Vedernikova Ekaterina
While working on the project, the author examined the image of Maria Mironova from the story by A.S. Pushkin" Captain's daughter", traced all the changes that occurred with the main character, explained their reason. The student also researched the reviews of critics about this literary work.
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MBOU TsO No. 44 named after. G.K. Zhukova.
« “The image of Masha Mironova in A.S. Pushkin’s story “The Captain's Daughter”
Completed by a student of class 8A
Vedernikova Ekaterina
Teacher
Solovyova Anna Dmitrievna
Tula
2017
Goal of the work : trace all the changes that occurred with Masha Mironova, explain their reason.
Job Objectives : 1. The image of Masha Mironova.
2. Reviews from critics about Maria Mironova as a literary heroine.
Introduction
- The image of the captain's daughter
- The character of Masha Mironova
- The evolution of the image of Masha Mironova
Conclusion
Introduction
Historical works of fiction are one of the ways to understand a particular era. Every historical work is educational. Main purpose historical work is an attempt to connect the past and present, to look into the future.
Our work is relevant because interest in Pushkin’s work has not waned for more than two hundred years, and each time researchers find new sources for the creation of one or another literary image. Writers different eras for various reasons they turned to the past, in the past they tried to find answers to the questions of our time. This method of searching for truth remains relevant to this day. Modern man still have problems philosophical nature: What is good and evil? How does the past influence the future? What's the point human life?. Therefore, the appeal of the modern reader to historical prose naturally.
175 years ago, A.S. Pushkin’s story “The Captain’s Daughter” was first published in the Sovremennik magazine. The work is still relevant today. It has been called "the most Christian work of Russian literature."
The idea of a historical story from the Pugachev uprising arose in Pushkin under the influence of the social situation of the early 1830s. The story is based on historical facts- the uprising of Emelyan Pugachev. When creating The Captain's Daughter, Pushkin used great amount sources. Based classified materials compiled a biography of the Pugachev ataman Ilya Aristov.
“In The Captain's Daughter, the history of the Pugachev rebellion or the details about it are somehow more vivid than in the story itself. In this story you briefly get acquainted with the situation in Russia in this strange and terrible time. » P. A. Vyazemsky
Pushkin's story is dedicated to a major historical event, but the title does not seem to be connected with this event. Why does Masha Mironova become the title character? The choice of the title suggests that the image of Masha is very important; the author wanted to show how the fate of the heroes developed in the cycle historical events. Therefore, the author chooses her and Petrusha, and shows their characters in development, in the process of personality formation. A. S. Pushkin’s female images are almost an ideal, pure, innocent, lofty, spiritual. The author treats this heroine with great warmth. Masha – traditional Russian name, it emphasizes the simplicity and naturalness of the heroine. There are no original, outstanding features in this girl; the definition of “sweet girl” fits her perfectly. And at the same time, this image is poetic, sublime and attractive. Masha Mironova is the embodiment of harmonic clarity. She exists to bring light and love into everything. This is a simple Russian girl with the most ordinary appearance, but behind this simplicity lies real moral wealth. In “The Captain's Daughter,” a love story and a fairy tale, the interests of the state, the class and the individual are closely intertwined. To the request of the censor P.A. Korsakov: “Did the maiden Mironov exist and did the late empress really have one?” Pushkin gave a written answer on October 25, 1836: “The name of the girl Mironova is fictitious. My novel is based on a legend I once heard, as if one of the officers who betrayed their duty and joined Pugachev’s gangs was pardoned by the empress at the request of her elderly father, who threw himself at her feet. The novel, as you can see, has gone far from the truth.”
1. The image of the captain's daughter
Pushkin is laconic in his depiction main character. “Then a girl of about eighteen came in, chubby, ruddy, with light brown hair, smoothly combed behind her ears, which were on fire,” is how Pushkin describes the daughter of Captain Mironov. She was not a beauty. It can be noted that the heroine is shy, modest and always silent. Masha at first does not make any impression on Grinev. But soon Grinev’s opinion about Maria changes. “Marya Ivanovna soon stopped being shy with me. We met. I found in her a prudent and sensitive girl.” What do these words mean in Ozhegov’s dictionary: “Prudence is prudence, thoughtfulness in actions. Sensitive – having increased susceptibility to external influences.”
We guess that some kind of feeling is awakening in Grinev’s soul... And in Chapter 5, Pushkin tells us this feeling - love. Let us pay attention to Masha’s care towards Grinev during her illness after the fight with Shvabrin. The simplicity and naturalness of its manifestation go unnoticed by most readers. During his illness, Grinev realizes that he loves Masha and proposes marriage. But the girl does not promise him anything, but makes it clear that she also loves Pyotr Andreevich. Grinev's parents do not consent to their son's marriage to the captain's daughter, and Maria refuses to marry Grinev, sacrificing her love. Researcher A.S. Degozhskaya claims that the heroine of the story was “raised in patriarchal conditions: in the old days, marriage without parental consent was considered a sin.” The daughter of Captain Mironov knows “that Pyotr Grinev’s father is a man of tough character,” and he will not forgive his son for marrying against his will. Masha does not want to hurt her loved one, interfere with his happiness and harmony with his parents. This is how the strength of her character and sacrifice are manifested. We see that it’s hard for Maria, but for the sake of her beloved she is ready to give up her happiness.
