Šventmarė

Works

Information about the work and context of creation

Lithuanian writer, public figure, literary and art critic, playwright, poet, and translator. Sophia Kymantaitė-Čiurlionienė was not only a writer but also a prominent public figure who taught the nation morality, often referred to as a nationwide teacher. She was also active in the fight for women’s rights, being the first woman to attend a Union of Nations convention and have the right to vote there. She has consistently fought for gender equality in the congresses of the League of Nations.

Other Lithuanian women writers of the same period were Šatrijos Ragana, Bronė Buivydaitė and Petronėlė Orintaitė.

The writer recreates the 19th century. The contradictions that arose at the end of the 19th century between the cultural claims of the priesthood and their real social situation, the limited worldview caused by the profession, which became apparent during the maturation of social and national movements.

       Part of the old priesthood has succumbed to the influence of the Polish language and culture. The young people - in the personality of Karstele (main character) - embrace the moods of the national movement, rebellious about the conservatism of the old ones. Thus, in the rectory, as a specific area of ​​the cultural movement, the relations between languages ​​and generations, worldviews and national ambitions intersected.

       In her short story, S. Čiurlionienė raises another moment of the historical situation - the problem of the relationship between the people and the priesthood. Through the positions of the old pastor and Karstele, the heterogeneity of the problem became apparent. Being on Karstel’s side, the writer touches on a specific aspect of part of the priesthood’s service to the people and national culture. In the short story “In the Old Manor” (1922) by Šatrija Ragana, the initiators of Lithuanian cultural relief and care tried to nominate the owners of the manor, and S. Čiurlionienė, her ethics and aesthetics are close to Šatrija Ragana's views, as a part of the young priesthood.

       Interesting is the picture of St. Mary. Through it, S. Čiurlionienė reveals the contradictory connections between folk thinking, primitive mysticism and religious dogma. At first glance, the dogmas proclaimed by Šventmarė and the dogmas proclaimed by priests would belong to the same sphere of superstition and mysticism. However, St. Mary's became the object of the church's struggle, as she "bombarded" religious dogmatism with her superstition and mysticism, largely based on folk imagination. S. Čiurlionienė cared about paironizing both superstitions as the darkness of the people and at the same time a mystical way of thinking, as well as the dogmatic struggle of churchmen against the dogmatic nature of mystical superstitions. St. Mary is outraged not only by the priests, but also by the people she represents in her way of thinking.

Indications

INDICATIONS: Optional. 

It belongs to the works of Realism. 

Didactic approach: This work can be used in subjects like 

• Lithuania literature

Documents