Racine took his subjects from antique or mythology and became very popular with his plays of blind, passionate love. Usually the action was restricted to one locale.
Great crimes grow out of small ones.
His family belonged to upper bourgeoise. After the death of his mother and father, was raised by his grandparents, who were Jansenists, a sect that emphasized severely controlled conduct, denied free will and stressed the necessity of grace for salvation. Racine was educated at the Catholic school at Port-Royal. Because theatre was considered at that time immoral, Racine found himself in conflict with his family. He was forced to leave Paris and his family tried to get him interested in the career of a priest.