The problem of spiritual and moral self-identification of the intellectual type of a hero at the turn of XX century (based on Yu. V. Bondarev’s novel “temptation”)

The paper analyzes Yu. V. Bondarev’s novel «The Temptation» and his approach to the fundamental problems relevant for his prose in general – the spiritual and moral identity of an individual in the contradictory epoch at the turnoff the 20th century, the human guilt and responsibility for global negative processes affecting all spheres of life. Later works of Yu. V. Bondarev demonstrate a change in his approach to the problem. The analysis of the novel’s key episodes shows the spiritual development of the protagonist whose moral ambivalence is emphasized by the choice of other characters in «The Temptation». According to Yu. V. Bondarev, absolute obedience to a rival and revenge on the enemy equally lead to nothing, and cause the characters’ destruction. The protagonist faces a moral choice finding no possible ways to resist the evil. The open ending of «The Temptation» should be considered both as evidence of difficult spiritual quest of Yu. V. Bondarev in that period, and encouragement for the readers to think over the problem raised.