Maryša
(Marysha) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
The play by Alois and Vilém Mrštík, which premiered at the National Theater in Prague in 1894, criticizes the conditions in (Czech) villages of the time and, in particular, the social status of women. The main character is married against her will to a wealthy widower, but the marriage is not a happy one and her husband is more interested in her dowry than in her. When her husband tries to kill her lover, Maryša decides to take desperate action.
Edited by: Gender Studies, o p.s. - Knihovna Jiřiny Šiklové
Comment:
The central theme of the play Maryša is the social position of women in a Czech village in the 19th century. The play shows how destructive deeply rooted strict patriarchal and sexist norms are on the fate of individuals, especially the main female protagonist, but also on the men in the story. In addition to social pressure on the only acceptable path in life for women, we also find other systemic problems such as domestic violence and alcoholism. Although the play is a product of an older time period, it was revolutionary in its day and the relevance of its themes is indisputable; proof of this is that it continues to be frequently performed on leading theater stages in Czechia and abroad.