"Przyczyny melancholii" Barbary Iłłakowicz

Abstract

BARBARA IŁŁAKOWICZ’S “PRZYCZYNY MELANCHOLII” (“REASONS OF MELANCHOLY”) Edited by MARCIN WOŁK Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń Interpretive notes by EWA OWCZARZ Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń The article contains a presentation and an edition of a 19th c. autobiographical piece in a dialogue form entitled Przyczyny melancholii. (Rozmowa) (Reasons of Melancholy.A Conversation) by Barbara Iłłakowicz (1856–1893). The piece, found in a private archive, is crucial not only as a document of its time and as a source that enriches the state of art about family relations of the poetess Kazimiera Iłłakowiczówna, the author’s daughter. It is first and foremost an interesting herstory document of the 19thc. Poland and Lithuania: a testimony of personal and professional dilemmas of a woman of noble--yeoman origin and earning her living by her own work. Regardless of emotional and partially financial dependency on a male, Barbara Iłłakowicz does not resign from subjective autonomy and agency. The text openly touches such issues as, e.g., abortion and a woman’s right to decide about herself.

Edycja XIX-wiecznego rękopisu - dialogowego tekstu autobiograficznego, autorstwa Barbary Iłłakowicz, matki Barbary Czerwijowskiej i Kazimiery Iłłakowiczówny, partnerki Klemensa Zana.