Artykuł jest poświęcony zagadnieniu zniewolenia za długi, występującemu w epoce starożytnej i współcześnie. Przyjęte zostało w nim szerokie ujęcie długu, jako instytucji społecznej o wymiarze przede wszystkim moralnym. Dług, poprzez uwikłanie w konstelację moralności objawia się na kilku poziomach rzeczywistości społecznej, dotycząc aspektów finansowych (materialnych), jak i pojęć honoru oraz patriarchatu. Zagadnienie zostało przedstawione głównie na przykładach pochodzących ze starożytnych – Mezopotamii oraz Grecji, a także współczesnych – Tajlandii i Brazylii.

The figure of a witch as a symbolic harm in the patriarchal world. Anthropological and educational contexts

The aim of the article is to present the image of a woman – marked with the figure of a witch – oriented at changing stereotypical thinking about her. A look from a perspective not contaminated by the common view of the world will indicate its subjectivity, self-realization, and the right to self-determination, which is the basic pedagogical category. The figure of the witch is ambiguous – it reflects the rebelliousness that gives strength to deal with the pressures of society not to succumb to ways of controlling women that have undermined patriarchal standards. At that time she was called a demonic, wicked, magical woman, but on the other hand, a divine, innocent victim, a real healer. For they were „wise herbalists, soothsayers and sexually enlightened beings who had not been crippled by Christian piety and prohibitions” (K.J. Sollée, 2021, p. 89). Thus, they have become an icon of an independent woman, subordinate only to herself, with a strong personality desired in today’s world.

The laugh of Eve. Myth, history and female subjectivity in Carmen Boullosa’s novel El libro de Eva

This article offers a myth-critical analysis of the novel El libro de Eva (2020) by the Mexican writer Carmen Boullosa. Subversive reading of mythical narratives is one of the most interesting proposals of the post-structuralist criticism, centered on questioning the arbitrary determination of meanings. The analysed novel exemplifies the resistance to the hierarchical codification of symbols typical of the patriarchal ideology. At discourse level, the continuity between mythical and historical times underlines the importance of foundational narratives as part of collective memory and conceptual frameworks determining the course of history. The vindication of the figure of biblical Eve restores the right of the first woman to construct and articulate her own subjectivity.

Feminist deconstruction of the traditional image of women in Qiu Jin’s works

Women’s issues are a significant subject of study in the realm of Chinese literature. In many works, it can be seen to oppose stereotypes or norms imposed on the female gender and to take measures leading to the emancipation of the individual. Such literature is symptomatic of a desire for change in society, that is, the overthrow of the patriarchal system and the introduction of equal rights between the sexes. An example of such prose is the works of China’s first feminist, Qiu Jin, who decided to fight for women’s rights. She was sentenced to death for her revolutionary activities. However, her texts introduced a completely new image of women into the public sphere - different from the one that had been reproduced for hundreds of years in ancient China. The poet chose to endow her heroines with charisma, courage, intelligence and the will to fight for a better life. Her aim was to make women aware of their situation in life, their social role, and to encourage them to leave the male-dominated world. Michalina Koniuk, in the chapter “Feminist Deconstruction of the Traditional Image of Woman in Qiu Jin’s Works”, proposes to analyse Qiu Jin’s works and present that the characters created by the writer oppose and destroy the image of the obedient and uneducated woman that existed in ancient China. First, the social role imposed on women in Chinese society has been described, namely that of obedient daughter, wife and daughter-in-law. The requirements and rules expected of Chinese women have been presented, and how Confucian norms contributed to the belittling of women’s role and position in Chinese society. As the poet was inspired by her own life experiences, Qiu Jin’s life were briefly introduced. Her childhood, during which the first signs of dissatisfaction with the obligations and social norms imposed on girls could be observed. An unsuccessful marriage mobilised the feminist to fight for women’s rights, to oppose the doctrines of Confucius and to leave home and go abroad. This was a great act of courage and at the same time a struggle for freedom and independence in the life of a feminist. That part was followed by an analysis of Qiu Jin’s works, whose female characters exemplify the kind of norms and behaviours that Qiu Jin rebelled against. At the same time, these characters deconstruct the traditional image of a woman and introduce a new one of a strong and independent individual. In this chapter, all poems and quotations have been translated by the author from Chinese into Polish.