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Az ember tragédiája
A literary work by the Hungarian author Imre Madách, first published in 1861. A play composed in verse, it is today a staple of Hungarian theater and has been translated and adapted into many languages and media. The play follows Adam and Eve as they appear in various guises in episodes throughout history and grow in self-awareness and wisdom.
234 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1860
127 people are currently reading
2729 people want to read
About the author
Imre Madách
20 books34 followersImre Madách de Sztregova et de Kelecsény was a Hungarian writer, poet, lawyer and politician. His major work is The Tragedy of Man (Az ember tragédiája, 1861). It is a dramatic poem approximately 4000 lines long, which elaborates on ideas comparable to Goethe's Faust. The author was encouraged and advised by János Arany, one of the most famous of 19th century Hungarian poets.
He was born in Alsósztregova, the Kingdom of Hungary (today Dolná Strehová, Slovakia) in 1823. The Madách family was able to trace their descent as far back as the 12th century; with a medieval knight, a Turk-beating hero and a Kuruc officer recorded down the line of the family tree. But a poet was also remembered; Gáspár Madách from the 17th century. And the ties of kindred could be traced to Miklós Zrínyi, the poet and soldier.
From 1829 Madách studied at the Piarist school of Vác. During a cholera epidemic he stayed in Buda in 1831. In 1837 he began his studies at the university of Pest. In 1842 he officially becomes a lawyer. In 1860 he finished working on the "The Tragedy of Man". He died in Alsósztregova, the Kingdom of Hungary in 1864.
He was born in Alsósztregova, the Kingdom of Hungary (today Dolná Strehová, Slovakia) in 1823. The Madách family was able to trace their descent as far back as the 12th century; with a medieval knight, a Turk-beating hero and a Kuruc officer recorded down the line of the family tree. But a poet was also remembered; Gáspár Madách from the 17th century. And the ties of kindred could be traced to Miklós Zrínyi, the poet and soldier.
From 1829 Madách studied at the Piarist school of Vác. During a cholera epidemic he stayed in Buda in 1831. In 1837 he began his studies at the university of Pest. In 1842 he officially becomes a lawyer. In 1860 he finished working on the "The Tragedy of Man". He died in Alsósztregova, the Kingdom of Hungary in 1864.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
June 5, 2025
To live, to live! how glorious, how sweet!
This is a work of art! A masterpiece! Think Milton’s Paradise Lost, extended version.
Written in a poetic verse, The Tragedy of Man is a journey across time and space; across all existence.
It comprises of 15 scenes, each scene in different setting and time, and is a meditation on the concept of life and death, faith and sin, freedom, suffering, hopelessness and perseverance.
In all the scenes, Lucifer accompanies Adam.
Scene 1 features God and Lucifer and Lucifer’s banishment from Heaven
Scene 2 it’s the Adam/Eve/Lucifer/forbidden fruit
Scene 3 Adam and Eve are banished from Eden and are living a normal life… Lucifer is present
Scene 4 Egypt: Adam is pharaoh, Lucifer his minister while slaves are building the pyramids
Scene 5 Athens: Eve is Lucia, wife of Adam as Miltiades
Scene 6 Adam as Sergiolus and Eve as Julia are watching gladiators fight
Scene 7 Constantinople: Eve as Isaura, Adam as Tancred returns from the crusade
Scene 8 Prague: Adam as Kepler, Eve as Barbara, Kepler’s wife. In the distance a burning stake, at which a heretic is being put to death.
Scene 9 Paris, a guillotine-podium: Adam as Danton
Scene 10 Back to scene 8. Adam again as Kepler.
Scene 11 London, Market place: Adam as an elderly man. There are whispers of machinery replacing workers in the factories.
Scene 12 A futuristic settlement. Science has won.
Scene 13 Space: Earth is constantly diminishing. Adam as an old man, with Lucifer, flying through the air.
Scene 14 A mountainous and treeless region, covered with snow and ice. There is an Esquimo hut. Adam, as an old man, with Lucifer, descending the mountains.
Scene 15 We are back to the 3rd scene, outside of Eden, with Adam, again as a young man.
ADAM: We’ve left the stars behind us, there in space,
I see no goal; no obstacles I trace.
Ah! Lucifer, I’m cold. What is all life
Without the bliss of loving and of strife?
This is a work of art! A masterpiece! Think Milton’s Paradise Lost, extended version.
Written in a poetic verse, The Tragedy of Man is a journey across time and space; across all existence.
It comprises of 15 scenes, each scene in different setting and time, and is a meditation on the concept of life and death, faith and sin, freedom, suffering, hopelessness and perseverance.
