Historical Context Research Articles

The Function of Honorific Term Ité: Cultural Perspectives from Manggarai, Indonesia

Culture pertains to human existence and encompasses the various aspects of a civilization’s way of life. On the other hand, language refers to the complex communication system employed by individuals inside a specific culture or group. Language utilization typically represents the societal customs, cognitive processes, cognitive functioning, historical context, and interconnections within a given human civilization. Utilizing the inclusive personal pronoun "ité" in the Manggarai language facilitates identifying a connection between linguistic elements and cultural principles. This study examines the relationship between the two specified elements, particularly emphasizing the arguments offered. The data were obtained using observations and interviews conducted with fifteen traditional representatives. Subsequently, a qualitative analysis was performed on the collected data. The findings suggest that its utilization in its various manifestations indicates the cultural norms and customs observed by those living in the Manggarai region of Indonesia. Based on the presented data, this study asserts that the first personal pronoun plural inclusive "ité" in the Manggarai language and culture serves as a means for the speaker to communicate politeness and humility towards the hearer or listener. It signifies a genuine respect for the interlocutor, particularly when they hold a high position. In addition, ité shows familiarity, brotherhood, and sincerity in interpersonal relationships by expressing respect, appreciation, and enthusiasm. Furthermore, it functions as a deep gratitude towards the Divine Father.

Are investors attentive before a one-off holiday?

PurposeThis study investigates investor trading behaviour around regular and one-off public holidays on the Sydney Stock Exchange (SSX) from 1901 to 1950. The purpose is to examine whether trading patterns differ between regular holidays, which are known in advance, and one-off holidays, which are unexpected. The study provides insights into the predictability of holidays and its influence on market activity, contributing to the broader literature on investor inattention and market anomalies.Design/methodology/approachUsing a novel dataset constructed from handwritten share price lists covering 14,224 trading days, we perform quantitative analysis to assess trading volume before and after regular and one-off public holidays. Ordinary least squares regression models are employed to identify the presence of a holiday effect, accounting for various fixed effects and time-varying factors such as geopolitical events.FindingsWe find that trading volume is significantly lower on the day before regular holidays and higher on the day after, consistent with the investor inattention hypothesis. In contrast, no significant holiday effect is observed for one-off holidays. This suggests that predictability plays a crucial role in influencing investor behaviour, with irregular, less predictable holidays having less impact on trading patterns.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited by the historical nature of the data, which may not fully capture the diversity of modern trading environments. Additionally, the analysis is restricted to the SSX and may not be generalisable to other markets or time periods. Future research could explore similar effects in different contexts or with more recent data.Practical implicationsThis research provides valuable insights for market participants and regulators by demonstrating how the predictability of holidays influences market activity. Understanding these patterns could help in making more informed decisions during periods of expected low trading volumes.Social implicationsThe study underscores the role of public holidays in shaping investor behaviour, with broader implications for understanding how societal events influence financial markets. This is particularly relevant in discussions about the impact of unexpected events on market stability.Originality/valueThis is the first study to compare the effects of regular and one-off public holidays on trading volumes in a historical stock market context. Our findings highlight the importance of event predictability in financial markets, offering a new perspective on how historical market behaviours can inform current financial theories.

Exploration of Historical Sites of Art and Culture Exchange on the Silk Road of Pre-Qin and Han Dynasties

Abstract The pre-Qin and Han Silk Road opened up the Central Plains Dynasty to the Eurasian- African continent, not only having extraordinary political, economic and cultural exchanges complementary strategic significance, but also becoming an irreplaceable important window and way for the Central Plains Dynasty to gain cognitive knowledge of the broader world. In particular, the exploration of the artistic and cultural relics and historical background of the Silk Road is a deep excavation and collation of historical materials of exchanges between the East and the West, especially between China and the nationalities in the Western regions in the fields of traditional politics, commerce, economy, art and culture. This depth of excavation and collation of historical materials, so as to clarify the origin of the Silk Road under different historical conditions and the background of its political, economic, art, and cultural significance in forming the civilisation of the countries along the route. This mutual understanding among various nationalities inevitably promotes the shared development of Eastern and Western civilizations. Therefore, the topic discussed in this paper is a retrospective and complementary approach to the Silk Road as a distant civilisation. This exploration is also another purposeful search for the roots of this road, which was known as the “Journey of Adventure” and “Journey of Intercommunication” from the pre-Qin Dynasty to the two Han Dynasties. Accordingly, this paper promotes the discussion from three aspects: the long historical context of the Silk Road, the channel of multi-ethnic art exchange constituted by Silk Road, and the exchange and dissemination of handicraft culture on the Silk Road, excavating these three rich historical materials is more in order to reveal the historical values of the Silk Road.

Implicit motivations of entrepreneurial philanthropists: a historical organization studies analysis of Andrew Carnegie

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the implicit motivations of entrepreneurial philanthropists during different stages of their lives. Design/methodology/approach The authors follow a Historical Organization Studies approach by performing a psychobiographical analysis using McClelland’s Thematic Apperception Test on the autobiography of Andrew Carnegie across different stages of his life while considering the historical context. Findings The configuration of the implicit motivations of entrepreneurial philanthropists change with achievement motivation decreasing and power motivation increasing over time explaining the shift of focus from self to others. Originality/value While researchers have been theorizing and using interviews to uncover shifts in entrepreneurial motivations, this is the first paper to longitudinally uncover implicit motivations to explain why successful entrepreneurs give back later in life.

Situatedness and distanciation: Education in a time of ecological crisis and climate crisis

Abstract In this paper, I explore the significance of place in education. The historical context is expressed by the ecological and climate crises in a world distinguished by the unjust distribution of privileges and burdens. I elucidate the concept of place by entering the tradition of the pedagogy of place. Here, the significance of place is accentuated with a sensitivity to the local context, in contrast to other educational approaches that emphasize more generic, abstract knowledge. A central premise is the notion of place as a delimited unit that is distinguished from other places. This stable notion, I argue, needs to be reconsidered in the present. With reference to Massey, I accentuate relations as pivotal to a notion of place that accommodates both a sense of belonging and conflicts of power and interest. I hold that education at this time in history should be sensitive to our situatedness in everyday life’s web of relationships. Still, general knowledge is required to bring up perspectives that enable students to critically conceive the place in which they are situated. I make and discuss these claims with reference to and in critique of Young’s notion of powerful knowledge and Klafki’s reformulation of German Didaktik. A central concern is to clarify the mediation of situated knowledge and general knowledge in educational practice. In the final part of the paper, I bring in elements from critical hermeneutics and utopian thinking, approaching Bildung as a process involving situatedness, distantiation, and refiguration.

A Comparative Study of Geometric Principles in the Sulba Sutras and the Pythagorean Theorem: Historical Context and Mathematical Applications

This research delves into the geometric principles detailed in the ancient Sulba Sutras and their parallels with the Pythagorean Theorem, traditionally attributed to the Greek mathematician Pythagoras. While the Pythagorean theorem is widely regarded as a cornerstone of Greek geometry, recent studies suggest that its formulation appeared centuries earlier in Indian mathematics, as evidenced in Baudhāyana’s Sulba Sutra (circa 800 BCE). These texts offer extensive insights into the geometric constructions used in Vedic rituals, including the use of Pythagorean triples and transformations between geometric shapes. The Sulba Sutras present a rich mathematical framework, emphasizing practical applications in altar construction, land measurements, and urban planning. This study aims to bridge the research gap by comparing the geometric developments in the Sulba Sutras with Greek formulations, particularly focusing on their mathematical methods, cultural contexts, and historical significance. The findings underscore the advanced state of Indian mathematics and its profound influence on subsequent mathematical traditions, offering a nuanced understanding of the parallel evolution of geometric knowledge across cultures.

Identifying the Original Source of Megalithic Stones in Tambunan Using Spectral Signature Technique

Megalithic stones are a remnant of the ancient people. An intriguing megalithic stone legacy ought to emphasize the context in which it fits. Consequently, it is necessary to ascertain each megalithic stone’s historical context. This is significant for the archaeologist to obtain true and valid information. In Tambunan, there are numerous myths about megalithic stones. As a result, it is impossible to verify the story’s validity. These days, remote sensing has emerged as a crucial technical instrument for archaeologists to gather spatial data in both broad and localized locations. Prior research has demonstrated the efficacy of remote sensing in identifying archaeological site remnants. Nevertheless, there have never been any investigations utilizing remote sensing in relation to small-sized megalithic stones. Thus, this study employs spectral signature techniques and remote sensing to identify the original source of the megalithic stones discovered in Tambunan. This study carries out the spectral signature of megalithic stones in Tambunan using Sentinel-2A satellite image data with a 5-meter resolution using the SNAP application. Before that, the coordinates and measurements for each megalithic stone were obtained from the ground. The spectral signature of all the megalithic stones was then compared with the spectral signature of the stones near the river or near the hill. The study’s findings demonstrate that the spectral signature of the megalithic stones in question is identical to the stone found in the river near its location. As a result, this study was successful in providing scientific evidence that the river is the source of the megalithic stones in Tambunan, despite the stones’ considerable distance from their site.

