THE CONCEPT "LOVE" AND ITS VERBALIZATION IN BOLESŁAW PRUS’ NOVEL THE DOLL

Abstract

The aim of the article is to examine the ways in which the concept "love" is expressed in Bolesław Prus’ novel The Doll as a multidimensional phenomenon with deep linguistic, philosophical, and cultural foundations. The study analyzes the artistic means through which the concept of love is conveyed in the original Polish text and its translations into English and Ukrainian. Methods. The study employs methods of structural-semantic analysis, componential analysis, and contextual analysis. These methods allowed us to identify the linguistic means that shape the concept of love and convey it in the work under study through the analysis of grammar and vocabulary in the novel. Results. The article presents research findings that demonstrate the multilayered structure of the concept "love" and its heterogeneity in language use. In particular, the main semantic components of this concept are distinguished, the combination of which forms a wide range of meanings and emotional nuances. Analysis of literary texts showed that love can be verbalized through direct nominations (affection), emotional oppositions (heart–mind), metaphorical comparisons (light, suffering), and symbols (love–doll). Important roles are played by linguistic devices such as forms of address, diminutives, grammatical structures, and stylistic means that emphasize the expressiveness of feelings. Conclusions. It has been shown that in different contexts and in translation versions, the concept “love” acquires new semantic accents – from the symbol of a doll and illusoriness to a marker of established traditions. The concept of “love” is verbalized through a complex system of metaphors, frames, and stylistic devices that reflect the protagonist’s inner struggle between ideal and reality. The translations partially transform the emotional and evaluative component, which affects the reader’s perception of the concept. Thus, our study proves that the verbalization of the concept of love in a literary work is not only a reflection of the hero’s individual experience but also a universal strategy for constructing the value-based worldview of the protagonist.