Experience and mistakes of the captain's daughter Grinev. A

Can a person live without making mistakes? I'll try to figure it out, what is an error? It seems to me that a mistake is an unintentional deviation of a person from the correct actions and actions. The probability that a person will be able to live his life without making a single mistake is negligible, so it seems to me that a person simply cannot exist without mistakes, because in our world everything is so complicated that a person lives by gaining experience not only from his mistakes, but also from strangers. No wonder they say: “You learn from mistakes.”

Therefore, I think that mistakes are acceptable in a person’s life, the main thing is that the consequences of these mistakes can be eliminated.

Why do we make mistakes so often? It seems to me that it’s still out of ignorance. But having made a mistake once, we must learn from it so as not to make it again. It’s not for nothing that the proverb says: “He who does not repent of his mistakes makes more mistakes.”

Thus, the main character of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin’s story “The Captain’s Daughter,” Pyotr Grinev, as a young guy, made a mistake. When Petrusha turned sixteen years old, his father decided to send his son to serve in the Belgorod fortress. The path was not short, so the father sent Savelich with him, the man with whom the boy literally grew up. When Savelich left the boy alone, Petrusha’s inexperience played a role. The boy, who had been under strict control all his life, felt free and did not refuse to have a drink with the man he met while wandering around the rooms. After some time, Petrusha already agreed to play billiards, where he lost a hundred rubles. Without knowing the limits, the young man got so drunk that he could barely stand on his feet, offended Savelich, and the next morning he felt bad. By his action, the boy set Savelich up in front of his parents and reproached himself for a long time for this. Petrusha Grinev realized his mistake and did not make it again.

However, there are mistakes. the price of which may be too high. Any thoughtless act, any wrongly spoken word can lead to tragedy.

In Mikhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov’s novel “The Master and Margarita,” the procurator Pontius Pilate made such an irreparable mistake by killing the philosopher Yeshua Ha-Nozri. Yeshua preached to people the evil of power and was arrested for this. The prosecutor is examining the case of Yeshua. After a conversation with the philosopher, Pilate believes that he is innocent, but still sentences him to execution because he hopes that the local authorities will pardon the philosopher in honor of Easter. However, local authorities refuse to pardon Yeshua. Instead, they release another criminal. Pontius Pilate could free the wanderer, but he does not do so, because he is afraid of losing his position, afraid of appearing frivolous. And for his crime the procurator bears the punishment of immortality. Pontius Pilate realized his mistake, but he can no longer change anything.

To summarize, I want to say that a person can still make mistakes, but these mistakes can be different. Some help to gain experience, but there are also those that harm people. Therefore, in order not to make mistakes, you need to think several times before doing anything.

Take care of your honor from a young age...

A. S. Pushkin

One of my favorite works of Russian classical literature is A. S. Pushkin’s story “The Captain’s Daughter”. The writing of the story was preceded by many years of work by the author, who studied the history of the popular uprising led by Emelyan Pugachev, listened to the songs and stories of his contemporaries. The result was a wonderful work of art, the main character of which is Pyotr Andreevich Grinev.

At the beginning of the story, this is an undergrowth, chasing pigeons with the yard boys, living carefree in the family of a landowner. Petrushenka was spoiled, he did not study science seriously, but he dreamed of serving in St. Petersburg. Contrary to his wishes, the father sends the young man not to the city on the Neva, but to the distant Orenburg province. The father, who faithfully served the Fatherland, wanted to see his son as a real man, and not a waster of life. Before leaving, Pyotr Grinev hears parting words from his parent to “preserve honor from a young age.”

Further events described by A.S. Pushkin are serious life trials that shape the hero’s personality. He shows nobility and gratitude at the inn, generously rewarding the guide for salvation in the stormy steppe. Honor and dignity do not allow Pyotr Andreevich not to pay for his loss with Zurin. In the Belogorsk fortress, having met the family of Captain Mironov, Pyotr Andreevich became a welcome guest in the commandant’s house, showing intelligence, respect and correctness. Having fallen in love with Masha Mironova, the young man goes to a duel with Shvarin, who has discredited the name of his beloved. In a peaceful, distant fortress, we see how the hero changes, how he shows the best human qualities and wins our respect.

