Ancestral Latvian Source of Dramas by Rainis in the Context of European Modernism

Ancestral Latvian Source of Dramas by Rainis in the Context of European Modernism

Leonija Wuss-Mundeciema Little known but relevant insights into ancient Latvian beliefs were made by Augusts Bīlenšteins (August Bielenstein) from examination of an old source of Latvian culture, the folk songs (Dainas). This article considers how the ideals and values he found there are expressed in a more modern form in the dramas of Rainis. Latvian folk songs speak of one God, the Creator. During the time when Rainis was writing, the truth of this ancient message, for various reasons, started to be questioned. Like all classical Latvian literature his plays were written at a time when philosophy in Europe was fragmenting in different directions. Philosophers were concerned only with their own particular fields, ignoring more universal laws and values. Emancipation of mankind from the concept of the Absolute was also enhanced by popularization of the theory of relativity at the beginning of the 20th century. The idea that conscience could exist outside the spiritual centre of an individual allowed moral anarchy to develop and as a result the unity of past, present and future was dismantled.  Evidence from notes in diaries of Rainis shows that he had to win many battles. Battles with ideas of the current era, battles with himself, and battles resulting from the lack of understanding of his surroundings. Rainis must have obtained the strength needed to engage in these conflicts from Latvian folk songs and from a strong feeling of responsibility for the welfare of his country. The dramas of Rainis reproduce his battles in an artistic form. It seems that the ideological conflicts of the 20th century prevented approach to his dramas spiritual centre which does not exist outside consciousness of the Absolute. Evidence from folk songs shows that for Latvians this consciousness comes through them from the distant past. This makes the writings of Rainis especially significant. In the form of modern language his dramas testify to the wisdom of people living in ancient Europe. During this time of aggressive integration of all cultures and pressure from foreign ideologies, it is vital that nations, especially small ones, recognize their rich cultural heritage.