The ‘Kakalidis Method’ for Literature Analysis: A Synthesis Approach

Abstract

This paper aims at presenting the work of philosopher and poet Dimitris Kakalidis (1943-1995), emphasising the method he developed for the analysis of short stories and poetry, termed as the ‘Kakalidis Method’. In his works, the two volumes on ‘The Wisdom of Poetry’ and ‘The Wisdom of the Short Story’, he presents an innovative method of analysing 100 poems and 36 stories by Greek authors; this, acquires a perspective that pervades and reveals the inner spiritual resources of each work, demonstrating universal messages. Each literary piece takes dimensions beyond the visible contours, revealing the infinite within the limited, bringing the unconscious into consciousness. His starting point for each analysis is ‘Man-Humanity-Entity’ in their everlasting, intertwined relationship, based on the belief that each individual is an enlightened being in their core, going through life’s path only for this to be expressed in action. ‘Kakalidis Method’ draws from ancient Greek schools of thought, i.e Pythagoras’ numerology, Aristotle’s assurance for matter-spirit co-existence, Heraclitus’s command about the endless flow, Plato’s argument that concepts are fundamentally numbers and Socrates’ maieutics that elicit the transcendent level of ideas lurking in the plot of each play. Hence, this method transcends the meaning of each word into a deeper spiritual journey of every aspect of human experience. Kakalidis ‘plays’ with symbols and numbers, invents new terms where the hidden message of the Word is deciphered, thus transforming every literary image into an Odyssey of the experience of the whole human race since the beginning of time. His method is acknowledged as an approach of spiritual revelation, bringing the synthesis of profound meanings and leading the reader to a state of uplifted awareness and spiritual expansion. In its innovative expression, his contribution is of worldwide legacy and this paper will demonstrate examples of such spiritual perspective.