"The History of a City" summary which is given in this article is an ironic, grotesque chronicle of the city of Foolov. Saltykov-Shchedrin's satire is transparent, so the appearance of modern Russia is easily guessed in the text.
Only at first glance it seems that the story is like an inventory of city governors - a gallery of human madness and moral deformities. In fact, each image is recognizable in its own way.
Unfortunately, the work does not lose its uniqueness to this day.
The history of the creation of “The Story of a City”
The idea of the work was nurtured by the author for several years. In 1867, a story appears about a mayor with a stuffed head, eaten with gusto at the end. This hero transformed into a governor named Pyshch. And the story itself became one of the chapters of the story.
Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin (1826-1889)
A year later, the author began writing Foolov's chronicle itself. The work lasted more than a year. Initially, the work was called “The Foolov Chronicler”; the final title appeared later. The name change is due to the fact that the second carries a broader meaning.
In the year of graduation, the story was first published in the anthology “Notes of the Fatherland,” where Mikhail Evgrafovich signed the pseudonym N. Shchedrin. An independent publication comes out in six months. The text is slightly different. The sequence of chapters has been changed, and the characteristics and descriptions of the governors have been rewritten in abbreviation, but have become more expressive.
The main characters and their characteristics
The main characters of the work are the mayors and townspeople - the inhabitants of Foolov. Below is a table with characteristics. A brief overview of the main characters is given.
| Amadeus Manuilovich Klementy | Italian. At home he served as a cook. His crowning and most delicious dish there was pasta. The Duke of Courland, admired by his culinary skills, took him with him as the family cook. After Amadeus Manuilovich received a high status, which helped him take the position of mayor. Clementy forced all the Foolovites to make pasta. Sent into exile for high treason. |
| Fotiy Petrovich Ferapontov | He was the personal hairdresser of the Duke of Courland. After which he began to manage the city. A big fan of spectacles. I never missed public punishments in the square. Always present when someone was flogged. In 1738, the manager was torn to pieces by dogs. |
| Ivan Matveevich Velikanov | He is famous for drowning the director responsible for economics and management in a reservoir. For the first time he introduced a tax on citizens. From each, a few kopecks into the board's treasury. He often beat police officers most severely. Spotted in an indecent relationship with the first wife of Peter I (Avdotya Lopukhina). After which he was taken into custody, where he remains to this day. |
| Manyl Samylovich Urus-Kugush-Kildibaev | Brave military man, guardsman. Management methods are appropriate. The townspeople remembered him for his courage, bordering on madness. Once Foolov even took the city by storm. There is little information about him in the chronicle. But it is known that in 1745 he was dismissed from the post of governor. |
| Lamvrokakis | Fugitive Greek citizen of unknown origin, name and family. Before becoming a mayor, he sold soap, oils, nuts and other small items at the market of a neighboring city. He died in his own bed in an unequal battle with bedbugs. |
| Ivan Matveevich Baklan | Famous for his tall height of more than two meters. Killed during a hurricane. Strong wind broke a man in half. |
| Dementy Varlamovich Brudasty | The role of the brain in his head was performed by a peculiar mechanism resembling an organ. But this did not interfere with the performance of the duties of the governor, the preparation and execution of papers. That's why the residents affectionately called him Organchik. He had no contact with the public, but constantly uttered a single menacing phrase: “I will not tolerate it!” Why were the city dwellers in constant fear? He actively collected taxes and taxes. After his reign there was anarchy for about a week. The image symbolizes the stupidity, emptiness and limitations of the majority of officials and managers. |
| Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov | Active and active manager. Paved roads (two of them). Organized local production of beer and honey drinks. Forced residents to grow and consume mustard and bay leaves. He collected arrears more actively than others. For any offenses and without them, the Foolovites were flogged. The only one who died of natural causes. |
| Petr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko | Former soldier. He was Potemkin's orderly, of which he was quite proud. The first six years passed quietly. But then the foreman seemed to go crazy. He was not distinguished by the depth of his mind. He had a speech impediment and was therefore tongue-tied. Died from overeating. |
| Vasilisk Semenovich Wartkin | Appears in the chapter "Wars for Enlightenment". The hero's portrait corresponds to his surname. The longest reign in the city's history. His predecessors started arrears, so Wartkin took it strictly. In the process, more than 30 villages burned down, and only two and a half rubles were saved. He arranged one square and planted trees on one street. Constantly buttoned up, put out fires, created false alarms. Solved problems that didn't exist. He forced the Foolovites to build houses on foundations, plant Persian chamomile, and use Provençal oil. He dreamed of annexing Byzantium, and then renaming Constantinople to Yekaterinograd. I tried to open an academy, but it didn’t work. That's why he built a prison. He fought for enlightenment, but at the same time against it. True, the inhabitants of the city did not see the difference. He could have done a lot more “useful” things, but he suddenly died. |
