Le Cid

Pierre Corneille, born on June 6, 1606, in Rouen, France, dying on October 1, 1684, in Paris, was a seminal 17th-century French playwright and poet. Originating from a bourgeois background, Corneille initially served as a lawyer in Rouen. However, his true passion lay in literature, a common theme among his law contemporaries.

Corneille’s early works were primarily comedies, such as “Melite” and “La Place Royale,” and tragicomedies including “L’Illusion Musicale” and “Clitandre.” His 1637 play “Le Cid” marked a significant triumph, despite facing criticism from rivals. He ventured further into historical tragedy around 1640, a genre in which he eventually excelled, producing masterpieces like “Horace,” “Cinna,” “Polyeuctes,” “Rodogune,” “Heraclius,” and “Nicomedes.”

The negative reception of “Pertharite” in 1652, during the Fronde period, led Corneille to briefly abandon the theatre, focusing instead on translating “The Imitation of Jesus Christ.” However, he returned to drama in 1659 with a reworked “Oedipus” and enjoyed several more years of success. His later works, however, were overshadowed by the rising popularity of playwrights like Philippe Quinault, his brother Thomas, and Jean Racine. Corneille’s final play, “Suréna,” in 1674, received a mixed response.

Throughout his career, Corneille wrote 32 plays, ranging from baroque comedies to modern tragedies which introduced a new emotional and reflective depth. He wrestled with the establishment of classical theatre rules and left an indelible mark on the genre through his portrayal of complex moral dilemmas, and his creation of strong, nuanced characters.

Corneille’s dramas reflected the preoccupations of his time, such as honour and the dynamics of power. Despite myths of his financial struggles in later years, research indicates he lived comfortably until his death. Today, Corneille is celebrated as one of the foremost figures in French literature and remains a widely performed playwright.

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