Sofonisba (Trissino)

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The Sofonisba by Giovan Giorgio Trissino is a one-act tragedy in 2093 verses, written in 1514–1515 and published in July 1524. The first performance took place in 1556 in French in the translation by Mellin de Saint-Gelais in Blois Castle; the first performance of the Italian original in 1562 during the carnival season in Vicenza . Sofonisba is the first tragedy written in Italian.

shape

Sofonisba is a tragedy in one act, the protagonist's speech at the beginning of the tragedy has the function of a prologue , the longer choruses mark the different sections of the plot.

The first printed edition is preceded by an appropriation to Pope Leo X. Appropriations served to vote the patrons favorable through flattery and praise for a financial support of the work concerned.

content

Appropriation

In his appropriation, Trissino refers, among other things, to the poetics of Aristotle , who called tragedy the highest of the genres because it imitates an action that has greatness. In contrast to comedy, tragedy arouses pity and fear and brings viewers not only enjoyment but also benefits. The comedy induces laughter because it imitates the ugly and the ridiculously deficient. Like Ariost in La Cassaria (1508) and Bibbiena in La Calandria (1513), Trissino defends linguistic aspects of his tragedy such as B. the use of volgare or Italian or free rhymes . He justified the use of Italian with the fact that not all viewers could understand a tragedy that was not written in Italian. Otherwise it is of no or only limited use to the audience. Trissino justifies the use of free rhymes with the fact that only a spontaneous speech caused by pain can arouse pity. However, rhymes are not associated with spontaneity and are therefore detrimental to pity.

Verses 1–117

The action takes place in Cirta , a city in Numidia . In a kind of prologue , the protagonist Sophonisbe (Italian: Sofonisba), Hasdrubal's daughter, tells the story of the story.

After Sichäus ' death - the author assumes knowledge of Roman mythology - his wife Dido goes to Africa, buys land there and builds the city of Carthage . After Aeneas has left her, Dido commits suicide. Carthage not only defends itself successfully against its enemies, but rules all other cities in the region. A bitter war takes place against the Romans until an armistice is concluded. When Hannibal invades Italy across the Alps, the war breaks out all the more violently. In the meantime, Sophonisbe's father Hasdrubal left for Spain to fight the Romans. After his first successes he is beaten by Scipio and he has to withdraw from Spain. Hasdrubal lands with his ships in the domain of the Numidian King Syphax on the day Hasdrubal and his soldiers arrive there.

Scipio enters into an alliance with Syphax. In order to break this alliance with the Romans, Hasdrubal Syphax gives his daughter Sophonisbe as his wife, although he has previously promised her to Massinissa, the son of the Massulier King Galas. With this, Hasdrubal Massinissa has made himself a mortal enemy. Sophonisbe went to Cirta because of the wedding with Syphax. Despite the alliance between Hasdrubal and Syphax, Scipio manages to defeat both. Massinissa, who in the meantime had allied himself with the Romans, managed to recapture his empire with the help of his allies. The situation becomes more and more threatening from Sophonisbe's point of view, since Massinissa has reached the border of Syphax's realm and defeated him. Only young and inexperienced Carthaginian soldiers face the war experienced Romans and the forces of Massinissa.

In a nightly dream, Sophonisbe sees herself surrounded by dogs and shepherds who are holding her husband captive. In desperation, she asks one of the shepherds for protection. Since the shepherd himself cannot protect her, he hides sophonisbe in a cave.

In this flashback-like prologue, the relationship between Sophonisbe and her companion Herminia becomes clear. They both grew up together, but Sophonisbe is the higher rank, Herminia is her friend and consort, but subordinate to the queen.

Verses 118-228

After Herminia and Sophonisbe have discussed the meaning of the dream and the connection between wealth and discontent, poverty and happiness, they ask their God to spare them the evil that is looming. Meanwhile the hostile crowds have gathered at the gates of the city.

The Choir of the Women of Cirthas ponders whether to confront the Queen with this bad news.

Verses 229-681

A messenger brings Sophonisbe the news of her husband's defeat and capture. He reports of a successful ruse by the Romans that led to victory. Syphax initially tried to stop his fleeing soldiers and change their mind by opposing the enemy troops alone. However, he was overwhelmed and captured by the Romans. Although the Romans pursued the fleeing soldiers, they managed to rescue them at the last minute behind the gates of the city.

While Sophonisbe curses her fate, the Romans push outside the city. Another messenger reports that the Romans sent a herald who threatened to set fire to the surrounding area and besieged the city. Finally, a military leader named Massinissa had come forward, who had pretended to be king of the Massulians and had asked the townspeople to surrender the town without a fight as proof of defeat, he had brought before the chained Syphax. Then the townspeople opened the gates and left the town to Massinissa.

Sophonisbe has the messenger show her where Massinissa is. Sophonisbe went to him to ask him not to hand her over to the Romans. He is the only one who has the power to do so. Sophonisbe, the African, would rather be in the power of an African than in a Roman one. If he cannot free her from the hands of the Romans, he should kill her, and since Sophonisbe insists, he lets himself be persuaded to do so.

