The cleanliness of Lord Singelworth

Dariusz Pniewski

doi:10.18290/sn.2020.39.8en

Published : 2024-12-13

Vol. 39 No. English Version (2021)

The cleanliness of Lord Singelworth

Dariusz Pniewski

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9828-5013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18290/sn.2020.39.8en

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of the protagonist of Tajemnica Lorda Singelworth [Lord Singleworth’s Secret] in terms of the 19th-century imagology. The analysis shows that the character was created on the basis of stereotypes of the British that were popular in Europe at that time. They account for Singleworth’s oddities such as flying in a hot air balloon or his obsession with cleanliness. They also explain why the majority of those who observed Lord’s balloon passion unanimously accepted its surprising justification – the need to deal with his gastric problems. This is then complemented by the peculiar arrogance, moral motivation for action, sense of mission and escapism. The author of the paper assumes that the character of an Englishman developed in such a way and placed in Venice on the threshold of historical changes might be a literary self-portrait of Norwid.

Keywords:

imagology, aeronautics, English malady, American Revival

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References

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Dariusz Pniewski

dariusz.pniewski@umk.pl
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9828-5013

Affiliation:

Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń Poland

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Dariusz Pniewski – PhD, Professor at the Nicolaus Copernicus University, Faculty of Humanities in Toruń, author of the monographs: Między obrazem i słowem. Studia o poglądach estetycznych i twórczości literackiej Norwida, published by Wydawnictwo KUL in 2005 and Przywłaszczenie i strata. Romantic transfigurations of Jesus, published by Wydawnictwo Naukowe UMK in 2014. He studies literary texts and aesthetic thought of Cyprian Norwid, literature, painting and aesthetics of European Romanticism (British, French, German, Russian and Polish), as well as artistic uses of the figure of Jesus in extra-religious contexts (especially social and political).