In all the scenes, Lucifer accompanies Adam.
Scene 1 features God and Lucifer and Lucifer’s banishment from Heaven
Scene 2 it’s the Adam/Eve/Lucifer/forbidden fruit
Scene 3 Adam and Eve are banished from Eden and are living a normal life… Lucifer is present
Scene 4 Egypt: Adam is pharaoh, Lucifer his minister while slaves are building the pyramids
Scene 5 Athens: Eve is Lucia, wife of Adam as Miltiades
Scene 6 Adam as Sergiolus and Eve as Julia are watching gladiators fight
Scene 7 Constantinople: Eve as Isaura, Adam as Tancred returns from the crusade
Scene 8 Prague: Adam as Kepler, Eve as Barbara, Kepler’s wife. In the distance a burning stake, at which a heretic is being put to death.
Scene 9 Paris, a guillotine-podium: Adam as Danton
Scene 10 Back to scene 8. Adam again as Kepler.
Scene 11 London, Market place: Adam as an elderly man. There are whispers of machinery replacing workers in the factories.
Scene 12 A futuristic settlement. Science has won.
Scene 13 Space: Earth is constantly diminishing. Adam as an old man, with Lucifer, flying through the air.
Scene 14 A mountainous and treeless region, covered with snow and ice. There is an Esquimo hut. Adam, as an old man, with Lucifer, descending the mountains.
Scene 15 We are back to the 3rd scene, outside of Eden, with Adam, again as a young man.
ADAM: We’ve left the stars behind us, there in space,
I see no goal; no obstacles I trace.
Ah! Lucifer, I’m cold. What is all life
Without the bliss of loving and of strife?
November 12, 2009
Although considered one of the hallmarks of Hungarian literature, Imre Madách's The Tragedy of Man is virtually unknown in the West (or the East for that matter). Imagine a work resembling Milton's Paradise Lost and Goethe's and Marlowe's recounting of the Faust legend. Adam and Eve have been cast out of Paradise. Instead of slinking away as he does in Genesis, Lucifer takes Adam through different periods of history, and even into a Fourierist future in which everyone lives in Phalansteries run by scientists -- and even beyond into the wastes of outer space.
Adam always has hope that somewhere there is a future that gives life meaning. Lucifer's role is to constantly dash Adam's hopes into the dust. In the end, Lucifer wafts Adam back to his hut where he lives with Eve outside of Eden; and God puts in a minatory appearance, warning Adam that some knowledge is not appropriate for him. But isn't that why Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit?
Madách's work is given me a lot to think about. It is on one hand a dark work, and on the other a splendid one that celebrates the quest of man for meaning in his life.
Adam always has hope that somewhere there is a future that gives life meaning. Lucifer's role is to constantly dash Adam's hopes into the dust. In the end, Lucifer wafts Adam back to his hut where he lives with Eve outside of Eden; and God puts in a minatory appearance, warning Adam that some knowledge is not appropriate for him. But isn't that why Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit?
Madách's work is given me a lot to think about. It is on one hand a dark work, and on the other a splendid one that celebrates the quest of man for meaning in his life.
August 2, 2014
LUCIFER
So after all these trials you still believe
That these new battles may not be so useless?
That you will reach your goal? Only humanity
Could remain so incorrigibly childish.
ADAM
I'm quite untempted by that foolish prospect,
I know that I will fail and fail again
And I don't care. What other goal is there?
It is the end of an honourable contest,
The goal is death, but life consists of struggle,
The struggle in itself must be the goal.
So after all these trials you still believe
That these new battles may not be so useless?
That you will reach your goal? Only humanity
Could remain so incorrigibly childish.
ADAM
I'm quite untempted by that foolish prospect,
I know that I will fail and fail again
And I don't care. What other goal is there?
It is the end of an honourable contest,
The goal is death, but life consists of struggle,
The struggle in itself must be the goal.
August 7, 2015
This book is about a man with manic-depressive disorder and severe schizophrenia. He wants to commit suicide, but his wife is pregnant and he decides not to. God is a douche. Lucifer is a total bro.
November 16, 2021
Please scroll down for the English version.
Ikszedik újraolvasás vége.
Mit lehet erről még írni? Fogalmam sincs, mióta szeretem. Az tuti, hogy hamarabb elolvastam, mint kötelező lett volna, úgyhogy csak az a biztos, hogy nem tizenhét éves korom óta. Addigra már legalább a negyedét kívülről tudtam, de nem mintha szándékosan tanultam volna. Két szót se. Csak megragadt és kész.
Ez olyan szöveg, amelyik csak úgy „ott van” az ember életében.
