An edition of Birth marks (2000)
Birth marks
the tragedy of primogeniture in Pierre Corneille, Thomas Corneille, and Jean Racine
By Richard E. Goodkin
Publish Date
2000
Publisher
University of Pennsylvania Press
Language
eng
Pages
281
Description:
"Birth Marks reexamines the body of French classical tragedy from the perspective of recent theories about the sibling bond and, in particular, birth order. Through a study of the evolution of inheritance issues in seventeen tragedies written over half a century by the Corneille brothers, Pierre and Thomas, and by Jean Racine, the book questions the pervasive assumption that classical tragedy, a form written for the aristocracy, is informed exclusively by an aristocratic ethic.". "Instead, a fresh reading of both canonical and noncanonical texts demonstrates that even the most formal body of literature produced by French classical writers expresses a conflict between a declining aristocratic hierarchy based on inherited privilege and a rising capitalistic ethic that favors competition and enterprise."--BOOK JACKET.
subjects: Criticism and interpretation, French drama, French drama (Tragedy), History and criticism, Primogeniture in literature, Tragedies, Corneille, pierre, 1606-1684, Racine, jean, 1639-1699, French drama, history and criticism
People: Jean Racine (1639-1699), Pierre Corneille (1606-1684), Thomas Corneille (1625-1709)
Times: 17th century