Existentialist novel “The tree from Hell’s gate” by Anđelko Vuletić

U diplomskom radu roman Drvo s paklenih vrata Anđelka Vuletića određujemo u okviru hrvatske egzistencijalističke proze kao egzistencijalističku vrstu romana koji se konkretno u ovom romanu bavi temama besmisla čovjekove egzistencije, tragike čovjekove osamljenosti, problemom čovjeka pred licem vječnosti, problemima osobnog angažmana i odgovornosti, osobnom otuđenošću te psihologijom potpuna poraza. Glavni lik i pripovjedač romana August Putar tipičan je egzistencijalistički antijunak opsjednut osjećajima krivnje i unutarnje praznine. Njegova je egzistencija besmislena i on je iz svijeta isključen svojim apsurdnim postojanjem. On je hladan, bezosjećajan i odsutan u odnosima sa svim ostalim likovima u romanu. Osim određenja romana kao egzistencijalističkog, ovaj roman je i alegoijski što je vidljivo iz samog naslova roman koji je napisan malim pisanim slovima i ne odnosi se na „drvo“ iz rodnog mjesta glavnog junaka Augusta Putara, odnosno na nedostatak drva u tom mjestu, nego se radi o nečemu puno dubljem. Niz ostalih priča u romanu, koji upućuju na određene elemente folklora, zapravo su u službi alegorije jer je čitav roman jedna alegorijska priča koja se može razumijeti tek kad se pročita u cijelosti. Osim alegorije, u romanu su prisutni i elementi fantastike i magijskog realizma. Sunce kao glavni motiv romana na Augusta ne djeljuje iscjeliteljski i umirujuće već svojom snagom i jačinom budi u njemu demonsku narav i stvara od njega dijabolički karakter kojega je preuzeo sam đavao. Preuzevši mit o Edipu Anđelko Vuletić se diskretno i ironično naslanja na njega i na taj način progovara o nemirima glavnog junaka. Osim motiva sunca u romanu su prisutni i motivi groblja, zemlje, zmije i vode u službi alegorije i fantastike. Anđelko Vuletić je u ovom romanu izgradio jedinstvenog, zlog i izopačenog lika kojega je teško usporediti s bilo kojim drugim likom romana iz okvira hrvatske egzistencijalističke proze.In this graduate thesis the novel “The tree from Hell’s gate” by Anđelko Vuletić is defined within the framework of Croatian existential prose as a existentialist type of novel that concretely in this novel deals with the subjects of the meaningless of man’s existence, the tragic of man’s loneliness, man’s problem in front of the face of eternity, the problems of personal engagement and responsibility, self alienation and the psychology of complete defeat. The main character and narrator of the novel August Putar is a typical existentialist anti-hero obsessed with feeling guilty and inner emptiness. His existence is meaningless and he is excluded from the world with his absurd existence. He is cold, insensitive and absent in relationships with the rest of the characters in the novel. Apart from determining this novel as existentialist, it’s also allegorical which is evident from the novel’s title written in small letters and does not refer to a “tree” from the birthplace of the main hero August Putar, apropos on the lack of tree in that place, but it’s about something much deeper. The series of stories in the novel, that point to certain folklore elements, are actually in the service of allegory because the entire novel is one allegorical story which can be understood only when it’s completely read. Apart from allegory, the novel also has elements of fiction and magical realism. Sun as the main motive of the novel doesn’t affect August in a healing and calming manner but it’s strength and intensity awakens a demonic nature within him and turns him into a diabolical character who has been possessed by the devil himself. Taking over the myth of Oedipus Anđelko Vuletić discretely and ironically leans on to it and in that way speaks about the turmoil of the main hero. Apart from the sun motive the novel also has the motive of cemetery, earth, snake and water in the service of allegory and fiction. Anđelko Vuletić in this novel created a unique, evil and twisted character who is unlikely compared to other characters in novels within the framework of Croatian existential prose