The animation of the inanimate in Maiakovski’s drama works.

Abstract

This study aims at identifying, in Maiakovski’s drama works, elements of puppet theatre language. An attempt is made to understand how Maiakovski appropriates expressions from puppet theatre language and recreates them by giving them a new function in his plays. The work of that poet, artist and actor is far-reaching. However, this study addresses five of his most representative plays, namely Vladimir Maiakovski: uma tragedia (1913); Misterio Bufo (1917-1918, and its second version from 1921); O percevejo (1928); Os banhos (1929) and Moscou em Chamas (1930). Maiakovski uses puppet theatre language in different ways in his drama texts, such as talking names, the puppet as an allegory and the humanisation of objects.