Russian Reflections of the Story of Belakva: Tentetnikov, Oblomov, Lavretsky

Abstract

The article examines the images of three landowners — Tentetnikov from the second volume of “Dead Souls” by N. V. Gogol, Oblomov from the novel of the same name by I. A. Goncharov, and Lavretsky from “The Noble Nest” by I. S. Turgenev — which stand out among the literary representatives of this social group have a common crucial property — laziness. Traditionally, these characters are usually brought together based on belonging to the “superfluous person” type, but this does not shed light on the reasons for their similarities. The article proposes to look for its foundations in a general literary source, which is the “Divine Comedy” and, in particular, in the image of the lazy Belacqua from the second cantica. In this regard, the mediation of S. P. Shevyrev, whose interpretation of Dante influenced Gogol and Goncharov, is significant. In the works of writers, there is an interpretation of spiritually criminal lazy apathy. Belacqua is too lazy to save himself. The responsibility for awakening lies upon the person himself — this Dantean idea appeared close to both Gogol and Goncharov. In the case of Lavretsky, we are already dealing with Goncharov’s mediation in the adaptation of Dante’s ideas.

Keywords

• n. v. gogol
• i. a. goncharov
• i. s. turgenev
• s. p. shevyrev
• dante
• “the divine comedy"
• russian novel