L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, a dissertation defense for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Baiturina Ulzhan on the topic ««The Rhetoric of Law and Consciousness in the Novel of F. Dostoyevsky»» to the educational program «8D02314 – Literary studies».
The dissertation was carried out at the «Russian Philology education department» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.
The language of defense is russian
Official reviewers:
– Demezhanov Tuleubek Mukhamediyevich – Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign and Russian Languages, “Shakarim University” (Semey, Kazakhstan).
– Kharitonova Larisa Mikhailovna – Candidate of Philological Sciences, Assistant Professor of the Department of Russian Language and Literature named after Prof. G.A. Meiramov, Academician E. Buketov Karaganda National Research University (Karaganda, Kazakhstan);
Temporary members of the Dissertation Committee:
– Alpatova Tatyana Aleksandrovna – Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor of the Department of Russian and Foreign Literature, Moscow State University of Education (Moscow, Russia);
–Spivak-Lavrov Irina – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) ,Senior Lecturer of the Department of Russian Philology and Intercultural Communication of K. Zhubanov Aktobe regional university (Aktobe, Kazakhstan);
– Bayanbayeva Zhadyra Amangeldiyevna – Candidate of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Russian Philology and World Literature, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty, Kazakhstan).
Scientific advisors:
– Urazayeva Kuralay Bibitalyevna – Doctor of Philological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Russian Philology, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Astana, Kazakhstan).
– Mokletsova Irina Vasilyevna – Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor of the Department of Comparative Study of National Literatures and Cultures, M.V.Lomonossov Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia).
The defense will take place on December 06, 2025, at 11:00 AM in the Dissertation Council for the training direction «8D023 – Languages and literature» in the specialty «8D02314 – Literary studies» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. The meeting of the Dissertation Council will be held in a mixed format.
Link: https://clck.ru/3Q3zHQ
Address: Astana, K.Satpayev St, 2, academic and administrative building, room 101.
Abstract (English): ABSTRACT of the dissertation by Ulzhan Kabievna Baiturina “The Rhetoric of Law and Consciousness in the Novel of F. Dostoevsky”, submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the educational program: “8D02314 – Literary Studies” This study deals with the categories of “law” and “consciousness” in Dostoevsky's novel. The influence of hard labor and exile on the formation of the writer's religious-utopian model of thinking in the novel “Crime and Punishment” led to the inclusion of the “Siberian Notebook”, “Notes from Underground”, and “The Writer's Diary” in the study. An integrative approach contributed to the development of the concepts of the “Russian idea” and the “Russian plot,” which characterize a turning point in Dostoevsky's work and Russian realism as a whole. The aim of the thesis is to develop the rhetoric of law and consciousness in terms of the Russian idea as a category of the writer's legal consciousness and the Russian plot as a means of influencing the reader, using the novel Crime and Punishment as an example. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were undertaken: 1) systematization of the results of the study of law and consciousness, 2) study of the writer's Christocentrism and model of social reform in the context of F. Dostoevsky's polemic with N. Chernyshevsky's socialism, 3) substantiation of the concept of the “Russian idea” in terms of resentful consciousness and classification of resentful types in the novel, Bonapartism and Faustianism, 4) substantiation of the concept of the “Russian plot” from the standpoint of the hero's search for truth, the themes of Siberia and America in the novel, 5) the study of law and consciousness as a plot-forming mechanism and a technique of illocutionary influence of the writer on the reader, 6) the establishment of the rhetoric of law and consciousness as a source of the genre characteristics of the novel, the writer's method, and his discoveries in Russian realism. Research methods. The axiological method made it possible to reveal the role of Russian ideas in the ethical and spiritual interpretation of crime, the significance of the religious concept of freedom, and Raskolnikov's overcoming of Bonapartism and Faustianism in the spiritual transformation of the hero. The methods of communicative ontology and receptive aesthetics contributed to the establishment of the characteristics of a Faustian text and the peculiarities of the reader's perception of the text. The hermeneutic method, appealing to the concepts of resentment and universality, revealed the writer's interpretation of law and consciousness. The structural-semiotic method made it possible to identify the manipulative strategies of the characters and the role of the author's influence on the reader in the plot of the search for truth. The study is based on the hypothesis that the model of law and consciousness in Dostoevsky's novel is a consequence of the writer's philosophical and religious concept, and its rhetorical understanding is based on the connection between the Russian idea and the Russian plot in the novel “Crime and Punishment”. The main points of the thesis to be defended: 1. The distinction between the rhetoric of law and consciousness in terms of the connection between the Russian idea and the Russian plot is achieved using an integrative approach aimed at summarizing the writer's social ideal and his religious-mythological utopia in the novel Crime and Punishment. 