Abstract
The article focuses on a well-known episode of the novel by Dostoevsky Demons where the narrator calls placing the mouse in the icon case “a senseless, mocking blasphemy.” Unlike the obvious narrative function — to symbolize a series of coming catastrophes — internal semantic mechanism of blasphemy remains unsolved in the text of the novel and in the studies devoted to it. Several documents were discovered inside the investigation cases of the Secret Chancellery and the Holy Synod of the 18th century, which allow us to trace such ethnographic parallels to this motif as rites of exorcising mice, circus performances with trained mice as well as dance songs with wedding or erotic theme, which form the functional and semantic sphere of blasphemous games and anti-behavior expressed by professional jesters, peasants, and clergymen. Moreover, the article reveals important correlation between the mechanisms behind the written and oral denunciations of blasphemy in the investigation trials of the 18th century and the principles of storytelling on the level of the "crime" plotline of Dostoevsky’s novel.
References
1 Agapkina T.A. Motiv priglasheniia na svad’bu v slavianskikh zagovorakh [The Motif of a Wedding Invitation in Slavic Charms]. Zhivaia starina, 2008, vol. 2, pp. 21–23. (In Russ.)
2 Alekseeva M.A. Graviura na dereve “Myshi kota na pogost volokut” — pamiatnik russkogo narodnogo tvorchestva kontsa XVІІ — nachala XVIII v. [Wood Engraving “Mice Drag a Cat to a Graveyard” as a Monument of Russian Folk Art of the Late 17th — Early 18th Centuries]. XVIII vek [18th Century]. Leningrad, Nauka Publ., 1983, vol. 14, pp. 45–79. (In Russ.)
3 Alpatov S.V. Fol’klornye i literaturnye komponenty videnii sviashchennika S.I. Dugina [Folklore and Literary Components of Visions of the Priest S.I. Dugin]. Vestnik tserkovnoi istorii, 2019, vol. 1/2 (53/54), pp. 221–227. (In Russ.)
4 Antonov D.I. U sviatykh ochi vertel? Figury bez glaz na russkikh miniatiurakh [Have you Erased the Saints’ Eyes? Figures Without Eyes in Russian Miniatures]. Sila vzgliada: glaza v mifologii i ikonografii [The Strength of Sight: Eyes in Mythology and Iconography]. Moscow, RSUH Publ., pp. 14–42. (In Russ.)
5 Bakhtin M.M. Sobranie sochinenii: v 7 t. [Collected Works: in 7 vols.] Moscow, Russkie slovari. Iazyki slavianskoi kul’tury Publ., 2002. Vol. 6. 800 p. (In Russ.)
6 Bernshtam T.A. Prikhodskaia zhizn’ russkoi derevni: Ocherki po tserkovnoi etnografii [Parish Life of a Russian Village: Essays on Church Ethnography]. St. Petersburg, SPbGU Publ., 2005. 311 p. (In Russ.)
7 Velikorusskie narodnye pesni: v 7 t. [Russian Folk Songs: in 7 vols.], Published by A.I. Sobolevskii. St. Petersburg, Gosudarstvennaia tipografiia Publ., 1902. Vol. 7. 708 p. (In Russ.)
8 Vladimirtsev V.P. Dostoevskii narodnyi: F.M. Dostoevskii i russkaia etnologicheskaia kul’tura: Ctat’i. Ocherki. Etiudy. Kompleks istoriko-literaturovedcheskikh issledovanii [Dostoevsky and Folk: F.M. Dostoevsky and Russian Ethnological Culture: Articles. Essays. Etudes. A Complex of Historical and Literary Studies]. Irkutsk, Izdatel’stvo Irkutskogo universiteta Publ., 2007. 459 p. (In Russ.)
9 Vladykina T.G., Glukhova G.A., Panina T.I. Udmurtskii narodnyi kalendar’ i sel’skii sotsium [Udmurt Folk Calendar and Rural Society]. Nauchnyi dialog, 2017, vol. 10, pp. 149–169. (In Russ.)
10 Grintser N.P. “Myshinye tainstva”: shutka ili pravda? [Mouse Sacraments: a Joke or the Truth?]. Kentavr / Centaurus. Studia classica et mediaevalia. Moscow, RGGU Publ., 2004, pp. 11–26. (In Russ.)
11 Gura A.V. Simvolika zhivotnykh v slavianskoi narodnoi traditsii [Symbolism of Animals in the Slavic Folk Tradition]. Moscow, Indrik Publ., 1997. 912 p. (In Russ.)
12 Demkova N.S. Srednevekovaia russkaia literatura: Poetika, interpretatsii, istochniki [Medieval Russian Literature: Poetics, Interpretations, Sources]. St. Petersburg, SPbGU Publ., 1997. 220 p. (In Russ.)
13 Dostoevsky F.M. Sobranie sochinenii: v 15 t. [Collected Works: in 15 vols.]. Leningrad, Nauka Publ., 1990. Vol. 7. 848 p. (In Russ.)
14 Dostoevsky F.M. Dnevnik pisatelia. 1873. VI. Bobok [Writer’s Diary. 1873. VI. Bobok] Dostoevsky F.M. Sobranie sochinenii: v 15 t. [Collected Works: in 15 vols.]. St. Petersburg, Nauka Publ., 1994, vol. 12, pp. 49–64. (In Russ.)
