Pavic uses in Damascene features that are
typical of
fables and mythological stories. The first chapter presents more than a
century
of events almost without concrete characters and obviously without any
insight of
those characters mind. It remembers us of the way some Greek and Latin myths
are told.
In the text we can find some
clues
that lead us to these thoughts:
1.
As
we have said, there is almost no insight of the characters, with the solely
exception of Nikolich and Attilia,
but
2.
even Nikolich is
quite a
plain character, almost a natural force, the representation of a war god,
furious, despotic and selfish, the same way as the two main Johns represent
left-handed thinking, intelligence and a deep knowledge of the world and the
path to follow.
3.
Also
the representation of the 800 Johns seems a religious tale, right out
from the
bible or some other sacred book. It seems really difficult to believe that
every one of them had the same name. The election of the name avoids
realism to
serve another purpose. Connotation and clarity of the story are put
hierarchically over realism.
4.
There
are some objects and places that are used recurrently in the same way as
magical or sacred objects were used in myths. In the story some of them
are the
compasses, Attilia’s pendant and, last but not
least,
both main placings: the church (churches) and the
palace, that feel almost like two more character with his role to
play.
5.
One
of the main characteristics both in fables and in religious texts is the
moral.
There is a clear didactic intention, bad persons end badly, and the
righteous
ones find what they were looking for. The topics present in this piece of
literary work will therefore be personal self-improvement, love, imagination
and wise.
6.
Everything
is told in past tenses, like a historical chronicle, especially the first
chapter, Builders.
Academic year
2008/2009
© a.r.e.a./Dr.Vicente Forés López
© Gil Fernández, Manuel
magilfer@alumni.uv.es
Universitat de Valčncia Press