Literary and historical notes of a young technician. Analysis of the work “Oblomov” (I
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I. A. Goncharov's novel "Oblomov" is a socio-psychological novel, depicting the destructive influence of the noble-landowner environment on the human personality. "Oblomov" appeared when the feudal system was increasingly revealing its insolvency. Goncharov worked on this work for many years. The novel was published in 1859 in the journal Otechestvennye zapiski and immediately attracted the attention of readers. Goncharov, like few others, managed to touch the most intimate strings of the “Russian soul” with the artist’s pen. The writer created a hero who, oddly enough, embodies the main features of the Russian national character, although not in the most attractive form, but at the same time evoking love and sympathy. Goncharov's merit lies in the fact that he revealed the socio-historical reasons for the emergence of such a character as Oblomov. That is why in the novel an important place is occupied by the depiction of the conditions and environment in which the formation of its hero took place. The writer with amazing depth reproduced the life of a provincial noble estate, the life of middle-class landowners, their psychology, morals, customs, views. In the chapter “Oblomov’s Dream” the author depicts the stillness, the soporific peace and silence of the “peaceful corner”. “The annual circle is completed there correctly and calmly”; “neither terrible storms nor destruction can be heard in that region”; “life, like a calm river, flowed past them” - such phrases characterize the life of the hero and his environment
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The novel “Oblomov” is an integral part of Goncharov’s trilogy, which also includes “The Precipice” and “ An ordinary story" It was first published in 1859 in the journal Otechestvennye zapiski, but the author published a fragment of the novel Oblomov’s Dream 10 years earlier, back in 1849. According to the author, the draft of the entire novel was already ready at that time. A trip to his native Simbirsk with its ancient patriarchal way of life largely inspired him to publish the novel. However, I had to take a break from creative activity due to a trip around the world.
Analysis of the work
Introduction. The history of the creation of the novel. Main idea.
Much earlier, in 1838, Goncharov published a humorous story, “Dashing Illness,” where he condemningly describes such a harmful phenomenon, flourishing in the West, as a tendency to excessive daydreaming and melancholy. It was then that the author first raised the issue of “Oblomovism,” which he later fully and comprehensively revealed in the novel.
Later, the author admitted that Belinsky’s speech on the topic of his “Ordinary History” made him think about creating “Oblomov”. In his analysis, Belinsky helped him outline a clear image of the main character, his character and individual traits. In addition, the hero Oblomov is, in some way, an admission by Goncharov of his mistakes. After all, he, too, was once a supporter of serene and meaningless pastime. Goncharov spoke more than once about how difficult it was sometimes for him to do some everyday things, not to mention the difficulty with which he made the decision to go on a circumnavigation. His friends even nicknamed him “Prince De Lazy.”
The ideological content of the novel is extremely deep: the author raises deep social problems, which were relevant for many of his contemporaries. For example, the dominance of European ideals and canons among the nobility and the vegetation of original Russian values. Eternal questions of love, duty, decency, human relationships and life values.
General characteristics of the work. Genre, plot and composition.
According to genre features, the novel "Oblomov" can be easily identified as typical work directions of realism. Here there are all the signs characteristic of works of this genre: a central conflict of interests and positions of the protagonist and the society opposing him, many details in the description of situations and interiors, authenticity from the point of view of historical and everyday aspects. So, for example, Goncharov very clearly depicts the social division of layers of society inherent in that time: bourgeois, serfs, officials, nobles. During the course of the story, some characters receive their development, for example, Olga. Oblomov, on the contrary, degrades, breaking under the pressure of the surrounding reality.
The typical phenomenon of that time, described on the pages, which later received the name “Oblomovshchina,” allows us to interpret the novel as a social one. The extreme degree of laziness and moral depravity, vegetation and personal decay - all this had an extremely detrimental effect on the bourgeoisie of the 19th century. And “Oblomovshchina” became a household name, in a general sense reflecting the way of life of Russia at that time.
From the point of view of composition, the novel can be divided into 4 individual blocks or parts. At the beginning, the author lets us understand what the main character is like, to follow the smooth, non-dynamic and lazy flow of his boring life. What follows is the climax of the novel - Oblomov falls in love with Olga, comes out of “hibernation”, strives to live, enjoy every day and receive personal development. However, their relationship was not destined to continue and the couple experienced a tragic breakup. Oblomov's short-term insight turns into further degradation and disintegration of personality. Oblomov again falls into despondency and depression, plunging into his feelings and joyless existence. The denouement is the epilogue, which describes the further life of the hero: Ilya Ilyich marries a homely woman who does not shine with intelligence and emotions. Conducts last days in peace, indulging in laziness and gluttony. The finale is the death of Oblomov.