| Onufriy Ivanovich Negodyaev | A man of the people. He served as a stoker in Gatchina. He ordered the destruction of the streets paved by his predecessors. And from the resulting stone, build monuments and monuments. Foolov fell into decay, there was devastation all around, and the townspeople became wild, even overgrown with wool. He was dismissed from his position. |
| Gloomy-Burcheev | In the past he was a military man, so he is obsessed with the army and military operations. Empty, limited, stupid, like most of the characters in the book. He chose to destroy Foolov and rebuild another city nearby, making it a military fortification. Forced residents to wear military uniforms, live according to army regulations, follow absurd orders, line up and march. Ugryumov always slept on the bare ground. He went missing during a natural phenomenon that no one could explain. |
| Erast Andreevich Grustilov | He always looked offended and upset, which did not stop him from being depraved and vulgar. During his reign, the city was mired in debauchery. He wrote melancholic odes. He died of inexplicable melancholy. |
| Acne | Like many of the city's rulers, they are former military men. He was in office for several years. I decided to take up management to take a break from work. The Foolovites suddenly became rich under him, which aroused suspicion and unhealthy reactions among the masses. It later turned out that the governor had a stuffed head. The ending is deplorable and unpleasant: the head was eaten. |
Minor characters
| Prince | A foreign ruler whom the Foolovites asked to become their prince. He was stupid, but cruel. All questions were resolved with the exclamation: “I’ll screw it up!” |
| Iraida Lukinichna Paleologova | An impostor who appeared during the period of unrest after the death of Brudasty (Organchik). Based on the fact that her husband reigned for several days, and her historical surname (an allusion to Sophia Paleologus, the grandmother of Ivan the Terrible), she demanded power. Rules for a few days outside the city. |
| Intercept-Zalikhvatsky | He appeared victoriously on a white horse. He burned down the gymnasium. Zalikhvatsky became the prototype of Paul I. |
| Foolovites | Residents of the city. A collective image of a people blindly worshiping the tyranny of power. |
The list of heroes is not complete, it is given in abbreviation. During the time of unrest alone, more than ten rulers were replaced, six of them women.
It is a summary of the work in chapters.
From the publisher
The narrator assures the reader of the document's authenticity. To prove the absence fiction an argument is made about the monotony of the narrative. The text is entirely devoted to the biographies of mayors and the peculiarities of their reign.
The story begins with the address of the last clerk, who outlined the chronicle of events.
About the root of the origin of fools
The chapter describes the prehistoric period. Tribe of bunglers Velo internecine wars with neighbors, defeating them. When the last enemy was defeated, the population was confused. Then they began the search for a prince to rule them. But even the stupidest princes did not want to take power over the savages.
They found someone who agreed to “volody”, but did not go to live on the territory of the property. He sent governors who turned out to be thieves. I had to appear to the prince in person.
Organ
The reign of Dementy Brudasty began. The townsfolk were surprised by his lack of emotion. It turned out that there was a small device in his head. The mechanism played only two short compositions: “I’ll ruin” and “I won’t tolerate it.”
Then the unit broke down. The local watchmaker couldn't fix it himself. We ordered a new head from the capital. But the parcel, as often happens in Russia, was lost.
Due to anarchy, unrest began, and then a week-long anarchy.
The Tale of the Six City Leaders
During the anarchic week, six impostors were replaced. Women's claims to power were based on the fact that their husbands, brothers, or other relatives had once ruled. Or they themselves were in service in the families of mayors. And some had no reason at all.
News about Dvoekurov
Semyon Konstantinovich remained in power for about eight years. A leader of progressive views. Main innovations: brewing, mead making, planting and eating bay leaves and mustard.
Reform activities are worthy of respect. But the changes were forced, ridiculous and unnecessary.
Hungry City
The first six years of Pyotr Ferdyshchenko's governorship were measured and calm. But then he fell in love with someone else’s wife, who did not share the feelings. A drought began, then other disasters. The result: hunger and death.
The people rebelled, caught and threw the official's chosen one from the bell tower. The uprising was brutally suppressed.
Straw City
After the manager's next love affair, fires started. The whole area burned down.
Fantastic traveler
The mayor went on a journey to homes and villages, demanding that food be brought to him. This was the reason for his death. The townsfolk are afraid that they will be accused of deliberately feeding their boss. But everything worked out. The fantastic traveler from the capital was replaced by a new one.
