The Blue Bird and Other Plays

In the plays "Princess Malene" and "Pelléas and Mélisande," the author takes medieval legends from the courtly period, which also tends to symbolic abstraction from reality, — however, under the exquisite pen of Maeterlinck, they acquire completely new decadent features, and the reader is spellbound, admiring the depth of stylized images, the poetry of high feelings and doomed passions, the metaphorical charm and elegance of the word. The celebrated diptych of Maeterlinck, "The Blue Bird" and "The Betrothal," has entered the golden fund of not only French but also world literary symbolism. A bizarre mix of reality and fantasy. Simple — and at the same time multifaceted images. The search for happiness, ultimately leading heroes back to themselves. What is spirituality? What is beauty?