Elizaveta Mertsalova is one of the key characters in Kuprin’s rather touching work entitled “ Wonderful doctor».
We learn that she and her husband Emelyan Mertsalov live quite poorly and barely make ends meet. According to the author's narration, we learn that most likely they came from a family of burghers. Due to lack of money, they have been living for a year in the basement of a small house located in Kyiv.
Together they are trying to raise four children: Grisha and Volodya recently turned ten years old, Mashutka is seven, and also a baby who is still an infant. Three months before the events unfold, the main characters’ daughter dies, which becomes a real tragedy in her life, which she experiences painfully.
By external description we see that the main character has to work hard, her face looks exhausted and unhappy, it is partially blackened from the grief she has experienced. Often it expresses real concern for its future life and for how he will provide for the children whom he loves with all his heart and sincerely cares about them.
A woman has a hardworking character and does not allow laziness. Every day she works at home for the benefit of her family, and also travels daily to the other end of the city to work as a laundress.
It is difficult for her to get to her place of work, but she goes there every day to provide for herself and her children. She understands that what her children will eat depends on her earnings; she no longer thinks about what she herself will eat and how she will eat.
Despite a number of financial difficulties, Elizabeth and her husband live comfortably peaceful life and share the hardships and adversities between two. The author writes that the woman is seriously ill and Dr. Pirogov is helping her. After this, money appears in the family, and the characters’ lives begin to gradually improve.
Elizaveta Mertsalova is a selfless woman, ready to share the difficulties and hardships of life with her husband. She works for the future good of her family, tries to work tirelessly, and maintains friendly and good relations with her family, despite the fact that they are experiencing financial difficulties and have to live in a small basement in the center of Kyiv.
Essay Image of Elizaveta Mertsalova
Kuprin’s touching story “The Wonderful Doctor” forces the reader to plunge into the gloomy atmosphere of poverty, where life is experienced in completely different colors. At the center of the story is the Mertsalov family, who live in a basement amid dirt, poverty and a terrible smell. Mertsalova and her husband have four children, one of whom is an infant. Taking into account the fact that the reader understands the conditions in which this family lives, he can conclude that the father and mother of the family are very courageous people, especially when he learns about another child who recently died.
Just imagine what a mother must feel, whose child died three months ago, and besides that, she has another one in her arms infant, three older children and work on the other side of town. It is the remaining children and husband that are the only thing that keeps Elizabeth afloat in this world, the only thing for which she still lives.
The woman looks like a gray spot, which symbolizes grief: she is thin, tall, and her face is literally blackened from all the torment she endured. But living for the sake of the remaining family members is not enough; you need to earn money without thinking about what disaster happened a few months ago. Elizaveta works for her mistress, washing clothes from morning to night, but this work is on the other side of the city, so Mertsalova must be terribly tired.
In addition to all the stress at home, work and childcare, Elizabeth is sick severe illness, because the author writes that she may even die, but by spring everything ends well thanks to the doctor who helped this unfortunate family financially.
I think that there are very few heroines like Elizaveta Mertsalova in our lives. I am sure that not every person will find the strength to live on when there is absolute darkness and darkness, poverty and illness around you. Not everyone can survive the death of their child, but she could. This means that Elizabeth is not just a courageous and persistent woman, she is the most real example for imitation. And let her not live in favorable conditions, let life prick her over and over again, but she overcomes all obstacles every time, maintaining her tender love for her husband, children and life as such.
Kuprin was able to create not just a positive heroine, but a heroine with whom you want to sympathize and help. And even more so, when you understand how real the whole situation and all the characters are, how alive they are, then you immediately have a desire to empathize, a desire for everything to end well for this family.
Several interesting essays
- Essay The essence and meaning of the fairy tale The Silver Hoof of Bazhov
This tale tells about good people and the miracles that happened to them. One of the main characters of Bazhov's fairy tale is the lonely old man Kokovanya.
- Essay on the proverb Idleness is the mother of all vices, grade 7
I cannot say with certainty that idleness is the mother of all vices. Of course, when a person has too much free time, when he is bored, he toils... He does not know (lucky) what to do with himself. Walks from corner to corner, calling friends
- Essay What brings Bunin’s prose and lyrics together?
- Essay My favorite Lego toy
The first construction set I got was about a policeman who is chasing a criminal in a car. Then they gave me a police boat, and I started collecting a whole set about policemen
- Analysis of the work White Nights by Dostoevsky
The story “White Nights” was written by F. M. Dostoevsky in 1848. The work belongs to early creativity writer. It is interesting that Dostoevsky classified “White Nights” as a “sentimental novel” genre.
