Turgenev “Rudin” – analysis. Features of the composition of the novel I

  • 29.08.2019

The novel “Rudin” was written in 1855, when the question of the need for change in society arose. After the shameful defeat in the Crimean War, it became obvious that the country needed reforms. Turgenev always reacted sensitively to questions in the air. The main thing was to understand where in Russia the smart, progressive, educated people capable of bringing about change. These and other thoughts will become more obvious after we analyze the novel "Rudin".

The image of the main character of the novel

Dmitry Nikolaevich Rudin appears for the first time in the novel in the Lasunskys' living room. Turgenev gives it psychological picture: through external features character shows elements of his spiritual appearance and character traits. The hero is about thirty-five years old, he has already seen a lot in life, although he is not yet old and is capable of action. His irregular face is described as “expressive and intelligent.” The author notes the “quick” and “liquid shine” look of dark blue eyes, already hinting at some kind of internal weakness, inability to act, which will be revealed later. The tight, no longer new dress, from which he seemed to have outgrown, speaks of his shabby life. All these details are very important when we analyze the novel "Rudin".

Rudin makes an excellent impression on others. He turns out to be a real speaker, arguing intelligently and subtly on the most complex philosophical topics. He talks about the fate of Russia, about history and progress, fervently believing in what he calls for. Rudin managed to conquer everyone with his charm.

However, Dmitry Nikolaevich faces a test that almost all heroes in Russian history undergo. XIX literature centuries - a test of love. This is where the character's character should shine through. But at the decisive moment the hero finds himself helpless to do anything; he can speak, but is not ready to act. Reflection, which does not let him go even in moments of happiness, leads to the fact that not only his own destiny, but also the life of his beloved is broken. He thinks too much, reflects, reasons - hence his indecision, uncertainty and timidity. His inaction becomes akin to betrayal and deception.

What else is interesting to us when analyzing the novel "Rudin"? Turgenev coined the term “superfluous man,” which became popular in literary criticism of the 20th century. This is the name given to people who are full of “good impulses,” but “are not given anything to accomplish.” The inability to act, lack of understanding of the moment when excessive reflection prevents one from taking action, was called a disease of the Russian intelligentsia.

But the author does not leave Rudin in the position of a worthless philosopher. The novel has an epilogue. From it we learn that Rudin died fighting on the barricades in France during the 1848 revolution. Thus the author shows that smart people do not find application in Russia, they are accustomed to inaction under the influence of regressive social order. But these people are capable of heroically fighting for what they believe in.

The image of Natalya Lasunskaya in the analysis of the novel “Rudin”

Among the writer’s discoveries is the image of the “Turgenev girl”. The heroines of his works: Asya, Lisa Kalitina, Natalya Lasunskaya are romantic, mentally delicate, but determined and ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of love.

Natalya Lasunskaya falls in love with Rudin, seeing him as significant, unusual person. However, her mother, having learned about this, forbids her to even think about marrying a poor man. Natalya insists that she loves Rudin and goes on a date with him for a final explanation. At the decisive moment, Rudin, who undoubtedly loves Natalya, replies that they should “submit to fate.” He believes that he is acting nobly, giving up happiness, so as not to drag the girl into an unknown future full of deprivation. Do not miss this idea if you are analyzing the novel "Rudin". Natalya ardently says that she is ready to follow him without thinking for a minute. Natalya turns out to be spiritually higher, stronger, bolder and more decisive than Rudin, who retreated in the face of life's difficulties. Along with love, we see dignity, sensitivity and intelligence in a girl.

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joined the circle natural school and wrote a physiological essay in verse, “The Landowner,” and then moved on to prose. By this time, he had already written the stories “Andrei Kolosov”, “Breuter”, “Diary of an Extra Man”. It was Turgenev who coined the term “superfluous man.” The stories “Notes of a Hunter” were written, in which Turgenev passionately opposes serfdom. Why did Turgenev turn to this new genre for himself? Usually, the novel as a genre appears in a crisis, turning point era, when not only and not so much the only one is important. human destiny, but when the fate of the era itself, the country, is important, when it is important to determine where history itself is moving. The mid-50s was a time of crisis for Russia: Russia found itself drawn into Crimean War, which she lost in the most disgraceful manner (Fig. 4).

Rice. 4. Twentieth Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Inkerman (D. Rowlands) ()

We lost Sevastopol and the Black Sea Fleet. At some point, St. Petersburg itself found itself under the guns of enemy guns. Thus ended the thirty-year reign of Nicholas I (Fig. 5).

