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In the novel by A. S. Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter" two opposite characters are depicted: the noble Pyotr Grinev and the dishonest Alexei Shvabrin. The history of their relationship is one of the main plot cores of The Captain's Daughter and reveals in detail the problem of protecting honor in the novel.
essay:
The novel by Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter" is devoted to the problem of protecting and preserving honor. To reveal this topic, the author depicts two opposite characters: the young officer Pyotr Grinev and Alexei Shvabrin, exiled to the Belogorsk fortress for a duel.
Young Pyotr Grinev appears in the novel as an infantile, poorly educated nobleman, not ready for adult life, but in every possible way wishing to break out into this adult life. The time spent in the Belogorsk fortress and in the battles near Orenburg changes his character and fate. He not only develops all his best noble qualities, but also finds true love, remaining an honest person as a result.
In contrast to him, the author depicts Alexei Shvabrin from the very beginning as a man who clearly crossed the line between honor and dishonor. According to Vasilisa Yegorovna, Alexei Ivanovich "was discharged from the guards for murder, he does not believe in the Lord God." Pushkin endows his hero not only with a bad character and a penchant for dishonest deeds, but also symbolically draws a portrait of a man with a “swarty face and remarkably ugly”, but at the same time “excessively lively”.
Perhaps it is Shvabrin's liveliness that attracts Grinev. The young nobleman is also very interesting to Shvabrin, for whom the Belogorsk fortress is a link, a dead place in which he does not see people. Shvabrin’s interest in Grinev is explained by the desire to “finally see a human face” after five years of being in the hopeless wilderness of the steppe. Grinev feels sympathy for Shvabrin and spends a lot of time with him, but gradually feelings for Maria Mironova begin to take over more and more. This not only alienates Grinev from Shvabrin, but also provokes a duel between them. Grinev wants to take revenge on Shvabrin for slandering his beloved, whom Shvabrin takes revenge on for rejecting him.
During all subsequent events, Shvabrin increasingly shows his dishonor and, as a result, turns into the ultimate villain. All the most disgusting features of Grinev wake up in him: a slanderer, a traitor who forcibly wants to marry Maria. He and Grinev are no longer friends and not even comrades-in-arms, Shvabrin not only becomes disgusting to Grinev, in the Pugachev uprising they become on opposite sides. Even entering into relations with Pugachev, Grinev cannot go to the end, he cannot betray his noble honor. For Shvabrin, honor is initially not so important, so it doesn’t cost him anything to run across to the other side, and then slander honest Grinev.
Grinev and Shvabrin are two opposites that diverge as quickly as they attract. These heroes choose different paths, but the denouement still turns out to be successful for the honest Grinev, who was pardoned by the Empress and lived a long happy life, unlike Shvabrin, who disappeared without a trace under the ringing of chains in the prison corridors.
Even more essays on the topic: “Relations between Grinev and Shvabrin”:
The historical story "The Captain's Daughter" is the last work of A.S. Pushkin, written in prose. This work reflects all the most important themes of Pushkin's work of the late period - the place of the "little" person in historical events, moral choice in harsh social circumstances, law and mercy, people and power, "family thought". One of the central moral problems of the story is the problem of honor and dishonor. The resolution of this issue can be seen primarily in the fate of Grinev and Shvabrin.
These are young officers. Both serve in the Belogorsk fortress. Grinev and Shvabrin are nobles, close in age, education, mental development. Grinev describes his impression that the young lieutenant made on him in the following way: “Shvabrin was very clever. His conversation was sharp and entertaining. With great gaiety, he described to me the commandant's family, his society and the land where fate had taken me. However, the characters did not become friends. One of the reasons for hostility is Masha Mironova. It was in the relationship with the captain's daughter that the moral qualities of the heroes were revealed. Grinev and Shvabrin turned out to be antipodes. The attitude to honor and duty finally divorced Grinev and Shvabrin during the Pugachev rebellion.
Pyotr Andreevich is distinguished by kindness, gentleness, conscientiousness, and sensitivity. It is no coincidence that Grinev immediately became “native” for the Mironovs, and Masha fell in love with him deeply and selflessly. The girl confesses to Grinev: "... until the grave, you alone will remain in my heart." Shvabrin, on the contrary, makes a repulsive impression on others. The moral defect is already manifested in his appearance: he was short in stature, with a "remarkably ugly face." Masha, like Grinev, is unpleasant to Shvabrin, the girl is scared away by his evil tongue: "... he is such a mocker." In the lieutenant, she feels a dangerous person: “He is very disgusting to me, but it’s strange: I would never want him to like me either. That would make me afraid." Subsequently, having become a prisoner of Shvabrin, she is ready to die, but not to submit to him. For Vasilisa Egorovna, Shvabrin is a “murderer,” and Ivan Ignatich, an invalid, admits: “I myself am not a fan of him.”
Grinev is honest, open, straightforward. He lives and acts at the behest of his heart, and his heart is freely subject to the laws of noble honor, the code of Russian chivalry, and a sense of duty. These laws are unchangeable for him. Grinev is a man of his word. He promised to thank the random guide, and did so despite Savelich's desperate resistance. Grinev could not give half a ruble for vodka, but he gave the counselor his hare sheepskin coat. The law of honor forces the young man to pay a huge billiard debt to the not-too-fairly playing hussar Zurin. Grinev is noble and ready to fight a duel with Shvabrin, who insulted the honor of Masha Mironova.
Grinev is consistently honest, while Shvabrin commits immoral acts one after another. This envious, vicious, vengeful person is accustomed to act by deceit and deceit. Shvabrin intentionally described Grinev Masha as a "perfect fool", concealed from him his matchmaking for the captain's daughter. Grinev soon understood the reasons for Shvabrin's deliberate slander, with which he pursued Masha: "Probably, he noticed our mutual inclination and tried to distract us from each other."
Shvabrin is ready to get rid of the opponent by any means. Insulting Masha, he skillfully infuriates Grinev and provokes a challenge to a duel, not considering the inexperienced Grinev a dangerous opponent. The lieutenant planned the murder. This man stops at nothing. He is used to having all his desires fulfilled. According to Vasilisa Yegorovna, Shvabrin was “transferred to the Belogorsk fortress for murder”, for “stabbing a lieutenant in a duel, and even with two witnesses”. During the duel of officers, Grinev, unexpectedly for Shvabrin, turned out to be a skilled swordsman, but, taking advantage of a favorable moment for him, Shvabrin wounded Grinev.
Grinev is generous, and Shvabrin is low. After the duel, the young officer forgave the "unfortunate opponent", and he continued to treacherously take revenge on Grinev and wrote a denunciation to his parents. Shvabrin constantly commits immoral acts. But the main crime in the chain of his constant baseness is going over to the side of Pugachev not for ideological, but for selfish reasons. Pushkin shows how, in historical trials, all the qualities of nature are fully manifested in a person. The vile beginning in Shvabrin makes him a complete scoundrel. Grinev's openness and honesty attracted Pugachev to him and saved his life. The high moral potential of the hero was revealed during the most difficult tests for the strength of convictions. Grinev several times had to choose between honor and dishonor, and in fact between life and death.
After Pugachev "pardoned" Grinev, he had to kiss his hand, that is, recognize him as a king. In the chapter "The Uninvited Guest", Pugachev himself arranges a "test of compromise", trying to get a promise from Grinev "at least not to fight" against him. In all these cases, the hero, risking his life, shows firmness and intransigence.
Shvabrin has no moral principles. He saves his life by breaking his oath. Grinev was amazed to see "among the foremen Shvabrin, cut in a circle and in a Cossack caftan." This terrible man continues to relentlessly pursue Masha Mironova. Shvabrin is fanatically obsessed with the desire to achieve not love, but at least obedience from the captain's daughter. Grinev gives an assessment of Shvabrin’s actions: “I looked with disgust at the nobleman, wallowing at the feet of a runaway Cossack.”
The author's position coincides with the views of the narrator. This is evidenced by the epigraph to the story: "Take care of honor from a young age." Grinev remained faithful to duty and honor. He said the most important words to Pugachev: “Just don’t demand what is contrary to my honor and Christian conscience.” Shvabrin violated both noble and human duty.
Source: mysoch.ru
The story "The Captain's Daughter" by A. Pushkin attracts the reader not only with interesting historical facts, but also with vivid, memorable images of heroes.
Young officers Petr Grinev and Aleksey Shvabrin are characters whose characters and views are completely opposite. This is evidenced by how differently they behave in everyday life, in critical situations, in love. And if you feel sympathy for Grinev from the very first pages of the story, then acquaintance with Shvabrin causes contempt and disgust.
The portrait of Shvabrin is as follows: "... a young officer of short stature, with a swarthy face and remarkably ugly." To match the appearance and his nature - evil, cowardly, hypocritical. Shvabrin is capable of dishonest deeds, it doesn’t cost him anything to slander or betray a person for his own benefit. This person most of all cares about his "selfish" interest.
Having failed to achieve the love of Masha Mironova, he not only seeks to stand in her way to happiness, but also tries to force the girl to marry him with the help of threats and force. Saving his life, Shvabrin is one of the first to swear allegiance to the impostor Pugachev, and when this is revealed and he is brought to trial, he gives false testimony against Grinev in order to somehow avenge all his failures.
In the image of Pyotr Grinev, all the best features of the nobility were embodied. He is honest, brave, courageous, just, knows how to keep his word, loves his fatherland and is devoted to his duty. Most of all, a young man has sincerity and straightforwardness. He is alien to arrogance and sycophancy. Having managed to win the love of Marya Ivanovna, Grinev reveals himself not only as a tender and devoted admirer. Above all, he puts her honor, her name, and is ready not only to defend them with a sword in his hand, but also to go into exile for the sake of Masha.
With his positive character traits, Grinev conquered even the robber Pugachev, who helped him free Masha from the hands of Shvabrin and wanted to be planted by his father at their wedding.
I am sure that in our time, many would like to be like Pyotr Grinev, while I would never want to meet Shvabrin.
Source: www.ukrlib.com
Aleksey Ivanovich Shvabrin is not only a negative character, but also the opposite of Pyotr Andreevich Grinev, the narrator on whose behalf the story is told in The Captain's Daughter.
Grinev and Shvabrin are not the only characters in the story who are somehow compared with each other: such “pairs” form almost all the main characters of the work: Empress Catherine - the false emperor Pugachev, Masha Mironova - her mother Vasilisa Yegorovna, - which allows us to say about comparison as one of the most important compositional techniques used by the author in the story.
It is interesting, however, that not all of these heroes are absolutely opposed to each other. So, Masha Mironova, rather, is compared with her mother and shows as much devotion to her chosen one and courage in the struggle for him as captain Mironova, who was not afraid of the villains and accepted death with her husband. The opposition of the "couple" Ekaterina - Pugachev is not as unambiguous as it seems at first glance.
These warring and warring characters have many close traits and similar actions. Both are capable of both cruelty and the manifestation of mercy and justice. In the name of Catherine, the supporters of Pugachev (a mutilated Bashkir with a cut off tongue) are brutally persecuted and subjected to brutal torture, and Pugachev commits atrocities and executions along with his comrades. On the other hand, both Pugachev and Ekaterina show mercy towards Grinev, saving him and Marya Ivanovna from trouble and finally arranging their happiness.
And only between Grinev and Shvabrin nothing but antagonism is found. It is already indicated in the names by which the author calls his heroes. Grinev bears the name of Peter, he is the namesake of the great emperor, for whom Pushkin, of course, had the most enthusiastic feelings. Shvabrin was given the name of a traitor to his father's cause - Tsarevich Alexei. This, of course, does not mean at all that every character in Pushkin's work bearing one of these names should be correlated in the reader's mind with the named historical figures. But in the context of the story, where the problem of honor and dishonor, devotion and betrayal is so important, such a coincidence seems to be no coincidence.
It is known how seriously Pushkin took the concept of ancestral honor of the nobility, to what is usually called roots. It is no coincidence, of course, that is why the story tells in such detail and in detail about the childhood of Petrusha Grinev, about his family, in which the traditions of centuries-old noble education are sacredly preserved. And let these "habits of dear old times" be described not without irony - it is obvious that the author's irony is full of warmth and understanding. And in the end, it was the thought of the impossibility of dishonoring the honor of the family, that did not allow Grinev to commit betrayal against his beloved girl, to violate the officer's oath.
