Видунас о творчестве Ф. М. Достоевского | Vydūnas apie F. Dostojevskio kūrybą | Vydūnas about M. Dostoyevsky’s works

Abstract

The article deals with an analysis of the Lithu­anian writer and philosopher Vydūnas’ small text “F. M. Dostoevsky” (1921), intended for this writer’s 100th birthday anniversary. The philosopher sup­poses that it is inappropriate to read this deeply Rus­sian writer’s works. His conclusion Vydūnas explains in the second paragraph. According to him, Dosto­evsky’s works do not reveal the true faith, wisdom and power, do not give a person the opportunity to express the human grandeur. The most important Russian writer’s error refusal to identify the an is his example of a perfect human life. Vydūnas completes the anniversary article with the tasks set to the Lithu­anian people in accordance with moral norms (“to look forward and up”). This paper discusses the negative Vydūnas’ ap­proach to Dostoevsky’s works, interpretes the causes which led to rejecting the Russian writer’s value to the Lithuanian culture. Vydūnas linked the crea­tive value with the problem of nationality and na­tional spirit dissemination. Dostoevsky‘s works for Vydūnas are the Russian culture metonymy. It is argued that the critical approach of Vydūnas’ to Dostoevsky’s works was determined by: 1) a unique religious philosophical Vydūnas’ world sys­tem formed of Protestantism, German idealistic phi­losophy, neovedantism, theosophy, 2) Lithuanian historical political situation in the early twentieth century decades. Vydūnas’ article about Dostoyevs­ky expressed the then prevailing creative mood of Lithuanian intellectuals, a specific historical period, historical context.