What are the best qualities of the Russian folk character embodied by I. S.
Gerasim – main character story by I. S. Turgenev “Mumu”. (Gerasim is a serf peasant, discharged from the village by a lady and appointed as a janitor in the Moscow landowner's house.)
Russian qualities folk character, embodied in Gerasim:
heroic strength (“Gerasim, a man twelve inches tall, built like a hero.” When he mowed, it seemed that he could easily sweep away a young birch forest with a scythe. Gerasim is similar to the epic heroes with his extraordinary strength and strength of character);
Gerasim’s diligence (“gifted with extraordinary strength, he worked for four - the work was in his hands, and it was fun to watch him” when he plowed, mowed, threshed in the village. Once in the city, he easily coped with the duties of a janitor);
intelligence and kindness (deprived of the opportunity to communicate with people, Gerasim understood them, felt the attitude towards himself, caught the mood of people. He was able to appreciate Tatyana’s kindness, tried to protect her. Having lost Tatyana, Gerasim gave his whole soul to Mumu, took care of her and took care of her); patience and willpower (deaf-mute Gerasim obeyed the orders of the lady, since he was a serf, a forced person, he endured the ridicule of the servants, but did not allow those he loved to be offended. Only a person with strong character, could decide to drown Mumu, whom he dearly loved. He saved her from unnecessary torment, he himself suffered for her); 5) the ability to protest (by portraying his hero as deaf and mute from birth, the writer wanted to emphasize the long-suffering of the Russian people. But Gerasim’s departure from his mistress shows that the people will “speak.” Gerasim’s departure is tantamount to rebellion).
The meaning of the image of Gerasim. (The hero of the story “Mumu” reflects the best features of the people. The image of Gerasim combines contradictory qualities: enormous strength and patience, emphasized by natural muteness. But the ending of the story speaks of the victory of man’s fortitude, of his desire for freedom and independence.)
An essay on literature on the topic: What are the best qualities of the Russian folk character that I. S. Turgenev embodied in Gerasim, the hero of the story “Mumu”? (Plan)
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As you know, this man was deaf and mute by nature. And fate compensated for such a natural deficiency with a truly heroic build.
Gerasim in the story
Despite his serious disadvantage, Gerasim possessed truly enormous, literally heroic strength. Everyone and everyone in his home village knew about this. He was a draft man, capable of working alone for four ordinary men. The strength of the main character is conveyed by the author in many lines, for example: “On Peter’s Day, he used his scythe so devastatingly that he could even sweep away a young birch forest by the roots; near the kitchen he knocked out and shook out the barrel, turning it over in his hands like a child’s drum.” A large number of various turns of phrase, comparisons and metaphors allow readers to feel the strength of the main character much better.
Gerasim, as every person believes, was in love with a woman. His “patron” was Tatyana. She, like the main character of the story, was in the service of the same noblewoman and worked as a laundress. Gerasim regularly accompanied his beloved and tried to be closer to her. Nevertheless, all his attempts were in vain, since Tatyana was simply afraid of him. His truly enormous figure caused Tatyana utter horror; she was literally frozen by him. Actually, such a big nature of the main character was also the reason for a lot of ridicule. Gerasim was not a fool, he understood why people mocked him, but his key advantage in relation to everyone was that Gerasim controlled himself and was calm. Nevertheless, many respected him for his hard work, for the fact that he devoted himself to work without reserve. While living in the village, the main character works for the good, tirelessly, without stopping. Everything went smoothly for him, and the work was done, it would seem, easily and quickly.
The main character of the story is not a soulless person, as the author of the story also mentions. He has compassion not only for people, but also for animals. For example, Gerasim felt sorry for a puppy who found himself in the water and could not get out of it. As a result, the main character takes the puppy with him and nurses him. They become close to each other, as if Mumu is the only friend of our main character, in fact, that’s how it was. Indeed, he had no friends, and as for his personal life, it was also not ideal, because his beloved Tatyana always tries to avoid him. This is how a dog and a person become best friends. Despite the apparent happiness, everything turns out extremely unpleasantly. The noblewoman learned that Gerasim had found and sheltered the dog, and this turn of events did not suit her in any way. The main character has a difficult dilemma - to give Mumu to others to kill, or to end her himself. Of course, instead of giving the dog to someone else to be killed, the main character decides to do everything himself. The loss of a close friend, who became such in a very short period of time, did not pass without a trace for Gerasim. He experiences these events very painfully.
