TWO WINGS OF CHILDHOOD-AS-JOY: IMAGES OF FATHER AND MOTHER IN THE NOVELS BY M. PAGNOL

Abstract

The study aims to provide a detailed analysis, specifically from a literary perspective, of the phenomenon of ‘childhood-as-joy’, on the example of two novels (namely «My Father’s Glory» and «My Mother’s Castle») from the series «Childhood Memories» by M. Pagnol. These autobiographical novels are based on Marcel Pagnol’s memories of his own childhood. The writer recreated the atmosphere of joy, sincerity and carefreeness under the wing of his parents: Joseph Pagnol and Augustine Pagnol. The study examines the role of the father and mother in shaping the childhood of Marcel’s character. The images of the father and the mother as a centrals and as an important construct of the paradigm of a happy childhood in M. Pagnol’s concept have been underlined. It was stated that the formation of a positive parental archetype was reinforced by male characters in Marcel’s life: Uncle Jules, Grandfather, Uncle Henri. The dominant traits of Father archetype such as honesty, decency, sincerity, diligence, love of nature and a sense of humour have been established. The multifaceted nature of this image has been noted: the father as a man, the father as a professional, the father as a citizen, the father as an exemplary family man. Augustine as a Mother archetype becomes the embodiment of maternal love and devotion to the family. The backdrop to a joyful childhood is the school and the Bastide-Neuf house as the main topoi of childhood. It has been stated that the novels of the «Childhood Memories» cycle are examples of works about childhood as joy, promoting family values, kinship, and love. The problems of friendship, learning combined with practical skills and the joys of life have been explored. M. Panol’s novels «My Father’s Glory» and «My Mother’s Castle» as examples of autobiographical pedagogical novels have been stated. Two main figures in a child’s life – Father and Mother – as the poles of childhood in the formation of the phenomenon of childhood-as-joy have been defined.