On peculiarities of artistic principles in describing man in J. Olesha's novel "Envy"

Abstract

J. Olesha's works are very peculiar and original, therefore the analysis of Olesha's characters should be carried out in close relation with the author's aesthetical principles and his conception of the artistic world.

In presentation of the characters, particular attention is paid to their relationship with the surrounding world. Detailed description of the external world is subjected to the main task, i.e. to the revealment of the hero's inner world. In presenting his heroes' feelings J. Olesha tries to show the feelings characteristic of a representative of the old epoch and those characteristic of a representative of our times. Thus, the character of the hero's feelings depends on his connection with his epoch. It should be noted that J. Olesha succeeded in presenting the psychological analysis of the feelings only of the heroes representing the old world.

The writer's artistic principles such as the description of reality through the hero's eyes, close relations between the hero and the surrounding world, particular attention to a man's feelings enabled the writer to create an unforgettable character of the representative of the old world Nikolay Kavalerov. Respectively the author's failure in depicting the characters of our time can be accounted for by the same factors. Therefore, it is only Nikolay Kavalerov who might be considered a typical character, because his feelings and emotions shown in the novel are characteristic of this social-psychological type.