“Zwin”: man as a mouse in libido trap. Psychoanalitic-animal paraphrase

Abstract

This article presents interpretation od Marian Pankowski’s narrative novel Zwin. Using Animal Studies perspective author describes complexity of main character and structure of one’s eroticism, which reveals hidden connection between anthropocentrism and androcentrism in heterosexual cliché. Pankowski describes these influences subversively, creating a reality of displacement. In Zwin stereotypes of gender and heterosexuality are based on strong opposition between ‘human’ and ‘animal’. In this analysis Pankowski’s narrative novel is described with psychoanalytical category Uncanny (Unheimlishe), which helps to understand blending of ‘human’ and ‘animal’ identity in Zwin.