Loyalty to the motherland in the story of the fate of man. Composition “The fate of man is the fate of the people

/ / Analysis of Sholokhov's story "The Fate of a Man"

This story was completed by Mikhail Sholokhov in 1957, and in the same year The Fate of a Man was first published in the Pravda newspaper. The story shows us the difficult fate of Soviet soldiers who were captured by the fascist invaders.

Now, turning to history, we know that the fate of people who were in captivity is no better than those who fought on the battlefield. Unfortunately, the prisoners were not recognized by the homeland. Even after being released from captivity, they were called traitors, spies. Many of them died in the Gulag camps, proving their loyalty to the country. But Sholokhov decided to omit this moment and in his work showed the heroic fate of a simple soldier who happened to take part in the Great Patriotic War.

The work "The Fate of a Man" is built as a story of the hero-narrator and the central hero of the work.

The main character of the story was. We met him through the perception of the hero-narrator. We see Sokolov as a simple working man, the writer focuses on his "rough, callous" labor hands, and on his eyes "filled with mortal longing." The only meaning of Andrei's life was his little son, named Vanyushka. Immediately striking is the fact that Andrei Sokolov lives only for him, does not even think about himself. This can be seen from Vanechka's neat clothes, which cannot be said about his father.

We learn about the difficult life of the protagonist from his personal story to the hero-narrator. It is worth noting that Andrei very frankly and honestly tells about the life that he lived, hiding nothing and not embellishing, because he mistook the hero-narrator for the same working man, driver, as he himself was.

Later we learn that the main character became an orphan very early, took part in the civil war. At the end of the war, he moved to the city, got married there and found his lifelong passion - cars. That's how Andrei acquired the profession of a driver. It immediately becomes clear that Sokolov had a happy life: a beloved wife, a good job, children. In general, he lived like many millions of other people in Russia.

And so, one day, this happy life was interrupted, the Great Patriotic War began, during which Andrei was captured by the Nazis. It happened when he wanted to break through the German barrier in order to transfer ammunition to Soviet soldiers. At that moment, Sokolov did not think about his own salvation, about the price of his own life. He knew that Soviet soldiers were dying there and they needed help.

Unfortunately, Andrei Sokolov's plan failed, he was taken prisoner. In captivity, the main character did not break down, retaining his dignity and even a sense of humor. This was manifested in the scene when, after the order of the Fritz to take off the boots he liked, Andrei also takes off his footcloths, as if mocking him.

Sholokhov was the first to show the reader the tragedy and horror of fascist captivity. Where people, in order to save their own lives, went to terrible deeds. Against this background, the character of the protagonist, his thoughts and actions seem even more noble and patriotic. The strength of his character is respected even by enemies. He, unarmed, was morally stronger than the Fritz with a machine gun. He won his moral victory in a conversation with the head of the camp, Müller. It is noteworthy that it was at this time that fierce battles were going on near Stalingrad. And the moral victory of a simple Russian soldier has become a symbol of the defeat of the enemy.

Soon the war ended, but that happy life that was before the war never came. Andrei Sokolov learned that he no longer had a family, the war took all his relatives. The joy of victory was replaced by devastation and mortal anguish. There was no point in living any longer. And only a chance - meeting an orphan - did not allow Andrei to give up. Vanka became for him a new meaning of life.

With his work, Sholokhov wanted to show the whole world the unbroken character of the Russian people, self-sacrifice, its humanism and sense of dignity. Ultimately, it was these qualities that became the key to victory over Nazi Germany.

Loyalty. What it is? This is the moral basis on which the human world rests. This is devotion to one's principles, duty, Motherland, one's land, parents, friends and loved ones. The opposite concept is treason. A person changes, first of all, to himself, not withstanding the test of moral strength. For loyalty and treason, people are tested primarily in relation to their duty, to the Fatherland. This is especially evident in the years of severe trials, in the years of war.

Let's look at some examples from the literature.

