"Pokutna ofiarna" : przemoc i cierpienie w "Mirtali" Elizy Orzeszkowej

The article analyses mechanisms of collective trouble and some of its psychological results. Within the scope of first question the interpretation concerns both causes of violent acts (toward Jewish community in ancient Rome) and its final failure (i.e. restraining of pogrom). And within the scope of psychological investigation the main aim of this article is to explain the masochistic problem which depends on hidden cooperation between torturers and its victims.