Plethon and the Byzantine Voice in Η Γυφτοπούλα (The Gypsy Girl)

This paper investigates the presence and influence of Gemistos Plethon in Alexandros Papadiamandis’ novel Η Γυφτοπούλα, focusing on the ways in which Byzantine philosophical thought informs the literary narrative. Although Plethon is mentioned in the text, the precise reasons for his inclusion and the extent of his impact on the novel warrant closer examination. The study aims to explore how Plethon’s late Byzantine and Platonic ideas may have inspired Papadiamandis, shaping narrative strategies, character development, ethical reflection, and the depiction of “the other.” The research will employ close reading of selected passages from the novel, alongside comparative analysis of Plethon’s key philosophical writings, to identify thematic and conceptual resonances. Special attention will be given to ethical dilemmas, moral discourse, and the integration of philosophical ideas into the everyday lives of the characters, revealing how Papadiamandis adapts Byzantine intellectual heritage to a nineteenth-century Greek context. By exploring these intersections between literature and philosophy, this paper seeks to demonstrate the novel’s function as a medium for intellectual dialogue across time and culture. Since the translation of Η Γυφτοπούλα into contemporary Macedonian is currently in progress, this study will also highlight those linguistic expressions that reflect the Byzantine style, which simultaneously pose a challenge to render faithfully in a modern language.