Article

Name: «Funny» characters by Dostoyevsky in A. Platonov’s artistic reception

Authors: E. N. Proskurina

Institute of Philology of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences

Abstract: The research, based on A. Platonov’s novels «Happy Moscow», «Chevengur», «The Foundation Pit», and an early short story «The Thirst of the Poor», demonstrates the peculiarity of Platonov’s creative treatment of an «alien » text. Analyzing the character system of the above mentioned works in comparison with the novel «Demons» and the short story «The Dream of a Ridiculous Man» the article reveals the trace of Dostoyevsky’s poetics in the images of «funny» characters created by Platonov. Meanwhile, Platonov’s images are deeply original while the allusion of the pretext is present just on the level of motif and certain plot details. This absence of the direct resemblance to the pretext is the specific feature of intertextuality in Platonov’s works. As a rule, Platonov diligently conceals the traces of somebody else’s text in the «density» of his own writing. Because of this, attributing the presence of an «alien» word in the structure of Platonov’s works often becomes possible only with the help of micropoetical analysis through hardly perceptible features. Within this approach the tiniest, even peripheral details turn out to be the key to the intertextual dialogue and its hidden meanings. For example, «Liza’s plot» by Dostoyevsky becomes recognizable in «Happy Moscow» just through the most delicate «pieces of evidence» concealed in Platonov’s absolutely original narrative, whose outward appearance seems to be related to «Demon» by no means. Besides, the article supposes that the speech poetics of Captain Lebyadkin’s image influenced the incoherent speech of Platonov\s «funny» characters in «Chevengur » and «The Foundation Pit». In «Happy Moscow» the parody modality of not at all funny characters appears at the expense of indirect hints to their intertextual reference to this «funny» character. In the case of Platonov’s short story «The Thirst of the Poor» the research of the main character’s image, his ironical attitude to himself as to «the poor» as well as the analysis of the plot type gives the reason to see the influence of «The Dream of a Ridiculous Man» by Dostoyevsky. For Platonov this work became the starting point which opened the possibility for his artistic reflection on the topical problems of the revolutionary era. The article concludes that Platonov’s «funny» characters are right the ones who the writer is in sympathy with nevertheless speaking of them ironically. Although, there are no characters in Platonov\s works who would not arouse sympathy to some extent. This writer’s position does not only differ from Dostoyevsky’s position but is absolutely unique in both Russian and world literature.

Keywords: A. Platonov, Dostoevsky, the poetics of character, motif, plot, intertextuality

Bibliography:

«Zhil na svete tarakan…» Stihi F. M. Dostoevskogo i ego personazhej. «Vitjaz' gorestnoj figury…» Dostoevskij v stihah sovremennikov [«Ones lived a cockroach...» Poems of F. M. Dostoevsky and his characters. «The knight of the sorrowful figure...» Dostoevsky in the poems of his contemporaries] / Sost., podgotovka teksta, primech., posleslovie B. N. Tihomirova. M.: Boslen, 2016. 239 s.

Arntc U., Chejs B., Visente M. Krolich'ja nora, ili chto my znaem o sebe i Vselennoj? [The rabbit’s hole, or what we know about ourselves and the Universe?] M.: Jeksmo, 2010.

Barsht K. Jenergeticheskij princip Andreja Platonova. Publicistika 1920-h gg. i povest' «Kotlovan» [Energy principle of Andrei Platonov. Journalism of the 1920s and the novel «The Foundation Pit»] // «Strana filosofov» Andreja Platonova: Problemy tvorchestva. Vyp. 4. M.: IMLI RAN, «Nasledie», 2000. S. 253–261.

Dmitrij Shostakovich – Isaaku Glikmanu. Pis'ma k drugu [Dmitri Shostakovich to Isaac Glikman. A letters to a friend]. SPb.: Kompozitor, 1993. 335 s.

Dostoevskij F.M. Sobranie sochinenij: V 15 t. [Collected works: In 15 vol]. SPb.: Nauka, 1988–1995.

Drubek-Majer N. Rossija – «pustota v kishkah» mira. «Schastlivaja Moskva » (1932–1936 gg.) A. Platonova kak allegorija [Russia – «the emptiness in the guts» of the world. «Happy Moscow» (1932–1936) of A. Platonov as an allegory // Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie, 1994. № 9. S. 251–267.

Hodasevich V. F. Pojezija Ignata Lebjadkina [Poetry of Ignat Lebjadkin] // Hodasevich V. F. Sobranie sochinenij: V 4 t. T. 2. M., 1996.

