Elckerlijc

Elckerlijc or Elckerlyc (complete title: The Spyeghel the Salicheyt van Elckerlijc - Hoe dat Elckerlijc mensché worth ghedaecht Gode rekeninghe te doen ) is a so-called morality in the Dutch language in the 15th century.

History

The piece is attributed to Peter van Diest ( 1454-1507 ). But the Carthusian Petrus Dorlandus (1451-1507), vicar of the monastery Tzelem at Diest is called. Herman Brinkman in 2004 claiming that Jan Casus from Antwerp, Member of the Chamber of De Reto Riker was Violieren the author.

Of the three oldest copies of an incomplete copy is ever received. The first edition was printed in 1495 in Delft from Christiaen Snellaert. Here lacking the title page and three other leaves. The second edition (Antwerp, Govaert Bac ) probably dates from 1501. Herein, the last leaf missing. The third edition (Antwerp, Willem Vorsterman, from about 1525) is quite complete. There is also a manuscript from the late 16th century, with a modernized text, which probably goes back to a lost version. The first modern printing dates from 1892 ( H. Logeman ). In the 60s of the 20th century it was particularly R. Vos, who studied the Elckerlijc and edited. In 1998 an edition appeared along with Mariken van Nieumeghen in a band with a version in modern language by Willem Wilmink.

Elckerlijc was a particularly popular and successful play in the Middle Ages. It won the title says, leaf the first prize at a meeting of Brabant Rhetorikerkammer called Landjuweel. Other sources for this are not known.

Translations

There is an English translation from the early 16th century, known Everyman. Dutch and English historians argued for decades about whether the English Everyman based on Elckerlijc, or vice versa. The most convincing evidence that Elckerlijc was the original, gave the English historian ER Tigg. He pointed to how many rhymes and literary figures from Dutch into English Everyman been transferred. In addition, the English translator has translated freely, where words to rhyme well in Dutch but not in English. There is ultimately no definitive proof, but generally it is assumed that the Dutch Elckerlijc is actually the original.

In 1539 published the rector of St. Jerome School in Utrecht, Georgius Macropedius ( 1487-1558 ), a Latin version, called Hecastus. The play was performed in Utrecht in 1538 by the students of St. Jerome School. This work was later translated several times and performed, especially in the German Empire. Homolus or the sins loin is the Toid means a version of the Cologne printer Jaspar van Gennep (about 1500-1564 ). Hugo von Hofmannsthal processed the Elckerlijc theme in 1911 to everyone, known by the Salzburg Festival. Also Everyman by Philip Roth is inspired by it. A modern German language edition with mittelniederländischem original text of ' Elckerlijc ' appeared in 2013 (Münster, Agenda Verlag).

Content

God laments the depravity of man. He calls the death to him. Elckerlijc (the name means "every man ", " person" ) is accountable for his life justice. Elkerlijc awarded the contract to undertake a pilgrimage. He learns that he must die. Elckerlijc tried in vain to bribe death, but he receives no delay. He may on his pilgrimage but take a travel companion.

He then requests more journeymen to accompany him, but Gheselscap (the "Company ", his friends ), Maghe de Neve ( "friends", "relatives" ) and Tgoet ("the Good ", the ownership, the money and the goods ) refuse when they find out what the goal of the journey. The Duecht ( "virtue" ) is too weak for the trip, but her sister Kennisse ( " self-knowledge " ) brings Elckerlijc to Biechte ( " confession "). Elckerlijc repent, which Duecht comes regain strength. Accompanied by Schoonheyt ( " Beauty " ), Cracht ( "power" ), Vroetscap ( "wisdom" ) en vijf senses (the " five senses " ), he makes the trip.

Elckerlijc makes his will and receiving the last sacraments. At the end goal ( the open grave ) arrived, the companion Elckerlijc let you down; only Duecht and Kennisse accompany him to heaven. Elckerlijc dies. Kennisse told that Duecht will get in touch with God. An angel leads Elckerlijcs soul to heaven. In Na - prologhe (literally " after -Prolog " ) morality is expressed in words: People want to appear pure before God.

Importance

The story is set in the world of ideas. The theme: Everyone must die, only the virtue remains at a. The motives: pilgrimage, sin and repentance / contemplation, material welfare (compared to spiritual decay), death motif, mirror motif, forgiveness, Catholic.

Quote

A quote from the beginning of the piece: