Abstract

In the “Promised land” by W. S. Reymont there is clash of two worlds: modernity, which grows on the ruins of past and tradition which bases on the respect towards ancestors’ culture. That is why in the reception of this epic story there is dichotomy of disclosed divisions: city and village, chaos and harmony, culture and nature. Discussion on the noble-landowning axiology, which falls apart under the impact of civilization phenomena i.e. machines and the modern one, which is defined by the chaos of the world that is non-crystallized and does not base on any ethical postulates, is revealed in the metatextual interpretation of the novel. In fact there is clash of values and antivalues, which are valid in the unconditional world of matter, which eliminates any signs of spirituality. Therefore the compared portraits of Łódź and Kurów are characterized by strong contrasts. Man’s decline (prostitution, crimes, exploitation) is contrasted with stately existence on the manor, which bases on the God’s authority and very close relationship of man with nature.