Życie seksualne jako obiekt krytyki i źródło inwektyw w literaturze politycznej czasów stanisławowskich. Casus „Zagadek Sejmu Czteroletniego

The paper focuses on the collection of political epigrams from the time of the Four-year Sejm. It is compilation of a few hundred pieces depicting in a different light all the participants of the parliamentary sessions, as well as a number of women in these circles. In critical epigrams, the role of an argument is often played by more or less open allusions to love life of the criticised people. Although the riddles touching upon this subject constitute only a minor part of this collection (approx. 14%), different strategies in employing the theme of love life can be distinguished: from delicate taunts to depicting the love life of the given character as the main argument against the person, related to allegations of indifference to the fate of their homeland or even treason. An interesting disparity can be observed while comparing the riddles about men and women. In the case of women, criticism of their love life occurs more frequently than in the case of men. Despite the use of sexual themes as an argument in the political struggle, Polish poetry of the Four-year Sejm era is much less radically vulgar or obscene compared to, for instance, French political literature of the Revolution.