Проблеми виховання й піклування в романі Фредріка Бакмана «Моя бабуся просить їй вибачити»

Our study aims to investigate the problems of upbringing and care in Fredrik Backman’s novel “My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry”, whose main character is a seven-year-old girl Elsa. Although the story is told in the third person, the events are presented directly from the heroine's point of view, and the figure of the “omniscient author” looms over it. At the same time, the author does not moralize or dominate; he comforts and reassures, helping the reader go through difficult life trials with the heroine. The image of Elsa’s grandmother plays an equally important role and can rightfully be considered another main character of the work. The concept of care takes on a modern meaning in Backman's novel: the grandmother, who loves Elsa, does not care about her wealth or education but helps the child find the meaning of life and learn to distinguish inner beauty from a person's appearance. The girl becomes braver and learns to communicate by completing her grandmother's task. She starts helping others and learns to accept help, forgive, and apologize. The word “sorry” in the title plays a crucial role: despite all the difficulties and trials, both main characters love the world and people, and this love is the most important heritage the grandmother leaves to the girl. Love for people, acceptance of oneself, and tolerance of other people, even those who are very different, become the basis for accepting life, the world, and everyone as the highest value.