Summary of the novel "Destruction" by A.A. Fadeev chapter by chapter to prepare for the final essay, Unified State Exam, for the reader's diary.

I. Morozka

The commander of the partisan detachment, Levinson, handed the package to his orderly Morozka and the order to take the package to the commander of another detachment, Shaldyba. Moroznaya doesn’t want to go. Levinson took the letter and ordered Morozka to “roll in all four directions. I don’t need troublemakers.” Morozka changed his mind, took the letter and left. Morozka is a second-generation miner, born in a miner’s barracks, and from the age of twelve he “rolled trolleys.” Even before the revolution, he was dismissed from the army and got married. “He did everything thoughtlessly: life seemed to him simple, unsophisticated, like a round Murom cucumber from the Suchan towers.”

In 1918, he left to defend the Soviets, but failed to defend power, and Morozka joined the partisans.

Hearing the shots, Morozka crawled to the top of the hill and saw that the whites were attacking Shaldyba’s fighters, and they were running. “The enraged Shaldyba lashed with a whip in all directions and could not restrain the people. Some could be seen stealthily tearing off red bows.” Among the retreating Morozka saw a limping guy. He fell, and the fighters ran on. Morozka put the wounded man on his horse and rode to Levinson’s detachment.

II. Mechik

Morozka did not like the rescued boy. “Morozka did not like clean people. In his practice, these were fickle, worthless people who could not be trusted.” Levinson ordered the guy to be taken to the infirmary. The guy was unconscious; in his pocket there were documents addressed to Pavel Mechik. When Mechik woke up, he saw doctor Stashinsky and sister Varya with golden-blond fluffy braids and gray eyes.

Three weeks ago Mechik walked through the taiga, heading to the partisan detachment. People who suddenly appeared from the bushes were suspicious of him at first, beat him, and then accepted him into the detachment. “The people around him did not at all resemble those created by his ardent imagination. These were dirtier, lousier, tougher and more spontaneous...” There were few wounded in the hospital, only two seriously: Frolov and Mechik. The “pretty sister” Varya looked after everyone in the hospital, but she treated Mechik especially “tenderly and caringly.” Old man Pika said that she was “fornicating”: “Morozka, her husband, is in the detachment, and she is fornicating.”

III. Sixth Sense

Morozka thought about Mechik: why do people like him go to the partisans “for anything ready”? Driving past the chestnut tree, Morozka got off his horse and began picking melons until his owner caught him. Khoma Yegorovich Ryabets threatened to find justice for Morozka.

The returning scout reported to Levinson that Shaldyba’s detachment had been battered by the Japanese and that the partisans were now holed up in the Korean winter quarters. Levinson felt that something was wrong.

Levinson’s deputy, Baklanov, brought Ryabets, who indignantly spoke about the theft of Moroznaya’s melons from him. Morozka, summoned for a conversation, did not deny anything, but did not want to surrender his weapon: he believed that this was too severe a punishment for stealing melons. Levinson convened a village meeting.

Levinson asked Ryabets to dry ten pounds of crackers, without explaining for whom. He ordered Baklanov: tomorrow for horses, increase the portion of oats.

IV. One

Morozka came to the hospital, which violated state of mind Mechika. Mechik did not understand Morozka’s disdain for him: saving Mechik’s life did not at all give Morozka the right not to respect him. Mechik remembered the events of the past month and burst into tears, covering his head with a blanket.

V. Men and the “coal tribe”

Levinson suspected something and went to the meeting early, hoping to hear the men’s conversations. The men were surprised that the gathering was held on a weekday, and even during the busy season of mowing. They didn’t pay attention to Levinson, they talked about their own things. “He was so small, unprepossessing in appearance - he consisted entirely of a hat, a red beard and ichigs above the knees.” Levinson, listening to the men, understood that he had to go into the taiga and hide, while in the meantime it was necessary to set up posts.

Gradually the miners arrived and enough people had gathered. Levinson greeted miner Dubov.

Ryabets asked Levinson to start the gathering. To him, the story of the theft of melons now seemed petty and troublesome. Levinson believed that this matter concerned everyone. The people were perplexed why they would steal, because if Morozka had asked, he would not have been refused. Dubov proposed to expel Morozka from the detachment. Goncharenko stood up for him: “He’s his own guy, he won’t betray him, he won’t sell him...”

Morozka said that he stole out of habit, and gave the miner his word not to repeat the offense. Levinson proposed in free time help the peasants, they were happy.

VI. Levinson

For the fifth week, Levinson's detachment was on vacation. Deserters from other units appeared. The detachment was overgrown with things and people, and Levinson was afraid to move. For his subordinates, Levinson was always a support: he hid his doubts and fears, instilled confidence in people. Levinson knew both his own and other people’s weaknesses, he understood: “you can lead other people only by pointing out their weaknesses and suppressing, hiding yours from them.”

Chief of Staff Sukhovey-Kovtun sent Levinson a “terrible relay”: he wrote about the Japanese attack and the defeat of the main partisan forces. Levinson began to collect information, while remaining confident and knowledgeable on the outside: the main task was “to maintain at least small, but strong and disciplined units.”

Levinson warned Baklanov and the nachoz that the detachment was ready to move “at any moment.” That same night I decided to move out of the place.

VII. Enemies

Levinson sent a letter to Stashinsky: it is necessary to gradually unload the infirmary. People began to disperse to the villages. Frolov, Mechik and Pika remained in the infirmary. Pika took root at the hospital. Mechik was told that he would soon join Levinson’s detachment. Mechik dreamed of showing himself as a confident and efficient fighter, of changing.

VIII. First move

The deserters spread panic throughout the area, saying that large Japanese forces were coming. But reconnaissance did not find the Japanese. Morozka asked to join the platoon and recommended Efimka to Levinson as an orderly.

Having moved to the platoon, Morozka was happy. At night they got up on a false alarm - shots were heard across the river, Levinson decided to check the combat readiness of the detachment. Then Levinson announced his performance.

IX. Sword in the squad

Nachkhoz appeared at the hospital to stockpile food. Mechik was already on his feet, he was happy. Soon he and Pika joined the detachment; they were greeted kindly and assigned to Kubrak’s platoon. Mechik was almost offended by the sight of the nag that was given to him. He wanted to express his dissatisfaction, but he didn’t say anything to Levinson, he was timid. I decided to kill the mare without keeping an eye on her. Thus, he gained universal dislike as “a quitter and a troublemaker.” He only became friends with the worthless man Chizh and Pika. Chizh called Levinson “making capital for himself on someone else’s back.” Mechik Chizhu didn’t believe it, but competent speech I listened with pleasure.

Soon Chizh became unpleasant to Mechik, but it was impossible to get rid of him. Mechik began to learn to defend his point of view, meanwhile the life of the detachment passed him by.

X. The beginning of the defeat

Levinson climbed into the wilderness and almost lost contact with other units. He learned that a train with weapons and uniforms would soon arrive. “Knowing that sooner or later the detachment would be opened anyway, and it was impossible to winter in the taiga without ammunition and warm clothes, Levinson decided to make his first foray.” Dubov's detachment attacked the freight train and returned to the parking lot without losing a single soldier. The partisans were given overcoats, weapons, and crackers. Baklanov decided to test Mechik in action and took him with him on reconnaissance. Mechik liked Baklanov, but the conversation did not work out: Baklanov did not understand Mechik’s abstruse reasoning. In the village, the scouts came across four Japanese soldiers, Baklanov killed two, Mechik killed one, and one ran away. Departing from the farm, the scouts saw the main forces of the Japanese.

The next morning the detachment was attacked by the Japanese. The forces were unequal, and the partisans retreated into the taiga. Mechik was scared, Pika, without raising his head, shot at the tree. Only in the taiga did Mechik come to his senses.

