The metamorphoses of innocence in Racine's Esther

Campbell, J. (2009) The metamorphoses of innocence in Racine's Esther. In: Southwood, J. and Bourque, B. (eds.) French Seventeenth-Century Literature. Influences and Transformations. Series: Medieval and early modern French studies (7). Peter Lang, pp. 57-74. ISBN 9783039115372

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to question this uncontroversial viewpoint. While accepting that there are reasons why notions of ‘poetry’ and ‘innocence’ have predominated, it will nonetheless suggest that each of these elements needs to be treated with caution. It will attempt to show that Esther is truly dramatic in nature, and that the ‘innocence’ it projects contains a degree of moral ambiguity, enough to call into question what has been called‘Racine’s utopic attempt to make God and truth manifest on stage.’

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Campbell, Professor John
• Authors: Campbell, J.
• Subjects: P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN0080 Criticism
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Modern Languages and Cultures > French
• Publisher: Peter Lang
• ISBN: 9783039115372
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2009 Peter Lang
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced with the permission of the publisher.