The motif of “prophecy of our day” in the “male” and “female” lyrics of Russian modernism (article II)

The article discusses the distinctive features of the implementation and semantic content of the motif of “prophecy of our day” in women’s lyrics of the modernist era in comparison with men’s lyrics. The author analyzes the poems by Z. Gippius, N. Lvova, A. Gertsyk, E. Kuzmina-Karavayeva, E. Dmitriyeva and A Akhmatova, written in the 1890s-1920s, as well as the drama-mystery by E. Kuzmina-Karavayeva “Seven Cups”, which largely develops the motives of the poet’s early lyrics. The images and words characteristic of the works of these authors are revealed as signals indicating the biblical subtext and linking real historical events (World War I, Russian Civil War, October Revolution) with the cataclysms predicted in the Sacred History. The author analyzes the development of the prophecy motif from the origins of vague premonitions to the statement of the coming Apocalypse and individual author’s differences in their attitude to the end of the world. A. Gertsyk sees the troubles sent down the path to atonement that brings her to God, Е. Kuzmina-Karavayeva trusts in the salvation of the righteous and universal transfiguration of the world, which it is ready to contribute as much, Akhmatova doesn’t share the joyous hope of a life after death and she is ready to share the tragic doom of her countrymen, or to promote universal salvation by eliminating the threat of judgment. After 1918 we can see in women’s lyrics the characteristic transformation of the apocalyptic motif of prophecy into a utopian motif predicting the resurrection of Russia, the salvation of mankind, and a new prosperity.