CRIME ISSUE IN THE SHORT PROSE OF OLHA KOBYLIANSKA

Abstract

The article analyzes the literary works of O. Kobylianska, focusing on the portrayal of the crime issue, particularly murders for various motives: accidental killings, intentional acts with lucrative impulse, as well as revenge and retribution. Encroachment on someone else's property became the cause of crime in the novellas “But the Lord is Silent” and “The Moon”, while marital betrayal and adultery with a married woman lead to tragedy in the novellas “Holy Mother of God, Have Mercy on Us!” and “Putifara”. Alcoholism and domestic violence took the life of the hero from the novel “Warm the Children, O Sun”, and careless handling of weapons becomes fatal in the novel “Moscow Gweru”. The problem of murder also emerges in works that, in terms of genre and style, fit into the fairy tale genre (“Vorozhka” and “Mr. Wizard”). From the Christian perspective, murder is considered one of the gravest sins, often stemming from temptation, which the characters of Kobylianska's works succumb to and deliberately take the lives of others. It is established that most crimes have a cause-effect nature and are committed in a state of intense emotional excitement, occasionally through premeditation. Each murderer pays for their sin with either emotional suffering, loss of freedom, or their own life. In Kobylianska's novellas, symbols and artistic details serve an emotionally-enhancing function, vividly illustrating the narrative and emphasizing the plot and compositional components of the works. The symbolism of artistic images such as the moon, sun, clock, eyes, axe, frog, and apple tree is highlighted and explored. Simultaneously, it is generalized that nature plays a significant role in the analyzed works, acting as a direct participant in the events, with its condition corresponding to the psychology and inner world of the characters. It is crucial to note that the crimes often occur during the dark hours of the day.