XI. Strada

After the battle, Levinson's squad took refuge in the forest. A reward was placed on Levinson's head and he had to retreat. There was not enough food, people stole from fields and gardens. In order not to drag the wounded Frolov along with him, Levinson decided to poison him. But Mechik overheard this plan and told Frolov. He understood Levinson and drank poison.

XII. Ways-roads

Morozna felt that people like Mechik were covering up their simple little feelings with beautiful words. Frolov was buried, and the detachment moved north. Pika escaped. Morozna remembers her life and is sad about Varya. Varya at this time thinks about Mechik, she sees her salvation in him, for the first time in her life she truly loved someone. Mechik treated her indifferently.

XIII. Cargo

The partisans talked about men and peasant character. Frosty doesn't like men. Dubov too. Goncharenko believes that peasant roots are in everyone. The sword stands on guard. Levinson goes to inspect the patrols and runs into Mechik. Mechik tells him about his experiences, thoughts, his dislike for the squad, his lack of understanding of everything that is happening around him. Levinson convinces Mechik that there is nowhere to go: they will kill him, and “don’t consider your comrades worse than yourself.” Levinson thinks with regret about people like Mechik.

XIV. Exploration of Metelitsa

Levinson sent Metelitsa on reconnaissance and ordered him to return into the night. But the village turned out to be much further away. Only at night Metelitsa got out of the taiga; in the field he saw a shepherd’s fire. A boy was sitting by the fire. The boy said that the Cossacks killed his parents and brother and burned the house. And now there are Cossacks in the village, and a Cossack regiment in the neighboring village. Metelitsa left the horse to the shepherd and went to the village himself. The village was already asleep. Metelitsa knew from the boy that the squadron leader was stationed in the priest's house. Having crept up to the house of the white commander, Metelitsa eavesdropped, but did not hear anything interesting. A sentry noticed him, and Metelitsa was caught. At this time, everyone in the squad is worried about him and is waiting for his return. By morning, everyone in the detachment was alarmed; Levinson guessed that Metelitsa had fallen into the hands of the enemies.

XV. Three deaths

Waking up in a barn. Metelitsa tried to escape, but it was impossible. He began to prepare for worthy death, intending to demonstrate to the killers that he “is not afraid and despises them.”

The next day, Metelitsa was taken for interrogation, but he said nothing. A public trial is held. The shepherd boy, with whom Metelitsa left his horse, did not give up Metelitsa. But the owner said that the boy returned from the night with someone else’s horse, to the saddle of which a holster was attached. The officer got angry and began to shake the boy. Metelitsa tried to kill the officer, but he dodged and shot at Metelitsa several times, after which the Cossacks set off along the road along which Metelitsa had arrived. Baklanov became increasingly worried about the delay of Metelitsa. The squad went to his rescue. Before they had time to leave the taiga, the detachment came across the Cossacks. Levinson ordered an attack on them. The man who handed Metelitsa over to the partisans was shot. Morozka’s horse was killed, which came as a shock to him: the horse was his friend.

XVI.Squag

Varya, who was walking to the village after the attack, saw Morozka’s horse killed. Having found Morozka drunk, she took him with her. The whites are attacking the detachment. Levinson decides to retreat into the taiga, into the swamps. The detachment quickly arranges a crossing through the swamps and, having crossed, blows it up. The detachment broke away from the pursuit of the whites, losing almost all its people. “The last to go through the road were Levinson and Goncharenko, and then they blew it up. Morning has come*.

XVII.Nineteen

Ahead, on the bridge, the Cossacks set up an ambush. Levinson realized that people automatically followed him, like a flock following a shepherd. Baklanov suggested sending a patrol ahead. Levinson saw Mechik riding ahead, followed by Morozna. Mechik stumbled upon the Cossacks, silently rolled off his horse and rushed down the slope. The Cossacks were chasing him. Morozna thought only about the upcoming vacation. When the Cossacks appeared in front of him, he realized that Mechik had escaped. Morozna felt pity for the people following him, pulled out a pistol and fired shots to warn the squad. Baklanov shouted: “For a breakthrough!” Mechik realized that there was no pursuit of him, and became hysterical from the betrayal committed out of cowardice. “And he suffered not so much because because of this act of his, dozens of people who trusted him died, but because the indelibly dirty, disgusting stain of this act contradicted everything that was good and pure that he found in himself.” Mechik took out a pistol, but realized that he could not kill himself. And he decided: “Now I’ll go to the city, I have no choice but to go there*. Eighteen fighters from Levinson's detachment remained alive. Baklanov was killed. Levinson cried for the first time, then “stopped crying; I had to live and fulfill my duties.”

The presentation material can be used in the process of studying the novel "Destruction". The presentation examines the history of writing the novel "Destruction", the problems of the novel, the plot and composition, the heroes of the novel: Morozka, Levinson, Mechik... The inconsistency is emphasized author's position in relation to heroes and their assessment. The material can be used partially or selectively.

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A.A. Fadeev. Novel “Destruction” 1927 Accompanying lessons in 11th grade Teacher Teterina L.N.

A. Fadeev. Photo from 1932 with a dedicatory inscription In the essay “Special Communist” (1938), Fadeev recalls how in the fall of 1919 he first met a detachment of red partisans on Far East and with their commander. Participation in the combat life of this partisan detachment, direct communication with the soldiers and commander gave the writer a lot of material for the novel “Destruction”.

General characteristics The novel is based on the author’s personal impressions of 1919, when he was a fighter in a partisan detachment. The novel has 17 chapters, which can be divided into 3 parts: - The element of the mass and its individual representatives. - Re-education, weeding out those alien to the revolution - The result of this re-education.

Plot The action takes place in the Far Eastern taiga. The novel tells about the defeat of Levinson's partisan detachment. The novel truthfully depicts reality and at the same time conveys the author’s enthusiastic attitude towards this reality. In the novel there are no loud speeches and ringing revolutionary phrases, and there are no victorious battles with the hydra of revolution. There is blood and sweat, irritated language, unvarnished life and the death of the detachment.

The author believed: “... in a civil war, a selection of human material occurs, everything hostile is swept away by the revolution, everything incapable of a real revolutionary struggle, accidentally falling into the camp of the revolution, is eliminated, and everything that has risen from the true roots of the revolution, from the millions of masses of the people, is tempered, grows, develops in this fight. A huge transformation of people is taking place.

Problems 1. The problem of re-education of a person in the fire of revolutionary struggle. 2. The problem of socialist humanism. 3. The problem of the role and place of the intelligentsia in the revolutionary struggle.

The heroes of the novel Levinson’s squad are like “Noah’s Ark”, in which a place is given only to the worthy, such as the shepherd Metelitsa, the miners Dubov, Morozka, Levinson’s assistant Baklanov. A " extra people"such as Chizh, Pika, Mechik, the revolution discards. Among all the heroes, Fadeev singles out three. This is Morozka, Levinson, Mechik. By presenting them, Fadeev seeks to combine the traditions of depicting the heroes of L. Tolstoy and M. Gorky

Morozka (Ivan Morozov) is a second generation miner. The hero is 27 years old; Describe his appearance. From the age of 12, Morozka worked in a mine, “did not look for new paths, but followed old, already proven paths.” At the front of the First World War, he was wounded six times and shell-shocked twice. Upon returning from the front, he got married. “Life seemed to him simple, unsophisticated, like a round Murom cucumber.” At the beginning of the novel, Morozka is Levinson’s capricious orderly, who reluctantly goes with a letter to Shaldyba’s partisan detachment.

