The pinnacle of creativity of the talented Russian prose writer and criticism XIX century, Ivan Goncharov became the novel “Oblomov”, published in 1859 in the magazine “Domestic Notes”. Its epic scale of artistic exploration of the life of the Russian nobility of the mid-nineteenth century allowed this work to occupy one of the central places in Russian literature.
Characteristics of the main character
The main character of the novel is Ilya Ilyich Oblomov, a young (32-33 years old) Russian nobleman who idly and carefree lives on his estate. Has a pleasant appearance main feature which is gentleness in all his features and the fundamental expression of his soul.
His favorite pastime is lying apathetically on the couch and pointlessly spending time in empty thoughts and dreamy thoughts. Moreover, the complete absence of any action is his conscious choice, because he once had a position in the department and was waiting for advancement up the career ladder. But then he got bored with it and gave up everything, making his ideal a carefree life filled with sleepy peace and tranquility, like in childhood.
(Old faithful servant Zakhar)
Oblomov is distinguished by his sincerity, gentleness and kindness, he did not even lose such a valuable moral quality like conscience. He is far from evil or bad deeds, but at the same time confidently say that he positive hero, it is forbidden. Goncharov drew for the reader scary picture Oblomov’s spiritual desolation and his moral decay. Old and faithful servant Zakhar - mirror reflection the character of his young master. He is just as lazy and sloppy, devoted to the depths of his soul to his master and also shares with him the philosophy of his life.
One of the main storylines in the novel, which reveals the character of the main character in the best possible way, is Oblomov’s love relationship with Olga Ilyinskaya. The romantic feelings that suddenly flared up in Oblomov’s heart for this young and sweet person awaken in him an interest in spiritual life, he begins to take an interest in the art and mental demands of his time. Thus, there is a ray of hope that Oblomov can return to normal human life. Love reveals in him new, previously unknown traits of his character, inspires him and inspires him to a new life.
But in the end, the feeling of love for this pure and highly moral girl becomes a bright, but very short-lived flash in the measured and monotonous life of the lazy gentleman. The illusions that they can be together are dispelled very quickly, they are too different from Olga, he will never be able to become the one she wants to see next to her. There is a natural break in the relationship. In the process of choosing between romantic dates and a serene sleepy state in which he lived most of his adult life, Oblomov chooses his usual and favorite option of doing nothing. And only in the house of Agafya Pshenitsina, surrounded by such familiar care and an idle, carefree life, does he find his ideal refuge, where his life quietly and imperceptibly ends.
The image of the main character in the work
After its release, the novel received close attention from both critics and readers. By the name of the main character of this work(on the initiative of the famous literary critic Dobrolyubov) a whole concept of “Oblomovism” appeared, which subsequently became widespread historical meaning. It is described as a real disease of modern Russian society, when young and full of energy people of noble origin are busy with reflection and apathy, they are afraid to change anything in their lives and prefer lazy and idle vegetation instead of action and struggle for their happiness.
According to Dobrolyubov, the image of Oblomov is a symbol of serf society in Russia XIX century. The origins of his “disease” lie precisely in the serfdom, in the technical backwardness of the economy, in the process of exploitation and humiliation of forced peasant slaves. Goncharov revealed to the readers the entire path of development of Oblomov’s character and his complete moral degradation, which applies not only to one individual representative of the noble class, but to the entire nation as a whole. Oblomov’s path, sadly enough, is the path of most people who do not have specific purpose in life and absolutely useless for society.
Even such noble and high feelings how friendship and love could not break this vicious circle of laziness and idleness, so one can only sympathize with Oblomov that he did not find the strength to cast off the shackles of sleep and live a new, full life.
The novel “Oblomov,” written by Ivan Aleksandrovich Goncharov, was published in one thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine. This best work author, and even now it is popular among readers. Ivan Aleksandrovich portrayed in Oblomov traditional type Russian man, whose embodiment in the work was Ilya Ilyich.
