Sonya Aleksandrova-Koleva

In the focus of the current analysis is Maupassant novel “Fort comme la mort” (“Strong as Death”), which treats the topic of the painter and particularly the image. We propose that its content to be reviewed through the prism of reflection multiplication (counterparts, repetitions, similarities) as an attempt to bring mimesis in question. According to our opinion the French author presents copies of characters and objects with different degree of deviation from the original, following the reflection principle, with the aim to blur the basic image and to bring gradual loss of its referentiality. Maupassant recreates a situation in which the mimesis is somehow empty of any meaning because of the so many reproduced reflections of the reflections which start replacing each other till they create hallucination picture of a world without possible stable representation. Such picture is too subjective and undermines the prerequisite itself of image objectivity connected to the principles of realism and naturalism. This is the reason why we suppose, that Maupassant is one of those premodern creators who seek new forms and techniques without cardinal detachment from the classical ones, although he realizes they are worn out, and he is trying exactly through numerous repetitions to involve them in the expression of their own denial.