The novel “What to Do” became a resonant event in the world of Russian literature. Its appearance coincided with the flowering of new ideas for Russia—Fourier’s philosophy. Therefore, many people joyfully welcomed progress in Russian art and positively perceived the plans for the future of society that the author described. But most readers were more conservative and criticized the work, reproaching N. G. Chernyshevsky for immorality and the destruction of traditional values. Who was right? The wise Litrekon does not judge, but offers a detailed analysis of the book.
Nikolai Gavrilovich Chernyshevsky created his novel “What is to be done?” in solitary confinement Peter and Paul Fortress in 1862-1863 Convicted of revolutionary activities, Chernyshevsky showed “new” people who would build an ideal Russia in the future.
Of course, his work was checked far and wide, but the censors only noticed a love triangle and let the novel go into print. It was published in Sovremennik. Only after distributing hundreds of copies did the censorship body realize Beketov's (Chernyshevsky's censor) mistake and remove him from service. All issues of the magazine with forbidden reading were, if possible, withdrawn from circulation, but it was too late: the book quickly spread in handwritten form, and its ban became the best PR campaign to promote the writer. Everyone was curious about the “forbidden fruit.” The concept of the novel What Is To Be Done inspired many other writers to imitate or debate. The book became a landmark event, and some literary scholars even put forward the theory that it was deliberately omitted from publication, but not all officials shared a positive opinion about it, so the work gave rise to a conflict of interest.
The creative history of the novel “What to Do” did not end there: the book was published in 1867 in Geneva, it was translated into the most popular world languages. In Russia, the ban on its publication was in effect until 1905, and after the revolution of 1917, the work became universally available throughout the USSR, it was even translated into Farsi.
Genre, direction
The genre of the novel “What Is to Be Done” can be defined as a “utopian novel.” The author writes not about the present time, but about a happy and serene future, where women will be free, men will not be jealous, and entrepreneurship based on a socialist approach is available to everyone. Chernyshevsky clearly idealizes a tomorrow based on communist principles. That is why the novel is utopian and not realistic, because instead of heroes the writer has not people, but ideas living in images.
Direction - socialist realism. Chernyshevsky was far from socialism, like Russia at that time, but he adopted foreign ideas and was captivated by “freedom, equality and brotherhood.” Every line of his work speaks of the need for a transition from capitalism, where everyone is for himself, to socialism, where everyone is equal and happy. It is not for nothing that Vera organizes a workshop that does not belong to her, but to all the workers: this is a project for a new economic structure of the country, where there will be no private property. That is why Chernyshevsky’s realism is “socialist,” that is, aimed at revealing new ideas.
Meaning of the name
The meaning of the title of the novel “What to do” indicates the place and time of the book’s action - the future. The question is addressed to tomorrow, because it sounds not “what are we doing” (present tense), but “what to do” (future tense). The author teaches how to solve emerging problems, how to get out of a social, political and moral crisis?
To be understood, he takes as an example an everyday situation: what should Vera do in order to marry for love and not sell herself? What should hundreds of girls in trouble do? There is a solution, and the author sees it in socialism, when the property for which people sell and captivate their own children will become common.
The bottom line: what?
First, we learn about a mysterious suicide who shot himself on the bridge. Then the narrative moves to Vera’s room, which is preparing for the wedding. The girl blames herself for the tragedy that occurred. The author then reveals the story of this girl. She lived in a poor family with a weak-willed father, an oppressive mother and a brother. Marya Alekseevna, Vera's mother, is very calculating and selfish, so she wants to bring together the daughter and son of her husband's boss, against Vera's wishes. Mikhail, the prospective groom, only wants to have fun with the beauty, but Marya Alekseevna is ready to sell her daughter’s honor in order to force her later young man to marriage.
Meanwhile, a tutor, student Lopukhov, comes to Vera’s brother. One day they started talking, and the hero realized how unhappy the girl was. He decided to help her get out of the house, but could not find a service where she could earn a living. As a result, he stole her from home and married her, agreeing with his mother to do without a trial, but also without a dowry. Their family ties were in a new way: they slept in different rooms and did not enter without knocking. Sometimes Lopukhov’s friend, Kirsanov, came to see them, but then he began to avoid meeting. He and Vera began to understand that they loved each other. Dreams told Vera that she felt only gratitude towards Dmitry. Realizing this, the hero passes away, and his friends get married.
But it’s not only love that occupies Vera: she decides to organize a workshop to help girls like herself. She is also inspired to do this by dreams, which explain that many people are inherently good, but incorrect living conditions distort their nature. The sewing workshop does not belong to Vera, but to all the workers, thanks to which the business is taking off and growing quickly. In her free time, the heroine goes on picnics with friends, conducts learned conversations and studies medicine.
In the finale, she meets a foreigner who married a Russian girl from their circle. He is the same Lopukhov who staged suicide to give his friends freedom. Everyone is happy.
The main characters and their characteristics
"What to do?" is distinguished by its novelty of views regarding family norms, women's issues and the structure of society. The main characters of the work are free from social prejudices, they achieve success through their work, they are honest and noble. Vera Pavlovna, Lopukhov and Kirsanov, whose love triangle creates the main intrigue of the work, according to Chernyshevsky, are the best representatives of the intelligentsia. They try to invest as much as possible in the “common cause.”
