Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.15291/csi.4804
Psychoanalytical Model of the Russian “Middle Man” in the Story “Antileader” by V. Makanin
Lyudmila Safronova
orcid.org/0000-0003-0337-9418
; Kazakh National Pedagogical University named after Abay
Botagoz Bayzhigit
orcid.org/0000-0001-5384-466X
; Taraz Regional University named after M. Kh. Dulati
Aigerim Bekmuratova
; Kazakh National Pedagogical University named after Abay
Abstract
The article examines, in a cognitive and psychoanalytical
aspect, the features of the Russian national character described
in Vladimir Makanin’s story “Antileader”, written
in 1984, during the period of Soviet stagnation and totalitarianism,
using the example of a literary character model.
Starting from the type of Gogol’s “little man”, evolving
from masochism to rebellion, from obsessive to epileptoid
psychotype, a vertical of Russian character traits with
sado-masochistic accentuation is built. As a result of the
“crowdedness” and lack of prospects for the social series in
closed non-democratic communities like Soviet Russia, an
aggressive type of behaviour was formed. Even in absolutely
neutral, non-threatening conditions (with a clearly subordinated
opponent), the dominant member of the social
group behaved in an aggressive manner in order to satisfy
narcissistic needs that were not channelled naturally (for
example, through career growth or increased consumption
of material and social goods). This is illustrated in this study
using the example of Makanin’s “middle man” who finds
himself in a classic “sado-masochistic swing”. Suppressed
by authoritarian communication models at home and at
work, the protagonist displaces his unrealized narcissistic
needs in street fights and similar confrontations, while unconsciously
becoming an instrument of the collective mind,
levelling everything that goes beyond Soviet standards.
Keywords
V. Makanin; “little man”; obsession; sadomasochism; Russian character
Hrčak ID:
334058
URI
Publication date:
25.7.2025.
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