The vaudeville plot in I.A. Goncharov's novel “Precipice”

The article provides an experience of analyzing the image of Polina Karpovna Kritskaya and the plot related to her in I.A. Goncharov's novel “Precipice”, the said analysis being the first in Goncharov studies. The author of the article shows the ways in which Goncharov traced the connection between this image and such characters of the world culture as Fair Lady, Calypso, Dalila. At the same time, the analysis of the image as a comic, “caricature”, “masked” character allows to say that it includes traits of such images of commedia dell'arte as Fanteska and Colombina. Singling out the comic plot of “Kritskaya - Raisky” in the text of the novel allows to prove that it its development runs parallel to the tragic plot line of Vera and Mark Volokhov; the episodes with Kritskaya and Raisky take the place of interludes or sideshows similar to those played in Renaissance theatre. Drawing upon drama theory, the author shows that Goncharov organizes some episodes with Kritskaya and Raisky according to the laws of action in drama and the plot of these characters is close to that of vaudeville dramas, contemporary to Goncharov's writing and preserving memory of dell'arte theatre. The result of the analysis is the conclusion that the novel organically combines epos and drama.