In the novel by A.S. Pushkin's "The Captain's Daughter" is about a popular uprising led by Pugachev. Almost all storylines of the story are connected with this. The main character is Pyotr Grinev, a young officer who serves in the Belogorsk fortress. When the fortress was captured by the Pugachevites, he was faced with a choice: to die, but remain faithful to the oath, to the Fatherland, or to stay alive, but betray his duty, betray those moral principles that were laid down in him from childhood. “Take care of honor from a young age,” the father instructed his son, seeing him off to the service. And Grinev saved his honor, remained faithful to his oath and was ready to die, but not go over to the side of the impostor. And Pushkin speaks of treason in his work. Shvabrin, also a young officer, swears allegiance to Pugachev so as not to be hanged. He betrays his military duty, his oath to faithfully serve the Tsar and the Fatherland. Of course, who wants to die young. But betrayal is a disgrace, contempt of people, and it has never made a person happier.

M. Sholokhov's story "The Fate of a Man" speaks of loyalty to human and military duty. The main character, Andrei Sokolov, endured many trials: he fought, was captured, lost his family, but even in the most difficult moments of his life he managed to remain a man and a faithful defender of his native land. Loyalty does not live in every heart. Recall the episode, which tells about how the prisoners were kept in a barn, in inhuman conditions. And one of them is ready to betray the others, point out the communists and Komsomol members to the Nazis in order to survive, to curry favor with the enemies, to save his life. He does not stand the test, betrays his duty, would become a traitor, if not for Andrei Sokolov, who kills the traitor. The author wants to say that only such qualities as loyalty and courage help people to keep a person in themselves.

The story of V. Bykov "Sotnikov" also speaks of loyalty and betrayal of one's human and military duty. The action takes place during the Great Patriotic War. Two main characters, Sotnikov and Rybak, face death: they fall into the clutches of enemies. Courageously keeps Sotnikov. Beaten, tormented, he does not agree to go to the service of the Nazis, remains faithful to his comrades-in-arms, the military oath, and the Motherland. Courage, courage, loyalty to his native land help him to remain a man to the end. And what about the second - Rybak? He was already afraid when he left a comrade on the road, who alone was shooting with the policemen. And only the fear of the partisans made Rybak return. He became a traitor in the face of death: he agreed to go to the police to save his life, and even became an executioner: he knocked out a stool under the gallows on which Sotnikov stood. Loyalty and treason manifest themselves most clearly in war.

Thinking about loyalty and treason, rereading the works of Russian writers, I came to the conclusion that loyalty, devotion to the country, love for the Fatherland is the key to courage, honor, the preservation of human dignity, and treason is shame, cowardice, the path to betrayal.

What is treason? This is a betrayal of the interests of your country in the name of personal selfish goals. As a rule, this phenomenon takes on special significance in times of war, when desertion undermines the foundations on which the state is based. Most people, of course, risk their lives if their homeland is in danger. Our history is rich in such examples and our literature is proud of. However, there are always those few members of society who succumb to fear and serve only themselves, ignoring the troubles of the fatherland. Today, this problem, as before, is topical, because it manifests itself not only in wartime. Therefore, the arguments on the topic of "Treason" are so diverse and cover not only periods of armed clashes.

