The Dissertation Prize of the Société Française Shakespeare, which rewards the best M1 or M2 thesis of the year, was awarded on May 7, 2025, to Élise Tendron for her M1 thesis titled "Shaping Tragic Heroines’ Visual History: Emblematic Depictions of Cleopatra, Cordelia and Ophelia (1773–1910)." The thesis was supervised by Isabelle Baudino (ENS de Lyon) and co-examined by Sophie Lemercier-Goddard (ENS de Lyon) during the defense held on September 12, 2024.

Thesis Abstract

“Meanings of all kinds flow through the figures of women, and they often do not include who she herself is.” — Marina Warner
This thesis examines the visual representation of three tragic heroines from Shakespearean theatre — Cleopatra, Cordelia, and Ophelia — in the graphic arts of the long 19th century (1773–1910). Through the analysis of a variety of visual media, particularly illustrated editions of the plays and paintings, it explores the tension between the enrichment and the standardization of the imagination brought about by these images. These heroines are often confined to their death scenes, which carry strong dramatic potential and allow artists to enclose them in an aesthetic that can at times be disturbing. This work sheds light on the complexity of these now-iconic heroines and the mechanisms of their emblematic representation. Infinitely complex characters in Shakespeare’s original texts, their visual history attests to their deep impact on the visual imagination of Shakespearean theatre but also reminds us how the female body often becomes an object of voyeurism, appropriation, and fascination for both artists and spectators.

More about Élise Tendron

A student at ENS de Lyon since 2022, Élise Tendron completed this first research project while also serving as a language assistant at King’s College London. Her interest in art history, which began during her preparatory studies in literature with a specialization in Art History at Lycée Clemenceau in Nantes, continues to inform her research. She now seeks to combine her love of English literature with her interest in visual history. She will soon publish an article on the website La Clé des langues, titled “Stepping out of the Frame: Re-visioning the Slave Narrative in David Dabydeen’s A Harlot’s Progress (1999).” Élise is currently working on her second thesis, under the supervision of Isabelle Gadoin (Université Sorbonne Nouvelle). Inspired by this article, the project focuses on contemporary reinterpretations of Hogarth’s work, particularly the representation of Black subjects in the 18th century and today, as well as issues surrounding the duty of remembrance.