For many reasons, the mid-19th century was a time of intensified interest within literature and philosophy in outstanding individuals who were ahead of
their times and opened up new prospects for the world as it developed. In this respect, Norwid shared the views of his era. Studies on his oeuvre have spread
the sound view – even in the inter-war period – that there is an amazing parallel which, thanks to some complicated self-creation, links the poet’s life with that of the Athenian philosopher Socrates.