1. The image of Olga and her relationship with the hero.
2. Agafya Matveevna’s range of interests.
3. The role of Olga Ilyinskaya in the novel.
4. Oblomov's choice.
Yes, I know, I’m not a match for you, I came from another country...
N. S. Gumilev
The sedentary lifestyle of Oblomov, the main character novel of the same name I. A. Goncharov, as if not very conducive to love experiences. Main character spends most of his time on the sofa in fruitless dreams, doing nothing to realize them: and although he has an ideal girlfriend, he does not seek to look for her himself, but, faithful to his childhood dream of Militris Kirbityevna, a fairy-tale princess, calmly waits for her to appear in his life.
Two women loved Oblomov: Olga Ilyinskaya and Agafya Pshenitsyna. Olga is an educated, charming, active person. She sings excellently and is keenly interested in science, art, and literature. Thanks to its high spiritual qualities this girl was able to correctly understand Oblomov’s pure and noble soul, to discern in him the “image of God” hidden under a layer of inactivity. But love did not obscure Oblomov’s shortcomings from Olga - his passivity, laziness, and habit of inactivity. The girl is inspired by the thought that her love will force Oblomov to be spiritually reborn, to determine for himself a range of activities that are useful not only for the development of his personality, but also constitute an urgent necessity of life. Olga hopes that Oblomov will finally arrange things on his estate and will become interested in what is happening around him. In Olga's love for Oblomov significant place occupies a kind of dream of an artist who sees the contours of a future masterpiece in raw material. Olga is by no means devoid of vanity. The heroine is pleased with the idea that thanks to her Oblomov can become an active, useful member of society, “having said goodbye to the sofa and robe: “... He will not fall asleep with her; she will show him a goal, make him fall in love again with everything that he has stopped loving...” .
Olga’s authority, determination and Oblomov’s passive obedience seem to make possible the rebirth of Ilya Ilyich that Olga is seeking. But gradually their relationship begins to crack. Oblomov’s activity is artificial, entirely the result of Olga’s prodding. Once Oblomov is left without leadership for a few days, he returns to his old habits. Since he sincerely loves Olga, he is ready to fulfill her demands, but Oblomov does not have an internal, deep need to change his lifestyle. Gradually, he begins to be burdened by the active lifestyle that Olga imposes on him. To be on an equal footing with her, you need to be on the move all the time, in search of new knowledge and impressions, to do business: if you correlate Olga with the characters folk tales, loved by Oblomov since childhood, it is perhaps most appropriate to compare her with the firebird or the sweet-voiced bird Sirin from; Slavic myths. The song of the magical bird disturbs the heart, the bright plumage sparkles, but the one who decides to catch it will have to endure many trials for a long time...
But Oblomov’s ideal, formed on the basis of childhood impressions, is completely different. Olga's exactingness makes him think, suffer, force himself to act, while in his dreams Oblomov sees his future wife as the embodiment of inner harmony and peace. It is peace, and not boiling passions, that Oblomov values. It is interesting to compare how Olga and Agafya Matveyevna appeared in Oblomov’s life. He was introduced to Olga by Andrei Stolts, who almost forcibly tore Oblomov out of his usual sleepy existence: like a fabulous firebird singing heavenly songs, Olga bursts into Oblomov’s “garden of the soul” and just as suddenly leaves him. As for Agafya Matveevna, the owner of the apartment rented by Oblomov, he hardly notices her for a long time. It’s nice for the hero to see her, it’s nice to exchange a few words, it’s nice that she’s so thrifty and welcoming, but she doesn’t cause him any emotional worries.
Agafya Matveevna, like Olga, is endowed with many positive features character. Of course, Agafya Matveevna lacks Olga’s education, but Oblomov is easy to communicate with her, she is economical, and has a calm, even disposition. It is easy to notice the huge difference in her and Olga’s attitude towards Oblomov. If Olga strives to elevate Oblomov to the image that exists in her imagination, then for Agafya Matveevna Oblomov, on the contrary, seems to be a man of a different breed, better than her brother, her late husband, and herself. Olga is trying to remake Oblomov; Agafya Matveevna perceives him as he is, without even thinking about the possibility and necessity of any changes. Both women tried to make Oblomov happy: Olga, in accordance with her own ideal of happiness, Agafya Matveevna took care of the comfort and peace of Ilya Ilyich. Olga demanded from Oblomov a constant report on what he was doing and whether he had read the book. Agafya Matveevna does not demand anything; on the contrary, she constantly works to make Oblomov feel good. The selflessness of this simple, semi-literate woman extends to the point that in difficult times she does not hesitate to pawn her own things, so that Ilya Ilyich does not have to limit himself in his habits.