The Peasant War led by Emelyan Pugachev dramatically changed the lives of all participants in the events and confronted the young officer with a moral choice. When I read the episodes of the story describing the behavior of the garrison after the fall of the Belogorsk fortress, I sincerely admired Grinev’s courage and his decision not to swear allegiance to the impostor. He knew perfectly well that the gallows awaited him. But he could not betray the empress and intended to remain faithful to his military duty to the end. A hare's sheepskin coat, given to the guide at the inn, saved the life of the young officer. Pugachev did not execute him because he found out.

And from this moment the special relationship between Pugachev and Grinev begins. I think that the moral qualities of the hero: courage, loyalty to military duty, decency, honesty - allowed him to win respect in the eyes of Emelyan Pugachev himself. The runaway Cossack and the Russian officer, of course, could not become friends, but good relations arose between them. Pugachev, at the request of Pyotr Andreevich, saves Masha from Shvabrin and sets her free. The hero is grateful to him for this, but refuses to swear allegiance. I am sure it was the officer’s honesty, uncompromisingness, and sincerity that bribed the impostor.

Having passed all the tests, risking his life, Pyotr Grinev did not sully his honor like Alexei Shvabrin. For this I deeply respect him. He followed his father's instructions and became a real Russian officer. In the story, A.S. Pushkin showed us how the personality of a young officer was formed, how his character was tempered, and his outlook on life changed. Grinev, making mistakes, gained invaluable experience, which allowed him to become brave and courageous, capable of defending both his homeland and his beloved. The author is proud of his hero and rewards him with personal happiness with Masha Mironova. What seems interesting to me is the fact that the narration of events comes from the perspective of the aged Pyotr Andreevich, leaving notes for his descendants. The notes contain a thought expressed decades ago by his father: “Take care of your honor from a young age!”

I consider A. S. Pushkin’s story “The Captain’s Daughter” to be one of the works that is important and necessary for modern youth. We can find answers to many life questions in it. And the most important thing is to remember that honor must be protected from a young age!

The image of Pyotr Grinev occupies a special place in Pushkin’s novel. This is not only the main character, but also the “author” of the notes, the narrator. It seems to combine two images: the image of a young officer, revealed in the story of his life, in his actions, and the image of an old landowner, a retired officer, already wise with everyday experience, now in his spare time remembering and telling the story of his youth.

That is why the image of Grinev is quite complex. The novel contains a lot of events and little reflection. The psychology of the hero is conveyed through actions.

Petrusha, as Pushkin calls his hero at the beginning of the story, goes through the path of spiritual maturation and by the end becomes Pyotr Grinev. He experiences all the hardships of the Pugachev uprising, finds his love and accepts the favor of Catherine II herself. How did the evolution of the image of the main character take place?

At the beginning of the story, we learn that Grinev is the son of a landowner, who received a noble upbringing according to the custom of that time. His father, who viewed military service as the duty of a nobleman, sends the seventeen-year-old young man not to the guards, but to the army, so that he “pulls the strap” and becomes a disciplined soldier. Saying goodbye to Peter, the old man gave him the instruction: “Serve faithfully to whom you swear allegiance; don’t ask for service, don’t talk yourself out of service, and remember the proverb: take care of your dress again, but take care of your honor from a young age.”

The second stage in the formation of the hero’s character begins from the moment of leaving his home. Grinev’s independent life is the path of losing many illusions, prejudices, as well as enriching his inner world. But still, before his arrival at the Belogorodskaya fortress, the main character can safely be called Petrusha.

So, life education continues. Grinev in the Belogorodskaya fortress. Instead of formidable, impregnable bastions there is a village surrounded by a log fence, with thatched huts. Instead of the stern, angry boss that the hero imagined, there is a commandant who went out for training in a cap and a Chinese robe. Instead of a brave army, there are disabled people.

Life in the Belogorodskaya fortress reveals to the young man the previously unnoticed beauty of simple, kind people and gives rise to communication with them. There was no other society in the fortress, Grinev did not want another. Conversations with nice, simple people, literary studies, love experiences - all this gave him true pleasure. He did not think about serious social problems of life. But what radically changes the hero is his love for Masha, for the sake of which he even fights with Shvabrin with swords. Let’s not forget that before this, Grinev never quarreled with anyone or started fights. And during a quarrel with Shvabrin, he without hesitation challenges his beloved to a duel. This speaks of the hero’s inner strong will, his ability to protect his love, and not of the fervor of youth.

