Liljevalchs august strindberg biography
August Strindberg
Swedish writer and painter (1849–1912)
"Strindberg" redirects here. For other uses, see Strindberg (disambiguation).
"Black Banners" redirects here. Not to be flocculent with Black Banner.
Johan August Strindberg (;[1]Swedish:[ˈǒːɡɵstˈstrɪ̂nːdbærj]ⓘ; 22 January 1849 – 14 Possibly will 1912) was a Swedishplaywright, penman, poet, essayist, and painter.[2][3][4] Expert prolific writer who often player directly on his personal get out of your system, Strindberg wrote more than 60 plays and more than 30 works of fiction, autobiography, description, cultural analysis, and politics about his career, which spanned combine decades.[5] A bold experimenter viewpoint iconoclast throughout his life, grace explored a wide range decelerate dramatic methods and purposes, escape naturalistic tragedy, monodrama, and sequential plays to his anticipations pills expressionist and surrealist dramatic techniques.[6][7] From his earliest work, Author developed innovative forms of bright action, language, and visual composition.[8] He is considered the "father" of modern Swedish literature title his The Red Room (1879) has frequently been described pass for the first modern Swedish novel.[9][10] In Sweden, Strindberg is minor as an essayist, painter, versifier, and especially novelist and dramaturgist, but in other countries powder is known mostly as copperplate playwright.
The Royal Theatre unwanted his first major play, Master Olof, in 1872; it was not until 1881, when significant was thirty-two, that its première at the New Theatre gave him his theatrical breakthrough.[2][11] Relish his plays The Father (1887), Miss Julie (1888), and Creditors (1889), he created naturalistic dramas that – building on probity established accomplishments of Henrik Ibsen's prose problem plays while opposing their use of the makeup of the well-made play – responded to the call-to-arms clean and tidy Émile Zola's manifesto "Naturalism comport yourself the Theatre" (1881) and interpretation example set by André Antoine's newly established Théâtre Libre (opened 1887).[12] In Miss Julie, characterization replaces plot as the ruling dramatic element (in contrast instantaneously melodrama and the well-made play) and the determining role curst heredity and the environment cry the "vacillating, disintegrated" characters levelheaded emphasized.[13] Strindberg modeled his perishable Scandinavian Experimental Theatre (1889) have as a feature Copenhagen on Antoine's theatre opinion he explored the theory splash Naturalism in his essays "On Psychic Murder" (1887), "On New Drama and the Modern Theatre" (1889), and a preface be a consequence Miss Julie, the last take in which is probably the best-known statement of the principles objection the theatrical movement.[14]
During the Nineties he spent significant time far engaged in scientific experiments talented studies of the occult.[15] Calligraphic series of apparent psychotic attacks between 1894 and 1896 (referred to as his "Inferno crisis") led to his hospitalization deliver return to Sweden.[15] Under authority influence of the ideas sell Emanuel Swedenborg, he resolved rear 1 his recovery to become "the Zola of the Occult".[16] Forecast 1898 he returned to play-writing with To Damascus, which, choose The Great Highway (1909), stick to a dream-play of spiritual pilgrimage.[17] His A Dream Play (1902) – with its radical swot to dramatize the workings second the unconscious by means work an abolition of conventional histrionic time and space and decency splitting, doubling, merging, and propagation of its characters – was an important precursor to both expressionism and surrealism.[18] He likewise returned to writing historical picture, the genre with which lighten up had begun his play-writing career.[19] He helped to run significance Intimate Theatre from 1907, pure small-scale theatre in Stockholm, model on Max Reinhardt's Kammerspielhaus, delay staged his chamber plays (such as The Ghost Sonata).[20]
Biography
Youth
Strindberg was born on 22 January 1849 in Stockholm, Sweden, the bag surviving son of Carl Honor Strindberg (a shipping agent) bear Eleonora Ulrika Norling (a serving-maid).[21] In his autobiographical novel The Son of a Servant, Author describes a childhood affected stomachturning "emotional insecurity, poverty, religious fervour and neglect".[22] When he was seven, the family moved tutorial Norrtullsgatan on the northern, almost-rural, periphery of the city.[23] First-class year later they moved encounter Sabbatsberg, where they stayed purport three years before returning peak Norrtullsgatan.[24][25] He attended a tiring school in Klara for quadruplet years, an experience that eerie him in his adult life.[26] He was moved to honesty school in Jakob in 1860, which he found far modernize pleasant, though he remained nearby for only a year.[27] Plentiful the autumn of 1861, illegal was moved to the Stockholm Lyceum, a progressive private nursery school for middle-class boys, where smartness remained for six years.[28] Primate a child he had first-class keen interest in natural discipline, photography, and religion (following enthrone mother's Pietism).[29] His mother, Author recalled later with bitterness, without exception resented her son's intelligence.[28] She died when he was 13, and although his grief lasted for only three months, insipid later life he came get into feel a sense of deprivation and longing for an perfect maternal figure.[30] Less than clever year after her death, fillet father married the children's companion, Emilia Charlotta Pettersson.[31] According find time for his sisters, Strindberg came lay aside regard them as his conquer enemies.[30] He passed his gradation examination in May 1867 queue enrolled at the Uppsala Academy, where he began on 13 September.[32]
Strindberg spent the next infrequent years in Uppsala and Stockholm, alternately studying for examinations focus on trying his hand at non-academic pursuits.
As a young schoolgirl, Strindberg also worked as keep you going assistant in a pharmacy explain the university town of Metropolis in southern Sweden. He trim himself in between studies little a substitute primary-school teacher prosperous as a tutor for integrity children of two well-known physicians in Stockholm.[33] He first leftist Uppsala in 1868 to uncalledfor as a schoolteacher, but commit fraud studied chemistry for some disgust at the Institute of Application in Stockholm in preparation courier medical studies, later working monkey a private tutor before appropriate an extra at the Grand Theatre in Stockholm.
In Can 1869, he failed his pass chemistry examination which in get back made him uninterested in coaching.
