Female images in A.P. Platonov's fairy tales

Lyu Yue Postgraduate student; Department of Russian and Foreign Literature; Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia 6 Miklukho-Maklaya str., Moscow, 117198, Russia liuyue159@yandex.ru

A fairy tale, as defined by D.D. Puchkov, is one of the types of folklore prose found among various peoples and divided, in turn, into such genres as fairy tales, household tales, animal tales, a fairy tale, and much more ^{[6, p. 6]}.

"A fairy tale is an epic, most often a prose work with a focus on fiction, a work with a fantastic plot, conditionally fantastic imagery, a stable plot–compositional structure and a listener-oriented form of narration" ^{[2, p. 13]}.

Fairy tales are not just entertainment material, but a hidden form of transmission of values, wisdom and philosophy of the people, which penetrates through time and space, remaining relevant and significant for all generations. Female heroines play an important role in the world of fairy tales. They are often presented as strong, intelligent, independent and kind characters who overcome difficulties and trials along the way. Female heroines in fairy tales can embody various archetypes, such as princesses, fairies, witches, villains or ordinary girls.

Fairy tales often convey certain values and lessons through female characters, such as kindness, wisdom, courage, devotion, compassion and hard work. Sometimes female heroines encounter themes of self-sacrifice, love, justice and loyalty. Each of them carries a special symbolism and reflects certain aspects of human nature and life ^[11].

In this article, we will consider female images in the fairy tales of Andrei Platonovich Platonov. As noted by Ya.O. Shumkov, when creating them, the writer was largely guided by the traditions of Russian and Bashkir classical literature ^{[12, p. 134]}.

The fairy tales of this author are unique works that combine reality and fiction, creating a special atmosphere and images. The author uses metaphors, symbols and unusual plots to emphasize important life and philosophical ideas. This combination of reality and fiction helps readers perceive and understand complex topics through simple and accessible images. This style allows us to address important issues of human existence, culture, morality and ethics, making the works of A.P. Platonov memorable and relevant for many years.

Artfully preserving the folklore spirit, the writer managed to enrich folk stories and put his innermost thoughts into them ^[8].

The study of female images in Andrei Platonov's fairy tales is important because they are an integral part of his literary heritage and make a significant contribution to understanding gender roles, social norms and values.

Let's consider the female image of Bezruchka in the fairy tale of the same name by A.P. Platonov "Bezruchka" ^[5], which is based on the folklore tale by A.N. Afanasyev "Kosoruchka", in the plot of which a brother expels his slandered sister from home and cuts off her hands; she marries, but is again slandered and expelled along with the child; finally A miraculous healing occurs: the hands grow back when the Handless one tries to get his son who fell into the well ^[10].

The fairy tale "Bezruchka" by A.P. Platonov is a reinterpretation of military themes in the context of the post-war period. It should be noted that the author's work was deeply affected by the experience of the Great Patriotic War, and with the help of the folklore story about Bezruchka, the author conveys his vision of war as the struggle of living people with an inanimate enemy, life with death.

In the fairy tale, the military theme permeates the whole story. Bezruchka's husband goes to war, and the heroine herself faces difficulties and trials that lead to the miraculous healing of her hands. This moment of healing, repeated three times in the fairy tale, symbolically reflects not only the folklore motif, but also the appeal to the theme of war as a catharsis that helps to establish order in chaos.

A.P. Platonov, also through the images of father and mother, asserts the connection between war and parental care. A mother gives birth to children for life, their sacrifice in the name of the Motherland is perceived as an insult to the mother. The whole nation is represented as a single whole, where each sacrifice has its own meaning.

The fairy tale "Bezruchka" represents the heroine, who becomes a symbol of strength and devotion to warriors, able to comfort and help them in difficult moments. "She began to comfort the sick and dying, and, sometimes, whoever should die, lo and behold, does not die at the kind words of a Handless one; who is weak in spirit, so a Handless one goes ahead of him to the enemy, and the timid warrior raises his sword again. That was the case" ^{[5, p. 285]}.

The image of a Handless Hand symbolizes the idea that even an initially weak and vulnerable person can gain strength and become a defender of others through love and compassion.