| heroes of the novel “What to Do” | characteristic |
| Vera Rosalskaya | The life example of Pavlovna Rozalskaya’s faith is especially interesting and new. the heroine did not change her principles, even when her oppressive mother tried to pass her off as an unworthy person. She was not afraid of public opinion, she opened general sewing workshops and was preparing to become a doctor. Vera Pavlovna’s desire for self-development, social progress, and not for creating a family, make her an exceptional female character in Russian literature. in a conversation with Kirsanov, she claims that the means for development and the motives to strive for it were taken away from the woman by brutal violence. her family relationships with Lopukhov and Kirsanov are distinguished not only by equality, but also by respect for personal space. spouses have separate rooms, do not enter each other's room without knocking, and do not appear undressed in each other's presence. in their opinion, this is the only way to maintain a strong and respectful relationship in marriage. |
| Dmitry Lopukhov and Alexander Kirsanov | Dmitry Lopukhov and Alexander Kirsanov are ideal intellectuals who serve society. For the main characters, the life values are personal freedom and equality. They consider even some natural and habitual human qualities, such as jealousy, to be false and vile. Another important component of the heroes’ lives is work. Kirsans and Burdocks - they save people’s lives by working as doctors, make their way on their own, and honestly earn their money. at the same time, the author does not idealize them. his characters are calculating and stick to the basics reasonable selfishness- a new philosophical concept of that time. it lies in the need to take care of one's own interests, which will lead to general prosperity if all people think about themselves and work for their own benefit. So, Lopukhov makes a career as a doctor because they are paid more than ordinary officials without connections. Kirsanov says that he loves only himself. the basis of their actions is the desire for benefit. By taking care of themselves, they make society better, because they are useful to it. |
| Rakhmetov (Nikita Lomov) | As a person of radical views, the author considers the emergence of such a society possible only through revolution. Chernyshevsky’s novel is socio-political, it was important for the author to express his ideology, as well as its embodiment in real life. due to this, central character The novel is Rakhmetov, a professional revolutionary. and although he is not given much plot time, the role of this hero is more important than all others. Rakhmetov is “the salt of the earth”, “a special person” who dedicated his life to serving the people and fighting for their rights. Rakhmetov was an ordinary young man from a noble family who came to St. Petersburg. The turning point in his fate was the meeting with Kirsanov, who introduced the hero to the philosophical works of the utopian socialists. After this, Rakhmetov sold the estate, distributed the money to students and graduate students, and began to lead an ascetic life, tirelessly training his mind and body. He surrounded himself with only the most necessary things, ate simply, often limiting himself to a piece of beef a day to maintain physical strength. Rakhmetov considered it wrong to surround oneself with luxury and eat delicious food when the people are poor and hungry. to be closer to ordinary people, to feel their difficult lot, he walked all over Russia, worked as a woodcutter, a stonemason, and a barge hauler. for outstanding physical strength he was nicknamed Nikitushka Lomov in honor of the hero barge hauler. In the image of Rakhmetov, Chernyshevsky showed the type of revolutionary emerging in Russia with an iron will, a readiness to fight for an idea, devoted to the people. |
| Marya Alekseevna | mother of faith. this image is a reflection of the horrors of the former life, the one that was contemporary with Chernyshevsky. she rose from the bottom, at the cost of humiliation and cruelty, earned bread for her family and became coarser in the constant struggle for existence. She is not inherently vicious, but the conditions and orders in the country forced her to become callous and sell her own children. |
| Julie | |
| Mikhail Stoleshnikov | bridegroom of faith. this is a collective image of a man who lives according to traditional rules. he has fun, enjoys primitive pleasures and does not think about anyone but himself. He sees all women as delicacies, so he is not able to love. He does not bring any benefit to the country, since service occupies a third-rate place in his life. |
| Nastenka Kryukova |
a girl with the same life problems that Vera faced. she is saved by Alexander Kirsanov, and from that moment the heroine begins a new free life based on freedom and equality. |
Themes
The theme of the novel “What to Do” is interesting and entertaining even today:
- The main theme of the novel is freedom. It is revealed from different aspects: the personal freedom of Vera, the global freedom of the people, for which Rakhmetov is fighting, the freedom of choice, which many girls are deprived of. The writer says “yes” to every freedom. Through overcoming personal and global slavery, his heroes find themselves and their happiness. The symbol of freedom is the 4th dream of Vera Pavlovna, where the author depicts all stages of a woman’s development: she was an object for hypocritical admiration, a voluptuous slave, a goddess chained in her sensuality for one night, but only equality with men can give her a different image - strong, independent and beautiful.
- Another topic - equality. People must be equal, therefore private property is abolished in Chernyshevsky's world. His heroes are ascetic, content with only what is necessary, so there is no enmity or envy among them. The boss Vera is friends with the workers because their salaries and contributions to the common cause are equal. Rakhmetov also strives for universal equality, because it was he who gave all the land to the peasants and distributed money to gifted students.
- Love is also an important issue. This feeling is also defiled by the possessive instinct, so the author removes jealousy and the formalism of marriage from it. The heroes are happy because no one belongs to anyone. Rakhmetov completely abandons love in the name of higher goals. His feeling belongs to the people.
- Friendship also becomes the subject of the author’s thoughts. He shows noble and honest men, each of whom sacrifices his interests for the sake of his comrade. First, Kirsanov abandons Vera, and then Lopukhov leaves his friends for their own good. Friendship, according to the author, is possible only under conditions of equality and freedom of choice.
- Family theme also occupies an important place in the novel: the outdated family model is vicious and immoral, while a new type of relationship, based on respect and observance of the boundaries of personal space, helps people realize their potential and is a reliable rear.
- Work is also revised by the author: he sees a woman’s vocation in social activities, just like a man’s vocation. He would like to reduce everyday life to a minimum, as well as the excesses in it. Children and housekeeping should not be the limit of a girl’s capabilities and her only occupation. But only that work is important that benefits the whole society, and does not serve only selfish gain.
The subject of the work is vast, and in order not to drag out the article, the Many-Wise Litrekon suggests doing this: if you need to supplement this section, write about it in the comments.
Problems
The problems of the novel “What to Do” are equally multifaceted, so if not all topics that interest you are listed here, write about it in the comments, and Litrekon will complement the analysis.
- Social injustice- the main problem of Chernyshevsky’s work and world. A woman is not equal to a man, an assistant is not equal to a leader, and the people are not equal to the elite. All these contradictions give rise to conflicts and problems. Only the destruction of private property and its cult can change the course of events. An example for the reader is Rakhmetov, who gave up his wealth and even his personal life in favor of the people. Only such people can change the world for the better.
- Women's question is another important problem. In Russia at that time, a woman could not get a job and engage in self-development, because she was forced into family life and motherhood. There was no choice: either marriage or a brothel. The author insists that girls should have the same rights as men: they should go to work, live independently and have the right to vote in the family. No one has the right to force them into the role of mother and wife.
- Greed and desire for profit. These desires force people to be cruel and rude. Money becomes the meaning of life for them, it also destroys families and love, partnership and even the country. While the people are starving, the elite are feasting, and such injustice is generated only by greed. If there is no desire for accumulation and enrichment, then there will be no social conflicts.
