Licentious Wokulski. On the Erotic Allusions in Bolesław Prus’ “The Doll” Cover Image

Rozpustny Wokulski. O aluzjach erotycznych w „Lalce” Bolesława Prusa
Licentious Wokulski. On the Erotic Allusions in Bolesław Prus’ “The Doll”

Author(s): Wacław Forajter
Subject(s): Literary Texts
Published by: Instytut Badań Literackich Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: BOLESŁAW PRUS; “THE DOLL” BY PRUS; STANISŁAW WOKULSKI; KAZIMIERA WĄSOWSKA; THE EROTIC ALLUSIONS IN “THE DOLL”

Summary/Abstract: The article reflects upon the character of the complex relations of the discourses of modernity with the central thread of The Doll, i.e. Stanislaw Wokulski’s affection for Izabella Łęcka. The author of the paper shows the ostensible inconsistencies and concealments of the work written in 1890 which refer, above all, to sexual issues: the wealthy merchant’s Parisian “debauchery,” and his attitude to a Warsaw prostitute, and to Kazimiera Wąsowska. In his polemics with the existing readings of The Doll, Forajter proves an analogy between the way Wokulski’s mind is presented and Michael Foucault’s theory of modern subject. Stress is also put on the process of Wokulski’s “liberation” from the limits imposed by sexual discourses: his attitude to prostitution, the idea of marriage, moral norms, etc.

  • Issue Year: 2009
  • Issue No: 4
  • Page Range: 23-52
  • Page Count: 30
  • Language: Polish