On the genesis of “body motifs” in Marina Tsvetaeva's works Cover Image

O genezie „cielesnych” motywów w twórczości Mariny Cwietajewej
On the genesis of “body motifs” in Marina Tsvetaeva's works

Author(s): Elena Janczuk
Subject(s): Cultural history
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Marina Tsvetaeva; ego-documents; poetry; body; corporealness; soul; spirit

Summary/Abstract: It is difficult to form a coherent conception of Marina Tsvetaeva’s considerationsabout the body, as sometimes they contradict each other and sometimesthey complement each other. However, they were changing as new experienceswere accumulated. From the idea that the body is like a wall or an obstacle in theway, Tsvetaeva moves to the idea of the body as a separate zone of her personality,where freedom and democracy go along with subjection, and where the rigorouspart of the personality – soul is to be subdued. When the poet starts to losecontact with the body, when she becomes convinced that she no longer canidentify with it, she experiences a stormy passion in which she hopes to completeher own incarnation. However, she comes to the conclusion that the nature of her body is flawed and the signs of gender are not proper. She consciously resignsfrom love, claiming that love and creativity cannot be reconciled. Her bodybothers her, it seems to cast a veil on the true reality, which is invisible and“by which one thinks”. After another period of her soul and body disassociation,she comes to the conclusion that she did not know her body at all.

  • Issue Year: 2017
  • Issue No: 10
  • Page Range: 86-111
  • Page Count: 26
  • Language: Polish