Review article
The golden harp. On Juliusz Słowacki’s play Lilla Weneda
Iwona E. Rusek
; University of Białystoku (Poland)
Abstract
The text describes the role and meaning of the golden harp in Juliusz Słowacki's drama Lilla Weneda. The instrument belonged to the king of Wends, Derwid, who was taken prisoner with his sons. Without the harp and without their king-harper, the Wends were unable to fight the hostile Lech. Lilla, the younger daughter of the ruler of the Wends, saved him from death three times, and also offered her life in exchange for a harp. Unfortunately, Derwid the harper did not understand that the real harp is not the instrument, but the heart of his daughter Lilla. The defeat of the Wends happened not only because they did not recover the golden harp, but also because they made their lives and prospects dependent on a magical object instead of believing in the strength of their hearts and their spirits. The golden harp of the Wends is a symbol-object that reveals spiritual impotence, the worst of the sins of human character and will. Without faith and spiritual energy, no action is possible, and life turns into a barren existence.
Keywords
drama; the golden harp; Lilla Weneda; Juliusz Słowacki; destiny; priest
Hrčak ID:
309958
URI
Publication date:
20.11.2023.
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