The Motive of Beauty as a Tool for Deconstructing Gender Stereotypes in L. Ulitskaya’s Short Story Cycle

Resumen

This article examines the transformation of the beauty motif in Lyudmila Ulitskaya's short prose. The object of the study is the stories from the collections «People of Our Tsar» and «The Secret of Blood». The subject of the analysis is the specific functioning of the beauty motif as an instrument for deconstructing gender stereotypes. The relevance of the work is determined by the need to reinterpret traditional aesthetic categories within contemporary gender studies. The primary focus is on how beauty is presented not as a static ideal, but as a dynamic social construct that criticizes patriarchal norms.
The methodological basis is a synthesis of the gender approach and motif analysis, which allows for the identification of stable semantic complexes and the tracing of their transformation. Particular attention is paid to the antithetical construction of characters, where physical attractiveness often contrasts with inner qualities. The analysis reveals that Ulitskaya creates a distinct "aesthetics of imperfection," asserting the priority of spiritual and moral beauty over physical appearance.
The results demonstrate that the beauty motif in Ulitskaya's prose serves not only a characterizing function but also a plot-forming one, directly influencing narrative development. The study concludes that the author's approach is innovative, as it rethinks traditional conceptions of feminine and masculine beauty, following and developing the tradition of F. M. Dostoevsky. Ulitskaya's artistic strategy aims to debunk patriarchal stereotypes, revealing true beauty as being linked to spiritual freedom and the moral integrity of the individual.