The next stage in the development of a hero is his determination to marry his beloved. And the letter to the parents is a direct confirmation of this. Here Peter acts as a fully grown, mature person who can, with the help of words, convince others that he is right. And even the father’s refusal to bless the marriage did not completely shake the hero’s faith and conviction in his love.

It should also be noted that each meeting of our hero with the head of the rebel people, Pugachev, is significant. It is no coincidence that Pushkin uses in his novel the technique of a prophetic dream, which Grinev sees on the way to the inn, having fallen asleep in a snowstorm. In this dream, Pugachev appears to be Grinev’s father.

The hero's first meeting with Pugachev showed the main character as still a very young barchuk, but with a clear understanding that good is paid for with good. Grinev's gift to the man who saw them off - a hare sheepskin coat - would later save his life.

After the second meeting with Emelyan in the Belogorsk fortress, when the rebel leader saved his life, Grinev becomes more decisive and courageous. The hero grows up quickly.

For the sake of his love, he asks the general to give him fifty soldiers and permission to liberate the captured fortress. Having received a refusal, the young man does not fall into despair, as before, but resolutely goes to Pugachev’s lair. Peter had the courage to appear again before the leader of the uprising. Captivated, but not broken, Grinev, without lies and hypocrisy, tells Emelyan everything as it is about Masha Mironova and Shvabrin. This desperate act saved the girl's life.

The image of Grinev is given in development. His character traits are revealed to readers gradually. His behavior is psychologically motivated. Despite the mistakes of the hero of the novel, the image of an honest, kind, brave person grows before us, the readers. He is capable of great feeling, faithful in love and, ultimately, in his duty. And at the same time, Grinev is frivolous in his youth, limited in his views and understanding of the true purpose of the events in which he became a participant.

“The Captain's Daughter” is a coming-of-age novel. This is the story of the coming of age of Pyotr Grinev, who transforms from a “green” youth into a responsible man, having gone through severe life trials. He had a chance to take a direct part in the Pugachev uprising, and all his principles were thoroughly tested. He passed it, maintaining his dignity and remaining faithful to the oath. The narration is conducted in the form of memoirs, and the hero himself sums up his life from the height of his own experience.

Many readers think that “The Captain's Daughter” is just a story, but they are mistaken: a work of such length cannot belong to short prose. But whether it’s a story or a novel is an open question.

The writer himself lived at a time when only those multi-volume works that were comparable in volume to “Anna Karenina,” for example, or “The Nest of Nobles” were classified as full-fledged major epic genres, so he without a doubt called his creation a story. In Soviet literary criticism this was also considered.

However, the work has all the hallmarks of a novel: the action covers a long period of time in the lives of the characters, the book contains many minor characters described in detail and not directly related to the main storyline, and throughout the story the characters experience spiritual evolution. In addition, the author shows all the stages of Grinev’s growing up, which also clearly indicates the genre. That is, we have before us a typical historical novel, since the writer, while working on it, took as a basis facts from the past and the scientific research that he undertook to understand the phenomenon of the peasant war and convey it to descendants in the form of objective knowledge.

But the mysteries don’t end there; we have to decide what kind of direction lies at the origins of the work “The Captain’s Daughter”: realism or romanticism? Pushkin's colleagues, in particular Gogol and Odoevsky, argued that his book more than any other influenced the development of realism in Russia. However, what speaks in favor of romanticism is the fact that historical material is taken as a basis, and the reader’s focus is on the controversial and tragic personality of the rebel Pugachev - exactly the same as a romantic hero. Therefore, both answers will be correct, because after the successful literary discovery of the sun of Russian poetry, Russia was swept by the fashion for prose, and realistic one at that.

History of creation

Pushkin was partly inspired to create The Captain's Daughter by Walter Scott, the master of the historical novel. His works began to be translated, and the Russian public was delighted with the adventurous plots and mysterious immersion in another era. At that time, the writer was just working on a chronicle of the uprising, a scientific work dedicated to the peasant revolt of Pugachev. He has accumulated a lot of useful material for the realization of his artistic plan to reveal to the reader a treasure trove of eventful Russian history.

At first, he planned to describe precisely the betrayal of a Russian nobleman, and not a moral feat. The author wanted to focus on the personality of Emelyan Pugachev, and at the same time show the motives of the officer who violated the oath and joined the riot. The prototype would be Mikhail Shvanvich, a real person who, out of fear for his fate, was attached to the rebel’s office, and then also testified against him. However, for censorship reasons, the book could hardly be published, so the writer had to step on the throat of his own song and depict a more patriotic plot, especially since he had enough historical examples of valor. But a negative example was suitable for creating the image of Shvabrin.

