Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė
Encyclopedia
Gabrielė Petkevičaitė was a Lithuania
n writer and activist. Her pen name
Bitė (Bee) eventually became part of her last name.
. When she was nine, Petkevičaitė's mother died of typhus
and she began looking after her five brothers despite her own disability (deformed spine). Service to others continued to be a prominent part of Petkevičaitė's life and work. She received education at home from Laurynas Ivinskis
and other private tutors. After graduation from a girls' school in Jelgava
(1878), Petkevičaitė worked with her father in a pharmacy and privately tutored in Lithuanian, violating the Lithuanian press ban
. Around 1890 she met Povilas Višinskis
, who encouraged her to join public life and start a writing career. She was one of the organizers and chairwoman of the first Congress of Lithuanian Women in 1907 and co-founder of Lithuanian Women's Association in 1908. After her father's death in 1909 she lived in Vilnius
and worked as editorial staff of Lietuvos žinios
.
During World War I
, Petkevičaitė returned to her childhood home. She completed courses for doctor's assistant and, according to her father's wishes, helped the sick. During the war she kept a diary, which was published in 1925 and 1933. In 1920 she was elected to the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania
and, as the oldest member of the assembly, presided over its first session before a chairman was elected. In 1919, by invitation of Juozas Balčikonis
, she began teaching at Panevėžys gymnasium. Together with Juozas Zikaras
, Petkevičaitė designed a school uniform for girls, which was soon adopted nationally and discontinued only around 1990. Her classroom notes on world literature were developed and published in 1922 and 1924 as two-volume school textbook. In 1924 Petkevičaitė resigned from her teaching position due to poor health. She then largely retired from public life, but continued to write.
, Petkevičaitė began contributing news stories to Varpas
in 1890 (after reading a complaint from Vincas Kudirka
that the newspaper lacked correspondents). Her first fiction was published in periodicals (1894) and later as stand-alone works (1900). Her writing centered on social inequality
. She saw inequality as the causes of economic suffering and moral decline, but believed that the rise of humanism would heal the misery. Petkevičaitė often contrasted harmony found in natural world with dysfunctional social classes. Short story Dievui atkišus (Offering it to God) about a girl seduced by a landowner is one of the most powerful social commentaries. Her patriotic books, including two-part novel Ad astra (1933), depicted rise of national consciousness. Her diary, written during World War I, expressed her desire for beauty, peace, and ideal humanity. The diary is a good example of romantic attempts to escape from daily misery into the perfect word of nature and arts.
In 1899 Petkevičaitė co-directed with Višinskis the first Lithuanian-language play Amerika pirtyje (America in a Bathhouse) in Palanga
. Encouraged by the success, Petkevičaitė joined forces with another female writer Žemaitė
and wrote several plays under the joint pen name Dvi Moteri (Two Women), including Velnias spąstuose (The Devil in a Trap, 1902), Kaip kas išmano, taip save gano (Each on His Own, 1904), Parduotoji laimė (Sold Happiness, 1905), Dublynė (The Bog, 1912), and others.
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 and activist. Her pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Bitė (Bee) eventually became part of her last name.
Biography
Petkevičaitė was born to a family of Lithuanian nobility. Her father was a doctor and became director of a hospital in JoniškėlisJoniškelis
Joniškėlis is city in the Pasvalys district municipality, Lithuania. It is located west of Pasvalys.-Name:Versions of the city's name in other languages include Polish: Johaniszkiele, Russian: Иоганишкели Ioganishkeli, Belarusian: Iоганiшкели Iohanishkeli, Yiddish: יאַנישקעל Yonishkel....
. When she was nine, Petkevičaitė's mother died of typhus
Typhus
Epidemic typhus is a form of typhus so named because the disease often causes epidemics following wars and natural disasters...
and she began looking after her five brothers despite her own disability (deformed spine). Service to others continued to be a prominent part of Petkevičaitė's life and work. She received education at home from Laurynas Ivinskis
Laurynas Ivinskis
Laurynas Ivinskis was a Lithuanian teacher, publisher, translator and lexicographer, from a Samogitian noble family. He is notable for a series of annual calendars published between 1847 and 1877, in which he summarized the daily life of Samogitian peasantry, Laurynas Ivinski also published...
and other private tutors. After graduation from a girls' school in Jelgava
Jelgava Gymnasium
Jelgava Gymnasium or Academia Petrina is the oldest higher educational establishment in Latvia. It was established in Jelgava, capital of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, by Duke Peter von Biron in 1775. After the partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Jelgava became part of the...
(1878), Petkevičaitė worked with her father in a pharmacy and privately tutored in Lithuanian, violating the Lithuanian press ban
Lithuanian press ban
The Lithuanian press ban was a ban on all Lithuanian language publications printed in the Latin alphabet within the Russian Empire, which controlled Lithuania at the time. Lithuanian-language publications that used the Cyrillic alphabet were allowed and even encouraged...
