Andromache
by Jean Racine · Andromaque
Assigned by 1 of the 9 reading lists, catalogue entry only
- Written
- 1667
- Form
- Tragedy
- Language
- French
- Length
- Short · 80 ppunder 120 pages
- Difficulty
- Moderate2 of 5 for a first-year reader
We recommendAndromache, Britannicus, Berenice, translated by John CairncrossPenguin Classics, 1967Three of Racine's major tragedies in a clear blank-verse translation.
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After the fall of Troy, Hector's widow Andromache is the captive of Pyrrhus, son of Achilles, who loves her and will spare her son Astyanax only if she marries him. Pyrrhus is betrothed to Hermione, who loves him; the Greek envoy Orestes loves Hermione and has come to demand the child's death. Andromache agrees to marry Pyrrhus intending to kill herself afterwards. Hermione orders Orestes to kill Pyrrhus, then turns on him when he does, and Orestes goes mad.
No reading guide yet
The catalogue entry above is complete: the dates, the form, the themes and every program that assigns Andromache are verified against each program's published list.
What is missing is the part that takes real work: the summary, the key passages, and a recommended translation. The edition named below is the one most programs assign, so the buy links are useful already.
