МОТИВ МУЧЕНИЧЕСТВА В РАННЕМ ТВОРЧЕСТВЕ Н.В. ГОГОЛЯ

The author of article considers motive of a martyrdom in early works of N. V. Gogol and comes to the following conclusions. First, the motive of a martyrdom at Gogol is closely connected with fight for orthodox belief ("Taras Bulba", "Fearful vengeance"). Secondly, represents sufferings of heroes as a way of punishment for their sins ("Viy"). Thirdly, it is presented in the form of madnesses of heroes and is an indicator of a moral protest of Christian soul against sinfulness and injustice of the Petersburg demonic world (the Petersburg stories).