Abstract

The article examines the artistic concept of happiness in the story “A Story about Yakim’s House” by V. Vynnychenko and considers the logic of the phased implementation of the theory of building a harmonious, i.e. happy marriage, actualized in the writer’s early diary entries. The research of them helps to determine that the author connects happiness as a fundamental ontological concept with the social institution of marriage, he reveals the problem of happy / unhappy family unions, which he subsequently projects onto the artistic and figurative plane and represents in “A Story about Yakim’s House”. It is noted that this story represents the writer’s artistic experiment to the project of a new family form. A range of factors enables the legitimization of the “free marriage” idea as a way to overcome disharmony and the determinants of the alternative scenario embodiment. Firstly, the traditional Christian morality and sacred commandments have to be rethought, since in a free union of spouses life should be regulated by a new morality and new ethical standards of behavior, in particular by the “honesty with oneself” idea as a result of harmonious coordination of rational and emotional principles. Secondly, the idea of the traditional marriage reforming begins with the recognition of female freedom, equality and independence, as well as her professional self-realization. Thirdly, the creation of a renewed family is determined by the option of an individual’s self-improvement, self-development and self-construction (“build yourself”), due to the balancing of the person’s inner world to establish harmonious relationships. According to these ideas, the writer criticizes marriage as an economic project. It is found that V.Vynnychenko’s “theory of happiness buildings”, which will later define his concordist ontological project, programs the restoration of balance in the “individual – nature” and “personality – society” systems through the vitality actualization and integration into the society.

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