ANGER. DEGRADED REBEL AND TRAGIFARSE REVOLUTION (INTERPRETATION OF DYGRESJE NA TEMAT KALOSZY BY MICHAŁ CHOROMAŃSKI)

Abstract

The aim of this article is to attempt a detailed analysis and interpretation of the novel “Dygresje na temat kaloszy” (1966) by Michał Choromański. I have focused my attention primarily on the numerous descriptions of rage in this work, which determines the existence of a mentally unstable individual. In this text, one can also find frequent descriptions of intellectual rebellion directed against foreign axiological models. Importantly, however, Choromański presents the phenomenon of a broadly defined breakthrough (for example: moral, social, cultural, civilizational) in a distorting mirror, with a characteristic dose of irony and sarcasm. Plusk-Zawiły (the main character), although he lives in an unnamed Western country, undertakes a tireless fight in the name of restoring an old-fashioned, thoroughly Sarmatian system of values. The protagonist’s painful defeat results in an outburst of uncontrolled, untamed, psychosomatic impulses. For this reason, I use the recently popular affect theory, the implementation of which allows me to pay more attention to the issue of fluid, difficult to define physical and spiritual tensions, eagerly raised by the author. In “Dygresje na temat kaloszy”, the feeling of rage leads to the melting, crumbling, of the subject’s identity. The enraged subject, it would seem, usually demonstrates his own strength and advantage (both psychological and physical) over the other people. But this is not what happens in “Dygresje na temat kaloszy”. In Choromański’s novel, anger turns out to be a manifestation of weakness, internal instability, and the instability of the ego instance. The writer uses descriptions of rage on an à rebours basis: the more bluntly Plusk-Zawiły expresses his indignation, the more he resembles a clown deprived of power and agency. What is the prospect for an individual who is exceptionally susceptible to the influence of the above-mentioned affect? If we were to follow the writer’s advice given in “Dygresje na temat kaloszy”, we would have to say: there is little that can be done. At best, we can close our eyes and surrender to unbridled intensity.