There is such a character in Chernyshevsky’s novel - Alexey Petrovich Mertsalov. This is the priest who married Lopukhov to Vera Pavlovna:
"Who will get married?" - and there was only one answer: “no one will get married!” And suddenly, instead of “no one will get married,” the surname “Mertsalov” appeared in his head.(Chapter 2,XXI).
Mertsalov is a minor character, and probably few readers remember him. Meanwhile, it is of great interest to supporters of Orthodox socialism.
Just as Rakhmetov was brought out by Chernyshevsky not only in order to convey Lopukhov’s letter to Vera Pavlovna, so the meaning of Mertsalov’s image is not limited to cameo role in the development of the plot. In the image of Mertsalov, the author sought to show what was new that was emerging among the Russian clergy, and he largely succeeded in this, despite the difficulties caused by censorship restrictions.
Upon careful analysis of the text, a guess arises that precisely in order not to attract the censor’s attention to this character, Chernyshevsky tried to give him less brightness, less “convexity.” Only once does the author call him a priest, and no longer focuses on this: for example, there is no description appearance Mertsalov (accordingly, the cassock and beard are not mentioned, which would depict in the reader’s mind the appearance of a clergyman), acquaintances address him by his first name and patronymic, and not “Father Alexey” or “father”.
And, unfortunately, due to censorship, Chernyshevsky could not say everything he wanted to say about the socialist priest.
Getting to know Mertsalov, the reader finds him reading a book by the atheist Feuerbach, which the author reports in “Aesopian” language:
“Mertsalov, sitting at home alone, was reading some new work, or Louis XIV, or someone else from the same dynasty"(Chapter 2,XXI).
Apparently, this is “The Essence of Christianity” - the same “German book” that was brought to Vera Pavlovna by Lopukhov and mistakenly accepted by Marya Alekseevna and Storeshnikov as the work of Louis XIV:
"Well, what about German?
Mikhail Ivanovich slowly read: “On religion, an essay by Ludwig.” Louis XIV, Marya Aleksevna, composition of Louis XIV; it was Marya Aleksevna, the French king, the father of the king in whose place the current Napoleon sat. "(chapter 2,VII)
It is difficult to say what meaning Chernyshevsky put into the picture he painted: a young priest reading a book by Feuerbach. Did the German philosopher's arguments shake the priest's faith? Did he find them unconvincing? We only know that Mertsalov remains a priest, and we have no reason to suspect him of disgusting hypocrisy.
Mertsalov does not break with either religion or the church, unlike Chernyshevsky himself and his friend Dobrolyubov, former seminarians who became ideological leaders of the revolutionary democratic movement. Nevertheless, he is from the cohort of “new people”, along with Lopukhov and Kirsanov.
Mertsalov takes a serious risk by marrying Lopukhov and Vera Pavlovna without the consent of the bride’s parents:
- That’s what it’s all about, Alexey Petrovich! I know that this is a very serious risk for you; it’s good if we make peace with our relatives, but what if they start a business (53)? you may be in trouble, and probably will be; but... Lopukhov could not find any “but” in his head: how, in fact, can we convince a person to put his neck in a noose for us!
Mertsalov thought for a long time, also looked for a “but” to authorize himself to take such a risk, and also could not come up with any “but”.
- How to deal with this? After all, I would like... what you are doing now, I did a year ago, but I became involuntary, just like you will be. And I’m ashamed: I should help you. Yes, when you have a wife, it’s a little scary to walk without looking back (54).
- Hello, Alyosha. My all bow to you, hello, Lopukhov: we haven’t seen each other for a long time. What are you talking about your wife? “It’s all your wives’ fault,” said a lady of about 17, a pretty and lively blonde, who had returned from her family.
Mertsalov recounted the matter to his wife. The young lady's eyes sparkled.
- Alyosha, they won’t eat you!
- There is a risk, Natasha.
“It’s a very big risk,” confirmed Lopukhov.
“Well, what to do, take a risk, Alyosha,” I ask you.
- When you don’t judge me, Natasha, that I forgot about you, running into danger, then the conversation is over. When do you want to get married, Dmitry Sergeevich?
Mertsalov is interested in socialist ideas and sympathizes with their implementation. This is evidenced by the following conversation between Vera Pavlovna, who decided to organize a sewing workshop on a socialist basis, and Lopukhov:
“My friend, you have some fun: why don’t you share it with me?
- It seems there is, my dear, but wait a little longer: I’ll tell you when it’s true. We need to wait a few more days. And this will be my great joy. Yes, and you will be happy, I know; and Kirsanov, and The Mertsalovs will like it.
- But what is it?
- Have you forgotten, my dear, our agreement: not to ask questions? I'll tell you when it's right.
