The action of Goncharov's novel "An Ordinary History" takes place at the end of the first half of the 19th century, during the reign of Nicholas I, when reactionary moods were strong in society, when the overgrown bureaucratic apparatus reached incredible proportions. And when, despite the recently thundered Patriotic War of 1812, Napoleon was recognized as the man of the century, even in Russia. He was ideal for young nobility. There were many people in Russia who considered themselves Russian Napoleons, people born into the world to change the fate of Russia. And it is not for nothing that Peter Ivanovich refers to the century, saying that, they say, the century is to blame for everything that happens to his nephew. It was the century that was so inclined to those romantic moods that prevailed in the inexperienced, inexperienced soul of Alexander Aduev, from the time when he first saw Petersburg, and ending with the day when the already middle-aged Aduev first took a sober look at the life he had lived. The total length of the novel, from the beginning to the end, from the day of the departure of twenty-year-old Alexander Aduev to St. Petersburg to the day of his wedding, is a decade and a half, that is, in order to try all the "delights" of life in the capital and to comprehend the path he traveled, the hero of the work needed exactly fifteen years.

Let's see how the main character of "An Ordinary Story" has changed throughout the novel. The first opinion about him is formed at the very beginning: the only son of his mother, brought up almost without a father, when Alexander slept, "people walked on tiptoe so as not to wake up the young master" - it is clearly evident that the child is spoiled. And this is true, then Goncharov himself writes: "Alexander was spoiled, but not spoiled by his home life." But then Alexander came to Petersburg, to the city of his dreams, which so attracted provincials of that time. Naturally, such a significant move should have influenced the young man. And his uncle was supposed to be an example for him, but he most often pushed away his nephew, and the only thing he taught him was to do the deed. There was a contradiction in Alexander's soul. He expected support and help from his uncle in his endeavors, and he first said that it was better for Alexander to return to the village, and then mercilessly criticized his works.

Two years have passed. The young man turned into a man, matured, became more self-confident and, most importantly, “gradually began to admit the idea that in life, apparently, not all roses, but also thorns”, the uncle could not get enough of the success of his nephew. Now he no longer threw himself on everyone's neck, settled down, but the main reason for his change was not so much his uncle as experience.

But Alexander fell in love, and he behaves, as his uncle correctly noted, as if in a fever. Aduev Jr. cannot think reasonably, he makes all his decisions in a hurry. And everything is so successful 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 Nadya with his behavior, almost challenges Count Novinsky to a duel. Then, in Alexander's soul, the time of anger comes, he scolds Nadya, the count, uncle, and all people put together. But time is a great healer: a year later, he only branded the count and Nadya with deep contempt, and, finally, the passion in him was exhausted. However, 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 Count and Nadya, who had not so "cunningly deceived" him, have become guilty, but all the people - so low, weak-minded, petty. He even found a book in which he met images of people he hated so much.

Another revolution in his soul is associated with Krylov's fables. The uncle, indignant to the core by the behavior of his nephew, playing the role of a bear from the fable "The Mirror and the Monkey", showed Alexander his role as a monkey. The last step in exposing the essence of Aduev Jr. was a letter from a journalist. Alexander's hands dropped, and it is not known what he would have done with himself after the spanking given to him by his own uncle, if the latter had not asked his nephew for a favor - to look after a certain widow. After that, Alexander felt that everything was not lost, that he was still needed by someone. But the still young soul of Aduyev asked for just such classes, and Alexander, hesitating for a short time ("How mean and low it is"), nevertheless agrees. And he takes up this business so enthusiastically that after a few weeks Surkov, having a little rage, gave up going to Tafaeva, but Alexander fell in love. Of course, at first he noticed with horror the first signs of love, but then he justified himself to himself, that, they say, I’m 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 arbitrary, 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, to turn to ordinary people who are lower in mental development, and therefore cannot resist, and he becomes close to Kostyakov. Aduev tried to kill the spiritual principle in himself, but it was developed too strongly in him and did not give up without a fight. And although Alexander managed to force himself not to fall in love, he involuntarily became a "charmer". Even though he said that Liza's love was boredom, he himself constantly went to her dacha, and the reason for this was not fishing. If before the young man tortured himself with love, now he was going to torture the girl - apparently, a proud desire to "take revenge." But Liza had a kind and wise patron - her father. He not only warned his daughter against the inevitable passion, but also taught the young "charmer" a lesson, after which Alexander wanted to commit suicide, but it was not there, his words were just words, he lacked the spirit.