Shvabrin is a man without a family, without a tribe. We do not know anything about his origin, about his parents. Nothing is said about his childhood, about his upbringing. Behind him, it seems, there is no spiritual and moral baggage that supports Grinev. Shvabrin, apparently, no one gave a simple and wise instruction: "Take care of honor from a young age." Therefore, he easily neglects it to save his own life and simply for personal well-being. At the same time, we note that Shvabrin is an inveterate duelist: it is known that he was transferred to the Belogorsk fortress for some kind of "villainy", probably for a duel. He challenges Grinev to a duel, moreover, in a situation where he himself is to blame: he insulted Maria Ivanovna, vilely slandering her in front of the lover Pyotr Andreevich.
It is important that duels in the story are not approved by any of the honest heroes: neither Captain Mironov, who reminded Grinev that "fights are formally prohibited in the military article", nor Vasilisa Yegorovna, who considered them "death murder" and "murder", nor Savelich. Grinev accepts the challenge, defending the honor of his beloved girl, Shvabrin, on the other hand, from the fact that he was rightly called a liar and scoundrel. Thus, in his addiction to duels, Shvabrin turns out to be a defender of a superficial, falsely understood honor, a zealot not of the spirit, but of the letter of the law, only of its external observance. This once again proves that he has no idea of true honor.
For Shvabrin, nothing is sacred at all: no love, no friendship, no duty. Moreover, we understand that the neglect of these concepts is a common thing for him. From the words of Vasilisa Egorovna, we learn that Shvabrin "does not believe in the Lord God," that he "was discharged from the guard for murder." Not every duel and not every officer was fired from the guard. Obviously, some ugly, vile story was connected with that duel. And, consequently, what happened in the Belogorsk fortress and subsequently was not an accident, not the result of momentary weakness, not just cowardice, in the end forgivable under certain circumstances. Shvabrin came to his final downfall naturally.
He lived without faith, without moral ideals. He himself was unable to love, and neglected the feelings of others. After all, he knew that Masha was disgusted, but, despite this, he harassed her, stopping at nothing. The advice that he gives Grinev in relation to Marya Ivanovna betrays a vulgarity in him (“... if you want Masha Mironova to come to you at dusk, then instead of gentle rhymes give her a pair of earrings”), Shvabrin is not only mean, but also cunning. After the duel, fearing new troubles, he plays a scene of sincere repentance in front of Grinev. Further events show that the simple-hearted Grinev believed the liar in vain. At the first opportunity, Shvabrin vilely takes revenge on Grinev by betraying Marya Ivanovna Pugacheva. And here the villain and criminal, the peasant Pugachev, shows nobility incomprehensible to Shvabrin: he, to Shvabrin's indescribable malice, releases Grinev and Masha Mironova with God, forcing Shvabrin to give them "a pass to all outposts and fortresses subject to him. Shvabrin, completely destroyed, stood as if dumbfounded "...
The last time we see Shvabrin, when he, arrested for his connection with Pugachev, chained, makes a last attempt to slander and destroy Grinev. Outwardly, he has changed a lot: “his hair, recently jet-black, has completely turned gray,” but his soul is still black: he uttered his accusations, albeit in a “weak, but bold voice” - so great were his anger and hatred for the happiness of the opponent.
Shvabrin will end his life as ingloriously as he lived: loved by no one and loved no one, serving no one and nothing, but only adapting all his life. He is like a tumbleweed, a plant without a root, a man without a family, without a tribe, he did not live, but rolled down,
until you fall into the abyss...
History of creation. Subject
In the 1830s, Pushkin's interest in Russian history increased. The writer was especially interested question of popular uprising. This was greatly facilitated by Pushkin's contemporary events - peasant "cholera" riots, soldier uprisings. In the light of these events, the historical lessons of the Pugachev rebellion received sharp political meaning.
Throughout the 1830s, Pushkin was intensively engaged in historical research. Work in the archives, meetings with surviving witnesses of the Pugachev uprising allowed the writer to prepare a lot of material and draw important conclusions. The writer was convinced that the social interests of the landlords and peasants, the nobility and the people were in many respects opposite. Hence Pushkin's conclusions about the historical conditionality of the uprising of the oppressed against the oppressors.
AT 1833 Pushkin writes the novel " Dubrovsky". Its theme is a peasant revolt. The novel was left unfinished. Pushkin was not satisfied with the image of Dubrovsky. According to Pushkin, the leader of the popular uprising was to be not a romantic hero - a noble robber, but a man from the people, depicted from a realistic position.
At the same time, in 1833, Pushkin was working on a historical essay - " The history of the Pugachev rebellion". This work became, as a result, the documentary basis of The Captain's Daughter.
By 1833, Pushkin's plan of the novel about Schwanwich- an officer who went over to the side of Pugachev. Subsequently, however, the writer abandoned the plan to make Shvanvich the main character of the new novel. In The Captain's Daughter, instead of Shvanvich, Shvabrin appears - a negative character. According to Pushkin, the traitor could not be the central character of the work, as well as the narrator. Only an honest, worthy person could act as a narrator - a "confidant" of the author himself. This is how the image of Grinev arises.
As a result, Pushkin managed to write a work of art that was fundamentally new both in content and in form - "The Captain's Daughter" (1836). The main theme of Pushkin's creation was Pugachev uprising. At the same time, the writer draws wide pictures of the life of the nobility and the people in the 1770s.
Main problems
In The Captain's Daughter, two circles can be conditionally distinguished problems: socio-historical and moral.
We will refer to the socio-historical problem of the people and related the problem of the Russian national character. Moral issues include the problem of cruelty and mercy, the problem of honor and duty and other problems.
Pushkin comprehends the problem of the people through the correlation of the images of Pugachev and Savelyich, through the description of the characters of the inhabitants of the Belogorsk fortress - Captain Mironov and his wife Vasilisa Yegorovna, father Gerasim and the priest Akulina Pamfilovna, police officer Maksimych, the serf maid Palashka, other characters - representatives of the people or people from it.
The writer's comprehension of the problem of the Russian national character is also connected with these same characters; here the ratio of the images of Pugachev and the Orenburg general German Andrey Karlovich, Savelich and Monsieur Beaupré is also important.
To study the problem of cruelty and mercy, the image of Pugachev, the images of his associates - Khlopushi and Beloborodov, as well as the image of Empress Catherine II are especially important.
The problem of honor and duty is revealed mainly through the opposition of such characters as Grinev and Shvabrin. The figure of Father Grinev is also important here. In addition, different facets of this problem are comprehended on the example of Captain Mironov, Vasilisa Yegorovna, Masha Mironova, Ivan Zurin, and other characters.
Ideological orientation
In the ideological orientation of the novel, two sides can be distinguished. Consider, first, Pushkin's attitude to the popular uprisingand to his leader; Secondly, Pushkin's attitude to Grinev and other characters.
On the one hand, Pushkin could not have a positive attitude towards the destructive power of rebellion, its cruelty. “God forbid to see a Russian rebellion, senseless and merciless!” Grinev exclaims. The position of the narrator reflects the position of the author here.
At the same time, Pushkin, unlike Grinev, understood that the indestructible freedom of the people.
Ambiguous attitude of Pushkin and Pugachev- a cruel rebel and at the same time a man of a broad soul, full of prowess, courage, not devoid of a sense of mercy. Pugachev in the image of Pushkin calls not only rejection, but also sympathy.
Depicting Grinev and Masha and opposing Grinev to Shvabrin, the writer claims such moral values, how honor and fidelity to duty. At the same time, the writer is aware the historical limitations of Grinev's worldview, misunderstanding by the hero of the love of freedom of the people.
Depicting Catherine II, Pushkin claims the ideals of mercy. It is no coincidence that Ekaterina Grinev's forgiveness was seen as a covert appeal by the writer to the tsar with a request to pardon his Decembrist friends. Thus, in the depiction of Pushkin, both the cruel robber and the imperious empress are capable of mercy.
In addition, in the images of Grinev and Masha, Pushkin sought to capture the ideal of selfless love and service to one's neighbor: first, Grinev rescues Masha from trouble, then Masha saves her fiancé from the royal wrath.
The meaning of the title
The title of the work draws the reader's attention to character of the main character. Undoubtedly, the spiritual image of Masha Mironova influenced the author's choice of title for the novel. A simple girl from the people, a noblewoman in the second generation, Masha combined the best features of the Russian national character - a living faith in God, the ability for deep, sincere love, courage, selflessness. Like Tatyana Larina from "Eugene Onegin", Masha Mironova is a bright, memorable Pushkin image, "sweet ideal" of the author.
Thanks to Masha, the characters of other characters in the novel are also revealed: driven by sincere love for Masha, Grinev defends noble honor and human dignity in severe life trials; in relation to the main character, meanness, meanness of Shvabrin's soul is fully revealed; risking their own lives, Father Gerasim and Akulina Pamfilovna save Masha from both Pugachev and Shvabrin; Helping an orphan, the cruel impostor and imperious Empress Catherine II show mercy. Masha, thus it turns out at the center of the most important events and moral conflicts of the novel.
creative method
"Captain's daughter" - realistic work with some features of romanticism.
Pushkin's novel is distinguished by a deep historicism, which manifests itself primarily in the fact that the writer showed objective meaning depicted by him historical events. In particular, Pushkin showed that the reasons for the uprising are objectively historical in nature. The writer argues that the popular indignation was not caused by the personal qualities of the tyrant ruler, as often portrayed in the works of romantics. It is no coincidence that Catherine II in the image of Pushkin does not look like a tyrant-tyrant; she is shown as an imperious, but at the same time gracious ruler.
Pushkin tried to convey to the reader the idea that the cause of the riot was cruelty of the authorities in relation to the peasants, Cossacks, non-Russian peoples who inhabited Russia, the whole system of oppression of the people. Pushkin writes about this, for example, in a historical excursus placed at the beginning of the chapter "Pugachevshchina", where the writer mentions "strict measures" by the government in relation to the Yaik Cossacks. This is also evidenced by the terrifying view of the mutilated Bashkir, who was interrogated by Captain Mironov. One more example - view of the convicts with "faces disfigured by the executioner's tongs", at the beginning of the Siege of the City chapter.
The objectivity of the reasons for the uprising is also confirmed by the fact that the common people invariably supported Pugachev.
Rebellion leader in "The Captain's Daughter" not a romantic "noble robber", a man of the people endowed with bright character traits, but by no means not idealized. Pushkin does not hide Pugachev's rudeness, his ignorance. At the same time, Pushkin notes such character traits of the leader of the uprising as lively mind, people's ingenuity, sense of justice, ability to mercy.
The realism of The Captain's Daughter also manifested itself in Pushkin's portrayal of typical characters in typical circumstances. The writer has created wonderful types of ancient nobles(Grinev's parents), types of ordinary Russian people(Captain Mironov, his wife Vasilisa Egorovna, serf servant Savelich, many others).
Researchers note in The Captain's Daughter and some traits of romanticism. This, in particular, entertaining plot, which includes extraordinary situations, incredible events (Grinev's miraculous deliverance from death, his "heartfelt" conversations with Pugachev, transmission of a letter from Masha to Grinev through the constable Maksimych, Masha's rescue from Shvabrin's hands with the help of Pugachev, Grinev's second meeting with Zurin, Masha's fateful meeting with the Empress in the garden; others episodes); romantic features in the guise of Pugachev.
Genre originality
The genre of The Captain's Daughter can be defined as historical novel in memoir form.
An important feature of The Captain's Daughter as a historical novel is documentation. The accuracy of historical descriptions brings The Captain's Daughter closer to works of scientific and historical prose, in particular, to Pushkin's The History of the Pugachev Riot. Indeed, in The Captain's Daughter, the writer sought to recreate real events Pugachev uprising- unrest of the Cossacks on the Yaik River, the capture of fortresses by the rebels, the siege of Orenburg.
In The Captain's Daughter we meet a series real historical persons. This is Catherine II, Pugachev, his associates Khlopusha and Beloborodov.
At the same time, The Captain's Daughter, in contrast to The History of the Pugachev Rebellion, not a historical work, but a novel. Historical events in the work are refracted through the prism personal destinies of fictional characters, connected not only with historical events, but also love affair.
In addition, Pushkin's novel was created in memoir form. The story is told on behalf of the fifty-year-old father of the family, Pyotr Andreevich Grinev. He writes his memoirs during the "mild reign of Emperor Alexander." The memoirist talks about his youth, which coincided with the era of the reign of Catherine II, with the events of the Pugachev rebellion.
The choice of the memoir by the writer is not accidental. First of all, it was important for Pushkin show events Pugachev rebellion from the standpoint of an eyewitness. The writer needed a witness who could truthfully tell about the participants in the uprising, about Pugachev and his associates.
Besides, writing memoirs is a characteristic feature of the spiritual life of educated people of the 18th century. The memoir form gave Pushkin's work a special color of the era.
