Russian and Victorian Literature: Realism and Social Critique

Posted on Mar 28, 2025 in Arts and Humanities

Russian Realism and the Victorian Novel

Russian Realism focused on:

  • Social awareness.
  • Development of novels.
  • Presence of God.
  • Deep psychological analysis of the characters.

The Victorian Novel (1817-1891) explored:

  • Middle-class morality.
  • Hypocrisy.
  • Religious feelings and the crisis in faith.
  • Darwin’s The Origin of Species and its impact.
  • Defense of the family.

Gogol

  • Reflects and criticizes habits and characters.
  • Omniscient narrator.
  • Descriptive writing.
  • Linearity in the action.
  • Unique use of humor and irony.
  • Fantastic elements.

Works by Gogol:

  • The Inspector General
    • Exposes ignorance in provinces.
    • Critiques administration and bureaucracy.
    • Highlights excessive power in civil servants.
    • Reveals corruption and bad administration.
  • The Nose, The Overcoat
    • Features absurd situations and an absurd reality.
    • Employs humor.
    • Blends reality and fiction.

Dostoevsky

Characters:

  • Abnormal heroes: mental disorders, psychopaths, hysterical characters.
  • Tormented or mad individuals.
  • Introduced with detailed descriptions from the beginning.
  • Characters undergo evolution.
  • Christ as a character: good, generous, and sacrificial.

Topics:

  • Presence of God: a good and merciful figure who helps the Russians.
  • Expiation of sin through suffering (catharsis).
  • Dialogues showcasing different points of view.
  • Nihilistic, deceived, and pessimistic feelings (existentialism).

Tolstoy

  • Noble background.
  • Obsessed with the power of education.
  • Created his own religion: Tolstoism.

First Period (1860-1880):

Novels:
  • Focus on the aesthetic side.
  • Time balance, real time.
  • Omniscient narrator.
  • Realistic characters.
Examples:
  • War and Peace
  • Anna Karenina
Essays:
  • Religion.
  • Russia.
  • Education.

Second Period (1880-?):

  • Depression.
  • Personal crisis.
  • Religion.
  • Creative literature, often diverging from Christian moral principles.

Anton Chekhov

  • Considered the master of short stories.
  • Influenced by medicine and rationalism.
  • Portrays Russian society.

Theatre:

  • Started as a playwright but initially lacked success.
  • Disliked Tolstoy.
  • Met Stanislavski, who provided guidance for success:
    • Psychological realism.
    • Absolute belief in circumstances.
    • Use of imagination.
    • Physical action.
    • Creating a mood.
  • Theory of the Fourth Wall: An imaginary wall between the actors and the public. Actors focus on their character’s mood, thoughts, and feelings, drawing from similar past experiences. This theory later evolved to include interaction between characters and the audience.

Prose:

  • Sketches of Russian life.
  • Advised to concentrate on quality.
  • Chekhov aims for objectivity, though it’s debated.

Ibsen

  • Renovation of theatre.
  • Denounces the rebel ideas of society.
  • Pessimistic and tragic themes.
  • Indirect foreshadowing of the ending.
  • Letters containing important information.
  • Characters both entering and exiting the scene.
  • Dialogues revealing the past.
  • Acts ending unexpectedly.

Changes Made:

Contents:
  • References to hypocrisy.
  • Focus on the individual rather than the group.
  • Emphasis on reality.
Form:
  • Confident style.
  • Realism in content.
  • Stress and tension.
  • Strong characters.
  • Monologues.
  • Intrigue.
Examples:
  • Doll’s House
  • Ghosts
  • The Wild Duck
  • An Enemy of the People