Almost every writer has a secret theme that worries him especially strongly and runs through his entire work as a leitmotif. For Nekrasov, the singer of the Russian people, such a topic was the fate of the Russian woman. Simple serf peasant women, proud princesses and even fallen women who sank to the social bottom - the writer had a warm word for each. And all of them, so different at first glance, were united by complete lack of rights and misfortune, which were considered the norm at that time. Against the background of universal serfdom, the fate of a simple woman looks even more terrible, because she is forced to “submit to a slave until the grave” and “be the mother of a slave son” (“Frost, Red Nose”), i.e. she is a slave in a square. “The keys to women’s happiness”, from their “free will” were lost a long time ago - this is the problem the poet tried to draw attention to. This is how the incredibly bright and strong image of Matryona Timofeevna appears in the poem “Who Lives Well in Rus'” by Nekrasov.
The story of Matryona’s fate is set out in the third part of the poem, called “The Peasant Woman.”
Wanderers are led to the woman by a rumor that claims that if any woman can be called lucky, it is exclusively the “governor” from the village of Klinu. However, Matryona Timofeevna Korchagina, a “stately”, beautiful and stern woman, hearing the men’s question about her happiness, “became confused, thoughtful” and did not even want to talk about anything at first. It had already gotten dark, and the moon with the stars had risen into the sky, when Matryona finally decided to “open her whole soul.”
Only at the very beginning, life was kind to her, Matryona recalls. Her own mother and father took care of her daughter, called her “kasatushka”, cared for her and cherished her. Let us pay attention to the huge number of words with diminutive suffixes: pozdnehonko, sunshine, crust, etc., characteristic of oral folk art. Here the influence of Russian folklore on Nekrasov’s poem is noticeable - in folk songs, as a rule, the time of carefree girlhood is sung, sharply contrasting with the subsequent difficult life in her husband’s family. The author uses this plot to construct the image of Matryona and transfers almost verbatim from the songs the description of the girl’s life with her parents. Part of the folklore is introduced directly into the text. These are wedding songs, lamentation over the bride and the song of the bride herself, as well as a detailed description of the matchmaking ritual.
No matter how hard Matryona tried to extend her free life, she was still married off to a man, also a stranger, not from her native village. Soon the girl, along with her husband Philip, leaves home and goes to an unfamiliar land, to a large and inhospitable family. There she ends up in hell “from the maiden holi”, which is also conveyed through a folk song. “Drowsy, dormant, unruly!
“This is what Matryona is called in the family, and everyone tries to give her more work. There is no hope for the husband’s intercession: even though they are the same age, and Philip treats his wife well, he still sometimes beats him (“the whip whistled, blood sprayed”) and will not think of making her life easier. In addition, he spends almost all his free time earning money, and Matryona “has no one to love.”
In this part of the poem, Matryona’s extraordinary character and inner spiritual fortitude become clearly visible. Another would have despaired long ago, but she does everything as told and always finds a reason to rejoice at the simplest things. The husband returned, “brought a silk handkerchief / And took me for a ride on a sleigh” - and Matryona sang joyfully, as she used to sing in her parents’ house.
The only happiness of a peasant woman is in her children. So the heroine Nekrasov has her first-born son, whom she cannot stop looking at: “How written Demushka was!” The author very convincingly shows: it is the children who do not allow the peasant woman to become embittered and who maintain her truly angelic patience. The great calling - to raise and protect her children - raises Matryona above the drabness of everyday life. The image of a woman turns into a heroic one.
But the peasant woman is not destined to enjoy her happiness for long: she must continue working, and the child, left in the care of the old man, dies due to a tragic accident. The death of a child at that time was not a rare event; this misfortune often befell the family. But it’s harder for Matryona than the others - not only is this her first-born, but the authorities who came from the city decide that it was the mother herself, in collusion with the former convict grandfather Savely, who killed her son. No matter how much Matryona cries, she has to be present at the autopsy of Demushka - he was “sprayed”, and this terrible picture is forever imprinted in her mother’s memory.
