Poetics of the one-act symbolist drama by M. Maeterlinck (“The Blind,” “Uninvited”). Drama by M. Maeterlinck “The Blue Bird” as a philosophical allegory

Maurice Polydor Marie Bernard Maeterlinck

"Blind"

An old northern forest under a high starry sky. Leaning against the trunk of an old hollow oak tree, the decrepit priest froze in deathly immobility. His blue lips are half-open, his fixed eyes no longer look at this visible side of eternity. Emaciated hands folded on knees. To his right, six blind old men sit on stones, stumps and dry leaves, and to his left, facing them, are six blind women. Three of them pray and lament all the time. The fourth is quite an old woman. The fifth, in quiet madness, holds a sleeping child on her lap. The sixth is strikingly young, her hair flowing down her shoulders. Both women and old people are dressed in wide, gloomy, monotonous clothes. All of them, with their hands on their knees and covering their faces with their hands, are waiting for something. Tall cemetery trees - yews, weeping willows, cypress trees - spread their reliable canopy over them. Darkness.

The blind people talk to each other. They are concerned about the long absence of the priest. The oldest blind woman says that the priest has been uneasy for several days, that he began to be afraid of everything after the doctor died. The priest was worried that the winter might be long and cold. He was frightened by the sea, he wanted to look at the coastal cliffs. The young blind woman says that before leaving, the priest held her hands for a long time. He was shaking, as if from fear. Then he kissed the girl and left.

“When he left, he said “Good night!” - recalls one of the blind people. They listen to the roar of the sea. The sound of the waves is unpleasant to them. The blind people remember that the priest wanted to show them the island on which their shelter is located. That is why he brought them closer to the seashore. “You can’t wait forever for the sun under the arches of the dormitory,” he said. The blind are trying to determine the time of day. Some of them think they feel Moonlight, feel the presence of stars The least sensitive are those born blind (“I only hear our breathing<…>I’ve never felt them,” notes one of them). The blind want to return to the shelter. The distant chime of a clock can be heard - twelve strikes, but the blind cannot understand whether it is midnight or noon. Night birds flap their wings maliciously above their heads. One of the blind men suggests that if the priest does not come, they return to the shelter, guided by the noise of a large river flowing nearby. Others are going to wait without moving. The blind people tell each other where someone came to the island from, the young blind woman remembers her distant homeland, the sun, the mountains, unusual flowers. (“I have no memories,” says the man born blind.) The wind blows. Leaves are falling in heaps. Blind people think that someone is touching them. They are overcome with fear. A young blind woman smells flowers. These are asphodels - a symbol of the kingdom of the dead. One of the blind men manages to pluck a few, and the young blind woman weaves them into her hair. You can hear the wind and the crash of waves against the coastal rocks. Through this noise, the blind hear the sound of someone's approaching steps. This is a shelter dog. She drags one of the blind men towards the motionless priest and stops. The blind realize that there is a dead man among them, but do not immediately find out who it is. The women, crying, kneel down and pray for the priest. The oldest blind woman reproaches those who complained and did not want to move forward with the fact that they tortured the priest. The dog does not leave the corpse. Blind people join hands. A whirlwind spins dry leaves. A young blind woman can discern someone's distant steps. Snow is falling in large flakes. Footsteps are approaching. The crazy child begins to cry. The young blind woman takes him in her arms and lifts him up so that he can see who is coming towards them. Footsteps are approaching, you can hear leaves rustling under someone’s feet, you can hear the rustle of a dress. Footsteps stop next to a group of blind people "Who are you?" - asks the young blind woman. No answer. “Oh, have mercy on us!” - exclaims the oldest. Silence again. Then the desperate cry of a child is heard.

A dead priest sits under an old oak tree. Northern forest, high cold sky. Nearby the blind were located on dry leaves and stumps. The priest brought them here to show them the island where they would live. They hear the roar of the nearby sea and worry about the long absence of their companion.

The whole group is dressed the same: gloomy wide clothes identifies them as shelter residents. A doctor died there recently. This worried the priest, so he took several men and women away from there. But he did not have time to complete his mission - he fell asleep eternal sleep on the rocky seashore under an old oak tree.

There were few blind people. Six women and six old men. One of them has a child sleeping on her lap, another has an ancient old woman, and the third has a very young woman. Three women lament and pray, the rest talk quietly.