Ami nem jelenti azt, hogy ne lehetne vele vitatkozni. Sőt.
Végül is az egész egyetlen hatalmas vita, olyan kérdésekről, amelyek a mai napig nem vesztették aktualitásukat, és amelyekre a művön belül nincs válasz. Vagy éppen az a válasz, hogy nincs válasz, és ez maradjon is így. (Mármint nem az olvasó akarja, hanem a szereplők, hogy maradjon így.) Vita és keresés, folyamatos utazás az időn keresztül (ez a darab igenis sci-fi). Nemcsak a szavak, hanem a cselekedetek is arra valók, hogy a legnagyobb kérdésekre válaszoljanak, örökké nemet és igent, felváltva vagy éppen egyszerre. Természettudományos érdeklődésű ismerőseim odavannak érte. Társadalomtudományos érdeklődésűek szintén.
Pedig még csak nem is tér ki mindenre, amire az ember kíváncsi lenne. Nyitva hagy sok-sok kérdést, amelyekre mind válaszolni lehet. A két főszólam mellett a mellékszólamok is helyet kaphatnak. Hogy mást ne mondjak, itt van mindjárt Éva, akinek a hangját hallani halljuk ugyan, de a fejébe csak egyetlen egyszer látunk be, a londoni szín végén, akkor is nagyon rövid időre. Álmodik-e Ádámmal együtt? Ha igen, mit? Vajon végig ugyanazt-e, vagy csak akkor, ha éppen találkoznak az álomban? Ha nem álmodik, miért nem? Hogyan és miért történik vele mindaz, ami történik? Hogy lehet, hogy nem öregszik? Hogy lehet, hogy nem emlékszik az álomra? Vagy emlékszik, csak nem mondja?
Azt hiszem, nagyon jól jártunk, hogy éppen ez a szöveg vált a magyar irodalom legelterjedtebb alkotásává. Csak itt a Molyon öt különböző fordítása van, ezeken kívül gyors borítókereséssel találtam még négyet, a Wiki tizennyolcról tud, de pl. a portugálról nem, pedig a borítóját megtaláltam. Ha a külföldi magyar irodalmat keres, addig jó, míg ilyeneket fog ki elsőként.
---------
Nth re-reading completed.
Whatever else could I write about this? I've no idea how long I've loved it. I'm only sure I read (and began loving) it earlier than my 11th year at school (that's when it's required of Hungarian students to read the Tragedy). By the time I turned seventeen, I'd already knew at least a quarter of it by heart, without ever learning it on purpose. Not even two words. It simply got stuck in my head.
It's a text which is just "there" in one's life.
Which of course doesn't mean you can't argue with it. Oh yes you can.
After all, the whole play is one huge debate about issues which haven't disappeared from our world since one hundred and fifty years ago, and about questions which do not get a final answer within the text. Or if they do, the final answer is that there's no answer, and there shouldn't be one. (At least that's what the characters would like.) It's a debate and a quest through time (yes, I am convinced it's science fiction). Both words and actions are supposed to answer the greatest questions of life with an eternal yes AND no, in turns or even at the same time. It's a must for people interested in both natural and social sciences.
And there are so many questions simply left open. So many subplots and other voices apart from that of Adam and Lucifer. First of all there is Eve, whose voice is heard quite a lot, but we've not much chance to see what goes on inside her head, except once, and for a very short time. Does she dream the dream of human history, together with Adam? If she does, then what is her dream about? Does she always dream the same dream as Adam, or is it only when they meet in the dream? If not, then why doesn't she? How and why does she go through everything that happens to her? How is it possible that she doesn't age in the meantime? How is it that she doesn't remember the dream? Or doesn't she really?
Of all Hungarian classics, the Tragedy deserves to have probably become the easiest to reach for a foreigner. I know of at least nineteen different translations. When a foreign reader starts looking for a Hungarian classic, this one will come up among the first ones. And I'm really happy it is so.
Ikszedik újraolvasás vége.
Mit lehet erről még írni? Fogalmam sincs, mióta szeretem. Az tuti, hogy hamarabb elolvastam, mint kötelező lett volna, úgyhogy csak az a biztos, hogy nem tizenhét éves korom óta. Addigra már legalább a negyedét kívülről tudtam, de nem mintha szándékosan tanultam volna. Két szót se. Csak megragadt és kész.
Ez olyan szöveg, amelyik csak úgy „ott van” az ember életében.
Ami nem jelenti azt, hogy ne lehetne vele vitatkozni. Sőt.
