Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann. Everyday views of Kota Murra. Everyday views of the Murrah cat
Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann
"Everyday views of Kota Murr"
In preparation for printing the notes of Murr, a descendant of the famous Hintz von Hinzenfeld (more known to the world like Puss in Boots), the publishers drew attention to the presence of clearly extraneous fragments in the manuscript - excerpts from a previously published story about the bandmaster Johannes Kreisler and his friend Maestro Abraham. These pages ended up in Murr's manuscript for the simple reason that the Cat used them - gutting a book from his master Abraham's library - as blotting paper. By a strange coincidence, many episodes of Kreisler’s life story complement the events described by Murr the Cat - but this is a complete coincidence, since Murr adhered to a strict chronology, and he tore out pages from the book at random. Nevertheless, the publisher left everything as it was - on the grounds that it was Kreisler who was entrusted by Maestro Abraham with the care of the Cat Murra, moving away from the court of Prince Irenaeus.
The prince once had, albeit a miniature, but his own principality, which he lost after Bonaparte dissolved the Prussian administration in Poland (some, however, believed that the principality simply fell out of his pocket during a walk). The most influential persons at court were the adviser widow Bentzon (in her younger years the prince’s favorite) and maestro Abraham, reputed to be a magician and alchemist. An organ builder and piano tuner, he gained fame as an illusionist and organizer of fireworks and park allegories, was favored by the old prince, after his death he traveled around Europe, but then was again called to serve at the court of Irenaeus, who settled in Sieghartsweiler.
Another influential - but in a completely different way - person at court, arousing the most contradictory feelings in the retinue, is the bandmaster Johannes Kreisler, who gives music lessons to the prince's daughter Princess Hedwig and her friend Julia, the daughter of the widow Bentzon. Orphaned early, Kreisler was raised and trained musical notation maestro Abraham, who became his best friend for life.
I owe my life and spiritual aspirations to Abraham and Cat Murr. He believes that he was born in the maestro’s house, and in no other way than in the attic (where else could the sublimity of his mind and spirit come from); Meanwhile, as a blind kitten, along with his brothers and sisters, he was drowned in the river and, miraculously not choking, was pulled out of the water by the scruff of the neck by Abraham passing across the bridge. Upbringing in the traditions of Rousseau, along with a craving for the maestro’s desk and books on the table, led to the fact that Murr very soon learned to read (comparing what the owner read out loud with the words in the book), and then to write. First literary experiments Kota had the didactic novel “Thought and Sense, or the Cat and the Dog” (created not without the influence of the poodle Ponto), the political treatise “On the Question of Mousetraps” and the tragedy “Cavdallor - the King of the Rat”. Alas, the notebook with Murr's poems, given to Ponto to read, fell into the hands of the poodle's owner, professor of aesthetics Logario, and he (obviously out of envy) told on the phenomenally gifted Cat, Maestro Abraham. Maestro is concerned that pussy is more concerned elegant literature, rather than mice, and blocks Murr’s access to reading, “What can cause a genius more pain than to see himself unrecognized and even ridiculed!” - Murr complains, but is consoled by the fact that as a result his own mind began to create even more freely.
Kapellmeister Kreisler experiences similar experiences. He is burdened by his role at court, social etiquette and hypocrisy. "In the veins of this young man only music flows,” he paraphrases the description of a certain ancient instrument in the musical lexicon. Kreisler's consolation is the company of the sweet Fraulein Julia, whose soul, like his, is open to divine sounds. Princess Hedwiga, who at first had, as it seemed to him, hostility toward the conductor, also joined their solitary music studies. The princess confesses to Kreisler the reason for her confusion at his appearance at court: her heart is tormented by the memory of the court painter, who went crazy with love for her late mother; many wondrous portraits of the princess still decorate the walls of the castle, instilling in Hedwig the idea that man was born for a better life than the one she leads. “Artist’s love! - Gedwiga exclaims. “Oh, this is a wonderful, heavenly dream - but only a dream, only a vain dream!..”
