Dziady (poem) - The Parts

The Parts

The drama's four parts are described below in the order of their composition.

Part II

In this part, Mickiewicz expressed a philosophy of life, based mainly on folk morality and on his own thoughts about love and death. In the drama, Lithuanian peasants are summoning ghosts to ensure them the access to heaven. First ones, ghosts of two children, cannot get there, because they had never suffered. Then appears a phantom of a cruel squire. He is persecuted by birds - they are obliged not to let him eat, because as a living person, he did not act like a human being. The next ghost is a phantom of Zosia, a young, beautiful shepherdess. Her fault is that she had never returned anybody's love, and love is needed to the act of salvation. The last ghost is the most interesting one. He resembles the main hero of the IV part (Gustaw).

Part IV

The IV part is believed to be Mickiewicz's manifesto of his romantic philosophy of life, and also a story about his love to Maryla Wereszczakówna. The main reason for associating bard's and his hero's biography is the resemblance of what Gustaw (the protagonist of the drama) says about his tragic youth. He met a fine girl, with whom he fell in love. Unfortunately, she married a rich duke and, subsequently, Gustaw committed a suicide. Similar situation took place in poet's life, but he managed to forgive his lover. When he was depressed,he wrote the IV part of "Dziady", one of the most beautiful Polish poems about love and also a fascinating example of the romantic poetry. The action of the drama is divided into three episodes - the hour of love, the hour of despair and the hour of admonition. The book shows dangers of people's romantic nature and reading sentimental masterpieces, which do not show the real world. On the other hand, Gustaw is presented as an owner of the methaphysical knowledge. It is him, not his teacher who eventually notions to the philosophy of Enlightenment and visualises the true picture of the world, which is the reality conducted by paranormal laws.

Part I

First part, published after Mickiewicz's emigration to France, was probably written in the early 20s, though never finished. Meant to be a picture of "emotion of the 19th century people", it was immediately given up by the author. It shows young girl and boy, feeling confused with and trying to choose between the sentimental idea of love, adjustment to the society and respect to own nature.

Part III

This part is thought to be the most significant one, or even one of the finest poems in the Polish literature. The main character bear a resemblance to Gustaw from the IV part, but he is no longer a 'romantic lover'. The drama was written after the fail of the November Insurrection, an event which exerted a huge influence over the author. In the Prologue the protagonist of the drama writes on the wall "Today Gustaw has died, today Konrad was born". Konrad is a name from the previous Mickiewicz's novel, Konrad Wallenrod. Wallenrod was the hero who sacrificed his life and happiness for his own country's sake.

Mickiewicz dedicated his work for people fighting for Polish freedom in the 1830s insurrection and especially for those, who were exiled to Siberia by the Russian emperor. The book describes cruelty of Alexander, the emperor, and persecutioning of Poles. It has many mysterious episodes and, among historical characters, reader can find ghosts, angels and also the devil. Poland, according to Mickiewicz's visions, was meant to be "Christ of Europe" and the national suffering was to result in releasing all persecuted people and nationalities, as Christ's death have brought salvation.

The characters of the drama are chiefly prisoners, accused of conspiracy against the Russian conqueror. The self-named protagonist is called Konrad. He is a poet. In his monologue, commonly known as "Wielka Improwizacja" - "The Great Improvisation" - he is talking to God about his patriotic feelings and personal misfortune. He compares his works of poetry to the creations of God and nature, and claims that they are completely equal, if not better. Frustrated Konrad calls God out, accusing Him of letting people suffer- particularly him and Poles under rule of three foreign empires, and yet still wanting to be called Father, worshipped and loved. Young poet thinks that Creator is baffled by his words and that man knows Him better than any of archangels, because he hears no response. He is ready to fight against God (comparing himself to Satan, but claiming that he will be more challenging enemy, because, unlike his predecessor, in this battle he will use heart, not reason) for improving the fate of his nation and whole humanity. Meanwhile, angels and devils are struggling over Konrad's soul. Another character, a priest called Piotr, has also a vision. When he happens to foretell the country's future, he says one of the most mysterious words of the whole drama. Describing a person who will bring back the freedom of Poland, he says: "The Son of a foreign mother, in his blood old heroes And his name will be forty and four".

The whole drama brings back the hope of Polish independence and gives a great picture of Polish society in so difficult a moment. For instance, recognizable words are: "Our nation is like lava. On the top it is hard and hideous, but its internal fire cannot be extinguished even in one hundred years of coldness. So let's spit on the crust and go down, to the profundity!"