- Public opinion. Until people get rid of fear and dependence on society, they will not be able to move forward and free themselves. Rakhmetov disdained the opinion of the majority and got down to business, despite the protests of his relatives and his entourage. If everyone does what they should, then the world will change for the better.
main idea
Thus, the “internal” plot of the novel “What is to be done?”, which tells about the life of Rakhmetov, is central to the entire work. It was important for the author to show a new type of people who are capable of changing the life of society and becoming an example for many. They live not for themselves, but for the people, and this is their moral greatness. Rakhmetov is the next stage of human development after Kirsanov and Lopukhov. So the author makes it clear that the main role in the revolution belongs to the working class - people of action, not words. Chernyshevsky wrote about Rakhmetov:
“Here is a genuine person who Russia especially needs now, take his example and, whoever is able and able, follow his path, for this is the only path for you that can lead to the desired goal.”
Means, the main idea the novel “What to Do” is the need for a revolution in one’s consciousness and in the country.
Chernyshevsky shows the future socialist society in the actions and words of the characters, in the unusual organization of the sewing workshop, in Vera Pavlovna’s 4th dream. Vera Pavlovna also works - she organizes the work of the sewing workshop. Her enterprise is a kind of commune: the workers are equal and receive the same amount of profit, and Vera Pavlovna receives the same share. Also, the workers and Vera and her husband spend the weekend together, going on a picnic. This model shows the future structure of the world: everyone is equal and everyone gets equally. This is the meaning of the novel “What to Do” - the author showed people a method for solving pressing social problems.
Innovation and Features
The artistic originality of the novel “What Is to Be Done” lies in the presence of interesting new characters who are not typical of Russian literature. The author, unlike most of his colleagues, did not condemn rational egoism, but defended it. He also showed that nihilism is not immorality, but a revision of outdated values.
Chernyshevsky also chose an extraordinary form of storytelling. He often talks directly to the reader, mocking his possible objections. The controversy with him is perhaps the most important part of the novel. He explains every action of the hero and laughs at the plot itself, because the love triangle is just a screen behind which we're talking about about revolution and fundamental changes in society.
Criticism
Not all critics liked the novel “What to Do.” So, N.S. Leskov even wrote a novel refuting the main postulates of Chernyshevsky’s work, “On Knives.” He ridiculed his hopes and aspirations, although he did not deny that the book was a rather bold experiment. He emphasized the popularity of “What to do”:
They talked about Chernyshevsky’s novel not in a whisper, not in a low voice, but at the top of their lungs in the halls, on the porches, at Madame Milbret’s table and in the basement pub of the Stenbokov Passage. They shouted: “disgusting”, “charming”, “abomination”, etc. - all in different tones.
Censor P.I. Kapnist, shortly after the publication of Chernyshevsky’s book, wrote to the Minister of Internal Affairs P.A. Valuev that the novel “What is to be done?” “had a great influence even on the external life of some narrow-minded and unstable people in their concepts of morality, both in the capitals and in the provinces.<…>There were examples of daughters leaving their fathers and mothers, wives leaving their husbands.”
Composer and public figure F.M. Tolstoy wrote a review for the government publication “Northern Bee” and criticized the work quite harshly:
"What to do?" is “the ugliest work of Russian literature”, full of “disgusting filth”
The famous poet A. Fet expressed no more positive thoughts:
“The paucity of invention, the positive lack of creativity, the incessant repetitions, the deliberate antics of the most bad taste and, on top of all this, the helpless clumsiness of the language turn the reading of a novel into a difficult, almost unbearable job.”
However, the revolutionaries of that time were in solidarity with the author of “What is to be done.” The anarchist Prince Kropotkin spoke about the work:
For Russian youth of that time, it [the book “What is to be done?”] was a kind of revelation and turned into a program, became a kind of banner.
Pisarev (a liberal-minded critic and nihilist) believed that Chernyshevsky’s novel is “a highly original work and, from whatever point of view you look at it, in any case extremely remarkable. The merits and demerits of this novel belong to him alone.”
V.S. Kurochkin (publicist) also spoke out in defense of N.G.’s book. Chernyshevsky and noted that particularly fierce critics did not even read the novel to the end and did not understand its meaning.
The revolutionary-minded poet V. Mayakovsky, who became one of the most famous Soviet writers, greatly appreciated the book:
One of the books closest to him was “What is to be done?” Chernyshevsky. He kept coming back to her. The life described in it echoed ours. Mayakovsky seemed to consult with Chernyshevsky about his personal affairs and found support in him. "What to do?" was the last book he read before his death.
IN modern society We often hear slogans about class inequality, social injustice and the fact that a gigantic gap has formed between the poor and the rich. There were similar problems in earlier times. This is evidenced by the brilliant work of Nikolai Gavrilovich Chernyshevsky “What to do? From stories about new people."
Undoubtedly, we can say that the novel “What is to be done?” is an ambiguous, complex and highly conspiratorial work that is difficult to perceive, much less expect ease of reading from it. First, you need to study in more detail the ideas and worldview of the author, and plunge into the atmosphere of that time. And the Hobbibook editors will definitely help you with this.
N.G. Chernyshevsky (1828-1889) short biography
The future publicist was born in Saratov, in the family of the priest Gavrila Ivanovich Chernyshevsky. His father gave him his initial education at home, but this did not prevent Chernyshevsky from entering the Saratov Theological Seminary and, after graduating, continuing his education at St. Petersburg University, at the Faculty of Philosophy.
He studied Slavic philology. Nikolai Gavrilovich was an incredibly well-read and erudite person. He knew Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, German, Polish and English.
As the writer’s contemporaries write: “with the versatility of his knowledge and the vastness of information on the Holy Scriptures, general civil history, philosophy, etc., he amazed us all. Our mentors considered it a pleasure to talk with him as with a fully developed person.”*
(A. I. Rozanov. Nikolai Gavrilovich Chernyshevsky. - In the collection: N. G. Chernyshevsky in the memoirs of his contemporaries.)