15 Lepakhin V. Ikona v tvorchestve Dostoevskogo “Brat’ia Karamazovy”, “Krotkaia”, “Besy”, “Podrostok”, “Idiot”) [The Icon in the Works of Dostoevsky (“The Brothers Karamazov”, “Meek”, “Demons”, “Teenager”, “Idiot”)]. Dostoevskii. Issledovaniia i materialy [Dostoevsky. Research and Materials]. St. Petersburg, Nauka Publ., 2000, vol. 15, pp. 237–263. (In Russ.)
16 Mikhniukevich V.A. Russkii fol’klor v khudozhestvennoi sisteme F.M. Dostoevskogo [Russian Folklore in the Artistic System of F.M. Dostoevsky]. Cheliabinsk, Izdatel’stvo Cheliabinskogo universiteta Publ., 1994. 313 p. (In Russ.)
17 Morozov I.A. Zhenit’ba dobra molodtsa [The Marriage of a Young Man]. Moscow, Labirint Publ., 1998. 352 p. (In Russ.)
18 Petr I. Predaniia, legendy, skazki i anekdoty [Peter I. Legends, Tales and Jokes], comp., introd., preparation of texts and comm. by I.N. Raikova. Moscow, Sabashnikovy Publ., 1993. 224 p. (In Russ.)
19 Skazki i pesni Chernozemnogo kraia Rossii. Materialy fol’klornoi ekspeditsii 1936 goda, zapisannye v Voronezhskoi i Kurskoi oblastiakh [Tales and Songs of the Black Earth Region of Russia. Materials of the 1936 Folklore Expedition Recorded in the Voronezh and Kursk Regions], comp. T.F. Pukhova. Voronezh, Tsentr dukhovnogo vozrozhdeniia Chernozemnogo kraia Publ., 2006. 264 p. (In Russ.)
20 Skomorokhi v pamiatnikakh pis’mennosti [Buffoons in Ancient Records], comp. Z.I. Vlasova, E.P. Frensis. St. Petersburg, Nestor-Istoriia Publ., 2007. 680 p. (In Russ.)
21 Smilianskaia E.B. Volshebniki. Bogokhul’niki. Eretiki. Narodnaia religioznost’ i “dukhovnye prestupleniia” v Rossii XVIII v. [Wizards. Blasphemers. Heretics. Religiousness of the People and “Spiritual Crimes” in Russia in the 18th Century]. Moscow, Indrik Publ., 2003. 462 p. (In Russ.)
22 SUS — Sravnitel’nyi ukazatel’ siuzhetov: Vostochnoslavianskaia skazka [Comparative Index of Plots: East Slavic Fable], comp. L.G. Barag, I.P. Berezovskii, K.P. Kabashnikov, N.V. Novikov. Leningrad, Nauka Publ., 1979. 437 p. (In Russ.)
23 Toporov V.N. “Muzy”: soobrazheniia ob imeni i predistorii obraza [“Muses”: Considerations about the Name and Background of the Image]. Iz rabot moskovskogo semioticheskogo kruga [From the Works of the Moscow Semiotic Circle]. Moscow, Iazyki russkoi kul’tury Publ., 1997, pp. 257–299. (In Russ.)
24 Tunimanov V.A. Rasskazchik v “Besakh” Dostoevskogo [Narrator in Dostoevsky’s “Demons”]. Issledovaniia po poetike i stilistike [Studies on Poetics and Stylistics]. Leningrad, Nauka Publ., 1972, pp. 87–162. (In Russ.)
25 Kharatian Z.V. Kul’tovye motivy semeinykh obychaev i obriadov u armian [Cult Motifs of Home Customs and Rites among Armenians]. Armianskaia etnografiia i fol’klor: materialy i issledovaniia [Armenian Ethnography and Folklore: Materials and Research]. Erevan, AN Armianskoi SSR Publ., 1989. Issue 17. 198 p. (In Russ.)
26 Tsarskii shut Balakirev. Ego prodelki i zabavy [Royal Jester Balakirev. His Tricks and Jokes], comp. E.V. Anisimov. Leningrad, Lenizdat Publ., 1990. 190 p. (In Russ.)
27 Shamin S.M. “Donosheniia” voronezhskogo sviashchennika Savvy Ivanovicha Dugina v dokumentakh Tainoi kantseliarii [“Reports” of the Voronezh Priest Savva Ivanovich Dugin in the Documents of the Secret Chancellery]. Vestnik tserkovnoi istorii, 2015, vol. 3/4 (39/40), pp. 97–147. (In Russ.)
28 Shamin S.M. Tsirk tsarevicha Alekseia Mikhailovicha [Circus of Young Tzar Alexei Mikhailovich]. Studia Slavica et Balcanica Petropolitana, 2016, vol. 2 (20), pp. 136–151. (In Russ.)
29 Shishkov V.Ia. Khrenovinka. Shuteinye rasskazy i povesti [A bit of Horseradish. Joke Stories and Novels]. Novosibirsk, Novosibirskaya kniga Publ., 1996. 384 p. (In Russ.)
30 ATU — Uther H.-J. The Types of International Folktales. Helsinki, Suomal. Tiedeakat, 2004. Vol. I–III. (In English)
