Author’s Assessment of the Emperor’s Sister in A. N. Tolstoy’s Novel “Peter The Great”

Abstract

Aim. To reveal the theme of family and marriage in the epic novel by A. N. Tolstoy “Peter the First” through the author’s assessment of the emperor’s sister’s image. To consider this problem in detail through the love experiences of royalty.

Methodology. To reveal the topic, analytical and comparative methods of studying literary text are used. Special attention is paid to the poetics of creating the image of Peter the Great’s sister, Tsarevna Natalia Alekseevna. A detailed and comprehensive understanding of her character is given, which helps not only in revealing the complex image, but also leads to an understanding of the global moral issues raised by the author of the changes in the way of life of the Russian state under the influence of European innovations. This internal psychological struggle that overcomes the feminine nature of doubt, becomes a prototype of the external struggle between old foundations and new trends.

Results. The study shows how the writer, through specific everyday issues and family themes, addresses global moral and philosophical problems of the collision of Eastern and Western cultures and the preservation of Russian identity. The stylistic and artistic features that help the author to reveal the fullness of social phenomena of that period are revealed.

Research implications. This study confirms that family issues play an important role in A. N. Tolstoy’s work. The significance of the work lies in the in-depth and concrete comprehension of the plastic embodiment of the stated theme.