Wars for enlightenment
Wartkin approached the position thoroughly. Studied the activities of his predecessors. I decided to follow the example of the reformer Dvoekurov. He ordered them to sow mustard again and collect arrears.
Residents rioted, on their knees. Wars began to be waged against them “for enlightenment.” Victory has always been with the authorities. As punishment for disobedience, it was ordered to consume Provençal oil and sow Persian chamomile.
The era of retirement from wars
Under Negodyaev, the city became even more impoverished than under the previous ruler. This is the only manager from the people, who previously served as a stoker. But the democratic beginning did not bring benefits to the population.
The Pimple period is noteworthy. He was not engaged in any activity, but the people were getting rich, which raised doubts. The leader of the nobility revealed a secret: the chief's head was stuffed with truffles. The quick-witted henchman feasted on it himself.
Worship of Mammon and repentance
The successor to the stuffed head, State Councilor Ivanov, died from a decree that he could not understand, bursting from mental strain.
The Viscount de Chariot came to replace him. Life under him was fun, but stupid. No one was involved in administrative affairs, but there were many holidays, balls, masquerades, and other fun.
Confirmation of repentance and conclusion
The last manager was Ugryum-Burcheev. A thick-headed guy, a martinet. The author calls him “the purest type of idiot.” He intended to destroy the city and recreate a new one - Nepreklonsk, making it a military fortification.
Supporting documents
Notes created by foremen are presented for the edification of followers and successors.
Analysis of the work
The work cannot be classified as small literary forms: a story or fairy tale. In terms of content, composition and depth of meaning, it is much broader.
On the one hand, the style and style of writing resemble real reports. On the other hand, the content, description of heroes, events, brought to the point of absurdity.
The retelling of the city's history spans about a hundred years. Four local archivists took part in writing the chronicle. The plot even illuminates the history of the people. Locals descended from ancient tribe"bunglers". But then they were renamed by their neighbors for savagery and ignorance.
Conclusion
The history of the state is reflected from the time of Rurik’s calling to the principality and feudal fragmentation. The appearance of two False Dmitrys, the reign of Ivan the Terrible and the turmoil after his death are covered. He appears in the form of Brudasty. Dvoekurov, who becomes an activist and innovator, establishing brewing and mead making, symbolizes Peter I with his reforms.
The Foolovites unconsciously worship autocrats and tyrants, carrying out the most absurd orders. Residents are the image of the Russian people.
The satirical chronicle could be applied to any city. The work ironically conveys the fate of Russia. The story does not lose its relevance to this day. A film was made based on the work.
1. Conversation on issues.
– What are your feelings and impressions after reading the chapter for the first time?
– What Saltykov-Shchedrin wanted to say when painting legendary history Stupid?
– What parallels with modern times can you draw?
We have already found out that satire is aimed at social order. But what exactly is this social order what is the purpose of this chapter? This is what our researchers tried to figure out, relying on the already studied fable by Krylov “Frogs Asking for the Tsar”, an excerpt from Chapter II of “History of the Russian State” by Karamzin, the preface of “The Russian Chronicle for Initial Reading” by Professor Solovyov and the book by V. I. Dahl “ Proverbs and sayings of the Russian people."
« Satirical image appears in a work in the case when the object of satire is recognized by the author as irreconcilably opposed to his ideal, being in an antagonistic relationship with him. F. Schiller wrote that “in satire, reality, as a kind of imperfection, is opposed to the ideal as supreme reality" Satire is aimed at those phenomena that actively interfere with the establishment or existence of the ideal, and sometimes are directly dangerous for its existence,” writes A. B. Esin in the book “Principles and Techniques of Analysis literary work"(M.: Flinta; Nauka, 2002, p. 68).
From this follows the second question: what is the ideal of the author if he is the opposite of the object of satire?
So, two questions:
1) What is the object of Saltykov-Shchedrin’s satire in the named chapter?
2. Training in episode analysis
1) Work plan for the analysis:
Set Episode Boundaries
Determine the main content and which characters are involved
Track changes in moods, feelings, motivation of actions
Consider compositional features episode
Mark artistic media
Show the role of the episode in the work
How general ideological meaning is the work reflected in the episode?