Also in the fairy tale "Bezruchka" there is an opposite image of a woman, a brother's wife. The mistress of the hut, by changing the content of the letter and creating false ideas about the child, represents an image of betrayal and cruelty. Her act demonstrates how people can be cruel and ruthless in their actions, sometimes without thinking about the consequences for others.

This fragment reflects complex moral dilemmas, questions of loyalty, devotion and sacrifice, which makes it a deep and heartfelt text.

Thus, in A.P. Platonov's fairy tale "Bezruchka" two images of women are presented. One of them is his brother's wife, a symbol of cruelty, envy, and malice. The second, Handless, symbolizes strength, courage, loyalty, overcoming life difficulties.

A. Platonov's fairy tale "Athos" describes the image of a mother as a devoted and loving woman whose fate was tragically cut short as a result of terrible events in the village. Afoni's mother shows deep care and love for her son, which is evident from her last moments, when "... Afoni's mother still stood a little longer to see her son, so she loved him and wanted to be with him. Then her eyes turned white, as if blind, and she also fell to the ground and died." ^{[5, p. 212]}.

Although Afoni's mother had to face horror and tragedy, she continued to show her tenderness and care for her son until the very end. Her love and sacrifice convey deep feelings and emotions to the reader, evoking sympathy and sadness.

The image of the mother in this story reminds us of the power of maternal love and sacrifice, which can overcome even the most difficult trials and tragedies.

The story "Another Mother" ^{[5, pp. 171-177]}, is a story about a boy named Artyom, who goes to school for the first time. During this journey, he experiences various emotions and meets different characters, each of which symbolizes certain aspects of his life and environment

In this story there are two female figures, represented by the hero's mother and his teacher.

Evdokia Alekseevna is Artyom's mother, symbolizes care, love and support. She tries to prepare her son for school, but she also understands his emotions and tries to comfort him.

The teacher Apollinaria Nikolaevna is a symbol of a new stage in Artyom's life. She becomes a figure of authority and care in the absence of her mother, which helps the boy adapt to a new environment.

Both women help Artyom go through the process of growing up and realizing new responsibilities, his experiences and meetings on the way to school become significant for his personal development.

In the fairy tale "The Iron Old Woman" ^[5] the mother of the main character Egor also symbolizes care and support. She is a support for the boy and helps him figure out what is happening.

The Iron Old Woman is a mysterious character who represents a symbol of fate or grief. She causes Egor to feel fear, but also awakens his determination and strength.

In the fairy tale "Earth", the mother of the main character Vanya is depicted at the beginning as a young, beautiful and kind woman who feels joy at the birth of her son. She feels delight and love for the baby, which brings her happiness. Over time, she is faced with hard, tedious work, which leads to the fading of her beauty and the appearance of diseases. It symbolizes the sacrifice of motherhood and the difficulties of life.

The death of his mother leaves Vanya in a state of sadness, but he continues to communicate with her in his thoughts and memories, which reflects his affection for her.

In the fairy tale "Semyon", the mother is characterized by the author as "…She cooked there, fed and rocked the last girl, washed, darned and mended the linen, washed the floors, saved poor money like big ones, she went to collect firewood with the girl in her arms near the warehouse, where the peasants drove them and accidentally dropped them from the carts, and then did not lift them up to make it easier for the horses — firewood they are strangers, but the horses are their own." ^[4].

The author gives us the image of a mother who does a lot of hard and tedious work to provide for her family. She takes care of the children, cooks, washes and mends clothes, cleans the house, saves money, collects firewood and helps men at work.

This passage shows us not only the physical severity of her work, but also her moral greatness. The mother in this fairy tale is presented as a symbol of selfless love and dedication, ready to sacrifice her comfort for the well-being of her family. Her work becomes a symbol of maternal care and sacrifice.

The author uses a realistic description of maternal labor to emphasize its importance and value. This image of a mother is one of the key elements of the fairy tale, which helps readers to feel the depth of love and dedication of motherhood.

In the fairy tale "Ivan the Untalented and Elena the Wise" ^[5] the mother is a widow, a peasant woman who raised her son Ivan. She cares about him and worries about his future, as he grew up untalented and unsuccessful.

