| Abstract [eng] |
The understanding of Mary Magdalene’s portrayal in multilingual Lithuanian poetry is aided by the saint’s theology in Christian history and culture. Based on theoretical material and analysis of the research, the main theological meanings of Mary Magdalene can be distinguished. Two main versions of the saint’s portrayal become apparent in the Christian history. In the Bible, Magdalene is portrayed as a saint – a repentant sinner whose demons had been cast out and as an apostle to whom the resurrected Jesus first revealed himself. After the Council of Trent the cult of the saints became highlighted, the image of the saint changed. Magdalene is raised as a mediator praying for the Lord’s grace, but the primary focus is placed on her image as a repentant sinner. In the cultural history meanings of Magdalene are continued, however, with the increasing influence of Baroque stylistics, the portrayal of the sinner’s erotic and sensual expressions become more prevalent. The image of repentant Mary Magdalene becomes firmly set in iconography. Based on Lithuanian folk art research conclusions it becomes apparent that in Lithuanian folklore, Mary Magdalene’s life and the signs of her sanctity are essentially the same as in religious sources. The image of grieving and repentant saint is prevalent. In folk sculpture Saint Mary Magdalene is portrayed in compositions of crucifixion and burial of Jesus as praying or crying alone, kneeling at the foot of the cross or hugging the cross. The object of the work – portrayal of Mary Magdalene in multilingual Lithuanian poetry, including the poetry of authors who did not write in Lithuanian but were linked to Lithuania into the analysis. The poetic identity of Magdalene is analysed along with its interpretations, the lyrical subject’s views about the saint, the worldview of the poem related to her. In order to reveal the object, poetic works of authors from different periods of time were selected: baroque epoch – M. K. Sarbievijus, modern – 20th century – older, middle and younger generation poets: Salomėja Nėris, Bernardas Brazdžionis, Leonardas Andriekus, Czesław Miłosz, Antanas Jasmantas, Judita Vaičiūnaitė, Leonardas Gutauskas, Donaldas Kajokas, Birutė Jonuškaitė, Gintaras Bleizgys. The research problem of this work – how Mary Magdalene is portrayed in poetic works from different epochs and how her portrayal has changed in comparison to the primary source of her portrayal – the Bible. In order to a achieve a retrospective view of Mary Magdalene’s portrayal in multilingual Lithuanian poetry, works from different epochs have been analysed and compared from perspectives of literary theology, historical, and poetic expression. The saint’s portrayal in the poetic space is revealed by distinguishing the aspect of love and Eros. |
