Storytelling in the elegant setting of the Poria Theatre, from the equally elegant Dolichos company. Under the direction of the Lithuanian Cezaris Grauzinis they illustrated Daphnis And Chloe, turning it into a series of storytelling games for a group of four bored couples from the beau monde. Longus wrote the story around 150 AD, with the claim that "This work also offers healing and especially education, rousing the memories of those who have loved, and teaching those who have not." Grauzinis's staging cleverly showed the workings of the early pastoral romance on his present-day actors and came close to achieving this aim.
Ian Herbert | ian@herbertknott.com
Setting and style
It is set on the isle of Lesbos during the 2nd century AD, which is also assumed to be the author's home. Its style is rhetorical and pastoral, its shepherds and shepherdesses are wholly conventional, but the author imparts human interest to this idealized world. Daphnis and ChloeAethiopica of Heliodorus, which is remarkable more for its plot than its characterization. resembles a modern novel more than does its chief rival among Greek erotic romances
Plot summary
Daphnis and Chloe, two children found by shepherds, grow up together, nourishing a mutual love which neither suspects. The development of their passion forms the chief interest, and there are few incidents. Chloe is carried off by a pirate, and ultimately regains her family. Rivals trouble Daphnis' peace of mind; but the two lovers are recognized by their parents, and return to a happy married life in the country.
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Characters
The human characters in the novel include:
- Chloe - The heroine
- Daphnis - The hero
- Dorcon - The would-be suitor of Chloe
- Dryas - Chloe's foster father
- Lamon - Daphnis' foster father
- Myrtale - Daphnis' foster mother
- Nape - Chloe's foster mother
Reception and influences
Daphnis and Chloe was the model of La Sireine of Honoré d'Urfé, the Diana enamorada of Jorge de Montemayor, the Aminta of Torquato Tasso, and The Gentle Shepherd of Allan Ramsay. The novel Paul et Virginie echos the same story. Also, Maurice Ravel based his ballet, Daphnis et Chloé, on the story.
The French translation, as prepared by Jacques Amyot, bishop of Auxerre and revised by Paul Louis Courier, is perhaps better known than the original. It appeared in 1559. The story has been prepared in numerous illustrated editions, including a 1937 limited edition with woodcuts by Aristide Maillol, and a 1977 edition illustrated by Marc Chagall.
The 1952 work Shiosai (The Sound of the Waves), written by the well-known Japanese writer Yukio Mishima following a visit to Greece, is considered to have been inspired by the Daphnis and Chloe myth.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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