Homeland in the Poetry of Nik’oloz Baratašvili and Giacomo Leopardi

Abstract

In 1839, the 22-year-old Nik’oloz Baratašvili composed the long poem Bedi Kartlisa (The Fate of Georgia), in which he tackled one of the issues of modern Georgia: whether the choice made in 1783 by King Erek’le II to draw up a treaty of friendship with the Russian Empire had been beneficial for Kartl-K’axeti. In the course of the poem Baratašvili maintains a stiff attitude, never siding for or against the choice of Erek’le II. Much more instinctive and impetuous is the attitude of the 20-year-old Giacomo Leopardi, who, faced with Italy in chains, is overwhelmed by an individualistic romantic impulse. In his songs, he desires greatness for his homeland and the glory of ancient times when people ran to die for it, he states his aversion to foreign rule and his hopes for Italy’s resurrection.

Keywords

• Georgian literature. Giacomo Leopardi. Italian literature. Nik’oloz Baratašvili