Andromache
(Jean Racine)
The French writer, Jean Racine, remains a genius of neo-
classical style and his adaptations of Classical Greek
tragedies are psychological studies of the destructive
force achieved when passion overcomes reason. The play
Andromache, loosely based on Euripides? play of the same
title, is a treatment on desire and envy and how they can
create havoc among the lives of humankind. Pyrrhus, the
fiancé of Hermione who is the daughter of the General
Menelaus and Helen of Troy, has fallen in love with
Andromache, the widow of Hector of Troy. As a Trojan
princess, Andromache has become Pyrrhus? war prize, and
become both concubine and slave to his household. Hermione,
obviously, is none to pleased by these events and vows to
get vengeance on Andromache and her son. Despite Pyrrhus?
attentions, Andromache rejects him and remains faithful to
her dead husband and only interested in the safety of her
child, Astyanax.
Soon, another love triangle is introduced when Orestes, the
son of Agamemnon, arrives. He is deeply in love with his
cousin, Hermione, and tries to win her love. He has come
with orders from the Greek kings to take away and kill the
child Astyanax, in fear that he may grow up to avenge his
father, Hector. Pyrrhus uses this as a perfect excuse to
force Andromache to marry him so that she can protect her
child. Given no alternative, Andromache agrees to do so,
secretly vowing to kill herself once she is sure of her
son?s safety. Overcome by jealousy and grief, Hermione vows
to take revenge on her jilted lover, Pyrrhus, Orestes uses
her grief to convince Hermione that Pyrrhus must die. When
Orestes finally kills Pyrrhus, Hermione becomes overcome by
guilt and rejects Orestes. Abandoning herself to despair,
Hermione takes her own life. On top of all this misery, the
lovelorn Orestes becomes mad with grief and is dragged away
by his friends, leaving Andromache and her son alone and
finally free from harm.
Resumos Relacionados
- Andromaque
- Andromaque (andromaque)
- The Trojan Women
- Electra
- Agamemnon
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