The book was published a month before the author’s death in his own magazine Sovremennik, published on behalf of Grinev. Many noted that the style of narration of that time was conveyed by the writer, so many readers were confused and did not understand who the true creator of the memoirs was. By the way, censorship still took its toll, removing from public access the chapter about the peasant revolt in the Simbirsk province, where Peter himself was from.

Meaning of the name

The work, oddly enough, is not titled in honor of Grinev or Pugachev, so you can’t immediately tell what it’s about. The novel is called "The Captain's Daughter" in honor of Maria Mirova, the main character of the book. Pushkin, thus, pays tribute to the girl’s courage, which no one expected from her. She dared to ask the Empress herself for the traitor! And she begged forgiveness for her savior.

In addition, this story is also called so because Marya was the driving force of the narrative. Out of love for her, the young man always chose a feat. Until she occupied all his thoughts, he was pathetic: he did not want to serve, lost large sums at cards, and behaved arrogantly with the servant. As soon as a sincere feeling awakened courage, nobility and boldness in him, the reader did not recognize Petrusha: he turned from an undergrowth into a responsible and brave man, to whom patriotism and awareness of his own self came through strong emotions addressed to a woman.

Historical background

The events in the work took place during the reign of Catherine II. The historical phenomenon in the novel “The Captain's Daughter” is called “Pugachevism” (this phenomenon was studied by Pushkin). This is Emelyan Pugachev's rebellion against tsarist power. It occurred in the 18th century. The described actions take place in the Belgorod fortress, where the rebel went, gathering strength to storm the capital.

The Peasant War of 1773 - 1775 unfolded in the southeast of the Russian Empire. It was attended by serfs and factory peasants, representatives of national minorities (Kyrgyz, Bashkirs) and Ural Cossacks. All of them were outraged by the predatory policies of the ruling elite and the increasing enslavement of the common people. People who did not agree with the fate of slaves fled to the outskirts of the country and formed armed gangs for the purpose of robbery. The fugitive “souls” were already outlaws, so there was nothing else left for them. The author reflects on their tragic fate, portraying the leader of the uprising, not devoid of virtue and commendable character traits.

But Catherine the Second demonstrates a tough temper and remarkable cruelty. The Empress, according to historians, was indeed a strong-willed person, but she did not shy away from tyranny and other delights of absolute power. Her policy strengthened the nobility, giving it all sorts of privileges, but the common people were forced to bear the burden of these benefits. The royal court lived in grand style, and not noble people starved, endured violence and humiliation of the slave position, lost, and were sold under the hammer. Naturally, social tension only grew, and Catherine did not enjoy popular love. A foreign woman was involved in a conspiracy and, with the help of the military, overthrew her husband, the legitimate ruler of Russia. Downtrodden and squeezed in the grip of injustice, the serfs believed that the murdered Peter the Third was preparing a decree for their release, and his wife killed him for this. Emelyan Pugachev, a Don Cossack, took advantage of superstition and rumors and declared himself a saved tsar. He fueled the discontent of the armed Cossacks, whose petitions were not listened to, and inspired the peasants, tortured by tyranny and corvée, to revolt.

What is the work about?

We meet Petrusha the underage, who can only “sensibly judge the properties of a greyhound dog.” All his aspirations lie in “dust-free service” in St. Petersburg. However, we see that the father has a huge influence on the young man. He teaches his son to serve the fatherland, cherish family traditions, and not attach much importance to awards. Having received such a strict upbringing, the young man goes to serve. What is told in his “tale of bitter torment” is the plot outline of the work. The fact is that we learn all this from the lips of the venerable old nobleman that Peter became.

There, far from his father's house, the hero goes through a harsh school of life: first he loses at cards and offends a faithful servant, experiencing pangs of conscience. Later, he falls in love with Maria Mironova and risks his life in a duel with Shvabrin, defending the honor of his beloved. The father, having learned about the reason for the fight, refuses to bless the marriage with the dowry. After the capture of the Belogorsk fortress, Peter remains faithful to the oath, and his nobility grants him Pugachev’s leniency: he respects the young man’s choice and does not touch him. The rebel’s decision was influenced by the kindness of the captive: once on the road he gave the Cossack a sheepskin coat and treated him very kindly. The common man appreciated the master's mercy and returned the favor. Pushkin confronts them more than once, and the nobleman is always saved by his straightforwardness and generosity.

