcel Aymé makes a parallel between two categorically contrary characters: one totally correct and irreproachable, and the other -  a thorough scoundrel and an incorrigible sinner. The author creates a prototype of incarnated virtue, and in order to make it even more convincing, opposes to it an anti-virtue alternative model. Their antagonism that results in a paradoxical denouement, ridicules hypocritical conceptions of virtue and satires exaggerated demonstrations of it.