ეთიკური პრობლემა ვაჟა-ფშაველას პოემა „სტუმარ-მასპინძელში
ეთიკური პრობლემა ვაჟა-ფშაველას პოემა „სტუმარ-მასპინძელში
ეთიკური პრობლემა ვაჟა-ფშაველას პოემა „სტუმარ-მასპინძელში
Faculty of Humanities
Annual
VI
ivane javaxiSvilis saxelobis
Tbilisis saxelmwifo universiteti
humanitaruli kvlevebi
weliwdeuli
VI
UDC(uak)050.8(479.22)
h-952
ISSN 1987-894X
levan beburiSvili
eTikuri problema vaJa-fSavelas poema
„stumar-maspinZelSi“
1
natroSvili 1947, 224.
2
naTaZe 1973, 207.
3
baqraZe 1990, 194.
4
reifildi 1982, 11.
5
arabuli 2011, 45.
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eTikuri problema vaJa-fSavelas poema „stumar-maspinZelSi“
6
SaTiriSvili 2006, 28.
115
levan beburiSvili
7
kiknaZe 2005, 130.
8
Ковалевский 1886b, 51.
9
mowerelia 1987, 30.
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eTikuri problema vaJa-fSavelas poema „stumar-maspinZelSi“
10
SaniZe 2009, 398, maxauri 2003, 136-151.
117
levan beburiSvili
11
SaniZe 2009, 51.
12
xangoSvili 2005, 67.
13
Берже 1859, 87.
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eTikuri problema vaJa-fSavelas poema „stumar-maspinZelSi“
14
margoSvili 1985, 43.
15
bardaveliZe 1971, 67.
16
Ингушетия 1999, 199-200.
17
xangoSvili 2005, 67.
119
levan beburiSvili
18
vaJa-fSavela 1964, 48.
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eTikuri problema vaJa-fSavelas poema „stumar-maspinZelSi“
19
Sdr.: `mas Semdeg, rac stumari datovebs maspinZlis keras da aRar
imyofeba misi dacvis qveS, sisxlis aRebis movaleoba kvlav ZalaSi
Sedis da SeiZleba aRsrulebul iqnas kidec yofili maspinZlis
mier~ _ Ковалевский 1886b, 53.
20
qiqoZe 1963, 250.
121
levan beburiSvili
21
kiknaZe 2005, 130-131.
22
Ковалевский 1886a, 78.
23
xangoSvili 2005, 61.
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eTikuri problema vaJa-fSavelas poema „stumar-maspinZelSi“
24
Ковалевский 1890, 66.
25
wowkolauri 2008, 270-271.
123
levan beburiSvili
26
wowkolauri 2008, 228.
124
eTikuri problema vaJa-fSavelas poema „stumar-maspinZelSi“
125
levan beburiSvili
27
arabuli 2011, 49.
126
eTikuri problema vaJa-fSavelas poema „stumar-maspinZelSi“
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bibliografia
References
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eTikuri problema vaJa-fSavelas poema „stumar-maspinZelSi“
Levan Beburishvili
Ethical Problem in Vazha Pshavela’s Epic Poem “Host and Guest”
In Georgian literary criticism the relationship between the individual and the
society is duly acknowledged to be one of the main issues of Vazha Pshavela’s
creative works. The mentioned problem is raised with the whole acuteness
in the epic poem “Host and Guest.” Some of the researchers consider that
the poem essentially depicts the tragedy of the man placed between the two
truths, and that the confrontation between the individual and the society is
conditioned by the ethical dilemma – the conflict among mutually incompat-
ible, obligatory moral norms. Accordingly, the conclusion has been reached
that both parties – the individual and the society – are right in their own ways.
This opinion was developed by G. Natroshvili, N. Natadze, A. Bakradze,
D. Reyfield, Z. Shatirishvili and other literary critics who gave different inter-
pretations to it. From the point of view of these authors, both parties (Jokola
and the community) follow only one compulsory custom (Jokola – hospital-
ity; the community – the tradition of revenge); which, according to the re-
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searchers, is conditioned by the fact that both revenge and hospitality are
equally powerful customs and it is impossible to follow both of them under
such circumstances. This also means that, according to the customary law, it
is not defined which of the moral habits is more preferable in this particular
instance when the guest is also an enemy; and it is not defined either how the
host should behave in such a case. Therefore, they come to the conclusion that
both parties are right in their own way.
In order to clarify the issue, on the one hand, it is necessary to take into
account folkloric-ethnographic materials because, as it is noted in scientific
literature, “… such a characteristic custom of hospitality as the one presented
by Vazha Pshavela is not a poetic picture, but it is a real expression of the con-
crete reality. This is confirmed by ethnographic findings” (Grigol Kiknadze),
and, on the other hand, there should be conducted an in-depth analysis of the
poem “Host and Guest” itself.
Based on the analysis of the folkloric-ethnographic materials of the Cau-
casian peoples, the conclusion can be drawn that according to the custom-
ary law of the highlanders of the Caucasus, after the enemy stepped over the
threshold of a family, the preference used to be given to hospitality and the
duty of revenge on him was abolished, but it came into practice again only
after leaving the host’s family. So, it can be said with certainty that Jokola
Alkhastaidze behaves consistently; therefore, speaking about the negligence
(or unilateralism) of any duty on his part is completely unjustifiable.