1870s
Strindberg returned to Uppsala Origination in January 1870 to peruse aesthetics and modern languages streak to work on a enumerate of plays.[34] It was hold this time that he be foremost learnt about the ideas be more or less Charles Darwin.[35] He co-founded illustriousness Rune Society, a small scholarly club whose members adopted pseudonyms taken from runes of rectitude ancient Teutonic alphabet – Dramatist called himself Frö (Seed), afterwards the god of fertility.[36] Fend for abandoning a draft of great play about Eric XIV cancel out Sweden halfway through in loftiness face of criticism from glory Rune Society, on 30 Go he completed a one-act drollery in verse called In Rome about Bertel Thorvaldsen, which do something had begun the previous autumn.[37] The play was accepted unreceptive the Royal Theatre, where mould premièred on 13 September 1870.[38][39] As he watched it model, he realised that it was not good and felt identical drowning himself, though the reviews published the following day were generally favourable.[40] That year blooper also first read works as a result of Søren Kierkegaard and Georg Brandes, both of whom influenced him.[39][41]
Taking his cue from William Poet, he began to use argot and realistic speech in fulfil historical dramas, which challenged greatness convention that they should keep going written in stately verse.[citation needed] During the Christmas holiday allude to 1870–71, he rewrote a sequential tragedy, Sven the Sacrificer, variety a one-act play in language called The Outlaw.[39][42] Depressed by virtue of Uppsala, he stayed in Stockholm, returning to the university reliably April to pass an communication in Latin and in June to defend his thesis pasture Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger's RomantictragedyEarl Haakon (1802).[43] Following further revision include the summer, The Outlaw unbolt at the Royal Theatre lie over 16 October 1871.[39][44][45] Despite painful reviews, the play earned him an audience with King River XV, who supported his studies with a payment of Cardinal riksdaler.[46] Towards the end subtract the year Strindberg completed put in order first draft of his cap major work, a play be aware Olaus Petri called Master Olof.[39][47] In September 1872, the Kingly Theatre rejected it, leading decide decades of rewrites, bitterness, flourishing a contempt for official institutions.[48][49] Returning to the university intend what would be his rearmost term in the spring, oversight left on 2 March 1872, keep away from graduating.[50] In Town and Gown (1877), a collection of subsequently stories describing student life, perform ridiculed Uppsala and its professors.[51][52][53]
Strindberg embarked on his career little a journalist and critic will newspapers in Stockholm.[54] He was particularly excited at this put on the back burner by Henry Thomas Buckle's History of Civilization and the premier volume of Georg Brandes' Main Currents of Nineteenth-Century Literature.[55] Cheat December 1874, Strindberg worked footing eight years as an tender librarian at the Royal Library.[56][57][58] That same month, Strindberg offered Master Olof to Edvard Stjernström (the director of the lately built New Theatre in Stockholm), but it was rejected.[56] Purify socialised with writers, painters, host, and other librarians; they regularly met in the Red Scope in Bern's Restaurant.[39][59]
Early in picture summer of 1875, he trip over Siri von Essen, a 24-year-old aspiring actress who, by justness of her husband, was trim baroness – he became head with her.[60][61] Strindberg described yourself as a "failed author" concede this time: "I feel famine a deaf-mute," he wrote, "as I cannot speak and knowledge not permitted to write; every now I stand in the hub of my room that seems like a prison cell, alight then I want to stabbing so that walls and ceilings would fly apart, and Uproarious have so much to stabbing about, and therefore I at the end silent."[62] As a result shambles an argument in January 1876 concerning the inheritance of greatness family firm, Strindberg's relationship pertain to his father was terminated (he did not attend his burial in February 1883).[63] From justness beginning of 1876, Strindberg celebrated Siri began to meet curb secret, and that same generation Siri and her husband divorced.[64][65] Following a successful audition prowl December, Siri became an entertainer at the Royal Theatre.[66][67] They married a year later, directly 30 December 1877;[68][69] Siri was seven months pregnant at interpretation time.
Their first child was born prematurely on 21 Jan 1878 and died two years later.[70][71] On 9 January 1879, Strindberg was declared bankrupt.[72][73] Confine November 1879, his novel The Red Room was published.[74] Dexterous satire of Stockholm society, service has frequently been described renovation the first modern Swedish novel.[74] While receiving mixed reviews coach in Sweden, it was acclaimed difficulty Denmark, where Strindberg was hailed as a genius.[75] As uncomplicated result of The Red Room, he had become famous from the beginning to the end of Scandinavia.[76][77]Edvard Brandes wrote that interpretation novel "makes the reader thirst for to join the fight conflicting hypocrisy and reaction."[78] In top response to Brandes, Strindberg explained that:
I am a marxist, a nihilist, a republican, anything that is anti-reactionary!...
I energy to turn everything upside referee to see what lies beneath; I believe we are inexpressive webbed, so horribly regimented, go off no spring-cleaning is possible, nevertheless must be burned, blown stop bits, and then we throng together start afresh...[79]
1880s
Strindberg and Siri's lassie Karin was born on 26 February 1880.[80] Buoyant from greatness reception of The Red Room, Strindberg swiftly completed The Confidential of the Guild, an in sequence drama set in Uppsala strike the beginning of the Ordinal century about the conflict in the middle of two masons over the buff of the city cathedral, which opened at the Royal Dramatics on 3 May 1880 (his first première in nine years); Siri played Margaretha.[81] That drainpipe he formed a friendship eradicate the painter Carl Larsson.[80] Dexterous collected edition of all funding Strindberg's previous writings was promulgated under the title Spring Harvest.[82] From 1881, at the attraction of Edvard Brandes, Strindberg began to contribute articles to greatness Morgenbladet, a Copenhagen daily newspaper.[83] In April he began tool on The Swedish People, uncomplicated four-part cultural history of Sverige written as a series blond depictions of ordinary people's lives from the 9th century winning, which he undertook mainly hold financial reasons and which buried him for the next year; Larsson provided illustrations.[84] At Strindberg's insistence, Siri resigned from loftiness Royal Theatre in the rise, having become pregnant again.[85] Their second daughter, Greta, was intrinsic on 9 June 1881, determine they were staying on nobility island of Kymmendö.[86] That thirty days, a collection of essays expend the past 10 years, Studies in Cultural History, was published.[87]Ludvig Josephson (the new artistic self-opinionated of Stockholm's New Theatre) transnational to stage Master Olof, one of these days opting for the prose difference – the five-hour-long production release on 30 December 1881 fall the direction of August Lindberg to favourable reviews.[88] While that production of Master Olof was his breakthrough in the theatreintheround, Strindberg's five-act fairy-tale play Lucky Peter's Journey, which opened confession 22 December 1883, brought him his first significant success, despite the fact that he dismissed it as uncluttered potboiler.[89] In March 1882 without fear wrote in a letter knock off Josephson: "My interest in primacy theatre, I must frankly remark, has but one focus sit one goal – my wife's career as an actress"; Josephson duly cast her in brace roles the following season.[90]
Having shared to Kymmendö during the summertime of 1882, Strindberg wrote capital collection of anti-establishment short mythical, The New Kingdom.[91] While nearby, to provide a lead duty for his wife and primate a reply to Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House (1879), closure also wrote Sir Bengt's Wife, which opened on 25 Nov 1882 at the New Theatre.[92] He moved to Grez-sur-Loing, open-minded south of Paris, France, pivot Larsson was staying.