Where does Morozka's re-education begin? 1. Court scene. 2. Jealousy for the “clean Mechik”. 3. Imitation of Dubov, Goncharenko. 4. Scene at the crossing. Morozka awakens to class consciousness, self-esteem, and the desire to be like real fighters of the revolution.

Death of Morozka 1. How did Morozka die? 2. Why did Morozka die? 3 What did the author want to prove using the example of Morozka? Morozka was re-educated under the influence of the revolution and became a conscious fighter

Using the example of Morozka, Fadeev shows the process of “enormous alteration” and “re-education” of people. Morozka came to the detachment along with everyone else, and the worst thing for him was to remain outside the team. Levinson understands this well when he arranges a show trial of Morozka. (Chapter 5) Internal changes in the hero begin with a feeling of jealousy and class hostility towards Mechik. These changes affect Morozka’s behavior at the crossing and joining the platoon. And then Morozka gradually finds himself on a clear path, along which only the “right people” follow and which leads him to a heroic death. (chapter 17)

Mechik Pavel is a young man who graduated from high school, blond, with curly hair. Infantile traits predominate in the character. Being in captivity of romantic illusions, Mechik joins the maximalist Socialist Revolutionary Party and is sent to the Shaldyba partisan detachment. Mechik longs for “bookish” heroic deeds, but in life everything is not like that...

Mechik’s disappointment “The people around him did not at all resemble those created by his ardent imagination. These were dirtier, lousier, tougher and more spontaneous. They stole each other's cartridges, swore in irritated obscenities over every trifle, and fought until their blood bled over a piece of lard. They mocked Mechik for every reason. “I’m a quitter and set the task” - that’s how they dubbed him in the detachment

Mechik's fate 1. Mechik goes through a series of small betrayals: he tore up the portrait of “a girl with blond curls,” doomed his horse Zyuchikha to death, lost Varya to the disgusting Chizh. 2. Mechik condemns all of Levinson’s difficult decisions, but “he ate the pig with everyone else because he was hungry.” 3. A feeling of loneliness, resentment towards everyone, acute self-pity - all this gives rise to one thought: to leave the detachment as soon as possible.

The final touch Finding himself on patrol ahead of everyone, Mechik was the first to stumble upon the enemy. Instead of warning the detachment, as agreed, he abandoned his horse and ran away, thereby betraying the partisans. And only Morozka, at the cost of his life, to some extent saved them from complete destruction. What did the author want to say with the image of Mechik? “He is a petty, cowardly man, and his suffering is superficial, petty, insignificant.” Thus he dealt with the intelligentsia.

Levinson Joseph (Osip) Abramovich - commander of a partisan detachment. It is known about the hero’s biography that he is the son of a used furniture dealer. Main feature portrait - “blue, like whirlpools, eyes”, “Levinson’s otherworldly eyes, deep and large, like lakes.” It is said about the hero that “he was extremely patient and persistent, like an old taiga wolf.”

Many of Levinson's traits evoke sympathy from the reader: the ability to subtly feel and understand others, faith in his partisans, the dream of a wonderful, strong and kind person, the ability to take on the most difficult things, to be responsible for others.

Levinson speaks in different situations. He is already an established personality, a convinced Bolshevik, he seemed to everyone in the detachment to be a man of “a special, correct breed.” He only knows the matter. His task is to preserve the squad as a combat unit. Here he turns into “the force standing above the detachment.” For the sake of completing the main task, Levinson does not take anything into account... (Chapter 11)

Chapter X I - three problematic situations 1. The story with the guy by the river, when Levinson could use a weapon 2. The story with the Korean family, when Levinson takes the last pig from the poor. 3. The story with Frolov, when Levinson, together with Stashinsky, decides to poison the wounded Frolov.

Socialist Humanism How does Levinson solve these problems? What is the concept of “socialist humanism”? How do you feel about this type of problem solving? How does the author feel about Levinson’s decisions? The author justifies Levinson and even exalts and romanticizes

Chapter XVI “The Quagmire” “And suddenly he really appeared among them, in the very center of the human mess, raised a lit torch in his hand, illuminating his deathly pale bearded face with clenched teeth...” Who does he remind us of?

Physically weak and outwardly inconspicuous, Levinson goes through the difficult path of a fighter for an idea, losing along the way people close to him, soldiers of his squad. The author’s position here is completely open: he not only sympathizes with Levinson, but elevates him to the rank of romantic hero, who, like Danko, leads his people out of encirclement, losing most of the squad, but completing the main task.

Levinson's fate Morozka, Metelitsa, Baklanov and many more young and not so partisans die. Levinson remains to live “to fulfill his duties.” The idea of ​​the possibility of sacrificing one or more for the sake of the future victory of the revolution and the future happiness of the people won

But the novel ends on an optimistic note. (Ch. 17) It was necessary to live and fulfill one’s duties

“Destruction” became an indispensable attribute of perestroika criticism, although not only party publications gave it high praise: “This novel was written ... not at all according to the usual stencil, according to which dozens and hundreds of stories and novels are composed and written by many proletarian writers.”

A. A. Fadeev’s novel “Destruction” was written in 1926. The work is based on the writer’s sketch-story “Blizzard,” which was then expanded by the author into a major work. In the novel “Destruction,” Fadeev, focusing on depicting the military life of a small detachment of partisans, describes the events of the Civil War (1917 – 1923) that took place in the Ussuri region. The work is a shining example literary direction socialist realism

In preparation for a literature lesson or before test work We advise you to read summary"Destruction" by chapter on our website.

Main characters

Levinson- the commander of the detachment, “small, unprepossessing in appearance - he consisted entirely of a hat, a red beard and ichigs above the knees,” the son of a second-hand furniture dealer.

Mechik Pavel- a young guy who joined the partisans, dreaming of exploits, but turned out to be too weak in spirit. He abandoned the detachment and fled to the city. Was in love with Varya.

Morozka (Ivan Morozov)- orderly, Varya’s husband, born into a miner’s family. He was killed by the Cossacks.

Other characters

Varvara (Varya)- a nurse in the forest infirmary, Morozko’s wife, was in love with Mechik.

Stashinsky- Doctor in the forest infirmary.

Baklanov- Levinson's assistant.

Dubov, Metelitsa, Kubrak- platoon leaders in Levinson's detachment.

Chizh, Pika, Efimka- partisans in Levinson's detachment.

1. Frost

Levinson sends Morozka to take the package to Shaldyba’s detachment. Not wanting to go, the orderly tries to persuade the commander to send someone else. However, when Levinson said that if Morozka does not want to obey, then let him hand over the gun and “get out of the way,” the orderly gloomily agrees.

“Morozka was a second-generation miner,” the fourth son in the family. All his life he “did not look for new roads,” doing everything thoughtlessly. Morozka fought at the front, was wounded six times and shell-shocked twice, and retired before the revolution. Soon he married the haulier Varya, and in the “eighteenth year” he left to “defend the Soviets.”

On the way to Shandyba, Morozka comes under fire - there is a battle between the partisans and the Japanese. The partisans flee from the enemy, leaving a wounded boy in a city jacket on the field. Frost saves him.

2. Mechik

“Morozka didn’t like the rescued one at first sight.” The wounded man's name was Pavel Mechik. He woke up in the forest infirmary, where Morozka had brought him. Previously, Mechik lived in the city and went to the partisans, dreaming of exploits. But soon his ideas and fantasies were dispelled by reality.

In the infirmary, Mechik falls in love with the “merciful sister” - Varya, Morozok’s wife, she also feels favor towards Pavel. However, the old partisan Pika speaks of the woman as “lascivious” - “she can’t refuse anyone - and that’s all.”

3. Sixth sense

Morozka believed that Mechik “came to them for something ready” (“although in fact the difficult way of the cross lay ahead”) and did not understand what Varya found in him.

