Феномен еміграції у творах Василя Стефаника

Abstract

Досліджено феномен еміграції у творчості Василя Стефаника. Проаналізовано новелу «Камінний хрест» як глибоко філософську студію із закодованим підтекстом. Розглянуто твори митця, у яких він побіжно торкається теми еміграції («Осінь», «Кленові листки», «Мамин синок»). Зазначено, що у новелістиці Василя Стефаника знаходимо різне зображення Канади: вона то з’являється в репліках головних героїв, то стає лейтмотивом твору. Зауважено, що образ емігранта буде цілісним, якщо розглядати його не відокремлено, а в контексті всього доробку митця, адже зовнішні обставини (злидні, голод, борги) поступово підводять персонажів до думки про втечу з рідної землі.

The article examines the phenomenon of emigration in Vasyl Stefanyk’s work, namely: the novel “The Stone Cross” is analyzed as a deeply philosophical study with a coded subtext; the works of the artist are considered, in which he briefly touches on the theme of emigration (“Autumn”, “Maple Leaves”, “Mother’s Son”). In the novels of Vasyl Stefanyk, we find a different image of Canada: it sometimes appears in the lines of the main characters, or becomes the leitmotif of the work. We believe that the image of an emigrant will be complete if it is not considered separately, but in the context of the entire work of the artist, because external circumstances (poverty, hunger, debts) gradually lead the characters to the idea of escaping from their native land. According to the emotional flow, we can put the short stories “Autumn” and “Maple Leaves” in the same row. Tragic motives prevail in these works. External circumstances force the characters to call for death, because in their minds it is associated with the end of a needy life, daily problems, the solution of which they do not see. In the short story “Autumn” we trace a deep subtext: the hero is trying to fix his life. Mitrov’s heart aches for his family: children, wife, mother, but hopelessness makes him rude and angry. The man lashes out at his relatives (yells at the children, beats his wife, scolds his old mother), and eventually runs away, thinking about the long way to Canada. We can see a similar picture in the novel “Maple Leaves”, where the birth of a child does not bring joy, but sadness. V. Stefanyk uses the binary opposition “life – death”, between which the border is almost imperceptible. Christenings have turned into memorials, and the father reflects on the difficult fate of the child. The mood of the novel “Autumn” and “Maple Leaves” are very similar. Complete impoverishment forces the heroes to look for salvation far across the ocean, but poverty and health undermined by hard work do not allow them to realize their plans. In the work “Mother’s Son”, the author depicts another reason for emigration – a better life perspective. The topic of emigration was most fully revealed by V. Stefanyk in the short story “The Stone Cross”, where the separation from the native land reaches the highest drama. In it, the author investigates the economic causes of mass migration of the peasantry, reproduces the psychology of Ukrainians, and appeals to archetypal images of national consciousness. V. Stefanyk weaves many symbols into the canvas of the work, which enhance the expressive moment of the protagonist’s farewell to his homeland. The artist appeals to the folk worldview, involving spatial images-symbols, such as: a house, a field, a road, a cross, and shows a sacred connection with the native land.

Исследован феномен эмиграции в творчестве Василия Стефаника. Проанализирована новелла «Каменный крест» как глубоко философская студия с закодированным подтекстом. Рассмотрены произведения, в которых он вскользь затрагивает тему эмиграции («Осень», «Кленовые листья», «Мамин сынок»). Отмечено, что в новеллистике Василия Стефаника находим разное изображение Канады: то она появляется в репликах главных героев, то становится лейтмотивом произведения. Замечено, что образ эмигранта будет цельным, если рассматривать его не обособленно, а в контексте всего наследия художника, ведь внешние обстоятельства (нищета, голод, долги) постепенно подводят персонажей к мысли о бегстве из родной земли.