Author’s reflection in the novel «Sectarian» by M. Zemskov

Abstract

The article analyzes the poetics of M. Zemskov’s novel Sectarian, reveals the significant features and principles of a new methodological direction in the contemporary literature, so-called new realism. Within the framework of this analysis the typology of the heroes of the new realism presented in this novel is shown, much attention is paid to the aesthetics of new heroes, especially Ivan and David, who struggle in the field of spiritual quests, including the sought-after satori – enlightenment. These heroes are shown and disclosed as marginals of a special type, who are at the cultural crossroads of West and East, imagining themselves to be a superman on the other side of Good and Evil, who do not at all think about committing a serious crime – murder. This is a special type of modern people with a Nietzschean spiritual background, looking in the spirituality only for personal motivation to cultivate their ego. The article shows relationships between real persons and the author’s image in a creation of literature. It reveals importantly autobiographical literature, where the author and protagonist close to one another, but in most cases are not identical. In the new literary process of Kazakhstan, new artistic trends arise, one of which can be arbitrarily called intellectual, it reflects the strengthening of the analytical principle, characteristic of modern literature. The text explains itself and fluctuates between the narrative itself and the auto-commentary. Such works are characterized by a first-person narrative that preserves the features of the main character’s speech, the rest of the characters are represented through the focus of his perception. The author’s personality is deliberately diminished, his personality is manifested only in the choice of a hero, which is most noticeable in the presence of the phenomenon of «text in text» in the work.