LESIA UKRAINKA AND TARAS SHEVCHENKO: PROMETHEISM OF THINKING

Volume 61 (2021)

О. O. Zlotnyk-Shagina, O. M. Slipushko
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv

Summary

The article deals with the Prometheism thinking of both Taras Shevchenko and Lesya Ukrainka, as well as defines its character and features. The comparative analysis of Prometheism of Taras Shevchenko and Lesya Ukrainka is carried out, their common and distinctive features are emphasized.

In the image of Prometheus, Taras Shevchenko embodies the idea of serving people, anthropocentrism, the native Ukrainian people and himself. Created by Lesya Ukrainka, the image of Prometheus is inspired by the romantic ideas and trends of contemporary Europe, the understanding of ancient myth and his own author’s vision of Prometheus’ mission in Ukraine.

Prometheism is presented as an ancient and renaissance idea, the essence of which was determined by self-sacrifice and service to the individual and the people. Specifics of the perception of the Christian tradition by both artists are characterized, the emphasis is on the purely authorial approaches of Taras Shevchenko and Lesya Ukrainka to the figure of Jesus, which correlates with the figure of Prometheus as somewhat opposite given the realization of personality in society and vocation. An artistic interpretation of the idea of imperialism by Taras Shevchenko and Lesya Ukrainka is given.

It is emphasized that both artists have dedicated their lives to serving Ukraine, its culture and language, and the images of Prometheus created by them are deeply autobiographical. Not being followers of traditional Christianity, they created their images in accordance with the traditions of antiquity, the Renaissance and national worldviews. They testified to the formation and establishment in the Ukrainian social and ideological traditions of the idea of the struggle for nationalism and confrontation with Russian imperialism.

Key words: Taras Shevchenko, Lesia Ukrainka, image of Prometheus, Christianity, antiquity, Renaissance, imperialism, idea of self-sacrifice, anthropocentrism.

Files to Download

Download

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/2520-6346.2(61).52-61

References

1. Ivanyshyn P. Natsionalnii sposib rozuminnia v poezii T. Shevchenka, Ye. Malanyuka, L. Kostenko. Monohrafiia. Kyiv: Akademvydav, 2008. 390 s. 2. Lesia Ukrainka. Tvory. Kyiv: Dnipro, 2000. 630 s. 3. Pavlychko D. Literaturoznavstvo. Krytyka. Ukrayinska literatura. Kyiv: Vydavnytstvo Solomiyi Pavlychko "Osnovy", 2007. S. 227-236. 4. Fylypovych P. Lesya Ukrainka // Fylypovych P.P. Literaturno-krytychni statti. Kyiv: Dnipro, 1991. S. 105-108. 5. Fylypovych P. Obraz Prometeya v tvorakh Lesi Ukrayinky // Fylypovych P.P. Literaturno-krytychni statti. Kyyiv: Dnipro, 1991. S. 109–116. 6. Shevchenko T. Povne zibrannya tvoriv u 12 tomakh. Tom 1. Poeziia 1837- 1847. Kyiv: Naukova dumka, 1989. 526 s.