On Pavel Ryzhakov’s Notes on Easter in Ansali [Paskha v Enzeli]

Abstract

The article polemicizes with P. Ryzhakov’s review appearing in the same issue. Citing a wider context of Khlebnikov’s work, the author challenges Ryzhakov’s thesis about the identification of the lyrical hero in Easter in Ansali [Paskha v Enzeli ] with Razin, and offers an alternative, more restrained, interpretation. He argues that the critic is mistaken in associating the protagonist with the antagonist: indeed, the Razin reference is there, but it is fragmentary and marginal, while the main idea of the poem is Khlebnikov breaking away from his past. And this parting is metaphorically described as taking monastic vows and tonsuring, hence the image of the long unruly hair and a number of biblical associations, including the ritualistic washing of the feet. Pavlovsky suggests that Ryzhakov’s analysis, while academically accurate and interesting, misses the point: the poem is about Khlebnikov, not Razin.