To whom in Russia to live well last content. Analysis of the chapter "Last child" ("Who should live well in Russia")

Issues 1 and 2 of Otechestvennye Zapiski for 1869 contain Prologue (previously published), Pop, Rural Fair, and Drunk Night. In N ° 2 for 1870 - the chapters "Happy" and "Landowner". The appearance in print of the first part of the epic reawakened Nekrasov's keen interest in working on it, and in 1872 he wrote a chapter called "The Last" ("Domestic Notes" No. 2 for 1873).

More than ten years have passed since the fall of serfdom. “The great chain has broken...” The post-reform decade showed how painfully it hit the peasant. Carefully looking at the life of the post-reform village, the poet asked himself the question:

The people are liberated, but are the people happy?

("Elegy")

And bitterly answered him:

In the life of a peasant, now free,

Poverty, ignorance, darkness...

("How a coward is celebrated")

In poems post-reform years Nekrasov speaks of the tragedy of peasant landlessness (“The Parable of Yermolai the Worker”), of the poverty of the people and the backbreaking work of the “horse” - the peasant (“From work”), of the terrible fate of yesterday’s slaves thrown overboard by the “freedom” of the present (“Hey , Ivan!"). During these years, already marked by signs of social upsurge, Nekrasov's "burning, holy concern" for the "lot", the fate of the people ("Despondency") increases even more.

Where are you, the secret of the people's contentment? -

("How a coward is celebrated")

asks the poet.

The progressive revolutionary intelligentsia of the 70s fought over the solution of this issue, the desire to solve it determines the main direction of Nekrasov's work of these years. The time of "going to the people" was approaching. The question of the peasant revolution, and, consequently, of the level of consciousness of the modern peasantry, acquired actual significance. Returning to work on the epic, Nekrasov strives in the chapter "Last Child" to capture his time in all its complexity: to show terrible force the inertia of the past, to stigmatize the remnants of serfdom in the socio-economic life of Russia in the 70s and at the same time artistically capture the shifts that have occurred in the people's consciousness over the decade.

The events depicted in the new chapter of the epic are timed to coincide with the summer (“Petrovka. The time is hot. Haymaking is in full swing”) of the same year, when 7 men began their journey. With the first post-reform months, he connects the chapter and the originality of the plot situation: the landowner does not want to hear about the manifesto and lives under the illusion that serfdom exists. But at the same time, the chapter "Last Child" did not lead to the past. Saturated with the air of the 70s, prompted by the anxieties and hopes of these years, it drew the attention of the contemporary reader to the most burning issues of the day.

It may surprise you: why in the new chapter of the epic does the author again draw the image of a landowner? Is there a duplication of what has already been depicted here? What could add the story of the Last Child to the ideal of landowner life already known to wanderers? After all, the essence and basis of noble happiness is clear to them and condemned by them! The fact of the matter is that the chapter is not about the essence of the landowner's ideals. The wanderers do not even try to question, “find out” Prince Utyatin, and in this sense, the “Last Child” does not untie any of the plot knots outlined by the “Prologue”, does not bring the story closer to the denouement. But in the ideological movement of the poem, and consequently in its plot spread, this chapter outlines a very tangible turning point. The men, arguing "on the pillar path", set off to look for an answer to the question:

Who has fun

Feel free in Russia.

Both the priest and Obolt they asked:

Is the life of a priestly (landlord) sweet?

How are you - at ease, happily

Do you live, honest father (Do you live as a landowner)?

Now, to the question of the elder Vlas about the purpose of their wanderings, the peasants give an answer unexpected for the reader:

We are looking for, Uncle Vlas,

unworn province,

Not gutted volost,

Surplus village!..

In 1872, Nekrasov's attention was entirely riveted to the welfare of the peasantry (Izbytkovo village), its social freedom (Neporotaia province) and economic independence (Neguted volost). The words put into the mouths of the peasants about their search for Izbytkovo village do not sound, however, as something inorganic, imposed from the outside by the author. We remember that the most important ideological leitmotif of the poem is the growth of the people's consciousness. Seven men (the personification of the awakening popular thought, popular opinion) wandered around Russia for a reason. The more clearly they imagined the essence and foundations of priestly and landowner prosperity, the more they saw people's poverty and grief, the more insistently the question arose before them: is it possible not "leaky with patches", but true people's happiness? Is it possible to find a way to it?

Without abandoning his intention to tell about the meetings of wanderers with an official, minister, tsar, the author of “To whom in Russia ...” in 1872 highlights in it the question of people's destinies, the search for ways to people's happiness. Reflection on these problems determines the choice of plot, the nature and methods of depicting Prince Utyatin, and increased attention to the painted folk group. Modern reactionary criticism of Nekrasov reproached the poet for the absurdity, implausibility of the plot of the chapter "Last Child", but researchers of Nekrasov's work have established that cases similar to the one depicted took place in Russian reality. Did Nekrasov rely on some kind of real fact or did not rely on it, it is important that the plot of the chapter was prompted to him by the essence of the socio-economic relations that developed between the post-reform peasantry and former owners“baptized property”, when the peasants remained, as before, dependent on the landlords, who were striving with all their might to preserve their “hallowed for centuries” privileges and power over the peasant.

