Dramaty

by Stanisława Przybyszewska

Wstęp (Roman Taborski)
Dziewięćdziesiąty trzeci
Sprawa Dantona
Thermidor (tłumaczenie: Stanisław Helsztyński)
Posłowie (Jerzy Krasowski)

Genres: Plays, Fiction, Drama, French Revolution, Theatre, France, Historical

468 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1929

Reviews

[Maria Nicolaou · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something about the French Revolution that captures one with a sweet taste of disturbance.
My knowledge on the French Revolution was limited, untill I had the chance to read Przybyszewska's The Danton Case. Alienated and confined in the caverns of her mind, the playwright provides an insight into the unresolved tensions between Georges Danton and Maximilien Robespierre. The former a liberal, sentimental animal, the latter an incorruptible, cold mountain. Both, led to their deaths 5 years after the Fall of Bastille.
What strikes me about The Danton Case, is the boldness with which she enters the mentality of both the oppressor and the oppressed, revealing the animal and foolish nature of the mob and the cannibalistic logic of the dictator. Are we capable of wielding freedom, or are we debasing ourselves to voluntary servitude? Are we oppressed by the dictator or by ourselves?
Stanislawa Przybyszewska might not resolve the problems between Danton and Robespierre, but she definitely raises our social consciousness. It seems that we are all concerned with the wrong question: instead of asking ourselves how do we stop the dictator, we should be rather asking how do we allow the rise of the dictator in the first place.
I recommend this book to anyone who is eager to expand his or her knowledge on the French Revolution. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is capable of seeing the multiple facets of truth- the rise of Hitler after all, was not exactly condemned at first.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeping up with play dialogue is a different beast but the re-imagining of historical events here is really good --- A lover paying attention to what is right and what is wrong would be a eunuch.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cerebral plays; perhaps a little over my head, perhaps a little boring.

The Danton Case and Thermidor are, first and foremost, love letters to the great Maximilien Robespierre. Przybyszewska portrays him to be a truly supernatural figure, almost divine, whom even his enemies cannot help but admire. He’s captivating. Even when he does not appear in a scene, his presence is felt.

More generally, these plays examine actions and motives: what drives people? why do they act? what are the effects? Much attention is paid to the corrupt who act for money, personal gain, and self-preservation. Multiple characters speak to the “healthiness” and “naturalness” of corruption within society, which had me raising an eyebrow. Meanwhile, Robespierre delivers a lovely speech in the last pages of Thermidor about the hollow and debase nature of the capital-based society to come. (On that note, there is also a lot prophecising, which, while serving the text in some way, was also extremely tasteless and tacky). On the other hand, there is the incorruptible Robespierre, whose overly-principled, overly-intellectual aims can prove to be just as dangerous. However, the most innocent and most unfortunate answer is decidedly that of sheepish mob mentality, which is easily manipulated, and can even spell suicide for characters such as Camille.

Meritable text, precise, with some stand-out characters; may return when I’m feeling a little more academically-minded.

[f. · Rating 3 out of 5]

ciekawa lektura, która stara się przeanalizować okres dyktatury Komisji i przedstawić rywalizację dwóch stron - bezlitosnego rozumu który nie liczy ofiar poświęconych dla idei oraz nieokiełznanej siły pierwotnej natury która prowadzi 'ciemne' masy - ich symbolami stają się Robespierre i Danton
intrygujący jest proces odczłowieczania Maximiliena, który częściowo uginając się pod ciężarem uwielbienia ze strony mas, a częściowo z własnej woli staje się legendarnym "l'Incorruptible", rzekomo jedynym który może uratować Republikę i Rewolucję, ponieważ wyrzekł się ziemskich potrzeb i stał się wyłącznie oddanym sługą Idei (co prowadzi go do szaleństwa i majaczenia)
z minusów:
czasami należy przymrużyć oko na postacie, które nawet wbrew sobie (!) wielbią Robespierre'a niczym Boga (nie przebieram w słowach. ilość scen, w których ludzie padają przed nim na kolana albo są temu bliscy zapada w pamięć. można by powiedzieć że przecież to nie dzieło historyczne i autorka mogła pozwolić sobie na podkoloryzowanie faktów, ale ten kult staje się w pewnym momencie komiczny)(czasem nawet queercoded)(dlaczego Saint-Just zachowuje się jak szczeniak, który nie odstępuję nowego właściciela na krok?)
+ zabrakło mi w tym wszystkim Couthona

[Józefcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

nie mam pojęcia czy właśnie przeczytałam najinteligentniejszą, najbardziej merytoryczną interpretację najważniejszych postaci rewolucji francuskiej czy być może kolejne źródło splamione propagandą thermidoriańską. niemniej jednak, wspaniałe dramaty!!!

[James]

Exquisite, agonizing, tragic, and precise.

[vincent alexis ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is such an incredible work, it’s absolutely wild and dramatic but also weirdly emotional. there are so many interesting things going on subtextually to analyze, especially within the relationships przybyszewska explores. what i wouldn’t give to see przybyszewska’s plays staged….

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good, made the French Revolution so much more interesting. Pryzybyszewska totally ships Camille Desmoulins with Robespierre and I love it.