Reevaluating ADHD and its First-Line Treatment: Insights from DSM-5-TR and Modern Approaches.

Is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) a "brain disorder"? Should it be managed regularly with stimulant drugs? This article critically examines the evolving biomedical discourse surrounding these questions through a close inspection of the latest edition of the influential psychiatric manual - the DSM-5-TR - as well as additional authoritative sources (e.g., previous DSM editions, consensus statements, FDA communications). The DSM-5-TR acknowledges that "no biological marker is diagnostic for ADHD" and that "meta-analyses of all neuroimaging studies do not show differences between individuals with ADHD and control subjects." The authors of the DSM-5-TR, therefore, conclude that "until these issues are resolved, no form of neuroimaging can be used for diagnosis of ADHD." These statements, along with biases in the neuroimaging literature and additional empirical evidence presented in the article, challenge popular myths about the neurobiological basis of ADHD. Similarly, common beliefs about the first-line treatment of ADHD with stimulant drugs are being increasingly questioned today. For instance, the DSM-5-TR's section on Stimulant-Related Disorders introduces a new diagnostic entity named: Stimulant-Induced Mild Neurocognitive Disorder. This addition aligns with a recent FDA Drug Safety Communication for "all prescription stimulants," which highlights longstanding concerns regarding the safety of medications prescribed to millions of diagnosed individuals, primarily children. The FDA now mandates that "the Boxed Warning, FDA's most prominent warning, will describe the risks of misuse, abuse, addiction, and overdose," emphasizing that such "misuse and abuse of prescription stimulants can result in overdose and death." In light of these challenges to the biomedical discourse, this article offers a neurodiversity-oriented alternative. Using evolutionary principles and historical context, it argues that most cases of ADHD fall under the DSM's socio-philosophical category of "conflicts that are primarily between the individual and society" (similar to homosexuality, which was removed from the DSM in 1973), and are therefore "not mental disorders".

Rethinking self-supervised learning for time series forecasting: A temporal perspective

Self-supervised learning has garnered significant attention for its ability to learn meaningful representations. Recent advancements have introduced self-supervised methods for time series forecasting. However, these efforts have faced limitations due to two primary drawbacks. Firstly, these approaches often borrow techniques from vision and language domains without adequately addressing the unique temporal dependencies inherent in time series data. Secondly, time series often show that the distribution shifts over time, which makes accurate forecasting challenging. In response to these issues, we propose TempSSL, a self-supervised learning framework designed for time series forecasting. TempSSL divides the time series data into context (history data) and target (future data), employing two pre-training strategies: (1) Temporal Masked Modeling (TMM) designed to capture temporal dependencies by reconstructing future time series based on historical context; (2) Temporal Contrastive Learning (TCL) employs context and target as positive samples to enhance discriminative representations and mitigate distribution shifts within the time series. TempSSL’s innovation lies in two key aspects. Firstly, it underscores the importance of temporal dependencies for time series forecasting by designing specific pre-training tasks. Secondly, it effectively integrates contrastive learning and masked modeling, leveraging their respective strengths to develop time series representation with strong instance discriminability and local perceptibility. Extensive experiments across seven widely used benchmark datasets demonstrate that TempSSL consistently outperforms existing self-supervised and end-to-end forecasting methods, achieving improvements ranging from 1.92% ∼ 78.12%. Additionally, TempSSL’s practical effectiveness is further demonstrated through successful application in natural gas demand forecasting.

