The history of the "Captain's Daughter". The main characters of the "Captain's Daughter", the genre of the work

After the brutal suppression of the rebellious rebellion of the military settlers in Staraya Russa in the early 30s of the XIX century Pushkin draws attention to the "troubled" times in the history of the fatherland. Hence the story of the creation of the "Captain's Daughter" begins. The image of the rebel Pugachev fascinates and attracts the attention of the poet. And this theme passes right away in two works of Pushkin: the historical work "The History of Pugachev" and "The Captain's Daughter". Both works are devoted to the events of the peasant war of 1773-1775 under the leadership of Emelian Pugachev.

The initial stage: the collection of information, the creation of the "History of Pugachev"

The history of the creation of the "Captain's daughter" takes more than 3 years. The first Pushkin wrote the work "The History of Pugachev," for which he carefully collected facts and evidence. He had to go round several provinces in the Volga region and the Orenburg region, where there was an uprising and witnesses of those events still lived. By the decree of the tsar, the poet was given access to secret documents relating to the insurrection and suppression by his authorities. Family archives and private collections of documents constituted a considerable part of the sources of information. In Pushkin's "Archival Notebooks" there are copies of the personal decrees and letters of Emelian Pugachev himself. The poet talked with the old people who knew Pugachev and passed on the legends about him. The poet questioned, wrote down, inspected the battlefields. All the collected information he scrupulously and punctually recorded in the historical work "The History of Pugachev." A small novel reveals to us one of the most fascinating pages in Russian history - the Pugachev period. This work was called "The History of the Pugachev Riot" and was published in 1834. Only after the creation of the historical work the poet began to write the artistic - "Captain's daughter."

Prototypes of heroes, construction of a story line

The narrative in the novel is conducted on behalf of the young officer Peter Grinev, who is serving in the Belogorsky Fortress. Several times the author changed the plan of the work, differently plotted the plot and renamed the heroes. In the beginning, the hero of the work conceived a young nobleman, who went over to Pugachev's side. The poet studied the history of the nobleman Shvanchich, who voluntarily went over to the side of the insurgents, and the officer Basharin, who was captured by Pugachev. On the basis of their authentic deeds, two actors were formed, one of whom was a nobleman who had become a traitor, whose image demanded passage through the moral and censorship barriers of that time. It can be said that Officer Shvanovich served as the prototype of Shvabrin. This name was mentioned in the tsar's decree "On Punishing the Death Penalty of the Traitor and Pretender Pugachev and His Companions." And the main hero of the "Captain's daughter" Grinev was created by the author on the basis of the real history of the officer, taken into custody by the authorities. He was suspected of having links with Emelian Pugachev, but later this was not confirmed, the officer was found not guilty and released.

The publication and history of the creation of Pushkin's "Captain's Daughter"

For Pushkin, the coverage of such an acute political theme was a difficult job, as evidenced by the history of the creation of the "Captain's Daughter": numerous changes in the construction of the work plan, the change in the names of the characters and the storyline.

The story "The Captain's Daughter" was first mentioned in the middle of 1832. The work itself appeared in print in December 1836 in the journal Sovremennik without the author's signature. However, the censorship prohibited the publication of a chapter on a peasant revolt in the village of Grineva, which the poet later called "The Missed Head." In Pushkin, the creation of the "Captain's Daughter" took the last years of his life, after the publication of the work in print, the poet tragically died in a duel.

Alexander Sergeyevich had to work hard to create characters. He appealed to unpublished documents, family archives, and learned the history of the uprising under the leadership of Emelyan Pugachev. Pushkin visited many cities in the Volga region, including Kazan and Astrakhan, where the feats of the rebel began. He even found relatives of participants to more reliably study all the information. From the received materials the historical work "History of Pugachev" was compiled, which he used to create his Pugachev for "The Captain's Daughter". We had to think simultaneously about censorship and a character that contradicted not only the moral and ethical values of that time, but also raised political discussions. His noble-renunciate at first had to take the side of Pugachev, but even during the collection of information, the plan changed many times.

As a result, we had to divide the character into two - "light" and "dark", that is, defender Grinev and traitor Shvabrin. Shvabrin absorbed all the worst qualities, from betrayal to cowardice.

The world of the heroes of the "Captain's Daughter"

The poet was able to describe in the pages of the story truly Russian qualities and character traits. Pushkin very clearly and colorfully manages to transmit the opposites of the characters of people from one class. In the work "Onegin" he vividly described the opposite types of nobility in the images of Tatyana and Onegin, and in "The Captain's Daughter" he managed to show the opposite of the characters of the Russian peasantry types: prudent, loyal to the owners, sensible and circumspect Savelich and rebellious, frantic, unruly Pugachev. In the story "The Captain's Daughter" the characterization of the heroes is given very plausibly and expressively.

Nobleman Grinev

Particular attention in our story deserves the main characters. The hero of the "Captain's daughter" young officer Grinev, on whose behalf the narrative is conducted, was brought up in the old traditions. He was given from a small age to the care of Savelich, whose influence only increased after the expulsion of the Frenchman Beaupre from the teachers. Not yet born, Peter was enrolled in the Semenovsky Regiment as a sergeant, which determined all his future.