. Around 1890 she met Povilas Višinskis
Povilas Višinskis
Povilas Višinskis was a Lithuanian writer, journalist, theatre director, and politician. His pen names include A. – s, Blinda, P – V, P. A., Apaštalas, P. Šiaulietis. He was one of the founders of the Lithuanian Democratic Party...
, who encouraged her to join public life and start a writing career. She was one of the organizers and chairwoman of the first Congress of Lithuanian Women in 1907 and co-founder of Lithuanian Women's Association in 1908. After her father's death in 1909 she lived in 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...
and worked as editorial staff of Lietuvos žinios
Lietuvos Žinios
Lietuvos žinios is a daily newspaper in Lithuania. Established in Vilnius in 1909, it was a liberal newspaper representing the Lithuanian Democratic Party...
.
During 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...
, Petkevičaitė returned to her childhood home. She completed courses for doctor's assistant and, according to her father's wishes, helped the sick. During the war she kept a diary, which was published in 1925 and 1933. In 1920 she was elected to the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania
Constituent Assembly of Lithuania
The Constituent Assembly of Lithuania was democratically elected in 1920 to draft and adopt the 1922 constitution of Lithuania.- Historical background :...
and, as the oldest member of the assembly, presided over its first session before a chairman was elected. In 1919, by invitation of Juozas Balčikonis
Juozas Balcikonis
Juozas Balčikonis was a Lithuanian linguist and teacher, who contributed to the standardization of the Lithuanian language.- References :...
, she began teaching at Panevėžys gymnasium. Together with Juozas Zikaras
Juozas Zikaras
Juozas Zikaras was a Lithuanian sculptor and artist, who created the design for pre-war Lithuanian litas coins. He is considered to be one of the first professional Lithuanian sculptors.-Biography:...
, Petkevičaitė designed a school uniform for girls, which was soon adopted nationally and discontinued only around 1990. Her classroom notes on world literature were developed and published in 1922 and 1924 as two-volume school textbook. In 1924 Petkevičaitė resigned from her teaching position due to poor health. She then largely retired from public life, but continued to write.
Writing career
Encouraged by Povilas VišinskisPovilas Višinskis
Povilas Višinskis was a Lithuanian writer, journalist, theatre director, and politician. His pen names include A. – s, Blinda, P – V, P. A., Apaštalas, P. Šiaulietis. He was one of the founders of the Lithuanian Democratic Party...
, Petkevičaitė began contributing news stories to Varpas
Varpas
Varpas was a monthly Lithuanian-language newspaper published during the Lithuanian press ban from January 1889 to December 1905...
in 1890 (after reading a complaint from Vincas Kudirka
Vincas Kudirka
Vincas Kudirka was a Lithuanian poet and physician, and the author of both the music and lyrics of the Lithuanian National Anthem, Tautiška giesmė. He is regarded in Lithuania as a National Hero. Kudirka used pen names - V...
that the newspaper lacked correspondents). Her first fiction was published in periodicals (1894) and later as stand-alone works (1900). Her writing centered on social inequality
Social inequality
Social inequality refers to a situation in which individual groups in a society do not have equal social status. Areas of potential social inequality include voting rights, freedom of speech and assembly, the extent of property rights and access to education, health care, quality housing and other...
. She saw inequality as the causes of economic suffering and moral decline, but believed that the rise of humanism would heal the misery. Petkevičaitė often contrasted harmony found in natural world with dysfunctional social classes. Short story Dievui atkišus (Offering it to God) about a girl seduced by a landowner is one of the most powerful social commentaries. Her patriotic books, including two-part novel Ad astra (1933), depicted rise of national consciousness. Her diary, written during World War I, expressed her desire for beauty, peace, and ideal humanity. The diary is a good example of romantic attempts to escape from daily misery into the perfect word of nature and arts.
In 1899 Petkevičaitė co-directed with Višinskis the first Lithuanian-language play Amerika pirtyje (America in a Bathhouse) in Palanga
Palanga
Palanga and beautiful sand dunes. Officially Palanga has the status of a city municipality and includes Šventoji, Nemirseta, Būtingė and other settlements, which are considered as part of the city of Palanga.-Legend:...
. Encouraged by the success, Petkevičaitė joined forces with another female writer Žemaitė
Žemaite
Žemaitė - a pen name of Julija Beniuševičiūtė-Žymantienė; in Bukantė near Plungė — 7 December 1921 in Marijampolė) was a Lithuanian writer. Born to impoverished gentry, she became one of the major participants in the Lithuanian National Revival...
and wrote several plays under the joint pen name Dvi Moteri (Two Women), including Velnias spąstuose (The Devil in a Trap, 1902), Kaip kas išmano, taip save gano (Each on His Own, 1904), Parduotoji laimė (Sold Happiness, 1905), Dublynė (The Bog, 1912), and others.