Les Provinciales
Quick Summary
Les Provinciales, also known as The Provincial Letters, is a series of 18 letters written by Blaise Pascal between 1656 and 1657. These letters were written in defense of Antoine Arnauld, a proponent of Jansenism, who was on trial for his controversial religious works.12
The letters primarily address issues of divine grace and the ethical teachings of the Jesuits. Pascal used satire and direct quotations from Jesuit writings to critique their moral theology, which he argued was too lenient. The work was highly successful, praised for its clear, precise, and varied prose style, which marked a significant development in modern French literature. Les Provinciales played a role in promoting a more spiritual approach within Catholicism and influenced the church's stance on moral laxity.12
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- Arnauld Family
…in the composition of Pascal’s Les Provinciales (1656–57), a series of letters written in defense of Arnauld, who was, at the time, on trial before the faculty of theology in Paris because of his Jansenist views.
Read More…in the composition of Pascal’s Les Provinciales (1656–57), a series of letters written in defense of Arnauld, who was, at the time, on trial before the faculty of theology in Paris because of his Jansenist views.
Read More - Antoine Arnauld
…series of letters known as Les Provinciales (1656–57). During the period of the great persecution of the Jansenists (1661–69), Arnauld emerged as a leader of the resistance.
Read More…series of letters known as Les Provinciales (1656–57). During the period of the great persecution of the Jansenists (1661–69), Arnauld emerged as a leader of the resistance.
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Cornelius Otto JansenCondemnation of Jansen’s teachingsBlaise Pascal wrote Les Provinciales (“Provincial Letters”) in 1656 and 1657 to defend Antoine Arnauld. The latter was condemned by the Faculty of Theology at the Sorbonne.
Read MoreBlaise Pascal wrote Les Provinciales (“Provincial Letters”) in 1656 and 1657 to defend Antoine Arnauld. The latter was condemned by the Faculty of Theology at the Sorbonne.
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French literatureThe Classical manner…and comic force of the Provinciales (1656–57; The Provincial Letters), his masterly satire of Jesuit casuistry.
Read More…and comic force of the Provinciales (1656–57; The Provincial Letters), his masterly satire of Jesuit casuistry.
Read More- nonfictional proseDialogues
…in the dialogues of Pascal’s Provinciales (1656–57; “Provincial Letters”), the protagonist plays with the naiveté of his opponents, who always end by surrendering. The writer of a dialogue cannot affect the same casual and self-indulgent attitude as the author of a personal essay since the characters and their statements must…
Read More…in the dialogues of Pascal’s Provinciales (1656–57; “Provincial Letters”), the protagonist plays with the naiveté of his opponents, who always end by surrendering. The writer of a dialogue cannot affect the same casual and self-indulgent attitude as the author of a personal essay since the characters and their statements must…
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Roman CatholicismJansenismphilosopher Blaise Pascal in his Lettres provinciales (“Provincial Letters”), the campaign against Jesuit theology became a cause célèbre. The papacy struck out against Jansenism in 1653, when Innocent X (reigned 1644–55) issued his bull Cum occasione (“With Occasion”), and again in 1713, when Clement XI (reigned 1700–21) promulgated his constitution…
Read Morephilosopher Blaise Pascal in his Lettres provinciales (“Provincial Letters”), the campaign against Jesuit theology became a cause célèbre. The papacy struck out against Jansenism in 1653, when Innocent X (reigned 1644–55) issued his bull Cum occasione (“With Occasion”), and again in 1713, when Clement XI (reigned 1700–21) promulgated his constitution…
Read More