The plot of the chapter "The Last Child", built on a sharp clash of interests between a large folk collective and a landlord-landowner, just reflects the facts of the enslaving dependence of "free" peasants on the landowner. The peasants of the village of Bolshie Vakhlaki vitally need “poem meadows”. The heirs of Prince Utyatin, who, at the news of his freedom, had a stroke, fearing that his father would deprive them of their inheritance in a rage, assure the old man that serfdom has been restored, and persuade the peasants for a reward (“lease meadows”) temporarily, until the death of the old prince, to play the role serfs. And the Vakhlaks, in order to get these flooded meadows, agree to play "stupid gum".

There is indeed something anecdotal and paradoxical in the situation that has arisen. The author from the first lines of the chapter - with a picture of the "merry mowing" of the Vakhlaks, the coherence of their work, the scope of the swaths ("the widest swaths!"), The image of a peasant with a jug - brings the wanderers (and the reader) to the conclusion:

Here the hero people!

And these heroes obey the whims and whims, carry out the ridiculous and senseless orders of the senile who has gone out of his mind. In particular, in the paradoxical nature of the plot situation of the chapter "The Last Child", the abnormality, the absurdity of the order of things in which the people - the hard worker and the hero is in complete economic and legal dependence on the power of the noble last ones, is reflected. The word "vahlak" along with the meaning "clumsy, rude, uncouth" has another meaning: "sleepy", "drowsy". The peasants of the village of Bolshie Vakhlaki, in the illiterate province of the Staro-Vakhlaki volost, at first, at the time of liberation, were ignorant, with an unawakened social consciousness, and therefore overly complacent and gullible towards the landowners. They believed the promises of Utyatin's heirs, they still console themselves with the illusion of freedom, do not realize the degree of their dependence on the landowners. Of all the Vakhlaks, perhaps only Klim Lavin understands the true state of things. When Vlas reproaches him for his jester's speech to the landowner, in which Klim spoke of the complete dependence of the peasants on the masters, Lavin replies:

Oh, Vlas Ilyich! where are the bugs?..

... We are not in their hands, or what?

The correctness of these words of Klim is confirmed by the denouement of the chapter. The Last One died, but

... for floodplain meadows

Heirs with peasants

Struggling to this day.

The gullible Vakhlaks fell into one of those traps that were set at every turn for the “liberated” peasant. The court, the bureaucratic apparatus, bourgeois legality are on the side of the heirs, and Vlas' trips to Moscow and St. Petersburg are of no use ("... there is no sense").

“To whom it is good to live in Russia” is a work that is the apogee in Nekrasov's writing activity. Work on the poem was realized 3 years after such a significant event as the abolition of serfdom. It was it that determined the problematics of the book, through which the author expressed the whole life of the people, shocked by the freedom given to him. Below we present summary of the text under consideration by chapters and it, so that it would be easier for you, dear readers, to navigate this difficult, philosophical, but incredibly interesting and amazing work.

Prologue

The story begins with a meeting of seven men from villages with telling names (for example, Dyryavina, Gorelov, Razutov, etc.), who are wondering who lives happily on Russian land. Each of them puts forward his own version, thereby starting a dispute. Meanwhile, evening is already coming, the men decide to go for vodka, light a fire and continue to find out which of them is right.

Soon the question leads the men to a dead end, they start a fight, and at this time Pahom catches a little chick, then the mother of the chick flies in and asks to let go, promising in return to tell where you can get a self-assembled tablecloth. The peasants did everything as the warbler told, and a tablecloth with all the dishes unfolded in front of them. They decided at the feast that until they find the answer to the question, they will not calm down. And they went on the road - to look for a lucky man in their miserable homeland.

Chapter I. Pop

Peasants start searching happy person. They go through the steppes, fields, past ponds and rivers, they meet different people: from the poor to the rich.

They meet the soldiers, ask them their question, and in response they receive that “the soldiers shave with an awl, The soldiers warm themselves with smoke - What happiness is there? ". They pass by the priest and ask him the same question. He argues that happiness does not lie in luxury, tranquility and well-being. He says that he does not have these benefits, that his son cannot learn to read and write, that he constantly sees weeping at the coffins - what kind of well-being is there? Pop explains that he used to go to rich weddings and earn money on this, but now it has disappeared. He ended up saying that it is so difficult that you come to the family of peasants to bury the breadwinner, but there is nothing to take from them. The priest finished his speech, bowed and wandered on, but the peasants were in disarray.

Chapter II. rural fair

Hot day. The men go and talk among themselves, note that it is empty around. They meet a pilgrim washing a horse on the river and find out where the people from the village have gone, and he replies that everyone is at the fair in the Kuzminskaya village. Peasants go there and see how people walk.

They notice an old man asking the people for two hryvnias. Granddaughter is not enough for a gift. They also see the gentleman who buys the beggar's granddaughter boots. Everything can be found at this fair: products, books, jewelry.

Chapter III. drunken night

Seven men continue their journey, because the answer to the question has not yet been found. They hear the reasoning of various drunken peasants.

The attention of seven peasants is attracted by Pavlusha Veretennikov, who writes down in a notebook all the stories, sayings and songs heard from the peasants. Having completed the work, the guy began to blame the people for drunkenness and cheeky behavior, in response he heard that sadness would come and honest people would be sad if they stopped drinking.

Chapter IV. Happy

The men do not calm down and the search continues. So, they lure the people, shouting: “Come out happy! We'll pour vodka! ". Honest people gathered around, began to find out who is happy. As a result, they understand that happiness for a simple man is that at least occasionally he is completely full, and God helps in difficult times, the rest will work out.