The characterization of Matryona Timofeevna would not be complete without one more important detail - her willingness to sacrifice herself for others. Her children are what remains most sacred for the peasant woman: “Just don’t touch the children! I stood for them like a mountain...” Indicative in this regard is the episode when Matryona takes upon herself the punishment of her son. He, being a shepherd, lost a sheep, and he had to be whipped for it. But the mother threw herself at the landowner’s feet, and he “mercifully” forgave the teenager, ordering the “impudent woman” to be whipped in return. For the sake of her children, Matryona is ready to go even against God. When a wanderer comes to the village with a strange demand not to breastfeed children on Wednesdays and Fridays, the woman turns out to be the only one who did not listen to her. “Whoever endures, so mothers” - these words of Matryona express the entire depth of her maternal love.
Another key characteristic of a peasant woman is her determination. Submissive and compliant, she knows when to fight for her happiness. So, it is Matryona, from the whole huge family, who decides to stand up for her husband when he is taken into the army and, falling at the feet of the governor’s wife, brings him home. For this act she receives the highest reward - popular respect. This is where her nickname “governor” came from. Now her family loves her, and the village considers her lucky. But the adversity and “spiritual storm” that passed through Matryona’s life do not give her the opportunity to describe herself as happy.
A decisive, selfless, simple and sincere woman and mother, one of the many Russian peasant women - this is how the reader appears before the reader “Who Lives Well in Rus'” by Matryona Korchagin.
I will help 10th grade students describe the image of Matryona Korchagina and her characteristics in the poem before writing an essay on the topic “The image of Matryona Timofeevna in “Who Lives Well in Rus'”.”
Work test
“Who Lives Well in Rus'” was written more than a century ago. The poem gives a vivid description of the troubles and trials that the Russian people had to go through, and depicts what happiness looks like for ordinary men. The work is entitled the eternal question that has tormented each of us for centuries.
The narrative invites the reader to experience the original story. Its main characters were peasants who gathered to determine the class in which a happy person lives. Carrying out an analysis of all ranks, the men got acquainted with the stories of the characters, the happiest among whom was the seminarian. The meaning of the hero's surname in this case is important. Happiness for the student was not material well-being, but peace and quiet in the lands of the homeland and the well-being of the people.
History of creation
The poem was created in the period from 1863 to 1877, and in the course of work the characters and plot concept of the work changed several times. The work was not completed, since the author died in 1877, but “Who Lives Well in Rus'” is considered a complete literary opus.
Nekrasov is famous for his clear civic position and speeches against social injustice. He repeatedly raised in his works problems troubling the Russian peasantry. The writer condemned the treatment of serfs by landowners, the exploitation of women and the forced labor of children. After the abolition of serfdom in 1861, the long-awaited happiness for ordinary people did not come. The problem of lack of freedom was replaced by other questions concerning the prospects for independent management of peasant life.
The images revealed in the poem help to penetrate into the depth of the question asked by the author. Nekrasov demonstrates the difference between happiness as understood by a landowner and a simple peasant. The rich are sure that the most important thing in life is material well-being, while the poor consider the absence of unnecessary troubles as happiness. The spirituality of the people is described through Grisha Dobrosklonov, who dream of universal prosperity.
Nekrasov in “Who Lives Well in Rus'” defines the problems of the classes, revealing the greed and cruelty of the rich, illiteracy and drunkenness among the peasants. He believes that, having realized what true happiness is, all the heroes of the work will make efforts to achieve it.
Matryona Timofeevna Korchagina is a character in the work. In her youth, she was truly happy, since this time of her life was truly carefree. The parents loved the girl, and she tried to help her family in everything. Like other peasant children, Matryona was early accustomed to work. Games were gradually replaced by everyday worries and troubles, but the quickly growing girl did not forget about leisure.
