Shunkov A. V. The Motive of the Prodigal Son in the Epistolary Works by Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich

(Kemerovo State University of Culture and Arts)

Abstract ♦ The article analyzes the epistolary heritage of Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich in the context of general trends in Russian literature of the transitional period (the second half of the 17th century). The monarch’s letters, when treated as a subject of a special study, reveal a distinct influence of the prodigal son parable.

The epistles of the Russian monarch have never been researched from such a perspective. The article lies within the general trend of contemporary Russian literary studies to focus on the motivic structure of text.

Our analysis reveals the continuity between the Tsar’s epistles and the medieval book tradition, which does not denigrate the literary innovation of Tsar as a writer. In keeping with the epistolary tradition, the royal writer uses bookish techniques relevant to the literary etiquette of Old Russia. At the same time, Aleksei Mikhailovich as an author finds himself not bound by the literary canon and subjects the Gospel parable to interpretation.

By interpreting the parable, the monarch sketches the persons who appear in his epistles, creates their psychological portraits and manages to write down the historical events into the book tradition.

We pay special attention to the Tsar’s epistle to A. L. Ordin-Nashchokin. Here the author’s talent reveals the underpinning command of rhetorical techniques. At the same time, Aleksei Mikhailovich indulges in free interpretation of the famous parable, comparing it to events from the real life of his addressee. The epistle was written after Ordin-Nashchokin’s son Voin had fled to Europe, which brought about an association with the parable. The parallels drawn by the royal author in his consolation message provide a literary character to the epistle.

All of these factors help us classify the epistles of Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich as a phenomenon of Russian literature of the transitional period, representing the evolution of the motives and plots from the Gospel.

Keywords: 17th century Russian literature, Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich, epistolary works, Gospel parable, parable of the prodigal son, plot, motive.

Shunkov Alexander Viktorovich, Candidate of Philology, Associate Professor, Vice Rector for Research and Innovation, Kemerovo State University of Culture and Arts. Postal address: 17 Voroshilov St., Kemerovo, Russian Federation, 650029. Tel.: +7 (3842) 73-30-64. E-mail: alexandr_shunkov@mail.ru

Citation: Shunkov, A. V. (2014) Motiv «bludnogo syna» v epistoliarnom tvorchestve tsaria Alekseia Mikhailovicha [The Motive of the Prodigal Son in the Epistolary Works by Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich]. Znanie. Ponimanie. Umenie, no. 4, pp. 259–267. (In Russ.).

Submission date: 20.02.2014.

RUSSIAN VERSION

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