Questioning Racinian Tragedy

Noting significant differences between the individual tragedies of Racine and the many current notions of what
Racinian tragedy
is deemed to imply, John Campbell explores the identity and meaning of the modern
Racine.
He asks if any one critical paradigm, propounded to explain what is commonly called
Racinian tragedy,
even permits a convincing interpretation of any single play. He expresses skepticism as to whether the various tragedies can together constitute a body of work methodologically and ideologically cohesive enough to demonstrate any set of clearly identifiable patterns. Campbell’s examination of the individual tragedies suggests the works are marked by difference, difficulty, uncertainty, and irresolution. This focus is a reminder that
Racine
is a critical fiction, and that
Racinian tragedy
is in reality a series of separate entities, individual dramatic works created as such.