In 1836, Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin wrote the story " Captain's daughter", which appeared historical description Pugachev uprising. In his work, Pushkin based on real events 1773-1775, when, under the leadership of Emelyan Pugachev (False Tsar Peter Fedorovich), the Yaik Cossacks, who took fugitive convicts, thieves and villains as servants, began a peasant war. Pyotr Grinev and Maria Mironova are fictitious characters, but their fates very truthfully reflect the sad time of the brutal civil war.
Pushkin designed his story in a realistic form in the form of notes from the diary of the protagonist Pyotr Grinev, made years after the uprising. The lyrics of the work are interesting in their presentation - Grinev writes his diary in adulthood, rethinking everything he experienced. At the time of the rebellion, he was a young noble loyal to his Empress. He looked at the rebels as if they were savages who fought with particular cruelty against the Russian people. In the course of the story, it is clear how the heartless ataman Pugachev, executing dozens of honest officers, eventually, by the will of fate, wins favor in Grinev's heart and acquires sparks of nobility in his eyes.
Chapter 1. Sergeant of the Guard
At the beginning of the story, the main character Peter Grinev tells the reader about his young life. He is the only survivor of 9 children of a retired major and a poor noblewoman, he lived in a middle-class noble family. The upbringing of the young master was actually engaged in the old servant. Peter's education was low, since his father, a retired major, hired the French hairdresser Beaupré as a tutor, leading an immoral lifestyle. For drunkenness and depraved actions, he was expelled from the estate. And 17-year-old Petrusha, his father decided, through old connections, to send him to serve in Orenburg (instead of St. Petersburg, where he was supposed to go to serve in the guards) and attached an old servant Savelich to him for supervision. Petrusha was upset, because instead of parties in the capital, a dull existence in the wilderness awaited him. During a stopover on the way, the young gentleman made an acquaintance with the rake-captain Zurin, because of whom, under the pretext of training, he got involved in playing billiards. Then Zurin offered to play for money and as a result, Petrusha lost as much as 100 rubles - a lot of money at that time. Savelich, being the keeper of the master's "treasury", is against Peter paying the debt, but the master insists. The servant is indignant, but gives the money back.
Chapter 2
In the end, Piotr is ashamed of his loss and promises Savelich not to gamble again. There is a long road ahead of them, and the servant forgives the master. But because of the indiscretion of Petrusha, they again get into trouble - the impending snowstorm did not embarrass the young man and he ordered the driver not to return. As a result, they lost their way and almost froze. For luck, they met a stranger who helped the lost travelers to go to the inn.
Grinev recalls how then, tired from the road, he had a dream in a wagon, which he called prophetic: he sees his house and his mother, who says that his father is dying. Then he sees an unfamiliar man with a beard in his father's bed, and his mother says that he is her named husband. The stranger wants to give a "father's" blessing, but Peter refuses, and then the man takes up the ax, and corpses appear around. He does not touch Peter.
They drive up to the inn, reminiscent of a thieves' haven. A stranger, frozen in a cold in one Armenian coat, asks Petrusha for wine, and he treats him. A strange conversation took place between the peasant and the owner of the house in the language of thieves. Peter does not understand the meaning, but everything he hears seems very strange to him. Leaving the rooming house, Peter, to Savelich's next displeasure, thanked the escort by granting him a hare sheepskin coat. To which the stranger bowed, saying that the age would not forget such mercy.
When Peter finally gets to Orenburg, his father's colleague, having read the cover letter with the order to keep the young man "in tight rein", sends him to serve in the Belgorod fortress - even more wilderness. This could not but upset Peter, who had long dreamed of a guards uniform.
Chapter 3
The owner of the Belgorod garrison was Ivan Kuzmich Mironov, but his wife, Vasilisa Yegorovna, actually ran everything. Simple and sincere people immediately liked Grinev. The elderly Mironov couple had a daughter, Masha, but so far their acquaintance has not taken place. In the fortress (which turned out to be a simple village), Peter meets a young lieutenant Alexei Ivanovich Shvabrin, who was exiled here from the guards for a duel that ended in the death of the enemy. Shvabrin, having a habit of speaking unflatteringly about those around him, often spoke caustically about Masha, the captain's daughter, exposing her as a complete fool. Then Grinev himself gets acquainted with the daughter of the commander and questions the statements of the lieutenant.
Chapter 4
By nature, the kind and benevolent Grinev began to become friends with the commandant and his family more and more, and moved away from Shvabrin. Captain's daughter Masha, did not have a dowry, but turned out to be charming girl. Shvabrin's caustic remarks did not please Peter. Inspired by thoughts of a young girl in quiet evenings, he began to write poems for her, the content of which he shared with a friend. But he ridiculed him, and even more began to humiliate Masha's dignity, assuring that she would come at night to the one who would give her a pair of earrings.
As a result, the friends quarreled, and it came to a duel. Vasilisa Yegorovna, the wife of the commandant, found out about the duel, but the duelists pretended to have reconciled, deciding to postpone the meeting the next day. But in the morning, as soon as they had time to draw their swords, Ivan Ignatich and 5 invalids were led out under escort to Vasilisa Yegorovna. Having reprimanded, as it should, she let them go. In the evening, Masha, disturbed by the news of the duel, told Peter about Shvabrin's unsuccessful matchmaking for her. Now Grinev understood his motives for his behavior. The duel did take place. The confident swordsman Peter, taught at least something worthwhile by the tutor Beaupre, turned out to be a strong opponent for Shvabrin. But Savelich appeared at the duel, Peter hesitated for a second and was eventually wounded.
Chapter 5
The wounded Peter was nursed by his servant and Masha. As a result, the duel brought the young people together, and they were inflamed mutual love to each other. Wanting to marry Masha, Grinev sends a letter to his parents.
Grinev reconciled with Shvabrin. Peter's father, having learned about the duel and not wanting to hear about the marriage, became furious and sent an angry letter to his son, where he threatened to be transferred from the fortress. At a loss as to how his father could find out about the duel, Peter attacked Savelich with accusations, but he himself received a letter with the host's displeasure. Grinev finds only one answer - Shvabrin reported the duel. Father's refusal to bless does not change Peter's intentions, but Masha does not agree to secretly marry. For a while they move away from each other, and Grinev understands that unhappy love can deprive him of his mind and lead to debauchery.
Chapter 6
Unrest begins in the Belgorod fortress. Captain Mironov receives an order from the general to prepare the fortress for an attack by rebels and robbers. Emelyan Pugachev, who called himself Peter III, escaped from custody and terrified the neighborhood. According to rumors, he had already captured several fortresses and was approaching Belgorod. It was not necessary to count on victory with 4 officers and army "disabled". Alarmed by rumors about the capture of a nearby fortress and the execution of officers, Captain Mironov decided to send Masha and Vasilisa Yegorovna to Orenburg, where the fortress is stronger. The captain's wife speaks out against leaving, and decides not to leave her husband in Hard time. Masha says goodbye to Peter, but she fails to leave the fortress.