The mother is presented as a hardworking and caring woman who tries to provide her son with the best, despite difficulties and poverty.

Her main concern is the desire to marry her son so that he has a reasonable wife who would help him in life and in the household, "It would be necessary to marry him: a reasonable wife, look, and an unsuccessful husband is a worker in the household and does not eat bread for nothing. But who, however, will take her untalented son as a husband? Not only that the red maiden, but the widow probably won't take it!".

However, after Ivan found a wife with the help of an old man, the mother does not believe in her son: "I'm afraid, son," mother told Ivan.- Look at her, Elenushka, your wife, what a beautiful woman, rich and noble, what did you do to deserve her? Your father and I lived in poverty, but you were born without a destiny at all."

Elena the Beautiful from this work is presented as a mysterious and attractive woman who evokes various emotions in the characters. Her beauty and wealth make her an object of envy and admiration. She has power over men, including Ivan, who feels unsatisfied in her presence.

Elena the Beautiful is presented as a symbol of feminine beauty and mystery, capable of changing her fate with the help of magic. Her decision to leave, turning into a pigeon, shows her desire for freedom and independence.

Ivan is initially depicted as a passive and insecure character who is unable to understand and appreciate his wife. His actions lead to irreversible consequences, and he is left alone to subsequently find his wife and gain wisdom together.

The fairy tale "Stepdaughter" ^[5] resembles a classic fairy tale with a moral that good always wins over evil. It traces the theme of gratitude and compassion, which play an important role in the development of events. The girl, Gulbika, shows kindness and care to both the old woman and the little dog, which ultimately saves her from snakes.

The evil stepmother and her daughter, in turn, fall victim to their own greedy and evil behavior. Justice punishes them for their evil deeds.

The fairy tale also emphasizes the importance of doing good deeds and helping others, as well as the fact that goodness always finds a way to victory.

The old woman whom Gulbika meets at the end of the fairy tale is presented as a kind and wise person who is ready to help the girl. She takes Gulbika into her house, comforts her and offers to stay for a while. The old woman teaches Gulbika patience, care and kindness, teaching her a simple fairy tale "In times long gone there was one evil, despicable woman" the image of the stepmother is presented as a typical negative character symbolizing cruelty, selfishness and injustice. The stepmother is cruel and inhuman, forcing Gulbika's stepdaughter to work without interruption and not appreciating her efforts.

On the other hand, Gulbiki is presented as a kind, hardworking and responsive girl who, despite her difficult situation, retains her kindness and compassion. She is looking for lost household skills.

Thus, through the juxtaposition of images of a stepmother, Gulbika and an old woman, the author conveys important values: kindness, compassion, hard work and wisdom. The fairy tale shows that even in difficult situations, kindness and respect for other people can lead to well-being and support.

In the fairy tale "Lazy Girl" ^[7], there is a contrasting image of a grandmother and a granddaughter, which symbolizes different approaches to work, responsibility and care. The grandmother is presented as a symbol of old age, experience and wisdom, but at the same time she is forced to ask her neighbors for millet because of her infirmity. Her desire to sow something and prepare for the next season shows her concern for the preservation of life and procreation.

On the other hand, the granddaughter is depicted as lazy and irresponsible, who sees no point in working and caring for the future. Her attitude towards her grandmother and to work in the field shows her selfish nature and lack of understanding of the value of work and self-sufficiency.

Through the juxtaposition of these two characters, the author emphasizes the importance of responsibility, hard work and caring for oneself and others. At the end of the tale, the granddaughter realizes her mistake and begins to understand the value of work and preparation for the future. This imaginative technique allows readers to see the difference between two generations and realize the importance of working and caring for the future.

The famous work of A.P. Platonov "Finist-the Clear Falcon" ^[3] presents three female images: Maryushka, her sisters, the Queen and Baba Yaga and her sisters, each of which symbolizes certain qualities and values.

Maryushka is the heroine of the work, who performs good deeds and helps Finist, which ultimately leads to their mutual salvation and happiness.

