Esther

by Jean Racine, Georges Forestier

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ++++ The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to ensure edition ++++ A Tragedy, Literally Tr. By Rev. J. Rice; Kelly's Keys To The Classics Jean Racine James Rice (rev)

Genres: Theatre, Classics, Plays, France, Drama, French Literature, Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1689

About the author

Classical 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...

Reviews

[Camille]

Racine on ecstasy

[Jeanne Eléonore · Rating 3 out of 5]

La langue et le texte sont splendides, amusants à déclamer, mais c'est du Racine, donc personne n'est surpris.
En revanche l'histoire est vraiment passable, rien de notable ne se passe. Bref, une pièce de théâtre écrite pour les colombes du Roi Soleil, pour mettre ces dernières en valeur, sans pour autant les faire trop réfléchir (le tout en restant pieuses).

[Jacob Hurley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esther est un étrange livre du Bible; l'analyse d'historiens est tout d'accord que rien de ses contents ont arrivées dans actualité, et même la tradition pieuse pense que ce ne soit qu'un rêve phantastique. Les Qabbalistes disent que c'est le livre qu'on lit après (si) on va au ciel. Bref, dans la dernières parties du carrière de Racine, Louis XIV a devenu plus pieux, et son theatre du court a abandonné la tragédie érotique pour des drames religieuses. Racine l'a organisé, dans l'introduire prosaique et la preface en alexandrines (dans la gorge de quelque genre de prophete) comme une drame, plus noble et plus pur, qui guerira son audience, et fait voire la gloire et majeste de Dieu. En fait, le drame, qui est plus comme comédie, est dans trois-actes et plus court; l'attention est sur l'empereur Persien et son lieutenant, un antisémite extreme, tous les deux vraiment obtus. Le personnage du titre n'a qu'un seul moment d'anxiété qui est plus ou moins arbitraire -- elle ne sait pas comment elle va protéger les juifs, mais il n'y a pas des raisons que son plan ne parvenirais pas, et bien sur ne personne dans l'audience sentirais aucun tension ... Plus interessante, c'est la chorus (qui n'est pas dans des alexandrines!), chansons ou plutot masques, qui racontent les Israélites en désespérée, mais puis en réveillé au espoir encor; c'est un effort plus authentique, un traduction de la langue d'Ancien Testament en poesie Racinien. Quand même, c'est un drame plaisante lire.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dans le genre court et avec presque un seul couple, je préfère Bérénice et ses bien plus belles tirades, ses enjeux et ses personnages beaucoup plus forts... C'était intéressant simplement pour la mise en rapport avec Albertine (je l'avais aussi étudié dans un corpus de Racine par rapport à l'objet de la porte, bien sûr il y a toujours autant de choses à dire à propos des pièces raciniennes mais juste not my favourite)

[Richard Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not really strong Racine, in my opinion.

[Maddy MacLeod]

Classic Madame de Maintenon commissioning this play

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

استر، تراژدی راسین، تراژدی نویس قرن هفده فرانسه است که برخلاف معمول تراژدی ها در سه پرده (و نه پنج پرده) نوشته شده. شرح زندگی استر از کتاب مقدس یهودیان، همان بخش "عهد عتیق" انجیل گرفته شده. استر از زمره ی اسرای یهودی بوده که پس از فتح "بابل" توسط کورش، آزاد شده اند. پدر و مادرش از دست می روند و او تحت سرپرستی عمویش "مردخای" بزرگ می شود. هنگامی که همسر خشایارشا به علت نافرمانی به قتل می رسد، استر طی مراسمی سنتی به همسری شاه در می آید و ملکه ی پارس می شود. تا آن که "هامان" وزیر ایرانی شاه، به علت نافرمانی مردخای، دستور قتل یهودیان را می دهد. استر نزد شاه شفاعت می کند و شاه سبب نجات عده ی بی شماری یهودی از مرگ می شود. به روایتی مراسم عید "پوریم" نزد یهودیان، جهت سپاس از این موهبت برگزار می شود. این همه در "کتاب استر" بخشی از "تورات" یا همان عهد عتیق انجیل، آمده است. تراژدی راسین با تفاوت های جزئی، شرح مصائب استر و یهودیان در سرزمین پارس است، و قهرمانان تراژدی با همان نام های عبری کتاب مقدس، در تراژدی آمده اند؛ آهاسوئروس (خشایارشا)، استر، مردخای، هامان، افسران شاه، همدمان ملکه استر، گاردهای شاه و دسته ی همخوان دوشیزگان بنی اسرائیل

[Iara Luzia · Rating 3 out of 5]

É um pouco complicado avaliar esta obra de Racine. Por um lado, a forma como é escrita, através da musicalidade do texto, suas rimas, etc, é fascinante. Por outro lado, os elementos do trágico não estão presentes, aliás, é questionável até que ponto a história bíblica de Ester é um tema para uma tragédia, segundo os preceitos de L'art poétique de Boileau.
É um bom texto, mas não para uma tragédia francesa do século XVII.

[Allan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just wanted the Jews to kill the king and they never did it for me. In my opinion, not one of Racine's greatest works.

[Daniel Gómez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nadie para el patetismo como los franceses.