This peasant woman is hardworking and active. Her appearance pleased the eye with her stateliness and real Russian beauty. Many guys had their sights set on the girl, and one day the groom wooed her. With this, the young and happy life before marriage came to an end. The will has given way to the way of life that reigns in someone else’s family, about which Matryona’s parents grieve. The girl's mother, realizing that her husband will not always protect her daughter, mourns her future.
Life in the new house really didn’t work out right away. Her husband's sisters-in-law and parents forced Matryona to work hard and did not spoil her with kind words. The beauty's only joys were a silk scarf given by her husband and a sleigh ride.
Married relationships could not be called smooth, because at that time husbands often beat their wives, and girls had no one to turn to for help and protection. Matryona's everyday life was gray and monotonous, full of hard work and reproaches from relatives. Personifying the ideal of a majestic Slav, the girl resignedly endured all the hardships of fate and showed great patience.
The born son revealed a new side to Matryona. A loving mother, she gives her child all the tenderness she is capable of. The girl's happiness was short-lived. She tried to spend as much time as possible with the baby, but work took up every minute, and the child was a burden. Grandfather Savely was looking after Matryona’s son and one day he didn’t pay enough attention. The child died. His death was a tragedy for the young mother. In those days, such cases occurred often, but became an incredible test for women.
The police, doctor and police officer who arrived at the house decided that Matryona, in collusion with her grandfather, a former convict, had deliberately killed the baby. It was decided to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of the boy's death. This becomes a great grief for the girl, because now the child cannot be buried without reproach.
The image of Matryona is a portrait of a real Russian woman, persistent, strong-willed and patient. A woman who cannot be broken by the ups and downs of life. After a while, Matryona has children again. She loves and protects them, continuing to work for the benefit of her family.
Matryona Timofeevna's maternal instinct is so strong that the heroine is ready to do anything for the sake of her children. This is emphasized by the episode when the landowner wanted to punish his son Fedotushka. The dignified woman lay down under the rods, sacrificing herself instead of her own child. With the same zeal, she stands up for her husband, whom they want to recruit. The people's intercessor grants salvation to Matryona's family.
The life of a simple peasant woman is not easy and full of grief. She experienced more than one hungry year, lost her son, and constantly worried about people dear to her heart. Matryona Timofeevna's entire existence is dedicated to fighting the misfortunes that stand in her way. The difficulties that befell her could have broken her spirit. Often, women like Matryona died early due to hardships and troubles. But those who remained alive evoked pride and respect. Nekrasov also glorifies the image of a Russian woman in the person of Matryona.
The writer sees how resilient and patient she is, how much strength and love her soul holds, how caring and gentle a simple hard-working woman can be. He is not inclined to call the heroine happy, but is proud that she does not lose heart, but emerges victorious in the struggle for life.
Quotes
In Tsarist Russia, the life of a woman was extremely difficult. By the age of 38, the strong and stately Matryona Timofeevna already called herself an old woman. She suffered many troubles, which the woman dealt with on her own, so she condemns the men who started looking for lucky women among women:
“And what you started,
It's not a matter - between women
Happy looking!
For her perseverance and fortitude, the heroine began to be called “the governor,” because not every woman dared to take such heroic actions as Matryona took. The woman rightfully earned her new nickname, but this name did not bring happiness. The main joy for Korchagina is not in national glory:
“They were hailed as lucky,
Nicknamed the governor's wife
Matryona since then...
What's next? I rule the house
A grove of children... Is it a joy?
You need to know too!”
The chapter in which the heroine opens the men’s eyes to their mistake is called “The Old Woman’s Parable.” Matryona Timofeevna admits that she is not able to recognize herself and other peasant women as happy. They suffer too much oppression, trials, anger from landowners, anger from husbands and relatives, and vicissitudes of fate. Matryona believes that there are no lucky women among women:
"The keys to women's happiness,
From our free will
Abandoned, lost
"Don't go back to the little houses... until they find out... who lives happily and at ease in Rus'?"). The men decide that until they find out who lives “fun, freely in Rus',” they will not return home.