IN student years In Chernyshevsky, revolutionary socialist views were formed, which influenced his future fate. His worldview was reinforced by the works of Hegel and Feuerbach. Acquaintance with Vvedensky also had a significant influence on the writer.*
For reference
*I.I. Vvedensky(1813-1855) – Russian translator and literary critic. Considered the founder of Russian nihilism. He is known as the author of translations of stories by Fenimore Cooper, Charlotte Bronte and Charles Dickens. .
Chernyshevsky outlined his thoughts already in 1850:
“This is my way of thinking about Russia: an irresistible expectation of an imminent revolution and a thirst for it, although I know that for a long time, perhaps for a very long time, nothing good will come of this, that perhaps oppression will only increase for a long time, etc. . - what are the needs?<...>peaceful, quiet development is impossible"
After graduating from university, he became a literature teacher at the Saratov gymnasium and immediately began to share with his students his socialist beliefs, which “smelled of hard labor.”
In parallel with his academic life, Nikolai Gavrilovich tried his hand at the literary and journalistic fields. His first short articles were published in the magazines “St. Petersburg Vedomosti” and “Otechestvenny Zapiski”. But the most prominent was his collaboration (1854-1862) with the Sovremennik magazine, which was headed by the famous classic of Russian literature Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov.
The magazine openly criticized the current government regime in the country and supported the revolutionary democratic movement. The atmosphere between the editors of Sovremennik and the state apparatus worsened in 1861.
On February 19, 1861, Alexander II issued a manifesto “On the most merciful granting to serfs of the rights of free rural inhabitants” and Regulations on peasants emerging from serfdom.
Understanding the predatory nature of this reform, Chernyshevsky boycotts the manifesto and accuses the autocracy of robbing the peasants. The publication of revolutionary proclamations began. In June 1862, the Sovremennik magazine was temporarily closed, and a month later Chernyshevsky was arrested.
While in prison, Nikolai Gavrilovich writes the novel of his life, “What to do? From stories about new people." In it, he tries to offer a modern hero who responds to the challenges of society. Thus, Chernyshevsky continues Turgenev’s line in Fathers and Sons.
Chernyshevsky “What to do?” - summary
The development of the plot and, in general, the narrative itself in Chernyshevsky’s novel is quite extraordinary. The beginning convinces us of this.
1856, an emergency occurred in one of the hotels in St. Petersburg - a suicide note was found. There are also indirect traces of the man’s suicide. Having established his identity, the tragic news is reported to his wife, Vera Pavlovna.
And here the author abruptly moves the reader four years ago, using an artistic effect very similar to a flashback (he will resort to it more than once), in order to tell us what led the heroes of the story to such a sad ending.
In addition to the alternation of events, Chernyshevsky uses the narrator’s voice in the novel, commenting on what is happening. The author engages the reader in a confidential conversation, evaluating events, characters and their actions. It is the scenes-dialogues with the reader that account for the main semantic load.
So, 1852. Chernyshevsky places us in the society of an apartment building in which 16-year-old Vera Rozalskaya and her family live. The girl is not ugly, modest, well educated and prefers to have her own opinion in everything. Her hobby is sewing and she sews clothes for her family quite easily.
But life does not make her happy at all, on the one hand, her father, the manager of this house, behaves like a “rag,” and on the other, her mother, Marya Alekseevna, is a despot and tyrant. The parent's educational method consists of daily abuse and assault. The matter gets even worse when Marya Alekseevna decides to profitably marry her daughter to the son of the mistress of the house.
It would seem that fate is predetermined - an unloved man and a house like a locked cage. But Vera’s life changes dramatically with the appearance of a student in the house medical academy Dmitry Lopukhov. Mutual feelings arise between them, and the girl leaves parents' house to build your life as you wish.
It is into such a simple plot that Chernyshevsky weaves his revolutionary work.
Let us note that the manuscript of the novel was transferred from the Peter and Paul Fortress in parts and was published in separate chapters in the Sovremennik magazine. This turned out to be a very wise decision by Chernyshevsky, because looking at individual passages is one thing, and looking at the novel as a whole is another.
IN AND. Lenin noted that Chernyshevsky “ knew how to influence everything political events of his era in a revolutionary spirit, carrying out - through the obstacles and slingshots of censorship - the idea of a peasant revolution, the idea of the struggle of the masses to overthrow all the old authorities"(Lenin V.I. Complete collected works. T. 20. P. 175)
After the release of the last part of “What is to be done?”, the investigative commission and censors put all the components together and were horrified; the novel was banned by censorship and republished only in 1905. What ideas did the state try to silence? And why did contemporaries speak of the novel with such admiration?
“He plowed me all deep"- said Vladimir Ilyich (V.I. Lenin on literature and art. M., 1986. P. 454). “For the Russian youth of that time, - the famous revolutionary, anarchist Peter Kropotkin wrote about this book, - it was a kind of revelation and turned into a program».
Analysis and characters of Chernyshevsky’s novel “What is to be done?”
1. Women's issue
First of all, you need to understand that one of the key characters in the novel is Vera Pavlovna. After all, her main goal in life is independence and complete equality in society. For women of that time, a new and daring motivation.
Now we are accustomed to the fact that a woman easily occupies leadership positions and is not at all ready to devote herself to home seclusion. And at that time, the most a woman could afford was to become an actress, governess or an ordinary seamstress in a factory. And this is due to the shortage of labor during the period of industrialization. There was no talk of state care during her illness or pregnancy.
Let's add to this forced marriages. And we will get an approximate picture social status women in the 19th century. The character of Vera Pavlovna mercilessly destroys all these established stereotypes. She is a person of a new formation, a person of the future.
Dreams of Vera Pavlovna in the novel “What to do?”
It is not for nothing that Vera Pavlovna’s utopian dreams occupy a central place in the novel. Pictures of the future arise in them.
The first dream reflects the freedom of a woman, the second is quite abstract and shows the main character an alternative present, the third carries a new philosophy of love, and the last, fourth dream shows the reader a new society living according to the principle of social justice.
Of course, the novel had the effect of a bomb exploding; most women perceived Vera Pavlovna as an example of the struggle for freedom and equality, spiritual liberation.
