What to do to read Chernyshevsky's novel. N. G. Chernyshevsky “What to do?”: description, characters, analysis of the novel

08.04.2019

I. Fool

The novel begins with exact date– July 11, 1856. It was on this day that a young man checked into one of the St. Petersburg hotels. He ordered a modest dinner to his room and asked to be woken up early tomorrow because he had important things to do. However, the next morning the guest did not open the door, no matter how much they knocked on it. I had to call a policeman, who also could not reach the room. I had to break down the door.

The room was empty, but there was a note on the table. It reported that the man left the hotel in the evening. Soon they will hear about him on Liteiny Bridge, but no one should come under suspicion.

The policeman realized that the hotel guest was the same person who shot himself on the Liteiny Bridge that night. True, the fact of suicide has not yet been proven, and the body has not been found, but the bullet-ridden cap has already been caught, and many people heard the shot itself.

II. The first consequence of a stupid case

That same morning, at the dacha on Kamenny Island, a young woman, Vera Pavlovna, was sewing a dress and humming a cheerful French song about workers. However, the woman’s mood was not the most rosy; she seemed to have a presentiment of trouble. Soon this happened. The maid brought Vera Pavlovna a letter, from which it became clear that a person dear to her had committed suicide.

Hearing the woman’s sobs, a young man entered the room and immediately rushed to calm Vera Pavlovna. However, she began to push away the comforter and blame him for the death of their mutual friend. Then she laid all the blame on herself.

Within an hour, Vera Pavlovna managed to cope with her emotions, and she decided to leave St. Petersburg. First to Moscow, and then to some Big City, where you can find a job as a governess. She announced this to the young man, assuring that it would be better for both. The farewell of the young people was emotional and short.

III. Preface

In the preface, the author, in a somewhat ironic form, calls his readers the public. He talks about how ready society is to accept a serious work, do people need it? After all, detective stories and low-grade stories are the most popular romance novels. Accepting this fact, the author knows that there are still people who, in their moral and intellectual development, stand above others. It is for the sake of such readers that he wants to create.

Chapter first. The life of Vera Pavlovna in her parents' family

The main character of the novel is Vera Pavlovna Rozalskaya. Her childhood passed in St. Petersburg, in multi-storey building on Gorokhovaya Street, next to Semenovsky Bridge. Vera's father Pavel Konstantinovich Rozalsky worked as a manager in the house, and also served as an assistant to the head of the department in one of the departments. Vera's mother Marya Alekseevna gave money as collateral and put together a small “capital”. According to her, five thousand.

The woman raised Vera in strictness. Already at the age of fourteen, the girl was sewing for the whole family. When Vera grew up, her mother began to call her a gypsy because of her dark complexion. The sixteen-year-old girl often looked in the mirror and gradually came to terms with the fact that she was ugly. In fact, this was not the case. Soon Marya Alekseevna stopped calling her daughter a scarecrow and dressing her up in rags. On the contrary, I started buying her expensive and beautiful dresses.

And all because a prudent woman decided to find her Vera a rich groom. At this time, there was a rumor that Pavel Konstantinovich’s boss became interested in Vera. This option was quite acceptable to Marya Alekseevna, but the official thought for too long and could not take the first step.

Then Marya Alekseevna drew attention to the owner’s son - a young officer and social dandy Mikhail Ivanovich Storeshnikov, who sometimes came to their apartment. She instructed her daughter to be more affectionate with her boyfriend, and even organized a trip to the theater, where Vera, Marya Alekseevna and the owner’s son with two friends ended up in the same box. However, Vera, citing a headache, went home. She perfectly understood the intentions of the young womanizer, who only wanted to seduce her.

But Marya Alekseevna did not want to deviate from her plan. She was firmly convinced that sooner or later Storeshnikov would marry her daughter. For this, the enterprising woman was ready to make every effort. From then on, life in her parents' house became unbearable for Vera.

Events unfolded as usual. Mikhail Storeshnikov could no longer give up the idea of possessing Vera. If she does not want to become a mistress, then let her marry him. Given the wealth and position of Mikhail Ivanovich, every girl from ordinary family I couldn’t refuse such a profitable deal. Storeshnikov was also encouraged to get married by his French friend, Julie. The demimonde lady was sure that by marrying such an intelligent and beautiful girl, Mikhail would make a brilliant career.

However, Vera refused the offer, which further inflamed Mikhail’s passion. He began to beg the girl not to answer him with a categorical “no,” but to give him a chance to improve and earn her love. Vera Pavlovna agreed, although she warned Storeshnikov that she would not change her decision.

This situation continued for approximately four months. Marya Alekseevna, Pavel Konstantinovich, Verochka, Mikhail Storeshnikov and his mother Anna Petrovna were waiting all these days: when will the matter finally become clear?

Chapter two. First love and legal marriage

A young man, Dmitry Sergeevich Lopukhov, began to appear in the Rozalskys’ house. He was a medical student who made a living by giving private lessons. Since Vera Pavlovna’s nine-year-old brother Dmitry needed a tutor, Lopukhov was invited to help the boy master some disciplines.

Vera did not meet Dmitry right away. At first, she learned from Fyodor that his teacher was a busy man and paid little attention to women, even ones as pretty as his sister. This information from his brother somewhat disappointed Vera; she decided that Dmitry was a rather boring person, although he was not bad-looking.

But soon there were dramatic changes in the relationship between the two young people. This happened at Vera Pavlovna’s birthday party, where Lopukhov was also invited. There were few guests, since the birthday girl wanted to celebrate the holiday in a calm atmosphere. Verochka danced her first quadrille with the “official” groom. And during the third quadrille, her partner was Dmitry Lopukhov. The first frank conversation took place between the young people. During the evening they communicated several more times and felt affection for each other.

Lopukhov told Vera that he lives in a rented apartment with his very close friend Alexander Kirsanov, who has dark brown hair and dark blue eyes. Kirsanov has already graduated from the Medical Academy and is considered an excellent doctor, although he has a small medical practice and is more drawn to scientific work.

The next day, Vera Pavlovna decided that Lopukhov could be completely trusted, so she told the student about her plight. Dmitry decided to help the girl and persistently began to look for a position as a governess for her.

Verochka's first dream

Around this time, Vera Pavlovna had her first significant dream, of which there will be four in the novel. In a dream, Vera breaks out of the stuffy basement in which she lay and was sick. She walks in the fresh air, in a beautiful field, and there she meets a kind, charming woman who helps everyone. Vera promises her new friend that she will also release women from dark and damp basements into freedom.

But the reality turns out to be that no one wants to take responsibility for a girl who is about to leave her parents’ home. Vera meets with Dmitry at the appointed place, but each time the young man cannot tell her anything comforting.

Soon Dmitry clearly understands that in this way he will not be able to get Verochka out of his parents’ house and decides to marry her. Lopukhov proposes to Rosalskaya. Vera Pavlovna agrees, but immediately sets her own conditions, since the marriage is formal. They will not only sleep separately from Dmitry, but will also spend most of their time in different rooms. In addition, Vera Pavlovna does not want Alexander Kirsanov to live with them.

Lopukhov agrees to all the conditions, moreover, he tries to earn as much as possible more money so that the new family does not need anything. Dmitry understands that he needs to rent an apartment for the first time. He manages to find decent and inexpensive housing on Vasilyevsky Island.

The newlyweds were married by Lopukhov’s acquaintance, priest Alexei Petrovich Mertsalov, who once completed a course at the Theological Academy. Before this sacrament, Dmitry invited Vera to kiss so as not to feel particularly awkward during the ceremony. After all, you also need to kiss there, this is the church tradition.

After the wedding, nothing held Vera Pavlovna back in her parents’ home. I just needed to somehow explain myself to my mother. The girl decided that it was best to inform her about this outside the house so that Marya Alekseevna would not hold her daughter by force. Soon a suitable reason was found. When Vera Pavlovna told her mother that she was going for a walk along Nevsky Prospect, Marya Alekseevna volunteered to accompany her. Near Ruzanov’s shop, Vera quickly informed her mother that she was leaving home because she had married Dmitry Sergeevich. The girl quickly jumped into the first carriage she came across.

