An ordinary story is what the novel is about. Ivan Goncharov "Ordinary History": book review

Year of writing:

1847

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Description of the work:

Debut novel An ordinary story was written by Ivan Goncharov in 1847. The novel was published in the same year by Sovremennik magazine. Some consider the novel An Ordinary Story to be part of an informal trilogy, in which the novels "Oblomov" and "Oblomov" later appeared.

Goncharov wrote the novel An Ordinary Story quite quickly, unlike Oblomov and The Cliff, which were characterized by Goncharov’s slowness and doubts.

Read below summary novel An Ordinary Story.

This summer morning in the village of Grachi began unusually: at dawn, all the inhabitants of the house of the poor landowner Anna Pavlovna Adueva were already on their feet. Only the culprit of this fuss, Adueva’s son, Alexander, slept “as a twenty-year-old youth should sleep, in a heroic sleep.” Turmoil reigned in Rooks because Alexander was going to St. Petersburg for service: the knowledge he acquired at the university, according to the young man, must be applied in practice in serving the Fatherland.

The grief of Anna Pavlovna, parting with her only son, is akin to the sadness of the “first minister in the household” of the landowner Agrafena - together with Alexander, his valet Yevsey, Agrafena’s dear friend, goes to St. Petersburg - how many pleasant evenings did this gentle couple spend playing cards! Alexandra’s beloved, Sonechka, also suffers - the first impulses of his sublime soul were dedicated to her. best friend Adueva, Pospelov, at the last minute bursts into Grachi to finally hug the one with whom the best hours of university life were spent in conversations about honor and dignity, about serving the Fatherland and the delights of love...

And Alexander himself is sorry to part with his usual way of life. If lofty goals and a sense of purpose had not pushed him on a long journey, he, of course, would have remained in Rrachi, with his infinitely loving mother and sister, the old maid Maria Gorbatova, among hospitable and hospitable neighbors, next to his first love. But ambitious dreams drive the young man to the capital, closer to glory.

In St. Petersburg, Alexander immediately goes to his relative, Pyotr Ivanovich Aduev, who at one time, like Alexander, “was sent to St. Petersburg at the age of twenty by his elder brother, Alexander’s father, and lived there continuously for seventeen years.” Not maintaining contact with his widow and son, who remained in Rrach after the death of his brother, Pyotr Ivanovich is greatly surprised and annoyed by the appearance of an enthusiastic young man who expects from his uncle care, attention and, most importantly, the sharing of his heightened sensitivity. From the very first minutes of their acquaintance, Pyotr Ivanovich almost by force has to restrain Alexander from pouring out his feelings and trying to embrace his relative. Along with Alexander, a letter arrives from Anna Pavlovna, from which Pyotr Ivanovich learns that great hopes are placed on him: not only by his almost forgotten daughter-in-law, who hopes that Pyotr Ivanovich will sleep with Alexander in the same room and cover the young man’s mouth from flies. The letter contains many requests from neighbors that Pyotr Ivanovich had forgotten to think about for almost two decades. One of these letters was written by Marya Gorbatova, Anna Pavlovna’s sister, who remembered for the rest of her life the day when the still young Pyotr Ivanovich, walking with her through the village surroundings, climbed knee-deep into the lake and picked a yellow flower for her to remember...

From the very first meeting, Pyotr Ivanovich, a rather dry and businesslike man, begins raising his enthusiastic nephew: he rents Alexander an apartment in the same building where he lives, advises where and how to eat, and with whom to communicate. Later he finds a very specific thing to do: service and - for the soul! - translations of articles devoted to agricultural problems. Ridiculing, sometimes quite cruelly, Alexander’s predilections for everything “unearthly” and sublime, Pyotr Ivanovich gradually tries to destroy that fictional world, where his romantic nephew lives. Two years pass like this.

After this time, we meet Alexander already somewhat accustomed to the difficulties of St. Petersburg life. And - madly in love with Nadenka Lyubetskaya. During this time, Alexander managed to advance in his career and achieved some success in translations. Now he has become enough important person in the magazine: “he was involved in the selection, translation, and correction of other people’s articles, and he himself wrote various theoretical views on agriculture.” He continued to write poetry and prose. But falling in love with Nadenka Lyubetskaya seems to close the whole world before Alexander Aduev - now he lives from meeting to meeting, intoxicated by that “sweet bliss with which Pyotr Ivanovich was angry.”

Nadenka is also in love with Alexander, but, perhaps, only with that “little love in anticipation of a big one” that Alexander himself felt for Sophia, whom he had now forgotten. Alexander's happiness is fragile - Count Novinsky, the Lyubetskys' neighbor in the dacha, stands in the way of eternal bliss.

Pyotr Ivanovich is unable to cure Alexander of his raging passions: Aduev Jr. is ready to challenge the count to a duel, to take revenge on an ungrateful girl who is unable to appreciate his high feelings, he sobs and burns with anger... Pyotr Ivanovich’s wife, Lizaveta Aleksandrovna, comes to the aid of the distraught young man. ; she comes to Alexander when Pyotr Ivanovich turns out to be powerless, and we do not know exactly how, with what words, with what participation the young woman succeeds in what her smart, sensible husband failed to do. “An hour later he (Alexander) came out thoughtfully, but with a smile, and fell asleep peacefully for the first time after many sleepless nights.”

