THE ROLE OF THE "ENGLISH" THEME IN ONE OF THE EPISODES OF L.TOLSTOY’S NOVEL, ANNA KARENINA

Abstract

The article examines the development of the "English" theme in L.Tolstoy’s novel, Anna Karenina. This topic is traced in various episodes of the work, particularly in the scene of races and preparations for them. It is reflected in vocabulary, everyday realities; it arises based on associations and in subtext. During the races, Alexey Alexandrovich Karenin comments with respect about English civilisation, British self-discipline, perseverance in achieving the goal, about the cavalry business in Great Britain. In the XVIII-XXVIII chapters of the second part of the novel, there are parallels between Vronsky’s inclinations and preferences and the life style of an English gentleman: the love of horses, the desire to participate in the races. After all, it was in Britain where equestrian sports especially developed; it became the main national hobby. To prepare for competitions, Vronsky finds jockey-trainer Cord with a "speaking" surname (in English, a cord is a rope used in horse training). The horse chosen by the hero is the English blood mare Frou–Frou. In the scene in which Vronsky and Cord visit the stables, English words and expressions that give a specific colour are included in the text immediately before the races take place. However, Tolstoy saw the hero’s wish to win as an ambitious desire to be the first, and the races - as an ostentatious action. This situation is echoed in the well-known episode of the Battle of Balaklava on October 13 (25), 1854, during the Crimean War, when, as a result of misunderstandings in issuing the order to attack, the British Light Cavalry Brigade self-confidently opposed the Russian forces and suffered heavy losses. Alexey Alexandrovich Karenin, for whom everything English is a benchmark, close to the ideal of Victorian morality, arrogant, filled with the consciousness of his significance, is also connected with the "English" topic, with the fatal attack. However, he will soon fail. The development of the "English" theme in episodes of races and preparation for them serves as false values, the ephemeral virtues of the modern Tolstoy society, pride and arrogance. Its primary role is to deploy and implement the moralistic installation of the novel. It expands the meaningful space of the work, along with other themes, determines the image of the dramatic pattern of the era.