The summary of "Man on the clock" (Leskov NS)

And again we have the Russian classics - Leskov, "The Man on the Clock" (a brief summary follows). The work was written and published in 1887, but its name sounded differently - "Salvation of the Perished". Subsequently, the author changed the title in order to show the reader that the story told is not just an entertaining, somewhere even funny event from everyday life, which can be forgotten in time, but a deep question about what is a person's duty, and for whom or what It is necessary to execute, and can, and at all it is not necessary ...

Summary: "Man on the clock" N. Leskova.

It was 1839th. Winter that year was warm. The snow gradually melted, during the day drops could be heard, and the ice on the Neva became quite thin.

The guard in the Winter Palace, where the Tsar Nikolai Pavlovich lived, was occupied by a company of "Izmaylovites" under the command of Miller. The time was quiet, serene, so it was not difficult to carry a watch. The only thing that was required to perform rigorously is to stand on the post.

There was a quiet quiet night. The palace fell asleep. The guards are stationed. But suddenly the silence was broken by the distant cry of a man drowning in the river. What to do? The simple soldier Postnikov did not dare to leave the post. This was a terrible violation of the Charter, and was threatened with serious punishment until the execution. But the groans did not cease, and they led the sentry into a stupor. He was a sensitive man, and he could not help but give a helping hand to the suffering person, but at the same time, the arguments of the mind spoke of the opposite: he is a soldier and his duty is to completely obey the order. But the groans from the side of the river swam nearer and nearer, there was already heard desperate floundering of the perishing. Postnikov once again turned around - not a soul around, could not stand it and left his post.

The summary of "The man on the clock" does not end there.   The rescued and the savior were completely wet. Here as it is impossible by the way on the quay passed the officer. Barely explaining what had happened, Plotnikov passed the unknowing victim to the master, took the gun and quickly went back to the booth.

The officer, having realized that the rescued person does not remember anything from the fright and does not understand, decided to take him to the bailiff and say that he saved the drowning man with the risk of life. The policemen made a report, but with a peculiar suspicion they were surprised, how did the officer himself dry himself out of the water?

Duty or honor?

Continuing the brief content of "Man on the clock," we return to the main character: the wet, trembling Postnikov was replaced from the post, and assigned to Commander Miller. There he confessed everything, and in the end added that the officer had taken the rescued person to the Admiralty section. Nikolai Ivanovich Miller realized that a terrible problem was looming over him: the officer would tell the details of the night incident to the bailiff, and the bailiff immediately report the incident to Chief Police Officer Kokoshkin, and the latter, in turn, will bring to the attention of the Tsar, and the "fever" will take place, and Will fly "the heads" of those who committed violations of the Charter.

Long time to argue was once, and he sent an alarm note to Lieutenant Colonel Svinin ... The battalion commander was in despair. The only thing he could do in such a situation was to immediately put Postnikov in the punishment cell, and go on a nod to General Kokoshkin.

But the Chief Police Officer did not know anything. The bailiff decided not to disturb the general. The incident was commonplace, and besides, it was unpleasant for him that a policeman from his unit pulled out a drowned man, but a palace officer.

Kokoshkin was flattered by the fact that Svinin came for advice to him, and decided to help him. He took advantage of the braggart officer's bragging, handed him the medal, and the case was closed. But what to do with Postnikov? They decided to punish him not with one hundred rods to "protect himself just in case later".

When the verdict was carried out, Svinin visited the soldier in the infirmary, and ordered him to bring him some sugar and tea. The compassionate sentry was glad, because sitting under arrest for three days, he expected much worse ...

Summary of "Man on the clock": conclusion

At the end of the story, the author discusses the justice of God and the earthly. The soul of a simple soldier Postnikov is humble. Before him was a difficult choice, which of the intricate "hierarchy" of debts must be fulfilled first: the duty of a soldier or the debt of a person? He chose the latter, and did good for the sake of good, without waiting for any reward. But Leskov regrets that the justice of the earth is on the opposite shore from God's sight, and that he lacks the faith to accept in this case the joy of God from "the behavior of Postnikov's meek soul ...". The summary of "The man on the clock" (Leskov NS), of course, can not convey the entire subtlety and depth of the plot, so it is strongly recommended that you read the original.