His trials did not end there: life presented him with a choice between saving his beloved and serving, and the good name of an officer. Then the hero chooses love and disobeys the boss’s order, freeing his beloved on his own from Shvabrin’s hands. Alexey forced the girl to marry him. Pugachev again shows respect for the daredevil and releases the captive. However, the autocratic government does not forgive free will, and Grinev is arrested. Fortunately, Masha managed to beg clemency from Catherine II. This is what is said in the novel “The Captain's Daughter,” which ended with a happy ending: young people get married with the blessing they received. But now the leader of the uprising is sentenced to quartering.

The main characters and their characteristics

The main characters of the novel are Pyotr Grinev, Maria Mironova, Emelyan Pugachev, Arkhip Savelyev, Alesey Shvabrin and Catherine the Second. The characters are so numerous that their description would take more than one article, so we neglect them.

1. - nobleman, officer, main character. He received a strict upbringing in the house of his father, a retired military man. He is only 16 years old, but his parents felt that he was ready for service. He is poorly educated, does not particularly strive for anything and does not in any way resemble an ideal man. Setting off on a journey, the young man bears little resemblance to a soldier: good-natured, gullible, unstable to temptation and ignorant of life. He is spoiled, because at first he loses a significant amount at cards and does not understand why Savelich (his servant) reacts emotionally to this. He does not know the value of money, but he shows arrogance and rudeness towards his devoted servant. However, his innate conscientiousness does not allow him to continue to be carried away by garrison pity. Soon he seriously falls in love with the daughter of the captain of the fortress, and from that moment his growing up begins: he becomes brave, courageous and courageous. For example, in a duel with Shvabrin, the young man fought honestly and bravely, unlike his opponent. Next we see an ardent and passionate lover in his face, and after some time he is ready to risk his life for the sake of honor, refusing to swear allegiance to Pugachev. This act reveals him to be a highly moral person who is firm in his convictions. Later, he will show valor more than once while fighting the enemy, but when the fate of his beloved is at stake, he will disregard caution and set out to save her. This reveals the depth of feeling in him. Even in captivity, Peter does not blame the woman and is ready to accept unfair punishment, as long as everything is fine with her. In addition, one cannot help but note the self-criticism and maturity of judgment inherent in Grinev in old age.
2. Marya Mironova– daughter of the captain of the fortress, the main character. She is 18 years old. Masha’s appearance is described in detail: “...Then a girl of about eighteen came in, chubby, ruddy, with light brown hair, smoothly combed behind her ears, which were on fire...”. In addition, it is mentioned that she has an “angelic” voice and a kind heart. Her family is poor, owns only one serf, so she cannot possibly qualify for marriage with Peter (who has 300 souls). But the young charmer is distinguished by prudence, sensitivity and generosity, because she sincerely worries about the fate of her lover. Naturalness and gullibility make the heroine an easy prey for the wicked Shvabrin, who is trying to gain her favor through meanness. But Marya is careful and not stupid, so she easily recognizes the falseness and depravity in Alexei and avoids him. She is also characterized by loyalty and courage: the girl does not betray her beloved and bravely travels to an unfamiliar city to achieve an audience with the empress herself.
3. Pugachev in the novel “The Captain's Daughter” appears before readers in two guises: a brave and noble person who is able to appreciate loyalty and honor, and a cruel tyrant who carries out executions and reprisals without restraint. We understand that the rebel’s message is noble; he wants to defend the rights of ordinary people. However, the way he fights lawlessness does not justify it in any way. Although we sympathize with Pugachev - decisive, brave, intelligent - his cruelty makes us doubt the correctness of his path. In the episode of the first meeting, we see a smart and cunning governor, in a dialogue with Grinev - an unhappy man who knows that he is doomed. The Kalmyk fairy tale told by Pugachev reveals his attitude towards life: he wants to live it freely, albeit fleetingly. It is impossible not to note his personal qualities: he is a leader, first among equals. They obey him unconditionally, and this corrupts his nature. For example, the scenes of the capture of the fortress demonstrate the cruelty of Pugachev’s power; such despotism is unlikely to lead to freedom (the death of the Mironovs, the kidnapping of Masha, destruction). Idea of ​​the image: Pugachev is naturally endowed with a heightened sense of justice, intelligence and talent, but he does not pass the test of war and unlimited power: the people's choice has become as much a tyrant as the empress against whom he rebelled.
4. Catherine II. A sweet woman in a house dress turns into an unyielding ruler when she listens to a request for a state traitor. Masha Mironova, at Catherine’s reception, tries to talk about Peter’s mitigating circumstances, but the Empress does not want to hear reasonable arguments and evidence, she is only interested in her own opinion. She condemned the “traitor” without trial, which is very indicative of an autocratic government. That is, its monarchy is hardly better than Pugachevism.
5. Alexey Shvabrin- officer. Peter and Alexey seem to be similar in their social status and age, but circumstances put them on opposite sides of the barricades. After the first test, Shvabrin, unlike Grinev, commits a moral decline, and the more rapidly the plot develops, the more obvious it is that Alexey is a vile and cowardly person who achieves everything in life by cunning and meanness. The peculiarities of his character are revealed during a love conflict: he wins Masha’s favor through hypocrisy, secretly slandering her and her family. The capture of the fortress finally puts everything in its place: he was ready for betrayal (he found a peasant dress, cut his hair), and Grinev would rather prefer death to breaking the oath. The final disappointment in him comes when the hero tries to force the girl to marry him by force and blackmail.
6. Savelich (Arkhip Savelyev)- an elderly servant. He is kind, caring and devoted to the young master. It is his resourcefulness that helps Peter avoid reprisals. Risking his life, the peasant stands up for the master and speaks with Pugachev himself. He is distinguished by thriftiness, a sober lifestyle, stubbornness and a tendency to read notations. He is distrustful, loves to grumble, argue and bargain. Knows the value of money and saves it for the owner.