2. The theory of egoism and socialism
Dmitry Lopukhov and his friend Alexander Kirsanov, people of strong character and unfailing integrity. Both are followers of the egoism theory. In their understanding, any action of a person is interpreted by his inner conviction and benefit. These characters clearly demonstrate new trends in matters of personal relationships, the establishment of new standards of morality and love.
Even now, many of the heroes’ beliefs have not lost their relevance. For example, here is Dmitry Lopukhov’s opinion about family relationships:
“... alterations of characters are good only when they are directed against some bad side; and those aspects that she and I would have to remake in ourselves had nothing bad. Why is sociability worse or better than solitary tendencies, or vice versa? But remaking character is, in any case, rape, breaking; and in withdrawal much is lost, much freezes from rape. The result that she and I, maybe (but just maybe, not probably) would have achieved, was not worth such a loss. Both of us would have partially discolored ourselves, more or less stifled the freshness of life in ourselves. For what? In order only to save famous places in famous rooms. It would be a different matter if we had children; Then it would be necessary to think a lot about how their fate will change as a result of our separation: if for the worse, then preventing this is worth the greatest effort, and the result is joy that you did what was necessary to preserve the best fate for those you love.”
The revolutionary stands out as a separate character-symbol Rakhmetov. The author devotes a separate chapter to him, “A Special Person.” This is a person who understands that the struggle for the reconstruction of society will be fought to the death and therefore carefully prepares himself for this. He renounces his personal interests for the sake of some common goal. The image of Rakhmetov shows the characteristic features of revolutionaries emerging in Russia, possessing an unyielding will to fight for moral ideals, nobility and devotion to the common people and to their homeland.
As a result of joint actions, all the main characters create a small socialist society inside one separate garment factory. Chernyshevsky describes in the finest detail the process of formation of a new labor society. And in this context "What to do?" can be perceived as a program for action, which clearly answers the questions posed: what one should be; what does work mean in a person’s life; philosophy of love and friendship; the place of women in modern society and so on.
Of course, the concept of “What to do?” many tried to challenge and prove their groundlessness. These were mainly the authors of so-called anti-nihilistic novels. But this no longer matters, since Chernyshevsky’s prophecy was destined to come true.
Despite his popularity among the masses, the state did not treat the revolutionary writer so kindly. He was deprived of all rights of the estate and sentenced to 14 years of hard labor, followed by settlement in Siberia (1864). Later, Emperor Alexander II reduced the term of hard labor to 7 years. In 1889, Chernyshevsky received permission to return to his hometown of Saratov, but soon died of a cerebral hemorrhage.
Eventually
Thus, seemingly ordinary fiction contains elements of scientific and journalistic work, which includes philosophy, psychology, revolutionary views, and social utopia. All this forms a very complex alloy. The writer thereby creates a new morality that changes people’s behavior - frees them from a sense of duty to anyone and teaches them to educate their “I.” Therefore, Chernyshevsky’s novel “What is to be done?” naturally classified as one of the varieties of so-called “intellectual prose”.
Nikolai Chernyshevsky’s novel “What to do?” contemporaries perceived it ambiguously. Some considered him an “abomination,” others considered him a “charm.” This is due to the complex composition, attempts to hide the main idea behind dreams main character And love triangle and, finally, with the peculiarities of linguistic design. Nevertheless, the novel had a serious influence on Russian society in the 19th century. Schoolchildren study it in 10th grade. We offer brief analysis the work “What to do?”, which will help you prepare qualitatively for lessons and for the Unified State Exam.
Brief Analysis
History of creation- N. Chernyshevsky created the novel while he was in the Peter and Paul Fortress. The writer was arrested for radical ideas. The work was conceived as a response to Turgenev’s “Fathers and Sons,” so there is a certain similarity between the images of Evgeny Bazarov and Rakhmetov.
Subject– In the work, two main themes can be distinguished - love and life in a new society built on the basis of the laws of labor and equality.
Composition- The structure of the work has its own peculiarities. The through lines of the novel are the life of Vera Pavlovna, the fates of Lopukhov and Kirsanov. Love twists and turns play a major role in these storylines. Vera Pavlovna’s dreams are closely intertwined with reality. With the help of them, the author encrypted socio-political motives.
Genre– A novel in which one can notice the features of several genre varieties - a utopian novel, socio-political, love and philosophical novels.
Direction– Realism.
History of creation
The writer worked on the analyzed work for several months: from December 1862 to April 1863. At that time he was under arrest in the Peter and Paul Fortress. He was imprisoned for his radical views. The novel was conceived as a response to Turgenev’s “Fathers and Sons,” so there is a certain similarity between the images of Yevgeny Bazarov and Rakhmetov.
While working on the novel, N. Chernyshevsky understood that censorship would not allow it to be published if it noticed an acute political subtext. To deceive the regulatory authorities, the writer resorted to artistic techniques: he framed social motives with a love context and introduced dreams into the plot. He managed to publish his work in Sovremennik, but soon the authorities prohibited not only distributing the novel, but even imitating it. Permission was granted to publish Chernyshevsky’s work “What is to be done?” only in 1905
Subject
The novel displays motifs characteristic of Russian literature of the 19th century century. The writer implemented them in an extraordinary, intricate plot. He presented situations that should push the reader to independent conclusions.
N. Chernyshevsky revealed several topics, among which the following stand out: love, which is nourished by common interests and mutual respect; dreams of a new life. These topics are closely intertwined and determine Problems“What to do?”: marriage without love, friendship, equality of men and women, the role of work in human life.
A significant part of the novel is devoted to the life of Vera Pavlovna. The heroine's mother wanted to marry her to a rich man. She considered the owner's son to be a profitable match. The mother did not even think that he was a womanizer with whom her daughter would not find happiness. Verochka was saved from an unsuccessful marriage by medical student Dmitry Lopukhov. A tender feeling arose between the young people and they got married. Vera became the owner of a sewing workshop. However, she did not use hired labor. The heroine made the girls who worked for her co-owners, and they shared the income equally. In the story about Vera Pavlovna’s workshop, the author embodied the idea of equal labor.
The marriage with Lopukhov soon broke up: Verochka fell in love with her husband’s friend, Kirsanov. To untie the love knot, Lopukhov decided to shoot himself. It turns out that he left the note discussed at the beginning of the novel. In the message, he stated that no one was to blame for his death, and Vera Pavlovna calmly married Kirsanov.