2. The character of Masha Mironova
After hostilities and the death of her parents, Masha is left alone in Belogorsk fortress. Here the determination and strength of her character is revealed to us. Shvabrin puts the girl in a punishment cell, not letting anyone in to see the prisoner, giving her only bread and water. All these tortures were necessary to obtain consent for marriage. In days of trials and in the face of danger, Marya Ivanovna maintains her presence of mind and unshakable fortitude, she does not lose the power of faith. Maria is no longer a shy coward who is afraid of everything, but a brave girl, firm in her convictions. We couldn't think that Masha was the same quiet girl, uttered the following words: “I will never be his wife: I better decided to die and will die if they don’t deliver me.”
Maria Mironova is a person of strong will. She faces difficult trials, and she endures them with honor. When Grinev is taken to prison, this modest, shy girl, left without parents, considers it her duty to save him. Marya Ivanovna goes to St. Petersburg. In a conversation with the empress, she admits: “I came to ask for mercy, not justice.” During Masha’s meeting with the Empress, “the character of the captain’s daughter is truly revealed to us, a simple Russian girl, essentially without any education, who, however, found in herself at the necessary moment enough “mind and heart,” firmness of spirit and unyielding determination, in order to achieve the acquittal of his innocent fiancé” D. Blagoy.
Masha Mironova, one of those heroes of The Captain's Daughter, in whom, according to Gogol, “simple greatness” was embodied ordinary people" Despite the fact that Masha Mironova bears the stamp of a different time, a different environment, the outback where she grew up and was formed, in Pushkin she became the bearer of those character traits that are organic to the indigenous nature of a Russian woman. Characters like hers are free from enthusiastic fervor, from ambitious impulses towards self-sacrifice, but always serve man and the triumph of truth and humanity. “Delight is short-lived, fickle, and therefore does not have the power to produce true great perfection,” wrote Pushkin.
3.Evolution of the character of Masha Mironova
Pushkin depicts the family of Captain Mironov with great sympathy. Pushkin shows that it was in such a family, patriarchal, kind-hearted, with a Christian attitude towards people and the world, that the wonderful Russian girl Masha Mironova with her simple, pure heart, high moral requirements for life, and her courage could grow up.
At the beginning of the work, we are presented with a timid, timid girl, about whom her mother says that she is a “coward.” A homeless woman who only has “a fine comb, a broom, and an altyn of money.” Over time, Mary's character is revealed to us. She is capable of deep and sincere love, but her nobility does not allow her to give up her principles. A.S. Pushkin subjects his heroine to the test of love, and she passes this test with honor. To achieve prosperity, Masha had to endure many hard blows: her beloved was wounded in a duel, then the groom’s parents did not give their blessing for a legal marriage, and her own parents died. Pugachev's rebellion bursts into Masha's measured life. Ironically, this event, instead of separating the two lovers, united them.
Masha Mironova has a strong developed sense duty and spiritual nobility. Her concept of duty develops into the concept of fidelity. Masha Mironova remained faithful to her heartfelt affection despite her fear. She is her father's true daughter. Mironov in life was a gentle and good-natured person, but in an extreme situation he showed determination worthy of a Russian officer. Masha was the same: she was timid and impressionable, but when it came to her honor, she was ready, like her father, to die rather than do anything contrary to her conscience. The trials that befell Marya Ivanovna made her stronger. She was not broken by the death of her parents, Shvabrin’s harassment, or Grinev’s arrest. Masha became more mature in these trials.
Thus, throughout the novel, the character of this girl gradually changes.
A.S. Pushkin makes his heroine suffer because he treats her reverently and tenderly. He knows that she will endure these sufferings, revealing in them the most beautiful sides of her soul. Masha Mironova’s spiritual qualities are wonderful: morality, loyalty to her word, determination, sincerity. And as a reward she gets the happiness she deserves.
Conclusion
Meeting with Masha Mironovathroughout the entire work, one cannot help but admire her responsiveness, ability to compassion, love and forgive, willingness to make any sacrifices and make the most brave deeds for the sake of love and friendship. I am sure that the charming image of the captain’s daughter created by A.S. Pushkin is a worthy example to follow in our days.
Masha Mironova is one of those heroes of The Captain's Daughter, in whom, according to Gogol, the “simple greatness of ordinary people” was embodied. Masha is a person of strong will. From a timid, dumb “coward” she grows into a brave and determined heroine, capable of defending her right to happiness. That is why the novel is named after her “The Captain's Daughter”. She is a true heroine. Her best features will develop and manifest themselves in the heroines of Tolstoy and Turgenev, Nekrasov and Ostrovsky.
