Abstract EN:

Our study is essentially based on the relationship between drama and poetry in Racine’s tragedy. It stems from criticism from earlier centuries, which mainly set up Racine the poet against the playwright, casting even a doubt regarding his dramatic work. In the XVIIth c. , baffled critics, who might have been perplexed by the novelty of his work, relegate the author to a minor position, giving him a second part after Corneille. In the XVIIIth c. , too much support and praise eventually endangers the dramatist's status. The romantic revolution views Racine’s dramatic work as rather out of fashion. Curiously enough, the XXth c. Reestablishes Racine in his own part. The author, after having been made more than tedious by centuries for scholastic critics, becomes according to the abbot Bremond and the poet Valéry - the originator of an exquisite and pure poetry, a dramatist poet to be played anew and up-to-date according to Xavier de Courville and the well-known Copeau. A subject which inspired the greatest writers, playwrights and critics the world over, Racine after having lost favor is now reborn and well alive. The renewal of his staging by J. -L. Barrault and R. Planchon, the late revival of Berenice at the Comédie Française which was successfully cast by the german Klaus Gruber and the creation abroad - mainly in japan - of some of his plays, everything testifies of the strength and vitality and of the success worldwide of Racine’s tragedy.