Образ жінки в українській історичній прозі початку ХХІ ст.

Abstract

The article explores the feminine images of Martha from D. Hnatko’s novel «The Impious Soul» and Irena from N. Gurnitskaya’s novel «The Рurple Colour of Eternity» against the background of historical events. The actions in D. Hnatko’s novel take place at the beginning of the eighteenth century in the Left Bank Ukraine – in Poltava, in the city of Baturin, in Kiev. The author highlights the events related to the Baturyn tragedy and the Battle of Poltava. In the novel by N. Gurnitskaya the events covering all the twentieth century are reproduced as well as the modern time, namely pre-war pre-Soviet Lviv, Lviv during the Second World War, modern Lviv and Kiev with events on the Maidan. The author notes that the work is dedicated to her grandmother's sister, Anna Lozynsky (Burdan), and to all families who were repressed by the Stalinist regime. Against the background of these dramatic events for Ukraine, the complicated life of the main characters of the novels is shown. Martha's hardships are losing children, disappointment in love, feeling sick for the fate of sisters, mental anguish over hatred of her father, contemplating the terrible destruction of Baturin, perceiving war as a divorce, rescuing beloved man. The main meaning of life for Martha was love. Irenа studied in a private women’s gymnasium, loved to draw and had many plans, but fate prepared for the test: the loss of first love, the troubled times of the Soviets in Lviv, the arrest of beloved husband, the inhuman tortures of the Stalinist, burial of the eldest daughter and unsuccessful search for the younger daughter. Irena had a good family, a caring husband and children, but because of obstacles she could not achieve the desired happiness. These complicated destinies of Martha and Irena intertwined with those of other Ukrainians and are the expressions of the sufferings that have befallen these generations in different historical periods. The image of Martha shows the transition from a patriarchal representation of a woman to a strong-willed woman who defies social norms in the struggle for her feminine happiness. Martha is the prototype of Irena, which is the result of the evolution of the role of women in society. Martha has a rebellious temper, and therefore strives to choose her own destiny, even though she sees her happiness in love and motherhood. Irena is socially active, responsible for her life, unbreakable in all circumstances of life. Martha and Irena are found to embody the images of «woman-mother» and «beloved woman», since their existential need is precisely family values. This component forms a special spiritual atmosphere in the novels and presents the mentality of the Ukrainian people. Historical novels are an artistic reflection of the past, and they also enable to get acquainted with some tragic pages of the Ukrainian history. Therefore, they have their special value on the way to developing self-awareness of the Ukrainian nation.