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Ketevan Elashvili
Georgia, Tbilisi
Artistic Range of a Symbol or “Mist Phenomenon” in
Vazha-Pshavela’s Works
Summary
The thematic spectrum of symbology is very rich and the importance of
its research is getting more and more obvious and urgent. From the pure
philological point of view, the most interesting is to observe the process of
transforming archetype symbol into a philological one, when the artistic
range of symbol appears to be very vivid.
Artistic consciousness in the literary works of various writers acquires
absolutely original form, that’s why philological symbol offers us the whole
spectrum of its urgency. This is wonderfully represented in Vazha-
Pshavela’s works, who was the”bard of nature” and for illustrating his free
and unlimited associative views, we want to draw your attention to “mist
phenomenon” in his works.
“Mist is the thought of mountains” (“Bakhtrioni”) and strange puzzle of
human imagination; sometimes it appears to be the symbol of
transformation; sometimes it simply symbolizes a change or supernatural
spirits. Generally mist is associated with obscurity and vagueness. But as in
misty landscape we can still see the contours of the relief; something really
innovative is always hidden behind the “symbolic mist“ (Zaza Abzianidze,
Ketevan Elashvili, Illustrated Encyclopedia of Symbols, II, Tbilisi, 2007,
“Bakmi”, p.7).
In some works by Vazha-Pshavela (“Bakhtrioni”) mist is the symbol of
meditation and personal dignity. But in other works it undergoes some
transformation and is presented either in dark colors or in light colors and is
light and transparent. That’s why mist is sometimes of male origin and
sometimes of female one and its chrestomathic symbolic spectrum has
acquired refined philosophic layer in Vazha-Pshavela’s works.
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