To mænd der i enhver henseende var ens (Sørensen 1984:145). - Symbolers betydning i Villy Sørensens novelle "De to tvillinger"
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2010
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Katedra Skandynawistyki UAM
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Two men who, in every respect, were identical (Sørensen 1984:145) - The meaning of symbols in Villy Sørensen's short story 'The two twins'
Abstract
Den tragiske regimes tid (nazismen og den kolde krig) gjorde det tydeligt, at den moderne pluralisme er uovervindelig. Det fandt udtryk i Villy Sørensens noveller, der fremstiller det uopnåelige og den moderne pluralisme, men de er samtidig et forsøg på at overvinde den - ved hjælp af symboler. Symboler omformes og genoplives i Sørensens moderne fortællinger i nye kontekster. På den måde bliver teksterne universale. I sine "Sære historier" (1953) og "Ufarlige historier" (1955) tematiserer han identitetstab, desintegration og protagonistens vej til det efterstræbte, der i virkeligheden viser sig at være uopnåeligt, hindrende, ødelæggende eller at være en åben mulighed. Sørensen fremstiller sammenfattende et moderne homo viator i komplicerede tider. Min næranalyse af novellen "De to tvillinger" skal vise, hvordan Sørensen betragtede symbolets kategori for at udtrykke epokens vigtigste problemer. Formålet er desuden at vise det universale aspekt, med andre ord at afprøve, om spørgsmålene fra koldkrigstiden stadigvæk er aktuelle.
The tragic times of the nazi regime and the Cold War showed that modern pluralism cannot be overcome. This problem is reflected in the symbolism of Villy Sørensen’s short stories, which present the sphere of the unattainable and the plural nature of the world, and as such constitute an attempt to overcome the pluralism. Sørensen assigns new meanings to symbols by placing them in modern contexts, which makes the stories universal. The leitmotif of “Strange stories” (“Sære historier”, 1953) and “Harmless tales” (“Ufarlige historier”, 1955) includes: loss, disintegration, solitude, absurdity as well as the protagonist’s pursuit of the desired goal. Sørensen’s protagonists pursue the unattainable and the lost, a goal which in itself is both destructive and circular, however dependent on the protagonists’ choices. Consequently, Sørensen’s protagonists gain the status of modern homines viatoris in complicated times. A close reading analysis of “The two twins” (“De to tvillinger”, 1952) shows how Sørensen’s approach towards the concept of a symbol is used to express the most fundamental problems of his times. A further analysis focuses on the universality of the story and examines the relevance of its symbolism within the context of current problems.
The tragic times of the nazi regime and the Cold War showed that modern pluralism cannot be overcome. This problem is reflected in the symbolism of Villy Sørensen’s short stories, which present the sphere of the unattainable and the plural nature of the world, and as such constitute an attempt to overcome the pluralism. Sørensen assigns new meanings to symbols by placing them in modern contexts, which makes the stories universal. The leitmotif of “Strange stories” (“Sære historier”, 1953) and “Harmless tales” (“Ufarlige historier”, 1955) includes: loss, disintegration, solitude, absurdity as well as the protagonist’s pursuit of the desired goal. Sørensen’s protagonists pursue the unattainable and the lost, a goal which in itself is both destructive and circular, however dependent on the protagonists’ choices. Consequently, Sørensen’s protagonists gain the status of modern homines viatoris in complicated times. A close reading analysis of “The two twins” (“De to tvillinger”, 1952) shows how Sørensen’s approach towards the concept of a symbol is used to express the most fundamental problems of his times. A further analysis focuses on the universality of the story and examines the relevance of its symbolism within the context of current problems.
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Villy Sørensen, noveller, dobbeltgænger, moderne antihelt, symbolkategori, absurditet, næranalyse, spaltning, modernisme, pluralisme, Thanatos, short stories, doppelgänger, modern anti-hero, symbol category, absurd, close reading analysis, disintegration, modernism, pluralism
Citation
Folia Scandinavica Posnaniensia, vol. 11, 2010, pp. 36-44