«Як будувати рідну хату»: національне питання в романі «Лель і Полель» Івана Франка

The article deals with «Lelum and Polelum» by Ivan Franko, namely, draws attention to the peculiarities of the interpretation of the national issue in the novel. The primary aim of the research is to demonstrate the importance of national and ideological, social and political along with family-private spheres of the existence of a nation while appealing to the plot conflicts, narrative structures and images of the novel. The theoretical and methodological premises for the research were provided by the works devoted to highlighting a set of issues in Franko’s fiction (Roman Hromiak, Ivan Denysiuk, Mykola Ilnytskyi, Mykola Lehkyi, Oksana Pakhliovska, Taras Pastukh, Mykola Tkachuk etc.), the studies of the Western European (Montserrat Guibernau, Anthony D. Smith) and Ukrainian (Olia Hnatiuk, Ivan Dziuba, Dmytro Dontsov, Mykola Kozlovets, Ivan Franko etc.) theorists of nationalism and national identity as well as the decree «Our Statehood (How to Build a Native Home)» by Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyi.

The national and ideological sphere of the nation’s existence is represented in the novel «Lelum and Polelum» by the characters’ discussions on the territorial boundaries of the nation and national identity, the individual’s sense of belonging to the specific nation and realizing the availability of the values shared with a nation, voluntary and forced assimilation with ruling peoples. The social and political dimension of the problem motivates Ivan Franko to raise the issue about establishing the dialogue between intellectuals and people along with the unity of communities as a necessary prerequisite for the existence of a strong nation. Service to the people and their education are the priority tasks for the cultured part of the nation. Moreover, deedful purposeful activity is taken by Franko as the best cure against indifference and apathy that seems to be the worst internal enemy for a person. At the same time, the activity makes sense if it is accompanied by honesty and decency, brings pleasure as well as if the clear goals are seen by the human person. The family-private sphere of the existence of a nation is also important in the novel under analysis. The article highlights how the interaction between social and individual interests, personal happiness and public affairs, feeling and duty contributes to the welfare of a nation. The case of Franko’s work has enabled to demonstrate how the quality of relationships between the person and the Other (another person, family, community or the people) determines the reliability of the foundation for the national «home» and the national affair.

nation, community, identity, people, intellectuals, dialogue, Ivan Franko.