Transformation of the mythopoetic image of the "city woman" in the novel "Burn" by V. P. Aksenov

Abstract

This article is devoted to the analysis of the postmodern novel "The Burn" by V. P. Aksenov, a representative of the Russian underground of the twentieth century. The purpose of the study is to identify the peculiarities of the transformation of the mythopoetic image of the "woman-city". A city in the meaning of "fenced place" was necessary for a person to protect himself from danger. Over time, it began to be filled with symbolic meanings, to turn into an archetype — an urban text appears. For V. P. Aksenov, the crossroads where art, history, destinies, friendship, love, creativity converge is Moscow, so it becomes the center of action of many of his works. However, the writer, departing from the tradition of N. M. Karamzin, N. V. Gogol, A. S. Pushkin and L. N. Tolstoy, creates an image of infernal space. The scientific novelty of the research is seen in the fact that the author analyzes in detail the central image of the practically unexplored novel by V. P. Aksenov, identifies the structure-forming motives for creating the image of the city and the mythopoetic basis, including individual images, situations, characteristics. As a result, the article proves that the mythopoetic image of the "city woman" in the novel "Burn" consists of a sophiological concept (archetype), allegory (fox), metaphor (the whore of Babylon), mythem (Isis, siren, Judas), color painting (eschatological myth of espyrosis) and mythologems (woman-city). In V. P. Aksenov's novel, Moscow is an infernal space, personified by a seductive and dangerous woman — Alice Fokusova.