"Song about the merchant Kalashnikov": analysis, images of heroes, main features of the poem. Characteristics of the merchant Kalashnikov

Composition

Lermontov's poem is a song about Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich, about his beloved guardsman and about a brave merchant, about Kalashnikov. How does Lermontov describe the merchant Kalashnikov?

Behind the counter sits a young merchant,
Stately fellow Stepan Paramonovich.

Merchant Stepan Paramonovich is one of the main characters of M. Lermontov's poem "The Song about Tsar Ivan Vasilievich ...", one can even call him the main image in the poem, since he plays a positive role.

Here he sits at the counter and “lays out silk goods”, “he lures guests with an affectionate speech, counts gold, silver.” And as soon as “Vespers is rung in the holy churches”, so “Stepan Paramonovich locks his shop with an oak door ...” and goes home to his young wife and children.

Only at the very beginning of the description of the merchant Kalashnikov we already see that "an unkind day was set for him." So far, this is expressed only in the fact that “the rich walk past the bar, they don’t look into his shop,” and when he comes home, he sees that something is wrong in the house: “his young wife does not meet him, the oak table is not covered with a white tablecloth, but a candle in front of the image is barely warm.

And when Stepan Paramonovich asks his worker what is being done at home, he finds out that his wife, Alena Dmitrievna, has not yet returned from Vespers.

Upon the return of his wife, he will not recognize her, he will not understand what has happened to her: “... in front of him stands a young wife, herself pale, bare-haired, her fair-haired braids plaited with snow and hoarfrost are sprinkled, her eyes look like crazy; mouth whispering words incomprehensible. When his wife told him that he had “dishonored her, shamed” the “evil oprichnik Tsar Kiribeevich”, the daring merchant Kalashnikov could not stand the insult - he called his younger brothers and told them that tomorrow he would challenge his offender to a fistfight and fight with him to death, and he asked them, if they beat him, to go out to fight instead of him "for the holy truth-mother."

The image of the merchant Kalashnikov amazes us with his fortitude. This is the defender of the Russian land, the defender of his family, the truth.

Lermontov contrasts in his work the merchant Kalashnikov with the guardsman Kiribeevich. He shows the merchant not only as a "daring fighter", but also as a fighter for a just cause. His image is the image of a Russian hero: “his falcon eyes burn”, “he straightens his mighty shoulders”, “pulls on his combat gloves”.

In all the actions and actions of the merchant, it is clear that he is fighting for a just cause. Here, going out to battle, he “bowed first to the terrible tsar, after the white Kremlin and to the holy churches, and then to all the Russian people,” and he says to his offender that “he lived according to the law of the Lord: he did not dishonor someone else's wife, did not rob at night dark, did not hide from the light of heaven ... "

That is why the oprichnik of the tsar, who disgraced the merchant’s wife, “turned pale in his face, like an autumn leaf.”

Merchant Kalashnikov is not just a brave and courageous person, he is strong in his spirit and therefore wins.

And Stepan Paramonovich thought:

What is destined to be, will come true;
I will stand for the truth until the last day!

And having defeated the guardsman, a faithful servant of Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich, he is not afraid to answer to him that he killed him “by free will”, he just killed him for that, he cannot tell the king so as not to subject his honor and his wife to reproach.

So he goes to the chopping block for his honesty, courage. And the fact that "he kept the answer in good conscience" pleased even the king. But the king could not let him go just like that, because his best guardsman, his faithful servant, was killed. That is why they are preparing an ax for the merchant, and the tsar granted his young wife and children from the treasury, ordered his brothers to trade "without a tax, duty-free."

The image of the merchant Stepan Paramonovich is the image of a strong, courageous man, a “daring fighter”, a “young merchant”, honest and steadfast in his rightness. Therefore, a song about him was composed, and people do not forget his grave:

An old man will pass - cross himself,
A good fellow will pass - he will sit down,
A girl will pass - she will grieve,
And the harpists will pass - they will sing a song.

