Abstract: The author of the article focuses on the genre originality of the work “My Confession” by Nikolay Karamzin (1802). Having included the definition of “confession” in the title, the writer emphasised the form of personal recognition; using the subtitle “A letter to an editor of a journal”, he emphasised the intentional public availability of the text. Nikolay Karamzin, mockingly imitating Jean-Jacques Rousseau, narrates in the first person as some immoral egocentric who positions itself as a “completely special person” who, neglecting morality, cynically highlighted uncontrolled self-will. The hero, as follows from his confession, would violate Christian commandments throughout his life, has never repented for anything; his confessional confessions have “no moral purpose”; they are only a device of cynical self-assertion of own amazingness. The only thing he managed to create, as follows from the “confession”, was to create an idol from himself, to become a kind of idol who constantly seeks excuses to amuse base pride, vanity, selfishness. In the image of a narcissistic egoist, Nikolay Karamzin, perhaps for the first time, has embodied confession in a literary text as unlimited shameless frankness.
References
Alpatova T. A. Proza N. M. Karamzina: poetika povestvovanija [Prose N. M. Karamzin: narrative poetics]. Moscow, MGOU Publ., 2012, 560 p. (In Russ.)
Alpatova T. A. Zh.-Zh. Russo i russoizm v “Pis'mah russkogo puteshestvennika” H. M. Karamzina [J.-J. Russo and Russoism in the “Letters of a Russian Traveler” by H. M. Karamzin]. Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Litteraria Rossica 6. Łódz, UŁ, 2013, pp. 9–21. (In Russ.)
[B. a.] Ob uchtivosti i horoshem tone: (Iz fran. zhur.), transl. by N. M. Karamzin. [About courtesy and good manners] Vestnik Evropy [Bulletin of Europe], 1803, vol. 9, № 9, pp. 24–30. (In Russ.)
Batmanova K. I. “Strannyj chelovek” v povesti N.M. Karamzina “Moja ispoved'” [“A Strange Man” in the novel by N.M. Karamzin's “My Confession”]. Litteraterra. Materialy IV Mezhdunarodnoj konferencii molodyh uchenyh, red. I. A. Semuhina. Ekaterinburg, Ural'sk. gos. ped. un-t Publ., 2015, pp. 54–57. (In Russ.)
Vahovskaja A. M. Ispoved' [Confession]. Literaturnaja enciklopedija terminov i ponjatij [Literary Encyclopedia of Terms and Concepts], gl. red. A. N. Nikoljukin. Moscow, Intelvak Publ., 2001, pp. 320–321. (In Russ.)
Volkova T. N. Ispoved' [Confession]. Poetika: Slovar' aktual'nyh terminov i ponjatij [Poetics: Dictionary of relevant terms and concepts], gl. red. N. D. Tamarchenko. Moscow, Kulaginoj Intrada Publ., 2008, pp. 85–86. (In Russ.)
Gluhov V. I. “Moja ispoved'” Karamzina v tvorcheskom soznanii Dostoevskogo [“My Confession” Karamzin in the creative mind of Dostoevsky]. Karamzinskij sbornik. Nacional'nye tradicii i evropeizm v russkoj kul'ture [Karamzinsky collection. National traditions and Europeanism in Russian culture], otv. red. S. M. Shavrygin. Ul'janovsk, UlGPU Publ., 1999, pp. 50–62. (In Russ.)
Goncharova O. M. Filosofskie i literaturnye konteksty povesti N. M. Karamzina “Moja ispoved'” [Philosophical and literary contexts of the story N. M. Karamzin's “My Confession”]. Kul'tura i tekst [Culture and text], 2018, № 2 (33), pp. 37–56. (In Russ.)
Goncharova O. M. Karamzin i Russo (o povesti “Moja ispoved'”) [Karamzin and Russo (about the story “My Confession”)]. Slavica Tergestina. Vol. 23, 2019 (II), pp. 130–150. (In Russ.)
Dal' V. I. Tolkovyj slovar' zhivogo velikorusskogo jazyka: v IV t. [Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language: in IV vols.] Moscow, Rus. Jazyk Publ., 1979, T. II, 779 p. (In Russ.)
