Father at Home

This original play, which has yet to be performed on a professional stage, develops the story of the “prodigal son” returning to his home for the funeral of his mother. The plot is set at a time of destructive floods. Františák’s play concerns similar themes to that of Jirásek’s drama Father. Both plays grow from the dramatic nature of the relationship to the family inheritance, to the “estate”. The estate not only means physical property, but also a person’s essence, foundations and roots. Jirásek’s play reflects the past which continues in us. Františák’s play depicts an authentic present, asks of the past and seeks the roots of home.

Revenge for a perceived wrong, invisible wounds, envy and covetousness interlace this realistic tragedy with a Czech rural setting. As in the case of his first drama Vojnarka, Jirásek drew his material from the Litomyšl area. The story is simple. The peasant Divíšek has devoted his life to a single thought – to return to the farm which his ancestors lost. When the opportunity arises to buy up the promissory notes of his richer but profligate neighbour, Divíšek does not hesitate a moment before destroying him. However, the demon of jealousy then turns against the one who summoned it: the father infects his son with hatred and jealousy and the son subsequently dies. Jirásek’s coarse and strict play is everything but a revivalist idyll. It is modern in its truthfulness and its merciless depiction of the dark aspects of the Czech nature.