The young woman smells the scent of cemetery flowers, the flowers of the kingdom of the dead. Some of the men suggest going back to the shelter, others want to wait for the priest to return. The wind throws dry leaves at them. Blind people are scared. It seems to them that someone is touching them and scares them.

Blind people hear a rustling sound - a dog from a shelter has found them. She dragged one of the men by his clothes to the dead priest. Blind people do not immediately understand that their guide is dead. Someone begins to pray, someone reproaches others for tormenting the priest with their demands and stupid doubts.

Suddenly the child begins to cry. The blind hear footsteps, but cannot understand who it is. The person who approaches does not answer their questions. Blind people are scared. Snow is falling in flakes. Requests and pleas from the blind for mercy and mercy are heard. Then a child's desperate cry was heard. And dead silence was restored.

Many people remember the wonderful children's fairy tale “The Blue Bird”. However, what is perceived as a fairy tale for children was actually written as a parable for adults. Its author was famous writer from Belgium Maurice Maeterlinck. In addition to “The Blue Bird,” he wrote many other interesting works. The most symbolic among them is the play “The Blind”.

Maurice Maeterlinck

The writer was born into the family of a Belgian notary in August 1862. It was customary in the family to speak French, which is why in the future the author wrote most of his works in this language.

When the boy turned fourteen, he was sent to study at a Jesuit college. Studying contributed to the development of Maeterlinck’s desire to engage in literature, and on the other hand, formed the author’s ardent anti-clerical position.

After college, the young man began studying law. IN free time he wrote poetry and prose. Despite the fact that his father insisted on a career as a lawyer, he helped the young man publish his first collection of poetry, “Greenhouses.” A year later, Maurice Maeterlinck published the play “La Princesse Maleine” and subsequently concentrated on writing plays.

“The Blind”, “The Uninvited”, “Peleas and Milisanda” are the writer’s next famous plays. They glorified their creator not only in Belgium and France, but throughout the world. The works of this period are considered the most successful. This is due to the fact that in subsequent years the writer became interested in symbolism; his later plays were overly filled with mysticism.

In 1909, the play “The Blue Bird” was successfully staged in France. And after two years he receives Nobel Prize on literature Maurice Maeterlinck. “The Blind”, “Blue Bird”, “Peleas and Milisanda” and several others famous plays the author helped the writer achieve this prestigious award.

With the outbreak of the First World War, Maeterlinck began to touch upon the theme of war in his work (“The Burgomaster of Stilmond”).

In the twenties, the writer became increasingly interested in the occult, and the works of this period are full of biblical motifs. Gradually Maeterlinck wrote essays instead of plays.

When the writer turned 50, King Albert I of Belgium granted him the title of count.

Since the beginning of World War II, the writer emigrated to the United States, but returned to Europe in 1947. Two years later, Maurice Maeterlinck died in Nice due to a heart attack.

Maeterlinck's play "The Blind": history of creation

From the middle of the nineteenth century, the church began to lose influence on society. This was due to desperate attempts to maintain control over science and culture. Most scientists and artists were believers, but due to the active attempts of the church to rudely interfere with their work, anti-clerical sentiments grew among them.

While still studying at the Jesuit College, Maurice Maeterlinck began to have a negative attitude towards many of the ideas of the church. "The Blind" (the play) was written under the influence of its author's observations of the loss of influence of the church in society. Maeterlinck believed that the church was already too “old” to lead, but if it was not replaced by another institution, society was doomed.

In 1890, this play was published, and a year later it was staged at the Theater of Art by Paul Faure. It was translated into Russian only four codes after publication. And in 1904, in one of the Moscow theaters, it was staged along with several others short plays Maeterlinck.

Main characters

Maeterlinck made the silent dead priest one of the main characters of the play. The blind people surrounding his body characterize him throughout the play, making it clear how important role he played in their lives.

One more important hero there is a baby - a child who is crazy and blind. He is the only one capable of seeing, but due to such a young age he is not yet able to become a guide for the others.

The Young Blind is a beautiful young girl who grew up in an area with picturesque nature, but later lost her sight. Despite her disability, she continues to love beauty. The girl is charming and, despite the fact that all the men around her are blind, they all sympathize with her. Although she cannot see anything, her eyes are still alive and with proper treatment she will soon be able to see.

The oldest woman among the blind is also the most rational. The oldest blind man is also sensible.

