Jean Racine: biography, creativity, quotes

Jean Racine, whose works are known throughout the world, is a famous French playwright who lived and worked in the 17th century. His work marked the beginning of the classical national theater and earned the same respect as the works of Moliere and Corneille. The biography and creativity of this writer will be devoted to our article.

Jean Racine: short biography

J. Racine was born in the city of La Ferte-Milon, located in the county of Valois, on December 21, 1639. His father served as a petty official in the tax service. His mother died in the difficult birth of his sister, Jean, so the education of the boy was engaged in the grandmother.

The future writer is sent to school at the monastery of Port-Royale, where he quickly becomes the best student. Jean Racine was an excellent student, in addition, he was lucky with the teacher of philology, which helped form the literary tastes of the boy. The writer completed his brilliant education already at the Paris College Arcur.

In 1661, Racine went to the town of Iuse, where he was to give a church benefit (land), which would allow him to devote all his time to literature. However, the writer was refused and was forced to return to Paris.

In the capital, he becomes a regular at literary salons and clubs, meets Moliere and other writers of the time. Jean Racine himself (whose biography is now at the center of our attention) publishes his first plays, which, incidentally, did not have much success.

Later works brought the writer a real success. However, many critics did not pay tribute to the work of Racine because of his character. Jean was ambitious, irritable and arrogant.

In 1677 he practically stopped writing because of the failure of "Phaedra" and became a royal historiographer. In the same period, he marries a religious and economic girl, who in the future will give him seven children.

Jean Racine died on April 21, 1699 in Paris. He was buried near the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont.

"Andromache"

The tragedy was set in 1667 in the Louvre. The presentation was attended by Louis XIV. This was the first play that brought success to Racine and fame.

The work of the work takes place after the Trojan War in the capital of Epirus. King Pyrrhus, son of Achilles, receives a dispatch stating that the Greeks are offended by the conduct of his father, who sheltered Andromache, the widow of Hector, with his son. The report is delivered by Orestes, in love with the bride of Pyrrhus. The king herself is more interested in grieving for her husband Anromache. From this moment the death of the ruling family and their state begins.

Appeals to the classical Greek plot, practically not deviating from the canon of ancient Greek tragedies, Jean Rasin.

Quotations that most clearly show the plot of the play will be cited here: "Enter into that heart where for all the entrance is not locked! / I can not take such a share enviable," ... love commands us / And kindles ... and extinguishes the passions. / Whom we want to wish, that to us ... is not nice. / And the one we vow ... the heart has stung. "

"Britannicus"

In this play, staged in 1669, Jean Racine turns for the first time in his work to the history of Ancient Rome.

Agrippina, the mother of Emperor Nero, worries that he is losing power over his son. Now he listens more to the advice of Seneca and the commander of Burr. The woman fears that in Nero awakening willfulness and cruelty - the terrible legacy of his father.

At the same time, Nero orders the kidnapping of Junia, the bride of his brother Britannicus. The girl likes the emperor, and he begins to think about divorce with his barren wife Octavia. Britannic can not believe in the treachery of his brother and hopes for reconciliation. This also destroys the young man.

Berenice

In this play, Jean Racine again refers to the Roman theme. Creativity of this period is considered the most outstanding, and the tragedy of Berenice became one of those works that the public accepted with great delight.

The Roman emperor Titus is preparing for a wedding with Berenice, the queen of Palestine. At the same time in Rome is the king of Commagene Antiochus, who has long been in love with the queen. In view of the upcoming wedding, he is going to leave the capital. Berenice is sorry to lose a faithful friend, but to give him hope for more, she can not.

At the same time, Titus reflects on the fact that the Roman people will probably be against the foreign queen: "Himself Julius (Caesar) ... he could not call his wife an Egyptian ..." The Emperor can not openly tell this to the bride and asks Antiochus to take her away. Duty to the people is stronger than love.

«Iphigenia»

For this play, which premiered in 1674, Jean Racine took a story from ancient Greek mythology. The story tells how King Agamemnon during the Trojan War in order to win the patronage of the goddess Artemis, had to sacrifice her own daughter.

This play was as if not noticed by critics - there were no delights, no devastating reviews.

"Phaedra"

This tragedy was met with a very negative public: the critic called the work the worst work of Racine. It was after the premiere of "Phaedra" (1677) that the playwright ceased to deal with literature. For ten years after this failure, he wrote nothing. Although later this particular play will be called the pinnacle of Racine's work.

The tragedy was written in Alexandrine verse. The basis of the plot was the unrequited passion of Phaedra, the wife of Theseus, to his adopted son Ippolit. The result of the conflict is the death of both Phaedra and Hippolytus.

The plays of Racine, built on ancient subjects, marked the beginning of a whole trend, not only in French, but also in world literature. To this day the creativity of the playwright is highly appreciated not only by critics, but also by the public.