Ésope ou le portrait d’un anti-héros ?

International audienceIn the Life of Aesop the protagonist has something of an anti-hero because of his ugliness; he is afflicted with physical defects that ancient physiognomonics used to link with cowardice, intemperance, and the like, and everyone feels offended when seeing him for the first time. But in spite of his appalling look, Aesop is endowed with extraordinary intellectual gifts, being full of mêtis and eloquence, and this very contrast between appearance and reality lies at the core of the narrative. It is tempting to see the protagonist of the Life as a cultural blame figure fighting against the aristocratic ideal of kalokagathia; but being portrayed at one and the same time as a victim and as a sacral being, Aesop is also a typical scapegoat – hence his final transformation into a cult hero.Le protagoniste de la Vie d’Ésope semble, par sa laideur, être un anti-héros : affligé de tares physiques que la physiognomonie antique associait à des défauts comme lâcheté ou débauche, il suscite la répulsion en tous ceux qui l’approchent. Mais son extérieur repoussant dissimule des dons exceptionnels d’intelligence rusée et d’éloquence, que l’auteur souligne en jouant du contraste entre apparence et réalité. On peut voir en Ésope un héros protestataire, en révolte contre l’idéal aristocratique de la kalokagathia, mais aussi une figure de bouc émissaire, en qui se conjuguent traits victimaires et sacralité – d’où sa transformation ultime en héros cultuel