Généalogie de l'« âme russe » : le moment Vogüé

Abstract

The present paper explores the various factors which gave rise to the notion of «Russian soul» in Eugène-Melchior de Vogue's essay Le Roman russe (The Russian Novel). The author offers an original literary analysis of Le Roman russe, highlighting the various philosophical ideas, popular in the 19th century, which helped Eugène-Melchior de Vogué conceptualize the "Russian soul." The author divides these influences into two categories : "the French side" and "the Russian side." The "French side" includes : 1) Historicaly rooted 19th century French stereotypes about what being "Russian" means ; 2) the need to consider Russia as a country capable of helping France. The "Russian side" includes the ideas of early 19th century Russian thinkers who developed the conceptions of "Russian messianism", "Russian national character" and "Russianness". In conclusion, the author suggests that Eugène-Melchior de Vogué 's conceptualization of the "Russian soul" in his Le Roman russe crystallized under the influence of "French-side", as well as "Russian-side" factors, an that it is marked with "exoticism", as Tzvetan Todorov defined it. In accordance with the logic of opacity of exoticism, Russia is depicted as an ultimately unknowable Other epitomized in the conception of the "Russian soul".