TEMPTATION is as old as storytelling itself – a force that beckons, seduces, destabilizes, and defines. AIC 35 delves into the
complex symbolic dimensions of temptation across diverse
literary landscapes, examining its nature, functions, and
enduring impact on characters and narratives. The volume
explores temptation not merely as a fleeting impulse, but as a foundational element shaping identity, power dynamics, and
societal structures. Contributions range from classical antiquity to contemporary works, analysing how temptation manifests in various guises: as an existential labyrinth, a deceptive seduction, a psychoanalytic drive, a socio-economic lure, or a technological frontier. The articles – written in English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Romanian – span diverse literary corpora, including crime novels, philosophical dialogues, historical fiction, poetry, and science fiction. Whether through the lens of psychoanalysis, semiotics, narratology, or political theory, temptation emerges as a central topos that destabilises certainties and opens the door to
critical re-visioning.