2 - Women in seventeenth-century Russian literature

Summary

The seventeenth century is generally accepted as a period of major transition in the history of Russia: the ‘Time of Troubles’ (1598–1613) eventually gave way to the dynastic continuity of the Romanovs; invasion and civil war were ended when Muscovy gathered up the reins of political centralization and power, becoming at last the undisputed capital of all Russia; and the Orthodox Church suffered many decades of heretical dissent from splintering factions before the great Schism of the second half of the century left it scarred forever. In cultural fields it was a time of transference of ecclesiastical pre-eminence to secular, and the transition from medieval to modern began in earnest. This was a period of much uncertainty and introspection, yet also of great literary innovation and creativity, and specifically, a period when the image of woman in literature underwent radical transformations which not only significantly advanced her own status, but also produced pioneering literary works, challenging accepted generic and ideological conventions.

The parameters of this essay have necessarily been limited, as space, unfortunately, does not permit detailed analysis of all areas and aspects of literature. Therefore the main focus will be upon native Russian works, wholly independent of or minimally influenced by the translated literature from Poland, Czechoslovakia and France which was beginning to appear in Russia, especially in the second half of the century. The female role in folk and oral traditions is far too extensive to approach here, but will be referred to when required.