Stéphane Mallarmé

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Stéphane Mallarmé, a pivotal figure in French poetry, navigated both personal challenges and literary endeavors throughout his life. From his humble beginnings in Paris to his significant influence on modern poetry, Mallarmé's journey is marked by intellectual pursuits and deep personal losses. His life was a blend of teaching, literary exploration, and profound friendships with contemporaries, contributing to the evolution of abstract poetry.

Early Life and Inspirations

Born on March 18, 1842, at 12 rue Laferrière in Paris, Stéphane Mallarmé was the offspring of Numa-Florence-Joseph Mallarmé, a government official, and Elizabeth-Félicie Desmoulins. His early childhood was marked by tragedy when his mother passed away, leaving him in the care of his grandmother. Mallarmé's educational journey started at the Lycée de Sens, where he began crafting his initial poetic works.

The release of the second edition of Charles Baudelaire’s Les Fleurs du mal in 1861 sparked a significant influence on Mallarmé’s burgeoning literary career. The subsequent year saw him discovering Edgar Allan Poe's poetry, which further steered his creative path. It was also in 1862 that Mallarmé ventured into publishing with his contributions to the periodical Le Papillon. During this time, he formed a significant bond with Maria Gerhard, a young German woman, and journeyed with her to London. Upon his return to France, Mallarmé earned his credentials to teach English in secondary schools, a career that would support him as he pursued his poetic ambitions.

Family Life and Social Engagements

Mallarmé and Maria Gerhard formalized their relationship in marriage on August 10, 1863. Their life together took them through several relocations, starting in Tournon in the Ardèche region, then moving to Avignon in 1867, and finally settling in Paris in 1871. By 1875, they had established their residence on rue de Rome, which became a gathering place for some of Paris’s literary elite. From 1880 onwards, Mallarmé hosted weekly literary salons on Tuesdays, where discussions that could have greatly illuminated the progression of modern poetry likely took place, had detailed records been kept.

The couple welcomed their daughter, Geneviève, on November 19, 1864, and their son, Anatole, on October 25, 1871. Mallarmé was profoundly affected by the tragic death of Anatole just shy of his eighth birthday on October 6, 1879.

Literary Contributions and Philosophical Pursuits

Mallarmé cultivated deep connections with fellow authors and artists of his era. Initially inspired by Baudelaire and Poe, he later became associated with poets like Théodore de Banville, Catulle Mendès, and Auguste, comte de Villiers de l’Isle-Adam. Despite personal struggles with poetic expression, Mallarmé remained a supportive figure for emerging writers.

Poetry in the nineteenth century witnessed a dramatic shift from the personal and emotional expressions of the Romantic period to more philosophical and abstract themes. At the heart of this transformation was Mallarmé, whose intellectual pursuits were dominated by his ambition to create what he termed his “Great Work.” His struggle to articulate transcendent ideas often led to creative blockades, as he was haunted by the imagery of blank pages symbolizing empty potential.

Explorations Beyond Poetry

Despite these intense intellectual challenges, Mallarmé was capable of producing work that appealed to popular culture. In 1874 and 1875, he published a fashion magazine, La Dernière Mode, where he wrote under various pseudonyms. These writings, offering practical advice on fashion, child-rearing, and home management, stood in stark contrast to his philosophical musings, showcasing his versatility and ability to adopt different personas representing women from diverse social classes.

Life's Dual Nature and Legacy

This dual aspect of Mallarmé’s life was evident in his roles as a devoted family man and an intellectual visionary. While he...

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remained grounded in his teaching profession, he also inhabited a world of conceptual thought. Unlike many of his contemporaries who succumbed to the hedonistic lifestyle of Paris, Mallarmé sought a more ethereal form of inspiration through his poetic ideals.

Although surrounded by a circle of literary friends, Mallarmé found few who completely understood his vision of poetry. In his poem “Prose (pour des esseintes)” (1884), inspired by Joris-Karl Huysmans’s novel À rebours, he alluded to a character who withdrew from society—mirroring, in some ways, Mallarmé's own poetic isolation. At his passing on September 9, 1898, in Valvins, France, he left behind numerous manuscripts, including notes for his envisioned Great Work. However, he had instructed his family to destroy these, perhaps believing that no one else could fulfill his literary mission.

Enduring Influence

Despite the destruction of his unfinished projects, Mallarmé's influence persisted into the next century. His surviving works inspired a new generation of poets who sought to continue what they interpreted as his poetic intentions. Thus, while much of what Mallarmé hoped to achieve was left incomplete, his legacy endured, shaping the course of modern literature.

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