Three men born blind are among the most unfortunate heroes. They have no memories of the beauty of the world because they have never seen it. They constantly resent and criticize others. The born blind complain that the priest did not speak to them, but later it turns out that they themselves are not very keen to listen to him.

The three old blind women, unlike the young blind woman, are completely inactive. They accepted their fate. No matter what happens, she continues to pray.

There are also two other blind men in the play, but they are not particularly active.

There are eight heroes in The Blind Ones: six blind men (3 born blind, an old and 2 ordinary blind), six blind women (3 praying, an old, a young and a crazy one), a dead priest and a sighted child.

Maeterlinck “The Blind”: summary

The play tells about a home for the blind, in which the only sighted people are an elderly priest (who died at the very beginning of the play) and decrepit nuns. Recently there was a doctor there, but he had died earlier, which made the priest worried, since he was sick and had a premonition of his own death. Shortly before her, he gathers all the blind people and takes them for a walk around the island. However, he becomes ill and, having said goodbye to the beautiful young blind woman, he dies.

However, the blind do not notice the death of their guide, and believing that he will soon return for them, they wait for his return. Over time, they begin to worry and communicate with each other. Reflecting and complaining about the priest's behavior (the envious ones born blind), as well as remembering the past, the blind gradually lose hope of his return.

Soon a shelter dog arrives and thanks to her the blind people learn that the priest has died. While thinking about how to get out, the blind people begin to feel that someone is touching them. Soon they hear someone's footsteps and the young blind woman takes the sighted child in her arms, hoping that he will see who is coming. However, as we get closer unknown child crying more and more.

Symbolism of the "Blind"

At the time of writing the play, Maurice Maeterlinck became interested in the philosophy of symbolism. "Blind" ( summary above) are full of many symbols.

First of all, it is death that surrounds the blind. She is symbolized by the ocean nearby.

Also symbolic is the lighthouse, whose inhabitants see perfectly, but do not look towards the blind (a symbol of science).

Another symbol is the old sighted nuns of the orphanage, about whom it is known that, knowing that their charges are missing, they will not go looking for them. Here Maeterlinck describes the contemporary attitude of the church to the flock. Despite the calling to care for and protect “blind” wards, many priests simply ignore their problems.

Blind heroes are humanity, which in past centuries found its way thanks to faith (church).

But now faith has died and people are lost in the dark. They are looking for a way, but are unable to find it on their own. At the end of the play, someone comes to the blind people, but due to the open ending, it is unknown whether this is a new guide who wants to help unfortunate people, or a cruel murderer.

Although some interpret the ending of the play as the death of humanity, for many the arrival of the unknown symbolizes hope. The cry of a sighted child may not mean fear, but joy or a call to a stranger for help.

Implications for culture

Many readers liked the image of humanity, which has lost faith, in the image of the blind without a guide, as Maeterlinck presented them. “The Blind” (analysis and symbols of the play above) influenced the writer’s contemporaries and descendants. Famous philosopher Nicholas Roerich, after staging the play in Moscow, drew a black and white illustration for the play in ink.

Maeterlinck's idea to depict society as a group of blind people prompted the writing of the novel "Blindness", based on the plot of which a film of the same name was made in 2008.

More than a hundred years have passed since the play "The Blind" was written. Over the years, many disasters and events have occurred in society. However, today, just like a hundred years ago, humanity continues to behave like blind people in the hope of finding a guide. So Maeterlinck’s work continues to be relevant.

Maurice Maeterlinck

CHARACTERS

Priest.

The first person born blind.

Second born blind.

The third man born blind.

The oldest blind man.

The fifth is blind.

The sixth one is blind.

Three blind old women immersed in prayer.

The oldest blind person.

Young blind woman.

Blind crazy.

