Sociocultural evolution of feminine ideal in the works of I. S. Turgenev

Abstract

The subject of this research is the feminine ideal in the works of I. S. Turgenev. The object is the female images depicted by the Russian writer, mostly of noble descent. The author examines the external traits, behavioral patterns, women’s social roles, as well as traces the changes in these categories over time. Special attention is given to the critical revolutionary time, since many transformation of the feminine ideal took place under its influence: in prerevolutionary time, woman is a caring mother, obedient and faithful wife, while in revolutionary period – a like-minded person, the master of her life. The main conclusions consist in observation of changes in feminine ideal, achieved through determination and comparison of particular categories of the ideal female image in sociocultural aspect during the indicated historical period of Turgenev’s works. The author’s special contribution consists in systematicity of presented information in accordance with the historical methods. Application of comparative analysis allows tracing the transformation of feminine ideal unfolding in the Russian culture of 1830’s – 1970’s, based on the example of literary images of the heroines in works of the Russian writer I. S. Turgenev from historical-cultural perspective. The research results are primary within the framework of studying transformations of woman’s image as a construct of Russian culture, and are valuable for further research on the topic of social transformations of a woman.