Characters - Classic Text | Alexandria
Characters (Les Caractères) - Jean de la Bruyère
"Les Caractères" (1688), the masterwork of French moralist Jean de la Bruyère (1645-1696), stands as a penetrating examination of human nature and society during the reign of Louis XIV, offering timeless insights into the follies and virtues of human character. This remarkable text, initially presented as a mere translation of Theophrastus's ancient Greek work, evolved into an unprecedented literary achievement that would influence centuries of social observation and satirical writing.
Born into a middle-class Parisian family, La Bruyère worked as a tax collector before securing a position as tutor to the grandson of the Prince de Condé, providing him with a unique vantage point to observe the intricacies of court life at Versailles. From this privileged yet peripheral position, he crafted his razor-sharp portraits of human types and behaviors, documenting the manners, morals, and pretensions of both aristocratic society and common folk with unprecedented psychological acuity.
The work's structure is revolutionary for its time, comprising sixteen chapters of fragmentary observations, character sketches, and maxims that paint a comprehensive picture of 17th-century French society. La Bruyère's innovation lies not only in his keen observational skills but in his literary style, which combines classical restraint with mordant wit and dramatic flair. His character portraits, though based on contemporary figures, transcend their historical moment to become universal types – the social climber, the hypocrite, the gossip – that remain startlingly relevant today.
La Bruyère's legacy extends far beyond his era, influencing writers from Saint-Simon to Proust and modern social critics. His work pioneered a new form of social commentary that bridges the gap between classical moral philosophy and modern psychological insight. The enduring power of "Les Caractères" lies in its ability to hold up a mirror to human nature while asking profound questions about society, power, and authenticity. Modern readers continue to find in La Bruyère's observations an uncanny reflection of their own social media-saturated world, where appearance, status, and performance remain central to human interaction. His work invites us to consider: how much has human nature really changed in the centuries since he first put pen to paper?