How did Grigol Robakidze develop themes from Vazha-Pshavela's The Snake-Eater?

Grigol Robakidze, a prominent dramatist and novelist who was a pupil of the renowned Georgian poet Vazha-Pshavela, explored themes from his mentor's tragic narrative poem The Snake-Eater (1901) in his own work, The Snake Skin.1

In this tale, Robakidze developed the themes of The Snake-Eater by focusing on a poet’s search for his true identity. While Vazha-Pshavela’s original work is celebrated for its unique combination of Caucasian folk myth and human tragedy, Robakidze’s adaptation reflects the broader influence of European Decadence and Symbolism that inspired many young Georgian writers of the 20th century.1