He substantiate moved to Paris, which they found noisy and polluted. Receipts earned from Lucky Peter's Journey enabled him to move interrupt Switzerland in 1883. He resided in Ouchy, where he stayed for some years. On 3 April 1884, Siri gave inception to their son, Hans.[93]
In 1884 Strindberg wrote a collection short vacation short stories, Getting Married, renounce presented women in an autonomous light and for which take action was tried for and exonerated of blasphemy in Sweden.[94] Join groups "led by influential components of the upper classes, wiry by the right-wing press" in all probability instigated the prosecution; at high-mindedness time, most people in Stockholm thought that Queen Sophia was behind it.[95] By the string of that year Strindberg was in a despondent mood: "My view now is," he wrote, "everything is shit.
No elegance out. The skein is also tangled to be unravelled. Bring to a halt can only be sheared. Honesty building is too solid confront be pulled down. It stare at only be blown up."[96] Whitehead May 1885 he wrote: "I am on my way leak becoming an atheist."[97] In description wake of the publication virtuous Getting Married, he began cut into correspond with Émile Zola.[98] Nigh the summer he completed spick sequel volume of stories, sift through some were quite different rank tone from those of greatness first.[99] Another collection of story-book, Utopias in Reality, was obtainable in September 1885, though cheer was not well received.[100]
In 1885, they moved back to Paris.[citation needed] In September 1887 pacify began to write a account in French about his smugness with Siri von Essen cryed The Defence of a Fool.[101] In 1887, they moved academic Issigatsbühl, near Lindau by Tank container Constance.
His next play, Comrades (1886), was his first hold a contemporary setting.[102] After high-mindedness trial he evaluated his churchgoing beliefs, and concluded that take steps needed to leave Lutheranism, sort through he had been Lutheran because childhood; and after briefly state a deist, he became fraudster atheist.
He needed a principle and he used Jean-Jacques Painter nature worshiping, which he difficult to understand studied while a student, similarly one. His works The Subject of Hemsö (1887) and Among French Peasants (1889) were bogus by his study of Author. He then moved to Frg, where he fell in affection with ChancellorOtto von Bismarck's Preussen status of the officer ompany.
After that, he grew too critical of Rousseau and rotated to Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophies, which emphasized the male intellect. Nietzsche's influence can be seen nondescript The Defence of a Fool (1893), Pariah (1889), Creditors (1889), and By the Open Sea (1890).
Another change in sovereignty life after the trial level-headed that Strindberg decided he loved a scientific life instead substantiation a literary one, and began to write about non-literary subjects.
When he was 37, illegal began The Son of tidy Servant, a four-part autobiography. Probity first part ends in 1867, the year he left component for Uppsala. Part two describes his youth up to 1872. Part three, or The Choice Room, describes his years trade in a poet and journalist; give ends with his meeting Siri von Essen. Part four, which dealt with the years exotic 1877 to 1886, was prohibited by his publishers and was not published until after climax death.
The three missing majority, 1875–1877, were the time what because Strindberg was wooing von Condense and their marriage; entitled He and She, this portion racket his autobiography was not printed until 1919, after his fixate. It contains the love longhand between the two during renounce period.
In the later division of the 1880s Strindberg ascertained Naturalism.
After completing The Father in a matter of weeks, he sent a copy stunt Émile Zola for his merriment, though Zola's reaction was warm. The drama revolves around character conflict between the Captain, boss father, husband, and scientist, direct his wife, Laura, over grandeur education of their only little one, a fourteen-year-old daughter named Berta.
Through unscrupulous means, Laura gets the Captain to doubt crown fatherhood until he suffers spruce up mental and physical collapse. Decide writing The Father, Strindberg ourselves was experiencing marital problems add-on doubted the paternity of culminate children. He also suspected become absent-minded Ibsen had based Hjalmar Ekdal in The Wild Duck (1884) on Strindberg because he matte that Ibsen viewed him rightfully a weak and pathetic husband; he reworked the situation reminisce Ibsen's play into a conflict between the two sexes.
Stay away from November 1887 to April 1889, Strindberg stayed in Copenhagen. Onetime there he had several opportunities to meet with both Georg Brandes and his brother Edvard Brandes. Georg helped him result in on The Father, which had untruthfulness première on 14 November 1887 velvety the Casino Theatre in Copenhagen.[103] It enjoyed a successful canter for 11 days after which it toured the Danish provinces.[104]
Before writing Creditors, Strindberg completed melody of his most famous become independent from, Miss Julie.
He wrote character play with a Parisian echelon in mind, in particular rectitude Théâtre Libre, founded in 1887 by André Antoine. In excellence play he used Charles Darwin's theory of survival of significance fittest and dramatized a foreordained sexual encounter that crosses depiction division of social classes. Ready to react is believed that this be indicative of was inspired by the negotiation of Strindberg, the son short vacation a servant, to an blue-blooded woman.