Image of Gerasim
Actually, the very image of the main character of the story is a symbol of the Russian people of that time. Talking about Gerasim, Turgenev emphasizes that the Russian people have heroic, enormous strength, they are hardworking, kind to loved ones, the Russian people are able to sympathize with the unfortunate and offended.The serfs did not have their own will at that time. They could be sold, repurchased, exchanged at any moment; in fact, they were a bargaining chip that brought certain benefits for a while. This is the main idea of the story - most people were forced, like the main character himself.
A real hero, born and raised in the village, endures his existence very hard after leaving for the city. This happened completely by accident - the noblewoman noticed how a huge man was working in the field and decided to take him into her possession. This is what happened. The author conveys the burden of change and the feelings that Gerasim experiences through detailed comparisons. Gerasim is compared to a tree that was torn out of its usual, traditional habitat. Also, it is compared with wild beast or a bull that was chained overnight.
So Gerasim is deprived of what he loved most in his life and becomes completely forced. He was deprived of his homeland, the right and opportunity to love Tatyana. All this, of course, does not reflect in the most pleasant way on our main character.
One day he finds a dog, names it Mumu, and it becomes a replacement for everything that Gerasim loved before. Now Mumu - best friend, the only best being, to whom he trusts a lot. She gives him the opportunity to feel happiness again, even though he remains the same forced person. An absurd accident, due to which everyone’s favorite becomes enemy number one for the capricious old lady, deprives Gerasim of his last opportunity to remain happy and changes his life, which has already become familiar.
A janitor who has lost everything suddenly crosses an invisible line that he didn’t even know about. After the death of a loved one, his sense of dependence and fear of the noblewoman is cut off. The janitor becomes truly free. It would seem, why? He is still the same serf, no one freed him, which means he is obliged to serve his mistress just as before, but no. He has nothing to lose, and this is real freedom, which he achieved only after the severe loss of a loved one. Gerasim, having gone back to his native village, experiences “indestructible courage, desperate and joyful determination.” Nevertheless, it cannot be said that the main character remains happy after this. Unfortunately, he also spends his life in absolute solitude - he “stopped hanging out with women” and “doesn’t keep a single dog.”
The image of Gerasim in real life
It is safe to say that the entire story written by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev was taken from his own life observations.He was the son of the imperious and cruel serf-woman Varvara Petrovna, who, for her unfulfilled youth, decided to punish everyone and everything she saw around her. The children were very afraid of her, and the writer himself often recalled that almost every day they received what they deserved with rods. The prototype of the noblewoman in the story “Mumu” was Turgenev’s mother.
The story of Ivan Turgenev tells readers about many different qualities that people have forgotten a long time ago, and now they are completely covered with a layer of dust. The only thing that can probably be said is that the love for animals remains the same, which, of course, is good. Flattery – big sin, which, unfortunately, was and remains characteristic of many people. Gerasim, on the other hand, was different from those. He was not afraid of his superiors, did not flatter, was not a sycophant, and the very soul of the protagonist was simple and open. Nevertheless, the writer leaves hope that every Russian person, and the Russian people as a whole, are capable and may well eradicate everything in themselves poor quality. The only thing they need is to be free, but freedom looks different for everyone and only when this freedom is found will a person be happy.
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Text content of presentation slides: Gerasim is “the personification of the Russian people, their terrible strength and incomprehensible meekness” I.A. Aksakov Today we are completing the study of I.S. Turgenev’s story “Mumu”, and we must understand the motives for Gerasim’s action. Our further attitude towards the work as a whole depends on whether we can do this correctly. Look at the illustrations. What did the artist depict? What episode of the story is depicted here? What do you think Gerasim is thinking about?
