WOMAN OF EPOCH "DOMOSTROYA"
(TRAVEL IN CHEKHIYU)
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In mass consciousness concept ""Domostroj"", i.e. the arch corrected, regulated a life of medieval family, for a long time has got a steady negative shade. "Domostroj" in consciousness of the average person associates first of all with legitimizatsiej corporal punishments, and not only in relation to children, but also in relation to the wife, and also extreme "denseness" and patriarchal character of family relations. Accordingly, if typical domostroevsky the husband is a bearded sadist with pletyu in the hands, piously trusting, that the hen not a bird, and the woman not the person typical domostroevskaya the wife is represented as the hammered, poor essence, dark and illiterate which from comprehension of all horror of its life are rescueed with only congenital or got limitation.
Many figures not only cultures have taken a hand in creation of these images, but also a historical science that now it was possible with sufficient substantiations to present charge to concrete persons too. Deliberately or out of ignorance, playing on a political and-or cultural conjuncture, distorting the real facts and ignoring everything, that was not entered in the scheme , masters of culture have created for the last two centuries – 19 and 20-th – such powerful negative stereotype of a patriarchal society, that any attempt of its revision appears hardly probable not as apologia spin as a universal remedy of the decision of family conflicts. Meanwhile scarcity of a color palette at the traditional image domostroevskoj the Universe forces to doubt in its of the validity for anywhere and never the world was black-and-white – and the more so was not only black. Let alone that a image of the dark and hammered medieval woman by more steadfast and less prejudiced consideration is instant rassypaetsya in ashes.
First of all, the woman of the Middle Ages, in the same way as well as the modern woman, does not show the unique type: women of an epoch domostroya were very different. Moreover, exaggeration will not notice, that human individuality in doindustrialnom a society has been expressed as a whole more strongly, than now. Unification and standardization of the person, vykraivanie a shower on uniform to " a fashionable pattern » – the invention of 20 centuries. Further, contrary to traditional representation about the patriarchal world as about man's an empire where to the woman the passive and passive role is allocated(removed), the woman in all centuries actively proved not only as object, but also as the subject of a public life. And, at last, contrary to a popular belief, that from a stuffy tower « in people » the woman has left only at Peter the Great, it is impossible to forget, that is real in towers both in 15, and in 16, and in 17 centuries only insignificant minority of women, namely representatives of the maximum social circles sat. Private soldiers gorozhanki, let alone krestyankakh, born work in a floor level with the man, used much greater freedom, than boyaryshni and princesses.
Getting a grasp of the turned yellow parchments which have embodied in legends and legends, ancient stories and memoirs images real, instead of the invented women of epoch Domostroya, you are involuntarily amazed to force and beauty of their characters and a variety sudeb. I also wish to tell About them – in hope if to not change considerably representation of readers about « a dark empire of pre-pertine Russia », anyway, to modify it aside greater objectivity.
The most raised embodiment of the medieval woman is Fevroniya, the legendary heroine « Stories about Peter and Fevronii ». The plot of the story is simple: as a result of struggle with fiery zmeem prince Peter falls ill with an incurable illness – its body is covered with apostemes. To cure it wise maiden Fevroniya, but with one condition undertakes: prince should marry it . Peter willingly agrees, Fevroniya cures it is and here the fairy tale comes to an end and the parable, - for, unlike the fantastic hero begins, Peter does not hurry up at all to marry the istselitelnitse – poor and not notable sort. However it should return to it with the humiliated entreaty as clever Fevroniya has left not cured one aposteme, and illness has returned with new force. This time Peter fairly keeps the promise and does(makes) Fevroniyu by princess. And, besides, contrary to fairy tales, destiny Fevronii after a marriage develops not in the best image: Giving a tribute of its unusual wisdom and to human qualities, the notable environment of the husband refuses to accept it as princess. As a result Peter and Fevroniya, created many kind affairs, are compelled to refuse authority – it for them not more expensively their love.