And another year has passed since that memorable night. From the gloomy despair that Lizaveta Alexandrovna managed to melt, Aduev Jr. turned to despondency and indifference. “He somehow liked to play the role of the sufferer. He was quiet, important, vague, like a man who, in his words, had withstood the blow of fate...” And the blow was not slow to repeat: an unexpected meeting with an old friend Pospelov on Nevsky Prospekt, a meeting that was all the more accidental because Alexander did not even know about the move his soulmate to the capital - brings confusion into the already disturbed heart of Aduev Jr. The friend turns out to be completely different from what he remembers from the years spent at the university: he is strikingly similar to Pyotr Ivanovich Aduev - he does not appreciate the heart wounds experienced by Alexander, talks about his career, about money, warmly welcomes his old friend in his home, but no special signs of attention doesn't show it to him.

It turns out to be almost impossible to cure sensitive Alexander from this blow - and who knows what our hero would have come to this time if his uncle had not applied “extreme measures” to him!.. Discussing with Alexander about the bonds of love and friendship, Pyotr Ivanovich cruelly reproaches Alexander the fact that he closed himself only in his own feelings, not knowing how to appreciate someone who is faithful to him. He does not consider his uncle and aunt his friends; he has not written to his mother for a long time, who lives only in thoughts of her only son. This “medicine” turns out to be effective - Alexander again turns to literary creativity. This time he writes a story and reads it to Pyotr Ivanovich and Lizaveta Alexandrovna. Aduev Sr. invites Alexander to send the story to the magazine to find out the true value of his nephew’s work. Pyotr Ivanovich does this under his own name, believing that this will be a fairer trial and better for the fate of the work. The answer was not slow to appear - it puts the finishing touches on the hopes of the ambitious Aduev Jr....

And just at this time, Pyotr Ivanovich needed the service of his nephew: his companion at the plant, Surkov, unexpectedly falls in love with the young widow of Pyotr Ivanovich’s former friend, Yulia Pavlovna Tafaeva, and completely abandons his affairs. Valuing business above all else, Pyotr Ivanovich asks Alexander to “make Tafaeva fall in love with himself,” pushing Surkov out of her home and heart. As a reward, Pyotr Ivanovich offers Alexander two vases that Aduev Jr. liked so much.

The matter, however, takes unexpected turn: Alexander falls in love with a young widow and evokes a reciprocal feeling in her. Moreover, the feeling is so strong, so romantic and sublime that the “culprit” himself is not able to withstand the gusts of passion and jealousy that Tafaeva unleashes on him. Raised on romance novels Having married a rich and unloved man too early, Yulia Pavlovna, having met Alexander, seems to throw herself into a whirlpool: everything she read and dreamed about now falls on her chosen one. And Alexander does not pass the test...

After Pyotr Ivanovich managed to bring Tafaeva to her senses with arguments unknown to us, another three months passed, during which Alexander’s life after the shock he experienced is unknown to us. We meet him again when he, disappointed in everything he lived before, “plays checkers with some eccentrics or fishes.” His apathy is deep and inescapable; nothing, it seems, can bring Aduev Jr. out of his dull indifference. Alexander no longer believes in either love or friendship. He begins to go to Kostikov, about whom Za-ezzhalov, a neighbor in Grachi, once wrote in a letter to Pyotr Ivanovich, wanting to introduce Aduev Sr. to his old friend. This man turned out to be just the right thing for Alexander: he “could not awaken emotional disturbances” in the young man.

And one day on the shore where they were fishing, unexpected spectators appeared - an old man and a pretty young girl. They appeared more and more often. Lisa (that was the girl's name) began to try various feminine tricks to captivate the yearning Alexander. The girl partially succeeds, but her offended father comes to the gazebo for a date instead. After an explanation with him, Alexander has no choice but to change the place of fishing. However, he doesn’t remember Lisa for long...

Still wanting to awaken Alexander from the sleep of his soul, his aunt asks him one day to accompany her to a concert: “some artist, a European celebrity, has arrived.” The shock that Alexander experienced from meeting beautiful music strengthens the decision that had matured even earlier to give up everything and return to his mother, in Grachi. Alexander Fedorovich Aduev leaves the capital along the same road along which he entered St. Petersburg several years ago, intending to conquer it with his talents and high appointment...

And in the village, life seemed to have stopped running: the same hospitable neighbors, only older, the same endlessly loving mother, Anna Pavlovna; Sophia just got married without waiting for her Sashenka, and her aunt, Marya Gorbatova, still remembers the yellow flower. Shocked by the changes that have happened to her son, Anna Pavlovna spends a long time asking Yevsey how Alexander lived in St. Petersburg, and comes to the conclusion that life itself in the capital is so unhealthy that it has aged her son and dulled his feelings. Days pass after days, Anna Pavlovna still hopes that Alexander’s hair will grow back and his eyes will sparkle, and he thinks about how to return to St. Petersburg, where so much has been experienced and irretrievably lost.