Végül is az egész egyetlen hatalmas vita, olyan kérdésekről, amelyek a mai napig nem vesztették aktualitásukat, és amelyekre a művön belül nincs válasz. Vagy éppen az a válasz, hogy nincs válasz, és ez maradjon is így. (Mármint nem az olvasó akarja, hanem a szereplők, hogy maradjon így.) Vita és keresés, folyamatos utazás az időn keresztül (ez a darab igenis sci-fi). Nemcsak a szavak, hanem a cselekedetek is arra valók, hogy a legnagyobb kérdésekre válaszoljanak, örökké nemet és igent, felváltva vagy éppen egyszerre. Természettudományos érdeklődésű ismerőseim odavannak érte. Társadalomtudományos érdeklődésűek szintén.
Pedig még csak nem is tér ki mindenre, amire az ember kíváncsi lenne. Nyitva hagy sok-sok kérdést, amelyekre mind válaszolni lehet. A két főszólam mellett a mellékszólamok is helyet kaphatnak. Hogy mást ne mondjak, itt van mindjárt Éva, akinek a hangját hallani halljuk ugyan, de a fejébe csak egyetlen egyszer látunk be, a londoni szín végén, akkor is nagyon rövid időre. Álmodik-e Ádámmal együtt? Ha igen, mit? Vajon végig ugyanazt-e, vagy csak akkor, ha éppen találkoznak az álomban? Ha nem álmodik, miért nem? Hogyan és miért történik vele mindaz, ami történik? Hogy lehet, hogy nem öregszik? Hogy lehet, hogy nem emlékszik az álomra? Vagy emlékszik, csak nem mondja?
Azt hiszem, nagyon jól jártunk, hogy éppen ez a szöveg vált a magyar irodalom legelterjedtebb alkotásává. Csak itt a Molyon öt különböző fordítása van, ezeken kívül gyors borítókereséssel találtam még négyet, a Wiki tizennyolcról tud, de pl. a portugálról nem, pedig a borítóját megtaláltam. Ha a külföldi magyar irodalmat keres, addig jó, míg ilyeneket fog ki elsőként.
---------
Nth re-reading completed.
Whatever else could I write about this? I've no idea how long I've loved it. I'm only sure I read (and began loving) it earlier than my 11th year at school (that's when it's required of Hungarian students to read the Tragedy). By the time I turned seventeen, I'd already knew at least a quarter of it by heart, without ever learning it on purpose. Not even two words. It simply got stuck in my head.
It's a text which is just "there" in one's life.
Which of course doesn't mean you can't argue with it. Oh yes you can.
After all, the whole play is one huge debate about issues which haven't disappeared from our world since one hundred and fifty years ago, and about questions which do not get a final answer within the text. Or if they do, the final answer is that there's no answer, and there shouldn't be one. (At least that's what the characters would like.) It's a debate and a quest through time (yes, I am convinced it's science fiction). Both words and actions are supposed to answer the greatest questions of life with an eternal yes AND no, in turns or even at the same time. It's a must for people interested in both natural and social sciences.
And there are so many questions simply left open. So many subplots and other voices apart from that of Adam and Lucifer. First of all there is Eve, whose voice is heard quite a lot, but we've not much chance to see what goes on inside her head, except once, and for a very short time. Does she dream the dream of human history, together with Adam? If she does, then what is her dream about? Does she always dream the same dream as Adam, or is it only when they meet in the dream? If not, then why doesn't she? How and why does she go through everything that happens to her? How is it possible that she doesn't age in the meantime? How is it that she doesn't remember the dream? Or doesn't she really?
Of all Hungarian classics, the Tragedy deserves to have probably become the easiest to reach for a foreigner. I know of at least nineteen different translations. When a foreign reader starts looking for a Hungarian classic, this one will come up among the first ones. And I'm really happy it is so.
May 11, 2015
Perhaps the greatest poem ever written. Steep in theology, history and philosophy, this beautiful poem is my first book by an Hungarian author. Thanks to my colleague Attila for introducing this piece of priceless literature. The breath and scope of the tale stretches from Alpha to Omega, planet earth to outer space. With God, Lucifer, Adam and Eve as the central characters in the book, To get a taste of the future, Lucifer, Adam and Eve would travel through time to different epochs of history, cities, political situations and ideals pursued by mankind. They play key historical roles (mostly by Adam) and witnessed first hand the future which was more bleak & gruesome than pleasant. Yet the future cannot change because of God's will on the fate of mankind. God is after all at the top of the food chain. The man may eat the Seal, but God will have absolute authority over each and every man's journey and individual's ultimate end.
