Artistic Paradigm of Female Characters in the Novels "Rob Roy" by W. Scott and "Karmelyuk" by M. Starytsky

Abstract

У статті розглядається інтерпретація жіночих образів в історичних романах В. Скотта та М. Старицького, аналізується їх роль у формуванні загального ідейно естетичного змісту творів, досліджується специфіка їх творення даними авторами, їх спільності і відмінності.

The article investigates the interpretation of female images in the historical novels of W. Scott and M. Starytsky, analyzes their role in forming the overall ideological and aesthetic content of the literary works, and envisages the specificity of their creation by the authors, their commonality and differences. In M. Starytsky’s historical novels the portrait characteristic is multifunctional with a full psychological pattern. The novel images system performs the role of psychological analysis not only in an “interventional” way, but also in a “noninterventional” with a fixation of external movements, gestures, dialoges, etc. In the historical novels of M. Starytsky the portrait is somewhat idealized, that is obviously dictated by the norms of the adventure novel. Through the description of the character’s appearance, the writer vividly recreates the outer and inner world of his heroes, their thoughts, feelings and shows the change in mood, mental state and so on. W. Scott, in turn, presented a portrait in different dimensions. It was really reflected and far from idealized. In all its versions, a portrait is a vivid reflection of the writer’s view and depended on what he knew about his hero, how applied to him, in what situations he was modeled, through what life conflicts conducted. In fact this determined the character of the author’s perception. Thus, the highest task novelist W. Scott saw objectivity; the ability to go against his own national and political sympathies. An interesting and important aspect of the creation of images in M. Starytsky’s and W. Scott’s historical novels was the wide range of female characters and the concept of their artistic interpretation. Having created extremely broad, multifaceted gallery of female types (more inherent for Ukrainian writer). At the same time, they formed a certain ideal woman, primarily a supporter, loyal friend, socially active person. Comparative analysis of creating female characters in the novels of W. Scott and M. Starytsky shows that images of women with active personalities are common to both authors, although heroines of M. Starytsky are also distinguished leadership and a strong-willed character.