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Racine: Five Plays
Book by Racine, Jean
- GenresFiction
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
19 people want to read
About the author
Jean Racine
2,043 books357 followersClassical Greek and Roman themes base noted tragedies, such as
Britannicus
(1669) and
Phèdre
(1677), of French playwright Jean Baptiste Racine.
Adherents of movement of Cornelis Jansen included Jean Baptiste Racine.
This dramatist ranks alongside Molière (Jean Baptiste Poquelin) and Pierre Corneille of the "big three" of 17th century and of the most important literary figures in the western tradition. Psychological insight, the prevailing passion of characters, and the nakedness of both plot and stage mark dramaturgy of Racine. Although primarily a tragedian, Racine wrote one comedy.
Orphaned by the age of four years when his mother died in 1641 and his father died in 1643, he came into the care of his grandparents. At the death of his grandfather in 1649, his grandmother, Marie des Moulins, went to live in the convent of Port-Royal and took her grandson Jean-Baptiste. He received a classical education at the Petites écoles de Port-Royal, a religious institution that greatly influenced other contemporary figures, including Blaise Pascal.
The French bishops and the pope condemned Jansenism, a heretical theology, but its followers ran Port-Royal. Interactions of Racine with the Jansenists in his years at this academy great influenced the rest of his life. At Port-Royal, he excelled in his studies of the classics, and the themes of Greek and Roman mythology played large roles in his works.
Jean Racine died from cancer of the liver. He requested burial in Port-Royal, but after Louis XIV razed this site in 1710, people moved his body to the church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont in Paris.
*source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Ra...
Adherents of movement of Cornelis Jansen included Jean Baptiste Racine.
This dramatist ranks alongside Molière (Jean Baptiste Poquelin) and Pierre Corneille of the "big three" of 17th century and of the most important literary figures in the western tradition. Psychological insight, the prevailing passion of characters, and the nakedness of both plot and stage mark dramaturgy of Racine. Although primarily a tragedian, Racine wrote one comedy.
Orphaned by the age of four years when his mother died in 1641 and his father died in 1643, he came into the care of his grandparents. At the death of his grandfather in 1649, his grandmother, Marie des Moulins, went to live in the convent of Port-Royal and took her grandson Jean-Baptiste. He received a classical education at the Petites écoles de Port-Royal, a religious institution that greatly influenced other contemporary figures, including Blaise Pascal.
The French bishops and the pope condemned Jansenism, a heretical theology, but its followers ran Port-Royal. Interactions of Racine with the Jansenists in his years at this academy great influenced the rest of his life. At Port-Royal, he excelled in his studies of the classics, and the themes of Greek and Roman mythology played large roles in his works.
Jean Racine died from cancer of the liver. He requested burial in Port-Royal, but after Louis XIV razed this site in 1710, people moved his body to the church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont in Paris.
*source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Ra...
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 22, 2013
Racine tries his hand with different settings. He sets his tragedies in Rome (Britannicus and Berenice), the fall of Homeric Troy (Andromache), Greek mythology (Phedra) and the Old Testament (Athaliah). All of the plays take place within a short time and the plots center on a single conflict. With the exception of Athaliah, they follow similar patterns of love denied.
Phedra is the only one that fits the most classical definition of tragedy. Phedra attempts to subvert Fate’s decree. The Greeks were never kind to those foolish enough to think people actually controlled their destinies. The other plays are more mundane affairs. Unrequited love and human baseness. Not the most engaging storylines but good enough for a Sunday afternoon.
Supposedly, Racine was a master at the alexandrine meter and the form of his plays is where his true genius shines. Since I read his plays in the English translation from French, I’ll just assume he’s brilliant.
Phedra is the only one that fits the most classical definition of tragedy. Phedra attempts to subvert Fate’s decree. The Greeks were never kind to those foolish enough to think people actually controlled their destinies. The other plays are more mundane affairs. Unrequited love and human baseness. Not the most engaging storylines but good enough for a Sunday afternoon.
Supposedly, Racine was a master at the alexandrine meter and the form of his plays is where his true genius shines. Since I read his plays in the English translation from French, I’ll just assume he’s brilliant.
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August 25, 2016different publisher
no isbn
c1960
similiar cover
no isbn
c1960
similiar cover
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews