Historical Context
In the wake of the tumultuous World War I, Central Europe lay in disarray. The war, which raged from 1914 to 1918, had left the region in tatters, with borders redrawn and nations redefined. Prior to this seismic conflict, a fervent movement had emerged, advocating for an independent state for the Czech and Slovak peoples. At that time, the lands destined to become Czechoslovakia were under the dominion of Austria-Hungary. The Czechs shared this territory with Germans, who stood with the Central Powers, while the Czechs themselves were largely opposed. However, their resistance was slow to crystallize into a unified front. Many Czechs found themselves conscripted into the Austrian military, fighting for the Central Powers. Yet, on the Eastern Front, many shifted allegiances to join Russian forces. At home, the Czech press faced strict censorship, public assemblies were forbidden, and those deemed disloyal to Austria-Hungary's interests were frequently imprisoned.
In 1917, as the United States entered the fray of war and the Russian Revolution unfolded, Czech leaders intensified their quest for autonomy within Austria-Hungary. They established a Czechoslovak army to ally with the United States, Russia, and other Allied nations. These troops engaged in significant operations, garnering international sympathy for their cause. The dream of independence seemed within reach, bolstered by the Allies' support. Even before the war's cessation, Czech leaders secured recognition from Allied nations for their Czechoslovak National Council, a body that became the official voice of Czech interests at the peace conference, declaring itself a provisional government. With the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in October 1918, the birth of a republic was proclaimed.
The nascent Republic of Czechoslovakia faced formidable challenges in its infancy. As the dust of war settled, the fledgling government grappled with the task of delineating borders at the postwar peace conference. A notable dispute arose with Poland over the division of the Duchy of Teschen. Nonetheless, Czech leaders established a National Assembly that crafted a new democratic constitution, adopted on February 29, 1920. While many Czechs and Slovaks rejoiced at having their own nation at last, internal dissent simmered. Among the dissenters, the Sudeten Germans voiced protests against the constitution, though they participated in elections and formed political parties. Some Slovaks harbored aspirations for a separate autonomous state, while others favored a strong alliance with the Czechs. The Social Democracy party initially dominated the political landscape, until a 1920 schism led to the Republicans' ascendancy. Antonín Švehla, a Republican, served as Czechoslovakia's prime minister from 1921 to 1929.
As Czechoslovakia endeavored to carve out its identity on both domestic and international stages, ominous developments loomed across Europe. Despite the country's steadfast allegiance to the League of Nations, formed in the aftermath of World War I, and its alliances with France, Yugoslavia, and Romania, Germany posed a formidable challenge to its future. Although relations remained somewhat lukewarm, a significant event unfolded in early 1920s Germany: Adolf Hitler rose to become the unchallenged leader of the nascent Nazi Party. His ascension to power in the late 1920s and early 1930s foreshadowed a grim fate for Czechoslovakia in 1938. Germany's occupation and partition during World War II led to the country's temporary dissolution, yet, like a phoenix, Czechoslovakia would eventually rise anew.
Literary Style
Setting
The Insect Play unfurls its revue-like fable amid the enigmatic woods of an undefined epoch and locale. Although the prologue and epilogue transpire within the "real" world of human characters, the trio of acts blossoms solely within the imagination of a wandering tramp. Act I unfolds atop a hill adorned with plush cushions and a table or bar, where butterflies flit about in a social whirl. In striking contrast, Act II...
(This entire section contains 458 words.)
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is staged on a sandy mound riddled with tunnels, bustling with the comings and goings of insects. Act III delves into the industrious heart of an ant heap, where ants laboriously toil, strategize for war, and engage in battle. These settings starkly highlight the duality of the play: bridging the tramp’s tangible reality with his vivid fantasy, and illustrating the interconnectedness of humanity and nature.
Symbolism/Characters
In The Insect Play, nearly every character serves as a symbol, embodying deeper meanings. The tramp, the solitary constant throughout the play, personifies humanity itself. He bears witness to the myriad flaws of mankind, mirrored in the insect characters. Although distressed by the reflections of human vices, he refrains from intervening until the climax of Act III, where he slays the yellow ant leader. His demise swiftly follows this decisive act. The insect personalities are laden with symbolic weight: butterflies epitomize the frivolity of youth and society, while ants embody blind allegiance to one’s state, a poignant theme in the aftermath of World War I Europe. Act II introduces insects that personify specific human traits, predominantly faults. For instance, Mr. and Mrs. Beetle are the embodiment of greed, whereas the peculiar beetle and the parasite seize every opportunity amidst adversity. The ichneumon fly is a chilling predator, characterized by both opportunism and cruelty.
