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Anathema: A Tragedy In Seven Scenes Paperback – August 29, 2015

by Leonid Andreyev (Author)
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 1 rating
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The scene represents a wild, deserted place, the slope of a mountain rising to infinite heights. In the rear of the stage, halfway up the mountain, huge iron gates, tightly closed, indicate the boundary of the world as we conceive it. Beyond the iron gates, which oppress the earth with their enormous weight, in silence and in mystery, dwells the Beginning of every being, the Supreme Wisdom of the universe. At the foot of the Gates stands Someone guarding the entrances, leaning upon a long sword, perfectly motionless. Garbed in wide clothes, which are like stone in the motionlessness of their folds and creases, He hides His face beneath a dark cover, and is Himself the greatest of mysteries. Standing on the boundary separating two worlds, he is dual in his make-up;—in appearance a man, in reality a spirit. An arbitrator between two worlds, He is like unto a huge shield, which gathers all bolts,—all looks, all entreaties, all expectations, reproaches, and curses. The bearer of two elements, He wraps his speech in silence, which is like the silence of the iron gates, and sometimes in human words. Amidst the rocks, looking around on all sides strangely and shyly, appears Anathema, someone accursed. Clinging to the grey rocks, himself grey, cautious and flexible, like a serpent seeking a hole, he goes stealthily and quietly to the Guardian of the Entrances, desiring to strike him with an unexpected blow. But he is frightened by his own audacity and, jumping to his feet, laughs defiantly and maliciously. Then he sits down on a rock, with an air of freedom and independence, and throws small cobblestones at the feet of the Guardian of the Entrances;—cunning, he conceals his fear beneath the mask of raillery and slight audacity. In the faint, grey, almost colorless light, the head of the accursed one seems enormous; especially large is his high forehead, which is furrowed by wrinkles of fruitless reflections and unsolvable eternal problems. Anathema's thin beard is perfectly grey; his hair, once jet black, is also greyish, rising on his head in disordered tufts. Restless in his movements, he is vainly trying to conceal his alarm and his purposeless haste, which are forever devouring him. Endeavoring to emulate the proud stillness of the Guardian of the Entrances, he grows quiet for an instant in the pose of proud majesty, but the very next moment, in painful quest after the eternally elusive, he wriggles in mute spasms, like a worm under foot. And in his questions he is rapid and impetuous like a whirlwind, drawing strength and fury in his mad whirl.... ANATHEMA. You are still here on guard? And I thought you were away,—even a chained dog has his moments of rest or sleep, even though the whole world be his kennel and Eternity his master! Is Eternity afraid of thieves? But do not be angry. I have come to you as a good friend and I implore humbly: Open the heavy Gates for an instant and allow me to have a glimpse of Eternity. You dare not? But perhaps the mighty gates have cracked from age, and the unfortunate, honest Anathema could peep into the narrow cleft, without disturbing any one,—show me it with a sign. Softly, on my belly, will I crawl over, I will glance at it and crawl back,—and He will not know. But I shall know and become a God, become a God, a God! I have so long wanted to become a God—and would I be a poor God? Look!
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  1. Print length
    140 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    August 29, 2015
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.32 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1517112370
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1517112370
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 29, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 140 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1517112370
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1517112370
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.32 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 1 rating

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Leonid Andreyev

Leonid Andreyev

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4 out of 5 stars
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Top review from the United States

Dr. Richard M. Price
4.0 out of 5 stars For or against Christianity?
Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2012
This play was first produced by Stanislavsky in Moscow in 1909. It treats one 'David', who inherits a fortune and sets out to relieve the suffering of the world. Vast crowds gather round him, their sense of their own hardship intensified. When his resources are exhausted and he can do no more for them, they turn against him, and finally stone him to death. He is manipulated throughout by 'Anathema', a Satanic figure who wishes to have something to strengthen his case against God the Creator. But when he challenges an angel at the heavenly gates, the angel replies that good and evil on earth cannot be measured: the goodness that David represents has a value that is incomparable and transcendent. The play excited lively debate in the Russian Orthodox Church at the time, between those who condemned it as an attack on Christianity and those who praised it as a vindication of Christianity. Further performances were finally banned after intervention by Tsar Nicholas II, whose piety was equal to his stupidity. Apart from its theology, the play has the great merit of presenting two chief characters, David and Anathema, who are subtle and arresting figures that, in the first production, gave great actors real scope.
This is the original American edition of 1910, and all the recent reprintings of the play are simply reproductions of it. The English translation has the merit of accuracy, but no other. It often sounds stilted and sententious; we badly need a new translation. Admittedly, the original Russian is not faultless in this respect. When giving a talk on the work recently, I found it hard to keep a straight face when reading out some of the rhetorical flourishes. But this remains a powerful and profound work that is well worth exploring.
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