Morozka steals melons from the village chairman Ryabtsa, and Levinson orders the weapon to be taken away from the orderly, scheduling a meeting for the evening to discuss this issue.

Levinson, interrogating his intelligence officers, understands that something is approaching - “I felt something was wrong.” The commander ordered to dry the crackers and increase the portion of oats for the horses.

4. One

Mechik is worried that everyone treats him with ridicule and not with sympathy. Pavel told Stashinsky that he had previously served with the “maximalists.” Having learned about this, the doctor began to treat Mechik more “dryly” and “alienated”.

5. Men and the “coal tribe”

Levinson went to the meeting earlier to investigate the rumors circulating among the men. The commander “caught alarming notes” in the peasant voices. At the meeting, Dubov proposed expelling Morozka, but the orderly swore that this would not happen again. Levinson ordered that the partisans help the men with housework in their free time.

6. Levinson

The disturbing news that reached Levinson did not allow him to do anything, but no one knew about his hesitations. “From the time Levinson was chosen as commander, no one could imagine him in any other place: it seemed to everyone that his most distinctive feature was precisely the fact that he commanded their detachment.”

Soon news arrives that a Japanese landing force has occupied the city. Levinson was given the order to “preserve combat units.” The commander decides to retreat.

7. Enemies

On Levinson’s instructions, Stashinsky begins to “gradually unload the infirmary.” Varya, in love with Mechik, motherly advises him to join Levinson’s detachment.

Morozka arrives at the infirmary. Ivan, who had not previously been jealous of Varya, begins to get angry, noticing the sympathy between Pavel and Varya - the fact that “his wife’s lover could be a person like Mechik seemed very offensive to him now.” Morozka quarrels with Mechik.

8. First move

Appearing to Levinson, Morozka asked to “be let into the platoon,” appointing Efimka as an orderly. The commander agreed. Morozka was glad “to be among the guys again.”

At night, Levinson, raising the alarm, announced that they were leaving here.

9. Sword in the squad

Stashinsky was informed of the detachment’s retreat. On the same day, Mechik stood on his feet for the first time. Pavel and Varya become even closer. He was the first to whom Varya said “desired, beloved.” Pavel was very timid in her company, also feeling guilty before Morozka, who saved him. Together with Pika, Mechik went to Levinson’s detachment. As a farewell, Varya gave Pavel an embroidered pouch.

Levinson, having asked Mechik about his previous service, sends the guy to Kubrak, giving the “unsightly” mare Zyuchikha at his disposal. Mechik was outraged that he was given a bad horse; he saw this as Levinson’s mockery of him. Offended, Pavel decided not to court Zyuchikha, for which he “earned universal dislike, like a quitter and asked.” In the detachment, Mechik communicates most with Chizh, who taught him to “get away from the day jobs, from the kitchen.”

10. The beginning of the defeat

Levinson's scouts reported that the Japanese had occupied large territories. The commander decided to send Baklanov and Mechik on reconnaissance missions. Contrary to the information of previous scouts, there were Japanese in the village of Solomennaya. Having shot three enemies, Baklanov and Mechik fled, having learned everything they needed.

11. Strada

While crossing the taiga, the partisans had to fight hunger and cold. “Levinson deeply believed that these people were driven not only by a sense of self-preservation, but also by another, no less important instinct,<…>according to which everything they have to endure, even death, is justified by its ultimate goal." On the way, the partisans met the Daubikhin alcohol carrier Styrksha, who said that a reward had been promised for the “capture of Levinson, alive or dead.”

The partisans come to the hospital. Stashinsky and Levinson, realizing that the mortally wounded Frolov will only be a burden, decide to give him poison. Mechik, who accidentally overheard their conversation, tries to interfere with what was happening and shouts at the doctor. Frolov realizes that he was given more than just medicine and before his death he asks to take care of his son.

12. Ways and roads

Seeing Varya again, Morozka again began to think about his wife and Mechik, trying to “assure himself that everything was indifferent to him.” The partisans began to advance further. At one of the rest stops, Varya, who had been missing Mechik all this time, approached him herself. However, Pavel became embarrassed and dragged the woman into the bushes of Chizh - “and she really became indifferent to everything.”

13. Cargo

Standing as a sentry, Mechik realizes that he wants to leave the detachment. He tells Levinson, who is making his rounds, about this. Mechik explains to the commander that he considers himself a worthless and unnecessary partisan and asks to be sent to the city. Thinking about their conversation afterwards, Levinson thought that ““ as long as we, on our land<…>millions of people still live in dirt and poverty,<…>Until then, such lazy and weak-willed people, such worthless barren flowers, can be born on it...”

14. Exploration of Metelitsa

Levinson sends Metelitsa on reconnaissance to the village. Having got out of the taiga, the platoon commander meets a stable boy, with whom he leaves the horse. Having learned that Cossacks have settled in the village, Metelitsa tries to scout out something under the windows of the squadron commander’s house, but he is caught.

The news that Metelitsa did not return worried Levinson, but they decided to move forward anyway. The commander was very ill, and every day he became worse.

15. Three deaths

Metelitsa woke up in a large dark barn, thinking about how he “will be able to show those people who will kill him that he is not afraid and despises them.” After the interrogation, the platoon commander was taken to the square. One of the men brings out the shepherd boy, with whom Metelitsa left his horse. The Cossacks want to interrogate the boy, but the platoon commander rushes to protect the shepherd boy and dies from a Cossack bullet.

The partisans noticed the approaching squadron of Cossacks. Levinson's detachment drives away the enemy; during the skirmish, Morozka's horse was killed. By order of the commander, they shot the man who was leading the shepherd boy to the square.

16. Mire

Varya, who did not participate in the attack, arrived in the village when everyone had already scattered to their huts. Having learned that Morozka was alive, she immediately went to look for him and found him drunk on the street - the man got drunk, grieving over the death of his horse. The woman helped him get up and took him to the hayloft. Unexpectedly, Morozka kissed Varya for the second time in her life. They reconciled.

In the morning, enemy cavalry began to attack the village. Due to a lack of people, Levinson's detachment had to retreat into the forest. The fighters are stopped by the quagmire. Levinson orders the swamp to be cleared. The partisans managed to cross the swamp under enemy bullets.

17. Nineteen

Not far from the place where the partisans were crossing, the Cossacks set up an ambush. Mechik is sent on reconnaissance mission. Falling asleep on his horse, he sees the Cossacks in front of him, but without warning the detachment, he runs away in fear, and then the city returns. Morozka was following Mechik. Ivan manages to warn his squad with shots, after which the Cossacks kill him.

Levinson orders a breakthrough. He is informed that Baklanov was killed. No longer hiding his weakness, the commander burst into tears. Having broken through, “they rode out of the forest - all nineteen” and found themselves in a field.

“Levinson looked around with a silent, still damp gaze, this spacious sky and earth, promising bread and rest, these distant people on the threshing floor, whom he would soon have to make as his own, close people, as were the eighteen who silently rode behind - and stopped crying; I had to live and fulfill my duties.”

Conclusion

In the novel "Destruction" Fadeev raised a series important topics, the leading of which is the theme of revolution and civil war. In the work small world a small partisan detachment becomes a reflection of a real large-scale picture historical events that period. The central figures of the novel are the images of the red commander Levinson and the weak-spirited partisan Mechik, through the contrast of which the author emphasizes that the leading force of the revolution was “ simple people" With great will to victory.

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Fadeev Alexander Alexandrovich (1901, Kimry, Tver province - 1956, Peredelkino near Moscow) - writer.

