THE IMAGE OF THE “PROPHET” KHLYSTOV IN THE WORKSOF F. DOSTOEVSKY AND I. TURGENEV

Abstract

The article poses and solves the issue of conducting a comparative analysis of the attitude to the problem of sects by Dostoevsky and Turgenev. For the first time in literary studies, similarity and difference are being traced in the depiction of the Khlystov’s “prophets” in Dostoevsky’s novel “The Mistress” and in “The Strange Story” by Turgenev. The image of the sectarian leader, the false prophet, enslaving the will of those who believed him, is confirmed by historical research on cults. The article is intended not only for philologists but also for religious scholars, historians, as well as anyone interested in Russian classics and the history of religions.

Keywords

• Dostoevsky
• Turgenev
• cults
• khlysts
• khlystovschina