Rice. 5. Emperor Nicholas I ()

Now it has become obvious to everyone: the country needs reforms. But who will carry out these reforms? Turgenev, as critics note, was always distinguished by his extraordinary sensitivity to social issues. He often posed questions to society that it was only just beginning to understand. And in his first novel, “Rudin,” he poses the question: where will the reformers come from? Where can we get honest, courageous, educated, determined heroic reformers? After all, in Russia for many decades there was no not only political, but also social life: magazines were subjected to merciless censorship. And so Turgenev comes up with the idea of ​​a kind of experiment: the hero of the era, perhaps, will be an extra person who is known to us from the literature of the previous era, such as Onegin (Fig. 6),

Rice. 6. The image of Eugene Onegin (L. Timoshenko. Illustration for the novel “Eugene Onegin”) ()

like Pechorin (Fig. 7)

Rice. 7. Pechorin (P. Boklevsky. Illustration to the novel “Hero of Our Time”).

like the hero of Herzen’s novel “Who is to Blame?” Vladimir Beltov (Fig. 8)

Rice. 8. Beltov and Lyubov Alexandrovna (Illustration for the novel “Who is to Blame?”) ()

"The Extra Man"- is an intellectual, an intellectual, a nobleman, educated, intelligent, fair man who acutely feels all the injustices of life. This is a positive hero-activist.

As you can see, the novel itself is named after the main character, but the composition of Turgenev’s novel is curious: in the first two chapters we will not see the main character. The first chapter is devoted Russian village. A young woman, in a white muslin dress, with a lace umbrella, the charming Sashenka Lipina goes to the village to help the peasants. The village seemed to have died out. On the one hand, this is understandable: summer is the time of rural suffering. But the impression is bleak: dilapidated huts, silence. Sashenka enters the hut and sees an unhappy dying old woman there, whom nothing can help. And if she went to the village in a joyful and bright mood, then when she returns, she becomes sad and gloomy. The reader must understand: the Russian village has been driven to extremes. Another important point novel: the work will be about the intelligentsia, and the country will be peasant. A huge, unhappy, peasant country. Is it possible to do anything with it at all?

Rice. 9. Sketches of portraits of Pandalevsky and Basistov with extracts of their characteristics from the novel “Rudin” ()

First of all, we see a certain Pandalevsky, who is either a spy or a private confidant in the estate of the wealthy St. Petersburg and Moscow lady Daria Mikhailovna Lasunskaya. She considers herself a democrat who wants to live an intellectual life in the village, so she organizes something like a social salon. Pandalevsky is one of the regular visitors to this salon.

Then we see Basistov. By the way, this is the first detailed portrait of a commoner in Russian literature. This is the home teacher of Lasunskaya's younger children. He has a large nose, large lips, small eyes, his appearance and manners are by no means noble. At the same time, he is an intelligent, honest, deeply decent person. While he has not yet decided, he is only 22 years old, he has completed courses at the university and serves as a home teacher, although it is clear that he would like to live a completely different, more meaningful life.

Then we see how guests gradually gather in the salon. Another remarkable character is Pigasov, a kind of Mephistopheles of the rural flood. Poor, embittered, but quite smart nobleman who constantly jokes. His jokes are sometimes sharp, sometimes dumb, but the main object of these jokes are women.

In addition, Volyntsev constantly comes to Daria Mikhailovna’s salon. The man is smart, honest, serious, maybe a little narrow-minded. He is Sashenka Lipina's brother. He goes to Daria Mikhailovna because he is in love with her eldest daughter Natalya.

Finally, we see Natalya Lasunskaya and understand that this is one of the main heroines of the novel. There is something real, pure, honest, serious about her. We see that this man is not entirely ordinary. She is 17 years old. Usually, noble ladies at this age had already completed their education and began to go out into the world, and Natalya reads serious books, for example, history crusades. But the girl is not satisfied with her life, she wants something more.

Thus, the author provides the exposition of the novel. And only after two chapters of descriptions of other characters, Turgenev shows the main character, highlighting his appearance in a special way: the doorman enters and announces: “Dmitry Nikolaevich Rudin.” Turgenev immediately gives a portrait of the hero, and a psychological one at that. This is the second psychological portrait in Russian literature, the first we will find in Lermontov’s novel “A Hero of Our Time,” where Pechorin is carefully described. Following the facial features there is a psychological commentary, from which the reader must draw his own conclusion. Rudin is tall, broad-shouldered, he has thick hair, a dark complexion, his hands are large and red, although his beautiful dark blue eyes sparkle with some kind of liquid shine, his clothes are a little tight for him. From this we can conclude that Rudin’s appearance lacks harmony. Rudin immediately begins to speak, and he speaks beautifully, with inspiration (Fig. 10).

