The Patriarchate in the Mirror of Russian Literature of the 19th Century

Abstract

In the 16th century was found the family called “Domostroy” in Russia, “Domostroy” was the typical of patriarchal family. Toward the end of the 16th century serfage was established. In ancient times the rural population was completely free, but the right of migration was abolished by Tsar Boris Godunof. In the period of serfage also remained the old custom -patriarchal -, because the peasants were tied to the land, and they remained traditional. On the other hand, as the state was deficient in many functions, the family performed them for the state, and the head of the family was the leader. Therefore the head of the family had absolute power, for he was superior in many respects to any other family member. The deficience of police function of the state allowed him even to hold the power of life and death over his children.
Besides the serfage was on despotism. In such a society every group had hierarchy, and the head of each group demanded absolute obedience of those lower in lank, as Tsar of people, superiors of inferiors and proprietors of serfs. Thus the family was under the influence of the principle of despotism, and the head of the family demanded absolute obedience of other family members.
Now you must remember that Russia produced many great writers and their products in the 19th century. In fact, it can be said that the 19th century is the golden age of Russian literary history. The first half of the century was the period of serfage, and even after the emancipation, of course, a few traces of the first half could be found. Therefore it was natural that the literary products should describe such a society ; serfage and family. This essay intended to see the patriarchate through Russian literature.