1. Andrey Sokolov, the hero of Sholokhov's work "The Fate of a Man", faces betrayal of his homeland. The soldier is captured and witnesses how the Germans are trying to find out which of the detainees is the Red Commissar. Members of the Bolshevik Party were immediately shot, they were not taken prisoner. Their disfigured bodies served as proof that the German authorities would establish their own rules and get to every communist. A traitor appears in the ranks of the captives, who offers others to hand over the commander in exchange for safety. Then Andrei kills him so that he does not sow confusion in the ranks of the soldiers. He understood that any concession to the enemy is treason, which is not only punishable by execution, but also does not find even the slightest moral justification. Because of the deserters and Vlasovites, the country is losing its chances of winning.
2. Readiness for betrayal demonstrates the highest light in Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace". The nobility does not risk their lives on the battlefield, sits in the salons and argues that nothing will change with the advent of Napoleon. They know French better than their native language, manners and antics are the same everywhere. They do not care who is in power, what will happen to the country, how the battle will end, where their compatriots die every day. They will gladly accept any outcome, because there is no true patriotism in them. They are strangers in Russia, her suffering is alien to them. The example of Prince Rostopchin, the governor-general of Moscow, is widely known, who was only capable of pathetic patriotic speeches, but did not really help the people in any way. Also, the outfit of high-society ladies who dressed up in sundresses and kokoshniks instead of foreign dresses looks stupid and fake, supposedly supporting the national spirit. While the common people shed blood, the rich played dress-up.
3. In Rasputin's story "Live and Remember", Andrey Guskov becomes a traitor, deserting from the army. Front-line life is too tough for him: lack of food and ammunition, constant risk, tough leadership broke his will. He went to his native village, knowing that he was bringing a mortal threat to his wife. As you can see, betrayal of the homeland is dangerous because a person completely loses the moral core and betrays all the people dear to him. He substitutes a devoted Nastena, who helps him, risking his reputation and freedom. The woman fails to hide this help, and her fellow villagers pursue her to find the deserter. Then the heroine drowned herself, and her selfish husband sat in a secluded place, pitying only himself.
4. In Vasil Bykov's story "The Sotnikov", the handsome and strong man Rybak loses all his dignity when he meets a real threat. He and his friend go on reconnaissance, but due to Sotnikov's illness, they are forced to take refuge in the village. As a result, they were captured by the Germans. Unlike the sick partisan, the healthy Rybak is a coward and agrees to cooperate with the invaders. Sotnikov does not try to justify himself or take revenge. All his efforts are aimed at helping those people who sheltered them to protect them with his silence. Meanwhile, the traitor wants, by all means, to save his own life. Although he believes to the last that he can deceive the enemy and run away, joining his ranks for a while, Strelnikov prophetically notices that nothing will save his comrade from moral decay. In the finale, Rybak knocks out a support from under the feet of a former colleague. So he stepped on the path of betrayal and crossed out everything that connects him with his homeland.
5. In Griboyedov's comedy Woe from Wit, the characters do not fight, but they still manage to harm their country. The Famus society lives by conservative and hypocritical foundations, ignoring progress and the rest of the world beyond their ivory tower. These people usurp the people, plunge them into ignorance and drunkenness with their extravagant and cruel antics. The nobles, the backbone of autocratic power, are themselves mired in hypocrisy and careerism, as long as the peasantry provides for their whims. We see, for example, the stupid and mediocre military Skalozub, who only shines with epaulettes at balls. He and his daughter cannot be trusted, not like a regiment or a company. He is a narrow-minded and pathetic person who is accustomed only to receive from his homeland, but not to pay her with a valiant and honest service. Is this not treason to the fatherland?
6. Loyalty and treason in war are always obvious. For example, in Pushkin's story "The Captain's Daughter" Shvabrin calmly serves and receives ranks without being a brave man. When the battle broke out, he showed his true face. The traitor immediately went over to the side of the enemy and swore allegiance to Pugachev, saving his life, while his friend Peter risked himself, just to honestly fulfill his duty. The oath to the rebel is not the only betrayal of Alexei. During the duel, he took advantage of a dishonest technique, thereby betraying his honor. He also dishonestly deceives Grinev and slanders the name of Masha without any reason. Then he finally breaks into the abyss of moral decline and by force forces Mary to marry him. That is, the baseness of a person is not limited to betrayal of the homeland, and this kind of betrayal cannot be forgiven, if only on the grounds that it is clearly not the last. If he was able to betray his native country, then there is nothing to be expected from him in relation to people.
