(Nie)emocjonalne w twórczości Olgi Tokarczuk

Abstract

The subject of the study is the specificity and various manifestations of emotionality in the works of Olga Tokarczuk. The topic is relevant by defolt, as emotions are a fundamental part of the human psyche, which is a primary focus in the writer‘s artistic „explorations”. The aim of the research is to highlight the role and functions of the characters’ emotions, to trace the evolution/involution of these emotions, as well as the emotional amplitude determined by gender. The study also encompasses the creative and exploratory perspective of the author herself – whether and to what extent her perception of the world and its existential aspects (both anthropological and nonanthropological) is non/emotional; whether the characters in her novels and short stories exert emotional influence on their creator, drawing her into their emotional orbit, or conversely, whether she observes them from a distance, maintaining a neutral (“indifferent”) stance toward her own creations. The methods used include: the cognitive method, the method of semantic and psychological analysis, and the comparative method. The synthesized results of the study indicate that the world of emotions motivates and organizes relationships between people, influences the perception and conceptualization of reality, and “paints” the mental and linguistic picture of the world – in both the conscious and unconscious mental space of the subject. The effectiveness of these relationships depends on the ability to manage one‘s own emotions. Emotions also leave their mark on external events. They have the power to transform the world.