Another week has passed.
- My dear, I will tell you my joy. Just advise me, you know all this. You see, I’ve been wanting to do something for a long time. I came up with the idea that I should start a sewing shop; isn't that good?
- Well, my friend, we had an agreement so that I would not kiss your hands, but that was said in general, but there was no agreement for such a case. Give me your hand, Vera Pavlovna.
- Later, my dear, when I can do it.
- When you manage to do it, then you won’t let me kiss your hand, then both Kirsanov and Alexey Petrovich, and everyone will kiss. And now I'm alone. And the intention is worth it.
Mertsalov agrees to give lectures for women sewing workers, and in addition, with his authority as a clergyman, give the event respectability in the eyes of the authorities:
“- Alexey Petrovich,” said Vera Pavlovna, who once visited the Mertsalovs, “I have a request to you. Natasha is already on my side. My workshop is becoming a lyceum of all kinds of knowledge. Be one of the professors,
- What am I going to teach them? perhaps Latin and Greek, or logic and rhetoric?
- said Alexey Petrovich, laughing.
- After all my specialty is not very interesting, in your opinion and also according to one person about whom I know who he is (71).
- No, you are needed precisely as a specialist: you will serve as a shield of good behavior and the excellent direction of our sciences.
- But it’s true. I see that without me it would be unseemly. Appoint a department.
- For example, Russian history, essays from general history.
- Perfect. But I will read this, and it will be assumed that I am an expert. Great. Two positions: professor and shield. Natalya Andreevna, Lopukhov, two or three students, Vera Pavlovna herself were other professors, as they jokingly called themselves."
Finally, Mertsalov’s wife takes over the management of one of the sewing workshops:
“Mertsalova was very well suited to the sewing shop that was set up on Vasilyevsky, and naturally: after all, she and the workshop were very familiar with each other. Vera Pavlovna, having returned to St. Petersburg, saw that if she needed to visit this sewing shop , then perhaps only occasionally, for a short time; if she continues to go there almost every day, it is, in fact, only because her affection draws her there, and that her affection meets her there, perhaps for a while, and is not completely useless; visits, Mertsalova still sometimes finds it necessary to consult with her; but this takes so little time and happens less and less often; and soon Mertsalova will gain so much experience that she will no longer need Vera Pavlovna at all.”(chapter 4, IV)
Mertsalov’s relationship with his wife is built on the same principles of mutual respect, friendship and trust as Lopukhov’s (there is no hint of the wife’s patriarchal subordination to her husband):
"... between another conversation they said a few words and about the Mertsalovs, who had visited the day before, they praised their concordant life, they noted that this was a rarity; everyone said this, including Kirsanov said: “yes, it’s very good in Mertsalov and that’s it, that his wife can freely reveal her soul to him,” that’s all Kirsanov said, each of the three of them thought of saying the same thing, but it happened to tell Kirsanov, however, why did he say this? What does this mean? After all, if you understand this from a certain point of view, what will this be? This will be a praise for Lopukhov, this will be a glorification of Vera Pavlovna’s happiness with Lopukhov, of course, this could be said without thinking about anyone except the Mertsalovs, and if we assume that he was thinking about both the Mertsalovs; Lopukhovs, then this means that this was said directly for Vera Pavlovna, for what purpose was this said?(Chapter 3, XXIII)
The Lopukhovs and the Mertsalovs are very friendly and spend a lot of time together; the interests of Mertsalov and Lopukhov are also similar: philosophy, politics, science:
“When they arrived home, after a while the guests they were expecting gathered at their place - ordinary guests of that time: Alexey Petrovich with Natalya Andreevna, Kirsanov - and the evening passed as it usually passed with them. How doubly gratifying it seemed to Vera Pavlovna new life with pure thoughts, in the company of pure people"! As usual, there was a cheerful conversation with many memories, and there was also a serious conversation about everything in the world: from the historical affairs of that time ( internecine war in Kansas (63), the harbinger of the current great war North and South (64), the harbinger of even greater events in more than one America, occupied this small circle: now everyone talks about politics, then very few were interested in it; among the few - Lopukhov, Kirsanov, their friends) before the then dispute about the chemical foundations of agriculture according to Liebig’s theory (65), and about the laws of historical progress, without which not a single conversation in such circles could do then (66), and about the great importance distinguishing real desires (67), which seek and find satisfaction for themselves, from fantastic ones, for which there is no, and for which there is no need to find satisfaction, like a false thirst during a fever, which, like it, has only one satisfaction: healing the body, a painful condition which they are generated through the distortion of real desires, and about the importance of this fundamental distinction, then exposed by anthropological philosophy, and about everything like that and not like that, but related. The ladies from time to time listened attentively to these eruditions, which were spoken so simply as if they were not eruditions, and intervened in them with their questions, and more - of course, they did not listen any more, they even sprinkled Lopukhov and Alexei Petrovich with water when they were already very much delighted with the great importance mineral fertilizer; but Alexey Petrovich and Lopukhov spoke unshakably about their learning.(Chapter 3, II)
