La peste – maladie ou activité démoniaque ? Les récits des pestes dans les “Histoires admirables” de Benoît Gonon

Abstract

In his “Histoires admirables” (Lyon, 1653), Benoît Gonon, a little-known author of short exemplary novels, tells many stories about horrific cases of pestilence sweeping and tormenting people in various parts of the world throughout the ages – from late Antiquity to more recent plague of the XIVth century which took Europe by storm. Gonon sees those gruesome stories as an excellent opportunity to teach his readers an important lesson and ask whether such an event could possibly be, rather than a natural phenomenon, an ultimate punishment sent by the wrath of God. One of the sins that could demand such a punishment is idolatry, considered by Gonon himself, to be the most reprehensible of all the sins. It is merely surprising then, that in his stories, the pestilence is being depicted as a demon – or an idol. In this paper, I am going to explore the stories about pestilence in “Histoires admirables” and answer the questions about the nature of pestilence. Which crimes could lead to people being punished in such a way? How to appease God’s wrath? Can pestilence manifest itself by demonic activity?