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ARTISTIC AND STYLISTIC FEATURES OF WOMEN'S PROSE (BASED
ON THE WORKS OF LYUDMILA PETRUSHEVSKAYA)
Arslonova Mehribonu Tavakkal qizi
Andijan state university independent-researcher
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15056403
Abstract:
The article examines the artistic and stylistic features of women's
prose, using the works of Lyudmila Petrushevskaya as an example. It analyzes
key elements of the author's style, including lexical tools, thematic focus, and the
influence of female identity on shaping her literary approach. Special attention is
given to the uniqueness of narrative techniques, psychological depth, and the
depiction of female characters, which make Petrushevskaya’s prose distinctive
within contemporary Russian literature. The author explores how these specific
traits of Petrushevskaya's women’s prose shape the emotional perception of the
texts and influence the readership.
Keywords:
women's prose, artistic features, stylistic features, Lyudmila
Petrushevskaya, psychological depth, authorial identity, narrative structure,
contemporary Russian literature, female characters.
The artistic and stylistic depiction of modern Russian short stories is a
unique phenomenon that combines elements of symbolism, realism and
postmodernism. Lyudmila Petrushevskaya's short story "The House by the
Fountain" is an outstanding example of artistic and stylistic mastery of modern
Russian literature. In this work, the author artfully combines elements of realism
and fiction, creating a unique atmosphere and deep psychological portraits of his
characters. The story pays special attention to the artistic design and symbolic
aspects, which makes it a vivid example of a literary experiment. This article will
examine the artistic and stylistic originality of the "House by the Fountain",
explore the main stylistic techniques and narrative techniques used by
Petrushevskaya to create a rich and multi-layered text.
Lyudmila Petrushevskaya is one of the most significant figures of modern
Russian literature. She is known to us for her love for the "little man",
experiments with archaic and shock modernity, a combination of the real and
fantasy world. The work of this novelist can be safely called experimental and
innovative. The artistic and stylistic depiction in Lyudmila Stefanovna's prose is
an example of how modern Russian literature is developing and what trends it
puts at the head of the literary art of our time [1, p. 5].
The plot of "House by the Fountain" is based on boundless love for a loved
one, capable of bringing him back from the world of the dead. The story
combines two different spaces, oppressive sadness and crazy joy, a real miracle.
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Petrushevskaya uses a fragmentary approach typical of postmodernism in
literature: events do not always develop linearly. This creates a disjointed effect
that reflects the chaos of the characters' lives and inner experiences. In the
"House by the Fountain" we observe the alternation of memories and the
present, which creates the effect of layering and dynamism. This approach
allows the author to convey the complex emotional states of the characters, their
fears and hopes, as well as to show how the past affects the present [2, p. 54].
Lyudmila Petrushevskaya is a talented literary psychologist. In the "House
by the Fountain" we can trace the techniques of psychologism that have a strong
influence on the reader. The story has a being that conceals a different,
unexplored world [3, p. 22]. In this world there is a place for happiness and grief,
calmness and excitement, responsiveness and indifference, good and evil. Life
seems to lose its tangible limits, plunging into an unknown world. Lyudmila
Stefanovna shows the true face of life, turns people's souls inside out, exposes
their fears and secrets. Thus, the reader is constantly reminded of how a
distraught father from grief paid only for a small hope for the resurrection of his
daughter. This psychological detail simultaneously demonstrates the deep
despair of a man, and the huge role of money in the life of our society. The reader
endures the tragedy of the characters with the help of suggestive influence – he
sees the tears and grief of the mother, the despair of the father, the extinguished
gaze of the child. This technique is needed by the author for a reason: the
suggestion of grief to the audience is necessary for readers to respond to
participation in a common disaster. Psychologism in modern Russian stories
often demands action from us, calls for struggle and participation in public life.
Contrary to the dry and erratic rhythm of Petrushevskaya's works, The
House by the Fountain is filled with symbols and metaphors. In the center of the
desperate father's dreams stands a tall gray house with an incredible fountain.
The fountain, as the central element of the narrative, becomes a symbol of life,
the flow of time and constant change. He embodies both the joy and bitterness of
existence, reflecting the contradictory nature of human feelings [4, p. 77]. The
water in the fountain, flowing and iridescent, reminds of the transience of life,
how easily happiness escapes and how difficult it is to hold it in your hands. It is
impossible not to mention the creepy, but important detail of the dream – a
sandwich. A sandwich with cheap black bread and a real human heart. The main
character is ready to eat it, despite the absurdity and nastiness of the action, and
in the name of his beloved daughter. Elements of surrealism are another
important feature of the work of modern Russian authors. Lyudmila Stefanovna
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is not afraid of limits, goes beyond morality and principles, which makes the
stories lively, emotional, confusing.
In The House by the Fountain, Petrushevskaya also actively uses dialogues
to convey the emotional state of the characters [5, p. 39]. The conversations
between them are full of understatement, which creates an atmosphere of
tension and uncertainty. The language of the dialogues is simple and concise, but
at the same time it is full of subtext, which requires the reader to pay attention
and in-depth analysis. These conversations become a kind of "windows" into the
inner world of the characters, allowing the reader to see their fears, hopes and
dreams. The literature of our time is filled with caricatured, but as natural as
possible sketches: reading this or that dialogue, you often catch yourself thinking
– it's close, and it happens every day. Never before have the authors of prose
allowed themselves such a free, free use of spoken language.
Lyudmila Petrushevskaya's story "The House by the Fountain" is a vivid
example of a new artistic and stylistic image in modern Russian literature. The
masterful use of metaphors, nonlinear structure, living language and contrasts
allows the author to create a deep and multi-layered picture of human life.
Lyudmila Petrushevskaya's short story "The House by the Fountain"
demonstrates the author's deep and multifaceted artistic skill. Through a unique
combination of realistic and fantastic elements, symbolism and complex
psychological portraits, Petrushevskaya creates a work that attracts attention
not only with its content, but also with the style of narration. The use of
figurative and stylistic techniques allows you to reveal the inner world of the
characters and create a rich atmosphere reflecting both personal and social
aspects of their lives. The House by the Fountain is a vivid example of a literary
experiment in which artistic originality becomes a key element for
understanding the deep meanings and emotional layers of a text. The study of
these aspects helps to better understand not only the story itself, but also
Petrushevskaya's work as a whole, revealing new facets of her literary genius.
References:
1. Petrushevskaya, L. House by the fountain. In the collection: Petrushevskaya L.
Fairy tales and short stories. — M.: AST
2. Bakhtin M., "Questions of literature and aesthetics: studies of different years"
3. Kozhevnikova, N. A. Artistic features of L. Petrushevskaya's prose. — M.:
Publishing House of the Russian State University
4. Baranov, I. V. Modern Russian literature: from postmodernism to a new
tradition. — St. Petersburg: Nestor-History
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5. Davletshina S.R., L.S. Petrushevskaya's skill in creating artistic psychologism
in the story "The House with the fountain", Scientific Bulletin of VGASU
