Pierre Corneille, "Horace": summary, characters, reader reviews, critics' comments

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The tragedy "Horace", written by Pierre Corneille, was staged in Paris in early 1640. The premiere did not bring momentary fame to the playwright, but gradually its success increased. Constantly being in the repertoire of the Comedie Francaise, her production has withstood a huge number of performances.

Short biography of the author

The author of the tragedy "Horace" Corneille Pierre - a famous French playwright, translator, poet, founder of the French tragedy, was born in 1606 in the city of Rouen, France. As he grew older, he studied at a Jesuit college, trained as a lawyer, and worked as a prosecutor. In total, until 1635, he worked in various bureaucratic positions. Subsequently, he devoted himself to drama, since 1647 a member of the French Academy. He lived in Paris from 1662. Pierre Corneille died in 1684 alone and in deep need.

Tragedy "Horace"

The monumental tragic work "Horace" Corneille completed at the end of 1639. It was staged for the first time on the stage of the Théâtre du Mare in the spring of 1640. In early 1641, the tragedy was published in print.

Researchers of Pierre Corneille's work and critics are unanimous in their opinion that the author created a work that shows with incredible force the political goals of an absolutist state. Namely:

• the nation must be united;
• feudal anarchy must be abolished;
• the power of the monarch is unconditional;
• civic duty and responsibilities should be above personal interests and passions.

In "Horace" Corneille shows a hero who faces a choice - to be guided in his behavior by feelings, family responsibilities, or to fulfill his duty to the state. The ancient Roman atmosphere of the tragedy is only a screen for showing the actual social problems of the period in which Pierre Corneille lives. The conflict situation in the tragedy is extremely naked. And the situation is masterfully shown through the symmetry of the characters in the work.

Pierre Corneille, "Horace": a summary, the beginning of the plot

The events of the tragedy unfold at a time when Ancient Rome had not yet become the center of the Ancient world. It was just a small city-state ruled by kings. Ruler Tull is shown by Corneille as a wise ruler. During his reign, Rome had a rival - the powerful city of Alba Longa.

Until recently, the cities were allies. However, during the unfolding of the play, theyare at war. Small battles and skirmishes take place between the warring armies. The situation escalated when the Albanian army approached the walls of Rome and the main battle is expected.

Choosing warriors for the duel

However, before the decisive battle, the leader of Alpa Long turned to the Roman king Tul with a proposal to take measures to prevent mutual complete destruction. He convinced the Roman to bring the resolution of the existing contradictions to a duel of warriors, three people on each side. And the battle must be abandoned, since the Albanians and the Romans are one people, moreover, they are interconnected by numerous blood and family ties. Under the terms of the duel, the kings agreed that whose wars would be defeated, that city would become a vassal of the city of the victors.

From the Roman side, the lot falls on three brothers from the family of Horace. On the opposite side, from the city of Alba Longe, three fighter brothers from the Curiaci family will perform. The Horatii and Curiatii clans are bound by friendly and family ties. The older brother of the Horatii family has a wife, Sabina, who is the sister of the Curiatii brothers. And Horatii's sister Camila is engaged to an older brother from the Curiatii clan.

Before the fight

As the plot of P. Corneille's tragedy "Horace" develops, men and women communicate with each other. They discuss the problem of choice, namely, what is the main thing - duty or feelings. All the main characters agree that duty comes first, but approach this conclusion in different ways. So, the elder brother Curiatius considers suchdebt "sad". Accepting the fight, he remains true to his friendly feelings for the Horaces. But the elder Horace believes that feelings are insignificant, they must be brushed aside.

The head of the family, old Horace, stops communication between the heroes and orders his son-in-law and son to surrender to the will of the gods and go to fulfill a high duty.

But the duel of brothers may not take place. After the warriors stood against each other, a murmur began in the ranks of both armies. The soldiers were dissatisfied with the decision of their kings. In their opinion, a duel is a crime, a fratricidal massacre.

The king of the Romans Tull listened to the voice of the soldiers and said: sacrifices will be made in order to find out from the internal organs of the dead animals whether the gods confirm the choice of fighters or not.

However, hopes that the duel will be canceled fade away after old Horace announces that the gods agree to a duel of brothers.

Duel of the Horatii with the Curiatii

From the content of the tragedy of Pierre Corneille "Horace" it is clear that there are no battle scenes in it. Witnesses report on the course of the fights. The fights of friends who became enemies by the will of duty are not shown. So, one of those present at the fights informs the old Horace and the women present that his eldest son fled from the battlefield from the Curiatii pursuing him. At the same time, the other two of his sons have already been killed. Old Horace, beside himself with grief, believes that his eldest son has inflicted indelible shame on the family. However, after a while, another message comes - the flight of his eldest son is only a military one.cunning. The Curiatii brothers chasing him fell behind each other due to the presence of various wounds they received during a duel with opponents. Horace Sr., exhausted during the pursuit of his pursuers, killed one by one.

The Romans celebrate Horace's victory as he brought victory to their city. At the same time, the author shows the suffering of his sister Camilla. She lost two brothers and her betrothed. But the winner tells her that he fulfilled his sacred duty to Rome. However, Camilla curses the city for allowing her lover to be killed.

Trial of Horace

Hearing these words, an angry Horace kills Camilla. At the subsequent trial after this crime, old Horace comes to the defense of his son. Declares that when he hit his sister with a sword, he was guided by a sense of duty, since he could not endure the words of blasphemy spoken by Camilla in relation to the fatherland.

King Tull, who appears before the audience as a wise judge, also defends Horace and forgives him. Informs everyone present that he is a hero who, through his actions on the battlefield, glorified Rome. Such people, according to the Roman king, are a reliable support for their masters. They are not subject to the common law, and Horace will live on.

Summary of conclusions

The tragedy of Pierre Corneille "Horace", like his other works, shows people as they should be for an absolutist state. His heroes have an unyielding will in the line of duty.

From the commentsIt follows from critics that in "Horace" the author successfully embodied the Aristotelian principle that tragedy is a reproduction of only important events, the characters in it are strong people, and their emotional experiences lead exclusively to irreversible and negative consequences. At the same time, Pierre Corneille skillfully lures the audience into the plots of the tragedy, remembering that they are attracted only by suffering, disasters that are characteristic of themselves.

Even the content of Corneille's short "Horace" reveals the main goal of the author - patriotism is in the main place. The author, drawing the image of old Horace, shows the highest pathos, because the character puts the state above family and kindred foundations, while being ready to accept the death of his son, who brought him shame.

Judging by the reviews of classics lovers who want to get acquainted with the work of Corneille "Horace" in more detail, it is not worth reading the summary of this work. Only the style of this work, courageous and chased, most fully conveys the high spirit of the heroes of the tragedy.

From the majority of readers' comments about this work by Corneille, it follows that the play is constantly in suspense. It has a lot of unpredictable plot twists. They cannot leave the reader indifferent and make them worry about the fate of the main characters.