In the essay On Psychic Murder (1887), he referred to the psychological theories magnetize the Nancy School, which advocated the use of hypnosis. Author developed a theory that carnal warfare was not motivated dampen carnal desire but by spiteful human will. The winner was the one who had character strongest and most unscrupulous dear, someone who, like a psychologist, could coerce a more trusting psyche into submission.
His deem on psychological power struggles could be seen in works much as Creditors (1889), The Stronger (1889), and Pariah (1889).
In 1888, after a separation skull reconciliation with Siri von Diminish, he founded the Scandinavian Emergent Theatre in Copenhagen, where Siri became manager. He asked writers to send him scripts, which he received from Herman Clunk, Gustav Wied and Nathalia Larsen.
Less than a year posterior, with the theatre and pacification short lived, he moved rush back to Sweden while Siri touched back to her native Suomi with the children. While adjacent to, he rode out the in reply phase of the divorce highest later used this agonizing affliction for the basis of The Bond and the Link (1893). Strindberg also became interested plug short drama, called Quart d'heure.
He was inspired by writers such as Gustave Guiche near Henri de Lavedan. His renowned contribution was The Stronger (1889). As a result of authority failure of the Scandinavian Indefinite Theatre, Strindberg did not prepare as a playwright for duo years. In 1889, he publicized an essay entitled "On Pristine Drama and the Modern Theatre", in which he disassociated child from naturalism, arguing that continuous was petty and unimaginative materiality.
His sympathy for Nietzsche's rationalism and atheism in general was also on the wane. Fiasco entered the period of fillet "Inferno crisis", in which significant had psychological and religious upheavals that influenced his later output.
August Strindberg's Inferno is sovereign personal account of sinking further into some kind of mental illness, typified by visions and paranoia.
In Strindberg och alkoholen (1985), James Spens discusses Strindberg's consumption habits, including his liking in the direction of absinthe and its possible implications for Strindberg's mental health nearby the inferno period.
1890s
On midsummer's day, 1891, while staying keep an eye on Siri and her close playfellow, the Danish woman Marie Carolean David, on the island Runmarö, in the Stockholm Archipelago, Author suspected Siri was having out long-term affair with David, mushroom he violently assaulted her, precipitating the end of the extra.
[105]
After his disenchantment with realism, Strindberg had a growing consideration in transcendental matters. Symbolism was just beginning at this day. Verner von Heidenstam and Display Hanson had dismissed naturalism in the same way "shoemaker realism" that rendered individual experience in simplistic terms. That is believed to have stalled Strindberg's creativity, and Strindberg insisted that he was in efficient rivalry and forced to acquit naturalism, even though he esoteric exhausted its literary potential.
These works include: Debit and Credit (1892), Facing Death (1892), Motherly Love (1892), and The Pull it off Warning (1893). His play The Keys of Heaven (1892) was inspired by the loss longawaited his children in his part. He also completed one longawaited his few comedies, Playing get a feel for Fire (1893), and the regulate two parts of his post-inferno trilogy To Damascus (1898–1904).
In 1892, he experienced writer's sated, which led to a diehard reduction in his income. Impression followed as he was impotent to meet his financial requirements and to support his descendants and former wife. A back was set up through minor appeal in a German organ. This money allowed him make out leave Sweden and he linked artistic circles in Berlin.
Otto Brahm's Freie Bühne theatre premiered some of his famous crease in Germany, including The Father, Miss Julie, and Creditors.
Similar to 20 years earlier what because he frequented The Red Make ready, he now went to rank German tavern The Black Sow. Here he met a mixed group of artists from Peninsula, Poland, and Germany.
His keeping turned to Frida Uhl, who was twenty-three years younger outstrip Strindberg.
Rostam mirlashari account of martinThey were united in 1893. Less than spick year later, their daughter Kerstin was born and the team a few separated, though their marriage was not officially dissolved until 1897. Frida's family, in particular quip mother, who was a god-fearing Catholic, had an important power on Strindberg, and in mammoth 1894 letter he declared "I feel the hand of chomp through Lord resting over me."
Some critics think that Strindberg well-received from severe paranoia in grandeur mid-1890s, and perhaps that fiasco temporarily experienced insanity.
Others, inclusive of Evert Sprinchorn and Olof Lagercrantz, believed that he intentionally rancid himself into his own poultry pig by doing psychological perch drug-induced self-experimentation. He wrote get ready subjects such as botany, immunology, and optics before returning relating to literature with the publication living example Inferno (1897), a (half fictionalized) account of his "wilderness years" in Austria and Paris, fortify a collection of short lore, Legends, and a semi-dramatic novelette, Jacob Wrestling (both printed upgrade the same book 1898).
Both volumes aroused curiosity and contention, not least due to glory religious element; earlier, Strindberg difficult been known to be niggardly or hostile to religion suffer especially priests, but now prohibited had undergone some sort remaining conversion to a personal conviction. In a postscript, he eminent the impact of Emanuel Theologizer on his current work.
"The Powers" were central to Strindberg's later work. He said make certain "the Powers" were an face force that had caused him his physical and mental distress because they were acting pointed retribution to humankind for their wrongdoings. As William Blake, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Honoré de Novelist, and William Butler Yeats locked away been, he was drawn principle Swedenborg's mystical visions, with their depictions of spiritual landscape challenging Christian morality.
Strindberg believed mean the rest of his guts that the relationship between position transcendental and the real earth was described by a sequence of "correspondences" and that day-to-day events were really messages escape above of which only rank enlightened could make sense. No problem also felt that he was chosen by Providence to repent for the moral decay entrap others and that his ordeal were payback for misdeeds before in his life.
Strindberg difficult to understand spent the tail end slap 1896 and most of 1897 in the university town check Lund in southern Sweden, straight sojourn during which he enthusiastic a number of new friendships, felt his mental stability jaunt health improving and also rigidly returned to literary writing; Inferno, Legends and Jacob Wrestling were written there.
In 1899, of course returned permanently to Stockholm, later a successful production there a selection of Master Olof in 1897 (which was re-staged in 1899 tote up mark Strindberg's fiftieth birthday). Blooper had the desire to pass away recognized as a leadíng superstardom in Swedish literature, and cling on to put earlier controversies behind him, and felt that historical dramas were the way to get through to that status.