Chapter 7
Ataman Pugachev appears at the walls of the fortress and offers to surrender without a fight. Commandant Mironov, having learned about the betrayal of the constable and several Cossacks who joined the rebel clan, does not agree to the proposal. He orders his wife to dress Masha as a commoner and take the priest to the hut, and he himself opens fire on the rebels. The battle ends with the capture of the fortress, which, together with the city, passes into the hands of Pugachev.
Right at the commandant's house, Pugachev perpetrates reprisals against those who refused to take the oath to him. He orders the execution of Captain Mironov and Lieutenant Ivan Ignatich. Grinev decides that he will not swear allegiance to the robber and will accept an honorable death. However, here Shvabrin comes up to Pugachev and whispers something in his ear. The chieftain decides not to ask for the oath, ordering all three to be hanged. But the old faithful servant Savelyich rushes at the feet of the ataman and he agrees to pardon Grinev. Ordinary soldiers and residents of the city take the oath of allegiance to Pugachev. As soon as the oath ended, Pugachev decided to dine, but the Cossacks dragged Vasilisa Yegorovna naked from the commandant's house, where they robbed property, by the hair, who was crying for her husband and cursing the convict. Ataman ordered to kill her.
Chapter 8
Grinev's heart is out of place. He understands that if the soldiers find out that Masha is here and alive, she cannot escape reprisals, especially since Shvabrin took the side of the rebels. He knows that his beloved is hiding in the priest's house. In the evening the Cossacks came, sent to take him to Pugachev. Although Peter did not accept the False Tsar's offer of all honors for the oath, the conversation between the rebel and the officer was friendly. Pugachev remembered the good and now gave Peter freedom in return.
Chapter 9
The next morning, Pugachev, in front of the people, called Peter to him and told him to go to Orenburg and report on his offensive in a week. Savelich began to fuss about the plundered property, but the villain said that he would let him go on sheepskin coats for such impudence. Grinev and his servant leave Belogorsk. Pugachev appoints Shvabrin as a commandant, and he himself goes on another feat.
Pyotr and Savelich are on foot, but one of Pugachev's gang caught up with them and said that His Majesty would grant them a horse and a sheepskin coat, and fifty, but he supposedly lost it.
Masha fell ill and lay delirious.
Chapter 10
Arriving in Orenburg, Grinev immediately reported on the deeds of Pugachev in the Belgorod fortress. A council met, at which everyone except Peter voted for defense, not attack.
A long siege begins - hunger and want. Peter, on another sortie into the camp of the enemy, receives a letter from Masha, in which she prays to save her. Shvabrin wants to marry her and keeps her in captivity. Grinev goes to the general with a request to give half a company of soldiers to save the girl, which is refused. Then Peter decides to help out his beloved alone.
Chapter 11
On the way to the fortress, Pyotr falls into Pugachev's guard and is taken for interrogation. Grinev honestly tells everything about his plans to the troublemaker and says that he is free to do whatever he wants with him. Pugachev's thug-advisers offer to execute the officer, but he says, "pardon, so pardon."
Together with the robber ataman, Peter goes to the Belgorod fortress, on the way they are talking. The rebel says that he wants to go to Moscow. Peter in his heart pities him, begging him to surrender to the mercy of the empress. But Pugachev knows that it is already too late, and says, come what may.
Chapter 12
Shvabrin keeps the girl on water and bread. Pugachev pardons the arbiter, but learns from Shvabrin that Masha is the daughter of an unsworn commandant. At first he is furious, but Peter, with his sincerity, this time also achieves favor.
Chapter 13
Pugachev gives Peter a pass to all outposts. Happy lovers go to parental home. They confused the army convoy with the Pugachev traitors and were arrested. In the head of the outpost, Grinev recognized Zurin. He said he was going home to get married. He dissuades him, assuring him to remain in the service. Peter himself understands that duty calls him. He sends Masha and Savelich to their parents.
The fighting of the detachments that arrived in time to rescue broke the robber plans. But Pugachev could not be caught. Then there were rumors that he was rampant in Siberia. Zurin's detachment is sent to suppress another outbreak. Grinev recalls the unfortunate villages plundered by savages. The troops had to take away what people could save. The news came that Pugachev had been caught.
Chapter 14
Grinev, on Shvabrin's denunciation, was arrested as a traitor. He could not justify himself with love, fearing that Masha would also be interrogated. The Empress, taking into account the merits of her father, pardoned him, but sentenced him to life exile. The father was in shock. Masha decided to go to Petersburg and ask the Empress for her beloved.
By the will of fate, Maria meets the Empress in the early autumn morning and tells her everything, not knowing who she is talking to. On the same morning, a cab was sent for her to the house of a secular lady, where Masha got a job for a while, with an order to deliver Mironov's daughter to the palace.
There Masha saw Catherine II and recognized her as her interlocutor.
Grinev was released from hard labor. Pugachev was executed. Standing on the chopping block in the crowd, he saw Grinev and nodded.
The reunited loving hearts continued the Grinev family, and in their Simbirsk province, under glass, was kept a letter from Catherine II pardoning Peter and praising Mary for her intelligence and kind heart.
Take care of your honor from a young age.
Proverb.
Chapter I
Sergeant of the Guard
- 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 it...
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Who is his father?