“Reading Pushkin, we read the truth about Russian people, the complete truth, and that’s it. the full truth We almost don’t hear about ourselves anymore, or we hear so rarely that we probably wouldn’t have believed Pushkin if he hadn’t brought out and put these Russian people before us so tangible and indisputable that we could doubt them or challenge them completely impossible.” F.M. Dostoevsky
“What a beauty Maria is! Be that as it may, it belongs to the Russian epic about Pugachev. She incarnated with her, and shines on her with a pleasant and light shade. She is another Tatiana of the same poet. P.A. Vyazemsky. A.S. Pushkin, creating the image of Misha Mironova, put into it his soul, his love, his desire to see in a woman the embodiment of those high spiritual qualities that are so valued at all times. And Masha Mironova rightfully adorns the gallery of images of Russian women created by our classics.
A.S. Pushkin, creating the image of Misha Mironova, put into it his soul, his love, his desire to see in a woman the embodiment of those high spiritual qualities that are so valued at all times. And Masha Mironova rightfully adorns the gallery of images of Russian women created by our classics.
Bibliography:
1.D.D.Blagoy. From Cantemir to the present day. Volume 2 - M.: “ Fiction", 1973
2.D.D.Blagoy. A novel about the leader of a popular uprising (“The Captain’s Daughter” by A.S. Pushkin) // Peaks. A book about outstanding works of Russian literature. – M., 1978
3.Petrunina N.N. Pushkin's prose: Paths of evolution. – L., 1987
4. Pushkin in the memoirs of his contemporaries: In 2 volumes. – M., 1985
5.Russian criticism about Pushkin. – M., 1998
At the very beginning of the work, Masha Mironova appears to be the quiet, modest and silent daughter of the commandant. She grew up in the Belogorsk fortress with her father and mother, who could not give her good education, but raised her to be an obedient and decent girl. However, the captain's daughter grew up lonely and withdrawn, separated from outside world and, not knowing anything except his village wilderness. The rebel peasants seem to her to be robbers and villains, and even a rifle shot strikes fear into her.
At the first meeting, we see that Masha is an ordinary Russian girl, “chubby, ruddy, with light brown hair, smoothly combed behind her ears,” who was brought up in strictness and is easy to communicate with.
From the words of Vasilisa Egorovna, we learn about the unenviable fate of the heroine: “A girl of marriageable age, what is her dowry? a fine comb, a broom, and an altyn of money... something to go to the bathhouse with. Okay, if you can find it a kind person; Otherwise you’ll sit as an eternal bride among the girls.” About her character: “Is Masha brave? - answered her mother. - No, Masha is a coward. He still can’t hear the shot from a gun: it just vibrates. And just as two years ago Ivan Kuzmich decided to shoot from our cannon on my name day, so she, my dear, almost went to the next world out of fear. Since then we haven’t fired the damned cannon.”
But, despite all this, the captain’s daughter has her own view of the world, and does not agree to Shvabrin’s offer to become his wife. Masha would not tolerate a marriage not out of love, but out of convenience: “Alexey Ivanovich, of course, is an intelligent man, has a good family name, and has a fortune; but when I think that it will be necessary to kiss him under the aisle in front of everyone... No way! not for any well-being!”
A. S. Pushkin describes the captain’s daughter as an incredibly shy girl who blushes every minute and at first cannot speak to Grinev. But this image of Marya Ivanovna does not remain with the reader for long; soon the author expands the characterization of his heroine, a sensitive and prudent girl. What appears before us is a natural and whole nature, attracting people with her friendliness, sincerity, and kindness. She is no longer afraid of communication, and takes care of Peter during his illness after the fight with Shvabrin. During this period, the true feelings of the heroes are revealed. Masha’s tender, pure care has a strong influence on Grinev, and, confessing his love, he proposes marriage to her. The girl makes it clear that their feelings are mutual, but given her chaste attitude towards marriage, she explains to her fiancé that she will not marry him without the consent of her parents. As you know, Grinev’s parents do not consent to their son’s marriage to the captain’s daughter, and Marya Ivanovna refuses Pyotr Andreevich’s proposal. At this moment, the reasonable integrity of the girl’s character is manifested: her act is committed for the sake of her beloved and does not allow the commission of a sin. The beauty of her soul and the depth of feeling are reflected in her words: “If you find yourself a betrothed, if you love another, God be with you, Pyotr Andreich; and I am for both of you...” Here is an example of self-denial in the name of love for another person! According to researcher A.S. Degozhskaya, the heroine of the story was “raised in patriarchal conditions: in the old days, marriage without parental consent was considered a sin.” The daughter of Captain Mironov knows “that Pyotr Grinev’s father is a man of tough character,” and he will not forgive his son for marrying against his will. Masha does not want to hurt her loved one, interfere with his happiness and harmony with his parents. This is how the strength of her character and sacrifice are manifested. We have no doubt that it’s hard for Masha, but for the sake of her beloved she is ready to give up her happiness.
