«We appreciate this elder»: to the question of A.S. Shishkov's political behavior

In periods of social changes people have to find a strategy of behavior that improves collaboration with the officials. Such strategies are often based on literature metaphors which are selected depending on historical conditions. For instance, periods of transformation need images of refresh, youth etc. On the other hand, times of conservation are described using metaphors of tradition, values of ancestry etc. In this article the author analyses the literary sources and political functions of A.S. Shishkov's «elder» image. As an admiral, a writer, a State Secretary and Minister of Education (1824-1828) he was an active participant of the political life at the beginning of the XIXth century. Trying to influence the Emperor's decisions, Shishkov makes himself look older. The «elder's» image appeared at first in the book «Malen'kaya detskaya biblioteka» translated from German by Shishkov in 1780s. There is a tendency to connect a book's popularity with the language it was written in. Its clarity and simplicity was formed by using words from the «low style» and folklore. The book contains two interpretation of «elder's» image. On the one hand, «old man» is associated with wisdom and great experience. On the other hand, it means disease and poverty. Such was a traditional meaning of the "elder". These two meanings of old age are reproduced in Shishkov's political documents. As an «elder» he applied to the Emperor, gave him advice, criticized his policy. He could not be punished because of his poor health, so his strategy reached the aim. However, there is still a question: why? The author answered the question by analyzing another model of a similar behavior. It was N.M. Karamzin who wanted to be closer to Alexander I than others. It was found by M. Lotman that the historian, who wanted to be a friend with the Emperor, used another literature metaphor. Karamzin addressed to the Schiller's drama - «Don Karlos, Infant von Spanien» in which Marquis Posa, the honest friend of the prince, gave him advice and died for him. However, this strategy failed because of war times. The author argues that the image of the «elder» used by Shishkov has its origin in folklore and national traditions. Thus the Emperor accepted the «old man» image successfully in the period of rising patriotism before and after Napoleon's invasion.

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