TO the best works A. Fadeev’s novel “Destruction” dates back to the twenties. “I can define them like this,” said Fadeev. - The first and main idea: in a civil war, a selection of human material occurs, everything hostile is swept away by the revolution, everything incapable of a real revolutionary struggle, accidentally falling into the camp of the revolution, is eliminated, and everything that has risen from the true roots of the revolution, from the millions of masses of the people, is tempered, grows and develops in this struggle. A huge transformation of people is taking place.”
This transformation of people is happening successfully because the revolution is led by advanced representatives of the working class - communists who clearly see the goal of the movement and who lead the more backward ones and help them re-educate.
The significance of this topic is enormous. During the years of revolution and civil war a radical change occurs in people's consciousness, reason ultimately triumphed over prejudice, the elements of “savagery,” inevitable in any war, receded into the background before the majestic picture of the growth of the “mind of the masses,” millions of working people were drawn into active political life.
“Destruction” by A. Fadeev is one of the first works of art, reflecting ideological content October revolution. The action in Mayhem lasts approximately three months. There are only about thirty characters. This is unusually low for works about the Civil War. The author's focus is on depicting human characters. The main event - the military defeat of the partisan detachment - begins to play a noticeable role in the fate of the heroes only from the middle of the work. The entire first half of the novel is a history of human experiences, conditioned not by a private military episode, but by the totality of the conditions of the revolutionary era, when the character characters outlined, the author shows the battle as a test of the qualities of people. And at the moment of hostilities, all attention is absorbed not in describing them, but in characterizing the behavior and experiences of the participants in the struggle. Where he was, what this or that hero was thinking about - the writer is occupied with such questions from the first to the last chapter. Not a single event was described
not as such, but necessarily taken as a cause or consequence of the hero’s internal movements. Real historical basis The “debacle” was the events of the three most difficult months. The novel gives a general broad picture of the great remaking of the world and man that began on October 25, 1917. “Destruction” is a book about the “birth of man,” about the formation of a new, Soviet self-awareness among the most different participants historical events.
There are no random “happy” endings in Fadeev’s novel. Acute military and psychological conflicts are resolved in it only by the heroic exertion of the physical and spiritual forces of the participants in the war. By the end of the novel, a tragic situation develops: the partisan detachment finds itself surrounded by the enemy. The way out of this situation required great sacrifices, bought at the price of heroic death the best people squad. The novel ends with the death of most of the heroes: only nineteen remain alive. The plot of the novel, therefore, contains an element of tragedy, which is emphasized in the title itself. Fadeev used the tragic material of the civil war to show that the working masses did not stop at any sacrifice in the struggle for the victory of the proletarian revolution and that this revolution raised ordinary people, people from the people, to the level of heroes of historical tragedy.
The characters of “Devastation” are organically welded together by the real event that lies at the basis of the novel. The system of images as a whole gives rise to such a strong feeling of naturalness that it seems to have emerged as if spontaneously.
The cramped little world of a partisan detachment is an artistic miniature with real picture large historical scale. The system of images of “Destruction”, taken as a whole, reflected the real-typical correlation of the main social forces of the revolution. It was attended by the proletariat, peasantry and intelligentsia, led by the Communist Party. Fadeev managed to find high poetry in the deeds and thoughts of the Bolshevik, in the activities of the party worker, and not in psychological additions to it and not in its external naturalistic decorations.
“Destruction” not only continues to live in our days, but is also enriched by time, precisely because, along with the present, the book also contains the future. In A. Fadeev’s novel, the future, the dream, have become part of reality. “Destruction” is one of the first works of our literature in which socialist realism is not present in the form of separate elements, but becomes the very basis of the work. A. Fadeev’s work on “Destruction” can serve as an example of the artist’s great exactingness, the writer’s correct understanding of his high responsibility to the reader.
The novel is the result of long thought and great creative work. “I worked a lot on the novel,” says the author, “rewriting individual chapters many times. There are chapters that I have rewritten over twenty times.” But the author carried out hard work associated with clarifying the meaning of individual expressions and improving style.
Its focus is on the complex moral problems of duty, fidelity, humanism, and love that faced Fadeev’s heroes and continue to concern us today.

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I should make nails out of these people -

There couldn't be any stronger nails in the world…

(N. Tikhonov. “The Ballad of Nails”)

Introduction

A revolution is an event too huge in scale not to be reflected in literature. And only a few writers and poets who came under her influence did not touch on this topic in their work.

It must also be kept in mind that October Revolution – the most important stage in the history of mankind - gave rise to the most complex phenomena in literature and art.

With all his passion as a communist writer and revolutionary A.A. Fadeev sought to bring the bright time of communism closer. This humanistic belief in a beautiful person permeated the most heavy paintings and the situations in which his heroes found themselves.

For A.A. Fadeev, a revolutionary is not possible without this aspiration to a bright future, without faith in a new, beautiful, kind and pure person.

Fadeev wrote the novel "Destruction" over three years from 1924 to 1927, when many writers wrote laudatory works about the victory of socialism. Against this background, Fadeev wrote, at first glance, an unprofitable novel: during the civil war, the partisan detachment was physically defeated, but morally he defeated the enemies with his faith in the correctness of the chosen path. It seems to me that Fadeev wrote this novel in such a way as to show that the revolution is defended not by a frenzied crowd of ragamuffins, smashing and sweeping away everything in its path, but by courageous, honest people who have raised in themselves and others a moral, humane person.

If we take the purely external shell, the development of events, then this is really the story of the defeat of Levinson’s partisan detachment. But A.A. Fadeev uses for his narration one of the most dramatic moments in the history of the partisan movement in the Far East, when the joint efforts of the White Guard and Japanese troops dealt heavy blows to the partisans of Primorye.

You can pay attention to one feature in the construction of “Destruction”: each of the chapters not only develops some kind of action, but also contains a complete psychological development, an in-depth characterization of one of the characters. Some chapters are named after the characters: “Morozka”, “Mechik”, “Levinson”, “Reconnaissance of Metelitsa”. But this does not mean that these individuals act only in these chapters. They take an active part in all events in the life of the entire detachment. Fadeev, as a follower of Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, explores their characters in all difficult and sometimes compromising circumstances. At the same time, creating new psychological portraits, the writer strives to penetrate the innermost corners of the soul, trying to foresee the motives and actions of his heroes. With every turn of events, new aspects of character are revealed.

Morozka

Frost! Peering into the appearance of a dashing partisan, we experience that happy feeling of discovering a bright human type, which brings a truly artistic work. It gives us aesthetic pleasure to follow the vicissitudes of this person’s mental life. His moral evolution gives us a lot to think about.

Before joining the partisan detachment, Morozka “did not look for new roads, but followed old, already proven paths” and life seemed simple and unsophisticated to him. He fought bravely, but at times was burdened by Levinson’s demands. He was generous and selfless, but did not see anything wrong in filling a bag with melons from a peasant's chestnut. He could get completely drunk, curse a friend, and rudely offend a woman.

Combat life brings Morozka not only military skills, but also the awareness of his responsibility to the team, a sense of citizenship. Observing the beginning of panic at the crossing (someone spread a rumor that they were passing farts), out of mischief, he wanted to “prank” the men even more “for fun,” but thought better of it and began to restore order. Unexpectedly Frost

"I felt like a big, responsible person...". This consciousness was joyful and promising. Morozka learned to control himself, “he involuntarily joined in that meaningful healthy life, as Goncharenko always seemed to live..."

Morozka still had a lot to overcome within himself, but the most decisive thing was that he was a true hero, a loyal comrade, a selfless fighter. Without flinching, he sacrificed his own life, raised the alarm and warned the squad about an enemy ambush.

Blizzard

Blizzard. A shepherd in the past, an unsurpassed scout in a partisan detachment, he also forever chose his place in the fire of class battles.

