| |
Marin
Držić,
later nicknamed Vidra (The Otter), was born in 1508 into a wealthy
numerous (6 children) Dubrovnik’s family of commoners who also had
given another Croatian writer Đore Držić, that was his uncle. After
short time being a church officer and organ player in Dubrovnik’s
Cathedral training for a priest he was insured by the City with
scholarship in Siena. Life in Siena, in those times important
renaissance center and city of long university tradition, evidently
left strong impact on young Držić and was a huge inspiration for all
his latter work. There he watched folk theater performances, farces
and comedies that helped him to develop his literature talent and
also in large influenced his later writings. Even though not being a
good student, he captured the hearts of his fellow students and
professors due to his worm and vivid personality enjoying high
social status in
Siena
– he was elected to the position of Vice Chancellor of the
University.
Having lost interest in studies, Držić returned to the Dubrovnik
Republic in 1543 where he, shortly after, made acquaintance with the
Austrian adventurer, count Christoph Rogendorf. Working for the
count he spent two years living in Vienna and Constantinople and
after political controversy with some Ragusian’s in Constantinople,
he returned to Dubrovnik in 1548 where he stayed for another 14
years.
This was his most productive and creative period thus delivered
works covering many fields: lyric poetry, pastorals, political
letters and pamphlets and comedies. In spite always having another
jobs besides writing and acting, being in money problems and in a
slight conflict with the authorities, Držić manage to create rich
theatrical scene in Dubrovnik by leading few actor’s groups that
performed his comedies. The casts of amateur groups Pomet, Garzarija
and Od Bidzara were assembled mostly of young nobles. The motives of
his plays are far from religious ones and therefore, were real
delight for the public to enjoy; loaded with life and vitality,
celebrating love, liberty and sincerity and mooching avarice, egoism
and tyranny – both in family and in state.
His famous works were his pastorals Tirena, Venera i Adon, Plakir (Grižula)
and comedies Novela od Stanca, Dundo Maroje, Skup, Mande, Arkulin,
Pomet and Pijerin.
There’s also one more conspiracy episode, when in 1562 move to
Venice and serve as a Chaplain of the Bishop in Venice. Convinced
that Dubrovnik was governed by a small circle of elitist aristocracy
bent to tyranny, he tried to persuade, in extremely interesting five
letters, the powerful Medici family in Florence to help him
overthrow the government in his home town. The Medicis didn't even
bother to respond to him.
Držić
died surprisingly in Venice in 1567. He was buried in the Church of
St. John and Paul. Shortly after his death he was soon forgotten.
Not until many years later, revived an enormous admiration for his
work. Let’s say that Marin Držić House in Dubrovnik is the first
house set up to Croatian writer; museum's concept is based on
showing the collection of posters; program’s and photographs of
performances of Marin Drzić plays in Croatia and abroad. |
|