Old, old, primeval northern forest under the high starry sky. In the middle, shrouded in the darkness of the night, sits a decrepit priest in a wide black cloak. He threw back his head, leaned against a tall hollow oak tree and froze in deathly immobility. The waxy yellowness does not leave the face, the blue lips are half-open. The mute, frozen eyes no longer look at this visible side of eternity; they seem to have become bloodshot from innumerable, unforgettable torments and tears. Straight and sparse strands of strict gray hair fall on his face, and his face is brighter and more motionless than everything that surrounds him in the sensitive silence of the gloomy forest. He folded his emaciated hands on his knees. On the right, six blind old men are sitting on stones, stumps and dry leaves. To the left, separated from the old men by a tree with exposed roots and fragments of rock, six women, also blind, sit facing them. Three of them pray and lament all the time in dull voices. The fourth is unusually old. The fifth, in a pose indicating quiet insanity, holds a sleeping child on her lap. The sixth is strikingly young; her loose hair covers her waist. Women, like old people, wear wide, gloomy and monotonous clothes. Almost all of them, with their elbows on their knees and covering their faces with their hands, are waiting for something; They must have long been unaccustomed to unnecessary gestures and do not turn their heads at the vague alarming sounds that are heard on this island. Tall cemetery trees - yews, weeping willows, cypresses - extend their reliable canopy over them. Not far from the priest in night darkness Tall asphodels are blooming. The stage is unusually dark, despite the moonlight, which here and there tries, at least for a moment, to break through the foliage and cut through the darkness.

The first person born blind. Is he back yet?

Second born blind. You woke me up!

The first person born blind. I was sleeping too.

The third man born blind. And I.

The first person born blind. Is he back yet?

Second born blind. No one's steps are heard.

The third man born blind. It's time to go back to the shelter.

The first person born blind. We need to find out where we are.

Second born blind. After he left it got colder.

The first person born blind. We need to find out where we are.

The oldest blind man. Who knows where we are?

The oldest blind person. We walked for a very long time; We must be a long way from the shelter.

The first person born blind. A! Women opposite us?

The oldest blind person. We are sitting opposite you.

The first person born blind. Wait, I'll come to you now. (Gets up and gropes.) Where are you?..Listen up your voice so I can hear where you are!

The oldest blind person. Here. We are sitting on the rocks.

First man born blind(goes forward and stumbles upon a tree trunk and rock fragments). Something separates us...

Second born blind. It's better not to move!

The third man born blind. Where are you sitting?.. Would you like to join us?

The oldest blind person. We don't dare rise!

The third man born blind. Why did he separate us?

The first person born blind. I hear women praying.

Second born blind. Yes, these are three old women praying.

The first person born blind. Now is not the time to pray!

Second born blind. You will pray later, in the bedroom.

The three old women continue to pray.

The third man born blind. I want to know who is sitting next to me.

Second born blind. It seems like I'm next to you.

They feel objects around them.

The third man born blind. We can't touch each other!

The first person born blind. However, we are close to each other. (He continues to feel the objects around him and touches the fifth blind man with his stick, he groans dully.) Next to us is the one who does not hear!

Second born blind. I can't hear everyone; Recently there were six of us.

The first person born blind. I'm starting to realize it. Let's ask women; you need to know what to do. I hear three old women still praying - are they really together?

The oldest blind person. They are sitting next to me on a stone.

The first person born blind. I'm sitting on fallen leaves!

The third man born blind. Where's the beautiful blind woman?

The oldest blind person. She is close to those who pray.

Second born blind. Where is the crazy woman with the child?

Young blind woman. He's sleeping, don't wake him!

The first person born blind. Oh, how far you are from us! And I thought you were opposite me.

The third man born blind. We learned almost everything we needed; Let's chat now while waiting for his arrival.

The oldest blind person. He told us to wait for him in silence.

The third man born blind. We're not in church.

The oldest blind person. You don't know where we are.

The third man born blind. I'm scared when I'm silent.

Second born blind. Don't know where the priest went?

The third man born blind. It seems to me that he left us for a long time.

The first person born blind. He became decrepit. It seems he is also blind. He doesn't want to admit it for fear that someone else will take his place with us, but I suspect that he sees almost nothing. We would need another guide. He doesn't listen to us, but there are many of us. He and three nuns are all the sighted people in our orphanage, and they are all older than us!.. I am sure that he got lost and is now looking for his way. Where did he go?.. He doesn’t dare leave us...

The oldest blind man. He's gone far. It seems he warned the women.

The first person born blind. He only talks to women!.. And what about us?.. In the end, we will have to complain.

The oldest blind man. Who will you complain to?

The first person born blind. I don't know yet. Let's see, let's see... But where did he go?.. I address this question to women.