When Pugachev's uprising begins and news arrives of an imminent attack on the Belogorsk fortress, Masha's parents decide to send her to Orenburg to protect their daughter from the war. But the poor girl does not have time to leave home, and she has to witness terrible events. Before the attack began, A.S. Pushkin writes that Marya Ivanovna was hiding behind Vasilisa Egorovna and “did not want to leave her behind.” The captain’s daughter was very scared and worried, but she did not want to show it, answering her father’s question that “it’s worse at home alone,” “smiling forcefully” at her lover.
After the capture of the Belogorsk fortress, Emelyan Pugachev kills Marya Ivanovna’s parents, and from the deepest shock Masha becomes seriously ill. Fortunately for the girl, the priest Akulina Pamfilovna takes her into her custody and hides her behind a screen from Pugachev, who is feasting after the victory in their house.
After the departure of the newly-made “sovereign” and Grinev, the firmness, decisiveness of character, and inflexibility of the will of the captain’s daughter are revealed to us.
The villain Shvabrin, who went over to the side of the impostor, remains in charge, and, taking advantage of his position as the leader in the Belogorsk fortress, forces Masha to marry him. The girl does not agree, for her “it would be easier to die than to become the wife of such a man as Alexey Ivanovich,” so Shvabrin tortures the girl, not letting anyone in to her and giving only bread and water. But, despite the cruel treatment, Masha does not lose faith in Grinev’s love and hope for deliverance. During these days of trials in the face of danger, the captain’s daughter writes a letter to her lover asking for help, as she understands that there is no one but him to stand up for her. Marya Ivanovna became so brave and fearless that Shvabrin could not imagine that she would be able to utter such words: “I will never be his wife: I better decided to die and will die if they don’t deliver me.” When salvation finally comes to her, she is overcome by conflicting feelings - she is freed by Pugachev, the killer of her parents, a rebel who turned her life upside down. Instead of words of gratitude, “she covered her face with both hands and fell unconscious.”
Emelyan Pugachev releases Masha and Peter, and Grinev sends his beloved to his parents, asking Savelich to accompany her. Masha’s goodwill, modesty, and sincerity endear her to everyone around her, so Savelich, who is happy for his pupil, who is about to marry the captain’s daughter, agrees, saying the following words: “Even though you thought of getting married early, Marya Ivanovna is such a kind young lady that it’s a sin and miss the opportunity...” Grinev’s parents are no exception, who were struck by Masha with her modesty and sincerity, and they accept the girl well. “They saw the grace of God in the fact that they had the opportunity to shelter and caress a poor orphan. Soon they became sincerely attached to her, because it was impossible to recognize her and not love her.” Even to the priest, Petrusha’s love “no longer seemed like an empty whim,” and mother only wanted her son to marry the “dear captain’s daughter.”
The character of Masha Mironova is most clearly revealed after the arrest of Grinev. The whole family was struck by the suspicion of Peter’s betrayal of the state, but Masha was the most worried. She felt guilty that he could not justify himself so as not to involve his beloved, and she was absolutely right. “She hid her tears and suffering from everyone and meanwhile constantly thought about ways to save him.”
Having told Grinev’s parents that “all future destiny she depends on this journey that she goes to seek protection and help from strong people“as the daughter of a man who suffered for his loyalty,” Masha goes to St. Petersburg. She was determined and determined, setting herself the goal of justifying Peter at all costs. Having met Catherine, but not yet knowing about it, Marya Ivanovna openly and in detail tells her story and convinces the Empress of her beloved’s innocence: “I know everything, I’ll tell you everything. For me alone, he was exposed to everything that befell him. And if he did not justify himself before the court, it was only because he did not want to confuse me.” A.S. Pushkin shows the steadfastness and inflexibility of the character of the heroine, her will is strong and her soul is pure, so Catherine believes her and releases Grinev from arrest. Marya Ivanovna was very touched by the empress’s act; she, “crying, fell at the feet of the empress” in gratitude.
A.S. Pushkin often created various female images in his work: Tatyana Larina, Maria Troekurova, Liza Muromskaya, Lyudmila and others. However, one of the most unusual women in his prose became the main character of The Captain's Daughter. How did the image of Masha Mironova differ from others? Let's figure it out.
A little about the background to the writing of the story “The Captain’s Daughter”
Although the story is named after the main character, at the center of the plot is her lover - Pyotr Grinev and the rebel Emelyan Pugachev. Moreover, initially in the work Pugachev’s rebellion was given much more space, and the main character was supposed to be an officer who joined the rebels (Shvabrin).
However, this construction of the plot presented rebellion from a positive side. And in Tsarist Russia during the time of Pushkin, censorship was very strict, and a story that actually praised the anti-monarchist uprising could remain unpublished.
Knowing this, Alexander Sergeevich changed the mood of the main character, reduced references to the riot and its causes, and focused the plot on a love story. As a result of all these alterations, the image of Masha Mironova found itself at the center of all events. Although the story is named after this heroine, a lot of attention is still paid to Grinev and his relationship with Pugachev in the work.
