Abstract
<jats:p>The research aims to substantiate the evolution of the protagonist within the framework of the frontier phenomenon. Based on the novel “Kondrat Bulavin” by D. I. Petrov (Biryuk), the study identifies the ideological and thematic foundations of the dynamics of the frontier hero’s image and determines the character traits that result from his development within a fictional space grounded in the archetypal “Self/Other” opposition. The scientific originality of the study lies in the fact that, for the first time, the frontier concept is projected onto regional (Don) literature: the “borderland” formed by the frontier demonstrates significant culturological, historical, and socio-psychological aspects of such a space. The study emphasizes the importance of analyzing Don literature within the coordinates of the clash between “Self” and “Other” and the constant contact between various cultures and ethnicities. Consequently, the fictional space of the Free Don is characterized by national-cultural specificities and serves as an arena for major historical events. The results establish that the frontier phenomenon, as embodied in the fictional space, uniquely determines the evolution of the protagonist: the main character of the novel “Kondrat Bulavin” gradually abandons individual goals and the pursuit of communal benefits to strive for the higher ideals of freedom and equality.</jats:p>