Finally, it was also important Pushkin's desire to avoid censorship difficulties. The memoirs were supposed to be written by a convinced opponent of the uprising, but at the same time an objective, impartial witness to its events.
Characters
Grinev - hero and narrator
So, a nobleman who did not share the position of the rebels, but at the same time maintained objectivity in covering their actions, had to act as a witness to the Pugachev rebellion.
An honest and decent person could become such a narrator. It is for this reason that Pushkin did not want to make a nobleman a narrator who betrayed his duty and went over to the side of Pugachev: Shvanvich (the prototype of Shvabrin), originally intended by Pushkin to be a memoirist, eventually took the place of a negative hero - Grinev's antagonist, but not the narrator. As a result, the narrator became Petr Andreevich Grinev.
Grinev the hero, who is also the narrator, appears before us in young age and in adulthood and – respectively - in two roles.
Pyotr Grinev acting as hero and participant of the described events, - this is young officer, representative of the ancient nobility. He grew up in a family that was highly regarded human honor and dignity.
The Pushkin hero is distinguished by such traits of worldview and character as sincere faith in God, in His good providence, fidelity to duty, self-esteem, courage and courage in life's trials, kindness, sincere generosity, the ability to sincere feelings, fidelity in love and at the same time frivolity,inexperience, sometimes irascibility.
Concerning Grinev the narrator, then this is no longer an ardent young man, but wise by life experience fifty year old man,father numerous families.
Grinev the narrator is distinguished by undoubted literary ability, manifested in youth a sense of humor, a gift for irony, a penchant for philosophical generalizations.
The most important means of disclosure Grinev's character is character system and story. In addition, extremely important epigraphs to individual chapters, conveying the author's position in relation to the hero.
AT character system and in the plot of the work Grinev is opposed to Shvabrin. Grinev is a representative of the ancient patriarchal nobility, connected with the people by moral ties. Shvabrin, on the other hand, comes from St. Petersburg secular circles, an adventurer, an egoist, an atheist who has nothing sacred in his soul. In this regard, the betrayal of Shvabrin, and then his denunciation of Grinev, is natural. The meanness, moral uncleanliness of Shvabrin is opposed to Grinev's high moral qualities, which are most fully revealed in the story of his love for Masha Mironova.
In ideological terms, Pugachev is also opposed to Grinev. On the one hand, Grinev and Pugachev are brought together by the ability to appreciate goodness, a sense of gratitude for good deeds. On the other hand, Grinev is unable to understand Pugachev's love of freedom. In Grinev's view, a popular revolt is associated only with robbery, disasters and destruction. This position of Grinev is evidenced by his perception of the Kalmyk fairy tale about the eagle and the raven, told by Pugachev. “To live by murder and robbery means, for me, pecking at carrion,” says the narrator.
Grinev's character is also revealed in plot works. The hero passes love test.
At the same time, the story of love is closely intertwined in The Captain's Daughter with the story of a popular uprising. Grinev passes tested not only by love, but also by the tragic events of the Pugachev rebellion.
Other characters
Andrey Petrovich Grinev- the father of the protagonist and narrator Pyotr Grinev.
Grinev father - representative old nobility, human honor and duty. The high moral principles of the hero are manifested in the following situations.
In the first chapter (“Sergeant of the Guard”) Andrei Grinev gives his son a blessing to serve faithfully, appreciating noble honor and loyalty to the oath above all. This is most clearly expressed by the proverb that the father uttered as parting words to his son: "Take care of the dress again, and honor from a young age." Grinev, the father, is against his son serving in the guards regiment in St. Petersburg, where he can only learn to "wind and hang out." Andrei Petrovich sends his son to the army so that he "smells the gunpowder" and becomes a real defender of the fatherland.
Compassion, kindness and hospitality shows Grinev-father in relation to the orphan Masha Mironova - the bride of his son.
At the same time, the novel reveals such qualities of the hero as irascible temper and arrogance landowner-serf. This is evidenced primarily by Grinev's father's insulting letter to Savelich (chapter "Love"), where he calls the faithful servant an old dog and threatens to send him to pasture pigs because he could not prevent Petrusha's duel with Shvabrin and did not report this incident to the old master.
Avdotya Vasilievna- the mother of Petrusha Grinev, a woman extremely kind, infinitely loving son. Avdotya Vasilievna, like her husband Andrei Petrovich Grinev, personifies patriarchal world of the ancient nobility with his high moral principles, cordiality, hospitality.
Savelich(Arkhip Savelyev) - Grinev's serf, aspirant, connoisseur of hunting dogs and at the same time caring uncle (serf tutor) Petrusha Grinev, the narrator's constant companion in all his adventures. It is significant that it was Savelyich who was Petrusha's mentor, taught him Russian literacy.
Savelich, a man of the people, personifies such character traits as selflessness, loyalty to duty. At the same time, it distinguishes thrift, even avarice.
Savelich, unlike Pugachev the rebel, to whom he is opposed in the novel, does not think about the will. For him to bethe slave of his masters is the state of nature. He can't even imagine his life without his owners. At the same time the hero not devoid of human dignity. This is especially evident at the moment when Savelich adequately responds to the angry, insulting letter from Grinev the father addressed to him (chapter "Love").
Pushkin depicts Savelich with irony, noting some of the funny aspects of his character and behavior.
We note the most striking episodes with the participation of Savelich. In the first chapter ("Sergeant of the Guard") the hero acts as Petrusha's zealous mentor, speaking indignantly about the French tutor Monsieur Beaupré, a drunkard and libertine. The expulsion of Monsieur Beaupré from the house causes Savelich "an indescribable joy." In the Simbirsk episode, when Petrusha lost a hundred rubles to Zurin, the god servant manifests himself as a selfless defender of the lord's money and property. We see Savelich in the same way in the chapter “The Counselor”: the old servant refuses to give money to Pugachev for vodka and, reluctantly, gives him a hare sheepskin coat by order of the owner. At the moment of the duel (chapter "Duel") Savelich is trying with all his might to stop the duel, and his cry becomes an involuntary cause of the master's injury; then a faithful servant selflessly cares for the wounded (chapter "Love"). Having received an insulting letter from Grinev's father, a faithful servant writes a response to the master, full of human dignity.
Courage and courage are shown by Savelich, standing up for the master at the time of the execution of the defenders of the fortress (chapter "Attack"). Meanwhile, the faithful servant's selfless concern for the lord's goods looks comical in the episode of reading, in the presence of Pugachev, the register of Grinev's belongings compiled by Savelich, plundered by the rebels (chapter "Separation"). Savelich refuses to be left alone in Orenburg and accompanies Peter on a trip full of dangers to the Belogorsk fortress (chapter "Rebellious Sloboda").
Thus, in the character of a servant dedication and courage connect with slavish loyalty to the masters and also with some stinginess.
Monsieur Beaupré- Petrusha's teacher - type of alien adventurer. The hero came to Russia in search of a prosperous life. Such "teachers" literally flooded the country, satisfying the huge demand from the Russian landowners, who, in the words of Griboyedov, were striving to recruit for their children "teachers of the regiment, more in number, at a cheaper price."
An adventurer who was "in his own country" a hairdresser, then a soldier in Prussia, Beaupre vaguely imagined even the meaning of the word "teacher." Pushkin's hero personifies drunkenness and debauchery.Beaupre contrasted in the novel Savelich, a man of strict rules.
However, later it turns out that the fencing lessons Petrusha received from Beaupré were useful to him in the fight with Shvabrin. In addition, it turns out that Petrusha could still read French: he read French books borrowed from Shvabrin in the fortress.
Ivan Ivanovich Zurin– typical army officer, which combines addiction to wine, gambling with good nature and camaraderie. The character's character is revealed mainly in two episodes.
In the Simbirsk episode (the head of the Sergeant of the Guards), Zurin made Grinev drunk with wine and won a hundred rubles from him in billiards, taking advantage of his inexperience. However, in the episodes described in the chapter "Arrest", Zurin acts nobly, assisting his friend in a difficult situation for that.
General Andrey Karlovich R., a former colleague and old comrade of Grinev's father, Peter's boss, is type of pedantic, limited and stingy German, in Russian military service. The general is characterized by obsolete ideas about the world around him: he is all in the previous era.
The portrait of Andrei Karlovich was drawn by the writer in contrast to the description of Pugachev's appearance. The appearance of the general, dressed in an “old faded uniform”, which “resembled a warrior from the time of Anna Ioannovna”, testifies to the ironic attitude towards him on the part of the narrator.
Two episodes characterize the general most fully. The first (so-called Orenburg) episode, which concludes the second chapter, takes place during Peter's acquaintance with the new boss, at the moment the general reads a letter from Grinev's father. The general's speech is conveyed in a comic vein. Andrei Karlovich's German accent emphasizes the narrator's irony in relation to the incompetent Orenburg boss. Particularly comical is the episode with the interpretation of the Russian turnover “keep in tight fist”, which the German does not immediately understand.
No less comical are other episodes related to the general, described in the tenth chapter entitled "The siege of the city."
In the system of characters, the German general is opposed to Pugachev. General's Limitation sets off outstanding personality traits of the leader of the uprising.
Captain Ivan Kuzmich Mironov- commandant of the Belogorsk fortress. This is a bright folk character.
Ivan Kuzmich is not of a noble family: he came from soldier's children and was promoted to officer and received hereditary nobility for courage and bravery shown in military campaigns.
Captain Mironov is a man honest and kind, modest, devoid of ambition, ambition. In everyday life, described in the chapter "Fortress", Ivan Kuzmich manifests himself as an eccentric who is entirely "under the heel" of his wife. With humor, Pushkin describes the useless activities of Ivan Kuzmich with the "soldiers".
However, at the moment of danger, Ivan Kuzmich shows courage, heroism, loyalty to the oath(chapter "Attack"). Ivan Kuzmich is distinguished living faith in God. He blesses Masha, asks for forgiveness from his wife, anticipating an imminent death. He boldly leads the small garrison of the fortress, protecting it from a large crowd of rebels, he decides to make a daring sortie. Being taken prisoner, he does not agree to swear allegiance to the impostor, boldly denounces him, courageously faces death.
The story about the tragic fate of Captain Mironov in the chapter "Attack" is preceded by an epigraph from the folk song "My head, little head ...", emphasizing the connection of the hero's character with deep national roots.
crooked lieutenant Ivan Ignatich, seemingly the same simple-hearted and limited person as Ivan Kuzmich, in a moment of danger he also shows courage and courage, refuses to serve Pugachev and accepts death.
Vasilisa Egorovna, the wife of Ivan Kuzmich, is a wonderful type of Russian woman. It is power-hungry, but at the same time hospitable mother commander, who took over not only the household, but the entire garrison of the fortress. “Vasilisa Yegorovna looked at the affairs of the service as if they were her master’s and managed the fortress as precisely as she did her house,” the narrator notes.
Vasilisa Egorovna is distinguished warmth, cordiality, hospitality, which is especially evident in her attitude towards Grinev.
The story about the traditional way of life of the Mironov family in the chapter "Fortress" is preceded by an epigraph from Fonvizin: "Old people, my father." The words of the epigraph emphasize patriarchal foundations the life of Vasilisa Egorovna and her entire family.
In a moment of danger, Vasilisa Egorovna shows courage, courage, deep faith in God, in His providence.“In the stomach and in death, God is free,” says Vasilisa Yegorovna at the moment of parting with her husband before the fight. After the execution of the defenders of the fortress, Vasilisa Yegorovna, mourning her husband, boldly denounces Pugachev and fearlessly meets death.
Masha Mironova–bright female character, comparable in its significance in Pushkin's work with the character of Tatyana Larina from the novel "Eugene Onegin".
Unlike Tatyana, Masha is a simple girl, a noblewoman in the second generation.
Like Tatyana, she is distinguished by such qualities as sincere faith in God, selflessness, fidelity in love and at the same time modesty, the deepest humility.
We find the exposition of the image of Masha in the third chapter called "Fortress". The narrator draws a portrait of Masha, emphasizing her simplicity and naturalness. It was "a girl of about eighteen, chubby, ruddy, with light blond hair, combed smoothly behind her ears, which were on fire with her."
Consider the most significant episodes associated with Masha Mironova. Masha selflessly cares for the wounded Grinev (chapter "Love"). Although the heroine likes Petrusha and she has a mutual feeling for him, she does not agree to marry him without the blessing of his parents. Here Masha shows the deepest humility before the will of God, as well as firmness of character. The heroine behaves courageously and steadfastly, remaining in the Belogorsk fortress under the rule of Shvabrin. Masha categorically refuses to marry Shvabrin, despite the fact that he kept her imprisoned in a half-starved state.
