ART AS A LIFE-AFFIRMATING SYMBOL IN POLINA DIBIROVA’S NOVEL “ORNAMENT ON MY PALM”

Abstract

The article analyzes a new work, utterly astonishing in its form and profound in its philosophical understanding of a literary phenomenon – Polina Dibirova’s novel “Ornament on My Palm”, which she dedicated to her grandfather, Paruk Murtuzalievich Debirov, a renowned art historian, teacher, and scholar. His life’s journey – its difficulties and hardships, determination and faith in his dream, loyalty and resilience, kindness and integrity – became a guiding light and moral compass for the aspiring author. The writer chose to write in the first person, which undoubtedly lends authenticity and sincerity to all the events of his life. The theme of art runs through the entire plot, as a crucial life-affirming symbol in the protagonist’s life, helping them overcome the most terrible trials and hardships, discovering their gifts and strength to realize all their bright hopes and dreams. The article concludes that Polina Dibirova’s novel raises a number of crucial issues, the relevance of which is linked to human life and the choices that determine each person’s future fate. Readers are presented with depictions of the most difficult trials faced by the main character: war, injury, captivity, the struggle with oneself, with desires and honour, with feelings and duty, with human cruelty and baseness, the years in the camps, and the encounter with true love, loyalty, and sincerity. Throughout the narrative, we see a person with an inner core, a true highlander who lives by the laws of honor and conscience.