Further, the peasants are advised to find Yermila Girin, before telling them a story about how all the people of Yermila collected money for the mill, how he later returned every penny, how honest he was with them. The travelers decide to go to Kirin, but they find out that he is in jail. Further, the story about this man is interrupted.

Chapter V. Landowner

Travelers on their way meet the landowner Obolt Obolduev, who at first mistook them for thieves and began to threaten them with a pistol, but then started a story about his family.

He began to remember the rich feasts, to dream about the servants, and his power, but now such a life is impossible. The landowner complains about the languid years that have come, that he cannot live according to such a schedule, and in the meantime the people empathize.

Part two

Last. Chapter (I; II; III)

The men wander on, do not retreat from the desire to find a happy one. They go out to the banks of the Volga and see a hay meadow in front of them. They notice three boats in which the master's family sat down. They look at them and are surprised: serfdom has already been abolished, but they have everything as if there was no reform.

The gray-haired old man Utyatin, having learned about the will of the peasants, promised to deprive his sons of funds, and they, so that this did not happen, came up with a simple plan: they begged the peasants to pass themselves off as serfs, and in return, after the death of the master, they would be given the best meadows. Upon learning that people remained in the power of Utyatin, he immediately became kinder and perked up. Everyone accepted their role, but Agap Petrov could not hide his displeasure and complained to the landowner, for which he was sentenced to flogging. The peasants played a scene with him, but after such a humiliation, Agap got drunk and died.

So the master arranged a feast, where he praised serfdom, after which the hero lay down in the boat and expired. The people rejoice that the prince died, the peasants began to wait for the fulfillment of promises, but no one presented the meadows.

Part Three

Peasant Woman: Prologue and chapters 1-8

Continuing the search for a man who knew human happiness, 7 men decided to look for one among women. They are sent to a woman named Korchagina Matrena Timofeevna. From her, the peasants learn the very sad and difficult fate of the heroine. From the story, the peasants understand that only in her father's house did she manage to know happiness, and when she got married, she doomed herself to a difficult life, because her new relatives did not like her. Real love feelings did not reign between Matryona and her lover for long: he left to work, and left his wife for the household. Matryona does not know fatigue, she works day and night to support her family and her son Demushka, a ray of hope and joy in her difficult female lot. Del Saveliy is watching him - the only person who, in new family supported her. His fate is not easier: once he, along with his comrades, killed the manager because he ruined their village. For the murder, the peasant went to hard labor, from where he appeared sick and infirm. His family reproached him for this.

Once a misfortune befalls him: the boy is eaten by pigs. Grandfather overlooked him. A real hit for a woman! She cannot forget her son, although other children have already appeared. Once she even accepts a spanking, helping her son out. He gave the sheep to the hungry she-wolf out of pity, and they wanted to flog him in public, an eight-year-old boy.

And here is a new problem! The husband is recruited, and there is no one to intercede. Then Matryona goes to the official to ask for a spouse, because he is the only breadwinner for the family. She finds his wife, and the lady helps the peasant woman - the family is left alone. For this incident, the heroine was called the lucky one.

Now Matrena Timofeevna, as in the old days, sacrifices herself for the sake of growing children. The life of the "lucky" is not easy. The constant struggle for her family, husband and children "shaken" Matryona Korchagin. As a result, she exclaims: “It’s not a matter of looking for a happy woman between women!”

A feast for the whole world

The action takes place on the banks of the Volga, near the village of Vakhlachina. A great feast is organized here, where 7 men stop looking for a happy person.

There are a variety of heroes here who tell about their destinies. Behind everyone heavy load life events, which, like an unhealed scar, makes itself felt. They are attached to arguments about what life is, what is the path of an ordinary peasant and how the people live.

Epilogue. Grisha Dobrosklonov

A significant hero of this fragment is Grisha Dobrosklonov. The reader will also learn his rich history from the chapter "a feast for the whole world." The writer ends the chapter under consideration with the hero's reasoning about the fate of the people, about what will happen to him next. And all these thoughts began to pour out into songs about the people and Russia, the support of which he saw in the unity of people, because it contains a great force that is not afraid of the greatest adversity.

This is a happy person, because he lives for the sake of a high and pure goal - to alleviate the hard lot of his compatriots. Although fate prepares for him exile, exile, consumption, he is still ready to accept this burden for the sake of fulfilling his dream - the prosperity of his homeland.

Interesting? Save it on your wall!

