“Жесты оккультных угроз”: Мотив “Сглаза” у Андрея Белого

Abstract

The article analyzes several examples of Andrei Belyi’s susceptibility to black magic and the Evil Eye in particular. Throughout his life the writer was afraid of the Evil Eye and his fear became especially acute when he lived in Dornach, when he was deeply involved in occult practice and had a serious personal and mental crisis. From his letters, diaries and memoirs we understand that he regarded any creative crisis, difficulty with friends or personal problem as the result of the Evil Eye. It is shown in the article that Belyi thought that the Evil Eye was a powerful weapon of black magicians fighting to rule the world. The Evil Eye motive is incorporated into Belyi’s notion of the world being the battlefield of occult powers of Evil and powers of Good. From this point of view he regarded the fate of the individual (first and foremost, himself), the fate of Russia and of all humankind.