On the Worldview Discourse of Travel Diary

Abstract

Diary, namely, travel diary, as a literary genre, becomes established in Georgia together with appearance of travel literature. Everyday notes of the author, narration in the first person, immediateness and freedom of narration are the features which differentiate diary from similar literary forms (journeys, memoirs, notes…). A travel diary also offers noteworthy material for the study of its author’s worldview discourse.

The given presentation deals with the diaries of two writers of one period, from which the authors’ attitude is obvious, on the one hand, towards the eastern-Muslim, and, one the other one, the western-Christian worldview and value situation.

As is known, due to historical circumstances, in 1803-1810 Teimuraz Bagrationi (1782-1846) was in Persia. He described this period of his life in a travel genre work Sparsuli Dghiurebi (“Persian Diaries”). The text is significant for interpretation of the worldview discourse of the writer and at the same time is an interesting source for the history of Persia of that period. Teimuraz Bagrationi as the author is tolerant, he supports the unity and mutual respect of representatives of different religions.

The travel diary by Grigol Bagrationi (1790-1830) Mogzauroba Peterburgidan Vilnomde (“Journey from Petersburg to Vilno”) (1815) is also interesting. The author participated in a Russian military campaign against Napoleon. He had to visit Lithuania, Poland and Prague, where he was writing his diary. The surviving manuscript is not complete, however, the author’s interest and benevolence towards the European reality is obvious. In the diary of the Georgian Prince, fighting in the Russian troops against Napoleon, the sympathy is clearly demonstrated to the European peoples, their culture and values. This is exactly the result of the author’s freedom which is allowed by the genre specificity of the diary.