In the course of working on “Destruction,” the image of Metelitsa was rethought by the author. Judging by the draft manuscript, at first Fadeev intended to show, first of all, the physical strength and energy of his hero. Metelitsa was embittered by the old life, did not trust people and even despised them, considered himself - proud and lonely - immeasurably higher than those around him. While working on the novel, the writer frees the image of Metelitsa from such “demonic” traits, develops those episodes in which the bright mind and breadth of thinking of his hero are revealed. His impetuous and nervous strength, which could have been destructive, under the influence of Levinson received the right direction and was put at the service of a noble and humane cause.

But Metelitsa is capable of much. One of the key scenes in the novel is the scene where a military council is shown, at which the next military operation was discussed. Metelitsa proposed a daring and original plan, testifying to his remarkable mind.

Baklanov

Baklanov. He not only learns from Levinson, but imitates him in everything, even in his behavior. His enthusiastic attitude towards the commander can make you smile. However, it is impossible not to notice what this training gives: the assistant detachment commander has earned universal respect for his calm energy, clarity, organization, coupled with courage and

dedication, he is one of the people in charge of all squad affairs. In the finale of "Destruction" it is said that Levinson sees his successor in Baklanov. In the manuscript of the novel, this idea was developed in even more detail. The force that moved Levinson and inspired him with confidence that the surviving nineteen fighters would continue the common cause was “not the force of an individual person” dying with him, “but was the force of thousands and thousands of people (which burned, for example, Baklanov), then is an undying and eternal power."

Levinson

Levinson's figure opens a gallery of "party people" - drawn by Soviet writers. The artistic appeal of this image is that it is revealed “from the inside”, illuminated by the light of great ideas that inspire such people.

A short, red-bearded man emerges from the pages of the book as if alive, conquering not with physical strength, not with a loud voice, but with a strong spirit and unbending will. Portraying an energetic, strong-willed commander, Fadeev emphasized the need for him to choose the right tactics, which ensure a purposeful impact on people. When Levinson is overbearing

with a shout he stops the panic when he organizes a crossing through the quagmire, the communists - the heroes of Fadeev's first stories - come to mind. But this image made a huge impression on readers due to its dissimilarity with its predecessors. In "Destruction" the artistic emphasis was transferred to the world of feelings, thoughts, experiences of a revolutionary fighter, a Bolshevik

figure. Levinson's outward unsightliness and morbidity are intended to highlight his main strength - the power of political and moral influence on those around him. He finds the “key” to Metelitsa, whose energy must be directed in the right direction, and to Baklanov, who is only waiting for a signal to act independently, and to Morozka, who needs strict care, and to all the other partisans.

Levinson seemed to be a person of “a special, correct breed”, not at all subject to mental anxieties. In turn, he got used to thinking that, burdened with everyday petty vanity, people seemed to entrust their most important concerns to him and his comrades. Therefore, it seems necessary to him, fulfilling the role of a strong man, “always at the head,” to carefully hide his

doubts, hide personal weaknesses, strictly maintain distance between yourself and

subordinates. However, the author is aware of these weaknesses and doubts. Moreover, he considers it obligatory to tell the reader about them, to show the hidden corners of Levinson’s soul. Let us remember, for example, Levinson at the moment of breaking through the White Cossack ambush: exhausted in continuous trials, this iron man “helplessly looked around, for the first time looking for outside support...”. In the 20s, writers often, while depicting a brave and fearless commissar or commander, did not consider it possible to depict his hesitation and confusion. Fadeev went further than his colleagues, conveying both the complexity of the moral state of the detachment commander and the integrity of his character - ultimately, Levinson necessarily comes to new decisions, his will does not weaken, but is tempered in difficulties,

he, learning to manage others, learns to manage himself.

Levinson loves people, and this love is demanding and active. Coming from a petty-bourgeois family, Levinson suppressed within himself a sweet longing for the beautiful birds that, as the photographer assures the children, would suddenly fly out of the camera. He is looking for points of convergence between the dream of a new person and today's reality. Levinson professes the principle of fighters and transformers: “See everything as

it exists in order to change what is, to bring closer what is being born and should be..."

Levinson’s entire life activity is determined by fidelity to this principle. He remains himself both when, with a feeling of “quiet, slightly creepy delight,” he admires the orderly, and when he forces a partisan to get fish from the river, or proposes to severely punish Morozka, or confiscates the Korean’s only pig to feed the starving partisans.

Throughout the novel there is a contrast between effective humanism and abstract, petty-bourgeois humanism. Here lies the divide between Levinson and Morozka, on the one hand, and Mechik, on the other. Widely using the technique of contrasting comparisons of characters, Fadeev willingly pits them against each other, tests each with their attitude to the same situations. An enthusiastic poseur and a neat guy, Mechik is not averse to speculating about lofty matters, but he is afraid of the prose of life. His floridness only caused harm: he poisoned Frolov’s last minutes by talking about the end that awaited him, throwing a tantrum when the Korean’s pig was taken away. A bad comrade, a careless partisan, Mechik considered himself taller, more cultured, and cleaner than people like Morozka. The test of life showed something else: the heroism, dedication of the orderly and the cowardice of the blond handsome man who betrayed the detachment in order to save his own skin. Mechik turned out to be the opposite of Levinson. The detachment commander quickly realized what a lazy and weak-willed little man he was, a “worthless barren flower.” Mechik is akin to the anarchist and deserter Chizh, the God-fearing charlatan Pique.

Fadeev hated false humanism. He, who categorically rejected abstract romantic aesthetics, in fact not only masterfully analyzed the real everyday life of contradictory reality, but also looked at them from the height of the goals and ideals of the “third reality,” as Gorky called the future. The external, ostentatious in “Destruction” is opposed to the internally significant, true, and in this sense, the comparison of the images of Morozka and Mechik seems extremely important.

Mechik

Mechik is the antipode of Morozka. Throughout the novel, their opposition to each other can be traced. If Morozka’s character in a number of episodes expresses the psychology of the masses with all its shortcomings inherited from old times, then Mechik’s individuality, on the contrary, appears as if distilled, internally alien to the deep interests of the people, divorced from them. As a result, Morozka’s behavior, until he acquires the traits of an independent personality, turns out to be somewhat antisocial, and Mechik ruins not only his comrades, but also himself as an individual. The difference between them is that Morozka has the prospect of overcoming his shortcomings, while Mechik does not.

Mechik, another “hero” of the novel, is very “moral” from the point of view of the Ten Commandments... but these qualities remain external to him, they cover up his internal egoism, lack of dedication to the cause of the working class.

Mechik constantly separates himself from others and opposes himself to everyone around him, including the closest of them - Chizhu, Pike, Varya. His desires are almost sterilely purified from internal subordination to everything that seems ugly to him, with which many around him put up with and take for granted. And at first Fadeev even sympathetically emphasizes this desire for purity and independence, this self-respect, the desire to preserve one’s personality, the dream of a romantic feat and beautiful love.

However, the awareness of oneself as a human being, as an individual, so dear to Fadeev, in Mechik turns out to be completely absolutized, divorced from the national principle. He does not feel his connection with society, and therefore, at any contact with other people, he becomes lost - and ceases to feel like a person. Precisely what could become the most valuable in Mechik completely disappears in his difficulties in real life. He is unable to be a person, to be true to himself. As a result, nothing remains of his ideals: neither the much-desired noble feat, nor pure love for a woman, nor gratitude for salvation.

No one can rely on Mechik; he can betray everyone. He falls in love with Varya, but cannot tell her directly about it. Mechik is ashamed of Varya’s love, afraid to show anyone his tenderness for her and in the end rudely pushes her away. So, because of weakness, another step is taken along the road to betrayal along which Mechik’s character develops in the book and which shamefully and horribly ends in a double betrayal: without firing signal shots and escaping the patrol, Mechik dooms his savior Morozka to death, and the whole squad. Thus, the personality that is not nourished by native juices degenerates and withers, without having time to blossom.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to identify the main theme of the novel and express my attitude towards the novel.

