”The Dusk Will Fall,” or the Story of Bianca Cover Image

„Zmierzch będzie zapadał”, albo Historia Bianki
”The Dusk Will Fall,” or the Story of Bianca

Author(s): Wiera Meniok
Subject(s): Polish Literature, Ukrainian Literature, Cultural Essay, Philology, Theory of Literature
Published by: Fundacja Terytoria Książki
Keywords: Bruno Schulz; schulz studies; literary theory; interwar period; polish literature;

Summary/Abstract: Who was Bianca and what is this dusk which falls inevitably whenever she starts talking about something most important? This is the basic question to which Joseph tries to find an answer. She was an Infant Queen and the Messiah at the same time. And both aspects Joseph almost managed to prove or at least acquire faith in their existence realized in terms of abduction and suffering. But Bianca was also a Woman who realized “fully” only her female aspect. That aspect of her Joseph could neither predict or fully understand. He could not bear it or defeat it in the realms “above and beneath” Bianca’s flesh. The Woman won in her and that victory liberated a Demon which brought Joseph to madness, his highest idea to total bankruptcy, andhis love to incessantly falling dusk. Joseph never experienced the erotic womanhood ofBianca, but he experienced its demonism. He failed to revive in her the Infant Queen and the Messiah – she made her own choice.

  • Issue Year: 2/2013
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 97-102
  • Page Count: 6
  • Language: Polish