SOURCE: King, Russell S. “Alfred de Musset: Some Problems of Literary Creativity.” Nottingham French Studies 8, no. 1 (May 1969): 16-27.

In the following essay, King highlights the theme of creative lassitude in Musset's life and writings.

Baudelaire describes Musset disparagingly as “un paresseux à effusions gracieuses.”¹ Like all writers who believe in, or rely on, artistic inspiration for composing their works, Musset and his critic, Baudelaire, frequently if not permanently feared lest their inspiration might “dry up.” Sometimes this fear is expressed explicitly, sometimes it is transformed into something more subtle, such as we find in, for example, Mallarmé's sonnet beginning Le vierge, le vivace et le bel aujourd'hui. Sartre's condemnation of Baudelaire—whether it be valid or otherwise is irrelevant at this point—could more appropriate be directed against Musset. Musset's refusal to accept responsibilities and act positively would make him an easier target for an existentialist critic. The...