THE GOLEM MYTH IN BRUNO SCHULZ

• Authors: Looby R.
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

This essay outlines elements of the golem myth, both in the stricter, kabbalistic sense, and in the broader, popularised sense in Bruno Schulz. Rather than recreate a monolithic version of the ancient Jewish legend, he mixes in elements of more modern, western European literature, such as Meyrink's 'Der Golem'. In the figure of Father, we find as well as the fasting and meditation of Jewish Mysticism allusions to spontaneous adoration of later Hasidism. The basic concepts of creation laid down in the stories are kabbalistic, and characters such as Edzio, Dodo and Hieronim as well as the waxwork dummies in Wiosna are recognisable as golems. Being the creations of - however pious - imperfect man, they too are characterised by shortcomings and defects. Furthermore, as in the kabbala, their purpose is to demonstrate the creative power of the word, rather than perform useful actions.

Keywords

EN

JEWISH MYSTICISM; KABBALA; MEYRINK ('DER GOLEM'); SCHULZ BRUNO (GOLEM MYTH)

Discipline

• PHILOLOGY_&_LINGUISTICS: PHILOLOGY & LINGUISTICS

• Publisher: Instytut Badań Literackich PAN
• Journal: Pamiętnik Literacki
• Year: 2007
• Volume: 98
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 93-105
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Looby R.

• R. Looby, Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski, al. Raclawickie 14, 20-950 Lublin, Poland

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

07PLAAAA02685482