Xerox University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48100 I I
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
INFORMATION TO USERS This material was produced from a microfilm copy of the original document. While the most advanced technological means to photograph and reproduce this document have been used, the quality is heavily dependent upon the quality of the original submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help you understand markings or patterns which may appear on this reproduction. 1.The sign or "target" for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is "Missing Page(s)". If it was possible to obtain the missing page(s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting thru an image and duplicating adjacent pages to insure you complete continuity. 2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a large round black mark, it is an indication that the photographer suspected that the copy may have moved during exposure and thus cause a blurred image. You will find a good image of the page in the adjacent frame. 3. When a map, drawing or chart, etc., was part of the material being photographed the photographer followed a definite method in "sectioning" the material. It is customary to begin photoing at the upper left hand corner of a large sheet and to continue photoing from left to right in equal sections with a small overlap. If necessary, sectioning is continued again — beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete. 4. The majority of users indicate that the textual content is of greatest value, however, a somewhat higher quality reproduction could be made from "photographs" if essential to the understanding of the dissertation. Silver prints of "photographs" may be ordered at additional charge by writing the Order Department, giving the catalog number, title, author and specific pages you wish reproduced. 5. PLEASE NOTE: Some pages may have indistinct print. Filmed as received. Xerox University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48100 I I 73-26,857 KUK, Zenon Michael, 1922- TOLSTOJ'S WAR AND PEACE AND ZEROMSKI'S ASHES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY. ----- The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1973 Language and Literature, general University Microfilms, A XEROX Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan © Copyright by Zenon Michael Kuk 1973 TOLSTOJ'S WAR AND PEACE AND ZEROMSKI'S ASHES; A COMPARATIVE STUDY DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Zenon Michael Kuk, M.A. ***** The Ohio State University 1973 Reading Committee: Approved by Professor Jerzy R. Krzyzanowski Professor Frank R. Silbajoris i / Professor Leon I. Twarog -yf,jA,/,L ' 7 Adviser Department of Slavic Languages l>' and Literatures PREFACE This dissertation is a comparative study of two novels. The idea arose during my reading of Zeromski's novel Ashes. It was then that I became aware of striking similarities be tween his novel and Tolstoj 's War and Peace. Eventually this idea evolved into a topic for my thesis. The authors of the two novels belong to two different Slavic branches which, though sharing the same historical ex periences, viewed and perceived them differently. Thus the novels, like people, are alike and different. To explore the similar and dissimilar characteristics of both works (as well as the factors which led to their creation) is the purpose of my inquiry. The translations from Polish and Russian, except where otherwise noted, are my own. Every effort has been made to render them as faithfully to the original as possible. How ever, they might not always reflect its artistic qualities. The transliteration system used with the Russian texts is that of the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages and as that used in the Slavic East Euro pean Journal. All Russian words, including first and last names, have been transliterated according to that system. The ii only exceptions to this are the names of characters in quotes translated by other people who have used a different trans literation system. No transliteration of names or words in Polish was necessary, since the Polish language uses the Latin alphabet. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the members of my committee: to Professor Frank R. Silbajoris my thankful appreciation for his thoughtful and perceptive observations; to Professor Leon I. Twarog my cordial gratitude for his friendly advice and encouragement? and most of all to Pro fessor Jerzy R. Krzyzanowski, Committee Chairman and Adviser, my most respectful gratitude for his kind and untiring help in the completion of this study, a gratitude which goes beyond this brief mention. It goes without saying that this project would have been impossible without their kind help, advice, and suggestions. For the reading of the manuscript through the rough drafts I am greatly indebted to Professor Robert Vines of Ohio University in Athens. But perhaps special thanks and acknowledgment are owed to my wife Winifred, whose patience, assistance and innumerable sacrifices through all my studies and papers including this dissertation have helped me to reach this final goal. VITA November 21, 1922 Born - Ortynychi, U.S.S.R. December 18, 1964 M.A., The University of Chicago September 1968 Instructor in Modern Languages, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio Summer 1970 National Defense Foreign Lan guage Fellowship, CIC Slavic Institute, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio FIELDS OF STUDY Major Russian Literature Minor Polish Literature iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page " PREFACE............................................ ii VITA................................................ iv Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ................................ 1 II. THE DEVELOPMENT OF BOTH NOVELS ................ 12 The Scope of Both Novels The Original Idea and Its Evolution The Significance of the Titles The Sources The Variants III. HISTORY, WAR, AND PEACE IN BOTH NOVELS....... 50 War and Peace Ashes War and Peace and Ashes as His tori ceil Novels IV. TREATMENT OF THE FRENCH AND NAPOLEONIC ERA ...................................... 83 By Tolstoj: the Realities By Zeromski: the Legend V. TOLSTOJ, ZEROMSKI, AND THE FOREIGNERS ....... 107 Tolstoj and the Poles Zeromski's Attitude to the Russians, Prussians, and Austrians v Chapter Page VI. REMARKS ON STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION OF BOTH NOVELS 127 Characteri zation Battle Scenes Language Endings VII. MAN AND HIS WORLD IN WAR AND PEACE AND ASHES 184 Families Deaths Peasants Women Prince Andrej, Pierre, and Nikolaj as opposed to Prince Gintult, Krzysztof, and RafaX The Freemasons VIII. CONCLUSIONS 230 BIBLIOGRAPHY 238 Vi CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION War and Peace and Ashes are landmark novels of tremen dous importance to their national literatures. This "func tional” similarity is one of many that exist between the two works. Many Polish, Russian, and foreign literary scholars and critics have pointed out quite early and rather frequent ly the convergencies and affinities of the two novels.^- This was done, however, for the most part in a rather general and non-analytical manner, more in casual hints than by actual comparisons. Until the present day, with a few exceptions, neither Polish nor Russian literary scholarship can boast a full-length comparative study of these two epic novels.2 The aim of this dissertation is to fill the existing gap and remedy this unusual situation. The two novels have definite similarities of a the- matical and ideological nature, as well as of a structural and methodological nature. At the same time there are funda mental differences in both novels. Thus the basic guide lines of my study may be defined as a comparison of: a) the similar thematical elements in both works treated in a similar manner by the two authors, 1 b) those elements which are similar thematically but differ greatly in treatment, c) those topics completely absent in one novel but present in another. These guidelines apply also to Chapter II where the develop ment of both novels is discussed. The main criteria in the selection of the topics for the comparison resulted from those elements which the two novels had in common, and these elements will be discussed with the previously mentioned guidelines in mind. [...] Zeroraskij javljaetsja pisatelem, s tvorcestvom kotorogo svjazana celaja epoxa v razvitii ego rodnoj literatury, bez proizvedenij kotorogo nel'zja sebe predstavit* pol'skoj kul'tury v ee mirovom znacenii. [...] Zeromski is a writer to whose works is connected a whole epoch of development of his native literature. Without his literary production the world importance of Polish cul ture is inconceivable.^ These words of Viviana Vladimirovna Vitt, a young Soviet literary scholar, concisely and eloquently describe Zeromski's place in Polish literature. The greatness of Zeromski should be a subject of another study. Here we will deal with only one of his works. Ashes. According to the Polish literary critic Waclaw Borowy, Ashes is Zeromski*s most ambitious work^ and occupies in his literary production a place roughly equal to that of War and Peace in Tolstoj's. Stanislaw Eile calls the period from Homeless People (1899) to Ashes (1903), the climactic point in Zeromski's development.® Ashes,? an epic novel dealing with the Napoleonic epoch and Poland's role in it, occupies a very special place in Polish literature for many reasons: thematical, ideologi cal, and artistic (structure and style), all of which were innovations in contemporary Polish literature in general and the Polish historical novel in particular. The innovation in topic was Zeromski's shift to themes of the Polish fight for independence soon after the third partition.® The historical element of the novel is connected with a complete ly new approach to the epoch in question, namely the rejec tion of the traditional legend that Napoleon was Poland's friend while at the same time offering a positive and patri otic view of events.