„Мъртви души“ на Н. Гогол, „Годишните времена“ и митовете на руската монархия

Abstract

The article discusses the existence of an unexplored ideological layer in the novel Dead Souls. The argumentation is based on tracing intertextual connections between Gogol’s novel and "the seasons” of the Russian monarchy with its scenarios and myths. The parallel “man/ruler – season” is used for analyzing the characters of Manilov and Korobochka and “the seasons” in their estates-visions of the state. The article also focuses on conceptualising Spring and Summer in the sentimental-romantic period, and in the Women’s kingdom and the Ideal village. The analysis confirms the existence of a conceptual layer in “Dead Souls” which is connected to the sentimental-romantic portrayal of the ruler’s power and its grotesque deformation.