On the semantic integrity of the definitive text of the poem “Demon” by M. Yu. Lermontov (1839)

The subject of the study resides in certain aspects of a creative history of Lermontov's poem “Demon” in their accordance with the whole idea of the author. The emphasis of the article is placed on Demon's song “as soon as the night with veil her…”, Tamara's portrait given in the 6th and the 8th editions, an episode of salvation of her soul. The poem “When the flavescent fields swing in the wind…” is seen as a contrasting allusion to the seductive song of the Demon. God's all-presence in the poem is contrasted to the conformity and limitations of existence and the demon's promises. The comparison of the Demon's song with the poem allows revealing an artistic and conceptual discrepancy between the editions of 1838 (the 6th) and of 1839 (the 8th). The Demon's song appeared in the 6th edition of the poem made it necessary to change the ending of the plot, which was proposed in the 8th edition. As a result, the change of the ending of the plot conditioned the essencial editing of the portrait of Tamara in the 8th edition compared to that one in the 6th edition. The passion of the character was replaced by the image of an infant soul the beauty of which is seen through the earthly image of Tamara, as an example of the created perfection. The poem of M. Yu. Lermontov “Angel” (1831) used for the analysis of the Demon, the periphrasis of which is most clearly seen in the ending of the 8th edition, is considered as a part of the poem's conception. It is concluded that the 8th edition reflects in a comprehensive and consistent way the worldview of M. Yu. Lermontov, his belief in the omnibenevolecence of the Creator and the Supreme intelligence of the universe.