Nepublikuota Mykolo Vaitkaus drama "Amazoniada" (1923) ir antifeministinė distopija lietuvių literatūroje

LTTarpukariu parašyta, tačiau iki šiol nepublikuota ir tik rankraščio pavidalu išlikusi Mykolo Vaitkaus drama „Amazoniada" (1923) keičia požiūrį į rašytojo palikimą. Šiame netipiškame jo dramaturgijai kūrinyje Vaitkus atsiskleidžia kaip vienintelės žinomos lietuviškos antifeministinės distopijos autorius. Nors ši Vaitkaus drama nėra aukščiausio meninio lygio, ji svarbi lietuvių dramaturgijos istorijai, nes byloja apie pastangas menine forma apsvarstyti vadinamąjį „moterų klausimą“ ir polemizuoja su XX a. pradžios feminisčių tezėms. Antifeministinė distopija tarpukariu buvo itin populiari Vakaruose, o Vaitkaus „Amazoniada" patvirtina, kad lietuvių literatūra anuomet įsiliejo į bendresnius Europos literatūrinius procesus. Straipsnio tikslas – pristatyti nežinomą Vaitkaus kūrinį ir, žvelgiant per utopijos žanro prizmę, rasti jam vietą lietuvių literatūros istorijoje. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Mykolas Vaitkus; Lietuvių dramaturgija; Feminizmas; Utopijos žanras; Antifeministinė distopija; Mykolas Vaitkus; Lithuanian drama; Feminism; Utopia as genre; Anti-feminist dystopia.

ENManuscript of Mykolas Vaitkus’ unpublished play "Amazoniada" (1923) was only recently discovered in the archives of the curia of the Archdiocese of Kaunas. The play had never been published or staged, was known only from brief items in the inter-war press, and the whole text had never entered the field of vision of theatre historians or literary critics. Although the "Amazoniada" is not of great artistic value, it has warranted attention from literature and culture scholars as an example of anti-feminist dystopia. Vaitkus’ play reflects social and literary processes that were taking place all over the Western world during that period: the growth of the feminist movement, the emerging image of the modern woman, the proliferation of feminist utopias and the anti-feminist dystopias countering them. A supporter of Catholic feminism, Vaitkus anxiously observed manifestations of radical feminism in Europe and America. He believed that extremes should be avoided, and, drawing on the genre of utopia, sought to issue a warning about the dangers hiding in the unbridled thirst for freedom and power. Although this was a familiar genre in the context of Western literature of that period, it would have been an innovative kind of writing in a Lithuania that was only beginning to take its first steps towards modernization. It is interesting that Vaitkus chose to make his work a drama – a rare application even in the rich tradition of Western literature, where utopias usually appear in the form of fiction. Even unpublished, the "Amazoniada" made an impression on other Lithuanian authors.It also makes it possible to newly interpret Vaitkus’ dramaturgy, which has hitherto been considered overly schematic, allegorical, and lacking originality of ideas and modernity in terms of form. It is on the level of ideas that the "Amazoniada" is important, because Vaitkus was not categorically against feminism – he sought to discuss the question of women’s emancipation rather than impose his opinion about a single truth. Vaitkus’ connections with Šatrijos Ragana’s Catholic feminism and polemic with Sofija Čiurlionienė’s liberal feminism make it possible to reevaluate the evolution of (anti)feminist discourses in inter-war Lithuanian literature. [From the publication]