Space and History

Eötvös József: Búcsú

Abstract

Búcsú (Farewell, 1836) is a welcome exception within József Eötvös’s lyrical oeuvre, which is usually not credited with too much significance in literary history. This paper makes an attempt at a comprehensive interpretation of the description of those geographical places (Buda, Rákos, Mohács, Nándorfehérvár) which bear symbolic relevance for Hungarian historical consciousness. The interpretation reveals the underlying “native land” concept and the related interpretation of history, as well as the connections with contemporary political discourse.