The oldest blind person. He was tired from walking for a long time. It seems he sat down with us for a minute. He hasn't been feeling well for several days now. After the doctor's death, he became afraid of everything. He avoids everyone. He is silent almost all the time. I don't know what happened to him. He definitely wanted to go out today. He said that he wanted to see the island when sunlight V last time before winter comes. The winter seems to be long and cold; Ice floes are already arriving from the north. He was very worried - he said that due to heavy rains the river overflowed and broke through all the dams. He also said that the sea frightens him, it is very agitated, and the coastal cliffs are not high. He wanted to see for himself, but did not tell us anything... Now he must have gone to get bread and water for the mad woman. He said he was going far... Let's wait.

Young blind woman. Before leaving, he held my hands for a long time. His hands shook as if from fear. Then he kissed me...

The first person born blind. ABOUT! ABOUT!

Young blind woman. I asked him what happened. He said he didn't know anything. He said that the kingdom of old people was apparently coming to an end...

The first person born blind. What did he mean by this?

Young blind woman. I didn't understand. He said he was going to the big lighthouse.

The first person born blind. Is there a lighthouse here?

Young blind woman. Yes, in the northern part of the island. I think it's not far. He said that the light of the lighthouse was visible from here, making its way between the branches. Today he was somehow especially sad. It seems to me that all these last days he cries often. I don’t know why, but I also cried without noticing it. I didn't hear him leave. I didn't ask him any more. I felt that he smiled a sad smile; I felt that he had closed his eyes and that it was difficult for him to speak...

Maeterlinck Maurice

Maurice Maeterlinck

CHARACTERS

Priest.

Second) those born blind.

The oldest blind man.

The fifth is blind.

The sixth one is blind.

Three blind old women immersed in prayer.

The oldest blind person.

Young blind woman.

Blind crazy.

An old, old, primeval northern forest under a high starry sky. In the middle, shrouded in the darkness of the night, sits a decrepit priest in a wide black cloak. He threw back his head, leaned against a tall hollow oak tree and froze in deathly immobility. The waxy yellowness does not leave the face, the blue lips are half-open. The mute, frozen eyes no longer look at this visible side of eternity; they seem to have become bloodshot from innumerable, unforgettable torments and tears. Straight and sparse strands of strict gray hair fall on his face, and his face is lighter and more motionless than everything that surrounds him in the sensitive silence of the gloomy forest. He folded his emaciated hands on his knees. On the right, six blind old men are sitting on stones, stumps and dry leaves. To the left, separated from the old men by a tree with exposed roots and fragments of rock, six women, also blind, sit facing them. Three of them pray and lament all the time in dull voices. The fourth is unusually old. The fifth, in a pose indicating quiet insanity, holds a sleeping child on her lap. The sixth is strikingly young; her loose hair covers her waist. Women, like old people, wear wide, gloomy and monotonous clothes. Almost all of them, with their elbows on their knees and covering their faces with their hands, are waiting for something; They must have long been unaccustomed to unnecessary gestures and do not turn their heads at the vague alarming sounds that are heard on this island. Tall cemetery trees - yews, weeping willows, cypresses - extend their reliable canopy over them. Not far from the priest, tall asphodels bloom in the darkness of the night. The stage is unusually dark, despite the moonlight, which here and there tries to at least

for a moment to break through the foliage and cut through the darkness.

Second born blind. You woke me up!

The first person born blind. I was sleeping too.

The third man born blind. And I.

The first person born blind. Is he back yet?

Second born blind. No one's steps are heard.

The third man born blind. It's time to go back to the shelter.

Second born blind. After he left it got colder.

The first person born blind. We need to find out where we are.

The oldest blind man. Who knows where we are?

The oldest blind person. We walked for a very long time; We must be a long way from the shelter.

The first person born blind. A! Women opposite us?

The oldest blind person. We are sitting opposite you.

The first person born blind. Wait, I'll come to you now. (Gets up and gropes.) Where are you?.. Raise your voice so that I can hear where you are!

The oldest blind person. Here. We are sitting on the rocks.

The first man born blind (walks forward and stumbles upon a tree trunk and fragments of a rock). Something separates us...

Second born blind. It's better not to move!

The third man born blind. Where are you sitting?.. Would you like to join us?

The oldest blind person. We don't dare rise!

The third man born blind. Why did he separate us?

The first person born blind. I hear women praying.

Second born blind. Yes, these are three old women praying.

The first person born blind. Now is not the time to pray!

Second born blind. You will pray later, in the bedroom.

The three old women continue to pray.

The third man born blind. I want to know who is sitting next to me.