7. In Gogol's story "Taras Bulba", Andriy betrays his country because of his passionate love for a Polish woman. However, this is not entirely true: it was originally a stranger in relation to the traditions and mentality of the Cossacks. This contrast of personality and environment is visible when the hero returns home from the bursa: while Ostap happily fights with his father, the youngest son caresses his mother and peacefully keeps aloof. He is not a coward and not a weakling, just a different person by nature, he does not have this militant spirit of the Zaporizhian Sich. Andriy was born for family and peaceful creation, while Taras and all his friends, on the contrary, see the meaning of a man's life in eternal battle. Therefore, the decision of the younger Bulba looks natural: not finding understanding in his native land, he is looking for it in the face of a Polish girl and her entourage. Probably, it is in this example that treason can be justified by the fact that a person could not act differently, that is, change himself. He, at least, did not cheat and deceive his comrades in battle, acting on the sly. At least his honest position was known to everyone and emotionally motivated, because if you do not feel a sincere desire to help your homeland, sooner or later your lies will come out and hurt even more.
8. In Gogol's play The Inspector General there is no war, but there is an imperceptible and more vile betrayal of the motherland than desertion on the battlefield. Officials of the city "N" plunder the treasury and oppress their native people. Because of them, the county is in poverty, and its population is crammed with constant requisitions and outright robbery. The situation of ordinary people in peacetime is no better than in military turmoil. Against them, the stupid and vicious power relentlessly marches against them, from which even a pitchfork cannot be defended. The nobility is completely ruining their native land with impunity, like the Mongol-Tatar horde, and no one is able to prevent this, except, perhaps, the auditor. In the finale, the author nevertheless hints that the real inspector has arrived, and now thieves cannot escape the law. But how many of these counties find themselves in an invisible state of siege for years because of the promiscuity of the ruling elite? The writer also answers this question, making his city with a universal name in order to emphasize that this is the situation throughout Russia. Is this not a betrayal of the interests of the fatherland? Yes, embezzlement out of tact is not called that, but in fact this is real treason.
9. In Sholokhov's novel The Quiet Flows the Don, the hero changes sides of the barricades several times in search of his own truth and true justice. However, Gregory finds nothing of the kind on either side. It would seem that a person has the right to choose and make mistakes, especially in such an ambiguous situation, but some of his fellow villagers perceive these throwing as a betrayal of their homeland, although in fact Melekhov always follows the truth and is faithful to the interests of the people. It is not his fault that these interests so often change and disappear under one banner or another. It turned out that all the parties only manipulated the patriotism of the Cossacks, but no one was going to act morally and fairly towards them. They were only used in the division of Russia, speaking about the motherland and its defense. Grigory was disappointed in this, and people are already in a hurry to stick a traitorous label on him. Thus, there is no need to rush to blame a person for treason, maybe he is not to blame at all, and people from above use the people's anger against him as a weapon.
10. In Shalamov's story "The Last Battle of Major Pugachev", the hero honestly and selflessly went through the war. He defended the country at the cost of his life and never retreated. However, he, like many comrades from the front, was put in a labor camp for fictitious treason. Anyone who was captured or under siege was sentenced to 25 years in prison. In conditions of hard labor, this is a guaranteed death. Then Pugachev and a few other soldiers decide to escape, because they have nothing to lose. From the point of view of the Soviet leadership, this is treason. But from the point of view of normal human logic, this is a feat, because innocent people, and even war heroes, should not be compared with criminals. They had the strength to defend their right to freedom, not to become slaves of the system, powerless and miserable. Then, in 1944, in a German camp, provocateurs told the hero that they would put him in his homeland anyway. He did not believe and did not serve the enemy. Didn't break. So what does he have to lose now that the most gloomy predictions have come true? Although he goes against the state, I do not consider him a traitor. Traitors are the power that goes against its people.