Other writings on this work

The image of the merchant Kalashnikov. Appeal to the theme of the heroic past was not accidental for M.Yu. Lermontov. This theme made it possible to depict strong, solid, heroic characters, which the poet did not find in modern times. Lermontov creates one of these characters in "The Song about the Merchant Kalashnikov".

In this poem, Lermontov reproduces the era of Ivan the Terrible, the end of the 16th century. The main character of "Songs ..." is the merchant Stepan Paramonovich Kalashnikov. The plot of the work is based on the motive of resentment and defense of honor. The theme of love, family relations, restrictions on the freedom of the human will, state despotism is also important here.

Stepan Paramonovich is a simple Russian man who values ​​family relationships and home comfort. He lives with his young wife and children in a tall house, where the table is “covered with a white tablecloth”, a candle is lit in front of the image, and old Eremeevna is in charge of everything. This description contains a complete picture of "home life and simple, uncomplicated, simple-hearted family relations among our ancestors."

The hero has an attractive appearance. This is a “stately fellow”, with “falcon eyes”, “mighty shoulders”, “curly beard”. He reminds us of epic heroes, of whom there were so many in Russia.

The speech of Stepan Paramonovich, "affectionate", poetic, inspired, reflecting his inner world, also evokes associations with folklore. (“... a dashing misfortune happened to me ...”, “... the soul cannot endure the insult, but the brave heart cannot endure it.”

Kalashnikov carries himself confidently, sedately like a merchant, with dignity. He unhurriedly runs the shop: lays out goods, invites buyers, counts "gold-silver". He feels himself the same master in his own house, his family. Alena Dmitrievna loves and respects him, his brothers honor him.

And suddenly the peace and tranquility that reigns in his family are grossly violated. Alena Dmitrievna is publicly pursued by the tsar's oprichnik, Kiribeevich, who is in love with her. Upon learning of this, Kalashnikov decides to stand up for the honor of his wife in order to restore her good name, his masculine honor, and the reputation of his family. The hero's soul cannot endure dishonor: "But such an insult cannot be endured by the soul. Yes, the brave heart cannot endure." Stepan Paramonovich decides to fight with the oprichnik not for life, but to the death in a fistfight, which will be on the Moscow River.

The Russian heroic character is depicted in the image of the merchant Kalashnikov. This is a brave and honest person, strong in spirit, whole and uncompromising, with self-esteem. Stepan Paramonovich is patriarchal, he is sincerely attached to his family, takes care of his children and wife, and sacredly honors Orthodox customs.

The persecution of Alena Dmitrievna by the tsarist guardsman in front of all the neighbors is a shame, a dishonor for Kalashnikov. Kiribeevich in the eyes of the merchant is a "busurman" who encroached on the most sacred - the inviolability of family ties. Oprichnik is not even stopped by the fact that Alena Dmitrievna "was remarried in the church of God ... According to our Christian law." Deciding on an honest fistfight, Kalashnikov also defends the inviolability of Christian concepts about family and marriage.

Kalashnikov kills Kiribeevich in a fistfight. The sovereign himself acts as the judge in this battle. Ivan the Terrible does not hide his dissatisfaction with the result of the duel and demands from the merchant an answer about whether he killed the tsar's guardsman “by free will or reluctantly”.

And here Stepan Paramonovich has to pass one more test. He perfectly understands how terrible the royal anger can be, but he tells the king the truth, hiding, however, the reason for his battle with Kiribeevich:

I killed him at will

And for what about what - I will not tell you.

I will only tell God.

Admiring this scene, Belinsky wrote that “Kalashnikov could still save himself with a lie, but for this noble soul, twice so terribly shocked - both by the shame of his wife, who destroyed his family bliss, and by bloody revenge on the enemy, who did not return his former bliss, - for this for a noble soul, life no longer represented anything seductive, and death seemed necessary to heal its incurable wounds ... There are souls who are content with something - even the remnants of former happiness; but there are souls whose slogan is all or nothing ... such was the soul ... Stepan Paramonovich Kalashnikov.

