At the beginning of the novel “Oblomov,” I. A. Goncharov describes the lifestyles of the people who visited the main character. Oblomov’s guests play a large role in the work, as the author emphasizes that not only the life of Ilya Ilyich is empty and insignificant, but also the lives of his visitors.
Guest images
Volkov is the first visitor. He tells Oblomov about his life, sharing details that it is full various events and holidays. Volkov is a cheerful and fashionable person who leads an idle lifestyle.
The second visitor is Sudbinsky. This is Oblomov’s former colleague, who, unlike the main character, values his service and his position in society.
Penkin is Oblomov's third visitor. This is a writer who writes about everything. Penkin often works on his works, even at night, which suggests that his work is empty and corrupt.
Oblomov's fourth guest is Alekseev. This is an unnoticed person whose name no one even remembers. Alekseev got used to being called either Vasiliev or Andreev. A hero is a person who is used to adapting to other people.
Tarantiev is the fifth visitor to the main character. This is a rude and unfriendly official who loves to quarrel with the people around him. Tarantiev takes advantage of Oblomov’s gullibility and tries to take possession of his village.
Oblomov’s attitude towards visitors
Ilya Ilyich Oblomov, when meeting his friends, feels sorry for them, expressing his attitude towards their lives. Central character does not understand Volkov’s aspirations, believing that a quiet and measured life is much better than an idle and have a fun life Volkova. Oblomov does not support Sudbinsky’s lifestyle, since he believes that the pursuit of rank spoils a person and makes his life empty. Ilya Ilyich gives the writer Penkin the following characteristic: in his works there are no real feelings or real life.
The way Oblomov speaks about his guests is shown in the table:
|
About Volkov |
“Ten places in one day - unfortunate!” |
|
About Sudbinsky |
“I’m stuck, dear friend, up to my ears... And yet he works from twelve to five in the office, from eight to twelve at home - unhappy!” |
|
About Penkin |
“And write everything, write everything, like a wheel, like a car: write tomorrow, the day after tomorrow; the holiday will come, summer will come - and he writes everything? When should you stop and rest? Unhappy!" |
|
About Alekseev |
Oblomov is patient with the hero, since their lifestyles are somewhat similar. Oblomov “tolerated” Alekseev, because he could be himself, while having a good listener. |
|
About Tarantiev |
“Tarantiev made a lot of noise, brought Oblomov out of immobility and boredom” |
These quotes show that Oblomov calls his visitors unhappy people; he sincerely does not understand their lifestyle.
Despite the fact that Oblomov does not support his guests’ views on life, he sincerely rejoices at the arrival of Volkov, Sudbinsky, Penkin, Alekseev and Tarantiev. Oblomov’s attitude towards the guests emphasizes the kindness of Ilya Ilyich, his “dove soul”.
The meaning of images
Volkov, Sudbinsky, Penkin, Alekseev and Tarantyev came to Oblomov because they knew that the owner of the house would welcome them, feed them, give them something to drink, and let them “smoke good cigars.”
I. A. Goncharov, introducing the images of Oblomov’s guests, emphasizes the ambiguity of the image of the main character. The description of the lives of Volkov, Sudbinsky, Penkin, Alekseev and Tarantiev is important in revealing the author's intention. All visitors to Ilya Ilyich are the same Oblomovites as himself main character. They pretend that their lives have a value, but Oblomov’s guests are actually worth nothing. These are typical representatives secular society, for whom the desire to gain high position- the most important thing in life. Oblomov could be like his guests, but he renounces such a life, showing that it is empty and insignificant. This is how it is expressed author's position: Oblomov’s life is empty, but the lives of his visitors are also insignificant. I. A. Goncharov shows the reign of Oblomovism.
The novel “Oblomov” is a classic, in which interest either subsides or, on the contrary, flares up with enormous power. The point is in the character of Ilya Ilyich, who becomes a symbol of certain eras, and negative hero others.
Oblomov's guests and the purpose of their arrival will help to understand the character of a complex character.
Oblomov's guests
Throughout the novel, few guests come to Oblomov. They are all different in nature, appearance and age. Alekseev and Tarantiev come to Ilya Ilyich more often and more diligently. At first glance it's two opposite characters: noisy and quiet, rude and timid, arrogant and meek. But in fact, they have a lot in common: the inability to build a career, the desire to eat at the expense of others.
