Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil ) as the infernal contract. Satanism in poems by Baudelaire

Authors

  • Jan Tomkowski Instytut Badań Literackich PAN, Warszawa

Keywords:

Baudelaire, satanizm, french poetry

Abstract

Baudelaire’s Catholicism seems difficult to interpret, therefore some authors declare the poet a Satanist. In my opinion, this is rather problematic to call Charles Baudelaire a Satanist. It is very debatable and doubtful, but there are several reasons for this. In the collection of poetry entitled “Les Fleurs du mal” (“The Flowers of Evil”), Baudelaire gave a voice to the Devil many times. He wrote a scandalous poem “Litanies de Satan” (“The Litany of Satan”). In fact, Satan tempts us and leads us, after all he is closer to man that God! Was Baudelaire a Satanist? It is question to be answered.

Issue

Section

Articles