Polyeucte

Pierre Corneille was the greatest of French dramatists writing in the seventeenth century. As a renegade author, he railed against the restrictive rules of the neoclassical age and crafted works of spiritual power that transcended the mere rules of the dramatic trade. Of his major works, Polyeucte (1643) remains the most endearing and powerful.

The play tells the story of Pauline, the daughter of a Roman Governor, and her husband Polyeucte, an Armenian nobleman who has recently converted to the Christian faith. In a heated fervor, Polyeucte desecrates the Roman Temple, tearing down the statues of the gods. The law demands his repentance or death — but as a zealous young Christian, Polyeucte refuses to repent, preferring death instead.

Matters are complicated when Pauline’s first love, now a decorated war hero, arrives in the province to win her back. Pauline must rebuff her new suitor, convince her husband to recant his faith, and dispute the finer points of Roman law with her father, who feels duty-bound to execute Polyeucte for his crimes. When all is said and done, these events lead to a visitation of grace upon their household and the land of Armenia.