Masha's character is most clearly revealed in her noble deed at the end of the novel. Masha goes to Empress Catherine II to intercede for her fiancé. The heroine amazes the queen with her modesty, sincerity, fidelity to the groom. Masha asks Catherine not for justice, but for mercy (Grinev, although he was not a traitor, nevertheless arbitrarily left Orenburg and used the help of Pugachev, for which he had to be punished). Masha's sincere intercession contributed to the fact that her fiancé was released from custody and pardoned; in addition, the queen granted Masha a dowry.
Family happiness and many children Masha and Grinev, which we learn from the words of the publisher at the end of the work, become a reward for the feat of selfless service of heroes to each other.
An important role in creating the image of Masha is played by epigraphs to the chapters “Love” and “Orphan” (“Oh, you girl, red girl! ..”, “If you find me better, you will forget ...”, “Like our apple tree ...”). Borrowed by Pushkin from folk songs, they emphasize live the connection of Masha's character with the folk-poetic element.
broadsword–faithful maid Mironov, agile and sly, who did not leave Masha in trouble at a difficult moment.
Father Gerasim- a priest who showed courage and was not afraid to shelter Masha at a moment of mortal danger. Like his wife Akulina Pamfilovna, "the first news-keeper in the whole neighborhood", Father Gerasim is distinguished by cordiality, hospitality, sincere compassion for one's neighbor.
Cossack constable Maksimych- folk character type of rogue Cossack. On the eve of the capture of the Belogorsk fortress by the rebels, Maksimych defected to the side of Pugachev and began to serve him. The hero showed his cunning at the moment when he handed Grinev a fur coat and a horse from Pugachev, having appropriated “half of the money”, allegedly losing it on the way ... Grinev forgave him this fifty, and Maksimych subsequently repaid good for good: exposing himself to danger, he gave Grinev a letter from Masha.
Alexey Ivanovich Shvabrin- a native of St. Petersburg secular circles. He was dismissed from the guard and sent to the Belogorsk fortress for "murder" in a duel.
Pushkin did not accidentally decide to oppose Grinev to Shvabrin. Grinev is a representative of the ancient patriarchal nobility, whose spiritual values are close to the people. Shvabrin - a secular adventurer, an egoist, an atheist who has nothing sacred in his soul. In this regard, the betrayal of Shvabrin, and then his denunciation of Grinev, is natural.
The meanness, moral uncleanliness of Shvabrin is manifested in all the episodes associated with him. At the first meeting with Grinev, Shvabrin allows himself to speak disrespectfully about the family of Captain Mironov, about Vasilisa Yegorovna and Masha, while taking advantage of their hospitality.
Shvabrin mocks Grinev's poems, while allowing himself offensive remarks about Masha. Having provoked Grinev to a duel, he vilely strikes his opponent at the moment when Petrusha turns around at Savelich's cry.
Apparently, it is Shvabrin who informs old Grinev about the duel, hoping that Petrusha, at the request of his father, will be transferred from the Belogorsk fortress to another place.
Shvabrin acts like a traitor, going over to Pugachev's side at the moment of the capture of the fortress. Having been appointed commandant of the fortress by Pugachev, Shvabrin keeps Masha by force, keeps her imprisoned, trying to force her to marry him.
He is trying to deceive Pugachev at the moment when he and Grinev arrive at the fortress to free Masha.
Finally, being arrested for his service to Pugachev, Shvabrin slanders Grinev, and his slander becomes the main reason for Petrusha's arrest.
Some episodic and mentioned persons
In Pushkin's novel there are a large number of episodic and simply mentioned persons. Let's name some of them.
Prince B., major of the guard, a St. Petersburg relative and patron of the Grinevs, personifies Petrusha's dreams of serving in the capital. It should be noted that Prince B. is not only ready to provide protection to Petrusha upon entering the service in the Semenovsky regiment (as we know, Grinev the father refused this patronage), but also takes care of the Grinevs at a difficult moment for them: he informs his parents of information about Petrush when he is under arrest.
master of the mind(of a small inn), the Yaitsky Cossack "of about sixty, still fresh and vigorous", who sheltered Grinev and Savelich during a snowstorm, Pugachev's interlocutor in allegorical conversations, is a vivid folk character.
Mutilated Bashkirian, who was going to be tortured by Captain Mironov (the head of "Pugachevshchina"), reminds the reader of the cruelty of the authorities towards the people. It is no coincidence that this particular character becomes the executioner at the time of the execution of the defenders of the fortress in the chapter "The Attack".
On the contrary, baptized KalmykYulai, personifying fidelity to duty, turned out to be a victim of the rebels.
Anna Vlasevna, the wife of the stationmaster, an unusually kind woman, sincerely striving to help Masha at the time of her arrival in Tsarskoye Selo, turns out to be at the same time a peddler of all kinds of gossip and gossip, an expert on "all the mysteries of court life."
historical persons
In the novel, historical figures also act and are mentioned. Let's give some examples.
Catherine II- Russian empress. Pushkin draws her majestic, imperious, but at the same time simple, gracious and cordial. The image of Catherine is correlated with the image of Pugachev. With all the differences in the appearances of these two historical figures, they are united in the author's view by one common feature - the ability to be merciful.
Afanasy Sokolov (Hlopusha) and corporal Beloborodov- Companions of Pugachev. Each of Pugachev's associates in his own way sets off the character of the leader of the uprising. Beloborodov personifies the cruelty, uncompromisingness, ruthlessness of the rebels in relation to the enemies; Khlopusha - generosity and folk wisdom.
Count Munnich- a military and statesman who served at the court of the Russian Empress Anna Ioannovna and, in particular, commanded the army in the Russian-Turkish war of 1735-1739. In 1742 he was exiled by Empress Elizaveta Petrovna to Siberia. The mention of Count Munnich in the first chapter allows us to judge that Grinev's father at the time of sending his son to the army was already in his mature years: he was at least fifty years old.
Sumarokov and Trediakovsky- authors of the XVIII century, mentioned by Grinev and Shvabrin. The names of these writers, as well as the authors of the epigraphs prefixed to individual chapters ( Knyazhnin,Kheraskov,Fonvizin), help Pushkin to recreate the flavor of the era.
Prince Golitsyn and Ivan Ivanovich Michelson- military leaders who took part in the suppression of the Pugachev rebellion.
Pugachev
leader of the popular uprising Emelyan Pugachev- the most striking image in "The Captain's Daughter". Pugachev - one of the central in the work (along with Grinev and Masha).
Pugachev is a real historical person who appears before the reader in the artistic interpretation of Pushkin. The writer interprets his personality in his own way, showing the hero in fictional situations, in a collision with fictional characters. This is the originality of the disclosure of the character of the hero in the genre framework of the historical novel.
It is also significant that it is not Pushkin himself who tells about Pugachev, but a fictional character and at the same time the narrator Pyotr Andreevich Grinev. The memoir form thus helps Pushkin to show Pugachev as an eyewitness to the events of the popular uprising.
A distinctive feature of Pugachev's personality is inconsistency, contrast of spiritual qualities.
The hero is distinguished by a number of opposite character traits. it capacity for mercy, gratitude and extreme cruelty, indomitable freedom-loving and at the same time ruthlessness to all who stand in his way, cunning and the same time spiritual simplicity,military talent and impotence in relation to his own associates, love of life and consciousness of his own doom.
The character of Pugachev is revealed in comparison with other characters, in numerous episodes works, in the narrator's mind, as well as in chapter titles, in epigraphs to individual chapters and in works of folk art used by Pushkin not only in epigraphs, but also in the main text of the work. This, in particular, song“Don’t make noise, mother green oak tree ...”, as well as Kalmyk story about the eagle and the raven. In addition, the narrator draws portrait Pugachev, characterizes him speech. The novel also uses other means of revealing the character of the leader of the uprising. This, for example, landscape- description of the storm, dream Grinev.
Consider a few proverbs used by the writer when creating the image of Pugachev. They emphasize the liveliness of the hero's mind, his ingenuity, the people's view of the world. For example, releasing Grinev on all four sides (chapter "The Uninvited Guest"), Pugachev says: "Execute like this, execute like that, have mercy like that." The proverb emphasizes the breadth of Pugachev's soul and at the same time the polarity of his character, the combination of cruelty and mercy in his nature. It is significant that in the chapter "The Orphan" the hero again utters a similar proverb: "Execute so execute, favor so favor." It turns out that Pugachev is able not only to pardon Grinev and Masha, but also to help them from the bottom of his heart.
Pugachev's ability to be grateful for kindness is also marked by a proverb. “Debt in payment is red,” Pugachev says to Grinev in the chapter “Rebellious Sloboda,” apparently recalling the hare sheepskin coat.
Plot and compositional features. Brief analysis of the work by chapters
In "The Captain's Daughter" fourteen chapters.
The novel as a whole and each individual chapter are preceded by epigraphs. Total in the work seventeen epigraphs. Sixteen precede the fourteen chapters of the novel, one the entire work.
Pushkin borrowed the texts of the epigraphs from two sources:from the works of Russian writers of the 18th century and from the works of folk art. The writer sought thereby, firstly, to recreate color of the era, secondly, to convey the elements of people's life, worldview of the people.
Sometimes the writer resorted to hoaxes: so, the epigraph to the chapter "Rebellious Sloboda" was invented by Pushkin, and not taken from Sumarokov, as indicated in the text. The epigraph to the chapter "Orphan" was also written by the poet himself based on a folk song.
Before analyzing the novel chapter by chapter, let's pay attention to the epigraph to the whole work: "Take care of honor from a young age." This epigraph (part of the proverb) focuses the reader's attention on the most important moral problem of the novel - the issue of human honor and dignity.
At the heart of the plot works - the love story of Petrusha Grinev and Masha Mironova.
First chapter entitled "Sergeant of the Guard" can be considered as exposition of the image of Grinev.
Samo chapter title contains irony: the reader will soon learn that Petrusha received the rank of sergeant while still in the womb. Chapter precedes epigraph from Knyazhin. This epigraph, like the title, sets the story of Grinev's adolescence ironic tone:
- If he were a guard, he would be captain tomorrow.
- That is not necessary; let him serve in the army.
- Pretty well said! Let him push...
.......................................
Who is his father?
In the first chapter, Pushkin gives a laconic, but very bright a picture of the provincial landlord life, picture education of a noble youth. Unlike Onegin, Grinev was hardly touched by education in the French manner. The French tutor Monsieur Beaupre turned out to be a drunkard and red tape, for which he was expelled from the house by Grinev's father. Monsieur Beaupré is opposed by Savelyich, Grinev's serf uncle, a man of firm moral rules.
Despite the irony of the first chapter, the author emphasizes a very serious fact: Grinev comes from an old noble family. His family is highly regarded honour,nobility. From this point of view, Grinev's father's decision to send his son to serve not in the guards, but in the army is important. symbolic parting words from Grinev Sr.: "Take care of the dress again, and honor from a young age." This proverb in a truncated form became the epigraph to the entire novel.
Ends the first chapter Simbirsk episode. For the first time, Grinev had to defend noble honor in a very comical situation. Grinev demands money from Savelich's servant to pay for the loss in billiards to Zurin.
Second chapter called " counselor". This word is used by Pushkin in an obsolete sense: "a guide who shows the way." However, the word "counselor" has another, symbolic meaning: in the leader, the reader guesses the future leader of the popular uprising.
To the chapter "Counselor" epigraph taken from an old recruit song; Pushkin made minor changes to its text. Let's quote it in full:
Is it my side, side,
Unfamiliar side!
Why didn't I come to you myself,
Is it not a good horse that brought me:
Brought me, good fellow,
Agility, gallant vivacity
And khmelinushka tavern.
It is difficult to say unequivocally to which of the characters the words of the folk song refer. Ironically - partly to Grinev. After drinking with Zurin, losing in billiards, a quarrel with Savelich and an “inglorious” departure from Simbirsk, the hero ended up in a “side” that was really unfamiliar to him. For Pugachev, this "side" was not unfamiliar. This becomes obvious from Grinev's conversation with the "counselor" during a snowstorm. “The side is familiar to me,” answered the roadman, “thank God, it is well-trodden and traveled far and wide.” The epigraph also opposes the title of this chapter - "The Leader". After all, the "counselor" can only be in the "little side", familiar to him.
And yet in the second chapter, which is an exposition of the image of Pugachev, the content of the epigraph is connected primarily with the character of the future leader of the uprising. The epigraph predicts the most important features of Pugachev: the breadth of nature, valiant prowess, blood connection with the people.
Next, consider the well-known description of the blizzard, preceding the meeting of Grinev with the counselor - Pugachev: “The wind, meanwhile, grew stronger from hour to hour. The cloud turned into a white cloud, which rose heavily, grew and gradually enveloped the sky. A fine snow began to fall and suddenly fell in flakes. The wind howled; there was a blizzard. In an instant, the dark sky merged with the snowy sea. Everything is gone."
