„K tríznivcom mluvím ešte pármi slovy...” – the speech of Martin Tamaškovič against animal abuse

Abstract

The noble townsman of the city Trnava Martin Branislav Tamaškovič (1803-1872) actively participated in the activities related to the Enlightenment movement, politics, creation of unions, culture and literature during the most crucial times of the Slovak National Revival Movement. Through his activities he initiated and led activities that had a positive impact on the whole society: he supported the idea of national identity, education of the locals, fought against alcoholism, pointed out the negative effects of smoking, tried to remove poverty, pointed out the importance of hygiene, and also he presented his views on animal abuse. The last area was considered relatively new in the context of the Enlightenment movement and Tamaškovič became its local pioneer. As a member of the Viennese Union Against Animal Abuse, he published a short poem Reč proti trýznení zwírat in 1857. This study analyses the poem from the „nobel“ and „man as a hunter“ point of view while it also provides the scholar with the evidence showing Tamaškovič’s efforts to popularize this issue among society. The scholar with the evidence showing Tamaškovič’s efforts to popularize this issue among society.