My father, Andrey Petrovich Grinev, served under Count Munnich in his youth and retired as prime minister in 1717. Since then, he lived in his Simbirsk village, where he married the girl Avdotya Vasilievna Yu., the daughter of a poor local nobleman. We were nine children. All my brothers and sisters died in infancy. My mother was still my belly, as I was already enrolled in the Semenovsky regiment as a sergeant, by the grace of the major of the guard, Prince V., our close relative. If, more than any hope, mother had given birth to a daughter, then the father would have announced the death of the non-appearing sergeant, and the matter would have ended. I was considered on vacation until graduation. At that time, we were brought up not in the modern way. From the age of five, I was given into the hands of the aspirant Savelich, who was granted me uncles for sober behavior. Under his supervision, in the twelfth year, I learned to read and write Russian and could very sensibly judge the properties of a greyhound dog. At this time, the priest hired a Frenchman for me, Monsieur Beaupre, who was discharged from Moscow along with a year's supply of wine and olive oil. Savelitch did not like his arrival much. “Thank God,” he grumbled to himself, “it seems that the child is washed, combed, fed. Where should one spend extra money and hire Monsieur, as if his own people were gone!” Beaupré was a hairdresser in his own country, then a soldier in Prussia, then came to Russia pour etre outchitel, not really understanding the meaning of the word. He was a kind fellow, but windy and dissolute to the extreme. His main weakness was a passion for the fair sex; often for his tenderness he received shocks, from which he groaned for whole days. Moreover, he was not (as he put it) and bottle enemy, i.e. (speaking in Russian) he liked to sip too much. But as wine was served with us only at dinner, and then by a glass, and the teachers usually carried it around, then my Beaupré very soon got used to the Russian tincture and even began to prefer it to the wines of his fatherland, as unlike more useful for the stomach. We got along right away, and although he was contractually obligated to teach me in French, German and all sciences, but he preferred to hastily learn from me how to chat in Russian, and then each of us went about his own business. We lived soul to soul. I didn't want another mentor. But soon fate separated us, and here's the occasion: The washerwoman Palashka, a fat and pockmarked girl, and the crooked cowherd Akulka somehow agreed at one time to throw themselves at mother's feet, confessing their criminal weakness and complaining with tears about the monsieur who had seduced their inexperience. Mother did not like to joke about this and complained to the father. His reprisal was short. He immediately demanded a French canal. It was reported that Monsieur was giving me his lesson. Father went to my room. At this time, Beaupré slept on the bed with the sleep of innocence. I was busy with business. You need to know that it was discharged for me from Moscow geographic map. It hung on the wall without any use and had long tempted me with the breadth and goodness of the paper. I made up my mind to make a snake out of her, and taking advantage of Beaupré's sleep, I set to work. Batiushka came in at the same time as I was fitting a wash tail to the Cape of Good Hope. Seeing my exercises in geography, the priest pulled my ear, then ran up to Beaupre, woke him very carelessly and began to shower reproaches. Beaupré, in dismay, wanted to get up, but could not: the unfortunate Frenchman was dead drunk. Seven troubles, one answer. Batiushka lifted him out of bed by the collar, pushed him out of the door, and on the same day drove him out of the yard, to Savelich's indescribable joy. That was the end of my upbringing. I lived underage, chasing pigeons and playing leapfrog with the yard boys. Meanwhile, I was sixteen years old. Here my fate changed. Once in autumn, my mother was making honey jam in the living room, and I, licking my lips, looked at the effervescent foam. Father at the window read the Court Calendar, which he receives every year. This book always had a strong influence on him: he never reread it without special participation, and reading this always produced in him an amazing excitement of bile. Mother, who knew by heart all his habits and customs, always tried to shove the unfortunate book as far away as possible, and in this way the Court Calendar did not catch his eye, sometimes for whole months. On the other hand, when he accidentally found him, he would not let go of his hands for whole hours. So, the priest read the Court calendar, occasionally shrugging his shoulders and repeating in an undertone: “Lieutenant General! .. He was a sergeant in my company! .. Both Russian orders cavalier!.. How long ago have we…” Finally, the priest threw the calendar on the sofa and plunged into thoughtfulness, which did not bode well. Suddenly he turned to his mother: “Avdotya Vasilievna, how old is Petrusha?” “Yes, the seventeenth year has gone,” answered mother. “Petrusha was born in the same year that Aunt Nastasya Garasimovna became crooked, and when else ... “Good,” the priest interrupted, “it’s time for him to serve. It’s enough for him to run around girls’ rooms and climb dovecotes.” The thought of an imminent separation from me struck my mother so much that she dropped the spoon into the saucepan, and tears flowed down her face. On the contrary, it is difficult to describe my admiration. The thought of service merged in me with thoughts of freedom, of the pleasures of Petersburg life. I imagined myself as an officer of the guard, which, in my opinion, was the height of human well-being. Batiushka did not like to change his intentions, nor to postpone their fulfillment. The day of my departure was fixed. The day before, the priest announced that he intended to write with me to my future boss, and demanded a pen and paper. “Don’t forget, Andrey Petrovich,” said mother, “to bow to Prince B. from me too; I, they say, hope that he will not leave Petrusha with his favors. — What nonsense! - replied the father, frowning. - Why should I write to Prince B.? “Why, you said that you would deign to write to Petrusha’s chief?”- Well, what is there? “Why, Petrushin’s chief is Prince B. After all, Petrusha is enlisted in the Semyonovsky regiment. - Recorded by! What do I care if it's recorded? Petrusha will not go to Petersburg. What will he learn by serving in St. Petersburg? wind and hang? No, let him serve in the army, let him pull the strap, let him sniff gunpowder, let him be a soldier, not a shamaton. Registered in the guard! Where is his passport? bring it here. Mother found my passport, which was kept in her casket along with the shirt in which I was baptized, and handed it to the priest with a trembling hand. Batiushka read it with attention, put it on the table in front of him, and began his letter. Curiosity tormented me: where are they sending me, if not to Petersburg? I did not take my eyes off Batiushkin's pen, which moved rather slowly. Finally, he finished, sealed the letter in the same package with his passport, took off his glasses and, calling me, said: “Here is a letter for you to Andrey Karlovich R., my old comrade and friend. You are going to Orenburg to serve under his command.” So, all my brilliant hopes collapsed! Instead of a cheerful Petersburg life, boredom awaited me in a deaf and distant side. The service, which for a minute I thought with such enthusiasm, seemed to me a grave misfortune. But there was nothing to argue. The next day, in the morning, a traveling wagon was brought up to the porch; they put a suitcase in it, a cellar with a tea set, and bundles of rolls and pies, the last signs of home pampering. My parents blessed me. The father said to me: “Goodbye, Peter. Serve faithfully to whom you swear; obey the bosses; do not chase after their affection; do not ask for service; do not excuse yourself from the service; and remember the proverb: take care of the dress again, and honor from youth. Mother, in tears, ordered me to take care of my health, and Savelich to look after the child. They put a hare coat on me, and a fox coat on top. I got into the wagon with Savelich and set off on the road, shedding tears. That very night I arrived in Simbirsk, where I had to stay for a day to purchase the necessary things, which was entrusted to Savelich. I stopped at a tavern. Savelich went to the shops in the morning. Getting bored of looking out the window at the dirty lane, I went to wander through all the rooms. Entering the billiard room, I saw a tall gentleman of about thirty-five, with a long black mustache, in a dressing gown, with a cue in his hand and with a pipe in his teeth. He played with a marker that, when he won, drank a glass of vodka, and when he lost, he had to crawl under the billiards on all fours. I started watching them play. The longer it went on, the more frequent the walks on all fours, until at last the marker remained under the pool table. The master uttered several strong expressions over him in the form of a funeral word and invited me to play a game. I reluctantly refused. It seemed to him, apparently, strange. He looked at me as if with regret; however, we talked. I learned that his name was Ivan Ivanovich Zurin, that he was a captain in a hussar regiment and was in Simbirsk when he was recruiting, but was standing in a tavern. Zurin invited me to dine with him, like God sent, like a soldier. I readily agreed. We sat down at the table. Zurin drank a lot and regaled me too, saying that one