Verse 682-1151

The highest-ranking Roman after Scipio, Laelius , reached Cirta at the time when Massinissa and Sophonisbe were married. Massinissa considers the wedding to be a clever ruse to remove Sophonisbe from the Romans' grasp and give her freedom, but it also corresponds to his feelings towards her. Sophonsbe initially had reservations about the marriage, she is already married to Syphax and has a two-year-old child with him. Massinissa, however, manages to persuade Sophonisbe to marry through his messengers.

After the wedding ceremony, Massinissa and Sophonisbe are asked by the priest to sacrifice Juno and Jupiter . Massinissa makes her way to the temple of Jupiter. He confronts Laelius, who has been briefed by a messenger about the events, ignorant and lets search for Sophonisbe, the allegedly last missing prisoner. In this situation, Massinissa confesses to him that he married Sophonisbe. A battle of words ensues because Lelio does not recognize the legitimacy of the wedding. Cato warns both of them to wait for Scipio and his judgment. Both agree.

The choir fears that Massinissa's help is no longer certain.

Verse 1152-1467

Scipio has the prisoners brought into a tent, Syphax is separated from the rest of the prisoners. In a conversation between Scipio and Syphax it is discussed why Syphax turned away from them after the alliance with the Romans. Syphax justifies his sudden change of opinion with Sophonisbe, under whose spell he fell. After the conversation, Scipio has Syphax remove the chains. Based on the description of Syphax, Scipio fears that Massinissa has now also been charmed by Sophonisbe. However, he learns that Massinissa is waiting for Scipio's judgment and is willing to follow him. Apart from the fact that Scipio, like Laelius, does not recognize the marriage of Massinissa and Sophonisbe, he considers the separation of Sophonisbe and Massinissa to be the best medicine to cure Massinissa (of his lust). In addition, Sophonisbe was guilty of a crime because she had alienated Syphax from the Romans. The Roman people or the Roman Senate must therefore first decide on the fate of Sophonisbe. If Massinissa would have Sophonisbe for himself, he would have to write to the Roman Senate and request it. After Massinissa has heard Scipio's judgment, he goes back to the palace to devise a plan for how he can still remove Sophonisbe from the power of the Romans.

Mantegna : Sofonisba drinks from a poison cup, 1490

The chorus suggests that Massinissa sent a messenger to Sophonisbe with a poison cup.

Verse 1468-2093

After Sophonisbe has decorated the altar, washed and dressed, a servant of Massinissa brings the message that Massinissa had not succeeded in removing Sophonisbe from the power of the Romans through the marriage. Therefore the only solution remains the death of Sophisbe. Sophonisbe takes the cup of poison, makes an offering to her goddess and drinks the cup. Herminia finds out about the poison cup too late. Sophonisbe can order her to look after her son after her death before the end of her life. She should take him to a secret place, travel to Carthage and inform Sophonisbe's parents of their fate. Herminia was to marry Sophonisbe's brother. Shortly after Sophonisbe's passing, Massinissa appears, too late, with a third plan, namely to bring Sophonisbe secretly to Carthage. Since he feels responsible for Sophonisbe's death, he feels obliged to fulfill the wishes of Sophonisbe's next of kin. He now regards Herminia as his sister-in-law.

After the funeral service, a choir song about the twists and turns of fortune, which casts the happy ending of Herminias and her people's journey to Carthage in a dubious light, Herminia will travel back to Carthage.

people

  • Sophonisbe
  • Herminia
  • Massinissa
  • Laelius
  • Cato
  • Scipio
  • Syphax
  • other persons: a servant of Syphax, a servant and a servant of Sophonisbes, a messenger and another messenger as well as the choir of Cirtenser women

Literary role models

Ancient Greek literature

Latin literature

  • Petrarch's Africa (approx. 1339–1342), Triumphus Cupidinis (14th century), Familiares (1325–1366)
  • Boccaccios De casibus virorum illustrium (ca.1360), De mulieribus claris (1374)
  • Iacopo Filippo Forestis De plurimis claris scelestisque mulieribus (1496)
  • Marcantonio Sabellicos Exemplorum libri decem (1507)

Italian literature

  • Boccaccios Amorosa Visione (1341–1342), Elegia di madonna Fiammetta (1343–1344), Decameron (~ 1349–1353)
  • Petrarch's Canzoniere (1470)
  • Boiardos Orlando Inammorato (1495)

reception

In 1789, Vittorio Alfieri published a tragedy in five acts that builds up Trissino's work: Sofonisba (Alfieri) .

literature

Text output

Giovan Giorgio Trissino: "La Sophonisba", in: Renzo Cremante (Ed.): Teatro del Cinquecento. Tomo I. La tragedia (1988). Milano / Napoli (Milan / Naples): Riccardo Ricciardi Editore.