The nineteenth century is the period of the era of romanticism that spread over virtually all of Europe. A return to the roots, folk beliefs and fairy tales, an explosion of imagination and heroism interwoven with personal suffering. What a time it was! Today we can discover romanticism through art - sculpture, painting and literature. And probably in every nation this era gave birth to great writers and poets. In Poland it was Adam Mickiewicz, whose song "Pan Tadeusz", written in thirteen syllables, became known as a national epic. Mickiewicz was famous for his rich imagination, extraordinary talent and numerous romances. And while many women had passed through Adam's life, the only relationship he had faithfully endured until his death was with alcohol.
Creativity and stimulants
It has been known for a long time that the greatest authors: writers, poets and painters were rarely abstinent. Stimulants were either an escape for minds tired of creative work and sensitive, "seeing more" souls, or they were a kind of magic elixir that was supposed to evoke inspiration and creative visions.
However, different poets and writers had different addictions. In the past centuries, drugs were quite popular, especially opium or ether (used in the nineteenth century for dental anesthesia), which allowed artists to "move" to another dimension from which they drew inspiration. For example, Polish poets - Zygmunt Krasiński and Juliusz Słowacki, who used drugs to stimulate the imagination were lovers of opiates. Historian Włodzimierz Szturc later wrote that "out of love for their own imagination, they became its slaves". Mickiewicz was not a drug. He didn't have to stimulate his imagination. On the contrary, he needed help to tame her. And even alcohol helped him.
Analysis of the poem, or what the author meant
One of the most hated elements of a literature lesson among students is analyzing poems and guessing "what did the author mean?" How many of us have wiped sweat from our foreheads and strained our brains to the limit to guess why the curtains on the windows are blue or what the metaphor used in the poem means! A look at the context in which these pieces were created makes it possible to understand why it is all so difficult! Because how is a poor, young, completely sober student supposed to figure out what was born in the mind of the poet's drug-stimulated mind !?
Coffee, tobacco and alcohol
If you are one of those who start their day with coffee and cigarettes, you could shake hands with Mickiewicz. Yes, the poet has become addicted to these three drugs in his life. He started work with sunrise, at 5 am he was already drinking coffee and not avoiding tobacco. Well - it follows that at least he didn't start his day with alcohol.
And when did Mickiewicz start drinking? This is not known, but probably at a young student age, along with other filarets. To this day, somewhere in the middle of the forest, near Nowogrodek, there is a large stone. Young pillars were to meet under this stone. They lit a fire (perhaps not only a fire) and spent all nights discussing poetic inspiration, singing and improvising. Well, you have to be naive to think they were sitting there "dry-mouthed."
What alcohol did Mickiewicz drink?
Well, probably everyone that was available. And Mickiewicz's numerous journeys around European lands allow us to suspect that he had the opportunity to taste a great many drinks. Homemade liqueurs, vodkas (which we would probably describe today as moonshine) or beer could reign supreme in his native Nowogródek and Vilnius region. There was certainly no shortage of wine in Russian salons, Crimean steppes, Roman hills and Parisian cobblestones! Oh, Mickiewicz had traveled along the alcohol trail before it was fashionable. Well, finally - Mickiewicz was a great poet!
Medical recommendations
You will think: oh this Mickiewicz, nasty alcoholic, how not ashamed him! Meanwhile, this opinion can be quite unfair for the poet. It should be remembered that the nineteenth century was governed by slightly different rules. Some psychoactive substances and alcohol were not only considered harmful, but were even recommended by doctors of the time as health-promoting measures! Mickiewicz was very sensitive to his health and often fell into hypochondriacal states.
He also believed in the healing power of alcohol! This belief was to be so strong that on his deathbed (probably dying of cholera), instead of water or medicinal herbs, the poet asked for a glass of coffee with cognac.
Whether it put Mickiewicz on his feet even for a moment - we do not know. On the other hand, we can say without a doubt that he was more faithful to his love of alcohol than to his love of women!
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