2) Definition of the concept “episode”
An episode is one or another completed and independent part of a literary work that depicts a completed event or important point in the character's fate
Episode - part work of art, which has relative completeness and provides a separate point in the development of the topic
3) The role of the episode in the text:
What functions of an episode can be in the text? (characterological - the episode reveals the character of the hero; psychological - state of mind; rotary; evaluative - the author gives an assessment of a character or event)
4) Episode as part of the plot
Name the plot elements (exposition, beginning, development of action, climax, fall of action, denouement, epilogue)
Extra-plot elements - landscape, portrait, interior, author's digressions, inserted episodes
What plot element does this episode include?
5) Episode location:
Why is this episode located here? What episodes come before and after? What is the connection with them?
What themes, ideas, issues are reflected in this episode?
6) Character arrangement
7) Object world
9) narration
From whose perspective is the story told? Why?
10) Organization of speech and linguistic means
By creating the ironic, grotesque “History of a City,” Saltykov-Shchedrin hoped to evoke in the reader not laughter, but a “bitter feeling” of shame. The idea of the work is built on the image of a certain hierarchy: ordinary people who will not resist the instructions of often stupid rulers, and the tyrant rulers themselves. In the face common people In this story, the inhabitants of the city of Foolov are speaking, and their oppressors are the mayors. Saltykov-Shchedrin ironically notes that these people need a boss, one who will give them instructions and keep a tight rein, otherwise the whole people will fall into anarchy.
History of creation
The concept and idea of the novel “The History of a City” was formed gradually. In 1867, the writer wrote a fairytale-fantastic work, “The Story of the Governor with a Stuffed Head,” which later formed the basis for the chapter “The Organ.” In 1868, Saltykov-Shchedrin began working on “The History of a City” and completed it in 1870. Initially, the author wanted to give the work the title “Foolish Chronicler.” The novel was published in the then popular magazine Otechestvennye zapiski.
The plot of the work
(Illustrations by the creative team of Soviet graphic artists "Kukryniksy")
The narration is told on behalf of the chronicler. He talks about the inhabitants of the city who were so stupid that their city was given the name “Fools”. The novel begins with the chapter “On the Roots of the Origin of the Foolovites,” which gives the history of this people. It tells in particular about a tribe of bunglers, who, after defeating the neighboring tribes of bow-eaters, bush-eaters, walrus-eaters, cross-bellied people and others, decided to find a ruler for themselves, because they wanted to restore order in the tribe. Only one prince decided to rule, and even he sent an innovative thief in his place. When he was stealing, the prince sent him a noose, but the thief was able to somehow get out of it and stabbed himself with a cucumber. As you can see, irony and grotesque coexist perfectly in the work.
After several unsuccessful candidates for the role of deputies, the prince came to the city in person. Having become the first ruler, he started the countdown of the “historical time” of the city. It is said that twenty-two rulers with their achievements ruled the city, but the Inventory lists twenty-one. Apparently, the missing one is the founder of the city.
Main characters
Each of the mayors fulfills his task in implementing the writer’s idea through the grotesque to show the absurdity of their rule. Traits are visible in many types historical figures. For greater recognition, Saltykov-Shchedrin not only described the style of their rule, comically distorted their names, but also gave apt characteristics indicating historical prototype. Some personalities of the mayors are images collected from characteristic features different persons history of the Russian state.
Thus, the third ruler, Ivan Matveevich Velikanov, famous for drowning the director of economic affairs and introducing taxes of three kopecks per person, was exiled to prison for an affair with Avdotya Lopukhina, the first wife of Peter I.
Brigadier Ivan Matveyevich Baklan, the sixth mayor, was tall and proud to be a follower of the line of Ivan the Terrible. The reader understands that this refers to the bell tower in Moscow. The ruler found his death in the spirit of the same grotesque image that fills the novel - the foreman was broken in half during a storm.
The personality of Peter III in the image of Guard Sergeant Bogdan Bogdanovich Pfeiffer is indicated by the characteristic given to him - “a Holstein native”, the style of government of the mayor and his outcome - removed from the post of ruler “for ignorance”.
Dementy Varlamovich Brudasty was nicknamed “Organchik” for the presence of a mechanism in his head. He kept the city in fear because he was gloomy and withdrawn. When trying to take the mayor's head to the capital's craftsmen for repairs, it was thrown out of the carriage by a frightened coachman. After Organchik's reign, chaos reigned in the city for 7 days.
A short period of prosperity for the townspeople is associated with the name of the ninth mayor, Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov. A civilian advisor and innovator, he took up appearance city, started honey and brewing. Tried to open an academy.
The longest reign was marked by the twelfth mayor, Vasilisk Semyonovich Wartkin, who reminds the reader of the style of rule of Peter I. The character’s connection with a historical figure is indicated by his “glorious deeds” - he destroyed the Streletskaya and Dung settlements, and difficult relations with the eradication of the ignorance of the people - he spent four wars for education and three - against. He resolutely prepared the city for burning, but suddenly died.