Petrovka. The time is hot.
Haymaking in full swing.
Passing the poor village
illiterate province,
Staro-Vakhlatsky volost,
Big Wahlaki,
Wanderers came to the Volga...
Seagulls are flying over the Volga;
Waders are walking
By the shallows. And across the meadow
What a goal, like a clerk
Cheek, shaved yesterday.
Standing "princes Volkonsky"
And their kids that before
Are born than fathers.
“The swaths are the widest! —
Pahom Onisimych said. —
Here is a heroic people!
The Gubin brothers laugh:
Long time ago they noticed
high peasant
With a jug - on a haystack;
He drank, and a woman with a pitchfork,
Lift up your head,
She looked at him.
Lined up with a haystack -
The man drinks everything! measured out
Another fifty steps
Everyone looked around at once.
Still, throwing
There is a man; vessel
Raised upside down...
Spread under the shore
Tents; old women, horses
With empty carts
Yes, children are visible here.
And then where does it end
The aftertaste is cut down,
Dark people! There are white
Women's shirts, but colorful
men's shirts,
Yes voices, yes tinkling
Agile braids. "God help me!"
- Thank you, well done! —
The strangers have stopped...
Sweeps are haymaking
They go in the right order:
All brought together.
Braids flashed, tinkled,
The grass instantly trembled
And fell, noisy!
Along the low shore
On the Volga the grasses are tall,
Merry mowing.
The strangers could not stand it:
"We haven't worked for a long time.
Let's mow!"
Seven women gave them braids.
Wake up, flare up
forgotten habit
To work! Like teeth from hunger
Works for everyone
Agile hand.
They fell the tall grass,
To a song unfamiliar
Vakhlatskaya side;
To the song that inspired
Snowstorms and blizzards
Native villages:
Zaplatova, Dyryavina,
Razutova, Znobishina,
Gorelova, Neelova -
Crop failure too...
Fed up, tired,
Sat down for breakfast...
— Where, good fellows? —
I asked our strangers
gray-haired man (who
The women were called Vlasushka). —
Where is God taking you? —
"And we ..." - said the wanderers
And suddenly fell silent:
They heard music!
- Our landowner rides -
Vlas said - and rushed
To the workers: - Do not yawn!
Mow friendly! And most importantly:
Do not upset the landlord.
Get angry - bow to him!
Praise you - shout "cheers" ...
Hey women! don't roar! —
Another man, squat,
With a wide beard
Almost the same
The people ordered
He put on a caftan - and the master
Runs to meet. — What kind of people? —
To dumbfounded wanderers
He screams as he runs. —
Take off your hats! —
To the shore
Three boats landed.
In one servant, music,
In the other - a hefty feeder
With a child, an old nanny
And the shelter is quiet
And in the third - gentlemen:
Two beautiful ladies
(Thinner - blond,
Thicker - black-browed),
Mustachioed two gentlemen,
Three barchenka-weather
Yes old man
Thin! like winter hares
All white, and a white hat,
High, with a band
From red cloth.
Nose with a beak, like a hawk,
Mustache gray, long,
And - different eyes:
One healthy one glows.
And the left one is cloudy, cloudy,
Like a pewter!
With them, the dogs are white,
Shaggy, with a sultan,
On tiny feet...
The old man, having risen to the shore,
On a red soft rug
rested for a long time,
Then he examined the mowing:
He was led under the arms
That gentlemen mustachioed
That young ladies, -
And so, with all the retinue,
With children and hosts,
With a feeder and a nanny,
And with white dogs
The whole field is hay
The landlord walked around.
The peasants bowed low
Burmister (the wanderers realized.
What is that guy squat
Burmister) in front of the landowner,
Like a demon before matins,
Yulil: "That's right! I'm listening!" —
And bowed to the landowner
A little bit off the ground.
In one camp seasoned.
Since today, only sour cream.
The landowner pointed his finger,
Found that the hay is wet
He flared up: "Good Lord
Fester? I'm you scammers
I myself will rot in the barshchina!
Dry it now!..”
The elder fussed:
- I overlooked the manenichko!
Raw: Guilty! —
He summoned the people - and with a pitchfork
The thick-set hero,
In the presence of the landowner.
They were torn to shreds.
The landowner calmed down.
(The strangers tried:
Dry senzo!)
A footman runs with a napkin,
Limps: "Dinner is served!"
With all my retinue,
With children and hosts,
With a feeder and a nanny,
And with white dogs
The landowner went to have breakfast,
Having examined the work.
From the river from the boat burst
Towards the bars music
The set table turns white
Right on the shore...
Our strangers marvel.
They stuck to Vlas: “Grandfather!
What are the strange orders?
What a wonderful old man?
- Our landowner: Prince Utyatin! —
“What is he up to?
Now the orders are new.
And he fools in the old way:
Senzo dry-dry -
He ordered to dry it out!
- And even more outlandish,
What is the same thing
And reap - not his! —
"Whose one?"
- Our estate. —
“What is he doing here?
Ying are you non-humans with God?
No, we, by the grace of God,
Now the peasants are free
We are like people.
Orders are also new,
Yes, there is a special article here ... -
"What article?"
An old woman lay down under a haystack
And - no more words!
In addition, a stack of wanderers
Sat down; quietly said:
"Hey! self-assembled tablecloth,
Treat the men!”
And the tablecloth unrolled
Where did they come from
Two hefty hands:
A bucket of wine was placed
Bread was laid on a mountain
And hid again...
Poured a glass to grandfather
The strangers came again:
“Respect! tell us Vlasushka
What is the article here?
- Yes, nonsense! There's nothing here
Tell ... And you yourself
What kind of people? Where are you from?
Where is God taking you? —
"We are strangers,
For a long time, on an important matter,
We left the houses
We have a concern...
Is it such a concern
Which of the houses survived
With work unfriended us,
Stopped eating…”
The strangers have stopped...
— What are you bothering about? —
"Let's shut up! We ate
So it's good to have a rest."
And they settled down. Silent!
— You so something! but in our opinion.
Kohl started, so tell me! —
“And you yourself, I suppose, are silent!
We are not into you, old lady!
If you please, we will say: you see,
We are looking for, Uncle Vlas,
unworn province,
Not gutted volost,
Izbytkova village! .. "
And the strangers said
How we met by chance
How they fought, arguing,
How they gave their vow
And how then they staggered
Searched by provinces
Pulled up, shot down
Who lives happily.
Feel free in Russia?
Vlas listened - and the storytellers
I measured with my eyes: - I see,
You are strange people too! —
He said at last. —
We wonder and we are enough.
And you are more wonderful than us! —
“Yes, what are you doing?
Another glass, grandpa!”
How I drank two glasses
Vlas spoke:

The poem by Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov “Who should live well in Russia” has its own unique feature. All the names of the villages and the names of the heroes clearly reflect the essence of what is happening. In the first chapter, the reader can get acquainted with seven men from the villages of Zaplatovo, Dyryaevo, Razutovo, Znobishino, Gorelovo, Neyolovo, and Neurozhayko, who are arguing about who lives well in Russia, and in no way cannot come to an agreement. No one is even going to yield to another ... So unusually begins the work that Nikolai Nekrasov conceived in order, as he writes, "to present in a coherent story everything that he knows about the people, everything that happened to be heard from his lips ..."