Let us turn to the novel and see how the author gradually, with all its completeness, reveals the image of Oblomov. Goncharov introduces his hero into different situations in order to show to the maximum extent all the disadvantages and advantages of the Oblomov type. Ilya Ilyich is tested by both friendship and love, and, nevertheless, is he doomed to disappear?
To answer this question, let's analyze his life. The first time we meet Oblomov in his apartment on Gorokhovaya Street, but over the course of the novel we learn more and more about him, and therefore we can imagine a fairly clear picture of his past life. Ilya Ilyich spent his childhood on the family estate - Oblomovka. Ilyusha was a playful boy. He, like all children, wanted movement, new impressions, but his parents protected him in every possible way from unnecessary worries, did not burden him with anything, but forbade him to show any freedom.
Sometimes the tender care of his parents bothered him. Whether he runs down the stairs or across the yard, suddenly ten desperate voices are heard after him: “Ah, ah! hold it, stop it! will fall and hurt himself! Stop, stop..."
It is not for nothing that Dobrolyubov writes: “From an early age he sees that all household work is performed by lackeys and maids, and daddy and mummy only give orders and scold for poor performance. Therefore, he will not kill himself over work, no matter what they tell him about the necessity and sanctity of work. And now he already has the first concept - that sitting with folded hands is more honorable than fussing about work...” Indeed, all decisions in the house were made without his participation, and Ilya’s fate was decided behind his back, so he had no idea about adult life, which I got into completely unprepared.
So, having arrived in the city, Ilya Ilyich tried to find an occupation to his liking. He tried to write, to serve as an official, but all this seemed empty to him, meaningless, because there he had to do business, which, due to his upbringing, he did not like, especially since Oblomov did not know the meaning of these activities and did not strive to understand, therefore he considered that this was not life, because it did not correspond to his ideals, which consisted of a peaceful, calm, carefree life, hearty food and serene sleep. This is precisely the way of life that Oblomov leads at the beginning of the novel. He didn't pay much attention to his appearance: he was wearing a robe that had special meaning for Ilya Ilyich. These were the clothes that he considered the best for himself: the robe is “soft, flexible; he, like an obedient slave, submits to the slightest movement of the body.” It seems to me that the robe is a key detail in Oblomov’s portrait, since it symbolizes this man’s lifestyle and, to some extent, reveals to us his character: lazy, calm, thoughtful. Ilya Ilyich is a homebody. In Oblomov there is neither the despoticism characteristic of serf owners, nor stinginess, nor any harsh negative qualities. This is a kind sloth, prone to daydreaming.
His portrait and the interior of the room tell us a lot about the character of the main character. Oblomov is a man of about thirty-two or three years old, “of average height, pleasant appearance, with dark gray eyes, but with the absence of any definite idea, any concentration in his facial features,” which indicates a lack of purpose in life. At first glance, it seemed that his room was beautifully decorated, but, looking closer, you notice a layer of dust on all things, unread books, the remains of meals, which suggests that the person living here is trying to create the appearance of decency of that time, but not a single thing was done doesn't follow through.
This was the impression of Ilya Ilyich only at the beginning of the novel, because, having met Olga, he was greatly transformed, the former Oblomov remained only in memories, and the new one began to read, write, work a lot, set goals for himself and strive for them. It was as if he had awakened from a long hibernation and began to make up for lost time. This is what love does to a person! Moreover, Olga constantly encouraged Ilya to act. Finally, a full-blooded life began to play within him.
The love of Oblomov and Ilyinskaya continues until Ilya Ilyich has to face real life, until decisive action is required from him, until Olga realizes that she loves the future Oblomov. “I recently found out that I loved in you what I wanted to have in you, what Stolz showed me, what we invented with him. I loved the future Oblomov!” Neither friendship, nor even such pure, sincere love could make him give up his peaceful, calm, carefree life. Ilya Ilyich moved to the Vyborg region, which can be called the “new Oblomovka”, because there he returned to his previous way of life. The widow of Pshenitsyn is exactly the ideal wife that Oblomov imagined during his dreams; she does not force him to do anything, does not demand anything. And Ilya Ilyich begins to degrade again from such a life. But I think you can’t blame him for everything. “What ruined you? There is no name for this evil...” Olga exclaims when parting. “There is... Oblomovism!” - he whispered barely audibly.