The death of his mother relieves Alexander from the pangs of conscience, which do not allow him to admit to Anna Pavlovna that he was again planning to escape from the village, and, having written to Pyotr Ivanovich, Alexander Aduev again goes to St. Petersburg...

Four years pass after Alexander's return to the capital. Many changes happened to the main characters of the novel. Lizaveta Alexandrovna was tired of fighting her husband’s coldness and turned into a calm, sensible woman, devoid of any aspirations or desires. Pyotr Ivanovich, upset by the change in his wife’s character and suspecting she has a dangerous illness, is ready to give up his career as a court councilor and resign in order to take Lizaveta Alexandrovna away from St. Petersburg at least for a while. But Alexander Fedorovich reached the heights that his uncle once dreamed of for him: “collegiate adviser, good government support, through outside labor” earns considerable money and is also preparing to get married, taking three hundred thousand and five hundred souls for his bride...

At this point we part with the heroes of the novel. What, in essence, is an ordinary story!..

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Please note that the summary of the novel An Ordinary Story does not reflect the full picture of events and characteristics of the characters. We recommend that you read the full version of the novel.

The heroes of Goncharov's novel "Ordinary History" live at the end of the first half of the nineteenth century, during the reign of Nicholas 1. The beginning of the reign of Nicholas 1, a time of terrible reaction after the Decembrist uprising.

The actions described in Goncharov’s novel “Ordinary History” take place when reactionary sentiments were strong in society, when the expanded bureaucratic apparatus reached incredible proportions. And when, despite the recently died down Patriotic War 1812, Napoleon was recognized as the man of the century, even in Russia. He was an ideal for noble youth. There were many people in Russia who considered themselves Russian Napoleons, people born into the world to change the fate of Russia.

And it’s not for nothing that Pyotr Ivanovich refers to the century, saying that the century is to blame for everything that happens to his nephew. It was the age that was so conducive to those romantic moods that prevailed in the still inexperienced and inexperienced soul of Alexander Aduev, starting from the time when he first saw St. Petersburg, and ending with the day when the already middle-aged Aduev first looked soberly at the life he had lived. The total length of the novel from beginning to end, from the day twenty-year-old Alexander Aduev left for St. Petersburg to the day of his wedding, is one and a half decades. That is, in order to experience all the “delights” of life in the capital and comprehend the path he had traveled, it took the hero of the work exactly fifteen years. Let's see how it changed main character"Ordinary history" throughout the novel.

Despite the fact that the first meeting with him occurs in the middle of the first chapter, the first opinion about him is formed at the very beginning: the only son of his mother, raised almost without a father, when he was sleeping, “people walked on tiptoe so as not to wake up the young master ", - it is clearly visible that the child is spoiled. And this is true, then Goncharov himself writes: “Alexander was spoiled, but not spoiled by home life.” But then Alexander arrived in St. Petersburg, the city of his dreams, which so attracted the provincials of that time. Naturally, such a significant move should have affected the young man. And his uncle should have become an example for him, but he most often pushed him away, and the only thing he taught his nephew was that he had to do something. A contradiction appeared in Alexander’s soul. He expected support and help from his uncle in his endeavors, but he first says that it is better for Alexander to return to the village, and then mercilessly criticizes his works. Two years have passed. Our "boy has turned into a man." He matured, became more self-confident, and, most importantly, “he began to gradually accept the idea that life is not all roses, but also thorns.” The uncle could not get enough of his nephew’s success. Now he no longer threw himself on everyone’s neck, he settled down, but the main reason for his change was not so much his uncle as experience. Then love appears in Alexander’s soul, and he behaves, as his uncle correctly noted, as if in a fever. Aduev Jr. cannot think rationally; he makes all his decisions in a hurry. And everything is going so well in his life that Alexander loses the caution and sober head he had acquired and begins to do all sorts of stupid things: he scares Nadenka with his behavior, almost challenges Count Novinsky to a duel. Then a time of anger sets in in Alexander’s soul, he scolds Nadenka, the count, his uncle, and all the people together. But time is a great healer; a year later he only branded the count and Nadenka with deep contempt, and, finally, the passion in him fizzled out. But the young man did not want to part with this feeling, he liked to play the role of a sufferer, and Alexander artificially prolonged his torment. Only now the culprits are not “the Count and Nadenka, who so insidiously deceived him,” but all the people, so low, weak-hearted, and petty. He even found a book in which he met images of people he hated so much. The next revolution in his soul is connected precisely with Krylov’s fables; his uncle, outraged to the core by his nephew’s behavior, played the role of a bear from the fable “The Monkey and the Mirror,” and showed Alexander his role as a monkey. The last step in exposing the essence of Aduev Jr. was a letter from a magazine employee. Alexander gave up and it is unknown what he would have done with himself after such a beating given to him by his uncle, if the latter had not asked his nephew for a favor. After him, Alexander felt that all was not lost, that someone still needed him. But Aduev’s still young soul asked for just such activities, and Alexander, without hesitating for a moment: “How mean and low this is,” still agrees. And he takes on this matter with such inspiration that after a few weeks Surkov, a little mad, stopped going to see Tafaeva, but Alexander fell in love. He, of course, at first noticed with horror the first signs of love in himself, but then he justified himself to himself that, they say, I am no longer a little boy, and Tafaeva is not that capricious girl, but a woman in full development, and, therefore, we have the right to love, no matter what uncle says. But their love was too strong, and, therefore, extremely despotic, and such love quickly gets boring, which is what happened. And this time Alexander was unlucky with love, and he decides to turn away from such a vile and low high society, turn to ordinary people who are inferior to him in mental development, which means they will not be able to resist, and he gets closer to Kostyakov. Aduev tried to kill such a developed spiritual principle in himself, but it was developed in him too much and did not give up without a fight. And if Alexander managed to force himself not to fall in love, then he inevitably became a charmer. Despite the fact that he said that Lisa’s love was boredom, the young man constantly went to their dacha, and the reason for this was not fishing. Alexander gradually turned from a masochist into a sadist; if earlier he had tormented himself with love, now he was going to torment young Lisa. But Lisa had a powerful patron - her father. He not only warned his daughter against imminent passion, but also taught a lesson to the young charmer, after which Alexander wanted to commit suicide, but that was not the case, his words were just words, he did not have enough spirit. Then there was a trip to the theater with his aunt, and there the virtuoso violinist greatly amazed him, showing him the insignificance of his life. And after a conversation with his uncle and aunt, Aduev literally believed in the absolute correctness of Pyotr Ivanovich’s words and was ready to blindly follow his uncle’s advice. My uncle advised me to go to the village - Alexander went. In the village, Alexander received a warm welcome and his loving mother. At first, the change of place had a beneficial effect on him, but soon “his mother’s pleasing became boring to him, and Anton Ivanovich became disgusted.” It's hard to believe, but Alexander needed work. He rushed to write, but he got tired of that too. And then, finally, Aduev realized what he needed, he realized that he missed life. There is no place for him in a village, far from civilization; Alexander Aduev should live in St. Petersburg. His mother died, and now nothing kept him in the village, and goodbye to the village Aduevs, long live the city Aduevs. And four years later, Aduev Jr. turned into an exact copy of his uncle.

