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Maurice Maeterlinck (1862-1949) was a prolific Belgian playwright, poet, and essayist writing at the turn of the 20th century, who was a key figure in the Symbolist movement. His works often explored themes of fate and human destiny, imbued with a mystical quality that transcended the realism of the time. Maeterlinck's style is characterized by its poeticism, use of allegory, and exploration of the metaphysical. His renowned play, 'Pelléas and Melisande' (1892), is a masterpiece of Symbolist theatre, where he intricately wove themes of forbidden love, jealousy, and death, set in an ethereal and dreamlike environment. This play was later adapted into an opera by the composer Claude Debussy, which further solidified its position in the canon of classical arts. Maeterlinck's contribution to literature was recognized with the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1911, cementing his status as one of the major figures of early 20th-century literature. His works are studied for their innovative use of language and the profound philosophical questions they raise about the nature of existence and the unseen forces that govern it.
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