Tagore of India was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 and Romain Rolland was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1915. The two great writers had many and quite in-depth exchanges. Tagore once said that Romain Rowland said that contemporary Western literature most understands those who sympathize with him. Romain Rolland said: "Of all those who are alive in this world, I am his only spiritual companion. ”
How do you see the relationship between them? In particular, what do you think of Roman Rowland's anger at Tagore expressed in his diary? These are interesting and quite important questions.
Mr. Luo Dagang, an expert in French literature and Roman Roland studies in our country, has recorded and described the interaction between them. In April 1921, Tagore roamed Europe and they met for the first time in Paris. This time they both made a good impression on each other.
From June 21 to July 4, 1926, Tagore went to Europe again, staying in Geneva for half a month, visiting villa Olga every day. He and Romain Rowland sometimes enjoy music together and sometimes walk hand in hand on the shores of Lake Lemong. On the day of the farewell, Roman Roland choked on tears and clinged to it. He thought that the breakup with Tagore was a farewell for the two of them. (Luo Dagang, On Roman Roland, Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House, 1979, p. 103.) ）
Four years later, however, in August 1930, Tagore went to Geneva again to visit him "the only spiritual companion among the living in this world." The situation is different.
Luo Dagang wrote: "The 'spiritual partner' does not seem to be suitable for getting old together. Over time, Roman Roland got bored. As usual, he wrote his impressions bluntly in his diary. First of all, Tagore's gushing, rambling conversations are tiresome to listen to for a long time. He was good at words, and as soon as he opened his mouth, it was like a flood, gushing, and others did not even have room to interject, let alone interrupt him. Tagore used beautiful words to spread a layer of mist around him, hiding himself in the fog and making the interlocutor unpredictable. When people asked Tagore questions, he was often reluctant to answer them directly, but seized the opportunity to express his endless poetry through the title. Coupled with his oriental, patriarchal reticence and high standard of morality, he and his interlocutors formed an insurmountable wall. This situation made Romain Rolland feel unbearable: 'I love him and admire him; yet (can I say frankly?') Not once did I feel an irrepressible anger when I met with him, and I longed to leave my seat in disgust, to ignore it, to smash his solemn appearance, that unbearable reticence. (Luo Dagang, On Roman Roland, Shanghai Literature and Art Publishing House, 1979, p. 103.) ）
When I first saw this passage many years ago, I was a little surprised, but didn't think about it further. Now that I revisit this passage, I have a little feeling: I don't know what Tagore said about their interaction. Just by looking at these descriptions, those who have read Tagore's poetry can more or less appreciate Tagore's state of "endless poetry". Here we can see the limits of Romain Rolland's psychic power, which he could not understand in terms of cultural differences, as well as Tagore's entire personality and deep psychological complex. Tagore's reason for this is due to the life experience between him, and his life highlights the blow of multiple death of relatives. His poetry is his way of dissolving these pains.
For Tagore, of course, his poetry often made him less aware, making him forget the influence of his dealings and words on others. Here, it seems that Romain Rowland seems to be slightly superior in terms of awareness.
I was puzzled that Romain Rowland's inner conflict at the time was strong, why didn't he choose to seize the moment and tell him frankly how he felt about Tagore? Why would he rather suppress himself and express his inner conflicts in his diary? I think that being able to express yourself to your friends the most authentically is the greatest respect for your friends, whether there is right or wrong, this is the most real collision and communication between the hearts, and the two sides will have a higher level of living and improvement...
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