The tsar decides to execute the merchant Kalashnikov. And Stepan Paramonovich says goodbye to his brothers, giving them the last orders:

Bow from me to Alena Dmitrievna,

Tell her to be less sad

Don't tell my children about me;

Bow down to your parent's house

Bow to all our comrades,

Pray yourself in the church of God

You are for my soul, a sinful soul!

Love for his family and a thirst for justice, hatred for his offender, self-esteem and boundless faith in the right of his sovereign to decide the fate of people - these are the main feelings experienced by the hero. That is why he agrees to accept death.

Consider the relationship of Kalashnikov with other characters. Kiribeevich, I think, did not feel obvious hatred for Stepan Paramonovich and, moreover, felt remorse during the duel. That is why he “turned pale”, “like autumn snow”, “his eyes became cloudy”, “the word froze on his open lips”. It is characteristic that Lermontov creates multifaceted characters here. So, Kiribeevich is not only a “violent fellow”, accustomed to not denying himself anything, he is also a brave person, a “daring fighter”, capable of strong feelings:

When I see her, I'm not myself -

Bold hands go down

Lively eyes are darkened;

I'm bored, sad, Orthodox tsar,

To toil alone in the world.

Horses made me sick of lungs,

Brocade outfits are disgusting

And I do not need a golden treasury ...

“Kiribeevich's love is not a joke, not simple red tape, but the passion of a strong nature, a mighty soul. ... For this person there is no middle ground: either get it or die! He left the guardianship of the natural morality of his society, and did not acquire another, higher, more human: such debauchery, such immorality in a person with a strong nature and wild passions are dangerous and terrible. And with all this, he has support in the formidable king, who will spare no one and will not spare ... 97 .

The tsar is truly outraged and enraged by the act of the merchant Kalashnikov and considers himself entitled to dispose of his life at his own discretion. Lermontov emphasizes the cruelty, despotism of Ivan the Terrible. The tsar in the poem personifies the fate of Kalashnikov.

Kalashnikov is truly dear only to his family - Alena Dmitrievna, younger brothers who revered him as a father. On the side of the merchant Kalashnikov and the sympathy of the author. He praises his hero:

And the violent winds roar and roar

Above his nameless grave.

And good people pass by:

An old man will pass - he will cross himself.

A good fellow will pass - he will sit down,

A girl will pass - she will grieve,

And the harpists will pass - they will sing a song.

Thus, in "The Song ... about the merchant Kalashnikov" Lermontov considers the theme of resentment and defense of honor in the spirit of the people's worldview, for which the price of dishonor is human life. And in this regard, the epic pathos is palpable in the poem: severe morals are justified by folk morality, without any excessive dramatization.

One of my favorite works of Lermontov Mikhail Yuryevich is “The Song about the Merchant Kalashnikov”. Its most basic feature is the confrontation of truth and honor against the power of higher officials.

The song describes two people. One is the oprichnik of the tsar and his good fighter, and the second is a simple merchant Kalashnikov, the husband of Alena Dmitrevna. Above her is a mocking oprichnik and thus casts a shadow on his family. The merchant is an honest, correct and brave man. Lives according to the laws, loves children and wife, takes good care of them. This is clear from Alena's words. She asks him for help and protection.

Kalashnikov, having gone to battle with the guardsman, inflicts a mortal blow on him, which makes the prince angry. But since he tells the truth, and the prince treats him with respect and promises not to leave his wife and children in poverty. The merchant is executed, and he will rest in an unmarked grave. But his action showed everyone that justice must be fought for, albeit at a high cost.

For me, the image of Kalashnikov is very bright and clean. He is a real man who is ready to die for the honor of his wife and family. He personifies the whole common people, who for centuries have been trying to fight the injustice and venality of high-ranking people.

Lermontov's work has always remained a mystery, not without reason, and his works are called unique. They reflected the spiritual mood of the poet. Take, for example, the variety of forms and themes that is observed in his work: the fantastic alternates with the real, laughter with sadness, strength with fatigue, prayer with a joke, romantic impulses with cold skepticism.

