The “Food for the Body” in the Literary Images of Foolishness for Christ, as Described by Nikolai Leskov and Eugene Vodolazkin
Beata TROJANOWSKA
Pracownia Performatyki, Instytut Kulturoznawstwa, Wydział Antropologii i Kulturoznawstwa, ul. Szamarzewskiego 89A, 60-568 Poznań, Poland , PolandAbstract
By referring to the prose of Nikolai Leskov and Eugene Vodolazkin, the article reflects on the selected literary characters based on the model of sanctity displayed by ‘holy fools.’ The analysis focuses mainly on the motif of food, but also on the appearance of the protagonists. The author describes the transformation, which began in the 19th century, of the ‘fools for Christ’ type of sanctity, established in Russian literature. While Leskov develops his characters by combining features characteristic for that type of sanctity with elements of Russian folklore, Vodolazkin draws on the hagiographic literature, but also depicts emotions and experiences of the protagonists. The haptic descriptions of the process of their consuming food and places where they ate, as well as the scrutiny of the meaning food carried for them, indicate that both Leskov and Vodolazkin see not only a natural connection of food with carnality, but also its symbolic affinity to the human spirit.
Keywords:
holy fools, literary characters, food, Russian prose, Leskov, VodolazkinPracownia Performatyki, Instytut Kulturoznawstwa, Wydział Antropologii i Kulturoznawstwa, ul. Szamarzewskiego 89A, 60-568 Poznań, Poland