Then there was a trip to the theater with his aunt, and there the virtuoso violinist greatly impressed him, showing all the insignificance of his life. And after talking with his uncle and aunt, Aduev literally believed in the absolute correctness of Peter Ivanovich's words and was ready to blindly follow his uncle's advice. My uncle advised me to go to the village - Alexander went. A warm welcome and a loving mother awaited Alexander in the village. At first, the change of place had a beneficial effect on him, but soon “pleasing his mother became boring, and Anton Ivanitch became disgusted; tired of work, and nature did not captivate. " It is obvious, however, that 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 misses the "big" life: in the village, far from civilization, he has no place, Alexander Aduev must live in St. Petersburg. His mother died, and now nothing kept him in the name. And four years later, Aduev Jr. turned into an exact copy of his uncle.

Another character, who can also be called the main one to some extent, is Alexander's uncle, Peter Ivanovich Aduev. At one time he went the same way as his nephew, but Pyotr Ivanovich does not like to talk about it. It seems that he changed somehow immediately, without preparation, but throughout the whole romance with his uncle, imperceptible changes took place, and, in the end, he independently realized the great truth - happiness is not in money. Pyotr Ivanovich realized that the health of him and his wife, as well as their relationship, is much more important than status in society and despicable metal. And, oddly enough, the main influence on the change of Aduev Sr. was made by his young nephew, who showed himself to him from the outside. Obviously, Pyotr Ivanitch was horrified in his soul, plus his illness, his wife's weakness and her complete indifference to everything that happens to her and her husband. All these factors have done their job - Peter Aduyev has retired.

Time is what imposes certain traits on Goncharov's heroes. One is a potential romantic who is “sucked in” by the environment, the other is a man of his time, who, as it turns out, cannot live in him.

V. I. IVANKIN

ABOUT THE BOOK OF GONCHAROV "ORDINARY HISTORY"

I read this novel in the next edition: Goncharov I. A. Ordinary history. - M .: Pravda, 1981 .-- 352 p.
First, I cannot fail to note the introductory article by N. Yurgeneva.
Only 12 pages, and the content and idea of \u200b\u200bthe novel are accurately reflected. So, if you don't have time to read the whole novel, then by reading the introductory article, you can get the right idea about it.
I had time, I read the whole novel. And I confirm the adequacy of the introductory article.
Although the introductory article was written during the Soviet era and, in accordance with the principle of socialist realism, should have given firm recommendations on how to expose the bourgeois order, this did not happen in the introductory article.
On the contrary, N. Yurgeneva invites the reader to understand what he has read himself:
“So where is the truth? Where is the true path for Goncharov's smart, entrepreneurial and businesslike contemporaries? Whom should they choose as friends, whom should they take as an example to follow - an uncle or a nephew?
The answer to these questions is this entire book. "

Here is my attempt at understanding these issues.
The main characters of the book are Alexander Aduev and Peter Ivanych Aduev, respectively: nephew and uncle.
But a huge role in understanding these relatives was played by the wife of Pyotr Ivanovich, Lizaveta Alexandrovna:
“She was a witness to two terrible extremes - in her nephew and her husband. One is ecstatic to the point of madness, the other is icy to the point of fierceness. "
The novel "An Ordinary Story" is a kind of master class for my uncle on how to live.
Let us consider the results of this "training" by analyzing the Dialogues of the nephew with the uncle and aunt.

Dialogue 1 Judgments of the nephew and uncle about love during the instructions of the uncle:
Nephew:
After leaving the village, the nephew took with him as a souvenir the hair of his beloved girl and a ring - "material signs of non-material relations."

Uncle:
"And you were taking this one fifteen hundred miles away? ... It would be better if you brought another bag of dried raspberries: at least they sent that to the shop ...".
Nephew:
The nephew is furiously jealous of the girl whom, as it seems to him, he is madly in love. Irresistibly striving for a duel.

Uncle:
Uncle suggests another "duel": "you shouldn't have been rude ...", but to respond to the courtesy of your opponent "twice, three times, ten times ..." that even you have no idea of \u200b\u200btreason ... ". You have to be with them all the time and gradually "discover and defeat the opponent's weaknesses."

Nephew:
“Despicable tricks! To resort to guile to take possession of a woman's heart ... ”. “You don't know torment! You never loved if you thought to prevent me with this cold morality ... milk flows in your veins, not blood ... ".

Nephew:
"... but is love inspired by cunning flattering and lasting?"

Uncle:
“I don’t know if it’s flattering, whoever wants it, for me it’s all the same: I don’t have a high opinion of love at all… I don’t have it at all… Cunning is one side of the mind; there is nothing despicable here. You do not need to humiliate your opponent and resort to slander: this will arm the beauty against yourself ... you need to shake off those sparkles with which he blinds the eyes of your beloved, make him a simple, ordinary person, and not a hero ... ".

