Between Mind and Body: Decoding Illness in Karinthy's 'Journey Around My Skull'

Type of Abstract (select): Paper presentation

Abstract (max. 250 words):
My presentation examines the portrayal of illness in Frigyes Karinthy's "Journey Around My Skull." It delves into the metaphorization of the tumor, exploring how the novel intertwines the experience of illness with existential and philosophical themes. The study also considers the impact of narrative structure and intertextual references, demonstrating how they enhance the overall depiction of illness and its impact on the protagonist's physical and mental state. Through this analysis, the paper argues that Karinthy's work not only narrates an illness but also offers significant insights into the existential impact of physical ailments on personal identity and perception of reality, thereby making a notable contribution to the literature on illness narratives.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Mária Bartal,PhD,is assistant professor at the Modern Magyar Irodalomtörténeti Tanszék of ELTE.