HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS IN THE REALITIES OF THE POLISH PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC: ON BOGDAN MADEJ, HIS LITERARY WORK, AND THE PROTAGONISTS OF THE SHORT STORIES PODKOWY AND POCHÓWEK

Abstract

This article examines the prose of Bogdan Madej, whose works may be situated within the tradition of Polish realist literature. In his fiction, Madej portrays ordinary people entangled in the often- grotesque absurdities of everyday social life in the Polish People’s Republic (PRL). His writing offers a particularly vivid account of the detrimental effects of the economic and institutional realities of the period on workplaces, local communities, and family life. These issues are explored through a literary analysis of two of his short stories, Podkowy and Pochówek. The analysis combines close reading with a historical perspective and relevant literary contexts. It demonstrates, above all, the negative impact of political and economic conditions on interpersonal relationships. The interdependence between the structures governing the state and the everyday lives of its citizens may therefore be read as a valuable point of reference for contemporary readers. Madej’s prose, deeply rooted in the realities of post-war Poland, constitutes a critical reflection on the social, economic, and political conditions of the PRL. At the same time, it addresses broader and more enduring aspects of human experience, including recurring desires, passions, and patterns of behavior. While the circumstances of everyday life may change, the mechanisms underlying human choices and mistakes remain remarkably constant.