The history of the creation of the poem

Nikolai Nekrasov began working on his work in the early 1860s and finished the first part five years later. The prologue was published in the January issue of the Sovremennik magazine for 1866. Then painstaking work began on the second part, which was called "Last Child" and was published in 1972. The third part, entitled "Peasant Woman", was released in 1973, and the fourth, "A Feast for the Whole World" - in the fall of 1976, that is, three years later. It is a pity that the author of the legendary epic did not manage to fully complete his plan - the writing of the poem was interrupted by an untimely death - in 1877. However, even after 140 years, this work remains important for people, it is read and studied by both children and adults. The poem "To whom it is good to live in Russia" is included in the mandatory school curriculum.

Part 1. Prologue: who is the happiest in Russia

So, the prologue tells how seven men meet on a high road, and then go on a journey to find a happy man. Who in Russia lives freely, happily and cheerfully - this is the main question of curious travelers. Each, arguing with the other, believes that he is right. Roman screams that the most a good life with the landowner, Demyan claims that the official lives wonderfully, Luka proves that after all the priest, the rest also express their opinion: “to the noble boyar”, “fat-bellied merchant”, “the minister of the sovereign” or the tsar.

Such a disagreement leads to a ridiculous fight, which is observed by birds and animals. It is interesting to read how the author displays their surprise at what is happening. Even the cow “came to the fire, stared at the peasants, listened to crazy speeches and began, cordially, to moo, moo, moo! ..”

At last, having kneaded each other's sides, the peasants came to their senses. They saw a tiny warbler chick flying up to the fire, and Pahom took it in his hands. The travelers began to envy the little bird that could fly wherever it wanted. They talked about what everyone wants, when suddenly ... the bird spoke in a human voice, asking to release the chick and promising a large ransom for it.

The bird showed the peasants the way to where the real tablecloth was buried. Blimey! Now you can definitely live, not grieve. But the quick-witted wanderers also asked that their clothes not wear out. “And this will be done by a self-assembled tablecloth,” said the warbler. And she kept her promise.

The life of the peasants began to be full and cheerful. But they have not yet resolved the main question: who still lives well in Russia. And friends decided not to return to their families until they find the answer to it.

Chapter 1. Pop

On the way, the peasants met the priest and, bowing low, asked him to answer “in conscience, without laughter and without cunning,” whether he really lives well in Russia. What the pop said dispelled the ideas of the seven curious about his happy life. No matter how severe the circumstances are - a dead autumn night, or a severe frost, or a spring flood - the priest has to go where he is called, without arguing or contradicting. The work is not easy, besides, the groans of people leaving for another world, the weeping of orphans and the sobs of widows completely upset the peace of the priest's soul. And only outwardly it seems that pop is held in high esteem. In fact, he is often the target of ridicule by the common people.

Chapter 2

Further, the road leads purposeful wanderers to other villages, which for some reason turn out to be empty. The reason is that all the people are at the fair, in the village of Kuzminskoe. And it was decided to go there to ask people about happiness.

The life of the village evoked not very pleasant feelings among the peasants: there were a lot of drunks around, everywhere it was dirty, dull, uncomfortable. Books are also sold at the fair, but low-quality books, Belinsky and Gogol are not to be found here.

By evening, everyone becomes so drunk that it seems that even the church with the bell tower is shaking.

Chapter 3

At night, the men are on their way again. They hear the conversations of drunk people. Suddenly, attention is attracted by Pavlush Veretennikov, who makes notes in a notebook. He collects peasant songs and sayings, as well as their stories. After everything that has been said is captured on paper, Veretennikov begins to reproach the assembled people for drunkenness, to which he hears objections: “The peasant drinks mainly because he is in grief, and therefore it is impossible, even a sin, to reproach for it.

Chapter 4

Men do not deviate from their goal - by all means to find a happy person. They promise to reward with a bucket of vodka the one who tells that it is he who lives freely and cheerfully in Russia. Drinkers peck at such a "tempting" offer. But no matter how hard they try to colorfully paint the gloomy everyday life of those who want to get drunk for free, nothing comes out of them. Stories of an old woman who has born up to a thousand turnips, a sexton rejoicing when they pour him a pigtail; the paralyzed former courtyard, who for forty years licked the master's plates with the best French truffle, does not impress the stubborn seekers of happiness on Russian soil.

Chapter 5

Maybe luck will smile on them here - the searchers assumed a happy Russian person, having met the landowner Gavrila Afanasich Obolt-Obolduev on the road. At first he was frightened, thinking that he saw the robbers, but after learning about the unusual desire of the seven men who blocked his path, he calmed down, laughed and told his story.

