Evolution of motives in V. Brusov’s lyric heritage = Еволюція мотивів ліричної спадщини В. Брюсова

Abstract

In V. Bryusov’s creativity the big gallery of images of outstanding commanders, governors, historical figures round which geroiko-patriotic motives are concentrated is created (protection of the state, a public debt, courage and valor in fight against enemies, etc.). Representing destinies of people of those far times, V.Bryusov looked for analogies with modern to him an era, comparing surrounding reality to majestic images and events of Ancient Rome. Strong and strong-willed characters from cultural history of Ancient Rome in art consciousness of V. Bryusov were opposed to everything to spiritually low and morally weak, public chaos and decline at a boundary of the XIX-XX centuries. In delineation of historical figures and known events V.Bryusov leaned not only on documentary sources, but also on myths that was embodied in a number of mythological motives which purpose was a creation of an aura of heroics round this or that image (Anthony, Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Sula, etc.) . However the poet resorts not only to “poetic reconstruction” of historical color, separate details, will accept space and time, but also to creation expressive “psychological drawing” – movements of soul, passions, contradictions of characters which became, according to the concept of the artist, a reproach of the spiritless present. Geroiko-patriotichesky motives are often combined with psychological that leads to effect of “revival of far times and events in human images” (V. Bryusov). V. Bryusov’s attention was drawn not only outstanding heroes, but also the characters opposed to society (the rebels, eremites, derelicts, indifferent, angry, proud, etc.) in whom symbolist motives – loneliness found reflection, sincere suffering, alienation, etc. Some of these characters were associated with spiritual decline modern to the poet of society, with moods of disappointment and moral crisis.