Oblomov himself was well aware that the life he was leading would not bring anything to future generations, but there was no such driving vital force that could bring him out of a state of apathy towards everything around him. Ilya Ilyich “painfully felt that some good, bright beginning was buried in him, as in a grave... But the treasure was deeply and heavily littered with rubbish, alluvial debris. It was as if someone had stolen and buried in his own soul the treasures brought to him as a gift of peace and life.”
Oblomov is kind and hospitable: his doors are open to all friends and acquaintances. Even Tarantiev, who is rude and arrogant to Ilya Ilyich, often dines at his house.
And love for Olga reveals him best qualities: kindness, nobility, honesty and “dovey tenderness.”
Is Oblomov significantly different from most people? Of course, laziness, apathy and inertia, to one degree or another, are characteristic of many. The reasons for the emergence of such qualities may be different. Some people believe that their whole life is a continuous series of failures and disappointments, and therefore they do not strive to change it for the better. Others are afraid of difficulties, so they try to protect themselves from them as much as possible. However, people still have to face reality, learn its cruel sides, struggle with difficulties in order to celebrate success or suffer defeat as a result. This is precisely the meaning of human life.
If a person decides to protect himself from all possible and impossible difficulties, then his life gradually turns into something completely monstrous. This is exactly what happened to Oblomov. Reluctance to live according to the existing laws of life leads to gradual but very rapid degradation. At first, a person thinks that everything can still be changed, that very little time will pass and he will “resurrect”, throw off laziness and despondency like an old dress, and take up the things that have been waiting for him for a long time. But time passes, strength is depleted. And the person still remains in the same place.
Oblomov was noble family, had the rank of collegiate secretary and lived continuously in St. Petersburg for twelve years. When his parents were alive, he occupied only two rooms. He was served by his servant Zakhar, who had been taken from the village. After the death of his father and mother, he inherited three hundred and fifty souls in one of the remote provinces.“He was still young then and, if it cannot be said that he was alive, then at least more alive than now; He was also full of various aspirations, he kept hoping for something, expecting a lot both from fate and from himself...”He's a lotI thought about my role in society and painted pictures of family happiness in my imagination.
But the years went by -“the fluff turned into a coarse beard, the rays of the eyes were replaced by two dull points, the waist rounded, the hair began to grow mercilessly.”He turned thirty years old, and he had not moved forward a single step in his life - he was just gathering and preparing to start living.Life, in his understanding, was divided into two halves: one consisted of work and boredom, the other of peace and peaceful fun.
“At first, the service puzzled him in the most unpleasant way.” Brought up in the provinces, among relatives, friends and acquaintances, he was “imbued with family principles”; future service seemed to him to be some kind of family activity. Officials in one place, in his opinion, constituted a friendly family, caring for mutual peace and pleasure. He thought that going to work every day was not necessary, and reasons such as bad weather or a bad mood could be a good reason for being absent. Imagine his surprise when he realized that a healthy official might not come to work only if there was an earthquake or flood.
“Oblomov became even more thoughtful when he was forced to make various certificates, extracts, rummage through files, write notebooks two fingers thick, which, as if in mockery, were callednotes ; Moreover, everyone demanded it soon...” Even at night they raised him and forced him to write notes. “When to live? When to live? - he repeated.
He imagined the boss as something like a second father, who always takes care of his subordinates and puts himself in their position. However, on the first day he was disappointed. When the boss arrived, everyone started running, knocking each other down, and trying to appear as good as possible.
All his subordinates were pleased with him, but for some reason they were always timid in his presence and answered all his questions in a voice other than their own. Ilya Ilyich also became timid in the presence of his boss and spoke to him in a “thin and nasty” voice.
