Letter to Monsieur d’Alembert on the Theatre

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Letter to Monsieur d'Alembert on the Theatre (1758) is an essay that critiques the establishment of a theatre in Geneva. Rousseau argued that a theatre would be detrimental to the moral character of the Genevan republic, which he saw as a virtuous community. He believed that theatrical performances could corrupt public morals and undermine the simple, honest values he associated with Geneva.12

Rousseau's critique was part of his broader philosophical stance that modern society and its institutions, like the theatre, could lead to the corruption of natural human goodness. He contrasted the perceived artificiality and potential vice of the theatre with the virtues he believed were inherent in a more natural, less sophisticated way of life. This essay reflects his deep concern for civic virtue and his skepticism towards the influences of urban culture and entertainment.3421