The+Golden+Age+of+Russian+Literature


 * Golden Age of Russian Literature **

Spanning the middle to late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the 'golden age' of Russian literature featured a stark rise in realism with plays towards the mystic and melodramatic areas of czarist Russian life. Poetry, already popular, skyrocketed along with prose to provide a literary atmosphere that, in a quieter way, reflected the slowly crumbling czarist rule. With a social backdrop focusing on a variety of shaping events from the assassination of Czar Alexander II to the underlying emotions and political motives of the Russian classes, prose and poetry showed themselves as not only entertaining and inspiring works, but also a valuable insight into the last century of the Pre-Soviet empire.

Major Themes
**Western Infiltration and Russian Identity**- As romanticism then realism swept through Europe, it slowly began "invading" aspects of Russian literature, especially through poetry. The great poet Alexandr Pushkin, influenced throughout his early life by both Russian and French literature, helped to jump start an era of poetry that was not only romantic, but held the realism of Russian life, all while protesting the flood of Western European influence. Authors such as Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Anton Chekhov illustrated the struggles of the lesser classes in Russia, all while taking stark note of political effects and forgeiners. For instance, within Dostoyevsky's //Crime and Punishment//, he makes it very clear of Raskolnikov's, the main character, disapproval of one of his sister's suitors, as he is from St. Petersburg instead of Moscow. Raskolnikov's instant hate is explained when later on in dialogue he notes that St. Petersburg is more 'Western European' than 'Russian', showing a disapproval for the increasing Western European migrants, a common theme throughout the literatures of this time.

**Individuality within the Lower Social Classes****-** Especially noted within Puskin's //Eugene Onegin// and Lermontov's //A Hero Of Our Time// is the thought of finding individuality, something reflective of the nature of Russian society at the time. In the nineteenth century, Russia was an Imperialist nation, ruled over by the equivalent of a king, a czar. From here, the power slowly grew less and less until it fell completely useless to the working class, the serfs of Russia. As perhaps a consequence of 'Westernization', the lower Russian classes grew steadily more ill at ease with their autocracy, thus, the minds behind the literature at this time wrote of finding oneself while abandoning the 'old ways' of Russian government and thinking. This concept of fleeing the social system of 'Old Russia' was memorialized in Nikolai Gogol's //Dead Souls// and, in an even more inconspicuous manner, in Dostoyevsky's //Crime and Punishment//, where, according to Professor Irwin Weil, Ph.D., Harvard University, Northwestern University, the protagonist Raskolnikov "takes his name from the word for 'schism', signifying a person who is separating himself from society." To go along with this, in many of Chekhov's works there is a common theme of lower classes becoming bored with the 'regular life' of Imperal Russia, so much so that they spark a growing push towards change (Gale Encyclopedia of Biography). Even in the horror genre is the theme of individuality reflected, as in Alexei K. Tolstoy's short story //The Vampire//, the two young lovers, one of noble class, one of a slightly lesser class, must destroy the two vampires that are presiding over the house in which they are staying. In a dream-like fog, the male lover, the one of lesser class, sees his beloved being held by the two vampires who are wearing crests that reach back to the first two families of Russia. By destroying these two monsters, he is able to keep his love and Tolsty is able to symbolically break the ties that Imperial Russia holds over the individual. It is to be noted, however, that the autocracy did not take these thoughts of individuality as portrayed in these works of literature very well, as Pushkin is rumored to have been mocked by Czar Nicholas by being given one of the lowest titles within the court (C.D. Merriman, 2006) and Lermontov sentenced to five years of exile (The Lectern, 2010).

