FOREIGN LITERATURE AS A TOOL FOR FORMING THE VALUES OF AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY IN THE CONTEXT OF WAR

Abstract

Introduction. This study examines the role of foreign literature in fostering an inclusive society, particularly amidst armed conflict. The militarized discourse within literature frequently depicts war as a catastrophic event, precipitating a collective existential crisis that profoundly alters individual and societal worldviews. This upheaval often results in a shift in cultural epistemes, which subsequently manifests in artistic expressions through novel themes, imagery, and narratives. In light of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, literature has assumed a critical role in cultivating value-based sensitivity towards the Other – an indispensable condition for establishing an inclusive society. The present study aims to elucidate the inclusive potential of J.D. Salinger’s short story “A Perfect Day for Bananaf- ish” (1948) in shaping a new ethics of perceiving the Other during wartime. The analysis draws upon contemporary receptions of the text by students enrolled in the “Inclusive Literature in the Educational Process” course at Yurii Fed- kovych Chernivtsi National University.Scientific novelty. This article analyzes Salinger’s short story as a salient example of foreign literature possessing sig- nificant inclusive potential. The study demonstrates that the character of Seymour, a war veteran afflicted with PTSD, em- bodies an individual marginalized from both familial and societal spheres. The narrative’s three distinct episodes reflect varied modes of post-war consciousness concerning Seymour’s otherness: ranging from fear and segregation to passive tolerance, and culminating in instances of acceptance, empathetic communication, and the ultimate inability to adapt.The narrator eschews direct descriptions of trauma, instead conveying it indirectly through Seymour’s behavior and the mediated perceptions of other characters. This narrative strategy directs the reader’s attention to the psychological dimensions of trauma, depicting a destructive state of «inner war» that persists beyond physical conflict and ultimately leads to the individual’s disintegration.Conclusions. Literary narratives not only represent inclusive values but also create discursive spaces for the coexist- ence of otherness, offering readers situational paradigms for navigating traumatic conditions. The inclusive potential of Salinger’s story further resides in its deliberate refusal to proffer definitive judgments; the narrator merely records dis- connections and the palpable tension of misunderstanding, thereby granting the reader interpretive autonomy. Within the contemporary reader’s horizon of expectations, the text constructs an apperceptive foundation for catharsis, facilitating deeper insight into traumatic experience and fostering the cultivation of genuine inclusivity.