La Fierté d'Empire: Sophonisbe (1663) de Pierre Corneille

Abstract

In his Sophonisbe, Pierre Corneille makes the protagonist the grounds for political and moral reflection by exploring the implications of her pride in choosing death over dishonor. To do this, Corneille articulates two poetic processes: the leitmotif of jealousy which underlines the two dimensions of this passion as both individual and political, and the invention of a character, Éryxe, who, by comparison and contrast, highlights the dark side of the glory of Sophonisbe. The play thus indicates a possible detachment with regard to political greatness.