Nephew:
“But could I be cunning, if I could? … Count! when, looking at her, my spirit became engaged and my knees trembled ... when I was ready for all the torments, just to see her ... and for me it is more ecstatic to love with all the strength of my soul, even though I suffer ... ”.

Uncle:
"Well, so suffer, if you feel sweet ... to be happy with a woman, that is, not in your opinion, like crazy, but reasonably, - you need a lot of conditions ... you need to be able to form a woman from a girl according to a deliberate plan ...". ... it is necessary to outline her with a magic circle ... slyly to master not only her heart - that's what! this is a slippery and fragile possession, and with mind, will, to subordinate her taste and temper to hers, so that she looks at things through you, thinks with your mind ... ”.

Nephew:
“That is, to make her a doll or a silent slave of her husband! - Alexander interrupted. "

Here Lizaveta Alexandrovna's complaint about her husband should be inserted: “He never spoke to her about love and did not ask her; to her questions about this, he got off with a joke, wit, or doze. Soon after meeting her, he started talking about the wedding, as if letting him know that love here is self-evident and that there is nothing to talk about it ... The whole code of heart affairs was in his head, but not in his heart ... But my God! - did he marry only in order to have a mistress, to give his bachelor apartment the fullness and dignity of a family home, in order to have more weight in society? ... But does he not comprehend with all his mind that women are also present for positive purposes certainly love? ... She looked at the luxurious furniture and at all the toys and expensive knickknacks of her boudoir - and all this comfort ... seemed to her a cold mockery of true happiness. "

Nephew:
wrote for himself from a French novel: “Love means not to belong to yourself, to stop living for yourself, to go into the existence of another, to concentrate on one object all human feelings - hope, fear, sorrow, pleasure; to love means to live in the infinite ... ".

Uncle:
“- God knows what it is! - Pyotr Ivanovich interrupted, - what a set of words! "

I was interested in the question: "Did Alexander reel on a mustache what Peter Ivanovich taught him?" Let's turn to Dialogues 2-3.

Dialogue 2 Judgments of the nephew and uncle about love after the instructions of the uncle
Nephew:
Four years later (!) After his uncle's instructions, the nephew changed:
externally:
“How he has changed! How plump, how bald, how blush became! With what dignity he wears his bulging abdomen and the order around his neck! "
internally:
the nephew solemnly exclaimed that he was getting married! Marrying a rich bride!

Uncle:
And the uncle begins to change: "... not the same cheerful ..., always with an equally calm gaze, with a proudly raised head and a straight camp ... he walked a little hunched over ... there was a melancholy expression on his face ...". draws attention to his wife:
"Deeds and office take my time and health ... and now, perhaps, my wife," he noticed that his wife is indifferent to everything: acquaintances, his own toilet, to any desires ..., to personal freedom: "I lost the habit of her will, ”she says to her husband.

Dialogue 3 Judgments of the nephew and aunt about love and marriage after the instructions of the uncle
Lizaveta Alexandrovna:
asked what the bride said to Alexander's proposal to marry.

Nephew:
"Yes ... she ... like, you know, all girls ... she didn't say anything, she just blushed ..."

Lizaveta Alexandrovna:
“Didn't you take the trouble to find out from her before proposing? ... Why are you getting married? "

Nephew:
"What do you mean why? Not everyone to stagger! The bride is pretty, rich ... "

Lizaveta Alexandrovna:
"Maybe she doesn't like you?"

The nephew replies, looking at his uncle:
“Daddy to say? … Yes, I’ll quote your words… you marry for love…, love will pass, you marry not for love - and you will come to the same result: you will get used to your wife. Love is love. but marriage is marriage; these two things do not always coincide, but it is better when they do not agree ... Isn't that so, uncle? After all, you taught so ... "

When the uncle told his nephew that he was leaving the service, Alexander exclaimed in amazement: “What are you, uncle! ... after all, this year should be your privy councilor ... "

Uncle:
"Yes, you see: the secret counselor is bad ...".

