LERMONTOV’S MOTIVES IN THE STORY “THE COTTAGE ON THE PETERGOF ROAD” BY M. ZHUKOVA

Introduction. Currently, researchers are attracted by the work of the authors of the so-called “second” series, whose literary creations have been unjustly forgotten. What is still important is the role played by these works in the literary process of their time. Material and methods. The material of the study was the story of M. S. Zhukova “Dacha on the Petergof road” and “Princess Mary” by M. Yu. Lermontov, as well as the literary context of that time. The research methods were gender analysis, structural-typological approach, biographical method. Results and discussion. The plot and textual analysis of “female” prose showed not only the correlation of the main images and plot motifs of M. S. Zhukova with the previous literature, but the originality of the presentation of the author’s material. In the context of the emerging movement for women’s rights, the writer tried to bring to public discussion the issues of family and marriage, the role of women in society. Not being able to raise these topics directly, the female author uses certain stylistic devices (italics, ellipsis, question marks, exclamation marks), author’s digressions within the plot. Very often she uses hidden quotes and reminiscences to the works of famous authors (A. S. Pushkin, V. A. Zhukovsky, M. Yu. Lermontov). Her traditional, at first glance, main characters acquire a different semantic load. The male image created by the writer, having the external features of a classic hero-lover (former hussar, prince, guardsman), turns out to be a “grand seigneur”, i.e. a man only pretending to be a gentleman. M. Zhukova also shows a different view of marriage of convenience, when the cynical and strong-willed heiress to a wealthy fortune herself arranges a family union-deal with the prince. Conclusion. The echo of romantic literature is the provincial Zoya, whose madness becomes an indicator of the heroine’s lack of viability in the modern world. Thus, the storyline in the writer’s work becomes more complex, the literary idea merges with life, and secondary characters have not only a connecting function, having received their further development in subsequent works of realist writers.

gender studies, women’s literature, M. Yu. Lermontov, 19th century fiction