Pierre Corneille (1606-1684)

Pierre Corneille is a good, kind honest man of the bourgeoisie, rather shy in society, whose life is the opposite of the passions and complexities of his characters.
Born in Rouen in 1606 to a family of magistrates and following a Jesuit secondary education, he predictably studies law, like his younger brother Thomas Corneille. He is a very mediocre litigation lawyer, shy and without elocution, who in the theatre, through his characters, will find the vocation of orator that he lacks in his professional life. Endowed with great sensitivity and an outstanding generosity, accustomed by his training to the rigorous reasoning of pleading, he thus skilfully applies these qualities throughout his brilliant career as a dramatic author. His work is rich and varied. He successfully moves between comedy, tragicomedy and tragedy, very often transgressing the theatrical rules and the evolution of genres prevailing in the classic theatre of the 17th century. Le Cid, for which he finds his inspiration in the Spanish comedy, is without doubt his masterpiece. Pierre Corneille especially excels in the oratorical debates; his plays, constructed with method and movement, offer Rodrigue in Le Cid, then Horatio or Cinna the opportunity to develop blazing, ardent but rigorously composed diatribes. In fact, he exalts human valour and always seeks language and oratory worthy of his heroes. This oratory expresses itself at times expansively, in discussions or speeches, or in condensed form, with spectacular pronouncements. Corneille also has a predilection for scenes of political reflection where opposite theses confront each other. In fact he possesses all the qualities of a great orator: great innovation, a sense of rhythm in his invective, subtle nuances of tone that convey moderation or pomposity, a recourse to logical structure to convince his audience, as well as striking plots. The oratorical genius of Pierre Corneille is certainly the principal quality of his work, and is the perfect reflection of a century where the word carries so much importance.