The influence of M.A. Bulgakov’s novel “The Master and Margarita” to Yu Hua’s novel “Brothers”: carnivalization as a way of forming a novel narrative

Abstract

The object of the study is the texts of two famous works of Russian and Chinese literature – novels by Bulgakov's "The Master and Margarita" and Yu Hua's "Brothers"; The subject of the study is the techniques of carnivalization that are found in novels and which, obviously, appeared in Yu Hua under the influence of Bulgakov, with whose work he was well acquainted. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the comparison of the works of Russian and Chinese writers, and the identification of another way of interaction between Russian and Chinese culture, which is being carried out in Russian literary studies for the first time. The research was carried out on the basis of historical-literary, biographical, comparative and hermeneutical methods, using general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, observation, description, etc. As a result of the study, it was noted that the aesthetics of carnivalism is clearly manifested in the works of both writers. The novel narrative is organized according to the laws of carnival action, it contains carnival chaos, grotesque, images of jesters, madmen and descriptions of crazy actions, a carnival attitude towards freedom and death, ridicule of authorities, mockery of order, disappointment in high ideals, a combination of high and low, image crowds as a single figure and other features. It is concluded that Yu Hua absorbed the aesthetics of the carnival through Russian literature, including Bulgakov’s novel "The Master and Margarita". This aesthetics was close to him, which, like the Russian writer, contributed to the description of the new world that arose around the heroes of the novels after the revolutionary changes that had occurred.