Hypostases of the Self in Păunescu's Literary Creation and Activity

This article offers a new perspective on the literary creation and activities of the poet Adrian Păunescu, particularly in identifying the various facets of his personality. Given the sheer number of his poetry volumes, as well as his activity during a historical period when trust was scarce and betrayal was ever-present, his multifaceted persona seems to have deliberately deceived the system. The superstar, the manipulator, the propagandist, the actor, and the patriot are just some of the aspects explored in this article. It also considers the views of other notable figures contemporary with the poet, as well as their perceptions of the different facets of his personality as they knew him. One conclusion might be that, in the poet's case, had it not been for certain mechanisms that facilitated his rise to prominence, nowadays he might be an unknown or forgotten name today.