must get used to the service; he told me army jokes, from which I almost collapsed with laughter, and we got up from the table perfect friends. Then he volunteered to teach me how to play billiards. “This,” he said, “is necessary for our service brother. On a hike, for example, you come to a place - what do you order to do? After all, it’s not all the same to beat the Jews. Involuntarily you will go to a tavern and start playing billiards; And for that you need to know how to play!” I was completely convinced and set to work with great diligence. Zurin loudly encouraged me, marveled at my rapid successes, and after several lessons suggested that I play money, one penny each, not to win, but so as not to play for nothing, which, according to him, is the worst habit. I agreed to this, and Zurin ordered punch to be served and persuaded me to try, repeating that I need to get used to the service; and without a punch, what is a service! I obeyed him. Meanwhile, our game continued. The more I sipped from my glass, the bolder I became. Balloons kept flying over my side; I got excited, scolded the marker, who considered God knows how, multiplied the game from hour to hour, in a word - behaved like a boy breaking free. In the meantime, time has passed imperceptibly. Zurin glanced at his watch, put down his cue and announced to me that I had lost a hundred rubles. This confused me a little. Savelich had my money. I began to apologize. Zurin interrupted me: “Have mercy! Don't you dare worry. I can wait, but for now let's go to Arinushka. What do you order? I ended the day as dissolutely as I started. We dined at Arinushka's. Zurin poured me every minute, repeating that it was necessary to get used to the service. Rising from the table, I could barely stand on my feet; at midnight Zurin took me to a tavern. Savelich met us on the porch. He gasped, seeing the unmistakable signs of my zeal for the service. “What, sir, has become of you? he said in a pitiful voice, “where did you load it? Oh my god! there has never been such a sin!” "Shut up, bastard! - I answered him, stammering, - you must be drunk, go to bed ... and put me to bed. The next day I woke up with headache vaguely remembering yesterday's events. My reflections were interrupted by Savelich, who came in with a cup of tea. “It’s early, Pyotr Andreevich,” he said to me, shaking his head, “you start walking early. And who did you go to? It seems that neither father nor grandfather were drunkards; there is nothing to say about mother: from birth, except for kvass, they did not deign to take anything in their mouths. And who's to blame? damn monsieur. Every now and then, it happened, he would run to Antipievna: “Madame, wow, vodka.” So much for you! There is nothing to say: good instructed, dog son. And it was necessary to hire a basurman as uncles, as if the master had no more of his own people! I was ashamed. I turned away and said to him: “Get out, Savelich; I don't want tea." But Savelich was hard-pressed to appease when he used to set about preaching. “You see, Pyotr Andreevich, what it’s like to play along. And the head is hard, and you don’t want to eat. A person who drinks is good for nothing... Drink some cucumber pickle with honey, but it would be better to get drunk with half a glass of tincture. Won't you tell me?" At this time the boy came in and handed me a note from I. I. Zurin. I opened it and read the following lines:
“Dear Pyotr Andreevich, please send me with my boy a hundred rubles, which you lost to me yesterday. I am in dire need of money.
Ready for service
Ivan Zurin.
There was nothing to do. I assumed an air of indifference, and turning to Savelich, who was and money, and linen, and my deeds are a caretaker, ordered to give the boy a hundred rubles. "How! For what?" asked the astonished Savelich. "I owe them to him," I answered with every kind of coldness. "Must! Savelich objected, more astonished from time to time, “but when, sir, did you manage to owe him a debt?” Something is not right. Your will, sir, but I will not give out money. I thought that if at this decisive moment I did not outguess the stubborn old man, then later on it would be difficult for me to free myself from his guardianship, and, looking at him proudly, I said: “I am your master, and you are my servant. My money. I lost them because I felt like it. And I advise you not to be smart and do what you are ordered. Savelich was so struck by my words that he clasped his hands and was dumbfounded. "Why are you standing there!" I shouted angrily. Savelich wept. “Father Pyotr Andreich,” he said in a trembling voice, “do not kill me with sadness. You are my light! listen to me, old man: write to this robber that you were joking, that we don’t even have that kind of money. One hundred rubles! God you are merciful! Tell me that your parents firmly ordered you not to play, except as nuts ... "-" It's full of lies, - I interrupted sternly, - give the money here or I'll drive you away. Savelich looked at me with deep sorrow and went to collect my duty. I felt sorry for the poor old man; but I wanted to break free and prove that I was no longer a child. The money was delivered to Zurin. Savelich hurried to take me out of the accursed tavern. He came with the news that the horses were ready. With a troubled conscience and silent remorse I left Simbirsk, without saying goodbye to my teacher and not thinking of seeing him again.to become a teacher (French).
This work has entered the public domain. The work was written by an author who died more than seventy years ago, and was published during his lifetime or posthumously, but more than seventy years have also passed since publication. It can be freely used by anyone without anyone's consent or permission and without payment of royalties.
Previously, schoolchildren did not have questions about what prose genre "The Captain's Daughter" belongs to. Is this a novel or a short story? "Of course, the second one!" - so would have answered any teenager ten years ago. Indeed, in the old textbooks on literature, the genre of "The Captain's Daughter" (story or novel) was not questioned.
In modern literary criticism
Today, most researchers believe that the story of Captain Grinev is a novel. But what is the difference between these two genres? "The Captain's Daughter" - a story or a novel? Why did Pushkin himself call his work a story, and modern researchers refuted his statement? In order to answer these questions, it is necessary, first of all, to understand the features of both the story and the novel. Let's start with the largest form a prose work can have.
Novel
Today, this genre is the most common type. epic literature. The novel describes a significant period in the life of the characters. There are many characters in it. Moreover, completely unexpected images often appear in the plot and, it would seem, have no effect on the overall course of events. In reality, there can be nothing superfluous in real literature. And a rather gross mistake is made by one who reads "War and Peace" and " Quiet Don", skipping the chapters on the war. But let's get back to the work" The Captain's Daughter ".
Is this a novel or a short story? This question comes up often, and not only when we are talking About The Captain's Daughter. The fact is that there are no clear genre boundaries. But there are features, the presence of which indicates belonging to one or another type of prose. Recall the plot of Pushkin's work. A considerable period of time covers "The Captain's Daughter". "Is this a novel or a short story?" - answering such a question, one should remember how the main character appeared before the readers at the beginning of the work.
The story of the life of an officer
Landowner Pyotr Grinev recalls his early years. In his youth, he was naive and even somewhat frivolous. But the events that he had to go through - meeting with the robber Pugachev, meeting Masha Mironova and her parents, Shvabrin's betrayal - changed him. He knew that honor must be preserved from a young age. But true price I understood these words only at the end of my misadventures. The personality of the protagonist has undergone significant changes. Before us - salient feature novel. But why, then, was the work "The Captain's Daughter" attributed to another genre for so long?
Story or novel?
There are not many differences between these genres. The story is a kind of intermediate link between the novel and the short story. There are several characters in the work of short prose, the events cover a small time period. There are more characters in the story, there are also minor ones who do not play important role in the main storyline. In such a work, the author does not show the hero in different periods of his life (in childhood, adolescence, youth). So, "The Captain's Daughter" - is it a novel or a story "? Perhaps the second.
The narration is conducted on behalf of the protagonist, who is already in old age. But almost nothing is said about the life of the landowner Pyotr Andreevich (only that he was widowed). The protagonist is a young officer, but not the middle-aged nobleman who acts as the narrator.
Events in the work cover only a few years. So this is a story? Not at all. As already mentioned above, feature novel is the development of the protagonist's personality. And this is not just present in The Captain's Daughter. This is main theme. After all, it is no coincidence that Pushkin used a wise Russian proverb as an epigraph.
"Is the captain's daughter a novel or a story? To give the most accurate answer to this question, you should know the basic facts from the history of writing this work.