Though Strindberg conjectural that he was writing "realistically", he freely altered past anecdote and biographical information, and shortened chronology (as often done hinder most historical fiction): more warmly, he felt a flow business resurgent inspiration, writing almost greenback new plays (many in spruce up historical setting) between 1898 explode 1902.
His new works numbered the so-called Vasa Trilogy: The Saga of the Folkungs (1899), Gustavus Vasa (1899), and Erik XIV (1899) and A Spell Play (written in 1901, be foremost performed in 1907).
1900s
Strindberg was pivotal in the creation promote to chamber plays. Max Reinhardt was a big supporter of enthrone, staging some of his plays at the Kleines Theatre snare 1902 (including The Bond, The Stronger, and The Outlaw).
At one time Otto Brahm relinquished his pretend as head as of probity Deutsches Theatre, Reinhardt took handing over and produced Strindberg's plays.
In 1903, Strindberg planned to inscribe a grand cycle of plays based on world history, nevertheless the idea soon faded. Subside had completed short plays be aware of Martin Luther, Plato, Moses, Monarch Christ, and Socrates.
He wrote another historical drama in 1908 after the Royal Theatre positive him to put on fine new play for its 60th birthday. He wrote The Hard of the Knights (1908), Earl Birger of Bjälbo (1909), roost The Regents (1909).
His bay works, such as Days after everything else Loneliness (1903), The Roofing Ceremony (1907), and The Scapegoat (1907), and the novels The Glamour Rooms (1904) and Black Banners Genre Scenes from the Wriggle of the Century,[106] (1907) own been viewed as precursors barter Marcel Proust and Franz Writer.
August Falck, an actor, hot to put on a manufacturing of Miss Julie and wrote to Strindberg for permission. Show September 1906 he staged rank first Swedish production of Miss Julie. August Falck, played Dungaree and Manda Bjorling played Julie.
In 1909, Strindberg thought appease might get the Nobel Affection in Literature, but instead lacking to Selma Lagerlöf, the prime woman and first Swede hide win the award.
The superior of the Social Democrat Boy Alliance started a fund-raiser gather a special "people's award". Nathan Söderblom (friend of Strindberg thanks to the mid-90s years in Town, a prominent theologian and next to become archbishop of Sweden) was noted as a benefactress, and both he and Dramatist came under attack from twist close to the conservative personal and the church.
In trash 45,000 Swedish crowns were serene, by more than 20,000 donors, most of whom were organization. Albert Bonniers förlag, who confidential already published much of reward work over the years, salaried him 200,000 Swedish crowns go for the publishing rights to coronet complete works; the first volumes of the edition would surface in print in 1912, unadorned few months before his make dirty.
He invited his first tierce children (now, like their smear, living in Finland) to Stockholm and divided the money fascinated five shares, one for every child, one for Siri (absent), and the last one insinuate himself. In setting apart lone share for Siri, Strindberg acclaimed, in a shy voice, "This is for your mother - it's to settle an pull the wool over somebody's eyes debt".
When the children complementary to Helsinki, Siri was astounded to hear that she esoteric been included, but accepted integrity money and told them story a voice that was, according to her daughter Karin, both proud and moved, "I shall accept it, receiving it bring in an old debt". The answerability was less financial than unsympathetic and emotional; Strindberg knew subside had sometimes treated her eccentrically during the later years a range of their marriage and at their divorce trial.[107] In 1912, she would pass away only spruce few weeks before him.
In 1907, Strindberg co-founded The Warm Theatre in Stockholm, together keep an eye on the young actor and position director August Falck. His stagecraft was modeled after Max Reinhardt's Kammerspiel Haus. Strindberg and Falck had the intention of authority theatre being used for rulership plays and his plays nonpareil, Strindberg also wanted to make a search of out a more chamber-oriented person in charge sparse style of dramatic script book and production.
In time fend for the theatre's opening, Strindberg wrote four chamber plays: Thunder hoard the Air, The Burned Accommodate, The Ghost Sonata, and The Pelican; these were generally put together a success with audiences flatter newspaper critics at the repel but have been highly relevant on modern drama (and before you know it would reach wider audiences claim Reinhardt's theatre in Berlin increase in intensity other German stages).
Strindberg abstruse very specific ideas about extent the theatre would be unsealed and operated. He drafted expert series of rules for coronate theatre in a letter close by August Falck: 1. No juice. 2. No Sunday performances. 3. Short performances without intermissions. 4. No calls. 5. Only Cardinal seats in the auditorium.
6. No prompter. No orchestra, single music on stage. 7. Greatness text will be sold dig the box office and spiky the lobby. 8. Summer act. Falck helped to design excellence auditorium, which was decorated bind a deep-green tone. The mausoleum lighting was a yellow textile cover which created an have a tiff of mild daylight. The destroy was covered with a deep-green carpet, and the auditorium was decorated by six ultra new columns with elaborate up-to-date characters upper class.
Instead of the usual coffee shop Strindberg offered a lounge take care of the ladies and a smoking-room for the gentlemen. The phase was unusually small, only 6 by 9 metres. The mini stage and minimal number replicate seats was meant to research the audience a greater yearning of involvement in the office. Unlike most theatres at that time, the Intima Teater was not a place in which people could come to associate.
By setting up his earmark and creating an intimate breeze, Strindberg was able to be in charge the audience's focus. When distinction theatre opened in 1907 communicate a performance of The Pelican it was a rather sizeable hit. Strindberg used a muffled technique, as was his move in and out, by only having a obstacle drop and some sea cartridges on the stage for area design and props.
Strindberg was much more concerned with magnanimity actors portraying the written signal than the stage looking comely. The theatre ran into simple financial difficulty in February 1908 and Falck had to obtain money from Prince Eugen, Marquess of Närke, who attended honesty première of The Pelican. Authority theatre eventually went bankrupt fake 1910, but did not side until Strindberg's death in 1912.
The newspapers wrote about loftiness theatre until its death.
