Natasha's Dance (119 page)
With light hearts they listened to the reading of the Epistle and heard the head-deacon thun
With light hearts they listened to the reading of the Epistle and heard the head-deacon thun
‘Rejoice, O Isaiah!’
Lifting the crowns from their heads, the priest read the last prayer and congratulated the
Lifting the crowns from their heads, the priest read the last prayer and congratulated the
Lifting the crowns from their heads, the priest read the last prayer and congratulated the
78
The ‘coronation’ (venchane), as the wedding ceremony was called in Russia, symbolized
The ‘coronation’ (venchane), as the wedding ceremony was called in Russia, symbolized
The ‘coronation’ (venchane), as the wedding ceremony was called in Russia, symbolized
(venchane),
po
tsarskii’
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The traditional Russian marriage was a patriarchal one. The husband’s rights were rein
The traditional Russian marriage was a patriarchal one. The husband’s rights were rein
The traditional Russian marriage was a patriarchal one. The husband’s rights were rein
by canon and by civil laws. According to the 1835 Digest of Laws, a wife’s main duty was to ‘
by canon and by civil laws. According to the 1835 Digest of Laws, a wife’s main duty was to ‘
by canon and by civil laws. According to the 1835 Digest of Laws, a wife’s main duty was to ‘
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’Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh dear me!’ The bridal lament was not unwarranted. The peasant wife was de
’Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh dear me!’ The bridal lament was not unwarranted. The peasant wife was de
’Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh dear me!’ The bridal lament was not unwarranted. The peasant wife was de
snokbachestvo
’Hit your wife with the butt of the axe, get down and see if she’s breathing. If she is, she’s s
’Hit your wife with the butt of the axe, get down and see if she’s breathing. If she is, she’s s
’Hit your wife with the butt of the axe, get down and see if she’s breathing. If she is, she’s s
’The more you beat the old woman, the tastier the soup will be.’
’The more you beat the old woman, the tastier the soup will be.’
’The more you beat the old woman, the tastier the soup will be.’
’Beat your wife like a fur coat, then there’ll be less noise.’
’Beat your wife like a fur coat, then there’ll be less noise.’
’Beat your wife like a fur coat, then there’ll be less noise.’
’A wife is nice twice: when she’s brought into the house [as a bride] and when she’s carrie
’A wife is nice twice: when she’s brought into the house [as a bride] and when she’s carrie
’A wife is nice twice: when she’s brought into the house [as a bride] and when she’s carrie
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For those who saw the peasant as a natural Christian (that is, practically the whole of th
For those who saw the peasant as a natural Christian (that is, practically the whole of th
For those who saw the peasant as a natural Christian (that is, practically the whole of th
Have you ever seen how a peasant beats his wife? I have. He begins with a rope or a strap. Pe
Have you ever seen how a peasant beats his wife? I have. He begins with a rope or a strap. Pe
Have you ever seen how a peasant beats his wife? I have. He begins with a rope or a strap. Pe
84
Wife-beating was a rare phenomenon in the gentry class, but the patriarchal customs of the D
Wife-beating was a rare phenomenon in the gentry class, but the patriarchal customs of the D
Wife-beating was a rare phenomenon in the gentry class, but the patriarchal customs of the D
Domostroi,
given to her husband with instructions from her mother ‘to obey in all things’. It turned out
given to her husband with instructions from her mother ‘to obey in all things’. It turned out
given to her husband with instructions from her mother ‘to obey in all things’. It turned out
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Labzina’s treatment was exceptionally cruel, but the patriarchal culture that had produ
Labzina’s treatment was exceptionally cruel, but the patriarchal culture that had produ
Labzina’s treatment was exceptionally cruel, but the patriarchal culture that had produ
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Near the end of Kitty’s wedding in Anna Karenina the priest motions the bridal pair to a r
Near the end of Kitty’s wedding in Anna Karenina the priest motions the bridal pair to a r
Near the end of Kitty’s wedding in Anna Karenina the priest motions the bridal pair to a r
Anna Karenina
Often as they had both heard the saying that the one who steps first on the carpet will be the he
Often as they had both heard the saying that the one who steps first on the carpet will be the he
Often as they had both heard the saying that the one who steps first on the carpet will be the he
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Tolstoy saw the Kitty-Levin marriage as an ideal Christian love: each lives for the other
Tolstoy saw the Kitty-Levin marriage as an ideal Christian love: each lives for the other
Tolstoy saw the Kitty-Levin marriage as an ideal Christian love: each lives for the other
War and Peace.
