Polyeucte

Polyeucte is a tragedy in five acts by French playwright Pierre Corneille, first performed in 1643. It is considered one of Corneille's masterpieces and a key work of French classical theatre.

The play is based on the life of Saint Polyeuctus, a Roman officer in Armenia who converts to Christianity in the face of persecution. The plot centers around Polyeucte's conversion, his subsequent defiance of Roman authority, and the internal conflict this causes for his wife, Pauline, who is also the daughter of the Roman governor Félix. The play explores themes of faith, love, duty, and sacrifice.

Key characters include:

• Polyeucte: A Roman officer who converts to Christianity.
• Pauline: Polyeucte's wife and Félix's daughter. Torn between her love for her husband and her duty to her father and the Roman state.
• Félix: The Roman governor of Armenia and Pauline's father. He is charged with enforcing Roman law and suppressing Christianity.
• Sévère: A Roman general and Pauline's former lover. He returns to Armenia after a long absence.
• Néarque: A Christian who influences Polyeucte's conversion and shares his fate.

The play is written in alexandrine verse, a common form for French classical drama. "Polyeucte" is notable for its exploration of the conflict between personal faith and political obligation, and for its depiction of the power of religious conviction. Its complex characters and intense moral dilemmas have made it a lasting work of French literature.