Athalie ( [a.ta.li] , sometimes translated Athalia ) is a 1691 play, the final tragedy of Jean Racine , and has been described as the masterpiece of "one of the greatest literary artists known" and the "ripest work" of Racine's genius . Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve deemed it comparable to Oedipus Rex in beauty, with "the true God added." August Wilhelm Schlegel thought Athalie to be "animated by divine breath"; other critics have regarded the poetics of drama in the play to be superior to those of Aristotle .
7-506: After the success of Esther , Racine published Athalie in 1691, another play drawn from the Bible , which he expected would have the same success. Athalie , widow of the king of Judah , rules the country and believes she has eliminated all the rest of the royal family. She has abandoned the Jewish religion for the worship of Baal . However, the late king's grandson Joash was rescued by
14-458: The French stage," and names one of his daughters Athalie. However Homais is a boor and ignoramus so it is not clear what Flaubert's own judgement of the play was. The oratorio Athalia by George Frideric Handel , with libretto by Samuel Humphreys , was based on Athalie . Esther (drama) Esther is a play in three acts written in 1689 by the French dramatist, Jean Racine . It
21-503: The original, she hopes to recommend the same to the attention of lady educators. And knowing that the Jews in the celebration of their Purim always read the book of Esther , it is thought the rehearsal of this drama might make a deeper impression on the minds of their youth and contribute to their entertainment. Testimonial: The following testimonial from Rabbi Wise of Cincinnati , Ohio : "The English version of Esther by Mrs. Andrews
28-480: The wife of the high priest. Athalie was the victim of opposition from moralists at its creation. Represented on the public scene after the death of Madame de Maintenon , it was never part of the most popular plays of Racine, though Voltaire saw it as "perhaps the masterpiece of mankind" and Flaubert 's character Monsieur Homais, the pharmacist, in Madame Bovary calls it the most "immortal masterpiece of
35-454: Was premièred on January 26, 1689, performed by the pupils of the Maison royale de Saint-Louis , an educational institute for young girls of noble birth. The subject is taken from the biblical Book of Esther . Esther remains one of Racine's lesser known works as it has only three instead of the classical five acts. It dates from the last period of his career when he entered government work and
42-483: Was requested by Madame de Maintenon to return to liturgical drama . It is often negatively compared to Racine's 1691 biblical play written for Maintenon, Athalie . From the 1876 translation of Caroline Andrews: In the reign of Louis XIV , a seminary for young ladies was founded at St. Cyr, at the persuasion of Madame Maintenon , who gave her entire attention to the education of 250 noble young ladies; who were educated free of expense until their 20th year. Racine
49-434: Was requested to compose a poem suitable for their instruction and amusement, and he proposed the subject of Esther ; which he dramatized to the satisfaction of teachers and pupils, and which they declaimed and chanted with so much grace and modesty, that this little drama, intended only for the benefit of young pupils, became the admiration of king and court. Grand lords saw and applauded. As the translator has followed closely
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