The Polish Studies Initiative at OSU presents:
"Dramatizing Dualism: The Literary Double and Poland’s Split Personality in the Late 19th-Century"
Justin Wilmes, PhD candidate and recipient of the 2013 Polish Studies Initiative Research Grant, will present his work on Boleslaw Prus's novel The Doll in the larger context of late nineteenth century Polish culture. The novel's protagonist, Stanisław Wokulski, and other characters are torn between Romantic notions of love and Positivist impulses toward science, business and social progress. Set twenty years after the failed uprising of 1863, at a time when not only Romantic, but also Positivist ideas were waning, the novel and its hero attempt to navigate changing social and economic structures, as well as reconcile Romantic idealism with the pragmatic economic interests of the Positivists. Justin's article-in-progress analyzes Prus's use of the literary double as a device in exploring Wokulski's dualism and, more broadly, the split personality of Poland at this time.
Light refreshments will be served after the presentation.
For more information about the 2014 Polish Studies Initiative Research Grants (due Feb 3), please see: http://slaviccenter.osu.edu/about/polish-studies/grants-scholarships or contact Jessie Labov.