Now I am answering the question asked earlier: "Did Alexander wind up on his mustache what Peter Ivanovich taught him?"
As we can see from dialogs 1-3 - "wound", and how!
The metamorphosis is remarkable: the nephew becomes a pragmatist, and the uncle, on the contrary, becomes sentimental.
How did all this happen in the inner world of our two heroes?
Let's go back to the beginning of the novel.
What a blissful childhood and youth for Alexander!
“Life smiled at him from the shroud: his mother cherished and pampered him ... the nurse sang to him ... that he would walk in gold and not know grief; the professors insisted that he would go far ... He knew about grief and troubles only by ear ... From this the future seemed to him in a rosy light. Something beckoned him into the distance, but what exactly - he did not know. There flickered seductive ghosts, but he could not see them; mixed sounds were heard - either the voice of glory or love: all this brought him to a sweet thrill ... He dreamed of a colossal passion that knows no barriers and performs loud feats ... He also dreamed of the benefits that would bring his fatherland ... ”.
“Much more trouble for him was that his mother, with all her tenderness, could not give him a real outlook on life and did not prepare him for the struggle with what was waiting and waiting for everyone ahead. But this required a skillful hand, a subtle mind and a stock of great experience, unlimited by the narrow village horizon. It was even necessary to love him less, not to think for him every minute, not to take every care and trouble away from him, not to cry and not suffer in his place and in childhood, in order to allow him to feel the approach of a thunderstorm, to cope with his own strength and think about his fate - in a word, to find out that he is a man ... ".
In short, a classic egoist has been formed, a "mama's boy" who, when faced with real life with its white, gray and black colors, turns into its opposite: from self-confidence to despondency, from love to hate ("I will wipe it off the face of the earth !. . "- about the rival)), from adoration to contempt (beloved girl), from lofty feelings to indifferent practicality. That is why the uncle managed to "re-educate" his nephew.
After what and why did uncle change?
And now let's move on from the beginning of the novel to the epilogue.
The metamorphosis in my uncle's mentality took place after the doctor said that the reason for Lizaveta Aleksandrovna's discomfort was not physiological, but "purely psychological." And the uncle begins to understand that a wife is not only one of the "necessities of life" along with others to which he is accustomed, but also a woman who should be passionately loved (Hurray! Finally, I saw a practical benefit from a psychologist *).
Moreover, he already had such a sublime feeling before. This was caught by his nephew. Alexander kept a note, once written not on stamped paper, but with "special ink", in which then the uncle wrote words that clearly indicate that their author (ie, the uncle) was in love: "Angel, adored by me ... ". Uncle with difficulty managed to take away from Alexander a note exposing his theory of rational, rational behavior.

1. As I remember, the author of the introductory article invited the reader to independently choose an example to follow - an uncle or nephew.
Oddly enough, there is no problem of choosing between the main characters of the novel - the first seems to be a dry, reasonable practitioner at first, and at the end - discovers the spiritual, the second was at first a crazy lyricist, and after his uncle's notations he became a dry, reasonable practitioner himself. They are identical - there was just a castling in their worldviews.
An example to follow is not in heroes, but in understanding the relationship between real and spiritual life, in danger of skewing one of these sides. I am impressed by my uncle's maxim - laconic and fundamental: "not everything is bad and not everything is bad."
As for me, I try to understand life in all its diverse reality and at the same time improve spiritually, but without "extremes" (a metaphor of Lizaveta Alexandrovna). I don't sacrifice one at the expense of the other.

2. The novel "An Ordinary Story" refutes the well-known saying "the grave will correct the humpbacked" - the characters of both the nephew and the uncle change. I explain the prevalence of this saying by the fact that it is very difficult to change a person's character, this requires colossal spiritual work. This requirement is usually not understood. So it seems that you cannot change a person. The uncle managed to "fix" his nephew. A "positive" result was obtained after four years.

3. From the point of view of the content, the novel "An Ordinary History" belongs to fiction, and from the point of view of the problem of the relationship between people and upbringing, these are good recommendations that can be attributed to the genre of fascinating, popular psychology.

4. And, finally, the type of duel proposed by my uncle, I would call peacekeeping, as opposed to the usual - combat. The weapon in such a duel is not a sword or a pistol, but speech similar to diplomatic: subtle, skillful, without harshness, threats, etc. If we exclude hidden goals aimed at deftly eliminating an opponent, then I would say that a peacekeeping duel similar to what psychologists today call conflict-free communication.

* P. S. My emotional outburst was caused from the perspective of a depressing conclusion: modern "psychologists do not participate in solving vital problems" (see: A. Ya. Antsupov, S. L. Kandybovich, V. M. Kruk, G. N. Timchenko, Kharitonov A. N. Problems of psychological research 1050 doctoral dissertations. 1035-2007 / Edited by Professor A. Antsupov - Moscow: Studio "Ethnika", 2007. - P. 92).

© Ivankin V.I., 2017

Reviews

Hello Vladimir!
Ivan Aleksandrovich Goncharov is my literary idol. I love all of his novels. You know that he was jokingly called the writer who wrote three novels in "O". I believe that the works of I. Goncharov are little appreciated. His glory was overshadowed by the glory of L. Tolstoy, F. Dostoevsky. Very sorry.
He has an amazing emotional literary language; all his heroes are philosophers.
Here in "An Ordinary History" Sasha rushes to Petersburg. Mama Anna Pavlovna is in despair, but lets him go.
"Poor mother! Here is your reward for your love! Did you expect that? The fact of the matter is that mothers do not expect rewards. Mother loves without purpose and indiscriminately" ...

