The Polissian Village in the Prose of Lesya Ukrainka and Józef Kraszewski (Imagological Perspective)

Abstract

The article delves into the necessity of clarifying the imagological approach in literature studies. It argues that imagology serves as an antithetical branch of comparative studies, aiming to eliminate negative connotations from the „Other”, to
reintegrate culture-creating elements into nationalism, and to differentiate the concept of nationalism from that of Nazism. The imagological perspective illuminates facets of a writer’s worldview that pertain to the fusion of national identity with a tolerant disposition toward other nations, ethnic groups, races, and other forms of Otherness.
For the first time, the prose of Józef Kraszewski is juxtaposed with that of Lesya
Ukrainka, particularly focusing on their works set in the villages of Volyn and Polissya, themes influenced by the writers’ biographies. Lesya Ukrainka’s article Notes on the Newest Polish Literature (1900) sheds light on her perception of Kraszewski’s work, symbolizing a transformative journey from romanticism to realism within literature. Aesthetic parallels exist between the authors, especially concerning their view on the role of romanticism and realism in European literary progression, involving a fusion of romantic perspectives with realistic narrative techniques.
The article examines Kraszewski’s stories such as Ulyana, Savka, Ostap Bondarchuk, as well as his non-fiction prose Memories from Polissia, Volhynia and Lithuania. It also considers Lesya Ukrainka’s prose works, including This is Her Fate!, Holy Evening! (Sketches), Volynskyi Images, Lonely, and Amicability. Despite originating from distinct cultural epochs and displaying numerous divergences in their creative outputs, a shared imagological analysis unveils significant commonalities. Both authors display an interest in the psychology of international relationships. Each writer embodies a conscious representative of their respective national culture, yet they place a representative from another nation at the core of their narratives. Individuality, stemming from national self-expression, holds paramount importance for both Kraszewski and Lesya Ukrainka. Both writers remain unprejudiced toward members of other nations, with biographically driven exposure to different cultures consistently serving as a means of personal enrichment.