Chapter three. Marriage and second love

Three months passed after Vera Pavlovna began living in a rented apartment with Dmitry Lopukhov. The owner and landlady of the apartment were, however, surprised by the newlyweds’ relationship. “Darling” and “darling” slept in different rooms, entering each other only by knocking. They were always neatly dressed. Verochka tried to explain to the hostess that such a relationship guarantees a long life. family life, but she hardly agreed with her.

But things were going well in the new family. Vera Pavlovna also contributed to the family budget. She gave private lessons, and soon opened a small sewing workshop. Julie helped her with this.

Vera Pavlovna's second dream

First, Vera Pavlovna saw a field with ears of corn. Her husband and Alexey Petrovich Mertsalov were walking there. They were having a philosophical conversation about dirt. From their judgments it emerged that dirt can be useful and harmful, from which nothing can grow. It all depends on the movement. If it is not there, the dirt stagnates. And where there is stagnation, there is no life. Then the characters in the novel begin to remember their past. Mertsalov talks about his difficult childhood, about how his mother had to work day and night to serve big family. Vera Pavlovna also remembered her mother Marya Alekseevna, who took care of her daughter, gave her an education, clothed her, and fed her. Verochka comes to the conclusion that her mother, although evil, did good for her daughter. And over time evil people will become less and less, they will gradually be replaced by good ones.

The following describes in detail how Vera Pavlovna conducted business, organized work in her sewing workshop in a new way, and attracted all employees to actively participate in the production process. The girls, whom Vera Pavlovna carefully selected, were self-employed, but were co-owners of the workshop and received their percentage of the income. Vera Pavlovna also took care of the rest of her charges. IN free time We walked together and went on picnics. So the three years of Verochka’s marriage and the formation of the workshop flew by successfully and comfortably.

Once, after one picnic, Dmitry Sergeevich felt unwell and turned to Alexander Kirsanov for help. Together they determined that Lopukhov had pneumonia. The disease is not yet dangerous, but measures need to be taken. Since then, Alexander Kirsanov began to often visit the Lopukhovs’ house, reprimanding Vera Pavlovna for the fact that she was very worried, did not sleep at night, which could cause serious harm to her health.

A few years ago, Kirsanov suddenly realized that he had tender feelings for Vera Pavlovna, but immediately decided that he should not create problems for his friend. With an effort of will, he extinguished these feelings. I practically stopped visiting the Lopukhovs’ house. However, now Kirsanov was afraid that a new spark might break out. Indeed, something has changed in the relationship between young people. They felt that they were in love with each other. Both Kirsanov and Vera Pavlovna understood perfectly well that a woman’s “fictitious” marriage to Lopukhov would bring a comfortable and quite prosperous life. But their hearts yearned for love.

Vera Pavlovna's third dream

This dream reveals Vera Pavlovna’s hidden feelings, much of what she was afraid to admit even to herself. Together with famous singer Bosio Vera Pavlovna reads her diary, which, by the way, is in real life never drove. From her notes it becomes clear that a woman experiences many wonderful feelings for her husband: respect, gratitude, trust... However, the love that Vera Pavlovna feels for Alexander Kirsanov is not in this list. A woman really wants to love her husband, but is unable to command her heart.

After some time, Vera Pavlovna decides to tell Dmitry Sergeevich her dream, and then writes a letter to her husband in which she admits that she loves Kirsanov. Vera Pavlovna left this letter in Lopukhov’s office and wanted to pick it up, but didn’t have time. Dmitry Sergeevich was already mentally prepared for such a turn of events, therefore, after Vera’s recognition, he left for Ryazan, and from there to St. Petersburg, where he settled in a hotel on July 11. Now it becomes clear who the man was who shot himself on the Liteiny Bridge at the beginning of the novel. But what happened to Lopukhov? After all, they only found his bullet-ridden cap.

Soon after Vera Pavlovna found out about what had happened and began to pack her things for the trip, a friend of her husband and Kirsanov, student Rakhmetov, came to visit her. What follows is a detailed story about this person, his relationship, lifestyle and many interesting character traits. The image of Rakhmetov is mysterious and unsaid, but all critics see in him a future revolutionary, and the author calls Rakhmetov a “special person.”

At the time of the story, Rakhmetov is only 22 years old, however, he has already seen a lot. To develop his will and strengthen his character, the young man slept on nails, helped barge haulers while traveling along the Volga, and ate only beef to maintain physical strength.

Belonging to a noble family and being a rich man, Rakhmetov easily parted with money in favor of the poor, led a Spartan lifestyle, spending only part of his income on himself. The image of Rakhmetov, in the best possible way, personifies the new people to whom Chernyshevsky’s novel is dedicated.

Rakhmetov’s visit to Vera Pavlovna on that fateful day was not accidental. The student brought the woman a note from Lopukhov. In it, Dmitry Sergeevich asks his “darling” to obey this man in everything. Rakhmetov himself calmly and cogently explains to Vera Pavlovna that Rozalskaya has many contradictions with Lopukhov. They have too different tempers, so such a union could not exist for long.

Rakhmetov’s words reassure Vera Pavlovna; she completely agrees with such arguments. After some time, the woman leaves for Novgorod, where she meets Alexander Kirsanov.

Chapter Four. Second marriage

Vera Pavlovna receives a letter from Berlin from a man who calls himself a close friend of Lopukhov. In this message, the stranger allegedly conveys the thoughts of Dmitry Sergeevich. For example, that he and Vera Pavlovna are very different people. There was a separation the best way out from their situation. Lopukhov analyzes all the circumstances of their strange family life.

Vera Pavlovna answers the letter. She analyzes in equal detail the actions of her husband, Alexander Kirsanov, and her own. The relationships within their triangle were distinguished by reasonable selfishness, which corresponded to the lifestyle of her friends, and subsequently Vera Pavlovna herself.

The family life of Rozalskaya and Kirsanov goes on as usual. The couple live on Sergievskaya Street, closer to Vyborg side. In their house there are neutral and non-neutral rooms, which are allowed to be entered only after knocking.

Everyone is working hard because another sewing workshop has opened. However, Vera Pavlovna does not forget about herself, she leads a lifestyle that she likes. My husband is happy to help with this. He is keenly interested in all his wife’s affairs, her mood and well-being. In difficult times, Alexander Kirsanov is ready to lend a man’s shoulder. And his beloved husband helps his wife study medicine. Vera Pavlovna sometimes goes to see her husband at work or at the hospital. In the nineteenth century, women practically did not work as doctors, so Vera Pavlovna’s decision was bold.

In a word, weekdays and holidays in the Kirsanov family are filled with interesting things to do and communication.

Vera Pavlovna's fourth dream

This time Vera Pavlovna sees in her dreams historical paintings, in the center of which is the image of a woman in different eras and at different nations. But Vera Pavlovna does not recognize herself in Astarte, Aphrodite, or any other female queen. Nor does she personify herself with the beautiful lady for whom the knights fight at the tournament. Vera Pavlovna understands that love for a woman in past times was ardent, tender, sublime. But she was never free from violence, did not bring real happiness to a woman.

And suddenly Vera Pavlovna sees herself in the image of a female goddess. Her face is illuminated with the radiance of love. Then bright pictures of the future of Russia flash before the woman’s gaze. there in beautiful houses live happy people who work happily and indulge in wild fun in the evenings and on weekends. It is for the sake of such a future that we need to work fruitfully and steadfastly endure all the difficulties and problems of today.

Soon, Vera Pavlovna, in tandem with her associate Natalya Mertsalova, opens her own store on Nevsky Prospekt. Women dream that in a few years they will have many sewing workshops, maybe even more than ten. So several more years passed without any special incidents.

