The representation of women in French libertine novels from the 18th century: A look at enlightened thinking

Abstract

<p>The role of women in libertine fiction of the Age of Enlightenment in France is relevant from multiple perspectives. From a view on the nature of the female body to the image of a woman who reads and writes, the aesthetic philosophy of the eighteenth century shows an interest in how to represent women. It could be said that libertine novels open an accurate horizon to answer this question since their design combines image and text, which provides two efficient perspectives when it comes to learning more about enlightened femininity, considering the latter concept from the perspective of the image and the era in which it takes place. This paper aims to show, based on images of female representation in libertine novels, how the female body is conceived and what its contribution is to enlightened thinking. Finally, it seeks to identify the female protagonists of a way of thinking directed towards the knowledge of the world based on experience and contact with nature itself</p>