PROBLEMATICA GENIULUI ȘI A IDENTITĂȚII NAȚIONALE ÎN NUVELA STÂNGACIUL DE N.S. LESKOV

This paper examines the representation of national identity in N.S. Leskov’s short story The Tale of Cross-eyed Lefty from Tula and the Steel Flea, focusing on the symbolic role of the protagonist as an embodiment of the neglected Russian genius. Set against the ideological debates of the 19th century between Slavophiles and Westernizers, the narrative highlights Russia’s ambivalence toward modernization and its ongoing struggle to define cultural specificity. By contrasting Russia with England, the story reveals the cultural and institutional barriers that hinder the recognition of native talent. The analysis combines literary interpretation with historical context, offering an interdisciplinary perspective that shows how Leskov’s narrative reflects broader debates between Slavophiles and Westernizers and contributes to the construction of Russian cultural self-understanding in the 19th century.