POETIC REPRESENTATIONS OF IMAGE OF FATHER IN 20TH –21ST CENTURY RUSSIAN LITERATURE: EVALUATION AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

Abstract

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the evolution of the father figure in Russian literature from the classical era to the Soviet and post-Soviet periods. Drawing upon the works of L. Tolstoy, F. Dostoevsky, M. Gorky, V. Rasputin, and L. Ulitskaya, the study explores how literary representations of fatherhood reflect broader cultural, ideological, and psychological changes occurring within Russian society. Special attention is given to shifts in moral authority, the transformation of family structures, and the influence of political events such as revolutions, collectivization, and the decline of Soviet ideology. Using textual analysis, hermeneutic interpretation, and comparative methods, the research identifies several recurrent motifs: the father as a source of moral instruction, as a conflicted or fragmented psychological figure, and as a symbol of social responsibility or, conversely, societal crisis. The article also demonstrates how the father image transitions from a patriarchal moral guide in classical literature to an ideologically burdened or weakened figure in the Soviet period, and finally to a complex, emotionally nuanced, and human-centered character in post-Soviet narratives. Overall, the study argues that the literary father serves as an important cultural archetype that mirrors the dynamic historical and social transformations of Russia.