Pierre Cornell is a famous French playwright and poet of the 17th century. He is the founder of the classic tragedy in France. In addition, Cornell was accepted into the ranks of the members of the French Academy, which is a very high distinction. So, this article will be devoted to the biography and work of the father of French drama.
Pierre Cornell: biography. Start
The future playwright was born on June 6, 1606 in Rouen. His father was a lawyer, so it is not surprising that Pierre was sent to study law. The young man was so successful in this area that he even got his law practice. However, already in those years, Cornell was attracted to the fine arts - he wrote poetry, loved the performances of acting troupes touring throughout France. And he wanted to get to Paris - the cultural center of the country.
In these years, Pierre Cornell has already begun to undertake the first literary experiments in the dramatic genre. In 1926, he shows his first work, a comedy in verses "Melita", not particularly well-known in those years, the actor G. Mondori, who led the theater troupe traveling around the French province on tour.
Paris
Mondari liked the work, and he staged it in the same year. “Melita” was a huge success, which allowed the actors and the author himself to move to Paris. Here Mondori continued to collaborate with Cornell and staged several of his plays: “The Gallery of Fates”, “Widow”, “Royal Square”, “Subretka”.
The year 1634 was a turning point for both Mondori and Cornell. The fact is that Richelieu, who paid attention to the works of Cornell, allowed Mondori to organize his own theater in Paris, which was called "Marais". This permission violated the monopoly of the Burgundy Hotel Theater, the only such institution in the capital so far.
From comedy to tragedy
But Richelieu did not stop only on allowing the creation of a new theater; he also included Cornel in the ranks of poets who wrote plays commissioned by the cardinal himself. However, Pierre Cornell quite quickly left the ranks of this group, as he wanted to find his own creative path. At the same time, the poet’s plays begin to change gradually - comicism leaves them, dramatic moments intensify and tragic moments begin to appear. Cornell's comedies are gradually turning into tragicomedy. More and more, the writer is moving away from the genre chosen at the beginning of his work.
And finally, Pierre Cornell composes his first real tragedies. These are "Clythander" and "Medea", based on the Greek epic. This creative stage is completed by the play “Illusion”, unlike the rest of the poet's work. In it, the playwright addresses the theme of theater and acting fraternity. Nevertheless, Cornell did not change his tradition of writing in poetry even in this work.
The tragedy of Sid
However, the following 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, a conflict first appeared, which in the future will become mandatory for the classic tragedy - the conflict between duty and feeling. The tragedy was an incredible success with the public and brought its creator, as well as the theater troupe unprecedented fame. How wide this popularity was, one can judge at least by the fact that after the production of Sid, Cornell received the title of nobleman that he had dreamed about for so long and personally retired 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 work and return to Rouen
He begins work on the theory of tragedy as a genre of Pierre Cornell. The writer's work during this period is replete with various journalistic articles on theatrical theme. For example, “Reasoning on Dramatic Poetry”, “Reasoning on Three Unities”, “Reasoning on Tragedy”, etc. All these essays were published in 1660. But the poet did not stop only on theoretical developments, he sought to translate them on stage. The tragedies of Zinn, Horace, and Polievkt became examples of such successful attempts.
When the events of the Fronde (the movement against absolute power) begin in France in 1648, Cornel changes the direction of his plays. Returning to the comedy genre, he makes fun of the power struggle. Such works include the plays “Heraclius”, “Rodoguna”, “Nycomed”.
However, gradually, interest in Cornel’s work fades away, and the production of “Pertharite” generally turns into a failure. After this, the poet decides to return to Rouen, deciding 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. Cornel brings with him his new work - the tragedy of Oedipus.
The next 15 years are the final stage of the writer's work. At this time, he turned to the genre of political tragedies: Otton, Sertorius, Attila, etc. However, Cornell failed to repeat his former success. This was mainly due to the fact that a new dramatic idol appeared in Paris - it was Jean Racine.
The next 10 years, Cornell did not write theatrical plays at all. The poet died in Paris on October 1, 1684, almost forgotten by his audience.