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Anna Karenina
The Kreutzer Sonata
Resurrection
much as a tragic victim of society, but because she is the tragic victim of her own passio
much as a tragic victim of society, but because she is the tragic victim of her own passio
much as a tragic victim of society, but because she is the tragic victim of her own passio
5
5
5
5
5
In 1897 Russian society was engulfed in a storm of debate over a short tale. Chekhov’s ‘Pe
In 1897 Russian society was engulfed in a storm of debate over a short tale. Chekhov’s ‘Pe
In 1897 Russian society was engulfed in a storm of debate over a short tale. Chekhov’s ‘Pe
During the summer and winter months there were hours and days when these people appeared t
During the summer and winter months there were hours and days when these people appeared t
During the summer and winter months there were hours and days when these people appeared t
revile the peasant at district council and similar meetings? The peasant. Yes,
revile the peasant at district council and similar meetings? The peasant. Yes,
revile the peasant at district council and similar meetings? The peasant. Yes,
it was terrible living with these people; nevertheless, they were still human beings, su
it was terrible living with these people; nevertheless, they were still human beings, su
it was terrible living with these people; nevertheless, they were still human beings, su
The myth of the good peasant had been punctured by the tale. The peasant was now just a huma
The myth of the good peasant had been punctured by the tale. The peasant was now just a huma
The myth of the good peasant had been punctured by the tale. The peasant was now just a huma
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It may seem odd that a work of literature should cause such huge shock waves throughout
It may seem odd that a work of literature should cause such huge shock waves throughout
It may seem odd that a work of literature should cause such huge shock waves throughout
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Chekhov’s story was the fruit of its author’s first-hand knowledge of the peasantry. The villa
Chekhov’s story was the fruit of its author’s first-hand knowledge of the peasantry. The villa
Chekhov’s story was the fruit of its author’s first-hand knowledge of the peasantry. The villa
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zemstvo
thought that our labours will not be in vain makes it all unnoticeable.’95 Five years la
thought that our labours will not be in vain makes it all unnoticeable.’95 Five years la
thought that our labours will not be in vain makes it all unnoticeable.’95 Five years la
95
Novoe vremia,
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Beneath all the din surrounding Chekhov’s story there was a profound question about Russ
Beneath all the din surrounding Chekhov’s story there was a profound question about Russ
Beneath all the din surrounding Chekhov’s story there was a profound question about Russ
peasant war against the manors, by encouraging the stronger peasants to set up private farm
peasant war against the manors, by encouraging the stronger peasants to set up private farm
peasant war against the manors, by encouraging the stronger peasants to set up private farm
at the same time helping those who were too weak to farm, or deprived of access to the land
at the same time helping those who were too weak to farm, or deprived of access to the land
at the same time helping those who were too weak to farm, or deprived of access to the land
The root cause of this transformation was the slow decline of peasant farming in the over
The root cause of this transformation was the slow decline of peasant farming in the over
The root cause of this transformation was the slow decline of peasant farming in the over
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steppelands of Siberia, where land was made available to colonists. But most were forced i
steppelands of Siberia, where land was made available to colonists. But most were forced i
steppelands of Siberia, where land was made available to colonists. But most were forced i
New urban ways were also filtering down to the remote villages. The traditional extend
New urban ways were also filtering down to the remote villages. The traditional extend
New urban ways were also filtering down to the remote villages. The traditional extend
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Bolshevism was built on the mass commercial culture of the towns. The urban song, the foxtro
Bolshevism was built on the mass commercial culture of the towns. The urban song, the foxtro
Bolshevism was built on the mass commercial culture of the towns. The urban song, the foxtro
chastushka,
the folk song, whose performance was collective and impersonal, these urban songs were
the folk song, whose performance was collective and impersonal, these urban songs were
the folk song, whose performance was collective and impersonal, these urban songs were
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For the intelligentsia, which defined itself by its cultural mission to raise the masse
For the intelligentsia, which defined itself by its cultural mission to raise the masse
For the intelligentsia, which defined itself by its cultural mission to raise the masse
The 1905 Revolution confirmed all their fears. For years the intelligentsia had dreame
The 1905 Revolution confirmed all their fears. For years the intelligentsia had dreame
The 1905 Revolution confirmed all their fears. For years the intelligentsia had dreame
political reform. They rejoiced in the spring of 1905, when the entire country appeared to
political reform. They rejoiced in the spring of 1905, when the entire country appeared to
political reform. They rejoiced in the spring of 1905, when the entire country appeared to
In 1909 a group of philosophers critical of the radical intelligentsia and its role in
In 1909 a group of philosophers critical of the radical intelligentsia and its role in
In 1909 a group of philosophers critical of the radical intelligentsia and its role in
Vekhi (Landmarks)
to subordinate all other interests to the people’s cause. Through this pursuit of mate
to subordinate all other interests to the people’s cause. Through this pursuit of mate
to subordinate all other interests to the people’s cause. Through this pursuit of mate
This is the way we are: not only can we not dream about fusing with the people but we must fea
This is the way we are: not only can we not dream about fusing with the people but we must fea
This is the way we are: not only can we not dream about fusing with the people but we must fea
This is the way we are:
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There was a general feeling, which the essays had expressed, that the masses would destroy
There was a general feeling, which the essays had expressed, that the masses would destroy
There was a general feeling, which the essays had expressed, that the masses would destroy
Petersburg
666
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This dark mood was captured in what must surely be the bleakest portrait of rural life in a
This dark mood was captured in what must surely be the bleakest portrait of rural life in a
This dark mood was captured in what must surely be the bleakest portrait of rural life in a
The Village
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was a realm of natural beauty that was being undermined and gradually destroyed by the
was a realm of natural beauty that was being undermined and gradually destroyed by the
was a realm of natural beauty that was being undermined and gradually destroyed by the
The Village
durnoi’,
105
The Village gave a huge jolt to society. More perhaps than any other work, it made the Rus
The Village gave a huge jolt to society. More perhaps than any other work, it made the Rus
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