Verbal Formula Mind of the Public in the Drama Boris Godunov by A. S. Pushkin

Semantic and imaginative implications of the verbal formula ‘mind of the public’ in A.S. Pushkin’s drama “Boris Godunov” are examined in the article, as well as the role of this formula in the drama`s confl ict structure. The article focuses on the correlation between the core and peripheral semantic components of the word ‘mind’ that is relevant for the socio-historical and moral-psychological aspects analysis of the drama’s problems both in terms of Pushkin’s interpretation of the public image and the author’s concept of personality. While the core semantic component of the word ‘mind’ emphasizes the features of the highest moral responsibility, exponent of the public will, determinant for a future of a government and citizens, its peripheral semantic component reveals the meaning ‘to give the impression’ and correlates with the popular rumors’ spreading feature that affect significant historical events. The phantom of that kind was the son of Ivan the Terrible, Tsarevich Dmitry, who allegedly escaped to avoid death and whose role, that was taken by the monk Gregory Otrepiev approved by the ‘mind of the public’, that obliterated Otrepiev’s personality and provoked bloody Russian distemper in the early 17th century. And Boris Godunov in Pushkin’s drama is considered as a victim of the ‘mind of the public’, but in contrast with Otrepiev, he is trying to preserve the unity of his personality and the role of a tsar, he played in the history. Thus, the status of the ‘first person’, the protagonist, nominated by Pushkin, is motivated. “Mind of the public” speech patterns analysis in Pushkin’s drama shows the connection between Boris Godunov and the process of public consciousness formation in the Russian literature of the fi rst third of the 19th century.

Keywords

conflict, personality, ‘mind of the public’, drama, rumors, peripheral semantic component, enlightenment, role behavior, romanticism, the Time of Troubles, phantom, core semantic component

Received

29.03.2019

Publication date

29.03.2019

Number of characters

19293

Cite

GOST	Baranov S. Verbal Formula “Mind of the Public” in the Drama “Boris Godunov” by A. S. Pushkin // Russkaya Rech’ – 2019. – Issue 2 C. 37-48 [Electronic resource]. URL: http://ras.jes.su/rusrech/s013161170004465-0-1-en (circulation date: 29.04.2025). DOI: 10.31857/S013161170004465-0
MLA	Baranov, Sergey "Verbal Formula “Mind of the Public” in the Drama “Boris Godunov” by A. S. Pushkin." Russkaya Rech’ 2 (2019):37-48. DOI: 10.31857/S013161170004465-0
APA	Baranov S. (2019). Verbal Formula “Mind of the Public” in the Drama “Boris Godunov” by A. S. Pushkin. Russkaya Rech’ (2), pp.37-48 DOI: 10.31857/S013161170004465-0

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