Chapter five. New faces and denouement

At the beginning of the chapter, the author talks in detail about Katerina Vasilyevna Polozova and her father, a retired captain who squandered his estate and retired. On his well-deserved retirement, he decided to go into trading and soon succeeded well in this business, becoming a millionaire. Then, however, he went bankrupt again, but Polozov had some savings left for a comfortable life.

The fatherly feelings of the former captain towards his daughter are somewhat similar to the feelings of Marya Alekseevna. Polozov is also not without tyranny, and many of his actions are aimed only at obtaining his own benefit. He forbids his daughter to meet with the secular womanizer Solovtsov, with whom Katerina Vasilievna is deeply in love.

On this basis, a serious conflict occurs in the Polozov family, as a result of which Katerina Vasilievna had a nervous breakdown and was on the verge of death. Alexander Kirsanov helped the girl get out of this state, opened her eyes to a man who was not worthy of her love. At the same time, Kirsanov was able to convince Polozov that such methods cannot be used to raise an adult daughter, she must be given freedom of choice.

Meanwhile, life in the Kirsanov family goes on as usual. The work of sewing workshops brings not only a constant income, but also provides an opportunity to spend interesting free time. Many people come to visit the Kirsanovs interesting people, among them are mainly young students, like-minded people. They are all hardworking, live by strict rules, and are practical.

One day, among the guests of the Kirsanovs is Katerina Vasilievna Polozova (now Beaumont) with her husband Charles, an agent of an English company. My husband speaks excellent Russian, having spent more than twenty years in Russia. The relationship between Charles and Catherine is based on mutual feelings, but is quite rational, without unnecessary worries and passions.

It soon becomes clear that Charles Beaumont - ex-husband Vera Pavlovna Dmitry Sergeevich Lopukhov. On Liteiny Bridge, he only staged suicide so as not to interfere with the love of Verochka and Kirsanov. Then Lopukhov went to America, where he became an entrepreneur and earned substantial capital.

Both families experience great joy from sharing together and spiritual closeness. They live in the same house, often receive guests, organize holidays and picnics.

At one of these events a lady appears in mourning. Strange woman turns out to be the center of attention of the guests, talks a lot, makes jokes, sings and tells the story of her love.

Chapter six. Change of scenery

The last chapter of the novel is very short and shrouded in an aura of mystery. Two years have passed since the picnic. We see the mysterious lady again, only now not in black, but in bright pink dress and with a beautiful bouquet. She goes to the “Passage”, accompanied by familiar young men and a man in his thirties.

Critics have different opinions about this image. There are two main versions.

A lady in mourning and then in a pink dress is an image of the revolution from Vera Pavlovna’s dreams. A woman transforms when her time comes.
The mysterious lady is Chernyshevsky’s wife Olga. When her husband was imprisoned, she wore black clothes, and when he was released, she put on a bright festive dress.

The end of the fifth chapter and the sixth are written in a special style, with hints and omissions. The author, most likely, could not speak openly about the impending revolutionary sentiments. Perhaps he didn’t do this on purpose in order to make the reader think and decide for himself.

The young man checks into a hotel and stays overnight. In the morning he doesn’t leave his room. The policeman knocks down the door and finds only a note, from which it becomes clear that the young man committed suicide. Indeed, at night an unknown person shot himself on the bridge and disappeared. They were never able to find the body; they only found a cap that belonged to a hotel guest. At the same time, a letter is brought to the young woman Vera Pavlovna, where the author says that he loves them both and leaves them. Vera blames herself, says that she and the young man who is in the room need to separate, and asks him to leave, but then she can’t stand it and throws herself on his neck.

Vera Pavlovna was born into the family of the manager of a rich house in St. Petersburg on Gorokhovaya. Her father, Pavel Konstantinovich Rozalsky, obeyed his wife in everything. Her mother, Marya Alekseevna, was a risky, greedy and even evil woman. She made her capital through dubious fraud, lending small sums of money as collateral. For a long time she neglected Vera and shouted at her, but at the age of 16 Vera blossomed and turned into a sweet girl. She decided to find the daughter of a rich groom. He was found in the same house - the owner's son, officer Storeshnikov. Vera didn’t like him, because he wanted to make her his mistress first. Under the influence of her mother and out of pity for the officer’s love, which she discovered he was experiencing, Vera did not immediately reject his marriage proposal.

Several months have passed. Vera's brother was invited to a teacher, medical student Dmitry Sergeevich Lopukhov. He is an honest, serious young man who does not like to take liberties. At first, Vera and Dmitry did not like each other, but then, after talking, they began to spend more and more time in each other’s company. Lopukhov wanted to help Vera escape from home and get a job as a governess. Vera has her first dream about liberation from a damp basement. But this project failed. As a result, he decides to quit his studies, marry Vera and take her away. They decide to rent a 3-room apartment: with one neutral room where they will meet, and rooms for each spouse. They got married secretly and quickly.

The Lopukhovs' married life passed quietly and calmly. Dmitry gives lessons. Vera also found lessons and opened her own sewing workshop. She has a dream about a field and mud. Lopukhov’s friends visit them: Mertsalov, Kirsanov, Rakhmetov, who is often called Nikitushka Lomov, “ special person».

Her husband’s close friend, Alexander Matveevich Kirsanov, spends a lot of time with Vera; they go to the opera together. When Lopukhov fell ill, Alexander helps treat his friend. Vera falls in love with him. She has a third dream about her diary. Lopukhov, under the influence of feelings, decides to stage suicide and disappears. Rakhmetov brings a note from Lopukhov, in which he explains everything. Vera and Kirsanov get married. As time passes, she opens a second workshop. Vera also begins to study medicine. She has a dream about history and the place of women in it.

Then they meet the Beaumont couple: an Englishman who speaks excellent Russian and his wife. The Englishman turns out to be Lopukhov. Both families begin to become friends and later live in the same house.

Read a detailed summary of the novel What to do? Chernyshevsky

The plot of the novel takes place in July 1856, in one of the inns in St. Petersburg. A note is found in the room, which says that its author will soon become known. His name will be associated with the incident on the Liteiny Bridge. There is no one to blame in this case. In the coming days, it turns out that a person committed suicide on this bridge. A headdress with a hole from a firearm was found at the scene.

In the morning, at a summer cottage on Kamenny Island, a young girl, Vera, is enthusiastically sewing, while singing a cheerful song. The maid presents the girl with a letter. After reading the message, Vera Pavlovna begins to cry, the young man calms her down, but she breaks out of his hands and blames him for everything.

Then the reader returns with the characters to the starting point and the novel tells the story of the life of Vera Pavlovna. The girl spent her childhood in St. Petersburg. She was from a wealthy family. Her father was a hotel manager, and her mother was involved in financial affairs. Vera's mother desperately wanted to marry her off successfully. Soon Vera has a boyfriend. This is the son of the hotel owner Storeshnikov. Marya Alekseevna gives her daughter instructions to be affectionate with the young man. But Vera is a smart girl and therefore immediately saw through Storeshnikov’s true intentions. Allow this situation Dmitry Sergeevich Lopukhov, a medical university student, will help the girl. He often visited Vera’s house, as he was her brother Fedya’s tutor. At first they looked at each other with suspicion, but then became friends and often talked about various topics. Vera shares her experiences with a friend. Dmitry wants to help the girl with her work, but his efforts are in vain. He quits his studies and starts tutoring and translating textbooks. Lopukhov and Vera enter into a fictitious marriage.

Vera often has dreams. In the first dream, Vera sees herself being let out of a nasty, dirty basement, and then the girl talks with a mysterious stranger who seems to love people. Vera makes an oath to the beauty that she will do the same as her, freeing the girls from damp basements.

The newlyweds rent housing. The owner of the apartment is surprised that Vera and Lopukhov sleep in separate rooms, knock on each other’s doors before entering, and do not undress in the shared room. Vera convinces the hostess that this is a modern approach to family relationships, in order to feel passion for each other for a long time.