By origin former peasant Onufriy Ivanovich Negodyaev, who stoked furnaces before serving as mayor, destroyed the streets paved by the former ruler and erected monuments on these resources. The image is copied from Paul I, as evidenced by the circumstances of his dismissal: he was dismissed for disagreeing with the triumvirate regarding the constitutions.
Under State Councilor Erast Andreevich Grustilov, Foolov's elite was busy with balls and nightly meetings with the reading of the works of a certain gentleman. As in the reign of Alexander I, the mayor did not care about the people, who were impoverished and starving.
The scoundrel, idiot and “Satan” Gloomy-Burcheev has a “speaking” surname and is “copied” from Count Arakcheev. He finally destroys Foolov and decides to build the city of Neprekolnsk in a new place. When attempting to implement such a grandiose project, the “end of the world” occurred: the sun went dark, the earth shook, and the mayor disappeared without a trace. This is how the story of “one city” ended.
Analysis of the work
Saltykov-Shchedrin, with the help of satire and grotesque, aims to reach human soul. He wants to convince the reader that human institutions must be based on Christian principles. Otherwise, a person’s life can be deformed, disfigured, and in the end can lead to the death of the human soul.
“The History of a City” is an innovative work that has overcome the usual boundaries of artistic satire. Each image in the novel has pronounced grotesque features, but is at the same time recognizable. Which gave rise to a flurry of criticism against the author. He was accused of “slander” against the people and rulers.
Indeed, the story of Foolov is largely copied from Nestor’s chronicle, which tells about the time of the beginning of Rus' - “The Tale of Bygone Years.” The author deliberately emphasized this parallel so that it becomes obvious who he means by the Foolovites, and that all these mayors are by no means a flight of fancy, but real Russian rulers. At the same time, the author makes it clear that he is not describing the entire human race, but specifically Russia, reinterpreting its history in his own satirical way.
However, the purpose of creating the work Saltykov-Shchedrin did not make fun of Russia. The writer’s task was to encourage society to critically rethink its history in order to eradicate existing vices. The grotesque plays a huge role in creating artistic image in the works of Saltykov-Shchedrin. The main goal of the writer is to show the vices of people that are not noticed by society.
The writer ridiculed the ugliness of society and was called a “great scoffer” among such predecessors as Griboyedov and Gogol. Reading the ironic grotesque, the reader wanted to laugh, but there was something sinister in this laughter - the audience “felt like a scourge lashing itself.”
Saltykov-Shchedrin’s novel “The History of a City” was written during 1869-1870, but the writer worked not only on it, so the novel was written intermittently. The first chapters were published in the journal Otechestvennye zapiski No. 1, where Saltykov-Shchedrin was the editor-in-chief. But until the end of the year, work on the novel stopped, as Saltykov-Shchedrin took up writing fairy tales, completed several unfinished works and continued to write literary criticism.
The continuation of “The History of a City” was published in 5 issues of “Notes of the Fatherland” for 1870. In the same year, the book was published as a separate edition.
Literary direction and genre
Saltykov-Shchedrin is a writer of a realistic direction. Immediately after the book was published, critics determined genre variety the novel as a historical satire, and they reacted to the novel differently.
From an objective point of view, Saltykov-Shchedrin is as great a historian as he is a wonderful satirist. His novel is a parody of chronicle sources, primarily “The Tale of Bygone Years” and “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign.”
Saltykov-Shchedrin offers his own version of history, which differs from the versions of Saltykov-Shchedrin’s contemporaries (mentioned by the first chronicler Kostomarov, Solovyov, Pypin).
In the chapter “From the Publisher,” Mr. M. Shchedrin himself notes the fantastic nature of some episodes (the mayor with music, the mayor flying through the air, the mayor’s feet facing backwards). At the same time, he stipulates that “the fantastic nature of the stories does not in the least eliminate their administrative and educational significance.” This satirical phrase means that “The History of a City” cannot be considered as a fantastic text, but as a mythological one that explains the mentality of the people.
The fantastic nature of the novel is associated with the grotesque, which allows one to depict the typical through extreme exaggeration and deformation of the image.
Some researchers find dystopian features in “The History of a City.”
Topics and problems
The theme of the novel is the hundred-year history of the city of Foolov - an allegory of the Russian state. The history of the city is the biographies of mayors and descriptions of their great deeds: collection of arrears, imposition of tribute, campaigns against ordinary people, construction and destruction of pavements, fast travel on postal roads...
