The Ethos of Work in Literature and Culture — an Introduction to the Volume of Studies

The study presents in the first part various forms of work (from physical to mental) done in the countryside
and in the city, as well as the motivation accompanying it (satisfying hunger and gaining goods
ensuring existence), characterizes the term of ethos, especially the work ethos, provides a review of issues
related to work in Polish literature from the time of the Enlightenment to the end of the 20th century.
The second part of the study presents a review of the proverbs about work and the genesis of the book
presented to the reader, preceded by a scientific conference.
The part constituting a review of work depictions in Polish literature treats about the employment
of people belonging to different groups and social classes (nobles, burghers, clergy, peasantry), the
effort of a farmer, a worker working in a factory or at the building site, a craftsman (weaver, carpenter),
a driver, an engineer (builder supervising the production process), a wandering lamplighter, a teacher, an
artist or a writer. It also concerns slavish labor of prisoners. The study presents literary images of work
created under the influence of organic work, the cult of power stemming from Nietzscheanism and the
slogans of the reconstruction of the socialist homeland. Writers are accompanied with the idea of presenting
the psyche transformation of a man burdened with work.
Proverbs show work as a necessity providing food and maintenance and leading to enrichment while
diligence as a virtue, which is opposed by laziness leading to hunger and poverty. Work according to
proverbs is associated with effort and prudence.