Petr Alekseevich Grinev - the main character of the "Captain's Daughter" - was created in the image of a real person, information about which Pushkin found in archival documents of the Pugachev era. Prototype Grinev - officer Basharin, who was captured by the rebels and fled from it. The creation of the story "The Captain's Daughter" was accompanied by a change in the name of the hero. It changed several times (Bulanin, Valuev), while the author did not stop at Grinev. With the image of the protagonist, charity, "family thought", free choice in uneasy and harsh circumstances are connected.

Describing the terrible consequences of Pugachev's mouth through Grinev, Pushkin calls the riot senseless and ruthless. The mountains of dead bodies, a bunch of people, chained in chains, whipped and hanged - these are the terrible consequences of the uprising. Seeing the robbed and ruined villages, fires, innocent victims, Grinev exclaims: "Do not bring God to see the Russian rebellion, senseless and merciless."

Fortress Savyelitch

Creation of the story "Captain's daughter" would be impossible without a vivid image of a native of the people. Fortress Savelich believed that he was born only to serve his master. He could not imagine a different life. But his service to the masters is not servility, he is full of self-respect and nobility.

Savelich is rich in inner spiritual warmth, disinterested attachment and self-sacrifice. His young master, he loves in a fatherly way, cares about him and suffers from unjust reproaches in his address. This old man suffers from loneliness, because all his life he devoted to serving the masters.

The rebel Pugachev

Another bright image of the Russian character the poet managed to convey through Emelian Pugachev. This hero of the "Captain's daughter" is considered Pushkin with two different sides. One Pugachev is an intelligent, with a sharp wit and an astute man, whom we see as a simple person described in personal relationships with Grinev. He remembers the good given to him, and is deeply grateful. Another Pugachev is a cruel and merciless executioner who sends people to the gallows and executes the elderly widow of the commandant Mironov. This side of Pugachev is disgusting, striking with its bloody cruelty.

The story "The Captain's Daughter" makes it clear that Pugachev is a wicked willy-nilly. He was chosen to be a "leader" by the elders and afterwards was betrayed by them. Pugachev himself believed that Russia was destined to be punished through his wickedness. He understood that he was doomed, that he was only a player of the leading role in the rebellious elements. But at the same time Pugachev is not a soulless puppet in the hands of the elders, he exerts all the courage, perseverance and spiritual strength for the success of the uprising.

The antagonist of the protagonist is Shvabrin

The nobleman Shvabrin, the hero of the "Captain's Daughter", is another real person, the mention of which was found by Pushkin in archival documents. In contrast to the noble and honest Grinev, Shvabrin is a scoundrel with a dishonorable soul. He easily passes to the side of Pugachev, as soon as he captured the Belgorod fortress. By force, he is trying to achieve the Machine arrangement.

But at the same time, Shvabrin is far from being stupid, he is an ingenious and entertaining interlocutor, who came to the Belgorod fortress for his love of duel fights. It is because of Shvabrin that Grinev falls under the suspicion of treason and almost does not lose his life.

Captain's daughter Maria Mironova

The story "The Captain's Daughter" also tells about love during the difficult time of the popular uprising. The main heroine of the "Captain's Daughter" is Maria Mironova, who was brought up on French novels by a non-dowry, the daughter of Captain Belogorsky Fortress. It is because of her that Grinyov and Shvabrin are fighting in a duel, although it can not belong to either of them. Petrusha parents forbade even to think about marrying a homeless woman, and scoundrel Shvabrin, who practically won a duel, has no place in the girl's heart.

She did not succumb to him during the seizure of the fortress, when he tried to force her favor by force. In Masha all the best features of a Russian woman are collected: innocence and cleanliness of mind, warmth, patience and readiness for self-sacrifice, perseverance of spirit and the ability not to change one's principles. For the sake of saving Masha from the hands of Shvabrin Grinev goes to Pugachev to ask him to release his beloved.

Description of events in the story

The description of events is based on the memoirs of Pyotr Alekseevich Grinev, a fifty-year-old nobleman. They were written during the reign of Emperor Alexander and are dedicated to the peasant uprising led by Emelian Pugachev. By the will of fate, the young officer had to take part in it involuntarily.

Childhood of Petrushi

The story of "The Captain's Daughter" begins with Pyotr Andreevich's ironic memories of his childhood. His father - a retired prime minister, mother - the daughter of a poor nobleman. All eight brothers and sisters Petrusha died as a child, and the hero himself was enrolled in the Semenov regiment sergeant still in the womb of his mother. In five years, the boy is attached to the straggler Savelich, whom Petrushe complains to uncles. Under his guidance, he learned Russian diplomacy and "could reasonably judge the properties of the borzoi dog." After the young master was issued to the teacher Frenchman Bopra, the teacher of which ended in a shameful exile for drunkenness and spoilage of yard girls.

Young Petrusha lives a carefree life until she is sixteen, chasing pigeons and playing leapfrog. At the age of seventeen, the father decides to send a minor to the service, but not to the Semenov regiment, but to the acting army to sniff the gunpowder. This was the reason for the disappointment of the young nobleman, who hoped for fun and carefree life in the capital.

