Jean Racine Quotes
A collection of quotes by Jean Racine.
Jean Racine was a renowned French dramatist, born on October 22, 1639, in La Ferté-Milon, France. He is considered one of the greatest playwrights of the classical French theater. Racine displayed an early talent for writing, and his works were greatly influenced by ancient Greek and Roman tragedies, particularly those of Euripides and Seneca.
Racine's career as a playwright began in the mid-1660s when he gained recognition with his first tragedy, "La Thébaïde ou les Frères ennemis" (The Thebans or the Warring Brothers). However, it was with his subsequent plays, such as "Andromaque" (Andromache) in 1667 and "Phèdre" in 1677, that he achieved widespread acclaim.
His tragedies were known for their intense psychological depth, poetic language, and exploration of human passion and suffering. Racine's works often centered around themes of love, betrayal, and the clash between duty and desire. He was highly skilled in portraying complex characters and their emotional turmoil.
Despite facing some controversies and conflicts with both his contemporaries and the Church, Racine's plays were performed for the French court and enjoyed immense popularity. His last work, "Athalie," was written in 1691 for Madame de Maintenon's school at Saint-Cyr.
Jean Racine's literary talent and his contribution to French theater firmly established him as a leading figure of the classical tragedy genre. He passed away on April 21, 1699, in Paris, leaving an enduring legacy as one of the greatest playwrights of his time.