It is important to emphasize symbolic meaning images of a storm. Buran personifies popular anger, popular indignation, element of rebellion the participants and witnesses of which will be the heroes of the novel. It is no coincidence that from the snowstorm for the first time in front of the reader the figure of Pugachev looms, still shrouded in mystery.
The central compositional element of the second chapter is Grinev's dream. As you know, the role of sleep in the composition of the work is twofold.
First, it contains "something prophetic", in the words of the narrator. Indeed: in this dream, the most important events in the life of Grinev, his bride, and also Pugachev are predicted; the inseparable connection between the fates of these heroes is revealed. It should be noted that Pushkin repeatedly uses the method of "prophetic" sleep (remember Tatyana's dream in "Eugene Onegin").
Secondly, in a dream the most essential are revealed, and polar facets of Pugachev's character: cruelty and mercy.
The paradox of the situation recreated in Grinev's dream lies in the fact that the hero's mother asks her son to receive a blessing from a peasant with a black beard, who strongly reminds us of a counselor; the man himself in Grinev's dream acts as a "planted father", that is, a person who plays the role of the parent of the bride or groom at the wedding. As we learn from the further narrative, it is Pugachev who will play a decisive role in rescuing Masha from captivity and “bless” Grinev and his bride for marriage.
An important compositional element of the second chapter is the description of appearance, portrait of Pugachev. Details such as "hair cut in a circle", "army", "harem pants" emphasize that Pugachev looks here like a poor Cossack, even a "tramp". The main thing in his appearance is not clothes, but the expression on his face, his eyes: “...his lively big eyes just ran around. His face had a rather pleasant, but roguish expression. Analysis of the portrait of Pugachev helps us to identify originality his personality.
The analysis of the next episode (the conversation of the counselor with the owner of the mind) allows us to get acquainted with such a form of allegory used by Pushkin in his work, as conversation using proverbs and sayings(“They began to call for evening, but the priest does not order: the priest is visiting, the devil is in the churchyard”; “It will rain, there will be fungi; and there will be fungi, there will be a body”).
Next important episode second chapter - scene with a hare sheepskin coat. Grinev's generosity, as it turned out later, served him in good stead. The significance of this episode is not only that it characterizes Grinev as a person in whose soul a feeling of gratitude is alive. Subsequently, we will see that Pugachev also knows how to appreciate the good. " Strange "friendship of Pugachev and Grinev, thanks to which Grinev's life was saved at the tragic moment of the capture of the fortress by the rebels and thanks to which he was able to free his bride, it began with the "hare sheepskin coat".
Ends the chapter Orenburg episode- Grinev's meeting with the general. The appearance of Andrei Karlovich is outlined by the writer in contrast with the appearance of Pugachev. The general's description testifies to ironic attitude towards him from the narrator.
General's insignificance sets off natural mind, ingenuity, the breadth of Pugachev's nature.
So, we see how compositional elements of different nature (the title of the chapter, the epigraph to it, the description of the snowstorm, Grinev's dream, the portrait of the "counselor", the "thieves' conversation, the episode with the hare's sheepskin coat, the Orenburg episode) are subordinated to the main goal - to identify significant features of the leader of the popular uprising Pugachev.
third chapter novel called "Kr e post" can also be considered as exposition.
Chapter prefaced two epigraphs. The first is taken from a soldier's song:
We live in a fort
We eat bread and drink water...
He sets the reader to the perception of the garrison life of the "fortress" lost in the steppes.
The second epigraph is taken from D.I. Fonvizin's comedy "Undergrowth": "Old people, my father." The epigraph prepares us for a meeting with the family of Captain Mironov.
In the third chapter, Pushkin introduces a number of new characters into the narrative. This is Ivan Kuzmich Mironov - the commandant of the fortress, his wife Vasilisa Yegorovna, their daughter Masha, the serf servant of the Mironovs Palashka. In addition, these are the crooked lieutenant Ivan Ignatich, the Cossack officer Maksimych, the priest father Gerasim, the priest Akulina Pamfilovna, who appears in subsequent chapters, and other characters.
Highly appreciating the "Captain's Daughter", N.V. Gogol claimed that in the novel "truly Russian characters appeared for the first time: a simple commandant of the fortress, a captain, a lieutenant ... the simple majesty of ordinary people."
In the third chapter, we get acquainted with a negative character - Shvabrin.
The third chapter also contains exposition of love affair, in which they will participate three characters: Grinev, Masha and Shvabrin. Honest and simple-hearted Grinev is opposed to the two-faced, hypocritical, selfish Shvabrin.
Chapters four and five contains development of a love affair before the events of the Pugachev rebellion The fourth chapter entitled " Duel"contains an important episode in the development of a love affair - duel scene.Epigraph from Knyazhnin, preceding the fourth chapter, performed irony:
- Ying if you please, and stand in positura.
Look, I'll pierce your figure!
Although the chapter as a whole is written in an ironic vein, for the first time Pushkin's hero really has to follow his father's commandments: in a duel with Shvabrin, he defends the girl's good name. Being wounded, Grinev gains moral victory over your opponent.
chapter five entitled "Love" precede two epigraphs. Both taken from folk songs. Let's quote the first paragraph:
Oh, girl, red girl!
Do not go, girl, young married;
You ask, girl, father, mother,
Father, mother, kind of tribe;
Save up, girl, mind-reason,
Uma-reason, dowry.
The second epigraph reads as follows:
If you find me better, forget me,
If you find worse than me, you will remember.
These epigraphs were used by Pushkin not by chance. They stress the connection of the image of Masha Mironova with the folk-poetic element.The love motive of Masha and Peter sounds in folk poetry. The author of the novel seeks to emphasize that the character of the heroine, which is most fully revealed in her selfless feeling for Grinev, is closely connected with folk roots.
play an important role in the novel letters. In particular, in the fifth chapter we get acquainted with the letter of the old man Grinev to his son, his own letter to Savelich and Savelich's answer to the master.
The fifth chapter reveals another facet of Masha Mironova's personality - her sincere faith in God and the deepest humility before His will. Masha refuses to marry Grinev against the wishes of his parents.
As a result, in the fifth chapter the love story comes to a standstill. It is at this critical moment historical events invade the personal destinies of the heroes and change everything. Here is what Grinev writes about this in his memoirs: “Unexpected incidents that had important influences on my whole life suddenly gave my soul a strong and good shock.” It is here, at this moment, that it becomes apparent that the plot, limited by the relationship of a narrow circle of people, is interrupted. Starts to develop the main, "main" storyline, in which historical events are intertwined.
Thus, personal and general, man and history find themselves at Pushkin's bound by inextricable bonds.
The story of the events of the popular uprising opens sixth chapter a novel called Pugachevshchina". Chapter precedes epigraph from a folk song:
You young guys listen
What are we, old people, going to say.
The epigraph sets the reader in a serious, solemn mood. It feels tragic reflection of the events of the Pugachev rebellion.
Central episode chapters - the scene of the interrogation of the mutilated Bashkir. Pushkin notes the unconscious cruelty of Captain Mironov, who without hesitation gives the order to torture the Bashkir (we note, however, that it did not come to torture).
Significantly the judgment of Grinev the narrator on this score, reflecting the author's position: “Young man! If my notes fall into your hands, remember that the best and most lasting changes are those that come from the improvement of morals, without any violent upheavals.
Central episodes chapter "Attack" - heroic death of the defenders of the fortress and Grinev's miraculous deliverance from execution.
The chapter "Attack" is prefaced epigraph from a folk song "My head, little head..." In the epigraph the tragic death of Captain Mironov is predicted- a man from the people who laid down his head in the public service. Having shown courage and heroism in the defense of the fortress, Captain Mironov dies, preferring death to Pugachev's oath. Lieutenant Ivan Ignatievich repeats the feat of his commander.
From a compositional point of view, it is important that execution of the defenders of the fortress going on after described in the previous chapter interrogation of a mutilated Bashkir and that it is the Bashkirian who takes an active part in the execution. The author seeks to emphasize what is hidden from the view of Grinev the narrator: the cruelty of the people is a response to the cruelty of the authorities.
In the chapter "Attack" Pugachev appears as talented leader rebels, who took the fortress with a swift assault almost without loss, and as a capable politician who managed to quickly win over not only the Cossacks, but also other inhabitants of the fortress - representatives of the common people.
In addition, in this chapter, Pugachev first appears before the reader in the role of " king". There is a significant contrast between Pugachev the tramp in the chapter "Counselor" and Pugachev the "sovereign" in the chapter "Attack". Note that this role, the role of the impostor king, is revealed in The Captain's Daughter. not only in a tragic, but also in a comic way, which becomes apparent in later chapters.
In the chapter "Attack" for the first time, Pugachev's mercy towards Grinev is also shown. Pugachev goes against his own principles (in fact, Grinev refuses to kiss Pugachev's hand and swear allegiance to him) and pardons Grinev.
However mercy coexists in Pugachev's nature with cruelty. Immediately after the scene of pardoning Grinev, the scene of the brutal murder of Vasilisa Yegorovna follows.
In the eighth chapter entitled "Uninvited guest" revealed to the reader the tragic meaning of the popular uprising. Himself name In the chapter, the author emphasizes that Pugachev brought death and human suffering to the Belogorsk fortress.
epigraph to the chapter "The Uninvited Guest" becomes proverb "An uninvited guest is worse than a Tatar." Pugachev, finding himself in the fortress in the role of an "intruder", sows death and destruction here.
The central episode of the chapter is Pugachev's "military council". Grinev talks about how the rebels sing burlatskaya song "Don't make noise, mother green dubrovushka ...". Grinev did not understand the meaning of the "song about the gallows, sung by people doomed to the gallows." However, both the author and the reader understand that the participants in the uprising sing about their own doom. Pugachev and his comrades-in-arms are aware that a fierce execution awaits them. However, they are ready to continue the fight. This is the tragic meaning of the song. Thus, in the chapter "The Uninvited Guest" the tragic meaning of the figure of Pugachev and the entire popular uprising.
The same chapter tells about Pugachev's mercy towards Grinev. Pugachev releases Grinev on all four sides. “Execute so execute, pardon so pardon,” Pugachev declares. The proverb reveals the breadth of Pugachev's soul and at the same time the "polarity" of his character: cruelty in his soul coexists with mercy.
In the ninth chapter entitled " Parting» love story Grinev and Masha, moving off the ground, gets further development. Love for Masha, anxiety about the orphan and the need to urgently go to Orenburg put Grinev before a painful choice: Grinev decides to go to Orenburg, obeying his duty and at the same time hoping to achieve the speedy release of the Belogorsk fortress and save Masha.
Chapter "Separation" is preceded by epigraph from Kheraskov, reflecting Grinev's inner state at the moment of separation from Masha:
It was sweet to recognize
Me, beautiful, with you;
Sad, sad to leave
Sad, as if from the heart.
Grinev's departure to Orenburg is accompanied by two comic episodes. First episode - Savelich's reading compiled by him registry» Grinev's belongings plundered by the Pugachevites. Here the figure of Pugachev appears before us in a comic way: it also appears illiteracy"sovereign"(“Our bright eyes cannot make out anything here”), and his craftiness, and a “fit of generosity”: the “king” does not punish the “old grunt” for a daring act.
Second comic episode Grinev's meeting with Maksimych, who gave Grinev a horse and a fur coat from Pugachev, but "lost half a buck on the way." Grinev complacently reacted to Maksimych's cunning, and he would later render a service to Grinev by handing him a letter from Masha.
In the tenth chapter entitled "Siege of the City" tells about the events connected with the siege of Orenburg. At the same time, the love affair gets an unexpected continuation. Chapter prefaced epigraph, taken from Kheraskov, in ironic tones describing the plans of Pugachev:
Having occupied meadows and mountains,
From the top, like an eagle, he cast his eyes on the hail.
Behind the camp he ordered to build a peal
And, hiding the thunderbolts in it, bring it under the hail at night.
At the beginning tenthchapters Pushkin draws terrifying picture confirming the author's idea that the cruelty of the rebels is a reaction to the cruelty of the authorities. “Approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts, with faces disfigured by the executioner's tongs, the narrator writes.
Next Pushkin draws "military council" in Orenburg. Compositionally, it is clear contrasting advice from the general and advice from Pugachev(note here the author's use of principle of antithesis). The narrator conveys the limitations of the general and officials, who are unable to oppose anything to Pugachev's ingenuity and military skill.