"For treason to the motherland, an extreme baseness of the soul is needed," says N.G. Chernyshevsky. Indeed, treason is one of the lowest deeds that a person can only commit. By betraying a loved one or close friend, we spiritually degrade, causing pain not only to another, but also to ourselves. By betraying the Motherland, we also morally sink and demonstrate spiritual meanness.

Let us recall the work of V. Bykov "Sotnikov". We see two soldiers - Rybak and Sotnikov - who are captured by the Germans.

Under pain of death, Rybak becomes a traitor. He immediately agrees to go over to the side of the enemy, and soon helps them execute his friend Sotnikov. Such an act characterizes Rybak as a person, weak in spirit and low in soul. Unlike Rybak, Sotnikov remains faithful to the Motherland. A modest, seemingly inconspicuous fighter, he accomplishes a real feat. He honorably accepts death without becoming a traitor.

In the work of M. Sholokhov "The Fate of a Man", a hero named Kryzhnev also agrees to betray his homeland in order to save his own life. He wants to hand over the platoon leader to the Germans, because he only cares about his future. Like Rybak, he commits a low, mean act. He shows himself to be a coward, ready to betray not only his comrade, but also his Motherland. But Andrey Sokolov, on the contrary, demonstrates fortitude and readiness to defend his Motherland to the end. He refuses to drink for enemy Germany, proving that it is better to die than to betray the Motherland. Such patriotism inspires respect even among the German commandant, and he remains to live.

Thus, any betrayal, including betrayal of the Motherland, exposes the true human essence, showing the baseness of the soul. Loyalty reveals the main virtues of a person, his strong spirit, moral stamina and unshakable moral principles.

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Updated: 2017-10-18

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An example of a final essay in the direction "Loyalty and treason"

Loyalty is a very beautiful word. Usually this concept is associated in people with the relationship between a man and a woman, but the meaning of this concept is wider than it might seem at first glance.

So what does it mean to “be faithful” then? In order to answer this question, let's open the Ozhegov dictionary. "Loyalty is devotion to someone or something; it is immutability in one's promises, words, relationships, in the performance of one's duties, duty." As we can see from the definition, fidelity is a positive personality trait, a characteristic that correlates with other moral qualities: conscience, honesty, nobility, and courage. Thus, we can conclude that fidelity affects almost all spheres of human life. A devotee can be loved, friends, Fatherland, word or moral principles. And about the fidelity of animals to their owners, they compose legends and sing songs.

The theme of fidelity is a key one in the work of many writers and poets. So, the character of the story M.A. Sholokhov "The Fate of Man" Andrei Sokolov is a vivid example of a citizen who faithfully serves his homeland. When war breaks into his happy and peaceful life, Sokolov, without hesitation, goes to defend his Fatherland and family. In the war, he is wounded twice, he manifests himself as a hero, saving his comrade. Later, Sokolov is captured, but even there he shows true patriotism. Mortal danger cannot force him to abandon his country. He retains "Russian dignity and pride", which inspires respect from opponents. The narrator describes Andrei Sokolov as "a man of indomitable will" who can overcome any obstacles and raise his adopted son in his own image. Such people, according to the narrator, are capable of feats if "the Motherland calls for this."

Since the manifestation of fidelity is multifaceted, let's turn to another work of fiction, namely the story of A.P. Platonov "Sand teacher". Maria Nikifirovna Naryshkina chose the difficult profession of a teacher. She was the owner of a strong character and by no means a fragile physique. When, by distribution, she was sent to the village of Khoshutovo, where the sands "reigned" and there was no vegetation, she did not refuse. In this small settlement, people were dying of hunger, there was poverty and devastation everywhere, but Maria did not give up, but decided to use her teaching gift for good: to teach the inhabitants to fight the sands. Thanks to her labors, vegetation appeared in the village, and more peasants began to come to the lessons. After the work done, she was sent to help the nomadic people. She could refuse, but, remembering the hopeless fate of this people, she decided to put public interests above her own. With her actions and fortitude, she proved that loyalty to her profession is not limited to the walls of the office. Maria Nikiforovna became an excellent example of disinterested professionalism, kindness and responsiveness and showed how difficult and important the path of a teacher is. Such faithful people are the foundation on which the world is held.

After analyzing the above works, I came to the conclusion that loyalty is one of the most significant personality traits that often goes unnoticed. To be faithful means to love the people and the world you live in, even more than yourself.