Józef Jowialski jako alegoria
Józef Jowialski as an allegory

Author(s): Jerzy Axer
Subject(s): Media studies, Studies of Literature, Communication studies, Theory of Communication, Theory of Literature, Sociology of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: comedy; allegory; emblem; gentry humour; melancholy
Summary/Abstract: The title character in Aleksander Fredro’s comedy Pan Jowialski [Mr Jovial] has been a bone of contention for scholars interpreting the work ever since its world premiere in Lwów in 1832. The paper briefly outlines the main threads in these disputes and proposes a new interpretive perspective. An analysis of Act IV, Scene 1 reveals that the allegorical picture sketched by Wiktor the painter is based on entries from Rev. Alojzy Osiński’s "Słownik mitologiczny" ["Dictionary of Mythology"] (Warszawa 1806–1812). Fredro had this book in his reference library. Transformations and modifications of dictionary expressions enable Fredro to create his own allegorical composition engaging all of the stage characters. Jowialski himself becomes this world’s central figure: “Jove”. This scene, usually shrugged off as a “stage gag”, might thus be recognised as the playwright’s instructions explaining the scheme of the whole comedy.

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