Rice. 10. Rudin at the Lasunskys (V.A. Sveshnikov. Illustration for the novel “Rudin”) ()

Next, Turgenev tells in detail what impression Rudin’s speeches made on those around him. Daria Mikhailovna is delighted and incredibly happy about the appearance of such a firebird. Pandalevsky is unhappy because someone else wants to take his place. Basistov is also delighted, he stays up all night, writes an inspirational letter to his friend, he finally understands how to live. Natalya doesn’t sleep either, because she’s in love. But the interesting thing is that we do not see what exactly Rudin is saying, and this is not accidental. Turgenev could not directly write the speech of his hero. Firstly, censorship still existed, and secondly, he did not need to write these speeches, just a few words thrown in casually. Of course, Rudin spoke about certain general laws that life should follow, about progress, about history, and so on. In Rudin's appearance there is another important feature for assessing the hero: a thin voice. On the one hand, this feature shows the disharmony of Rudin’s appearance. On the other hand, Turgenev gave the hero the features of his own appearance: Turgenev’s height was 1 m 92 cm, and his voice was somewhat high-pitched, which his friends often laughed at. By making the hero close to himself outwardly, Turgenev hints at some kind of inner closeness.

Who is Rudin? He is not just a talker, he is an orator, a thinker, a philosopher, he comes from philosophical circles, a serious, deeply educated person, a man of his word. But is he capable of any action? Everything that happens in the third chapter gives us a clear idea of ​​what will happen next. Of course, Natalya will desperately and recklessly fall in love with Rudin with ideological love, that is, not with Rudin himself, but with his words. Of course, Rudin is flattered by this feeling of a young, pure, inexperienced girl, but he himself is not aware of whether he is really in love and whether he needs this love. At some point, he calls Natalya for a frank conversation, and she declares her love to him herself (Fig. 11).

Rice. 11. Natalya and Rudin (V.A. Sveshnikov. Illustration for the novel “Rudin”) ()

Rudin is happy, but he is again overcome by reflection, he again thinks about whether he is really happy, whether this is what he needs, etc. Thus, we see that at the most crucial moment of his life the hero is not capable of any natural actions, he must think everything over, and therein lies a certain danger.

The conversation between Rudin and Natalya is overheard by the house spy Pandalevsky, and thus a huge scandal breaks out. Daria Mikhailovna says that she would rather die than marry her daughter to Rudin, and Natalya replies that she herself would rather die if she marries someone else. At the last meeting between Natalya and Rudin, the girl voices all her feelings and thoughts, and we see that for the sake of love she is ready to do a lot. But Rudin has doubts and offers to submit. Natalya is disappointed by this discrepancy between words and deeds, and the heroes part.

So, Turgenev set up an experiment: is a figure who came from the philosophical circles of the 30s capable of serious action, is he capable of becoming a hero? But the experiment gave a negative result. Rudin is only capable of speaking beautifully, he is not capable of acting at all.

Then the novel takes a slightly different turn: two years pass, and some of the novel's characters get together. They remember Rudin, and Basistov sneers: “Rudin is a genius!” Lezhnev objects to him: “Perhaps there is genius in him, but nature... That’s his whole trouble, that, in fact, there is no nature in him...”

But at the same time, the hero is acquitted. Lezhnev is a character who once studied with Rudin, who condemned him for acting, posing, immoderate ambitions, for the fact that he does not live morally pure enough: he loves to live at the expense of others and does not worry about it. Now suddenly this Lezhnev says that ores are needed because such ones do not allow society to fall asleep. In conditions when nothing can be done in society, let at least reasonable and honest speeches be heard.

So this is the first epilogue. Then comes the second epilogue. Late evening, autumn, harsh cold wind, and the aged Lezhnev meets Rudin at the inn. Rudin looks almost beggarly and is ashamed to approach Lezhnev. But Lezhnev is glad to meet, and then the touched Rudin talks about what happened to him over the past five years. Rudin tried to act, but he failed three times.

The first attempt was due to the fact that there was a certain philanthropist, the owner of rural land and serfs and a lover of science, who invited Rudin to his place to carry out the transformations necessary for rural life. But Rudin did not live here long. One offensive scene was enough for Rudin to leave this lucrative place.