Gradually, the author of the novel leads us to the idea that it was in Agafya Matveevna that the ideal of the woman Oblomov subconsciously dreamed of was embodied: “He dreams that he has reached that promised land where rivers of honey and milk flow, where they eat unearned bread, walk in gold and silver." Fairy tale and reality, present and past mix in half-asleep, and the nanny, whom Oblomov sees in a dream, points him to Agafya Matveevna with the words: “Militrisa Kirbitievna!”
Oblomov’s dream came true, and he forever remained with Agafya Matveevna, whom he married. In this man it was impossible to ignite the inner need for activity: Olga understood this, he himself understood it, therefore, if he had married Olga, both of them would have been unhappy. And with Agafya Matveevna Oblomov felt calm and comfortable - in this he saw family happiness. And she, too, was happy with him: “She loved so fully and a lot: she loved Oblomov - as a lover, as a husband and as a master...” Love for Oblomov gave deep meaning to everyday worries, to the whole life of this simple, kind and hardworking woman, and Oblomov, thanks to her concerns, seemed to return again to the environment that he remembered from childhood, which was for him the ideal of existence.
Love - the strongest human feeling - played a big role in Oblomov's life. The love of two women: one - smart, sophisticated, gentle, demanding, the other - economical, simple-minded, accepting the hero as he is. Who can understand Ilya Oblomov? What is he looking for in life, in a woman? After all, his beloved are as different as heaven and earth. And why did Oblomov stay with Agafya Pshenitsyna - a “simple woman”, and not with the divine Olga?
Yes, it is difficult to find similarities in these women. They even loved differently. Olga is spiritually, highly, and Agafya Matveevna is with earthly, primitive love. Olga’s sublime love is reflected in music, walks in the park, confessions, and lilac flowers. Agafya Matveevna’s love is a delicious pie, hot coffee, white pillows.
In my opinion, Olga’s love was a little contradictory: either she wanted to see Ilya Ilyich every day, or, on the contrary, she ordered him not to come often so that people would not think bad things. Olga needed an “improved” Oblomov, and not that good-natured sloth who lies on the sofa for days. She loved the hero the way she wanted to see him, drawn in her imagination. On the one hand, Ilyinskaya woke up a sleeping soul that is capable of feeling, crying, laughing. On the other hand, she imposed her ideas about life on her lover and demanded a change in nature itself. That’s why, it seems to me, Oblomov was “scared” of Olga and her demanding love.
Agafya Pshenitsyna, the mistress of the house in which Oblomov settled, is the complete opposite of Ilyinskaya. If we saw Olga through her soul, her eyes, then Agafya through her body; it’s not for nothing that the dimples on the elbows and the woman’s white neck are so often mentioned. Her appearance said it all: she was simple-minded, kind, affectionate, friendly, and besides this, she was an excellent housewife. She protected Oblomov’s peace, prepared delicious food for him, kept his room clean, and took care of his health. Here it is - a quiet haven that Oblomov and Olga would never have had. Such a peaceful, comfortable family life did not frighten the hero, as his marriage to Ilyinskaya frightened him, since it did not impose any responsibility on him. He loved his wife, son, family life, personifying the main thing for him - physical and mental peace.
The word has been found - peace! It was the desire for eternal rest, physical and moral, for an endlessly lasting state of physical and mental immobility that ultimately determined the choice of the hero. Perhaps Oblomov made his choice unconsciously: after all, a choice is a responsible act, which is unusual for Ilya Ilyich, who in everything relies on the natural course of life, just nature took its toll.
Ivan Goncharov’s novel “Oblomov” was published in 1859, almost immediately exciting the writer’s contemporaries and interested critics in the complexity of the characters described and the ambiguity of the questions raised by the author. One of the leitmotifs of the novel is the theme of love, most clearly revealed through the image of the main character - Ilya Ilyich Oblomov. The reader is introduced to the character at the very beginning of the work as a dreamy, apathetic, lazy person who does not want to do anything. And if it weren’t for the feeling that suddenly flared up for Olga Ilyinskaya, most likely nothing significant would have happened in the hero’s fate. Oblomov’s love for Olga in his life became the turning point when a person must choose: to move on or leave everything as it is. Ilya Ilyich was not ready to change, so their relationship ended in separation. But spontaneous feelings were replaced by a quiet, peaceful life in the house of Agafya Pshenitsyna, which, nevertheless, led to early death Ilya Ilyich.
Oblomov's two loves in Goncharov's novel embodied two female images, two examples of the realization of feelings for to a loved one and two paths for the main character that had a tragic ending. Why was not a single woman able to pull Ilya Ilyich out of the swamp of “Oblomovism”? The answer lies in the characteristics of the characters of the heroines and life priorities Oblomov himself.
