Myths vs reality in Olga Tokarczuk’ collection of essays “Czuły narrator”

Abstract

In her fiction and essays, О. Tokarczuk manifests inclination toward original interpretation of reality through a prism of mythology, reflection of the present by means of archaic optics, using instruments of universal plots, motives and characters. Her collection of essays “Chuły narrator” shows the writer’s evident interest in reevaluation of common notions about reality, deconstruction of stereotypical judgements and transformation of the traditional world picture under the influence of mythological worldview. The available literature studies, related to the book “Chuły narrator”, mainly consider narrative strategies on the basis of the concept “tender narrator”, introduced by the Polish writer in her Nobel Prize lecture. However, in the scientific discourse there is a lack of publications, dedicated to thorough analysis of O. Tokarczuk’s “Chuły narrator”, in particular, its neomythological attributes, that determines topicality and novelty of the theme of our research. The purpose of the study is to find out mythological intertexts in O. Tokarczuk’s book “Chuły narrator”, and also identify neomythological characteristics of her essays. In order to achieve the purpose, the following methods were used: contextual, intertextual, semiotic and poetological. Analysis of the essays in the book “Chuły narrator” allows making a conclusion about philosophical style as an indispensable feature of the Polish writer’s literary works. The author continuously rests on basic mythological notions about the Universe, fundamental philosophical categories, classic literature heritage and ideas of progressive thinkers of the past and present. One of O. Tokarczuk’s favorite motives is the journey motive which is interpreted on the basis of mythology and the author’s experience. The author virtuously interprets the archaic binary opposition “own–alien”, outlining the evolution of the idea about borders which are illusions that continue to cause large-scale disasters and crimes and deprive the world of its uniqueness. O. Tokarczuk’s works are characterized by numerous allusions to the works of verbal and visual art, intermedial method of articulating her viewpoints. The prospects of further research could be seen in studying O. Tokarczuk’s works in terms of intertextual relationships with the major philosophical systems and ideas of the leading thinkers of the present and past.