The second attempt to act is an attempt to set up a business. But it is clear that the lonely and decent Rudin does not succeed. He is deceived by contractors, and thus he loses the rest of his capital.

His last adventure shows the hero from a slightly different side. He gets a job as a teacher in a gymnasium, the children are delighted with his lectures, but a wall arises, which usually appears in front of those who try to act seriously. First, he is presented with complaints from his colleagues, who think that Rudin’s lectures are too bright and dangerous, then there is a scandal with the administration of the gymnasium, and, finally, a difficult explanation to the police. And so Rudin was exiled under police supervision to his village, which most likely does not exist.

Lezhnev tells Rudin that with his talent he could live comfortably and carefree, but he preferred honest and harsh poverty, and this is a sign of a high soul. Lezhnev also tells Rudin that he can always find refuge, help and protection on his estate. Friends break up, and traces of Rudin are lost.

The third epilogue tells what happened a few years later. This is 1848, France, barricades, most of the defenders of the last barricade have already fled, government troops are preparing for the final assault (Fig. 12).

Rice. 12. Revolution of 1848 (Alphonse de Lamartine) ()

And at that moment a skinny, awkward figure rises to the top of the barricade. A man is waving a banner with one hand, and with the other hand he is holding an old, dull saber. A shot is fired and a man falls. This man was Dmitry Rudin. Rudin once confessed to Natalya that he might die for something he didn’t really believe in. However, he dies heroically. The hero is not only justified, but also exalted.

And so we see that the hero, a representative of the noble intelligentsia, is not capable of leading reforms in Russia. Over decades of fruitless and silent struggle, such heroes were accustomed to only talking - they were not allowed to act. At the same time, these people are important for a certain stage of the country’s development: they did not let the country fall asleep. Thus, the experiment gives a negative result, but very important for understanding the social situation in Russia.

Bibliography

  1. Sakharov V.I., Zinin S.A. Russian language and literature. Literature (basic and advanced levels) 10. - M.: Russian Word.
  2. Arkhangelsky A.N. and others. Russian language and literature. Literature (advanced level) 10. - M.: Bustard.
  3. Lanin B.A., Ustinova L.Yu., Shamchikova V.M. / ed. Lanina B.A. Russian language and literature. Literature (basic and advanced levels) 10. - M.: VENTANA-GRAF.
  1. Internet portal licey.net ().
  2. Internet portal Russkay-literatura.ru ().
  3. Library ().

Homework

  1. Analyze the novel “Rudin”, identify Turgenev’s innovations.
  2. Compose comparative characteristics images of Rudin, Onegin, Pechorin, Beltov. Match similar and different features.
  3. * Write an essay-reflection on the topic: “Rudins in the modern world.”

The very first novel by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev is “Rudin”. This work reveals the theme of the “extra person”.

The main character of the novel is Dmitry Nikolaevich Rudin. He is both loved and hated for his contradictions. However, a 17-year-old girl named Natalya instantly falls in love with Dmitry. But every time people’s criticism of Rudin increases. It turns out that Dmitry is not capable of showing such human feeling, like love, he is much more interested in managing and manipulating people. This becomes clear when Lezhnev talks about his student friendship with Rudin.

The main event in the novel is a visit to the estate of Daria Mikhailovna Lasunskaya. Rudin went to the dinner party in place of his friend, who urgently needed to go to the capital. However, Dmitry Nikolaevich immediately made certain men his enemies, and also attracted the attention of girls.

After some time, Rudin and Natalya begin a relationship. However, they are forced to hide them. As a result, two months later, Dmitry and Natalya break up due to Pandalevsky’s fault. Because of this, a huge scandal breaks out and Rudin escapes from the estate.

In addition to the relationship between Dmitry and Natalya in the novel, there is another love line– the relationship between Mikhail Lezhnev and Lapina. But in the novel it is not particularly touched upon. Ultimately, Mikhail proposes to Lapina, they become husband and wife, and have a son.

It is worth noting that the reader gets to know Rudin only after meeting the other characters in the novel. Also, the work does not stop with the separation of Dmitry and Natalia. Turgenev allows readers to find out how life turned out for the other characters.

