MY NAME IS LEGION: ONCE AGAIN TO THE QUESTION OF DOSTOEVSKY’S ANTHILLS

Abstract

Aim. The article reveals the metaphorical meanings of the anthill in the artistic and conceptual picture of the world of Dostoevsky in conjunction with the cultural and historical context. Methodology. The article examines the tradition of metaphorical word use of anthills in Russian and Western European literature, specifies the genealogy of Dostoevsky’s anthills. Analysis of works of art, articles, notebooks of the writer allows us to draw conclusions about the meanings of anthills in his work. Results. Dostoevsky mentions the anthill both as a metaphor for the plurality and insignificance of people, and as an image-concept of a logical, scientifically organized society. This approach reduces and diminishes the human personality. Both of these word usage existed before Dostoevsky in Western European and Russian literature, but it is from him that the anthill acquires conceptual meaning. Dostoevsky distinguishes in principle collectivism as the basic principle of the social anthill and Christian conciliarity as the basis of fraternal unity of people in Christ. Research implications. This study clarifies the conceptual significance of anthills in Dostoevsky’s work, shows the artistic embodiment of the writer’s worldview disputes with contemporaries who advocated progress, materialism and denied the Christian understanding of personality. The results can be used in the further study of the writer’s work, in the course of teaching the history of Russian literature of the 19th century, as well as for expanding comments when republishing Dostoevsky’s works.