A.S. Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter"

The epigraph to the chapter “Sergeant of the Guard” reveals Andrei Petrovichev and Petrusha’s understanding of the duty of an officer. Pyotr Grinev is a young nobleman, a district ignoramus. He received a provincial education from a Frenchman, who “was not an enemy of the Bottle” and loved to drink too much.” His father, Andrei Petrovich Grinev, considered the concept of duty from the position of an officer. He believed that an officer is obliged to carry out all the orders of his superiors, “to serve faithfully to whom you swear allegiance.” The father immediately says that “Petrusha will not go to Petersburg,” and sends him to the remote Belogorsk fortress. Andrei Petrovich Grinev does not want his son to learn to “wind and hang around.”
The epigraph to chapter 11 is an old song. In the chapter “Counselor,” a “peasant” appears, who subsequently becomes the leader of the uprising. With the appearance of Pugachev in the novel, an alarming, mysterious atmosphere arises. This is how Petrusha sees him already in a prophetic dream: “The man jumped out of bed, grabbed an ax from behind his back and began swinging it in all directions... The room was filled with dead bodies... The scary man called me affectionately, saying: “Don’t be afraid...”
Pushkinsky Pugachev is “woven” from folklore. It is no coincidence that his appearance during a snowstorm, which becomes a symbolic harbinger of rebellion.
In “The Duel,” Shvabrin advises Grinev: “... so that Masha Mironova comes to you at dusk, then instead of tender poems, give her a pair of earrings.” Therefore, a duel takes place between Grinev and Shvabrin.
The epigraph to the fifth chapter “Love” talks about Masha. This is an ordinary Russian girl who hopes to meet her love. Therefore, her attention is attracted by Shvabrin, exiled to the Belogorsk fortress for participating in a duel. At first, she is attracted by the education and erudition of the young officer. However, Shvabrin soon commits a series of vile acts, which forces Masha to indignantly reject his advances. true love Masha meets Grinev in the person.
The epigraph to chapter six contains a song. The chapter “Pugachevshchina” talks about how an “unknown force” - Pugachev’s army - is spontaneously approaching the Belogorsk fortress. The Pugachev uprising brings with it destruction and death.
The chapter “Attack” reflects the key situation of “The Captain’s Daughter” - the capture of the fortress by Pugachev and the behavior of the heroes. All participants in the events find themselves in a situation of choosing life or death: each of them makes it in accordance with their ideas about morality, honor and duty.
In the eighth chapter, Grinev becomes an “uninvited guest” at Pugachev’s. At the “strange war council” main character hears a “mournful barge hauler song”: “Don’t make noise, mother green oak tree.” His “pyitic horror” is shocked not only by the song itself, but by the people singing it, “doomed to the gallows.”
The epigraph to the chapter “Separation” contains the main idea: the “sad” separation of two lovers. However, they pass this test with dignity.
In chapter ten, Grinev faces a choice: the duty of an officer or his feelings. “In the Night” he tries to save Marya Ivanovna.
In “Rebel Settlement” Pugachev receives Grinev “affectionately”. The leader of the uprising lives by the principle: “Debt is worth paying.” Therefore, he decides to once again help Pyotr Grinev save Masha from Shvabrin.
In the chapter “Orphan” Grinev and Pugachev come to the Belogorsk fortress. There they find Masha “in a ragged peasant dress”, “with disheveled hair”. She was left an orphan - she “has neither father nor mother.” The captain's daughter places all her hopes for salvation on her beloved Grinev. However, the main savior is Pugachev, who expresses a desire to be “planted by the father” at their wedding.
In the thirteenth chapter, “Arrest,” a new test appears for the lovers: Grinev is arrested and accused of treason.
IN last chapter“Court” Grinev does not want to talk about the captain’s daughter, who is involved in the story with Pugachev. However, Masha Mironova herself was able to overcome all the obstacles and arrange her happiness. Masha's honesty and sincerity helped to obtain forgiveness for Grinev from the empress herself.

Catherine II renamed cities, settlements and even a river to eradicate the memory of the Pugachev rebellion. But just 60 years after the uprising, A.S. Pushkin devotes one of his most important significant works Russian literature, "The Captain's Daughter". Did the author sympathize with Pugachev or was he on the side of the law? Where is the border between freedom and will? What is Grinev’s crime, and what is Masha Mironova’s feat?

Pugachev uprising - the peasant war of 1773-1775 led by Emelyan Pugachev (Pugachevshchina, Pugachev revolt, Pugachev uprising) - an uprising of the Yaik Cossacks, which grew into a full-scale war of the Cossacks, peasants and peoples of the Urals and Volga region with the government of Empress Catherine II.

The work reveals several themes:

· riot, peasant uprisings;

· public duty and honor, which contradict each other;

Petrusha Grinev had a clash of two obligations. He is a nobleman, must fight on the side of government regular troops. But he also breaks the rules, leaves the fortress, and this is what he will later be accused of. He is also charged with assisting a rioter. It is clear from the text itself that this is not the case.

