Pierre Cornell: Biography and Creativity

Pierre Cornell is a famous French playwright and poet of the 17th century. He is the founder of the classical tragedy in France. In addition, Corneille was admitted to the ranks of members of the French Academy, which is a very high mark of distinction. So, this article will be devoted to the biography and creativity of the father of French drama.

Pierre Cornel: biography. Start

The future playwright was born June 6, 1606 in Rouen. His father was a lawyer, so it's no surprise that Pierre was sent to study law. The young man was so successful in this field that he even got his lawyer practice. However, even in those years, Corneille was attracted to the fine arts - he wrote poetry, adored performances of touring actors throughout France. And he wanted to go to Paris, the cultural center of the country.

In these years, Pierre Corneille is already beginning to undertake the first literary experiments in the dramatic genre. In 1926, he shows his first work, a comedy in the poems "Melita", not particularly known in those years, the actor G. Mondori, who directed the theatrical company, traveling through the French province with tours.

Paris

Mondari liked the work, and he put it in the same year. "Melita" was a huge success, which allowed the actors and the author to move to Paris. Here, Mondori continued to cooperate with Corneille and staged several of his plays: "The Gallery of Destinies", "Widow", "Royal Square", "Subretka".

1634 was a turning point for both Mondori and Corneille. The fact is that Richelieu, who drew attention to the works of Corneille, allowed Mondori to organize in Paris his theater, which was named "Mare". This permission violated the monopoly of the theater "Burgundy Hotel", the only such a similar institution in the capital.

From comedy to tragedy

But Richelieu did not stop only on authorizing the creation of a new theater, he also included Corneille in the ranks of poets who wrote plays commissioned by the cardinal himself. However, Pierre Cornel quickly left the ranks of this group, as he wanted to find his own creative path. At the same time, the plays of the poet begin to change gradually - from them the comedy goes away, dramatic moments are amplified and tragic ones begin to appear. Corneille's comedies gradually turn into tragicomedies. More and more the writer leaves the genre chosen at the beginning of his work.

And finally Pierre Cornel composes his first real tragedies. This is "Klitander" and "Medea", based on the Greek epic. This creative stage completes the play "Illusion", unlike other works of the poet. In it, the playwright refers to the theme of theater and acting brotherhood. Nevertheless, Corneille did not change his tradition of writing in verse even in this work.

Tragedy "Sid"

However, the next tragedy, which the French poet created in 1636, turned out to be a turning point for the history of the whole world drama. It was a play called "Sid". In this work for the first time there was a conflict, which in the future will become mandatory for the classic tragedy, a conflict between duty and feeling. The tragedy had an incredible success with the public and brought its creator, as well as the theater company, an unprecedented fame. How wide this popularity was, one can judge at least from the fact that after the production of "Sid" Corneille received the title of nobleman, whom he had long dreamed of, and retired personally from Cardinal Richelieu. Nevertheless, the first attempt to become a member of the French Academy was unsuccessful. Only in 1647 the poet was awarded this honor.

Theoretical works and return to Rouen

Begins work on the theory of tragedy as a genre by Pierre Cornel. Creativity of the writer during this period abounds with various publicistic articles on the theatrical theme. For example, "Discourses on Dramatic Poetry," "Discourse on Three Unities," "Discourse on Tragedy," etc. All these essays were published in 1660. But the poet did not stop only on theoretical developments, he tried to translate them on stage. Examples, and very successful, of such attempts were the tragedies of "Cinna", "Horace" and "Polievkt".

When the events of Fronda began in France in 1648 (movements against absolute power), Corneille changed the direction of her plays. Returning to the genre of comedy, he ridicules the struggle for power. Such works include the plays "Irakly", "Rodoguna", "Nycomed".

However, gradually interest in Corneille's work fades away, and the production of "Pertarit" in general turns into a failure. After this, the poet decides to return to Rouen, taking a decision to abandon literature.

last years of life

But after seven years, the French poet receives (in 1659) an invitation to return to Paris from the Minister of Finance. With him, Corneille brings his new work - the tragedy "Oedipus."

The next 15 years are the final stage of the writer's work. At this time, he refers to the genre of political tragedies: Otton, Sertorius, Attila, etc. However, Corneille did not succeed in repeating his former success. Basically it was due to the fact that a new dramatic idol appeared in Paris - it was Jean Racine.

The next 10 years, Corneille did not write plays at all. The poet died in Paris on October 1, 1684, almost forgotten by his audience.