On the Possibility of a ‘Breakthrough' to the Authentic Rozanov

Abstract

The article is devoted to resolving the problem of Vasily Rozanov's inconsistency. Understanding the causes of Rozanov's inconsistency is critically important both for analyzing the origins of his views and for a more objective assessment of his creative legacy. Some clues to understanding Rozanov's inconsistency are revealed by analyzing his correspondence with P. Florensky. Based on the philosophy of S. Kierkegaard, the article reveals the existential anxiety expressed in the fear of being abandoned and, as a consequence, providing the basis for the specific style of Rozanov's writing. The article analyzes the possibility of reading “Leaves” as a polyphonic novel. In this reading, each “leaf” acts as a separate momentary voice, not contradicting the other voices, in the context of the origin of which includes, among other things, different degrees of manifestation of anxiety, affecting the state of mind of Rozanov, and, as a consequence, the final written out thought.