Andromache – Audiobook

3 minutes read

Andromache – Audiobook

Andromache (originally Andromaque) by Jean Racine is a cornerstone of 17th-century French classical tragedy. Through poetic language and tightly woven emotional drama, Racine revisits the aftermath of the Trojan War. This audiobook adaptation delivers the powerful tale of love, loyalty, and vengeance with elegance and clarity, bringing the timeless tragedy to a modern audience.

LISTEN ON SPOTIFY
LISTEN ON APPLE PODCAST
GET IT NOW !

📖 Table of Contents

📘 About the Book

First performed in 1667, Andromache is one of Jean Racine’s earliest and most celebrated tragedies. The play takes place in the aftermath of the Trojan War and focuses on the emotional entanglements and power struggles between the surviving characters of the Greek conflict. It blends classical themes with the psychological intensity and elegant Alexandrine verse for which Racine is renowned.

Written in French and rooted in ancient Greek myth, the story is timeless in its portrayal of unrequited love, honor, and sacrifice.

✍️ About the Author

Jean Racine (1639–1699) was a French dramatist and one of the three great playwrights of 17th-century France, alongside Molière and Corneille. Known for his mastery of classical French tragedy, Racine brought a refined, psychological approach to the genre, emphasizing internal conflict over external action.

His plays, primarily written in rhyming twelve-syllable Alexandrine verse, are admired for their elegance, emotional depth, and structural perfection. Andromache was his third play and the one that established his reputation as a dramatist of exceptional talent.

📚 Summary

Andromache takes place in Epirus, a Greek kingdom, shortly after the fall of Troy. The characters are trapped in a complex web of emotions and political obligations:

  • Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles, holds Andromache (widow of Hector) and her son Astyanax as prisoners.
  • Pyrrhus is supposed to marry Hermione, the daughter of Helen and Menelaus, but he is infatuated with Andromache.
  • Orestes, a childhood friend of Hermione and envoy of the Greeks, arrives to demand the execution of Astyanax, fearing the boy may grow up to avenge Troy.

Andromache, fiercely protective of her son, resists Pyrrhus’s advances. Pyrrhus offers her a cruel choice: marry him and save her child, or refuse and lose him. Torn between love and loyalty, Hermione becomes jealous and vengeful. Orestes, in love with Hermione, offers to help her exact revenge.

The play culminates in a tragic series of miscommunications and betrayals. Pyrrhus is assassinated, Hermione commits suicide, and Orestes is driven to madness by guilt and unrequited love. Andromache survives, carrying the burden of loss and grief, yet preserving her son’s life and the Trojan legacy.

🎭 Themes and Analysis

  • Unrequited Love: The emotional core of the play lies in a chain of hopeless desires—Orestes loves Hermione, Hermione loves Pyrrhus, and Pyrrhus loves Andromache. Each character is tormented by love that is not returned, setting the stage for tragedy.
  • Honor vs. Emotion: Characters struggle between their duties and personal passions. Andromache must weigh maternal duty against her personal integrity. Hermione wrestles with pride and jealousy, while Orestes is torn between diplomacy and desire.
  • Tragedy of Fate: Racine draws upon the classical belief in destiny. The tragic ends of these characters feel inevitable, shaped by their heritage, roles, and the inescapable consequences of war and honor.
  • Classical Beauty and Restraint: Racine’s use of poetic form and emotional precision elevates the play. The controlled verse contrasts with the passionate inner lives of the characters, reflecting the tension between outward decorum and inward turmoil.

🎧 Why Listen to the Audiobook?

This audiobook rendition of Andromache offers an accessible way to experience one of French literature’s greatest tragedies. Whether you are revisiting Racine’s masterpiece or exploring it for the first time, the audiobook provides:

  • Beautifully performed dialogue and narration
  • Clear pacing to follow the poetic verse
  • An emotional connection to timeless characters
  • Historical insight into post-Trojan War mythology

Ideal for fans of classical literature, Greek myth retellings, and philosophical drama, this audiobook allows you to immerse yourself in the beauty and tragedy of Racine’s world—anytime, anywhere.

🎧 Listen to the Audiobook

Stream or download Andromache by Jean Racine on your favorite platform:

Let the voices of tragedy and poetry echo once more—listen to Andromache today.