In search of taste. Sentimentalism in russian literature
In the second part of the XVIII century a new literary trend, which is called sentimentalism, appears in many European countries. Its appearance was caused by a deep crisis of the feudal absolutist regime. There are two directions in Russian sentimentalism: 1. Democratic (to emphasize the moral superiority of serfs over landowners, to show the real life and the sensitivily of the heroes is widely and varied presented there – from tenderness and joy to anger and indignation) Representatives: A.N.Radishchev, N.S.Smirnov, I.I.Martynov 2. Nobialiary ( to restore the human dignity of a serf in the eyes of sociaty, to reveal his spiritual wealth, to show harmonious relations between landowners and peasants) Representatives: N.M.Karamzin, I.I.Dmitriev,M.N.Muravyov THE MAIN CHARACTERS OF SENTIMENTALISM The highest value is a person Feeling take important place Heroes are divided into positive and negative. The first one are responsive, kind and capable of self-sacrifice and selfless love (peasants, artisans, rural clergy). The negative heroes are always prudent, selfish and arrogant ( power, nobles, high spiritual ranks).