The next character in the novel is Alexander Aduev’s uncle Pyotr Ivanovich Aduev. At one time he went the same way as his nephew, and perhaps he also had an uncle, but Pyotr Ivanovich does not like to talk about it. Only at the very end did his own nephew expose him, finding old notes on his aunt’s chest. But the novel traces another change that happened to Pyotr Ivanovich. At first glance, he changed somehow immediately, without preparation. But if you look more closely, you will notice that throughout the novel, imperceptible changes occurred with the uncle, and, in the end, he independently understood the great truth: “Money can’t buy happiness.” Pyotr Ivanovich realized that the health of him and his wife, as well as their relationship, is much more important than fame and despicable metal. And, oddly enough, the main influence on the change in Aduev Sr. was his young nephew, who showed him himself from the outside. Aduev was horrified in his soul, plus his illness, his wife’s weakness and her complete indifference to everything that was happening to her and her husband. All these factors did their job, Pyotr Ivanovich retired and went to enjoy life with his wife Lizaveta Alexandrovna.

Lizaveta Alexandrovna also did not stand still throughout the text. But, unfortunately, she did not change in better side. If at the first meeting with her she was a young, intelligent, cheerful, always ready to help aunt and wife, then at the end of the novel Lizaveta Aleksandrovna turned pale, began to treat everything with indifference, ceased to have her own opinion, and, what is most vulgar, she became devote a lot of time and effort to the despicable metal. In general, after living with Pyotr Ivanovich for ten years, she became just as callous, dry and practical, which does not suit women at all. She is so accustomed to this gradual, measured life that even Pyotr Ivanovich’s offer to go to the ball terrifies her.

There are several other heroes of the novel who live in the village. This, of course, is Alexander’s mother Anna Pavlovna, the omnipresent Anton Ivanovich, Agrafen’s permanent housekeeper and Alexander’s aunt Marya Gorbatova. These four characters haven’t changed a bit throughout the entire novel. Throughout the entire work, Anna Pavlovna continues to idolize her only son Sashenka. Anton Ivanovich still travels all over the area and visits everyone. Agrafena is still rude and attached to Yevsey. And Maria Gorbatova, having missed her youth, remained an old maid who did not really understand the meaning of life.

The novel was conceived by the author in 1844. The work was first read in the salon of the Maykov family. Goncharov made some adjustments to his novel precisely on the advice of Valerian Maykov. Then the manuscript ended up with M. Yazykov, who was supposed to hand it over to Belinsky at the request of the author himself. However, Yazykov was in no hurry to fulfill the request, as he considered the novel too banal. The manuscript was handed to Belinsky by Nekrasov, who took it from Yazykov. Belinsky planned to publish “Ordinary History” in the almanac “Leviathan”.

