Britannicus (Racine)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Data
Title: Britannicus
Original title: Britannicus
Genus: tragedy
Original language: French
Author: Jean Racine
Premiere: December 13, 1669
Place of premiere: Hotel de Bourgogne , Paris
Place and time of the action: Rome in AD 55 in the palace of Nero
people
Britannicus, first printed in 1670

Britannicus is a tragedy in five acts by Jean Racine . The premiere was on December 13, 1669 in the Hôtel de Bourgogne in Paris . The piece consists of 1768 Alexandrians . The author dedicated it to the Duke of Chevreuse .

content

1

The 18-year-old Nero, who has been Roman emperor for a good year, does not want to know anything about his wife Octavia and at night his guards kidnap Princess Junia, the bride of his 14-year-old stepbrother Britannicus, and take her to his palace. Nero's mother Agrippina worries about Britannicus. Through her deceit, she secretly admits, the boy was cheated of the imperial throne. In any case, Agrippina wants to know from Nero the reason for the nocturnal robbery. That is not easy. The young emperor is tired of his mother too. Britannicus wants to speak to his imprisoned bride and needs the permission of the emperor to do so. He uses his teacher Narcissus for this.

2

Nero confesses to Narcissus that he loves Junia despite his remorse. Narcissus expresses a firm point of view: "If you are ordered to be loved, you will be loved." He knows what the Emperor of Junia wants, serves himself to the Emperor and wants to betray Britannicus. Nero accepts such betrayal without comment and lets the stepbrother before. With a grand gesture he informs Junia that he wants to marry her. Junia expresses her astonishment. Spent as a state criminal in the imperial palace, she is suddenly no longer allowed to love the bridegroom. Nero wants to let Britannicus live if Junia breaks away from him. But it must look like the emperor did not order the removal. As an eavesdropper, Nero wanted to monitor Junia's words and expressions. Junia asks the ruler in vain not to have to see her beloved any more.

During the arranged encounter, Junia reveals to Britannicus that Nero is listening. Britannicus complains, deeply disappointed: “Do you like Nero already? Did you feel sorry for me already? "

3

Burrhus, a protégé of Agrippina, mediated between the emperor and his mother. Nero confesses to his tutor Burrhus: “I love because I have to.” Burrhus disagrees, goes to Agrippina and recommends her diplomatic approach. Nero must find his way back to Octavia. Narcissus, incited by the emperor, is said to make Britannicus suffer even more. So Narcissus denies the question of whether Britannicus is allowed to see her beloved again: "Impossible, Lord, she hears what the new lover swears to her at the moment." But Junia appears. Britannicus laments his fate in private. He was abandoned by his beloved. Junia corrects: “Nero overheard us, Nero forced me to lie.” In addition, Junia recognizes the danger and in vain asks the lover to flee. The disaster takes its course. Nero comes in and brings out the ruler. The emperor not only threatens to be punished, but has the bride and groom guarded separately in his palace.

4th

Nero's rude approach calls Agrippina on the scene. She reproaches the son. Junia may be promised Britannicus and may choose the husband. The emperor rebels against his mother. He no longer wants to be your mouthpiece and tool.

Suddenly Nero gives in and even turns around. He announces the big reconciliation ceremony with the stepbrother. As soon as the mother is gone, Nero takes on a completely different tone. Britannicus is to be murdered. Narcissus has already had Lucusta mix the poison cup. Nero hesitates. Will the Romans call him a poisoner? Narcissus grabs the procrastinator at a weak point. Does Nero want to obey his mother forever? The assassination is now a done deal for Nero.

5

Britannicus breathes again. The stepbrother wants to make up with him. Junia fears a pitfall. Agrippina believes in the son's goodwill, it seems.

After Britannicus was poisoned, Nero points to a chronic illness as the cause of death. In the presence of Narcissus and Burrhus, Agrippina calls her son a murderer. Nero doesn't get Junia. You manage to escape to the temple of Vesta . Narcissus, who wants to stop the refugees, is stabbed to death from among the crowd. A long sigh from Burrhus, addressed to Agrippina, closes the piece: “You gods. grant that this may remain his [Nero's] last sacrilege! "

reception

In the afterword of the edition used, Schröder makes it clear that Racine shows the viewer a criminal, cowardly emperor.

literature

Used edition

  • Racine: Britannicus . P. 89–161 in Rudolf Alexander Schröder : Collected Works. Sixth volume. Corneille / Racine / Molière. In German Alexandrians. Suhrkamp, ​​Berlin 1958, 794 pages, without ISBN

Other German post-poets

Web links

Wikisource: Britannicus  - Sources and full texts (French)

annotation

  1. ↑ Junia and her brother Silanus are descendants (great-great-grandchildren) of Augustus (edition used, p. 759, 5th Zvo). The sisters Iunia Calvina and Iunia Silana were great-great-grandchildren of Augustus, but both of them must have been too old to be brides for the fourteen-year-old title hero at the age of thirty and forty, respectively.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Edition used, p. 107, 4th Zvu
  2. ↑ Edition used, p. 118, 11. Zvu
  3. ↑ Edition used, p. 120, 3rd Zvu
  4. ↑ Edition used, p. 128, 4. Zvo
  5. ↑ Edition used, p. 129, 13. Zvu
  6. ↑ Edition used, p. 149, 7. Zvo
  7. ↑ Edition used, p. 161, 1. Zvo
  8. ↑ Edition used, p. 757