2. The justification of the Russian idea in the novel Crime and Punishment in the spirit of the author's Christocentrism and social reform reveals the origins of a new type of novel and the religious-idealistic direction of Russian realism. 3. The study of the Russian idea from the perspective of resentful consciousness and resentful types in the novel complements the idea of polyphony as a specific feature of Dostoevsky's method, while from the perspective of Bonapartism and Faustianism, it explains the creation of a new type of hero. 4. The concept of the Russian theme, based on prophecy and the search for truth, literary toponymy, Siberia, and America, demonstrates its connection to Dostoevsky's Russian idea. 5. The study of Russian themes in terms of law and consciousness reveals the illocutionary influence of the author on the reader and Dostoevsky's innovation, using the example of the novel Crime and Punishment as the construction and crisis of identity in Russian realism. Description of the main results of the study 1. The concept of the Russian idea as a category of legal consciousness is substantiated, and its role in the formation of a new type of hero and Russian plot is demonstrated. The ideal of the writer and his religious-mythological utopia are generalized on the basis of the irrational and the rational, ethics and law. 2. The evolution of the author's worldview from socialism to Christocentrism and religious idealism is based on a comprehensive study of the connection between the texts accompanying the period of hard labor and exile and those written after the creation of the novel. A connection has been established between the new type of novel and the religious-idealistic direction of Russian realism based on Dostoevsky's utopia and social ideal. 3. The author's understanding of polyphony is justified from the perspective of resentful consciousness, the classification of resentful types in the novel, Bonapartism, and Faustianism. 4. The concept of the Russian plot is substantiated. Its conditionality on the Russian idea is demonstrated. The plot of prophecy and truth-seeking shows the role of Siberia and America as factors in the spiritual transformation of the hero. 5. The study of the rhetoric of law and consciousness from the perspective of the writer's religious ideal revealed the author's illocutionary influence on the reader. A connection was established between plot development, rhetorical argumentation, and the manipulations of the characters and the author as constituent elements of illocutionary influence. The features of authorial, national, and cultural identity from the perspective of its crisis are described. 6. The author's analysis in the novel as an observer and rhetorician, Raskolnikov's manipulative techniques, has been carried out. Sonya's role as the hero's paradoxical addressee has been established. The presentation on the formation of a new type of hero, the specifics of Dostoevsky's method, and the new stage of Russian realism has been supplemented. Justification of the novelty and significance of the results obtained The classification of trends and concepts made it possible to substantiate the Russian idea of the writer and its role as a factor in the emergence of a new type of hero and a new plot, characterizing the artist's method and the renewal of Russian realism. An analysis of Dostoevsky's ideas about the historical mission of the Russian people in the fate of Christianity has made it possible to describe the construction and crisis of Russian identity. An examination of Dostoevsky's Christocentrism and religious idealism explains the emergence of a new type of hero in Russian realism and the origins of the religious-idealistic direction of Russian realism. Expanding the understanding of Dostoevsky's polyphony in terms of resentful consciousness, the classification of resentful types in the novel, Bonapartism, and Faustianism reveals the origins of the religious-mythological direction of Russian realism. An analysis of the writer's attitude toward Bonapartism and Faustianism shows their role in the creation of a new type of hero. The interpretation of the Russian plot in terms of the influence of religious ideals is significant in its interpretation of Raskolnikov's spiritual transformation in the context of compassion and mercy and as a victim of Bonapartism. The examination of the Siberian and American texts in the novel is fruitful as confirmation of Dostoevsky's Russian idea and the crisis of identity. The analysis of illocutionary influence in terms of the connection between plot development, rhetorical argumentation, and the manipulations of the characters and author became the basis for describing the author's, national, and cultural identity, identifying the crisis of Russian identity, and overcoming it. This complements the study of Dostoevsky's