CARLO GOLDONI I JEGO EGZOTYCZNA PODRÓŻ NA WSCHÓD
Carlo Goldoni and His Exotic Journey to the East

Author(s): Jolanta Dygul
Subject(s): Theoretical Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Studies of Literature, French Literature, Philology, Theory of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Venice; exotic; Persia; theatre; slave; passion
Summary/Abstract: In 1731–1766, the first edition of a multi-volume work by Thomas Salmon, an English traveler, entitled Modern History or the Present State of all Nations. Describing Their Respective Situations, Persons, Habits, Animals and Minerals (London 1717–1738), translated into Italian, was published in Venice. In one of his volumes, the author discussed the history and reality of Persia, which was later borrowed by Carlo Goldoni seeking new inspirations for his theatre repertoire. Goldoni used a lot of information from this historical source and some details were almost literally quoted in his three tragicomedies, set in this exotic country. In 1753, the playwright achieved such a great success of La sposa Persiana that following the request of the Venice audience, Goldoni wrote two more episodes in the next years: Ircana in Julfa (1756) oraz Ircanain Ispaan (1757). The Venetian audience could watch in the exotic Persian setting the adventures of a wild and passionate slave named Ircana, played by a talented Florentine actress Caterina Bresciani. The aim of the article is to show how in the text, but also on the Italian stage, the world of the Orient – fashionable in the 18th century – was reproduced and brought to life.

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