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Professor
Literature 202
March 5, 2017
Russia’s Literature during the Modern Era (new historicist approach)
During the early modern period, Russia saw great changes in the society. Emotional people started to feel a loss of self and frustration with the system of governance after World War One and during Industrial Era. In this period was the emergence of the middle class like in Anna Karenina by Tolstoy. Did the history and philosophical ideas of the modern era affect Russia’s literature? The works reflected the pressures which faced the aristocracy class, modern thoughts, and the Stalinist regime’s tragedy. The writers such as Dostoevsky, Nabokov, Akhmatova, Checkhov, and Tolstoy used new style. In Requiem by Akhmatova, she said, “Back and forth the prison poplar sways with not sound – how many innocent Blameless lives are being taken away” (59). Russia’s literature during the modern era reflected the issues which citizens faced such as changes in society, the revolution, the civil war, and the rise of the Stalinist empire.
In 1917, the Russian government was ruled by Vladimir Lenin who was influenced by Karl Marx’s ideas. The modern period was the spark of artistic creativity. The artists created famous personalities like Anna Karenina. Joseph Stalin was the leader of the Soviet Union, and the writers’ pens were the tools against the difficulties of life during his period. The political events which were experienced by Russians were the main reason for modernist writers’ creativity. Dobieszewski said, “The ideas of Petr Chaadaev constitute a major breakthrough in Russian social philosophy” (26). The revolution and civil war had great impact on the people’s lives, thus the need for literature. Modern works focused on resistance to oppression which suffered by the Russians.
Dobieszewski said, “The bonds between the ancient and modern Russian mind have been broken for centuries to come” (27-28). Social literature appeared in Russia to reveal the truth about the relations between the members of the community, and between them and the ruler. Russian philosophers were influenced by the ideas of European philosophers. Modernist writers took into their account new ideas about reality, and they expressed the suffering of society classes and their psychological pressures. Akhmatova was a modernist poet, and she had a strong voice against the government. Akhmatova came from an aristocratic family, and she lived through two periods of rule: Russia and the Soviet Union. Akhmatova’s works were influenced by sadness which prevailed in Russia during Stalinist empire. Miller said, “Later poems in her collected works that allude not only to the visual arts, but also to female portraiture” (92).
Bleiker said, “Akhmatova became the voice of humanity in a world of turmoil and war” (181). Anna Akhmotova (1889-1996), addressed the reality of war, death and suffering, her poetry became not only political but also problematic for the regime. Akhmatova’s poetries speak about both WWI and Stalin’s purges. Literature became more importantly in Russia, as people read it in their cold rooms. Akhmatova’s poems affected by her son, Lev Gumilyov, who was arrested in a Siberian prison camp. Although the regime tried to hide her poetry from reaching people, her poetry spread after her death more than she even expected. Akhmotova employed modern techniques to depict the real life. Akhmotova also said, “I have turned out the lights and opened the door for you, so simple and so wonderful” (60).
From all the above, the history and philosophical ideas of the modern era affected the Russia’s literature. In the modern era, a new style of artistic expression created by writers and poets. Collective taste standards changed seeking renewal, helped by the rapid development in the fields of science and modern technology. Russian people faced significant changes in society’s classes, led to revolutions and speaking artwork. The artists devised new methods of art, reflected the historical experiences of each artist. Literature had an outstanding role in the history during the modern era. The writer is the voice of the people, who can transform the course of history through his pen. Russia’s literature during the modern era reflected the issues which citizens faced such as changes in society, the revolution, the civil war, and the rise of the Stalinist empire.
Works Cited
Anna Karenina. Dir. Joe Wright. Prod. Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Paul Webster. By Tom
Stoppard, Perf. Keira Knightley, Jude Law, and Aaron Johnson. Focus Features, 2012.
Bleiker, Roland. Anna Akhmatova's Search for Political Light.Peace Review, vol. 13, no. 2,
2001, pp. 181-186doi:10.1080/10402650120060346. Accessed 8 March. 2017.
Dobieszewski, Janusz. Pëtr Chaadaev and the Rise of Modern Russian Philosophy.Studies in
East European Thought, vol. 54, no. 1-2, 2002, pp. 25-46, ProQuest Central, doi: Accessed 8 March. 2017.
Miller, Kelly. Anna Akhmatova's an Old Portrait and the Ballets Russes. Canadian Slavonic
Papers, vol. 47, no. 1, 2005, pp. 71-D, ProQuest Central, . Accessed 8 March. 2017.
Requiem by Anna Akhmatova
Accessed 7 Mar. 2017.
Vladimir Lenin/Russian Communist Party (The Biography Channel).”YouTube.23 Jan. 2016.
Web. 6 Mar. 2017.
Wcislo, Frank “Russia: Empire to Revolution (Oct. 6 Class) - YouTube." Web. 6 Mar. 2017.