“How is it,” objected my interrogator, “that a nobleman and an officer alone were spared by an impostor, while all his comrades were villainously killed?” How does this same officer and nobleman feast in a friendly manner with the rebels, accept gifts, a fur coat, a horse and half a piece of money from the main villain? Why did such a strange friendship arise and on what is it based, if not on betrayal, or at least on vile and criminal cowardice?

However, Petrusha still committed a crime. He had obligations: love, honor, saving Masha Mironova. It’s difficult to judge Grinev; he chose his path himself.

In almost all his works, Pushkin raises three themes: honor, freedom and chance. In the novel " Captain's daughter“These themes are clearly visible; Petrusha Grinev is most often saved by chance. It is the “incident” that makes the novel fascinating.

Could peasant uprisings have been successful? For example, the Jacquerie or other major uprisings.

Jacquerie (fr. Jacquerie, from the common French name Jacques) - the name of the peasant anti-feudal uprisingin Francein 1358caused by the situation in which France found itself as a result of the warswith Edward III of England; The largest peasant uprising in French history.

Precisely because the main idea of ​​the uprising is the overthrow of an already established foundation, it is difficult to bring order to the masses of dissatisfied people. If we take Pugachev’s troops, some of them were organized, but the rest were engaged in robbery and violence in the surrounding cities and villages. It is difficult to force people who rebelled against order to follow any rules. This task is practically impossible.

They didn't know who to obey. The government was terminated everywhere. The landowners took refuge in the forests. Gangs of robbers were everywhere. The commanders of individual detachments sent in pursuit of Pugachev, who was then already fleeing to Astrakhan, autocratically punished the guilty and the innocent...

The condition of the entire region where the fire raged was terrible. God forbid we see a Russian rebellion - senseless and merciless. Those who are plotting impossible revolutions among us are either young and do not know our people, or they are hard-hearted people, for whom someone else’s head is half a piece, and their own neck is a penny.

The Bolsheviks managed to implement the uprising in 1917. To do this, it was necessary to build a new, special party, which is what Lenin did.

It is interesting that major uprisings took place under the leadership of the Cossacks: Bolotnikov, Stepan Razin, Pugachev. These are people who had a certain freedom, not serfs. I remember the reasoning of philosophers that a person must know what freedom is in order to fight for it.

You can only fight for freedom if you already have it.

T. Kotarbinski

There is another opinion that a person is born free and this concept originates in the soul.

“Man... is not because of a negative force to avoid this or that, but because of a positive force to manifest his true individuality.

K. Marx

Which opinion is correct is a moot point. According to Kant, it is impossible to accept the statement that some people, for example, landowner serfs, were not yet mature enough to be free.

If we accept such statements, then freedom cannot be achieved at all, because a person is not able to mature to freedom without acquiring it first. A person must be free in order to learn to use his freedom arbitrarily and profitably.

I. Kant

Perhaps this is one of the theoretical explanations why the Cossacks were the leaders of the uprisings. On the other hand, reading “The Captain's Daughter” it seems that the author sympathizes with Pugachev and his desire for freedom.

The impostor thought a little and said in a low voice:

- God knows. My street is cramped; I have little will. My guys are smart. They are thieves. I have to keep my ears open; at the first failure, they will ransom their neck with my head.

“No,” he answered, “it’s too late for me to repent.” There will be no mercy for me. I will continue as I started. Who knows? Maybe it will work! Grishka Otrepyev reigned over Moscow after all.

“Listen,” said Pugachev with some wild inspiration. - I’ll tell you a fairy tale that an old Kalmyk woman told me as a child. One day an eagle asked a raven: tell me, raven bird, why have you lived in this world for three hundred years, and I am only thirty-three years old? “Because, father,” the raven answered him, “you drink living blood, and I feed on carrion.” The eagle thought: let's try and eat the same thing. Fine. The eagle and the raven flew away. They saw a dead horse; came down and sat down. The raven began to peck and praise. The eagle pecked once, pecked again, waved its wing and said to the raven: no, brother raven; Instead of eating carrion for three hundred years, it’s better to drink living blood once, and then God willing! - What is it like? Kalmyk fairy tale? “Intricate,” I answered him. - But to live by murder and robbery means, for me, to peck at carrion.

A.S. Pushkin. "The Captain's Daughter"

The nobleman Pushkin must be on the side of order. But the very desire for freedom, even through blood, in the eyes of the author deserves attention and sympathy.

Let's imagine that Pugachev won. Chaos and bloodshed would ensue. There would be a war of all against all. On the one hand, we want to sympathize, on the other hand, we understand that liberation does not lie in the redistribution of what we have. Improvement of life and revolutionary changes occur not through political action, but through technical movement forward.

When I remember that this happened in my lifetime and that I have now lived to see the meek reign of Emperor Alexander, I cannot help but be amazed at the rapid successes of enlightenment and the spread of the rules of philanthropy. Young man! If my notes fall into your hands, remember that the best and most lasting changes are those that come from improving morals, without any violent upheavals.

