On the first version of Flaubert's philosophical drama "The temptation of Saint Anthony" (1849)

The philosophic drama "The Temptation of Saint Anthony" is one of the most personal and enigmatic Flaubert's texts. Flaubert called this drama "The work of the whole life". Three versions of the drama (1849, 1856 and 1874) reflect Flaubert's vision of Art and Artist. However, "The Temptation of Saint Anthony" remains one of Flaubert's least read works in French and Russian literary criticism and artistic value of the first version (1849) has been doubted for a long time. The article deals with the early version of "The Temptation of Saint Anthony". The analysis of the composition peculiarities, motifs of Art, Sacred and Profane and major episodes that are associated with the rituals of Eleusinian mysteries allow to consider the early version "The Temptation" as manifestation of formation of creative individuality of Flaubert.