Socrates of antiquity in the poetry of Lasgush Poradec

By: Aristotle Mici

With his two books, "Dancing with the Stars" and "Star of the Heart", Lasgush Poradeci shone like an unquenchable star in the sky of Albanian poetry. Over time, the verses of his poetry, full of inspiration, became the wealth of the spiritual heritage of all Albanians.

Lasgush Poradeci appeared and remains a high peak in the poetry of the 30s of the XNUMXth century, not only with deep inspiration, human feeling, interesting ideas and motives, but also with original style and figurative language, as I know it only the "finish singer" can speak and write. And, for this side of his original and brilliant style, according to Mitrush Kuteli, Lasgush Poradeci is an "autarchist" who derives all metaphors and symbols solely from the Albanian language, from the realities and possibilities of the Albanian language, from the Albanian. Neither Indian mythology, on which Lasgushi has in-depth information, nor Greek mythology nor Roman mythology, which possess so many generations of artists in all parts of the world, do not push Lasgushi to use any foreign motifs in poems. He tries to validate and develop the Albanian potential in art in all branches of life.

So, Lasgushi had found a new foothold in the field of figuration and lexis, what he will express in a later poem as a poetic credo:

My shadow knows no violence,
I know only the breath of freedom
And I know work, work, work,
It can be endless for magic arts.

And I see you reflected
Myself thread by thread,
Threads of poetry,
That smells like Albania.

Despite Kuteli's assertions that in all of Lasgushi's verses there are no foreign names or words, that he only smells of Albania in his rhymes, as the poet himself says in the verses above, in the poem "Who knew my compassion", we find a way out of the "traga" or that "autarchist" practice. In this poem the author prefers to make a comparison with a great name from Greek antiquity. Writing about his own stoicism towards worries, troubles and sorrows, the poet affirms life:

Be sweet as a maid,
May it be full of blood;
I'll drink his empty cup,
As old Socrates drank it. [1]

Where can we find the reason for the poet's departure from his own poetic creed, which only smells of Albania. For decades only the author knew this. From the end of the 80s of the 520th century, in the editorial office of traditional authors near the "Naim Frashëri" publishing house, work also began with the literary work of Lasgush Poradec. This edition would be the most complete of this work up to that time with a volume of XNUMX pages, which included all his published poetry, prose writings, manuscripts and correspondence. Among the manuscripts was a poem "Socrates' Theological Excursion", which was completed as early as 1975.

Thus, in Lasgushi's poem, the figure of Socrates is present again, but now not with a verse, but with a poem of 24 pages. The first reason why the figure of ancient Socrates emerges as a character in Lasgushian poetry and the author thus makes an exit from the creative trap is the very university of the figure of Socrates, which for centuries had crossed the borders of Hellenic antiquity. Everyone in any place and at any time has something to learn from him. It seems from the poem in question that Poradeci was also impressed by the life and work of Socrates, as well as the proud death of the great philosopher. The one who was the son of the sculptor Sofranik. Then, in his childhood, he started working as a stonemason in his father's workshop. But from year to year, the boy expanded his knowledge more and more by learning persistently. That's how he managed to become a philosopher. As a man eager for knowledge, he used to say: "I know one thing, that I know nothing". As a rule of his life, Socrates took the inscription of the temple of Delphi: "Know thyself". [2]

As a deep-thinking philosopher, Socrates rose up against the sophists, who from being teachers of rhetoric had turned into corrupt men and tried in false ways to defend or overthrow both the right and the wrong, according to interest.

Socrates' main goal was to spread knowledge and instill in people the love of knowledge. In teaching practice, he never gave ready answers, he was trying to lead the interlocutor to the right logical conclusions by means of questions and answers. This way of learning would later be called the "Socratic method" in pedagogy.

Through philosophical conversations with his students and with the youth of that ancient time, Socrates spread his advanced ideas, which conflicted with many norms of the state, of the courts and of the state religion. From day to day he was coming into open conflict with the high official society of the Athenian state. They scolded him and advised him to give up, but Socrates did not waver from his principles. Then the secular and religious authorities brought him to trial.

According to Plato, "Socrates was brought to trial in 399 BC with the accusation that he was ignoring the state gods and presenting new gods, on the one hand, and on the other hand, he was accused of morally corrupting the youth, leading them away from the principles of democracy". [3]

In the first place, Socrates wanted philosophy to deal with the problems of life on earth and not wander through the heavens, through the rotating spheres, if it were physical with natural foundations. And, about this realistic idea of ​​his philosopher hero, Lasgushi writes in the poem:

Ancient philosopher Socrates
Valuable head of Greece
He brought it down to earth
The subject of philosophy

In addition to philosophy, Socrates also cared about moral norms. Unlike the corrupt sophists, he wanted to establish honest and sincere relations between the state and the people. He also wanted impartial justice for the parties in the trial. And, about this side of Socrates' moral tendencies, Lasgushi writes in the poem:

You also defined morality,
You defined justice.
And you charged for duty
Except for the person, except for the one.

