Transfigurations of the Myth of Narcissus - Intertextuality, Re-Contextualization and Symbolism of Reflection: Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and Ernest Koliqi's "Pasqyrat e Narcizit" (“The Mirrors of Narcissus”)

Abstract

Narcissism has long been a significant topic in various fields, including art, literature, and the sciences. In contemporary times, its relevance has only grown due to the modern obsession with self and self-reflection. This paper explores the theme of narcissism as a literary motif in two works: Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and Ernest Koliqi's "Pasqyrat e Narçizit" ("The Mirrors of Narcissus"). By examining the transfigurations of the narcissistic model, the study seeks to analyze the intertextual connections between the original myth and its recontextualized versions presented by these authors. The article aims to present the abstract interpretations of this myth that these authors have crafted in their literary works, employing dialectical approaches. The recontextualization of the narcissistic motif through literary aesthetics opens up opportunities for valuable comparisons, analyses, and interpretations of the symbol of reflection, the search for meaning, inter- and hypertextual relationships, as well as the exploration of pathological or social identity aspects associated with this figure.

Received: 21 April 2023 / Accepted: 16 June 2023 / Published: 5 July 2023