Somehow Oblomov served for two years, and if one unforeseen incident had not occurred, he would have continued to serve. One day he accidentally sent some necessary paper to Arkhangelsk instead of Astrakhan, and was afraid that he would have to answer. Without waiting for punishment, he went home, sent a medical certificate of illness to the service, and then resigned.
“Thus ended - and then was not resumed - his state activity.
He was better able to play a role in society.” In the first years of his stay in St. Petersburg, when he was young, “his eyes shone for a long time with the fire of life, rays of light, hope, and strength flowed from them.” But that was a long time ago when a person sees only good in any other person and falls in love with any woman, and anyone is ready to offer their hand and heart.
In previous years, Ilya Ilyich received many “passionate glances”, “promising smiles”, handshakes and kisses, but he never gave himself up to beauties and was never even their “diligent admirer”, because courtship is always accompanied by troubles. Oblomov preferred to worship from afar.“His soul was still pure and innocent; she, perhaps, was waiting for her love, her support, her passion, and then, over the years, it seems, she stopped waiting and despaired.”
Ilya Ilyich’s friends became fewer and fewer every year. “Almost nothing attracted him from the house,” and every day he left the apartment less and less. At first it was hard for him to walk around dressed all day, then he gradually became lazy about dining out, and only went to close friends, where he could free himself from tight clothes and get some sleep. Soon he got tired of putting on a tailcoat and shaving every day.
And only his friend Stolz managed to bring him into the public eye. But Stolz was often on the road, and, left alone, Oblomov “plunged head over heels into his solitude, from which only something extraordinary could bring him out,” but this was not expected.
“He was not used to movement, to life, to crowds, to vanity.” Sometimes he fell into a state of nervous fear, afraid of silence. He lazily waved his hand at all the hopes that youth had brought and all the bright memories.
“What was he doing at home? Read? Did you write? Studied?"
If he came across a book or newspaper, he read it. If he hears about some wonderful work, he will want to get acquainted with it. He will ask you to bring it and, if it is brought quickly, he will begin to read. If he had made at least some effort, he would have mastered the subject he was talking about. we're talking about in the book. But without finishing the book, he put it aside, lay down and looked at the ceiling.
He studied, like everyone else, until he was fifteen years old in a boarding school. Then his parents sent him to Moscow, “where he, willy-nilly, followed the course of science to the end.” During his years of study he did not show laziness or whims; he listened to what the teachers told him and had difficulty learning the assigned lessons. “He generally considered all this to be a punishment sent down by heaven for our sins.” He did not read or teach more than what the teachers asked and did not require explanations. “Serious reading tired him.”
At some point, he became interested in poetry, and Stolz tried to prolong this hobby longer. “Stolz’s youthful gift infected Oblomov, and he burned with a thirst for work, a distant but charming goal.” However, Ilya Ilyich soon sobered up, and only occasionally, on the advice of Stolz, lazily skimmed the lines. He had difficulty getting through the books that were brought to him and often fell asleep even in the most interesting places.
After finishing his studies, he no longer sought to learn anything. Everything he learned during his studies was stored in his head in the form of an “archive of dead cases.”
The teaching had a strange effect on Ilya Ilyich: “he had a whole abyss between science and life, which he did not try to cross.” He went through the entire course of legal proceedings, but when something was stolen in his house and he needed to write some kind of paper to the police, he sent for a clerk.
All affairs in the village were led by the headman. Oblomov himself “continued to draw the pattern of his own life.” Thinking about the purpose of his existence, he came to the conclusion that the meaning of his life lies in himself, that he received “family happiness and worries about the estate.” Since the death of his parents, things on the estate have been getting worse every year. Oblomov understood that he needed to go there and figure it out himself, but “the trip was a feat for him.” In his life, Ilya Ilyich made only one trip: from his village to Moscow, “among feather beds, caskets, suitcases, hams, rolls... and accompanied by several servants.” And now, lying on the sofa, he was drawing up in his mind “a new, fresh plan for organizing the estate and managing the peasants.” The idea for this plan had been in place for a long time; all that remained was to calculate a few things.
