Is the Sarcasm of M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin Justified in the Political and Legal Context of the Era of Alexander II? (On the Example of the Novel "The History of a Town"). (On the example of the novel "Stories of a city").

Abstract

The article examines the legislative transformations in Russia in the 60–70 years of the XIX century in the political and legal context of the era of Alexander II, as well as the interpretation of these events by M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin. In The History of a Town, the writer allegorically depicts the city governors, the legislative system and the social structure of Russia in its historical past and post-reformation contemporary time, but the writer's sarcasm is not directed against the Russian people, its historical fate. Polemizing with Russian history presented by the official ideology, Shchedrin tries to find the optimal solution to the problem of law and justice as the basis of the state structure and depicts satirical overthrow of the system of public administration. According to the writer, the reforms coming from "above" are doomed to failure because of their non-viability in the natural course of historical events.