A.S. Pushkin. "The Captain's Daughter"

Until chemists came up with new materials, people wore patches no matter what the device was. Until geneticists and breeders developed varieties of wheat and figured out how to grow enough, people lived from hand to mouth, regardless of what method of food distribution they used. Therefore, one can sympathize with the rebellion, but it makes no sense to wish for its victory. Humanity is only now coming to a state where it is possible to live quite freely. Ways have been invented to free humanity from hard physical labor, and sometimes from routine mental labor.

Across time and space, a nation is united by language and culture. Let's focus on the language. If you take any writer or poet of the pre-Pushkin era, for example Kheraskov, then it will be difficult to read.

I sing Russia freed from the barbarians,
I will trample the power of the Tatars and overthrown their pride;
The movement of ancient forces, labors, bloody warfare,
Russia's triumph, Kazan destroyed.
From the circle of these times, calm years have begun,
Like a bright dawn, it shone in Russia.

Oh you, soaring above the bright stars,
Poems spirit! come from the high places,
To my weak and dark creation
Shed your rays, art, illumination!

MM. Kheraskov. "Rossiada"

Understanding a poem takes time and patience. Pushkin’s language is also understandable to modern people. What happened? Thanks to Alexander Sergeevich, the language became modern. Language united us not only in space, but also in time. The work “The Captain's Daughter” traces the boundaries between the previous language and the modern one.

Suddenly the driver began to look to the side and, finally, taking off his hat, turned to me and said: “Master, would you order me to come back?”

- Why is this?

- Time is unreliable: the wind rises slightly; see how it sweeps away the powder.

A.S. Pushkin. "The Captain's Daughter"

“Time is unreliable” sounds strange. What does it mean? Time meant the state of nature, weather (see Fig. 1).

Nowadays time is associated with clocks.

Rice. 1. The meaning of the word “time” in different languages

In Russian, “to lie” and “to lie” have different meanings. A person can lie without knowing the truth, or embellish events. If it deliberately misleads, then it is called a lie. When young Grinev is placed in the Belogorsk fortress, the captain’s wife says:

At that moment the constable, a young and stately Cossack, entered. “Maksimych! - the captain told him. “Give the mister officer an apartment, and a cleaner one.” “I’m listening, Vasilisa Egorovna,” answered the constable. “Shouldn’t we place his honor with Ivan Polezhaev?” “You’re lying, Maksimych,” said the captain’s wife, “Polezhaev’s place is already crowded.”

A.S. Pushkin. "The Captain's Daughter"

In this case, the word “lying” does not mean an intentional lie, but that one cannot act this way. When you read it, it sounds strange, but you need to notice such things in order to understand how “living” the language is and how close it is to the modern one.

One more feature. The Ural River was formerly called the river. Yaik, and the Ural Cossacks are Yaik (see Fig. 2).

Rice. 2. The Ural River until 1775 - r. Yaik

Catherine II was concerned about the uprising and did everything to make the memory of it disappear. She renamed the cities, villages and river.

Catherine II ended her reign in 1796, three years before Pushkin's birth. In 1836, the story of the Pugachev uprising “The Captain's Daughter” was published. It turns out that the queen was able to change the name of the river, but she was not able to erase her memory. One of the most famous works of Russian literature about the Pugachev revolt makes you think about what memory is and what is in the power of sovereigns.

I would like to understand the difference between freedom and will.

Freedom is the ability to behave within certain rules.

Pugachev shows his will, first he decides one way, then another. Even his own decrees do not prevent him from having absolute will and moving in different directions. However, we know that Pugachev had neither freedom nor will. It was controlled by a Cossack foreman.

One of the important themes of the work is the difference between freedom and will. While reading, it is worth noticing who feels free and who feels like a free person.

We need to pay attention to the feat of the captain’s daughter; it was she who went to the empress with a request and thereby saved her beloved.

Suddenly Marya Ivanovna, who was sitting right there at work, announced that necessity was forcing her to go to St. Petersburg and that she was asking for a way to go. Mother was very upset. “Why do you need to go to St. Petersburg?” - she said. - “Do you really want to leave us, Marya Ivanovna?” Marya Ivanovna replied that her entire future fate depended on this journey, that she was going to seek protection and help from strong people as the daughter of a man who suffered for his loyalty.

The work makes you think about what freedom, will, rebellion are, how to make decisions, where are the boundaries of what is permitted.

The Captain's Daughter is one of the few prose works of the great Russian poet A.S. Pushkin. This is a book that tells the story of a major peasant uprising that shook the Russian Empire in the seventies of the nineteenth century. The significance of the novel is so great that many people today perceive those ancient events precisely through Pushkin’s creation.

Pushkin decided to start work on The Captain's Daughter, inspired by the successes English writer Walter Scott, whose historical novels conquered all of Europe at that time.

