Peace and war: a Paradox of the imperial consciousness (from the comments on vasily Zhukovsky's article "The letter to count Sh. On events of 1848")

Having retired in 1841, Zhukovsky left Russia and setteled in Europe. During the last, so-called „foreign", period of his life, especially during the revolutionary years of 1848-1850, the poet followed social and political events in Europe and Russia with deep attention. In the letters and articles he constantly reflected on a peaceful and a military scenario of solving the political crisis. Zhukovsky's "The Letter to Count Sh. On Events of 1848" is his first and detailed analysis of the so-called „Spring of Nations". Having been written in summer of 1848 this articled is represented as a letter to a German poet Count Adolf Friedrich von Schack. The poet examines the political importance of the absolute monarchy and traditions as well as an interaction between the imperial power, the people, and history in the new historical context. The author criticizes Russophobia, national revolt, communism, parlamentarism, and secularization of the absolute monarchy power. Zhukovsky insists on the peaceful internal development of Russia and formulates an idea about its special way to „Holy Rus'" and „God's Truth". The poet's political conception is closely connected with idealization of the absolute power and sacralization of the Russian tzar. According to Zhukovsky, the particular feature of the ideal monarch consists in his ability to reject the power. It is not coincidental that the poet constructes a transformed and ideal narrative of the controversial oath by Grand Duke Nicholas Pavlovich on 27 of November in 1825. In the article Zhukovsky is intent to show that a monarch, and especially the Russian tsar, in contrast to the deputies and revolutionaries, has a believing soul, that is why he is able to trust God, perceive the Divine Providence, and follow his destiny. The thoughts about Nicholas I, his personality, and historical mission are the integral part of the poet's general historical conception. In 1848-1849 Zhukovsky was afraid of a possible war in Europe with Russia's participation. In the letters to Grand Duke Alexander Nichol-aevich the poet constantly highlighted the idea that the Russian tzar shouldn't interfere in the domestic affairs of other revolutionary countries in Europe. But later in 1850 in the article "The Russian and English Politics" Zhukovsky formulated a conception of the just war and, as a result, he justified Nicholas I's military help to the Austria-Hungarian emperor Franz-Joseph against the revolutionaries. The political consciousness of Zhukovsky is characterized by the idealized conception оf the absolute monarchy power. This political idea turns out an ideological reservoir for constructing the controversial interaction between the notions of "peace" and "war". The Zhukovsky's paradox, as reflected in his articles, consists in the idea of the spiritual transformation of Russia that is based on the political imperial development without conquering any new territory.

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