Phenomenon of attachment in the „borderland” of an individual in the poetry of Serhiy Zhadan

Abstract

The article addresses the topic of an unconventional, non-standard vision of the individual’s “borderland”, which applies not only to cultural or geographical borders but also to the realms of human identity. Identity is not homogeneous; rather, it consists of many different “sub-identities” that intersect, forming a complex, cross-border network of forms, faces, experiences, and emotions, which, like puzzle pieces, come together to shape a multidimensional individual. This implies that a person contains the borderland within themselves and is a transboundary entity. Such complexity encourages the search for a mediating element—a mediator whose task is to ensure communication between the dimensions of an individual and their efficient functioning. Various academic sources suggest that humans have many mediators; yet, according to the author, the most compelling one is the phenomenon of attachment, which, by influencing all aspects of an individual’s life, provides a common point of reference for each of them. One of the best models for a multi-layered structure of a person is literature, as it offers a foundation for expressing inner states through the written word. When interpreted, literature serves to formulate an unseen image of a person and uncover their internal codes. For this purpose, a collection of poetry titled Ballads about War and Reconstruction (2001) by the Ukrainian poet Serhiy Zhadan was chosen. This choice is justified by the theme of war, which—characteristic of the intersection of all layers of human existence—both blurs and reveals its boundaries. In analyzing the poetry, the author draws on Carl Gustav Jung’s theory of archetypal images as well as scientific studies on the multi-layeredness of human identity by Emil Frankl. The findings allow the author to identify the fundamental role of attachments to primary archetypes in the individual’s “borderland” and determine their influence on its dimensions. The conclusion also demonstrates the multifaceted nature of the phenomenon of attachment, which facilitates its effective role as a mediator in such a multi-layered entity as a human being.