Images of the main characters
In contrast to Oblomov is the description of Andrei Ivanovich Stolts. These are two antipodes: Stolz’s gaze is directed clearly forward, he is confident that without development there is no future for him as an individual and for society as a whole. Such people move the planet forward; the only joy available to them is constant work. He takes pleasure in achieving goals, he has no time to build ephemeral castles in the air and vegetate like Oblomov in a world of ethereal fantasies. At the same time, Goncharov is not trying to make one of his heroes bad and the other good. On the contrary, he repeatedly emphasizes that neither one nor the other male image is not ideal. Each of them has both positive traits, and disadvantages. This is another feature that allows us to classify the novel as a realistic genre.
Just like men, women in this novel are also opposed to each other. Pshenitsyna Agafya Matveevna - Oblomov's wife is presented as a narrow-minded, but extremely kind and flexible nature. She literally idolizes her husband, trying to make his life as comfortable as possible. The poor thing does not understand that by doing so she is digging his grave. She is a typical representative of the old system, when a woman is literally a slave of her husband, not having the right to her own opinion, and a hostage to everyday problems.
Olga Ilyinskaya
Olga is a progressive young girl. It seems to her that she can change Oblomov, set him on the true path, and she almost succeeds. She is incredibly strong-willed, emotional and talented. In a man, she wants to see, first of all, a spiritual mentor, a strong, integral personality, at least equal to her in mentality and beliefs. This is where the conflict of interests with Oblomov occurs. Unfortunately, he cannot and does not want to meet her high demands and goes into the shadows. Unable to forgive such cowardice, Olga breaks up with him and thereby saves herself from “Oblomovism.”
Conclusion
Quite raised in the novel serious problem from the point of view of historical development Russian society, namely “Oblomovshchina” or the gradual degradation of certain layers of the Russian public. The old foundations that people are not ready to change and improve their society and way of life, philosophical issues of development, the theme of love and the weakness of the human spirit - all this rightfully allows us to recognize Goncharov’s novel as a brilliant work of the 19th century.
"Oblomovshchina" from social phenomenon gradually flows into the character of the person himself, dragging him to the bottom of laziness and moral decay. Dreams and illusions are gradually replacing the real world, where there is simply no place for such a person. This leads to another problematic topic raised by the author, namely the issue of the “Superfluous Man,” which is Oblomov. He is stuck in the past and sometimes his dreams even take precedence over really important things, for example, his love for Olga.
The success of the novel was largely due to the deep crisis of the serfdom that coincided at the same time. The image of a bored landowner, incapable of independent life, was perceived very sharply by the public. Many recognized themselves in Oblomov, and Goncharov’s contemporaries, for example, the writer Dobrolyubov, quickly picked up the theme of “Oblomovism” and continued to develop it on the pages of their scientific works. Thus, the novel became an event not only in the field of literature, but the most important socio-political and historical event.
The author is trying to reach the reader, make him look at own life, and perhaps rethink something. Only by correctly interpreting Goncharov’s fiery message can you change your life and then you can avoid Oblomov’s sad ending.
Goncharov’s novel “Oblomov” was written in 1858, and in 1859 published in Otechestvennye zapiski. However, the first part of the work, “Oblomov’s Dream,” was published back in 1849 in the “Literary Collection,” becoming an iconic element of the plot and ideological structure of the novel. “Oblomov” is one of the works of Goncharov’s novel trilogy, which also included “An Ordinary Story” and “The Precipice.” In the book, the author touches on many acute social issues for his era - the formation of a new Russian society and the opposition of the original Russian mentality to European principles, as well as the “eternal” problems of the meaning of life, love and human happiness. Detailed analysis“Oblomov” by Goncharov will allow us to more closely reveal the author’s idea and better understand the brilliant work of Russian literature of the 19th century.
Genre and literary movement
The novel "Oblomov" was written in the traditions literary direction realism, as evidenced by the following signs: the central conflict of the work, developing between the main character and a society that does not share his way of life; a realistic depiction of reality, reflecting many everyday historical facts; the presence of characters typical of that era - officials, entrepreneurs, townspeople, servants, etc., who interact with each other, and in the process of the narrative the development (or degradation) of the personality of the main characters is clearly visible.