The rest of the guests were infrequent visitors to Ilya. They were brought to him by chance circumstances. They flew in for a minute and, seeing no point in communicating, quickly left the uncomfortable house. Such guests understood that they could not reciprocate the host, reported some not very important news and left. Friends were an irritation in Oblomov’s life. They tried to return him to a stormy and ebullient life, but their views did not coincide. Oblomov began to dislike them more and more. He pushed them away, not wanting even absurd friendly contact. They smelled of cold from the street, and it was cold not only in the literal sense of the word, but also figuratively.
Volkov
The cheerful young man is carefree and cheerful. He shares with Ilya latest news, shows off new things. The guest is a fashionista who loves to show off clothes from the latest collections. He has beautiful hairstyle. Volkov's life is a stormy celebration. He manages to visit 10 different places in one day:
“Ten places in one day - unfortunate!”
Volkov is trying to change Oblomov’s attitude towards women. Thoughts about falling in love visited the owner and immediately melted away. The busy life did not make Ilya envious. He felt that his balanced and calm lifestyle was better.
Sudbinsky
The guest is Oblomov’s former colleague; they served together in the office. Sudbinsky has telling surname. He is the builder of his own destiny: he makes a career, strives for promotions, receives awards. Sudbinsky came to visit his friend, to invite him to go with him to Ekateringof. The story about his work did not arouse Oblomov’s interest. He is glad that he doesn’t have to get bogged down head over heels in a career “fuss” like a guest. In a conversation between friends, the topic of a person’s essence is raised, which fades into the background, leaving the desire for rank and service on the surface. Good earnings and eternal employment are what Sudbinsky wanted to encourage his colleague to do.
Penkin
The young writer Penkin came to Oblomov with an offer to go to Ekateringof. But before stating the purpose of the visit, the guest spoke about his article, about literature in general. He excited Ilya with thoughts about fallen people and changes in society. Ilya even jumped out of his comfortable bed, but it was a momentary outburst. Writing even at night is too wrong. Selling your thoughts is also absurd. Oblomov compares Penkin to a car that spins without stopping every day. For Ilya Ilyich, life without sleep and rest is synonymous with an unhappy existence.
Alekseev
The purpose of his visit to Oblomov, like his whole life, is to eat. He invites Ilya to lunch with a mutual friend, and after lunch to go with friends to Yekateringof. Oblomov offers to stay and have dinner with him. Alekseev is a timid person, afraid of himself. He does not advance in his career, does not have his own opinion, adapts to others, gradually losing face. It becomes unremarkable externally and internally. But only to this quiet guest Oblomov was able to voice his problems.
Tarantiev
Countryman and friend of Ilya Ilyich Tarantiev is a noisy and rude guest. Without asking consent, he tries to lift Oblomov from the bed. At Tarantiev’s request, Zakhar’s servant dresses the master. Oblomov sits down in a chair. Tarantiev was an invited guest, he was invited to dinner, but another purpose of the visit was to beg for a black tailcoat. Only the servant prevented the guest's impudence. Tarantiev constantly scolds, grumbles and swears. He is dissatisfied with everything in the world, looking for profit, an opportunity to deceive and cheat.
Doctor
The purpose of visiting the doctor is Oblomov’s health. He warns Ilya about the possibility of a stroke and the need to change his lifestyle, but he does not listen to his advice. The doctor is elegant and attractive. He enters the homes of rich patients, so he is reserved and calm. The doctor has a good income, his behavior is interesting.
Volkov is a secular dandy, one of the guests in Oblomov’s house. This is a young man of about twenty-five, bursting with health with laughing eyes and lips. His life consists of endless visits to St. Petersburg houses, as well as all kinds of entertainment. Oblomov himself considers such a pastime empty and worthless. Spending his days at home, he prefers not to “waste” for the sake of social life. In addition to Volkov, Sudbinsky, Penkin, Alekseev, Tarantyev are in the main character’s house. All these people, one way or another, bring at least some diversity to Oblomovka.
If the first chapter of the novel is devoted mainly to the main character, lying on the sofa all day and night, then the second and third chapters are devoted to the visits of St. Petersburg friends. Volkov's conversations include stories about his constant visits to various houses, his falling in love, and boasting about new acquisitions, for example, a tailcoat or gloves. In Oblomov’s view, Volkov is an unhappy man who is trying to get into ten houses in one day, as if “splitting” his soul into pieces. Listening to his guest, he is once again convinced that he has chosen the right way of life.