Reminiscent of the book Job, Adam, Lucifer and Eve returned from their time travel to the garden of Eden, embittered by what they saw. Yet It was most encouraging for Adam that God will support the man in his struggles because He cares for His creation. It is after all not the end but the journey itself that is the goal as Adam had rationalised to himself before his return to Eden. To strive righteously despite the sufferings one meets along the way. That is the goal.
Reminiscent of the book Job, Adam, Lucifer and Eve returned from their time travel to the garden of Eden, embittered by what they saw. Yet It was most encouraging for Adam that God will support the man in his struggles because He cares for His creation. It is after all not the end but the journey itself that is the goal as Adam had rationalised to himself before his return to Eden. To strive righteously despite the sufferings one meets along the way. That is the goal.
November 1, 2022
na bazmeg ilyen szexista cuccot miért kell tanítani, olyanok vannak benne hogy így ülök és ??? azért 2 csillag mert lucifer néha vicces volt
January 27, 2023
Voltak benne mély gondolatok, de legtöbbször azt se tudtam, hogy milyen rendezvényen vagyok.
November 11, 2020
Cennetten kovulan insanoğlunun Şeytana rağmen çileli yolculuğu/ağıtı.
February 13, 2024
Synopsis: Adam, excommunicated with Eve from Paradise for eating from the Tree of Knowledge, demands from Lucifer the supreme knowledge he is entitled to. Lucifer entertains this by putting Adam into a deep sleep so that he may dream vividly of the future of mankind. Adam and Lucifer progress linearly through major events of human history, especially those that were pivotal to the religious culture of Europe. A few of the scenes uniquely take place in the distant future, in an Orwellian Phalanstery and in outer space! They traverse spatiotemporally as different people, whether as historical figures or as laymen. Every time, Adam sees Eve in the form of another woman and falls for her. In every scene, he begins optimistically and finds himself disturbed and disappointed in the course of humanity, whether for its dogmatism, schism, or greed. He is so tortured by the knowledge of Man's fate that he considers suicide to prevent the tragedies of humanity from unfolding, but he does not go through with it when Eve announces she is pregnant. Adam realizes that suffering is a necessary catalyst for progress, which pleases God and foils Lucifer.
Review: I enjoyed The Tragedy of Man very dearly for its philosophical themes and its depth. Madách posed and answered one of the many questions that has tortured Christians for millennia—"why must we suffer?" He answers with this work that suffering is progress. Every blunder is a mistake learned. Lucifer's character is very Hegelian, being the "spirit of negation", which is very similar to Mephistopheles of Faust, who called himself by that same title. Every scene is a dialectic that leads to a new conflict, never truly resolving until the end. The ultimate synthesis (or what someone had called "heterothesis") is that all this failure and anguish was necessary to improve humanity, even if the end of humanity was undignified and quiet. It all has a purpose. Just like I was drawn to Martin of Candide, I was drawn to Lucifer's logical and pessimistic evaluation of the human condition. However, I must not become myopic to the sum of humanity's achievements—its inventions, its art, and its culture. All of these achievements were borne of blood and tears.
I was moved by this story, and it truly has earned this five-star rating. However, I sadly do not count it among my most favorites because I much prefer prose to verse. This story is a great testament to Madách's intelligence, imagination, and education. He was incredibly well-read to have written such a variety of scenes. I was intrigued by this book because I was interested in his take on the Phalanstery, a prototype of socialism, and how he envisioned it would be actualized in the future. Madách was ahead of his time!
I look forward to reading more stories from my Hungarian culture. The real tragedy of man is that Madách's other works aren't translated into English!
Review: I enjoyed The Tragedy of Man very dearly for its philosophical themes and its depth. Madách posed and answered one of the many questions that has tortured Christians for millennia—"why must we suffer?" He answers with this work that suffering is progress. Every blunder is a mistake learned. Lucifer's character is very Hegelian, being the "spirit of negation", which is very similar to Mephistopheles of Faust, who called himself by that same title. Every scene is a dialectic that leads to a new conflict, never truly resolving until the end. The ultimate synthesis (or what someone had called "heterothesis") is that all this failure and anguish was necessary to improve humanity, even if the end of humanity was undignified and quiet. It all has a purpose. Just like I was drawn to Martin of Candide, I was drawn to Lucifer's logical and pessimistic evaluation of the human condition. However, I must not become myopic to the sum of humanity's achievements—its inventions, its art, and its culture. All of these achievements were borne of blood and tears.
I was moved by this story, and it truly has earned this five-star rating. However, I sadly do not count it among my most favorites because I much prefer prose to verse. This story is a great testament to Madách's intelligence, imagination, and education. He was incredibly well-read to have written such a variety of scenes. I was intrigued by this book because I was interested in his take on the Phalanstery, a prototype of socialism, and how he envisioned it would be actualized in the future. Madách was ahead of his time!
