REASSESSING ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING’S DIALOGUE WITH FRIEDRICH SCHILLER IN “THE DEAD PAN”

Öz

Widely interpreted as Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s justification for incorporating Christian themes within poetic discourse, “The Dead Pan” offers a Christian perspective in response to Friedrich Schiller’s favourable portrayal of Ancient Greek paganism in “Gods of Greece.” The poem epitomises Victorian pietism, exemplifying the period’s religious fervour and advocating for the synthesis of Christian content in poetry to enrich the literary canon. This advocacy originates from Browning’s belief that Christianity offers superior truths and values compared to Greek paganism. However, this study proposes a reassessment of Barrett Browning’s interpretation of Schiller’s work, suggesting that she may have misconstrued his allusions to Greek mythology as a straightforward endorsement of paganism. It is crucial to recognise that Schiller’s critique of Christianity primarily condemns the exploitation of the faith by religious and secular authorities to oppress and control the populace, rather than an outright denunciation of the religion itself. By examining the genesis of “The Dead Pan” through Barrett Browning’s personal correspondence, this study illuminates her specific objectives and her responses to Schiller’s perspectives. Additionally, by contextualising “Gods of Greece” within its socio-political and theological framework, this paper demonstrates that while Browning and Schiller have divergent approaches to Ancient Greek culture and Christianity, Barrett Browning overlooks Schiller’s nuanced criticism of the misuse of religion by religious and secular authorities.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Elizabeth Barret Browning
• Friedrich Schiller
• Greek Mythology
• Paganism
• Christianity

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING’İN “THE DEAD PAN” ADLI ESERİNDE FRIEDRICH SCHILLER İLE DİYALOĞUNU YENİDEN DEĞERLENDİRMEK

Öz

Çoğunlukla Elizabeth Barrett Browning’in, Hristiyan temalarının şiirsel söylem içinde yer alması gerekliliğini meşrulaştırması olarak yorumlanan “The Dead Pan,” Friedrich Schiller’in “Gods of Greece” adlı eserinde Antik Yunan paganizmini olumlu bir şekilde tasvir etmesine bir yanıt olarak yazılmış olup Hristiyan bakış açısı sunar. Dönemin dini duygularını ortaya koyan bu şiir, Viktorya dönemi dindarlığının simgesi olarak kabul edilir ve edebiyatı zenginleştirmek için şiire Hristiyan içeriklerin dahil edilmesini savunur. Bu yaklaşımın temelinde, Browning’in, evrensel doğru ve değerlerin Hristiyanlık öğretilerinde barındığına dair inancı yatar. Ancak, bu çalışma, Elizabeth Barrett Browning’in Schiller’in eserine yönelik yorumunun yeniden değerlendirilmesi gerektiğini öne sürer; zira Browning’in, Schiller’in Yunan mitolojisine yaptığı göndermeleri, paganizmin kabul edilmesi ve yüceltilmesi olarak yanlış anlamış olması muhtemeldir. Altı çizilmesi gereken önemli nokta, Schiller’in Hristiyanlık eleştirisinin altında yatan temel motivasyonunun, dini tamamen reddetmek değil, aslında Hristiyanlığın dini ve laik otoriteler tarafından halkı baskı altına almak ve kontrol etmek amacıyla kötüye kullanılmasını kınamak olduğudur. Browning’in kişisel mektuplarına odaklanarak şiirin yazım sürecine ışık tutmayı amaçlayan bu çalışma, şairin bu şiirle neyi amaçladığını ve Schiller’e nasıl cevap verdiğini ortaya koymayı amaçlar. Ek olarak, bu makale, Schiller’in “Gods of Greece” şiirini yazıldığı dönemin sosyo-kültürel ve teolojik bağlamına oturtarak, Browning ve Schiller’in Antik Yunan kültürü ve Hristiyanlık konusundaki farklı yaklaşımlarına rağmen, Browning’in Schiller’in dinin kötüye kullanılmasına dair nüanslı eleştirisini gözden kaçırdığını gösterir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Elizabeth Barret Browning
• Friedrich Schiller
• Yunan Mitolojisi
• Paganizm
• Hristiyanlık

Kaynakça

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