Vondel's Brothers and the Power of Imagination

摘要: On April 18, 1641, Joost van den Vondel's Brothers (Gebroeders) premiered in the new Amsterdam playhouse. It immediately enjoyed great success, being performed more than annually for decades. (1) Inspired by second book of Samuel, it starts with Israel suffering from famine. God reveals that justice has to be done. Years before, David's predecessor and father-in-law Saul had massacred Gibeonites. David needs avenge them, but runs into a moral conflict. He choose between his family-in-law divine justice. After long period doubt, accepts God's will. Seven male descendants are delivered Gibeonites, who hang them. Because doubts stand at center attention, Vondel calls drama tragedy (treurspel). Thus he indicates will follow antique dramatic format, which also focuses on protagonist's doubt. Notes hand giving stage directions first series performances have been preserved. (2) So was not only dramatist, closely involved staging tragedy. In seventeenth century this involvement rare, is rare notes survive. Together text, give us precious insight specific staging. Moreover, show how marks shift oeuvre Vondel, making clear did straightforwardly executions Saul. The audience deprived blunt cruelties, crucial previous dramas as well those many other theater-makers time, such popular colleague Jan Vos. introduced another way using overwhelming forces performance. By concentrating conclusion Biblical tragedy, I experimented visual verbal images (e.g., tableau vivant vivid description) urge theatergoers imagine themselves same difficult situation order come direct emotional understanding story. relate these findings poetical ideas Gerardus Vossius developing during writing (3) period, maintained very close links professor. (4) articulated one modern theories effect performances. exceeded discussions Aristotle Horace combining them insights ancient treatises, Sublime, most probably written AD an anonymous author we traditionally call Longinus. (5) This combination brought advise against abhorrence so maximally exploit theatergoers' imaginations, urging create powerful long-lasting mental or phantasiai. look preface Brothers, where uses examples painting illustrate imagination both artist/dramatist artwork drama. Second, discuss early use phantasia, includes creative writer. Then Vossius's relation theater performance resulting restrictions explicit cruelties. Fourth, focus clarify practice draws similar principles encourage audiences imagination. essay counterarguments Vos about realizing strong impressions Imagination Aeneas Rubens clarifies involving emotionally story Saul's pointing imaginations artist audience. dramatist quotes Virgil's Aeneid (1. …