Vaclav Havel’s view of history – An interpretation attempt

Abstract

The article presents Vaclav Havel’s views on history as a unity of the beliefs of Havel-playwright, Havel-politician, and Havel-idealist. Theatre and public activity permeate each other and mold into one. The beliefs of Havel — a playwright and writer, leader of the opposition movement and president, was formed in the intellectually and politically active opposition to the reality of communist Czechoslovakia. Havel’s writing as well as his political activity as well reveal a view of history as: (a) a dispute between historical necessity and individual freedom, (b) an obstacle threatening the authenticity of existence with its pretense, or (c) as the only field in which to seek identity. In Havel’s view of history, the latter is the arena of struggles and choices, between avoiding and taking responsibility for them, passive observation of events and active participation in them, laughing and experiencing the world from a metaphysical perspective. It is between these pairs of opposites that Havel’s view of history is stretched.