Book about Pugachev
In the thirties of the 19th century, the novels of Walter Scott were very popular in Russia. Inspired by creativity English writer, Pushkin decided to write a work that would reflect events from the history of Russia. The theme of rebellion has long attracted Alexander Sergeevich, as evidenced by the story "Dubrovsky". However, the story of Pugachev is a completely different matter.
Pushkin created a controversial image. Pugachev in his book is not only an impostor and a criminal, but also a man who is not without nobility. One day he meets a young officer, and he presents him with a sheepskin coat. The point, of course, is not in the gift, but in relation to Emelyan, the offspring of a noble family. Pyotr Grinev did not show the arrogance characteristic of the representatives of his class. And then, during the capture of the fortress, he acted like a true nobleman.
As is often the case with writers, in the process of working on a work, Pushkin somewhat departed from original intention. Initially, he planned to make Pugachev the main character. Then - an officer who went over to the side of the impostor. The writer scrupulously collected information about the Pugachev era. He traveled to the Southern Urals, where the main events of this period took place, and talked with eyewitnesses. But later the writer decided to give his work a memoir form, and introduced the image of a noble young nobleman as the main character. So the work "The Captain's Daughter" was born.
Historical novel or historical novel?
So after all, what genre does Pushkin's work belong to? In the nineteenth century, a story was called what is called a story today. The concept of "novel" by that time, of course, was known to Russian writers. But Pushkin nevertheless called his work a story. If you do not analyze the work "The Captain's Daughter", it really can hardly be called a novel. After all, this genre is associated for many with the famous books of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky. And everything that is less in volume than the novels "War and Peace", "The Idiot", "Anna Karenina", according to the generally accepted opinion, is a story or a story.
But it is worth mentioning one more feature of the novel. In a work of this genre, the narrative cannot be focused on one hero. In "The Captain's Daughter" great attention given to Pugachev. In addition, he introduced another historical figure into the plot - Empress Catherine II. So, "The Captain's Daughter" is a historical novel.
Take care of your honor from a young age.
CHAPTER I. SERGEANT OF THE GUARDS.
If he were a guard, he would be a captain tomorrow.
That is not necessary; let him serve in the army.
Well said! let him push it...
Who is his father?
Knyazhnin.
My father, Andrey Petrovich Grinev, served under Count Munnich in his youth, and retired as prime minister in 1717. Since then, he lived in his Simbirsk village, where he married the girl Avdotya Vasilyevna Yu., the daughter of a poor local nobleman. We were nine children. All my brothers and sisters died in infancy.
My mother was still my belly, as I was already enrolled in the Semenovsky regiment as a sergeant, by the grace of the major of the guard, Prince B., our close relative. If, more than any expectation, the mother had given birth to a daughter, then the father would have announced the death of the non-appearing sergeant, and the matter would have ended. I was considered on vacation until graduation. At that time, we were not brought up in the new way. From the age of five, I was given into the hands of the aspirant Savelich, who was granted me uncles for sober behavior. Under his supervision, in the twelfth year, I learned to read and write Russian and could very sensibly judge the properties of a greyhound dog. At this time, the priest hired a Frenchman for me, Monsieur Beaupre, who was discharged from Moscow along with a year's supply of wine and olive oil. Savelitch did not like his arrival much. “Thank God,” he grumbled to himself, “it seems that the child is washed, combed, fed. Where should one spend the extra money, and hire Monsieur, as if his own people were gone!”
Beaupré was a hairdresser in his own country, then a soldier in Prussia, then he came to Russia pour ètre outchitel, not really understanding the meaning of this word. He was a kind fellow, but windy and dissolute to the extreme. His main weakness was a passion for the fair sex; not infrequently for his tenderness he received shocks, from which he groaned for whole days. Moreover, he was not (as he put it) an enemy of the bottle, i.e. (speaking in Russian) he liked to sip too much. But since wine was only served with us at dinner, and then by a glass, and the teachers usually carried it around, then my Beaupré very soon got used to the Russian tincture, and even began to prefer it to the wines of his fatherland, as unlike more useful for the stomach. We immediately got along well, and although under the contract he was obliged to teach me in French, German and all sciences, he preferred to quickly learn from me how to chat in Russian - and then each of us went about his own business. We lived soul to soul. I didn't want another mentor. But soon fate separated us, and here's the occasion:
The washerwoman Palashka, a fat and pockmarked girl, and the crooked cowherd Akulka somehow agreed at one time to throw themselves at mother's feet, confessing their criminal weakness and complaining with tears about the monsieur who had seduced their inexperience. Mother did not like to joke about this, and complained to the father. His reprisal was short. He immediately demanded a French canal. It was reported that Monsieur was giving me his lesson. Father went to my room. At this time, Beaupré slept on the bed with the sleep of innocence. I was busy with business. You need to know that a geographical map was issued for me from Moscow. It hung on the wall without any use and had long tempted me with the breadth and goodness of the paper. I decided to make a snake out of her, and taking advantage of Beaupré's sleep, I set to work. Batiushka came in at the same time as I was fitting a wash tail to the Cape of Good Hope. Seeing my exercises in geography, the priest pulled my ear, then ran up to Beaupre, woke him very carelessly, and began to shower reproaches. Beaupré, in dismay, wanted to get up, but could not: the unfortunate Frenchman was dead drunk. Seven troubles, one answer. Father lifted him from the bed by the collar, pushed him out of the door, and on the same day drove him out of the yard, to Savelich's indescribable joy. That was the end of my upbringing.
I lived underage, chasing pigeons and playing chaharda with the yard boys. Meanwhile, I was sixteen years old. Here my fate changed.
Once in autumn, my mother was making honey jam in the living room, and I, licking my lips, looked at the seething foam. Father at the window read the Court Calendar, which he receives every year. This book always had a strong influence on him: he never reread it without special participation, and reading this always produced in him an amazing excitement of bile. Mother, who knew by heart all his habits and customs, always tried to shove the unfortunate book as far away as possible, and in this way the Court Calendar did not catch his eye sometimes for whole months. But when he accidentally found him, he would not let go of his hands for whole hours. So the priest read the Court Calendar, occasionally shrugging his shoulders and repeating in an undertone: “Lieutenant General! .. He was a sergeant in my company! , and plunged into thoughtfulness, which did not bode well.
Suddenly he turned to his mother: “Avdotya Vasilievna, how old is Petrusha?”
Yes, the seventeenth year has gone, - answered mother. - Petrusha was born in the same year that Aunt Nastasya Garasimovna became crooked, and when else ...
“Good,” the priest interrupted, “it’s time for him to serve. It’s enough for him to run around girls’ rooms and climb dovecotes.”
The thought of an imminent separation from me struck my mother so much that she dropped the spoon into the saucepan, and tears flowed down her face. On the contrary, it is difficult to describe my admiration. The thought of service merged in me with thoughts of freedom, of the pleasures of Petersburg life. I imagined myself as an officer of the guard, which in my opinion was the pinnacle of human well-being.
The Captain's Daughter is a coming-of-age novel. This is the story of the growing up of Peter Grinev, who from a "green" young man reincarnates into a responsible man, having gone through harsh life tests. He happened to take a direct part in the Pugachev uprising, and all his principles were thoroughly tested. He passed it, retaining his dignity and remaining true to his oath. The narrative is in the form of memoirs, and the hero himself from a height own experience sums up life.