The genre specificity of the work allows us to interpret it, first of all, as a social and everyday novel, revealing the problem of “Oblomovism” in the author’s contemporary era, its harmful effect on the bourgeoisie. In addition, the work should be considered as a philosophical one, touching on many important “eternal questions”, and a psychological novel - Goncharov subtly reveals inner world and the character of each hero, analyzing in detail the reasons for their actions and their future fate.
Composition
An analysis of the novel "Oblomov" would not be complete without considering compositional features works. The book consists of four parts. The first part and 1-4 chapters of the second are a description of one day in Oblomov’s life, including events in the hero’s apartment, his characterization by the author, as well as a chapter important for the entire plot - “Oblomov’s Dream”. This part of the work is an exposition of the book.
Chapters 5-11 and the third part represent the main action of the novel, describing the relationship between Oblomov and Olga. The culmination of the work is the separation of the lovers, leading to Ilya Ilyich again falling into the old state of “Oblomovism”.
The fourth part is the epilogue of the novel, telling about the further life of the heroes. The denouement of the book is the death of Oblomov in a kind of “Oblomovka” created by him and Pshenitsyna.
The novel is divided into three conventional parts - 1) the hero strives for an illusory ideal, the distant “Oblomovka”; 2) Stolz and Olga bring Oblomov out of a state of laziness and apathy, forcing him to live and act; 3) Ilya Ilyich again returns to his previous state of degradation, having found “Oblomovka” from Pshenitsyna. Despite the fact that the main plot point was the love story of Olga and Oblomov, from a psychological point of view, the leitmotif of the novel is the depiction of the degradation of Ilya Ilyich’s personality, its gradual disintegration until actual death.
Character system
The central core of characters is represented by two contrasting male and female images - Oblomov and Stolz, as well as Ilyinskaya and Pshenitsyna. Apathetic, calm, more interested in everyday life, the warmth of home and a rich table, Oblomov and Pshenitsyna act as bearers of outdated, archaic ideas of Russian philistinism. For both of them, “breakdown” as a state of calm, detachment from the world and spiritual inactivity is the primary goal. This is contrasted with the activity, activity, practicality of Stolz and Olga - they are bearers of new, European ideas and norms, a renewed Russian-European mentality.
Male characters
The analysis of Oblomov and Stolz as mirror characters involves considering them as heroes of different time projections. So, Ilya Ilyich is a representative of the past tense, for him the present does not exist, and the ephemeral “Oblomovka of the Future” does not exist for him either. Oblomov lives only in the past tense; for him, all the best was already a long time ago in childhood, that is, he strived back, not appreciating the experience and knowledge gained over the years. That is why the return to “Oblomovism” in Pshenitsyna’s apartment was accompanied by a complete degradation of the hero’s personality - it was as if he was returning to a deep, weak childhood, which he had been dreaming about for many years.
For Stolz there is no past and present, he is focused only on the future. Unlike Oblomov, who realizes the goal and outcome of his life - the achievement of the distant “paradise” Oblomovka, Andrei Ivanovich does not see the goal, for him it becomes a means of achieving goals - constant work. Many researchers compare Stolz to an automated, masterfully tuned mechanism, devoid of the inner spirituality that he finds when communicating with Oblomov. Andrei Ivanovich appears in the novel as a practical character who has no time to think while he needs to create and build something new, including himself. However, if Oblomov was fixated on the past and was afraid to look into the future, then Stolz did not have time to stop, look back and understand where he was coming from and where he was going. Perhaps it is precisely because of the lack of exact landmarks at the end of the novel that Stolz himself falls into the “traps of debris”, finding peace in his own estate.
Both male characters are far from the ideal of Goncharov, who wanted to show that remembering your past and honoring your roots is just as important as constant personal development, learning something new and continuous movement. Only such a harmonious personality, living in the present tense, combining the poetry and good nature of the Russian mentality with the activity and hard work of the European, is worthy, in the author’s opinion, to become the basis for a new Russian society. Perhaps Andrei, Oblomov’s son, could become such a person.
