Module 2: History of Drama
2.4. Baroque and Classicist drama 

Baroque is an art that spanned many areas of culture, including literature and drama, and prevailed in Europe from about the end XVI of the 16th century to the beginning of the 18th century. The following characteristics were noticeable in the Baroque drama:

1.       Complex intrigues and plots: Baroque drama was often intricate and complex. The plots included intrigues, intriguing twists of events, and lots of characters.

2.     Use of metaphors and symbols: The Baroque was characterized by the use of rich symbolism and metaphors, which made the plays more mysterious and profound.

3.     Religious themes: The Baroque often focused on religious themes and symbolism, reflecting religious trends and the struggle of faith.

4.    Use of decorative elements: Sets, costumes and music in Baroque theater productions were richly decorated and used to create magnificent images and effects.

5.     Use of operatic elements: Baroque dramaturgy often included elements of opera, such as arias and choruses, which gave the performances a more musical sound.

An example of Baroque drama is the work of the French playwright Jean Racine and his tragedies such as Phaedra.

During the Baroque period, drama had a variety of genres, reflecting the characteristics of this art history period. Some of the most common genres of Baroque drama included:

1.   Tragedy: Tragedy was one of the most significant Baroque genres. She usually described the tragic fate of the characters, often with philosophical and religious motives. An example is the tragedy of Pierre Corneille "Polyeuctus".

2. Comedy: Baroque comedy was often satirical and multifaceted. She used intrigue and comic elements to raise questions about society and morals. An example is Moliere's comedy The Miser.

3.     Pastoral: Pastoral was a popular Baroque genre describing the life of shepherdesses and nature. This genre was the personification of the ideal of natural harmony. An example is the pastoral drama "Astria" by Giovanni Battista Guarini.

4. Historical drama: The Baroque period also produced dramas based on historical events and personalities. These works were often used to express political and social ideas. An example is Moliere's Tartuffe.

5.     Masquerade and carnival drama: These genres emphasized elements of theatrical art and were popular at Baroque balls and festivals. An example is Carlo Goldoni's comedy "The Servant of Two Masters".

The genres of drama in the Baroque period were diverse and complex, reflecting the spirit of the times and the cultural characteristics of this era.

Simultaneously with the Baroque, classicism coexisted on the stage-the personification and desire for harmony, portico and rules in art. He focused on the ideals of antiquity and emphasized the importance of moral lessons. During this period, writers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Friedrich Schiller created works that developed complex plots with emotional depth and philosophical aspects. Their works often touched upon issues of human nature, freedom, justice and morality.

The drama of classicism had several characteristic features:

1.   Observing the unity of place, time, and action: Classicism insisted that events take place in one place, for a limited time, and center around a single main plot. This created a clear structure in the drama.

2. Idealization: Playwrights sought to create ideal characters who embodied moral values and often served as role models. This was reflected in the conflicts and character development.

3.     Appeal to ancient models: Classicism was inspired by ancient literature and philosophy, and many dramas of this era had allusions to ancient myths and plots.

4.    Following structural rules: Classicist plays followed strict structural rules, such as introduction, conflict, plot development, and conflict resolution, which gave them logical consistency and symmetry.

5.     Balance between reason and passion: Classicist playwrights sought to achieve a balance between reason and passion in their characters and plot. This was reflected in the characters ' dialogues and internal conflicts.

6.     Purpose-moral teaching: One of the main goals of the drama in classicism was to teach moral lessons and educate the feelings and morals of the audience.

These features made classicist drama an expressive and popular art form.

Classicism had a significant impact on the development of drama in Russia. It came to the country in the second half of the XVIII century and prevailed in literature and art until the beginning of the XIX century. The drama of classicism in Russia was characterized by the following features:

1.       Observing the Canons: Playwrights sought to observe the classical canons, in particular the rules of Aristotelian tragedy, such as the unity of time, place, and action.

2. Idealization of heroes: The heroes of classical drama were idealized and often represented moral ideals. They often faced moral dilemmas and moral choices.

3.     Themes: The classic drama's themes included conflicts between duty and passion, loyalty and power struggles.

4.    Tragic outcome: In most cases, classical plays ended tragically, emphasizing punishment for sins or inconsistency in moral choices.

5.     Representatives: Famous representatives of classicist drama in Russia were Denis Fonvizin, Gavriil Derzhavin, and, in a sense, Alexander Pushkin.

This period in the history of Russian literature left a significant legacy and was an important stage in the development of drama.

You can compare the two directions in general terms:

Baroque drama:

1.   The tragedy:

o    It often included elements of pathos and expressiveness.

o    Stories were often based on myths, legends, or historical events.

o    Using complex intrigues and unexpected twists.

2. Comedy:

o    Mixing high and low styles.

o Wordplay, jokes, and satire.

o    It often contained elements of farce.

3. Dramaturgy of the absurd:

o    A special subgenre of the Baroque, characterized by the absurdity, absurdity of events.

Drama of classicism:

1.   The tragedy:

o    Compliance with the requirements of unity of time, place and action.

o    Striving for a moral lesson and refined aesthetics.

o    Heroes are often subject to higher moral laws.

2. Comedy:

o    The implementation of the classical rules for tragedy was also applied to comedy.

o    Mixing comic elements with high style.

3. Sentimental drama:

o    I paid attention to the feelings and emotions of the characters.

o    Morale and empathy were important.

In general, Baroque encompasses theatrical works with strong emotions and expression, while classicism follows more moderate and rational canons, striving for harmony and ideal form.