The story told by Princess Hedwig deeply moved Kreisler. Unearthly music and unearthly love - that's all that has true value, not subject to doubts and ridicule with which he looks at everything around him. Conversing confidentially with Maestro Abraham, he finds in him a complete ally. There were two minutes of happiness in the maestro's life: when he listened to the sounds old organ in an abbey remote from the bustle of the world and when with him was his Chiera, his young assistant in focus with the Invisible Girl, and then his wife. Thanks to her prophetic gift and magnetic influence on people, even long distance, magician and mechanic Abraham and was brought closer to the court of the old prince. The bliss did not last long: soon after the death of the prince, Kiera disappeared without a trace. This heart wound has not healed to this day.
...The hour of love has struck for Murr the Cat: the Ides of March have arrived - and on one of his night walks on the roof he meets a charming cat named Mismis. The first love date is interrupted and marred by her two disgusting cousins: they brutally beat Murr and throw him into the gutter. The image of Mismis haunts him, he composes hymns and madrigals in her honor. The fruits of his inspiration have been paid in full! Murr and Mismis meet again under the moon, no one prevents them from singing a duet (she is extremely musical). The cat decides to use a radical remedy for subsequent amorous torments: he offers his To the beautiful lady paw and heart. Oh Gods! She agrees!.. However, in the life of every poet, the hours of bliss are fleeting: Mismis cheats on Murra with a motley cat-womanizer. The spouses’ explanation proceeds surprisingly calmly; both confess to each other their coldness of heart - and each decide to move on in their own ways. Murr returns to science and fine arts with even greater zeal than before meeting Mismis...
Meanwhile, Prince Hector, a descendant of a noble and wealthy family, to whom Prince Irenaeus planned to marry his daughter, comes to Sieghartsweiler from Italy. At the ball, Hedwig behaves more than strangely, shocking the entire court: she dances with the dashing prince three times in a row italian dance, completely out of character with her nature. The prince is not at all nice to her - but he has some kind of demonic effect on her. The prince also makes a strong impression on Julia: in a conversation with her mother, she likens his gaze to the fiery gaze of a basilisk. Advisor Bentzon laughs: to two girls at once the dear prince seems like a monster - what nonsense! No, this is the voice of the heart, Yulia’s mother assures. After the ball, she dreamed of a prince, under the guise of Kapellmeister Kreisler, who embraced her with the words: “You have already been killed - and from now on you must be mine!” She is saved from these encroachments in a dream by the real, and not the imaginary, Kreisler - the beneficent spirit of the castle, designed to protect both her and Princess Hedwig from evil spells. Advisor Bentzon interprets this dream in her own way: Johannes Kreisler is a man who is causing discord in life at the prince’s court. Maestro Abraham is not enough for her - now this musician too! She is obliged to intervene in the development of events!..
Needless to say, Kreisler also harbors a dislike for Prince Hector. Abraham agrees: this is a real serpent-tempter. He is ready to enter into a marriage with Hedwig only out of convenience; in reality, he has plans for Julia. Of course, Kreisler must stand up for her honor, but ordinary weapons are inappropriate here. Maestro Abraham hands his friend a miniature portrait of a certain person, the look of which will plunge Hector into horror and put him to flight. The prediction comes true exactly. But the bandmaster suddenly disappears from the castle. In the park they find his hat with traces of blood. It is clear that someone - most likely Hector's adjutant - was trying to kill him. But did he kill? There is no answer: the adjutant also disappeared that night...
Murr’s new friend, the black cat Mucius, reproaches him: “You rushed from one extreme to the other, you are about to turn into a disgusting philistine, whose actions depend on the surrounding circumstances, and not on the voice of honor. Your solitude will not console you, but will harm you even more!” Mucius recommends Murr to his friends - the feline Burshas, who accept him as a brother, singing “Gaudeamus igitur” and other hymns. Their circle disintegrates after several rehearsals on the roof: the inhabitants of the house poison the Bursha with vile dogs, as a result of which the glorious Mucius gives his soul to God. At the funeral feast, Murr meets the adorable little cat Mina. He is ready to rush to storm her heart - and suddenly he sees Mismis, whom he had forgotten to even think about, at a distance. Mismis stops Murr: “Mina is your daughter!” The cat returns to his stove, marveling at the quirks and vicissitudes of fate...
