Between Absence and Powerlessness: Michael I in Henryk Sienkiewicz’s Trilogy

Abstract

It is commonly believed that Henryk Sienkiewicz — specifically his trilogy of novels known as The Trilogy — had an immense influence on the creation, consolidation, and dissemination of the “black legend” of Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki. This article analyzes the aforementioned works with regard to the literary portrayal of the son of Jeremi. The observations lead to the conclusion that the image of Michael I that emerges from the reading emphasizes above all the peculiar tragedy of his situation and the resulting powerlessness, which at the same time stands in contrast to the contrasting image of the warlike Prince Jeremi. This evokes in the reader primarily a feeling of pity; therefore, The Trilogy may not have played as significant a role in shaping the stereotypical opinion of the native-born king as is commonly attributed to it. The text also identifies areas in historical-literary research that would require further development in scholarly studies.