Two paradigms of suicide or two acts of voluntary death? Heinrich von Kleist and Jean Améry
<span>I compare the suicide deaths of Heinrich von Kleist and Jean Améry (Hans Mayer). I discuss the issue of suicide, considering it as a category of the German language and distinguish the difference between the terms ‘Selbstmord’ [self-annihilation] and ‘Freitod’ [self-inflicted death, volu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Polish |
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Adam Mickiewicz University
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Przestrzenie Teorii |
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| Online Access: | http://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/pt/article/view/3389 |
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| author | Katarzyna Kuczyńska-Koshany |
| author_facet | Katarzyna Kuczyńska-Koshany |
| author_sort | Katarzyna Kuczyńska-Koshany |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <span>I compare the suicide deaths of Heinrich von Kleist and Jean Améry (Hans Mayer). I discuss the issue of suicide, considering it as a category of the German language and distinguish the difference between the terms ‘Selbstmord’ [self-annihilation] and ‘Freitod’ [self-inflicted death, voluntary death]. By comparing the two suicides committed on the two verges of modernity (the beginning of 19th century in Berlin and 20th century after Auschwitz), I try to describe them as an experience of the imagination (in the words of Stefan Chwin) and as a specific act of creation: a choice of a voluntary death. Suicide, comprehended as a confirmation of our existential freedom, was a deviation from what was considered the norm in Prussia in 1811 and did not seem possible as anything else than an act of despair, when committed by a death camp survivor. However, Heinrich von Kleist and Jean Améry have set a precedent in the existing cultural and historical paradigms of suicide.</span> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-68defffbe58e4b5dacdba829ea982d94 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1644-6763 2450-5765 |
| language | Polish |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Adam Mickiewicz University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Przestrzenie Teorii |
| spelling | doaj-art-68defffbe58e4b5dacdba829ea982d942025-08-20T03:48:32ZpolAdam Mickiewicz UniversityPrzestrzenie Teorii1644-67632450-57652012-01-0118112610.14746/pt.2012.18.13360Two paradigms of suicide or two acts of voluntary death? Heinrich von Kleist and Jean AméryKatarzyna Kuczyńska-Koshany<span>I compare the suicide deaths of Heinrich von Kleist and Jean Améry (Hans Mayer). I discuss the issue of suicide, considering it as a category of the German language and distinguish the difference between the terms ‘Selbstmord’ [self-annihilation] and ‘Freitod’ [self-inflicted death, voluntary death]. By comparing the two suicides committed on the two verges of modernity (the beginning of 19th century in Berlin and 20th century after Auschwitz), I try to describe them as an experience of the imagination (in the words of Stefan Chwin) and as a specific act of creation: a choice of a voluntary death. Suicide, comprehended as a confirmation of our existential freedom, was a deviation from what was considered the norm in Prussia in 1811 and did not seem possible as anything else than an act of despair, when committed by a death camp survivor. However, Heinrich von Kleist and Jean Améry have set a precedent in the existing cultural and historical paradigms of suicide.</span>http://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/pt/article/view/3389samobójstwośmierćśmierć dobrowolnasamounicestwienie |
| spellingShingle | Katarzyna Kuczyńska-Koshany Two paradigms of suicide or two acts of voluntary death? Heinrich von Kleist and Jean Améry Przestrzenie Teorii samobójstwo śmierć śmierć dobrowolna samounicestwienie |
| title | Two paradigms of suicide or two acts of voluntary death? Heinrich von Kleist and Jean Améry |
| title_full | Two paradigms of suicide or two acts of voluntary death? Heinrich von Kleist and Jean Améry |
| title_fullStr | Two paradigms of suicide or two acts of voluntary death? Heinrich von Kleist and Jean Améry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Two paradigms of suicide or two acts of voluntary death? Heinrich von Kleist and Jean Améry |
| title_short | Two paradigms of suicide or two acts of voluntary death? Heinrich von Kleist and Jean Améry |
| title_sort | two paradigms of suicide or two acts of voluntary death heinrich von kleist and jean amery |
| topic | samobójstwo śmierć śmierć dobrowolna samounicestwienie |
| url | http://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/pt/article/view/3389 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT katarzynakuczynskakoshany twoparadigmsofsuicideortwoactsofvoluntarydeathheinrichvonkleistandjeanamery |