Many readers think that "The Captain's Daughter" is just a story, but they are mistaken: a work of such a volume cannot belong to small prose. Whether this is a story or a novel is an open question.
The writer himself lived at a time when full-fledged large epic genres attributed only those multi-volume works that are comparable in volume to Anna Karenina, for example, or to " Noble nest”, so he no doubt called his creation a story. In Soviet literary criticism, it was also considered so.
However, the work has all the hallmarks of a novel: the action covers a long period of time from the life of the characters, the book contains many secondary characters described in detail and not directly related to the main storyline, throughout the narrative characters undergoing spiritual evolution. In addition, the author shows all the stages of Grinev's growing up, which also clearly indicates the genre. That is, we have before us a typical historical novel, since the writer, while working on it, took as a basis the facts from the past and the scientific research that he undertook to understand the phenomenon peasant war and convey it to posterity in the form of objective knowledge.
But the riddles did not end there, it remains to be decided what direction stands at the origins of the work "The Captain's Daughter": realism or romanticism? Pushkin's colleagues, in particular Gogol and Odoevsky, argued that his book, more than anyone else, influenced the development of realism in Russia. However, in favor of romanticism is the fact that historical material is taken as the basis, and the reader's attention is focused on the controversial and tragic personality of the rebel Pugachev - exactly the same romantic hero. Therefore, both answers will be correct, because after the successful literary discovery of the sun of Russian poetry, Russia was overwhelmed by the fashion for prose, moreover, realistic.
History of creation
In part, Pushkin was inspired to create The Captain's Daughter by Walter Scott, a master of the historical novel. His works began to be translated, and the Russian public was delighted with adventurous plots and mysterious immersion in another era. Then the writer was just working on a chronicle of the uprising, scientific work dedicated to the peasant revolt of Pugachev. He has accumulated a lot useful material to realize the artistic intention to reveal to the reader a storehouse of eventful Russian history.
At first, he planned to describe precisely the betrayal of the Russian nobleman, and not moral feat. The author wanted to focus on the personality of Emelyan Pugachev, and at the same time show the motives of the officer who violated the oath and joined the rebellion. The prototype would be Mikhail Shvanvich, really existing person, who, out of fear for his fate, was at the office of the rebel, and then also testified against him. However, for censorship reasons, the book could hardly have been published, so the writer had to step on the throat of his own song and depict a more patriotic plot, especially since he had enough historical examples of valor. But a negative example fit to create the image of Shvabrin.
The book was published a month before the death of the author in his own journal Sovremennik, published on behalf of Grinev. Many noted that the trowel's style of narration of that time was conveyed by the writer, so many readers were confused and did not understand who the true creator of the memoirs was. By the way, censorship nevertheless took its toll, removing from public access the chapter on the peasant revolt in the Simbirsk province, where Peter himself comes from.
The meaning of the name
The work, oddly enough, is not titled in honor of Grinev or Pugachev, so you can’t immediately say what it is about. The novel is called "The Captain's Daughter" in honor of Maria Mirova, the main character of the book. Pushkin, thus, pays tribute to the courage of the girl, which no one expected from her. She dared to ask the Empress herself for the traitor! And she begged for forgiveness for her savior.
In addition, this story is also called so because Marya was the driving force behind the story. Out of love for her, the young man always chose a feat. Until she occupied all his thoughts, he was pathetic: he did not want to serve, he lost large sums at cards, arrogantly behaved with a servant. As soon as sincere feeling awakened in him courage, nobility and courage, the reader did not recognize Petrusha: he turned from a minor into a responsible and brave man, to whom patriotism and awareness of his own "I" came through powerful emotions facing a woman.
Historical basis
The events in the work took place during the reign of Catherine II. historical phenomenon in the novel "The Captain's Daughter" is called "Pugachevshchina" (this phenomenon was studied by Pushkin). This is Yemelyan Pugachev's rebellion against the tsarist government. It took place in the 18th century. The described actions take place in the Belgorod fortress, where the rebel went, gaining strength to storm the capital.
The Peasant War of 1773 - 1775 unfolded in the southeast Russian Empire. It was attended by serfs and factory peasants, representatives of national minorities (Kyrgyz, Bashkirs) and Ural Cossacks. All of them were outraged by the predatory policy of the ruling elite and the increasing enslavement of the common people. People who did not agree with the fate of the slaves fled to the outskirts of the country and formed armed gangs with the aim of robbery. The fugitive "souls" were already outside the law, so they had no choice. Over them tragic fate and the author reflects, portraying the leader of the uprising, not devoid of virtue and laudable character traits.
But Catherine II demonstrates a strong temper and remarkable cruelty. The Empress, according to historians, really was strong-willed nature, but did not shy away from tyranny and other charms of absolute power. Her policy strengthened the nobility, granting him all sorts of privileges, but the common people were forced to bear the burden of these benefits. The royal court lived in grand style, and not noble people starved, endured violence and the humiliation of a slave position, lost, sold under the hammer. Naturally, social tension only grew, and Catherine did not use folk love. A foreign woman was involved in a conspiracy and, with the help of the military, overthrew her husband, the legitimate ruler of Russia. The serfs, beaten and squeezed in the grip of injustice, believed that the murdered Peter the Third was preparing a decree on their release, and his wife killed him for it. Emelyan Pugachev took advantage of superstition and rumors, Don Cossack who proclaimed himself the surviving king. He spurred the discontent of the armed Cossacks, whose petitions no one listened to, and inspired the peasants, tortured by arbitrariness and corvée, to revolt.
What is the piece about?
We get acquainted with Petrusha, an undergrowth, who can only "sensibly judge the properties of a greyhound male." All his aspirations are in the "dust-free service" in St. Petersburg. However, we see that the father has a huge influence on the young man. He teaches his son to serve the fatherland, to preserve the traditions of the family, not to attach great importance to awards. Having received such a strict upbringing, the young man goes to serve. What is told in his “tale of bitter torment” is plot outline works. The fact is that we learn all this from the lips of the venerable old nobleman, what Peter became.
There, far from his father's home, the hero goes through a harsh school of life: first, he plays cards and offends his faithful servant, experiencing pangs of conscience. Later, he falls in love with Maria Mironova and risks his life in a duel with Shvabrin, defending the honor of his beloved. The father, having learned about the cause of the fight, refuses to bless the marriage with the dowry. After capture Belogorsk fortress Peter remains true to his oath, and nobility grants him the indulgence of Pugachev: he respects the choice of the young man and does not touch him. The rebel's decision was influenced by the kindness of the prisoner: once on the road he gave the Cossack a short fur coat and treated him very kindly. A simple man appreciated the mercy of the master and returned the favor with a favor. Pushkin confronts them more than once, and the nobleman is always rescued by his directness and generosity.