Who would have thought that one and the same author could at the same time create works that are completely different in thought, mood and tempo? In recent years, the soul of the poet peaceful feelings embraced more and more often. The best example of this is the song about the merchant Kalashnikov written in 1837. Characteristics of the main character in this article.

History in the spirit of folk song

"Song about the merchant Kalashnikov" was created by the poet in 1837 in the Caucasian exile. This work of Lermontov is exceptional in its style. It is written in the spirit of a folk song and is presented to the reader as a legend sung by harpists.

The "Song" is also interesting in terms of the religious mood with which it is colored. The main idea of ​​the poem is the humility of a man strong in truth before an unfair but obligatory trial. The author tells the tragic fate of the merchant's son, who stood up for his offended wife and washed away the offense with blood, but was executed.

Merchant Kalashnikov (characteristics of the hero below) humbly endures the fate, he submits to the court of the king and God. He does not speak a word against injustice, he does not show the slightest threat.

Sovereign Oprichnik

The story begins with a feast scene. Among the many people present in the king's refectory, the author in an artistic form identifies the main character: everyone drinks at the table, but only one does not drink. This hero is Kiribeevich. This is followed by a dialogue between Grozny and the guardsman. This episode plays an important role in the characterization of the merchant Kalashnikov. It allows you to fully reveal the characters' personalities.

Terrible's appeal to his guardsman and his questions are built on the rise: first, the tsar then hit the ground with a stick and finally uttered a word that awakened the guardsman from oblivion. Kiribeevich answers the sovereign. The second appeal of the king is built on the same principle: is the caftan worn out, is the treasury wasted, is the saber notched?

This episode shows that Kiribeevich is the tsar's favorite. He enjoys his favor and mercy. The oprichnik has everything - expensive caftans, money, good weapons. As the sovereign becomes interested, both his anger and desire to take part in the fate of Kiribeevich increase. This episode predicts the future fate of the merchant Kalashnikov. The characteristic of the opponent is hidden behind the last question of the sovereign: “Did the son of the merchant knock you down in a fist fight?”

The oprichnik replies that that hand has not yet been born in a merchant family, his argamak walks merrily. The tsar's assumption that the invincible fighter lost the battle to the merchant's son was rejected by Kiribeevich as impossible. In his boasting lies the psychological anticipation of the poem, a kind of prophecy.

The reason for the sadness of the oprichnik

At the peak of the royal participation, the cunning and crafty Kiribeevich plays a tearful scene before him: I can’t wet my mustache in a gilded ladle because I fell in love with a beautiful woman without memory, and she turns away, as if from a non-Christ. The autocrat, having learned that the sweetheart of his beloved guardsman was just a merchant's daughter, laughed: take a ring, buy a necklace and send gifts to Alena Dmitrievna. And do not forget to invite to the wedding, but bow to the matchmaker.

Kiribeevich was cunning, he outwitted Ivan the Terrible himself. It seems like he told everything in spirit, but concealed from the king that the beauty was married in the church of God. And why would Kiribeevich have a matchmaker if the sovereign himself is on his side. The author reveals the image of the adversary of the daring merchant Kalashnikov. The characterization of Kiribeevich is presented in full: a cunning self-confident person, a professional fighter and a noble family. His name indicates a non-Russian origin, Kalashnikov calls him an infidel son.

Wealth, patronage of the king spoiled the guardsman. Kiribeevich became a selfish person, trampling on family foundations. Alena Dmitrievna's marriage does not stop him. After watching his sweetheart, he offers her wealth in exchange for love. The presence of his neighbors does not stop him either, in front of whom he hugs and kisses his chosen one, knowing full well that this threatens her with dishonor.

Merchant Kalashnikov

Kalashnikov is one of the main characters. We can say that this is the main image of the poem, since it is assigned a positive role. A young merchant sits behind the counter. He lays out goods in his shop, lures guests with sweet speech, counts gold and silver. He closes the shop, as the bells ring the supper, and goes home to his young wife and children.