Kreisler - as he informs about in a letter to Maestro Abraham - found shelter in the monastery. While in Sieghartsweiler turbulent events take place in his absence (illness and miraculous healing Hedwig, the secret return of Prince Hector, the discovery of the corpse of his adjutant, finally, the entry of a hussar regiment from the capital - there was a rumor that there was a conspiracy and almost a revolution in the castle of Prince Irenaeus), the culprit of all this is experiencing for the first time peace of mind and devotes himself to music. In a dream, he sees Julia, an angelic maiden, singing “Agnus Dei” of unheard-of beauty; waking up, Kreisler records this music, not fully believing that he is its author. He is preparing to take monastic vows - but then a new abbot, Father Cyprian, appointed by the Pope himself, comes to the abbey from Italy. A gloomy ascetic, he decisively changes the way of life in the monastery. Kreisler sees clearly: in the new circumstances, the music in his soul will die out. At night, a funeral service is held in the abbey - in the deceased, Kreisler recognizes the adjutant of Prince Hector, whom he killed while defending himself from his attack in Sieghartsweiler Park... The Kapellmeister realizes that he was involved in some kind of terrible secret, to which Father Cyprian is directly related, which he bluntly announces to the new abbot. The stern monk is instantly transformed and, filled with a spirit of meekness and love, tells Kreisler the story of his life, which sheds light on many things concerning the inhabitants of the castle, where our musician had recently sought inspiration.
In his youth, Father Cyprian, the heir of a powerful sovereign, and his younger brother were military service in Naples. The future abbot led the most dissolute lifestyle, not missing a single beauty.
One day on the street some old gypsy woman invited him to meet a lady who was not only the most beautiful, but also equal in origin to the prince. Antonio (that was his name then) considered the old woman to be an ordinary bawd. Imagine the prince’s amazement when, a few days later, he met the old woman in the company of the most wonderful lady he had ever seen. The young lady's name was Angela Benzoni, she was born from an extramarital affair between two very noble persons and - the fruit of criminal love - was determined to live away from home, until further notice, under the supervision of her caring gypsy nanny, who was mistaken by the prince for a bawd. Angela reciprocated Antonio's feelings, and they were secretly married in the Chapel of San Filippo. Having revealed this secret and seeing his elder brother’s wife, Prince Hector was inflamed with passion for her. Soon Antonio caught him in Angela's chambers. There was a stormy explanation; Antonio poured poison into Angela's glass, but he himself fell dead from Hector's dagger. Miraculously healed, Antonio made a vow to atone for his sin in the monastery. At that time, Maestro Abraham found himself in Italy, under the guise of the magician Severin, looking for sweet Chiara. The old gypsy woman handed him a miniature double portrait, where, between the images of Antonio and Angela, a written certificate of the double murder was kept. All of the above, as we see, also explains the trepidation of Prince Hector at that moment when Kreisler showed him this irresistible weapon received from the hands of Maestro Abraham; and the influence enjoyed at the prince’s court by the adviser Bentzon, the mother of his illegitimate daughter; and her guesses that the old magician knows something important about her... and much, much more.
It is now, when it would seem that all the most important things in the story are about to happen, it suddenly ends. Unexpectedly, like Princess Hedwig’s decision to marry Hector, who was disliked by her. Unexpectedly - like the return of Kapellmeister Kreisler to the castle, his refusal to serve God and music for the sake of Julia’s love. Unexpectedly, like Maestro Abraham’s departure abroad, it seems like a new search for the “Invisible Girl”...
Unexpectedly, like the death of Murr the Cat, who was just entering the threshold of fame and even more amazing achievements.