What folklore motifs appear in the Prologue? Slide 13.
Fantastic elements of Russian fairy tales: a warbler bird who asks to let her chick go, and in return tells how to find a self-assembled tablecloth; self-assembled tablecloth.
number seven: 7 men.
Folk signs associated with peasant labor and life; puzzles; humanizing the natural world; stylistic manner of leisurely folklore storytelling, etc. .
Formula for finding happiness. Slide 14.
landowner
Official
Priest (pop)
Merchant
Nobleman
Minister
Tsar
What do you think this formula means? Compositional design or level of national self-awareness?
The level of national self-awareness, i.e. its limitations - men understand happiness in a primitive way, reducing it to a well-fed life and wealth.
Work in groups.
Questions and tasks for discussing the chapter "Pop" Group 1
Each group member receives his own task. Then fill out the summary table. They choose someone who will present the group's work.
2. In what formula does the priest collect ideas about happiness that are vague for the wanderers themselves? Does he agree with the peasants?
3. Did the men find happiness in this chapter? Why does the priest himself consider himself unhappy? Is it so?
4. How does the chapter portray the situation of the peasants? What troubles befall them?
5. What words and expressions paint figurative pictures of the life of the priest and peasants? What is the author's attitude towards them?
6.What folklore elements can be seen in the chapter?
Group 1 worksheet. (answer options)
| question | quote | conclusion |
| Can we consider that the image of Rus' constantly accompanies the wanderings of men and is a kind of “hero” of the poem? | Forests, wet meadows, Russian streams and rivers are good in spring! Our villages are poor, and the peasants in them are sick... | The chapter “Pop” begins with a landscape; the image of Rus' constantly accompanies the men. |
| In what formula does the priest collect ideas about happiness that are vague for the wanderers themselves? Does he agree with the peasants? | Peace, wealth, honor | The priest does not agree with the peasants. He denies this formula of happiness |
| Did the men find happiness in this chapter? Why does the priest himself consider himself unhappy? Is it so? | Well, here's your vaunted, Popov's life! Peace: “how does a priest’s son get a diploma”, “the sick, the dying, the one born into the world do not choose time”, “In winter, in severe frosts, and in spring floods, go where you are called!” “There is no heart that can endure without some trembling the death rattle, the funeral sob, the orphan’s sadness.” Honor: “Who do you call the foal breed?” “Who are you composing jokey tales about, and obscene songs, and all sorts of blasphemy?” “The sedate mother-priest, the innocent daughter of the priest, every seminarian - How do you honor? To whom you follow, like a gelding, Shout: “ho-ho-ho” Wealth: in the past, when gentlemen were rich and generously paid for services during births, christenings, weddings and funerals, priests lived well. “They were fruitful and multiplied And they allowed us to live...” Now the time is not right - the people’s offerings to the priest are very modest: “... worldly hryvnias, Yes, pies on holidays, Yes, eggs, O Holy One.” You won’t get rich from this.” “... not take it, there’s nothing to live with” | Peace is life without mental expenditure, without troublesome activities, although they are needed by others. Honor is the desire for universal respect. Dreams of riches received as a gift. |
| How does the chapter portray the situation of the peasants? What troubles befall them? | Our land is meager, sands, swamps, mosses... There is nowhere to go with the bread!.. you will sell it for a mere trifle... | The life of a peasant is joyless, bitter and difficult. |
| What words and expressions paint figurative pictures of the life of the priest and peasants? What is the author's attitude towards them? | And if the earth-nurse gets enough of the cheese... The path is the road, the sun-grandfather The sun is red, Yes, women are sad, wet-nurses, drinkers, slaves, pilgrims and eternal workers... | Personifications Comparisons Vernacular Limitless pain for the people, sympathy, understanding, care The priest is close to the people, sympathizes with them, will support them in sorrow and in joy |
| What folkloric elements can be seen in the chapter? | Epithets Repetition Fairy-tale landscape Folk signs: send a cool rainbow... | Folklore lines help to become familiar with the inner life, the soul of the people. |
Slide 16-17.
