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After at least ten years of writing for the stage, Thomas Corneille (1625-1709) changed direction around 1660, abandoning romanesque plays for historical tragedies. His 'Persée et Démétrius' (1663), with its theme of two enemy brothers, may have inspired Racine (1639-99) in his initial work, La Thébadïe (1664), while 'La Mort de l'empereur Commode' (1658) and 'Camma' (1661) contain structural parallels to 'Andromaque' (1667). Thomas's 'Ariane' (1672) has similarities of characterisation with 'Phèdre' five years later. Thus the older playwright, like Boyer and Quinault, may well have supplied ideas, situations, character traits and even verses which Racine incorporated into his masterpieces. |
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