Biography of Maria Mironova
Before considering in detail the image of Masha Mironova, it is worth briefly learning about the content of the story “The Captain's Daughter”. At the same time, it is more appropriate to present the events not from the point of view of Grinev the narrator, but as part of the heroine’s biography.
Maria Ivanovna Mironova was the only daughter of the captain of the Belgorod garrison Ivan Kuzmich and his strong-willed wife, Vasilisa Egorovna.
A little earlier than meeting Pyotr Grinev, officer Alexey Shvabrin wooed her. Considering that Mironova was homeless, the young man was an excellent match for the girl financially and socially. However, Maria did not love him, so she refused.
The offended officer, harboring a grudge, began to spread false rumors about the girl. These slander contributed to the fact that Grinev initially had a negative attitude towards Masha. But having gotten to know her better, he became interested in the girl, challenged the slanderous Shvabrin to a duel and was wounded.
While nursing him, Masha Mironova sincerely falls in love with Grinev, and he offers her his hand and heart. Having received the consent of his beloved, he sends a letter to his father, informing him of his intention to marry and asking for his blessing.
But Shvabrin again stands in the way of Masha and Peter’s happiness, and informs Grinev’s family about the duel and its reason. Now the father denies his son his blessing. Masha does not want to quarrel her beloved with his family and refuses to secretly marry him.
Meanwhile, Emelyan Pugachev rebels, declaring himself Peter II. His army is moving towards Belgorod fortress. The commandant, realizing that they are doomed, tries to save Masha: he dresses her in peasant clothes and hides it in the priest's house. When Pugachev's troops take the fortress, most of its inhabitants go over to the side of the rebel. However, several officers remain faithful to the oath. For this they will be executed.
The only one who manages to survive is Grinev, who once helped Pugachev, not knowing at that time who he was. Together with his faithful servant, Peter goes to the Orenburg fortress. But he is unable to take Maria, who remains an orphan, with him, since she is seriously ill.
Shvabrin, who swore allegiance to Pugachev and was appointed commandant of the Belgorod fortress, becomes aware of Maria’s refuge. The officer locks the girl up and demands that she marry him. Having received another refusal, he starves her.
The girl manages to deliver the letter to her beloved, and he rushes to her aid. Although Grinev is again captured by Pugachev’s supporters, the “resurrected Peter II” once again has mercy on the young man and helps him reunite with his beloved.
Having overcome a lot of obstacles, Masha and Peter get home to the Grinevs. Personal acquaintance with the young man’s bride had a beneficial effect on Andrei Grinev, and he agreed to the marriage.
But until the rebellion is suppressed, Peter considers it his duty to fight. Soon the riot can be pacified. Among those arrested is Shvabrin, who, in order to take revenge on Grinev, slanderes him. Peter was also arrested and sentenced to exile. Fearing for Masha's fate, he does not say anything about the reasons for his relationship with Pugachev.
Having learned about this, Masha goes to the capital on her own to tell the truth and save Grinev. Fate turns out to be merciful to her: she accidentally meets Tsarina Catherine. Not knowing who her interlocutor is, the girl tells the whole truth, and the empress has mercy on the young man. Then the lovers go home and get married.
The image of Masha Mironova in the story “The Captain's Daughter”
Having dealt with the biography, it is worth paying more attention to the character of the heroine. Throughout the entire story, Pushkin presents the image of Masha Mironova as the image of a girl from the people. It is for this reason that an epigraph from folk songs.
At the time the action began, Masha was already 18 years old, and by the standards of those times, she had already spent too much time as a girl. Despite this, the pretty creature did not turn into a greedy husband-seeker. Masha does not try to preen herself, but dresses simply. She combs her blond hair smoothly into a regular hairstyle, and does not create intricate compositions out of it, as was customary among noble ladies of those times.
Humility and adventurism are two sides of Maria Mironova’s character
Although some researchers call Mironova a variation of the image of Tatyana Larina, this is a controversial statement. After all, girls are very different. Thus, Tatyana at first actively fights for her love, violating certain standards of decency (she confesses her love to a man first), but later she resigns herself, marries a rich and noble man chosen by her parents and refuses Onegin.
For Maria Mironova, everything is different. Having fallen in love, she is full of humility and is ready to give up her happiness for the benefit of Grinev. But when her beloved is threatened with exile, the girl shows unprecedented courage and goes to ask the queen herself for him.
It is worth noting that such an act for a young lady of the 19th century. was real audacity. After all, without the necessary connections in society, an unmarried girl, who has lived all her life in a remote province, goes to St. Petersburg. And in those days, apart from the queen, other women of the empire were not particularly allowed to interfere in “male” affairs such as politics. It turns out that Masha’s action is an adventure.
Sometimes researchers compare with another Pushkin's heroine this image (Masha Mironova - “The Captain's Daughter”). We are talking about the heroine of the novel “Dubrovsky” Masha Troekurova, who at the very end did not find the courage to achieve her happiness and surrendered to the will of circumstances.
