Estrangement and the Thinking Subject in Psychological Prose Novels by Leo Tolstoy, Marcel Proust, and Andrei Bitov

The concept of estrangement has interested readers and scholars since Viktor Shklovsky first coined the term ostranenie in 1917. Its experience is closely tied to intellectual growth in the artistic representation of the modern subject across eras and cultures. This dissertation focuses on the psychological implications of estrangement in the process of seeking self-knowledge as portrayed in three monumental novels of psychological prose: Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina (1877), Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time (À la recherche du temps perdu) (1913-1927), and Andrei Bitov’s Pushkin House (Pushkinskii dom) (1978). This study expands Richard Moran’s observations on the role of estrangement in the quest for self-understanding, which seems to become more elusive over time. Soviet scholar Lydia Ginzburg proposed a new perspective on the development of the intellectual hero in psychological prose novels, seeing it as a useful narrative device to reflect on the author’s historical moment. The three novels indeed trace the development of the thinking subject in response to specific historical conditions and the various challenges of modernity. I also look into the interior monologue, narrated monologue, and the sensory impression, which are key for the integration of estrangement into the narrative. They also model the possibility for critical thought and creativity. Tolstoy, Proust, and Bitov use diverse narrative techniques to explore the difficulty of acquiring self-knowledge in their time. Tolstoy addresses the problems associated with Tsarist Russia’s transition to modernity in the late nineteenth century. His reliable didactic narration encourages readers to accept his opinion on issues associated with modernity. Proust’s experimental long-form narration reveals the problems faced by his characters at the turn of the nineteenth century in France. Bitov uses the complex layering of perspectives to show how the protagonist Lyova experiences issues of his generation that prevent him from achieving a better understanding of himself. The juxtaposition of three paradigmatic novels complicates the evolving approach to self-awareness, which becomes hard to achieve in Pushkin House. Despite being representations of their time, the novels address fundamental issues with self-knowledge that exceed their historical periods and situations.

Department dc:contributor.department

Comparative Literature

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Lachine, Anastasia

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Komaromi, Ann

• Andrei Bitov
• Estrangement
• Leo Tolstoy
• Marcel Proust
• Psychological Prose
• Stream of Consciousness

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1807/145112

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utoronto.scholaris.ca:1807/145112