Service officer Grinev

On the way to Orenburg, the master and his servant get into a heavy snowstorm, and they were already lost when a black-bearded gypsy came across them, who led them to the spot. On the way to the house, Peter Andreevich dreams a prophetic and spooky dream. Grateful Grinev gives his rescuer a hare sheepskin coat and treats a glass of wine. After mutual gratitude, the Gypsies and Grinev leave.

Arriving at the site, Peter was surprised to find that the Belgorod fortress does not look like an impregnable bastion - it's just a nice little village behind a wooden fence. Instead of remote soldiers - military invalids, and instead of formidable artillery - an old cannon, in the mouth of which the old rubbish is packed.

The chief of the fortress - an honest and kind officer Mironov - is not strong in education and is completely under the influence of his wife. The wife runs the fortress as her household. Mironovs take the young Petrusha as his own, and he himself becomes attached to them and falls in love with their daughter Maria. Unburdened service has to read books and write poetry.

At the beginning of the service, Pyotr Grinyov feels friendly sympathy for the lieutenant Shvabrin, who is close to him by education and occupation. But Shvabrin's causticism, with which he criticized Grinev's poems, served as an excuse for quarreling between them, and dirty allusions to Masha's side - an occasion for a duel, during which Grinev was screwed up by Shvabrin.

For the injured, Peter is courted by Mary, and they confess to each other in mutual feelings. Peter writes a letter to his parents, asking for their blessing to marry. However, after learning that Mary does not have a dowry, the father forbids his son and think about the girl.

The revolt of Pugachev

The creation of the "Captain's Daughter" is associated with a popular uprising. In the story the events developed as follows. In the fortress village, a dumb Bashkir is caught with outrageous messages. Residents of the Belogorsky fortress with fear await the attack of insurgent peasants led by Pugachev. And the rebel attack happened unexpectedly, at the first military attack the fortress surrendered its positions. Residents went out to meet Pugachev with bread and salt, and they are taken to the city square for the oath to the new "sovereign". The commandant and his wife perish, refusing to swear an impostor Pugachev. Grinev is waiting for the gallows, but later Emelyan himself pities him, having learned in him that fellow traveler whom he saved into a snowstorm and received as a gift from him a hare coat.

Pugachev dismisses the officer, and he starts up to help Orenburg. He wants to save from the captivity sick Masha, which the priest gives out for his niece. He is very worried about her safety, because the commandant is appointed Shvabrin, who went over to the side of the rebels. Orenburg did not take his reports seriously and refused to help. And soon the city itself was in a long siege. By chance, Grinev receives a letter from Masha asking for help, and he again goes to the fortress. There, with the help of Pugachev, he releases Masha, and himself falls under suspicion of espionage from the filing of the same Shvabrin.

From the eternal exile in Siberia, Grinev is rescued by Masha, who sincerely told the empress everything, and she pardoned Pyotr Andreevich.

Final analysis

The main text of the story is made up of notes by Pyotr Andreevich Grinev. Critics were given the story "Captain's Daughter" the following characteristic: this is a historically important narrative. The era of the Pugachev saw through the eyes of a nobleman who swore an oath of allegiance to the Empress and sacredly followed his duty as an officer. And even in a difficult situation, among the mountains of dead bodies and the sea of people's blood, he did not break the word and saved the honor of the uniform.

The popular uprising led by Pugachev is seen in the "Captain's Daughter" as a national tragedy. Pushkin opposes the people and power.

Critics call the story "The Captain's Daughter" the pinnacle of Pushkin's artistic prose. In the work, truly Russian characters and characters began to heal. Pushkin's poetry permeates the rebellious spirit, it transcends the framework of everyday life. And in the story, in the story of Pugachev's revolt, the poet sings of liberty and rebellion. Russian classics gave the story "The Captain's Daughter" the response is positive. Another masterpiece was replenished Russian literature.

"The Captain's Daughter": a genre accessory

Can we assume that the story "The Captain's Daughter" genre historical novel? After all, the poet himself believed that having illuminated in his work a whole historical epoch, he could consider him a novel. However, according to the volume accepted in literary criticism, the work is attributed to stories. Few critics admit that "The Captain's Daughter" is a novel, more often called a story or story.

"The Captain's Daughter" in the theater and on productions

To date, a lot of theatrical and film performances of the story "The Captain's Daughter". The most popular was the feature film by Pavel Reznikov with the same name. The picture was released in 1978 and in fact is a film performance. The roles of the main characters were received by well-known and habitual for the viewers of actors. The unusual actor's game is that no one gets used to the image, no one is impose a special make-up, and in general there is nothing that would bind the actors and the book, except the text. It is the text that creates the mood, makes the viewer feel, and the actors just read it in their own voice. Despite all the eccentricity of the production of the story "The Captain's Daughter", the reviews were amazing. Many theaters still follow the principle of reading the text of Pushkin alone.

Such, in general terms, is the story of the creation of the story "Captain's Daughter" by Alexander Pushkin.