Tsar Fedor Ivanovich
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| Title: | Tsar Fedor Ivanovich |
| Original title: | Царь Фёдор Иоаннович (Carʹ Fëdor Ioannovič) |
| Genus: | tragedy |
| Original language: | Russian |
| Author: | Alexei Tolstoy |
| Publishing year: | 1868 |
| Premiere: | 1898 |
| Place of premiere: | St. Petersburg |
| Place and time of the action: | Moscow at the end of the 16th century |
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Tsar Fedor Ivanovich ( Russian Царь Фёдор Иоаннович ) is a historical tragedy in five acts by Alexei Tolstoy . It is set during the reign of the Russian Tsar Fyodor I. It was first printed in 1868, but was not officially performed until 1898. The play is the middle part of Alexei Tolstoy's dramatic trilogy, which began with The Death of Ivan the Terrible in 1866 and with Tsar Boris in 1870 found her conclusion.
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first act
The action begins seven years after the end of the first part of the trilogy . The feeble Fedor has been tsar since then, married to Irene (originally Irina ), Boris Godunoff's sister . Due to his proximity to the tsar, the latter has an immense influence on his decisions. This is a thorn in the side of the Schuisky family in particular. In the first scene, in Ivan Petrovich Shuisky's house, many family members as well as high clergy and boyars are gathered. Because on the one hand there is a wedding feast, the marriage of his niece, Princess Mstislavski, to Prince Schachowskoy. On the other hand, it is also discussed that the Tsarina should be removed from the way in order to weaken Godunoff's influence on the Tsar.
Together they write a letter to Fedor, in which the childlessness of his marriage is used as an argument to remarry. Instead, Irene is to be sent to the monastery. Ivan Petrovich is still a little hesitant, as he is aware that he is committing a sin with his involvement, but ultimately the fate of Russia is more important to him than that of Irenes. In addition, there is no other means of taking action against the scheming Godunoff than to leave the straight path yourself.
Golovin insinuated against Ivan Petrovich did that it would be better Fedor equal to all and instead saw off the persevering in Uglich, situated in childhood Tsarevich Dmitri to enthrone , but Ivan Petrovich itself forbids such a proposal.
Starkoff, Ivan Petrovich's steward, who witnessed the intrigue, immediately brings the plan to Godunoff. His advisors Kleschnin and Turenin advise him to solve the problem once and for all. But Godunoff surprises with the idea of wanting to reconcile, after all, it is about the welfare of Russia. This feeling is strengthened by Tsar Fedor himself, who announced that he would personally reconcile the Schuisky with Godunoff.
Second act
Fedor asked the clergy to help with the reconciliation process. Godunoff's confidante Kleschnin, however, is against it and incites against the Nagoy brothers (the brothers of the seventh wife of Ivan the Terrible), who stay with their nephew Dmitri in Uglich and are allegedly just waiting to enthrone him in Fedor's place.
The Schuisky appear and Ivan Petrovich raises serious allegations against Godunoff: he has become Fedor's sole advisor and is now steering the country according to his taste. Godunoff, on the other hand, accuses Ivan Petrovich that he never wanted to participate and that he, Godunoff, only acted in the interests of the now finally successfully pacified country whose external enemies no longer pose a threat (the Lithuanians, the Swedes, the Tartars) after the unstable situation of the years before. Czarina Irene finally succeeds in persuading Ivan Petrovich from his stubbornness. Indeed, both Ivan Petrowitsch Schuisky and Boris Godunoff swear on the crucifix that they now serve the good of the country in unity and no longer want to work against each other.
The Tsar admits a delegation of the people who are waiting outside the palace for the talks to end. The playful and unfocused Fedor lost himself in banter with young businessmen until Ivan Petrovich took the floor and announced to the delegation that the Schuisky faction had reconciled with Godunoff. The merchants (Kurjukoff, Krassilnikoff as well as father and son Golub) are dismayed and beg their protector Schuisky and the Tsar in vain to withdraw the reconciliation and to protect them from Godunoff's influence. Godunoff meanwhile secretly whispers to Kleschnin to memorize the names of the merchants.
Third act
In the garden of Ivan Petrovich's house, the bride-to-be, Wolochoff, got together for a secret rendezvous - Schachowskoy and Princess Mstislavski . But it is disturbed by the storming Krassilnikoff, who reports that all the merchants who spoke out against Godunoff before the tsar were taken away by hunters. Ivan Petrovich can hardly believe this and is angry. He wants to convict Godunoff in front of the tsar's eyes. But after his departure, the other princes of the Schuisky family forge a different plan: They want to go on the offensive with the plan to remarry Fedor and propose one of their ranks as the new tsarina, Prince Mstislavski's sister, of all people. While they are still looking for an excuse to get rid of their fiancé Schachowskoy, Schachowskoy is already stepping out of the bushes and announcing that he will not allow this, as his fiancée has already been promised to him.
