A comparison of selected aspects of Norwid’s and Dostoyevski’s historiosophy (Transl. Tadeusz Karłowicz)

Abstract

The article presents a comparative analysis of Norwid's and Dostoyevsky's attitudes towards the issue of the 19^th century Messianism. In Part I a review is done of the Russian writer's most important statements tackling the problem of Russians as the “nation-God-carrier”, and the widespread opinions about Dostoyevsky as a follower of Messianism are revised. In Part II Norwid's stance on Polish messianic attitudes is presented. Next, a comparative analysis is made of Norwid's and Dostoyevsky's opinions on the attitudes of Poles exiled to Siberia. The final part of the article is an attempt to answer the questions about the cultural or religious patterns that led both writers to the phenomenon of Messianism, and about what factors were the cause why these attitudes appear to the recipients of their texts as diametrically different