Stalin and His Influence on Artistic Conflict in the Novella «Belshazzar's feasts» by F. Iskander

The subject of the article is a profound analysis of Stalin's influence on the artistic conflict presented in the novella "Belshazzar's feasts" by F. Iskander. The main objective of the research is to identify how the political figure of Stalin shapes and develops the artistic conflict in Iskander's work. The obtained results not only reveal the significant impact of Stalin on the characters and events in the examined piece but also highlight key directions of the artistic conflict, emphasizing its dynamics within the context of historical heritage. Stalin plays a significant role in shaping the plot lines and characters, and his influence extends to all aspects of the work. The obtained results cover a broad area of literary studies, providing valuable material for criticism.Additionally, this article may prove beneficial to authors, graduate students, and scholars deepening their understanding of the literary process. The research methodology encompasses a literary-critical approach, structural analysis, psychological aspects, semiotics, and the study of symbolism. This investigative work not only reveals Stalin's influence on the artistic conflict in the novella "Belshazzar's feasts" but also opens a new level of understanding of this impact. The analysis confirms that Stalin is not merely a presence in the work but genuinely acts as a significant catalyst, shaping and stimulating the development of the artistic conflict. This contribution makes a meaningful impact on literary studies, providing a profound understanding of the influence of historical figures on the creative process. Unveiling how political figures affect characters, plot, and the overall atmosphere of a work enriches the methodological arsenal of literature researchers. This approach not only offers a fresh perspective on Iskander's creativity and its interaction with historical context but also enhances the overall comprehension of how political histories are reflected in artistic creations.

History-informed institutional change: Houghton Mifflin and the shifting dynamics of the US book publishing industry (1950–1970)

After World War II, the United States experienced a robust economy marked by growing demand for information and education, alongside the emergence of leisure activities. Quantitative data spanning from 1950 to 1970, along with the reconstruction of Houghton Mifflin’s business trajectory, indicate that economic and social factors laid the groundwork for a transformation in the publishing industry. Through a meticulously structured historical analysis, this article contributes to the field of business history by elucidating the evolution of the publishing industry during this period of observation. Furthermore, it offers valuable insights into institutional theory by demonstrating how historical contexts and environments shape new practices and stimulate organisational change.

Centering Belonging for NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation

Volunteer leaders and staff in NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation (NIRSA) aimed to establish shared norms for belonging, guided by recommendations from the Association's climate study conducted by 122 Consulting Group. The climate study precipitated the formation of an implementation team for justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (JDEI). This case study explored stakeholders’ perspectives about shared norms (diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and respect) for belonging, using multiple data points (historical context, JDEI trends, association reports, and focus groups) to ignite action. Analysis of these perspectives at in-person and virtual NIRSA educational sessions identified three themes: positive reception, action/accountability, and integration/ongoing engagement. The study provides valuable insights for association leaders to shape belonging initiatives by using shared expectations, thus effectively guiding actions based on the findings of a climate study. This study is essential for associations, and its findings can also empower members to drive similar initiatives on their respective campuses.

Latvian Sports Regulation in Transition: Navigating Historical Evolution and Contemporary Development Trends

This comprehensive analysis delves into the intricate realm of sports law and policies in Latvia, exploring the historical evolution, administrative framework, and policy landscapes that shape the country's sports sector. The text highlights Latvia's transition from the Centralized Soviet Model to a more autonomous sports system post-independence, reflecting the nation's historical context and pursuit of sporting excellence. It examines the interaction between EU regulations and internal sports governance, emphasizing the balance between market-regulating rules and legitimate sports governance. The study also discusses recent legislative amendments in response to geopolitical events that has shaken the Eastern Europe, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, showcasing Latvia's proactive approach to safeguarding national interests and ethical standards in sports. Furthermore, insights into the implementation of National Anti-Doping Regulations underscore Latvia's commitment to maintaining integrity in sports. The administrative framework involving various stakeholders, including governmental bodies and non-governmental organizations, is analysed to provide a holistic view of sports policy planning and stakeholder engagement in Latvia. Overall, this research sheds light on the evolving landscape of sports law in Latvia and the country's efforts to promote athletic development, fair play, and good governance in sports. The findings will contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors and forces shaping the sports sector in the country. Keywords: sports law and geopolitics, sports governance, sports policies, EU sports law, Latvia

What Do We Owe Our Patients? Surgeon Obligations When Patients Are Too Sick for Surgery.