Actually, in this case when the dignity of its own member is hurt, the
community itself violates the tradition. From the point of view of highlanders,
the cult of the hearth was so strong that nobody was excused for disrespecting
it. A highlander used to make an oath holding the chain of the hearth, stealing
the chain of the hearth was regarded as an unforgivable crime, and shooting
the gun at the house was equal to shooting a man. According to the customary
law, no stranger could interfere with family matters without a permission of
the head of the family. The latter’s functions were so great that, as it has been
noted, sometimes it was he who made decisions even over such issues as life
and death of the family member. The fact that the guest of the family under
no circumstances had a right to do anything willfully is clearly seen in the text
of the poem. On seeing the old Kist as Jokola’s guest, Zviadauri got pale and
covertly tried to grab a dagger but promptly managed to refrain “because a
guest mustn’t create a disturbance in the family of a stranger.” It’s obvious,
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eTikuri problema vaJa-fSavelas poema „stumar-maspinZelSi“
the Kists who came to Jokola’s house were considered to be guests themselves
and by kidnapping the other visitor from the family they would disgrace the
dignity of the host.
Vazha Pshavela masterfully shows the psychology of the crowd. The
thirst for revenge makes the Kists lose their mind. The crowd acted in a fit of
passion and could not be fully aware of the peculiarities of the situation and
aimed at taking their revenge at any cost.
As a result, by acting in accordance with their customs the community
breaches the rules of its own life, it does not take into account place and time
factors, which were so crucial that they even acquired sacred importance.
Pursuant to the oldest representation, some of their behaviour strictly obeys
the principles of place and time. Hence, even in the community the norms of
customs should have been performed in accordance with the accepted consis-
tency. This was what Jokola demanded from the community.
Although the thirst for revenge makes the crowd lose its reason, the Kists
still feel a sense of guilt. This fact is clearly confirmed by the artistic detail,
when they are secretly going to capture Jokola’s guest. “The community be-
haves willfully when it does not notify Jokola about its decision. On the con-
trary, the spy having been sent to Jokola’s family is tasked by the community
that “on no account should Jokola be informed about the intention of the vil-
lage”. Naturally a question arises: Why has Jokola been concealed from their
aim? Obviously, they are going to violate the tradition”- duly comments Davit
Tsotskolauri. The Kists know very well that a worthy man will never let his
guest be insulted, that is why Zviadauri has been stealthily captured. The
community thinks that by putting Jokola face to face with the fact they will be
able to restrain his personal will. Not being able to break Jokola by bullying
him, they try to entice him with the insidious psychological shock when they
notify him: “It was he who killed your brother”. Jokola manages to pass even
this test, he tries to overcome the great spiritual pain, not to betray his moral
principles: “All that you are trying to say …/ may be true ,/ you can’t tie my
heart / to your wishes with thread. / He is my guest today, / though he owes
me a sea of blood, / I cannot betray him. / I swear it, by God, his creator.”
The circumstance that shows which side is right in this situation can be
obviously seen at the time of the verbal confrontation between Jokola and
Musa. Jokola duly blames his countrymen for defying their own religion and
breaking the rule of God. The reference to hospitality as to the “Rule of God”
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clarifies once again that according to the customary law, the inviolability of
the guest bears the nature of a religious duty. As Jokola says, the behaviour of
the community is unbelievable, nobody in Kisteti has ever heard of the guest
having been treated in such a way: “Why are you here? he cried, /‘Whose
guest are you binding with a rope? / Why are you breaking our sovereign
law? / Why are you drenching my head with mud? / Who has ever betrayed
a guest? / No one has ever come across such a thing in Kisteti./ What have I
done, then, / that you are all at my door? / You’ve forgotten the rules of your
own cult, / that is why you are acting so feloniously.”
If hospitality and the custom of “Blood Law” have equal force, then “the
Rule of the Lord” mentioned by Jokola should be confronted by the Kists
with the other kind of “Rule of the Lord”. The citation – “but God himself
commanded to treat the enemy with hostility.” – which the researchers use
as the argument supporting the community, is actually uttered by the Kists
after punishing Zviadauri. Nobody cites this commandment while arguing
with Jokola, as the community knows quite well that in this case it cannot
be a strong argument because, in accordance with the hierarchy of customs,
hospitality is more plausible.
That is why the sacred authority is cited only by Jokola, and the com-
munity cannot manage to offer any convincing moral arguments. Their only
proof is force and the sole decision of the community: “Whatever the tribe
must do, it will do / according to the tribal rules”. Briefly, Jokola has been
blamed for “the betrayal of the community” and the rebellion against the
unanimous decision taken with the consent of the majority.
In this case the supreme authority for the community is not the “Rule of
the Lord”, but practical necessity. And using a a modern term, the “demo-
cratic” will of the majority is declared to be the supreme authority. “The Di-
vine Rule” is confronted by the narrow utilitarian aspiration. The community
forgets the sacred custom, because it is not convenient for it in this situation,
so it uses the selective law.
In contrast to the community, Jokola is the personality with strong values.
The moral laws have the comprehensive, imperative importance for him in
any case and he honestly follows them even if he has to confront the commu-
nity. The moral values for Jokola stand above the will of the majority and he
remains faithful to them to the end.
So, here the personal morality does not contradict the social morale as it
is sometimes noted. The individual does not constitute any new moral laws,
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