Children Abandoned by Their Mother. Redundant Revolutionaries in Prose Works by Mykola Khvylovye Cover Image

Dzieci przez matkę odrzucone. „Zbędni ludzie rewolucji” w prozie Mykoły Chwylowego
Children Abandoned by Their Mother. Redundant Revolutionaries in Prose Works by Mykola Khvylovye

Author(s): Albert Nowacki
Subject(s): Literary Texts
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: “redundant people”; Mykola Khvylovy; oblomovism; “redundant revolutionaries”; Ukrainian literature; disillusionment; suicide

Summary/Abstract: The article takes up the subject of „redundant people” in the interwar Ukrainian literature. Although this literary image originated in English literature, it evokes almost immediate associations with Russian literature, including writings by Alexander Pushkin, Ivan Turgenev, or Ivan Gonczarov. The present article proves that this literary motif can also be traced in Ukrainian literature, especially in the writings by Mykola Khvylovy. The author of the article makes an attempt to prove that Khvylovy did not limit himself to draw from Russian literature, but forwarded his own idea of a “redundant man.” In his own view, the idea referred to a “redundant revolutionary” — a former participant of the revolution, who — after it has ended — feels abandoned, which in fact deepens his frustration and disillusionment.

  • Issue Year: 2014
  • Issue No: 24
  • Page Range: 157-168
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Polish