The Vulnerability of Living Beings. „The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” by Jacqueline Kelly Cover Image

Słabość istot żywych. „Ewolucja według Calpurnii Tate” Jacqueline Kelly
The Vulnerability of Living Beings. „The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate” by Jacqueline Kelly

Author(s): Alicja Mazan-Mazurkiewicz
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Psychology, Environmental Geography, Ethics / Practical Philosophy, History of ideas, Social psychology and group interaction, Theory of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: novel; ancient Greek tragedy; Darwinism; weakness; sympathy

Summary/Abstract: The article is an analysis and interpretation of Jacqueline Kelly’s novel The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (situated in the context of the writer’s work and, more broadly, the trend of retro youth novels). Referring to the concept of catharsis constitutive of Greek tragedy (offered to the recipient to experience pity and fear), I would like to present The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate as a work that offers compassion, sadness and hope – a “weak” version of catharsis, adjusted to the sensitivity of the young reader, and, at the same time, not distorting the difficult truth about the world. Above all, the category of weakness, common to people and other human beings have been highlighted. The primary goal of the article is, therefore, to extract the axiological message of the novel. To do so, a compilation of various methodologies (comparative studies, ecocriticism, feminist criticism), and a research tool have been used.

  • Issue Year: 2024
  • Issue No: 6
  • Page Range: 1-18
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Polish
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