Zinaida Vengerova: The aesthetic of the incarnation of the unincarnated
Neginsky, Rosina
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/19699
Description
Title
Zinaida Vengerova: The aesthetic of the incarnation of the unincarnated
Author(s)
Neginsky, Rosina
Issue Date
1991
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Pachmuss, Temira A.
Department of Study
Russian, East European and Eurasian Center
Discipline
Slavic Language and Literature
Literature, Slavic and East European
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Education, Language and Literature
Literature, Slavic and East European
Language
eng
Abstract
My dissertation is dedicated to the symbolist-critic Zinaida Vengerova. I focus not only on the work of Vengerova as a critic, her primary public role, but also on her writing which demonstrates her conception and dedication to the Russian Symbolist world view as uniquely expressed by her use of characteristic symbols.
The symbolistic view of existance, both earthly and other-earthly, recognizes in earthly reality, symbols that represent elements of the divine, which serve as a bridge between the two worlds. For Russian Symbolists, these symbols included beauty, the embodiment of divine goodness in human beliefs and deeds, and the refinement of the human soul in emulation of the divine spirit. The soul contained the seeds of divine goodness and their propagation is the ethical precept at the Symbolist foundation of individual goodness and the collective welfare of earthly human society.
Vengerova's unique contribution to the Russian Symbolist movement, which began at the turn of the century, envisioned Symbolist ideas in all great literature. In writers as divergent as Shakespeare, Meredith and Dostoevski she finds evidence of Symbolist beauty and elements of divinity of soul in the lives and spirits of their characters. She sees across much of Western and Russian literature, attempts to incarnate the unincarnated--those elements of divine reality, beauty of soul and spirit as demonstrated by love, generosity and creativity--which must serve as a model for human behavior and feeling. She measures an artist's success by the extent to which he embodies this beauty, in form and content, in his work.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
