Ieva Simonaitytė
Encyclopedia
Ieva Simonaitytė or Ewa Simoneit (January 23, 1897 – August 27, 1978) was a Lithuania
n writer. She represented the culture of Lithuania Minor
and Klaipėda Region
, territories of German East Prussia
with large, but dwindling, Lithuanian population. She received critical acclaim for her novel Aukštujų Šimonių likimas (The Fate of Šimoniai from Aukštujai, 1935).
) in Klaipėda district. At the age of five, she became ill with tuberculosis
, that affected her bones, and she had to walk with canes since then. Hailing from a poor peasant family and growing up without a father, she had to work since young age as a shepherd of geese or babysitter. Learning to read and write from her mother, Simonaitytė was largely self-taught
. From 1912 to 1914 Simonaitytė received treatment for tuberculosis in Angerburg
. She returned in better health and, influenced by World War I
, began her literary career publishing poems and short stories in various Lithuanian periodicals of the Lithuania Minor. She earned a living working as a seamstress until 1921, when she moved to Klaipėda
, where she completed of evening courses of typist and stenographers. Simonaitytė worked as a secretary and translator. To some extent she was involved in political life of the Klaipėda Region
, participating in the Klaipėda Revolt
of 1923, working for the local seimelis (parliament established to guarantee autonomy for the region), and testifying in Nazi trials in 1934.
Her big break came in 1935 with publication of Aukštujų Šimonių likimas. She received state literary award, a pension, and dedicated her remaining life to literature. After the 1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania
, Klaipėda was attached to Nazi Germany and Simonaitytė moved to Kaunas
and in 1963 to Vilnius
. Simonaitytė bought a summer house in Priekulė near Klaipėda in 1961 and spent most of her summers there. The summer house was turned into her memorial museum in 1984. Simonaitytė died in Vilnius and was buried in the Writers' Hill of the Antakalnis Cemetery
.
aura, but is still painful and hurtful every step of the way.
Vilius Karalius (Vilius King), a two-volume work published in 1936 and 1956, is somewhat similar to Aukštujų Šimonių likimas. The novel also tracks lives of several generations of Prussian Lithuanians
, but is distinguished by psychological and social observations. Simonaitytė wrote several autobiographical books: Be tėvo (Without a Father, 1941), ... O buvo taip (It Was Thus..., 1960), Ne ta pastogė (A different Home, 1962), Nebaigta knyga (Unfinished book, 1965). Simonaitytė's biggest weakness include excessive wordiness, tendency towards sentimentality, and, in later works, use of cliches of socialist realism
. Her works were censored and continuously revised by Soviet authorities; for example, it took six years of revisions to meet requirements of Soviet ideology to publish Pikčiurnienė, a novel about a woman consumed by greed. The novel was turned into grotesque portrayal of greed and cruelty among the privileged classes (buožė in Soviet terminology), which was supposed to justify Soviet oppressions.
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n writer. She represented the culture of Lithuania Minor
Lithuania Minor
Lithuania Minor or Prussian Lithuania is a historical ethnographic region of Prussia, later East Prussia in Germany, where Prussian Lithuanians or Lietuvininkai lived. Lithuania Minor enclosed the northern part of this province and got its name due to the territory's substantial...
and Klaipėda Region
Klaipėda Region
The Klaipėda Region or Memel Territory was defined by the Treaty of Versailles in 1920 when it was put under the administration of the Council of Ambassadors...
, territories of German East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
with large, but dwindling, Lithuanian population. She received critical acclaim for her novel Aukštujų Šimonių likimas (The Fate of Šimoniai from Aukštujai, 1935).
Biography
Simonaitytė was born in a small village of Vanagai (then Wannaggen in German East PrussiaProvince of East Prussia
The Province of East Prussia was a province of Prussia from 1773–1829 and 1878-1945. Composed of the historical region East Prussia, the province's capital was Königsberg ....
) in Klaipėda district. At the age of five, she became ill with tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, that affected her bones, and she had to walk with canes since then. Hailing from a poor peasant family and growing up without a father, she had to work since young age as a shepherd of geese or babysitter. Learning to read and write from her mother, Simonaitytė was largely self-taught
Autodidacticism
Autodidacticism is self-education or self-directed learning. In a sense, autodidacticism is "learning on your own" or "by yourself", and an autodidact is a person who teaches him or herself something. The term has its roots in the Ancient Greek words αὐτός and διδακτικός...