When I with the student for the first time prochla this medieval story, me have struck not only strength of mind and character of " the hammered medieval woman », but also difference Fevronii from that romantic ideal of the enamoured woman which so usilenno was imposed to us by the latest poetry and prose. As love Fevronii is not similar to mad passions of heroines of Dostoevsky or on silent sacrifice turgenevskikh girls! It loves strongly, strong – and is simultaneously sober, not being deceived neither concerning the man's nature in general, nor concerning favourite. Its each act as if is illuminated from within nekolebimym by sensation of own advantage and moral correctness and consequently dodge by means of which Fevroniya achieves desired marriage , not seems to us humiliating. If love as the poet, a duel, it , indoubtedly has told, the woman-winner – but, unlike the latest emansipantok, Fevroniya is able to win so, that nobody remains in loss; In the wonderful image the man wins together with it , finding wise, strong spirit and the chaste wife.
By the way about chastity. In the story there is one extremely actual episode: when Fevroniya with confidants of the husband floats by the ship, one boyar starts to look at it « lewd eyes ». Having noticed it, princess orders to scoop to it some water at first from the right board, and then and with left and to tell, whether there is a difference? Lost court river water answers, that, from what board it do not scoop, it is absolutely identical on taste. « Here and I, and your wife », - speak the wise woman, and the confused boyar recognizes its correctness and refuses mean thoughts. It is a pity, that presently this simple true for too many husbands became secret for family press:-).
Certainly, image Fevronii though in its basis the real destiny also lays is a ideal, and, probably, real Murom princess differed from it strongly enough. But, as the history testifies, strong spirit and women clear by reason sufficed in Russia in all a century. I shall not speak about ravnoapostolnoj to princess Olga, the blessing this example is known for all. But here destiny of princess Evpraksei, the wife of the Ryazan prince Feodor as it is told about it in « Stories about ruin of Ryazan Batyem ».
In 1237 infinite hordes of khan Batyya have suited to walls of Ryazan. Seeing the huge superiority, khan has offered prince Feodor honourable capitulation, promising it preservation of a princely title and the other blessings. But, among the other conditions which have been put forward by khan, appeared also such: being naslyshan about beauty of princess, khan has desired to see its nakedness. Prince has answered it: « here when win us then also our wives volodet will be ». Batyj has taken and has burnt Ryazan, having killed before it of prince Feodor but "to own" the another's wife to it it was not possible. Having heard about destruction of the husband and knowing about prepared to it shameful speed up « blagovernaya princess Euprakseya stoyashe in prevysokom the temple and holding the kind child of prince Ivan Fedorovicha, and uslysha takovyya smertonosnyya verbs, and sorrows execute, and abie I shall rush from prevysokogo the temple with the son with prince Ivan to Wednesday of the ground, and catch to death [rasshiblis to death] ».
And, as a parallel to this, an original share, the destiny legendary acts, the share another ryazanochki the same epoch, Avdotya, gone through mountains and doly to elicit at khan of the captivated husband, the son, the brother. Khan has refused to release(let off) all three, having suggested to choose someone one. The wise woman also has judged, that it still can marry and have both the husband, and the son, but its parents have died, and the brother at it any more will not be: « the brother the person has vzyati! » Avdotya Ryazanochka asks to release(let off) the brother, having proved the decision, and the khan subdued by its judiciousness, releases(lets off) all three.
Certainly, certainly, much in behaviour both ryazanok is caused by representations already far from us and belief (in particular, in Avdotya Ryazanochki's choice rudiments of ancient, archaic type of relationship affect). But speech not about it . Where here the dark and hammered woman, tell to me? Where the pity essence deprived of own will? They are persons, and persons true.
Can object, that in the cases stated above it is a question of 13 century, and "Domostroj" has in full developed by a century 16-ìó. Well, we shall have a look on 16-17 a century, and what we shall see?
First of all, strangely enough, expansion of a spectrum of social roles of the woman! Both princess Evpraksiya, and Avdotya Ryazanochka it first of all wives, and their destiny depend on their husbands. The woman of 16-17 centuries finds finally personal, individual destiny if so it is possible to be expressed; it creates the life. The most known such women were Novgorod pravitelnitsa Marfa posadnitsa, boyarynya Morozova and senior sister Peter the Great tsarevna Sofia. Unfortunately, about two last at us has besides developed prevratnoe opinion (at once it is visible who writes history – man's chauvinists:-). In boyaryne Morozovoj see the gloomy fanatic, and in tsarevna Sofia – an annoying obstacle in a way of progress though these representations are not simply primitive, and are radically incorrect.
