This article sets out to revisit the enigmatic “simplicité d’action” evoked by Racine in the preface to Britannicus, to show that, contrary to how it may seem, the dramaturgical structure of the play is truly “complex” in the Aristotelian sense. It is indeed based on dashed hopes and a reversal triggered by the innocent flaw of Burrhus, an unexpected tragic hero too often classified reassuringly as a good heroic advisor.
CLIL theme: 4027 -- SCIENCES HUMAINES ET SOCIALES, LETTRES -- Lettres et Sciences du langage -- Lettres -- Etudes littéraires générales et thématiques
ISBN:978-2-406-11766-7
EAN:9782406117667
ISSN: 2105-2689
DOI: 10.15122/isbn.978-2-406-11766-7.p.0005
Publisher: Classiques Garnier
Online publication: 05-14-2021
Periodicity: Quarterly
Language: French
Keyword: Aristotle, Boileau, Britannicus, Burrhus, tragic flaw, Jean Racine, Louis Racine, Narcissus, deleted scene, simplicity of action, classical tragedy