Vera does more than just housework and tutoring. She dreams of her great business. The girl decides to combine her hobby and work. She opens a sewing workshop, employs craftswomen who earn the same money as Vera Pavlovna. Girls become real friends, they work for the common good and have fun in their free time. Time passes, and Vera again has a dream - a huge field with spikelets. There is real and fantastic dirt on this field. Real dirt is caring for what people need, and fantastic dirt is caring for an unimportant, useless matter.

The young family is often visited by a friend of Dmitry Lopukhov, his fellow student and just good man- Kirsanov. Each of them, having no influential acquaintances, opened his way to great life. Alexander Matveevich is a brave, determined, talented young man. He entertains Vera when her husband is busy, and together they while away the time. Soon Kirsanov stops visiting his comrade, without explaining the true reason for this behavior. He comes to the Lopukhovs' house after his friend Dima begins to get sick. Kirsanov is treating a friend. Vera Pavlovna feels sympathy for her husband's friend. The girl sees another dream in which an unknown lady helps Vera read her diary. The girl’s personal book says that she is grateful to her husband for his kindness, but does not feel sympathy for him.

A kind of closed triangle was formed: Lopukhov, Kirsanov and Vera Pavlovna. Decisive Dmitry finds a way out of this situation - a staged suicide on the Liteiny Bridge. At the moment when Vera learned about this event, an old friend of Dmitry and Alexander, Rakhmetov, comes to the girl. Kirsanov influenced the formation of his love for reading books. Rakhmetov came from a wealthy family, but he sold his property and distributed the money from the sale to students. IN this moment leads a modest life, he wants to change his character. He does not drink alcohol and does not have an intimate life with women. Rakhmetov deprives himself of all earthly goods. He is constantly busy with something, helping others. Rakhmetov comes with a message to Verochka from Dmitry Lopukhov. After reading the contents of the note, Vera calms down and cheers up before our eyes. Rakhmenov himself emphasizes the great dissimilarity between Vera and Lopukhov. After a conversation with Rakhmenov, the girl calms down and soon marries Alexander. A few weeks later, Vera receives a letter from Berlin, which says that Vera and Dmitry are completely different people, Lopukhov loves solitude and silence, and Vera is a sociable young lady and she always interfered with her husband’s privacy.

Lifestyle new family the same as the Lopukhovs had. Vera’s husband spends most of the day at work, and the girl herself eats a lot of sweets and works on her business. Now she has two sewing workshops. The house is also divided into private and common rooms. Before entering your spouse's room, be sure to knock. Kirsanov treats Vera’s affairs with understanding and respect. Her husband helps Vera learn the basics of medicine.

After some time, the girl sees another dream. Before Vera’s eyes, pictures of the way of life of women in different eras change like mirages. The first illustration shows a woman who worships her husband; she has no right to control her life and destiny. Then in Athens they honor the woman, but still do not consider her their equal. In the Middle Ages, knights fight each other for the heart of a lady. But this love lasts exactly until the wedding, and then the woman becomes a servant. In the next picture, Vera sees her face. Her facial features are not perfect, but it shines with love and care. From her first dream, the girl explains to Vera the whole essence of female independence and equality with men. Vera also sees a picture of the future of her country. The Kirsanovs make many friends with the same worldview. These people lead a correct lifestyle, have certain life principles, disciplined and hardworking. The Kirsanovs are in close contact with the Beaumont family. One of the enviable brides of St. Petersburg was Ekaterina Beaumont, whose maiden name was Polozova. She became the wife of the Englishman Charles Beaumont, who was fluent in Russian, having lived in Russia for about twenty years. Kirsanov recognizes his friend Lopukhov in Charles Beaumont. In the near future, two wonderful families will begin to live under one roof, receive guests, and spend time together. Ekaterina also acquires a sewing workshop and thus the number of new acquaintances increases.

The novel teaches the reader to treat each other with respect, regardless of age, gender differences, races and nationalities. The author calls on people for equality.

Picture or drawing Chernyshevsky - What to do?

Genre

There is an antithesis in the work: the direction of the novel “What is to be done” is sociological realism, and the genre is utopia. That is, truth and fiction closely coexist in the book and give rise to a mixture of the present (objectively reflected realities of that time) and the future (the image of Rakhmetov, the dreams of Vera Pavlovna). That is why it caused such a resonance in society: people were sensitive to the prospects that Chernyshevsky put forward.

In addition, “What is to be done” is a philosophical and journalistic novel. He earned this title thanks to hidden meanings, which the author gradually introduced. He wasn’t even a writer, he just used a language that was understandable to everyone. literary form to distribute their political views and expressing your deep thoughts about a just social order tomorrow. In his work, the journalistic intensity is obvious, it is philosophical issues that are illuminated, and the fictional plot serves only as a cover from close attention censors.

What is the novel about?

It's time to tell you what the book “What to do?” is about. The action begins with an unknown man committing suicide by shooting himself and falling into the river. He turned out to be a certain Dmitry Lopukhov, a progressive-minded young man who was pushed to this desperate act by love and friendship.

The gist of the backstory of “What to Do” is this: main character Vera lives with an ignorant and rude family, where her calculating and cruel mother has established her own rules. She wants to marry her daughter to the rich son of the owner of the house where her husband works as a manager. A greedy woman does not disdain any means, she can even sacrifice her daughter’s honor. A moral and proud girl seeks salvation from her brother’s tutor, student Lopukhov. He is secretly engaged in her education, pitying her bright head. He arranges her escape from home under the auspices of a fictitious marriage. In fact, young people live like brother and sister, there are no feelings of love between them.

The “spouses” often hang out with like-minded people, where the heroine meets Lopukhov’s best friend, Kirsanov. Alexander and Vera develop mutual sympathy, but cannot be together because they are afraid of hurting their friend’s feelings. Dmitry became attached to his “wife”, discovered a multifaceted and strong personality in her, and was involved in her education. The girl, for example, does not want to sit on his neck and wants to arrange her own life by opening a sewing workshop where women in trouble could earn honest money. With the help of true friends, she realizes her dream, and a gallery opens before us female images With life stories, characterizing a vicious environment where the weaker sex has to fight for survival and defend honor.

Dmitry feels that he is disturbing his friends and fakes his suicide so as not to stand in their way. He loves and respects his wife, but understands that she will only be happy with Kirsanov. Naturally, no one knows about his plans; everyone sincerely mourns his death. But from a number of hints from the author, we understand that Lopukhov calmly went abroad and returned from there in the finale, reuniting with his comrades.

A separate semantic line is the company’s acquaintance with Rakhmetov, a man of a new formation who embodies the ideal of a revolutionary, according to Chernyshevsky (he came to Vera on the day she received a note about her husband’s suicide). It is not the hero’s actions that are revolutionary, but his very essence. The author talks about him in detail, saying that he sold his estate and led a Spartan lifestyle in order to help his people. The true meaning of the book is hidden in his image.

The main characters and their characteristics

First of all, the novel is notable for its characters, and not for its plot, which was needed to distract the attention of the censors. Chernyshevsky in the work “What to do” draws images strong people, “salt of the earth,” smart, decisive, brave and honest, people on whose shoulders the frantic machine of the revolution would later rush at full speed. These are the images of Kirsanov, Lopukhov, Vera Pavlovna, who are central characters books. All of them are constant participants in the action in the work. But the image of Rakhmetov stands apart above them. In contrast with him and the trinity “Lopukhov, Kirsanov, Vera Pavlovna,” the writer wanted to show the “ordinariness” of the latter. IN last chapters he brings clarity and literally spells out his intention for the reader:

“At the height at which they stand, all people should stand, can stand. Higher natures, which you and I cannot keep up with, my pathetic friends, higher natures are not like that. I showed you a slight outline of the profile of one of them: you see the wrong features.”

