Discourse of heresy in Polish post-WWII literature Herling’s and Herbert’s heretics

Abstract

The present text explores the theme of heresies and their persecution in the works of a group of writers, survivors of World War II and of the two dictatorships of the century – Gustaw Herling-Grudziński, Zbigniew Herbert, Czesław Miłosz, Andrzej Szczypiorski, Jerzy Andrzejewski. An artistic-documentary reconstruction of medieval processes and executions of heretics, as well as striving for protection and rehabilitation are observed in a series of their works. Deep allusions to the dictatorships of the 20th century are made. Particular attention is being paid to Herbert’s essays, connected with heresies and to a heretic image of Christ in the short story Drugie przyjście by Herling-Grudzinski.

Keywords

• discourse of heresy
• polish post-wwii literature
• heretic image of christ
• gustaw herling-grudziński
• zbigniew herbert