Title of the article:

THE PARADIGM OF INITIATION IN THE FAIRY TALE “VASILISA THE BEAUTIFUL”

Author(s):

А. Chudzinska-Parkosadze

Information about the author/authors

Anna Chudzinska-Parkosadze — PhD in Philology, Vice-chairman, Foundation of Polish Science, Kosciuszko St. 35/1, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland. E-mail: parkosadze@interia.pl

Section

Philological sciences

Year

2019

Volume

Vol. 51

Pages

pp. 99–115

Received

November 05, 2018

Date of publication

March 28, 2019

Index UDK

821.161.1+378.7

Index BBK

83.3(2Рос=Рус)+82.3(2)

Abstract

The article addresses the pattern of initiation in the wonder tale “Vasilisa the Beautiful”. Most of the researchers consider this pattern`s plot in terms of woman`s initiation. However, the author of the article attempts to deliver this process as an initiation for becoming a witch. The initiation model consists of seven levels: 1) awakening and preparing for a new stage of life, 2) katharsis, feeling of loneliness and alienation, 3) beginning of illumination process — getting in touch with the transcendent world, 4) the culmination — illumination, obtaining freedom and acquisition of knowledge, 5) “the dark night of the soul” — revenge, 6) gaining mastery — the right activity, 7) the mystic union. The heroine of the wonder tale goes through all the tests that link her with the other world and make her change her status — from now on she belongs at the same time to both worlds — the world of life and the world of death. From the moment of getting revenge, she becomes a true witch, which has to gain a mastery of controlling her own destiny (a motif of weaving). The elements of the plot and imagery world prove to represent the cult of Mother Goddess. From this perspective Baba Yaga plays the role of the cult`s main priestess, who initiates Vasilisa into its arcana. 

Keywords

Vasilisa the Beautiful, initiation, Baba Yaga, a witch, cult of Mother Goddess.

References

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