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Birth of Václav 1936-2011
Havel was born in Prague Czechoslovakia to Václav Maria Havel his father a ( Real estate developer) and Božena Vavrečková his mother. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vaclav-Havel -
Military
Completed his military service under the United States as a first class sergeant. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vaclav-Havel -
Zahradní Slavnost (The Garden Party)
first solo play categorized as bizarre "satirical examination of bureaucratic routines and their dehumanizing effects"
-satire on the Communist regime
-fear and lies
-speaking rubbish creates relationships https://lesleychamberlain.wordpress.com/2013/12/19/50-years-since-vaclav-havels-the-garden-party/ -
Marriage
Married to Olga Šplichalova on July 9 1964, divorced and then married Dagmar Havlová on January 4th 1997. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-01-05-mn-15657-story.html -
Vyrozumění (The Memorandum)
Best know play
-power of of language, Ptydepe
-breakdown of human relationships
-struggle/ misuse of power
-morals of living in a totalitarian political system. https://www.czech-stuff.com/vyrozumeni-by-vaclav-havel-english-translation-memorandum/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vaclav-Havel -
Plays
Over Václav Havals lifetime he wrote and produced more than 20 plays, in addition he also also directed films and wrote books (Protokloy a collections and series of his plays and essays). https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vaclav-Havel -
Education
Václav studied at the Economics Faculty of the Czech Technical University of Prague and obtained a degree from The Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1967. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/dec/18/vaclav-havel -
Banned
After the soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 Vaclav was blacklisted due to his plays, his work was banned in Czechoslovakia and restricted from traveling abroad. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vaclav-Havel -
Leadership
Prominent leader in the liberal reforms of 1968 (Prague spring) which was a time of political liberalization.
GOALS
-grant additional rights to citizens of Czechoslovakia
-loosen restrictions on media, speech and travel https://history.state.gov/milestones/1961-1968/soviet-invasion-czechoslavkia#:~:text=On%20August%2020%2C%201968%2C%20the,unity%20of%20the%20communist%20bloc. -
places they lived
Václav lived in Prague for his entire life he did occasionally move homes within the city. https://english.radio.cz/vaclav-havels-prague-a-guided-tour-8204780 -
Open letter
Wrote a letter to Dr. Gustav Husák (secretary of communist party) critiquing the communist regime. -living and acting out of fear (“create a perfect country”
-secret police (always watching and hearing)
-lost faith in the future https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vaclav-Havel -
Charter of 77
called out the government for not complying on agreed statements they signed off on a number of documents.
-The constitution of Czechoslovakia
-Final act of the 1975 conference Charter 77 strives for human and civil rights https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/charter-77 -
imprisonment
due to his political activities Václav was imprisoned for 5 years under the Soviet regime. https://www.dw.com/en/from-imprisoned-dissident-to-president-vaclav-havel-remembered-at-frankfurt-book-fair/a-50865339 -
Rock n Roll
Loved the Rolling Stones in a country that made rock n roll illegal (USSR). Underground bands influenced Václav to rebel against the communist regime. https://www.vhlf.org/havel-in-the-media/on-this-day-in-1990-the-rolling-stones-held-a-historic-concert-in-prague/ -
velvet revolution
Václav was a leading figure of a coalition agreement between the communist party and the civic forum. This agreement ended a 40 year conflict between communism and democracy. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vaclav-Havel -
president
Václav was the last and first noncommunist president of Czechoslovakia (1989- 92) and the first president of the Czech Republic ( 1993-2003). https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vaclav-Havel -
Health Issues
Václav had respiratory problems due to being a heavy smoker he soon developed lung cancer. He removed part of his right lung when his was diagnosed. https://english.radio.cz/vaclav-havel-cancels-engagements-due-health-problems-8403596 -
Resigned
Václav was barred constitutionally from continuing his 3rd term as a result he stepped down as president in 2003. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vaclav-Havel -
quotes
"Follow the man who seeks the truth; run from the man who has found it"- Vaclav Havel -
Children
Václav had no children, therefore his wife inherited his fortune and estates after his death in 2011. https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/19/world/europe/vaclav-havel-dissident-playwright-who-led-czechoslovakia-dead-at-75.html