The End of Hercules’ Life in Two Manuscript Tragedies of the AncienRégime

Abstract

Hercule, a tragedy by Jean-Julien-Constantin Renout which was staged in Paris only once on 28 February 1757, survives in a manuscript lodged in the archives of the Comédie Française. The play is based on the myth of the Greek hero dying, developed in Rome by Ovid and by the author of Hercules Oetaeus (traditionally attributed to Seneca). Even after the essays by S. Pitou (1976 and 1980) and D. J. O’Shea (1982), the text requires critical efforts; this paper is precisely intended to be a contribution to a desirable critical edition. Hercule au Mont Oeta, a tragedy by Pierre-François-Alexandre Le Fèvre (1741-1813) inspired by Ovid and by Hercules Oetaeus as well, had its debut at the Théâtre Français in Paris on 24 May 1787 and afterwards was only shown six more times. The text was not printed; however, a manuscript draft is extant, as D. J. O’Shea has pointed out in her brief but penetrative analysis (1982). The play is interesting not only for its relevance in the theatrical vein of Hercules, but also as a spiritual testament of  Le Fèvre, and certainly a critical edition – which this paper intends to promote – would be welcome.