Especially for this purpose, Pushkin went on a trip to the Urals to personally meet with eyewitnesses of those events. During the trip, prototypes of the main characters of the novel were found. Pyotr Grinev was copied from officer Vasharin, an ardent fighter against Pugachevism, who served under the command of General Mikhelson. The prototype of Shvabrin was Second Lieutenant Shvanovich, who swore allegiance to Pugachev. The image of Maria Mironova was born under the impression of a meeting with a young noblewoman Maria Vasilievna Borisova.

Genre, direction

This novel combines elements of both romanticism and realism. Despite a certain idealization of the main character and even his antipode (Shvabrin sought marriage with Marya, although he could have achieved his goal without a wedding, being the sole and sovereign owner of the fortress), Pushkin first of all strives to create a reliable atmosphere of those events and organically interweave his own into it characters.

"The Captain's Daughter" is a worthy example historical novel nineteenth century. The narrative is organically integrated into real historical events (the Peasant War of 1773-1775, the main reason for which was the strengthening of control of the Cossacks and peasants by the authorities), and on the pages of the novel real people often appear and are mentioned historical figures: Emelyan Pugachev, Catherine the Second and others.

However, there is still a debate about the genre of the work: some literary scholars classify it as a story. Indeed, the book stands on the border between two genres, because it does not have many heroes, is not so large, and there are no branches storyline, as in typical novels, but at the same time it is too large-scale for a story, it describes an entire era. Therefore, it is difficult to say unequivocally whether “The Captain’s Daughter” is a novel or a story. But most sources indicate the name “novel”, so the Many-Wise Litrekon will call it that way.

The meaning of the title and epigraph

The title “The Captain's Daughter” clearly implies the daughter of Captain Mironov, Maria. This is not surprising, because the personal relationships of the heroes of the novel are tied precisely to this girl. Because of her, all the main events in the work take place: the duel, Peter’s arrival at the captured fortress, Shvabrin’s arrest due to slander. It can also be assumed that in this way Pushkin clearly shows his sympathy for the heroine. In this book, the author again describes the “sweet ideal”, as in Eugene Onegin.

The epigraph at the very beginning of the novel: “Take care of your honor from a young age” denotes the values ​​that Pushkin considers the highest priority for any person who finds himself in the same position as the main character. Namely, human dignity, nobility and fidelity to duty, which Pyotr Grinev demonstrated to us. This is the role of the epigraph in the novel “The Captain's Daughter”.

Composition

First of all, it is worth noting the “purity” and harmony of the work; there is not a single extra scene in it, not a single superfluous character. All elements of the novel are harmoniously connected with each other.

The entire narrative is built on contrast. The position of the characters in relation to each other changes as the plot progresses. At first, the simple Cossack Pugachev, dependent on Grinev, in the middle of the novel himself receives unlimited power over the fate of the young man. Maria Mironova, who at the beginning of the novel was incomparably lower than Grinev, at the end of the novel becomes the respected daughter of the hero, while Peter becomes a powerless prisoner accused of treason.

Essence and conflict

The young nobleman Pyotr Grinev was sent by his strict father to serve as an officer in the Orenburg region. On the way, the main character gets into a snowstorm, from which he was saved by a simple Cossack Emelyan Pugachev.

After arriving at his place of duty, Peter falls in love with the daughter of the commandant of the Belogorsk fortress, Maria Mironova. Sympathy for the girl leads the hero to a duel with another officer, Alexei Shvabrin.

A little later, the fortress is captured by the rebels led by Pugachev. The survivors are asked to swear allegiance to the rebel leader. The commandant dies, refusing to betray his honor. Shvabrin betrays his oath. Grinev refuses and prepares to accept death, but Emelyan recognizes him and lets him go out of personal sympathy.

Grinev returns to his own people and takes part in the defense of Orenburg. During the siege, he learns that his beloved Masha is in the Belogorsk fortress and is being tortured by hunger by the traitor Shvabrin. Peter goes to the enemy’s camp and asks Pugachev for help. Emelyan agrees, saves Mironova and lets the couple go home.

After the defeat of the uprising, Pugachev is executed, and Shvabrin informs the government about Grinev’s relationship with the rebel leader. Peter is arrested, but Masha begs for forgiveness for him in a personal conversation with Empress Catherine II and marries Grinev. You can learn more about all these ups and downs from the chapters from the Many-Wise Litrecon.

The main characters and their characteristics

Here are the main characters in the novel “The Captain's Daughter”.