Maybe before the landowner considered himself happy, but not now. Indeed, in the old days, Gavriil Afanasyevich was the owner of the entire district, a whole regiment of servants and arranged holidays with theatrical performances and dances. Even the peasants pray in manor house on holidays did not hesitate to invite. Now everything has changed: the family estate of Obolt-Obolduev was sold for debts, because, left without peasants who knew how to cultivate the land, the landowner, who was not used to working, suffered heavy losses, which led to a deplorable outcome.

Part 2

The next day, the travelers went to the banks of the Volga, where they saw a large hay meadow. Before they had time to talk with the locals, they noticed three boats at the pier. It turns out that this is a noble family: two gentlemen with their wives, their children, servants and a gray-haired old gentleman named Utyatin. Everything in this family, to the surprise of travelers, occurs according to such a scenario, as if there was no abolition of serfdom. It turns out that Utyatin was very angry when he found out that the peasants were given freedom and came down with a stroke, threatening to deprive his sons of their inheritance. To prevent this from happening, they came up with a cunning plan: they persuaded the peasants to play along with the landowner, posing as serfs. As a reward, they promised the best meadows after the death of the master.

Utyatin, hearing that the peasants were staying with him, perked up, and the comedy began. Some even liked the role of serfs, but Agap Petrov could not come to terms with the shameful fate and told the landowner everything to his face. For this, the prince sentenced him to flogging. The peasants also played a role here: they took the “rebellious” to the stable, put wine in front of him and asked him to shout louder, for appearances. Alas, Agap could not bear such humiliation, got very drunk and died the same night.

Further, the Last (Prince Utyatin) arranges a feast, where, barely moving his tongue, he delivers a speech about the advantages and benefits of serfdom. After that, he lies down in the boat and gives up the spirit. Everyone is glad that they finally got rid of the old tyrant, however, the heirs are not even going to fulfill their promise, given to those who played the role of serfs. The hopes of the peasants were not justified: no one gave them meadows.

Part 3. Peasant woman.

No longer hoping to find a happy man among the men, the wanderers decided to ask the women. And from the lips of a peasant woman named Korchagina Matryona Timofeevna they hear a very sad and, one might say, scary story. Only in her parents' house she was happy, and then, when she married Philip, a ruddy and strong guy, a hard life began. Love did not last long, because the husband went to work, leaving his young wife with his family. Matryona works tirelessly and sees no support from anyone except old Saveliy, who lives a century after hard labor, which lasted twenty years. Only one joy appears in her difficult fate - the son of Demushka. But suddenly a terrible misfortune befell the woman: it is impossible to even imagine what happened to the child because the mother-in-law did not allow her daughter-in-law to take him into the field with her. Due to an oversight of the boy's grandfather, the pigs eat him. What grief for a mother! She mourns Demushka all the time, although other children were born in the family. For their sake, a woman sacrifices herself, for example, she takes upon herself the punishment when they want to flog her son Fedot for a sheep that was carried away by wolves. When Matryona was carrying another son, Lidor, in her womb, her husband was unfairly taken into the army, and his wife had to go to the city to look for the truth. It’s good that the governor’s wife, Elena Alexandrovna, helped her then. By the way, in the waiting room Matryona gave birth to a son.

Yes, the life of the one who was called “lucky” in the village was not easy: she constantly had to fight for herself, for her children, and for her husband.

Part 4. A feast for the whole world.

At the end of the village of Valakhchina, a feast was held, where everyone was gathered: the wandering peasants, and Vlas the headman, and Klim Yakovlevich. Among the celebrating - two seminarians, simple, kind guys - Savvushka and Grisha Dobrosklonov. They sing merry songs and tell various stories. They do it because ordinary people ask for it. From the age of fifteen, Grisha knows for sure that he will devote his life to the happiness of the Russian people. He sings a song about a great and mighty country called Russia. Isn't this the lucky one that the travelers were so stubbornly looking for? After all, he clearly sees the purpose of his life - in serving the disadvantaged people. Unfortunately, Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov died untimely, before he had time to finish the poem (according to the author's plan, the peasants were to go to St. Petersburg). But the reflections of the seven wanderers coincide with the thought of Dobrosklonov, who thinks that every peasant should live freely and cheerfully in Russia. This was the main intention of the author.

The poem of Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov became legendary, a symbol of the struggle for happy everyday life ordinary people, as well as the result of the author's reflections on the fate of the peasantry.

“To whom it is good to live in Russia” - a summary of the poem by N.A. Nekrasov

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Who lives well in Russia

Part one

PROLOGUE

“Seven men came together on a pillared path” and began to argue, “who in Russia has a good life.” The men spent the whole day in their pores. After drinking vodka, they even had a fight. One of the peasants, Pahom, is twirling a chiffchaff that has flown up to the fire. In exchange for freedom, she tells the peasants how to find a self-assembled tablecloth. Having found it, the debaters decide without answering the question: “Who lives happily, freely in Russia?” - do not return home.

CHAPTER ONE POP

On the road, the peasants meet peasants, coachmen, soldiers. They don't even ask them this question. Finally they meet the priest. Om replies to their question that he does not have any happiness in life. All funds go to the priest's son. At any time of the day or night, he himself can be called to the dying, he has to endure the sorrows of families in which relatives or people close to the family die. There is no respect for the priest, he is called the "breed of the foal", they compose draz-ilki, indecent songs about the priests. After talking with the priest, the men go on.

CHAPTER TWO RURAL FAIR

At the fair, fun, people drink, bargain, walk. Everyone rejoices at the deed of the "master" Pavlusha Veretennikov. He bought shoes for the granddaughter of a peasant who drank all the money without buying gifts for his relatives.

