Tragiczne i komiczne konteksty terminu Świętej Inkwizycji w polskim romantyzmie : jeszcze o "Auto-da-fe. Komedii w jednym akcie i jednej scenie" Cypriana Norwida

Abstract

Had it not been for Romantic poets, the term auto‑da‑fé, which originated from Portuguese and is invariably connected with the institution of Inquisition, would probably be linked in our culture only with Spain. However, Romantic contexts of this term show various associations. Mickiewicz refers to it without exception in a serious and tragic mood, fitting patriotic‑martyrological circumstances that heroise his characters. Słowacki enriches it with irony and auto‑ irony that may approach the comic, treating auto‑da‑fé as a metaphor for burning his own or – in the textual world – fictional writings. Similarly, Krasiński makes reference to the hypothetical annihilation of his manuscripts. Finally, Norwid turns to parody and proposes its allegorical interpretation to draw attention to the nineteenth century crisis of readership.