Rakhmetov – main character novel "What to do?" Already in the middle of the 17th year he began his transformation into a “special person”; before that he was “an ordinary, good, high school student.” Having managed to appreciate all the “delights” of being free student life, he quickly lost interest in them: he wanted something more, meaningful, and fate brought him together with Kirsanov, who helped him take the path of rebirth. He began to greedily absorb knowledge from all sorts of fields, read books voraciously, train his physical strength through menial hard work, gymnastics, and lead a Spartan lifestyle to strengthen his will: refuse luxury in clothing, sleep on felt, eat only what ordinary people can afford. For his closeness with the people, determination, and developed strength among people, he acquired the nickname “Nikitushka Lomov”, in honor of the famous barge hauler, distinguished by his physical capabilities. Among his friends, they began to call him a “rigorist” because “he accepted original principles in material, moral, and mental life,” and later “they developed into a complete system, which he strictly adhered to.” This is an extremely purposeful and fruitful person who works for the benefit of others’ happiness and limits his own, being content with little.
Vera Pavlovna- the main character of the novel “What to Do”, a beautiful dark-skinned woman with long dark hair. She felt like a stranger in her family, because her mother tried to get her married at any cost. Although she was characterized by calm, poise and thoughtfulness, in this situation she showed cunning, inflexibility and willpower. She pretended to favor the courtship, but in fact she was looking for a way out of the trap set by her mother. Under the influence of education and a good environment, she transforms and becomes much smarter, more interesting and stronger. Even her beauty blossoms, as does her soul. Now we have before us a new type of confident and intellectually developed woman who runs a business and provides for herself. This is the ideal of a lady, according to Chernyshevsky.
Lopukhov Dmitry Sergeevich- medical student, husband and liberator of Vera. He is distinguished by composure, sophisticated intelligence, cunning, and at the same time responsiveness, kindness, and sensitivity. He sacrifices his career to save a stranger, and even limits his freedom for her sake. He is prudent, pragmatic and restrained; those around him value his efficiency and education. As you can see, under the influence of love, the hero also becomes a romantic, because he again radically changes his life for the sake of a woman, staging suicide. This act reveals him to be a strong strategist who calculates everything in advance.
Alexander Matveevich Kirsanov- Vera's lover. He is a kind, intelligent, sympathetic young man, always ready to help his friends. He resists his feelings for his friend’s wife and does not allow him to destroy their relationship. For example, he stops visiting their house for a long time. The hero cannot betray Lopukhov’s trust; both of them “made their way with their breasts, without connections, without acquaintances.” The character is decisive and firm, and this masculinity does not prevent him from having discriminating taste(for example, he loves opera). By the way, it was he who inspired Rakhmetov to the feat of revolutionary self-denial.

The main characters of “What is to be done” are noble, decent, and honest. There are not so many such characters in literature, there is nothing to say about life, but Chernyshevsky goes further and introduces an almost utopian character, thereby showing that decency is far from the limit of personal development, that people have become shallow in their aspirations and goals, that you can be even better, harder, stronger. Everything is learned by comparison, and by adding the image of Rakhmetov, the writer raises the level of perception for readers. This is exactly what, in his opinion, a real revolutionary looks like, capable of leading the Kirsanovs and Lopukhovs. They are strong and smart, but not mature enough for decisive independent action.

Subject

Love theme. Chernyshevsky in the novel “What to Do” reveals a favorite motif of writers in a new role. Now there is an extra link in love triangle self-destructs and sacrifices its interests to the reciprocity of the remaining parties. A person in this utopia controls his feelings as much as possible, and sometimes even seems to abandon them altogether. Lopukhov ignores pride, male pride, and feelings for Vera, just to please his friends and at the same time provide them with happiness without guilt. This perception of love is too far from reality, but we accept it due to the innovation of the author, who presented a well-worn topic in such a fresh and original way.
Strength of will. The hero of the novel “What Is to Be Done” curbed almost all his passions: he gave up alcohol, the company of women, and stopped wasting time on entertainment, doing only “other people’s business or no one’s business in particular.”
Indifference and responsiveness. If Vera’s mother, Marya Aleksevna, was indifferent to her daughter’s fate and thought only about the material side of the family’s life, then an outsider, Lopukhov, without any second thought sacrifices his bachelor’s peace and career for the girl. So Chernyshevsky draws a line between the old regime philistines with a petty greedy soul and representatives of the new generation, pure and unselfish in their thoughts.
Revolution theme. The need for change is expressed not only in the image of Rakhmetov, but also in the dreams of Vera Pavlovna, where in symbolic visions the meaning of existence is revealed to her: it is necessary to bring people out of the dungeon, where they are imprisoned by conventions and a tyrannical regime. The writer considers enlightenment to be the basis of the new free world; it is with it that it begins happy life heroines.
Theme of education. The new people in the novel What Is To Be Done are educated and smart, and they devote most of their time to learning. But their impulse does not end there: they try to help others and invest their strength in helping the people in the fight against centuries-old ignorance.

Issues

Many writers and public figures even after a while they mentioned this book. Chernyshevsky understood the spirit of that time and successfully developed these thoughts further, creating a real memo to the Russian revolutionary. The issues in the novel “What to Do” turned out to be painfully relevant and topical: the author touched upon the problem of social and gender inequality, topical political problems and even imperfections of mentality.

Women's question. The problems in the novel “What to Do” primarily concern women and their social disorder in the realities of Tsarist Russia. They have nowhere to go to work, nothing to feed themselves without a humiliating arranged marriage or even more humiliating earnings yellow ticket. The position of the governess is little better: no one will do anything to the owner of the house for harassment if he is a noble person. So Vera would have fallen victim to the officer’s lust if she had not been saved by progress in the person of Lopukhov. He treated the girl differently, as an equal. This attitude is the key to prosperity and independence of the weaker sex. And the point here is not about rabid feminism, but about the banal opportunity to provide for oneself and family in case the marriage did not work out or the husband died. The writer complains about the lack of rights and helplessness of women, and not about the underestimated superiority of one sex over the other.
The crisis of the monarchy. Since the time of the uprising Senate Square In 1825, ideas about the failure of the autocracy were ripening in the minds of the Decembrists, but the people were not then ready for revolutions of such a scale. Subsequently, the thirst for revolution only strengthened and became stronger with each new generation, which could not be said about the monarchy, which fought against this dissent as best it could, but, as you know, by 1905 it itself was shaken, and in the 17th it voluntarily gave up its positions To the Provisional Government.
The problem of moral choice. Kirsanov encounters her when he realizes his feelings for his friend’s wife. Vera constantly feels it, starting with a failed “profitable marriage” and ending with her relationship with Alexander. Lopukhov also faces a choice: leave everything as it is, or do what is fair? All the heroes of the novel “What to Do” stand the test and make an impeccable decision.
The problem of poverty. It is the depressing financial situation that leads Vera’s mother to moral degradation. Marya Alekseevna cares about the “real dirt”, that is, she thinks about how to survive in a country where she is not considered anything without a title and wealth? Her thoughts are burdened not by excesses, but by worries about her daily bread. Constant need reduced her spiritual needs to a minimum, leaving neither space nor time for them.
Problem social inequality. Vera's mother, not sparing her daughter's honor, lures officer Storeshnikov to make him her son-in-law. There is not a drop of dignity left in her, because she was born and lived in a rigid hierarchy, where those who are lower are dumb slaves for those who are higher. She would consider it happiness if the master's son dishonored her daughter, as long as he got married after that. Such upbringing disgusts Chernyshevsky, and he caustically ridicules it.

The meaning of the novel

The author created a role model for young people to show how to behave. Chernyshevsky gave Russia the image of Rakhmetov, in which most of the answers to the burning questions “what to do,” “who to be,” “what to strive for” were collected - Lenin saw this and took a number of actions that led to a successful coup, otherwise he would not have spoke so enthusiastically about the book. That is, the main idea The novel “What to Do” is an enthusiastic hymn to a new type of active person who can solve the problems of his people. The writer not only criticized his contemporary society, but also suggested ways to resolve the conflict situations that tore him apart. In his opinion, it was necessary to do as Rakhmetov did: abandon selfishness and class arrogance, help ordinary people not only with words, but with rubles, participate in large and global projects that could really change the situation.