In the booth there is a performance - a comedy with Petrushka. After the performance, people drink with the actors, give them money.

From the fair, the peasants also carry printed materials - these are stupid little books and portraits of generals with many orders. The famous lines are devoted to this, expressing the hope for the cultural growth of the people:

When a peasant is not Blucher And not my lord stupid - Belinsky and Gogol From the market will carry?

CHAPTER THREE DRUNK NIGHT

After the fair, everyone returns home drunk. The men notice the women arguing in the ditch. Each proves that her home is the worst. Then they meet Veretennikov. He says that all the troubles come from the fact that Russian peasants drink without measure. The men begin to prove to him that if there were no sadness, then people would not drink.

Every peasant has a Soul - like a black cloud - Wrathful, formidable - but it would be necessary for Thunders to thunder from there, To pour bloody rains, And everything ends with wine.

They meet a woman. She tells them about her jealous husband, who watches over her even in her sleep. Men miss their wives and want to return home as soon as possible.

CHAPTER FOUR HAPPY

With the help of a self-collection tablecloth, the men take out a bucket of vodka. They walk in a festive crowd and promise to treat vodka to those who prove that they are happy. The emaciated deacon proves that he is happy by faith in God and the Kingdom of Heaven; the old woman says that she is happy that her turnip has ugly - they don’t give them vodka. A soldier comes up next, shows off his medals, and says he's happy because he wasn't killed in any of the battles he's been in. The soldier is treated to vodka. The bricklayer got home alive after a serious illness - this is what makes him happy.

The yard man considers himself happy, because, while licking the master's plates, he got a "noble disease" - gout. He puts himself above the men, they drive him away. A Belarusian sees his happiness in bread. Wanderers bring vodka to a peasant who survived hunting a bear.

People tell strangers about Yermila Girin. He asked people for a loan of money, then returned everything to the last ruble, although he could deceive them. People believed him, because he honestly served as a clerk and treated everyone carefully, did not take someone else's, did not shield the guilty. But once a fine was imposed on Yermila because instead of his brother he sent the son of a peasant woman, Nenila Vlasyevna, to recruit. He repented, and the peasant woman's son was returned. But Yermila still feels guilty for her act. People advise wanderers to go to Yermila and ask him. The story of Girin is interrupted by the cries of a drunken footman who has been caught stealing.

CHAPTER FIVE LANDMAN

In the morning the wanderers meet the landowner Obolt-Obolduev. He takes the wanderers for robbers. Realizing that they are not robbers, the landowner hides the gun and tells the wanderers about his life. His family is very ancient; he recalls the sumptuous feasts that used to take place. The landowner was very kind: on holidays he let peasants into his house to pray. The peasants voluntarily brought him gifts. Now the gardens of the landlords are being plundered, the houses are being dismantled, the peasants are working badly, reluctantly. The landowner is called upon to study and work when he cannot even tell a barley ear from a rye ear. At the end of the conversation, the landowner sobs.

Last

(From the second part)

Seeing the haymaking, the peasants, longing for work, take the scythes from the women and begin to mow. Here an old gray-haired landowner sails in boats with servants, barchats, ladies. Orders to dry one stack - it seems to him that it is wet. Everyone is trying to curry favor with the master. Vlas tells the story of the master.

When serfdom was abolished, he had a stroke, as he became extremely furious. Fearing that the master would deprive them of their inheritance, the sons persuaded the peasants to pretend that serfdom still existed. Vlas refused the post of burmister. Having no conscience, Klim Lavin takes his place.

Satisfied with himself, the prince walks around the estate and gives stupid orders. Trying to do a good deed, the prince fixes the crumbling house of a seventy-year-old widow and orders her to be married to a minor neighbor. Not wanting to obey Prince Utyatin, the peasant Aran tells him everything. Because of this, the prince had a second blow. But he survived again, not justifying the hopes of the heirs, and demanded the punishment of Agap. The heirs persuaded Petrov to shout louder in the stable after drinking a damask of wine. Then he was taken home drunk. But soon he, poisoned by wine, died.

At the table, everyone submits to the whims of Utyatin. The "rich St. Petersburg worker" suddenly arrived for a while, unable to stand it, laughs.

Utyatin demands to punish the guilty. Burmistrova's godfather throws herself at the master's feet and says that her son laughed. Having calmed down, the prince drinks champagne, revels and after a while falls asleep. They take him away. The duckling grabs the third blow - he dies. With the death of the master, the expected happiness did not come. Litigation began between the peasants and the heirs.

peasant woman

(From the third part)

PROLOGUE

Wanderers come to the village of Klin to ask Matrena Timofeevna Korchagina about happiness. Some men fishing complain to strangers that there used to be more fish. Matryona Timofeevna has no time to talk about her life, because she is busy harvesting. When the wanderers promise to help her, she agrees to talk to them.

CHAPTER ONE BEFORE MARRIAGE

When Matryona was a girl, she lived "like in Christ's bosom." Having drunk with the matchmakers, the father decides to marry his daughter to Philip Korchagin. After persuasion, Matrena agrees to marriage.

CHAPTER TWO SONG

Matrena Timofeevna compares her life in her husband's family with hell. “The family was huge, quarrelsome...” True, the husband got a good one - her husband beat her only once. And so he even "ride on a sled" and "gave a silk handkerchief." She named her son Matryona Demushka.