Before they began printing the notes of Murr, who is known as Puss in Boots, the publishers noticed that the manuscript was dominated by completely alien thoughts expressed earlier. And they ended up here for the reason that one day the Cat gutted the owner’s entire book. At that moment he needed blotting paper. So, the passages presented by Cat Murr are a complete coincidence of circumstances. Despite this, the publisher decides not to change anything, citing the fact that Maestro Abraham entrusted the care of Cat Murr to Kreisler.
At one time, the prince owned a miniature, but personal principality, which he managed to lose during a walk. The most respected persons were considered to be the adviser Widow Bentzon, Maestro Abraham, as well as the bandmaster Johannes Kreisler, who taught music to Hedwig and her friend Julia. Murr the cat should be grateful for his life to Abraham. After all, he saved him from drowning in the river by pulling his tail onto land. Having recovered, the cat strives for books; the maestro is alarmed by the fact that he has more developed literature than a passion for mice. He blocks his access to reading, but Murr understands that thanks to this ban, his mind develops even more rapidly.
In this situation, Kreisler is especially worried, whom Julia is trying to calm down. However, Princess Hedwiga also has feelings for him. The time of love comes for Cat Murr, he meets Mismis, to whom he offers his paw and heart. But very soon she cheats on him with another cat. They decide to separate peacefully and calmly. After which Murr begins to study science.
At this time, Prince Hector arrives from Italy, whom Julia likes, but not Hedwig. At the ball she dances rather strangely, leaving all the guests in some bewilderment. However, Kreisler also does not have good attitude to Hector. In his opinion, he is marrying Hedwig for convenience, but his plans are completely different. He likes Julia.
Murr's friend, the black cat Mucius, constantly insists that he is uncertain and will never find a way out. You shouldn't rush from one extreme to another every time. Soon Murr meets pussy Mina, whom he wanted to get to know better, but sees Mismis, who reveals the truth to him: Mina is his daughter.
Kreisler gets ready to take the vow by writing beautiful music. Being young, the future abbot led a riotous lifestyle, and then one day he meets an old woman who offers to meet the lady. Of course, he agrees, deciding that the grandmother is an ordinary pimp. But soon he sees her in the form of a young lady - Angela Benzoni. Later, the secret becomes known to everyone and soon Prince Hector develops special feelings for his brother’s wife. He tries to poison her, but is killed by Hector's dagger. Having miraculously been healed, he vows to atone for his sins in the monastery.
The story ends unexpectedly: the reader does not know whether Hedwig will marry the unloved Hector. Also unexpected is Kreisler's return to the castle and his abandonment of music and God for the sake of love for Julia. But a particular surprise is the death of Murr the Cat, who had just become successful.
Johannes Kreisler - main character Romana, a brilliant musician. Hoffman gave this image his own features and his own view of art and the world. Kreisler is one of those artists who has to “mint gold from his inspiration in order to stretch the thread of his existence.” He flees from one principality to another, but German reality is such that it only intensifies the dissatisfaction of the artist-creator and his constant conflict with the world.
Kreisler experienced deep disappointment while being a bandmaster in the capital of one of the duchies, where he saw “vulgar flirting with holy art... the stupidity of soulless charlatans, feeble-minded amateurs” and felt the “despicable worthlessness” of his existence. Invited to the principality of Sieghartsweiler, he ends up at the court of the stupid and arrogant Irenaeus, where he witnesses an even greater decline in morals, omnipotence, selfishness and selfishness. In the class and bureaucratic environment, Kreisler behaves completely independently, not recognizing the absurd conventions and prejudices on which the relationships of those around him are based, and confusing everyone with his ironic manner. Kreisler even withstands the prince's gaze, sparkling like the gaze of Frederick the Great, for which the prince hates the musician. Ironically, the hero passionately denounces. He is characterized not only by romantic “languor,” but also by the ability to take active action: with a sword in his hand, he defends his own dignity and the honor of the beautiful, poetic Julia.