Maryushka is the youngest daughter, an affectionate, hardworking and kind girl who fell in love with Finist-Yasna Sokol. The love was mutual, but the evil and greedy sisters separated them. Then the queen bewitched him. When the girl saved him, he was able to convince the princes to let them go. She had to go through many terrible and dangerous trials for love. But only loyalty and perseverance helped her to bring back her loved one and find happiness.

Maryushka's sisters are presented as negative characters, greedy and evil, which creates a contrast with Maryushka's kindness and devotion.

The Queen and Baba Yaga also play important roles in the work. The queen symbolizes treachery and selfishness, while Baba Yaga and her sisters appear as wise and kind beings, which shows the variety of characters in the fairy tale.

In general, the fairy tale "Finist is a clear falcon" teaches us to appreciate kindness, hard work and loyalty, and also shows that good deeds always find their reward. An important point is the idea that you need to believe in your dream, not be afraid of difficulties and be ready for trials on the way to happiness.

The fairy-tale ending of the work emphasizes the importance of good deeds and loyalty, as well as the fact that each character receives a well-deserved reward for his actions.

This fairy tale teaches you to be kind, hardworking and not afraid of difficulties. You should never give up, striving for your dream. Both positive and negative characters act in the work. But each of the characters gets what they deserve. So, Maryushka turned out to be kind and brave, that's why she won happiness. And the insidious queen was selling a loved one, so she was left with nothing. The fairy tale ending proves that works will always be rewarded and the fairy tale preaches the values of kindness, dedication and hard work, emphasizing the importance of these qualities for achieving happiness and success.

One of the last works was the fairy tale "The Unknown Flower", which was written a year before the writer's death, in 1950. At this time, the writer was seriously ill, and it is not surprising that the motive of the struggle for life becomes central in this work. The writer gave the fairy tale to his daughter Masha, who will then devote her life to the memory of her father. As a compiler and editor, she organizes over 50 posthumous editions of Platonov ^[9].

A fairy tale is a narrative about how important and necessary it is to be kind and responsive in any situation, to help and protect the nature around us.

The main character of the fairy tale is a small flower that grew on the stones. He has to work hard every day to live. But the flower does not lose heart, but continues to patiently fight for every day. The flower's tenacity and determination, its zeal for life, grows with itself. The character of the flower is the opposite of its appearance: strong and determined inside, outside it is fragile and lonely. However, after going through all the difficulties, hunger, thirst, he throws out an unprecedented beauty bud, which emits a delicious fragrance for the whole neighborhood ^[1]. It was this fragrance that attracted the girl passing by the wasteland, the girl Dasha, who was resting at the pioneer camp and missed her mother very much. She carried a letter to the post office and pressed the envelope to her lips on the way, even envied him, because the letter would see her mother before she did.

"On the edge of the wasteland, Dasha felt a fragrance. She looked around. There were no flowers nearby, only small grass grew along the path, and the wasteland was completely bare; but the wind came from the wasteland and brought from there a quiet smell, like the calling voice of a small unknown life. Dasha remembered a fairy tale that her mother had told her a long time ago. The mother talked about the flower, which was always sad for its mother, the rose, but it could not cry, and only in the fragrance passed its sadness" ^{[5, p. 178]}.

We can note that Dasha is sincere, all the emotions she is experiencing are clearly visible, she is following the call of her heart. That's why it's so easy to turn off the road into a wasteland and go in search of an unknown flower with a subtle and charming aroma. Dasha imagines him as lonely as she is. The girl thinks that he misses his mom too.

The young lady was amazed to see a flower that had grown among the clay and stones. Dasha had never seen such a flower — it was unique and unlike anything she knew. She tried to find out its name, but the flower itself did not know this, since no one had paid attention to it before.

Dasha, inspired by a small flower that grew among clay and stones, kissed him as a sign of support.

The next day, Dasha invited her pioneer friends to see this amazing flower. The guys admired the flower, considered it as a real hero and enjoyed the pleasant aroma and drew attention to the land around the flower, which was unsuitable for life.