1. Peter Grinev- a young nobleman and officer. Values ​​his honor above all else. I personally knew Pugachev and developed respect for him, while remaining a staunch opponent of armed rebellion. Positioned by Pushkin as a role model. This image is revealed in age-related metamorphoses: at first Peter was an irresponsible and very limited teenager, even on the way to the front he makes childhood mistakes and finds himself in funny situations; then love transforms the hero, he becomes strong and proud; then the storming of the fortress and mortal danger show the true Peter - courageous, brave and honest; in the finale we are not faced with an undergrown man, but a responsible soldier ready for anything, who knows first-hand what honor is.
2. Marya Mironova- daughter of the commandant of the Belogorsk fortress. She refused to marry Shvabrin and was ready to die of starvation, remaining faithful to Peter. She made every effort to save her beloved even after her own father gave up on him. The ideal of a woman (for Pushkin). Her character is embellished by selflessness, courage, devotion and fortitude. Even though the chance of getting married without a dowry was minimal, she did not agree to become the wife of an unloved man.
3. Ivan Mironov- a poor officer who gave 40 years of his life to the army. An honest, kind, efficient person, but soft-hearted and compliant in everyday life (that’s why many of his people were not ready for the siege, and some even went over to the side of the rebels). He selflessly defended the fortress and accepted death at the hands of the rebels, refusing to betray his oath. Here's one that will help you get to know the captain better.
4. Vasilisa Mironova- the commandant’s powerful and economical wife. Venerable old lady. A caring mother and conscientious wife who refused to leave the fortress, because she did not want to leave her husband. She was mercilessly killed by the rebels. She will tell you more about her character.
5. Emelyan Pugachev- rebellious Cossack, leader of the uprising, self-proclaimed Emperor Peter III. A ruthless killer and an uncompromising rebel. Not devoid of nobility, capable of remembering goodness. Respects Peter Grinev for his honesty and simplicity. Initially understanding the sad prospects of his adventure, he goes to the very end, resigning himself to his fate. Here is its description, a table with characteristics and an image.
6. Alexey Shvabrin- a young and talented officer. Despite the external resemblance to Grinev, he turns out to be his complete opposite. A vile and low person who strives only for his own well-being and survival. He betrays his oath, subjects Maria Mironova to torture, and after his arrest he slanderes Peter in a petty desire to harm someone who is better than him.
7. Catherine II- Empress of Russia. A pleasant and compassionate woman. Mercifully drops all charges against Grinev and ensures the happiness of him and Masha.
8. Savelich- an old servant of Pyotr Grinev, who became his faithful companion and friend. This is a thrifty and grumpy old man, accustomed to saving money and looking after the lord’s interests in everything. At the same time, this man is sincerely devoted to Grinev and loves him like a son. Here is him, dedicated to revealing his image.

Topics

The subject matter of the novel “The Captain's Daughter” is rich in relevant and extraordinary themes and motifs.

• Honor. In any situation, a person must remember his dignity, keep his oaths, not dissemble or grovel. It is the desire to preserve his honor that helps Grinev do right choice time after time. Thus, Pugachev really liked his refusal to kiss the hand of “Tsar Peter the Third” and his reluctance to recognize the Cossack as emperor. He began to respect the one who was honest with him.
• Moral duty. Honoring one's duty to one's country, family and loved ones is what distinguishes a noble man from a scoundrel and a scoundrel. Thus, Pushkin shows in contrast a traitor and a worthy fighter (Alexey and Peter), tracking their fates until the final outcome.
• Love. Selfless love will be rewarded sooner or later. Anyone who truly loves will go to any extent of suffering and hardship for the sake of his soulmate. So, Peter saved Marya, risking his head, and Marya rescued him when everyone around them lost faith and turned away.
• People. Pushkin shows all the cruelty of a black, popular revolt. Without denying the objective reasons for the uprising, the writer condemns this bloody path. Thus, he describes in detail Kazan, burned to the ground, which before the rebellion was a beautiful prosperous city.
• Kindness. It was Grinev’s humane attitude towards Pugachev that saved his life and marked the beginning of their strange friendship. Perhaps if all the nobles were the same as Grinev, the uprising could have been avoided.
• Courage. You must never lose your presence of mind; you must face life’s adversities with courage, even if the price to pay for it is death. For example, Vasilisa Yegorovna did not leave her husband in difficult times and died next to his corpse when she blamed the rebels for the death of her husband and received a fatal blow for this.
• Rebellion theme. Pushkin completely denies the armed struggle of the people with themselves. Showing the bitterness of both sides of the conflict, he calls on people to be prudent and peaceful. The rebellion did not help them regain their lost rights, it only shed blood.
• Moral. The writer demonstrates how love, a sense of duty and courage overcome vulgarity, opportunism and cowardice.
• Values. In the novel, Pushkin proclaims humanistic values, calling the reader to understanding, peacefulness and mercy.

Problems

The problems of the work “The Captain's Daughter” are multifaceted and interesting even to the modern reader: it reveals the eternal moral problems humanity.