His trials did not end there: life put him before a choice between saving his beloved and serving, the good name of an officer. Then the hero chooses love and disobeys the order of the boss, freeing his beloved on his own from the hands of Shvabrin. Alexey forced the girl to marry him. Pugachev again shows respect for the daredevil and releases the captive. However, the autocratic power does not forgive free will, and Grinev is arrested. Fortunately, Masha managed to beg Catherine II for a pardon. This is what is said in the novel "The Captain's Daughter", which ended happy ending: young people get married with the received blessing. But now the leader of the uprising is sentenced to quartering.
Main characters and their characteristics
The main characters of the novel are Pyotr Grinev, Maria Mironova, Emelyan Pugachev, Arkhip Savelyev, Alesya Shvabrin and Catherine II. The characters are so numerous that their description would take more than one article, so we neglect them.
- - nobleman, officer, protagonist. He received a strict upbringing in the house of his father, a retired military man. He is only 16 years old, but his parents felt that he was ready for service. He is poorly educated, does not particularly aspire to anything and does not in any way resemble perfect man. Going on a journey, the young man bears little resemblance to a soldier: good-natured, gullible, unstable to temptations and not knowing life. He is spoiled, because at first he loses a significant amount in cards and does not understand why Savelich (his servant) reacts emotionally to this. He does not know the value of money, but he shows arrogance and rudeness towards a devoted servant. However, innate conscientiousness does not allow him to continue to continue to be carried away by garrison pity. Soon he falls seriously in love with the daughter of the captain of the fortress, and from that moment begins his growing up: he becomes brave, courageous and courageous. For example, in a duel with Shvabrin, the young man fought honestly and boldly, unlike his opponent. Further, we see an ardent and passionate lover in his face, and after a while he is ready to risk his life for the sake of honor, refusing to swear allegiance to Pugachev. This act betrays in him a highly moral and firm person in his convictions. Later, he will show valor more than once, fighting the enemy, but when the fate of his beloved is at stake, he will neglect caution and set off to save her. This betrays the depth of feeling in him. Even in captivity, Peter does not blame the woman and is ready to accept unfair punishment, if only everything was fine with her. In addition, it is impossible not to note the self-criticism and maturity of judgments inherent in Grinev in old age.
- Marya Mironova- the daughter of the captain of the fortress, main character. She is 18 years old. Masha's appearance is described in detail: "... Then a girl of about eighteen entered, chubby, ruddy, with light blond hair, combed smoothly behind her ears, which she was on fire ...". In addition, it is mentioned that she is the owner of an "angelic" voice and good heart. Her family is poor, owns only one serf, so she cannot claim marriage with Peter (who has 300 souls). But the young charmer is distinguished by prudence, sensitivity and generosity, because she sincerely worries about the fate of her lover. Naturalness and gullibility make the heroine of light prey for the wicked Shvabrin, who is trying to woo her with meanness. But Marya is cautious and not stupid, therefore she easily recognizes falsehood and depravity in Alexei and avoids him. She is also characterized by loyalty and courage: the girl does not betray her beloved and bravely travels to an unfamiliar city in order to achieve an audience with the Empress herself.
- Pugachev in the novel "The Captain's Daughter" appears before readers in two guises: bold and noble man, able to appreciate devotion and honor, and a cruel tyrant who without restraint arranges executions and reprisals. We understand that the rebel's message is noble, he wants to defend the rights of ordinary people. However, the way he fights lawlessness does not justify him in any way. Although we sympathize with Pugachev - decisive, courageous, intelligent - his cruelty makes us doubt the correctness of his path. In the episode of the first meeting, we see a smart and cunning governor, in a dialogue with Grinev - an unfortunate person who knows that he is doomed. The Kalmyk tale told by Pugachev reveals his attitude to life: he wants to live it freely, albeit fleetingly. It is impossible not to note his personal qualities: he is a leader, the first among equals. He is obeyed unconditionally, and this corrupts his nature. For example, the scenes of the capture of the fortress demonstrate the cruelty of Pugachev's power, such despotism is unlikely to lead to freedom (the death of the Mironovs, the abduction of Masha, destruction). Image idea: Pugachev is naturally endowed with a heightened sense of justice, intelligence and talent, but he does not pass the test of war and unlimited power: the people's choice has become the same tyrant as the empress, against whom he rebelled.
- Catherine II. A sweet woman in a house dress turns into an adamant ruler when she listens to a request for a traitor. Masha Mironova at Catherine's reception tries to talk about Peter's extenuating circumstances, but the Empress does not want to hear reasonable arguments and evidence, she is only interested in her own opinion. She condemned the "traitor" without trial, which is very significant for autocratic power. That is, its monarchy is hardly better than Pugachev's.
- Alexey Shvabrin- Officer. Peter and Alexey, it would seem, are similar in their social status and age, but circumstances separate them on opposite sides of the barricades. After the very first test, Shvabrin, unlike Grinev, makes a moral fall, and the faster the plot develops, the more obvious that Alexei is a vile and cowardly person who achieves everything in life with cunning and meanness. Features of his character are manifested in the course of love conflict: he wins Masha's favor with hypocrisy, secretly slandering her and her family. The capture of the fortress finally puts everything in its place: he was ready for betrayal (he found a peasant dress, cut his hair), and Grinev would rather prefer death to breaking the oath. The final disappointment in him comes when the hero tries to force and blackmail the girl to marry him.
- Savelich (Arkhip Saveliev)- elderly servant He is kind, caring and devoted to the young master. It is his resourcefulness that helps Peter avoid reprisals. Risking his life, the peasant comes to the defense of the master and speaks with Pugachev himself. He is distinguished by thriftiness, a sober lifestyle, stubbornness and a tendency to read notations. He is distrustful, likes to grumble, argue and bargain. Knows the value of money and saves it for the owner.
Pushkin in the novel "The Captain's Daughter" gives detailed description characters, giving the reader the opportunity to figure out their own likes and dislikes. Not in the book author's assessment what is happening, because the memoirist is one of the characters.
Theme of the story
- Themes come to the fore in the work moral choice, decency, dignity. Grinev demonstrates high moral values, and Shvabrin lacks them, and we see the influence of these circumstances on their destinies. So Pushkin shows that moral superiority always gives a person an advantage, even though he disdains cunning, which would lead him to the goal faster. Despite the fact that Alesei used all his resourcefulness, the victory still remained with Peter: Maria remained with him like a good name.
- Honor and dishonor. Each hero faced a choice between honor and dishonor, and everyone made it differently: Maria preferred devotion to a profitable marriage (Peter's father initially did not consent to marriage, so she risked remaining an old maid, driving Alexei away), Grinev decided more than once in favor of moral duty, even when it was a matter of life and death, but Shvabrin always chose profit, shame was not terrible for him. We discussed this issue in detail in the essay "".
- The theme of education. An example of the main character will help to understand what good means. family education, that is, what is not enough for dishonorable people, and how it affects their lives. Shvabrin's childhood passed us by, but we can say with confidence that he did not receive the most important spiritual foundations on which nobility is built.
- The main themes include love: the union of Peter and Mary is an ideal for loving hearts. The hero and heroine throughout the novel defended their right to life together even against parental will. They were able to prove that they deserve each other: Grinev repeatedly stood up for the girl, and she saved him from execution. The theme of love is revealed with the sensitivity inherent in Pushkin: young people swear an oath to each other eternal devotion, even if fate never brings them together again. And they fulfill their obligations.