A real revolutionary, according to Chernyshevsky, is obliged to live the life that a simple person lives. People in power should not be elevated to a separate elite caste, as is often the case. They are servants of the people who appointed them. This is roughly how one can express the author’s position, which he conveyed to his “special” hero and which he wants to convey to the reader through him. Rakhmetov - accumulation of all positive qualities, one might say, a “superman”, like Nietzsche. With its help, the idea of the novel “What is to be done” is expressed - bright ideals and a firm determination to defend them.

Nevertheless, Chernyshevsky warns the reader that the path of these people, “to which they are calling you,” is thorny and “poor in personal joys.” These are people trying to be reborn from a person into an abstract idea, devoid of personal feelings and passions, without which life is difficult and joyless. The writer warns against admiring such Rakhmetovs, calling them ridiculous and pathetic, because they are trying to embrace the immensity, to exchange a fate full of earthly blessings for duty and unrequited service to society. But meanwhile, the author understands that without them, life would completely lose its taste and “sour.” Rakhmetov - no romantic hero, but quite a real man, which the creator examines from different angles.

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On July 11, 1856, a note left by a strange guest is found in the room of one of the large St. Petersburg hotels. The note says that its author will soon be heard on the Liteiny Bridge and that no one should be suspicious. The circumstances become clear very soon: at night a man shoots himself on the Liteiny Bridge. His bullet-ridden cap is fished out of the water.

That same morning, at a dacha on Kamenny Island, a young lady sits and sews, singing a lively and bold French song about working people who will be freed by knowledge. Her name is Vera Pavlovna. The maid brings her a letter, after reading which Vera Pavlovna sobs, covering her face with her hands. The young man who entered tries to calm her down, but Vera Pavlovna is inconsolable. She pushes away young man with the words: “You are covered in blood! His blood is on you! It’s not your fault - I’m alone...” The letter received by Vera Pavlovna says that the person writing it is leaving the stage because he loves “both of you” too much...

The tragic outcome is preceded by the life story of Vera Pavlovna. She spent her childhood in St. Petersburg, in a multi-story building on Gorokhovaya, between Sadovaya and Semenovsky Bridge. Her father, Pavel Konstantinovich Rozalsky, is the manager of the house, her mother gives money as bail. The only concern of the mother, Marya Alekseevna, in relation to Verochka: to quickly marry her to a rich man. A narrow-minded and evil woman does everything possible for this: she invites a music teacher to her daughter, dresses her up and even takes her to the theater. Soon the beautiful dark girl is noticed by the owner’s son, Officer Storeshnikov, and immediately decides to seduce her. Hoping to force Storeshnikov to marry, Marya Alekseevna demands that her daughter be favorable to him, but Verochka refuses this in every possible way, understanding the true intentions of the womanizer. She somehow manages to deceive her mother, pretending that she is luring a suitor, but this cannot last long. Verochka's position in the house becomes completely unbearable. It is resolved in an unexpected way.

A teacher and final year medical student, Dmitry Sergeevich Lopukhov, has been invited to visit Verochka’s brother Fedya. At first, young people are wary of each other, but then they begin to talk about books, about music, about a fair way of thinking and soon feel affection for each other. Having learned about the girl’s plight, Lopukhov tries to help her. He is looking for her to become a governess, which would give Verochka the opportunity to live separately from her parents. But the search turns out to be unsuccessful: no one wants to take responsibility for the girl’s fate if she runs away from home. Then the student in love finds another way out: shortly before the end of the course, in order to have enough money, he leaves his studies and, taking private lessons and translating a geography textbook, proposes to Verochka. At this time, Verochka has her first dream: she sees herself released from a damp and dark basement and talking with an amazing beauty who calls herself love for people. Verochka promises the beauty that she will always let other girls out of the basements, locked in the same way she was locked.

The young people rent an apartment, and their life is going well. True, their relationship seems strange to the landlady: “darling” and “darling” sleep in different rooms, enter each other only after knocking, do not show themselves to each other undressed, etc. Verochka has difficulty explaining to the landlady that this is how they should be be a relationship between spouses if they do not want to bore each other.

Vera Pavlovna reads books, gives private lessons, and runs the household. Soon she starts her own enterprise - a sewing workshop. The girls do not work in the workshop for hire, but are its co-owners and receive their share of the income, just like Vera Pavlovna. They not only work together, but also spend their free time together: they go on picnics and talk. In her second dream, Vera Pavlovna sees a field in which ears of corn grow. She sees dirt on this field - or rather, two dirt: fantastic and real. Real dirt is caring for the most necessary things (the kind with which Vera Pavlovna’s mother was always burdened), and ears of corn can grow from it. Fantastic dirt - caring for the superfluous and unnecessary; Nothing worthwhile comes out of it.

The Lopukhov spouses often have best friend Dmitry Sergeevich, his former classmate and spiritually close person to him is Alexander Matveevich Kirsanov. Both of them “made their way through their breasts, without connections, without acquaintances.” Kirsanov is a strong-willed, courageous man, capable of both decisive action and subtle feeling. He brightens up Vera Pavlovna's loneliness with conversations when Lopukhov is busy, takes her to the Opera, which they both love. However, soon, without explaining the reasons, Kirsanov stops visiting his friend, which greatly offends both him and Vera Pavlovna. They do not know the true reason for his “cooling”: Kirsanov is in love with a friend’s wife. He reappears in the house only when Lopukhov falls ill: Kirsanov is a doctor, he treats Lopukhov and helps Vera Pavlovna take care of him. Vera Pavlovna is in complete confusion: she feels that she is in love with her husband’s friend. She has a third dream. In this dream, Vera Pavlovna, with the help of some unknown woman, reads the pages of her own diary, which says that she feels gratitude to her husband, and not that quiet, tender feeling, the need for which is so great in her.

The situation in which three smart and decent “new people” find themselves seems insoluble. Finally Lopukhov finds a way out - a shot on the Liteiny Bridge. On the day this news was received, an old acquaintance of Kirsanov and Lopukhov, Rakhmetov, a “special person,” comes to Vera Pavlovna. The “higher nature” was awakened in him at one time by Kirsanov, who introduced the student Rakhmetov to books “that need to be read.” Coming from a wealthy family, Rakhmetov sold his estate, distributed the money to his scholarship recipients and now leads a harsh lifestyle: partly because he considers it impossible for himself to have something that an ordinary person does not have, partly out of a desire to cultivate his character. So, one day he decides to sleep on nails to test his physical capabilities. He doesn't drink wine, doesn't touch women. Rakhmetov is often called Nikitushka Lomov - because he walked along the Volga with barge haulers in order to get closer to the people and gain love and respect ordinary people. Rakhmetov's life is shrouded in a veil of mystery of a clearly revolutionary nature. He has a lot to do, but none of it is his personal business. He is traveling around Europe, planning to return to Russia in three years, when he “needs” to be there. This “example of a very rare breed” is different from simply “honest and good people” by being “the engine of engines, the salt of the earth.”

Rakhmetov brings Vera Pavlovna a note from Lopukhov, after reading which she becomes calm and even cheerful. In addition, Rakhmetov explains to Vera Pavlovna that the dissimilarity between her character and Lopukhov’s character was too great, which is why she was drawn to Kirsanov. Having calmed down after a conversation with Rakhmetov, Vera Pavlovna leaves for Novgorod, where a few weeks later she gets married to Kirsanov.

