„Zwykle traktuję siebie albo zbyt pochlebnie, albo mieszam z błotem” – strategie autoprezentacyjne stosowane przez Czesława Miłosza w listach do Jarosława Iwaszkiewicza

Abstract

“I usually treat myself either too flatteringly or mix myself with the mud” – self-presentation strategies used by Czesław Miłosz in his letters to Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz Summary The article concerns the self-presentation strategies with which Czesław Miłosz built his image in his letters to Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz. The tools of communicative psychology, sociology and pragmalinguistics were used for the analyses. The epistolographic material shows that Miłosz willingly used ingratiation, thanks to which he gained the favour of Iwaszkiewicz and his patronage. He juxtaposed compliments to the master with auto-invectives, he intertwined acts of self-depreciation with the images of narcissistic self-love. As a result, the correspondence shows a contradictory image of the future Nobel Prize winner, a self-portrait that evolves with age and experience. Fascinated by Iwaszkiewicz, full of complexes and selflessness, a novice writer, a sensitive and emotionally immature young man with narcissistic inclinations on the pages of his letters turns into a writer and faithful friend who is aware of his talent.