Kostas Karyotakis (1896–1928): did the great Greek suicidal poet suffer from syphilis?

Abstract

Kostas Karyotakis is one of the most important Greek poets. His works reflect his existential, pessimistic and satirical tone. He was born in Tripolis, studied Law and spent most of his life working as a public servant. Since 1922 he was aware that he was suffering from syphilis. The disease seems to be the reason why he never accepted the full love of Maria Polydouri, a Greek lyric poet. Karyotakis' conventional life and his many detachments made him feel depressed, a fact that has led many to believe that a clinical depression caused his suicidal ideation. However, the fear of neurosyphilis appears to be the most decisive factor that led to him committing suicide in Preveza. This view is supported by a poem he wrote about the disease, the words of his contemporaries and his suicidal note.

Maria Polydouri (1902–1930): The Greek poète maudit who died of tuberculosis

“…Their parallel lives and untimely deaths created a melodramatic mythology around them. Just as Karyotakis committed suicide overwhelmed by his syphilis and depressive feelings, 7 Polydouri, a Greek Poe`te maudit, 2 refused to fight her tuberculosis conventially because even if she could survive she would not be happy with her life. 17 It is not surprising that Polydouri's best poems were written while ill with tuberculosis at the sanatorium of Sotiria Hospital.…”

“…5,6 However, in the summer of 1922 Karyotakis discovered he had syphilis. 7 Polydouri, indifferent to the social stigma of the time and the chances of transmission, wrote to him on 12 October 1922 asking him to marry her without giving birth to any children. 2 Inevitably, due to Karyotakis' temperament their affair came to an end.…”