The married couple lived happily. Vera Pavlovna was passionate about her favorite activity - sewing workshops; she began to study medicine, and her husband helped her in every possible way. In the descriptions of the family life of these people, the idea of equality of men and women is manifested. At the end of the novel we learn that Lopukhov is alive. Now he took the surname Beaumont and married Ekaterina Vasilievna Polozova. The Kirsanov and Beaumont families begin to become friends and spread the ideas of a “new” life.
Composition
In “What to do?” the analysis should be supplemented with a characterization of the composition. Features of the formal and semantic organization of the text allow the author to reveal several topics and veil forbidden motives. At first sight, main role love twists and turns play in the novel. In fact, they are a mask that hides socio-political problems. To reveal the latter, the author used the description of Vera Pavlovna’s dreams.
The components of the plot are placed inconsistently: the author presents the event from the development of actions before the exposition, and only then the plot elements are arranged in a logical chain. Both at the beginning and at the end of the novel the image of Lopukhov appears. This creates a kind of frame.
Main characters
Genre
The genre of the work is a novel, as it contains several storylines, A central problem remains open. The work is characterized by genre syncretism: it intertwines the features of love, philosophical, socio-political novels and utopia. The direction of the work is realism.
Work test
Rating Analysis
Average rating: 4.1. Total ratings received: 72.
The main character of the novel. This is a beautiful, slender girl with a southern type of face. She has black hair and dark skin. Before meeting Lopukhov, she lived with her mother, father and brother Fedya on Gorokhovaya Street in St. Petersburg. Vera's father was a manager apartment building, and the mother gave money at interest and dreamed of marrying her daughter to a rich man.
One of the main characters of the novel, a friend of Lopukhov, a commoner, later the husband of Vera Pavlovna. He is a tall, well-built man with dark brown hair And dark blue eyes. He has a long, strong-willed face of remarkable whiteness and a straight, Greek nose. He worked from the age of 12 and helped his father in everything.
One of the main characters of the novel, the husband and friend of Vera Pavlovna, a student at the medical academy, the son of a Ryazan landowner. He ends up in the Rozalskys' house as Fedya's teacher. There he meets Verochka and sympathizes with her difficult situation in the family. Lopukhov's best friend is Kirsanov.
A character in the novel, who has an important purpose in the lives of the main characters, is, according to the author, a “special person”, a friend of Lopukhov, a young man from a noble background. This is an honest and selfless person. He is with early years I set myself the goal of strengthening my will and becoming physically strong. For this purpose, he became a laborer for several hours a day.
Polozova Katerina Vasilievna
An acquaintance of Vera Pavlovna, who was saved from death by her husband, Alexander Kirsanov. She was passionately in love with one rogue - Solovtsov. Her father flatly refused to bless the marriage with him, and she fell ill. Kirsanov managed to convince her father to give her time to deal with Solovtsov, and she soon realized that he was a bad person. She's getting better. At this time, her father goes bankrupt and sells his last plant. An American, Charles Beaumont, who turned out to have previously been Lopukhov and Vera Pavlovna’s first husband, came to conclude the deal. Katerina and Beaumont fall in love and soon get married. In the future, the Kirsanovs and the Beaumonts became close friends and began to live in neighboring apartments.
Charles Beaumont
An American who came as an agent of the London firm of Hodchson, Lauter and Co. to purchase the Polozov plant. He told everyone that he was born in Russia, but at the age of 20 his American father took him to New York. Now Charles has grown up and decided to return to Russia, joining a London company. While dining with Polozov, he met his daughter, Katerina. He was keenly interested in her acquaintances - the Kirsanovs. We soon learn that Charles Beaumont is actually Dmitry Lopukhov. Beaumont and Katerina fall in love and then get married. Beaumont is put in charge of Polozov's former plant with a good salary. The Kirsanovs and the Beaumonts live amicably in neighboring apartments.
Mertsalov
The priest and friend of Lopukhov, who married them to Vera Pavlovna. Later, he and his wife became close friends with Vera Pavlovna.
Mertsalova
The wife of priest Mertsalov and a close friend of Vera Pavlovna. Over time, she began to manage one of her sewing workshops.
Julie
Frenchwoman, former Parisian prostitute, friend of Serge. Having learned about the bet between Storeshnikov and Zhan Solovtsov about Vera Pavlovna, she went and warned her. In the future, she helped her develop a sewing workshop.
Solovtsov (Jean)
One of the most vile characters in the novel. First, he made a bet on Vera Pavlovna with Storeshnikov. And then he wooed Katerina Polozova, so much so that he turned her head. He didn’t love her at all, but Katya’s father was still a millionaire at that time, so he wanted his money. In the future, she figured out who he was and called off the wedding.
Polozov
Katerina's father, a retired captain or headquarters captain, is a former millionaire. Once he married a merchant's wife, successfully disposed of her dowry, and earned 3-4 million. At the age of 60 I quarreled with someone the right person and lost almost all the money.
Storeshnikov
Vera Pavlovna's groom, whom her mother wanted to marry her to. He didn’t love her, he even argued against her as if he were his mistress.
Marya Aleksevna
Mother of Vera Pavlovna. She really didn’t like her daughter, constantly yelled at her and kept dreaming of marrying her off to a rich groom. Because of her, Vera Pavlovna had to run away from home and marry Lopukhov.
Vera's father
A minor character, Vera Pavlovna's father, who does not have his own opinion. Lives under his wife's thumb.
His novel “What to do?” The famous Russian writer Nikolai Gavrilovich Chernyshevsky created it during the period when he was imprisoned in one of the cells of the Peter and Paul Fortress. The novel was written from December 14, 1862 to April 4, 1863, that is, the work, which became a masterpiece of Russian literature, was created in just three and a half months. Already starting in January 1863 and until the author’s final stay in custody, he transferred the manuscript in parts to the commission that dealt with the writer’s case. Here the work was censored, which was approved. Soon the novel was published in the 3rd, 4th and 5th issues of the Sovremennik magazine for 1863. For such an oversight, censor Beketov lost his position. This was followed by bans on all three issues of the magazine. However, it was already too late. Chernyshevsky’s work was distributed throughout the country with the help of “samizdat”.