The teacher's word (to the conclusion): in the second half of the 19th century, the problem of the clergy was one of the most pressing. Without receiving any permanent salary, the priest lived only on the offerings of his parishioners. Already from entering theological schools, which were in extreme poverty, future priests experienced moral and physical suffering.
Questions and tasks for discussing Chapter 2
"Rural fair" Slide 18-19
5. How is the folklore flavor of the poem reflected in the chapter?
Let us summarize the analysis of the chapter. What did Nekrasov show in these chapters? What is his attitude towards the Russian people? Name the dark and bright sides of the Russian soul according to Nekrasov. What means does the author use to portray his characters?
| Conclusions. Nekrasov intended to depict a broad canvas of the life of the Russian people and their main mass - the Russian peasants of the post-reform era, to show the predatory nature of the peasant reform and the deterioration of the people's lot. But the main thing is to demonstrate the talent, will, perseverance and optimism of the Russian peasant. In its stylistic features and poetic intonations, the poem is close to works of folklore. The composition of the poem is complex, first of all, because its concept has changed over time, but the work remains unfinished. Dark sides - superstition, drunkenness, family despotism. The bright sides are talent, giftedness, desire and ability to comprehend one’s position, disagreement with the existing order. |
Do you agree with the formula for happiness formulated by the priest?
Express in one word: Happiness is..... Slide 20.
Homework. Slide 21-22.
In the next lesson we will find out what is revealed to truth-seekers among the people.
1st group. Yakim Nagoy (Part I, Chapter 3).
2nd group. Ermil Girin (Part I, Chapter 4).
3rd group. Savely, the Holy Russian hero (Part III, Chapter 3).
4th group. Matryona Timofeevna Korchagina (part III, chapters 4-8).
Message Plan (Everyone Receives).
1. What is the name of the hero? How old is he? What is its appearance?
2. What is its history? What troubles and hardships befell him?
3. How does the hero talk about life, what does he accept and what does he deny in the peasant way of life?
4. What moral qualities does the author endow the hero with? How do you feel about him?
5. What is the hero’s idea of happiness, of the paths that lead to it?
6. Why didn’t the wanderers recognize the hero as happy?
7. What is the meaning of the hero’s speaking surname?
8. What is the semantic role of folklore elements in the chapters about the hero?
“Who Lives Well in Rus'” is one of the most famous works by N.A. Nekrasova. In the poem, the writer managed to reflect all the hardships and torments that the Russian people endure. The characteristics of the heroes are especially significant in this context. “Who Lives Well in Rus'” is a work rich in bright, expressive and original characters, which we will consider in the article.
The meaning of the prologue
The beginning of the poem “Who Lives Well in Rus'” plays a special role in understanding the work. The prologue resembles a fairy tale opening like “In a Certain Kingdom”:
In what year - calculate
In what land - guess...
The following tells about the men who came from different villages (Neelova, Zaplatova, etc.). All titles and names are telling; with them Nekrasov gives a clear description of places and characters. In the prologue, the men's journey begins. This is where the fairy-tale elements in the text end, the reader is introduced to the real world.
List of heroes
All the heroes of the poem can be divided into four groups. The first group consists of the main characters who went for happiness:
- Demyan;
- Novel;
- Prov;
- Groin;
- Ivan and Mitrodor Gubin;
- Luke.
Then come the landowners: Obolt-Obolduev; Glukhovskaya; Utyatin; Shalashnikov; Peremetev.
Slaves and peasants met by travelers: Yakim Nagoy, Egor Shutov, Ermil Girin, Sidor, Ipat, Vlas, Klim, Gleb, Yakov, Agap, Proshka, Savely, Matryona.
And heroes who do not belong to the main groups: Vogel, Altynnikov, Grisha.
Now let's look at the key characters in the poem.