The merchant had a bad day. So far, this is only evident from the fact that rich boyars walk by, but they do not look into his shop. The merchant returned home in the evening and sees that something was wrong here too: his wife does not meet him, the oak table is not covered with a white tablecloth, and the candle barely flickers in front of the images. He asked the employee, what is happening? They answered him that Alena Dmitrievna had not yet returned from the evening.

When his wife returned, he did not recognize her: she was standing pale, bare-haired, and her plaited braids were strewn with snow. He looks with crazy eyes and whispers incomprehensible speeches. His wife told him that the royal guard Kiribeevich had dishonored her. Kalashnikov could not bear such an insult. He called the younger brothers and said that he would challenge the offender to battle and fight to the death. The merchant asked the brothers, if they beat him, then go out instead of him to stand for the holy truth.

The daring merchant Kalashnikov, whose characterization you are reading now, goes to the duel not out of jealousy, but for the holy truth. Kiribeevich violated the patriarchal way of life and the law of God: looking at someone else's wife is a crime. Stepan Paramonovich does not go out of jealousy to fight, but to defend his honor. First of all - the honor of the family, and therefore asks the brothers to stand up for the truth.

Duel

Before the battle, Kiribeevich comes out and silently bows to the king. Merchant Kalashnikov observes the rules of ancient courtesy: first he bows to the tsar, then to the Kremlin and holy churches, and then to the Russian people. Kalashnikov sacredly preserves the ancient foundations. He is not just a courageous and courageous person, the merchant is strong in his spirit. That's why he wins.

The duel is preceded by a boasting scene. Kiribeevich's boasting is just a ritual, and the merchant's response is an accusation and a challenge to a mortal battle. The duel has ceased to be a competition, it's all about moral rightness. Kalashnikov replies to his offender that he has nothing to fear: he lived according to the law of the Lord, did not disgrace another's wife, did not rob, and "did not hide from the light of heaven." Kiribeevich, hearing the words of Kalashnikov, turned pale in his face, which means he admitted he was wrong. Nevertheless, he hit his opponent in the chest.

The bones cracked, but the copper cross hanging on the chest of the merchant Kalashnikov saved him. In the characterization of the hero, this detail is essential. She says that the outcome of the fight was already, as it were, a foregone conclusion. Kiribeevich, molesting a woman married in a church, violated not only human laws, but also God's. Stepan Paramonovich hopes for God's judgment and tells himself that he will stand for the truth to the last.

Kalashnikov hits the enemy with a swing in the left temple, which was contrary to the rules of the battle. Kiribeevich falls dead. In fact, the merchant committed murder. But he does not lose sympathy - neither the reader's nor the author's. He goes to judge and fulfills his plan. From the point of view of the people's consciousness, Kalashnikov is right.

Trial of Kalashnikov

The tsar, and he already knew the rules of battle, angrily asks Kalashnikov whether he killed his faithful servant by accident or by his own will. The merchant admits that he killed Kiribeevich of his own free will, and why he did so, he will only tell God alone. In order not to subject the honor of the family to dishonor, he cannot say this to the king. He boldly confesses his deed to the king and is ready to suffer punishment. Just before his death, he entrusts his family to the care of the sovereign. And the tsar promises to welcome the orphans, the young widow and brothers of Stepan Paramonovich.

In the description of the merchant Kalashnikov, it should be noted that he goes to the block without regrets for his honesty and courage. The fact that he did not play up and kept the answer in good conscience, the sovereign liked. But the sovereign could not forgive and let him go just like that. After all, his faithful servant and best oprichnik was killed. The merchant administers the court arbitrarily. He aggravated his guilt by his denial before the king. And for that he should be punished.