In “Vera Pavlovna’s second dream,” it is Mertsalov who speaks about the great role of labor in the formation human personality(undoubtedly these are echoes of what she heard from Mertsalov the day before):
“Yes, movement is reality,” says Alexey Petrovich, “because movement is life, and reality and life are one and the same. But life has labor as its main element, and therefore the main element of reality is labor, and the surest sign reality - efficiency"
"... work appears in anthropological analysis as the fundamental form of movement, which gives the basis and content to all other forms: entertainment, recreation, fun, fun; without previous work they have no reality. And without movement there is no life, that is, reality"
There, in the “second dream,” Mertsalov talks about the poor and working life in his parents’ family:
"My father was a sexton in provincial town and was engaged in bookbinding, and his mother allowed seminarians into the apartment. From morning to night, father and mother were fussing and talking about a piece of bread. My father drank, but only when the need was unbearable - this was real grief, or when the income was decent; here he gave his mother all the money and said: “Well, mother, now, thank God, you won’t see any need for two months; but I left myself fifty dollars, I’ll drink it to celebrate” - this is real joy. My mother was often angry, sometimes she beat me, but then, when, as she said, her lower back was weakened from carrying pots and cast irons, from washing linen for the five of us and five seminarians, and washing the floors dirty with our twenty feet, she didn’t wearing galoshes and caring for a cow; this is real irritation of the nerves by excessive work without rest; and when, despite all this, “the ends didn’t meet,” as she said, that is, there wasn’t enough money to buy boots for one of us brothers, or for shoes for our sisters, then she beat us. She caressed us when we, even stupid children, volunteered to help her with her work, or when we did something else smart, or when she had a rare moment to rest, and her “lower back was relieved,” as she said, - this all real joys..."
It is interesting that Mertsalov disappears from the pages of the novel after the return of Lopukhov-Beaumont - in this one can see a hint that the priest did not approve of the way his family was organized family life the young people he once married.
So, the great Russian revolutionary democrat Chernyshevsky testifies in defense of the Russian clergy of the 19th century: they were among Orthodox priests and those who realized the incompatibility Christian teaching and exploitation of man by man.
The family is beset with illnesses and misfortunes one after another. The father of the family is already thinking about suicide, but he meets a doctor who helps him cope with his difficulties and becomes their guardian angel.
Kyiv. The Mertsalov family has been huddled in the damp basement of an old house for more than a year. Most youngest child hungry and screaming in his cradle. An older girl has a high fever, but there is no money for medicine. On New Year's Eve, Mertsalova sends her two eldest sons to the man for whom her husband worked as a manager. The woman hopes that he will help them, but the children are kicked out without giving a penny.
In this terrible fateful year, misfortune after misfortune persistently and mercilessly rained down on Mertsalov and his family.
Mertsalov fell ill with typhus. While he was recovering, another man took his place as manager. All the family’s savings were spent on medicine, and the Mertsalovs had to move to a damp basement. The children started getting sick. One girl died three months ago, and now Mashutka is sick. In search of money for medicine, Mertsalov ran around the whole city, humiliated himself, begged, but did not get a penny.
Having learned that nothing worked out for the children either, Mertsalov leaves.
He was overcome by an uncontrollable desire to run anywhere, to run without looking back, so as not to see the silent despair of a hungry family.
Mertsalov wanders aimlessly around the city and turns into a public garden. There is deep silence here. Mertsalov wants peace, the thought of suicide comes to mind. He almost makes up his mind, but then a short old man in a fur coat sits down next to him. He talks to Mertsalov about New Year's gifts, and he is overcome by a “tide of desperate anger.” The old man, however, is not offended, but asks Mertsalov to tell everything in order.
About ten minutes later, the old man, who turned out to be a doctor, already enters the Mertsalovs’ basement. Money immediately appears for firewood and food. The old man writes out a free prescription and leaves, leaving a few on the table large bills. The name of the wonderful doctor - Professor Pirogov - Mertsalov is found on a label attached to the bottle of medicine.
Since then, “like a beneficent angel descended” into the Mertsalov family. The head of the family finds a job, and the children recover. Fate brings them together with Pirogov only once - at his funeral.
The narrator learns this story from one of the Mertsalov brothers, who became a major employee of the bank.