As the principle of respect for patient autonomy has gained salience over the past 75 years, surgeons now struggle to resolve conflicts between autonomy and beneficence in certain clinical scenarios. One such conflict occurs when a patient desires a surgical intervention, but the surgeon concludes that the patient is "too sick for surgery" and hence would not benefit from the operation. We provide historical context for the principle of respect for patient autonomy and review recent qualitative data that demonstrate surgeons experience significant moral distress when asked to perform nonbeneficial surgery. Therefore, we sought to empower surgeons with the appropriate ethical justifications to decline to perform surgery when they believe it would be nonbeneficial or harmful to patients. We outline 4 concepts that can help surgeons engage with patients, families, and colleagues in these scenarios. First, we describe the term "futility" and explain the difficulty in precisely defining and using the term in practice. Second, we contrast patients' positive and negative rights, drawing on historical context to argue that patients have robust negative rights but limited positive rights to request nonbeneficial interventions. Third, we use the centuries-old notion of medicine as a profession to show that surgeons have a fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interests of their patients, including and especially when patients request interventions that are not beneficial. Finally, we draw on virtue ethics to give surgeons character-based resources for fulfilling their professional obligations to patients. We contend that surgeons owe their patients the ability to trust that they will always use their knowledge and skills for patients' benefit, even if surgeons must limit patients' autonomy in certain ways to do so.

Geophysical archaeology for the study of complex historical-period burial spaces: An example from the Fort Lewis military cemetery, Colorado

Geophysical methods have long been used to locate and map unmarked graves in cemeteries and burial spaces. Despite their prevalence, geophysical cemetery surveys can be extremely complex, particularly when dealing with historical-period cemeteries. Not only are there interpretive challenges from site formation processes and noncultural features, but there are also cultural challenges when seeking to study a cemetery within its historical context. Geophysical archaeology is a specialization that can guide this type of work by underscoring the cultural context for geophysical data. Beyond simply locating unmarked graves or other “anomalies,” geophysical archaeology emphasizes increasing the interpretive ability of geophysical data by situating these surveys in cultural theory. Using the example of the Fort Lewis military cemetery, which also served the Fort Lewis Indian Boarding School, in southwest Colorado, this paper highlights how geophysical archaeology was used to identify specific features about the cemetery, including the original fence line, number of likely graves, and two different burial contexts (casketed burials and exhumed graves).

Fairy Tales of Genocide: Processing the Holocaust by Recontextualising Fairy-Tale Narratives

This article explores the intersection of fairy tales and Holocaust narratives, exploring the emerging trend of presenting Holocaust tales within the fairy-tale genre as a societal response to grappling with Holocaust trauma. Examining linguistic and ethical approaches in works by authors Liz Braswell, Louise Murphy, and Jane Yolen, it poses a central question: does merging Holocaust and fairy-tale narratives enhance understanding or hinder respectful remembrance? The article scrutinises subliminal storytelling in Holocaust tales, highlighting varied authorial approaches, from Braswell's cryptic social conflict to Murphy's and Yolen's use of vague references within a Holocaust-aware context. Exploring how Holocaust tales navigate the balance between fantasy and historical context, it analyses recontextualisation in the works of Braswell and Murphy. Braswell's ‘Beauty and the Beast’ engages with social conflict and history by transforming the curse, while Murphy's ‘Hansel and Gretel’ reframes the oven as a symbol of safety. Additionally, the article addresses the ethical dimensions of representing the Holocaust in children's fiction, emphasising the use of fantasy to enhance accessibility and emotional engagement. Analysing works like Yolen's ‘Briar Rose’ and Braswell's ‘Beauty and the Beast’ illustrates how these narratives navigate historical representation complexities, aiming to preserve awareness and prompt moral reflections. The article argues that fantasy elements not only render the Holocaust accessible to contemporary readers but also provide a unique avenue for emotional engagement, transcending the limitations of historical facts.

Sustainable development and utilization of marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction: A Chinese perspective.

Breakthroughs in marine science and technology have profoundly expanded our knowledge of the ocean, driving unprecedented levels of marine resource utilization. Consequently, the immense value of marine genetic resources (MGRs) in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) has catapulted them to the forefront of international competition. In response to the existing gap in international legal frameworks governing the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in ABNJ, the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) was adopted on 19 June 2023. This study aimed to explore China's participation in this new frontier of global ocean governance, focusing on the opportunities and challenges it faces. By employing document analysis and policy analysis, the study delved into international legal frameworks such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the BBNJ Agreement, as well as China's domestic policies related to marine resource development. It systematically examined the relevant legal frameworks and their historical contexts. Additionally, comparative analysis was used to contrast the policy-making and development practices of developed and developing countries, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of China's role and challenges in the sustainable use of MGRs in ABNJ. It is concluded that while China has made remarkable progress in MGR research, it still lags behind traditional maritime powers in patent accumulation and the commercialization of MGRs. China also lacks comprehensive domestic legislation to address issues such as benefit-sharing and effective regulation of MGRs in ABNJ. Therefore, China must enhance its scientific research and innovation capabilities, actively participate in the follow-up work of the BBNJ Agreement, and promote global marine biodiversity conservation guided by the concept of a Maritime Community with a Shared Future.

