Aukštųjų Šimonių likimas

Works

Information about the work and context of creation

Ieva Simonaitytė was most inspired by those Lithuanian authors who spoke about their love for Lithuania in their works. Such authors were Maironis, Sofija Kymantaitė-Čiurlionienė, Vincas Kudirka, Pranas Vaičaitis. 

It is hard to believe, but Ieva Simonaitytė did not attend any school. She learned to write and read on her own by reading books written by Protestants in libraries. Later she also studied on her own, only deepening her knowledge by reading German literature and translations of other nations' literature into German and Lithuanian. The uncertainty of which generation’s ancestors inherited an irresistible urge to write and a unique talent to portray epic family and tribal history and human characters. 

Other Lithuanian women writers of the same period were Sofija Kymantaitė-Čiurlionienė, Gražina Tulauskaitė, Bronė Buivydaitė and Salomėja Nėris.

The fate of the Aukštųjų Šimonių is not the events, but certain twists of fate. The entire content of the work consists of a story about the old nobleman Šimonis and his children, as well as about the plague from which most of the people of Mažoji Lietuva died, and about the Germans who forcibly and with great force seized and destroyed Lithuanian homes and hard-earned property. The father of Šimoniai taught his children how to faithfully respect and defend their uniquely noble origins and honor of owning them, and to love their land.  Šimonių ancestors were infinitely noble nobles who nurtured him in exactly the same noble manner. For mother Šimonienė, the most important thing is that her children are strongly pious and sincere, spiritually loyal to the God. The children of the Šimonių family knew who they were, what they were worth, and did not bow their heads to anyone, showing their noble status. The father himself is a man of strong will and spirit, his native land and its possessions with his home are his most important assets. When the Germans occupied Mažoji Lietuva, Šimonis said that until he is alive strangers do not show up at his house and don’t be welcomed here as hosts. And in this way, the last Lithuanian nobility, whose house was, of course, also hijacked, died, was severely and ruthlessly beaten by the Germans. 

And Etmonas the elder son of Šimonis had a dream that minor will be independent, unfortunately he died too then he defending his father from Germans. 

The other son Lukošius would also go to defend his land, above all it was the honor of a Lithuanian. Endrius, like his other brothers, is hardworking, responsible, very much in love with his parents and his homeland. Lukošius and Endrius died of the plague that had begun and was spreading rapidly. The younger son, Matt loves his land, cares for others. Šimoniai also had two daughters Lydija and Jonė. Lydia is merciful, she helps the poor, she is not afraid to care for the sick. Her sister Jonė is a dreamer who is waiting for the prince to travel to Lithuania with. But these sisters, unfortunately, also died of the plague. Their mother also dies from the plague. There is only one member of the Šimonys family left - Matas, who is forced to leave his home because Germans are already living there. He creates a family in the highlands, has three children: Katrytė, Ansis and Etmonas. Matas often tells his children about his native land and the much-loved manor - the common property and house of Šimoniai. Etmonas the son of Matas goes out to the army and is asked to visit the old manor. When Etmonas returned home, he could not lie to his father that there was nothing left in that place. After all, parents taught never to lie, because openness and honesty are the qualities of a virtuous person. Since then, Matas Šimonis has not spoken about the tower on the coast of Įsra and the tomb in the garden of the nobility. With the pain and heartache, the place where Matas Šimonis himself comes from is also forgotten.

Indications

This work can be used in subjects like :

• Lithuania literature
• World literature 

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