Britannicus (play)

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Britannicus is a tragic play by the French dramatist Jean Racine.

A tale of moral choice, the play, produced in 1669, was the first time Racine had tried his hand at depicting Roman history. The play's subject Britannicus is the son of the Roman emperor Claudius, and heir to the imperial throne. Claudius was however to marry Agrippina the Younger and adopt her son Lucius, later to be known as Nero. Nero usurps Britannicus' place in the succession and becomes emperor on his father's death.

Racine portrays Nero's true nature as revealed by his sudden desire for Britannicus's fiancée Junia. He wrests himself free from his mother's domination and plots to assassinate his adoptive brother. Nero is driven less by fear of being overthrown by Britannicus than by competition in love. His desire for Junia manifests itself in sadism towards the young woman and all that she loves. Agrippina is portrayed as a possessive mother who will not accept the loss of control over both her son and the Empire. Despite giving his name to the play, the character of Britannicus is more minor in comparison to those of Agrippina and Nero.

Success only came to the play slowly, but of Racine's works, Britannicus is today second only to Andromaque amongst the repertory of the Comédie-Française, and is frequently studied at college.

[edit] References

This aricle is based upon a translation of the corresponding article from the French Wikipedia.

[edit] Wikisource

• Britannicus original text (French)

The Plays of Jean Racine
Alexandre, Andromaque, Athaliah, Bajazet, Bérénice, Britannicus, Esther, Iphigénie, La Thébaide, Les Plaideurs, Mithridate, Phèdre