Slovenska Literatura (Feb 2009)
FATHERLESS SONS (ABOUT SEEKING SLOVAK NATIONAL IDENTITY IN ROMANTICISM
Abstract
The aim of the study is to show through surveying functions of using motif of a father in works of selected Slovak authors of Romanticism (Janko Kráľ, Andrej Sládkovič, Ján Botto a ďalší) the process of how the Slovak identity was formed. The study represents only surveying of the problems and that is why it results only in preliminary conclusions. Relationship to fatherhood is depicted in the article in several levels: as relationship of the authors to their own origin and also to their biological fathers; but mainly as their relationship to their literary ancestors and to the version of Slovak national history that was typical for the Romaticism. The preliminary view on selected texts, primary goals and ideas of the Slovak Romanticism as well as on the extra-literary activities of the authors of the Slovak Romanticism allows us to conclude that their relationships were mostly complicated, rebellious, negative both to their ancestors and also to their own fathers who came from the people. The process resulted in substitution of the idea of fatherhood by the idea of motherhood that became foundational for Slovak romantic mythology as well as for just being formed Slovak national identity.