The next episode is extremely important for the development of the plot of the work: Grinev receives letter from Masha. Grinev's unauthorized absence from Orenburg becomes a turning point in the action of the novel.
Letter fromMasha sheds light on the true essence of Pugachev's nature. The letter mentions a real, and not invented by Pushkin, episode from the life of the leader of the uprising: it contains an indication of the terrible reprisal of Pugachev with the family of officer Kharlov - the murder of Kharlov himself, the abuse and subsequent reprisal of his wife, the murder of her little brother. This fact is described in detail by Pushkin in The History of the Pugachev Rebellion. Here the author thus simply reminds the reader of the cruelty of the rebellion and its leader.
Eleventh chapter is culminating in disclosure Pugachev's character and, perhaps, in the understanding of the author the fate of the whole popular uprising. Chapter precedes epigraph, which the composed by Pushkin himself, although he attributed it to Sumarokov. The epigraph is not without irony:
At that time, the lion was full, even though he was ferocious from birth.
“Why did you deign to come to my den?” -
he asked kindly.
In the eleventh chapter the reader is introduced to associates of Pugachev, corporal Beloborodov and Afanasy Sokolov, nicknamed Khlopushy. Each of Pugachev's associates in his own way sets off the character of the leader of the uprising. Beloborodov personifies the cruelty, uncompromisingness, ruthlessness of the rebels in relation to the enemies; Khlopusha - generosity and folk wisdom.
key role in the composition of not only the eleventh chapter, but the whole work, the story told by Pugachev to Grinev plays Kalmyk fairy tale about an eagle and a crow. The fairy tale reveals the main thing in the character of Pugachev, namely, his indestructible love of freedom. “Than to eat carrion for three hundred years, it’s better to drink living blood once, and then what God will give!” the hero exclaims. These words contain the life principle of Pugachev, denied by the narrator.“To live by murder and robbery means, for me, pecking at carrion,” Grinev says in response.
If the eleventh chapter is the climax in revealing the character of Pugachev, then twelfth chapter entitled "Orphan" contains climax in the development of the love storyline. Grinev, with the assistance of Pugachev, frees Masha from the power of Shvabrin. Pugachev releases Grinev and Masha. "Execute so execute, favor so favor", Pugachev says. Peter and Masha are going to get married.
Chapter precedes epigraph,written by ourselves Pushkin based on a folk wedding song"Like our apple tree ...". The choice of such an epigraph (as well as the epigraph to the chapter "Love") is not accidental: as already noted, the image of Masha Mironova invariably correlates with Pushkin's folk poetic images and motifs.
The release of Masha becomes turning point in development plot. Peter and his bride go to his parents' estate; the hero is going to continue his service.
main event thirteenth chapter indicated in its title. it Grinev's arrest. However, the content of this chapter is not limited to this episode. In the thirteenth chapter, Pushkin tells the reader about results of the Pugachev uprising.
Chapter "Arrest" is preceded by epigraph from Knyazhnin, anticipating the story of Grinev's arrest:
- Do not be angry, sir: according to my duty
I must send you to prison this very hour.
- Excuse me, I'm ready; but I'm so hopeful
Let me first explain what the matter is.
AT historical digression at the beginning of the thirteenth chapter, the narrator, making a brief overview of the events of the Pugachev rebellion, tells about the dire consequences- fires, destruction, robberies, general ruin, impoverishment of the people. Grinev completes the story of the events of the Pugachev rebellion with the famous maxim: "God forbid to see a Russian rebellion, senseless and merciless." The narrator's point of view is apparently shared by Pushkin himself.
Here, in the thirteenth chapter, Pushkin tries from the position of Grinev to reveal the ambiguity of Pugachev's personality. Grinev’s deeply personal confessions regarding Pugachev are extremely important here: “The thought of him was inseparable in me with the thought of the mercy he gave me in one of the terrible moments of his life, and of the deliverance of my bride from the hands of the vile Shvabrin.” Thus, in Grinev's mind, Pugachev's cruelty and mercy are inextricably linked. It seems that this view of the hero is shared by the author of the work.
Fourteenth chapter entitled " Court» contains the final plot of the work is the story of Masha's meeting with Catherine II, about how the heroine asked the empress to have mercy on her fiancé. Here we also find a peculiar epilogue–publisher's words ending the novel.
The last chapter of the novel, titled The Judgment, is preceded by epigraph, which Pushkin used proverb:
Worldly rumor -
Sea wave.
In fact, the rumor about Grinev's alleged betrayal turns out to be unusually strong, like a wave of the sea. However, a wave will pass - and it is not. The same can be said about the rumor.
The chapter "Court" is extremely important for understanding Grinev's character. Being arrested on the slander of Shvabrin, Grinev, however, retains good spirits,does not lose hope. Here he is especially helpful. living faith in God, in His good providence. “I resorted to the consolation of all those who mourn, and, for the first time, I tasted the sweetness of prayer, poured out from a pure but torn heart, calmly fell asleep, not caring about what would happen to me, ”Grinev writes in his memoirs.
During the interrogation, Grinev decides to tell the whole truth, but, not wanting to “entangle” Masha’s name “between the vile tales of the villains and bring her to face-to-face confrontation with them,” the hero cannot tell everything. Having shown selflessness, Grinev is forced to become a victim of a false accusation and wait for severe punishment.
In the center of the fourteenth chapter image of Catherine II. Pushkin draws the Empress majestic, domineering, but at the same time simple, gracious and cordial. Her image is correlated with the image of Pugachev. With all the differences in the appearances of these two historical figures, they are united in the author's view by one common feature - the ability to be merciful.
Although Grinev was not a traitor, his actions demanded punishment. Catherine, on the other hand, showed mercy towards Grinev. In Catherine's merciful gesture, Pushkin's contemporaries rightly saw the fact of Pushkin's intercession before Nicholas I for his Decembrist friends.
The act of Masha Mironova, who fearlessly fussed about her fiancé, who did not leave him in the hour of trial, is admirable. In the image of the main character of the novel, Pushkin continued his own tradition of depicting a Russian woman, which he began in Eugene Onegin. The image of Masha Mironova reveals the most important facet of Pushkin's ideal of a selfless Russian woman.
publisher”, Behind which is no longer Grinev, but Pushkin himself. The final words of the "publisher" can be seen as a kind of epilogue to the novel.
It talks about execution of Pugachev, which was attended by Grinev. Pugachev "recognized him in the crowd and nodded his head, which a minute later, dead and bloody, was shown to the people." This is how Pugachev's last meeting with Grinev took place. The execution of Pugachev is the tragic finale of a storyline that tells about a popular uprising and its leader.
Further, the "publisher" tells about Grinev's marriage and his offspring. Family happiness and many children of Masha and Grinev, which we learn from the words of the publisher at the end of the work, become a reward for the feat of selfless service of heroes to each other.
So, we see that in the plot construction of the novel, both love affair, and historical events,closely intertwined.
epigraphs, preceding each chapter of the work, as a rule, focus the reader's attention on the most significant episodes,revealing wherein author's position.
The plot-compositional structure of the work allows Pushkin to most fully reveal the personality of Pugachev, to reveal the tragic meaning of the popular uprising, and also, using the example of Pyotr Grinev, Masha, and other characters, to comprehend such moral problems as mercy and cruelty, honor and dishonor, to highlight the essential aspects of the Russian national character .
One side, author"The Captain's Daughter" largely agrees with the memoirist in the assessment of the Pugachev uprising. So, Pushkin could not help but realize the cruelty of the rebels, the destructive power of the uprising. The narrator's view of the "senseless and merciless" Russian rebellion (chapter "Arrest"), apparently, coincides with the author's position, as well as Grinev's point of view that "the best and most lasting changes are those that come from the improvement of morals, without any violent upheavals” (chapter “Pugachevshchina”).
On the other hand, Pushkin, unlike Grinev, understands the meaning of the uprising much deeper. So the writer shows objective historical reasons for the uprising, its inevitability. He is aware that the cruelty of the rebels is a response to the cruelty of the authorities. Pushkin sees in the uprising not only a destructive force, but also the desire of the people for freedom. At the same time, the writer is clear the tragic doom of the rebels. Finally, Pushkin reveals to the reader poetic element that accompanies the people in their freedom-loving aspirations.
The most important means of expressing the author's position is plot works. The love story of Grinev and Masha, crowned with a happy marriage, confirms the author's idea that severe trials hardened the souls of heroes and preceded them prosperous life and abundance as a reward for their courage and fidelity in love, manifested in the tragic time of the Pugachev rebellion.
In revealing the author's position, Pushkin's composition skill. Not by chance episodes of violence by the authorities precede episodes of violence by the insurgents. So, for example, in the sixth chapter, the reader sees for the first time a mutilated Bashkir. Then the same Bashkirian becomes one of the main arbiters of the execution of the defenders of the fortress.
The author expresses his position through character system. So, for example, the writer contrasts the noble Grinev with the vile Shvabrin. The image of Pugachev is set off by the images of his associates - Khlopushi and Beloborodov.
The position of the author was especially pronounced in works of folk art, that the writer used in the novel. So, the song "Don't make a noise, mother green oak tree ..." causes Grinev "piitic horror." The author, however, sees a deep meaning in this song: it reveals the tragic essence of the uprising.
Grinev rejected the main idea of the Kalmyk fairy tale about the eagle and the raven, told by Pugachev. “To live by murder and robbery means, for me, pecking at carrion,” says Grinev. Meanwhile, it is clear to both the author and the reader that this tale reveals the indestructible love of freedom of the people.
Proverbs, used by Pugachev (“Execute like this, execute like that, have mercy like that”, “Execute like that, like that, favor like that”) also testify to the author's position in relation to Pugachev. These proverbs emphasize the breadth of Pugachev's soul and at the same time the polarity of his character, the combination of cruelty and mercy in his nature. It turns out that Pugachev is able not only to pardon Grinev and Masha, but also to help them wholeheartedly.
The author's position is also expressed through chapter titles. So, for example, in the title "Sergeant of the Guard" there is irony. The name of the second chapter - "Guide" - along with the outdated meaning ("guide") has another, symbolic meaning: the author hints to the reader that the story will be about the leader of the popular uprising.
As is known, epigraphs for each chapter of the novel picked up not a storyteller "publisher", behind which the author himself is hiding. Thus, the author's position is also expressed in the epigraphs.
At the end of the last chapter, the word takes " publisher”, Behind which is no longer Grinev, but Pushkin himself. The final words of the "publisher" can be regarded as a kind of author's epilogue to the novel.
Thus, we see that in The Captain's Daughter, a historical novel written in memoir form, the author was able to express his a position different from that of the narrator. To express his position, the author uses various compositional means, works of folk art, epigraphs, as well as an appeal to the reader at the end of the work on behalf of the publisher.
Questions and tasks
1. Why in the 1830s did Pushkin show particular interest in the topic of popular revolt? What Pushkin's writings on this topic prepared the writing of The Captain's Daughter? Briefly describe its topic.
2. What problems did Pushkin raise in The Captain's Daughter? Formulate and comment on them.
3. Describe the ideological orientation of Pushkin's novel. What is the writer's ambiguous attitude towards the popular uprising, its leader, and other heroes of the work?
4. Comment on the title of the novel.
5. Why can "The Captain's Daughter" be called a realistic work? What is the historicism of the novel? What specific historical types does Pushkin recreate here? What are the traits of romanticism?
6. Describe the genre specifics of The Captain's Daughter. Why can we say that it has the features of a historical novel? What goals did the author pursue by choosing a memoir form of narration?
7. What can you say about Grinev, the central character of The Captain's Daughter and the narrator? How do the two hero roles compare? What artistic means does the author use when creating the image of Grinev?
8. Briefly describe the images of Andrei Petrovich and Avdotya Vasilievna Grinev. What traits did Petrusha inherit from his parents?
9. Compare the characters of Savelich and Monsieur Beaupré. What qualities of the serf uncle Petrusha are set off with the help of the image of a French teacher? What are the most important episodes of the work that characterize Savelich. How is the image of Savelich correlated with the image of Pugachev?
11. Tell us about the commandant of Orenburg, General Andrei Karlovich R. In what episodes is his character revealed? From which side the image of the general sets off the image of Pugachev.
12. Tell us about the Mironov family and its environment. What features of the Russian national character are revealed in the images of Ivan Kuzmich, Vasilisa Yegorovna, Ivan Ignatich, Father Gerasim and Akulina Pamfilovna? What is interesting about the image of the constable Maksimych?
13. Describe Masha Mironova as the main female character in the novel. What features of a Russian woman are combined in the spiritual appearance of Masha? What is the similarity between the daughter of Captain Mironov and Tatyana Larina? What distinguishes the two heroines? What is the role of Masha Mironova in the plot of the work? What artistic techniques does the author use to create her image? Note also the character traits of the maid Broadsword - Masha's faithful companion.