The daily audience of the Proza.ru portal is about 100 thousand visitors, who in total view more than half a million pages according to the traffic counter, which is located to the right of this text. Each column contains two numbers: the number of views and the number of visitors.

Classics are always considered the best reading publications. They have not only been tested over the years, but they also raise difficult, vital questions that are relevant at all times. In classical literature we find ourselves, it makes us think about our character, way of thinking, behavior and thinking.

It is precisely such an example of classical literature that Goncharov's "Ordinary History" is, the brief content of which will be devoted to our article. What is this work? What is its essence and meaning? What is the psychological problem of Goncharov's Ordinary History? Let's find out.

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

I. A. Goncharov

The creator of "Ordinary History" - Ivan Alexandrovich Goncharov - was born in 1812, in a family of famous and wealthy merchants. From early childhood, the boy led a carefree, satiated life - the cellars and barns were overflowing with all kinds of provisions and sweets, gold chests were piled up, the owners were served by a gentleman.

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

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

At the age of nineteen, young Ivan Goncharov entered the Moscow University at the Faculty of Literature. Here he met Belinsky, Aksakov, Lermontov, Turgenev. Such talented, deep-thinking friends and comrades leave an indelible mark on the open soul of a young man.

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

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

Continuing to work in the state field, occupying important positions and important posts, Ivan Alexandrovich begins to write. His first work is "An Ordinary History", the subsequent ones are the still famous "Oblomov" and "Break".

What is remarkable about Goncharov's first book "An 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 the historical time in which he lived and which he described.

Goncharov's "Ordinary History" (a summary of it will be presented below) was conceived by the author back in 1944. For the next two years, he worked on his creation, as always concentrating on each sentence, analyzing every situation and every line of the hero.

Several times the writer refined his work. In 1945, after reading the sketches in the Maikov family, he made some changes to the manuscript, listening to the practical advice of the owner of the house. Then he corrected the essay just before its publication.

Edition history

How was Goncharov's novel An Ordinary History published? At first, the manuscript was entrusted by the author 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 not for Nikolai Nekrasov, who took the manuscript from Yazykov and showed it to Vissarion Grigorievich, the world might not have seen the work in print.

Critics liked the novel. He saw in him a modern and current trend, as well as subtle psychologism and artistic realism. In 1947, the work was bought from Goncharov (for two hundred rubles per page) 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

The summary of Goncharov's "Ordinary History" should begin with a description of the departure of a 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, the young man leaves the neighbor young lady Sonia, who is in love with him, a sincere and pure girl. She gives him a curl as a keepsake and promises to wait.

To say goodbye to Sasha, his friend Alexander Pospelov comes, who specially rode more than one hundred and fifty kilometers for this. Young people fondly recall their sincere conversations about love, loyalty and service to the fatherland.

Meeting with uncle

In the capital, Aduyev visits his own paternal uncle, Peter 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 the young man, but behaves with restraint and coldness.

Sasha does not understand his uncle's insensitivity; he is uncomfortable with urban ceremoniality and indifference. Walking around St. Petersburg, the young man is disappointed in the capital. He lacks virgin nature, endless spaces, good nature and friendliness of his acquaintances.

Meanwhile, Peter Ivanovich is going to teach his nephew wisdom. He forbids him to show his sincere feelings and emotions, orders him to forget Sonya and even throws away 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 occasionally writes poetry or short stories.

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

Love and betrayal

The lover spends whole evenings in the country with his beloved. Nadya is brought up by one mother, grows up as a pampered and windy 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 refined, rich, eminent Count Novinsky. Nadia is fond of him and pays little attention to Aduev.

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

It was a heavy blow for him. He silently sobs and yearns for his lost happiness. The uncle does not understand the youth'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 his aunt, the young wife of Aduev Sr., regrets Sasha in his unrequited love.

Twelve months have passed

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

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

Beauty widow

Yulia Tafaeva, a young woman, widowed early, becomes the cause of Pyotr Ivanovich's concern about her 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.

Aduyev Jr. doubts his success, but hits for a beautiful widow. Without noticing it, he falls in love with an experienced woman and, as it turns out, is mutual.

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

But such a dependent state, overshadowed by the constant jealousy and irrepressibility of her beloved, annoys Alexander. He loses interest in Julia, and she insists on getting married.