• Dishonor. A person who betrays honor turns into an immoral animal, striving only for survival. Thus, the author described the degradation of Shvabrin. From a proud and worthy officer, Alexey turned into a serf who lay at the feet of a runaway Cossack, begging for forgiveness. In the finale, the main character sees a graying and haggard Shvabrin (and he was not even 30 years old!), who is no longer good for anything.
• Conscience. He who acts in accordance with his conscience always does what is right. But the voice of conscience is not always easy to understand. Thus, Grinev insults a faithful servant in order to pay off a “debt of honor,” but later realizes that he did not act according to his conscience and is tormented by remorse.
• Mercy. Despite the cruelty of our world, a truly noble person is always ready to show mercy, which Pugachev showed to Grinev and his bride. No matter who we are, no matter who we are considered to be, it is never too late to learn empathy and humanity.
• Education and personality development. It was thanks to the upbringing of his conservative father that Grinev became a model officer. In some places it might seem to the reader that old Grinev was going too far and was wasting his son’s future in vain by refusing a place in the Semenovsky regiment. However, his decision provided what the capital’s military bearing cannot provide—the moral maturation of the individual.
• Moral choice. In the face of death, every person reveals his true insides and acts in accordance with his morality. Thus, commandant Mironov chose death between dishonor and death, and Shvabrin chose dishonor.
• War. Pushkin demonstrates all the senseless cruelty that people are capable of during war, on both sides. So, before the riot, Mironov tries to interrogate a captured Bashkir, but discovers traces of severe injuries that he received from the authorities as punishment for the previous riot: he had no ears, nose and tongue.
• Power. Possessing enormous power, first of all, it is necessary to preserve humanity in oneself, which Pushkin shows in the example of Pugachev and Catherine II. However, at the same time, the writer does not justify these historical figures, describing in detail their cruelty and indifference to the fate of people. So, Pugachev coldly orders to kill Vasilisa Yegorovna for her screams, although he made her a widow anyway. Catherine the Second does not give such orders in the text of the book, but the brutal execution of Pugachev, her reluctance to delve into Peter’s case, torture and the brutal suppression of the uprising - all this cannot be explained by her ignorance.
• Nobility. The writer shows the nobility as heterogeneous; along with the brave and honest Grinev, it gave birth to the traitor Shvabrin. Pushkin believes that the nobility Russian Empire must continuously improve oneself so as not to experience the horrors of Pugachevism in the future.
• Justice. The people, tired of poverty and oppression, see their truth in rebellion, and it is difficult to blame them for this. At the same time, the government’s actions are also fair, because they are aimed at protecting other people from death and robbery by the rebels. In this case, there are no guilty, as well as innocent.

Main idea

Condemning the phenomenon of Pugachevism and the cruelty that it gave rise to, Pushkin tries to objectively perceive those events. He shows us the imperfection of the state system of the Russian Empire, but at the same time shows the ideal in the person of Grinev, which the entire nobility must strive for if it does not want to again experience the horrors of the peasant war. The main idea in the novel "The Captain's Daughter" is that a senseless and bloody riot is not the solution. social problems, but the main consequence of the reluctance of the ruling elite to solve them.

The author also believes that even in the darkest hour of history, high moral qualities can overcome hatred and defeat lies. The meaning of the novel is to show the ideal of behavior that will serve as the prevention of social conflicts. But Pushkin does not even put Peter’s courage and honor in first place, but rather the mercy, meekness and fortitude of the captain’s daughter. Why? Yes, because Marya came from among the small, poor, but honored nobility: Mironov became an officer from ordinary soldiers. He received the title not by inheritance and connections, like Grinev, but as a result of hard and honest work. It was precisely these people who admired Pushkin, which is why the novel is called not “Peter Grinev”, but “The Captain’s Daughter”. This is an indication of the future, of the right path for the Russian nobility, which must work on an equal basis with the rest of the people and set a good example for them.

Historicism

The novel tells the story of the peasant war of 1773-1775. Against tsarist army detachments came out under the leadership of Emelyan Pugachev, who declared himself the surviving emperor “Peter the Third” (the husband of Catherine the Second, who was killed by her minions during the palace coup). This was an uprising of the Yaik Cossacks, which developed into a full-scale war of the Cossacks, peasants and peoples of the Urals and Volga region with the government of Empress Catherine II.

In general, Pushkin fairly accurately depicted the events that took place at that time, such as the siege of Orenburg. The names of some cities were changed; for example, the Belogorsk fortress was actually called Tatishchevskaya.

Morality

The novel teaches us to always remain human, defend our beliefs and keep our word. In the end, it is such people who will achieve well-deserved happiness, as the ending of the novel shows.

Humanism and humanity are possible in any situation, and it is our duty not to forget about this. This is the simple conclusion that follows from this work.

Criticism

Pushkin's work was highly appreciated both by the poet's contemporaries and descendants. Dostoevsky and Gogol spoke with admiration about the novel.

Speaking of literary news: they are, however, not bad. Where can we find a half-year during which two such things would appear at once, such as “Commander” and “ Captain's daughter" Have you ever seen such beauty? I'm glad that The Captain's Daughter had a universal effect. (N.V. Gogol - N.Ya. Prokopovich, January 25, 1837)

However, there were also reviewers who expected more from the meter, because “The Captain’s Daughter” did not occupy the first place in Pushkin’s work. Thus, V.F. Odoevsky wrote to the author himself in a letter that the image of Shvabrin is not realistic: “For now, Shvabrin has a lot of moral and wonderful things for me.” Such a scoundrel could not wait for Mary’s consent to the marriage and would certainly have taken advantage of her defenselessness. And the critic did not consider his transition to the side of the enemy logical: the intelligent nobleman could not believe in the success of Pugachev’s disastrous enterprise. V. G. Belinsky also criticized the novel. He called the image of Marya Mironova “colorless and insignificant” (he also agreed with him famous musician P.I. Tchaikovsky, who refused to write an opera based on The Captain’s Daughter, considering Marya Mironova not an interesting enough heroine for music). However, he liked the rest of the book:

The Captain's Daughter" is something like "Onegin" in prose. The poet depicts in it the morals of Russian society during the reign of Catherine. Many paintings, in terms of fidelity, truth of content and mastery of presentation, are a miracle of perfection. These are the portraits of the hero’s father and mother, his French tutor, and especially his uncle from the hounds, Savelich, this Russian Kaleb, Zurin, Mironov and his wife, their godfather Ivan Ignatievich, and finally, Pugachev himself, with his “gentlemen enarals”; These are many scenes that, due to their multitude, we do not find it necessary to count. (V. G. Belinsky “Works of Alexander Pushkin”)

Russian writer V. A. Sollogub expressed an enthusiastic opinion about “The Captain’s Daughter”:

There is a work by Pushkin, little appreciated, little noticed, but in which, however, he expressed all his knowledge, all his artistic convictions. This is the story of the Pugachev rebellion. In Pushkin’s hands, on the one hand, there were dry documents, a ready-made topic. On the other hand, his imagination could not help but smile at the pictures of the daring life of a bandit, the Russian former way of life, the Volga expanse, and steppe nature. Here the didactic and lyrical poet had an inexhaustible source for descriptions, for impulses. (V. A. Sollogub “Experiences in critical assessments. Pushkin in his works. April 15, 1865.”)

He was joined by N. N. Strakhov, who revealed the features of the book, comparing “The Captain’s Daughter” with the novel “War and Peace”: they only briefly touched on historical events, and the main attention was focused on the chronicle of noble families and how they coped with the hardships of troubled times. It’s funny, however, that the famous historian V. O. Klyuchevsky said the following about the book:

Pushkin was a historian where he did not think of being one and where a real historian often fails to become one. "The Captain's Daughter" was written casually, among work on the Pugachev era, but there is more history in it than in "The History of the Pugachev Rebellion", which seems like a long explanatory note to the novel.

This point of view was shared by A. M. Skabichevsky, who commented in detail on the image of Pyotr Grinev:

“...you see historical impartiality, the complete absence of any patriotic praise and sober realism... in Pushkin’s The Captain’s Daughter. ...there is no hero here in that vulgar form of an immaculately ideal young man, shining with all the material and mental prowess in which such a hero labored at that time in all the novels... Grinev... This is the most ordinary landowner's son of the 18th century, not particularly distant, not God knows how educated, different in everything kind soul and a tender heart. (A. M. Skabichevsky “Works of A. Skabichevsky. Critical sketches, journalistic essays, literary characteristics", 1890)

Nowadays, the novel seems too straightforward and simple, but one way or another it is a universally recognizable example literary creativity Pushkin.

THE CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER
(Tale, Oct. 19, 1836)
Grinev Petr Andreevich (Petrusha) - the main character of the latter
major work of Pushkin, provincial Russian nobleman,
on whose behalf (in the form of “notes for the memory of posterity” compiled
in the era of Alexander I about the era of the Pugachev revolt) is conducted
narration. In the historical story "The Captain's Daughter" they agreed
all themes of Pushkin's creativity of the 1830s. Place of the "ordinary"
man in the great historical events, freedom of choice in cruel
social circumstances, law and mercy, “family thought” -
all this is present in the story and is connected with the image of the main character
storyteller.
Originally Pushkin, as it was in the unfinished story
"Dubrovsky" was going to put the nobleman at the center of the story -
a renegade who moved from one camp to another (here his prototype is
served as a real officer of the Catherine era Shvanvich); or
a captured officer who is fleeing from Pugachev. There was also
prototype - a certain Basharin, that was the last name he should have
wearing a hero, later renamed Bulanin, Valuev - and,
finally, in G. (This name in a different vowel - Granev - is found in
plans for the unfinished “Roman on the Caucasian Waters”, 1831.) The name is
also taken from the actual history of the Pugachev era; it was worn by two
A Russian arrested on suspicion of treason and later acquitted.
Thus the idea of ​​a story about a man was finally determined by the will
Providence found itself between two warring camps; O
a nobleman who remains unshakably faithful to the oath does not separate
themselves from the class as a whole and from class ideas about honor in
in particular - but who at the same time looks at the world with an open mind.
Having closed the plot chain precisely on G. (and “delegating” the role
renegade nobleman Shvabrin), Pushkin reproduced the principle
historical prose of Walter Scott, in whose novels (especially from
"Scottish" cycle - "Waverley", "Rob Roy", "Puritans") such
the type of hero occurs constantly - as well as the situation itself: two
camps, two truths, one destiny. So is the immediate
"literary predecessor" G., Yuri Miloslavsky from
the “Walter Scott” novel of the same name by M. N. Zagoskin (with that
the huge difference is that Miloslavsky is a prince and not an “ordinary”
Human) . Following Grinev, other characters from “The Captain’s Daughter”
acquire Walter Scottian features. The image of a faithful servant G.
Savelich (whose name coincides with the name of the “patriotic” coachman,
witness of the Pugachev rebellion in the “Walter Scott” novel by M.N.
Zagoskina "Roslavlev") goes back to Caleb from the novel "Lammermoor
bride" ; episode in which Grinev's fiancee Marya Ivanovna Mironova
seeks from Catherine II an acquittal for her lover, repeats
episode with Jenny Gine from “Edinburgh Dungeon” and others.
The genre of “notes for posterity” made it possible to depict
story “at home” - and assumed that the hero’s life would be
unfold before the reader from childhood, and the death of the hero
will remain outside the immediate narrative (otherwise
there would be no one to write notes).
G.’s “backstory” is simple: he is the son of Prime Major Andrei
Petrovich Grinev, living after retirement in a small (300 souls)
estate in Simbirsk province Raises Petrusha as a serf
“uncle”, Savelich, teaches - Monsieur Beaupré, a former hairdresser and
hunter of Russian liqueur. Pushkin clearly hints that
his father's early resignation was associated with a palace coup of the times
Anna Ioannovna. Moreover, it was originally assumed (and with
from a plot point of view it would be much more “beautiful”) to explain
resignation due to the events of 1762, Catherine's coup - but then
the chronology would be completely disrupted. Be that as it may, father
the hero seems to be “excluded” from history; he cannot realize himself (and
that's why he gets angry every time

