Статтю присвячено дослідженню повісті «Настрічу сонцю золотому» Марії Колцуняк, у якій знайшла художнє втілення поширена в українській літературі кін. ХІХ – поч. ХХ ст. тема ролі інтелігенції в житті народу. Основну увагу приділено особливостям характеротворення головних персонажів, які зображені письменницею як позитивні типи молодої української інтелігенції.
The article is dedicated to investigating the novel “Towards the Golden Sun” by the
non famousUkrainian writer Mariya Koltsunyak. This literary work is the artistic embodiment of the wide spread in the Ukrainian literature of the end of the 19 th century – the beginning of the 20 th century theme of the educated people’s role in the life of the population The main attention in the article is paid to the peculiarities of the novel main characters creating – educated person of the common origin Shpefan Marchuk and the stepdaughter of the clerk, the folk teacher Lida Omens’ka, who are depicted by the writer as the positive types of the young and patriotically oriented educated people. The characters of the novel “Towards the Golden Sun” are analyzed compared with the achievements of the other writers prose (I. Nechuy-Levyts’ky, D. Makohon, Ulyana Kravchenko, Ivan Sadovy), dedicated to the life and work of the teachers intellectuals. The autobiographical elements in the character of the people teacher are emphasized. The author of the article found that M. Koltsunyak reveals the world outlook and features of the main characters through their thoughts using indirect speech, internal monologues, and through communication of the characters, detecting position in life, attitudes, often close to the author’s. According to the researcher’s view, valid for both days of late 19th century – early 20 th century and modern Ukraine is the thought of Shtefan Marchuk and, accordingly, of M. Koltsunyak of the high purpose of educational work and the role of the teacher’s personal qualities. These reflections are revealed due to using the biblical symbol image of the grain – ideas, knowledge and cultural values that teachers have to bring to the younger generation. The author of the article concludes that the idealized characters are the representatives of the democratic educators. They are characterized by adapting to the fate of their people, the advantage of social and national values above their personal interests. Despite the limited concept of the positive type of the intellectual and cultural educated person, the important proposal in M. Koltsunyak’s work is addressed to the intellectuals’ organic guideline approach to people, focus on the hard work for the people and together with them to improve the national cultural and economic level of life, to achieve general development of the nation.