I dare to insert the words of A.A. himself. Fadeev, who defined the main theme of his novel: “In a civil war, a selection of human material occurs, everything hostile is swept away by the revolution, everything incapable of a real revolutionary struggle, that accidentally ends up in the camp of the revolution is eliminated, and everything that has risen from the true roots of the revolution, from the millions of masses of the people, tempers, grows, develops in this struggle. A huge transformation of people is taking place.”

The invincibility of the revolution lies in its vitality, in the depth of penetration into the consciousness of people who were often the most backward in the past. Like Morozka, these people rose to conscious action for the highest historical goals. This was the main optimistic idea tragic novel"Destruction."

It seems to me that the fate of the country is in the hands of the country itself. But as the people themselves said, it’s like a piece of wood, I look who processes it...

The “selection of human material” is carried out by the war itself. More often the best die in battle - Metelitsa, Baklanov, Morozka, who managed to realize the importance of the team and suppress his selfish aspirations, and those like Chizh, Pika and the traitor Mechik remain. I feel endlessly sorry for everyone - after all, a people is not formed as a result of selection, “culling”, elimination. These lines by Marina Tsvetaev about the civil war, about which they say that everyone is a loser, reflects my attitude towards everything that was happening in our country at that time:

All are lying next to each other -

Don't separate the boundary

View: soldier

Where is yours, where is the stranger,

Was white - became red

The blood stained

Was red - became white

Death has whitened.

Brief summary of the novel by A.A Fadeev “Destruction”

1. FROST

Levinson, the commander of the partisan detachment, gives the package to his orderly Morozka, ordering him to take it to the commander of another detachment, Shaldyba, but Morozka does not want to go, he refuses and argues with the commander. Levinson gets tired of Morozka's constant confrontation. He takes the letter, and Morozka advises “to roll in all four directions. I don’t need troublemakers.” Morozka instantly changes his mind, takes the letter, explaining rather to himself than to Levinson that he cannot live without the detachment, and, having cheered up, leaves with the package.

Morozka is a second generation miner. He was born in a miner's barracks, and at the age of twelve he himself began to “roll trolleys.” Life followed a well-worn path, like everyone else. Morozka also sat in jail, served in the cavalry, was wounded and shell-shocked, so even before the revolution he was “dismissed from the army on clean grounds.” Returning from the army, he got married. “He did everything thoughtlessly: life seemed to him simple, unsophisticated, like a round Murom cucumber from the Suchan bashtans” (vegetable gardens). And later, in 1918, he left, taking his wife, to defend the Soviets. It was not possible to defend power, so he joined the partisans. Hearing the shots, Morozka crawled to the top of the hill and saw that the whites were attacking Shaldyba’s fighters, and they were running. “The enraged Shaldyba lashed with a whip in all directions and could not restrain the people. Some could be seen stealthily tearing off red bows.”

Morozka is outraged seeing all this. Among the retreating Morozka saw a limping boy. He fell, but the fighters ran on. Morozka could no longer see this. He called his horse, took off on it and drove to the fallen boy. Bullets whistled all around. Morozka made his horse lie down, laid it across the wounded man’s croup and galloped off to Levinson’s detachment.

2. SWORD

But Morozka did not immediately like the rescued one. “Morozka did not like clean people. In his practice, these were fickle, worthless people who could not be trusted.” Levinson ordered to take the guy to the infirmary. In the wounded man’s pocket were documents addressed to Pavel Mechik, but he himself was unconscious. He woke up only when he was being carried to the infirmary, then fell asleep until the morning. When Mechik woke up, he saw doctor Stashinsky and sister Varya with golden-blond fluffy braids and gray eyes. While dressing Mechik it was painful, but he did not scream, feeling Varya’s presence. “And all around there was a well-fed taiga silence.”

Three weeks ago Mechik joyfully walked through the taiga, heading with a ticket in his boot to join the partisan detachment. Suddenly, people jumped out of the bushes, they were suspicious of Mechik, without understanding his documents due to illiteracy, they first beat him, and then accepted him into the detachment. “The people around him did not at all resemble those created by his ardent imagination. These were dirtier, lousier, tougher and more spontaneous...” They swore and fought among themselves over every trifle, mocked Swordsman. But these were not bookish people, but “living people.” Lying in the hospital, Mechik recalled everything he had experienced, he felt sorry for the good and sincere feeling, with whom he went to the detachment. He took care of himself with special gratitude. There were few wounded. There are two heavy ones: Frolov and Mechik. Old man Pika often talked with Mechik. Occasionally the “pretty sister” came. She sheathed and washed the entire hospital, but she treated Mechik especially “tenderly and caringly.” Pika said about her: she is “lascivious.” “Morozka, her husband, is in the detachment, and she is fornicating.” Mechik asked why his sister was like this? Pika replied: “But the jester knows her, why is she so affectionate. He can’t refuse anyone - and that’s all...”

3. SIXTH SENSE

Morozka almost angrily thought about Mechik, why such people would go to the partisans “for anything ready.” Although this was not true, there was a difficult “way of the cross” ahead. Driving past the chestnut tree, Morozka got off his horse and began hastily picking melons into a sack before his owner caught him. Khoma Yegorovich Ryabets threatened to find justice for Morozka. The owner did not believe that the man whom he fed and dressed like a son was stealing his chestnuts.

Levinson talked with the returning scout, who reported that Shaldyba’s detachment had been badly beaten by the Japanese, and now the partisans were holed up in the Korean winter hut. Levinson felt that something was wrong, but the scout could not say anything useful.

At this time, Baklanov, Levinson’s deputy, arrived. He brought the indignant Ryabets, who spoke at length about Morozka’s act. The summoned Morozka did not deny anything. He only objected to Levinson, who ordered him to surrender his weapons. Morozka considered this too severe a punishment for stealing melons. Levinson convened a village meeting - let everyone know...

Then Levinson asked Ryabets to collect bread from the village and secretly dry ten pounds of crackers, without explaining for whom. He ordered Baklanov: starting from tomorrow, increase the portion of oats for the horses.

4. ONE

Morozka's arrival at the hospital disrupted Mechik's state of mind. He kept wondering why Morozka looked at him so disdainfully. Yes, he saved his life. But this did not give Morozka the right to disrespect Mechik. Pavel was already recovering. But Frolov’s wound was hopeless. Mechik recalled the events last month and, covering his head with a blanket, burst into tears.

5. MEN AND “COAL TRIBE”

Wanting to check his fears, Levinson went to the meeting in advance, expecting to hear the men's conversations and rumors. The men were surprised that the gathering was held on a weekday, when it was busy time for mowing.

Ryabets displeasedly asked Levinson to begin. Now this whole story seemed useless and troublesome to him. Levinson insisted that this matter concerns everyone: there are many locals in the detachment. Everyone was perplexed: why did they have to steal - ask Morozok, anyone would have given him this goodness. Frost was brought forward. Dubov suggested chasing Morozka in the neck. But Goncha-renko stood up for Morozka, calling him a fighting guy who went through the entire Ussuri front. “Your own guy - he won’t give you away, he won’t sell you...”

They asked Morozka, and he said that he did it thoughtlessly, out of habit, and gave his miner’s word that something like this would never happen again. That's what they decided on. Levinson suggested that in his free time from military operations he should not wander the streets, but help his owners. The peasants were pleased with this proposal. The help was not superfluous.