Pushkin in the novel “The Captain's Daughter” gives a detailed description of the characters, giving the reader the opportunity to understand their likes and dislikes for themselves. There is no author's assessment of what is happening in the book, because one of the characters is the memoirist.

Theme of the story

• The themes of moral choice, decency, and dignity come to the fore in the work. Grinev demonstrates high moral values, and Shvabrin demonstrates their absence, and we see the influence of these circumstances on their destinies. Thus, Pushkin shows that moral superiority always gives a person an advantage, even though he disdains cunning that would lead him to his goal faster. Despite the fact that Alesey used all his resourcefulness, the victory still remained with Peter: Maria remained with him as a good name.
• Honor and dishonor. Each hero faced a choice between honor and dishonor, and everyone made it differently: Maria chose devotion over a profitable marriage (Peter’s father initially did not consent to the marriage, so she risked remaining an old maid, driving Alexei away), Grinev more than once decided in favor of moral duty, even when it came to life and death, but Shvabrin always chose benefit, shame was not scary for him. We examined this question in detail in the essay “”.
• Theme of education. The example of the main character will help you understand what a good family upbringing means, that is, what dishonest people lack, and how this affects their lives. Shvabrin's childhood passed us by, but we can say with confidence that he did not receive the most important spiritual foundations on which nobility is built.
• The main themes include love: the union of Peter and Mary is an ideal for loving hearts. Throughout the novel, the hero and heroine defended their right to live together, even against their parents’ will. They were able to prove that they were worthy of each other: Grinev repeatedly stood up for the girl, and she saved him from execution. The theme of love is revealed with the sensitivity characteristic of Pushkin: young people vow to each other eternal devotion, even if fate never brings them together again. And they fulfill their obligations.
• Examples from “The Captain’s Daughter” will be useful for the topics “man and state”, “power and man”. They illustrate the violent nature of power, which cannot but be cruel by definition.