Female characters
If, when depicting male characters, it was important for the author to understand their direction and meaning of life, then female images associated primarily with issues of love and family happiness. Agafya and Olga not only have different origins, upbringing and education, but also have different characters. Meek, weak-willed, quiet and economical, Pshenitsyna perceives her husband as a more important and significant person, her love borders on adoration and idolization of her husband, which is normal within the framework of the old, archaic traditions of house-building. For Olga, a lover is, first of all, a person equal to her, a friend and teacher. Ilyinskaya sees all Oblomov’s shortcomings and tries to change her lover until the very end - despite the fact that Olga is portrayed as an emotional, creative person, the girl approaches any issue practically and logically. The romance between Olga and Oblomov was doomed from the very beginning - in order to complement each other, someone would have to change, but none of them wanted to give up their usual views and the heroes continued to unconsciously oppose each other.
Symbolism of Oblomovka
Oblomovka appears before the reader as a kind of fabulous, unattainable place, where not only Oblomov strives, but also Stolz, who constantly settles his friend’s affairs there and tries at the end of the work to take home the last thing that remains of that old Oblomovka - Zakhara. However, if for Andrei Ivanovich the village is devoid of its mythical qualities and attracts rather on an intuitive, unclear level for the hero, connecting Stolz with the traditions of his ancestors, then for Ilya Ilyich it becomes the center of his entire illusory universe in which the man exists. Oblomovka is a symbol of everything old, dilapidated, passing away, which Oblomov keeps trying to grab onto, which leads to the degradation of the hero - he himself becomes decrepit and dies.
In Ilya Ilyich’s dream, Oblomovka is closely connected with rituals, fairy tales, and legends, which makes it itself a part ancient myth about the village-paradise. Oblomov, associating himself with the heroes of fairy tales told by his nanny, seems to find himself in this ancient, existing in parallel real world. However, the hero does not realize where dreams end and illusions begin, replacing the meaning of life. The distant, unattainable Oblomovka never becomes closer to the hero - it only seems to him that he found it with Pshenitsyna, while he slowly turned into a “plant”, ceasing to think and live a full life, completely immersing himself in the world of his own dreams.
Issues
Goncharov in his work “Oblomov” touched on many historical, social and philosophical issues, many of which do not lose their relevance to this day. The central problem The work is the problem of “Oblomovism” as a historical and social phenomenon among Russian philistines who do not want to adopt new social principles and change. Goncharov shows how “Oblomovism” becomes not only a problem for society, but also for the person himself, who is gradually degrading, fencing off his own memories, illusions and dreams from the real world.
Of particular importance for understanding the Russian national mentality is the depiction of classical Russian types in the novel - both in the example of the main characters (landowner, entrepreneur, young bride, wife), and secondary ones (servants, swindlers, officials, writers, etc.), and also revealing the Russian national character in contrast to the European mentality using the example of the interaction between Oblomov and Stolz.
An important place in the novel is occupied by questions of the meaning of the hero’s life, his personal happiness, place in society and the world in general. Oblomov is typical " extra person“, for whom the world striving for the future was inaccessible and distant, while the ephemeral, essentially existing only in dreams, ideal Oblomovka was something close and more real than even Oblomov’s feelings for Olga. Goncharov did not portray the all-encompassing true love between the characters - in each case it was based on other, prevailing feelings - on dreams and illusions between Olga and Oblomov; on the friendship between Olga and Stolz; on respect from Oblomov and adoration from Agafya.
Theme and idea
In the novel "Oblomov" Goncharov, considering historical topic changes in society in the 19th century through the prism of such a social phenomenon as “Oblomovism”, reveals its destructive effect not only for the new society, but also for the personality of each individual, tracing the influence of “Oblomovism” on the fate of Ilya Ilyich. At the end of the work, the author does not lead the reader to a single thought, who was more right - Stolz or Oblomov, however, an analysis of the work “Oblomov” by Goncharov shows that a harmonious personality, like a worthy society, is only possible with full acceptance of one’s past, drawing spiritual values from there basics, with constant striving forward and continuous work on oneself.
Conclusion
Goncharov, in his novel “Oblomov,” first introduced the concept of “Oblomovism,” which remains a common noun today to designate apathetic, lazy people stuck in the illusions and dreams of the past. In the work, the author touches on a number of important and relevant social and philosophical issues in any era, allowing to the modern reader take a fresh look at your own life.
Work test
Roman "Oblomov" summary which is given in this article, was published in 1859. It was written by the famous Russian writer Ivan Goncharov. A huge amount of work has been done. The novel was written over 10 years. After the work was completed, the author admitted that in it he told about his life. He also points out that he and the main character of the novel, the nihilist Oblomov, share many common traits. Immediately after its publication, the work became the subject of heated debate among critics and writers.