The uncle helps the young people to explain themselves and frees the nephew from the annoying relationship.

Depression of the protagonist

The break with Tafaeva does not make the young man happy. He has huge doubts - something has gone wrong in his life. He regrets that he came to St. Petersburg, that he abandoned the picturesque rural nature and sweet Sonya.

However, this rethinking of life does not prompt the protagonist to take action. He sinks lower and lower, works sluggishly, communicates with an unsightly company, does not visit his uncle.

Pyotr Ivanovich is trying to stir up his nephew, he appeals to his ambition and reminds of his career. Then he tries to awaken in him the old romantic impulses, but he froze in soul and was disappointed in everything.

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

But it's not over yet

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

Over time, Alexander freshens and prettier. Nature and fond memories restore his strength. He lives a quiet life, but continues to dream of Petersburg. After a year and a half, the man writes to his aunt that he wants to return to the capital and start a new life. He understands that he behaved stupidly and wants to improve.

End of the piece

Four years have passed since Aduev's second return to Petersburg. Much has changed in his uncle's family. Having reached unprecedented heights and wealth, Pyotr Ivanovich finally realizes 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 Alexandrovna has already lost her joy in life and is indifferent to her husband's belated feelings.

The life of Alexander was completely different. His mother died, and he finally found himself - he became confident and contented, got 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 you can see, the writer raised in his work serious psychological questions related to the hidden impulses and changeability 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 convictions, 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 and virtuous, worrying about the health of his beloved wife.

This is evidenced by the characterization of the heroes of Goncharov's "Ordinary History".

Images of the work

If earlier young Sasha appears to readers as attractive externally and internally, whom you involuntarily sympathize with and sympathize with, then over time, experiencing disappointments and being under the influence of a rich uncle, he turns into an ordinary self-lover, careerist and 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 he himself. He, who abandoned the innocent Sonya in love with him and the free life in the village, and went to conquer the capital. He, who went about his weakness, fixated on unrequited love and his own feelings.

Is it bad to be rich? Is it bad to have a high-paying job? 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.

The novel "An Ordinary History" by Goncharov was written in 1847, becoming the first serious work of the writer. The book reveals changes in the character and worldview of the hero under the influence of life circumstances and social changes.

main characters

Alexander Aduev - a young man, dreamy, naive, who changes under the influence of his uncle.

Peter Ivanovich Aduev - Alexander's rich uncle, dry, pragmatic person.

Other characters

Anna Pavlovna Adueva - a poor landowner, Alexander's mother, a kind and loving woman.

Sonya - a girl in love with Alexander, his neighbor in the village.

Alexander Pospelov - a close friend of Alexander.

Nadenka Lyubetskaya - St. Petersburg's bride Alexandra, a smart wayward girl.

Lizaveta Alexandrovna - the young wife of Peter Ivanovich Aduev, a kind, open woman.

Surkov - companion of Peter Ivanovich, a windy man, a great lover of women.

Yulia Pavlovna Tafaeva - a young widow, a romantic, sublime woman, the bride of Alexander.

Kostyakov - a downcast old man with whom Alexander was fishing.

Liza - a young girl, summer resident, in love with Alexander.

Yevsey - the valet of Alexander Aduev, who lived with him in St. Petersburg.

Part one

Chapter 1

“Once in the summer, in the village of Grachakh, at a poor landowner Anna Pavlovna Adueva,” troubles began in the house from the early morning. Everyone was preparing for the departure to Petersburg of the landowner's only son, the young man Alexander.

Anna Pavlovna agreed to let her son go "to St. Petersburg for service, or, as she said, to see people and show herself," but the coming separation was very difficult for her. She began to persuade Alexander to stay in his native Rooks, to marry Sonya, the daughter of Marya Karpovna, and live peacefully, enjoying the beauties of nature.

However, Alexander was bored with the cramped home world - he dreamed of fame and brilliant feats for the glory of the Fatherland. The future seemed to him in the most rosy colors - "he knew about grief, tears, disasters only by hearing."

A neighbor Anton Ivanovich, a priest, Marya Karpovna with her daughter Sonya, as well as a close friend, Alexander Pospelov, came to the farewell dinner. The young man said goodbye to Sonya, promising her to return and arrange their happiness. As a gift from her, he received "hair and a ring."

Together with the master, his valet Yevsey, the beloved of Agrafena's housekeeper, went to Petersburg.

Chapter 2

Arriving in St. Petersburg, Alexander first of all visited his uncle Pyotr Ivanovich Aduev, an important official who was "known for a man with money." At first, the elder Aduyev ordered to convey that he was not at home, and he would return only after three months, but, remembering the kindness of Anna Pavlovna, he decided to accept his nephew.

