Original scientific paper

Gundulić's Dubravka: a Play Devoid of Drama

Antun Pavešković

Abstract

Dubravka, one of Gundulić’s most famous works, falls among the greatest achievements of Croatian literature. Generally viewed as a model ode to liberty and independence of Dubrovnik, Marxist literary criticism, however, tended to vulgarize the drama by interpreting it as a patrician philippic against Ragusan wealthy commoners who, dissatisfied with their status, demanded greater participation in the public and political life of Dubrovnik. More recent interpretations have seen it as a theological allegory and a genre hybrid. Some literary historians still insist on its being a Baroque pastoral as opposed to those who draw attention to the numerous non-functional and non-dramatic elements of the play’s typical libretto composition. Close reading of the content confirms Dubravka’s alogical dramatic construction. Basing his article on more recent interpretations of the political-allegorical grounding of the play, the author establishes that Gundulić employed and at the same time manipulated with the formal characteristics of a pastoral in order to emphasize the ideological overtones which run through the play, viewing himself as an exclusive interpreter of the class interests of Ragusan patriciate.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

16201

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/16201

Publication date:

3.8.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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