Abstract:
This article explores the process of psychologization in Ion Druță’s novel “The White Church”. Psychologization refers to the literary technique of depicting a character’s inner emotional and psychological states. We argue that the portrayal of feelings and emotions is inseparable from the depiction of emotional states, which evolve in tandem with the narrative and reflect the reactions of both characters and the author to unfolding events.The analysis focuses on the linguistic means employed to convey emotions, which mirror shifting psychological realities. We distinguish between “emotiveness” as a linguistic category and “emotion” as a psychological phenomenon, proposing that their interrelation forms the foundation for psychologization in literary texts. Particular attention is given to the character of Ecaterina cea Mare, whose psychologization is achieved through the semantics of physiological states and processes, as well as through her language and the author’s narrative commentary. This multifaceted approach demonstrates how psychological depth is constructed and perceived in Druță’s prose.