The children then decided to improve the dead earth around the flower by using clay and ash as fertilizers. They went around the entire wasteland, planning the amount of fertilizer needed and started work. For four days, the pioneers worked to improve the soil around the flower.

After the completion of the work, the children went for walks to other picturesque places and did not enter the wasteland anymore. Their efforts have helped not only the flower, but also the entire surrounding landscape, making it more picturesque and healthy.

Being kind and caring, the girl did everything possible to make life easier for the flower: she talked to him, called for the help of the guys to turn the dead land of the wasteland into fertile and suitable for the emergence of new plants.

The next year, Dasha saw that "the wasteland has now become different, it is now overgrown with herbs and flowers, and birds and butterflies were flying over it. There was a fragrance coming from the flowers, the same as from that little worker flower."

However, Dasha did not see last year's flower, and she felt sad. As she was walking back, she suddenly saw a new flower grow between two cramped stones – "just like that old flower, only a little better and even more beautiful. This flower grew from the middle of the cramped stones; he was lively and patient, like his father, and even stronger than his father, because he lived in the stone."

Dasha's heart was filled with joy. Her efforts were not in vain. And even if a small flower died in autumn, another one grew in its place. It means that the noble deed of the girl and her pioneer friends has borne fruit.

With the help of such a composition of the work, the author brings to the idea of continuity and cyclicity of life. The main character embodies moral problems: the struggle of good and evil, love and compassion for all living things on earth, overcoming the difficulties of life.

Thus, the study of female images in Andrei Platonov's fairy tales allows us to see the diversity of gender roles, socio-cultural characteristics and philosophical ideas embedded in his works.

The analysis of female images helps readers to realize the difficulties and challenges faced by women, allow us to conclude that a woman's life is difficult, they have to fight for their happiness, people around them are not always fair to them.

Through female images, the author criticizes social norms, identifies problems of inequality, discrimination and other social aspects. Female images are used as symbols or metaphors to convey certain ideas or concepts. For example, a warrior woman symbolizes strength and determination, and a good fairy symbolizes wisdom and protection, some of them act as mentors, protectors, victims of circumstances or even antagonists, adding depth and complexity to the plots of fairy tales.

In A.P. Platonov's fairy tales, the social status of a female character is immediately determined, the class affiliation of the heroine is determined - a princess, a merchant's daughter, or on the contrary, a poor orphan, a peasant, a worker, a sister, a wife, a mother. However, in fairy tales, the social status of the characters is not important, and can even act in the opposite direction. For example, in fairy tales it is often shown that ordinary stepdaughters or orphans, showing their best qualities and passing tests, receive a rich dowry and find a handsome groom, as it happens in the fairy tale "Stepdaughter". Thus, in these stories, the moral qualities of a woman are more important and indicative, which multiply and manifest themselves in a fairy-tale world. It is not important where she comes from or what her social status is, but what values and qualities she carries.

In fairy tales, there are several types of female images, such as:

- the "heroine-savior" or "warrior woman", who can be a mother, wife, pioneer girl or the mythical character Baba Yaga. These heroines, with the help of their intelligence, wisdom or kindness, save other characters or solve difficult problems, they are strong personalities capable of overcoming difficulties and hardships. Very often, these heroines are not only caring and faithful companions of their husband, but also active participants in events who are able to make important decisions and influence the course of the plot. With the help of the main characters, young girls, the writer emphasizes the continuity of life, their kindness and desire to help others, compassion and overcoming life's trials.

- The "evil stepmother" is a female character who acts as an antagonist, creating conflicts and obstacles for the main characters. It often symbolizes selfishness, envy or cruelty. This heroine can be a wife, a sister, a princess. There are also mothers who do not believe in the success of their children, consider them "untalented".

- a "good fairy" or "sorceress" who has magical abilities and helps the heroes achieve their goals. She is a source of help, protection and wisdom, for example, Baba Yaga.

- a "wise old woman" is an older woman who has wisdom and life experience and often acts as a mentor or seer, helping the heroes overcome life's trials.

In general, the study of female images in Andrei Platonov's fairy tales allows for a deeper understanding of his work, as well as to consider a wide range of gender, socio-cultural and philosophical problems inherent in his works.