Original scientific paper

SYMBOLIC DISCOURSE IN THE CROATIAN MODERN NOVEL: CITY AS THE IDENTITY OF A PROTAGONIST AND AUTHOR

Sanja Knežević ; University of Zadar, Department of Croatian Studies

Abstract

The article elaborates an identity of the city which is identified with the
author’s destiny during the hardest day of attacking the city in the Croatian
War of Independence. Identifying himself with the city, at the same
time he turns himself in the main novel protagonist. That is a completely
different and so far unknown war letter in Croatia, because the work is
completely turned to transcendence. In the novel the war is the evil force
and not political product. Tragicalness of the war in Croatia as the literary
topic is shown at the general civilization level as a true human damnation.
City of Zadar, located at the Mediterranean coasts, with his history
and destroying heritage takes over the role of human spokesperson. When
a city as the holy area is destroyed, a human loses his/her own identity.
Return of identity is possible only at the symbolic and metaphysic level,
therefore the novel is full of symbolic and archetype motives.

Keywords

symbolism; city mythology; war; post-modern culture; novelistic discourse

Hrčak ID:

229919

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/229919

Publication date:

14.12.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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