sense of justice. An analysis of the plot in terms of rhetorical strategies reveals Dostoevsky's innovation and complements the idea of the writer's rhetorical ideal, which can be traced back to the Gospel text. Compliance with scientific development trends or government programs The dissertation is consistent with the directions of development of science and higher professional education in Kazakhstan, which involve the formation of spiritual, moral, and civic values, the development of critical thinking, functional literacy, and communication skills among students. The study meets the objectives of the humanities in science, in particular, the development of literary studies, philosophy, rhetoric, cultural studies, and pedagogy. The analysis of Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment contributes to a deeper understanding of the problems of man, society, justice, freedom, and identity—topics that are relevant to both scientific and educational discourse. The work is based on an interdisciplinary approach, which is consistent with the directions outlined in the Concept for the Development of Humanities Education in Higher Education Institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in particular, the need to prepare individuals who are capable of making moral choices, exercising social responsibility, and reflecting on issues in a multicultural and legal society. The practical significance of the dissertation is related to the implementation of its results in the educational process of secondary and higher educational institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which fully corresponds to the course on the development of communicative and functional literacy approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the implementation of a competency-based approach in literary education. Thus, the research fully corresponds to the strategic objectives and priorities of the scientific and educational policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, strengthening the humanitarian component in the formation of the intellectual potential of the nation. Description of the applicant's contribution to the preparation of each publication The article “F. Dostoevsky's Worldview in Philosophical and Religious Interpretation” is a single-authored work. The applicant has interpreted the religious and philosophical interpretations of the writer's worldview, the writer's religious consciousness, and the metaphysics of the hero's personality. The article “Pushkin's Reception in F. Dostoevsky's Poetics (Nikolka and Sonetschka Marmeladova)” is a solo work. The author examines Pushkin's reception in terms of holy foolishness, archetypes of prophecy, and the search for truth. The article “Parable in the Structure of the Novel: O. Wilde and F. Dostoevsky” was written in collaboration with another author. The applicant conducted a comparative analysis of the Faustian motif, Christian archetypes, and the concept of spiritual healing in Dostoevsky's poetics. The article “The Philosophy of Law in the Artistic Consciousness of F.M. Dostoevsky” was written solely by the author. The candidate developed a classification of the characters in the novel Crime and Punishment from the perspective of Ressentiment. A connection was established between legal consciousness and polyphony, the author's ethics, and the genre nature of the novel. The article “The Philosophy of Morality, the Resentful Consciousness of the Hero, and Genre: Fyodor Dostoevsky's Novel Crime and Punishment” is solely authored by the applicant. The applicant has developed an interpretation of the novel's genre in terms of the philosophy of morality and resentful consciousness. The article “Metaphysics and Axiology of Crime and Personality in F. Dostoevsky's Novel ‘Crime and Punishment’” was co-authored. The candidate proposed an interpretation of Raskolnikov's Bonapartism as the source of the Russian idea of law. The article “Rodion Raskolnikov as the Russian Faust” was written solely by the applicant. The applicant revealed the characteristics of a Faustian text and identified elements of character manipulation and author manipulation of the reader. The article “Napoleon's paradox and the Russian idea of law in Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment. The Irrational / The Rational” was co-authored. The applicant analyzed the axiological and philosophical-religious foundations of the hero's resentful consciousness. The applicant's contribution consists in interpreting the Russian legal paradox. The article “The Russian Idea of Law in F. Dostoevsky's Novel from the Perspective of ‘Universal Humanity’” was co-authored. The applicant substantiates the Russian idea of law in the understanding of Bonapartism. The article “Typology of Reading Processes in Higher Education Institutions and Schools. Studying Fyodor Dostoevsky's Novel Crime and Punishment in Schools and Higher Education Institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan” was written solely by the author. The author proposes a typology of reading processes in higher education institutions and schools. The article “Plot Structure and Illocutionary Effect in Fyodor Dostoevsky's Novel Crime and Punishment” was written solely by the author. The author analyzed scenes depicting Raskolnikov's meeting with the investigator, revealed the connection between verbal interaction and the