“THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO AHASUERUS”: APOCRYPHAL DISCOURSE OF THE NOVEL “THE WANDERING JEW” BY S. HEYM

Abstract

The article deals with the theoretical aspect of the concept of “apocryphal novel”, its difference from other literary transformations of Old Testament and canonical subjects and images. The specificity of the apocryphal discourse, its plot and meaning-forming functions in S. Heym’s novel “The Wandering Jew” are revealed. It is indicated that its components are a modification of the legendary image of Ahasuerus, an apocryphal evangelist in the text of the novel, and a semantically related narrative of the earthly ministry and the sin offering of Jesus. The principles of apocryphization and transcoding of the canonical gospels, as well as other religious and paralegal sources, are analyzed. The conclusions about the anti-dogmatic intentions of the author of the apocryphal novel “The Wandering Jew” are made, which aim at any manifestations of monopoly on truth and utopianism.