PREACHER AS A CHARACTER IN THE CREATIVE WORK OF LEO TOLSTOY AND GEORGE ELIOT

The article analyzes characters of clergymen and the process of creating a specific type of a preacher in Leo Tolstoy’s works. The researcher tries to prove that this process was strongly influenced by Tolstoy’s close attention to the preacher characters in George Eliot’s works. This can be proved by Tolstoy’s letters, diary and notes in the books from the writer’s personal library. The main features of Tolstoy’s preacher character are demonstrated by the example of Prince Nekhlyudov (Resurrection). Proclaiming evangelical truth, he is not a member of any confession; he does not promulgate his views, but he proves his case by his actions and his way of life. He rejects earthly comfort and goods and voluntarily becomes integrated into people’s life. Having walked his way of repentance of former sins, he cultivates the ability to forgive and have mercy. George Eliot also accents these features in the key characters of her books, analyzed in this article (Janet’s repentance, Adam Bede and Felix Holt, the Radical). Eliot’s version of preaching becomes a certain guide for Tolstoy in the process of shaping a new type of character in his late works.