 Very nice moral
For the benefit of the universe.
That served him rightly
People and society.

 How do you put moral peace?
On firm foundations,
Seize the lords of Religion
To shake them, to shake them.

As in life and in L. Poradec's poem, the philosophical hero has many principled opponents in front of whom he tries to fill their minds with the truth and convince them. And, these opponents are not only from the ranks of the sophists, but also from the top of the state administration, judiciary and clerical hierarchy in the state of Athens. In this conflicting atmosphere, Socrates starts his own philosophical and theological excursion to the highest personalities of the time, to explain social, philosophical and religious problems. First he went to the ancient chief statesman, then to the chief judge, and finally in the temple he found the high priest himself.

The philosophical hero of Lasgushi's poem, really wandered from one personality to another, to present his concerns, but he could not solve anything in this excursion. Not only did they not listen to his remarks and criticisms, but on the contrary they scolded him. First, they threatened him to shut up, because otherwise he would suffer badly. The high priest himself warned him that:

As for you, Socrates, you blasphemer
The state gods,
And spread new ideas
And wakes up the popular masses

 They say they will punish
Precisely for this fault,
With which you want the leadership,
Knock her off her throne.

Yes, Socrates, who had a stony character, was not afraid of frightening warnings. And the senior cleric, for his part, did not let the threat go. Moreover, he, wanting to intimidate him with the maximum punishment, declared:

The court and all of Athens say
That they will punish you,
To drink the cup of poison,
So that they annihilate.

Actually, as Plato treats it in "The Apology", Socrates was not only a learned philosopher, but also brave and fearless and above all superior to the opponents and judges of the time. Despite all the pressures that were put on him, he did not deny his views and refused to stop teaching philosophy: "Men of Athens", he speaks in court, "I love and honor you, but before you I will listen to God. And as long as I am alive and living, I will never stop teaching philosophy". [4]

Undaunted by the image of death, Socrates refused to leave prison even when his friends and comrades offered him the possibility of escape. In such dramatic moments he declared that "nothing bad can happen to a good person neither while living nor after death". [5]

As a philosopher proud and unwavering in his convictions about life and death, about truth and deception, about justice and injustice, he declared before the jury and the spectators that "difficult, my friends, is not to avoid death, but to avoid injustice". [6]

Also, the Socrates of Lasguš's poem is a brave and wise man, unwavering in his path that does not accept any compromise. The high priest tries to seduce him with his unadmirable example of an honest man:

Be silent, Socrates, Socrates,
Philosopher who shook hands,
But as in or antigod,
Why don't you compromise with religion?

But this advice of the high priest was totally unacceptable for the hero of Lasgushi's poem. Even in the poem, Socrates does not depart from his philosophical convictions, from the principles of his life, nor is he corrupted. Socrates unequivocally asserts before the priest of Zeus that he was not in favor of a compromise with religion. For learned people, the unique religion is a mixture of dogmas. It must be made clear, Socrates declares, that for us scholars:

Our religion is threefold,
Science and art and poetry,
Our Lord is one
This is called Knowledge.

In this way, it is understood by the rulers of the time in Athens, that Socrates was not remembering. He went to the people and again preached his principles. This revolted the rulers of the time. He was spreading new ideas about the future, which the people of the ruling regime did not like. He was disrupting the governing peace, he was opening "jobs", that is, he was disrupting the "status quon". Then alarmed they say:

Again, he is denying Socrates
state gods,
Back to you with new ideas
It is awakening the popular masses.

Finally, it was clear from the party that Socrates was not broken by the threatening warnings, that he was not even accepting a compromise path. Then there was only one alternative for him, that of the court.:

So with a stern conscience
The executioner's court makes a decision,
Give him the cup of poison
The invincible Socrates.

 Thus the devils of superstition,
So the turtles of the Swamp
They killed the philosopher Socrates,
The majestic mountain deer

Lasgush Poradeci at the same time, when he exalts the figure of Socrates, also clarifies the idea that he was condemned for his progressive views and ideas, becoming a martyr of his own philosophical doctrine.

Since then, since 399 BC, when Socrates was condemned, 24 centuries have passed, but his name and work live on the pages of history, which is why the poet writes about his immortality:

You the best, you the wisest,
You directed me to all of Greece
Die through the darkness,
Born through history.

