The Pastoral in Džono Palmotić’s Melodrama

Abstract

Melodrama in Dubrovnik experiences its full blossom between the early forties and mid fifties of the 17th century, during which time Džono Palmotić is the most prominent Dubrovnik writer of melodrama. Palmotić marked the Baroque literature of Dubrovnik with his melodrama by editing and adapting mythological, pseudo-historical and romantic material. He searched for sources amongst the Renaissance authors, Italian epic poems, antic mythological and literary works as well as domestic legends. He also introduced pastoral elements in his melodrama, descriptions of which are often scarce and underdeveloped. Following them chronologically, one can come to a conclusion that the pastoral in his melodrama visibly declined after the first, which serves as a confirmation of Palmotić’s initial insecurity with pastoral. Being himself a novice, he looked for support and was writing under the influence of both former and contemporary writers. Therefore, his pastoral represents a combination of elements of the Renaissance pastoral, contemporary influence and his own originality reflected in certain parts of his descriptions.