Mysticism as a Philosophical Foundation of Maurice Maeterlinck’s Symbolist Theater

Maurice Maeterlinck's symbolism is best understood through the lens of mysticism, which shapes his unique theatrical world. His worldview was influenced by the 'philosophy of life' of Schopenhauer and Nietzsche, combined with his own religiosity and artistic freedom. Mysticism in Maeterlinck's plays and essays manifests through symbols of silence, stillness, darkness, and statics—elements that evoke anxiety and fear of the Unknown but also compel silence, listening, and immersion into that Unknown. His symbolism, grounded in universal truths and the search for existence's meaning, stands in opposition to traditional Christian dogma due to its mystical and gnostic character.

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Abstract

The relevance of this topic is determined by the scientific novelty of the research approach to studying the dramaturgy of M. Maeterlinck, his worldview ideas based on mysticism, as well as the need to trace the influence of the playwright's symbolism on contemporary culture, contemporary theater, and literature. This article attempts to analyze and trace how the concepts of mysticism became the basis for the creation of Maeterlinck’s unique theatrical world, what elements of mysticism are present in his plays and essays, and how they shape the atmosphere and themes of his works. Thus, the article determines that the playwright's worldview was formed under the influence of his fascination with the "philosophy of life" of A. Schopenhauer and F. Nietzsche, as well as his religiosity and freedom of artistic thought. The interconnection between mysticism and symbolism is traced, the essence of mysticism as a trend, its concepts and ideas are revealed in order to compare them with the postulates and worldview ideas of M. Maeterlinck, which are highlighted in his plays and philosophical essays. Therefore, the scientific research proves that in the context of European literary mysticism, Maeterlinck's symbolism should be understood through the prism of universal truths and the search for the meaning of existence, which are in some opposition to traditional dogmatic Christian ideas, precisely because of their mystical and gnostic character. It is revealed that Maeterlinck's mysticism manifests itself through the symbols of silence, statics, stillness, darkness as something that not only can cause anxiety and fear of the Unknown but is also able to stop, evoke a desire to be silent, to hear and immerse oneself in the knowledge of this Unknown.