But why is Rudin a “superfluous man”? The fact is that all his life he was a speaker. He is a fully educated man, but, unfortunately, there is nothing hidden behind his speeches. By the time Dmitry meets Lasunskaya, his life has already been battered by various adversities. In addition, he became extremely narcissistic. Oratory and philosophy led Rudin to the point that his spiritual experiences died. Still, he was a born orator; he only sought to subjugate people. Dmitry Nikolaevich is able to ignite the audience with his speeches, but is completely incapable of committing any actions.

In addition to such “eternal” problems as love and friendship, the work also reveals social problem. And yet one of the main themes of the novel is the failure of noble idealism.

Analysis 2

Rudin is another “extra person” in Russian society of his age. Dmitry, in himself, is a very contradictory person, he is loved, and at the same time hated. Dmitry knows how to impress himself good impression, but this is only at the first meeting, then those around him begin to understand what kind of person is standing in front of them. It is because of the first impression that young Natalya, the daughter of Lady Lasunskaya, instantly falls in love with the young man.

The plot of the novel is simple, and at the same time very entertaining. The main actions of the work take place in the house of Daria Lasunskaya, where Dmitry arrives for a dinner party. It is this event that becomes key in the novel, and subsequently influences the fate of the characters. Rudin very quickly attracts the attention of the women on the estate, and, on the contrary, makes the men hate himself.

The relationship between Rudin and Natalya was a secret for all the inhabitants of the estate, but not for long. Soon Pandalevsky, who lived in the house of Daria Lasunskaya, informs her mistress about the lovers. A scandal breaks out, after which Dmitry leaves the estate in a hurry.

But the novel does not end there. Here we again meet Dmitry in France, who leads the life of an ordinary wanderer, spending the night in postal stations unfamiliar city. All his actions do not bear any fruit. Rudin feels superfluous, his character changes dramatically. All his petty aspirations and thoughts go nowhere, leaving room only for the desire to serve something truly real and good. But, alas, Rudin continues to suffer one failure after another, and, in the end, ends his life on the barricades in a city alien to himself.

Let's pay attention to the rest of the characters in the novel. Here we see Daria Lasunskaya, whose image is endowed with subtle irony and humor on the part of Turgenev. In her younger years, Lasunskaya was a beautiful girl who was popular with men. However, years later, beauty fades, but the woman still continues to desire everyone's attention.

Let's pay attention to teacher Basistov. This is a self-indulgent person, he loves comfort, delicious food and a soft feather bed on his bed. At the same time, he is an educated, intelligent and kind person, but, unfortunately, lazy and unkempt.

Pandalevsky, ready to serve his mistress at any cost, is contrasted with the image of Basistov. They both live in the same conditions, but it is Pandalevsky, despite his ideality and external gloss, who turns out to be a vile person. It is because of his actions that the loving couple has to separate once and for all.

This novel was warmly received by readers, although there were those who criticized Turgenev for excessive pathos. But, despite this, even after many years, each of us can see ourselves in the work and think deeply.

Option 3

Turgenev wrote a large number of different works. But one of the most significant and interesting works is "Rudin". The author here deals with the problems that happen to the average progressive person.

The main character here is Dima Rudin. Here he is described as superfluous and nothing significant person. And that’s all, because he is a very contradictory person and many people hate him for this, and there are even those who love him and respect him for everything he does. But more than anything else, Natasha likes him and in order for him to pay attention to her, the girl is ready to do anything. And when other people found out about this, they began to condemn the man for seducing minors. Besides this, he has never loved anyone and is not going to change anything. More than anything, he likes to manage people, and also to pull the strings in time so that they do everything he needs.

He had and still has best friend Lezhnev, whom he met back in student years. And he describes his friend as a narcissistic person who loves no one else but himself. And then one day Lezhneva invited dinner party. But he couldn’t go there, and that’s why he had other things to do. And then he asked his friend Rudin to go there instead of him, and he agreed. This dinner did not benefit our main character, but that’s all, because he almost immediately made enemies of several men. And he fascinated all the women and in order to continue communicating with him they were ready to do a lot. Among the other girls, he liked Natasha, with whom they continued communicating. But no one should have known anything about this except them. Now every day they had to run to some secret place and spend several hours together, and then everyone went home. But this didn’t last long. And after some time, Rudin left here.

As soon as you start reading the work, it becomes clear that main character found here earlier than others. And also after parting with Natasha, the author tells how the lives of each of the heroes turned out separately from each other.

Now let's figure out why he is an extra person. And that’s all, because he could promise other people anything, but he couldn’t fulfill anything, and his words meant nothing. He lived only to subjugate as much as possible more people, and when it all ended inside, then his life ended.

