Patriotism and Highlanders Virtues in “The Highland Lute”

Abstract

Everything I have stated before about Fishta’s patriotism and his genuinely Albanian national aspirations, that promoted him in all his writing and activity, coincide with what has been expressed by other old and young scholars, who had the same assessment about the Fishta figure.
“Talking about Fishta is the same as talking about Albania’s affairs, about its early, recent and current affairs”

The last years of the XIX century and particularly the first decade of the XX century mark the pinnacle of Gjergj Fishta’s comprehensive activity. He was at the forefront of efforts for national freedom and independence, leading the working group for the unification of the Albanian alphabet, chairing the relevant committee of 1908’s the Monastir Congress.
At “The highland Lute” we see Gjergj Fishta’s connection with ‘shqiptaria’ (Albanianism). This is related to the idea of patriotism of Albanians, but also the curse of half of the highlanders mentioned by Fishta in his master piece “The highland Lute”, led by Ded Gjo Luli, were locals from the
Albanian lands, later on annexed by Montenegro.

Gjergj Fishta knew “The highland” very well, as he wrote about the brave deeds and generosity of the highlanders one of the most beautiful poems of Albanian literature, sang in his masterpiece the wide spaces of wisdom, bravery and proverbial generosity of the highlanders, affirming in monumental verses the ardent pride and patriotism of the highlanders of Hoti and the Highlands as a whole. Above all, as Count Lamartine wrote: “The only thing that does not change for Albanians is their passion for independence and glory.”