GOGOL’S EARLY HUMOUR

Abstract

The nineteenth century nos a crucial period in the history of Russia. Yet during the social and political upheaval, while the young intellectuals were plotting the destiny of Russia, Gogol remained indifferent to these crises and worked in an atmos phere of calm neutrality, neither actively nor spiritually partici pating in the cause of political, social or cultural enlightenment. This classic writer’s humour, whose laughter has become known as "laughter through tears", reflects the pessimistic temperament of the age. During the first period of his creative activity, Gogol was disillusioned by the depressing life in St. Petersburg, and unablo to realize his loftyambition of being useful to his country. His laughter became an escape mechanism from reality. To divert and amuse himself, Gogol composed the Evenings on a Farm Hear Dikanka, in which he invented ridiculous situations replete with comic typos, farcical action and slapstick comedy, hut as he matured, this youthful fancy was replaced by a more sober outlook on life. In the second phase of his literary career, influenced by Pushkin, Gogol abandoned the gay and idyllic depiction of peasant life, and instead, he turned to the contemporary scene. He was iii consumed with creative activity and ho bogged his muse not to fail him. 'with his satiric port he attacked stupidity, vanity and triviality. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the conic tech niques of the two works, dvenlags >n a Fara hear Dikanka and Mir orod, written during the fir»t and second period respectively of Gogol’s literary creativity and to indicate the transition from aesthetic laughter to satiric laughter. Gogol’s humour, ’’laughter through tears", harmonises ^ith the dismal spirit of nineteenth century Russia. All quotations from Gogol are from 3voni^;:s on ^Farm Near Dlkanka, Mirgorod - Being a Contiau .tion of the Jveaings on a Farm gear Ji’~si^ (Moscow: Foreign Languages Publishing House, n.d.) and Gobraniye Sochioenii v jhesti fouakh (Moscow, 19>9)« References consisting of 2, (signifying Ivei i . u) or M. (signifying Mirgorod.)or 3. (signifying Gobrani^e), plus Volume and Page number ^e.g. 2. (II, 1^5)j, are appended directly after those quotations. References to secondary sources are indicated in the usual fashion. I wish to express my gratitude to Dr. L. J. Jhein, Chairman, Department of Russian, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario and to Mr. D. J. Jones, Assistant Professor Russian, for thoir advice and assistance. iv Also, I wish to express my sincere thanks to Mr. T. nickwood, Lecturer, Department of Russian, McMaster University, for his assistance, guidance and patience in the preparation of this thesis.