However, these plans were never destined to come true. Goncharov received a lucrative offer: he could earn 200 rubles for each page of the manuscript. But Panaev and Nekrasov offered the writer the same amount, and Goncharov sold them his work. It was decided to publish the novel in Sovremennik. Publication took place in 1847. A year later, the novel was published as a separate edition.

Alexander Aduev, the son of a poor landowner, is going to leave his native estate. The young landowner received a decent university education, which he now wants to use in the service of his fatherland. Alexander leaves his first love Sonechka and his inconsolable mother Anna Pavlovna on the estate, who does not want to part with her only son. Aduev himself also does not want to leave his usual way of life. However, the high goals that he has set for himself force him to leave parents' house.

Once in the capital, Alexander goes to his uncle. Pyotr Ivanovich had lived in St. Petersburg for many years. After his brother's death, he stopped communicating with his widow and his nephew. Alexander does not seem to notice that his uncle is not too happy to see him. The young man expects care and protection from a close relative. Pyotr Ivanovich receives a letter from the mother of his nephew, who asks him to help his son get a good job. The uncle has no choice, and he takes on the active upbringing of his nephew: he rents an apartment for him, gives him numerous pieces of advice, and finds him a place. Pyotr Ivanovich believes that Alexander is too romantic and out of touch with reality. It is necessary to destroy the fictional world in which the young man lives.

2 years have passed. During this time, Alexander was able to achieve success in his service. The uncle is happy with his nephew. The only thing that upsets Pyotr Ivanovich is the young man’s love for Nadenka Lyubetskaya. According to the stern uncle, “sweet bliss” can prevent his nephew from further promotion. Nadya also likes Alexander. However, the girl’s feelings are not as deep as the feelings of her lover. Nadenka is much more interested in Count Novinsky. Aduev Jr. dreams of a duel with his opponent. Pyotr Ivanovich is trying with all his might to dissuade his nephew from his fatal mistake. Uncle never found the necessary words of consolation. Lizaveta Alexandrovna, the wife of Pyotr Ivanovich, had to intervene. Only the aunt managed to calm the young man down and dissuade him from the duel.

Another year has passed. Alexander has already forgotten Nadenka. However, not a trace of the former romantic young man remained in him. Aduev Jr. is bored and sad all the time. The uncle and aunt try various ways to distract their nephew, but nothing helps. The young man himself tries to lose himself in love, but he fails. Alexander is increasingly thinking about returning home. In the end, the young man leaves the capital. Life in the village has not changed, only Sonya, Aduev’s first love, got married without waiting for her lover. Anna Pavlovna is glad that her son returned from St. Petersburg, and believes that life in the capital undermines her health.

Fascinating city
But Alexander finds no peace even in his father’s house. Having barely returned, he is already dreaming of moving to St. Petersburg. After the capital's salons, the quiet life in the countryside seems insufficiently dynamic and vibrant. However, the young man does not dare to leave because he does not want to upset his mother. The death of Anna Pavlovna relieves Aduev Jr. of remorse. He returns to the capital.

Another 4 years have passed. The characters in the novel have changed a lot. Aunt Lizaveta became indifferent and indifferent. Pyotr Ivanovich also becomes different. From the former cold and calculating businessman, he turns into a loving family man. Pyotr Ivanovich suspects his wife serious problems with health problems and wants to resign in order to take his wife away from the capital. Alexander was able to get rid of his youthful illusions. Aduev Jr. makes good money, has achieved a high position and is going to marry a rich heiress.

Alexander Aduev

Romanticism and egocentrism are the main character traits of a young man. Alexander is confident in his uniqueness and dreams of conquering the capital. Aduev Jr. dreams of becoming famous in the poetic and writing fields and finding true love. Life in the village, according to the young man, is not for such a talented and exalted person as he.

Alexander's dreams collapse one after another. Very soon he realizes that there are enough mediocre poets and writers in the capital without him. Aduev will not tell the public anything new. True love also disappointed the young romantic. Nadenka Lyubetskaya easily abandons Alexander in order to prefer a more advantageous game to him. The young man comes to the conclusion that the world that he lived in his imagination does not really exist. Thus began the degeneration of the romantic into an ordinary cynic and businessman, like Alexander’s uncle.

Aduev Jr. realized in time that he was unable to remake reality, force it to be different. However, he can succeed by reconsidering his views and accepting the rules of the game.

Peter Aduev

At the beginning of the novel, Pyotr Ivanovich acts as the antipode of his nephew. The author characterizes this character as a person who is “icy to the point of bitterness.” Thanks to resourcefulness and composure, Alexander’s uncle was able to get a good job. Pyotr Ivanovich hates people who are unadapted to life, sentimental and sensitive. It is these character traits that he has to fight in his nephew.

Aduev Sr. believes that only those who know how to control their feelings have the right to be called a person. That is why Pyotr Ivanovich despises Alexander’s tendency to “delight.” All the predictions of the experienced uncle came true. His nephew was unable to become famous either as a poet or as a writer, and his affair with Nadenka ended in betrayal.