Thus, Saltykov-Shchedrin raises the problem of the essence of history, which is beneficial for the state to consider as the history of power, and not the history of compatriots.
Contemporaries accused the writer of revealing the supposedly false essence of reformism, which led to the deterioration and complication of the people's life.
The democrat Saltykov-Shchedrin was concerned about the problem of the relationship between man and the state. Mayors, for example, Borodavkin, believe that the meaning of life for “ordinary people” living in the state (not on earth!) is in pensions (that is, in state benefits). Saltykov-Shchedrin understands that the state and ordinary people live on their own. The writer knew this first-hand, having himself for some time played the role of “mayor” (he was vice-governor in Ryazan and Tver).
One of the problems that worried the writer was the study of the mentality of his compatriots, their national traits character affecting life position and causing “insecurity of life, arbitrariness, hindsight, lack of faith in the future.”
Plot and composition
The composition of the novel has been changed by the author himself since its first publication in the magazine, for example, the chapter “On the Root of the Origin of the Foolovites” was placed third, following the introductory chapters, which was consistent with the logic ancient Russian chronicle starting with mythology. And supporting documents ( works of three mayors) moved to the end, as historical documents are often placed in relation to the author’s text.
The last chapter, appendix “Letter to the Editor,” is Shchedrin’s indignant response to a review in which he was accused of “mockery of the people.” In this letter, the author explains the idea of his work, in particular, that his satire is directed against “those features of Russian life that make it not entirely comfortable.”
“Address to the Reader” was written by the last of the four chroniclers, archivist Pavlushka Masloboinikov. Here Saltykov-Shchedrin imitates real chronicles that had several authors.
The chapter “On the Roots of the Origin of the Foolovites” talks about the myths and prehistoric era of the Foolovites. The reader learns about tribes warring among themselves, about the renaming of blockheads into Foolovites, about the search for a ruler and the enslavement of the Foolovites, who found for themselves a prince who was not only stupid, but also cruel, whose principle of rule was embodied in the word “I’ll screw up,” which begins the historical period of Foolov. Historical period, considered in the novel, occupies a whole century, from 1731 to 1825.
“Inventory for mayors” - brief description 22 mayors, which emphasizes the absurdity of history by the concentration of the described madmen, of whom the least, “having done nothing,... was removed for ignorance.”
The next 10 chapters are devoted to describing the most prominent mayors in chronological order.
Heroes and images
“The most remarkable mayors” deserved more close attention publisher.
Dementiy Varlamovich Brudasty is “more than strange.” He is silent and gloomy, also cruel (the first thing he did was flog all the coachmen), and is prone to fits of rage. Brudasty has and positive quality- He is managerial, puts in order the arrears left behind by his predecessors. True, he does this in one way - officials catch citizens, flog them and flog them, and seize their property.
The Foolovites are horrified by such rule. They are saved by the breakdown of the mechanism that is located in Brudasty’s head. This is an organ that repeats only two phrases: “I will ruin” and “I will not tolerate.” The appearance of the second Brudasty with a new head relieves the Foolovites from a couple of organs, declared impostors.
Many of the characters are satires on real rulers. For example, the six mayors are empresses of the 18th century. Their internecine warfare lasted 6 days, and on the seventh day Dvoekurov arrived in the city.
Dvoekurov is a “man of the forefront,” an innovator who was engaged in fruitful activities in Glupov: he paved two streets, opened brewing and mead making, forced everyone to use mustard and bay leaf, and the disobedient ones were flogged, but “with consideration,” that is, for the cause.
Three whole chapters are dedicated to Pyotr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko, the foreman. Ferdyshchenko is Prince Potemkin’s former orderly, a simple man, “good-natured and somewhat lazy.” The Foolovites consider the mayor stupid, a fool, they laugh at his tongue-tiedness, and call him a foolish old man.
During the 6 years of Ferdyshchenko's reign, the Foolovites forgot about the oppression, but in the seventh year Ferdyshchenko went berserk and took away his husband's wife Alyonka, after which a drought began. The Foolovites, in a fit of rage, threw Alyonka from the bell tower, but Ferdyshchenko was inflamed with love for the archer Domashka. For this, the Foolovites suffered a terrible fire.
Ferdyshchenko repented before the people on his knees, but his tears were hypocritical. At the end of his life, Ferdyshchenko traveled around the pasture, where he died of gluttony.