Dobrosklonov Grisha
Grisha Dobrosklonov appears in the episode “A Feast for the Whole World”; the entire epilogue of the work is dedicated to this character. He himself is a seminarian, the son of a clerk from the village of Bolshie Vakhlaki. Grisha's family lives very poorly, only thanks to the generosity of the peasants they managed to raise him and his brother Savva to their feet. Their mother, a farm laborer, died early from overwork. For Grisha, her image merged with the image of her homeland: “With love for the poor mother, love for all the Vakhlachina.”
While still a fifteen-year-old child, Grisha Dobrosklonov decided to devote his life to helping the people. In the future, he wants to go to Moscow to study, but for now, together with his brother, he helps the men as best he can: he works with them, explains new laws, reads documents to them, writes letters for them. Grisha composes songs that reflect observations of poverty and suffering of the people, and thoughts about the future of Russia. The appearance of this character enhances the lyricism of the poem. Nekrasov’s attitude towards his hero is clearly positive; the writer sees in him a revolutionary from the people who should become an example for the upper strata of society. Grisha voices the thoughts and position of Nekrasov himself, solutions to social and moral problems. N.A. is considered the prototype of this character. Dobrolyubova.
Ipat
Ipat is a “sensitive serf,” as Nekrasov calls him, and in this characteristic one can hear the poet’s irony. This character also makes travelers laugh when they learn about his life. Ipat is a grotesque character; he became the embodiment of a faithful lackey, a lordly slave who remained faithful to his master even after the abolition of serfdom. He is proud and considers it a great blessing for himself how the master bathed him in an ice hole, harnessed him to a cart, and saved him from death, to which he himself doomed. Such a character cannot even evoke sympathy from Nekrasov; only laughter and contempt are heard from the poet.
Korchagina Matryona Timofeevna
The peasant woman Matryona Timofeevna Korchagina is the heroine to whom Nekrasov dedicated the entire third part of the poem. This is how the poet describes her: “A dignified woman, about thirty-eight years old, broad and dense. Beautiful... big eyes... stern and dark. She’s wearing a white shirt and a short sundress.” Travelers are led to the woman by her words. Matryona agrees to talk about her life if the men will help in the harvest. The title of this chapter (“Peasant Woman”) emphasizes the typicality of Korchagina’s fate for Russian women. And the author’s words “it’s not a matter for women to look for a happy woman” emphasize the futility of the wanderers’ search.
Matryona Timofeevna Korchagina was born into a good, non-drinking family, and she lived happily there. But after marriage, she found herself “in hell”: her father-in-law was a drunkard, her mother-in-law was superstitious, and she had to work for her sister-in-law without straightening her back. Matryona was lucky with her husband: he only beat her once, but all the time, except winter, he was at work. Therefore, there was no one to stand up for the woman; the only one who tried to protect her was grandfather Savely. The woman endures the harassment of Sitnikov, who has no authority because he is the master’s manager. Matryona's only consolation is her first child, Dema, but due to Savely's oversight, he dies: the boy is eaten by pigs.
Time passes, Matryona has new children, parents and grandfather Savely die of old age. The most difficult years are the lean years, when the whole family has to go hungry. When her husband, the last intercessor, is taken into the army out of turn, she goes to the city. He finds the general's house and throws himself at the feet of his wife, asking for intercession. Thanks to the help of the general's wife, Matryona and her husband return home. It was after this incident that everyone considered her lucky. But in the future, the woman will face only troubles: her eldest son is already a soldier. Nekrasov, summing up, says that the key to female happiness has long been lost.
Agap Petrov
Agap is an inflexible and stupid man, according to the peasants who know him. And all because Petrov did not want to put up with the voluntary slavery that fate was pushing the peasants into. The only thing that could calm him down was wine.
When he was caught carrying a log from the master's forest and accused of theft, he could not stand it and told the owner everything he thought about the real state of affairs and life in Russia. Klim Lavin, not wanting to punish Agap, stages a brutal reprisal against him. And then, wanting to console him, he gives him something to drink. But humiliation and excessive drunkenness lead the hero to die in the morning. This is the price the peasants pay for the right to openly express their thoughts and desire to be free.