As soon as he gets out of bed in the morning, after tea, he will immediately lie down on the sofa, prop his head on his hand and think, sparing no effort, until his head is finally tired of hard work and when his conscience says: enough has been done today for the common good.
Only then does he decide to take a break from his work and change his caring posture to another, less businesslike and strict, more convenient for dreams and bliss.
Freed from business concerns, Oblomov loved to withdraw into himself and live in the world he created.
The pleasures of lofty thoughts were available to him; he was no stranger to universal human sorrows. He wept bitterly in the depths of his soul at other times over the misfortunes of mankind, experienced unknown, nameless suffering, and melancholy, and a longing for somewhere far away, probably to the world where Stolz used to take him.
Sweet tears will flow down his cheeks...
But towards evening, “Oblomov’s weary forces tend towards peace: storms and unrest are humbled in the soul, the head is sobered from thoughts, the blood slowly makes its way through the veins...” Ilya Ilyich thoughtfully turned over on his back, fixed a sad look at the sky and sadly followed the sun with his eyes . But the next day came, and with it new worries and dreams arose.He liked to imagine himself as an invincible commander, a great artist or thinker, and to invent wars and their causes.In bitter moments, he turned over from side to side, lay face down, sometimes knelt down and prayed fervently. And all his moral strength went into this.
No one knew or saw this inner life of Ilya Ilyich: everyone thought that Oblomov was so-so, just lying down and eating to his health, and that there was nothing more to expect from him; that he hardly even has thoughts in his head. That’s how they talked about him everywhere they knew him.
Stolz knew in detail about his abilities, about his inner volcanic work of an ardent head, a humane heart and could testify, but Stoltz was almost never in St. Petersburg.
Only Zakhar, who spent his entire life around his master, knew even more in detail his entire inner life; but he was convinced that he and the master were doing business and living normally, as they should, and that they should not live any other way.
Ivan Aleksandrovich Goncharov worked on the novel “Oblomov” for ten years. The characterization of the main character is so convincingly presented by the classic that it went beyond the scope of the work, and the image became a household name. The quality of the author's elaboration of the characters in the story is impressive. All of them are integral, possessing the features of people contemporary to the writer.
The topic of this article is the characteristics of the heroes of Oblomov.
Ilya Ilyich Oblomov. Sliding on the plane of laziness
The central image of the book is the young (32-33 years old) landowner Ilya Ilyich Oblomov, a lazy, imposing dreamer. He is a man of average height, with dark gray eyes, pleasant facial features, and childishly pampered plump hands. The person living in the St. Petersburg apartment on the Vyborg side is ambiguous. Oblomov is an excellent conversationalist. By his nature, he is not capable of causing harm to anyone. His soul is pure. He is educated and has a broad outlook. At any given time, his face reflects a continuous stream of thoughts. It would seem that we are talking about if not for the enormous laziness that has taken possession of Ilya Ilyich. Since childhood, numerous nannies took care of him in small ways. “Zakharki da Vanya” from the serfs did any work for him, even small ones. His days pass in idleness and lying on the sofa.
Trusting them, Oblomov signed an enslaving agreement for his Vyborg apartment, and then paid fake “moral damages” to Agafya’s brother Mukhoyarov in the amount of ten thousand rubles through a fake loan letter. Ilya Ilyich's friend Stolz exposes the scoundrels. After this, Tarantiev “goes on the run.”
People close to Oblomov
Those around him feel that he is a sincere person, Oblomov. The characterization is a characterization, but the protagonist’s self-destruction through laziness does not prevent him from having friends. The reader sees how a true friend Andrei Stolts is trying to snatch Oblomov from the tight embrace of doing nothing. After Oblomov’s death, he became, according to the latter’s will, an adoptive father for his son Andryusha.
