The Story of one Poetic Cycle by Lesya Ukrainka

Abstract

The article
analyzes Lesya Ukrainka's cycle «Nevilnychi pisni» from the collection «Dumy i mrii»,
which initially numbered only seven poems. Subsequently, the author expanded it to 14
texts. Thus, the purpose of the article is the history of formation and transformation of
the cycle, in particular changes in its composition, ideological and semantic level and
graphic profile of the texts. Central to the author’s idea was the so-called «Italian plot»
literary and publishing legalization of the cycle. Textological and biographical methods,
as well as a combination of historical-cultural and historical-comparative approaches
proved to be the most effective for the realization of the outlined goal.
As a result of the work, it was found out that Lesya Ukrainka edited the poems
of the cycle, from the draft manuscript to the last lifetime edition. The leading idea of
«Nevilnychi pisni» was the struggle of Ukrainians for freedom. The writer
understood the ideological sharpness of the texts, and therefore, fearing censorship,
veiled their Ukrainian context. Thus, in the working copy of the collection, it changes
the name of the cycle, as well as the titles of individual poems. The Ukrainian plot
turns into an Italian one, the leading figures of the Italian Risorgimento movement
enter the arena. Lesya Ukrainka is primarily interested in female figures, historically
overlooked by researchers. These could be unknown wives of the Carbonari, or little
known Anita Garibaldi and Assunta Orsini. Well versed in the culture, past and
present of Italy, the writer willingly used this historical and philological material in
her artistic practice, literary criticism and epistolary. The conclusions emphasize the
knowledge and understanding of Italian culture contemporary to Lesia Ukrainka’s
cycle, which was formed during the liberation struggle throughout the 19th century.
Thus, the parallels between the Ukrainian and Italian peoples, the common destiny
and the similar nature of the national path led the author to the idea of presenting one
story through the prism of another. Such historical and literary mystification allowed
not only to circumvent censorship, but also to significantly expand the theme of
poetry. That is why Lesia Ukrainka’s poetry is organically included not only in the
national but also in the European context.