Karel Hynek Mácha
Encyclopedia
Karel Hynek Mácha (ˈkarɛl ˈɦɪnɛk ˈmaːxa) (16 November 1810 – 6 November 1836) was a Czech
romantic
poet.
, the son of a foreman at a mill. He learned Latin
and German in school. He went on to study law at Prague University
; during that time he also became involved in theatre (as an actor he first appeared in Jan Nepomuk Štěpánek's
drama Czech and German in July 1832 in Benešov
), where he met Eleonora Šomková
, with whom he had a son out of wedlock. He was fond of travel, enjoying trips into the mountains, and was an avid walker. Eventually he moved to Litoměřice
, a quiet town some 60 km from Prague, to prepare for law school exams and to write poetry. Three days before he was to be married to Šomková, just a few weeks after he had begun working as a legal assistant, Mácha, in helping put out a fire, overstrained himself, and died after a short period of illness, due to pneumonia
. The day after his death he was expected in Prague to marry his mistress.
Mácha was buried in Litoměřice in a pauper's grave. Recognition came after his death: in 1939, his remains were exhumed, and they were given a formal state burial at the Vyšehrad cemetery
in Prague. A statue was erected in his honor in Petřín Park, Prague. In 1937 a biographical film, Karel Hynek Mácha, was made by Zet Molas (a pen name of Zdena Smolová). Máchovo jezero
(English Mácha's Lake) was named after him in 1961.
His lyrical epic poem Máj
(May), published in 1836 shortly before his death, was judged by his contemporaries as confusing, too individualistic, and not in harmony with the national ideas. Czech playwright Josef Kajetán Tyl
even wrote a parody on Mácha's style, Rozervanec (The Chaotic). Máj was rejected by publishers, and was published by a vanity press at Mácha's own expense, not long before his early death.
Mácha's genius was discovered and glorified much later by the poets and novelists of the 1850s generation (for example Jan Neruda
, Vítězslav Hálek
, Karolina Světlá
) and Máj is now regarded as the classic work of Czech Romanticism
, and is considered one of the best Czech poems ever written. It contains forebodings of many of the tendencies of twentieth-century literature: existentialism, alienation, isolation, surrealism, etc.
He also authored a collection of autobiographical sketches titled Pictures From My Life, the 1835–36 novel Cikáni
(Gypsies), as well as several individual poems, besides a journal in which, for instance, he detailed his sexual encounters with Somkova.
Besides poetry and prose he wrote diaries and literary sketchbooks. The Diary of Travel to Italy describes his journey to Venice
, Trieste
and Ljubljana
(where he met the Slovene national poet France Prešeren
) in 1834. The Secret Diary
describes his daily life in autumn 1835 with cipher passages concerning his relationship with Eleonora Šomková.
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
romantic
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
poet.
Biography
Mácha grew up in PraguePrague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, the son of a foreman at a mill. He learned Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and German in school. He went on to study law at Prague University
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
; during that time he also became involved in theatre (as an actor he first appeared in Jan Nepomuk Štěpánek's
Jan Nepomuk Štěpánek
Jan Nepomuk Štěpánek was a Czech playwright, director, actor and theatre manager.- Early life :Jan Nepomuk Štěpánek was born in Chrudim to a soapmaker's family. He studied at Litomyšl gymnasium and then philosophy and theology at Charles University in Prague. In 1800 he entered the Austrian army...
drama Czech and German in July 1832 in Benešov
Benešov
Benešov is a town in the Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic, about southeast of Prague. The Konopiště castle and the Czech national mountain Blaník are near the town.-History:...
), where he met Eleonora Šomková
Eleonora Šomková
Eleonora Šomková was the fiancée of Karel Hynek Mácha. The poet died two days before their intended wedding...
, with whom he had a son out of wedlock. He was fond of travel, enjoying trips into the mountains, and was an avid walker. Eventually he moved to Litoměřice
Litomerice
Litoměřice is a town at the junction of the rivers Elbe and Ohře in the north part of the Czech Republic, approximately 64 km northwest of Prague....