The uncle and nephew embody in the novel two sides of the author's contemporary Russia. The country is divided into dreamers, who bring no practical benefit to anyone with their actions, and businessmen, whose activities benefit only themselves. Alexander represents " extra person”, unsuitable for the present case and causing a sense of irony even among close relatives. The “superfluous” will not benefit his fatherland, because, in fact, he himself does not know what he wants. Pyotr Ivanovich is overly practical. According to the author, his callousness is as destructive for others as the dreaminess of his nephew.

Some critics draw a parallel between “Ordinary History” and “Oblomov”, where the antipodes are Oblomov and his friend Stolz. The first, being a kind, sincere person, is too passive. The second, like Pyotr Aduev, is practical to the point of callousness. The title of the novel, “An Ordinary Story,” indicates that all the events described in the book are taken from life. Goncharov himself seems to admit that the story he tells is not unique. The transformation of romantics into cynics occurs every day. The “superfluous person” has only 2 options: leave this life, like Oblomov, or transform into a soulless machine, like Alexander Aduev.

Classic works are always considered the best publications to read. They have not only been tested over the years, but also raise complex, vital questions that are relevant at any time. In classical literature we find ourselves, it makes us think about our character, way of thinking, behavior and thinking.

Exactly this example classical literature and is Goncharov’s “Ordinary History”, the brief content of which will be the subject of our article. What kind of work is this? What is its essence and meaning? What is psychological problem“Ordinary History” by Goncharov? Let's find out.

But before we get to know the work better, let's get to know its author.

I. A. Goncharov

The creator of “Ordinary History”, Ivan Aleksandrovich Goncharov, was born in 1812, into a family of eminent and wealthy merchants. WITH early childhood the boy led a carefree, satiated life - the cellars and barns were overflowing with all kinds of provisions and sweets, gold was stacked in the chests, the owners were served by servants.

At the age of seven, Vanya lost his father. His godfather Tregubov, a kind and enlightened man, a sailor by profession, became his guardian and educator. At first he taught the child himself, then sent him to a school in Moscow.

Eight years of study helped Ivan become more mature and knowledgeable; he became addicted to reading and wanted to write himself. Pushkin and Karamzin become his ideals; it is them that the future writer wants to be equal to, it is they who strives to imitate.

At nineteen, young Ivan Goncharov entered the capital’s university at the Faculty of Literature. Here he meets Belinsky, Aksakov, Lermontov, Turgenev. Such talented, thoughtful friends and comrades leave an indelible mark on open mind young men.

He thinks a lot about the meaning of life and eternal values, literature and art, the life of the people and the morals of the nobility.

After graduating from university, young Ivan Goncharov receives a good government position, but continues to move in the literary circles of St. Petersburg. Here he becomes close friends with the painter Nikolai Maikov and his writer-wife. They meet representatives of the cultural life of the capital - poets, artists, musicians...

Continuing to work in the government field, occupying responsible positions and important positions, Ivan Aleksandrovich begins to write. His first work was “An Ordinary Story,” followed by the still famous “Oblomov” and “Cliff.”

What is remarkable about Goncharov’s first book, “Ordinary History”?

How the work was written

The history of the creation of Goncharov’s “Ordinary History” covers a fairly long period of time. In general, he worked very slowly and unhurriedly, pondering in detail every stroke and every thought, trying to comprehend not only the depth of the characters of his heroes, but also historical time, in which he lived and which he described.

Goncharov’s “Ordinary History” (a brief summary of it will be given below) was conceived by the author back in 1944. For the next two years, he worked on his creation, as always, intently working on every sentence, analyzing every situation and every line of the hero.

The writer revised his work several times. In 1945, after reading the sketches in the Maykov family, he made some changes to the manuscript, listening to the practical advice of the owner of the house. He then corrected the essay immediately before its publication.

Publication history

How was Goncharov’s novel “Ordinary History” published? At first, the author entrusted the manuscript to the literary patron Yazykov, but he considered the work insignificant and trivial and did not want to show it to the famous critic Vissarion Belinsky.

If it were not for Nikolai Nekrasov, who took the manuscript from Yazykov and showed it to Vissarion Grigorievich, the world might not have seen the work published.

The critic liked the novel. He saw in it a modern and relevant trend, as well as subtle psychologism and artistic realism. In 1947, the work was purchased from Goncharov (for two hundred rubles for each sheet) and published in the Sovremennik magazine.

What is the plot of Goncharov’s “Ordinary History”, which so interested the famous writers of that time?

The beginning of the story

A brief summary of Goncharov’s “Ordinary History” should begin with a description of the departure of the young, poor landowner Alexander Fedorovich, the only son of the kind-hearted lady Anna Pavlovna. Sasha is a handsome twenty-year-old romantic who has just graduated from university. He is eager to serve the Fatherland, find his own path in life and walk along it hand in hand with a gentle and kind girl. Alexander Fedorovich has many talents, writes poetry, he expects happiness and love to await him in St. Petersburg.

In his native village, a young man leaves a neighbor's young lady, Sonya, who is in love with him, a sincere and pure girl. She gives him a lock of hair as a souvenir and promises to wait.

