Sappho: A Tragedy in Five Acts

by Franz Grillparzer, Ellen Frothingham

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Genres: Plays, German Literature, Classics, Poetry, Drama

150 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1818

About the author

Franz Seraphicus Grillparzer was an Austrian writer who emerged primarily as a playwright. Because of the identity-creating use of his works, especially after 1945, he is also referred to as the Austrian national poet.

Reviews

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

Einfach 80 Seiten von „Hallo ich bin Phaon und ich bin problematisch“ gelesen und jedes Mal gekichert, wenn nicht mal Melitta ihn gut fand

[Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

SAPPHO
By Franz Grillparzer (1791-1872)

A dramatic play in five acts produced for the first time in April 1818 in Vienna.
The author was just 26 years old.

The idea of Sappho, born in Mytilene, singing to her lyre, and falling in love with Phaon, is based on historical backgrounds of ancient Greece.

The play starts with Sappho’s celebrated return to her home, from the Olympic Games where she had been designated the glorious winner of the competition for poetry and lyrics.

Other than her crown of victory, she brings back a young athlete and lover, beautiful and slender Phaon.

It seems that Sappho is not sure of Phaon, and in an attempt to ascertain his lover forever,
she performs a ceremony and song addressed to Aphrodite, asking for help from her protective goddess.
(--This is the only original poem written by Sappho herself, which I could recognize in this play by Grillparzer. –)

The play now develops into a classic love story, where the young lover, surrounded by many servant girls, falls in love with lovely little Melitta.

Sappho quickly observes the situation, and even though she loves Melitta like her daughter, organizes the exile of the child to Chios, over the sea, to some friends.

Meanwhile, Phaon gets do know about the planned shipment. He snatches the little girl and uses the provided vessel for his escape, together with Melitta.

One of Sappho’s faithful servants raises the alarm, and the whole village takes to their boats to pursue the fleeing couple. As destiny would have it, they are soon caught up with and brought back before Sappho.

Sappho has the right to condemn Melitta, her servant, and slave to death. Melitta in tears and obedience accepts the verdict willingly.

Phaon, in the name of love and youth, pleads for her life and his liberty.

Sappho, in deep pain and suffering, returns to her goddess to ask for advice and decision.

The outcome is the tragic end, as was recorded by history some 2400 years before Grillparzer set out to write his drama.

For me, the beauty of this work, is in the extraordinary quality of the language of poetic verse, throughout the play.

[Caro :) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Phaon einfach arsch nervig, männer auch einfach mal sein lassen

ansonsten ganz nett aka 2,5 Sterne

[Eingutesomen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fand gut auch wenn’s nix mit der historischen Sappho zu tun hat

[Ghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nein