Dramat Słowackiego to opowieść o żądzy władzy i niepohamowanych ambicjach, które popychają do najokrutniejszych postępków, to historia wielkiej namiętności i nieoczekiwanej zdrady.
Juliusz Słowacki ['juljuʂ swɔ'vatski] (4 September 1809 in Kremenets, Volhynia, Russian Empire now in Ukraine – 3 April 1849 in Paris) was a noted Polish Romantic poet, considered to be one of the "Three Bards" of Polish literature. His works often feature elements of Slavic pagan traditions, mysticism, and Orientalism.
Life and work
Influenced largely by Byron and Shakespeare, Słowacki's early work was often historical in nature, combining exotic locales (as in Arab) and tragedy (as in Maria Stuart). His work took on a more nationalist tone following the failed November Insurrection of 1830 - 1831. Like many of his countrymen, he decided to emigrate to France as a political refugee. Ironically, the first collections of poems he produced in France were unpopular in his native Poland, as they failed to capture the sentiment of the people living under Russian occupation. It was the French authorities which deemed them too nationalist; following a trip to Geneva in 1832, he was denied the right to return to France as part of a larger program to rid the country of the potentially subversive Polish exiles who had settled there. A third volume of his works, produced in Geneva, was far more nationalist in tone, and he began to win recognition in his homeland.
In 1836, Słowacki embarked on a journey throughout Italy, Greece, Egypt and Palestine, which he described in his epic poem "Podróż do Ziemi Świętej z Neapolu". In 1844, he wrote Genezis z Ducha, an exposition of his philosophical ideas (called genesic idea) according to which the material world is an expression of an ever-improving spirit capable of progression into constantly newer forms.
It was at this time that he attached himself to a group of likeminded young exiles, determined to return to Poland and win its independence. One of his friends was the pianist and composer Frédéric Chopin. The group travelled to Poznań, then under Prussian control. He participated in the Wielkopolska Uprising of 1848, addressing the National Assembly (Komitet Narodowy w Poznaniu) on 27 April. "I tell you," he declared as the rebels faced military confrontation with the Prussian Army, "that the new age has dawned, the age of holy anarchy." By 9 May, the revolt was crushed.
Arrested by the Prussian police, Słowacki was sent back to Paris. On his way there, he passed through Wrocław, where he was reunited with his mother, whom he had not seen for almost twenty years. He died in Paris the following year, and was buried in the Montmartre. In 1927, some eight years after Poland regained her independence, the Polish government requested that Słowacki's remains be moved to Wawel castle in Krakow. He was reinterred near his old rival, Adam Mickiewicz.
Long after his death, Słowacki acquired the reputation of national prophet. His poem "Papież Słowiański" (The Slavic Pope), published in 1848, was believed to foretell the ascension, in 1978, of Karol Wojtyła to the throne of St. Peter as Pope John Paul II. In 2009 Faye Dunaway starred in film "The Bait" by Polish film director and producer Dariusz Zawislak. "The Bait" is a contemporary version of the drama, "Balladyna."
Czy były momenty, w których kompletnie nie wiedziałam co się dzieje? Tak. Czy była nieco dziwaczna? Tak. Ale czy koniec końców dobrze się przy niej bawiłam i nawet zaskoczyło mnie kilka zwrotów akcji? Tak.
✨Daję prawie 4 gwiazdki dla jednej z lepszych przeczytanych prze ze mnie lektur.✨
Moją ulubioną sceną była śmierć pana Tadeusza. Polecam, dużo mitologi i te sprawy. Nudziłam się trochę na wątach wojennych i patriotycznych ale fajne zbieranie malin. Zmieniłabym jednak aline na podstoline 👍
I had to read this play for school... and I don't really know what to think of it. Even though this tragedy is in Polish, and I'm pretty sure there is no English version of it, it's a primary example of classic Polish dramatic work, and you never know when this kinda knowledge might come in handy. Saying this, would you guys be interested in reading a review (in English, of course) for this play?
Bardzo fajna lektura,chociaż znalazło się w niej kilka wątków,które niezbyt mi odpowiadały,a samo zakończenie napisałabym inaczej. Jednak całokształt bardzo mi się podobał. I nie wiem,czy to ze mną,czy z innymi jest coś nie tak,że mi się podobało,a im nie. Jedna z fajniejszych lektur szkolnych.
the fact that we're reading this play in middle school before we get a chance to grasp the full context of the romantic period, the feud between Słowacki and Mickiewicz, or the numerous works of Shakespeare is truly outrageous. it's so easy to just scratch the surface and brush it off as a wild and nonsensical 'raspberry crime story', while there's so much more to 'Balladyna'.
what i adore about Słowacki is that he's very clearly in love with himself and his words, and on top of it he's a spiteful little shit. all the references to Mickiewicz's works are delightfully malicious and subtle enough that it's easy to lose them, especially since it's the parallels to Shakespeare that stand out the most. reading this play is like watching a petty fight between two youtube celebrities.
i listened to the audiobook created for audioteka.pl by Mietczyński and G.F. Darwin and i wholeheartedly recommend it. it's so well made and engaging, and all the actors are absolutely amazing. (honestly, this series is a gift that keeps giving and i'm obsessed with it.)
PS. why does Hubert Podgórski always play the bad guys?
PPS. we don't deserve the absolute delight that is Mateusz Trembaczowski playing drunk Grabiec. i'm incredibly happy we got to experience it, though.