Nikolai Leskov and animism: speaking with stones in the short story The Alexandrite

Abstract

The short story The Alexandrite, by the Russian author Nikolai Leskov (1831 - 1895), is particularly suited to an animistic reading of its unusual aspects. The personalization of the alexandrite and garnet (pyrope) stones, precious minerals representing the Russian and Czech nations respectively, gives the narrative the necessary hesitation for a fantastic characterization, according to Tzvetan Todorov's theory reinforced by David Roas. The two gems are treated by the character of the goldsmith as endowed with life and soul, central features of animism. In addition to the animistic conception, there is in the story a contrast between civilized and traditional wisdoms, for the narrator, representative of the urban characteristic, opposes the old Kabbalist and mystic goldsmith, guardian of the popular tradition of his land. Walter Benjamin (1936) analyses the work of Leskov in his well-known theorizations about the art of narrating. The narrative quality prized by him is contained in the artisanal way Leskov constructs his works. Such a reflection on the literary art is also present in Sigmund Freud, who weaves considerations approaching psychology and anthropology with literature. The short story The Alexandrite is, therefore, the meeting point of disparate concepts and disciplines since it is as valuable as the objects and knowledge it describes.