At times, Kreisler feels dissatisfied with himself and in such cases directs irony against himself. Most of all, he suffers from the inability to change anything in life, in the intentions of his advisor Bentzon, the prince’s cunning favorite, who has seized power at court. As a result of her intrigues, Princess Hedwig will marry Prince Hector, who has more than one crime on his conscience. And Julia, whom Kreisler loves not without reciprocity, in order to “improve the dynasty”, is expected to marry the son of Irenaeus, “condemned to eternal childhood.” Suffering, Kreisler feels himself beginning to lose clarity of mind. He flees to the monastery, but does not find shelter there either: nevertheless, the artist must live an earthly life, which is highest form human life.
Johannes Kreisler (German: Johannes Kieisler) is the hero of the series of sketches and essays “Kreisleriana-I” and “Kreisleriana-N” from “Fantasies in the manner of Callot” (1810-1815) and the novel “Everyday views of the cat Murr, with the addition of waste paper sheets from biography of the bandmaster Johannes Kreisler" (1821) E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776-1822). I.K. – the central romantic character in Hoffmann’s work, an exponent of the author’s innermost thoughts; genius musician immersed in beautiful world sounds, idolizing nature and beauty. Image of I.K. is closely associated with another romantic musician, Joseph Berlinger, created by the imagination of G. Wackenroder. Imprinted in these images romantic look to music as the highest of the arts, capable of telling about the secrets of the universe. I.K. in everything he corresponds to the ideas of the romantics about the artist-genius: he does not accept the life that surrounds him; creating harmony, he does not find harmony in his soul. I.K. - a suffering hero who is at odds with reality and with himself. According to the testimony of those around him, “he lights up, glows with inspiration, and then walks around as if submerged,” because it seems to him that the sounds living in his soul are beautiful, and that what is then made public is unworthy of him as an artist. Prototypes of the image of I.K. there was the Leipzig musician Böhner and, of course, Hoffmann’s favorite composer, Mozart. I.K. He is about thirty years old, he has been through a lot, he has a kind, although difficult character: he could not settle down at the court of Prince Irenaeus. The history of I.K. in the principality is told in “Everyday Views”, and both “Kreislerians” contain primarily the thoughts of I.K. about the features musical art , about the mystery and mysteries of music, about Beethoven, about Italian. instrumental music, talented musician, deep and extraordinary nature, I.K. causes conflicting feelings among others. People who are selfish and narrow-minded treat him with hostility. Sensitive girls are attracted to him, which also brings discord into the established way of life at court. I.K. makes an impression on the princess, the daughter of Prince Irenaeus, - this upsets matrimonial plans; I.K. himself he is in love with Princess Julia Bentson's friend, which also does not suit anyone.
Polemicizing with those who consider I.K. a hermit, literary critic N.Ya. Berkovsky writes: “Hermits do not incur shots on themselves,” and I.K. becomes the victim of an assassin sent by the princess's fiancé - the Neapolitan prince, Kreisler's rival, secretly in love with Julia. The musician manages to escape and hides in a monastery, where he continues his music lessons. Contrasting I.K. to those around him is the antithesis of the musical and non-musical world, inhabited by “enemies of music,” as I.K. puts it, and in his eyes these are the burghers playing music out of nothing to do, and the daughters of nobles playing the piano out of tune. To all of them I.K. contrasts Julia Bentzon, gifted with a divine voice and musical soul. All life phenomena and even objects I.K. perceives in musical terms and concepts: if I.K. If he’s in a bad mood, he’ll put on a suit in the color cis minor, and to improve his mood, in the color es major. Poetic soul does not interfere with I.K. be caustic and sarcastic, he composes the most tender music, teaches everyone to understand and appreciate beauty, but knows how to be ironic to the point of cruelty, not forgiving anyone for deceit and philistine stupidity. I.K. - the image of a free hero, friend of the muses, chosen one of heaven.
Lit.: Belza I.F. Kapellmeister Johannes Kreisler // Hoffmann E.T.A. Hoffman. Kreisleriana. Everyday views of the cat Murra. M., 1972.
