ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the exultant figure of the braggart soldier on the stage, a character that, like Wilde's liar, makes preposterous claims concerning his skills and accomplishments. It looks the distinction between lucid liar and deluded fantasist in Molière's Dom Juan and the character of Dorante in Corneille's Le Menteur. The chapter focuses on the extravagant hyperbolic liar which does employ some of the tactics but stands out since braggart fails catastrophically in his endeavour to deceive others. The linguistic flair and imaginative capacity with which this character is imbued render his speeches most entertaining. His lies therefore stand out not only for their strategic ineffectiveness but also for their playful and poetic texture. The braggart's language is defined by his excessive outpourings. The lies he tells about his identity and his accomplishments attempt to render him as a god-like invincible warrior. The braggart's mendacious strategy within versions attempts to mimic the relentless intensity and combative vigour of a warrior.