Minor Themes
**Women's Roles and the Russian Family**- The Russian family during this time reflected by the literature is a unit with a husband dominating, a servant-like wife, and a few children. Among the poorer classes, most of the literature seems to indicate a marriages for statuses more than anything else. In Alexei K. Tolstoy's collection of horror stories, there is the common theme of ancient families passing down legacies through generations, thus providing the insight that family plays a role within the Russian identity at the time. The male is a dominant figure in many of the families seen in the works; however, authors such as Leo Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky focus on different instances in which women are portrayed without a man. In Tolstoy's //Anna Karenina//, he tells the story of a woman who is caught in the almost unheard of act of adultery, something that could be looked at as a 'disruption' of the core Russian family. Dostoyevsky, again in //Crime and Punishment//, illustrates both a woman whose husband has died and her stepdaughter who is forced into being a prostitute in order to support her family. The woman who has lost her husband eventually loses herself, while her stepdaughter becomes more and more meek, trying very hard to fit into the air of a woman of class, thus an attempt to show how a woman is more or less nothing without someone to support her consistently.

 **The Decemberists-** Among the political upheaval throughout this time, perhaps one of the ones that left a slightly larger mark in literature is the Decemberists, an attempt to overthrow the reining czar, Czar Nicholas I, after Czar Alexander I was assassinated. The protesters were mostly men of military background in upper status and a majority of them were banished to Siberia. This theme is important in many of the works of the latter part of the age, as not only did it mark one of the first attempts at Russian individualism within the nineteenth century, the wives of all of the officers went into exile with them, making it completely clear how important the Russians viewed family, and potentially providing a small step towards redefining the image of Russian women as 'strong' and 'independent'. Beyond this, the Decemberist uprising could be a persistent theme in latter works as the poet Alexandr Pushkin was, for a short time, affiliated with the uprising and, had he not renounced his affiliation with them, become lost to the literary world while exiled in Siberia.

Noteworthy Authors
Igniting the flame for the literary pathway into Russia's golden age was the acclaimed poet and visionary **Alexandr Pushkin**. With his ability to use the Russian language in a simple yet profound way, Puskin's astounding legacy is felt around the world and most deeply within Russia, as he forged the first steps of the path down which Russia's Golden Age would take. Russia's bard, as he is tenderly called even today, is perhaps the greatest producer of the Golden Age, with his rags-to-riches life and poet's death, as well as ever living messages of vigor and human charity as conquerors of all.

Pushkin's death resulted in a time of sadness for the world of Russian literature at this time, however, Pushkin's message was eagerly picked up by **Mikhail Lermontov**, a young, eager writer who quickly set his works upon the world. Lermontov's works carry the messages of a young dreamer and are set in stone by his introduction of the 'iron verse', something that allowed him to express his concerns for Russia's future while maintaining a heroic and intellectual tone, as it is he who wrote that there would one day be a "time when the crown of the czars will fall" (Vladimir Viktorovich Zhdanov, Britannica). Like Pushkin, he died a poet's death: young and via a duel.

Perhaps one of the bravest authors of this time was **Nikolai Gogol//,//** a novelist who mustered up the power to show Imperialist Russia a portrait of its disintegrating self in a satirical manner. Gogol wrote in a thick style, contrasting sharply with Lermontov and especially Pushkin, though his way of writing would be improved upon and picked up by the likes of Dostoyevsky and Leo Tolstoy.

Another great thinker and author of this time was **Fyordor Dostoyevsky**, a sheer genius of a man who is renowned not only for his prose, but for the psychology represented within them. Within his works, he notes the psychological severity of his characters, illustrating this by their complex rationalizations and unconscious thoughts and how they distinguish good from evil. To go along with this, his prose is written in a manner that probes at the readers hearts with questions about faith, suffering, and the meaning of life.

At the other end of the spectrum, the author **Leo Tolstoy**, a renowned name in Russian literature, crafted master works of both lengthy and short prose, focusing on the simplicity and rugged beauty of everyday life. Tosltoy, aside from being a tremendous realist, was a novelist who was committed to bringing to light the human experience in conscious life, as well as mirroring Dostoyevsky's questions on faith and the meaning of life.