The king is formidable, but fair. For honesty and courage, he does not leave the merchant with his grace: he orders to go to a high place. He orders the ax to be sharpened, the executioner to dress up, the big bell to ring. The emperor gave gifts to Kalashnikov's young wife and children from the treasury, did not offend the brothers either - he ordered to trade duty-free.

stately fellow

Lermontov contrasts the merchant Kalashnikov with the oprichnik Kiribeevich in the poem. The author shows the merchant not only as a daring fighter, but as a fighter for the holy truth. The characterization of the merchant Kalashnikov from the “Song about the Merchant Kalashnikov” reflects the image of a stately young man, a Russian hero: falcon's eyes burn, straightens his mighty shoulders and pulls on his combat gloves.

The image of the merchant Kalashnikov is the image of a brave and strong man, steadfast and honest. That is why the song about the merchant was composed. And although his grave is nameless, people do not forget it: an old man passes by - he crosses himself, a fine fellow walks by - he becomes dignified, if a girl passes, he will grieve. And the harpists will pass - they will sing a song.

M. Yu. Lermontov often thought about justice, honor and loyalty on a national scale. But under the tsar there was censorship, so the author cheated and expressed criticism of the existing system in the historical narrative. So “The Song about the Merchant Kalashnikov” is an innovative work in which the poet skillfully hides the true meaning behind historical details. But first things first.

After graduating from the Guards School, the writer goes to Tsarskoye Selo. There he begins work on the poem. It was then that Lermontov formed his own point of view about life in Russia. He recognizes the undeniable virtues of his people, and blames the authorities for their troubles, which are not able to fairly judge. By that time, the poet himself had suffered from the heavy hand of the tsar: he was sent into exile for a poem dedicated to the death of Pushkin.

Initially, the poem "The Song of the Merchant Kalashnikov" was published anonymously in 1838, in the "Literary Supplements to the Russian Invalid". In 1840, the work was included in the collection Poems of M. Lermontov.

Genre and direction

The book belongs to the genre of romantic national-historical poem.

The proximity of the work to folklore legends (“good fellow”, “cheese earth”, etc.) indicates that it was written in the direction of romanticism. Other components of this literary movement are also obvious: the conflict of the individual with society and the tragic ending.

The meaning of the name

The poem is stylized as a Russian epic, or rather, as an ancient genre of "story". The author plunges us into the atmosphere of a bygone antiquity from the first line, giving the title an old flavor. In the Middle Ages, it was customary to reveal the content of the book already in the titles, no one thought to intrigue the reader.

Lermontov gave just such a name to the work, so that the public immediately understood the hint of its essence and content, plunging into the tradition of ancient times.

essence

Actions take place in the era of the reign of Ivan IV. A young merchant named Stepan Paramonovich Kalashnikov in an honest fist fight kills his offender - the royal guardsman, Kiribeevich, who dishonored his family. The main events of the book are reflected.

This is a romantic poem, where each hero is the bearer of some kind of romantic passion. Kalashnikov - honor, Kiribeevich - passions, Ivan IV - authority and despotism of government. All of them are in opposition, and this struggle can be resolved only by the death of one of them. Here's what the piece says.

Main characters and their characteristics

1. Merchant Stepan Kalashnikov. Personifies in the poem the type of a real Russian person. His personal dignity is a manifestation of the moral foundations of the Russian people that have been developing for centuries. It organically combines simplicity, cordiality and respect for others, with true Russian heroism and nobility. Revenge for Alena Dmitrievna is not only the protection of personal honor, but also the upholding of the rights of the entire Kalashnikov family. It is no coincidence that he convenes the brothers and asks them to take revenge on the enemy after his death. The open challenge that he throws to the closest royal oprichnik automatically sentences him to death. Kalashnikov is aware of what the royal reward will be, but is not afraid of death. His only request is to take care of his family. Kalashnikov, despite the shameful fate, remains a hero in the memory of the people.
2. Ivan groznyj. This is a dual figure in Lermontov. His greatness, breadth of nature combine cruelty and despotism. Ivan IV is convinced that both the souls and thoughts of his subordinates are in his power. He executes Kalashnikov simply because he refused to reveal to the tsar the real reason for the murder. It is the king, whose memory is so bloody and terrible, who becomes the culprit of monstrous injustice. He, without suspecting, gives his beloved servant permission to harass a married lady. He does all this with a broad gesture of his hand, without thinking or caring about the fate of his subjects. He dismissively gives free rein to his watchdogs, not paying attention to the possible consequences.
3. Kiribeevich. The personality is original, bright and strong. He is obsessed with one passion - love for Alena Dmitrievna. Incapable of any compromises, he is ready for anything for this passion. The moral inferiority of Kiribeevich is largely due to his service. The peculiarity of his social position leads to the fact that his will turns into self-will, and love - into arbitrariness and violence. This crafty slave not only disgraced Alena Dmitrievna in front of the evil neighbors, but also deceived his king, hiding from him that his beloved was married in the church.

