CATHERINE II AND HER PLAYS

Abstract

Catherine II produced a fairly large number of plays in which she satirized particular vices and included a moderate number de moral teachings. However, in many of them Catherine was primarily occupied with amorous pursuits. Her so-called French plays are weak, full of gossip and ridiculing. Catherine also addressed the problem of education, but in most cases this was reduced to crude criticism, particularly of the masonry, fairly popular then in Russia. Although she was technically the head of the Orthodox church, there are almost no religious references in her plays. However, she was very concerned in her plays with proclaiming the elevated status of the monarch.