From Epaminondas to Stanisław Konarski. Ancient Greek Heritage and Aspirations for Independence in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the mid-18th century

Abstract

Epaminondas, written by Konarski in 1756, is a five-act tragedy set in ancient Thebes in the 4th century BC. The play centers on the historical Theban military leader Epaminondas and his internal dilemma concerning the balance between fighting enemies, acquiring power, patriotism, and the conflict between the good of the homeland and adherence to strict laws. Such dilemmas remain valid today, as numerous voices argue that adequate and balanced politics require reference to Greek tragedy. In one of his new books, American political writer Robert Kaplan claims that ‘as the Greeks defined it, tragedy is not the triumph of evil over good but the triumph of one good over another good that causes suffering.’ For Konarski, the tragic dilemma was crowned by Epaminondas’s willingness to sacrifice himself for the good of his homeland. The new edition of the tragedy Epaminondas has initiated discussions about Konarski’s role in Polish history and literature, the vibrant presence of ancient Greek cultural heritage in Poland, and the character of Epaminondas. Konarski brilliantly captures the events in Thebes as an allegory of the situation in Poland around the 1750s. The indication of politicians being corrupted by foreign ambassadors is unusually evident, a problem that was particularly pronounced in 18th-century Poland: many dignitaries were corrupt traitors serving the interests of powerful neighbors, including Prussia, Russia, and Austria. Konarski longed for a strong ruler or commander who could liberate Poland from the corrupting influence of foreign powers.