«Рower that possesses the throne of the world» (welcoming axiology and poetics of Natalia Kobrynska’s novel «Verdict»)

Abstract

The article analyses poetics of artistic psychologism of a little-known Natalia Kobrynska’s novel «Verdict» in terms of character-making, stylistic expressions, the author’s intention in research of the phenomenon of subconsciousness. The article comprehends auto-psychological and graphic genesis of this work and its ideological and aesthetic parallels with the ideological concept of «philosophy of life».

Introduction. Nietzsche’s philosophy became the foundation of philosophical discourse of modernity, main features of which were ecstatic vitality, pleasure, emotional enthusiasm, appreciation of life, vitality submission of mind. During the time of modern outlook , the creative thinking of Natalia Kobrynska was transformed too. She was also fond of the Nietzsche's philosophy , which was fashionable by that time, she effectively embodied its principles in her  modernist texts. For her works of that period  was peculiar reflexion, yearning for mystical symbolism, pronounced individualism, vitalism, the motives of sadness, loneliness and suffering. One of the work of this paradigm is the little-known Kobrynska’s  story «Сondemn», published in 1906 in the newspaper «Dilo». But this work has not yet become a subject of fully literary analysis. Novella «Сondemn» was very liked by writer herself , and she considered it as significant for her other, modernist phase of her life. In this respect it is important to analyze in detail the text in various ways as an expression of the evolution of creative thinking, stylistic trends of the writer,  and on the other hand, as an expression of complex soul contradictions, dramatic reflections and life values in the mind of the author herself.

   Purpose. Holistic analysis of the poetics of artistic psychologism of little-known  Kobrynska's novel  «Сondemn»  in terms of character, stylistic features,expression of phenomena  of non consciousness, gender psychology,  presentative paradigm.Comprehend the authorial  and psychographic genesis of this work and its ideological and aesthetic parallels with the ideological concept of «philosophy of life».

Methods. First analysis of novel «Сondemn» was made in 2012 in an article Mykola Lehkyy in the context of the general characteristics of prose Natalia Kobrynska , though specifically this work has not been studied. The main methods: psychoanalytical, receptive, gender, biographical, hermeneutic.

Results. Internal psychological plot of this work was inspired by biographical reality of that time, stressful experiences and  situation of despair that  Kobrynska suffered  with the loss of both parents – in 1903 – her  father, and for 11 months - and mother. Her unsuccessful removal  to Lviv in 1904, and then dramatic return to Bolekhiv, rupture with the community, loneliness, moods frustration of life and longing for the lost motherhood were symptoms of a deep spiritual crisis of the writer. Those symptoms itself were found in her artistic narrative. The main idea of the work - strengthening the triumph of life, its continuous revival and continuation. In fact, the whole plot of the novella «Сondemn» – a transcript of philosophical reflections of man who undergone complex psychological anxiety, passed processes of internal struggle and contrasting thoughts and desires to understand the true value of «parental happiness». Axiological evolution in the soul of man tests his mind, which is divided between parenthood and sexuality and which is completed the comprehension of the meaning of life for a new life. Ontological synonymous with the phrase Nietzsche – «right life force» – is similar to «strength of life» –  vitality  symbol, absolute constant, which links in itself all other meanings in Kobrynska's work.

Logic final of novel completes the existential nature of the entire text. The couple endowed with the greatest tenderness of the  parenthood, reaching the highest spiritual emanations in their child. And this new expression of happiness is the triumph of life as the main axiological value, vital infinity.

Conceptual framework «philosophy of life» are also in imaginative paradigm of this work. The author successfully used pathos of destiny , the dependence of human life from fate (terrible condemnation of the goddess Nemesis) , also inspired her work with  tragic existential motifs, states of consciousness.

Poetics of a work is originally represented by the symbolic image of a boat, floating on the ocean of life – a family residence, which, like a boat, is undergoing the most unexpected, most offensive turmoil, constantly struggles with the vital element.  There are an interesting interior localization work and various bizarre transformation of a topos of the home, which play role as scenical and psychological markers - cozy room – widower's cave  – prison. Kobrynska interestingly applied technique of physiognomical art of  gender characteristics, creating emotional psychological portraits of women and men.

Novella «Сondemn» marked the transformation of literary techniques of Kobrynska and found the typical characteristics of her prose of modernist  period: reflexion, confessionality, philosophy, consciousness, ambivalent outlook, expressive biography and psychology of the writer.