Dostoevskij F. M. Peterburgskaja letopis' [Petersburg annals]. Dostoevskij F. M. Sobr. coch.: v 15 t. [Collected works in 15 vols]. Leningrad, Nauka Publ., 1988, Vol. 2, 592 p. (In Russ.)
D'jachenko G. M. Polnyj cerkovno-slavjanskij slovar' (s vneseniem v nego vazhnejshih drevnerusskih slov i vyrazhenij) [Complete Church Slavonic Dictionary (with the introduction of the most important Old Russian words and expressions)]. Moscow, Mosk. Patriarh. Publ., 1993, 1120 p. (In Russ.)
Zhivov V. M. Chuvstvitel'nyj nacionalizm. Karamzin, Rastopchin, nacional'nyj suverenitet i poiski nacional'noj identichnosti [Sensitive nationalism. Karamzin, Rastopchin, national sovereignty and the search for national identity]. Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie [New literary review], 2008, № 91, pp. 114–140. (In Russ.)
Zlatopol'skaja A. A. Idei “zhenevskogo grazhdanina” i Rossija. Poltora veka vozdejstvija i osmyslenija (1752–1917) [Ideas of the “Geneva Citizen” and Russia. A century and a half of exposure and reflection (1752–1917)]. Zh.-Zh. Russo. Pro et contra. Idei Zh.-Zh. Russo v vosprijatii i ocenke russkih myslitelej i issledovatelej [J.-J. Russo. Pro et contra. Ideas J.-J. Russo in the perception and appreciation of Russian thinkers and researchers], sost. A. A. Zlatopol'skaja. SPb., RHGA Publ, 2005, pp. 7–54. (In Russ.)
Zorin A. L. Zh.-Zh. Russo i nacional'naja utopija “starshih” arhaistov [Russo and the national utopia of the “senior” archaists]. Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie [New Literary Review], 1996, № 20, pp. 56–63. (In Russ.)
Zorin A. L. Kormja dvuglavogo orla... Russkaja literatura i gosudarstvennaja ideologija v poslednej treti XVIII — pervoj treti XIX veka [Feeding the double-headed eagle ... Russian literature and state ideology in the last third of the XVIII – the first third of the XIX century]. Moscow, NLO Publ., 2001, 416 p. (In Russ.)
Kanunova F. Z. Evoljucija sentimentalizma Karamzina (“Moja ispoved'”) [The evolution of sentimentalism of Karamzin (“My Confession”)]. Rol' i znachenie literatury XVIII veka v istorii russkoj kul'tury. [The role and significance of 18th century literature in the history of Russian culture], k 70-letiju chlena korrespondenta AN SSSR P. N. Berkova. [XVIII vek. Sb. 7]. Moscow; Leningrad, Nauka Publ., 1966, pp. 286–290. (In Russ.)
Karamzin N. M. Moja ispoved'. Pis'mo k izdatelju zhurnala [My confession. Letter to the magazine publisher]. Karamzin N. M. Izbr. coch.: v 2 t. [Selected works in 2 vols.], podg. teksta i primech. P. N. Berkova. Moscow; Leningrad, Khud. lit. Publ., 1964, Vol. 1, pp. 729–739. (In Russ.)
Karamzin N. M. Pis'ma russkogo puteshestvennika [Letters from a Russian traveler], izd. podgot. Ju. M. Lotman, N. A. Marchenko, B. A. Uspenskij. Leningrad, Nauka Publ., 1987, 717 p. (In Russ.)
Kochetkova N. D. “Ispoved'” v russkoj literature konca XVIII veka [“Confession” in Russian literature of the end of the XYIII century]. Na putjah k romantizmu [On the paths to romanticism], sb. nauch. Trudov, otv. red. F. Ja. Prijma. Leningrad, Nauka Publ., 1984, pp. 71–99. (In Russ.)
Kochetkova N. D. Literatura russkogo sentimentalizma (Esteticheskie i hudozhestvennye iskanija) [Literature of Russian sentimentalism (Aesthetic and artistic searches)], otv. red. A. M. Panchenko. St. Petersburg, Nauka Publ., 1994, 280 p. (In Russ.)
Krasnoshhekova E. A. Bildungroman na russkoj pochve (“Rycar' nashego vremeni” N. M. Karamzina) [Bildungroman on Russian soil (“Knight of our time” N. M. Karamzin)]. Russkaja literature [Russian literature], 2002, № 1, pp. 3–21. (In Russ.)
