Norwid and Provence of the Roman times

Abstract

The author discusses Norwid’s connections with Provence in four aspects. The first of them are Provencal motifs in the poet’s biography: his journey to the south of France in 1858, Norwid’s brothers, Ludwik and Ksawery, moving houses to Provence, presentation of Norwid’s etchings at an exhibition in Nimes in 1865. The second part of the article inscribes the image of Provence shown in Norwid’s works into the context of Mediterranean myths and the culture of northern France on the basis of conclusions drawn from Notes on Mythology and Orbis Album that he had read. In the third part the motif of Marseille proves especially significant, as the ancient Massalia is – which can be seen in Quidam and in the lectures on Juliusz Słowacki – a representation of the space of exile – it became the place to which Norwid’s important protagonists (like St Madeleine) were exiled. In the myth founding the town there is a clash between the idea of freedom and the vision of the world-prison. The fourth part of the article brings an interpretation of the Civilization “legend”, taking into consideration Provence contexts: the idea of putting forward Arles’ and Nimes’ candidatures for the status of authority centers of the 19th century France.