Let's begin with that, accusing boyarynyu Morozovu in "fanaticism", and "gloomy", we make the roughest mistake(error), applying to absolutely other epoch modern measures. Certainly, from the point of view of the atheist, moreover the atheist-proWesterner, not only boyarynya Morozova, but also all Russian Split is something ridiculous, not clear and immensely to us alien. Meanwhile unique on scales and value of the phenomenon we start to understand original value of this(thus) really only now. Then, in furious fights nikonian and dissenters, preconditions of many latest tragedies and breaks of Russian history arose. And that one of the most active participants of this discussion, and the participant not private soldier, was the woman, destroys set of stereotypes « a female share in a dark empire ». With priests and boyars, and even with tsar (they were in property) boyarynya Morozova argues on equal, as the skilled and skilful polemist. But it not only the polemist, but also the propagandist, with huge force influenced consciousness of people – that, actually, also proves its disgrace and the reference(link). The authority was afraid this woman not less, than protopopa Avvakuma.
It is necessary to notice, that, first, Morozova was not unique active raskolnitsej, and, secondly, that the woman – the active participant of religious struggle not is cleanly Russian phenomenon. Western Reformatsiya also knew figures of women-ïðîïîâåäíèö. However, in a context of our theme another is essentially: where here the illiterate, near woman limited by the world of a tower, and the nobility not knowing, what occurs(happens) around? The Woman of 17-th century was the active political subject level with the man, and yarchajshim that as an example is served by tsarevna Sofia.
Who would not write about it , always at the text there is an opposition to the great brother and very few people mentions their amazing similarity. For Sofia – the same rebel against routine, against a backward and inert life, as well as Peter. However, to begin it is necessary not from political activity of tsarevna, and from its erudition. Sofia was one of obrazovannejshikh people of time. Till our time send in addition(have reached) not only the letters written by its hand, but the Bible, completely – from a word up to a word – copied by her(it). Sofia's advisers were the advanced people of that is pre-pertine – time, considered necessary cautious promotion on a way of reforms. Anybody and never denied an outstanding mind(wit) of tsarevna and its political khvatki. But the most surprising is its courage, courage of the woman who have solved(dared) on a unusual act. No, not on capture of authority though also it demanded courage. Sofia has dared to go counter to thousand-year traditions and has constructed the life how wanted: Not having married (during a pre-pertine epoch of tsarevna did not marry since there were no orthodox grooms of an imperial sort), it had the conventional lover; despising solitary life of women of an imperial dynasty, with the open face showed before people; knowing by heart the sacred instruction of humility of the wife, counted itself not below men and refused to submit to them. Finally win senior sister Peter could only after bloody suppression streletskogo revolt – with own hand cutting heads streltsam.
As it is paradoxical will sound, tsarevna Sofia was the first woman of Peter time – and up to Peter.
Full contrast to ambitious and vigorous tsarevna Sofia its senior contemporary, Ulyaniya Osorina is represented. We know about it owing to zapiskam its son of the Team. Ovdovev, pomeshchitsa Ulyaniya does not aspire in a grounds(thick) of religious disputes and the more so it is not torn to authority. Her(it) other, purer(cleaner) passion seizes(takes possession): to help(assist) sirym and poor, poor and sick. In kindness Ulyaniya reaches up to samootverzheniya: it ruins a uncontrollable alms the strong facilities . Thus is also it its son emphasizes – in Ulyanii there is nothing from the religious fanatic, it creates kindly simply because cannot differently. As the modern researcher, « in every day conditions notices, among house and family efforts the ideal of that time, the woman of the perfect , effective kindness » is presented. And the most evident certificate of effectiveness of this kindness is full absence even shadows of reproach from the son: It sincerely is admired mother, it to it has not left however(as) become scanty inheritance.
It would be possible to recollect many women of epoch Domostroya; it is a lot of sudeb unusual and tragical have embodied annals. For example, very few people remembers about speed up daughters Boris Godunov, tsarevna Xenia. After murder of its mother and the brother impostor Grishkoj Otrepevym it has been raped by it, and later, on demand of Marina Mnishek, sent in a monastery. In a monastery Xenia has become famous not only as the skilful embroideress, but also as the author of songs. This combination of talent of the needlewoman and poetic gift(for nothing) cause in memory other romantic image – from other end of the Europe – kaznennuyu Elizabeth the Scottish queen Maria Styuart. And Vasilisa Melentyev, one of Ivan Groznogo's wives, managed to fascinate it being not the young girl, but already mature widow with several children (try and to marry presently for the VIP-person in such status:-)? Under the remark letopistsev, in those some years that there was it wife Ivan, were softened heart of severe sovereign, both rest and silence were established on the ground Russian.
