Literature in the time of war: Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas’ poetry collection “Rūsčios Dienos” and “Diary” (1938–1945)

Abstract

This article analyses the works of Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas written during World War II. Both the diary and the poems emphasise the destruction of war, often looking for analogies with the Last Judgement. The alternative is human relationships, creative existence and the belief in freedom, trust in one’s own nation. The poet’s work can be described as resistance, as a testimony to suffering in the face of oppression and a defense of human dignity. The writer condemns the ideologies that enslave mankind and shows the degradation of humanity. Mykolaitis-Putinas completely avoided the aestheticization of war, did not create the myth of heroism, but tried to remain morally responsible and critically assessed reality.