Oblomov and Olga Ilyinskaya
Olga and Oblomov’s feelings developed rapidly, almost from their first acquaintance the characters felt attracted to each other: Ilya Ilyich was fascinated by harmony, intelligence and inner beauty Ilyinskaya, and the girl was attracted by the kindness, complaisance and tenderness of the man. And it would seem that the strong feelings that flared up between the characters could develop and become a help for a happy family life. However, differences in the characters of the heroes and different visions of the ideal life together led to the quick separation of Oblomov and Olga.
Ilya Ilyich saw in the girl the ideal of an “Oblomov” woman, capable of creating for him a calm home comfort, a life in which every day would be similar to the other, and that would be good - no shocks, misfortunes or worries. For Olga, this state of affairs was not only unacceptable, but also terrifying. The girl dreamed of changing Oblomov, eradicating all apathy and laziness in him, making him a bright, forward-striving, active person. For Olga, the feelings themselves gradually faded into the background, while the leading role in the relationship became duty and the “highest” goal - to make Oblomov some semblance of her ideal. But Ilya Ilyich, perhaps due to his sensitivity, and perhaps because he was much older than the girl, was the first to understand that he could become a burden for her, a ballast that would pull her towards the hated “Oblomovism” and would not be able to give her that happiness which she dreams of.
The relationship between Oblomov and Olga Ilyinskaya was a spontaneous but fleeting feeling, as evidenced by the fact that they met in the spring and separated in late autumn. Their love was truly like a fragile lilac branch, which, having given the world its beauty, inevitably fades.
Oblomov and Agafya Pshenitsyna
The relationship between Oblomov and Agafya Pshenitsyna had a completely different character than the stormy, bright, memorable love between Ilya Ilyich and Olga. For the hero, the care of the soft, quiet, kind and thrifty Agafya acted as a healing balm, helping to restore mental strength after the tragic break with Ilyinskaya. Gradually, without noticing it, Oblomov fell in love with Pshenitsyna, and the woman fell in love with Ilya Ilyich. Unlike Olga, Agafya did not try to idealize her husband, she adored him for who he was, she was even ready to pawn her own jewelry so that he would not need anything, would always be well-fed and surrounded by warmth and comfort.
The love of Agafya and Oblomov became the very reflection of the hero’s illusions and dreams, to which he devoted many years, lying on the sofa in his apartment. Peace and tranquility, bordering on personality degradation, complete detachment from the outside world and gradual dying, were the main life goal hero, that same Oblomov “paradise” without which he felt unfulfilled and unhappy, but which ultimately destroyed him.
Oblomov, Agafya and Olga: the intersection of three destinies
Olga and Agafya in the novel “Oblomov” - two contrasted by the author female characters. Ilyinskaya is the image of a modern, future-oriented, feminized girl who has her own personal opinion on everything, while Pshenitsyna is the embodiment of a truly Russian woman, a homemaker who obeys her husband in everything. For Olga, love was closely connected with a sense of duty, the obligation to change Oblomov, while Agafya adored Ilya Ilyich, without even thinking that she might not like anything about him.
Oblomov’s love for two important women in his life was also different. The hero felt a really strong feeling for Olga, completely enveloping him, which forced him to even temporarily abandon his usual, lazy way of life and begin to act. For Agafya, he had a completely different love - similar to a feeling of gratitude and respect, calm and not disturbing the soul, like their whole life together.
Love for Olga was a challenge for Oblomov, a kind of test, having passed which, even if the lovers had separated anyway, perhaps he could have changed, freed from the shackles of “Oblomovism” and begun to live a full life, active life. The hero did not want to change, did not want to give up his dreams and illusions, and that is why he remains with Pshenitsyna, even when Stolz offers to take him with him.
Conclusion
The main reason for Ilya Ilyich’s wallowing in “Oblomovism” and his gradual disintegration as a person lies not in Agafya’s excessive concern, but in the hero himself. Already at the beginning of the work, he does not behave like a person interested in the world around him, his soul has long lived in the world of dreams, and he himself does not even try to return to real life. Love, as a reviving feeling, should have awakened the hero, freed him from Oblomov’s half-asleep, however, it was already too late (remember the words of Olga, who said that he had died a long time ago). Depicting Oblomov’s love for Olga, and then for Agafya, Goncharov provides the reader with a wide field for reflection on the nature and meaning of love in the life of every person, the importance of this feeling in the fate of the reader himself.
The presented material will be useful to 10th grade students before writing an essay on the topic “Love in the life of Oblomov.”
Work test
Relations between Oblomov and Agafya Pshenitsyna were friendly. Oblomov saw that the hostess was involved in his affairs, and invited her to take care of all the worries about his food, thereby relieving the master of the hassle. Agafya agreed, she was even glad that Oblomov made such an offer to her. Therefore, they lived as one friendly family.