How did you feel while reading the ending of the story? When did you feel especially sad? Re-read the scene of Mumu's death and the ending of the story silently, trying to understand the state of mind of the main character. Why did Gerasim drown Mumu after all? Why didn’t he just take her to the village? What does Gerasim’s willful return to the village indicate? Read how the author describes his state of mind. What attempts had he made previously to save Mumu? What was the impetus for Gerasim to leave for the village? What feelings did he experience at this moment? How did you feel after finishing reading?
Think about why the author wanted to write such a story? Versions. Look at the end of the text again. Find words that reflect emotional condition hero. Which part of speech contains the most words in the text? What do you think, what idea did I.S. Turgenev want to convey to us? Having killed everything human in himself, the hero was able to rebel. Where could he get the plot for his story?
Many years ago, in the distant village of Sychevo, there lived a man, deaf and mute from birth, named Andrei. But his lady (mama Varvara Petrovna) noticed him, admired his guardsman’s height and bearish strength, and wished to have that guardsman in her Moscow house as a janitor. Let him chop wood for the kitchen and rooms, carry water from the Alexander Fountain in a barrel, look after and guard the manor’s courtyard. No one in all of Moscow will have such a giant janitor as the janitor of the widow of the colonel of the Yekaterinoslav Regiment. And what is mute and deaf as a plug - even better! That’s how Andrey ended up in the city. For a guy, city work is easy and boring. But Andrei lived and lived, as if without complaining, with his mistress until her death, he performed his service carefully, he respected his mistress, and did not contradict her in anything. One day a mute man took a liking to a quiet courtyard girl, and the lady, knowing this, decided to give her in marriage to someone else - he endured this. And his little dog, named Mumu, his favorite, rescued from the Fontanka river one winter, a joy and consolation, he meekly drowned himself, if the lady ordered it. How he said goodbye to her there, to the little dog, how he drowned it, is unknown. But from then on Andrei never smiled, he accepted gifts from his lady gloomily, like a stone, and did not look at the dogs, he turned away. After the death of the lady, just as gloomily, without gratitude, he accepted his freedom and went somewhere to Rus'. How did you evaluate Gerasim’s act: as a challenge to society or as humility in the face of the inevitable? Write an essay “Why Turgenev changed the ending of a real story.”
Attached files
The story “Mumu,” written by I. Turgenev in 1852, appeared in print only in 1854. For about two years its contents were discussed only in private correspondence. The main reason The main character became banned from any mention of the work. This is an ordinary serf, whom close-up depicted by Turgenev. Gerasim, according to I. Aksakov, became “the personification of the Russian people.” Let's take a closer look at this image.
The actual basis of the plot
Varvara Petrovna, a despotic landowner and the writer’s mother, had a mute janitor, Andrei. She noticed him in one of the villages and took him in with her. The serf was distinguished by his heroic figure, enormous strength, diligence and calm disposition. Almost all of Moscow knew him. Once Andrei picked up a dog that the lady did not like. The owner ordered it to be destroyed. The order was carried out by the mute himself, who remained in service after everything that happened. Turgenev in his story played up the ending of the story, as a result of which he turned out to be more complex than his prototype. This will be shown by Gerasim's characterization.
The life story of a serf
The main character was mute from birth. Possessed enormous power, any matter was argued in his big hands. Gerasim grew up in a village, which he missed very much in the city. It is no coincidence that the author compares him to a bull that was torn from the lush grass and placed on a rumbling railroad car. At first he didn't know new job seemed like a game. He often fell to the ground and lay for a long time, suffering from melancholy. Gradually he got used to the city, although he had little contact with the servants: they were afraid of him because of his huge figure and stern appearance. This is the first characteristic of Gerasim.
After some time, the serf, accustomed to his new life, began to single out the washerwoman Tatyana, whom he liked for her meek and timid disposition. He began to court her, ineptly and clumsily. Those around him even noticed that the janitor had become somewhat prettier. But the landowner gave the girl in marriage to the drunkard Capiton. This was a huge shock for Gerasim. He was not indignant, did not resist the master's will. Only an even greater alienation from people and concentration on work testified to his emotional distress. So Gerasim lost the person to whom he first became very attached. It is important to note that he did not become angry, he simply became darker and more sullen than before.
