Russian national character.
...oesn’t know whether his house or wife will stay his tomorrow.” Caramsin (1766-1826): “As a result of moral humiliation the Russians learned the tricks of slavery that supplements strength in the weak. But by deceiving the tartars they deceived themselves. They became mercantile and insensitive towards offenses. Might was the right that both aliens and our people robbed. ”Russians with their childish soul look often to the past because their reconstruction of the present and reliance on their own strength are frightening fort hem. It is characteristic of them to idealise their children’s dreams and carelessness – their hopes set on the off-chance, their love for celebrating holidays– all because of their overchildishness. Russians can flare up and perform exploits that demand inhuman persistence, but they cannot follow a path gradually, once it is chosen and approved by the rational mind. What makes us peculiar as a nation? What is the origin of our character, culture, and perception of the world? What is the rationale of Russian culture? All these questions are “eternal”. In the genes of Russia there has been a “code” of co-operation, mutual help, indulgence, sympathy, tolerance, kindness, honesty and a moral duty to the general happiness. But not every person who belongs to this nation can be considered to be the embodiment of this national character. National character is the most invisible ethnic phenomenon. What is this country, Russia, like? What is this nation like? Russia is a mysterious country. For years people have argued about its destiny but it always refutes all theories. One more or less true remark about it is that the “Russian cannot be understood by the mind…” To come up with a clue as for the mysterious Russian soul, we should first find those features of the nation that have stayed unchanged. One of the main features of a Russian man is a kindness and manifestation of kindness towards other people. The Russian nation displays this kindness without rancour or unforgiveness. Russians cannot hate. Meekness, the absence of spite, open-heartedness, tenderness and near weakness of character – all these things are typical of Russians. As well as kindness, there is a pity, and a responsiveness to others' troubles. You can see it in people's attitudes toward prisoners, as they try to lighten their fates though the punishment is considered to be fair. You can judge about the nation by reading its fairy-tales. And in Russian fairy-tales, you cannot fail to notice our love for fools. The Russian fool believes easily in everything. The gullibility of the fool is like trustfulness and it is always connected with a responsiveness and kindness. The Russian fool is always kind, and kindness is always smart. He understands these moral values with his heart. He helps the defenceless, and never seeks for his own advantage. There are no Russian tales about hard work and the merits of labour, where the character deserves everything he has or will gain. But there are many tales about magical gifts to a character. For example, let us take the fairy-tale about Emelya the Fool. He lay for years on the kiln and only once he was made to bring water and there he found a fairy pike that promised everything he wanted. Laziness is a very difficult matter and it is revealed in different ways in different nations. For Russians, laziness and passivity are characteristic. Goncharov described it in the best way in his novel “Oblomov”. And their favourite avos’ (perhaps) – is it a way to tease the luck? Russians are very venturesome and they are ready to risk everything. They are ready to suffer, starve and even can burn themselves for their faith. But just as Russians flare up quickly, they “grow feeble” quickly. The conversion from assurance to dejection and vice versa is a common theme. Their unsteadiness and unpredic...