Karasev L. Vverh i vniz (Dostoevskij i Platonov) [Up and down (Dostoevsky and Platonov)] // «Strana filosofov» Andreja Platonova: Problemy tvorchestva. Vyp. 4. M.: IMLI RAN, Nasledie, 2000. S. 168–184.

Kostov H. Mifopojetika Andreja Platonova v romane «Schastlivaja Moskva» [Mythopoetics of Andrei Platonov's novel «Happy Moscow»]. Helsinki, Izd-vo Helsinki University Press, 2000.

Lukin E. Filosofija kapitana Lebjadkina [The philosophy of captain Lebjadkin] // Neva, 2006. № 4. S. 240–256.

Malygina N. Dialog Platonova s Dostoevskim [Platonov's dialogue with Dostoevsky] // «Strana filosofov» Andreja Platonova: Problemy tvorchestva. Vyp. 4. M.: IMLI RAN, Nasledie, 2000. S. 185–200.

Mochul'skij K. V. Gogol'. Solov'ev. Dostoevskij [Gogol. Solovyev. Dostoevsky]. M.: Respublika, 1995. 604 s.

Platonov A. «… ja prozhil zhizn'». Pis'ma [1920 – 1950 gg.] / Pod obshhej red. N. Kornienko i E. Shubinoj [«... I have lived life» Letters [1920 – 1950] / Under the General editorship of N. Kornienko and E. Shubina]. M.: Astrel', 2013. 685 s.

Platonov A. Chevengur. M.: Vysshaja shkola, 1991. S. 23–398.

Platonov A. Kotlovan. Tekst. Materialy tvorcheskoj biografii [The Foundation Pit. Text. Materials for the biography]. SPb.: Nauka, 2000. S. 21–116.

Platonov A. Schastlivaja Moskva [Happy Moscow] // «Strana filosofov» Andreja Platonova: Problemy tvorchestva. Vyp. 3. M.: Nasledie, 1999. S. 7– 105.

Platonov A. Sochinenija: Nauchnoe izdanie [Works: Academic publication]. T. 1. Kn. 1. M.: IMLI RAN, 2004. 644 s.

Platonov A. Zapisnye knizhki. Materialy k biografii [Notebook. Materials for the biography]. M.: IMLI RAN, Nasledie, 2000. 418 s.

Proskurina E. N. «Muchen'e – pervaja kategorija zhizni…» (Nekotorye nabljudenija nad «Zapisnymi knizhkami» A. Platonova) [«Torment – the first category of life...» (Some observations on the «Notebooks» by A. Platonov)] // Russkaja literatura XX–XXI vekov: napravlenija i techenija. Vyp. 7. Ekaterinburg: UrGPU, 2004. S. 157–169.

Proskurina E. N. Faustiana Andreja Platonova [Faustian story of Andrei Platonov]. M.: Novyj hronograf, 2015. 350 s.

Proskurina E. N. Pojetika misterial'nosti v proze Andreja Platonova konca 20-h – 30-h godov (na materiale povesti «Kotlovan») [The poetics of mystery in prose by Andrey Platonov of the late 20-ies – 30-ies (based on the novel «The Foundation Pit»)]. Novosibirsk: Sibirskij hronograf, 2001. 258 s.

Sarnov B. M. Prishestvie kapitana Lebjadkina. Sluchaj Zoshhenko [The coming of captain Lebjadkin. The case of Zoshchenko]. M.: Kul'tura, 1993. 312 s.

Semenova S. «Vlechenie ljudej v tajnu vzaimnogo sushhestvovanija…» (Formy ljubvi v romane) [«The attraction of people into the mystery of mutual existence...» (Forms of love in the novel)] // «Strana filosofov» Andreja Platonova: Problemy tvorchestva. Vyp. 3. M.: Nasledie, 1999. S. 108–123.

Semenova S. Filosofskie motivy romana «Schastlivaja Moskva» [Philosophical motives in the novel «Happy Moscow»] // «Strana filosofov» Andreja Platonova: Problemy tvorchestva. Vyp. 2. M.: IMLI RAN, 1995. S. 54–90.

Serman I. Z. Stihi kapitana Lebjadkina i pojezija XX veka [The poems of captain Lebjadkin and poetry of the XX century] // Revue des études slaves. Année 1981. Vol. 53. No. 4.

Shubin L. A. Poiski smysla otdel'nogo i obshhego sushhestvovanija: Ob A. Platonove. Raboty raznyh let [The search for the meaning of individual and shared existence: About A. Platonov. Works of different years]. M.: Sovetskij pisatel', 1987. 365 s

Uspenskij P.D. Tertium Organum. Kljuch k zagadkam mira [Tertium Organum. The key to the mysteries of the world]. SPb., 1911 [Reprint. SPb.: Andreev i synov'ja, 1992].