Literary heroes. - Academician. 2009 .
coupled with fragments of the biography of bandmaster Johannes Kreisler, which accidentally survived in waste paper sheets
No book needs a preface more than this one, for if we had not explained the bizarre circumstances that brought it to light, it might seem to the reader a monstrous jumble.
Therefore, the publisher humbly asks the generous reader not to neglect this preface.
The said publisher has a friend whom he dotes on and whom he knows like himself. So, this friend turned to him one day with the following speech: “You, my dear, have already published more than one book and have acquaintances among publishers, it costs you nothing to go to any of these most worthy gentlemen and recommend to him the essay of a certain young author gifted with brilliant talent and excellent abilities. Help him out, he deserves it."
The publisher promised to do everything in his power for his fellow writer. True, he was somewhat puzzled when a friend admitted to him that the author of the manuscript was a cat named Murr and that in it he set out his worldly views; but the word was given, and since at first the essay seemed to him to be written in a rather smooth style, he put the manuscript in his pocket and went to Mr. Dumler on Unter den Linden with a proposal to publish a cat opus.
The book went to press, and the first proof sheets began to arrive to the publisher. Imagine his horror when he discovered that Murr’s story was now and then interspersed with inserts from a completely different book - the biography of the bandmaster Johannes Kreisler.
What turned out to be after a thorough investigation and search? It turns out that when the cat Murr expressed his worldly views on paper, he, without hesitation at all, tore into pieces an already printed book from his owner’s library and, in the simplicity of his soul, used the sheets from it, partly for lining, partly for drying the pages. These sheets remained in the manuscript, and they were also carelessly printed as belonging to the story of the cat Murr.
The devastated publisher is forced to humbly admit that the confusion of heterogeneous material occurred solely due to his frivolity. He, of course, should have carefully reviewed the cat's manuscript before submitting it to typesetting. However, he can console himself with something.
First of all, the forgiving reader will easily understand the confusion if he pays favorable attention to the notes in parentheses: Poppy. l.(waste paper sheets) and M. Ave.(Murr continues); in addition, the torn book most likely did not even go on sale, since no one knows anything about it. The conductor's friends will even appreciate the cat's vandalism in handling literary treasures - after all, in this way they will be able to learn some rather interesting details from the life of this man, in his own way, perhaps far from ordinary.
The publisher hopes for mercy.
Finally, one cannot help but admit that authors often owe their bold ideas and the most extraordinary turns of phrase to the kindest typesetters who, with so-called typos, contribute to the flight of imagination. Take, for example, the second part of the “Night Stories” written by the publisher. He mentions in them big bosquets located in the garden. The typesetter decided that this was not ingenious enough, and instead of the word “bosquetach” he typed “ caps" In the story “Mademoiselle do Scuderi”, through the efforts of the typesetter, who must have wanted to joke, the mentioned mademoiselle turned out to be not in black, heavy silk dress, and in black robe etc.
But - to each his own! Neither the cat Murr nor the unknown biographer of Kapellmeister Kreisler has any need to dress up in someone else's feathers, and therefore the publisher humbly asks the kind reader, before he begins to read this work, to make some corrections so that he does not form an opinion about both authors that is either worse or worse. better than that what they deserve.
True, only the most significant errors are given here; as for smaller ones, we hope for the mercy of a supportive reader.
In conclusion, the publisher must say that he personally met Murr the cat and considers him a pleasant and affectionate man to treat. The portrait placed at the beginning of the book is strikingly similar to the original.
Berlin, November 1819
(not for printing)
With the confidence and calm characteristic of a true genius, I convey my biography to the world, so that everyone can see in what ways cats achieve greatness, so that everyone will know what my perfections are, love, appreciate me, admire me and even revere me.
If anyone dares to question the high merits of this wonderful book, then let him not forget that he will have to deal with a smart cat, who has a sharp tongue and no less sharp claws.
Berlin, May (18..).
