"Małe" - terapią światowców?

Abstract

One of the important features of the representatives of the Enlightenment elites were dreariness and ennui. lS^-century men of the world undertook a number of actions whose task it was to free them from ennui. The favorite tool in the fight with ennui became “small things”. What is small, tiny, engaging the perception, only for a while was a chance of avoiding the feeling of dreariness. Short duration of experiences created by the contact with evanescent phenomena guaranteed a quick change of impressions, which, in a short period of time, offered the variety so desirable in the struggle with ennui. Palaces with a great number of small rooms shocking with the variety of the interior designs were fashionable. The aristocrats collected small palaces each of which was differently furnished. During conversations one subject was interested only for a while, thus changing into a “small subject”. The conversation of that time consisted in jumping from one small subject to another. Great love for one woman was changed into tens of small loves, with many women. The men of the world were engaged, amateurishly, in different activities, changing their talents in one domain into tens of small hobby horses. Thanks to such procedures the representatives of the elites were able to escape from ennui. It was impossible, however, to victoriously overcome it.