Valerii Shevchuk’s Story “Confession” Through the Prism of the Philosophy of Existentialism

The paper analyzes V. Shevchuk’s story “Confession”, in particular tracing the peculiarities of literary representation of ideas and motives of existentialism on the substantive and figurative levels. The focus is on the relationship between the philosophical, mythological, Christian, and neo-baroque plot/content and idea/image contexts of the work. The image of a werewolf in the creative interpretation of V. Shevchuk combined demonological and philosophical content, embodied the idea of the mystery and ambivalence of human nature, the tragedy of existence in the world, and also became an original illustration of the path from absurd existence to a true one. The existential context of the story is highlighted by the analysis of the feelings and states experienced by the heroes: despair, longing, metaphysical horror, alienation, etc. The way taken by both heroes runs through suffering, self-discovery, remorse, and redemption. It is their way to themselves and a way out of the one-dimensional plane of absurd existence, a process of creating the meaning of their own existence. An important stage on this path is the choice, which acquires the significance of a special borderline situation, in which the theme of the tragedy of human existence is actualized and the essence of man, the strength and weakness of his spirit, the desire for freedom are being most fully revealed. The original plot, compositional, narrative, and figurative structure of the story contributes to the unfolding of different time layers, furthers in-depth reflection of the inner world of the heroes and their moods, which create the context for the themes of human knowledge of oneself, the others, the world, and the truth. The historical, mythological, and philosophical story “Confession” testifies to V. Shevchuk’s desire not only to know a person and the complex dialectics of a personal inner world but also to affirm the uniqueness and value of human existence; like in his other works, the writer tries to understand and therefore to justify a person.