Maurice Maeterlinck

Belgian French poet, playwright, and essayist. Born and raised in Ghent, he first published realistic short stories, but during a stay in Paris from 1885, he was inspired by Villiers de l'Isle-Adam and began to walk the path of mysticism. After returning to Ghent, he devoted himself to poetry, drama, and French translations of the works of the medieval Flemish mystic Louisebroeck. In 1889, he published a collection of poems, "The Conservatory," and his first play, " Princess Maleine ." In the former, he portrayed a decadent spirit of decadence and its overcoming by God's grace, while in the latter, he portrayed an innocent princess who falls victim to fate. The latter in particular caught the eye of Octave Mirbeau, who praised him as a second coming of Shakespeare. The theme of tragedy brought about by fate is common to all of his plays from the 1890s, and his 1892 work Pelléas et Mélisande is still performed today as an opera by Debussy. Other works include The Intruder (1890), The Blind Men (1891), The Interior, The Death of Tantasil, and Aladine and Palomis (all 1894). In 1896, under the influence of Novalis and Emerson, he wrote The Treasure of the Humble (The Treasure of the Poor), which advocates human wisdom that recognizes the order of the afterlife and overcomes fate. In the 20th century, his style changed completely, becoming more realistic, while also turning his attention to themes that explore love, hope, and the mysteries of the natural world (The Life of Bees (1901), The Life of Ants (1926), etc.). In addition to many plays, he also wrote many essays from the standpoint of human love. In 1908, he published the famous children's play "The Blue Bird." In 1911, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

[Hiroo Toyama]

"Pelléas and Mélisande" translated by Sugimoto Hidetaro (1978, Yukawa Shobo)" ▽ "The Poor Man's Treasure" translated by Katayama Toshihiko (Shincho Bunko)" ▽ "Interior" translated by Kuratomo Tsuneo (1984, Kokusho Kankokai)" ▽ "The Life of Ants" translated by Tanaka Yoshihiro (1981, Kōsakusha)" ▽ "The Life of Termites" translated by Ozaki Kazuo (1981, Kōsakusha)" ▽ "The Life of Bees" translated by Yamashita Tomoo and Hashimoto Tsuna (1981, Kōsakusha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ベルギーのフランス語詩人、劇作家、エッセイスト。ガン（ヘント）に生まれ育ち、最初写実的な短編小説を発表するが、1885年から一時パリに滞在したおりビリエ・ド・リラダンの示唆を受け、神秘主義の道を歩むようになった。ガンに戻ってから詩作や劇作、中世フランドルの神秘家リュイズブロークの仏訳に励み、89年には詩集『温室』、処女戯曲『マレーヌ王女』Princesse Maleineを上梓(じょうし)、前者ではデカダン的な衰退精神と神の恩寵(おんちょう)によるその超克を、後者では運命の犠牲となる無辜(むこ)の王女の姿を描き出した。とくに後者はオクターブ・ミルボーの目に留まり、シェークスピアの再来と激賞された。またこの運命のもたらす悲劇という主題は1890年代のすべての戯曲に共通し、なかんずく92年の『ペレアスとメリザンド』は今日なおドビュッシーのオペラとして上演されている。ほかに『闖入者(ちんにゅうしゃ)』（1890）、『盲人達(たち)』（1891）、『室内』『タンタジルの死』『アラディーヌとパロミッド』（ともに1894）などがある。96年にはノバーリス、エマソンらの影響下に『つつましき者達の宝』（『貧者の宝』）を書き、彼岸の秩序を認識し運命を克服する人間智(ち)を説いた。20世紀に入ると劇風は一変し、写実的になる一方、愛と希望や自然界の神秘を探る主題へと関心を転じた（『蜜蜂(みつばち)の生活』〈1901〉、『蟻(あり)の生活』〈1926〉など）。多数の戯曲のほか人類愛の立場から多くのエッセイも残した。1908年には名高い児童劇『青い鳥』を発表している。11年ノーベル文学賞受賞。

［遠山博雄］

『杉本秀太郎訳『ペレアスとメリザンド』（1978・湯川書房）』▽『片山敏彦訳『貧者の宝』（新潮文庫）』▽『倉智恒夫訳『室内』（1984・国書刊行会）』▽『田中義廣訳『蟻の生活』（1981・工作舎）』▽『尾崎和郎訳『白蟻の生活』（1981・工作舎）』▽『山下知夫・橋本綱訳『蜜蜂の生活』（1981・工作舎）』

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