Review article
Faith and trials of Đuro Sudeta and Antun Branko Šimić’s lyrical subject facing the challenges of suffering and death
Jasna Šego
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb
Nenad Palac
orcid.org/0000-0001-8817-9970
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb
Abstract
This paper follows Đuro Sudeta and Antun Branko Šimić’s journey of faith as well as the faith of their lyrical subjects. Both poets were faced with illness (tuberculosis) and suffering. Đ. Sudeta and his lyrical subject was firm in his faith and accepted pain, suffering and death with Franciscan humility and peace, expressing deep trust in God’s plan. He did not run away from his fears, but overcame them by faith. A. B. Šimić and his lyrical subject, after a period of childlike faith and trust in God’s plan, turned away from God, seeking answers to profound existential questions, in which religious doubts and dilemmas can be found. In comparing them with biblical characters, it can be concluded that Sudeta and his lyrical subject is similar to the elder son in the parable of the prodigal son from the Gospel of Luke (15: 11 - 32) who is constantly loyal to his father, while Šimić and his lyrical subject is like the younger son who wishes to explore and learn about life outside his father’s home by experimenting in social, spiritual, moral, religious and other areas of life. Despite the trials, Šimić and his lyrical subject eventually return to his father’s shelter, with strong Augustinian faith. Sudeta – reconciled with illness and docile, Šimić – un-reconciled and rebellious, ultimately surrender themselves to God’s will and to God's plan. Death is not a stranger to them; and in accepting it they reveal it is an integral part of life and a deeper meaning of it.
Keywords
Sudeta; Šimić; faith; temptations; dilemmas; suffering; death
Hrčak ID:
183756
URI
Publication date:
12.6.2017.
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