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Theologically-ethic Historicism of B. Pasternak

Liberal Arts in Russia. 2013. Vol. 2. No. 5. Pp. 493-500.
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Zaytseva A. R.
Bashkir State University
32 Zaki Validi st., 450074 Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia
Email: irlxx@yandex.ru

Abstract

This article devotes the relevant problem, which wasn't examined in B. Pasternak's works- the problem of historicism. The aim of the author – ideological and artistic quests of the poet which are connected with his Christian view of history as a part of universal history and artist's place within. The article shows the opposition between two conceptions of B. Pasternak history: politico-social and all the Christian. The evolution of poet's works is fully connected with this opposition. In first post-revolutionary decade Pasternak-pantheist perceived modern history as natural and necessary he saw historic and moral probity there. Tragic events in the country in 1930s, the arrest of his friends-artists and deepening into his Christian feelings led B. Pasternak to a rupture with modern life/reality and a change of his social-pantheistic historicism with religious-ethic one. Christian philosophy of history in mature works of the poet is inseparably connected with a theme of artist's soul as it is a benefaction of his moral not social choice in history. The most part of religious-ethic historicism was embodied in cyclus of “Yuri Zhivago's poems” especially in “Hamlet” that was created on an analogy Hamlet-Christ-Artist. The persona of the poetry and the novel “Doctor Zhivago” by B. Pasternak chooses fatal way predetermined to him by his father – the Lord in universal history, and he refuses to take part in "drama" of modern history. Christian historicism of the poet ends up at social-anti-historicism when the persona doesn't participate in politico-social history and oblational shares fatal destiny given by Christ with a nation. Late works of B. Pasternak arise the theme about destinies unity – the artist and the nation, about equality of sufferings in a tragic century. It proofs, that theologically-ethic historicism peculiar to the poet relieves him of all the accusations because of his isolation of the destiny of his country and the folk, because of his anti-patriotism and anti-nationalism. Ontological optimism of the poet, his philosophy of art appeared in Christian point of time and human's part within.

Keywords

  • • philosophy of history
  • • worldview
  • • pantheism
  • • the Christian consciousness
  • • ontology
  • • image
  • • theme
  • • motif
  • • Hamlet
  • • Christ
  • • lyrical hero
  • • lyrical story

References

  1. 1 S raznykh tochek zreniya: «Doktor Zhivago» Borisa Pasternaka [From Different Points of View: «Doctor Zhivago» by Boris Pasternak]. Moscow, 1990. 288 pp.
  2. 2 Ozerov L. O Borise Pasternake [About Boris Pasternak]. Moscow, 1990. 132 pp.
  3. 3 Pasternak B. Sobranie sochinenii [Collection of Writings]: V 5 t. Moscow, 1989–1992.
  4. 4 Ivanova N. Boris Pasternak: Vremena zhizni [Boris Pasternak: Lifetimes]. Moscow, 2007. 566 pp.
  5. 5 Boris Pasternak ob iskusstve: «Okhrannaya gramota» i zametki o khudozhestvennom tvorchestve [Boris Pasternak about Art: "Safe Conduct" and Notes about Art]. Moscow, 1990. 399 pp.
  6. 6 Perepiska Borisa Pasternaka [Boris Pasternak Correspondence]. Moscow, 1990. 575 pp.