Brief information “Britannicus”


Agrippina is the widow of Domitius Enobarb of Nero’s father and the second widow of Emperor Claudius. With the help of intrigues and crimes, Nero was elevated to the throne afterwards was killed by his order. A. – one of the most important characters in the tragedy. Moving away from the image of heroes possessing virtue capable of weakness and causing fear and compassion to the viewer at the same time as it was in Andromache, the playwright followed the way of Seneca by dividing the Britannic characters into positive compassionate (Britannicus Junia Burr) and negative fears (Nero Narcissus ). Only A. to some extent continues the line “Andromache”.

Nero – the Roman emperor son of Agrippina and Domitius Enobarba (Agenobarba), brother Brittany, poisoned him in the struggle to consolidate his rights to the throne and out of jealousy for the loving Britannica of Junia. Racine draws the eighteen-year-old N. who commits the first murder. “Nero did

not kill his mother yet, the wife of his mentors, but the seeds of all these villainies are ripening in him. He already wants to get rid of prohibitions. He hates his loved ones but covers hatred with feigned caresses… In short, this monster in rudiment (monstre naissant) tries to embellish his evil deeds… “- wrote about him playwright in the second preface to the tragedy (1676). N. throughout the whole tragedy inspires only fear of indignation but not compassion (in contrast to the heroes of “Andromache”). Even his love for Junia, which he tells about when he first appears on the stage, does not have a viewer to him. If passionately in love Pyrrhus and Orestes were ready to fulfill any desire of their beloved, then N. can only torment the girl to whom he had an irresistible attraction. Seeking to use the love of Britannica and Junia against his rival N. promises not to kill Britannic only if Junia refuses to him in her love, while N. will be from the cache to watch the scene of the explanation.

Experiencing jealousy N. simultaneously “amuses himself with the game” watching the martyrdom of Britannica and Junia. Founding Britannica on her knees before her lover after she explained the reason for her forced coldness, N. could bring her threat to execution but does it later and not openly but perfidiously. Announcing his desire to reconcile with Britannic N. invites him to a feast and brings it to the bowl of poison. Unaware of treachery N. Britannic drinks for friendship and the same dies.


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Brief information “Britannicus”