Parts of the Orpheus’ myth as topoi of poetry in Heiner Müller: approximations and distances of the poet “under the ploughs”

Abstract

This article analyses passages where Heiner Müller mentions the Orpheus’ myth, especially the prose poetry “Orpheus gepflügt” and the play Der Bau. It inquires how and to what extent his mentions and treatment of this myth can be related to a poet’s characterization which reflects his concepts of poetry and might even justify elements of his own poetry and poetics. In the examination of this matter, it is presented as a result that in “Orpheus gepflügt” Orpheus serves as a contrastive figure, nonetheless, his myth can display a justification for H. Müllers poetic doing. In Der Bau Orpheus is initially and manifestly a refused figure and even object of mockery, however, the sequence of events in the piece shows proximities and identification between Orpheus and the play’s character Poet (Dichter) (who ‘quotes’ the author). These considered passages of his oeuvre are regarded here as a kind of defense and validation of the ‘work with myths’ in his poetry. It is also an object of investigation the way how the author refers to and deals with ancient sources of the myth in his Orpheus’ representation.