Przedmałżeńskie relacje kobieta – mężczyzna w wybranych powieściach polskich pisarek minorum gentium przełomu XIX i XX w.

Abstract

When reconstructing the man-woman relationships described in the novels, I will focus on the pre-marital relationships. I am interested in the following issues: how female characters imagine love, who and why was their object of interest, in what circumstances was it possible for a true feeling to emerge, the impressions from first physical contacts (most often lack of satisfaction, frequently - a feeling of shame, even disgust, the awareness of being objectified). Everyday relations were limited and superficial, there was no time to create a bond, a feeling of intimacy - very often the first meeting was quickly followed by engagement and marriage. Young women had no knowledge about their bodies, were not informed about their rights and duties, did not know men (who were raised in a completely different way), their desires, behaviours, and general views about life. The vast majority of the described relations was therefore - especially from the female characters’ point of view - dysfunctional in nature. Even women independent in other areas, with much experience with the world, highly self-aware, experienced nothing but obstacles on their way to happiness.