Peter Ivanovich undertook to teach the young man the rules of behavior in a secular society, talked about the peculiarities of St. Petersburg life. Alexander compared Petersburg with a province, and these comparisons were not in favor of the city on the Neva: people here were indifferent, houses were monotonous, there was no space and beauty of nature. Uncle shared with Alexander that here such concepts as "love" and "friendship" have a completely different value, and he advised to throw out Sonya's hair and ring to focus on important things.

Peter Ivanovich arranged for Alexander to work in the department of the department. Upon learning that his nephew was writing poetry, he told him to quit this stupid occupation, and instead of rhyming, start translating German articles on agriculture, which would bring him additional income.

Chapter 3

For two years of his life in St. Petersburg, Alexander "has changed a lot, matured." He learned to "control himself, not so often found impulses and excitement." Continuing to serve in the department, the young man wrote essays, stories, poems. He did not leave his dream of love, and after a while he confessed to his uncle that he was in love with the charming Nadya Lyubetskaya.

Pyotr Ivanovich advised him to marry not for love, but with the expectation, "after all, love will pass - this is a vulgar truth." He also admitted that he plans to tie the knot soon.

Chapter 4

"Alexander's life was divided into two halves": in the mornings he worked in the department, and in the evenings he was at the Lyubetsky's dacha. His chosen one "was not a beauty and did not immediately attract attention to herself," however, Alexander fell in love with her for "an ardent mind, a wayward and fickle heart."

Mother raised Nadya herself, without a governess, and pampered her in every way. She was one of those ingenuous and kind women "who find everything beautiful that children do." As a result, Nadya "disposed of herself, and mamma, and her time and activities as she wanted."

At dusk, the lovers retired in a dense garden to dream about the future. Nadya was afraid that these happy moments would never happen again, but Alexander invariably assured her of the eternity of their feelings. Happy, he sailed away to his house at dawn, in order to return to the service in the morning.

Chapter 5

Having reached the "apogee of his happiness", Alexander abandoned his service and his literary works. The uncle "advised me to give up trifles," but the young man only smiled and said nothing in response. Pyotr Ivanovich warned that he would not give him money. However, this did not frighten the young man in love, who sincerely believed that "he is the only one in the world who loves and is loved so much."

Alexander again began to write poetry, which he published in the magazine under a different name. Once he sent a story, but it was returned back with a desire to work harder.

The year appointed by Nadenka as a probationary period passed unnoticed. Alexander was ready to talk with her mother about the upcoming marriage, but everything changed with the appearance of the young, handsome and courteous Count Novinsky, who quickly turned the girl's head.

Upon learning that the Lyubetskys had returned from their dacha to the city, Alexander decided to explain himself to Nadya. So he learned that she fell in love with another and was not going to marry him. Left alone, the unhappy lover "began to sob loudly, but without tears."

Chapter 6

Pyotr Ivanovich explained to his nephew that Nadenka was not to blame for falling in love with another. He advised Alexander to distract himself from sad thoughts by doing a useful job.

Part two

Chapter 1

A year passed, and Alexander gradually "passed from gloomy despair to cold despondency." He exchanged his hatred for Nadya and the count for deep contempt. He even "liked to play the role of a sufferer" - the young wife of Pyotr Ivanovich, Lizaveta Alexandrovna, sympathetically listened to his complaints and consoled him as best she could.

The woman found herself between two poles - a cold and calculating spouse who provides her with a decent life, and a passionate nephew, ready to go to any madness for the sake of love. Lizaveta Alexandrovna herself was ready to go through any tests, only to live a full life.

In his sufferings, Alexander went so far as to despise all people. The uncle brought him to his senses, accusing him of ingratitude towards his friend Pospelov, his uncle, aunt and even his mother, whom he had not written for several months. Lizaveta Alexandrovna took from him a promise to create, and Pyotr Ivanovich advised not to engage in nonsense, but to direct his energy towards achieving financial well-being, after which it is beneficial to marry.

Chapter 2

After talking with his uncle, Alexander decided to choose his own path in order to walk along it "not timidly, but with firm and even steps." He eagerly began to work on the story, but Pyotr Ivanovich did not like it. He decided to send the story to the magazine under his own name, but he was told that the work was written by a young man embittered by the whole world and with false values. Having lost faith in his own talent, Alexander in his hearts burned all his literary works.

Pyotr Ivanovich asked his nephew for a favor. His companion Surkov, a great lover of women, began to spend large sums on his new hobby - the beautiful widow Yulia Pavlovna Tafaeva. Alexander must fall in love with the widow, and then "the capital will remain intact, the factory business will go on as usual." The young man reluctantly agreed.