To say goodbye to Sasha, his friend Alexander Pospelov comes, having specially ridden more than one hundred and fifty kilometers for this purpose. Young people fondly remember their intimate conversations about love, loyalty and service to the fatherland.

Meeting with uncle

In the capital, Aduev comes to visit his paternal uncle, Pyotr Ivanovich, an influential official and wealthy manufacturer. However, at first he does not even want to accept his nephew. However, remembering how kind Anna Pavlovna was to him, Aduev Sr. meets with a young man, but behaves with restraint and coldness.

Sasha doesn’t understand his uncle’s insensitivity; he feels uneasy about the city’s ceremony and indifference. Walking around St. Petersburg, the young man becomes disillusioned with the capital. He misses virgin nature, endless open spaces, the good nature and friendliness of his acquaintances.

Meanwhile, Pyotr Ivanovich is going to teach his nephew wisdom. He forbids him to show his sincere feelings and emotions, orders him to forget Sonyushka and even throws out her gifts. Uncle finds Alexandra a well-paid but tedious job, and encourages the young man to abandon poetry and literature as an unprofitable and stupid occupation.

Two years later

What happens to the main characters of Goncharov’s “Ordinary History” after this short period of time?

Alexander became more urban and important. He continues to work in one of the government departments, additionally translates articles and writes poetry or stories from time to time.

It turns out that the young man is in love with a young girl, Nadya, who responds to him with tenderness and reciprocity. However, the uncle condemns their romantic relationship, claiming that love is not needed for marriage.

Love and betrayal

The lover spends entire evenings at his beloved's dacha. Nadenka is raised by one mother and grows up to be a pampered and flighty young lady. She asks Alexander for a year to test her feelings and reunite together in a happy marriage.

And then, when the appointed time approaches, another person appears on the horizon of the young lady - the sophisticated, rich, eminent Count Novinsky. Nadya is carried away by him and pays little attention to Aduev.

He, tormented by jealousy, behaves defiantly both towards his beloved and towards his happy rival. Over time, the girl refuses Alexander.

This was a heavy blow for him. He silently sobs and yearns for his lost happiness. The uncle does not understand the young man’s feelings and, seeing that he wants to challenge the count to a duel, advises him to take revenge in another, more sophisticated way. Only the aunt, the young wife of Aduev Sr., takes pity on Sasha in his unrequited love.

Twelve months have passed

Alexander still suffers from Nadya's refusal. He loses the meaning in life, loses faith in people, it seems to him that he is surrounded by unprincipled, evil ignoramuses. Finding joy in writing, the young man writes a story all day long, but Pyotr Ivanovich criticizes it and proves to his nephew that no one will publish it. This is true. The magazine refuses to publish the work, and young Aduev becomes disillusioned with his talent and his abilities.

Lizaveta Aleksandrovna, the wife of Aduev Sr., suffers from his coldness and aloofness. It is painful for her that her husband cares about her comfort, while forgetting about her heart and feelings.

Beautiful widow

Yulia Tafaeva, a young woman widowed early, becomes the cause of concern for Pyotr Ivanovich about his companion. He fell in love with a girl and spends all his money on her. Therefore, the uncle asks Alexander to play love with the widow in order to distract her from her partner.

Aduev Jr. doubts his success, but hits on a beautiful widow. Without noticing it, he falls in love with an experienced woman and, as it turns out, mutually.

Young people are very similar. They both want tenderness, violent manifestations of love, all-consuming passion. In their feelings, they seek solitude and want to belong to each other completely.

But such a dependent state, overshadowed by the constant jealousy and uncontrollability of his beloved, bothers Alexander. He loses interest in Yulia, and she insists on marriage.

The uncle helps the young people explain themselves and frees his nephew from the relationship that bothers him.

Main character's depression

A break with Tafaeva does not make the young man happy. He experiences enormous doubts - something has gone wrong in his life. He regrets that he came to St. Petersburg, that he abandoned the picturesque countryside and sweet Sonyushka.

However, such a rethinking of life does not prompt the main character to take action. He sinks lower and lower, works sluggishly, communicates with unsightly company, and does not visit his uncle.

Pyotr Ivanovich tries to stir up his nephew, he appeals to his ambition and reminds him of his career. Then he tries to awaken the old feelings in him romantic impulses, but he became frozen in soul and became disillusioned with everything.

Soon the young man leaves the service and leaves St. Petersburg for his home, completely devastated and tired in soul and body.

But it's not over yet

The mother is very happy to see her son, but she is worried about him appearance and physical condition.

Over time, Alexander becomes fresher and prettier. Nature and tender memories restore his strength. He lives a quiet life, but continues to dream of St. Petersburg. A year and a half later, the man writes to his aunt that he wants to return to the capital and start new life. He realizes that he behaved stupidly and wants to improve.

End of the work

Four years have passed since Aduev returned to St. Petersburg for the second time. Much has changed in his uncle's family. Having reached unprecedented heights and wealth, Pyotr Ivanovich finally understands that all this was tinsel, now the main thing for him is the health of his beloved wife, who is slowly fading away from his coldness and isolation. However, Lizaveta Aleksandrovna has already lost joy in life and she is indifferent to her husband’s belated feelings.

