Analysis of Literary Cases of Religious Exaltation as an Example of Mimetism according to René Girard

Abstract

The article concerns literary cases of religious exaltation, which bear the hallmarks of René Girard’s mimetic theory. The subject of the study are mystical revelations, demonic possessions and religious exaltation, the common denominator of which is a neurotic basis. The cases are discussed using literary examples (Zofia Kossak, Aldous Huxley, Jules Michelet, Gustav Flaubert), but with strong historical roots. Literary experiences are related to the practices of contemporary prayer groups and placed in a psychological and anthropological context. Hysteria and psychoses that take the form of revelations are juxtaposed with cases of real mystical experiences.