| Title | : | Britannicus / Phaedra / Athaliah |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0199555990 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780199555994 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 240 |
| Publication | : | First published July 2, 1987 |
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 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.
Britannicus / Phaedra / Athaliah Reviews
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Acknowledgement
Introduction
Note on the Text
A Chronology of Jean Racine
First Preface (1670)
Second Preface (1676)
--Britannicus
Preface
--Phaedra
Preface
--Athaliah
Explanatory Notes -
The order in which they appear is also the order of quality.
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Read for HUMS3200 @ Carleton University.
Read the first half of Brittanicus. It's tough to keep up with the characters whose names are unfamiliar and have complicated relationships already at the start! Interesting though, might finish in my spare time. -
An acclaimed French tragedian, Racine was a classicist, a neoclassicist to be precise, and generally used and reworked classical themes and ancient settings. In his prefaces, he referred to and praised the classical tragedians, as well as ancient epic poets and historians, to state in what ways he adopted their works and rules. This selection consists of three works: Britannicus, based on Roman history, set during Nero's reign; Phaedra, a reimagining of Euripides' Hippolytus, related to Greek mythology; and Athaliah, an adaptation of the eponymous character's story from the Old Testament, 2 Kings 11 and 2 Chronicles 22 and 23. Here I have briefly written my short reviews about each play in the selection, with my ratings separately for each play in paranthesis, separately.
• Britannicus (3.5/5): Thanks to his mother Agrippina's schemes, Nero has been raised up to the imperial throne of Rome, and moreover, abducts Junia, to whom Britannicus, the rightful heir to the throne, is bethrothed. Britannicus wants what is his back but pays too dearly for trusting his treacherous tutor, and Agrippina regrets for having elevated her maverick and disloyal son she couldn't control anymore.
• Phaedra (4/5): The king Theseus having been thought dead, the queen Phaedra burns with desire and lust for her stepson Hippolytus. When her feelings have not been returned, she grieves bitterly and her nurse makes a malicious plan. Though Racine stated in his preface that he had mildened some parts in Euripides' and Seneca's versions, from which he adapted his play, I can say this version lacks no passion and grandeur, even outshadowing Seneca's version, which I've read before.
• Athaliah (4.5/5): The evil idolatrous queen Athaliah, thinking that he has murdered all the heirs to the kingdom of Judah, even her own grandchildren, is surprised and troubled by a boy she encounters, Joash, who, under a different name, has been secretly protected. This faithful reworking of a story from the Old Testament feels no less grand than the sumptuous Greco-Roman epic poems or tragedies. -
I enjoy the classical Aristotle informed style of playwriting. His Greek influenced plays are informative, and his Biblical plays are devotional.
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Having no knowledge of French, I rely on the translator. This edition by Sisson is my first exposure to Racine and I really enjoyed it. I have read some Jonson, Marlowe, and Shakespeare, but Racine's plays --these 3, at least-- are much easier to follow, in that they have far less characters and seem to move at a much faster pace. I had to see Moliere performed before I could understand the comedy, but Racine's tragic elements are obvious. The Introduction was appreciated and I loved this observation, from someone contemporary to Racine, that Sisson included:
Madame de Sevigne said, "Racine has surpassed himself. He loves God as he used to love his mistresses."
Phaedra, which I thought might have some scandalous scene (the stepmother was having the hots for her stepson) was quite tame with just a bunch of melodrama. Ah, to be reading a paperback of Racine at a French cafe..... -
Les règles du théâtre étaient sévères mais si certains auteurs ont su s'en accommoder, Racine,lui, alourdit encore son récit. Une pièce biblique et deux grecques où je me suis ennuyé, et pourtant j'aime les grandes tragédies et Racine.
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Phaedra is quite good.