Alexander's life turned out completely differently. His mother died, and he finally found himself - he became confident and contented, received a good position and an enviable rank. He is going to marry an unfamiliar girl with a good dowry, whom he does not love and does not even respect. Aduev Sr. is happy for his nephew and hugs him for the first time in his life.

This concludes the summary of Goncharov’s “Ordinary History”.

Problems of the novel

As we see, the writer raised in his work serious psychological questions related to the hidden spiritual impulses and variability of the human heart. An analysis of Goncharov’s “Ordinary History” shows us how the influence of society and one’s own worldview can radically change a person, force him to step over himself and his beliefs, and forget his own impulses and aspirations.

Having adapted to the system around him, Aduev turned from a kind, dreamy person into a greedy careerist and unprincipled egoist. At the end of the work, he even changes places with his uncle, as he becomes more family-oriented and virtuous, worrying about the health of his beloved wife.

This is evidenced by the characteristics of the heroes of Goncharov’s “Ordinary History”.

Images of the work

If earlier young Sasha appears to readers as attractive externally and internally, with whom you involuntarily sympathize and sympathize, then over time, experiencing disappointments and being under the influence of a rich uncle, he turns into an ordinary self-lover, a careerist and a pretender.

A serious analysis of Goncharov’s “Ordinary History” leads the reader to the idea that it is not others who are to blame for the young man’s troubles, his tragedy and despondency, but himself. He, who abandoned the innocent Sonya, who was in love with him, and her free life in the village, and set off to conquer the capital. He, who was led by his weakness, fixated on unrequited love and his own feelings.

Is it bad to be rich? Is it bad to have a high paying position? Of course not! This is all very good if a person remains himself, if his heart is pure and his conscience is calm. If he does good and thinks about the feelings of others.

I. A. Goncharov with M. Yu. Lermontov, I. S. Turgenev, F. M. Dostoevsky, A. I. Herzen in the 1840s laid the foundation for the Russian classical novel.

Goncharov’s first creation of this kind was “Ordinary History,” on which he worked in 1845-1846. Its publication in the magazine “Sovremennik” (1847) brought the author not just fame, but noisy fame, and aroused enthusiastic assessments from the most demanding critics - V. G. Belinsky, Ap. Grigorieva, V.P. Botkina. Grigoriev considered her best work since the appearance of " Dead souls" Belinsky stated that Goncharov now occupies one of the most prominent places in Russian literature.

In the novel “An Ordinary History,” the analysis of which interests us, Goncharov brought onto the stage and forced two heroes to speak out to the end, who personified two sides of Russian reality, previously separated and distant from each other, and now brought together by life itself.

Aduev Sr. is a type well known to the novelist, characteristic of his St. Petersburg environment. He is a sign of the times, a product of the “St. Petersburg period of Russian history.” This is not only a successful metropolitan official, but also a new businessman, an entrepreneur who derives considerable benefit from his work for the benefit of industry and general progress. He is a practitioner and at the same time a philosopher in his field, who has developed an irrefutable system of principles and rules that guarantee him success, well-being, and spiritual comfort. Pyotr Ivanovich has no doubt that he fully understood the nature of man and the laws of his existence, that he measured all his needs and capabilities; he is convinced that everything that goes beyond the limits of the measured is groundless dreams, idle and harmful fantasies, resulting from inactivity, stupidity and ignorance of reality. Filled with such confidence, armed with experience, common sense, and caustic irony, he mercilessly debunks and executes his nephew’s naive belief in the “lofty and beautiful,” in “ eternal love", into "the sanctity of friendship."

Aduev Jr. was also well known to Goncharov. These Aduevs are the offspring of old lordly estates, most of them are enthusiastic idealists who have brought native nest, from books, from the walls of the university, both sublime and abstract ideas about human feelings, about virtues, about creativity and public service. Petersburg becomes a difficult test for Alexander. And it turns out that to the young hero there is nothing to oppose the logic and prose of St. Petersburg reality. His resources are insignificant, his inspiration is formless, his enthusiasm is short-lived, his arguments are unconvincing in a dispute with modernity - and with his uncle. The further Goncharov develops and completes the character of Alexander (repeatedly emphasizing his kinship with Pushkin’s Lensky), the clearer it becomes that this romantic appropriated romanticism to himself, but failed to embody it in action, in fate, in creativity, which is what distinguishes him from the true romantics. At the end of the novel, he decides to put his mental and spiritual wealth into profitable circulation - into that circulation of abilities and capital that creates the St. Petersburg civilization - and succeeds in this no less than his uncle.

Goncharov does not administer justice and reprisal to the heroes, he only carefully collects all the details of their lives and composes a simple, harmonious picture - without sharp contours, without too thick shadows, without too bright spots of light. The meaning of the picture emerges by itself, although it is not as simple as some critics thought. It is impossible to make a mistake in it: all the data is reliable, tangible, everything lives and moves here freely and naturally. This is the irresistible power of Goncharov’s realism, which manifested itself already in his first novel, “An Ordinary Story.”