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Abstract:

The article provides a comparison between the A. Platonov’s novel “Chevengur” and the works of proletarian writers of the 1920s (“Notes of the Ordinary Man” by D. Furmanov, “The Little Trilogy” by F. Gladkov, “Notes of a Pretender” by L. Grubar) in exploring the theme of “party laymen” or “decayed communists,” as they were then called. The historical context of the party’s rebirth is revealed, and the different perspectives of critics from that period on the issue of the typicality of such characters are presented. The article examines the biographical context of the theme in Platonov’s works, which is reflected in his articles from the early 1920s. The authors have noted the similarities between them in their approach to the subject, such as the use of satirical and psychological techniques to portray their characters, and the inclusion of “party laymen” in the narrative to reveal their inner worlds. The novel “Chevengur” not only shows the author’s points of contact with the “right flank of the proletarian literature” in exploring one of the themes of the era, but also his artistic discoveries that allowed Platonov to go beyond the others writers in his understanding of the subject.