What do you think of this text by the playwright Racine?

[Julie4]

Racine is one of France's greatest playwrights



" Excited by a curious desire,
Tonight, I saw her arrive in this place,
Sad, lifting her tear-filled eyes to the sky,
Which shone through the torches and the weapons,
Beautiful, without ornament, in the simple attire
Of a beauty just torn from sleep.
What do you want? I do not know if this negligence,
The shadows, the torches, the cries, and the silence,
And the fierce appearance of her proud captors,
Enhanced the timid sweetness of her eyes.
Whatever the case, enchanted by such a sight,
I wished to speak to her, but my voice was lost:
Motionless, seized by a long astonishment,
I let her pass into her chamber.
I went to mine. It was there, alone,
That I vainly tried to distract myself from her image.
Too present in my mind, I thought I spoke to her;
I even loved her tears, which I had caused to flow.
At times, but too late, I begged for her mercy:
I used sighs and even threats.
Thus, absorbed by my newfound love,
My eyes, without closing, awaited the dawn.
But perhaps I am imagining her too beautifully:
She appeared to me with too many charms.
Narcissus, what do you say? "

[HungTexan]

I like Racine’s references to emotional complexity, even in times past. I sometimes wonder if we’ve lost some humanity in modern times.

[RavVid]

It is beautiful superb writing but for my AS mind the metaphorical is too hard to understand. :)

[Julie4]

Haha I understand, Racine is considered on a par with the great authors of antiquity

[RavVid]

:) :)

[DishLady]

I've always enjoyed Racine's references to the ancient and modern (or what was modern back then).

[Anonymous]

Too long but very poetic. Plus I prefer Shakespeare.

[Julie4]

Ah yes, that's up to individual tastes. In France, Shakespeare has long been considered a barbaric author, without any sophistication. It was Victor Hugo who really made Shakespeare respectable in France.

Personally, I think you can appreciate both styles.

[Opinion Owner]

It is a beautiful piece. It just feels too clunky to me. Not something I could see a character saying naturally. I think it works much better as poetry.

[AI Opinion]

Racine's text beautifully captures the nuances of complex emotions and visual imagery. The scene is vivid, with the interplay of light, darkness, and the raw vulnerability of emotions. His ability to evoke a powerful emotional response through language is remarkable. The tension between the speaker's admiration and their helplessness adds a layer of depth and drama. The writing is hauntingly poetic and illustrates Racine's mastery of blending emotion with detailed description. 🌟