Neograeca Bohemica (Jan 2020)
Human apes and the dual self: notes on the intertext of Ο Πίθηκος Ξουθ (Xouth the Αpe) by Iakovos Pitsipios
Abstract
This paper explores the intertextual relationships between the Greek novel O Πίθηκος Ξουθ (1848) by Iakovos Pitsipios and two German short stories: Nachricht von einem gebildeten jungen Mann (1814) by E.T.A. Hoffmann and Der junge Engländer oder der Affe als Mensch (1827) by W. Hauff. The aim of this investigation is to explore the integration of the Greek novel into the European literary context of simian narratives based on a common cultural tradition. Research to date has demonstrated intertextuality between Pitsipios and Hoffmann, but specific common motifs had not previously been discussed. Furthermore, no relationship between Pitsipios and Hauff has yet been identified. This work focuses on three recurring motifs in simian narratives: 'shoes', 'razors', and 'England'. Furthermore, it suggests a connection between the human animal and the broader theme of the dual self, which was very popular in nineteenth-century literature due to the historical circumstances and intellectual trends of the era.