The dissimilarity between the characters of Lopukhov and Vera Pavlovna is also spoken of in a letter that she soon receives from Berlin. A certain medical student, supposedly a good friend of Lopukhov, conveys to Vera Pavlovna his exact words that he began to feel better after parting with her, because had a penchant for solitude, which was in no way possible during his life with the sociable Vera Pavlovna. In this way, love affairs are arranged to everyone's satisfaction. The Kirsanov family has approximately the same lifestyle as the Lopukhov family before. Alexander Matveevich works a lot, Vera Pavlovna eats cream, takes baths and is engaged in sewing workshops: she now has two of them. In the same way, there are neutral and non-neutral rooms in the house, and spouses can enter non-neutral rooms only after knocking. But Vera Pavlovna notices that Kirsanov not only allows her to lead the lifestyle that she likes, and is not just ready to lend her a shoulder in difficult times, but is also keenly interested in her life. He understands her desire to do something “that cannot be put off.” With the help of Kirsanov, Vera Pavlovna begins to study medicine.

Soon she has a fourth dream. Nature in this dream “pours aroma and song, love and bliss into the chest.” The poet, whose brow and thought are illuminated by inspiration, sings a song about the meaning of history. Vera Pavlovna sees pictures of the lives of women in different millennia. First, the female slave obeys her master among the tents of the nomads, then the Athenians worship the woman, still not recognizing her as their equal. Then the image of a beautiful lady appears, for whose sake the knight fights in the tournament. But he loves her only until she becomes his wife, that is, a slave. Then Vera Pavlovna sees her own face instead of the goddess’s face. His features are far from perfect, but he is illuminated by the radiance of love. great woman, familiar to her from her first dream, explains to Vera Pavlovna what the meaning of women's equality and freedom is. This woman also shows Vera Pavlovna pictures of the future: citizens New Russia live in a beautiful house made of cast iron, crystal and aluminum. They work in the morning, have fun in the evening, and “whoever has not worked enough has not prepared the nerve to feel the fullness of the fun.” The guidebook explains to Vera Pavlovna that this future should be loved, one should work for it and transfer from it to the present everything that can be transferred.

The Kirsanovs have a lot of young people, like-minded people: “This type has recently appeared and is quickly spreading.” All these people are decent, hardworking, with unshakable life principles and possessing “cold-blooded practicality.” The Beaumont family soon appears among them. Ekaterina Vasilievna Beaumont, née Polozova, was one of the richest brides in St. Petersburg. Kirsanov once helped her with smart advice: with his help, Polozova figured out that the person she was in love with was unworthy of her. Then Ekaterina Vasilievna marries a man who calls himself an agent of an English company, Charles Beaumont. He speaks Russian perfectly - because he supposedly lived in Russia until he was twenty. His romance with Polozova develops calmly: both of them are people who “don’t get mad for no reason.” When Beaumont meets Kirsanov, it becomes clear that this man is Lopukhov. The Kirsanov and Beaumont families feel such spiritual closeness that they soon settle in the same house and receive guests together. Ekaterina Vasilievna also sets up a sewing workshop, and the circle of “new people” thus becomes wider.

His novel “What to do?” The famous Russian writer Nikolai Gavrilovich Chernyshevsky created it during the period when he was imprisoned in one of the cells of the Peter and Paul Fortress. The novel was written from December 14, 1862 to April 4, 1863, that is, the work, which became a masterpiece of Russian literature, was created in just three and a half months. Already starting in January 1863 and until the author’s final stay in custody, he transferred the manuscript in parts to the commission that dealt with the writer’s case. Here the work was censored, which was approved. Soon the novel was published in the 3rd, as well as 4th and 5th issues of the Sovremennik magazine for 1863. For such an oversight, censor Beketov lost his position. This was followed by bans on all three issues of the magazine. However, it was already too late. Chernyshevsky’s work was distributed throughout the country with the help of “samizdat”.

And only in 1905, during the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, the ban was lifted. Already in 1906, the book “What is to be done?” published in a separate edition.

Who are the new heroes?

The reaction to Chernyshevsky's work was ambiguous. Readers, based on their opinions, were divided into two opposing camps. Some of them believed that the novel lacked artistry. The latter fully supported the author.

However, it is worth remembering that before Chernyshevsky, writers created images of “ extra people" A striking example of such heroes are Pechorin, Oblomov and Onegin, who, despite their differences, are similar in their “smart uselessness”. These people, “pygmies of deeds and titans of words,” were divided natures, suffering from a constant discord between will and consciousness, deed and thought. Besides this, their characteristic feature served as moral exhaustion.

This is not how Chernyshevsky imagines his heroes. He created images of “new people” who know what they need to desire and are also capable of realizing their own plans. Their thoughts go hand in hand with their deeds. Their consciousness and will are not at odds with each other. The heroes of Chernyshevsky’s novel “What to do?” are presented as bearers of new morality and creators of new interpersonal relations. They deserve the author's main attention. It’s not for nothing that even a summary of the chapters “What to do?” allows us to see that by the end of the second of them the author “releases from the stage” such representatives of the old world - Marya Alekseevna, Storeshnikov, Serge, Julie and some others.

The main issue of the essay

Even a very brief summary of “What to do?” gives an idea of the issues that the author raises in his book. And they are as follows:

- The need for socio-political renewal of society, which is possible through a revolution. Due to censorship, Chernyshevsky did not expand on this topic in more detail. He gave it in the form of half-hints when describing the life of one of the main characters, Rakhmetov, as well as in the 6th chapter.

- Psychological and moral problems. Chernyshevsky claims that a person, using the power of his mind, is able to create in himself new moral qualities that he has set. At the same time, the author develops this process, describing it from the small, in the form of the fight against despotism in the family, to the most large-scale, which found expression in the revolution.

- Problems of family morality and women's emancipation. This topic the author reveals in Vera's first three dreams, in the history of her family, as well as in the relationships of young people and Lopukhov's imaginary suicide.

- Dreams of bright and have a wonderful life, which will occur with the creation of a socialist society in the future. Chernyshevsky illuminates this topic thanks to Vera Pavlovna’s fourth dream. The reader also sees here easier work, which became possible thanks to the development of technical means.

The main pathos of the novel is the propaganda of the idea of transforming the world through revolution, as well as its anticipation and preparation of the best minds for this event. At the same time, the idea of active participation in upcoming events is expressed.

What was the main goal that Chernyshevsky set for himself? He dreamed of developing and introducing the latest methods that would allow for the revolutionary education of the masses. His work was supposed to be a kind of textbook, with the help of which every thinking person would begin to form a new worldview.

The entire content of the novel “What to do?” Chernyshevsky is divided into six chapters. Moreover, each of them, except the last one, is further divided into small chapters. In order to emphasize the special importance of the final events, the author speaks about them separately. For this purpose, the content of the novel “What to do?” Chernyshevsky included a one-page chapter entitled “Change of scenery”.

The beginning of the story

Let's look at the summary of Chernyshevsky's novel “What is to be done?” Its plot begins with a note found, which was left in one of the hotel rooms in St. Petersburg by a strange guest. This happened in 1823, on July 11. The note reports that soon its author will be heard on one of the bridges in St. Petersburg - Liteiny. At the same time, the man asked not to look for the guilty. The incident happened that same night. A man shot himself on Liteiny Bridge. A holey cap that belonged to him was fished out of the water.

Below is a summary of the novel “What to do?” introduces us to a young lady. On the morning when the event described above happened, she was at the dacha located on Kamenny Island. The lady sews while humming a bold and lively French song, which talks about working people, whose liberation will require a change of consciousness. This woman's name is Vera Pavlovna. At this moment, the maid brings the lady a letter, after reading which she begins to sob, covering her face with her hands. A young man entering the room makes attempts to calm her down. However, the woman is inconsolable. She pushes the young man away. At the same time, she says: “His blood is on you! You're covered in blood! I am the only one to blame...”

What did the letter that Vera Pavlovna received say? We can learn about this from the presented summary of “What to do?”. In his message, the writer indicated that he was leaving the stage.

