Aristokratijos likimas: Henriko Ževuskio metamorfozės
LTVolynės aristokrato Henriko Ževuskio (Rzewuski) (17911866) gyvenimas ir kūryba netelpa vien tik į istorinės Lietuvos politinės tradicijos ar lenkų literatūros raidos rėmus. Jo pasaulėžiūra, godžiai sugerdama ano meto filosofines ir socialines doktrinas, atspindėjo rytinio Europos kultūrinio pakraščio mentalines metamorfozes. Aristokratinės tradicijos nykimas ir bandymas ją atgaivinti niekada nebuvo išskirtinė vakarinių Rusijos imperijos žemių problema, bet senosios europietiškos kultūros krizės požymis. Bent taip ją suprato pats H. Ževuskis [p. 217-218].
ENThe collapse of the Polish-Lithuanian state in the end of XVIII c. caused the differentiation of political society in its views on Russian rule. A part of magnates from eastern lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) - namely those contradicting the constitution of May 3, 1791 - turned out to be quite loyal to the new order. Its usual both for Lithuanian and Polish historiography to assess the loyalty of conservative magnates as cooperation with czarism; the major ideologist of them is depicted as a political reactionary and cultural retrograde. Still a deeper analysis of his views proves such attitude to be misleading. H. Rzewuski, the famous author of "Memoirs of the Count Soplica” based his ideology and cultural positions on aristocratic world-outlook. Ideology of Polish liberation movement seemed utopie and of secondary importance to him, since he placed individuality above society. Capitalization of all spheres of life, devaluation of moral principles, disintegration of class society testified to the beginning of the "new life”. The future of aristocracy became problematic. Reflections by Rzewuski reveal a painful evolution of aristocratic consciousness to national identity. The article demonstrates ethnopolitical tradition the GDL still influential in the first half of XIX c. Political views of H. Rzewuski can be treated as an expression of conservative ideology of "evolutionary struggle" by millenaires.His attempts to take an aesthetic view on actual problems and to live in conformity with the noble sarmatian principles naturally opposed him to the newly appearing burgeoise society. He considers religion to be the unique unifying able of bringing diverse classes and groups together and by force of morality uplifting people above violence and absurdity of daily life. Destitute of faith in possible victory of Polish national movement against czarism, he hoped to reform the structure of government. One of major roles in the project had to be played by "soul" apd "blood" aristocracy. His creation records for history shifts in the mentality of feudal aristocracy in the first half of XIX c.