the problem of honor and duty in the story The Captain's Daughter

Honor cannot be taken away, it can be lost. (A.P. Chekhov)

In the late twenties and early thirties, A. S. Pushkin turned to the study of Russian history. He is interested in great personalities, their role in the formation of the state, as well as the question of who or what moves history: the masses or the individual. This is what makes the writer turn to the current topic of peasant uprisings. The result of his labors were the works - “The History of Pugachev”, “The Captain’s Daughter”, Dubrovsky”, “ Bronze Horseman". Historical story"The Captain's Daughter" was written by A. S. Pushkin in 1833-1836. The plot is based on a brutal collision of two opposite worlds: the world of the nobility and the world of peasants led by Emelyan Pugachev. Against the background of these events, the story is told about the love of the young nobleman Pyotr Andreevich Grinev for the daughter of the commandant of the Belogorsk fortress, Masha Mironova. The central problem The work is the problem of honor and duty, as evidenced by the epigraph: “Take care of honor from a young age,” which, as we will see later, will everywhere determine the life of the protagonist. The first time Grinev acted honorably, returning the gambling debt, although Savelich dissuaded him from such a step. But the innate nobility of the nobleman prevailed here too. A man of honor, Pyotr Andreevich is always kind and selfless. He can easily offer a hare's sheepskin coat from his shoulder to some tramp of a thief's appearance. As it turns out later, this act saved his and his servant’s lives. Here Pushkin conveys the idea that true goodness will never remain unappreciated; It is much easier for kind and honest people to exist than for evil and selfish people. The arrival at the Belogorsk fortress was also marked by many changes in Pyotr Andreevich’s worldview. Here he meets Masha Mironova, here a tender feeling flares up between them. Grinev acted like a true officer and nobleman, standing up for the honor of his beloved girl and challenging Shvabrin to a duel. The image of Shvabrin is directly opposite to the image of Grinev. By his position, he belongs to the guards officers. A brilliantly educated secular man, nevertheless, by his nature he is very unprincipled. We know little about his past: his career was broken as a result of “murder”; there is no hope of returning to St. Petersburg. Shvabrin joined the uprising solely for his own benefit, because otherwise he would have faced the gallows. Having thus sacrificed his noble honor, Shvabrin joined the ranks of the rebels, although the goals of the uprising were completely alien to him. During the riot itself, the moral qualities of all its participants were especially clearly demonstrated. What's it worth? true heroism Captain Mironov and his wife, who preferred death to serving the impostor. They fulfilled their duty to the end. Pyotr Andreevich did the same, which earned him respect from Pugachev. Gradually revealing the image of the leader of the peasant uprising, Pushkin makes us understand that the concepts of honor and duty are not alien to Pugachev. He was able to appreciate these qualities in Grinev and benefited him in everything. It was solely through the efforts of Pugachev that Pyotr Andreevich and Masha found each other. Subsequently, even Grinev himself was able to see and appreciate in the rebel and impostor a man of honor, who also had a sense of duty. This is the main difference between Grinev the son and old Grinev, for whom the most important thing was the honor and duty of a noble officer. Grinev Jr. managed to expand these concepts to their universal meaning and did not deny humanity to such a seemingly alien person as Pugachev. Friendship with the leader of the peasant uprising should have had the most negative impact on the fate of the hero. And indeed, we see how, following a denunciation, he is arrested and they are already preparing to send him to the scaffold after Pugachev.