A Brief Note on Racine and Moliere

Jean Racine, born in 1639, was orphaned when young and raised by his grandmother who enrolled him in a convent school. The convent monks who were Racine’s teachers provided him with a good education, particularly in the Latin and Greek classics.

Later in life, Racine took to the theater, writing several plays, and eventually was befriended by Moliere. Unfortunately Racine had a habit of seducing young actresses, and his eyes fell upon Moliere’s leading actress, Thérèse du Parc, whom he seduced and convinced to leave Moliere's troupe.

Molière, who had financially supported one of Racine’s plays even when the production was losing money, was deeply hurt by this betrayal and never spoke to Racine again.

By 1677 Racine had achieved remarkable success for a playwright. In fact he was the first French playwright to live almost entirely off the earnings from his plays. And the role of Phedre was so popular that it quickly became the most coveted role of  practically every French tragedienne.