Encyclopedia, Difference between revisions of "Jean Racine" - New World
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| − | [[ | + | '''Jean Racine''' ([[December 22]], [[1639]] – [[April 21]], [[1699]]) was a [[France|French]] [[dramatist]], one of the "big three" of [[17th century]] [[France]] (along with [[Molière]] and [[Pierre Corneille|Corneille]]). Racine was primarily a [[Tragedy|tragedian]], though he did write one [[comedy]]. |
| + | |||
| + | ==Life== | ||
| + | Born in [[La Ferté-Milon]] ([[Aisne]]), Racine was orphaned in his youth and was given a classical education courtesy of his grandmother. He was a graduate of [[Port-Royal]], a religious institution which would greatly influence other contemporary figures including [[Blaise Pascal]]. He was expected to study theology, but preferred to devote himself to the theatre, and moved to [[Paris]]. His first [[tragedy]], ''La Thébaide'' ([[1664]]) and its successor, ''Alexandre'' ([[1665]]), both had classical themes, but he was already entering into controversy, taking offence at the accusation that he was polluting the minds of his audiences. He broke all ties with Port-Royal, and proceeded with ''[[Andromaque]]'' ([[1667]]), which told the story of [[Andromache]], widow of [[Hector]], and her fate following the [[Trojan War]]. He was by now acquiring many rivals, including [[Pierre Corneille]] and his brother, [[Thomas Corneille]]. Tragedians often competed with alternative versions of the same plot: for example, [[Michel le Clerc]] produced an ''Iphigénie'' in the same year as Racine ([[1674]]), and [[Jacques Pradon]] also wrote a play about ''[[Phèdre]]'' ([[1677]]). The success of Pradon's work (the result of the activities of a [[claque]]) was one of the events which caused Racine to renounce his work as a dramatist at that time. Others, including the historian [[W.H. Lewis]], attribute his retirement from the theater to qualms of conscience. | ||
| + | |||
| + | However, the major incident which seems to have contributed to Racine's departure from public life was his implication in a court scandal of [[1679]]. He got married at about this time, and his religious beliefs and devotion to the [[Jansenist]] sect were revived. When at last he returned to the theatre, it was at the request of [[Madame de Maintenon]], mistress of King [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]], with the moral fables, ''Esther'' ([[1689]]) and ''Athalie'' ([[1691]]), both of which were based on [[Old Testament]] stories and intended for performance by the pupils of the school of [[Saint-Cyr]]. | ||
| − | + | Racine was also a courtier, having first been presented at court in 1664, and in 1677 made (along with [[Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux|Boileau]]) Historian to the King; he kept this position in spite of the minor scandals he was involved in, and Louis XIV provided for his widow and children after his death. | |
| + | |||
| + | Jean Racine died in [[1699]] and is buried in the [[St. Etienne-du-Mont]] church in [[Paris]], France. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Style== | ||
| + | [[Image:Jean racine.jpg|left|frame]] | ||
| + | The quality of Racine's poetry is perhaps his greatest contribution to [[French literature]]. His use of the [[alexandrine]] is considered exceptional in its harmony, simplicity and elegance. | ||
| − | + | Racine's work faced many criticisms from his contemporaries. One was the lack of historic veracity in plays such as ''Britannicus'' ([[1668]]) and ''Mithridate'' ([[1673]]). Racine was quick to point out that his greatest critics — his rival dramatists — were among the biggest offenders in this respect. Another major criticism levelled at him was the lack of incident in his tragedy, ''Bérénice'' ([[1670]]). Racine's response was that the greatest tragedy does not necessarily consist in bloodshed and death. | |
| − | + | ==External links== | |
| + | {{wikiquote}} | ||
| + | *[http://www.biblioweb.org/-RACINE-Jean-.html Biography, Bibliography, Analysis, Plot overview] (in French) | ||
| + | * {{gutenberg author| id=Jean+Baptiste+Racine | name=Jean Racine}} | ||
| + | [http://www.verbumvanum.org/adel http://www.verbumvanum.org/indexgreek.html] for a philological study of the evolution of Hippolytus as a [[chastity]] [[paradigm]] in [[Euripides]], [[Seneca the Younger|Seneca]], [[Jean Racine|Racine]]; extensive bibliography (in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]) | ||
| − | + | ==Sources== | |
| − | The | + | *W.H. Lewis, ''The Splendid Century: Life in the France of Louix XIV''. William Sloane Associates, 1953. |
| − | |||
==Works== | ==Works== | ||
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* ''[[Esther]]'', 1689 | * ''[[Esther]]'', 1689 | ||
* ''[[Athalie]]'', 1691 - [[Athaliah]] | * ''[[Athalie]]'', 1691 - [[Athaliah]] | ||
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{{credit|23788183}} | {{credit|23788183}} | ||
| + | [[Category: Art, music, literature, sports and leisure]] | ||
Revision as of 02:27, 29 August 2006
Jean Racine (December 22, 1639 – April 21, 1699) was a French dramatist, one of the "big three" of 17th century France (along with Molière and Corneille). Racine was primarily a tragedian, though he did write one comedy.
