Opposition “living – lifeless” and antique imagery in “Tales and Trials of Love” by Jeanne Flore

Abstract

This article examines the previously unstudied aspects of the concept of true love in “Tales and Trials of Love” by Jeanne Flore based on the material of second novel in the compilation. The subject of this research is the ancient images, which reflect the central topics of the book – role of sensuality and dangers caused by it. A detailed analysis is conducted on the opposition “living – lifeless”, which is structured through the motifs of sight, word, kiss and image of a human-statue. Within the new concept of true love, which dictates to reciprocate the feelings of those seeking love, the danger hides not sensuality, but in resisting it. The novella in question stands out in the compilation, as it is the only “tale” which focus falls on sensorics to convey a warning. Special attention is given to the images of eyes and mouth, which mark the boundary between external and internal, and play the key role in the motif of poisoning. When does a fatal act takes place? When “lifeless" is behind the living (which can be achieved only by witchcraft), and the other way around. Using the ancient images, Jeanne Flore demonstrates how a sight and words of the heroes can be poisonous and upon contact with the Other can translate characteristics of the hero’s inner world (such as indifference, static character, lifelessness) to others, thereby "poisoning" them to death. This article is first to analyze the opposition of “living – lifeless” on the material of references to ancient mythology in “Love and Trials of Love”, which defines the scientific novelty.