 Years and hundreds of years passed,
Thousands of years passed.
The people honor you Socrates,
Gratitude for life after life.

In favor of this idea that Socrates is reborn through history is also the opinion of the American researcher JF Stone, who in his work "The Trial of Socrates" writes: "Socrates speaks like a modern civil libertarian". [7] Or, to put it in Albanian, Socrates speaks like a civilized modern liberator. From this point of view, Socrates is not only an enlightening philosopher of antiquity, but also a liberator of all modern times. In this way, he is a universal mind, changing over the centuries for his iron logic and civic courage.

The philosopher Socrates was in opposition with the government of his time not for small personal things, but for major issues, for the right, for the truth, for freedom. He was the scholar who wanted changes for the good of society, who did not know how to make compromises, who could never become a tool sold to the government. Wise and courageous people like Socrates are needed at all times, but the bad thing is that such oppositionists disrupt the status quo and governments do not need them. What philosopher went so consciously to a tragic end as he did. For his deep philosophical thought and courage, Socrates is a synecdoche; and, just as we say that museums need Cicero, to be understood by all, the times need Socrates, to be enlightened.

Regarding the tragic fate of the great philosopher, both in his life and in this poem, which we are analyzing, researcher Frida Idrizi has noted in the introduction to Lasgushi's literary work that "the poet, taking a trigger from the figure of Socrates, unmasks in the poem 'Theological Excursion of Socrates' the political, clerical and ethical hypocrisy on which all exploitative orders rely, to put the ignorant people to sleep, in order to last as long as possible more their lives". [8]

The proud philosopher's heresy towards the sovereign Zeus as well as his critical attitude towards the ruling "pariah" is the most distinctive quality of Socrates, which has attracted the poet's attention in the poem. This is for the reason that even Lasgushi himself in this aspect is a "Socrates in miniature".

He put his pen neither in the service of the monarchy nor in favor of the communist dictatorship. In short, the poet did not care about governments and high management spheres. Even those of the high official cabinets knew this very well, therefore, without feeling it, the governors left it in the shadows. And for this characteristic of Lasgush Poradec, you are convinced when you read his epistolary, especially the correspondence with Asdren, with prof. E. Çabejn, as well as with prof. S. Luarasin.

"Oh my dear friend and wise patriot, Asdren... The students who came from Albania say that the state coffers have been emptied because of the coronation holidays, that's why the scholarships have not been handed over for so many months and who knows how long they will prolong this martyrdom..." [9]

To shed even more light on Lasgushi's allergy to senior government officials, let's also read the letter he addressed to E. Çabej from Graci on February 29, 1933: "They insulted me obscurantly, but I didn't swear .. After making the scandal of distrust, you came to us for a salary now ... I was offended, and the giant against the pygmies was not afraid, I came without a salary". (Literary works, p. 483).

Aren't these examples that speak of a miniature Socrates? For a "Finosh" singer who was not sold to politics, but who stayed like a prince in the kingdom of poetry.

Finally, it should be noted that the thoughts and ideas of the poem "Socrates' Theological Excursion" are given through an attractive form from the artistic side, even though in this work we no longer have that eroticism affected by a crushing love, as in "Ylli i Zëmra" or "Dance of the Stars". The place of the lyrical hero in this poem is occupied by an enlightened philosopher with a strong character. Even this new phenomenon in Lasgushi's poetry, now in his third year, is given with inspiration. Again we are dealing with a masterful creation

Lasgushian style, once with romantic tones, now in the poem "Socrates' Theological Excursion" takes on critical and ironic colors, but the poem does not lose either its naturalness or spontaneity. Verses always have, in addition to rich figuration, an original sound, which is obtained even more from the acoustic effects that anaphora, epanostrophe, alliteration, poetic repetition, and the entire poetic syntax of Lasgushian rhyme provide.

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[1] L. Poradeci "Star of the Heart", Edition II, Bucharest, 1939, p.134
[2] Prof. A. Mushulin, "History of Old Time", Tirana 1950, p.141
[3] From Irwing Edman, "The Works of Plato" p. 67
[4] From Irwing Edman, "Plato" p. 74
[5] From Irwing Edman, "Plato" p. 74
[6] From Irving Edman, "Plato" p.85
[7] From JF Stone, "The trial of Socrates", p. 210
[8] From Frida Idrizi, "Literary work" of L. Poradec, Foreword, Tirana, 1990, p.18
[9] Lasgush Poradeci, "Literary Works", Tirana, 1990, p..477