Peculiarities of Psychologism in Ivan Korsak's Fiction and Documentary Short Prose

Abstract

Ivan Korsak's works include novels, novellas, and short stories about significant historical figures. His writings have been translated into Lithuanian, Polish, English, and Turkish. The life situations and characters from Korsak's first book “Shadows and Glimmers” are perceived as entirely realistic, almost as if “written off” (in the best sense of the word) from our lives.

In the first period of his creative career, Korsak’s short prose plays a particularly important role. While based on real-life events, his works do not aim to simply depict reality for its own sake. Drawing from the variety of everyday life in the district center, he selects the most characteristic situations that provoke reflection and encourage evaluation of human actions from the perspectives of righteousness, integrity, and adherence to moral principles.

The story about life in the village during the stagnation period, descriptions of bureaucratic life, the levelling of human values, injustice, meanness, deceit, and betrayal form the core of his works. In contrast to these negative aspects of society, the author contrasts what is most important: goodness, faith in a better reality, the power of noble feelings, love, beauty, optimism, etc.

A key feature of Korsak’s literary talent is his inclination toward psychological depth and his exploration of characters’ inner worlds. Thanks to this, he creates vivid and convincing portraits, such as that of the nature-sensitive forester Petro (“Bambor”), the morally degraded former head of the collective farm («Chairman»), the vile Pylyp Kalistratovych (“Extraordinary Inspector”), and the contradictory in his views and actions Anatolii Oleksiiovych (Slander).

Korsak’s stories are simple in form, engaging in content, rich with authentic folk speech, and sure to capture the reader's attention.