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Sappho
Sappho - bk1344; Reclam Verlag; Franz Grillparzer; pocket_book; 1987
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1818
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About the author
Franz Grillparzer
653 books32 followersFranz 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.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 26, 2017
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.
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.
September 13, 2021
Fand gut auch wenn’s nix mit der historischen Sappho zu tun hat
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews