What do with Zygmunt Krasiński’s Niedokończony poemat?

Abstract

The article contains advice for someone who would like to prepare a monograph or a critical edition of Niedokończony poemat. The author presented some research traditions, questions pertaining to relations with gnosis, a storyline and problem relation (or rather a collision) between Nie-Boska komedia and the depicted work, the issue of nihilism, anti-Jewish elements and the allusive presence of Adam Mickiewicz in the text. For a sympathiser of Romantic literature Niedokończony poemat becomes troublesome for many reasons. Although some of Krasiński’s friends – including writers such as Konstanty Gaszyński and Andrzej Edward Koźmian, who remained clear-headed in evaluations of various literary events – were eager to set this work above Nie-Boska komedia (Cyprian Norwid also appreciated its value), in Romantic research tradition it is peripheral. Scholars in the twentieth century were not particularly interested in the text, which in fact should come as no surprise.