LUDMILA ULICKAJA’S PLAY RUSSIAN PRESERVES: CAPTURING THE VIEW OF REALITY WITH THE HELP OF THE CLASSICS

The main focus of this essay concerns creative ways of depicting contemporary Russian reality in Ludmila Ulickaja’s play “Russian Preserves”. The image of reality is created on the basis of quotations, topical references and reminiscences from classical literature, books of history and popular culture. The assessment of reality is made through clue words, winged words, witticism and paradox, usually used with a hint of irony. The inclusion of the interlude with its parody function adds to enhance the ideological meaning: the contemporary Russia is on the verge of catastrophe