Every summer is filled with bright events and pleasant memories. Last summer, my dad and I went to visit his brother. This trip was a real summer adventure

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  • About Turgenev's novel "Rudin"

    Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev began work on “Rudin” in 1855.

    At first the novel was called “Nature of Brilliant.” By “genius” Turgenev understood the ability to convince and enlighten people, a versatile mind and broad education, and by “nature” - firmness of will, a keen sense of needs public life. But as the work progressed, this name ceased to satisfy Turgenev, since in relation to Rudin it sounded ironic: there was little “nature” in him, there was not enough will for practical work, although there was “genius” in him.

    On the manuscript there is an author's note: “Rudin. It began on June 5, 1855, on Sunday, in Spassky, and ended on July 24, 1856, on Sunday, in the same place, at 7 weeks. Published with large additions in the January and February books of Sovremennik for 1856.”

    By “major additions,” Turgenev means his revisions of individual chapters of the novel and the addition of new ones when preparing “Rudin” for publication, when, after reading the novel in the editorial circle (and it took place in the very first days of the writer’s arrival in St. Petersburg in October 1855) with Turgenev’s friends there were wishes that he would highlight the figure of the main character more clearly. Nekrasov and some other writers were clear about the subtext of the novel, the complexity of the historical background against which the plot unfolded, and the significance of the activities of those individuals who served as the author’s prototype (Bakunin, Stankevich, etc.).

    Friendly advice helped Turgenev understand a lot. His constant willingness to test himself was reflected, in particular, in the fact that he rarely published his works without listening to the opinions of those he trusted.

    First of all, he began to rework the pages dedicated to teenage years Lezhnev and Rudin, and then the epilogue of the novel. From time to time he read chapters and pages written anew to Nekrasov, and met with warm approval from him. Reporting on Turgenev’s work on the epilogue, Nekrasov predicted in one of his letters that “a wonderful thing will come out. Here for the first time Turgenev appears as himself... This is a man capable of giving us ideals, as far as they are possible in Russian life.”

    The appearance of the novel in print caused a lot of speculation and controversy in literary circles and among readers.

    The critic of "Notes of the Fatherland" viewed Rudin only as a pale copy of previous heroes of Russian literature - Onegin, Pechorin, Beltov. But Chernyshevsky objected to him in Sovremennik, noting that Turgenev was able to show in the image of Rudin a man of a new era social development. Comparing Rudin with Beltov and Pechorin, Chernyshevsky emphasized that “these are people of different eras, different natures - people who form a perfect contrast to one another.”

    After the novel was published, Nekrasov expressed confidence that for Turgenev “the new era activity, for his talent has acquired new strength, that he will give us works even more significant than those with which he earned in the eyes of the public the first place in our modern literature after Gogol.”

    In a letter to Turgenev, Sergei Timofeevich Aksakov spoke about the vitality of the image of the Rudin type and noted that the novel “raises many small questions and reveals the deep secrets of the spiritual nature of man.”

    Speaking about the recognition of the novel among the populist intelligentsia, one cannot ignore the words of V.N. Figner: “It seems to me that the whole novel is taken directly from life, and Rudin is the purest product of our Russian reality, not a parody, not a mockery, but a real tragedy that has not died at all, that still lives, that still continues...” "In any case educated person of our time sits a piece of Dmitry Rudin,” wrote Stepnyak-Kravchinsky.

    The main character of the novel is largely autobiographical: he is a man of the Turgenev generation who received a good philosophical education abroad.

    Rudin's character is revealed in words. This is a brilliant speaker. “Rudin possessed perhaps the highest secret - the secret of eloquence. He knew how, by striking one string of hearts, he could make all the others vaguely ring and tremble.” In his philosophical speeches about the meaning of life, about the high purpose of man, Rudin is simply irresistible. A person cannot and should not subordinate his life only to practical goals, concerns about existence, he argues. Without the desire to find “general principles in the particular phenomena” of life, without faith in the power of reason, there is no science, no enlightenment, no progress, and “if a person does not have a strong principle in which he believes, there is no ground on which he stands firmly, how can he give himself an account of the needs, the meaning, the future of his people?

    Enlightenment, science, the meaning of life - this is what Rudin talks about so passionately, inspiredly and poetically. He tells a legend about a bird that flew into a fire and disappeared again into the darkness. It would seem that a person, like this bird, appears from oblivion and, having lived short life, disappears into obscurity. Yes, “our life is fast and insignificant; but everything great is accomplished through people.”

