Il simbolo della finestra nel Melkij Bes di F. Sologub

This article explores the symbolic image of the “window” in Fyodor Sologub’s novel The Petty Demon (Melky bes), with a particular focus on the connections between literature, semiotics, and psychopathology. Windows can be thought of as thin and transparent frameworks which divide the external world...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Linda Torresin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Milano University Press 2015-01-01
Series:Altre Modernità
Subjects:
Online Access:https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/AMonline/article/view/4654
_version_ 1827888087945969664
author Linda Torresin
author_facet Linda Torresin
author_sort Linda Torresin
collection DOAJ
description This article explores the symbolic image of the “window” in Fyodor Sologub’s novel The Petty Demon (Melky bes), with a particular focus on the connections between literature, semiotics, and psychopathology. Windows can be thought of as thin and transparent frameworks which divide the external world (“the others”) from the internal one (“the self”), but, at the same time, they allow interactions between the two as well. Peaceful interactions are seldom contemplated; in most cases, the individual ego clashes with the collectivity. This is what happens in Sologub’s Petty Demon. Here, windows represent the struggle of the novel’s anti-hero Peredonov against the world; they stand as a symbol of his alienation from Russian society and life. Windows appear several times in the novel to signify Peredonov’s troublesome relationship with other people. In particular, broken windows and glasses suggest a growing gap between “the self” and “the others”, Peredonov and reality. Imagery drawn from the visual field helps the author to describe the protagonist’s fall into madness. On one hand, Peredonov sees the world through his paranoid eyes, and considers “the others” as a threat to his own identity. Even though, on the other hand, it is Peredonov himself, who suffering from persecution mania, fears that he is spied on by enemies. At the end, alterity will triumph over him. Thus, the novel also portrays Peredonov’s tragedy: the loss of his own “self”.
first_indexed 2024-03-12T20:27:49Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e71227b377cc4a0aa3421a40cca949db
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2035-7680
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-12T20:27:49Z
publishDate 2015-01-01
publisher Milano University Press
record_format Article
series Altre Modernità
spelling doaj.art-e71227b377cc4a0aa3421a40cca949db2023-08-02T00:22:19ZengMilano University PressAltre Modernità2035-76802015-01-010036637810.13130/2035-7680/46544036Il simbolo della finestra nel Melkij Bes di F. SologubLinda Torresin0Università Ca' Foscari di VeneziaThis article explores the symbolic image of the “window” in Fyodor Sologub’s novel The Petty Demon (Melky bes), with a particular focus on the connections between literature, semiotics, and psychopathology. Windows can be thought of as thin and transparent frameworks which divide the external world (“the others”) from the internal one (“the self”), but, at the same time, they allow interactions between the two as well. Peaceful interactions are seldom contemplated; in most cases, the individual ego clashes with the collectivity. This is what happens in Sologub’s Petty Demon. Here, windows represent the struggle of the novel’s anti-hero Peredonov against the world; they stand as a symbol of his alienation from Russian society and life. Windows appear several times in the novel to signify Peredonov’s troublesome relationship with other people. In particular, broken windows and glasses suggest a growing gap between “the self” and “the others”, Peredonov and reality. Imagery drawn from the visual field helps the author to describe the protagonist’s fall into madness. On one hand, Peredonov sees the world through his paranoid eyes, and considers “the others” as a threat to his own identity. Even though, on the other hand, it is Peredonov himself, who suffering from persecution mania, fears that he is spied on by enemies. At the end, alterity will triumph over him. Thus, the novel also portrays Peredonov’s tragedy: the loss of his own “self”.https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/AMonline/article/view/4654Fëdor SologubMelkij besPeredonovfinestrasimbolosimbolismo russo
spellingShingle Linda Torresin
Il simbolo della finestra nel Melkij Bes di F. Sologub
Altre Modernità
Fëdor Sologub
Melkij bes
Peredonov
finestra
simbolo
simbolismo russo
title Il simbolo della finestra nel Melkij Bes di F. Sologub
title_full Il simbolo della finestra nel Melkij Bes di F. Sologub
title_fullStr Il simbolo della finestra nel Melkij Bes di F. Sologub
title_full_unstemmed Il simbolo della finestra nel Melkij Bes di F. Sologub
title_short Il simbolo della finestra nel Melkij Bes di F. Sologub
title_sort il simbolo della finestra nel melkij bes di f sologub
topic Fëdor Sologub
Melkij bes
Peredonov
finestra
simbolo
simbolismo russo
url https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/AMonline/article/view/4654
work_keys_str_mv AT lindatorresin ilsimbolodellafinestranelmelkijbesdifsologub