The Marriage (Gombrowicz play)
Encyclopedia
The Marriage is a play by the Polish writer Witold Gombrowicz
, written in Argentina after World War II
. The narrative takes place in a dream, where the dreamer transforms into a king and plans to marry his fiancée in a royal wedding, only as a means to save their integrity. A Spanish translation was first published in 1948, followed by the original Polish version in 1953. The play was first performed in 1960.
As the marriage is prepared—it will be celebrated by none other than a bishop—Henryk begins to have doubts about the validity of the dream. The drunkard enters and is about to fight Henryk when the scene changes into a court banquet. The drunkard is now an ambassador of a hostile nation. The drunkard makes Henryk's friend Władzio hold a flower over Mania's head. He then makes the flower disappear, leaving the two in an improper position, to Henryk's indignation.
Henryk becomes a dictator who rules over the whole world. The marriage is still in preparation. Henryk is worried since he has doubts whether his power has any meaning when he is omnipotent. He therefore asks Władzio to sacrifice himself, as a way to confirm his power, and also to satisfy his jealousy. Władzio agrees and goes on to kill himself. Henryk regrets what he has done, and the marriage is cancelled.
lived in Argentina from 1939 to 1963. He began to write The Marriage in August 1946 and it was finished in September the following year. It was first published in a Spanish translation in 1948, and in its original Polish version in 1953, together with the novel Trans-Atlantyk
. An English translation was published by Grove Press
in 1969.
, Poland in 1960, under the direction of Jerzy Jarocki. The production was stopped by the censors after four performances. In 1963, the French director Jorge Lavelli
staged the play at the Théâtre Récamier in Paris, to critical success. The Royal Dramatic Theatre
in Stockholm performed the play in 1966, with Alf Sjöberg as director and Ernst-Hugo Järegård
in a role. The first full-scale Polish production was directed by Jarocki in 1974 for the Teatr Dramatyczny in Warsaw.
Witold Gombrowicz
Witold Marian Gombrowicz was a Polish novelist and dramatist. His works are characterized by deep psychological analysis, a certain sense of paradox and an absurd, anti-nationalist flavor...
, written in Argentina after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The narrative takes place in a dream, where the dreamer transforms into a king and plans to marry his fiancée in a royal wedding, only as a means to save their integrity. A Spanish translation was first published in 1948, followed by the original Polish version in 1953. The play was first performed in 1960.
Plot
Henryk has a dream where his childhood home has been turned into an inn. His father is the innkeeper and his fiancée, Mania, is a serving maid. Drunkards begin to cause trouble and pursue the father. The father, to defend his dignity, claims that he is untouchable, "like a king". This would make Henryk a prince. Henryk is then promised a marriage with Mania, a marriage worthy of a royal in order to restore her purity.As the marriage is prepared—it will be celebrated by none other than a bishop—Henryk begins to have doubts about the validity of the dream. The drunkard enters and is about to fight Henryk when the scene changes into a court banquet. The drunkard is now an ambassador of a hostile nation. The drunkard makes Henryk's friend Władzio hold a flower over Mania's head. He then makes the flower disappear, leaving the two in an improper position, to Henryk's indignation.
Henryk becomes a dictator who rules over the whole world. The marriage is still in preparation. Henryk is worried since he has doubts whether his power has any meaning when he is omnipotent. He therefore asks Władzio to sacrifice himself, as a way to confirm his power, and also to satisfy his jealousy. Władzio agrees and goes on to kill himself. Henryk regrets what he has done, and the marriage is cancelled.
Background
Witold GombrowiczWitold Gombrowicz
Witold Marian Gombrowicz was a Polish novelist and dramatist. His works are characterized by deep psychological analysis, a certain sense of paradox and an absurd, anti-nationalist flavor...
lived in Argentina from 1939 to 1963. He began to write The Marriage in August 1946 and it was finished in September the following year. It was first published in a Spanish translation in 1948, and in its original Polish version in 1953, together with the novel Trans-Atlantyk
Trans-Atlantyk
Trans-Atlantyk is a novel by the Polish author Witold Gombrowicz, originally published in 1953. The semi-autobiographical plot of the novel closely tracks Gombrowicz's own experience in the years during and just after the outbreak of World War II....
. An English translation was published by Grove Press
Grove Press
Grove Press is an American publishing imprint that was founded in 1951. Imprints include: Black Cat, Evergreen, Venus Library, Zebra. Barney Rosset purchased the company in 1951 and turned it into an alternative book press in the United States. The Atlantic Monthly Press, under the aegis of its...
in 1969.
Production history
The Marriage was first performed in GliwiceGliwice
Gliwice is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Gliwice is the west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
, Poland in 1960, under the direction of Jerzy Jarocki. The production was stopped by the censors after four performances. In 1963, the French director Jorge Lavelli
Jorge Lavelli
Jorge Lavelli is a French theater director of Italian ethnicity and Argentine origin.The son of Italian immigrants in Argentina, Lavelli has lived in France since the early 1960s. He became a French citizen in 1977....
staged the play at the Théâtre Récamier in Paris, to critical success. The Royal Dramatic Theatre
Royal Dramatic Theatre
The Royal Dramatic Theatre is Sweden's national stage for "spoken drama", founded in 1788. Around one thousand shows are put on annually on the theatre's eight running stages....
in Stockholm performed the play in 1966, with Alf Sjöberg as director and Ernst-Hugo Järegård
Ernst-Hugo Järegård
Ernst-Hugo Alfred Järegård, was a Swedish cult actor.-Biography:...
in a role. The first full-scale Polish production was directed by Jarocki in 1974 for the Teatr Dramatyczny in Warsaw.