The Search for Lithuanian Orientalism: Vincas Krėvė

Nowadays our culture reaches the peak of interest in East life. More and more people from West are getting interested in East spirit, absolutely different life quality, way of life and worldview. In Lithuania interest in Orients appeared in XVI century, although knowledge about it was always changing. Intellectual changes are noticed in 2−3 ties in 20 century, when Lithuania reached the peak of interest in Orients culture. It was an integral part in Lithuanian neoromantism. At that time Lithuania appears in between two cultures – West and East. By connecting these two cultures together our nation developed their national identity. All this is shown in writers work. V. Krėvė takes a significant place in literary school (literature). Author’s Oriental work appears from discrepant (contradictory) factors. As he lived in Azerbaijan he had an opportunity to get to know the (coloring) life from inside. Exactly the Orient’s surrounding help author to realize the contradictory mode of life, like a fight between goods and evil, understanding. And whole this fight- is author’s personal experience. V. Krėvė’s work is like west part in orients works. The East is becoming kind of aspiration for the author, but he is still a man from West. Feelings and author’s emotions made him find himself not in Christianity, but realty and logical thinking always brought him back. This contradictory became the main index in his works. In this paper is analyzed V. Krėvė’s Oriental works and contexts. By using all the materials – letters and memories – shown the authors most intelligent personal qualities. The Oriental’s interest come together with biography and personal nature. As we tall about V. Krėvė’s Oriental works it is shown it’s individual origin. Shown what is directly taken from East culture, how connects East and West Christianity’s traditions and how all this gets an original creative expression