I look forward to reading more stories from my Hungarian culture. The real tragedy of man is that Madách's other works aren't translated into English!
March 21, 2021
Ez a könyv nekem nagy küzdés volt de a végére értem. Ezek a drámák teljesen kezdenek kikészíteni. Amennyire Gogol miatt megszerettem most annyira nem szerettem. Nagyon nehezen haladtam vele, sokszor azt sem értettem, hogy mit olvasok. A cselekménye amúgy jó volt. Valószínűleg nem a mostani időszakomban kellett volna olvasni. Úgy érzem mostanában már így is kiábrándultam a világból és ezért nem nagyon szeretnék ilyen könyveket olvasni, amik csak még jobban rámutatnak erre. Talán ha idősebb leszek majd más lesz erről a könyvről a véleményem de most igazából csak annyi: jó volt, de nem annyira tetszett. Tudom, hogy nagyon sokan odáig vannak érte, majd lehet, hogy én ha más szituációban újraolvasom nekem is tetszeni fog. Most nem annyira.
January 19, 2020
"This false fancy does not tempt by all means,
I know, the aim I shall hundred times not reach.
That is nothing. Really, what's the aim?
Aim is always the break of heroic fight,
Death is the aim and life is the struggle,
And man's aim has been this struggle itself."
I know, the aim I shall hundred times not reach.
That is nothing. Really, what's the aim?
Aim is always the break of heroic fight,
Death is the aim and life is the struggle,
And man's aim has been this struggle itself."
December 22, 2023
Good omens vibe. De az jobb.
Tetszett a téma, elgondolkodtató, ami nem tetszett az a csicska dolgozat amit kellett ebből írjak, de nembaj.
Ha vlki olvassa, akkor nézze hozzá az illusztrációkat, mert bombák(az 14. színben lévő a kedvencem).
Tetszett a téma, elgondolkodtató, ami nem tetszett az a csicska dolgozat amit kellett ebből írjak, de nembaj.
Ha vlki olvassa, akkor nézze hozzá az illusztrációkat, mert bombák(az 14. színben lévő a kedvencem).
June 28, 2023
if you're ever wondering what ultra sexist bible fanfiction of a cishet white man's middle life crisis is like, read this one
November 20, 2022
bármennyire is nehéz volt néha olvasni, örülök, hogy sikerült végeznem vele. tulajdonképpen nagyon érdekes és ma is jelenlévő filozófiai témákat boncolgat. lucifer>>>>>
December 13, 2022
I thought it wont be that bad but I fell asleep like 10times while reading.
8th szín was the most bearable.
8th szín was the most bearable.
Read
January 30, 2023pure suffering.
January 11, 2022
Doubled by the initial paradisiacal harmony, the ideal and the real collide over a whole series of human and historical situations in which Lucifer (the most captivating character in the drama) tries to convince Adam of the futility of his life all according to this scheme: thesis-antithesis, the synthesis being the next thesis.
The Tragedy of Man is when he begins to realize his end right from the beginning. The Tragedy of Man is that through his whole life he is incapable to forget his end, the nightmarish end of everything; it is the despair full of hope without which man is not and could not remain man. Man must assume the tragedy to the end, and this in the conditions in which the worm of all worms gnaws unceasingly in him the collapse.
The Tragedy of Man is when he begins to realize his end right from the beginning. The Tragedy of Man is that through his whole life he is incapable to forget his end, the nightmarish end of everything; it is the despair full of hope without which man is not and could not remain man. Man must assume the tragedy to the end, and this in the conditions in which the worm of all worms gnaws unceasingly in him the collapse.
August 3, 2024
"We each claimed wisdom as our own
But truth astounds all once it's known."
What an incredible and interperspective piece of literature; I could write essays on the poetic significance of this work alone. With so much to say this over 150-year-old Hungarian writting seemling - and successfully - tackles the past, present, and future of sin in imagining the after of the story of Adam and Eve. Most interesting that I found included in this English version of the text was the context of the author's life. Knowing what I know of Hungarian history and the life of Imre Madach, I can really feel the depression and grey matter of which Madach sees humanity and its repetitive gluttony of sin. I also watched the 1988-2011 animated film ( which is an entire feat of visual and psychological staggering thought of its own, and if you have an extra few hours at any time I highly recommend watching and learning about its creation (for free on YouTube)) and in conjunction with this text, they drag the point of humanity's suffering -and life in suffering - to the forefront of the audience's mind.
But truth astounds all once it's known."