Main problems

• The problem of power. Pushkin discusses which government is better and why: anarchic, spontaneous Pugachevism or Catherine’s monarchy? It is obvious that the peasants chose the first over the second, risking their own lives. The nobles, on the contrary, defended the order that was convenient for them. Social contradictions have divided the united people into two opposing camps, and each, it turns out, has its own truth and its own charter. Historical issues also include questions about the justice of the rebellion, the moral assessment of its leader, the legality of the empress’s actions, etc.
• The problem of man and history. What role do historical events play in the fate of a person? Obviously, the rebellion put Peter in a difficult position: he was forced to test his character to the limit. Surrounded by enemies, he did not change his convictions and risked openly not taking their side. He was threatened with certain death, but he chose honor over life, and retained both. Pugachevism is the dark side of history, with the help of which Pushkin shaded the fate of the characters. Even the title of the novel “The Captain's Daughter” speaks about this: the author named it after a fictional heroine, and not Pugachev or Catherine.
• The problem of growing up and raising a person. What must a person go through to become an adult? Thanks to Pugachev's rebellion, the young man matured early and became a real warrior, but the price of such an evolution can be called too expensive.
• The problem of moral choice. The work has antagonistic heroes Shvabrin and Grinev, who behave differently. One chooses betrayal for his own good, the other puts honor above personal interests. Why is their behavior so different? What influenced their moral development? The author comes to the conclusion that the problem of immorality can only be solved individually: if morality is respected in a family, then all its representatives will follow duty, and if not, then the person will not stand the test and will only grovel and cheat, and not take care of honor.
• The problem of honor and duty. The hero sees his destiny in serving the empress, but in reality it turns out that she is not worth much in the eyes of Catherine. And the duty, if you look at it, is very doubtful: while the people were rebelling against tyranny, the army helped to suppress it, and the question of the honor of participating in this violent act is very doubtful.
• One of the main problems of the work “The Captain's Daughter” is social inequality. It was this that stood between the citizens of one country and directed them at each other. Pugachev rebelled against him and, seeing Grinev’s friendly gesture, spared him: he didn’t hate the nobles, but their arrogance towards the people who fed the entire state.

The meaning of the work

Any power is hostile towards the common man, be it the imperial crown or military leaders. It always involves the suppression of the individual and a harsh regime that is contrary to human nature. “God forbid we see a Russian rebellion, senseless and merciless,” sums up Pushkin. This is the main idea of ​​the work. Therefore, serving the fatherland and the tsar are not the same thing. Grinev honestly fulfilled his duty, but he could not leave his beloved in the hands of a scoundrel, and his essentially heroic actions were regarded by the empress as betrayal. If Peter had not done this, he would have already been served, become a weak-willed slave of a system to which human life is alien. Therefore, mere mortals, who are not given the opportunity to change the course of history, must maneuver between orders and their moral principles, otherwise a mistake will be too costly.

Beliefs determine a person’s actions: Grinev was raised as a decent nobleman and behaved accordingly, but Shvabrin did not pass the test, his life values ​​were limited to the desire to remain a winner at any cost. This is also where Pushkin’s idea is felt - to show how to preserve honor if temptations are frolicking on all sides. According to the author, it is necessary to instill in boys and girls from childhood an understanding of morality and true nobility, expressed not in the panache of a dress, but in worthy behavior.

A person’s growing up is inevitably associated with trials that determine his moral maturity. There is no need to be afraid of them; they must be overcome with courage and dignity. This is also the main idea of ​​the novel “The Captain's Daughter”. If Peter had remained an “expert in greyhound cables” and an official in St. Petersburg, then his life would have turned out ordinary and, most likely, he would never have understood anything about it. But the adventures that his stern father pushed him on quickly raised the young man to be a man who understood military affairs, love and the people around him.

What does it teach?

The novel has a pronounced edifying tone. Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin calls on people to take care of their honor from a young age and not to succumb to temptations to turn from an honest path onto a crooked path. A momentary advantage is not worth the loss of a good name; this statement is illustrated by a love triangle, where the main character chooses the worthy and virtuous Peter over the cunning and inventive Alexei. One sin inevitably leads to another, and a series of falls ends in complete collapse.

Also in “The Captain's Daughter” there is a message to love faithfully and not give up on your dreams, no matter what happens. Marya is without a dowry, and any marriage proposal should have been a great success in her case. However, she rejects Alexei over and over again, although she risks being left with nothing. Peter was denied an engagement, and he would hardly have gone against his parents' blessing. But the girl rejected all rational arguments and remained faithful to Grinev, even when there was no reason for hope. Her lover was the same. For their constancy, both heroes were rewarded by fate.

Criticism

V. F. Odoevsky in a letter to Pushkin expressed his admiration for the story, he especially liked Savelich and Pugachev - they were “masterfully drawn.” However, he considered the image of Shvabrin unviable: he was not passionate and stupid enough to take the side of the rebels and believe in their success. In addition, he demanded marriage from the girl, although he could have used her at any moment, since she was only a captive: “Masha has been in his power for so long, but he does not take advantage of these minutes.”