Vasilisk Semyonovich Wartkin (satire on Peter 1) is a brilliant city ruler, under him Foolov experiences a golden age. Wartkin was small in stature and not stately in appearance, but he was loud. He was a writer and a brave utopian, a political dreamer. Before conquering Byzantium, Wartkin conquers the Foolovites with “wars for enlightenment”: he reintroduces mustard, forgotten after Dvoekurov, into use (for which he undertakes an entire military campaign with sacrifices), demands to build houses on a stone foundation, plant Persian chamomile and establish an academy in Foolov. The obstinacy of the Foolovites was defeated along with contentment. French Revolution showed that the education instilled by Wartkin is harmful.
Onufriy Ivanovich Negodyaev, a captain and former stoker, began the era of retirement from wars. The mayor tests the Foolovites for their toughness. As a result of the tests, the Foolovites became wild: they grew hair and sucked their paws, because there was no food or clothing.
Ksaviry Georgievich Mikaladze is a descendant of Queen Tamara, who has a seductive appearance. He shook hands with his subordinates, smiled affectionately, and won hearts “solely through graceful manners.” Mikaladze stops education and executions and does not issue laws.
Mikaladze's reign was peaceful, punishments were mild. The mayor's only drawback is his love for women. He doubled the population of Foolov, but died of exhaustion.
Feofilakt Irinarkhovich Benevolinsky - state councilor, assistant to Speransky. This is a satire on Speransky himself. Benevolinsky loved to engage in lawmaking. The laws he came up with are as meaningless as the “Charter on the Respectable Baking of Pies.” The mayor's laws are so stupid that they do not interfere with the prosperity of the Foolovites, so they become fatter than ever. Benevolinsky was exiled for his connection with Napoleon and called a scoundrel.
Ivan Panteleevich Pryshch does not make laws and governs simply, in the spirit of “limitless liberalism.” He rests himself and persuades the Foolovites to do so. Both the townspeople and the mayor are getting richer.
The leader of the nobility finally realizes that Pimple has a stuffed head, and eats it without a trace.
Mayor Nikodim Osipovich Ivanov is also stupid, because his height does not allow him to “accommodate anything extensive,” but this quality of the mayor benefits the Foolovites. Ivanov either died of fright, having received a “too extensive” decree, or was fired due to his brain drying out from their inaction and became the founder of microcephaly.
Erast Andreevich Grustilov is a satire on Alexander 1, a sensitive person. The subtlety of Grustilov's feelings is deceptive. He is voluptuous, in the past he hid government money, he is debauched, “in a hurry to live and enjoy,” so that he inclines the Foolovites towards paganism. Grustilov is arrested and dies of melancholy. During his reign, the Foolovites lost the habit of working.
Gloomy-Burcheev is a satire on Arakcheev. He's a scoundrel terrible person, “the purest type of idiot.” This mayor exhausts, scolds and destroys the Foolovites, for which he is nicknamed Satan. He has a wooden face, his gaze is free from thought and shameless. Gloomy-Burcheev is impassive, limited, but full of determination. He is like the force of nature, going ahead in a straight line, not recognizing reason.
Gloomy-Burcheev destroys the city and builds Nepreklonsk in a new place, but he fails to control the river. It seems that nature itself is ridding the Foolovites of him, carrying him away in a tornado.
The arrival of Gloomy-Burcheev, as well as the phenomenon that follows him, called “it”, is a picture of an apocalypse that ceases the existence of history.
Artistic originality
Saltykov-Shchedrin skillfully changes the speech of different narrators in the novel. Publisher M.E. Saltykov stipulates that he corrected only the “heavy and outdated style” of the Chronicler. In an address to the reader by the last archivist chronicler, whose work was published 45 years after writing, there are outdated words high style: if, this, such. But the publisher allegedly did not correct this particular appeal to readers.
The entire address of the last chronicler is written in the best traditions of the oratory art of antiquity, contains a series of rhetorical questions, and is replete with metaphors and comparisons, mainly from ancient world. At the end of the introduction, the chronicler, following the biblical tradition widespread in Rus', humiliates himself, calling him a “meager vessel,” and compares Foolov with Rome, and Foolov benefits from the comparison.
Saltykov-Shchedrin’s satirical novel “The History of a City” is one of the most striking works of Russian literature of the 19th century. Grotesque image political system in Russia, a parody of the hierarchy that reigns in the state caused a mixed reaction in society. “The History of a City” requires a deep and detailed analysis, because this work Only at first glance it may seem like easy reading. It will be especially useful when preparing for a literature lesson in 8th grade and writing essays on a given topic.
Brief Analysis
Year of writing-1870
History of creation– The writer had long been nurturing the idea of writing a novel about autocracy. Work on the work was carried out intermittently, since Saltykov-Shchedrin simultaneously wrote several books at once.