What an incredible and interperspective piece of literature; I could write essays on the poetic significance of this work alone. With so much to say this over 150-year-old Hungarian writting seemling - and successfully - tackles the past, present, and future of sin in imagining the after of the story of Adam and Eve. Most interesting that I found included in this English version of the text was the context of the author's life. Knowing what I know of Hungarian history and the life of Imre Madach, I can really feel the depression and grey matter of which Madach sees humanity and its repetitive gluttony of sin. I also watched the 1988-2011 animated film ( which is an entire feat of visual and psychological staggering thought of its own, and if you have an extra few hours at any time I highly recommend watching and learning about its creation (for free on YouTube)) and in conjunction with this text, they drag the point of humanity's suffering -and life in suffering - to the forefront of the audience's mind.
April 17, 2023
A drámát 1862-ben írták, Madách meglepően jól előrelátta az emberiség társadalmi fejlődését és a mai korra is nézve érvényes dolgokat írt. Egy érdekfeszítő társadalmi, politikai, filozófiai és vallási polémia az ember feladatáról.
February 23, 2024
Kriminális
June 30, 2018
Love, love, love this one ^.^ It's every thing that Milton's Paradise Lost is not & provides a unique twist on the Faust legend. Hmm... could this be my favourite Faust adaptation?? The philosophy, theology, journey through time & reincarnation elements could make me favour this over the others.
The poetic lines are steeped in meaning that resonates more with each glance. Basically, this little drama is by a Hungarian author. Madach took Adam & Eve on a journey through all of human history with Satan following along every step of the way. That alone gives the reader much to ponder on. Each era raises slightly different ethical/philosophical questions about the human condition & society. At it's heart though, it's a love story between Adam & Eve. What more could you ask for in such a tiny book? And the ending, just when you thought it couldn't get any better. * bliss * It's a great book for religious, Biblical folks & for the secular, philosophical musing folks.
I must buy a copy of this for my own library & look more into these various debates it brings up. There is a free edition on the archives site. I read it by a different translator though: J.C.W. Horne. Horne's language is simply exquisite with that old Biblical language that compliments the story so well. Adam & Eve are the main characters after all!
It's widely celebrated as the best Hungarian book. Please volunteer more loved Hungarian books in the comments, I love to be challenged in this way. Or if you know of a better Faustian adaptation.
The poetic lines are steeped in meaning that resonates more with each glance. Basically, this little drama is by a Hungarian author. Madach took Adam & Eve on a journey through all of human history with Satan following along every step of the way. That alone gives the reader much to ponder on. Each era raises slightly different ethical/philosophical questions about the human condition & society. At it's heart though, it's a love story between Adam & Eve. What more could you ask for in such a tiny book? And the ending, just when you thought it couldn't get any better. * bliss * It's a great book for religious, Biblical folks & for the secular, philosophical musing folks.
I must buy a copy of this for my own library & look more into these various debates it brings up. There is a free edition on the archives site. I read it by a different translator though: J.C.W. Horne. Horne's language is simply exquisite with that old Biblical language that compliments the story so well. Adam & Eve are the main characters after all!
It's widely celebrated as the best Hungarian book. Please volunteer more loved Hungarian books in the comments, I love to be challenged in this way. Or if you know of a better Faustian adaptation.
January 22, 2023
HOW INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING. A 260-page "dramatic poem" that is undeniably brilliant (philosophically, at least) for about 258 pages. The effect it had on me, an effect that is so powerful and so rare, an effect only writers such as Bernhard and Beckett and Schopenhauer can produce, is irremediably shattered and ruined by the final scene, which rings so repulsively false and inappropriate. Like Adam at the end of each scene, I am profoundly disappointed, but for the opposite reason. Literature rarely speaks to me on such a level and despite the bleak pessimism of (most of) this play/poem, reading it could bring me near ecstasy. I understand this was written around 1860, and in Hungary, and it most likely wouldn't have found an audience without its despicable optimistic ending, but that only makes the bulk of the thing more incredible and the final cop-out more devastating.
December 11, 2023
4.5
the book completed me and not me the book. I didn't think I would like it so much, but as we go through the ages and see the flaw inherent in human nature, it is very well solved. raises the question of free will and the meaning of human existence and essentially gives two answers. the good and the bad. we get an answer from God and Lucifer about the meaning of human existence. it carries existentialist features, according to which the essence of life is process and struggle and we are our own masters, but religion also appears in it, but it is more deistic. overall, I cried at many parts, I don't know why, it digs into somewhat terrifying depths, none of the eras was too long, but in some places, the problems of the given era could have been worked out better, although I think this is completely negligible. and lucifer was um kinda hot....
the book completed me and not me the book. I didn't think I would like it so much, but as we go through the ages and see the flaw inherent in human nature, it is very well solved. raises the question of free will and the meaning of human existence and essentially gives two answers. the good and the bad. we get an answer from God and Lucifer about the meaning of human existence. it carries existentialist features, according to which the essence of life is process and struggle and we are our own masters, but religion also appears in it, but it is more deistic. overall, I cried at many parts, I don't know why, it digs into somewhat terrifying depths, none of the eras was too long, but in some places, the problems of the given era could have been worked out better, although I think this is completely negligible. and lucifer was um kinda hot....