Veretennikov Pavlusha
Veretennikov was met by men in the village of Kuzminskoye, at a fair; he is a collector of folklore. Nekrasov gives a poor description of his appearance and does not talk about his origin: “The men did not know what family and rank.” However, for some reason everyone calls him master. necessary for the image of Pavlusha to be generalized. Compared to people, Veretennikov stands out for his concern about the fate of the Russian people. He is not an indifferent observer, like the participants in the many inactive committees that Yakim Nagoy denounces. Nekrasov emphasizes the hero’s kindness and responsiveness by the fact that his very first appearance is marked by a selfless act: Pavlusha helps out a peasant buying shoes for his granddaughter. Genuine concern for the people also attracts travelers to the “master”.
The prototype of the image was the ethnographers-folklorists Pavel Rybnikov and Pavel Yakushkin, who participated in the democratic movement of the 60s of the 19th century. The surname belongs to the journalist P.F. Veretennikov, who visited rural fairs and published reports in Moskovskie Vedomosti.
Yakov
Yakov is a faithful servant, a former servant, he is described in the part of the poem called “A Feast for the Whole World.” The hero was loyal to his master, endured any punishment and performed even the most difficult work without complaint. This continued until the master, who liked his nephew’s bride, sent him to recruit service. Yakov started drinking, but still returned to his owner. However, the man wanted revenge. One day, when he was taking Polivanov (the master) to his sister, Yakov turned off the road into Devil’s Ravine, unharnessed his horse and hanged himself in front of the owner, wanting to leave him alone with his conscience all night. Such cases of revenge were indeed common among peasants. Nekrasov based his story on a true story he heard from A.F. Horses.
Ermila Girin
Characteristics of the heroes of “Who Lives Well in Rus'” is impossible without a description of this character. It is Ermila who can be considered one of the lucky ones whom the travelers were looking for. The prototype of the hero was A.D. Potanin, a peasant, manager of the Orlovs' estate, famous for his unprecedented justice.
Girin is revered among the peasants because of his honesty. For seven years he was burgomaster, but only once did he allow himself to abuse his power: he did not give his younger brother Mitri as a recruit. But the unrighteous act tormented Yermil so much that he almost killed himself. The intervention of the master saved the situation, he restored justice, returned the peasant who had been unfairly sent to the recruits and sent Mitri to serve, but personally took care of him. Girin then left the service and became a miller. When the mill that he rented was sold, Ermila won the auction, but he did not have the money with him to pay the deposit. The people helped out the peasant: in half an hour, men who remembered kindness collected a thousand rubles for him.
All of Girin’s actions were driven by the desire for justice. Despite the fact that he lived in prosperity and had a considerable household, when a peasant revolt broke out, he did not stand aside, for which he ended up in prison.
Pop
The characterization of the heroes continues. “Who Lives Well in Rus'” is a work rich in characters of different classes, characters and aspirations. Therefore, Nekrasov could not help but turn to the image of a clergyman. According to Luke, it is the priest who should “live cheerfully and freely in Rus'.” And the first on their way, the seekers of happiness meet the village priest, who refutes Luke’s words. The priest has no happiness, wealth or peace of mind. And getting an education is very difficult. The life of a clergyman is not at all sweet: he sees off the dying on their last journey, blesses those who are born, and his soul aches for the suffering and tormented people.
But the people themselves do not particularly honor the priest. He and his family are constantly the subject of superstitions, jokes, obscene ridicule and songs. And all the wealth of the priests consisted of donations from parishioners, among whom were many landowners. But with the cancellation, most of the rich flock scattered around the world. In 1864, the clergy was deprived of another source of income: schismatics, by decree of the emperor, came under the tutelage of the civil authorities. And with the pennies that the peasants bring, “it’s hard to live.”