In the meantime, Godunoff presented Czar Fedor with a number of proposals, which the latter accepted without will. When Irene suggests that Fedor's brother Dmitri and his mother be brought back to Moscow, Fedor happily agrees. But Godunoff thinks it's not a good idea.
Ivan Petrovich Schuisky appears and reports to the tsar about the arrests of the merchants at Godunoff's behest, which amounts to breaking the oath. Godunoff, however, replies that he had the merchants removed because they had endangered the sealed oath by incitement. When Fedor forbids him to speak, Godunoff makes preparations to resign. Fedor wants to appease him again, which in turn angered Ivan Petrovich, who saw the tsar dishonored by his recent concessions to Godunoff and went away. In a panic that everyone will leave him, Fedor grants Godunoff all rights again so that he stays.
Kleschnin arrives and delivers the intercepted letter from Golovin, which speaks of deposition of the tsar in favor of his brother Dmitri. Fedor is not happy about this, but Godunoff fails to take action against the Schuisky, whom he does not see as conspirators. Since Godunoff does not get a free hand here, he quits his service with the Tsar and leaves. Fedor, realizing that he does not have enough sense and that he cannot live long because of his poor health, sinks into despair.
Fourth act
The tide has turned against the Schuisky and their supporters. Ivan Petrovich realizes that he hesitated too long and takes action. He gives his cousins and allied merchants instructions that are to lead to the disempowerment and arrest of Godunoff and the proclamation of Dmitri as the new tsar, including entry into Moscow. In addition, a war force is to be put together to support and secure the actions. These plans are overheard by Starkoff, who immediately stabs them back to Godunoff.
Meanwhile, Godunoff sees his power waning and remembers the prophecy (in the first part of the trilogy) that the one who prevents him from doing everything is in Uglich. He has Kleschnin send the morally unscrupulous Wolochoff there to replace the current waiting woman. Kleschnin tells her in a cryptic manner what she has to do: somehow she is supposed to inconspicuously eliminate the Tsarevich who is threatening Godunoff's rule.
Kleschnin went to the Tsar and told him about the Shuisky's concrete plan to depose him and replace him with Dmitri. He demands that the Schuisky be arrested. When Ivan Petrovich suddenly turns up, the tsar confronts him, and Shuisky admits the plan. However, the harmony-addicted Fedor appeases again and explains that he himself wants Dmitri to replace him one day, but he should then be more grown up so that power does not fall back into the hands of advisors. Although the Tsar forgives him, Ivan Petrovich swears that he was not and leaves.
Schachowskoy arrives and reports that the Shuisky plan to divorce the tsar's marriage with Irene in order to get Schachowskoy's fiancée as the new tsarina. This finally leads the tsar to seal the arrest warrant and have the Schuisky arrested. This was actually not the intention of Schachowskoy, who only wanted his fiancée to be approved.
Some people gather on the banks of the Jausa when the news spreads that the Tartars are on their way. Everyone calls out for their great general Ivan Petrovich Shuisky, the hero of the siege of Pskov . But they have to find out that he is on the way to the dungeon at the behest of Godunoff. In fact, he is led by in chains with his cousins. The people are happy to see him, thank him for his services and want to see him in freedom. But Ivan Petrovich gives a short speech in which he explains to them that he is now rightly atoning for his sins and that they should continue to be loyal to the tsar.
Fifth act
Vasily Shuisky is the only one in his family who has not been arrested. He is holding on to the current tsar, on whom he has sworn an oath. Godunoff lets him know that he now has to prove himself by deeds.
The Tsarina, Godunoff's sister, speaks to her brother's conscience and asks him to spare Ivan Petrovich for all his merits, but Godunoff refuses. Shortly afterwards she leads Princess Mstislavski to Fedor to ask for the life of Ivan Petrovich, her uncle. And Fedor is touched and orders the release. However, Turenin reports that her uncle strangled himself during the night. Fedor is beside himself and does not believe this, he accuses Turenin of murder. When the latter also tells that Schachowskoy was shot while trying to free the Shuisky, Princess Mstislavski, who has to find out about the death of her uncle and fiancé at the same time, faints.
In addition, a courier arrives from Uglich, who brings the news that Tsarevich Dmitri fell on a knife and died. Godunoff wants u. a. Send Vasily Schuisky there to investigate the incident, and when Fedor hears that Godunoff is entrusting this task to a Schuisky, he apologizes to Godunoff and gives him all powers.
As the Tartars approached, the army was dispatched, Godunoff left its leadership to Prince Mstislavski.
The final monologue belongs to Fedor, who laments that he is the last of his gender.
Full text
- the drama in the original Russian on Wikisource
German translations
- Tsar Fedor Ivanovich , Ger. by Caroline von Pawloff , Dresden 1869 ( this translation in the Google book search)