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Cudzoziemka

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Wikipedia article




'Cudzoziemka' ('The Stranger') is a Polish psychological novel by Maria Kuncewiczowa, published as a book in 1936. Earlier, the novel used to appear in episodes in press ('Kurier Poranny'). 'Cudzoziemka' is considered a classic of the interwar period of Polish literature. The novel was published in 1944 in an English translation by B. W. A. Massey.

Content



The protagonist, Ra abczyska, was born in the half of 19th century in Taganrog, Russia, to a Polish family. As a girl, she is deeply affected by her ethnic differences. However, her alienation grows even bigger when she moves to Warsaw in order to take up violin lessons. She finds out that she is a 'stranger' wherever she comes. The young girl experiences a dramatic love disappointment and then as it later proves an artistic failure.

She decides to marry a man she does not love. Her family life is a losing streak. She descends into madness even harder a couple of years later, when her beloved son, Kazimierz, dies at an early age.

The womanly sensitivity of Ra, confronted with her life disappointments, turns her into a cruel wife and a mean mother, humiliating all the people around her.

The purpose of 'Cudzoziemka' is to show the psychological truth about sorrow, and especially about woman's sorrow. On the other hand, the novel illustrates the art of narrative.

Form



The novel is divided into two plots. One of them consists of 'contemporary' events, limited to one ordinary day, filled with reflection and thoughts of the protagonist. They are an introduction to and an excuse for the second plot the retrospective and digressive one. In conclusion, the book tells the story of one particular day, and in the meantime also tells the whole story of the life of Ra abczyska.

The film



The film version of 'Cudzoziemka' (with the same title) was directed by Ryszard Ber in 1986. Maria Kuncewiczowa herself wrote the screenplay. Ewa Winiewska portrayed the main character, Ra abczyska. The film was awarded twice during the 11. Polish Feature Films Festival in Gdask (11. Festiwal Polskich Filmw Fabularnych w Gdasku).

References



* Kuncewiczowa M., 'Cudzoziemka', Lublin 1989.

Category:1936 novels

Category:20th-century Polish novels

Category:Polish novels

Category:Psychological novels


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