Oblomov has a devoted and loving common-law wife - the widow Agafya Pshenitsyna - an unrivaled housewife, narrow-minded, illiterate, but honest and decent. Outwardly she is plump, but well-behaved and hard-working. Ilya Ilyich admires it, comparing it to a cheesecake. The woman breaks off all relations with her brother Ivan Mukhoyarov, having learned about his low deception of her husband. After the death of her common-law husband, a woman feels that “the soul has been taken out of her.” Having given her son to be raised by the Stolts, Agafya simply wants to follow her Ilya. She is not interested in money, as can be seen from her refusal of the income due from Oblomov’s estate.
Ilya Ilyich is served by Zakhar - an unkempt, lazy, but idolizing his master and a loyal servant of the old school to the end. After the master's death, the former servant prefers to beg, but remains near his grave.
More about the image of Andrei Stolts
Often the theme school essays is Oblomov and Stolz. They are opposite even in appearance. Tawny, dark, with sunken cheeks, it seems that Stolz consists entirely of muscles and tendons. He has a rank behind him and a guaranteed income. Later, while working in a trading company, he earned money to buy a house. He is active and creative, he is offered interesting and lucrative work. In the second part of the novel, it is he who tries to bring Oblomov together with Olga Ilyinskaya, introducing them. However, Oblomov stopped building a relationship with this lady because he was afraid to change housing and engage in active work. Disappointed Olga, who planned to re-educate the lazy man, left him. However, Stolz’s image is not ideal, despite his constant creative work. He, as the opposite of Oblomov, is afraid to dream. Goncharov put an abundance of rationality and rationalism into this image. The writer believed that he had not finalized the image of Stolz. Anton Pavlovich Chekhov even considered this image negative, the judgment that he was “too pleased with himself” and “thinks too well of himself.”
Olga Ilyinskaya - woman of the future
The image of Olga Ilyinskaya is strong, complete, beautiful. Not a beauty, but surprisingly harmonious and dynamic. She is deeply spiritual and at the same time active. met her singing the aria "Casta diva". This woman turned out to be capable of stirring up even such a guy. But re-educating Oblomov turned out to be an extremely difficult task, no more effective than training woodpeckers; laziness took deep roots in him. In the end, Oblomov is the first to give up his relationship with Olga (due to laziness). A characteristic of their further relationship is Olga’s active sympathy. She marries the active, reliable and faithful Andrei Stolz, who loves her. They have a wonderful, harmonious family. But the astute reader will understand that the active German “does not reach” the spiritual level of his wife.
Conclusion
A string of Goncharov’s images passes before the eyes of the reader of the novel. Of course, the most striking of them is the image of Ilya Ilyich Oblomov. Having wonderful prerequisites for a successful, comfortable life, he managed to ruin himself. At the end of his life, the landowner realized what had happened to him, giving this phenomenon the capacious, laconic name “Oblomovism.” Is it modern? And how. Today's Ilya Ilyichs, in addition to their dream flight, also have impressive resources - computer games with stunning graphics.
The novel did not reveal the image of Andrei Stolts to the extent intended by Ivan Aleksandrovich Goncharov. The author of the article considers this to be natural. After all, the classic depicted two extremes in these heroes. The first is a useless dream, and the second is a pragmatic, unspiritual activity. It is obvious that only by combining these qualities in the right proportion will we get something harmonious.
Meet the hero. Oblomov and his everyday environment. Goncharov’s most famous novel begins with the words: “In Gorokhovaya Street, in one of the large houses, the population of which would be the entire county town, Ilya Ilyich Oblomov was lying in bed in his apartment in the morning.”
Goncharov uses here the technique of stepwise narrowing of images. First we find ourselves in St. Petersburg, on one of the main aristocratic streets of the capital, then in a large populous house, finally in the apartment and bedroom of the main character, Oblomov. Before us is one of many thousands of the population of a huge city even then. The tone of the narrative is set - leisurely, epically smooth. It partly reminds us of the beginning of a Russian fairy tale: “In a certain kingdom... there once was...” At the same time, the eye stumbles over the word “lying,” and a page further on the author explains to us that “lying down for Ilya Ilyich was not a necessity, as it is for sick<...>, neither by chance, like that of someone who is tired, nor by pleasure, like that of a lazy person: this was his normal state. When he was at home - and he was almost always at home - he kept lying down...”