After Olga and Oblomov separated, Agafya became not herself, scolding Akulina and Anisya if they did something wrong. Then, the next day, she goes and checks to see if the girls did anything right. When Oblomov left somewhere and did not return for a long time, she could not sleep a wink all night, “toss and turn from side to side” and cross herself. And when something knocked on the street, she could run to the window and see if it was he coming. When Oblomov was sick, she didn’t let anyone into his room, but she sat with him and treated him, even when the kids started making noise, she would scold and scold them.
Outwardly, Agafya changed when Oblomov’s attitude towards her changed. When he was silent and gloomy, she became different - thoughtful, sad, she was losing weight and turning pale. And when he is cheerful and kind, the hostess changes before her eyes, and her whole life becomes just as cheerful and measured.
Agafya Matveevna had almost never seen people like Oblomov before; most likely she liked him because he was not from her circle, and they had never met. She compares him with her late husband and with Tarantiev, but he, in her opinion, is a completely different person, he has different movements, poses, phrases, he seems to shine with calmness, beauty and kindness.
Agafya hid her feelings from everyone, could not flirt with Oblomov, an invisible hand kept all Pshenitsyna’s secrets in her soul.
But Oblomov treated her differently, she reminded him of a childhood picture, the village of Oblomovka. She inspired him with calm and tranquility; he could endlessly lie on the sofa and watch her white elbows as she embroidered something. He was grateful to her for everything: for the fact that she quilted all his pillows and blankets, for her warm welcome, for her care, for the fact that she reminded him of his childhood, for the fact that she guessed his desires. “Every day he became more and more friendly with the hostess: love did not even cross his mind,” or rather, the love he felt for Olga. Maybe he loved Agafya, but these feelings were friendly, she became his mother. He was also satisfied that she was caring for him, cherishing him; he saw such a life in his dreams.
Having married Agafya, Oblomov did not change his attitude towards her; he also thanked her with friendly gratitude, because she brought peace and tranquility into his soul, which he had been looking for for so long. It seemed that he had returned to Oblomovka again, where the inhabitants had separated from outside world, where silence and eternal sleep reigns, which envelops and leaves Oblomov in its arms.
Did Oblomov ever have a moment of clarity in his life? Yes, and not just once. Love brought him back to life. The love of two women - one: sophisticated, gentle, graceful, and the other: economical, simple-minded, sincere. Who can understand Ilya Oblomov? What is he looking for in life, in a woman? After all, his lovers were as different as earth and sky.
The question arises: why did Oblomov stay with Pshenichnaya - a “simple woman”, and not with the divine Olga? Yes, you can’t find anything similar in these women. They even loved differently. Olga is spiritually, highly, and Agafya Matveevna is with earthly, primitive love. Olga’s unearthly love is expressed in lilacs, music, walks in the park, and confessions. Agafya Matveevna’s love... is a delicious pie, hot coffee, white pillows.
In my opinion, Olga’s love was a little strange: either she wanted to see Ilya Ilyich every day, or, on the contrary, she ordered him not to come often so that people would not think bad things. Olga needed an “improved” one, not that good-natured sloth who spends days lying on the sofa. She loved Oblomov the way she wanted to see him, drawn in her imagination. She demands sincere love from Oblomov; and after they parted, she cannot come to her senses for a long time; she considers herself dead. Olga awakened in Oblomov a love for life, nature, and people; she awakened a sleeping soul that was capable of feeling, crying, and laughing.
Oblomov fell into a whirlpool of love from which he could not get out! The thought of marriage simply “killed” him: after all, to do this he had to go to the estate, set up a household, have money to support his wife; with these thoughts, illusions about the poetic ideal of a wedding were dispelled... Oblomov was “scared” of Olga, he was afraid of the responsibility that would fall on him after the wedding. Only now he began to understand that Olga is not a doll that can be held by strings, but a woman with dignity.
Olga's place was taken by someone else. This is Agafya Pshenichnaya, the mistress of the house in which Oblomov settled. If we saw Olga through her soul, her eyes, then Agafya through her body. This was the woman Oblomov could only dream of. Her appearance said it all: simple-minded, kind, affectionate, friendly, but besides this she was an excellent housewife. Without her care, the entire economy would have collapsed. She protected Oblomov’s peace, prepared delicious food for him, kept his room clean, and took care of his health. Their sympathy grew into love, marriage, and Oblomov was not afraid of family life. He loved his wife, son, family life, he didn’t need anything - this was his happiness, which Olga could not give him. Oblomov was happy with Agafya, but he did not forget Olga. He loved each of these women in his own way.
References
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Tags: Lyubov Oblomova. Olga Ilyinskaya and Agafya Pshenichnaya Essay Literature