Subject- Exposing the vices of social and political sphere in the life of Russia, as well as revealing the peculiarities of the relationship between the people and the authorities under the autocracy.
Composition– The novel consists of 16 chapters. The peculiarity is that they were all allegedly written by different authors, and only the first and last were written by the publisher himself. According to the writer’s version, “The History of a City” is only a publication of the notebook of the “Foolish Chronicler”, accidentally found in the city archive.
Genre- Novel.
Direction- Realism.
History of creation
Saltykov-Shchedrin nurtured the idea of the novel for quite a long time. The image of the fictional city of Foolov as the embodiment of the autocratic-landlord system in Russia first appeared in the writer’s essays in the early 60s, when in the vast Russian Empire was experiencing its rise liberation struggle ordinary people.
In 1867, the writer published his fantastic “The Story of the Governor with a Stuffed Head,” which later formed the basis for the chapter “The Organ.” A year later, Mikhail Evgrafovich began work on a full-scale novel, which he completed in 1870. When writing the book “The History of a City,” the writer suspended work for some time for the sake of fairy tales and some other works.
Initially, the novel had a different title - “The Foolov Chronicler”, but then the author changed it to “The History of the Old City”. Literary work was published in parts in the journal Otechestvennye zapiski, in which Saltykov-Shchedrin was the editor-in-chief. In the same 1870 she saw the light full version books.
After the publication of the novel, a wave of indignant criticism hit the writer. Saltykov-Shchedrin was accused of distorting national history and insults to the entire Russian people, interest in his work noticeably declined. The reflection of the realities of life of the Russian people and long-standing problems in society, the practically undisguised criticism of the autocracy was frankly frightening, and not everyone was ready to accept the truth in its true light.
Subject
“The History of a City” is an innovative work that goes far beyond the scope of artistic satire. Saltykov-Shchedrin, as true patriot his country, could not remain an indifferent observer of what was happening in Russia.
In his novel he touched upon a rather acute topic- exposing the imperfections of the political system Russian state, in which the oppressed people humbly accept their slave position and consider this the only correct and possible one.
Using the example of the fictional city of Gupov, Saltykov-Shchedrin wanted to show that the Russian people simply cannot exist without a tough and, at times, outright cruel ruler. Otherwise, he immediately finds himself in the grip of anarchy.
TO issues In the novel, the author also attributes a distortion of the essence of history, which is extremely beneficial for the state to present as the history of individual power, but not as the history of compatriots. In "The Story of a City" main characters- mayors, and in each of them recognizable features of historical figures are visible. In some cases, mayors are collective images statesmen who held high positions in their time.
Main idea The work lies in the fact that the unconscious worship of the people of autocratic power and the reluctance to take responsibility for what is happening in the country are an indestructible barrier to the well-being of the state.
The meaning of “The History of a City” is not a mockery of Russia, but the author’s desire to open society’s eyes to what is happening in the country and encourage the decisive eradication of vices in society.
Composition
The novel "The History of a City" consists of 16 chapters, and they are all written by different authors. After the first publication, the author carried out a thorough analysis of the work, during which its composition was changed. So, Mikhail Evgrafovich swapped some chapters, and also added an appendix “Letter to the Editor”, in which he responded to criticism addressed to him.
The novel begins with the words of Saltykov-Shchedin himself, who allegedly accidentally came across historical record about the fictional city of Foolov and its inhabitants.
After a short introduction, a story begins from the perspective of a fictional chronicler about the origin of the Foolovites. The reader gets acquainted with the history of the emergence of the state system in Foolov. Tribal feuds, the search for a ruler, and the further enslavement of citizens occupy a whole century in the novel.
The “Inventory of mayors” presents a brief description of 22 mayors who different times had power over all the Foolovites.
The following chapters describe the most prominent mayors - the rulers of Foolov: Velikanov, Baklan, Brudasty, Dvoekurov, Negodyaev, Grustilov and others.
At the end of the novel, “Exculpatory Documents” are published, which, in essence, represent an edification to other mayors.
Main characters
Genre
"The Story of a City" is satirical novel . Mikhail Evgrafovich has always been a faithful follower of this genre, and many of his works are written in the spirit of caustic satire. Grotesque, irony, humor - the novel is replete with these artistic techniques.
However, “The History of a City” is a very ambiguous work: it is written in the form of a chronicle, but all the characters seem fantastic, and the events that take place are more reminiscent of a delusional dream than reality.
However, the fantasy in the work is very truthful and realistic; only the outer shell of the images and events is unreal. That is why the novel “The History of a City” is related to realism in its direction.