13. Consider the image of Shvabrin - Grinev's antagonist. What qualities of this character make him the opposite of the main character? What, from the point of view of the author, are the reasons for Shvabrin's spiritual meanness?
14. List the episodic persons known to you in the novel and briefly describe them.
15. What real historical figures act or are mentioned in the work? Give them a brief description. Tell us more about Catherine II. What features does the empress show in relation to Masha and Pyotr Grinev? What was Pushkin's goal in creating the image of the gracious Empress?
16. Consider in detail the image of Pugachev. What contradictions in the character of this hero does Pushkin reveal? What artistic means are used to create the image of the leader of the uprising?
17. Consider the general construction of the "Captain's Daughter". How many chapters does it have? How many epigraphs? Where did the epigraphs come from and what is their role in the work? What is the basis of the plot of Pushkin's novel?
18. Name the exposition chapters of the novel and briefly describe them. What do we learn about Petrush Grinev, his parents and educators from the first chapter? What life principles did Petrusha take out of his parental home?
20. How are the characters and customs of the inhabitants of the Belogorsk fortress revealed in the third chapter?
21. Describe the compositional role of the fourth and fifth chapters. How does the duel situation reveal the characters of Grinev, Shvabrin, Savelich, and other characters? What is the role of letters in the chapter "Love" and in the novel as a whole? Why is this chapter a turning point in the development of the plot?
22. Consider the main scenes of the sixth and seventh chapters of the novel, reveal their ideological meaning and compositional role. How does the scene of the interrogation of the Bashkir prepare the reader for the perception of the episode of the execution of the defenders of the fortress? How are the personalities of Captain Mironov, Vasilisa Yegorovna, Ivan Ignatievich, Shvabrin, Grinev revealed in the chapter "The Attack"? What does Pugachev look like in the seventh chapter?
23. Why is the song "Don't make a noise, mother green oak tree ...", which sounds in the eighth chapter of the novel, is called one of the ideological centers of the "Captain's Daughter"? What is the attitude of Grinev and the author of the work to this song?
24. Briefly describe the compositional role of the ninth chapter. What episodes of her can be called comic? Why can we say that The Captain's Daughter is sometimes distinguished by tragicomic pathos?
25. What plot-compositional role does the chapter "Siege of the City" play? Briefly consider its main episodes.
26. Why is the eleventh chapter usually regarded as the culmination in the depiction of the popular uprising and in the disclosure of the character of Pugachev? Reveal the ideological meaning of the tale of the eagle and the raven and the attitude of Pugachev, Grinev and the author towards it.
27. For what reason is the twelfth chapter considered to be the climax in the development of a love affair? What turn is taking place here in the fate of the main characters?
28. Comment on the ideological meaning of the final chapters of the novel. How do Grinev, and after him, Pushkin comprehend the results of the Pugachev uprising? What qualities does Peter show while under arrest? What is the role of the episode of Masha's meeting with Catherine in the novel? What is the meaning of the original epilogue of the work - the words "from the publisher"?
30. Outline and prepare oral presentation
When starting to analyze the image of Pyotr Grinev, the main character of the family chronicle, one should first of all pay attention to the special place of Grinev in the work. This is not only one of the main characters, but also the "author" of the notes, the narrator. Finally, behind the image of the narrator (the same Grinev in his old age, at the beginning of the 19th century), the face of the true author of the “notes” “shines through” - Pushkin. To some extent, in judgments about life, in the relationship of the narrator to events, no-no, and a purely Pushkinian perception of reality will manifest itself.
It is difficult, and it does not make sense to deal with the question of in which Grinev's arguments we have before us the thoughts of the young hero of the novel, in which - the real author, but one should be aware of the complexity of Grinev's image. It would be equally wrong to identify Grinev's views with Pushkin's worldview (it is immeasurably more serious, progressive, deeper; Grinev is very simple and limited), and to completely ignore some elements of Pushkin's views on life in Grinev's worldview (for example, in Grinev's judgments about people, which he encounters, in some judgments about Pugachev, in his assessments of the government camp of the fighting forces).
Let us also note that in the composition of Grinev's image, from the very beginning of the narrative, an orientation towards clarity and simplicity was taken. Wait a story-narrative about interesting and not quite ordinary adventures of youth. Lots of action, little thought. Psychology is transmitted through actions, deeds. Actions and adventures are told in a very simple way. So the grandfather tells his grandson about the experience. This simplicity, artlessness, however, is characteristic of Pushkin's prose in general. When analyzing the image of Grinev, all this must be taken into account. And do not lose sight of the difference between the two points of view on the events depicted: the point of view of the narrator and the point of view of Pushkin. Examples of measures will be shown below.
The disclosure of the hero in successively developing life events, in actions, in relations with people around him, leads us to a plan of analysis:
1) childhood and youth, the environment that raised the hero;
2) manifestation of character at the first entry into independent life;
3) attitude towards others during the period of peaceful life in the Belogorsk fortress;
4) a love story for Marya Ivanovna and
5) the history of relations with Pugachev (the character develops and manifests itself to the fullest and views on life are determined);
6) final generalization: the main personality traits of the hero, the typicality of the image, its place in the composition of the novel.
Speaking about Grinev's childhood and youth, one should pay attention to the various influences that influenced him and shaped his personality. The father is a retired prime minister, a limited and imperious landowner and head of the family, at the same time he is distinguished by a strict attitude to moral issues, inspires his son with a high understanding of honor issues in her noble representation, considers officer service not as a means for arranging a career, but as a duty of a nobleman before the state.
His discussions about St. Petersburg, about the promotion of his former comrades, give off the spirit of some kind of opposition to the orders established in areas close to the government and the court. All this has its effect on the son. Little is said about Pyotr Grinev's mother, but the appearance of a loving and caring woman, meek and gentle, also arises from the little that we learn about her. Her influence will be felt later, when the character of Pyotr Grinev begins to be revealed.
The Frenchman Beaupré "was a hairdresser in his own country", he was "discharged from Moscow along with a year's supply of wine and olive oil." The figure is colorful and quite typical, touching on a theme well known to students from “Undergrowth”, “I Burn from Wit” and “Eugene Onegin”.
A large place in the upbringing of Pyotr Grinev was obviously occupied by the serf uncle Savelich, an honest, intelligent and literate person, but, however, very limited. His image reflects the age-old slavish position of yard servants. Such are the people who surrounded Pyotr Grinev. The way of life of Pyotr Grinev in his parents' house is typical for a noble undergrowth: "I lived undergrowth, chasing pigeons and playing leapfrog with yard boys." “It’s enough for him to run around girls’ rooms and climb dovecotes,” says the father. The first steps of an independent life (the episode with 3urin) reveal the features of the emerging personality. Students can easily understand them, remembering Grinev's behavior. Here is the frivolity and rudeness of the landowner's son in relation to the old devoted servant ("I am your master, and you are my servant"): at the same time, in an effort to give back the money, the debt, it would seem, is not very serious - losing in a billiard game - we see a certain idea of the need to keep one's word, of honesty. This was followed by a cordial conversation and peace with Savelich, revealing cordiality and kindness in Grinev.
What does the story about his peaceful life in the Belogorsk fortress give for the development of the image of Grinev? Note that the Mironov family was the best thing for him: simplicity, good nature, modesty and unpretentiousness, cordiality and sincerity of relations - all this cannot but affect Grinev. His mental demands are small, his attitude towards the service follows the formula “do not ask for the service; do not excuse yourself from the service."
Grinev is little concerned that “there were no reviews, no exercises, no guards in the God-saved fortress, and that the only cannon was crammed with pebbles and rubbish. But in the subtext, the reader feels the attitude of the author of the novel to what is being described: the protection of the outskirts of the vast empire is poorly organized. This is one example of the presence of two angles of view in the image of reality. Having nothing to do, Grinev reads French books taken from Shvabrin (it turns out that Beaupre was also useful for something).
The emerging love for Masha Mironova causes a desire for poetic pursuits. “My experiences for that time were pretty good,” the narrator narrates, and gives an example: Destroying the thought with love, I try to forget the beautiful ... etc. Poems are bad. Pushkin took them from a collection published by no. Novikov: "A New and Complete Collection of Russian Songs", 1780 - 1781, slightly changing individual lines. One of the researchers notes: “The poem belongs to those that Pushkin, in his History of the Village of Goryukhin, described as being composed by “soldiers, clerks and boyar servants.” As you can see, the mediocrity of the hero is repeatedly noted in the course of the story. He does not strike us either with a brilliant mind, or with extraordinary aspirations, or with strong passions. That's not his attraction.
The quarrel, and then the duel with Shvabrin, speaks of the nobility of Grinev: he stood up for the honor of a girl whose love for himself he still does not know. He was outraged by the vulgarity of Shvabrin. In Grinev's love for Masha Mironova, the valuable that is inherent in his nature is revealed, and the ups and downs of his struggle for happiness help to manifest and strengthen these valuable features. We will not dwell on the episodes of Grinev's love story, which reveal the positive aspects of his character, thanks to which he attracts the reader's sympathy. Sincerity and directness, the ability for deep and tender feelings, courage, fidelity in love - these are these features.
Before the start of the trials for the two loving hearts, the novel notes how important Grinev's feeling was for Grinev. Pugachev's troops approached the Belogorsk fortress. Dangerous days are coming. It was decided to send Masha Mironova to Orenburg. After a tender farewell before parting, the narrator speaks of his state of mind at that time: “I felt a great change in myself: the excitement of my soul was much less painful for me than the despondency in which I had recently been immersed. With the sadness of parting, vague but sweet hopes, and impatient expectation of dangers, and feelings of noble ambition merged in me. About the state of mind during the long days of separation from his beloved, the narrator remarks: “The uncertainty about the fate of Marya Ivanovna tormented me most of all.” When a letter with news about Marya Ivanovna was finally received in besieged Orenburg, the narrator says: “After reading this letter, I almost went crazy.” Touchingly told about the union of lovers: “I grabbed her hand and for a long time could not utter a single word. We were both silent from the fullness of our hearts. Everything was forgotten."
Savelich takes a significant part in the love story of Grinev and Masha Mironova. The essence of this image is gradually becoming clearer to the reader: a serf servant, devoted to his beloved master, who absorbed with his mother’s milk a psychology in which there is something slavish, low, Savelich at the same time is not devoid of a sense of human dignity, which sounds in his letter to his father Grinev, and in all his behavior. Moral servility in him is overcome by the natural mind, the humanity of feelings. Between him and Pyotr Andreevich Grinev, ties are developing and strengthening, which are by no means covered by the relationship of servant and master. “You are my friend, Arkhip Savelich,” I told him. - Do not refuse, be my benefactor ... I will not be calm if Marya Ivanovna goes on the road without you ... I rely on you. Father and mother believe you: you will intercede for us, won’t you?” The image of Savelich is ambiguous, complex.
It is useful to recall the old nanny Egorovna from Dubrovsky - Savelich has much in common with her character. Marya Ivanovna was sent with Savelich to Grinev's parents. Now he recalls his duties as an officer: "I ... felt that the duty of honor required my presence in the army of the empress." Grinev remains in Zurin's detachment. Then - arrest and trial, and Grinev understands what kind of charge he can be brought against: "my unauthorized absence from Orenburg" and "my friendly relations with Pugachev." But he does not feel seriously guilty, and if not justified. that's just because. that he does not want "to confuse the name (of Marya Ivanovna) between the vile tales of the villains and bring her herself to a confrontation." Such is Grinev in Pushkin's novel.
Despite the mistakes of the hero of the novel, which were mentioned above, the reader is presented with the image of an honest, kind and courageous person, capable of great feelings, faithful love and - ultimately - his duty, but at the same time frivolous in his youth and limited in his views and in understanding the true meaning of those great events in which he was a participant.
The image of Pyotr Grinev in the novel by A.S. Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter"
"The Captain's Daughter" is a story that not only recreates historical reality, but is also a work with a deep moral meaning. The main character is Pyotr Grinev, a young officer who was sent to serve in the Belogorsk fortress. Once in the fortress, he becomes a witness to events that changed not only his life, but also his ideas about many ideals.
During Grinev's stay in the fortress, a peasant uprising led by Emelyan Pugachev begins in the province. The Belogorsk fortress was taken by the rebels, and at this moment the heroes of the story face an intractable problem: change the oath and join the rebels or voluntarily go to death. Grinev preferred to die, but chance nevertheless saved him from certain death. Pugachev turned out to be the same man to whom the hero once gave his hare sheepskin coat.