Some literary scholars argue that the image of Masha Mironova is inconsistent. After all, constantly showing an easy-going character and prudence, in the finale she takes extraordinary courage from nowhere, although logically she should have humbly gone into exile, like the wives of the Decembrists or Sonechka Marmeladova from Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment.” This change in character can be explained by the fact that the girl short term I lost my beloved parents, went through a lot of shocks, and in order to survive, I was forced to change and become brave.
Masha's relationship with her parents
When considering the image of Masha Mironova, it is worth paying attention to her relationship with her family. The girl's parents were sincere and honest people. For this reason, my father’s career did not particularly work out, and the Mironovs did not manage to accumulate a fortune. Although they were not poor, they did not have money for a dowry for Mashenka. Therefore, the girl did not have any special prospects in terms of marriage.
Although Ivan Kuzmich and Vasilisa Egorovna raised their daughter to be a decent girl with a noble soul, they did not provide her with either an education or a position in society.
On the other hand, they always took into account their daughter’s opinion. After all, when she refused a wonderful groom (Shvabrin), who could provide her future, the Mironovs did not reproach and force the girl.
The captain's daughter and Shvabrin
The relationship with Alexey Ivanovich especially characterizes Masha. Although this hero was not handsome, he was quite educated (he spoke French, understood literature), courteous and knew how to charm. And for a young provincial simpleton (which, in essence, was the heroine) it could generally seem ideal.
His matchmaking with Mironova looked like a great success for the “elderly” dowry-free woman. But the girl suddenly refused. Perhaps Masha sensed the vile essence of her would-be groom or learned some rumors about his behavior. After all, he once offered Grinev to seduce a girl for a pair of earrings, which means he could have experience in similar seduction of other young ladies. Or maybe the young and romantic Masha simply didn’t like Shvabrin. Such naive girls tend to fall in love with handsome and slightly stupid guys like Grinev.
Why did her refusal hurt the man so much? Perhaps he wanted to marry her in order to become her father’s successor in the future. And since the bride had no dowry and had an easy-going disposition, the hero expected that she would be grateful to him until the end of her days. But the provincial dowry suddenly refused, destroying his ambitious plan.
The image of Masha Mironova, in particular, her high morality, is revealed in more detail in the light of her further relationship with her failed groom. She made no excuses when he spread gossip about her. And finding herself in his power, when Shvabrin tried to break her morally, she bravely withstood the test.
Masha Mironova and Petr Grinev
The relationships between these characters are also very revealing. Their love story looks very traditional: poetry, a duel, parental bans and overcoming a lot of obstacles on the way to your happiness. But through this story the full depth of Masha’s spiritual nobility is shown. Her feelings are more meaningful and deeper than Grinev’s. In particular, loving her parents very much, the girl does not want a quarrel between Peter and his father.
She endures the first separation more stoically than Grinev, who rushes about and finds himself on the verge of either going crazy or indulging in debauchery.
After the capture of the fortress by Pugachev and the murder of Masha’s parents, the love of the heroes only grows stronger. At a certain moment, each of them, risking his life, saves the other.
Prototypes of the captain's daughter
Masha Mironova had several prototypes, on the basis of which Pushkin created this image. Thus, in those days there was a widespread joke about the meeting of the German ruler Joseph II with the daughter of an unknown captain. Subsequently, Alexander Sergeevich adapted it to the story of the meeting with Catherine II and even called the story “The Captain’s Daughter.”
Mironova owes her simplicity and closeness to the people to Walter Scott’s heroine, Jeanie Deans (“Edinburgh Dungeon”). To save her sister, this modest and noble Scottish peasant woman went to the capital and, having achieved an audience with the queen, saved the unfortunate woman from death penalty. By the way, Pushkin borrowed the idea from the same novel to use the words of folk songs as epigraphs.
One of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin’s most beloved women’s literary images, created by himself, was Masha Mironova - the captain's daughter. Her characterization, given by the author in one of the first Russian works of prose, is truly touching. The plot of the story is taken from the memoirs of fifty-year-old nobleman Pyotr Andreevich Grinev. But, as literary scholars testify, the heroine herself has a non-memoir origin. The story “The Captain's Daughter” was creatively created. Masha Mironova, figuratively speaking, was created by Pushkin based on the type of woman he himself saw. The prototype of Masha’s appearance and character was Marya Vasilievna Borisova, the daughter of the Tver nobleman Vasily Grigorievich Borisov. At a Christmas ball in 1829, given in the town of Staritsa, Tver province, by a local merchant, Sergeevich saw this young lady, danced and talked with her.
