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Books like Taras Bulba

Taras Bulba

2016Nikolai Gogol

3.8/5

It is fascinating to observe the response of Western readers to Gogol's epic Taras Bulba. Therefore, I would like to emphasize the importance of cultural and historical perspectives when analyzing this particular work. First, if you want to see what Gogol's Cossacks really looked like (the Hollywood version is bs)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClGKza... (it's a Russian movie)Being of both Russian and Ukrainian heritage, and having read the work in its original, I feel that some American readers wrongly dismiss it as an absurd, extremist tale about a bunch of barbarians. It is easy to imagine an American reader's shock due to the frequent anti-semitism and cold-blooded violence, but you have to keep in mind HISTORICAL CONTEXT and PERSPECTIVE.Gogol by profession was a historian who was fascinated by his Ukrainian heritage. He had written Taras Bulba based on his historical studies. His work portrays the realities of life on the south Russian (Ukrainian) steppes and the intricate, antagonistic relationships between Cossacks, Tartars, Poles, and the Jews. The actions and behavior of the Cossacks are inherent to the harsh realities of that historical period. The Cossacks do not simply decide to ravage the Poles for fun (although that was part of it) - they retaliate to their transgression on their religion, their land, their way of life. There is never any question of Cossack identity, and what they represent. At the beginning Gogol poetically describes the Cossacks as a unique manifestation of Russian nature and strength forged by the cruel,rugged conditions of the 16th century. Towards the end, Gogol through Taras speaks of the Russian brotherhood (russkoye tovarischestvo) that is unlike any other. Thus the work is also hugely relevant to contemporary times, when Ukraine has been separated from Russia and is being led toward the West. Essentially, this is one of the driving themes of Gogol's work; nationalism and loyalty to your native culture, way of life (Andriy).This leads us to having to consider the perspective from which Gogol had written Taras Bulba. Obviously he wrote it from the Russian perspective for the Russian public, without the foresight that someday it would be read in the West. The issue of anti-Semitism in the story in 19th century Russia would be a nonissue, and indeed, would be judged as another historical occurrence. Gogol's Taras loathes the Jewish merchants for their scheming and cunning (traits the Cossacks are devoid of), through which they've indebted many a Cossack and their churches. These details are used by Gogol to contrast and emphasize the virtuousness of the Cossacks' bravado and honor, as well as to show the grievances they've had to suffer at the hands of foreigners. The true value of Gogol's work is in his portrayal of the Cossacks nature and their lifestlye. The imagery of life on the beautiful expanse of the steppe is particularly memorable. It is true that the beauty of the language is lost in translation from Russian to English, for Gogol' characters (particularly Taras) speak in a powerful, old-fashioned manner that did much to characterize them. In order to understand Taras Bulba while reading it you have to have some general understanding of what kind of people the Cossacks were and the land that they came from.

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