Meet the main characters
The setting of the novel is the city of St. Petersburg, Gorokhovaya Street. Ilya Ilyich Oblomov lives here with his servant Zakhar. Main character, being a young man, leads an idle lifestyle. He does nothing except talk all day long about how he should live, and dreams of a quiet life in his native village of Oblomovka. Ilya Ilyich is not at all concerned about any problems: the fact that they are going to him and the fact that the farm is in complete decline. A young man has a friend who is the complete opposite of him. This is Andrey Ivanovich Stolts. He is very active and active. Trying to stir up his lazy friend, Andrei invites him to banquets in the best houses of St. Petersburg. It is unlikely that a summary will be able to convey all the feelings and thoughts of the main characters. “Oblomov” is a novel that has not lost its relevance in our time. We highly recommend reading it.
Oblomov fell in love
What happens next? After Oblomov began going out into the world, he was simply unrecognizable. He gets up not during the day, but in the morning, which he has never done before, is interested in everything that happens around him and writes a lot. Everyone around him is shocked by such a metamorphosis in the behavior of the young lazy man. What happened to him? It turns out that the young man fell in love. At one of the receptions, Oblomov met Olga Ilyinskaya. She, in turn, answers him. The history of the development of their relationship is unlikely to be conveyed by a brief summary. Oblomov soon invites Olga to marry.
Oblomov in a house on the Vyborg side
But this “ebullient activity” of the young nihilist did not last long. Soon he settles in the house of Agafya Matveevna Pshenitsyna on the Vyborg side. This home is as old and dilapidated as Oblomov himself will soon become. Olga is trying to shake up her loved one, to pull him out of this “swamp.” But, having come to his house, she realized that all her efforts would be in vain. Agafya Matveevna takes care of Ilya Ilyich, preparing his favorite dishes and repairing old shabby things. Unexpectedly for herself, she realizes that she has fallen in love with her master. Soon their son Andryusha was born. It is impossible to follow how dramatically the life of the main character changes if you only skim through the summary. Oblomov did not immediately become a prisoner of his “blessed paradise” in Agafya’s house. Trying to free himself from the tenacious shackles of laziness and apathy, he first tries to renew his relationship with Olga. But soon the quagmire of idleness and lethargy completely sucks him in.
Love of Olga and Stolz
Here is only a brief summary of Oblomov. In the full version of the novel you will read about how Olga’s love feeling for Stolz arose and developed. In the article we will only mention how one day our heroine realized that Andrei had ceased to be just a friend for her. Stolz always liked Olga, and her attitude towards Oblomov revealed a new side to her for her lover. These two were born to be happy together.
End
The novel ends with a story about Oblomov's little son Andryusha. The main character himself is no longer alive. Dying, he begged his friend not to leave his son. Therefore, the Stoltsy, who by that time also had children, took little Oblomov to raise. This novel was written during a difficult period in the history of Russia. A brief summary cannot convey the fullness of the contradictory views and ways of that time. “Oblomov” is a work that will be useful for everyone to read. After all, it has a meaning
Goncharov nurtured his main idea for many years.
In 1849, “Oblomov’s Dream” was published - the chapter of the unfinished novel “Oblomovshchina”. Going on summer vacation to his native Simbirsk, Goncharov even agreed in advance with one of the St. Petersburg editorial offices to publish the full text of the novel, confidently expecting to bring it back from vacation. Thus, it can be assumed that by the summer of 1849 the original plan for Oblomov had taken shape in the writer’s creative imagination.
But belonging to the type of writer who needs a super idea to create a work, Goncharov again turned to his plan only after returning from an expedition on the frigate Pallada, during which he had the opportunity to observe the morals and customs, characters and temperaments of the most different nations, invariably comparing them with Russians. “Oblomov” was published in 1859, and it was he who was destined to become Goncharov’s answer to the question about the “roots” and “crown” of the Russian soul.
Plot, issues and composition
Landowner Ilya Oblomov lives in St. Petersburg on the funds that his estate brings him - the village of Oblomovka. He abandoned the service a long time ago and could not find himself in any other activity. At the same time, he is a sweet, kind, educated person. Andrei Stolts, Oblomov’s childhood friend, tries in vain to “awaken to life” the person dear to him. Moreover, he is trying to do this with the help of his young “student” Olga Ilyinskaya. He hopes in this way to bring “even light, a few degrees of warmth” into Oblomov’s hopeless, gloomy and cold life.
