THE THEME OF “LYKERA’S REPENTANCE” IN MEMORY OF SHEVCHENKO IN MEMOIRS, STUDIOS, CREATIVE INTERPRETATIONS

Abstract

The article focuses the clarification of a problem that has not yet been scientifically understood in Shevchenko studies, despite the fact that the relationship between Taras Shevchenko and Lykera Polusmak is sufficiently widely described in memoirs, studies, artistic and biographical Shevchenko studies. The author of the study analyzes a wide array of works by Shevchenko, mainly lyrical and lyric-epic, in which the image of Lykera Polusmak appears in various interpretations, particularly her behaviour in the last years of her life, when the woman moved to Kaniv and spent a lot of time near Shevchenko’s grave, allegedly for repentance in the poet’s memory. Two main semantic paradigms are noted in the interpretation of Lykera by contemporary poets: 1) the woman does not deserve forgiveness, because she deeply impressed Shevchenko with her brutal behaviour and hastened the poet’s death; 2) Lykera had the right to her own choice, and therefore is not deprived of the right to penance. Depending on which of the mentioned paradigms the authors of the Shevchenko works adhered to, they are figuratively called “the children of Taras” or “the children of Lykera” in Shevchenko studies, respectively (according to M. Strelbytsky). The study consistently analyzes more than twenty poetic works “about Lykera”, written by both well-known poets (L. Kostenko, V. Bazylevsky, N. Hnatiuk, I. Hnatiuk, etc.), and less well-known ones (L. Taranenko, N. Baklai, O. Dikhtiarenko and others), the authors’ positions in them are determined. It is noted that in a number of miniature poems, the image of Lykera appears as incapable of true awareness of the possible wrongdoing in relations with Shevchenko and sincere remorse. A number of studies and works talk about the cunning and falsity of Lykera’s actions near Shevchenko’s grave. At the same time, some researchers and experts interpret Lykera’s behaviour as sincere and penitent. The article analyzes in more detail the poem “Lykera” by I. Hnatiuk and the dramatic poem of the same name by O. Pukhny, in which the researched topic is presented and understood in a broad and artistically valuable way. In the conclusions, it is noted that the analyzed theme of “Lykera’s Repentance”, like the entire history of the relationship between Shevchenko and Polusmakivna, will continue to retain different visions and assessments.

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