Magyar mitológia

A Hunyadiak a kollektív emlékezetben

Absztrakt

Popular historical narratives in the public consciousness often differ significantly from corresponding events that can be substantiated by data: many historical occurrences are not recounted or taught the way they actually happened. Interesting, adventurous narratives, centered around heroes and dramatic situations, shape the identity of a cultural community more effectively than indisputable facts. A particularly good example of this is the history of the Hunyadi dynasty in Hungary, which served as the basis for numerous literary works (most notably historical dramas) in the first half of the 19^th-century, concurrently with the formation of nation-state ideology. This study examines the causes and consequences of the discrepancies between historical and artistic truth, with the consequences including the relative aesthetic failure of the literary works in question. The most obviously striking among these problems are the static, undramatic juxtaposition of “good” and “evil” and the unreflected anachronism of the moral values conveyed (e. g. patriotism, individual love). The discussion also addresses how successful historical dramas handle these challenges, as well as how inherited, mythical narratives can be made relevant within a contemporary episteme.