The leisurely development of the romance between Ilya and Olga constitutes the central - second and third - parts of the work. In the end, instead of light at “several degrees of heat,” a fire broke out. It turns out that in Oblomov himself “there was a light locked up, which was looking for a way out, but only burned its prison.” Light met light and created fire.
But Olga does not need a person like Oblomov, and she eventually becomes Stolz’s wife. And Ilya, in the 4th part of the novel, finds refuge with the bourgeois widow Agafya Pshenitsyna, whom he eventually marries and with whom he leads a “vegetative” existence until his death. “Her name,” notes literary critic E. A. Krasnoshchekova, “may have echoed mythological motif(Agathias is a saint who protects people from the eruption of Etna, that is, fire, hell) ".
However, to protect from internal fire does not mean to drive it even deeper inside? Is it possible (and is it necessary) to save a person from such a fire? This question was popular in the second half of the 19th century, and the reason for this, if you try to put it into a certain scheme, can be called the exacerbation of the eternal conflict European culture New times - a conflict between pagan (fire of desires) and Christian (love-agape - another interpretation of the name Agafya) elements of cultural tradition.
Genre
Modern literary criticism often classifies “Oblomov” as a genre of “myth novel,” because it “expressed the very essence of Russian culture.” At the same time, this is one of the first “pure” examples of Russian psychological novel, which does not recognize unambiguous, formal characteristics. Thus, the author of “Oblomov” would hardly agree with the famous first phrase of “Anna Karenina,” because he wants to know about the happy family of Andrei and Olga Stoltsev not only that they were happy in the end, but also at what cost The efforts of each of them gave them their family happiness.
Characters
Even contemporary criticism of Goncharov focused on the antithesis “Oblomov - Stolz” as the main symbolic axis of the novel.
Having traveled around the entire perimeter of Asia, the author of “Frigate “Pallada”” made almost the same impression about it about complete and convinced immersion in sleep that Oblomov (even in his early “Dream ...”) left from Oblomovka. However, while finding many similarities in the East, Russian people at the same time never ceased to marvel at the divas of the West and pray to the “sacred,” in the words of Dostoevsky, “the stones of Europe.” The author of “Oblomov” and “Frigate “Pallada””, perhaps more than other Russian writers, is characterized by this tender (but also rather detached) admiration for Europe. “Everything, starting with man, is purebred and beautiful in England,” notes the author of “Frigate Pallada”. And again he insists: “Everything is purebred here: sheep, horses, bulls, dogs, like men and women.” And in “Oblomov” he says about Stolz: Stolz is thoroughbred, “like an English blood horse.”
Respect, tenderness, admiration - these are the feelings that Stolz evokes: from Oblomov and Olga, from Zakhar (Oblomov’s “patriarchal” servant), from the narrator, from the reader... But to be like Stolz or even to be next to him is hard, backbreaking work . And wasn’t Olga dooming herself to this kind of work when she married Stolz? ... Not feeling attracted to him - at first - eros, not knowing how to love “for nothing”, to love with love - agape, and thus deprived of one of the two possible hopes for happiness in marriage, will she not be tossing around internally for the rest of her life, not finding any external way out? ...
“I don’t have a single type, but all ideals,” the author himself asserted, referring to the two main characters and two main heroines of Oblomov. Each and every one of them is ideal in one thing and for one person. Ilya is not ready to be the head of the family, to be not just an intelligent interlocutor, a gentle lover (his “dovey tenderness” is remembered among themselves for a long time by Olga and Andrey), but a husband who takes responsibility and without hesitation offers his wife the only true one (of course, only for their family) the answer to any question. Ilya needs Agafya: she will not doubt anything, she will decide everything herself and answer for everything. And Agafya is ideal, and Olga, and Ilya is ideal, and, of course, Andrey - but in different ways, for different things, for different people and in different ways.
“Her remark, advice, approval or disapproval became an inevitable verification for him: he saw that she understood exactly the same as he, she understood, she reasoned no worse than him... Zakhar was offended by such ability in his wife, and many are offended - and Stolz was happy! ... Andrei saw that the former ideal of his woman and wife was unattainable, but he was happy and a pale reflection of it in Olga: he never expected this either.”
