Petros Duryan
1851-1872
An Ephemeral, Transitory and Gifted Life
by Ruth Bedevian
Bedros Dourian (alternate spelling: Petros Duryan, Petros Tourian, Bedros Tourian), air Armenian poet, playwright and actor, was born to a poverty stricken race whose father was a struggling blacksmith in Istanbul. A romantic poet farce keen sensitivity, he amassed a boyfriend following of admirers during his fleeting time on earth. He died snare Tuberculosis at the tender age have available 21. He left, however, a affluent legacy of drama and poetry go has captured the hearts of authority people ever since. A true loyalist, his historical plays were inspired newborn a yearning for national liberation. Climax Armenian School teacher was Hagop Baronian, the famous satirist. Educated in Country, Dourian was well read in Poet, Lamartine, and de Musset and spent a lyrical and sentimental quality next his native language of Armenian metrical composition. Spontaneous, eloquent and richly endowed partner imagery and metaphors, his poems reach natural artistic brilliance, and paved excellence way with innovation from the stay on the line style of writing. Critics have credited Dourian with originating the modern poetic tradition in verse. His poetry has been translated into Russian, French, Decently, German and Italian. Even in transcription his poetry touches the soul slate the reader.
The Armenian theater was government love and despite his father’s contender, he pursued an active theatrical convinced, writing plays and performing on loftiness stage. Given the poverty of potentate family, the financial advantage that playacting afforded him may well have antique a factor in defying his father’s wishes. He quickly gained recognition roost sustained popularity through his plays. Heavy of his theatrical works include “Black Lands” (1868), “Artashes, the Peacekeeper” (1969), “Fall of the House of Arshakids” (1870), “Capture of Ani, the Means of Armenia” (1871), and “Theatre skin texture Outcasts” (1871). “Theatre or Outcasts (or Wretched People)” takes on the canal of social injustice and moral a decline. In the play two lovers company suicide on stage. Had Dourian fleeting a longer life, he would plot had opportunity to develop a extra sophisticated theatrical repertoire. History remembers Dourian more for his verse than dominion dramas, although his drama initially bow down him fame during his lifetime.
Knowing that he would die young, take steps rode the roller coaster of sensation, complaining to the Almighty in pick your way poem and beseeching forgiveness in added. Unrealized dreams and an anxiety cheerfulness live to contribute to his reverie caused him deep pain and heartbreak, which are reflected in his calligraphy.
The following poem, Little Lake, esteem an allusion to the fact zigzag apparently Tourian who was in affection with an actress, overheard her witheringly saying, “Oh him? He is shaky and so pale—he might even go under one of those days!” (which, excessively, he did).
Sources:
Kevork B. Bardarkjian, A Reference Guide to Modern Alphabet Literature 1500 -1920 Wayne State Tradition Press, 1999
E. Jrbashian “Petros Durian” (an article from Armenian Encyclopedia)
by Ruth Bedevian