An analysis of interpretations of F.M. Dostoevsky's the devils by soviet literary criticism during glasnost (1985-1991)

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorBradley, Jocelyn
dc.date.accessioned2016-08-18T07:27:33Z
dc.date.available2016-08-18T07:27:33Z
dc.date.issued2016-08-18
dc.descriptionA thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree. of Master of Arts in Russian Studies. Joharmesburq, 1995en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis thesis undertakes to examine the interdependence of ideology and literary scholarship, in particular regarding the legacy of F.M. Dostoevsky, in the Soviet Union; and to investigate the reflection of political and ideological agenda in Soviet literary criticism's interpretations of Dostoevsky's novel, The Devils during the era of glasnost, 1985-1991. I shall isolate, identify and describe the principal, ideological trends reflected in literary critiques and analyses of this novel, published in the Soviet Union during this specific period of time. My thesis will build on and develop previous research conducted around the analysis of Ideological trends in the Soviet Union through a study of literature and official literary criticism. Western commentators, such as B J.Simmons,V. Seduro, and H. Mondry have demonstrated the correlation between. general shifts in Party domestic and international policy and the ideological viewpoints expressed in literature and literary criticism. They have found it to be a valid practice to analyse certain political, social and ideological factors in the Soviet Union through a close study of literature and literary criticism. In continuing this research, I shall demonstrate that Soviet literary criticism during glasnost could still be regarded as a mirror of political and ideological changes in society, and that Soviet criticism's interpretations of Dostoevsky's The Devils could once again be used to help distinguish, delineate and clarify the ideological trends that existed in Soviet Society during this era. I shall begin my analysis with a consideration of the effects of Gorbachev's glasnost reforms on Soviet culture in general, and on literary cd]~'cal practice in particular; and of the role that literary criticism played in Soviet society during this area. I shall then proceed to a brief historical overview of interpretations of The Devils by Russian and Soviet literary critics, from its publication until the eve of the glasnost reforms, This will demonstrate both the manner in which literary criticism has mirrored Ideological trends in the USSR, and the validity of centring my research on this novel. From there, I shall turn to an examination of how interpretations Offered by Soviet literary critics of The Devils, as well as attitudes expressed by them regarding the writer's world outlook, reflected the ideological trends that existed In Soviet society during glasnost. The interpretations to be analysed will be taken from a broad range of Soviet literary periodicals, mono graphs, and discussions, published in the Soviet Union between 1985 and 1992en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10539/20895
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshDostoyevsky, Fyodor--1821-1881
dc.subject.lcshCriticism--Soviet Union
dc.subject.lcshGlasnost
dc.subject.lcshIdeology and literature
dc.subject.lcshSoviet Union--Intellectual life--1970-1991.
dc.titleAn analysis of interpretations of F.M. Dostoevsky's the devils by soviet literary criticism during glasnost (1985-1991)en_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
Bradley Jocelyn._An analysis of interpretations of.pdf
Size:
17.47 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
ETD Collection