Second born blind. It seems like I'm next to you.

They feel objects around them.

The third man born blind. We can't touch each other!

The first person born blind. However, we are close to each other. (He continues to feel the objects around him and touches the fifth blind man with a stick, he groans dully.) Next to us is the one who does not hear!

Second born blind. I can't hear everyone; Recently there were six of us.

The first person born blind. I'm starting to realize it. Let's ask women; you need to know what to do. I hear three old women still praying, are they together?

The oldest blind person. They are sitting next to me on a stone.

The first person born blind. I'm sitting on fallen leaves!

The third man born blind. Where's the beautiful blind woman?

The oldest blind person. She is close to those who pray.

Second born blind. Where is the crazy woman with the child?

Young blind woman. He's sleeping, don't wake him!

The first person born blind. Oh, how far you are from us! And I thought you were opposite me.

The third man born blind. We learned almost everything we needed; Let's chat now while waiting for his arrival.

The oldest blind person. He told us to wait for him in silence.

The third man born blind. We're not in church.

The oldest blind person. You don't know where we are.

The third man born blind. I'm scared when I'm silent.

Second born blind. Don't know where the priest went?

The third man born blind. It seems to me that he left us for a long time.

The first person born blind. He became decrepit. It seems he is also blind. He doesn't want to admit it for fear that someone else will take his place with us, but I suspect that he sees almost nothing. We would need another guide. He doesn't listen to us, but there are many of us. He and three nuns are all the sighted people in our orphanage, and they are all older than us!.. I am sure that he got lost and is now looking for his way. Where did he go?.. He doesn’t dare leave us...

The oldest blind man. He's gone far. It seems he warned the women.

The first person born blind. He only talks to women!.. And what about us?.. In the end, we will have to complain.

The oldest blind man. Who will you complain to?

The first person born blind. I don't know yet. Let's see, let's see... But where did he go?.. I address this question to women.

The oldest blind person. He was tired from walking for a long time. It seems he sat down with us for a minute. He hasn't been feeling well for several days now. After the doctor's death, he became afraid of everything. He avoids everyone. He is silent almost all the time. I don't know what happened to him. He definitely wanted to go out today. He said that he wanted to look at the island in sunlight one last time before the onset of winter. The winter seems to be long and cold; Ice floes are already arriving from the north. He was very worried - he said that due to heavy rains the river overflowed and broke through all the dams. He also said that the sea frightens him, it is very agitated, and the coastal cliffs are not high. He wanted to see for himself, but did not tell us anything... Now he must have gone to get bread and water for the mad woman. He said he was going far... Let's wait.

Young blind woman. Before leaving, he held my hands for a long time. His hands shook as if from fear. Then he kissed me...

In 1890, this play was published, and a year later it was staged at the Theater of Art by Paul Faure. It was translated into Russian only four codes after publication. And in 1904, in one of the Moscow theaters it was staged along with several other short plays by Maeterlinck.

Another important character is the baby - the child of a crazy blind woman. He is the only one capable of seeing, but due to such a young age he is not yet able to become a guide for the others.

The oldest woman among the blind is also the most rational. The oldest blind man is also sensible.

The three old blind women, unlike the young blind woman, are completely inactive. They accepted their fate. No matter what happens, she continues to pray.

There are also two other blind men in the play, but they are not particularly active.

There are eight heroes in The Blind Ones: six blind men (3 born blind, an old and 2 ordinary blind), six blind women (3 praying, an old, a young and a crazy one), a dead priest and a sighted child.

At the time of writing the play, Maurice Maeterlinck became interested in the philosophy of symbolism. “Blind” (summary above) is full of a lot of symbolism.

First of all, it is death that surrounds the blind. She is symbolized by the ocean nearby.

Also symbolic is the lighthouse, whose inhabitants see perfectly, but do not look towards the blind (a symbol of science).

Blind heroes are humanity, which in past centuries found its way thanks to faith (church).

Many readers liked the image of humanity, which has lost faith, in the image of the blind without a guide, as Maeterlinck presented them. “The Blind” (analysis and symbols of the play above) influenced the writer’s contemporaries and descendants. The famous philosopher Nicholas Roerich, after staging the play in Moscow, drew a black and white illustration for the play in ink.

Maeterlinck's idea to portray society as a group of blind people prompted José Saramago to write the novel Blindness, based on the plot of which a film of the same name was made in 2008.