ATHALIAH Essay Example For Students

ATHALIAH Essay A monologue from the play by Jean Racine NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from The Dramatic Works of Jean Racine. Trans. Robert Bruce Boswell. London: George Bell and Sons, 1911. ATHALIAH: While thus disturbd, before me roseThe vision of a boy in shining robe,Such as the Hebrew priests are wont to wear.My drooping spirits at his sight revived:But while my troubled eyes, to peace restored,Admired his noble air and modest grace,I felt the sudden stroke of murderous steelPlunged deeply by the traitor in my breast.Perhaps to you this dream, so strangely mixd,May seem a work of chance, and I myself,For long ashamed to let my fears prevail,Referrd it to a melancholy mood;But while its memory lingerd in my soul,Twice in my sleep I saw that form again,Twice the same child before my eyes appeard,Always about to stab me to the heart.Worn out at last by horrors close pursuit,I went to claim Baals protecting care,And, kneeling at his altars, find repose.How strangely fear may sway our mortal minds!And instinct seemd to drive me to those courts,To pacify the god whom Jews adore;I thought that offerings might appease his wrath,That this their god might grow more merciful.B aals High Priest, my feebleness forgive!I enterd; and the sacrifice was stayd,The people fled, Jehoiada in wrathAdvanced to meet me. As he spake, I sawWith terror and surprise that self-same boyWho haunts me in my dreams. I saw him there;His mien the same, the same his linen stole,His gait, his eyes, each feature of his face;It was himself; beside th High Priest he walkd,Till quickly they removed him from my sight.That is the trouble which detains me here,And thereon would I fain consult you both.What means this omen marvellous?