March 18, 2017
I am not sure what language I should write this review, but since most people understand english, english it is.
I've read this book in high school for Hungarian literature class. In short it fallows Adam's path through big events of history to present and future, accompanied by Lucifer. Lucifer tries to prove Adam that life has no purpose, everyone will eventually die and no-one can make a difference. Lucifer shows Adam how great ideas are born, implemented in practice and become the opposite of themselves because of human nature. I could write pages about this book, and not just because we analysed it inside-out in school, but also because I loved it.
Definitely worth a read if you are into classics.
I've read this book in high school for Hungarian literature class. In short it fallows Adam's path through big events of history to present and future, accompanied by Lucifer. Lucifer tries to prove Adam that life has no purpose, everyone will eventually die and no-one can make a difference. Lucifer shows Adam how great ideas are born, implemented in practice and become the opposite of themselves because of human nature. I could write pages about this book, and not just because we analysed it inside-out in school, but also because I loved it.
Definitely worth a read if you are into classics.
September 24, 2022
First reread.
“I live again-I sense because I suffer,
But even suffering is sweet to me,
Annihilation is so horrifying.—
O Lucifer, please lead me back to earth,
There where I’ve fought so many useless battles,
I’ll fight again and that will make me happy. “
“I live again-I sense because I suffer,
But even suffering is sweet to me,
Annihilation is so horrifying.—
O Lucifer, please lead me back to earth,
There where I’ve fought so many useless battles,
I’ll fight again and that will make me happy. “
July 3, 2020
“A lelkesűlés, mint ár, elragad,
Ma egy tárgyért, holnap másért megint.”
Ma egy tárgyért, holnap másért megint.”
January 5, 2020
A diák tragédiája
March 28, 2023
"Élek megint.-Érzem, mert szenvedek,.."
February 16, 2024
Full review on happygrc.substack.com.
This book is required reading in Hungarian classrooms the way To Kill a Mockingbird or The Crucible are in American schools. But being Hungarian, it’s virtually unknown outside its own country. And that’s a shame because it’s not a stretch to compare it to Milton’s Paradise Lost, Goethe’s Faust or even Shakespeare. (I was introduced to it as a missionary in Budapest in 1993, as did most every other missionary I worked with.)
Written as a dramatic poem that can be adapted for the stage, The Tragedy of Man is told in 15 scenes, most of which are Adam’s visions of the future after being expelled from Eden. Guided by the devil, Adam and Eve see themselves first as a Pharaoh and slave in Egypt, then the Greek military Miltiades and his wife, before visions including Rome, the French Revolution, Englishmen in the 19th century, and an ice age in about 6000 AD. Adam approaches each age as the pinnacle of human existence, having solved the problems of the previous generations, only to realize their shortcomings. Awaking from his visions, Adam is about to commit suicide, thwarting God’s grand plan. When Eve tells him she is pregnant, Adam stops, ultimately realizing that “struggle in itself must be the goal” of existence.
This book is required reading in Hungarian classrooms the way To Kill a Mockingbird or The Crucible are in American schools. But being Hungarian, it’s virtually unknown outside its own country. And that’s a shame because it’s not a stretch to compare it to Milton’s Paradise Lost, Goethe’s Faust or even Shakespeare. (I was introduced to it as a missionary in Budapest in 1993, as did most every other missionary I worked with.)
Written as a dramatic poem that can be adapted for the stage, The Tragedy of Man is told in 15 scenes, most of which are Adam’s visions of the future after being expelled from Eden. Guided by the devil, Adam and Eve see themselves first as a Pharaoh and slave in Egypt, then the Greek military Miltiades and his wife, before visions including Rome, the French Revolution, Englishmen in the 19th century, and an ice age in about 6000 AD. Adam approaches each age as the pinnacle of human existence, having solved the problems of the previous generations, only to realize their shortcomings. Awaking from his visions, Adam is about to commit suicide, thwarting God’s grand plan. When Eve tells him she is pregnant, Adam stops, ultimately realizing that “struggle in itself must be the goal” of existence.
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