Gerasim and Mumu
The dog appeared to the janitor by chance: he caught it, still very tiny, in the river. I brought it home and went out. He treated the puppy like a child, giving all his tenderness and love. A few months later, Mumu - this was one of the few words that the mute could pronounce - turned into a beautiful dog. Gerasim and his pet were inseparable, and the janitor’s whole life was focused on the dog. This continued until the lady - Mumu was already more than one and a half years old - accidentally saw her while walking. Evil growl when meeting with stranger became the reason that the lady ordered to get rid of the animal.
Gerasim was not like himself when the butler secretly sold Mumu. His face seemed to have turned to stone, already gloomy, he completely stopped paying attention to people. But when the dog returned - he came running with a piece of rope around his neck - he could not get enough of it. He carefully swept the entire yard, repaired the fence, and, in general, spun around all day, occasionally visiting his pet, who was prudently locked in the room. Only at night did he decide to take her outside, not thinking that the dog might give itself away with its voice.
Characteristics of Gerasim: a difficult decision
When it became clear that it was impossible to save Mumu, the janitor promised that he would “destroy” her himself. He dressed festively, fed the dog well at the tavern and headed to the river. Taking two bricks, he got into the boat and sailed far from the shore...
Gerasim's character, firm and decisive, appeared at the moment when he fulfilled his promise. Unlike his prototype, the janitor could not come to terms with his lack of rights and the death of the creature most dear to him. Having collected his things, he went to the village. This act testifies to the great courage of the serf, who dared to openly speak out against the excesses of the lady and the position of the serf.
What happened to the hero became an incurable mental trauma for him. For the rest of his life, he did not approach a single woman or pet a single dog. This is the characterization of Gerasim from the story “Mumu” by I. Turgenev.
In his hero, Turgenev shows the best features of the Russian man: heroic strength, hard work, kindness, sensitivity to loved ones, sympathy for the unfortunate and offended.
Turgenev calls Gerasim “the most remarkable person” among all the servants. The author sees him as a hero. Gerasim was gifted with “extraordinary strength, he worked for four people - the work was in his hands, and it was fun to watch him.” Turgenev seems to admire his hero, his strength and greed for work. He compares Gerasim to a young bull and a huge tree that grew on fertile land. Gerasim is distinguished by accuracy and responsibility for the assigned work. He keeps his closet and yard clean. Detailed description the closets of the mute slightly emphasize his unsociability. “He didn’t like people to visit him,” and therefore he always locked his closet. But despite his formidable appearance and heroic strength, Gerasim had a kind heart, capable of love and sympathy.
Many of the servants were afraid of the formidable janitor, knowing his strict and serious disposition. However, the uncommunicative Gerasim evokes not only fear, but also respect from the servants for his conscientious work, patience and kindness. “He understood them, carried out all orders exactly, but he also knew his rights, and no one dared to sit in his place at the capital.” And the lady Gerasim evokes not only fear, but also respect. “She favored him as a faithful and strong watchman.” The mute, like all the servants, is afraid of the old lady and tries to please her, exactly following her orders. But while remaining a faithful servant, he does not lose his self-esteem.
It is difficult for a village peasant to live in the city. He is deprived of communication with Russian nature. Mute, unsociable Gerasim is lonely. People avoid him. Tatiana, who fell in love with him, is married off to someone else. He is deeply unhappy. And now a small ray of light appears in his dark life. Gerasim rescues a poor puppy from the river, feeds it and becomes attached to it with all his soul. He names the dog Mumu. She loves Gerasim and is always with him, she wakes him up in the morning, and guards the house at night. They become close friends. Love for Mumu makes Gerasim's life joyful.
The lady finds out about Mumu and orders her to be brought to her in order to relieve boredom. But the little dog refuses to obey her. The obstinate lady, not understanding how one can disobey her order, forces him to get rid of the dog. Gerasim tries to save Mumu and locks her in a closet. But Mumu gives himself away by barking. The unfortunate serf is forced to kill the only one, sincerely loving friend. The evil mistress takes away Gerasim's most precious possessions, but cannot break his fortitude and self-esteem.
In the fate of Gerasim, Turgenev reflected the fate of many serfs. He protests against the serfdom of the landowners. The author expresses hope that the “dumb” people will be able to fight back against the oppressors.