Mrštíkova Paní Urbanová

Vilém Mrštík wrote his dramatic debut Paní Urbanová at a time of polemics over realism in which he participated intensively. Of major significance is his essay O realismu v dramatickém umění (1887) in which he defines the key principles of realistic drama. The article thus considers both Mrštík’s texts in complementarity and traces how the theoretical postulates were embodied in an artistic text. The comparison shows that Paní Urbanová diverges from Mrštík’s theoretical premises in practically all key aspects to varying degrees. This is particularly apparent in the characters and the heterogeneity of dramatic effects. Despite its failure on the stage, the significance of Paní Urbanová lies precisely in its contribution to contemporary debates on realism in drama. Together with Mrštík’s theoretical essays, it represents a unique attempt to introduce new requirements on a dramatic piece into the Czech environment.