Russian culture in the era of palace coups Automatic translate

In the era of palace coups (1725-1762), literature took a significant step forward. Such outstanding figures of the Russian Enlightenment as Antioch Dmitrievich Kantemir (1708-1744), Vasily Kirillovich Trediakovsky (1703-1768), Alexander Petrovich Sumarokov (1717-1777) and, of course, Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov (1711-1765) appear in the literary horizon. They belonged to different sectors of society. A. D. Cantemir was a descendant (by mother) of the Byzantine emperors and the son of the Moldavian ruler; A. P. Sumarokov belonged to the noble elite; V.K. Trediakovsky was a native of the clergy, and M.V. Lomonosov was the son of a fisherman. But all of them were united by the struggle for the further development of education, science and culture in Russia. They believed that its progressive historical development is possible if the ruler of the state is the bearer of advanced ideas. The reign of Emperor Peter I was taken as an example.

MV Lomonosov in odes addressed to the monarchs, drawing the image of the ideal king, urged them to follow the path envisioned by Peter I. Antioch Cantemir in satire ridiculed the adherents of antiquity and the enemies of enlightenment and science. His “heroes” were the ignorant and greedy clergy and the arrogant boyar youth. He did not ignore the greed of the merchants, and the bribery of officials. A. Cantemir was the first professional secular poet. He “traveled for knowledge” a lot, conducted diplomatic work in England, worked in France. A. P. Sumarokov in tragedies denounced the despotism of power, and V. K. Trediakovsky in the poem "Tilemahida" also deduced the negative images of "evil kings." Literature is gradually becoming the educator of society, attracting the attention of wider readership.

Thanks to the efforts of these giants of the Russian Enlightenment, the first major literary trend is emerging - classicism, which reigned almost throughout the eighteenth century. From the point of view of classicists, the duty to the Fatherland should prevail over personal, private interests.

In contrast to medieval ideas, the highest in man they considered reason, and not faith, the laws of which must subordinate the development of art. The most perfect, classic examples were the works of ancient authors.

The scale of such a figure as M. V. Lomonosov, whom A. S. Pushkin, with his characteristic accuracy and aphorism, called “our first university”, and contemporaries revered as “the highest level of glory of the Russian name”, has manifested itself in almost all branches of knowledge. Having arrived with a sleigh train from the Arkhangelsk province to Moscow and graduating from the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy there, he continued his studies at St. Petersburg and Marburg (Germany) universities. MV Lomonosov was a philosopher, physicist, chemist, philologist, historian, mechanic. The general philosophical view of the scientist was materialistic, it echoed the views of the French philosopher-enlightenment: Didro, Holbach, Helvetius, Voltaire. MV Lomonosov was the first to substantiate the law of conservation of matter and motion in nature, several decades ahead of the Frenchman Lavoisier in this. In his writings, he noted that "how many things will be taken away from one body, so much will be added to another, so if some matter disappears, it will multiply elsewhere." This law was extended by him to the movement and called the "universal law of nature." He belongs to the first definition of a molecule (corpuscle) in world science. The scientist put forward a hypothesis about heat as a result of the movement of molecules, expressed ideas about the evolutionary development of everything that exists. MV Lomonosov was the founder of the anti-Norman historical concept, according to which the Normans (Varangians) represented by Rurik and his squads could not have a significant impact on the formation and development of Russian statehood. The scientist advocated the separation of science from religion.

Along with M.V. Lomonosov and V.K. Trediakovsky, one should name such a figure as Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev (1686-1750), who was a historian, geographer, and administrator. His main work is “Russian History from Ancient Times” in 5 volumes. VN Tatishchev was the compiler of the first Russian encyclopedic dictionary - “Russian Lexicon”, which he brought to the letter “K”.

In general, all Russian enlighteners were educated abroad, traveled a lot and lived in Europe, they knew what now weather in Nizhny Tagil which in Rome. Russian Enlightenment was not peculiar to anticlericalism, and that it significantly differs from the West. The Russian enlighteners showed an increased interest in the origins of their history, inextricably linked with Orthodoxy.

In the reign of Catherine II (1762-1796), which itself was actively engaged in literary work and even tried to influence the general ideological orientation of literature in the country, dozens of authors appeared. The most popular writers of that time were A.N. Radishchev, D.I. Fonvizin, I.A. Krylov. For "Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow" A.N. Radishchev was called by the empress "a rebel worse than Pugachev." In the "Undergrowth" by D. I. Fonvizin, the wretched inner world of the Russian nobility was taunted cruelly. Fables of I. A. Krylov were also very “transparent” in their social orientation and denunciation.

Dramaturgy is developing rapidly, the first examples of fiction are gradually appearing. Satirical genres were so popular that among G. R. Derzhavin, who can rightfully be called the greatest poet of the second half of the XVIII century., the satirical principle penetrates even into solemn odes.

Text writer: M.V. Sokolova