Life with parents
Peter Grinev, who came to serve, sees how calmly and measuredly the captain’s daughter lives with her parents. The characterization of Masha Mironova is typical for a simple Russian girl. An eighteen-year-old person, by the will of fate, is uneducated, since she lives “in a bearish corner” - in Where can we get teachers here? The head of the family, who rose from ordinary soldiers, is the commandant of the fortress. Masha’s mother, Vasilisa Egorovna, is a “thunder woman,” she is actually the head of the family. A woman lives her life “in the folk way”, without boasting of her descent from poor nobles. She, dressed in common clothes, equally manages the pickles and affairs in the fortress. Her daughter constantly helps her with housework. In fact, making all decisions and feeling her superiority, Vasilisa treats her husband with respect, always calling him by his first name and patronymic - Ivan Kuzmich. Therefore, family relationships are good and harmonious. The Mironovs have only one girl as a servant - the mother and daughter handled almost all the chores themselves.
The mother calls her daughter, fair-haired, chubby, ruddy, a coward. However, as we see from the plot, cowardice is not her element. In the story, the main plot load is carried by Masha Mironova, the captain’s daughter. Her characterization fascinates: naive, gentle, timid, very feminine. The girl’s speech is common, but her speech patterns indicate that she comprehends everything she hears, passes it through herself, as evidenced by the following quotes: “I... froze,” “he... disgusted me,” “it bothered me...”. She, of course, lacks education, but her thinking is developed and imaginative.
If necessary, the girl is able to show a strong and decisive character. Masha does not adapt to circumstances. It would seem that for her, a dowryless woman, it would be beneficial to marry a wealthy gentleman who gives her gifts (meaning the aristocrat Shvabrin, exiled to the fortress because of a duel), but she refuses gifts, since natural, natural insight allows her to see the baseness in this man and meanness. And even being head over heels in love with Grinev, the girl adheres to strict moral principles and does not agree with the proposal young man marry without the blessing of your parents. Undoubtedly, Masha Mironova, the captain's daughter, is depicted as an integral and honest girl. The characterization of the girl given by Pushkin is different than, for example, in the work “Eugene Onegin”. Masha is shown as a girl capable of action and sacrifice.
Orphaned Masha
With her resilience, she is similar to her mother, Vasilisa Egorovna. When the garrison of the fortress (and, in essence, a small village behind a wooden palisade) was threatened by the attack of Emelyan Pugachev’s army, she, having sent her daughter to relatives in Orenburg, remained to share her husband’s fate. After the rebel Cossacks hanged Ivan Kuzmich and took her, stripped naked, out of the house, Masha’s mother, without a shadow of fear, without asking for mercy, asked her tormentors for the same death, next to her husband.
Masha Mironova, the captain's daughter, bravely endured the grief of loss. Her characterization is more than convincing. Masha, a worthy daughter of her mother, is not afraid when the oathbreaker Shvabrin, who swore allegiance to Pugachev, forcibly imprisoned her, demanding to marry him. She accepted her liberation by Pyotr Grinev as a gift from God, accomplished not without the help of Pugachev himself (the help was provided by the ataman out of respect for Grinev, even though he remained faithful to Tsarina Catherine). Grinev's parents, where the orphaned Masha went, accepted her as their own. All caste prejudices were discarded by them. The kind and honest girl became like a daughter to them. They loved her deeply.
When her beloved was arrested, suspected of complicity, the girl found the courage to approach the only person who was able to save the man doomed to execution - the queen. Soulful, open Masha found the words that convinced Catherine the Great.
Conclusion
The spiritual beauty of a person does not depend on his well-being. The story “The Captain's Daughter” is very touching; for the first time in Russian literature, two non-aristocrats are shown - Pyotr Grinev and Masha Mironova, sacrificing themselves for each other, falling in love with each other. They are both brave and noble, capable of not waiting for their fate, but of resisting the vicissitudes of fate. But one thing is certain: Masha will actually become the head of their family, and she, like her mother, will take on the main burden of family responsibilities.
The very sound of the phrase “ captain's daughter“The image of Masha Mironova is completely different, not the same as described on the pages of the story. It seems that this should be a girl with a mischievous, daring character, bold and flirtatious.
However, the main character of the book is a completely different girl. She is completely devoid of coquetry, she is not characterized by the enthusiasm of youth and the desire of young girls to please everyone without exception. Mary presents a different image. Masha Mironova - every schoolchild's essay quotes this passage - “chubby, ruddy, with light brown hair, smoothly combed behind the ears,” a modest eighteen-year-old girl. It is unlikely that any of the young readers will consider her an attractive person worthy of imitation.
Life and education
The image of Masha Mironova is inextricably linked with the characteristics of her parents - Ivan Kuzmich and Vasilisa Egorovna. Their life passed in the Belogorsk fortress, not far from Orenburg. They lived in a small village with cramped streets and low huts, where the commandant occupied a simple wooden house.
Maria Mironova's parents were sincere and warm-hearted people. The captain was known as a poorly educated man, but he was distinguished by his honesty and kindness to people. Vasilisa Egorovna is a hospitable woman, accustomed to the military way of life. Over the years, she has learned to deftly manage the fortress.
In short, the girl lived a secluded life, communicating mainly with her parents.