Anthropomorphism/Fable
Anthropomorphism breathes human traits into animals, objects, or any non-human entities. As previously noted, the Capeks endowed these insects with human-like qualities, imbuing them with symbolic significance. Yet, these anthropomorphic characteristics serve additional purposes within the play. By bestowing human qualities upon its characters, The Insect Play adopts an enchanting fable-like essence. It shares the hallmark of a fable—a fictional tale carrying a moral undertone, often populated by animals. Through its insect characters, the play explores a spectrum of moral quandaries and notions—greed, unthinking obedience to leaders, the savagery of murder, and the stark reality of death. Unlike a typical fable, which often spells out moral lessons, The Insect Play shies away from dictating clear moral distinctions. Instead, it invites the audience to ponder the ramifications of actions, leaving the interpretation—be it virtuous, flawed, or a blend of both—up to them. While fables traditionally aim to instruct, this play focuses more intently on provoking thought while delivering entertainment.
Compare and Contrast
1920s: The newly minted Czechoslovakia embarks on a journey of self-discovery, striving to carve its identity. While the majority of Czechs are staunch supporters of the burgeoning republic, a fervent movement for Slovak independence simmers beneath the surface.
Today: The Czech Republic and Slovakia stand as distinct nations, the result of a peaceful parting on January 1, 1993, when the federation dissolved harmoniously.
1920s: Czech literary titans, such as Karel Capek, capture the imaginations of readers worldwide, becoming the toast of the literary community.
Today: Renowned Czech author Vaclav Havel not only earns prestige with his pen but also steps onto the world stage as president of both Czechoslovakia and, later, the Czech Republic.
1920s: Czechoslovakia, along with much of Central Europe, embarks on the arduous task of rebuilding from the ravages left in the wake of World War I.
Today: The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and many former Eastern Bloc nations emerge from the shadow of Soviet control, navigating the challenges of economic revival. The Czech Republic aspires to weave itself into the fabric of the broader European Economic Community.
1920s: In 1921, Adolf Hitler ascends to the helm of the Nazi Party as its chairman and dictator, a harbinger of the dark days that would lead Germany into World War II. His ascent spells the demise of Czechoslovakia, while the declaration of the United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) births one of history’s largest communist forces.
Today: As communism fades across Europe, the Soviet Union undergoes a dramatic transformation into democracy. Independent and sovereign, Czechs and Slovaks proudly stand on their own. Yet, the specter of Nazism clings to certain German-speaking communities, evidenced by the election of a divisive politician in Austria with Nazi affiliations.
Bibliography and Further Reading
Sources
Birrell, Francis, ‘‘The Aesthetics of Revue,’’ in The Nation [and] the Athenaeum, May 19, 1923, p. 248.
Capek, Karel, and Josef Capek, The Insect Play (And so ad infinitum), in R.U.R. and The Insect Play, translated by Paul Selver, Oxford University Press, 1961, pp. 105–77.
Clurman, Harold, ‘‘A Dying Sound,’’ in New Republic, June 21, 1948, pp. 28–29.
Corbin, John, ‘‘Libeling the Insects,’’ in New York Times, November 1, 1922, p. 16.
Gassner, John, Review of The Insect Comedy, in Forum, July, 1948, pp. 20–22.
Mauro, Lucia, Review of The Insect Play, in Chicago Sun- Times, February 4, 1999, p. 34.
Parker, Robert Allerton, ‘‘Satire from Czecho-Slovakia,’’ in The Independent, November 25, 1922, pp. 320–22.
Review of The Insect Comedy, in New York Times, May 28, 1948, p. 26.
Further Reading
Bradbrook, Bohuslava, Karel Capek: In Pursuit of Truth, Tolerance, and Trust, Sussex Academic Press, 1998. This critical biography considers Karel Capek’s career in terms of each area he wrote in, including drama, novels, and short stories.
Harkins, William E., Karel Capek, Columbia University Press, 1962. This critical biography covers Karel Capek’s life, both as a writer and a person. It also includes information on Josef Capek and the brothers’ collaboration.
Makin, Michael, and Jindrich Toman, eds., On Karel Capek, Michigan Slavic Publications, 1992. This collection of essays considers the whole of Karel Capek’s work from different perspectives.
Thomson, S. Harrison, Czechoslovakia in European History, Archon Books, 1965. This history of Czechoslovakia includes information on how the country came to be formed and the problems it faced in the era in which the Capeks worked.