Appearance of Lopukhov

What next do we learn from the summary of Chernyshevsky’s novel “What is to be done?” After the events described, there follows a story telling about Vera Pavlovna, her life, as well as the reasons that led to such a sad outcome.

The author says that his heroine was born in St. Petersburg. This is where she grew up. The lady's father, Pavel Konstantinovich Vozalsky, was the manager of the house. The mother was busy giving money as bail. The main goal of Marya Alekseevna (Vera Pavlovna’s mother) was to have a profitable marriage for her daughter. And she made every effort to resolve this issue. The evil and narrow-minded Marya Alekseevna invites a music teacher to her daughter. He buys Vera beautiful clothes and goes to the theater with her. Soon to dark skin beautiful girl the owner's son, officer Storeshnikov, draws attention. The young man decides to seduce Vera.

Marya Alekseevna hopes to force Storeshnikov to marry her daughter. To do this, she demands that Vera show favor to the young man. However, the girl understands perfectly well the true intentions of her boyfriend and refuses attention in every possible way. Somehow she even manages to mislead her mother. She pretends to be favorable to the ladies' man. But sooner or later the deception will be revealed. This makes Vera Pavlovna's position in the house simply unbearable. However, everything was suddenly resolved, and in the most unexpected way.

Dmitry Sergeevich Lopukhov appeared in the house. This final year medical student was invited by Verochka’s parents to her brother Fedya as a teacher. At first, the young people treated each other very warily. However, then their communication began to flow in conversations about music and books, as well as about the fair direction of thoughts.

Time has passed. Vera and Dmitry felt sympathy for each other. Lopukhov learns about the girl’s plight and makes attempts to help her. He is looking for a position as a governess for Verochka. Such work would allow the girl to live separately from her parents.

However, all Lopukhov's efforts were unsuccessful. He could not find owners who would agree to take in a girl who had run away from home. Then the young man in love takes another step. He leaves his studies and begins translating textbooks and giving private lessons. This allows him to start receiving sufficient funds. At the same time, Dmitry proposes to Vera.

First dream

Vera has her first dream. In it, she sees herself emerging from a dark and damp basement and meeting an amazing beauty who calls herself love for people. Verochka talks to her and promises to release girls from such basements who are locked in them, just as she was locked.

Family well-being

Young people live in a rented apartment, and everything is going well for them. However, the landlady notices oddities in their relationship. Verochka and Dmitry call each other only “darling” and “darling”, sleep in separate rooms, entering them only after knocking, etc. All this stranger is surprising. Verochka tries to explain to the woman that this is a completely normal relationship between spouses. After all, this is the only way to avoid getting bored of each other.

The young wife runs the household, gives private lessons, and reads books. Soon she opens her own sewing workshop, in which the girls are self-employed and receive part of the income as co-owners.

Second dream

What else will we learn from the summary of Chernyshevsky’s novel “What is to be done?” As the plot progresses, the author introduces us to Vera Pavlovna’s second dream. In it she sees a field with ears of corn growing on it. There is also dirt here. Moreover, one of them is fantastic, and the second is real.

Real dirt means caring about what is most necessary in life. This is precisely what Marya Alekseevna was constantly burdened with. This is how you can grow ears of corn. Fantastic dirt represents concern for the unnecessary and superfluous. Ears of corn will never grow on such soil.

The emergence of a new hero

The author shows Kirsanov as a strong-willed and courageous person, capable not only of decisive action, but also of subtle feelings. Alexander spends time with Vera when Dmitry is busy. He goes to the opera with his friend's wife. However, soon, without explaining any reasons, Kirsanov stops coming to the Lopukhovs, which greatly offends them. What appeared the real reason this? Kirsanov's falling in love with a friend's wife.

The young man reappeared in the house when Dmitry fell ill in order to cure him and help Vera with her care. And here the woman realizes that she is in love with Alexander, which is why she becomes completely confused.

Third dream

From the summary of the work “What to do?” we learn that Vera Pavlovna is having a third dream. In it, she reads the pages of her diary with the help of some unfamiliar woman. From it she learns that she feels only gratitude towards her husband. However, at the same time, Vera needs a tender and quiet feeling, which she does not have for Dmitry.

Solution

The situation in which three decent and smart people, at first glance seems insoluble. But Lopukhov finds a way out. He shoots himself on the Liteiny Bridge. On the day that Vera Pavlovna received this news, Rakhmetov came to her. This is an old acquaintance of Lopukhov and Kirsanov, who is called a “special person.”

Meeting Rakhmetov

In the summary of the novel “What to Do”, the “special person” Rakhmetov is presented by the author as a “higher nature”, which Kirsanov helped to awaken in his time by introducing him to necessary books. The young man comes from a wealthy family. He sold his estate and distributed the proceeds to scholarship holders. Now Rakhmetov adheres to a harsh lifestyle. Part of what prompted him to do this was his reluctance to possess what he did not have. common man. In addition, Rakhmetov set as his goal the education of his own character. For example, to test his physical capabilities, he decides to sleep on nails. In addition, he does not drink wine and does not date women. In order to get closer to the people, Rakhmetov even walked with barge haulers along the Volga.

What else is said about this hero in Chernyshevsky’s novel “What is to be done?” Summary makes it clear that Rakhmetov’s whole life consists of sacraments that have a clearly revolutionary meaning. The young man has many things to do, but none of them are personal. He travels around Europe, but in three years he is going to Russia, where he will definitely need to be.

It was Rakhmetov who came to Vera Pavlovna after receiving a note from Lopukhov. After his persuasion, she calmed down and even became cheerful. Rakhmetov explains that Vera Pavlovna and Lopukhov had very different characters. That is why the woman reached out to Kirsanov. Soon Vera Pavlovna left for Novgorod. There she married Kirsanov.

The dissimilarity between the characters of Verochka and Lopukhov was also mentioned in a letter that soon arrived from Berlin. In this message, some medical student, who supposedly knew Lopukhov well, conveyed Dmitry’s words that he began to feel much better after the separation of the spouses, since he had always strived for privacy. And this is precisely what the sociable Vera Pavlovna did not allow him to do.

Life of the Kirsanovs

What next does the novel “What to do?” tell its reader? Nikolai Chernyshevsky? A brief summary of the work allows us to understand that the love affairs of the young couple worked out well to everyone’s satisfaction. The Kirsanovs’ lifestyle is not much different from that of the Lopukhov family.

Alexander works a lot. As for Vera Pavlovna, she takes baths, eats cream and is already engaged in two sewing workshops. The house, as before, has neutral and common rooms. However, the woman notices that she new spouse not just allows her to lead the lifestyle she likes. He is interested in her affairs and is ready to help in difficult times. In addition, her husband perfectly understands her desire to master some urgent activity and begins to help her in studying medicine.

Fourth dream

Having briefly become acquainted with Chernyshevsky’s novel “What is to be done?”, we move on to the continuation of the plot. It tells us about Vera Pavlovna's fourth dream, in which she sees amazing nature and pictures from the lives of women from different millennia.

First, the image of a slave appears before her. This woman obeys her master. After this, Vera sees the Athenians in a dream. They begin to worship the woman, but at the same time they do not recognize her as their equal. Then the following image appears. This is a beautiful lady for whom the knight is ready to fight in the tournament. However, his love immediately passes after the lady becomes his wife. Then, instead of the goddess’s face, Vera Pavlovna sees her own. It is not distinguished by perfect features, but at the same time it is illuminated by the radiance of love. And here the woman who was in the first dream appears. She explains to Vera the meaning of equality and shows pictures of citizens future Russia. They all live in a house built of crystal, cast iron and aluminum. These people work in the morning and start having fun in the evening. The woman explains that this future must be loved and strived for.

Completion of the story

How does N. G. Chernyshevsky’s novel “What to do?” end? The author tells his reader that guests often come to the Kirsanovs’ house. The Beaumont family soon appears among them. When meeting Charles Beaumont, Kirsanov recognizes him as Lopukhov. The two families become so close to each other that they decide to continue living in the same house.