As for works of extreme political value, the pen name **Kozma Prutkov**, often the author of works that consisted of the compilation of the wits of **Alexander K. Tolstoy** and the **Zhemchuzhnikov Brothers**proved to merely be a display of nonsensical satire and fables for "The Contemporary" magazine. These wits, however, help us to catch a glimpse at what might be the equivilent of tabloids in this era. (A quick note on the wits and wonders of this 'Kozma Prutkov': in an attempt to translate a short saying from one of his books, the author of this article spent ten minutes on three words, Всегда держитебдительными <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">. They translated as follows: "Always keep vigilant." The author of this article found herself not only a tad frustrated, but laughing with the irony of the whole ordeal! )

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Annotated Bibliography

 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">A Hero of Our Time (Lermontov) -One of the first major prose novels within the Golden Age of Russian Literature, //A Hero of Our Time// tells the story of a young man who, with much passion, chases after adventure in the wilderness without morals, finding himself in the process.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Vampires and Stories of the Supernatural (A.K. Tolstoy)- A collection of chilling tales that relate the themes of Russian Family and the 'Old Ways of Russia' while enticing the reader's supernatural senses.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Divine and Human: Short Stories (L. Tolstoy)- A recently found and translated collection of works from the great realist, //Divine and Human// ties in the spiritual side of Russian life, allowing Tolstoy to answer the questions Dostoyevsky poised on faith and the human fate.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Dead Souls (Gogol)- A witty satirical work that sheds light and some critique on the system of 'Old Russia.'
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The Gypsies (Pushkin)- The first of a two-part poem, //The Gypsies// is a simplistic, easy reading poem that vividly brings life to the thought of love and true independence.
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Crime and Punishment (Dostoyevsky)- The author of the article's favorite novel, //Crime and Punishment// explores the psyche of a young man driven mad by poverty and how he heals and helps people around him through his fight with guilt in an awesomely written psychological thriller.
 * 7) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">A Collection of Sayings (Prutkov)- Though completely in Russian, translating only a few quotes show the wit of the combined authorship and humorous political writing.
 * 8) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Anna Karenina (L. Tolstoy)- One of Tolstoy's larger novels, //Anna Karenina// is a must for those who love drama and scandal within the Russian family.
 * 9) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Death of the Poet (Lermontov)-Lermontov's ode to the death of Pushkin, this beautifully written, tear-jerking poem is a cry of anger to the world, letting it know what a misdeed it has done, all while maintaing a gentle and dignified style.
 * 10) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Eugene Onegin (Pushkin)- One of Pushkin's finest, this verse novel shows off the poet's skill in simple writing while creating an easy reading piece that illustrates the break away from 'Old Russia' for the sake of love.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Works Cited**

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> "'A Hero of Our Time' Mikhail Lermontov." __The Lectern.__ 19 Apr. 2010. 16 Dec. 2011. <http://thelectern.blogspot.com/2010/04/hero-of-our-time-mikhail-lermontov.html>.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Andreew, Germann. "Pushkin: Bard of Harmony." //DISCovering Authors//. Detroit: Gale, 2003. //Gale Student Resources In Context//. Web. 17 Dec. 2011.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Gorky, Maxim. "Anton Chekhov: Fragments of Recollections." //DISCovering Authors//. Detroit: Gale, 2003. //Gale Student Resources In Context//. Web. 17 Dec. 2011.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">"Historical Context: Crime and Punishment." //EXPLORING Novels//. Detroit: Gale, 2003. //Gale Student Resources In Context//. Web. 17 Dec. 2011.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Lutz, John, "Chichikov's chest: reality, representation, and infectious storytelling in 'Dead Souls'." //Texas Studies in Literature and Language// 43.4 (2001): 365+. //Gale Student Resources in Context.// Web. 13 December 2011

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Merriman, C.D. . "Alexander Pushkin." __The Literature Network.__ 2006. 16 Dec. 2011. <http://www.workscited4u.com/search.php>.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">"Russian literature." //Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online//. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2011. Web. 16 Dec. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/513793/Russian-literature>.