Escaping from the labyrinth. Reason and freedom in Comenius’ thought

Abstract

The aim of this essay consists in investigating in depth the fundamental work of Jan Amos Komenský, The Labirinth of the World and the Paradise of Hearth. In this work, some relevant elements such as irony, allegory, the search for his calling, are mixed up to show a sort of journey that can give the chance to understand the real world, made of irrationality and con- fusion. Komenský sets himself as a pilgrim who would like to unveil traps and false ideas so widespread amongst men. At the end of the Labirinth, Komenský recovers the evangelical mes- sage and looks at the world through different eyes. So the word of Christ can transform chaos into harmony. The pilgrim finds his way to escape and gains again his freedom at last.

Keywords

• laberinto
• Comenio
• ironía
• peregrinación
• libertad