Pierre Corneille’s tragedy

was first performed privately for the Cardinal de Richelieu in 1639, and publicly at the Théâtre du Marais in 1640.

was the playwright’s second great success, and his first play written after the quarrel surrounding

(1637). Previously challenged for having failed to respect both the rules of “bienséance” (propriety), and the unity of time, space, and action in

, Corneille clearly responds to these challenges in

. Despite these formal attentions, however,

arguably pushes the limits of familial, amorous, and political conflict even further than those portrayed in

. The comQplex relationships and confrontations between the play’s central characters and their conflicting loyalties to family, state, and love…

2760 words

Citation: McConnell, Kelly. "Horace". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 20 August 2015 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4687, accessed 23 November 2024.]