In order not to quarrel with her husband's relatives, Matryona does all the work assigned to her, does not answer the scolding of her mother-in-law and father-in-law. But the old grandfather Savely - the father of the father-in-law - takes pity on the young woman and talks to her kindly.

CHAPTER THREE

Matrena Timofeevna begins the story about grandfather Saveliy. Compares him to a bear. Grandfather Saveliy did not let his relatives into his room, for which they were angry with him.

Peasants during Savely's youth paid dues only three times a year. The landowner Shalashnikov could not get to the remote village himself, so he ordered the peasants to come to him. They have not come. Twice the peasants paid tribute to the police: sometimes with honey and fish, sometimes with skins. After the third arrival of the police, the peasants decided to go to Shalashnikov and say that there was no quitrent. But after the flogging, they still gave away some of the money. The hundred-ruble notes sewn under the lining did not get to the landowner.

The German, sent by the son of Shalashnikov, who died in battle, first asked the peasants to pay as much as they could. Since the peasants could not pay, they had to earn dues. Only later did they realize that they were building a road to the village. And, therefore, now they can not hide from the tax collectors!

The peasants began a hard life and lasted eighteen years. Angry, the peasants buried the German alive. They were all sent to prison. Savely failed to escape, and he spent twenty years in hard labor. Since then, it has been called "convict".

CHAPTER FOUR

Because of her son, Matryona began to work less. Mother-in-law demanded to give Demushka to grandfather. Falling asleep, the grandfather overlooked the child, he was eaten by pigs. The arriving police accuse Matryona of deliberately killing the child. She is declared insane. Demushka is buried in a closed coffin.

CHAPTER FIVE THE WOLF

After the death of his son, Matryona spends all the time at his grave, unable to work. Savely takes the tragedy hard and goes to the Sand Monastery for repentance. Every year Matryona gives birth to children. Three years later, Matryona's parents die. At the grave of his son, Matryona meets with grandfather Savely, who came to pray for the child.

Matryona's eight-year-old son Fedot is sent to guard the sheep. One sheep was stolen by a hungry she-wolf. Fedot, after a long pursuit, overtakes the she-wolf and takes away the sheep from her, but, seeing that the cattle is already dead, he returns it to the she-wolf - she has become terribly thin, it is clear that she is feeding children. For the act of Fedotushka, the mother is punished. Matrena believes that her disobedience is to blame, she fed Fedot with milk on a fast day.

CHAPTER SIX

HARD YEAR

When the lack of bread came, the mother-in-law blamed Matryona for the bey. She would have been killed for this, if not for her intercessor husband. Matrona's husband is recruited. Her life in the house of her father-in-law and mother-in-law became even harder.

CHAPTER SEVEN

GOVERNOR

Pregnant Matryona goes to the governor. Having given two rubles to the lackey, Matryona meets with the governor's wife, asking her for protection. Matryona Timofeevna gives birth to a child in the governor's house.

Elena Alexandrovna has no children of her own; she takes care of Matrena's child as if it were her own. The envoy sorted everything out in the village, Matrena's husband was returned.

CHAPTER EIGHT

WOMAN'S PARABLE

Matrena tells the wanderers about her current life, saying that among the women they will not find a happy one. To the question of the wanderers, did Matryona tell them everything, the woman replies that there is not enough time to list all her troubles. He says that women are already slaves from their very birth.

The keys to women's happiness, From our free will Abandoned, lost From God himself!

Feast - for the whole world

INTRODUCTION

Klim Yakovlich started a feast in the village. The parish deacon Trifon came with his sons Savvushka and Grisha. They were hardworking, kind guys. The peasants argued about how they should dispose of the meadows after the death of the prince; guessed and sang songs: "Merry", "Corvee".

The peasants remember the old order: they worked during the day, drank and fought at night.

They tell the story of the faithful servant Jacob. Yakov's nephew Grisha asked to marry his girlfriend Arisha. The landowner himself likes Arish, so the master sends Grisha to the soldiers. After a long absence, Yakov returns to the master. Later, Yakov, in front of the master, hangs himself in a dense forest. Left alone, the master cannot get out of the forest. In the morning a hunter found him. The master admits his guilt and asks to be executed.

Klim Lavin defeats the merchant in a fight. The pilgrim Ionushka talks about the power of faith; how the Turks drowned the monks of Athos in the sea.

ABOUT TWO GREAT SINNERS

Father Pitirim told this ancient story to Ionushka. Twelve robbers with ataman Kudeyar lived in the forest and robbed people. But soon the robber began to imagine the people he had killed, and he began to ask the Lord to forgive him his sins. To atone for his sins, Kudeyar needed to cut down an oak with the same hand and the same knife that he used to kill people. When he began to saw, pan Glukhovsky rode by, who honored only women, wine and gold, but mercilessly tortured, tortured and hanged peasants. Angry, Kudeyar plunged a knife into the sinner's heart. The burden of sins immediately fell.

OLD AND NEW

Jonah swims away. The peasants are again arguing about sins. Ignat Prokhorov tells the story of a will, according to which eight thousand serfs would have been freed if the headman had not sold it.

Soldier Ovsyannikov and his niece Ustinyushka arrive on the wagon. Ovsyannikov sings a song that there is no truth. They do not want to give the soldier a pension, and yet he was repeatedly wounded in numerous battles.

GOOD TIME - GOOD SONGS

Savva and Grisha take their father home and sing a song that freedom comes first. Grisha goes to the fields and remembers his mother. Sings a song about the future of the country. Grigory sees a barge hauler and sings the song "Rus", calling her mother.