    His statements inspire and call for a renewal of life, for extraordinary, heroic achievements. The power of Rudin’s influence on listeners, his persuasion in words, is felt by everyone. And everyone admires Rudin for his “extraordinary mind.” Only Pigasov does not recognize Rudin’s merits - out of resentment for his defeat in the dispute.

    But in Rudin’s very first conversation with Natalya, one of the main contradictions of his character is revealed. After all, only the day before he spoke so enthusiastically about the future, about the meaning of life, about the purpose of man, and suddenly he appears as a tired man who does not believe in his own strength or in the sympathy of people. True, one objection from the surprised Natalya is enough - and Rudin reproaches himself for cowardice and again preaches the need to get things done. But the author has already cast doubt in the reader’s soul that Rudin’s words are consistent with deeds, and intentions with actions.

    The writer subjects the contradictory character of his hero to a serious test - love. Turgenev’s feeling is sometimes bright, sometimes tragic and destructive, but it is always a force that reveals the soul, the true nature of a person. This is where Rudin's true character is revealed. Although Rudin's speeches are full of enthusiasm, years of abstract philosophical work have dried up the living springs of his heart and soul. The preponderance of the head over the heart is already noticeable in the scene of the first love confession.

    The first obstacle that arose on his way - Daria Mikhailovna Lasunskaya's refusal to marry her daughter to a poor man - leads Rudin into complete confusion. In response to the question: “What do you think we should do now?” - Natalya hears: “Of course, submit.” And then Natalya throws a lot of bitter words at Rudin: she reproaches him for cowardice, cowardice, for the fact that his lofty words are far from reality. And Rudin feels pathetic and insignificant in front of her. He fails the test of love, revealing his human inferiority.

    In the novel, Lezhnev is opposed to the main character - openly, straightforwardly. Rudin is eloquent - Lezhnev is usually a man of few words. Rudin cannot understand himself - Lezhnev understands people perfectly and without further ado helps his loved ones, thanks emotional tact and sensitivity. Rudin does nothing - Lezhnev is always busy with something.

    But Lezhnev is not only Rudin’s antagonist, he is the hero’s interpreter. Lezhnev's assessments are not the same at different moments, even contradictory, but on the whole they inspire the reader with an understanding of the complex character of the hero and his place in life.

    Thus, the highest assessment of Rudin is given by his antagonist, a man of a practical nature. Maybe he is the one true hero novel? Lezhnev was awarded both intelligence and understanding of people, but his activities are limited by the existing order of things. The author constantly emphasizes its everyday life. He is businesslike, but for Turgenev it is impossible to reduce the whole meaning of life to businesslike activity that is not inspired by a higher idea.

    Reflected in Rudin tragic fate man of the Turgenev generation. A retreat into abstract thinking could not but entail negative consequences: speculativeness, poor familiarity with the practical side. People like Rudin, bearers of high ideals, guardians of culture, serve the progress of society, but are clearly devoid of practical potential. Ardent opponent serfdom, Rudin found himself absolutely helpless in realizing his ideal.

    In Russian life he is destined to remain a wanderer. His fate is echoed by another image of a wanderer, the image of the immortal Don Quixote.

    The ending of the novel is heroic and tragic at the same time. Rudin dies on the barricades of Paris. I remember the words from Rudin’s letter to Natalya: “I will end up sacrificing myself for some nonsense that I won’t even believe in...”.

    In “Notes of a Hunter,” Turgenev first of all found out the meaning folk character in the historical destinies of Russia. At the same time, he continues to develop another problem related to the study of the psychology and ideology of the noble intelligentsia, its role in the life of the country, which was already reflected in the “Notes of a Hunter” (“Hamlet of the Shchigrovsky District”, 1848). In the new stories “The Diary of an Extra Man” (1850), “Yakov Pasynkov” (1855), “Correspondence” (1856), the writer’s attention is focused on the depiction of modern man with his intense philosophical quests, in-depth introspection, but -suffering even a painful character, divorced from reality.

    It was no coincidence that the theme of the “superfluous man” attracted Turgenev’s attention in the 50s, when the question of details that could awaken Russian society. Turgenev's hero, drawn with undoubted sympathy, is a thinking, educated person. He suffers deeply from the practical uselessness of the knowledge he once received, from loneliness, inability and impossibility to find his place in life. It is from Turgenev that the term “extra person” itself originates, which has become the definition of an important social and literary phenomenon, which is reflected in a number of works of art Russian literature.