And only in 1905, during the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, the ban was lifted. Already in 1906, the book “What is to be done?” published in a separate edition.
Who are the new heroes?
The reaction to Chernyshevsky's work was ambiguous. Readers, based on their opinions, were divided into two opposing camps. Some of them believed that the novel lacked artistry. The latter fully supported the author.
However, it is worth remembering that before Chernyshevsky, writers created images of “ extra people" A striking example of such heroes are Pechorin, Oblomov and Onegin, who, despite their differences, are similar in their “smart uselessness.” These people, “pygmies of deeds and titans of words,” were divided natures, suffering from a constant discord between will and consciousness, deed and thought. Besides this, their characteristic feature served as moral exhaustion.
This is not how Chernyshevsky imagines his heroes. He created images of “new people” who know what they need to desire and are also capable of realizing their own plans. Their thoughts go hand in hand with their deeds. Their consciousness and will are not at odds with each other. The heroes of Chernyshevsky’s novel “What to do?” are presented as bearers of new morality and creators of new interpersonal relationships. They deserve the author's main attention. It’s not for nothing that even a summary of the chapters “What to do?” allows us to see that by the end of the second of them the author “releases from the stage” such representatives of the old world - Marya Alekseevna, Storeshnikov, Serge, Julie and some others.
The main issue of the essay
Even a very brief summary of “What to do?” gives an idea of the issues that the author raises in his book. And they are as follows:
- The need for socio-political renewal of society, which is possible through a revolution. Due to censorship, Chernyshevsky did not expand on this topic in more detail. He gave it in the form of half-hints when describing the life of one of the main characters, Rakhmetov, as well as in the 6th chapter.
- Psychological and moral problems. Chernyshevsky claims that a person, using the power of his mind, is able to create in himself new, given by him moral qualities. At the same time, the author develops this process, describing it from the small, in the form of the fight against despotism in the family, to the most large-scale, which found expression in the revolution.
- Problems of family morality and women's emancipation. The author reveals this topic in Vera’s first three dreams, in the history of her family, as well as in the relationships of young people and Lopukhov’s imaginary suicide.
- Dreams of a bright and wonderful life that will come with the creation of a socialist society in the future. Chernyshevsky illuminates this topic thanks to Vera Pavlovna’s fourth dream. The reader also sees here easier work, which became possible thanks to the development of technical means.
The main pathos of the novel is the propaganda of the idea of transforming the world through revolution, as well as its anticipation and preparation of the best minds for this event. At the same time, the idea of active participation in upcoming events is expressed.
What was the main goal that Chernyshevsky set for himself? He dreamed of developing and introducing the latest methods that would allow for the revolutionary education of the masses. His work was supposed to be a kind of textbook, with the help of which every thinking person would begin to form a new worldview.
The entire content of the novel “What to do?” Chernyshevsky is divided into six chapters. Moreover, each of them, except the last one, is further divided into small chapters. In order to emphasize the special importance of the final events, the author speaks about them separately. For this purpose, the content of the novel “What to do?” Chernyshevsky included a one-page chapter entitled “Change of scenery”.
The beginning of the story
Let's look at the summary of Chernyshevsky's novel “What is to be done?” Its plot begins with a note found, which was left in one of the hotel rooms in St. Petersburg by a strange guest. This happened in 1823, on July 11. The note reports that soon its author will be heard on one of the bridges in St. Petersburg - Liteiny. At the same time, the man asked not to look for the guilty. The incident happened that same night. A man shot himself on Liteiny Bridge. A holey cap that belonged to him was fished out of the water.
Below is a summary of the novel “What to do?” introduces us to a young lady. On the morning when the event described above happened, she was at the dacha located on Kamenny Island. The lady sews while humming a bold and lively French song, which talks about working people, whose liberation will require a change of consciousness. This woman's name is Vera Pavlovna. At this moment, the maid brings the lady a letter, after reading which she begins to sob, covering her face with her hands. A young man entering the room makes attempts to calm her down. However, the woman is inconsolable. She pushes the young man away. At the same time, she says: “His blood is on you! You're covered in blood! I am the only one to blame...”
What was said in the letter that Vera Pavlovna received? We can learn about this from the presented summary of “What to do?”. In his message, the writer indicated that he was leaving the stage.
The appearance of Lopukhov
What next do we learn from the summary of Chernyshevsky’s novel “What is to be done?” After the events described, there follows a story telling about Vera Pavlovna, her life, as well as the reasons that led to such a sad outcome.
The author says that his heroine was born in St. Petersburg. This is where she grew up. The lady's father, Pavel Konstantinovich Vozalsky, was the manager of the house. The mother was busy giving money as collateral. The main goal of Marya Alekseevna (Vera Pavlovna’s mother) was to have a profitable marriage for her daughter. And she made every effort to resolve this issue. The evil and narrow-minded Marya Alekseevna invites a music teacher to her daughter. He buys Vera beautiful clothes and goes to the theater with her. Soon to dark skin beautiful girl the owner's son, officer Storeshnikov, draws attention. The young man decides to seduce Vera.
Marya Alekseevna hopes to force Storeshnikov to marry her daughter. To do this, she demands that Vera show favor to the young man. However, the girl understands perfectly well the true intentions of her boyfriend and in every possible way refuses signs of attention. Somehow she even manages to mislead her mother. She pretends to be favorable to the ladies' man. But sooner or later the deception will be revealed. This makes Vera Pavlovna's position in the house simply unbearable. However, everything was suddenly resolved, and in the most unexpected way.
Dmitry Sergeevich Lopukhov appeared in the house. This final year medical student was invited by Verochka’s parents to her brother Fedya as a teacher. At first, the young people treated each other very warily. However, then their communication began to flow in conversations about music and books, as well as about the fair direction of thoughts.
Time has passed. Vera and Dmitry felt sympathy for each other. Lopukhov learns about the girl’s plight and makes attempts to help her. He is looking for a position as a governess for Verochka. Such work would allow the girl to live separately from her parents.
However, all Lopukhov's efforts were unsuccessful. He could not find any owners who would agree to take in a girl who had run away from home. Then the young man in love takes another step. He leaves his studies and begins translating textbooks and giving private lessons. This allows him to start receiving sufficient funds. At the same time, Dmitry proposes to Vera.
