PIERRE BOAISTUAU - eTheses Repository - University of Birmingham

Iustice, chastiment, et malediction de Dieu’. 972 Such irregularities of Nature served to
emphasize the mysteries of the Creation and most importantly the infinite power of
the Creator.
As such, monsters symbolised God’s secret judgment and served as a moral lesson to
any reader. This idea of repentance and amendment was found in all Boaistuau’s
work, but acquired a clear, specific context in Histoires prodigieuses:
les monstres, prodiges et abhominations, esquelz… nous y descouvrons le plus
souvent un secret iugement et fleau de l’ire de Dieu… lequel nous fait sentir la
violence de sa iustice si aspre, que nous sommes contrainctz d’entrer en
nous-mesmes, frapper au marteau de nostre conscience, esplucher noz
vices, et avoir en horreur noz meffaictz. 973
Monsters and prodigies were manifestations of God’s wrath, and ministers and
conveyors of His justice. They were reminders of the divine judgment awaiting all
sinners, and symbols of the divine plan. However, monsters were not simply meant to
terrorise, their purpose was also to instruct. Their aim was to make people repent and
lead a life full of Christian virtue. Therefore, Boaistuau’s stories communicated the
message of divine punishment and moral edification. As described in Le Théâtre du
monde, the writer considered Man to be a monster because of his sinful and
incomplete nature: ‘Mais contemplez l’homme, incontinent qu’il est sur la terre, c’est
vn petit monstre hideux’. 974 In order to become human again, Man needed to come
closer to God. Boaistuau succeeded in ideally blending this edifying context with his
genuine interest in examining the secrets and wonders of Nature. This same notion
was also evident in his analysis of natural phenomena.
972 Boaistuau, P., Histoires prodigieuses, p. 13v.
973 Ibid, Salutation. Bold font is mine.
974 Boaistuau, P., Le Théâtre du monde (Anvers, C. Plantin, 1580), p. 54.
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