. From 1912 to 1914 Simonaitytė received treatment for tuberculosis in Angerburg
Wegorzewo
Węgorzewo is a tourist town in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland, not far from the border with Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast. It is the seat of Węgorzewo County. Lake Mamry is close to the town.-Etymology:...
. She returned in better health and, influenced by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, began her literary career publishing poems and short stories in various Lithuanian periodicals of the Lithuania Minor. She earned a living working as a seamstress until 1921, when she moved to Klaipėda
Klaipeda
Klaipėda is a city in Lithuania situated at the mouth of the Nemunas River where it flows into the Baltic Sea. It is the third largest city in Lithuania and the capital of Klaipėda County....
, where she completed of evening courses of typist and stenographers. Simonaitytė worked as a secretary and translator. To some extent she was involved in political life of the Klaipėda Region
Klaipėda Region
The Klaipėda Region or Memel Territory was defined by the Treaty of Versailles in 1920 when it was put under the administration of the Council of Ambassadors...
, participating in the Klaipėda Revolt
Klaipeda Revolt
The Klaipėda Revolt took place in January 1923 in the Klaipėda Region . The region, located north of the Neman River, was detached from the East Prussia of the German Empire by the Treaty of Versailles and became a mandate of the League of Nations. It was placed under provisional French...
of 1923, working for the local seimelis (parliament established to guarantee autonomy for the region), and testifying in Nazi trials in 1934.
Her big break came in 1935 with publication of Aukštujų Šimonių likimas. She received state literary award, a pension, and dedicated her remaining life to literature. After the 1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania
1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania
1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania was an oral ultimatum presented to Juozas Urbšys, Foreign Minister of Lithuania, by Joachim von Ribbentrop, Foreign Minister of Nazi Germany, on March 20, 1939...
, Klaipėda was attached to Nazi Germany and Simonaitytė moved to Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
and in 1963 to Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
. Simonaitytė bought a summer house in Priekulė near Klaipėda in 1961 and spent most of her summers there. The summer house was turned into her memorial museum in 1984. Simonaitytė died in Vilnius and was buried in the Writers' Hill of the Antakalnis Cemetery
Antakalnis Cemetery
Antakalnis Cemetery , sometimes referred as Antakalnis Military Cemetery, is the cemetery in the Antakalnis district of Vilnius in Lithuania. It was established in 1809....
.
Works
Simonaitytė's most famous novel, Aukštujų Šimonių likimas, depicted the fate of the Šimoniai family between 18th and 20th centuries through independent fragments. Once powerful and prosperous, the family weakens as it tries to resist influence of German colonists. The family loses its fortunes, ethnic culture and identity. The historical context is not supported by academic research, but a product of imaginary and romantic reconstruction. The author presents much ethnographic data and describes old customs and traditions with loving detail. As the Lithuanian culture gradually and unavoidably disappears under relentless pressure of the Germans, the struggle between two cultures becomes surrounded by fatalisticFatalism
Fatalism is a philosophical doctrine emphasizing the subjugation of all events or actions to fate.Fatalism generally refers to several of the following ideas:...
aura, but is still painful and hurtful every step of the way.
Vilius Karalius (Vilius King), a two-volume work published in 1936 and 1956, is somewhat similar to Aukštujų Šimonių likimas. The novel also tracks lives of several generations of Prussian Lithuanians
Prussian Lithuanians
The term Prussian Lithuanians or Lietuvininkai refers to a Western Lithuanian ethnic group, which did not form a nation and inhabited a territory in East Prussia called Prussian Lithuania or Lithuania Minor in contrast to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later the Republic of Lithuania .Unlike most...
, but is distinguished by psychological and social observations. Simonaitytė wrote several autobiographical books: Be tėvo (Without a Father, 1941), ... O buvo taip (It Was Thus..., 1960), Ne ta pastogė (A different Home, 1962), Nebaigta knyga (Unfinished book, 1965). Simonaitytė's biggest weakness include excessive wordiness, tendency towards sentimentality, and, in later works, use of cliches of socialist realism
Socialist realism
Socialist realism is a style of realistic art which was developed in the Soviet Union and became a dominant style in other communist countries. Socialist realism is a teleologically-oriented style having its purpose the furtherance of the goals of socialism and communism...
. Her works were censored and continuously revised by Soviet authorities; for example, it took six years of revisions to meet requirements of Soviet ideology to publish Pikčiurnienė, a novel about a woman consumed by greed. The novel was turned into grotesque portrayal of greed and cruelty among the privileged classes (buožė in Soviet terminology), which was supposed to justify Soviet oppressions.