    “Rudin” is Turgenev’s first novel, which captured an entire period in the development of Russian society in the 30s and 40s. XIX century The plot of the novel is relatively simple, and its volume is small. The main thing in “Rudin” is not the description of everyday life, but the reconstruction of the ideological picture of the era. The characters' characters are revealed primarily through debates about philosophy, education, and morality. This became one of the most characteristic signs of Russian novel XIX V.

    The image of the main character of the novel is given ambiguously. It is impossible not to note in him genuine culture, broad education, and selflessness. He dreams of the good of humanity, makes fiery speeches about the high rank of man, about the importance of education and science. But, being a student of the philosophical idealism of the 30s, Rudin, like other noble intellectuals, turns out to be very far from the correct perception of reality. Ideal ideas collapse when confronted with real life. And, highly appreciating the hero, Turgenev, nevertheless, repeatedly emphasizes Rudin’s sharp gap between word and deed, which is clearly and clearly manifested in a love conflict, and the hero’s behavior in the sphere love relationship It has long become in Russian literature one of the main means of testing it, a kind of test.

    Not sparing himself, Rudin wrote to Natalya Lasunskaya: “The first obstacle - and I fell apart... I was simply afraid of the responsibility that fell on me, and therefore I am definitely unworthy of you.”

    Lezhnev, in a number of cases expressing thoughts close to Turgenev, says: “Rudin’s misfortune is that he does not know Russia, and this is definitely a great misfortune. Russia can do without each of us, but none of us can do without it. Woe to the one who thinks this, double woe to the one who actually gets along without it! Cosmopolitanism is nonsense, cosmopolitan is zero, worse than zero; outside the people there is no art, no truth, no life, nothing.” These words sound like a kind of journalistic declaration; but they explain a lot in the artistic structure of the novel. And Rudin himself ultimately realizes that truly useful activity is possible only for those who have not lost touch with the people’s soil. He says: “...If a person does not have a strong beginning in which he believes, there is no ground on which he stands firmly, how can he give himself an account of the needs, the meaning, the future of his people? How can he know what he can do himself?..”

    And yet Rudin, who enthusiastically proclaims the idea of ​​serving society, fervently believes in the power of reason and the inspired preaching of goodness. “Rudin has enthusiasm, and this is the most precious quality in our time. We all became unbearably reasonable, indifferent and lethargic, we fell asleep, we froze - and thanks to the one who, at least for a moment, stirs up and warms us up,” says Lezhnev about Rudin. Nekrasov also perceived Turgenev’s hero in the same way: “These people had great importance, left behind deep and fruitful forces. You can't help but respect them, despite all their funny or weak sides». Material from the site

    In 1860, while preparing the novel for a new edition, Turgenev added an epilogue to it: the death of Rudin on the barricades in Paris during the revolutionary events of 1848. This epilogue was of fundamental importance for the writer. In the new conditions, when revolutionary democrats had already appeared on the historical arena and an acute ideological conflict arose between Sovremennik and Turgenev, the writer sought to show historical meaning those noble intellectuals who, with his own light hand received the name " extra people"and were sharply criticized in Dobro-Lyubov's article "What is Oblomovism?" (1859). The epilogue was intended to elevate Rudin, to prove his ability to heroic deeds. However, even on the Parisian barricades, Rudin still turns out to be an eternal wanderer. His feat is useless, his very figure is somewhat theatrical: “In one hand he held a red banner, in the other - a crooked and blunt saber...” The rebels did not even know who Rudin was, they considered him a Pole... This is how he passes away from life and from the pages of the novel Dmitry Rudin.

    The experience of working on the first novel was largely useful to the writer in his subsequent work. In “Notes of a Hunter,” the narrative was built primarily on the author’s descriptions; the compositional center was the hunter, talking about his meetings, observations, and conversations. In the novel, the nature of the narrative changes. The author's beginning fades into the background. The characters are presented objectively, mutual assessments of characters, confessions, letters, etc. are widely used.

    The plot of “Rudin” covers several years, but only a few days from the hero’s life are described in detail. The novel fully demonstrates the author's landscape skills: the landscape forms not just a lyrical background, but also emphasizes Rudin's state of mind. “Concentrated” depiction of reality, conciseness and tension of the narrative, associated primarily with the fate of one hero, simplicity of composition, absence of any external effects, realistic motivation for actions - all this will become characteristic features of other novels of the great writer .

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