The Transformative Role of Digital Tools in Comic Book Preservation

Traditionally viewed as static repositories, archives are now seen as dynamic entities capable of continuous reconfiguration and reinterpretation. This study examines how digital practices in comic book archiving maintain historical and emotional integrity, while making these artefacts relevant to contemporary audiences. This paper explores the theories of Wolfgang Ernst, Michel Foucault, Lev Manovich, and others in order to explain digital archiving as a dynamic and interpretive act that shapes historical narratives and cultural memory. Digital restoration of comic books focuses on preserving the original aesthetic and historical context, while recoloring revitalizes visual elements to enhance appeal. Reimagining involves comprehensive reinterpretation and aligns with new media theories in order to offer fresh perspectives on historical narratives. The discussion shows how these practices democratize access to cultural heritage, transforming archives into active sites of cultural engagement and potentiality. By balancing technical precision and interpretive insight, digital artists and archivists aim at ensuring that comic books remain vibrant and meaningful cultural treasures for future generations.

Comparative Analysis of Biblical Statements and Contemporary Science Views

This comparative analysis delves into the intricate relationship between Biblical science views and contemporary scientific perspectives. Examining biblical narratives through the lens of modern scientific understanding, the study navigates the complexities inherent in reconciling ancient wisdom with empirical methodologies. The analysis encompasses key themes such as the creation narrative, cosmology, and natural phenomena, emphasizing the symbolic richness and cultural contexts embedded in biblical texts. Acknowledging the Bible’s role as a sacred and moral guide, the study contrasts it with the evidence-based approaches of contemporary science. While the Bible offers timeless wisdom and moral teachings, its scientific views often reflect the understanding of the ancient world. Contemporary science, grounded in observation, experimentation, and empirical data, explores the natural world’s intricacies with a methodological rigor distinct from religious texts. The dialogue between these perspectives underscores the importance of recognizing the distinct purposes and realms of religious and scientific knowledge. Recommendations include fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, promoting educational initiatives that integrate both perspectives, and facilitating public dialogues to enhance mutual understanding. Ethical reflections derived from shared principles offer common ground, while continued research into the historical and cultural contexts of biblical texts contributes to nuanced interpretations. Ultimately, the study advocates for an inclusive and enlightened approach that nurtures a harmonious coexistence between faith and reason. By implementing these recommendations, it aims to create an environment fostering dialogue and collaboration between theologians, scientists, and the wider public. Through such efforts, a richer understanding of the universe and the diversity of human knowledge emerges, embracing the complexities of existence and celebrating the shared pursuit of wisdom.

“Jew Yankel”: Three Versions of Dostoevsky’s “Finished Drama”

Only F. M. Dostoevsky’s brief message speaks about the completion of his play “Jew Yankel” in January 1844. The article formulates three hypotheses/assumptions about the content of the drama. The first correlates the writer’s idea with the literary tradition of portraying a Jewish moneylender, laid down by Shakespeare (“The Merchant of Venice”), Walter Scott (“Ivanhoe”), Pushkin (“The Miserly Knight”) and Gogol (“Taras Bulba”). The humanizing effect of V. Scott’s novel is emphasized. The second version associates Dostoevsky’s Yankel exclusively with the homonymous character from Gogol’s story, first published in 1835. It is proposed to take into account the author’s revision of the story for the 1842 edition, in which Yankel, in the process of building up the epic potential of the work, is endowed with a powerful vital resource and rises to the role of the antagonist of the title character. The third hypothesis refers to the trial of the Jews in the town of Velizh, who were accused of the ritual murder of a Christian child and acquitted many years later. Yankel Aronson died under investigation, which was conducted by inhumane methods. Evidence is provided to confirm that Russian society became aware of these events. The painful end of the Jewish youth could serve as a source of drama, structured with a focus on the writings that made a strong impression on Dostoevsky at that time: “The last day of a man sentenced to death” by V. Hugo and the melodrama “Ugolino” by N. Polevoy. All three versions confirm that pity was not only one of young writer’s motives, but also the ontological basis of his creative universe. The scientific significance of each of the proposed hypotheses also lies in the fact that their deployment allows to expand the understanding of the potential sources of the writer’s work, to reveal an unknown or little-known historical and cultural context of his early, least studied period.