P. A. Katerinin calls the historical novel “natural, alluring and intelligent,” noting its similarities with “Eugene Onegin.”

V. A. Sollogub highly valued the restraint and logic of the narrative, rejoicing that Pushkin “overcame himself” and did not indulge in lengthy descriptions and “impulses.” He spoke about the style of the work as follows: “calmly distributed all parts of his story in due proportions, established his style with dignity, calmness and laconicism of history and conveyed the historical episode in a simple but harmonious language.” The critic believes that the writer has never been so elevated in the value of his books.

N.V. Gogol said that “The Captain’s Daughter” is much better than anything that was previously published in the world of prose. He said that reality itself seems like a caricature compared to what the writer depicted.

V. G. Belinsky was more restrained in his praise and singled out only minor characters, whose description is “a miracle of perfection.” The main characters did not make any impression on him: “The insignificant, colorless character of the hero of the story and his beloved Marya Ivanovna and the melodramatic character of Shvabrin, although they belong to the sharp shortcomings of the story, do not prevent it from being one of the remarkable works of Russian literature.” P.I. Tchaikovsky also spoke out about the spinelessness of Masha Mironova, who refused to write an opera based on this novel.

A. M. Skabichevsky also analyzed the work, speaking about the book with unwavering respect: “... you see historical impartiality, the complete absence of any patriotic praise and sober realism ... in Pushkin’s “The Captain's Daughter.” He, unlike Bellinsky, praised the image of the main character and noted his exceptional truthfulness and typical features for the depicted era.

Conflicting characteristics were given by critic N.N. Strakhov and historian V.O. Klyuchevsky. The first criticized Pushkin for the fact that his historical story has nothing to do with history, but is a chronicle of the fictional Grinev family. The second, on the contrary, spoke about the exceptional historicism of the book and that even in the author’s research less is said about Pugachevism than in a historical work.

Life experience is the experience that a person acquires during his life, making mistakes, and based on the example of these mistakes he draws certain conclusions. And what does life experience consist of? From actions done, words spoken, decisions made, both right and wrong. It is human nature to make mistakes in any situation, even the simplest ones. Having made a mistake, a person will draw a conclusion from it, receive a life lesson, and understand how to act in similar situations. And if you don’t make mistakes, then how can you gain this life experience? I think in this case a person does not acquire it. Therefore, mistakes are a key component of life experience. Let us prove this with examples from literary works.

In the work of A.S. Pushkin's "The Captain's Daughter" Pyotr Grinev arrives for military service at the Belogorsk fortress. At first, knowing absolutely no one there, he makes friends with Shvabrin. At first glance, Shvabrin seems to Grinev to be an interesting, intelligent conversationalist and a decent person. Pyotr Grinev trusts him completely. But what Shvabrin really is, Peter finds out only as the story progresses. Shvabrin ultimately reveals himself as a deceitful and lowly decent person. He proved this with his actions. He slandered Grinev’s song, written by Masha Mironova, and then in a duel strikes Peter “from behind,” taking advantage of an opportune moment. And at the end of the story he goes over to the opponent’s side. Peter's mistake is that he trusted a complete stranger. This caused him unnecessary difficulties in the Belogorsk fortress. But this mistake taught him a life lesson. Peter drew conclusions for himself and gained some life experience.

In another work by A.S. Pushkin's "Eugene Onegin" the main character also makes a mistake, which later teaches him a life lesson. So, Tatyana Larina falls in love with the main character of this novel, Eugene Onegin. She confesses her feelings to him, counting on a further relationship with Eugene, but is refused. Eugene made this decision without thinking it through at all. He relies only on his feelings, without thinking at all about the consequences. But soon Evgeniy realizes that he loves Tatiana, wants her to be with him and writes her a letter. But Evgeny realized this too late. Tatyana was already married and, perhaps, she still had feelings for Evgeniy, but she was not going to forgive him. So, having made a mistake one day, Evgeniy was left without the person he really needed. But this mistake also taught the main character and gave him life experience.

I agree that mistakes are a key component of life's experience. Using the example of two works by A.S. Pushkin’s “The Captain’s Daughter” and “Eugene Onegin” we can conclude that it is from such mistakes, discussed in the examples, that life experience is accumulated. To gain life experience, you need to make mistakes. And these mistakes cannot be avoided.