Life
Born in La Ferté-Milon (Aisne), Racine was orphaned in his youth and was given a classical education courtesy of his grandmother. He was a graduate of Port-Royal, a religious institution which would greatly influence other contemporary figures including Blaise Pascal. He was expected to study theology, but preferred to devote himself to the theatre, and moved to Paris. His first tragedy, La Thébaide (1664) and its successor, Alexandre (1665), both had classical themes, but he was already entering into controversy, taking offence at the accusation that he was polluting the minds of his audiences. He broke all ties with Port-Royal, and proceeded with Andromaque (1667), which told the story of Andromache, widow of Hector, and her fate following the Trojan War. He was by now acquiring many rivals, including Pierre Corneille and his brother, Thomas Corneille. Tragedians often competed with alternative versions of the same plot: for example, Michel le Clerc produced an Iphigénie in the same year as Racine (1674), and Jacques Pradon also wrote a play about Phèdre (1677). The success of Pradon's work (the result of the activities of a claque) was one of the events which caused Racine to renounce his work as a dramatist at that time. Others, including the historian W.H. Lewis, attribute his retirement from the theater to qualms of conscience.
However, the major incident which seems to have contributed to Racine's departure from public life was his implication in a court scandal of 1679. He got married at about this time, and his religious beliefs and devotion to the Jansenist sect were revived. When at last he returned to the theatre, it was at the request of Madame de Maintenon, mistress of King Louis XIV, with the moral fables, Esther (1689) and Athalie (1691), both of which were based on Old Testament stories and intended for performance by the pupils of the school of Saint-Cyr.
Racine was also a courtier, having first been presented at court in 1664, and in 1677 made (along with Boileau) Historian to the King; he kept this position in spite of the minor scandals he was involved in, and Louis XIV provided for his widow and children after his death.
Jean Racine died in 1699 and is buried in the St. Etienne-du-Mont church in Paris, France.
Style
The quality of Racine's poetry is perhaps his greatest contribution to French literature. His use of the alexandrine is considered exceptional in its harmony, simplicity and elegance.
Racine's work faced many criticisms from his contemporaries. One was the lack of historic veracity in plays such as Britannicus (1668) and Mithridate (1673). Racine was quick to point out that his greatest critics — his rival dramatists — were among the biggest offenders in this respect. Another major criticism levelled at him was the lack of incident in his tragedy, Bérénice (1670). Racine's response was that the greatest tragedy does not necessarily consist in bloodshed and death.
External links
- Biography, Bibliography, Analysis, Plot overview (in French)
- Works by Jean Racine. Project Gutenberg
http://www.verbumvanum.org/indexgreek.html for a philological study of the evolution of Hippolytus as a chastity paradigm in Euripides, Seneca, Racine; extensive bibliography (in Dutch)
Sources
- W.H. Lewis, The Splendid Century: Life in the France of Louix XIV. William Sloane Associates, 1953.
Works
- Ode sur la convalescene du roi, 1663
- La renommée aux muses, 1663
- La thebaïde, ou les frères ennemis, 1664 - The Thebans, or The Enemy Brothers
- Alexandre le grand, 1665 - Alexander the Great
- Andromaque, 1667 - Andromache
- Les plaideurs, 1668 - The Litigants
- Britannicus, 1669
- Bérénice, 1670 - Berenice (daughter of Agrippa I)
- Bajazet, 1672
- Mithridate, 1673 - Mithridates
- Iphigénie, 1674 - Iphigenia
- Phèdre, 1677 - Phaedra
- Œuvres, 1679
- Esther, 1689
- Athalie, 1691 - Athaliah
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