Grinev did not swear allegiance to Pugachev: “I am a natural nobleman, I swore allegiance to the empress: I can’t serve you.” Pugachev released Peter, but on the condition that he would not serve against him. Grinev was well aware that he was in the complete power of this man, however, natural honesty, responsibility for his own actions forced the young man to tell the truth: “You know, it’s not my will: they tell me to go against you - I’ll go, there’s nothing to do. You are now the boss yourself; you yourself demand obedience from your own. What will it be like if I refuse service when my service is needed? My head is in your power: let me go - thank you; you execute - God will judge you; but I told you the truth."
The sincerity and directness of Grinev struck the rebel. And he had no choice but to let the young man go.
It is amazing how, in such a difficult situation, Grinev manages to retain a human element in himself, unlike Shvabrin and his ilk. I think the uprising in this case has become that phenomenon of reality, which to a greater extent helped to see the true face of each of the heroes. Moral values, inner convictions of Grinev himself helped him to become a real person. Whereas Shvabrin tarnished the honor of an officer and became a servant of the rebels.
It is no coincidence that Pushkin chose the proverb as the epigraph to The Captain's Daughter: "Take care of honor from a young age." The thoughts and actions of the protagonist fully corresponded to her.
The image of Pyotr Grinev in the novel by A.S. Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter" (version 2)
The story of A.S. Pushkin's "The Captain's Daughter" is unique and interesting in that the fates of heroes with different characters are intertwined in it. In fact, this is a historical story describing the rebellion of that time. But on the other hand, there are notes of pure, sincere, light and bright love in the story. This feeling flares up with a bright fire and continues to burn throughout the story, warming the soul of the reader.
Do we know Peter Grinev? familiar. This is the main character of the story. Perhaps Pushkin invested in the creation of the image all the most honest, noble, kind and correct. Grinev's character and personality were "built" by his father, Andrey Petrovich Grinev. Andrei Petrovich is a former military man. His personality is reminiscent of his son. The same honest, kind, open and sincere. Father Peter's military service ended quickly, because he did not want to be dependent on anyone and "beg for" ranks, as many did. In his son, he brought up the most noble qualities inherent in man.
Soon Petya was seventeen years old. The father was worried about the future life of his son and began to choose a worthy place for him to serve. Peter himself raved about St. Petersburg, he imagined the service there bright and interesting. But contrary to Petya's dreams, Andrei Petrovich chose his service near Orenburg, where Peter met his future love. Having collected things, Peter left, remembering the words of his father: "Take care of the dress again, and honor from a young age." And so he bore the meaning of this instruction throughout his life.
In Orenburg, new heroes are added to the reader's attention. This is a commandant, a brave and correct man, loyal to Empress Catherine II. His wife, Vasilisa Yegorovna, is a fatal and wise woman. The commandant's daughter, Masha Mironova, is a modest and shy girl. Evil Shvabrin, the same age as Peter, is a dark, vile and cynical personality.
The nobility of the nobleman and the character of the father are manifested in Grinev more and more. I was especially impressed by the duel played between Shvabrin and Peter. Shvabrin publicly insulted and slandered Masha, but Grinev, like a true nobleman, defended the honor of the girl. The result of the duel - Peter is wounded, and Shvabrin is the winner, but what a! The unfortunate coward who struck from behind. This fact indicates the cowardice, meanness and insensitivity of this person.
I really liked this story. The personality of Pyotr Grinev is especially pronounced here. He does not possess heroic strength and dodgy mind. But he is sincere, open, naive. That is why it evokes sympathy in the reader. He does not know how to pretend, be hypocritical, even wanting to save his life. This is the manifestation of true nobility, strength of character.
Pyotr Grinev - noble nobleman
The story "The Captain's Daughter" is based on real events: the peasant war of 1773-1775. under the leadership of Emelyan Pugachev. But this work cannot be called historical in the full sense. The facts here are artistically processed by the author.
Despite this, Pushkin objectively describes the causes and scope of the Pugachev uprising. He sees the accompanying explosion of cruelty both on the part of the rebels (the execution of officers, the murder of Vasilisa Yegorovna), and on the part of the tsarist troops (torture of a Bashkir, gallows on rafts).
The most valuable thing in the story is the moral issues. Heroes find themselves in difficult situations where it is necessary to make a choice in their favor or for the sake of other people, to show cruelty or mercy.
The protagonist of the story - Pyotr Grinev - a nobleman, an officer. The story is told from his perspective. At the beginning of the work, Pyotr Grinev briefly talks about his origin and upbringing. Petrusha's lifestyle was not much different from the life of other children of noble origin in the 18th century. In those days, it was traditional to assign a boy to military service even before birth. Grinev was enrolled in the Semyonovsky regiment as a sergeant.
At first he was brought up by the aspiring Savelitch. Then the Frenchman Monsieur Beaupré was assigned to the boy, who was supposed to teach Petrush languages and various sciences. Grinev himself speaks with irony about his adolescence: "He lived underage, chasing pigeons and playing leapfrog with yard boys."
In the seventeenth year, Peter was supposed to go to military service: "The thought of service merged with the thought of freedom, the pleasures of life in St. Petersburg." Perhaps the young man would have known all the charm of metropolitan life, become a joker, reveler and ladies' man, like officer Zurin. But service in the Belogorsk fortress brought Grinev together with different people: honest and vile, strong-willed and cowardly, open and cowardly. Here he matured, found true love, friends, but also enemies.
In different situations, Peter acts with the same dignity, always defending his honor. He is kind, generous, somewhat quick-tempered, hot-tempered, since he is still very young. For example, on the way to the fortress, Grinev's wagon fell into a snowstorm. The coachman lost his way. Fortunately, the peasant he met by chance agreed to lead the lost travelers to the inn. Peter, out of gratitude to the conductor, gave him from his shoulder a hare sheepskin coat and half a ruble for vodka. Grinev does not care at all what rank the person in front of him is. Kindness must be repaid with kindness.
In the Belogorsk fortress, it would seem that a boring, quiet service awaited Grinev: the bare steppe around, there were no young officers at all, except for Shvabrin, only old people and invalids. But the first impression was deceiving. Peter was immediately warmly received in the family of commandant Mironov. Here he met Marya Ivanovna, the daughter of Ivan Ignatich and Vasilisa Yegorovna, for whom at first sight he began to have warm feelings.
For some time, Grinev was on friendly terms with Shvabrin. But he turned out to be envious, proud, vile and cunning. Grinev immediately discerned his base nature.
But Peter immediately managed to appreciate the purity of the soul and the moral integrity of Masha Mironova. With Masha Grinev behaved nobly. He sincerely fell in love with the girl, immediately offered her a hand and a heart, despite the fact that she was a dowry.
In the course of the novel, Grinev and Pugachev find themselves in hostile camps, but the kindness of Grinev, who gave his counselor a hare sheepskin coat, does not pass without a trace, evoking a reciprocal feeling in Pugachev. We see not two enemies, but two people who sincerely want to help each other. It is no coincidence that a moment before the execution, Pugachev sees Grinev in the hostile crowd around the scaffold, whose gaze humanly warms the last minutes of the life of the leader of the peasant war.
Kindness and mercy are higher than hatred, and for Pushkin this is the only way to solve the problems that have arisen in society. Grinev managed to maintain humanity, honor and loyalty to himself in the conditions of rebellion. The hero equally does not accept the element of "Russian rebellion, senseless and merciless", and the naked formalism of the official-democratic world, which is especially clearly manifested in the scene of the military court.
Finding himself in a critical situation, Grinev is rapidly changing, growing spiritually and morally. Yesterday's undergrowth of the nobility, he prefers death to the slightest deviation from the dictates of duty and honor, refuses to take the oath to Pugachev. On the other hand, during the trial, risking his life, he does not name Masha, so that she would not be subjected to humiliating interrogation.
Defending his right to happiness, Grinev commits a reckless, courageous, desperate act. A trip to the “rebellious settlement” was doubly dangerous: he not only risked being captured by the Pugachevites, but also put his career, well-being, and honor at stake.
The "Captain's Daughter" perfectly depicts various aspects of life in the 18th century (landowner life, life in a distant fortress, the images of the old man Grinev, Savelich, captain Mironov, Pugachev and his "generals"), and the historical flavor of the era is also recreated. The characters of the heroes are depicted in many ways, especially Pyotr Grinev. This noble undergrowth enters the road of life as an inexperienced youngster, but life's trials make him a personality, reinforcing what he learned from his parental home: loyalty to duty, honor, kindness and nobility.
In any literary work, one way or another, in one form or another, eternal questions are posed. What is considered the norm of morality? Where is the line separating morality from immorality? Are they different at all? And in almost any work, as a rule, it is about the ideals of morality.
I believe that honor occupies the first place in the series of moral symbols. You can survive the collapse of the economy, endure separation from the dearest people, from the Motherland, but not a single people on earth will ever put up with the decay of morality.
In human society, dishonorable people have always been treated with contempt. The loss of honor is a fall in moral foundations, followed by an inevitable punishment: entire states disappear from the map of the earth, peoples disappear into the black hole of history, individuals die.
Russian writers often addressed the issue of honor in their works. The theme of the search for moral ideals, the concept of "man of honor" was touched upon by A.S. Pushkin in the story "The Captain's Daughter".
The protagonist of the story, Pyotr Andreevich Grinev, was brought up in an atmosphere of high morality from childhood. Pushkin, through the mouth of Savelich, introduces
Readers with moral attitudes of the Grinev family: “It seems that neither father nor grandfather were drunkards; there’s nothing to say about mother ...” With these words, the old servant of his ward, Peter Grinev, who got drunk for the first time and behaved unsightly, brings up. And before leaving for the service, Grinev receives a covenant from his father: "Take care of the dress again, and honor from a young age." This folk proverb is also an epigraph to the work. The whole subsequent history of Grinev is the fulfillment, despite all the difficulties and mistakes, of this paternal testament.
But if for Grinev the father, honor is primarily the honor of a nobleman and officer, then Grinev the son, without abandoning such an understanding, was able to expand the concept of honor to its human and civil meaning. In him, as it were, the kind, loving heart of his mother was combined with honesty, directness, courage - qualities that are inherent in his father.
The first time Grinev acted honorably, returning the card debt, despite the fact that Savelich tried to persuade him to evade the calculation. But nobility prevailed. A man of honor, in my opinion, is always kind and disinterested in dealing with others. These qualities were manifested in a generous gift to a "muzhik" unknown to him, who showed the way during a snowstorm and who later played a decisive role in his entire future fate. Trials awaited Grinev in the fortress where he served. By his behavior here, Pyotr Andreevich proved his loyalty to his father's precepts, did not change what he considered his duty and his honor.
The complete opposite of the honest and direct Grinev is his rival Alexei Ivanovich Shvabrin. He is a selfish and ungrateful person.
For the sake of his personal goals, Shvabrin is ready to commit any dishonorable act. Shvabrin interferes with Grinev's love for Masha Mironova, weaves intrigues. In the end, it comes down to a duel. Shvabrin inflicts a treacherous blow to Grinev in a duel and, in addition, writes a false denunciation of him to Grinevots. Shvabrin goes over to Pugachev’s side not out of ideological convictions: he expects to save his life, hopes to make a career if Pugachev succeeds, and most importantly, he wants, having dealt with his rival, to forcefully marry a girl who does not love him.
Honesty and decency occupies a special place in the characteristics of the characters. It is amazing how honest Masha and Grinev are with each other. It is natural for them to understand, save, pity each other. Mutual devotion helps them overcome life's difficulties and find happiness.
During the rebellion, the high moral qualities of some heroes and the meanness of others were especially clearly manifested. For example, Captain Mironov and his wife preferred to die rather than surrender to the mercy of the rebels. Grinev did the same, not wanting to swear allegiance to Pugachev, but was pardoned.
It seems to me that Pugachev showed generosity towards the young officer not only out of a sense of gratitude for the old service. It seemed to me that he appreciated Grinev as a man of honor. In addition, thanks to him, Grinev and Masha found each other forever.
The ending of the story is also interesting: Grinev is arrested on a denunciation for his connection with the rebellious ataman. He faces the death penalty, but Grinev decides for reasons of honor not to name his beloved. If he had told the whole truth about Masha, then he would certainly have been acquitted. Justice has triumphed at the very last moment: Masha appeals to the lady, who turns out to be the Empress, to pardon Grinev. Grinev is saved.
Unfortunately, now there are very few people like Petr Grinev: honest, kind and disinterested. Modern society has almost lost these qualities. And so I want the proverb "take care of honor from a young age" for everyone to have the meaning of a talisman that helps to overcome the harsh life obstacles.
