Архетип матери в ранней прозе М. А. Булгакова

Archetype of Mother in the Early Prose of M. A. Bulgakov

This article is devoted to identifying the specifics of the functioning of the archetype of mother in the early prose of M. A. Bulgakov. The article emphasizes the importance of the image of the mother in the writer s work and highlights two main archetypes: the mother-defender and the mother-sufferer. Features of the implementation of the archetype of the mother-defender are also associated with her functions of saving heroes from the evil of surrounding reality and with protection of family. The symbolism of light and fire becomes a form of expression of the essence of this archetype, which makes it possible to correlate it with the mythological images of Mary, the Mother of Jesus and Hestia, the ancient Greek goddess of the fire. The archetype of the mother-sufferer is associated with the experience of losing children. It is realized in the motives of changing appearance, aging, and in the symbolism of darkness. This is an allusion to the myth of Demeter, the ancient Greek goddess of the agriculture and the fertility of the earth.