“I, Ahaswer”. The motif of wandering, journey and pilgrimage in Piotr Bednarski’s trilogy Błękitne śniegi i inne rejsy po złote runo

Abstract

This article focuses on the topos of Ahaswer (The Wandering Jew) in Piotr Bednarski’s trilogy Błękitne śniegi i inne rejsy po złote runo. The creation of the main character of the series is analysed in the light of the author using the already established scenario provided by culture in the form of a legend of Ahaswer. Bednarski chooses the figure of the Wandering Jew as the one which most aptly reflects the life situation of the protagonist-narrator of the trilogy.
The author emphasises chiefly two aspects of the meaning of the discussed motif in culture. The character of Ashwer is used as synonymous to Jewishness and as a universal representation of the lot of a wanderer.