LAZARUS, COME OUT
The article continues investigation of «implicit communication» between motifs, plots and
characters of Nikolay Aksharumov fiction and Russian classical literature of 2nd half of XIX century
(see also: Kozlov A. E. «Akhsharumov Variations» in Russian Literature: History of the War
of 1812. Suzhetologia and Suzhetografia, 2017, no. 1).
The next case considers «implicit communication», combining philosophical plot of Dostoevsky’
«Crime and Punishment» to the allegorical didactic novel Aksharumov’s «The Citizens of
Forest». Nikolay Aksharumov was member of aesthetic criticism of the second half of the XIX
century. Beginning his career from epigones novel «Double», he continued to imitate Dostoevsky
style, motifs and plots in his fiction. Moreover, he wrote his critic article about «Crime and Punishment
» in new magazine «World Labour» (Vsemirny Trud). So, there are few arguments, that «The Citizens of Forest» (that have been published in
«World Labour» in 1867) are polemical connected with the novel of Dostoevsky, particularly,
epilogue of his masterpiece. Firstly, Chronotope of «The Citizens of Forest» is Siberia (final place
of action in the «Crime and Punishment»). Secondly, protagonist Lazarus is exile man (as
Raskolnikov’s final status). Moreover, Lazarus creates new world order in beast society – that’s
correlated with Raskolnikov’s thoughts after his dream.
Most attention is concentrated on name of hero Lazarus as etymon. That’s actualized 2 New
Testament stories: 1. about poor Lazarus (Luke 16: 19–31); 2. about Resurrection of Lazarus from
Bethany (John 11: 1, 2, 5), to which, in particular, Dostoevsky repeatedly addressed. Analyzing
the functions of hero, we can stay that this figure in «The Citizens of Forest» realizes the semantic
potential of the three patriarchs of the Old Testament. So, Lazarus creates a new language (like
Adam), Lazarus gathers a group of beast (like Noah), Lazarus writes a Testament (like Moses)
Thus, the maxims of the Old Testament act in the axiology of the novel. Instead of Feuerbach's
thesis «Human to man is God» (Homo homini deus est), a time-proven maxim comes embodying
the logic of the development of civilization: «Human to man wolf» (Homo homini lupus est).
The final of «The Citizens of Forest» represents a degradation of democratic society. The exile
Lazarus, expelled from the big world, is expelled from the Forest. In our opinion, it’s mean
alternative social and ontological perspective in relation of Dostoevsky hero. That can be mean
that all attempts to recreate society or create new world order have no sense. New Jerusalem is
utopia, that is unattainable.
In addition to this case the article considers to ties and bonds between criticism and fiction of
Nikolay Aksharumov.
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