Born in 1630 from the Spanish monk Tirso de Molina’s quill, the character of Don Juan has never stopped inspiring writers to the point of becoming a true literary myth. Nowadays, one could not evoke it without mentioning a few masterpieces such as Dom Juan by Molière or the opera Don Giovanni by Mozart. Even if it is hard to find in the 20th century, rewritings of the mythical scenario that can vie with these illustrious names, it is however undeniable that it remains very productive. France itself gives numerous proves to this vitality. Indeed, the story of Don Juan keeps on inspiring authors. It even seems to conquer new literary genres: confined for a long time to theatre only, it is however in the domain of fiction that the mythical hero experiences nowadays his most original uses.But these literary rewritings are completed and enriched in the 20th century by two essential contributions. Firstly reviews have multiplied the different views on the myth and have maintained fertile conversations with fictional works. The birth in the literary world of this reflexive dimension considerably transforms the vision shared on this Don Juan fable. Secondly, the cinema embraces the myth and offers new reading propositions. However this productivity should not overshadow this fact: the myth has been adapted to our times. It has undergone many transformations. Are they the proof of the myth’s plasticity and the warrant of its survival or, on the contrary, are they steps that might lead to its destruction? At the end of the day, will Don Juan risk to be the victim of the fascination it inspires?
Don juan in france in the 20th century : rewritings of a myth.