E-Locus - Institutional Repository of the University of Crete

Home Collections School/Department School of Social Sciences Department of Political Sciences Graduate theses

Graduate theses

Current Record: 112 of 182

[Add to Basket]

Identifier

000417410

Title

Μεσοπολεμική λογοτεχνία της δεκαετίας του 1920 και πολιτικοκοινωνικό πλαίσιο

Alternative Title

Interwar literature of the 1920s and its sociopolitical context

Author

Καστανάκης, Εμμανουήλ Μ.

Select a value

Χειλά, Μαρίνα

Abstract

The present degree project is part of a scientific research on the literature of the 20’s and the political-social background of Greece between the two world wars. It is rather an attempt to reveal the political identity and trends as well as the literature trends of that time, through the work of the writers under study. Beyond the analysis on their actual work however, the political-social life of the bourgeoise is also examined. The man purpose of this project is not just to add information or further analysis on the already existent but to enlighten the unknown aspects of the lives of the writers. The writers chosen are: Kostas Karyotakis (1896-1928), Mistos Papanikolaou (1900- 1943), Napoleon Lapathiotis (1888-1944), Maria Polydouri (1901-1930) and Thrasos Kastanakis (1900-1967). All of them are probably the most prominent personalities that lived and matured through the dark days of the war. Even the order that the names appear is not just random as there are a lot of factors that interconnect their lives. But the most important one seems to be the specific time frame between the two wars. To begin with, Kostas Karyotakis, is definitely the most known writer of the time. He is also such an important figure for his fellow writers that we could easily say that they follow on his footsteps. He was a «genuine» writer and his legacy was validated with his suicide in 1928, remaining in the history of the greek literature as the main representative of his generation. Mitsos Papanikolaou is another decadent poet. He was not a proliferate poet. He was not a proliferate writer though. Based on his few written pieces of work, however, we can undoubtedly recognize his offer to greek literature. Napoleon Lapathiotis is a multifarious personality who lived his life to the fullest. His sexual identity as a homosexual was a taboo but he was such a daring person that he never hid his sexual preferences and he used to talk openly on sexual issues something that was unheared of at the time. He left behind one of the richest additions in greek literature. Mitsos Papanikolaou is another decadent poet although he has left little work, his value cannot be denied. Maria Polydouri is the toughest case study, since he was such an unconventional personality. Lots of people, though, have the wrong idea for her and most of the times, her name is linked with her love affair with Karyotakis. She was politically orientated with a strong character which comes in great contrast with her sensitive poetic work. It is high time she freed herself from the shadow of Karyotakis who had been haunting her many years and be presented as a writer equal to those mentioned above. Thrasos Kastanakis made his first appearance in the poetic society of the time and he later developed into a writer. He beyond any doubt one of the most forgotten writers. That does not necessarily mean of the most forgotten writers. That does not necessarily mean he is lost in obscurity. Due to his cosmopolitan lifestyle and his deep love for Greece- as a Greek who lived abroad himself-, he was always tormented by the social issues of his time. In conclusion, the sole purpose of this study was to shed light on the unknown aspects of the lives of the five most important poets and writers of greek literature, in the hope that we will create a more complete picture of their offer. No matter how extreme their attitudes were consider by the conservative society of their time, they still have the power to influence the young people who whole heartedly support their love for art and devote hours on end studying the work they left behind.

Language

Greek

Subject

Karyotakis, Kostas

Kastanakis, Thrasos

Lapathiotis, Napoleon

Literature

Literature trends

Middle War

Papanikolaou, Mitsos

Polydouri, Maria

Social, political frame