Personal tragedy or national characteristic?

By: Dora Gyarmathy, Hungarian Radio

The national studies were the topic of a conference in the last weeks in Budapest. Mr Kulin Ferenc, the Dean of the Károli Gáspár Protestant University Faculty of Arts, had a presentation about the Hungarian drama, Bánk bán and the national characteristics of the drama’s interpretations.

Bánk bán is a drama by Katona József, was written in 1819. In March 15th, 1848 this drama was played on the first night of the revolution in Budapest. The story of Bánk bán has symbolic meaning. The drama is staged in Visegrád, a medieval city where the Hungarian royalty lived. In 1213 King Andrew II was away fighting a war. His wife was Gertrude, queen of Meran. Some Hungarians in the court were planning a rebellion. While Bánk, the viceroy of Hungary, was on a mission away from the castle, Gertrude helped her brother seduce Bánk’s wife, Melinda, by putting a love elixir in her cup. Bánk was urgently called back to the castle by the conspirators. When they told him about the misery caused by the Meranians, he joined the rebellion. Bánk sent his family to a fortress near the Tisza River to safety. Then, he bursted into the queen’s room. Gertrude attacked him with the sharp end of a cross, but Bánk killed her during the struggle. When King Andrew returned from the war, Bánk confessed his guilt, the king drew his sword intent on revenge. Before he could strike, coffins containing Bánk’s wife and child were carried into the castle. The distraught Melinda had had drowned herself and the child.

About the the Bánk bán’s interpretations from the Enlightment to the 21st century with regard to the national aspect I asked Mr Kulin Ferenc.