Lokis (novella)

Loki is a novel by the French writer Prosper Mérimée, in the magazine " Revue des Deux Mondes " which appeared in 1869.

Michael or even Loki's name the Lithuanians to bear. On a trip through Russia and the Baltic countries, the author had been inspired by a Lithuanian legend.

Action

Summer of 1866 in the province Žemaitėjė in northwestern Lithuania: The scholar Witt Embach, a Konigsberg professor of comparative linguistics, directs and supervises on behalf of the Bible Society the publication of Matthew's Gospel in Samogitisch. Enjoys following the professor - he acts as a narrator - the gracious invitation of the young Count Michael Szemioth on whose castle Medintiltas. Because the castle library harboring, according to a linguist at the University of Dorpat precious sources for schmudischen language as the Samogitische - called - spoke of the Lithuanian peasants there.

It also comes as it has promised Professor Witt Embach of Dorpat colleague. Only the scholar can not devote himself to his studies all day, but is distracted by the Szemioths frequently. As the mother of the householder, for example, the mind is disturbed. The old countess Szemioth must be subdued by three vigorous Lithuanian farmers. The family physician Dr. Fröber from Memel is the puzzled professor about an event that took place more than 27 years, into the picture. Shortly after their marriage the Countess had gone with the men on hunting and was promptly attacked and abducted by a bear. At the time the Countess had already been pregnant. Witt Embach can only wonder about the friendly young Count. Michael Szemioth climbs at night on a tree right outside the window of the guest and the latter observed that glare.

Polite - cautious - as the Königsberg guest shows in every situation - he follows the invitation of Count for a ride through the forest to the castle of the Countess of Dowgielly. The unmarried Michael Szemioth examined there the lady Julka Iwinska, a niece of the lady of the castle, on. The mischievous beautiful girl calls herself a Lithuanian Rusalka. In the castle Dowgielly, which is visited several times, stories are told. The professor tells how he survived in the pampas of Uruguay. He tapped - as the Indians there - his horse occasionally blood from. The Count is interested in living way for the details. The story with the Count on the tree does not remain the only pathological event. The professor watched several times the strange fear that Michael instills the animals. And once Witt Embach is housed in a room during an overnight stay at Castle Dowgielly with Michael Szemioth. In sleep the Count roars so loud and beastly, that he wakes from its own noise. After returning to Medintiltas, says the professor at the earliest opportunity Dr. Fröber on that abnormal sleep patterns Michaels. A declaration of physicians at hand. The madness of the Countess had been transferred to son 's blood. Dr. Fröber saw it in the context of care when the Count finally married, for the young man with athletic shape need a "discharge".

In a conversation with Witt Embach Michael admired, although the blood under the skin of the coquettish Julka, but never want to see the young lady. About two months later, the professor is already back outside Samogitiens, he is invited by letter from the Count to the wedding. Michael Szemioth and Julka Iwinska marry now but. Julka, the Muse of Lithuania is called the invitation a few lines in Schmudisch adds.

Professor Witt Embach always behaves as it should be. He accepted the invitation. Already home as Michael brings the bride in the carriage, there is at the wedding the first incident. The groom's mother enters the staircase of Schloss Medintiltas. Apparently, she has overcome her three Bewacherinnen. The old countess Szemioth yells, " The Bear ... Kill him! Shoots "Some superstitious guests must be informed and reassured Clueless. The second and final event comes on the morning after the wedding night to light. Julka is found horribly mangled in the bridal chamber. Michael is gone. No more was heard of him.

Form

A serious issue - the mental illness - is treated exemplary. The master novella offers the outset - before finally very bloodthirsty leads - through their subliminal hilarity exciting storytelling. Thanks to the exquisite craftsmanship of the author penetrates the " outrageous incident occurred " (Goethe 1827) the reader only at the very last page of text with power awareness.

Linguistic and Historical is not too tight. Gedimin called. In addition, Mérimée depicts the summer, partly swampy Lithuanian forest wilderness memorable. A witch - actually a beggar - comes with a trained snake in her body in front. The whimsical woman threatens the two riders with the God Pirkuns.

Adaptations

• Lunacharsky wrote in 1924 the play " Bear Wedding ".
• Janusz Majewski has filmed the amendment in 1970.

German editions

Output used

• Loki. Translator: Alfred Thierenbach, pp. 414-460 in Prosper Mérimée: Don Juan in purgatory, and other stories. ( contains: The Massacre of St. Bartholomew Mateo Falcone Vision of Charles XI The storming of the hill The Pearl of Toledo The backgammon game The double mistake Don Juan in purgatory.. .. .. . ). With an introduction by Herbert Kühn. Dieterich'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung Leipzig, 1957 ( 3rd edition 1965 license Rudolf Marx). 476 pages