Kudrevatyh A. N. Evoljucija psihologizma v proze N. M. Karamzina [The evolution of psychologism in the prose of N. M. Karamzin], uchebnoe posobie dlja studentov Instituta filologii, kul'turologi i mezhkul'turnoj kommunikacii. Jekaterinburg, UrGPU Publ., 2015, 164 p. (In Russ.)
Kudrevatyh A. N. Refleksirujushhij geroj v “Moej Ispovedi” N. M. Karamzina [The reflecting hero in My Confession N. M. Karamzin]. Literatura kak forma social'noj i individual'noj refleksii [Literature as a form of social and individual reflection], materialy HIH Vserossijskoj nauchno-prakticheskoj konferencii slovesnikov “Aktual'nye problemy izuchenija i prepodavanija literatury v vuze i shkole - Lejdermanovskie chtenija”. Ekaterinburg: UrGPU Publ., 2016, pp. 24–29. (In Russ.)
Kuprejanova E. N. Russkij roman pervoj poloviny XIX v. Ot sentimental'noj povesti k romanu [Russian novel of the first half of the XIX century. From a sentimental novel to a novel]. Istorija russkogo romana: v 2 t. [History of the Russian novel: in 2 volumes] Moscow; Leningrad, AN SSSR Publ., 1962, Vol. 1, pp. 66–85. (In Russ.)
Lotman Ju. M. Russo i russkaja kul'tura XVIII – nachala XIX veka [Russo and Russian culture of the 18th – early 19th centuries]. Lotman Ju. M. Izbr. st.: v 3 t. [Selected articles in 3 vols]. Tallinn, Aleksandra Publ., 1992, Vol. 2, pp. 40–99. (In Russ.)
Lotman Ju. M. Evoljucija mirovozzrenija Karamzina (1789—1803) [The evolution of the worldview of Karamzin (1789–1803)]. N. M. Karamzin: pro et contra [N. M. Karamzin: pro et contra], sost., vstup. st. L. A. Sapchenko. St. Petersburg, RHGA Publ., 2006, pp. 749–787. (In Russ.)
Lucevich L. F. Raznovidnosti russkoj pisatel'skoj ispovedi [Varieties of Russian Writing Confession]. Człowiek. Świadomość. Komunikacja. Internet, red. L. Szypielewicz. Warszawa, IR UW Publ., 2012a, pp. 858–864. (In Russ.)
Lucevich L. F. Pisatel'skaja ispoved': k voprosu o tipologii [Writing Confession: On the Question of Typology]. Autobiografie pisarzy rosyjskich. Studia Rossica XXI, red. nauk. A. Wołodźko-Butkiewicz, L. Łucewicz. Warszawa: IR UW Publ., 2012b, pp. 19–30. (In Russ.)
Lucevich L. F. Russkaja avtorskaja ispoved' XIX v. [Russian author's confession of the XIX century]. Z Polskich Studiów Slawistycznych, seria 13, t. 1. Literaturoznawstwo. Kulturoznawstwo. Folklorystyka, prace na XVI Międzynarodowy Kongres Slawistów w Belgradzie 2018, red. B. Zieliński. Poznań, Polska Akad. Nauk Publ., 2018a, pp. 157–167. (In Russ.)
Lucevich L. F. Ispoved' kak literaturnyj zhanr v Rossii XIX veka [Confession as a literary genre in Russia of the 19th century]. XVI Meђunarodni kongres slavista (Beograd 20-27 VIII 2018). Teze i Rezimei u dva toma, t. 2: Kn'izhevnost, kultura, folklor. Pitan'ja slavistike, red. B. Suvajdžić, Beograd, 2018b., pp. 113–114. (In Russ.)
Lucevich L. F. Chistoserdechnye priznanija XVIII veka [Sincere Confessions of the 18th Century]. Tekst i tradicija [Text and Tradition], al'manah 7, red. E. Vodolazkin. St. Petersburg, IRLI RAN Publ., 2019, pp. 20–43. (In Russ.)
Ozhegov S.I. Slovar' russkogo jazyka [Dictionary of the Russian language], red. N. Ju. Shvedova. Moscow, Sov. encikl. Publ., 1972, 846 p. (In Russ.)