Chapter 3

Yulia Pavlovna was about twenty-three years old. She was a faint-hearted young woman, but very pretty, intelligent, dreamy. Raised on French novels, Julia was forced at an early age to marry a boring, but wealthy and respected man. Her marriage lasted five years.

Alexander and Julia liked each other, because they had similar characters. Soon Surkov, seeing that the widow was not carried away by him, lost interest in her. Pyotr Ivanovich thanked his nephew "for his friendly zeal," but he was ashamed to admit that he was truly in love with Julia.

Young people decided to get married, but two years later Alexander got tired of this relationship. Julia could not come to terms with the idea that the groom stopped loving her. Pyotr Ivanovich had to intervene in the matter, who had an explanation with the widow. He invited Alexander to throw love out of his head and "do something more important."

Chapter 4

Alexander had not been to his uncle for three months. When he learned that his nephew was “playing checkers with some eccentrics or fishing,” Pyotr Ivanovich became worried. He tried to shake Alexander, bring him back to life, but in vain. After breaking up with Julia, the young man became disillusioned with love and friendship, lost the meaning of life. Increasingly, he began to incline to the idea that he needed to stay in his district and marry Sophia.

Alexander “was looking for conversations between people with a bilious, embittered mind, with a hardened heart,” or people much lower in development or social status. So he got to know the downcast old man Kostyakov, with whom he often fished. Once, while fishing, Aduev saw an elderly man with his daughter - a beautiful young girl named Lisa. Alexander tried to avoid Liza's company, but by doing so he unwittingly made her fall in love with him.

Despite the indifference towards the girl, Alexander nevertheless agreed to a date with her. The next day, instead of Lisa, her father turned out to be in the gazebo, who did not believe in the decency of the young man. After an unpleasant conversation, Alexander gushed "tears from his eyes, tears of shame, rage on himself, despair." Consciousness of his own insignificance led Aduev to the bridge, but he did not dare to commit suicide.

Lisa waited for Alexander until late autumn, while he calmly fished with old Kostyakov in another place.

Chapter 5

Over time, Aduyev forgot both Liza and her father, he "again became calm, even cheerful." Once Lizaveta Alexandrovna invited him to a concert, and listening to the beautiful music of Paganini, the young man sadly recalled his past years.

After the concert, the aunt called Alexander for a frank conversation, and he admitted that he had been looking for peace of mind for a long time, but could not find it. He believed that his uncle was involved in his melancholy, and through his fault he grew old in soul at twenty-five years old, having lost faith in friendship, love and his own talent. However, Alexander did not hold a grudge against his uncle, who from the very beginning warned him about all the difficulties of life in St. Petersburg.

Two weeks later, Alexander made the decision to resign and "go to the village." He said goodbye to the city in which he lost all his dreams, hopes and vitality.

Chapter 6

Anna Pavlovna barely recognized her son when he returned to his home. The pitiful, haggard look of Alexander struck the woman so much that she "wept bitterly."

Seeing Agrafena, Yevsey "stopped as if petrified, and looked at her in silence, with stupid delight" - even after so many years of separation, their feelings did not cool down.

Mother gently asked Alexander about his life in St. Petersburg, but "but could not get the reason why he became thin, pale and where his hair had gone." Yevsey assured the hostess that the young master had lost weight and grew ugly because of the high cost in the city.

Tired of the tricky life in St. Petersburg, Alexander was able to rest in the provinces and find peace of mind. So a year and a half passed, and he began to feel bored and a desire to return to the noisy capital. He wrote a letter to his aunt, in which he admitted that he had forgotten all his dreams and was ready for the realities of life.

Epilogue

"Four years later after Alexander's second arrival in St. Petersburg," the once fit and brave Peter Ivanovich "seemed to be down." He fully realized that his dryness towards his wife undermined her fragile health, made her life empty and colorless. Peter Ivanovich decided to sell the plant, retire and devote all the time to Lizaveta Alexandrovna.

Alexander came to visit his uncle - during this time he "grew fat, bald," blushed. He rose to the rank of collegiate counselor, received a cross. Alexander announced his intention to marry. His bride is very rich, pretty, and he doesn't need anything else. Alexander admitted that all his hobbies were mistakes of his youth. Pyotr Ivanovich was very proud of his nephew, and even allowed himself to be hugged for the first and last time.

Conclusion

The work shows the inevitability of changes in a person under the influence of society. A pure and naive young man loses all his dreams and completely changes his worldview in order to meet the requirements of the metropolitan life.

Retelling "An Ordinary Story" is useful both for a reader's diary and for preparing for a literature lesson.

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