Images of westernizers and slavophiles in vaudevilles of late 1840s - early 1850s

Abstract

В настоящем исследовании представлен анализ двух водевилей: "Сотрудники, или Чужим добром не наживешься" В.А. Соллогуба и "Натуральная школа" П.А. Каратыгина. Обе пьесы так или иначе затрагивают идеологическое столкновение западников и славянофилов. На основании того, как именно полемика представлена в пьесах, можно сделать предположение о том, каково было отношение к ней современников, не имеющих к двум закрытым кружкам западников и славянофилов прямого отношения.

The goal of my research is to trace how exactly images of slavophiles and westernizers emerged, and what influence literature had on those images. I find out how contemporaries of westernizes and slavophiles saw them and reacted to their controversy and behavior. They did so, not only through articles in magazines or public appearances, but also by portraying slavophiles and westernizers in their literary works. Also, I analyze how vaudeville represents slavophiles and westernizers and who might have served as a real prototype for the characters.