Orlov P. A. Russkij sentimentalism [Russian sentimentalism]. Moscow, MGU Publ., 1977, 270 p. (In Russ.)
Peskov A. M., Turbin V. N. Ispoved' [Confession]. Lermontovskaja enciklopedija [Lermontov Encyclopedia], gl. red. V. A. Manujlov. Moscow, Sov. encikl. Publ., 1981, pp. 201. (In Russ.)
Pogodin M. P. Nikolaj Mihajlovich Karamzin, po ego sochinenijam, pis'mam i otzyvam sovremennikov: v 2 ch. [Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin, in his writings, letters and reviews of his contemporaries: in 2 parts]. Moscow, tip. A. I. Mamontova, 1866, P. 1, 399 p. (In Russ.)
Prokudin B. A. I. S. Turgenev i L. N. Tolstoj kak prodolzhateli social'no-politicheskih idej Zh.-Zh. Russo [I. S. Turgenev and L. N. Tolstoy as continuers of socio-political ideas J.-J. Russo]. Politicheskaja Nauka [Political Science], 2017, № 1(21), pp. 213–231. (In Russ.)
Russo Zh.-Zh. Emil', ili O vospitanii [Emil, or On Education], per. s franc. M. A. Engel'gardta. St. Petersburg, Sever Publ., 1912, 489 p. (In Russ.)
Russo Zh.-Zh. Ob obshhestvennom dogovore. Traktaty [On the social contract. Treatises]. Moscow, KANON-press Publ., Kuchkovo pole Publ., 1998, 416 p. (In Russ.)
Sigida L. I. Evoljucija zhanra povesti N. M. Karamzina [The evolution of the novel genre N. M. Karamzin], dis… kand. filol. nauk. Moscow, 1992, 247 p. (In Russ.)
Sigida L. I. Ob istokah razocharovanija i skepsisa geroev Karamzina [On the origins of frustration and skepticism of the heroes of Karamzin]. XVIII vek: iskusstvo zhit' i zhizn' iskusstva [XVIII century: The art of living and the life of art.]. Moscow, Ekon-inform Publ., 2004, pp. 327–344. (In Russ.)
Sovetskij enciklopedicheskij slovar' [Soviet Encyclopedic Dictionary] ed by A. M. Prohorov. Moscow, Sovetsk. encikl. Publ., 1987, 1600 p. (In Russ.)
Uvarov M. S. Arhitektonika ispovedal'nogo slova [Architectonics of confessional word]. St. Petersburg, Aletejja Publ, 1998, 245 p. (In Russ.)
Shmeleva T. V. Ispoved' [Confession]. Kul'tura russkoj rechi. Enciklopedicheskij slovar'-spravochnik [Culture of Russian Speech. Encyclopedic Dictionary], ed by L. Ju. Ivanova and ect. Moscow, Flinta Publ.; Nauka Publ., 2003, pp. 229–230. (In Russ.)
Shtedtke K. Subjektivnost' kak fikcija. Problema avtorskogo diskursa v “Pis'mah russkogo puteshestvennika” N. M. Karamzina [Subjectivity as a fiction. The problem of copyright discourse in “Letters of a Russian Traveler” by N. M. Karamzin]. Logos, 2001 (29), № 3, pp. 143–151. (In Russ.)
Głowiński M. Wyznania. Słownik terminów literackich, red. J. Sławiński, M. Głowiński, T. Kostkiewiczowa [Confessions. Dictionary of Literary Terms, ed by J. Sławiński, M. Głowiński, T. Kostkiewiczowa]. Wrocław, Ossolineum, 1988, 581 p. (In Pol.)
Gorbatov I. Formation du Concept de Sentimentalisme Dans la Littérature Russe: l'Influence de J.J. Rousseau Sur l'oeuvre de N.M. Karamzine [Formation of the Concept of Sentimentalism In Russian Literature: The Influence of J. J. Rousseau On the Work of N. M. Karamzine]. New York, Bern, Frankfurt/M., Paris, 1991, 264 p. (In French)
Krassowski. M. Wyznanie. Leksykon terminów literackich [Confession. Lexicon of literary terms, ed]. Warszawa, Twój Styl, 1996, 239 p. (In Pol.)