6. LEVINSON

Levinson's detachment had been on vacation for the fifth week, it had become overgrown, and there were many deserters from other detachments. Levinson received alarming news, and he was afraid to move on this colossus. For his subordinates, Levinson was “iron.” He hid his doubts and fears, always giving orders confidently and clearly. Levinson is a “correct” person, always thinking about business, knew his own weaknesses and people’s, and he also clearly understood: “you can lead other people only by pointing out their weaknesses and suppressing, hiding yours from them.” Soon Levinson received a “terrible relay.” She was sent by the chief of staff Sukhovey-Kovtun. He wrote about the Japanese attack, about the defeat of the main partisan forces. After this message, Levinson collected information about the surrounding situation, and outwardly remained confident, knowing what to do. The main task at this moment it was “to preserve at least small, but strong and disciplined units...”.

Summoning Baklanov and the nachkhoz, Levinson warned them to be ready for the detachment to move. “Be ready at any moment.”

Along with business letters from the city, Levinson received a note from his wife. He re-read it only at night, when all his work was completed. I wrote an answer right away. Then I went to check the posts. That same night I went to a neighboring detachment, saw its deplorable state and decided to move away.

7. ENEMIES

Levinson sent Stashinsky a letter saying that the infirmary should be gradually unloaded. From that time on, people began to disperse to the villages, rolling up their joyless soldier's bundles. Of the wounded, only Frolov, Mechik and Pika remained. Actually, Pika wasn’t sick with anything, he just took root at the hospital. Mechik had also already taken off the bandage from his head. Varya said that he would soon go to Levinson’s detachment. Mechik dreamed of establishing himself as a confident and efficient fighter in Levinson’s detachment, and when he returned to the city, no one would recognize him. So he will change.

8. FIRST MOVE

The deserters who appeared stirred up the whole area, sowed panic, and supposedly large forces of the Japanese were coming. But reconnaissance did not find the Japanese ten miles in the area. Morozka asked Levinson to take leave to join the guys in the platoon, and instead recommended Yefimka as an orderly. Levinson agreed.

That same evening Morozka moved to the platoon and was quite happy. And at night they got up on alarm - shots were heard across the river. It was a false alarm: they fired on Levinson’s orders. The commander wanted to check the combat readiness of the detachment. Then, in front of the entire detachment, Levinson announced the performance.

9. SWORDMAN IN THE SQUAD

Nachkhoz appeared at the hospital to prepare food in case the detachment had to hide here in the taiga.

On this day, Mechik stood up on his feet for the first time and was very happy. Soon he left with Pika to join the detachment. They were greeted kindly and assigned to Kubrak’s platoon. The sight of the horse, or rather the nag, that was given to him almost offended Mechik. Pavel even went to headquarters to express his dissatisfaction with the mare assigned to him. But at the last moment he became timid and did not say anything to Levinson. He decided to kill the mare without keeping an eye on her. “Zyuchikha became overgrown with scabs, walked around hungry, without water, occasionally taking advantage of the pity of others, and Mechik earned everyone’s dislike as “a quitter and a problem.” He only became friends with Chizh, a worthless man, and with Pika for old times’ sake. Chizh criticized Levinson, calling him short-sighted and cunning, “making capital for himself on someone else’s hump.” Mechik did not believe Chizh, but listened with pleasure to his competent speech. True, Chizh soon became unpleasant to Mechik, but there was no way to get rid of him. Chizh taught Mechik to take time off from being a day laborer, from the kitchen, Pavel began to snap, learned to defend his point of view, and the life of the detachment “passed by” him.

10. THE BEGINNING OF THE DEVOTION

Having climbed into a remote place, Levinson almost lost contact with other units. Having contacted the railway, the commander learned that a train with weapons and uniforms would soon arrive. “Knowing that sooner or later the detachment would be opened anyway, and it was impossible to winter in the taiga without ammunition and warm clothes, Levinson decided to make his first foray.” Dubov's detachment attacked the freight train, loaded the horses, dodged the patrols and, without losing a single soldier, returned to the parking lot. On the same day, the partisans were given overcoats, cartridges, checkers, crackers... Soon Mechik and Baklanov went on reconnaissance, wanted to test the “new guy” in action. On the way, they started talking. Mechik liked Baklanov more and more. But Baklanov simply did not understand Mechik’s sophisticated reasoning. In the village, they ran into four Japanese soldiers: two were killed by Baklanov, one by Mechik. , and the latter ran away. Having driven away from the farm, they saw the main forces of the Japanese leaving there, having found out everything, they drove into the detachment.

The night passed anxiously, and the next morning the detachment was attacked by the enemy. The attackers had guns and machine guns, so the partisans had no choice but to retreat into the taiga. Mechik was terrified, he waited for everything to end, and Pika, without raising his head, fired at the tree. Mechik came to his senses only in the taiga. “It was dark and quiet here, and the stern cedar tree covered them with its calm, mossy paws.”

11. STRADA

Levinson's squad takes refuge in the forest after the battle. There is a reward on Levinson's head. The squad is forced to retreat. Due to the lack of provisions, they have to steal from vegetable gardens and fields. To feed the detachment, Levinson gives the order to kill a Korean pig. For a Korean, this is food for the whole winter. In order to retreat and not drag the wounded Frolov along with him, Levinson decides to poison him. But Mechik overheard his plan and spoils the last minutes of Frolov’s life. Frolov understands everything and drinks the poison offered to him. Mechik's false humanism and pettiness are shown.

12. ROADS

Frolov was buried. Pika escaped. Morozka remembers her life and is sad about Varya. Varya at this time thinks about Mechik, she sees her salvation in him, for the first time in her life she truly loved someone. Mechik does not understand any of this and, on the contrary, avoids her and treats her rudely.

13. CARGO

The partisans sit and talk to the people about the peasant character. Levinson goes to inspect the patrols and runs into Mechik. Mechik tells him about his experiences, thoughts, his dislike for the squad, his lack of understanding of everything that is happening around him. Levinson tries to convince him, but all in vain. Metelitsa was sent on reconnaissance mission.

14. EXPLORATION OF Blizzard

Metelitsa went on reconnaissance. Almost reaching the right place, he meets a shepherd boy. He meets him, learns from him information about where the whites are located in the village, leaves his horse with him and goes to the village. Sneaking up to the house of the white commander, Snowstorm eavesdrops, but is noticed by a sentry. Metelitsa was caught. At this time, everyone in the squad is worried about him and is waiting for his return.

15. THREE DEATHS

The next day, Metelitsa was taken for interrogation, but he said nothing. A public trial is held, the shepherd with whom he left the horse does not hand him over, but the boy’s owner gives him over to Metelitsa. Metelitsa is trying to kill the squadron leader. Metelitsa was shot. A detachment of partisans goes to the rescue of Metelitsa, but it is too late. The partisans caught and shot the man who surrendered Metelitsa. In battle, Morozok's horse is killed, and out of grief he gets drunk.

16. SWAMP

Varya, who did not participate in the battle, returns and looks for Morozok. He finds him drunk and takes him away, calms him down, tries to make peace with him. The whites are attacking the detachment. Levinson decides to retreat into the taiga, into the swamps. The detachment quickly arranges a crossing through the swamps and, having crossed, undermines it. The detachment broke away from the pursuit of the whites, losing almost all its people.

17. NINETEEN

Having broken away from the whites, the detachment decides to go to the Tudo-Vaksky tract, where the bridge is located. To avoid an ambush, they send forward a patrol consisting of Mechik and Morozka. Mechik, who was riding ahead, was caught by the White Guards, and he was able to escape from them. Morozka, who follows, dies like a hero, but at the same time warned his comrades about the ambush. A battle ensues in which Baklanov dies. Only 19 people remain from the detachment. Mechik is left alone in the taiga. Levinson with the remnants of the detachment leaves the forest.