The room fully responds to its owner: “the cobwebs were molded in the form of festoons,” “the carpets were stained.” But the robe enjoys the tender love of its owner: “a real oriental robe<…>, without a waist, very roomy, so Oblomov could wrap himself in it twice.” Subsequently, we will witness the metamorphosis of the robe, which will go along with the owner through the entire narrative. "This<…>symbolic details, tending towards singularity, replacing a number of details, usually repeated in the narrative, marking milestones in the plot or a change in the characters’ mindsets..."
Oblomov periodically calls out: “Zakhar!” A “grumble” is heard, “the knock of feet jumping from somewhere,” and a second character appears before the reader, a servant, “in a gray frock coat, with a hole under his arm.”<…>, With<…>sideburns, from which each would have become three beards.” For Oblomov, Zakhar is both a “devoted servant” of the house, a keeper of family memories, a friend, and a nanny. The communication between the footman and the master turns into a string of funny everyday scenes:
After all, you called?
Did you call? Why did I call you - I don’t remember! - he answered ( Oblomov) stretching. - Go to your room for now, and I’ll remember.
- <…>Find the letter that I received from the headman yesterday. Where are you taking him?
Which letter? “I haven’t seen any letter,” said Zakhar.
You received it from the postman: it’s so dirty!
Handkerchief, quickly! You could have guessed it yourself: you don’t see! - Ilya Ilyich remarked sternly<…>.
Who knows where the scarf is? - he grumbled ( Zakhar) <…>feeling each chair, although it was already possible to see that there was nothing lying on the chairs.
- <…>“There he is,” he suddenly wheezed angrily, “under you!”<…>You lie on it yourself, and ask for a scarf!
Servant Zakhar in a more frank, rude, undisguised form reveals to us negative traits Oblomov - and hatred of work, and a thirst for peace and idleness, and a tendency to exaggerate the severity of one’s worries. Just as Oblomov tirelessly works on a plan, Zakhar intends to carry out spring cleaning. However, Zakhar should not be considered a double of Ilya Ilyich, a simple lazy simpleton. This means becoming like a “superficially observant” person who, “looking<…>to Oblomov, he would say: “He must be a good man, simplicity!” The author warns that “a deeper person,” having observed Oblomov, “peering into his face for a long time, would have walked away in pleasant thought, with a smile.” And the hero’s face is truly remarkable in its childish, clear simplicity: “...Neither fatigue nor boredom could<…>drive away from the face the softness that was dominant<…>an expression not only of the face, but of the whole soul; and the soul shone so openly and clearly in the eyes, in the smile, in every movement...”
It seems that Ilya Ilyich lives in his own special little world, but strangers intrude into this world every now and then; many people care about him. Knocking on the door are the socialite Volkov, the zealous official Sudbinsky, the fashionable writer Penkin, the businessman Tarantiev and simply “a man of uncertain years, with an uncertain physiognomy.” What attracts St. Petersburg residents to this shabby apartment? The same softness and warmth of the owner’s soul. Even the scoundrel Tarantiev knows that he will find a “warm, peaceful shelter” in this house. How in short supply among metropolitan residents are simple human feelings, can be seen from the same dialogue with the guests. As soon as Oblomov mentions his own affairs, complains about “two misfortunes,” the visitors seem to be blown away by the wind: “Pardon, there’s no time.”<…>, next time!"; “No, no, I’d better stop by again one of these days”; “However, I have to go to the printing house!” Advice, prompted by everyday dexterity, is given by Tarantiev alone. And even then not out of the kindness of his heart, but from his own views, as we will soon learn about.
