O dydaktyzmie Powieści wschodnich Ignacego Krasickiego
About Didacticism in Eastern Novels

Summary/Abstract: The collection of nineteen Powieści wschodnich (Eastern novels) by Ignacy Krasicki constitutes one of the realizations of the genre of a tale in the literature of the Polish Enlightenment. Schematic construction of the world presented in the stories is submitted to extra-aesthetic tasks, mainly deological and educational. Didacticism appears here as moral recommendations, universal truths and repetitive situations, possessing a universal value, to some extent still contemporary. Krasicki supports the style of life filled with a stoic calm and order, in compliance with the truths of nature, where virtue guarantees common happiness obtained due to the obedience to the will of parents and Providence, diligent work and restriction of desires and passions. Thus, he recommends judiciousness, reasonable decision making, moderation in the pursuit to pleasure and patient bearing of adversities. The author pays attention to the distinction between good deeds towards God and the closest ones, and the appearances, which deludingly seem like philanthropic acts.

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