Her mother said that Masha is a girl of marriageable age, but she has absolutely no dowry, so it’s good if there is someone who will marry her. It is possible that Vasilisa Egorovna shared her thoughts with her daughter, which could hardly have added to her confidence.
The true character of the captain's daughter
The image of Masha Mironova, at first glance, will probably seem quite boring to many. Pyotr Grinev also didn’t like her at first. Despite the fact that Masha lived alone, one might say secluded, surrounded by her parents and soldiers, the girl grew up very sensitive. Maria, despite her apparent timidity, was a brave, strong person, capable of sincere, deep feelings. Masha Mironova refused Shvabrin’s offer to become his wife, although he, by society’s standards, was an eligible bachelor. Maria had no feelings for him, and the captain’s daughter did not agree. Having fallen in love with Pyotr Grinev, Masha openly talks about her feelings in response to his explanation. However, the girl does not agree to a marriage that the groom’s parents did not bless, so she moves away from Grinev. This suggests that Masha Mironova is an example of high morality. Only later, when Peter's parents fell in love with her, Maria became his wife.
Trials in the life of Maria Mironova
This girl's life cannot be called easy. However, the image of Masha Mironova is revealed more fully under the influence of difficulties.
For example, after the execution of her parents, when Maria was sheltered by the priest, and Shvabrin put her under lock and key and tried to force her to marry him, she managed to write to Pyotr Grinev about her situation. Deliverance came to the girl in a completely unexpected guise. Her savior was Pugachev, the killer of her father and mother, who released her and Grinev. After her release, Peter sent the girl to live with his parents, who sincerely loved Mary. Masha Mironova is the image of a real Russian, but at the same time vulnerable and sensitive. Despite the fact that she faints from a cannon shot, in matters concerning her honor, the girl shows unprecedented strength of character.
The best spiritual qualities of the heroine
The image of Masha Mironova is revealed even more fully after the arrest of Pyotr Grinev, when she showed the true nobility of her nature. Maria considers herself to be the culprit of the misfortune that happened in the life of her lover and constantly thinks about how to rescue her groom. Behind the apparent timidity of the girl lies a heroic nature, capable of anything for the sake of loved one. Masha goes to St. Petersburg, where in the garden of Tsarskoe Selo she meets a noble lady and decides to tell her about her misfortunes. Her interlocutor, who turned out to be the empress herself, promises to help. The determination and firmness shown by the girl saves Pyotr Grinev from imprisonment.
The image of Masha Mironova in the story undergoes strong dynamics. The misfortune that happened to Grinev allows her to reveal herself as a strong, mature, one might say, heroic personality.
Maria Mironova and Mashenka Troekurova
A. S. Pushkin began writing the story “The Captain's Daughter” in 1833. The idea for this book most likely arose when the writer was working on the story “Dubrovsky”. This work by Pushkin also contains female image. Masha Mironova, about whom schoolchildren usually write essays, is a completely different person than her namesake.
Maria Troekurova also lives alone, albeit in pampered conditions, on her parents' estate. The girl loves novels and, of course, is waiting for the “Prince Charming”. Unlike Masha Mironova, she was unable to defend her love; she did not have the determination to do so.
It seems that happy ending, with which The Captain's Daughter ends, the author is trying to smooth out the bloodshed that occurred in Dubrovsky.
Image of Masha Mironova and Tatyana Larina
The image of our heroine is to a certain extent consonant with another feminine character, created by A. S. Pushkin in the novel “Eugene Onegin”, - Tatyana Larina. "The Captain's Daughter" was written about five years later than "Eugene Onegin". The image of Masha Mironova is revealed more fully and deeply than the characterization of Tatyana. Perhaps this is partly due to the fact that the author himself has become a little more mature. Masha is also, but even more than Tatiana, related to the people's environment.
The main theme and idea of the work
The main problem that Pushkin identifies in his novel is the issue of honor and duty. This can be guessed from the epigraph, presented in the form folk proverb: “Take care of your honor from a young age.” The main characters of the story demonstrate these qualities in their own way. Pyotr Grinev, despite difficult circumstances, is faithful to this oath. Shvabrin, without hesitation and without delving into the problems of the country and the people, goes over to the side of Emelyan Pugachev. Grinev's servant, Savelich, is devoted to Peter, fulfills the old master's orders, watches over his son, cares for him. Ivan Kuzmich, the commandant dies while fulfilling his duty.
The image of the main character of the story is also integrally connected with the concepts of duty, courage and loyalty. Maria Mironova, like the old captain, is more likely to die than to do something contrary to her conscience.
Another leading theme of "The Captain's Daughter" is the theme of family, home, personal relationships. In the story, the author presents two families - the Grinevs and the Mironovs, who passed on the best human virtues to their children, Peter and Maria.
It is in the family environment that moral qualities, such as spirituality, philanthropy, mercy. This theme in the story is as important as the theme of debt.
The image of Masha Mironova is briefly described in just a couple of words, and in the mind, most often, the image of a modest, ruddy, round-faced girl emerges. The depth of her character makes you understand how much is hidden under her simple appearance.