The Eighth Tribe, 1978 (5. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1978-03-01 / 3. szám
Page 4 THE EIGHTH TRIBE short story writer. His outstanding dramatic talent became evident already in his early plays. Through his witty dialogues and masterful stagecraft he became one of the most popular playwrights on the Budapest stage. Some of Molnár’s most successful plays included The Devil (Az ördög, 1907), Lily (Liliom, 1910), The Body Guard (A testőr, 1911), The Swan (A hattyú, 1920), The Play’s the Thing (Játék a kastélyban, 1926), and Olympia (1928). Of these Liliom proved to be the most popular. Some twenty years after its publication, it was adapted into the musical comedy Carousel, with the music by Rogers and Hammerstein. Because of his growing popularity abroad, during the interwar years Molnár spent less and less time in his homeland. And with the temporary triumphs of Nazi Germany — which also had its impact on domestic Hungarian developments — he left Hungary altogether. After a brief period in France and in Switzerland, he finally ended up in the United States. By that time he was a universally acclaimed playwright, yet he could not forget his cultural roots. Although transplanted to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, the land of his birth haunted him. Most of this newly authored plays took place in Hungary, or at least the main characters were Hungarians. Molnár died in New York on April 2, 1952, after publishing his moving reminiscences entitled Companion in Exile (Utitárs a száműzetésben, 1950). Although Molnár’s popularity was to a certain degree due to his mastery of stagecraft, he was also a great dramatist. He did not portray his characters with deep psychological motivations, even though he did use some Freudian symbolism. Nor did he author great social dramas on the level of those of Shaw, Hauptmann, Ibsen, or Zuckmayer. His purpose was not to shock, nor to arouse indignation, but to please and to entertain. Moreover, he was too much of a product of Hungarian urban and urbane society to become a revolutionary. But at the same time he had too great a social conscience not to criticize — at least tacitly — the flaws in the existing order of things. Molnár was a sentimental man. And this sentimentality showed equally when as an adult he recalled the world of his youth, or when as an exile he remembered the land of his birth. Ferenc Molnár was laid to rest in foreign soil; but in a soil that was a haven to him in times of personal and national trials — as it was to many others before and after him. Perhaps he had found his peace after all. PRAYER FOR TRANSYLVANIA (The 91st Psalm) “HE THAT DWELLETH IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL ABIDE UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY.” Have mercy upon Thy people, oh Lord, stretch forth Thy arm upon the Hungarians of Transylvania! “SURELY HE SHALL DELIVER THEE FROM THE SNARE OF THE FOWLER, AND FROM THE NOISOME PESTILENCE.” Deliver them from the hate of the Rumanians, and from the dreadful perils plotted against them by their oppressors! “THOU SHALT NOT BE AFRAID FOR THE TERROR BY NIGHT, NOR FOR THE ARROW THAT FLIETH BY DAY; NOR FOR THE PESTILENCE THAT WALKETH IN DARKNESS, NOR FOR THE DESTRUCTION THAT WASTETH AT NOONDAY... FOR HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER THEE, TO KEEP THEE IN ALL THY WAYS.” Be with them, oh Lord, in the darkness of the torturechambers, protect them from the wickedness of their enemies, and from the dangers that lurk around them day and night. Give Thy angels charge over them, to keep them in all their ways! ‘BECAUSE HE HATH SET HIS LOVE UPON ME, THEREFORE WILL I DELIVER HIM... AND SHOW MY SALVATION!” Oh God, our Lord, this people has put their faith into Thee from the beginning of history, and now in their exceeding great afflictions they pray to Thee for help! Be with them, oh Lord, in their tribulations, and have mercy upon them. Save Thy loyal Hungarians of Transylvania, deliver them from all evil, for to Thee alone, oh Lord, belongs the Land, and not to the Rumanians! Thine alone is the power, and the glory, for ever and ever, AMEN. The Transylvanian Diet at Torda Proclaims Religious Liberty (1568)
