József Katona (11 November 1791, Kecskemét – 16 April 1830, Kecskemét) was a Hungarian

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

and

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral or writte ...

, creator of the Hungarian historical tragedy ''

Bánk bán ''Bánk bán'' is an opera in 3 acts by composer Ferenc Erkel. The work uses a Hungarian-language libretto by Béni Egressy which is based on a stage play of the same name by József Katona. (''Bán'' is Ban (title), ban in English, similar to a v ...

''.

Biography

József Katona was born and died in Kecskemét. He studied at the

University A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

Pest Pest or The Pest may refer to: Science and medicine * Pest (organism), an animal or plant deemed to be detrimental to humans or human concerns ** Weed, a plant considered undesirable * Infectious disease, an illness resulting from an infection ** ...

as a lawyer, and at the same time, he took part in theatrical life of the capital: he was an

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

, he wrote several plays, and he also translated and adapted

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

melodrama A modern melodrama is a dramatic work in which the plot, typically sensationalized and for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodramas typically concentrate on dialogue that is often bombastic or exces ...

tic works for the Hungarian stage. He hopelessly loved the leading Hungarian actress, Mme Déry, but she never recognized this love. József Katona wrote ''Bánk bán'', his most important drama for a literary competition organized by a Kolozsvár periodical in 1815. The competition required a historical drama with a Hungarian background. The result of the competition was disappointment for Katona: his ''Bánk Bán'' was not mentioned at all. He rewrote the play and published it privately in 1820, but it remained unnoticed until the mid-1830s. He returned to his native town Kecskemet. In the last ten years of his life, he wrote no more for the stage. Katona died on April 16, 1830, of a heart attack in front of his office.

Works

* ''Aubigny Clementina'', 1813 * ''Ziska'', 1813 * ''Jeruzsálem pusztulása'', 1814 * ''A rózsa, vagy a tapasztalatlan légy a pókok között'', 1814
Bánk bán
(Hungarian text), 1815; final version, 1819

Bánk bán

The story was about Bánk, the viceroy appointed by King Andrew II (1205–35), while the King was away on his foreign campaigns. Bánk became involved in a conspiracy against the German-born wife of the king; he tries to prevent the rebellion, but finally he is the man who kills the queen. His reason for the murder was political and personal at the same time: Queen Gertrude had taken part in a plot to seduce Bánk’s wife. Bánk's complex character and the deep conflict between duty and personal grief make Bánk Bán one of the best Hungarian dramas. It was written at the time when the intellectuals of the country opposed

Habsburg The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...

absolutism, and the drama is about mediaeval times when Hungary’s nobility fought against foreign usurpers as well, so the drama had been blacklisted by the government. In 1848, in the evening of March 15, the

Hungarian National Theater The National Theatre, located in Budapest originally opened in 1837. Since then, it has occupied several locations, including the original building at Kerepesi Street, the ''People's Theatre'' at Blaha Lujza Square, as well as Hevesi Sándor Squ ...

scheduled a performance of Bánk Bán. It was a symbolic event, part of the Hungarian revolution.

Bibliography

* József Katona: Bánk bán (The viceroy), translated by

Bernard Adams Bernard Adams (15661626) was an Anglican bishop in Ireland during the first half of the 17th century. Adams was born in Middlesex, and was educated at Trinity College, Oxford, being made scholar in 1583 and fellow in 1588. He was consecrated Bis ...

and Kálmán Ruttkay; foreword written by László Orosz – Budapest : Akad. K., cop. 2003.

External links

Magyar Színházművészeti Lexikon

Katona József Emlékház Kecskemét
{{DEFAULTSORT:Katona, Jozsef 1791 births 1830 deaths People from Kecskemét Hungarian male poets 19th-century Hungarian male writers Hungarian male dramatists and playwrights 19th-century Hungarian poets 19th-century Hungarian dramatists and playwrights

Biography

Works

Bánk bán

Bibliography

See also

External links