Pierre Beaumarchais: a short biography and a review of creativity
Pierre Beaumarchais is an outstanding French playwright andthe author who gained worldwide fame for his immortal works about the cheerful Figaro. Indicative is the fact that, despite his extensive activities, he became popular precisely after the release of the trilogy about a brave and cheerful barber, who subsequently retrained in the count's manager.
early years
Pierre Beaumarchais was born in Paris in 1732 in the familywatchmaker. Father wanted to teach his son his craft, but the future writer already at a very young age discovered outstanding musical abilities. In addition to the main studies of the watchmaker, Pierre was very active in studying music. Due to his persistence, perseverance, and abilities, very soon he got access to the higher world. At the same time he took for himself a special name for himself.
After a while, Pierre Beaumarchais became a memberthe royal court, since he taught the daughters of Louis XV to play the harp. Twice he married favorably. Thanks to these marriages, Beaumarchais gained influence in aristocratic circles. This social status allowed him to engage in financial transactions, which brought him a large monetary state. However, subsequently Beaumarchais was brought to trial and even spent several days in prison.
In Spain
Pierre Beaumarchais in 1764 went to Madrid forproceedings in their own family business. At the same time, he displayed exceptional diplomatic abilities, quickly gaining confidence in the Spanish ministers. Here Pierre showed his qualities as a clever diplomat and intriguer, having achieved the resignation of his opponent. This stay in Spain subsequently affected his work, as the action of the famous trilogy about Figaro unfolds in this country.
First success
Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais was carried awaydramaturgy and theater, and in 1767 wrote a play "Eugene", which was a great success with the public. This drama has direct references to the mentioned family history that happened with Beaumarchais. His sister, who lived in Spain, was deceived by her husband, and the future author stood up for her honor. Something similar to the viewer can also be observed in the work under consideration.
Action of the play Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchaismoved to London, where an impoverished baron from Ireland comes with his daughter and brother. Evgenia falls in love with the young count, but he decided to break this girl's word and marry a rich bride. Then the brother of the deceived heroine with arms in hand defends the honor of her sister. In this not very intricate plot one can see references to the real story that happened to the author.
Failure
Pierre Augustin Beaumarchais initially intendedwork in the genre of serious drama. It was in this spirit that his first play was sustained. And here it should be noted that, despite the success of the public, the work was nonetheless typical of the literature of the time under consideration.
In 1770 on the theatrical stage washis new play "The Lyons Merchant" is presented. This time the author transferred the action to the sphere of the bourgeoisie and bourgeois relations. It was new for that time, and yet a serious moralizing plot clearly did not work out to the author. The work that tells the story of the threatened bankruptcy of the protagonist, clearly the public did not like. The play was in for a crushing failure.
Success
Pierre Augustin de Beaumarchais took place as the authorcomedy plays. In 1773, his new work entitled "The Barber of Seville" was published, which had a tremendous success. A story about the adventures of the cheerful Figaro, who, with the help of his cunning, agility and agility, helps his master Count Almaviva to get himself a bride, has been popular until now. The following two parts consolidated success, although in the final play the author again returned to moralizing. However, the first two works are still popular, and several operas have even been written on their subjects.
Entrepreneurial and advocacy activities
Beaumarchais proved himself not only as aa brilliant playwright, but also as a businessman. When the War of Independence began in the United States, he undertook to supply weapons, on which he made millions. After a while Beaumarchais conducted a rather scandalous case, which he won from a professional lawyer. However, this did not bring him sympathy to the public.
Very soon Beaumarchais went bankrupt, becausehas fulfilled its obligations to supply weapons. From the trial he was saved by flight abroad. Indicative is the fact that in such cases, Beaumarchais wrote memoirs in which he tried to justify his actions. They are interesting in that they show the author's adherence to enlightening views.
In his memoirs, not only Beaumarchaisjustifies itself, but also attacks the modern judicial system, accusing it of arbitrariness and lawlessness. Such pathos was characteristic of many works of the 18th century.
Beaumarchais died in 1799.