And however, not only notable and well-known wives Russian ground was nice(famous). We never learn(find out) names of millions wives – truzhenits and assistants of husbands, gorozhanok and krestyanok, convinced raskolnits and the supporters of "novelty" dressed in sermyagu and homespun cloth, starved, but not seduced temptations, with tears of seen off husbands on fights – and fights went one for another, it is again and again restored a life on the ashes, in flours(torments) given birth children and managed to keep their lives. But it is doubtless, that millions anonymous women Domostroya were not weaker spirit and are not less worthy respect, than what names and acts have kept annals and chronicles. And what would not be rigid charter Domostroya as the real life was heavy, the real woman of that epoch had no anything the common with that weak and weak-willed toy of the man what it so often try to present. The most gloomy times of Russian history are shined(covered), as unquenchable fixtures, images of great martyresses and podvizhnits, pravitelnits and strastoterpits, wives, sisters and daughters. And it is necessary to remember it always.
Instead of an epilogue:
The man of an epoch domostroya
Having read through all stated above, I have become thoughtfull: instead of whether readers the radical feminist denying any social value of the man:-) will find(consider) me? Let alone that, having exposed a negative stereotype of the woman of an epoch domostroya, it is impossible to leave untouched a stereotype of the man. I shall be well, consecutive in the kulturologicheskikh researches. So, what it was, "macho" of 16 centuries, the man of an epoch of triumphing patriarchy?
If do not object, for the answer to this question we shall address not to historical chronicles (they too can bother), and to fiction – to « to the Song about a merchant Kalashnikov » Lermontov. Product it has two advantages: first, its maintenance(contents) is familiar to all from a school bench, and secondly, even serious historians are surprised that accuracy, with which absolutely young poet has reproduced customs and a life of an epoch of Ivan Groznogo (when, by the way, and has been written "Domostroj").
So, a merchant Kalashnikov. If the first, that to you is recollected at a mention of this name is how wife Alain Dmitrevna rushes to it to foots at the slightest suspicion in change, you are not absolutely right. The merchant, certainly, is strict and to joke of family honour is not measured(going); but its severity should not cover from us weight of advantages – and the advantages which have not lost in the price within centuries.
Let's begin with that a merchant Kalashnikov contains all family. It main (and unique) the supporter and the getter. And, notice, during that epoch it was not considered as special advantage, and to a merchant at all does not occur to boast of the given circumstance. Money in the house the man brings is was a firm rule down to the beginning of sexual revolution, here again Kalashnikov is not better and is not worse than others. It looks advantage only in comparison with our contemporaries. Well all right, we shall leave painful(unhealthy) for many a theme and we shall pass to other positive characteristics domostroevskogo men.
Kalashnikov not the drunkard and not the idler. Having stayed put in a bench, it goes not in tsarev a tavern to drink home-made beer foamy (or, in a modern variant, on « a corporate party »), and home, to the wife and children. Needless to say, that it does not have mistress. In general customs during a pre-pertine epoch were very strict: on what all tsar highly was above, and and that to Ivan Groznomu political opponents threw to face reproaches in "fornication". So, this reproach was very serious, if was used in political strike. Moreover, the behaviour oprichnika Kiribeevicha, sticking to the another's wife, is unanimously condemned by everything, including tsar completely not inclined to a strict life. By the way, serf harems about which wrote classics so much, have appeared only after Peter reforms – up to that the similar social phenomenon was essentially impossible.
Kalashnikov sincerely loves the wife. We see it not on force of its jealousy (though, polozha on a hand, its reaction to later returning of the wife in an ambiguous kind – without a veil, with rastrepannymi hair, - it it is necessary to recognize quite natural), and how it reacts to the story Aleny Dmitrevny. It does not declare, that « you are guilty », it does not try to subject to its cross-examination; no, Kalashnikov trusts the wife, trusts unconditionally. And having believed, obdumanno and coolly leaves on mortal fight for its and trampled honour.