, a quiet town some 60 km from Prague, to prepare for law school exams and to write poetry. Three days before he was to be married to Šomková, just a few weeks after he had begun working as a legal assistant, Mácha, in helping put out a fire, overstrained himself, and died after a short period of illness, due to pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. The day after his death he was expected in Prague to marry his mistress.
Mácha was buried in Litoměřice in a pauper's grave. Recognition came after his death: in 1939, his remains were exhumed, and they were given a formal state burial at the Vyšehrad cemetery
Vyšehrad cemetery
Established in 1869 on the grounds of Vyšehrad Castle in Prague, Czech Republic, the Vyšehrad cemetery is the final resting place of many composers, artists, sculptors, writers, and those from the world of science and politics...
in Prague. A statue was erected in his honor in Petřín Park, Prague. In 1937 a biographical film, Karel Hynek Mácha, was made by Zet Molas (a pen name of Zdena Smolová). Máchovo jezero
Máchovo jezero
Máchovo jezero is an artificial lake in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic, near Doksy and Bezděz Castle....
(English Mácha's Lake) was named after him in 1961.
Works
Máj
Máj is a romantic poem by Karel Hynek Mácha in four cantos. It was fiercely criticized when first published, but since then has gained the status of one of the most prominent works of Czech literature; the poem now is memorized by schoolchildren and continuously in print.-Setting:According to the...
(May), published in 1836 shortly before his death, was judged by his contemporaries as confusing, too individualistic, and not in harmony with the national ideas. Czech playwright Josef Kajetán Tyl
Josef Kajetán Tyl
Josef Kajetán Tyl was a significant Czech dramatist, writer and actor. He was a notable figure of the Czech National Revival movement and is best known as the author of the current national anthem of the Czech Republic titled Kde domov můj.-Life:Josef Kajetán Tyl was the first-born son of Jiří...
even wrote a parody on Mácha's style, Rozervanec (The Chaotic). Máj was rejected by publishers, and was published by a vanity press at Mácha's own expense, not long before his early death.
Mácha's genius was discovered and glorified much later by the poets and novelists of the 1850s generation (for example Jan Neruda
Jan Neruda
Jan Nepomuk Neruda was a Czech journalist, writer and poet, one of the most prominent representatives of Czech Realism and a member of "the May school".-Early life:...
, Vítězslav Hálek
Vítezslav Hálek
Vítězslav Hálek was a Czech poet, writer, journalist, dramatist and theatre critic. He is considered one of the most important representatives of the May school, besides Jan Neruda and Karolína Světlá.- Life :...
, Karolina Světlá
Karolína Svetlá
Karolina Světlá was a Czech female author of the 19th century. She was a representative to the literary May School. She married Professor Petr Mužák in 1852, who had taught her music. She also had an affair with Jan Neruda. She introduced Eliška Krásnohorská to literature and feminism...
) and Máj is now regarded as the classic work of Czech Romanticism
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
, and is considered one of the best Czech poems ever written. It contains forebodings of many of the tendencies of twentieth-century literature: existentialism, alienation, isolation, surrealism, etc.
He also authored a collection of autobiographical sketches titled Pictures From My Life, the 1835–36 novel Cikáni
Cikáni
Cikáni is an 1835 novel written by Czech poet Karel Hynek Mácha with typical tokens of Romanticism: old castles, night sceneries and a romantic complicated plot. It is Mácha's only completed novel.- Plot :...
(Gypsies), as well as several individual poems, besides a journal in which, for instance, he detailed his sexual encounters with Somkova.
Besides poetry and prose he wrote diaries and literary sketchbooks. The Diary of Travel to Italy describes his journey to Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
and Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
(where he met the Slovene national poet France Prešeren
France Prešeren
France Prešeren was a Slovene Romantic poet. He is considered the Slovene national poet. Although he was not a particularly prolific author, he inspired virtually all Slovene literature thereafter....
) in 1834. The Secret Diary
Diary of 1835 (Mácha)
The Diary was written in 1835 by Karel Hynek Mácha, the best-known Czech romantic poet...
describes his daily life in autumn 1835 with cipher passages concerning his relationship with Eleonora Šomková.
External links
- Máj (English translation)
- Mácha's untimely death
- Karel Hynek Mácha: On Patriotism and Turtle-Doves
- Máj Czech online PDF book