THE INFLUENCE OF REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST AND THE MORAL AND POLITICAL MEANING OF CLEMENCY ACCORDING TO THE TRAGEDY ,,CINNA’’ BY PIERRE CORNEILLE

Abstract

Pierre Corneille's tragedy ,,Cinna’’ the full title -,, Cinna or the clemency of Caesar Augustus’’ (,,Cinna ou la Clémence d'Auguste’’), indicates that the main purpose of the tragedy is not to focus on the conspiracy organized by Cinna against Emperor Augustus but the clemency of the Emperor Augustus, which he showed towards the conspirators.

The moral essence of the tragedy "Cinna" is clemency of the first person of the state – the monarch. Clemency expresses the preference of public peace over the evils caused by anarchy.

According to ’’Cinna’’, clemency is the highest virtue, praised even by the gods themselves. The greatness of the soul of Emperor Augustus is due to clemency.

In favor of state interests, the emperor forgets his personal grudges and in this way will finally win the hearts of his opponents. A humane, benevolent state ruler deserves the respect, love and loyalty of his subjects. The clemency of Augustus has a beneficial effect on Cinna and the rest of the conspirators and strengthens the sovereign's power. Thus, in t he tragedy ,,Cinna’’  Pierre Corneille showed us that the clemency of the ruler of the country is the highest virtue, which is the basis of the peaceful and harmonious development of the state.

The clemency of the emperor Augustu s is a universal example for statesmen to rise above their own ambitions, achieve spiritual catharsis, and be lenient and merciful to their subjects. That is why Pierre Corneilel's "Cinna" is considered not only a masterpiece of French classicist tragedy, but also one of the most humane works in the history of Western European literature.

Key words: Pierre Corneille, ,,Cinna’’, Clemency, French classisist tragedy conspiracy, Emperor Octavian Augustus.