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Retrato de Dora
Obra de teatro, largo poema o reescritura del caso freudiano, Retrato de Dora atraviesa géneros y, a la vez, los trasciende. Lo que define la escritura de Hélène Cixous es su poética, irreductible a toda clasificación. Hay en ella condensación y apertura en su modo de transmitirnos el acto de escribir.
La escritura: lo que asedia, acorrala, captura desde un lugar inhóspito e inasible que Cixous ubica en el cuerpo - pues no escribimos sin cuerpo, dirá.
La escritura: eso que, a las mujeres, nos ha sido vedado.
Hélène se dice en un torbellino de tensiones, una serie de incendios, diez mil escenas de violencias. Dora se dice llena de memoria y desesperación. ¿Y no nos dicen, acaso, a cada una de nosotras también?
En este libro Dora, la histérica, deviene histórica en un preciso movimiento en el que recupera su lengua singular, rebelde, interpelante. Contra los llamados a silencio que nos caen como flechas, como órdenes, como correctivos, se trata de apropiarnos de esa lengua que hablan las mujeres cuando nadie las escucha para corregirlas. Ni para desmentirlas, agregaría hoy.
La potencia de Retrato de Dora no sólo continúa vigente sino que se amplifica en el mundo actual, tan urgido de política, de poética, de escrituras que enciendan pequeños fuegos.
La escritura: lo que asedia, acorrala, captura desde un lugar inhóspito e inasible que Cixous ubica en el cuerpo - pues no escribimos sin cuerpo, dirá.
La escritura: eso que, a las mujeres, nos ha sido vedado.
Hélène se dice en un torbellino de tensiones, una serie de incendios, diez mil escenas de violencias. Dora se dice llena de memoria y desesperación. ¿Y no nos dicen, acaso, a cada una de nosotras también?
En este libro Dora, la histérica, deviene histórica en un preciso movimiento en el que recupera su lengua singular, rebelde, interpelante. Contra los llamados a silencio que nos caen como flechas, como órdenes, como correctivos, se trata de apropiarnos de esa lengua que hablan las mujeres cuando nadie las escucha para corregirlas. Ni para desmentirlas, agregaría hoy.
La potencia de Retrato de Dora no sólo continúa vigente sino que se amplifica en el mundo actual, tan urgido de política, de poética, de escrituras que enciendan pequeños fuegos.
- GenresPlaysFrench Literature
92 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
About the author
Hélène Cixous
193 books1,025 followersHélène Cixous is a Jewish-French, Algerian-born feminist well-known as one of the founders of poststructuralist feminist theory along with Luce Irigaray and Julia Kristeva. She is now a professor of English Literature at University of Paris VIII and chairs the Centre de Recherches en Etudes Féminines which she founded in 1974.
She has published numerous essays, playwrights, novels, poems, and literary criticism. Her academic works concern subjects of feminism, the human body, history, death, and theatre.
She has published numerous essays, playwrights, novels, poems, and literary criticism. Her academic works concern subjects of feminism, the human body, history, death, and theatre.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 20, 2025
The Portrait of Dora by Hélène Cixous
6 out of 10
At times this was rather interesting, with Sigmund Freud as one of the main characters and an alternative Interpretation of Dreams.
But then Freud is no longer the giant that used to be so overwhelming, a kind of symbol for supreme knowledge.
Not for me anyway.
I have read quite a few books of psychology in the last couple of years and many of those dispute the theory of Freud.
And a number of pronouncements have started to sound if not ridiculous plain wrong to this reader, even if I may be wrong
- Penis envy…this is one of the outrageous sounding and indeed off the mark theories
- Insistence on sex as the main, if not the only drive that makes us do almost anything
- The Oedipal complex or the Electra version that distorts the affection for the mother or father respectively
Starting from the premise that I reject Freud, influenced by the classics that I have read lately, did not help in enjoying this play.
The adaptation is not very good either, or at least the perception that I have, which again may be wrong.
There are some sounds that may be birds, hawks or vultures that probably need to suggest some mystery.
To my ears they are plain annoying and without artistic value- I am wrong here, not without, but diminishing whatever value there is.
The plot is confusing, but then I did not bother to listen with attention, once I established that this is not my cup of tea.
Some readers or listeners of the play may find the changes in plot, the approaching and then distancing Mr. K interesting.
Not for me, this is not meaningful or entertaining.
What is the point in going on then?
Indeed, there isn’t
I will stop saying that the shouts and cabotinage make this performance one of the worst I have listened to lately
6 out of 10
At times this was rather interesting, with Sigmund Freud as one of the main characters and an alternative Interpretation of Dreams.
But then Freud is no longer the giant that used to be so overwhelming, a kind of symbol for supreme knowledge.
Not for me anyway.
I have read quite a few books of psychology in the last couple of years and many of those dispute the theory of Freud.
And a number of pronouncements have started to sound if not ridiculous plain wrong to this reader, even if I may be wrong
- Penis envy…this is one of the outrageous sounding and indeed off the mark theories
- Insistence on sex as the main, if not the only drive that makes us do almost anything
- The Oedipal complex or the Electra version that distorts the affection for the mother or father respectively
Starting from the premise that I reject Freud, influenced by the classics that I have read lately, did not help in enjoying this play.
The adaptation is not very good either, or at least the perception that I have, which again may be wrong.
There are some sounds that may be birds, hawks or vultures that probably need to suggest some mystery.
To my ears they are plain annoying and without artistic value- I am wrong here, not without, but diminishing whatever value there is.
The plot is confusing, but then I did not bother to listen with attention, once I established that this is not my cup of tea.
Some readers or listeners of the play may find the changes in plot, the approaching and then distancing Mr. K interesting.
Not for me, this is not meaningful or entertaining.
What is the point in going on then?
Indeed, there isn’t
I will stop saying that the shouts and cabotinage make this performance one of the worst I have listened to lately
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January 30, 2025Hon känner saknadens fasa så mycket kraftfullare än begäret.
January 12, 2018
نمایش نامه ای زنانه از شاید بزرگترین نویسنده فمینیست معاصر در مورد دختری که از پزشک روانکاوش آقای فروید مشاوره میگیرد ...
November 7, 2026
Have I understood it? Mostly not. But, for some reason, I’ve found the play and the passions mesmerising; I can’t wait to read more and unravel its mysteries.
“There is no greater sorrow than the memory of love.”
“There is no greater sorrow than the memory of love.”
November 17, 2024
Trastornada y hermosa, Dora. Muy buena obra
December 3, 2020
Escribe Maria Magdalena, poeta y editora de Las Furias, que Retrato de Dora es una "obra de teatro, un largo poema o la reescritura del caso freudiano". Cixous, al igual que su compatriota Jacques Derrida, nos lleva al terreno más inhóspito e interesante: el riesgo de pensar a través de la escritura.
November 23, 2021
Muy bien escrito , me recordó a Feliz nuevo siglo Doctor Freud
May 5, 2023
Escrito en forma de teatro, Cixous recrea uno de los historiales más conocidos de Freud, dándole una voz a Dora teñida por su particular modo de escritura. Recomiendo la lectura de este libro!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews