The Cid by Pierre Corneille
**Overview of "The Cid" by Pierre Corneille**
"The Cid" is a classical French tragedy written by Pierre Corneille in the early 17th century, centered around themes of honor, love, and duty. The narrative follows Rodrigue, a young nobleman, who is torn between his love for Chimène and his obligation to avenge the dishonor of his father, Don Diègue. The conflict escalates when Chimène's father, Don Gomès, challenges Rodrigue to a duel, resulting in Don Gomès's death at Rodrigue's hands. This act creates a deep emotional struggle for Chimène, who loves Rodrigue but feels compelled to seek justice for her father's murder.
The story unfolds within the context of courtly politics, as Chimène grapples with her feudal rights and her feelings of love and vengeance. Rodrigue, lauded as a hero for his bravery against the Moors, faces the complexities of honor and societal expectations. The resolution involves a series of tests that ultimately challenge Chimène’s loyalties and desires, revealing the profound impact of duty on personal relationships. The play explores the tension between private emotions and public responsibilities, making it a rich text for examining human motivations in the face of moral dilemmas. With its intricate characters and dramatic themes, "The Cid" remains a significant work in the canon of French literature.
The Cid by Pierre Corneille
First produced:Le Cid, 1637; first published, 1637 (English translation, 1637)
Type of work: Drama
Type of plot: Tragicomedy
Time of plot: Eleventh century
Locale: Seville, Spain
Principal characters
Don Fernand , the king of CastileDoña Urraque , the infanta, daughter of FernandDon Diègue , the father of RodrigueDon Gomès , the father of ChimèneDon Rodrigue , the accepted suitor of ChimèneDon Sanche , in love with ChimèneChimène , the daughter of Don Gomès, in love with Rodrigue
The Story
Because she is the princess royal, the infanta feels she cannot openly love Rodrigue, a nobleman of lower rank. She encourages, therefore, the growing attachment between Chimène and Rodrigue. Chimène asks her father, Don Gomès, to choose either Rodrigue or Sanche to be his son-in-law. She awaits the choice anxiously; her father is on his way to court and she will soon hear his decision. Don Gomès chooses Rodrigue without hesitation, chiefly because of the fame of Don Diègue, Rodrigue’s father.
However, a complication soon arises at court. The king chooses Don Diègue as preceptor for his son, the heir apparent. Don Gomès believes that the choice is unjust. Don Diègue was the greatest warrior in Castile, but he is now old. Don Gomès considers himself the most valiant knight in the kingdom. In a bitter quarrel, Don Gomès unjustly accuses Don Diègue of gaining the king’s favor through flattery and deceit. He believes that the prince needs a preceptor who will be a living example of the proper virtues, not a teacher who will dwell in the past. In the quarrel, Don Gomès slaps his older rival. Don Diègue, too feeble to draw his sword against Don Gomès, upbraids himself bitterly for having to accept the insult. His only recourse is to call on his young son to uphold the family honor.
Torn between love and duty, Rodrigue challenges Don Gomès to a duel. After some hesitation because of Rodrigue’s youth and unproved valor, Don Gomès accepts the challenge of his daughter’s suitor. To the surprise of the court, Rodrigue, the untried novice, kills the mightiest man in Castile, piercing with his sword the man whom he respected as his future father-in-law.
Chimène now feels herself in a desperate plight because her love for Rodrigue is mixed with hatred for the murderer of her father. She finally decides to avenge her father by seeking justice from the king. Since she has the right to petition the king, Don Fernand is forced to hear her pleas. In the scene at court, Don Diègue makes a strong plea in favor of his son, reminding the king that Rodrigue did only what honor forced him to do—uphold the family name.
The king is saved from the vexing decision when fierce Moors assault the walls of Seville. Chimène awaits the outcome of the battle with mixed emotions. The army of Castile returns in triumph, bringing as captives two Moorish kings. The man who inspired and led the Castilians by his audacity is Rodrigue. The grateful king gives the hero a new title, the Cid, a Moorish name meaning “lord.” The infanta is wretched. Although her high position will not allow her to love Rodrigue, she can love the Cid, a high noble and the hero of Castile. She shows her nobility, however, by yielding to Chimène’s prior right.
Chimène is still bound to seek redress. The king resolves to test her true feelings. When she enters the throne room, he tells her gravely that Rodrigue died from battle wounds. Chimène faints. The king advises her to follow the promptings of her heart and cease her quest for vengeance.
Still holding duty above love, however, Chimène insists on her feudal right of a champion. Sanche, hoping to win the favor of Chimène, offers to meet Rodrigue in mortal combat and avenge the death of Don Gomès. Chimène accepts him as her champion. The king decrees that Chimène must marry the victor. In private, Rodrigue comes to Chimène. Indignant at first, Chimène soon softens when she learns that Rodrigue resolves to let himself be killed because she wishes it. Again wavering between love and duty, Chimène begs him to defend himself as best he can.
Sanche goes bravely to meet Rodrigue, who easily disarms his opponent and shows his magnanimity by refusing to kill Chimène’s champion. He sends his sword to Chimène in token of defeat. As soon as Chimène sees her champion approach with Rodrigue’s sword in his hand, she immediately thinks that Rodrigue is dead. She runs in haste to the king and begs him to change his edict because she cannot bear to wed the slayer of her lover. When the king tells her the truth, that Rodrigue won, Don Diègue praises her for at last avowing openly her love. Still Chimène hesitates to take Rodrigue as her husband. The king understands her plight. He orders the Cid to lead an expedition against the Moors. The wise king knows that time will heal the breach between the lovers.
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