plot, and described the author's illocutionary influence techniques and methods of manipulation as a plot-forming mechanism. The article “Russian Socialism of N.G. Chernyshevsky and Russian Idea of F.M. Dostoevsky” was written independently. The applicant conducted a comprehensive comparative philosophical, historiosophical, and literary analysis of the polemics between the two writers. The role of polemics in the formation of the Russian idea in Dostoevsky's work was revealed. The article “Fyodor Dostoevsky's Siberian Text in the Formation of the Russian Plot” was written solely by the author. The applicant's contribution lies in interpreting the writer's experience of hard labor and exile as a source of the philosophical and aesthetic foundations of his later work, and in analyzing literary toponymy. For the first time, Siberian texts are considered as an element of Russian narrative. The article “The American Text of F. Dostoevsky: Idea and Plot as Discoveries of Realism” was co-authored. The applicant developed the concept of the “American text” in the novel “Crime and Punishment” and presented original research at the intersection of archetypal, religious, and cultural-historical poetics. List of published works on the thesis topic 1. Fyodor Dostoevsky's worldview in a philosophical and religious interpretation // Proceedings of the IX International Scientific and Practical Conference “Intercultural and Intracultural Communication: Theory and Practice of Teaching and Translation” – Ufa: BSU, 2020. ‒ pp. 34-43. 2. Pushkin's Reception in F. Dostoevsky's Poetics (Nikolka and Sonya Marmeladova) // Proceedings of the XXVI International Scientific Conference “Pushkin Readings-2021.” Artistic Strategies of Classical and Modern Literature: Genre, Author, Text. – St. Petersburg: Pushkin State University, 2021.‒ Pp. 9-13. 3. Parable in the structure of the novel. O. Wilde and F. Dostoyevsky // The American scholarly journal “Cross-Cultural Studies: Education and Science (CCS & ES)”. – Vol.6, Issue II, July 2021. Publisher address: Russian Department, Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont 05753, USA. ‒ Pp. 28-38 (Co-authored with K. Urazayeva, Zh. Kultanova). 4. The Philosophy of Law in Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Artistic Consciousness // Proceedings of the IX International Scientific Conference ‘The Phenomenon of the Creative Personality in Culture: Fatyushenkov Readings’ 17–19 September 2021. Collection of articles. Issue 9. ‒ Moscow: Lomonosov Moscow State University, 2021. ‒ pp. 315–320. 5. The philosophy of morality, the resentful consciousness of the hero, and genre. Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment // Materials from the International Online Conference ‘Language and Literature in the Sociocultural Space’ 22–23 April 2022. Collection of articles. – Karaganda: Buketov Karaganda State University. ‒ Pp. 94–100. 6. Metaphysics and Axiology of Crime and Personality in F. Dostoevsky’s Novel “Crime and Punishment” // Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities. – 2023. – No. 16 (4) – pp. 677–686. (Co-authored with Mokletsova I.V., Razumovskaya V.A.). 7. Rodion Raskolnikov as the Russian Faust // Proceedings of the 10th International Scientific Conference ‘The Phenomenon of the Creative Personality in Culture: Fatyushenkov Readings’ 29–30 September 2023. Collection of articles. Issue 10. – Moscow: Lomonosov Moscow State University, 2023. – Pp. 259–267. 8. Napoleon’s paradox and the Russian idea of law in Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment. The Irrational / The Rational // VI International Conference on Awareness Proceeding Book: LANGUAGE AND AWERENESS. – Turkey, 2023. – Pр. 106-112. (In cooperation with I. Mokletsova, V. Razumovskaya). 9. The Russian idea of law in F. Dostoevsky's novel from the perspective of ‘universal humanity’ // Bulletin of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Philological series. – 2024. – No. 1(193). – Pp. 138-149 (Co-authored with K.B. Urazaeva and I.V. Mokletsova). 10. Typology of reading processes in universities and schools. Studying Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment in schools and universities in the Republic of Kazakhstan // Bulletin of the Kh. Zhubanov ARU. ‒ 2024. ‒ No. 3(77). ‒ Pp. 86-92. 11. The structure of the plot and illocutionary effect in Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel Crime and Punishment // Materials from the Third All-Russian (National) Scientific Conference with International Participation, ‘Language and Culture in the Age of Globalisation,’ 28–29 October 2024. – St. Petersburg: SPbGEU Publishing House, 2024. – Pp. 204-209. 12. Russian Socialism of N.G. Chernyshevsky and Russian Idea of F.M. Dostoevsky // Bulletin of the A.K. Kussayinov Eurasian Humanities Institute. ‒ 2024. ‒ No. 4. ‒ Pp. 189-198. 13. F. Dostoevsky's Siberian text in the formation of the Russian plot // Materials from the International Scientific and Practical Conference “Altai Text in Russian Culture”. – Barnaul: AltSU Publishing House, 2025. – Pp.9-16. 14. American text by F. Dostoevsky. Idea and plot as discoveries of realism // Bulletin of the A.K. Kussayinov Eurasian Humanities Institute. ‒ 2025. ‒ No. 3. ‒ Pp.147-154 (Co-authored with G.K. Shomanova).
Conclusion of the Research Ethics Committee
Defense of the dissertation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJsiNh_zg7U
