Talk:Meşterul Manole
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I have a few corrections to the story.
1. In the folk poem that bears, roughly, the original myth, the Prince that commissions the building of the monastery is "Negru-Voda" (Prince Negru), not Radu Voda (Prince Radu) as suggested in the article. Quote: "Pe Arges in jios / Pe un mal frumos / Negru-voda trece / Cu tovarasi zece" (_very_ rough translation: "By the shore of river Arges Prince Negru passes with ten companions"), at the very beginning of the poem.
2. In the folk poem it is suggested the place chosen by Negru-Voda for the monastery was cursed. He asks a shepard the whereabouts of some ruins on the shore of river Arges and is very pleased to hear about some crumbled walls that provoke dogs to bark an howl of death. Quote: "Ba, doamne-am vazut / Pe unde-am trecut / Un zid parasit / Si neispravit / Canii, cum il vad / La el se rapad / Si latra-a pustiu / Si urla-a mortiu" (again, _very_ rough translation: "Sire I have seen in my journeys an abandoned, crumbled wall. When dogs see it they bark and howl of death").
3. It is not by choice that Manole sacrifices his wife to finish the building. His dream visions tell him they are required to sacrifice the first wife or sister that comes in the morning to any of them bringing food. Ana was not specifically mentioned. All ten masons make a vow to follow this vision to the letter. Manole's tragedy begins when first thing in the morning, he climbs the scaffolding looking in the distance and sees his wife, Ana, being the first approaching the building site. Hence, Manole's pleas to God to release all nature's adversities in hopes to stop Ana in her tracks.
Otherwise I would have to add that an exceptional detail of the folk story is the sacrifice of two lives - both Ana and her unborn child she supposedly bears in her womb, by her own words. Also it is very impressive for a folk poem the way it depicts the gradual raising of the wall around Ana by Manole himself and the shift in sentiments for both of them. Initially Ana is convinced by the masons to go along with the ritual as a joke, but as the wall is gradually raised she pleads to her husband to stop as her pains are growing. This in turn changes Manole's state of mind from the point where he was camouflaging his pain as well as possible to a point where he was torn apart by the anguish.
When remaning strained on the roof of the monastery (by the orders of Negru Voda) indeed one by one they try to fly off from the rooftop using wood shingles and perish on spot. Manole however fails in his attempt because as he starts his descend he hears his wife's voice from insinde the monastery walls and loses his sense. The spring that bursts out where Manole plunges to his death is, according to the myth, is salt water, representing Manole's tears or anguish.
Another exceptional feature of the poem is it's density. The verses are only 5 and 6 syllables long each and the whole poem is 342 verses. Yet it presents a quite complex story with a very high emotional and connceptual load.
A few of the ideas expressed thoughout the poems: - the despotic ruler (Negru Voda is literally translated Dark Prince, as negru is Romanian for black), ready to commission a project that is impossible to complete; threatening his masons with the penalty of death when the project fails repeatedly; upon completion abaonding his masons on the rooftop of the building in hopes they would perish only because there was a chance they would complete an even greater work elsewhere if they were to live. - the acomplished craftsman - Manole is by the accounts of the poem the best craftsman of the 10 that the Prince has commissioned. Monasteries and castles were the most complex buildings of middle ages and the masonsers commisioned were always highly skilled craftsmen. Manole's knowledge and skills has brought him and his companions to his death. - the willingness to bring sacrifice and sacrifice oneself for the sake of art - the sanctity of a vow - once Manole makes a vow together with his companions to sacrifice the first wife or sister that would show up in the morning he can no longer retract it just because it's his wife that shows up first. - the crime brings punishment - once Manole has fulfilled the vow he and his companions have committed a mortal sin - they took not one but two lives. It is both an act of despotism and an act of holy justice when Negru Voda decides their ultimate fate.
For those who know Romanian and want to try their hand at some quoting and translation, the complete text of the poem is here:
http://ro.wikisource.org/wiki/Me%C5%9Fterul_Manole
Thank you, George Barbarosie george dot barbarosie at gmail dot com
