Title of the article:

“THE COMEDY OF EUDOXIA OF HELIOPOLIS, OR THE CONVERTED COURTESAN” BY M. A. KUZMIN AS A SOURCE OF A. BLOK’S PLAY “THE SONG OF FATE”

Author(s):

Veronika B. Zuseva-Özkan

Information about the author/authors

Veronika B. Zuseva-Özkan — DSc in Philology, Leading Research Fellow, A. M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Povarskaya 25 a, 121069 Moscow, Russia. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9537-108X. E-mail: v.zuseva.ozkan@gmail.com

Section

Philological sciences

Year

2020

Volume

Vol. 56

Pages

pp. 121–130

Received

August 15, 2019

Date of publication

June 28, 2020

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37816/2073-9567-2020-56-121-130

Index UDK

821.161.1

Index BBK

83.3(2Рос=Рус)53

Abstract

This paper puts forward the hypothesis that “The Comedy of Eudoxia of Heliopolis, or The Converted Courtesan” (1907) by M. Kuzmin served as a source of A. Blok’s play “The Song of Fate” (1908). The author analyzes the fragment of Blok’s article “On Drama” (1907) focused on this play by Kuzmin, emphasizes the points which Blok made specific references to, and draws parallels between the two dramas. The study reveals substantial similarities on various levels of their structure (within the system of characters, motif complex, plot, and genre); in particular, a previously unaccounted for source of the main character’s name (German) is indicated. The paper argues that in both cases the plot of salvation and achieving the perfect, sacred love, which is actually based on the Gnostic teaching, plays out, so that both dramas turn out to be mystery plays (the fact, which Blok himself emphasized in his review of Kuzmin’s work). The author highlights the interconnectedness of the two female characters: traditional gender image of the loose woman becoming a saint (Kuzmin has mistery play embodied into the form of hagiographic stylization), and the gender-ambivalent image of the female warrior saving the protagonist (Blok always attached great importance to this figure).

Keywords

A. Blok, M. Kuzmin, mystery play, Gnostic myth, plot of salvation, prostitute, female warrior, imprisoned Soul of the World, femininity.

References

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