Britannicus, Phaedra, Athaliah
0
0
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, Menrva Books earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Author Description
Jean Racine (1639-99) remains to this day the greatest of French poetic dramatists. Britannicus (1669), the first play in this volume, takes its themes from Roman history: the setting is bloody and treacherous court of the Emperor Nero. Phaedra (1677) dramatizes the Greek myth of Phaedra's doomed love for her stepson Hippolytus. Athaliah (1691), Racine's last and perhaps finest play, draws on the Old Testament story of Athaliah, Queen of Judah and worshipper of Baal, who is threatened and finally forced to concede victory to Joash, a son of the house of David and survivor of Athaliah's massacres.Racine's tragedies portray characters wrestling with ambition, treachery, religion, and love. In this translation, specially commissioned for The World's Classics series, C.H. Sisson has captured admirably the lucidity of Racine's language, both analytic and passionate, and the rhythm of his four-part Alexandrine, a combination that previous translators have consistently failed to achieve.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
The central conflict in these plays arises from the collision between individual desire and the rigid constraints of political power, divine will, and moral duty. Racine presents protagonists trapped within high-stakes environments—the treacherous court of Nero, the mythic landscape of Greece, and the religious conflicts of ancient Judah. These characters struggle against internal impulses and external forces that demand total submission or total destruction. The narrative framework utilizes the classical structure of the French Alexandrine, emphasizing a rhythmic, analytical, and highly disciplined approach to the expression of intense human emotion.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Utilization of the traditional French Alexandrine verse form to heighten dramatic tension.
- Exploration of the psychological interiority of characters facing impossible moral choices.
- Integration of historical and mythological source material to provide a framework for contemporary political commentary.
- Strict adherence to the classical unities of time, place, and action.
- Focus on the destructive nature of unchecked ambition and illicit passion.
- Use of formal, elevated language to contrast with the chaotic impulses of the characters.
- Examination of the role of divine intervention and religious authority in secular governance.
- Emphasis on the inevitability of tragic outcomes resulting from character flaws.
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Readers and critics frequently highlight the precision of Racine’s language, noting how his verse manages to be both analytical and deeply passionate. Discussion often centers on the effectiveness of the translation in capturing the specific rhythm of the Alexandrine, which is notoriously difficult to render in English. Scholars observe that the plays remain relevant due to their unflinching look at the mechanics of power and the fragility of human morality. The balance between character development and the rapid pacing of the plot is often cited as a hallmark of Racine's dramatic mastery. Readers appreciate the scholarly apparatus provided in this edition, which helps clarify the historical and biblical contexts of the source material.
Page Count:
240
Publication Date:
2009-07-26
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0199555990
ISBN-13:
9780199555994
Drama
History
Plays
Classical
Drama collections
Tragedy
French literature
