Conception of holiness in the works by Zofia Kossak-Szczucka

Abstract

The article analyses one of the most important thematic complexes of works by Zofia Kossak-Szczucka — Conception of Holiness. The writer gave a special place to this problem in the novel “Tunic of Nessus”, but the ideal of Christian morality is presented in all her works without exception. The prototype of the Polish saint was for the writer Piotr Skarga, with whom she was united not only by spiritual ideals, but also by Christian literary metadiscourse. Zofia Kossak-Szczucka presented holiness in several interrelated dimensions — educational earthly and heavenly. The biographical factor remains important, as Zofia Kossak-Szczucka relied on her own life experience and the environment in which she lived in the interpretation of holiness. Also, drawing on the experience of previous generations, Zofia Kossak painted the image of “ordinary holiness” through the prism of national history. Particularly telling was her imprisonment during World War II and her concentration camp, where she testified to God with her moral steadfastness and humanity. Long years of emigration and socialistic realities contributed to the formation of the image of the “Polish saint” in the works of the writer.