Charles Robert Maturin
Charles Robert Maturin
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Charles Robert Maturin was a renowned Irish writer, playwright, and Anglican priest. He is often referred to as Charles Robert Maturin or C.R. Maturin.
Birth and Death Dates
Maturin was born on September 22, 1782, in Dublin, Ireland, and passed away on August 26, 1824, also in Dublin.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Charles Robert Maturin held dual citizenship as an Anglo-Irishman, and his profession spanned multiple fields: writer, playwright, Anglican priest, and physician. He was a member of the Church of Ireland and served as a curate in various locations throughout his career.
Early Life and Background
Maturin's family background played a significant role in shaping his life. His father, John Maturin, was a Dublin apothecary who encouraged Charles' interest in writing from an early age. Charles was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he developed his skills as a writer and linguist. After completing his studies, he pursued a career in medicine but eventually turned to writing full-time.
Early Writing Career
Maturin's first published works appeared in the late 1790s and early 1800s. His earliest plays were written for the Dublin stage, showcasing his mastery of the English language and dramatic structure. As his reputation grew, so did his literary output, with numerous plays and novels gaining critical acclaim.
Major Accomplishments
Some of Maturin's notable accomplishments include:
The Milesian Chief (1812) - a novel that showcases his skills as a storyteller
Melmoth the Wanderer (1820) - a seminal work in Gothic fiction, often cited alongside works by other masters of the genre
Bertram; or, The Castle of St. Aldobrand (1816) - a historical drama that explores themes of love, loyalty, and redemptionNotable Works or Actions
Maturin's notable works span multiple genres:
His plays are known for their innovative storytelling techniques and exploration of complex themes.
As a novelist, he demonstrated an uncanny ability to weave intricate plots and create memorable characters.
His non-fiction works, such as The History of the Penal Laws (1812), attest to his commitment to social justice.
Impact and Legacy
Charles Robert Maturin's impact on literature is multifaceted:
He was instrumental in shaping the Gothic fiction genre, influencing writers like Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker.
His plays continue to be performed today, a testament to their enduring appeal and relevance.
As an Anglican priest, he used his writing as a tool for social commentary and critique of societal norms.Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Maturin's quotes are often referenced in literary circles due to their depth and insight into the human condition. Some notable reasons why he remains widely quoted include:
His exploration of themes such as morality, redemption, and the complexities of the human heart continues to resonate with readers today.
As a pioneer of Gothic fiction, his works continue to influence writers across genres.
His quotes often offer poignant commentary on life, love, and the search for meaning.
His contributions to literature are undeniable, and his legacy as a masterful storyteller, social commentator, and scholar remains unassailable.
Quotes by Charles Robert Maturin
They waste life in what are called good resolutions-partial efforts at reformation, feebly commenced, heartlessly conducted, and hopelessly concluded.
Nor cell, nor chain, nor dungeon speaks to the murderer like the voice of solitude.
Beauty hath no lustre save when it gleameth through the crystal web that purity’s fine fingers weave for it.
A time will come, and soon, when, from mere habit, you will echo the scream of every delirious wretch that harbors near you; then you will pause, clasp your hands on your throbbing head, and listen with horrible anxiety whether the scream proceeded from you or them.
A mirth which is not gaiety is often the mask which hides the convulsed and distorted features of agony--and laughter, which never yet was the expression of rapture, has often been the only intelligible language of madness and misery. Ecstasy only smiles--despair laughs.
She was not only unable to make the least allowance for a divergence from this way, but utterly unable to conceive that another existed for those who believed in a God, or acknowledged human power at all. She was as much at a loss to conceive how any good could come out of that Nazareth of her abhorrence, as an ancient geographer would have been to have pointed out America in a classical map.
Many a month of gloomy unconsciousness rolled over me, without date or notice. One thousand waves may welter over a sunk wreck, and be felt as one.
You,—you!” he exclaimed, after a burst of sound that seemed rather like the convulsion of a demoniac, than the mirth, however frantic, of a human being—“you!—oh, there’s metal more attractive! Satan himself, however depraved, has a better taste than to crunch such a withered scrap of orthodoxy as you between his iron teeth. No!