Gavrila Afanasyevich Obolt-Obolduev
Our description of the heroes of “Who Lives Well in Rus'” is coming to an end; of course, we could not give descriptions of all the characters in the poem, but we included the most important ones in the review. The last of their significant heroes was Gavrila Obolt-Obolduev, a representative of the lordly class. He is round, pot-bellied, mustachioed, ruddy, stocky, and sixty years old. One of the famous ancestors of Gavrila Afanasyevich was a Tatar who entertained the empress with wild animals, stole from the treasury and plotted the arson of Moscow. Obolt-Obolduev is proud of his ancestor. But he is sad because now he can no longer make money from peasant labor as before. The landowner covers up his sorrows with concern for the peasant and the fate of Russia.
This idle, ignorant and hypocritical man is convinced that the purpose of his class is one thing - “to live by the labor of others.” When creating an image, Nekrasov does not skimp on shortcomings and endows his hero with cowardice. This trait is manifested in a comical incident when Obolt-Obolduev mistakes unarmed peasants for robbers and threatens them with a pistol. It took a lot of effort for the men to dissuade the former owner.
Conclusion
Thus, N. A. Nekrasov’s poem is filled with a number of bright, original characters, designed from all sides to reflect the position of the people in Russia, the attitude of different classes and government officials towards them. It is precisely thanks to such a number of descriptions of human destinies, often based on real stories, that the work leaves no one indifferent.
The content of the article
Origin and meaning
The female name Matryona is of Latin origin. It was formed from the word “matrona” and translated into Russian means “matrona”, “respectable married woman”, “venerable lady”. The name is considered outdated and is therefore not popular among newborn girls.
Character traits
The name Matryona belongs to a balanced, calm, kind-hearted and patient woman with a phlegmatic but very good character. Although she does not like conflict situations, she is always ready to defend her personal opinion. She can show strong will and firmness, which probably no one expects from her. After all, her secret name hides a quiet and modest personality, not inclined to active action and leadership.
Sometimes Matryona resembles a spectator in a movie - she watches with pleasure the ups and downs in the lives of her friends and relatives, but does not take part in them herself. Of course, deep down in her heart, sometimes she would like to do some unexpected, even adventurous act, but she understands perfectly well that things will not go further than dreams.
The representative of this name has strong moral and spiritual principles. She lives exactly by following them. Depending on her moral and ethical principles, Matryona selects a circle of acquaintances and close friends, becoming a sensitive, attentive and sociable interlocutor who knows how to listen and understand, and also has phenomenal intuition and the ability to delve into the depths of things. Everyone around her loves her, because unlike many others, the girl does not envy her comrades, does not take offense for no reason, does not take revenge, but simply communicates with them, sincerely experiences their ups and downs and perceives life as it is.
In some situations, Matryona, driven to despair, can be despotic, expecting “the world to bend” to her. In such cases, it exhibits unusual activity and reaction speed. If the situation that unsettles her drags on, the woman may well become depressed.
Hobby and profession
The name Matryona belongs to a person who does not strive to achieve career heights and does not want to be a leader. She diligently and diligently completes the tasks assigned to her. Because of his absolute calm, he can realize himself in those professions that are considered “boring” and unpromising - becoming a librarian, archivist, art historian, and specialist in the field of religion. She is also suitable for research activities, which require perseverance, calmness, and a philosophical attitude towards failures, as well as the teaching field and working with very young children.
Love and family
Matryona's sex life is not very active - moral and moral principles do not allow a woman with this name to reveal her full potential. But an experienced, skillful partner can force such a girl to liberate herself and become a good, albeit driven and somewhat romantic lover.
She quickly becomes attached to men, but for the time being she does not feel any particular need for marriage and a well-functioning life. Matryona intuitively feels that she will have to constantly adapt to her husband and children. If she nevertheless decides to give up her freedom, she chooses a person who is calm, but has an inner core, who is ready to take on everyday life, material and financial issues, and even caring for children, although she can be an amazing mother in her own right. Of course, the girl takes part in all this, but she needs the very fact that someone is ready to share household problems with her.