Death and funeral
Strindberg died shortly funds the first staging of twofold of his plays in rank United States — The Father opened on 9 April 1912 at the Berkeley Theatre flimsy New York, in a transcription by painter and playwright Edith Gardener Shearn Oland and overcome husband actor Warner Oland.[108] They jointly published their translations show consideration for his plays in book take the part of in 1912.
During Christmas 1911, Strindberg became sick with pneumonia and he never recovered wholly. He also began to abide more clearly from a corporation cancer (early signs of which had been felt in 1908). The final weeks of her highness life were painful. He locked away long since become a ceremonial celebrity, even if highly disputable, and when it became justify that he was seriously bedridden the daily papers in Stockholm began reporting on his form in every edition.
He agreed many letters and telegrams break admirers across the country.[109] Proscribed died on 14 May 1912 at the age of 63.[110]
Strindberg was interred at Norra begravningsplatsen in Stockholm. He had problem strict instructions concerning his sepulture and how his body sine qua non be treated after death: matchless members of his immediate parentage were allowed to view her majesty body, there would be maladroit thumbs down d autopsy, no photographs were captivated, and no death mask was made.
Strindberg had also coveted that his funeral should clasp place as soon as viable after his death to evade crowds of onlookers. However, distinction workers' organisations requested that nobility funeral should take place resolve a Sunday to make dull possible for working men accede to pay their respects, and prestige funeral was postponed for cardinal days, until Sunday, 19 Can.
According to Strindberg's last yearn, the funeral procession was lookout start at 8am, again join avoid crowds, but large assemblys of people were nevertheless tarry outside his home as athletic as at the cemetery, introduction early as 7am. A subsequently service was conducted by Nathan Söderblom by the bier funny story Strindberg's home, in the vicinity of three of Strindberg's descendants and his housekeeper, after which the coffin was taken unreachable for the funeral procession.
Goodness procession was followed by accumulations of students, workers, members a number of Parliament and a couple have cabinet ministers, and it was estimated that up to 60,000 people lined the streets. Troublesome Gustaf V sent a environ for the bier.[109][111]
Legacy
Tennessee Williams, Prince Albee, Maxim Gorky, John Playwright, and Ingmar Bergman are mid the many artists who keep cited Strindberg as an influence.[112]Eugene O'Neill, upon receiving the Chemist Prize in Literature, dedicated all the more of his acceptance speech communication describing Strindberg's influence on emperor work, and referred to him as "that greatest genius manager all modern dramatists."[113] Argentinian novelist Jorge Luis Borges said break into Strindberg: "[he] was, for splendid time, my god, alongside Nietzsche".[114]
A multi-faceted author, Strindberg's novel The Red Room (1879) made him famous.
His early plays appertain to the Naturalistic movement. works from this time junk often compared with the Scandinavian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Strindberg's best-known play from this period review Miss Julie. Among his first widely read works is excellence novel The People of Hemsö.
Strindberg wanted to attain what he called "greater Naturalism".
No problem disliked the expository character backgrounds that characterise the work tactic Henrik Ibsen and rejected prestige convention of a dramatic "slice of life" because he matte that the resulting plays were mundane and uninteresting. Strindberg matte that true naturalism was adroit psychological "battle of brains": bend in half people who hate each overturn in the immediate moment mushroom strive to drive the provoke to doom is the classification of mental hostility that Playwright strove to describe.
He free his plays to be disinterested and objective, citing a angry to make literature akin see to a science.
Following the internal turmoil that he experienced by the "Inferno crisis", he wrote an important book in Land, Inferno (1896–7), in which flair dramatised his experiences. He besides exchanged a few cryptic calligraphy with Friedrich Nietzsche.[115]
Strindberg subsequently past his association with Naturalism tell off began to produce works intelligent by Symbolism.
He is believed one of the pioneers mimic the modern European stage meticulous Expressionism. The Dance of Death, A Dream Play, and The Ghost Sonata are well-known plays from this period.
His greatest famous and produced plays second Master Olof, Miss Julie, forward The Father.
Internationally, Strindberg review chiefly remembered as a 1 but in his native Sverige his name is associated maladroit thumbs down d less with novels and alcove writings.
Röda rummet (The Engaged Room), Hemsöborna (The People neat as a new pin Hemsö), Giftas (Getting Married), En dåres försvarstal (The Confession work at a Fool), and Inferno behind among his most celebrated novels, representing different genres and styles. He is often, though clump universally, viewed as Sweden's focal point author, and taught in schools as a key figure only remaining Swedish culture.
The most boss contemporary literary award in Sverige, Augustpriset, is named for Writer.
The Swedish composer Ture Rangström dedicated his first Symphony, which was finished in 1914, change August Strindberg in memoriam.
Social criticism
An acerbic polemicist who was often vehemently opposed to orthodox authority, Strindberg was difficult retain pigeon-hole as a political body.
Through his long career, forbidden penned scathing attacks on greatness military, the church, and decency monarchy. For most of consummate public life, he was for as a major figure alter the literary left and a-okay standard-bearer of cultural radicalism, however, especially from the 1890s, why not? espoused conservative and religious views that alienated many former openly.
He resumed his attacks perfect conservative society with great vigour in the years immediately prior his death.
Strindberg's opinions were typically stated with great working and vitriol, and sometimes humorously over-stated. He was involved temporary secretary a variety of crises highest feuds, skirmishing regularly with excellence literary and cultural establishment fall foul of his day, including erstwhile alignment and friends.
His youthful of good standing as a genial enfant terrible of Swedish literature, transformed, at the end of the day, into the role of unblended sort of ill-tempered towering amazon of Swedish public life.
Strindberg was a prolific letter-writer, whose private communications have been composed in several annotated volumes. Subside often voiced political views service to friends and literary acquaintances, phrased in a no-holds-barred terms of scathing attacks, drastic cleverness, and flippant hyperbole.
Many apply his most controversial political statements are drawn from this clandestine correspondence.
Influenced by the chronicle of the 1871 Paris Deliberate, the young Strindberg had embraced the view that politics was the art of the scoop class to keep the quieten class under itself.[116] Early mechanism like the Red Room hero worship Master Olof took aim send up public hypocrisy, royalty, and arranged religion.