First dream
Vera has her first dream. In it, she sees herself emerging from a dark and damp basement and meeting an amazing beauty who calls herself love for people. Verochka talks to her and promises to release girls from such basements who are locked in them, just as she was locked.
Family well-being
Young people live in a rented apartment, and everything is going well for them. However, the landlady notices oddities in their relationship. Verochka and Dmitry call each other only “darling” and “darling”, sleep in separate rooms, entering them only after knocking, etc. All this surprises an outsider. Verochka tries to explain to the woman that this is a completely normal relationship between spouses. After all, this is the only way to avoid getting bored of each other.
The young wife runs the household, gives private lessons, and reads books. Soon she opens her own sewing workshop, in which the girls are self-employed and receive part of the income as co-owners.
Second dream
What else will we learn from the summary of Chernyshevsky’s novel “What is to be done?” As the plot progresses, the author introduces us to Vera Pavlovna’s second dream. In it she sees a field with ears of corn growing on it. There is also dirt here. Moreover, one of them is fantastic, and the second is real.
Real dirt means taking care of what is most necessary in life. This is precisely what Marya Alekseevna was constantly burdened with. This is how you can grow ears of corn. Fantastic dirt represents concern for the unnecessary and superfluous. Ears of corn will never grow on such soil.
The emergence of a new hero
The author shows Kirsanov as a strong-willed and courageous person, capable not only of decisive action, but also of subtle feelings. Alexander spends time with Vera when Dmitry is busy. He goes to the opera with his friend's wife. However, soon, without explaining any reasons, Kirsanov stops coming to the Lopukhovs, which greatly offends them. What was the real reason for this? Kirsanov's falling in love with a friend's wife.
The young man reappeared in the house when Dmitry fell ill in order to cure him and help Vera with her care. And here the woman realizes that she is in love with Alexander, which is why she becomes completely confused.
Third dream
From the summary of the work “What to do?” we learn that Vera Pavlovna is having a third dream. In it, she reads the pages of her diary with the help of some unfamiliar woman. From it she learns that she feels only gratitude towards her husband. However, at the same time, Vera needs a tender and quiet feeling, which she does not have for Dmitry.
Solution
The situation in which three decent and intelligent people find themselves seems, at first glance, insoluble. But Lopukhov finds a way out. He shoots himself on the Liteiny Bridge. On the day that Vera Pavlovna received this news, Rakhmetov came to her. This is an old acquaintance of Lopukhov and Kirsanov, who is called a “special person.”
Meeting Rakhmetov
In the summary of the novel “What to Do,” the “special person” Rakhmetov is presented by the author as a “higher nature,” which Kirsanov helped awaken in his time by introducing him to the right books. The young man comes from a wealthy family. He sold his estate and distributed the proceeds to scholarship holders. Now Rakhmetov adheres to a harsh lifestyle. Partly, he was prompted to do this by his reluctance to possess what an ordinary person does not have. In addition, Rakhmetov set as his goal the education of his own character. For example, to test his physical capabilities, he decides to sleep on nails. In addition, he does not drink wine and does not date women. In order to get closer to the people, Rakhmetov even walked with barge haulers along the Volga.
What else is said about this hero in Chernyshevsky’s novel “What is to be done?” Summary makes it clear that Rakhmetov’s whole life consists of sacraments that have a clearly revolutionary meaning. The young man has many things to do, but none of them are personal. He travels around Europe, but in three years he is going to Russia, where he will definitely need to be.
It was Rakhmetov who came to Vera Pavlovna after receiving a note from Lopukhov. After his persuasion, she calmed down and even became cheerful. Rakhmetov explains that Vera Pavlovna and Lopukhov had very different tempers. That is why the woman reached out to Kirsanov. Soon Vera Pavlovna left for Novgorod. There she married Kirsanov.
The dissimilarity between the characters of Verochka and Lopukhov was also mentioned in a letter that soon arrived from Berlin. In this message, some medical student, who supposedly knew Lopukhov well, conveyed Dmitry’s words that he began to feel much better after the separation of the spouses, since he had always strived for privacy. And this is precisely what the sociable Vera Pavlovna did not allow him to do.
Life of the Kirsanovs
What next does the novel “What to do?” tell its reader? Nikolai Chernyshevsky? A brief summary of the work allows us to understand that the love affairs of the young couple worked out well to everyone’s satisfaction. The Kirsanovs’ lifestyle is not much different from that of the Lopukhov family.
Alexander works a lot. As for Vera Pavlovna, she takes baths, eats cream and is already engaged in two sewing workshops. The house, as before, has neutral and common rooms. However, the woman notices that her new husband does not just allow her to lead the lifestyle she likes. He is interested in her affairs and is ready to help in difficult times. In addition, her husband perfectly understands her desire to master some urgent activity and begins to help her in studying medicine.
Fourth dream
Having briefly become acquainted with Chernyshevsky’s novel “What is to be done?”, we move on to the continuation of the plot. It tells us about Vera Pavlovna’s fourth dream, in which she sees amazing nature and pictures from the lives of women of different millennia.
First, the image of a slave appears before her. This woman obeys her master. After this, Vera sees the Athenians in a dream. They begin to worship the woman, but at the same time they do not recognize her as their equal. Then the following image appears. This is a beautiful lady for whom the knight is ready to fight in the tournament. However, his love immediately passes after the lady becomes his wife. Then, instead of the goddess’s face, Vera Pavlovna sees her own. It is not distinguished by perfect features, but at the same time it is illuminated by the radiance of love. And here the woman who was in the first dream appears. She explains to Vera the meaning of equality and shows pictures of citizens future Russia. They all live in a house built of crystal, cast iron and aluminum. These people work in the morning and start having fun in the evening. The woman explains that this future must be loved and strived for.
Completion of the story
How does N. G. Chernyshevsky’s novel “What to do?” end? The author tells his reader that guests often come to the Kirsanovs’ house. The Beaumont family soon appears among them. When meeting Charles Beaumont, Kirsanov recognizes him as Lopukhov. The two families become so close to each other that they decide to continue living in the same house.