J.J. Rousseau's image on the pages of ''Vestnik Yevropy'' in 1807-1811 (the period of V.A. Zhukovsky's editorship)

The fact of V.A. Zhukovsky's interest in Rousseau and Rousseauism speaks a lot when characterizing not only his outlook and works but also the entire Russian culture of the 19th century. In particular, the multi-sided Rousseau's image created by Zhukovsky on the pages of ''Vestnik Yevropy'' (the European Messenger, the Herald of Europe) in the articles of different genre-style character demonstrates the Russian writer's position of the second half of the 1800s, the period of his editorship in the journal, through which he performed a breakthrough in the Russian public conscience, in the native literature, developing a new artistic method - romanticism. The approach to the material used in the paper allows the research to avoid rather arbitrary statements on the influence of Rousseauism and Rousseau on the Russian culture and Zhukovsky, in particular, and consider some concrete, objectified evidences in literary texts of Zhukovsky's reception of Rousseau, and through him by the Russian literature at the beginning of the 19th century. Peculiarities and individual features of the French enlightener, his concept and artistic work are presented from the Russian romanticist's point of view, revealing one of the brightest realizations of Rousseauism as a type of culture. In his translations from works and letters of German and French authors G. Merkel, Ch. J. de Ligne, J. Miller Zhukovsky constructs his unique image of the great thinker and writer at the intersection of Rousseau's and Rousseauism different national images, at the interception of this cross-cultural interaction via the prism of his philosophic-artistic intentions and searches of the entire Russian literature and culture of the 19th century. It is noted that Zhukovsky emphasizes two features in Rousseau's image perceived in inextricable connection: supersensitivity and writer's genius appealing to people's kindness. Without sharing Rousseau's judgment on contradiction of nature and civilization conflicting with the original enlightenment concepts, Zhukovsky, nonetheless, in his translations does not admit any discrediting of Rousseau and in his name - the enlightenment ideology and sentimentalism developed on its basis. The paradox of the French philosopher was interpreted by Zhukovsky as a bright personal feature, supported mostly by social-historical and cultural conditions. In the papers of ''Vestnik Yevropy'' written by Zhukovsky, Rousseau-thinker was presented to the Russian reader as a writer, author of such works as tractate ''Discourse on the Sciences and the Arts'', novels The New Eloise and Emile. In the long run, Rousseau is a unique, complex and controversial person. Rousseau's image constructed by the Russian romanticist reflected the peculiarities of the reception process of Rousseau and Rousseauism in Russia including personal Zhukovsky's perception via polemics, in comparison with other representatives of the Enlightenment, first of all, Voltaire, Diderot, Montesquieu, Buffon, Hume.

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