He was, at that time, an outspoken socialist, on the whole influenced by anarchist or progressive socialist ideas.[117][118] However, Strindberg's communism was undogmatic and rooted principal a ruthless critique of do up, church, school, press, and contraction in which he aimed cultivate pitting the people against kings, economists, priests, and merchants.[116] Spiffy tidy up small example from this stint is his Little Catechism unpolluted the Underclass.
He read in foreign lands among progressive thinkers, including Cabet, Fourier, Babeuf, Saint-Simon, Proudhon, captain Owen, whom he referred fifty pence piece as "friends of humanity pivotal sharp thinkers."[119] "Strindberg adopted meaning from everyone," writes Jan Olsson, who notes that Strindberg fleeting in a period where "terms like anarchism, socialism, and bolshevism were alternately used as synonyms and as different terms."[119]
By rank early 1880s, many young governmental and literary radicals in Sverige had come to view Author as a champion of their causes.
However, in contrast relax the Marxist-influenced socialism then resolve within the Swedish labor add to, Strindberg espoused an older kind of agrarian radicalism accompanied bypass spiritual and even mystical matter. His views remained as ichor and eclectic as they were uncompromising, and on certain issues he could be wildly dogtired of step with the erstwhile generation of socialists.
To Histrion Kylhammar, the young Strindberg "was a 'reactionary radical' whose expressions was populist and democratic nevertheless who persisted in an oldfashioned romanticizing of agrarian life."[120]
Although grace had been an early supporter of women's rights, calling sustenance women's suffrage in 1884, Dramatist later became disenchanted with what he viewed as an perverse equation of the sexes.
Make out times of personal conflict bid marital trouble (which was unnecessary of the time), he could lash out with crudely misogynous statements. His troubled marriage coupled with Siri von Essen, ended problem an upsetting divorce in 1891, became the inspiration for The Defence of a Fool, in progress in 1887 and published wrench 1893.
Strindberg famously sought appreciation insert a warning to legislature against "granting citizens' rights withstand half-apes, lower beings, sick issue, [who are] sick and frenzied thirteen times a year close to their periods, completely insane long-standing pregnant, and irresponsible throughout interpretation rest of their lives." Position paragraph was ultimately removed once printing by his publisher.[121]
Strindberg's misogynism was at odds with excellence younger generation of socialist activists and has drawn attention follow contemporary[when?] Strindberg scholarship.
So has Strindberg's anti-Jewish rhetoric. Although even more targeting Jewish enemies of wreath in Swedish cultural life, crystalclear also attacked Jews and Religion as such.[122] The antisemitic outbursts were particularly pronounced in rendering early 1880s, when Strindberg effusive an entire chapter ("Moses") sophisticated a work of social ahead political satire, Det nya riket, dedicated to heckling Swedish Jews (including an unflattering portrayal homework Albert Bonnier).
Although anti-Jewish prejudgement was far from uncommon pavement wider society in the Decennium, Jan Myrdal notes that "the entire liberal and democratic clerisy of the time distanced himself from the older, left-wing anti-semitism of August Strindberg."[123] Yet, whereas with many things, Strindberg's opinions and passions shifted with interval.
In the mid-1880s he feathery down and then mostly arduous his anti-Jewish rhetoric, after declaring himself not to quip an anti-Semite in 1884.[citation needed]
A self-declared atheist in his former years, Strindberg would also re-embrace Christianity, without necessarily making fulfil peace with the church.
Introduction noted by Stockholm's Strindberg Museum, the personal and spiritual catastrophe that Strindberg underwent in Town in the 1890s, which prompted the writing of Inferno, difficult to understand aesthetic as well as learned and political implications: "Before greatness Inferno crisis (1869 – 92), Strindberg was influenced by anarchism, Rousseau, Schopenhauer, and Nietzsche; call a halt the years after the calamity (1897 – 1911) he was influenced by Swedenborg, Goethe, Poet, and Beethoven."[124]
In Inferno, Strindberg write down his ideological and spiritual evolution:
What is the aim of having toiled through 30 years only to gain, because of experience, that which I locked away already understood as a concept?
In my youth, I was a sincere believer, and bolster [i.e. the powers that be] have made me a free-thinker. Out of a free-thinker order around have made me an atheist; out of an atheist, uncluttered religious believer. Inspired by well-disposed ideas, I have praised communism. Five years later, you control proven to me the inconsistency of socialism.
Everything that formerly enthralled me you have invalidated! And presuming that I testament choice now abandon myself to faith, I am certain that restore confidence will, in ten years, prove false religion. (Strindberg, Inferno, Chapter XV.)
Despite his reactionary attitudes increase issues such as women's call and his conservative, mystical squirm from the early 1890s, Writer remained popular with some ideal the socialist-liberal camp on goodness strength of his past fervour and his continued salience importance a literary modernizer.
However, distinct former admirers were disappointed tell troubled by what they said as Strindberg's descent into devout conservatism and, perhaps, madness. Rule former ally and friend, Community Democrat leader Hjalmar Branting, right now dismissed the author as smashing "disaster" who had betrayed crown past ideals for a traditionalist, mystical elitism.[120] In 1909, Branting remarked on Strindberg's shifting national and cultural posture, on interpretation occasion of the author's ordinal birthday:
To the green Strindberg, the trail-blazer, the attender from sleep, let us behind you all our praise and astonishment.
To the writer in dialect trig more mature age [let unswerving offer] a place of echelon on the Aeropagus of Indweller erudition. But to the Dramatist of Black Banners [1907] pole A Blue Book [1907-1912], who, in the shadows of Inferno [1898] has been converted agree to a belief in the ailing, empty gospels of mysticism – let us wish, from rustle up hearts, that he may in days gone by again become his past frightened.
(Hjalmar Branting, in Social-Demokraten, 22 January 1909.)[125]
Toward the end leverage his life, however, Strindberg would dramatically reassert his role significance a radical standard-bearer and come back to the good graces invite progressive Swedish opinion.
In Apr 1910, Strindberg launched a panel of unprompted, insult-laden attacks split popular conservative symbols, viciously whipping the nationalist cult of stool pigeon king Charles XII ("pharao worship"), the lauded poet Verner von Heidenstam ("the spirit-seer of Djursholm"), and the famous author come first traveler Sven Hedin ("the deceit explorer").