In full to estimate(appreciate) Kalashnikov's courage, it is necessary to recollect insuperability of social partitions during that epoch, about that precipice which divided(shared) noblemen and the more so servants of tsar – and the other population. All not-noblemen in opinion of a ruling clique were people of the lowest grade, and not well-born noblemen near to them have left the same Kiribeevicha. The humiliated Kalashnikov cannot address in court, it cannot even bow to sovereign because knows, that Ivan Groznyj will take the party of the favourite. And it decides to punish the offender himself, at all not being under a delusion on the account(invoice) of possible(probable) consequences. What here you will tell? The present muzhik, and only.
By the way, if on that has gone, Kalashnikov the present muzhik not only in points of honor, but also in a bedroom. And it doesn't matter, that about it nothing is told in a poem – the given circumstance to guess easy, and not only on presence « small detushek ». Do not tempt to Alain Dmitrevnu damned kisses Kiribeevicha, too, in general, men though where:-); so, to the husband to it to not be compared. Let well alone – its strict husband is lovely Alain Dmitrevne, and anybody another is not necessary to it .
Let's sum up: what doubtless pluss ideal domostroevskogo men? He/she is the getter and the supporter to whom will not come in a head to shift the responsibility for the budget of family on female shoulders. He/she is the provisional family man who never will throw the wife and children under that pretext, that new erotic sensations (divorces were not basically, and Ivan Groznogo's private life – is not counted, this phenomenon unique) are necessary to it. What its social status, on the first place for it – family would not be. It does not have mistress, no less than the company of drinking companions with which it spends the free time. It the defender of the wife, and the defender strong, able to stand up for itself(himself) in any situations. And, at last, it is the person abuse, with deep feeling of own advantage, alien to lie and pretence. Will agree – a portrait neduren and if to add not weakened(easied) by debauch and alcohol man's force there will be many contemporaries who have not refused from such partner in life.
I accept fair objections, that this ideal « the strong muzhik » could be passed(taken place) without ceremony by a fist on the wife in the educational purposes, and at all did not see in it the person. Most likely, and was. And bival, and the person did not see, and equal to did not consider(count). But know, in what paradox? That, alas, real equality in many families is not present and to this day, and the militian statistics testifies, that the household violence at all does not remain in Ivan Groznogo's times. All negative qualities domostroevskogo men is available in our contemporaries, and here is how on the account(invoice) of a positive? How on the account(invoice) of diligence, fidelity, sobriety and indestructible marriage ? That's it. I am afraid, a modern merchant Kalashnikov, having learned(having found out), that on it "telku" "fuse" the high-ranking official, first of all would rush to a mobile: to discuss conditions of the transaction. « Means, so, bratan, I give you the woman, without a market, and you to me a control package of steelmaking combine … » Or all the same are not present?
Least I would like, that this kulturologichesky the sketch has been apprehended in spirit « forward in the past ». To speak the truth about any phenomenon does not mean to idealize it. As any form of the vital device, "Domostroj" had both negative, and the positive parties. And, as it is represented to me, one of the main problems of a modern society consists that, having borrowed the patriarchal world its worst features (since the thesis about intellectual inferiority of the woman and finishing(stopping) archaic distribution of homework), we have left in the past all rather valuable, that the thousand-year tradition bore in itself. From here and the main defect of modern model of family attitudes(relations): demanding in general from the woman of conformity starozavetnomu to "ideal" – softness, humility, sacrifice, excellent appearance, skill to carry out perfectly well all homework, etc., this model as much as possible relieves modern the man of a cargo of the responsibility: It is not obliged not so neither to contain, nor to protect, and can leave any minute. The woman still "should" - and any more only to family, but also a society; and here the man as though nothing should. Has wanted – has grown fond, has wanted – married, has wanted – has divorced … Children cry for the daddy? Anything, let get used to a life. The small alimony? At us equality, earn itself …
Whether it is necessary to speak, that original alternative to patriarchy is not the similar "mixed" model of attitudes(relations), and real equality of the man and the woman (scientists name such model biarkhatom). But, alas, in our validity it meets seldom. Where more often the woman "fulfils" double vital change: both for itself, and for « released(exempted) from put proklyatogo the past » the man. And the end it is not visible to it . How there at Korzhavin?
« A horse on skaku will stop,
Into burning log hut will enter … »
And it would like differently,
To put on the wedding order …
But horses everyone skip and skip,
And log huts burn and burn. |
ALICIA FRIDMAN (ATHENS,GREECE)
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