Topics and issues

1. The main theme is honor. Kalashnikov knew what fate awaited him in the future after the battle, but he considered it his moral duty to protect the dignity of his family. He could not and did not want to live in disgrace and allow the royal servants to abuse his wife.
2. Lermontov also raises the problem of permissive power. Kiribeevich was an oprichnik under the tsar, so he will not get anything for harassing someone's wife, because the tsar will believe in his innocence, and what does he care about the fate of some merchant's wife? He would rather amuse his warrior and watch the fight while enjoying the bloody spectacle.
3. Love Theme. People do not see boundaries, do not see any barriers because of love and passion. So Kiribeevich, despite the fact that Alena Dmitrievna was married, began to show signs of attention to her, and later completely crossed the line. The other side of love is the behavior of a spouse who cares about the reputation of the family. He sacrifices himself, but before his death he provides his wife with everything necessary for a good life. And the heroine herself is faithful to Stepan, she loves him with all her heart.
4. Moral issues expressed in the behavior of the king. He rules unwisely, allowing arbitrary desires to take precedence over the interests of the state and the people. Why execute a strong man who defeated his best fighter? It will obviously come in handy if a serious enemy threatens the Russian land. Such people are the backbone of the country. But the ruler does not care, he puts his petty interests above human destinies and even the fatherland itself.
5. The theme of freedom. Stepan Kalashnikov is a free person who does not give up even under the tsarist yoke. Despite the slavish position of people in Rus', he openly rebels against everyone, deciding to defend his right to the inviolability and honor of his family.
6. The problem of injustice. Ivan IV, announcing the rules of battle, then himself does not follow them when he executes Kalashnikov, because he is the lord, and apparently he is allowed to do so.

the main idea

The main idea is the need to protect honor and dignity in any situation, and it does not play a role here, at the cost of one's life or in any other way. You need to fight for your freedom, otherwise there will always be someone who will be able to take it away. Tyranny always finds support in slavery, and if people begin to rebel against despotism, then it will fall under the blows of independence. This appeal directly related to the era of Lermontov himself: he calls on fellow citizens to stop tolerating the arbitrariness of the authorities and to oppose the autocracy as fearlessly as the main characters of the poem.

The meaning of Kalashnikov's act is clear: he understands that his inaction will be perceived as capitulation. The enemy will not retreat, and complaining to the king will hardly change anything. He cannot put his family at risk and decides that he must make a sacrifice, if only to get out of the situation with honor, providing for his wife and children. In fact, he had no other choice. But Lermontov was critical of his contemporaries and thought they needed a moral lesson from the past. This is how, and not otherwise, it is necessary to respond to arbitrariness - this is the author's position. The rebellion of the individual against the system is the way out of the vicious circle of tyranny.

What does it teach?

The moral of the poem is this: even if everything in life goes against you, you need to defend your point of view and seek justice, otherwise you will be deprived of everything that is dear to your heart.

The writer also talks about love and loyalty to his loved ones and about their protection - no matter what it will be, spiritual or physical, you need to shield your family from trouble in time.

The conclusion is simple: the world needs justice, but only a few daredevils can achieve it, so do not wait for nationwide justice that came out of nowhere. We need to take the right thing into our own hands, without this our world will be a mess.

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