This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the conflicts in P.D. Boborykin's play "Limescale," which was harshly criticized by his contemporaries, including Leonid Andreev. In his feuilleton "Moscow: The Little Things in Life," Andreev identified decadence, capitalism, and Nietzscheanism as the play's central themes, considering it artistically inadequate. Contrary to this viewpoint, the author of the article argues that the work's primary conflict lies not in the realm of socio-philosophical satire but is focused on the inner world and process of self-discovery of the main heroine, Olga Gorbatova. The article details her journey from an infantile girl, influenced by her surroundings, to a conscious rejection of imposed behavioral models and a search for her own path, which culminates in her decision to leave and aid the starving peasants. Furthermore, the article identifies other significant conflicts: the opposition between so-called "pure art" and art that is dependent on public taste and the financial support of patrons, as well as the problem of infantilism among the educated nobility, who are incapable of independent living and can only realize their ideals through someone else's financial backing. The author polemicizes with Andreev, challenging his interpretation of the characters and demonstrating that Boborykin's play, which in some ways anticipates Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard," remains relevant due to its themes of personal growth, freedom of choice, and the complex dialogue between art and society.
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