“AUTOPOETIC SELFHOOD AND THE PATERNAL ARCHETYPE IN ZVIAD GAMSAKHURDIA’S ‘LUXLAND’ NARRATIVE.”

Abstract

This article examines Zviad Gamsakhurdia’s autobiographical narrative in the fairy tale Luxlandian Story, highlighting his literary self-representation, moral stance, and spiritual traumas. The analysis is grounded in the allegorical structure of the text, the role of characters, and the significance of the paternal archetype and the authorial alter ego. The study emphasizes that Luxlandia constitutes not only a fantastical space but also a symbolic reflection of Georgia’s historical and political context, where the protagonist Yaleni embodies the dynamics of national trauma and personal ethical choices. Particular attention is given to the paternal archetype as a carrier of spiritual, moral, and national memory, and to the protagonist’s individuation process. The article integrates autobiographical, psychoanalytic, and allegorical approaches, demonstrating that the fairy tale functions as a morally, historically, and politically charged text, intertwining personal experience, ethical values, and the exploration of national spiritual identity.

Keywords: Zviad Gamsakhurdia, Luxlandian Story, autobiography, allegory, paternal archetype, Georgian literature, spiritual struggle.