The characterization of Oblomov's guests is undoubtedly a minor detail of the novel. These visits are described in Chapters II - VI. With his book, Goncharov not only draws the reader’s attention to Oblomov’s self-destructive personality, the classic’s narrative illuminates the reasons and environment that contributed to the formation of Ilya Ilyich’s absolutely passive attitude towards life, reminiscent of the living embodiment of laziness. At the same time, the author uses completely different For example, Oblomov - a consistent demonstration of the evolution of laziness in childhood and adolescence. However, Ivan Aleksandrovich Goncharov would not have been a full member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences in Literature if the disclosure of the idea on this stage had been limited. Brief description Oblomov's guests serve as proof of this.
Oblomov's guests are active "dummies"
Lenya Oblomova continued further, after youth, his mastery of the personality of Goncharov’s hero. Already an educated adult, Ilya Ilyich more than once encountered people occupying a certain level in society, a position in the service, or a hobby. They all enter the protagonist’s apartment, located on Vyborg side Petersburg. It is precisely the characteristics of Oblomov’s guests that will become the topic of this article. Each of them, in their own way, is trying to attract Oblomov “for company” to do the same thing that he himself does. The guests are Alekseev, Volkov, Penkin, Sudbinsky. However, our hero, although lazy and a careless person, is educated, with a normal logical thinking. Oblomov, communicating with the guests, at a certain stage it becomes clear that his laziness and the pose of a thinker reclining on the sofa are better, more honest, than the bustle of all these people.
Alekseev
Not a fan of Oblomov. The characteristics of his guests can serve as proof that these acquaintances are very superficial. Let's start with Alekseev, a man of uncertain appearance and age. He is a person who, at a certain stage, “lost himself.” Therefore, everyone calls him differently: now Ivan Vasilyevich, now Ivan Ivanovich, now Ivan Mikhailovich. Whether he exists or not, society doesn’t care. Previously, he was in office, enjoyed a certain influence, and considered himself a socialite. They knew him and invited him. But the unexpected happened, and the high position was lost; it was replaced by “ordinary service” in an ordinary position, and immediately Alekseev became uninteresting to others. Isn't it in poverty? spiritual world Is this person the reason why this happened? Having lost his position, he did not find anything else to rely on in life. Alekseev is a skeleton, a pathetic shadow of the former center of attention. Oblomov gives him a devastating assessment: “There is no man!”
Volkov
The characterization of Oblomov’s guests cannot but include another characteristic character. 28-year-old Volkov, bursting with health, is a ladies' man and a dandy, a deeply social person. In the context of our time, such people are called “party people.” His whole life is a series of visits, balls, dinner parties and dinners. On the one hand, he is constantly on the move, on the other, all his actions are meaningless and bring absolutely no benefit. In addition, Volkov is characterized by a feeble mind and a shallow soul, which cannot be said about Ilya Ilyich.
Sudbinsky
Sudbinsky is a man who “understood” public service. He occupies a high position, but has completely become depersonalized, becoming like a stationery paperweight. His future wedding The daughter of a state councilor is also completely subordinated to her career. "Unhappy!" - Oblomov thinks about him, realizing that no lofty thoughts and feelings will ever make their way into the thick-skinned soul of this man.
Penkin
A brunette with Pushkin sideburns, Penkin is a man who chronically lacks “depth.” This is definitely a parody image. He dresses with deliberate carelessness. Penkin is a writer by profession. He writes easily, but his “messiness” will never touch anyone’s heart. It is characteristic that the writer himself inadequately evaluates his creative possibilities. Believes that “everything is going as it should.” “It’s better to do nothing at all than to do it somehow!” - Oblomov thinks about him.
Conclusions
Typically, a small detail, like the characterization of Oblomov’s guests, is complete and artistically impeccable, which was noted by both Chekhov and Dobrolyubov. All these people, as already mentioned, come to Ilya Ilyich to invite him to go together to the May Day in Yekateringhof. They are trying to drag him into really pointless running and fuss. Oblomov finds a reason to refuse. Is he right? The situation is controversial. After all, in the end, Oblomov’s self-destruction takes on a higher order than that of the people who stayed with him.