On Gogol’s Image Of St. Petersburg

Russian literature Petersburg established initial model in Pushkin’s writing, andfurther opened in Gogol’s writing, and making this theme gradually mature,as animportant part of Russian literature. Gogol’s <Petersburg story>has been the artcoding of the essence of St. Petersburg, performed the writer’s realism thinking of St.Petersburg, expand the theme of Petersburg initiated by Pushkin. Based on theopposite relationship theme of National Merit and individual living by Pushkin,digging out the image of the "shadow city" and "evil" of St. Petersburg.At the sametime,Gogol also deepened the "small figure"theme created by Pushkin. Gogol’s smallfigure have the aspiration of vengeance and revenge, oppugning and resisting theunfair society.In the whole chain of Petersburg theme, Gogol’s creation not onlyinherited Pushkin’s, but also inspired many other writers,such as Dostoevsky, Blokand Andre Bely. They have been discussing the question of nationality and Modernityof russia. The paper has summarized Gogol’s image of St. Petersburg, showed therealistic prospect of Petersburg and revealed the disease and ugly hidden deeply inside,and then, presented he author’s attitude to the city civilization represented by St.Petersburg and evaluation of capitalism,maintained the position and value of Gogol’screation in the complete chain of Petersburg theme. I wish the paper can make acontribution to the Petersburg theme in Russian literature.The exordium mainly introduced the overview of “the Moscow-Petersburg"theme.The first chapter has analyzed Peterborough’s multiple image presented by the<Nevsky Avenue>.Its luxury and modern has been known as everyone, but it’s also"the shadow city"which has been disguised the true essence,“the sin city”which hasbeen filled with ugly, ghosts and desire.<Nevsky Avenue> summarized the generalimage of Petersburg, revealed the city civilization behind the ugly.The second chapter has analyzed "symbolic meaning nose", revealing the socialconnotation which could afford much food for thought. First of all,the nose symbolized the dignity, decency and high official positions and riches, whichis the whole life Kovalyov sought.Secondly, as the five civil service,the "nose" isanother Kovalyov.Finally, the "nose" is the symbol of the force to the citizen fromthe bottom of society, the national strength has brought a sense of oppression to theindividual.The magic plot of losing nose revealed the mental ills of fetish worship andthe nature of ghost and alienation.The third chapter has analyzed the destruction of art and artists inPetersburg,revealing the destructive force of money in capitalist society.When thecapitalism flourished in Russia,the sin power of money has corroded the true, the good and the beautiful with a ferocity,with the pure artists degenerating and sacred artdefiled.The forth chapter has analyzed the carnival meaning of the the hero’s jacket,revealed the horrible political pressure in Petersburg, the existence of small figure hasbeen very pessimistic in the absurd society. Showing the reality of Petersburg societyand the essence of evil behind the false appearance through the coronation, taking offcrown and the process of revenge.The fifth chapter has analyzed the image of St. Petersburg in madman,high-pressure political rule, brutal police system and strict bureaucratic hierarchyconstituted a formidable and harmful state machine.In such an environment, smallfigure has been subjected to unfair treatment, with material needs could not be metand the spirit suffering long-term repressed, eventually reduced to the victim of thetsarist system.The conclusion summarized Gogol’s St. Petersburg theme, the symbolism of St.Petersburg, status and influence of "St. Petersburg story" in this theme, the writer’sreflections on modernity.