СONCEPT “DEATH” IN WORKS OF DANIEL BRATKOWSKI

Abstract

The article deals with the concept of death in poetry collection “The world is considered in parts” of Daniel Bratkowski. According to the previous statistic, thanatic motives play key role in the system of author’s image. Many poems of collection (more than sixty three) highlight the problems of death, connected with them the images of the sky and hell, opposite to this theme the life concept. The biographical information of the writer adds this problematic because the author died a martyr’s death, gave his life for his ideals.

A kind of beginning of death concept development were existential reflections about the transience of human life and vanity of all good. The poems are imbued with such motives “Everything falls apart”, “The world – paint”, “World alternative”, “Secular politic”, “The world hasn’t enough, doesn’t know what asks” and others. In particular, he focused on the images of real treasure, obtained on earth and the transience of wealth, fame, high ranks. The reason for this wasn’t only Bratkowski’s philosophical beliefs but life’s trouble and difficulties he had to overcome. Therefore, through the prism of universal values, personal motives based on the self-word counterbalance are viewed.

Concept of death in Bratkowski’s verses is detailed in the paintings of death of his mother, father, elder brother, young man, old man, the death of the poor and the rich etc. This life practice, which is the basis of the primary meaning of the image of death, gradually passes into higher categories. The author meant death as a reward for a righteous, for suffering. In contrast to the prose literature of this period, in baroque poetry of Bratkovwski there is no glorification of persons, especially prominent figures of his time. The thanatic motives of his lyrics are mundane at first glance – pictures of human everyday life are painted, after which a person passes to the heavenly transcendence. The most common antonymous method of covering the concept of death can be considered the counterbalanced of heaven and hell, death and life. The power of God rises above them who is opposed to all uncleanness and ungodliness. The culmination is the last verse of the collection which promises all the righteous a happy eternal abode in the heavenly abode.