In turn, the owner is ready to listen to everyone; Each visitor dedicates him to his most cherished dreams: who is successfully dragging his feet, who has made a career and is going to get married, who has published a fresh newspaper. However, Oblomov is not only kind, but smart and insightful. At the end of the visit, Ilya Ilyich sums up the life aspirations of each guest. Thus, Sudbinsky, the head of the department, is concerned with the issues of “construction of buildings<…>dog kennels to protect government property from theft.” And Oblomov reflects bitterly on Sudbinsky the man: “I got stuck, dear friend, I got stuck up to my ears.<...>And blind, and deaf, and dumb to everything else in the world.<…>And he will live out his life, and many, many things will not move in him.” Ilya Ilyich's thoughts are sad also because they are filled with generalizations. The country is run by the Sudbinskys: “And he will come out among the people, over time he will manage his affairs and grab ranks.”
Ilya Ilyich receives everyone equally gently and outwardly apathetically, except for the character with a telling surname Penkin. This is a dexterous painter, ready to “skim the skins” from any topic of interest to the public - from “beautiful April days” to “composition against fires”. (So M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin called the fashionable newspaper “The Newest Foam Maker” in his satire). His latest opus is published under the piquant title “The Love of a Bribe Taker for a Fallen Woman” and is an illustration of the lowest brand of fiction: “Everything<…>ranks of fallen women dismantled<…>with amazing, vital fidelity...” Penkin examines the stumbled members of society like insects through a microscope. He sees the task of pronouncing a harsh sentence. Unexpectedly for himself (and for us), the cynical journalist encounters a sharp rebuff from Oblomov. The hero delivers an insightful speech, filled with mercy and wisdom. “Eject from the civilian environment! - Oblomov suddenly spoke with inspiration, standing in front of Penkin<…>. He is a spoiled man, but he is still a man, that is, you yourself.<…>And how will you be cast out from the circle of humanity, from the bosom of nature, from the mercy of God?” - he almost shouted with flaming eyes. Let's pay attention to the author's remarks - “suddenly ignited,” “speaking with inspiration, standing in front of Penkin.” Ilya Ilyich got up from the sofa! True, the author stipulates that after a minute, ashamed of his ardor, Oblomov “yawned and slowly lay down.” But the reader already understood: the hero can get off the couch, he has something to offer people. The same practical newspaperman remarks: “You have a lot of tact, Ilya Ilyich, you should write!”
In essence, the exhibition already gives a preliminary answer to the question of why Oblomov did not become a successful official, like Sudbinsky, or a social waster, like Volkov, or, finally, a clever businessman, following the example of Tarantiev. Goncharov pits his hero against typical figures of the educated class of St. Petersburg. “The environment did not “stick”; the environment rejected” people like Oblomov. Ilya Ilyich turns out to be certainly superior to any of them spiritually, as Human.
In conversations with his servant Zakhar, Oblomov tries to defend his right to live like this: “I have never pulled a stocking on my feet as I live, thank God!.. I was raised tenderly,<...>I never endured cold or hunger, I didn’t know any need, I didn’t earn my own bread...” Oblomov’s definition of “lordship” combines two different meanings. The first is the opportunity to live without work, while “the other... if he doesn’t work, he won’t eat.” The second, paradoxically, is the concept of noble honor, which has taken such a bizarre form: “The other” bows, the “other” asks, humiliates... And me?”
Convincing others of the rationality and correctness of his existence, Oblomov cannot always believe it himself: “He had to admit that someone else would have had time to write all the letters<...>, someone else would have moved to a new apartment, and would have carried out the plan, and would have gone to the village. “After all, I could do all this<…>, he thought<…>. You just have to want it!”
At the end of the first part of the novel, Ilya Ilyich awakens from spiritual sleep. “This is one of the clear, conscious moments in Oblomov’s life. How scared he became<…>when in my head<…>Various life questions floated around randomly and timidly, like birds awakened by a sudden ray of sun in a dormant ruin.” The author dives into the very depths of the character's soul. In ordinary times, they are hidden from oneself, drowned out by laziness, lulled by reasoning: “He felt sad and hurt for his underdevelopment, stunted growth moral forces <…>; and envy gnawed at him that others lived so fully and widely, while for him it was as if a heavy stone had been thrown on the narrow and miserable path of his existence.” "Now or never!" - he concluded..."