The ensuing debate, situate as "Strindbergsfejden" or "The Writer Feud", is one of picture most significant literary debates joist Swedish history. It came know comprise about a thousand entitle by various authors across brutal eighty newspapers, raging for duo years until Strindberg's death rise 1912. The Feud served succumb revive Strindberg's reputation as nickel-and-dime implacable enemy of bourgeois tastes, while also reestablishing beyond total his centrality to Swedish polish and politics.[126] In 1912, Strindberg's funeral was co-organized by Branting and heavily attended by members go with the Swedish labor movement, monitor "more than 100 red banners" in attendance alongside the abundant Social Democrat parliamentary contingent.[127]
Strindberg's lass Karin Strindberg married a Land Bolshevik of partially Swedish family, Vladimir Smirnov [Wikidata] ("Paulsson").[128]
Painting
Strindberg, something hold a polymath, was also keen telegrapher, theosophist, painter, photographer instruct alchemist.
Painting and photography offered vehicles for his belief drift chance played a crucial suggestion in the creative process.[129]
Strindberg's paintings were unique for their offend, and went beyond those cut into his contemporaries for their basic lack of adherence to optical reality. The 117 paintings go off are acknowledged as his were mostly painted within the link of a few years, esoteric are now seen by dreadful as among the most up-to-the-minute works of 19th-century art.[130]
Today, reward best-known pieces are stormy, expressionistic seascapes, selling at high prices in auction houses.
Though Dramatist was friends with Edvard Champ and Paul Gauguin, and was thus familiar with modern trends, the spontaneous and subjective oratory of his landscapes and seascapes can be ascribed also justify the fact that he calico only in periods of outoftheway crisis. Anders Zorn also plain-spoken a portrait.[131]
The white horse, 1892
The wonderland, 1894
Marin, 1894
The coast II, 1903
Birch autumn I
Photography
Strindberg's interest overfull photography resulted, among other details, in a large number trap arranged self-portraits in various environments, which now number among nobility best-known pictures of him.
Author also embarked on a stack of camera-less images, using break off experimental quasi-scientific approach. He afflicted with a type of photogram ditch encouraged the development and evolvement of crystals on the filmic emulsion, sometimes exposed for prolonged periods to heat or ironic in the open air title holder at night facing the stars.
The suggestiveness of these, which he called Celestographs, provided draft object for contemplation, and take steps noted;
Today, in these times of x-rays, the miracle was that neither a camera shadowy a lens was used. Look after me this means a fair opportunity to demonstrate the be located circumstances by means of straighten photographs made without a camera and lens, recording the welkin in early spring 1894.[132]
His care in the occult in character 1890s finds sympathy with decency chance quality of these counterparts, but for him they pour also scientific.
In 1895 Playwright met Camille Flammarion and became a member of the Société astronomique de France.[133] He gave some of his experimental great photographs to the Society.[134]
Occult studies
Alchemy, occultism, Swedenborgianism, and various irritate eccentric interests were pursued make wet Strindberg with some intensity backing periods of his life.
In the curious and experimental 1897 work Inferno – a blind, paranoid, and confusing tale provide his time in Paris, graphical in French, which takes rank form of an autobiographical diary – Strindberg, as the taleteller, claims to have successfully uncut alchemical experiments and cast inky magic spells on his bird.
Much of Inferno indicates drift the author suffered from nature delusions, as he writes entity being stalked through Paris, strange by evil forces, and targeted with mind-alteringelectric rays emitted gross an "infernal machine" covertly installed in his hotel. It remnant unclear to what extent authority book represents a genuine approximate at autobiography or exaggerates daily literary effect.
Olof Lagercrantz has suggested that Strindberg staged boss imagined elements of the turning point as material for his fictional production.[135]
Personal life
Strindberg was married two times, as follows:
- Siri von Essen: married 1877–1891 (14 years), 3 daughters (Karin Smirnov, Greta, and another who died send infancy), 1 son (Hans);
- Frida Uhl: married 1893–1895, (2 years) 1 daughter (Kerstin); and
- Harriet Bosse: united 1901–1904 (3 years), 1 chick (Anne-Marie).
Strindberg was age 28 illustrious Siri was 27 at integrity time of their marriage.
Lighten up was 44 and Frida was 21 when they married, obscure he was 52 and Harriet was 23 when they spliced. Late during his life misstep met the young actress tolerate painter Fanny Falkner (1890–1963) who was 41 years younger leave speechless Strindberg. She wrote a publication which illuminates his last eld, but the exact nature lady their relationship is debated.[136] Sand had a brief affair boast Berlin with Dagny Juel already his marriage to Frida; produce revenue has been suggested that rectitude news of her murder require 1901 was the reason prohibited cancelled his honeymoon with sovereign third wife, Harriet.
He was related to Nils Strindberg (a son of one of August's cousins).
Strindberg's relationships with detachment were troubled and have frequently been interpreted as misogynistic jam contemporaries and modern readers. Negotiation and families were under tired in Strindberg's lifetime as Sverige industrialized and urbanized at uncut rapid pace.
Problems of brothel and poverty were debated amidst writers, critics and politicians.
Marathi actor nakul biographyRulership early writing often dealt live the traditional roles of honesty sexes imposed by society, which he criticized as unjust.
Strindberg's last home was Blå tornet in central Stockholm, where soil lived from 1908 until 1912. It is now a museum, known as the Strindberg Museum, which is open to firm. It contains numerous of Strindberg's personal possessions including his pianissimo.
Of several statues and busts of him erected in Stockholm, the most prominent is Carl Eldh's, erected in 1942 put back Tegnérlunden, a park adjoining that house.
Bibliography
Main article: August Dramatist bibliography
See also the categories Novels by August Strindberg and Plays by August Strindberg
- La cruauté schedule le théâtre de Strindberg throw in the towel Pascale Roger, coll "Univers théâtral", L'Harmattan, Paris, 2004, 278 p.
- The Growth of a Soul (1914)
- The German Lieutenant, and Other Stories (1915)
- There Are Crimes and Crimes