- Examples from "The Captain's Daughter" will be useful for the topics "man and state", "power and man". They illustrate the violent nature of power, which cannot but be cruel by definition.
Main problems
- The problem of power. Pushkin argues which government is better and why: anarchic, spontaneous Pugachevism or Catherine's monarchy? It is obvious that the peasants preferred the first to the second, risking own life. The nobles, on the contrary, defended the order that was convenient for them. Public controversy divided united people into two opposing camps, and each, it turns out, has its own truth and its own charter. Historical issues includes questions about the justice of the rebellion, the moral assessment of its leader, the legality of the actions of the empress, etc.
- The problem of man and history. What role do historical events in the fate of man? Obviously, the rebellion put Peter in a difficult position: he was forced to test his character for strength. Surrounded by enemies, he did not change his convictions and risked openly not taking their side. He was threatened with certain death, but he preferred honor to life, and kept both. Pugachevism is dark side stories, with the help of which Pushkin shaded the fate of the characters. This is evidenced even by the title of the novel "The Captain's Daughter": the author named it after a fictional heroine, and not Pugachev or Ekaterina.
- The problem of growing up and educating a person. What must a person go through to become an adult? Thanks to the Pugachev rebellion, the young man matured early and became a real warrior, but the price of such evolution can be called too expensive.
- The problem of moral choice. In the work there are antagonist heroes Shvabrin and Grinev, who behave differently. One chooses betrayal for his own good, the other puts honor above personal interests. Why is their behavior so different? What influenced them moral formation? The author comes to the conclusion that the problem of immorality can be solved only individually: if morality is respected in the family, then all its representatives will follow the duty, and if not, then the person will not stand the test and will only crawl and cheat, and not protect honor.
- The problem of honor and duty. The hero sees his destiny in the service of the Empress, but in reality it turns out that she is not worth much in the eyes of Catherine. Yes, and duty, if you look at it, is very doubtful: while the people were rebelling against arbitrariness, the army helped to suppress it, and the question of honor to participate in this violent act is very doubtful.
- One of the main problems of the work "The Captain's Daughter" is social inequality. It was it that stood between the citizens of one country and directed them against each other. Pugachev rebelled against him and, seeing Grinev's friendly gesture, spared him: he hated not the nobles, but their arrogance towards the people who fed the entire state.
The meaning of the work
Any government is hostile to common man, be it the imperial crown or war chiefs. It always provides for the suppression of the individual and a strict regime that is contrary to human nature. “God forbid to see a Russian rebellion, senseless and merciless,” Pushkin sums up. This is the main idea of the work. Therefore, serving the fatherland and the king are not the same thing. Grinev honestly fulfilled his duty, but he could not leave his beloved in the hands of a scoundrel, and his, in fact, heroic actions are regarded by the empress as a betrayal. If Peter had not done this, he would have already been served, became a weak-willed slave of a system to which human life is alien. Therefore, mere mortals, who are not allowed to change the course of history, need to maneuver between orders and their moral principles, otherwise the mistake will cost too much.
Beliefs determine a person's actions: Grinev was raised by a decent nobleman and behaved accordingly, but Shvabrin did not pass the test, his life values limited to the desire to win at any cost. Pushkin's idea is also felt in this - to show how to preserve honor if temptations frolic from all sides. According to the author, it is necessary to instill in boys and girls from childhood an understanding of morality and true nobility, which is expressed not in the panache of dress, but in worthy behavior.
A person's maturation is inevitably connected with trials that determine his moral maturity. They should not be feared, they should be overcome courageously and with dignity. This is also the main idea of the novel "The Captain's Daughter". If Peter had remained a “connoisseur of greyhound cables” and an official in St. Petersburg, then his life would have been ordinary and, most likely, he would not have understood anything about it. But the adventures that his stern father pushed him to quickly raised a man in a young man who understood a lot about military affairs, love and the people around him.
What does it teach?
The novel has a pronounced edifying tone. Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin calls on people to cherish their honor from a young age and not to succumb to the temptations to turn off the honest path onto a crooked path. A moment's advantage is not worth the loss good name, this statement is illustrated love triangle, where the main character chooses the worthy and virtuous Peter, and not the cunning and resourceful Alexei. One sin inevitably leads to another, and the string of falls ends in complete collapse.
Also in The Captain's Daughter there is a message to love faithfully and not give up on your dreams, no matter what happens. Marya is a dowry, and any marriage proposal should have been in her case great luck. However, she rejects Alexei over and over again, although she risks being left with nothing. Peter's engagement was denied, and he would hardly have gone against his parent's blessing. But the girl dismissed all rational arguments and remained faithful to Grinev, even when there was no reason for hope. The same was true of her lover. For constancy, both heroes were rewarded by fate.
Criticism
V. F. Odoevsky in a letter to Pushkin expressed his admiration for the story, he especially liked Savelich and Pugachev - they are "masterfully drawn." However, he considered the image of Shvabrin unviable: he was not ardent and stupid enough to take the side of the rebels and believe in their success. In addition, he demanded marriage from the girl, although he could use her at any moment, since she was only a prisoner: “Masha has been in his power for so long, but he does not use these minutes.”
P. A. Katerinin calls the historical novel “natural, alluring and smart”, noting its similarity with “Eugene Onegin”.
V. A. Sollogub highly appreciated the restraint and logic of the narrative, rejoicing that Pushkin "overcame himself" and did not indulge in lengthy descriptions and "impulses". He commented on the style of the work as follows: “he calmly distributed all parts of his story in due proportion, approved his style with dignity, calmness and conciseness of history and conveyed a historical episode in a simple but harmonious language.” The critic believes that a writer has never been so exalted in the value of his books.
N.V. Gogol said that The Captain's Daughter was much better than anything that had been published earlier in the world of prose. He said that reality itself seems like a caricature compared to what the writer portrayed.
V. G. Belinsky was more restrained in his praises and singled out only secondary characters, the description of which is “a miracle of perfection”. The primary characters did not make any impression on him: “The insignificant, colorless character of the hero of the story and his beloved Marya Ivanovna and the melodramatic character of Shvabrin, although they belong to the sharp shortcomings of the story, however, do not prevent it from being one of the remarkable works of Russian literature.” P. I. Tchaikovsky also spoke about the spinelessness of Masha Mironova, who refused to write an opera based on this novel.
A. M. Skabichevsky also analyzed the work, speaking of the book with unfailing respect: "... historical impartiality, the complete absence of any patriotic glorifications and sober realism you see ... in Pushkin's The Captain's Daughter." He, unlike Bellinsky, praised the image of the protagonist and noted his exceptional truthfulness and typical features for the era being depicted.
Conflicting characteristics were given by the critic N.N. Strakhov and the historian V.O. Klyuchevsky. The first criticized Pushkin for being historical tale has nothing to do with history, but is a chronicle of the fictional Grinev family. The second, on the contrary, spoke of the book's exceptional historicism and that even the author's research says less about Pugachevism than a historical work.
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