"What to do?", Analysis of the novel by Chernyshevsky. Characteristics of the main characters of the work What to do, Chernyshevsky. Their images and description The idea of ​​\ u200b \ u200bthe novel what to do chernyshevsky

The novel by N. G. Chernyshevsky "What is to be done?" created by him in the chamber of the Peter and Paul Fortress in the period from 12/14/1862 to 04/04/1863. in three and a half months. From January to April 1863, parts of the manuscript were transferred to the commission on the writer's case for censoring. The censorship found nothing reprehensible and allowed the publication. The oversight was soon discovered and the censor Beketov was removed from office, but the novel had already been published in the journal Sovremennik (1863, No. 3-5). The bans on the issues of the magazine did not lead to anything and the book was distributed throughout the country in "samizdat".

In 1905, under Emperor Nicholas II, the ban on publication was lifted, and in 1906 the book was published in a separate edition. The reaction of readers to the novel is interesting, as they are divided in opinions into two camps. Some supported the author, others considered the novel devoid of artistry.

Analysis of the work

1. Socio-political renewal of society through revolution. In the book, the author, due to censorship, could not expand on this topic in more detail. It is given by half-hints in the description of Rakhmetov's life and in the 6th chapter of the novel.

2. Moral and psychological. That a person with the power of his mind is able to create in himself new given moral qualities. The author describes the whole process from small (the fight against despotism in the family) to large-scale, that is, revolution.

3. Women's emancipation, norms of family morality. This topic is revealed in the history of Vera's family, in the relationship of three young people before Lopukhov's alleged suicide, in Vera's first 3 dreams.

4. Future socialist society. This is a dream of a beautiful and bright life, which the author unfolds in the 4th dream of Vera Pavlovna. Here is the vision of lightened labor with the help of technical means, that is, the technogenic development of production.

(Chernyshevsky writes a novel in the chamber of the Peter and Paul Fortress)

The pathos of the novel is the propaganda of the idea of ​​transforming the world through revolution, the preparation of minds and the expectation of it. Moreover, the desire to actively participate in it. The main goal of the work is the development and implementation of a new method of revolutionary education, the creation of a textbook on the formation of a new worldview for every thinking person.

Story line

In the novel, it actually covers the main idea of ​​the work. It was not for nothing that at first even the censors considered the novel nothing more than a love story. The beginning of the work, deliberately entertaining, in the spirit of French novels, aimed to confuse the censorship and, along the way, attract the attention of the majority of the reading public. The plot is based on an uncomplicated love story, which hides the social, philosophical and economic problems of that time. Aesop's narrative language is permeated through and through with the ideas of the coming revolution.

The plot is as follows. There is an ordinary girl Vera Pavlovna Rozalskaya, whom the selfish mother tries in every possible way to pass off as a rich man. Trying to avoid this fate, the girl resorts to the help of her friend Dmitry Lopukhov and enters into a fictitious marriage with him. Thus, she gains freedom and leaves her parents' house. In search of earnings, Vera opens a sewing workshop. This is not an ordinary workshop. There is no hired labor here, women workers have their share of the profits, therefore they are interested in the prosperity of the enterprise.

Vera and Aleksandr Kirsanov are mutually in love. To free his imaginary wife from remorse, Lopukhov fakes a suicide (it is with his description that the whole action begins) and leaves for America. There he acquired a new name, Charles Beaumont, became an agent of an English firm and, fulfilling its assignment, came to Russia to acquire a stearic plant from the industrialist Polozov. Lopukhov at Polozov's house meets his daughter Katya. They fall in love with each other, the affair ends with a wedding. Now Dmitry is announced to the Kirsanov family. Friendship begins with families, they settle in the same house. Around them, a circle of "new people" is formed who want to arrange their own and social life in a new way. Lopukhov-Beumont's wife Ekaterina Vasilievna also joins the business, arranges a new sewing workshop. Such is the happy ending.

main characters

The central character of the novel is Vera Rozalskaya. She is especially sociable, belongs to the type of "honest girls" who are not ready to compromise for a profitable marriage without love. The girl is romantic, but, despite this, she is quite modern, with good administrative inclinations, as they would say today. Therefore, she was able to interest the girls and organize a sewing production and more than one.

Another character in the novel is Dmitry Sergeevich Lopukhov, a student at the Medical Academy. Somewhat closed, prefers loneliness. He is honest, decent and noble. It was these qualities that prompted him to help Vera in her difficult situation. For her sake, he drops out of his last year and begins to engage in private practice. Considered the official husband of Vera Pavlovna, he behaves towards her in the highest degree decent and noble. The apogee of his nobility is his decision to stage his own death in order to allow Kirsanov and Vera, who love each other, to unite their fates. Just like Vera, he refers to the formation of new people. Smart, adventurous. This can be judged if only because the British firm entrusted him with a very serious matter.

Kirsanov Alexander is the husband of Vera Pavlovna, Lopukhov's best friend. He is very impressed by his attitude towards his wife. He not only loves her dearly, but is also looking for something to do for her in which she could fulfill herself. The author feels deep sympathy for him and speaks of him as a courageous person who knows how to carry on to the end the work he has undertaken. At the same time, the person is honest, deeply decent and noble. Not knowing about the true relationship between Vera and Lopukhov, having fallen in love with Vera Pavlovna, she disappears from their house for a long time, so as not to disturb the peace of his loved ones. Only Lopukhov's illness compels him to appear for the treatment of a friend. The fictitious husband, realizing the state of the lovers, imitates his death and makes room for Kirsanov next to Vera. Thus, lovers find happiness in family life.

(In the photo, the artist Karnovich-Valois in the role of Rakhmetov, the play "New People")

A close friend of Dmitry and Alexander, the revolutionary Rakhmetov is the most significant hero of the novel, although little space is allotted to him in the novel. In the ideological outline of the narrative he played a special role and is devoted to a separate digression in chapter 29. The person is extraordinary in all respects. At the age of 16, he left the university for three years and wandered around Russia in search of adventure and character education. This is a person with already formed principles in all spheres of life, in material, physical and spiritual. At the same time, he has an ebullient nature. He sees his future life in serving people and prepares for this, tempering his spirit and body. He even refused his beloved woman, because love can limit his actions. He would like to live like most people, but he cannot afford it.

In Russian literature, Rakhmetov became the first practical revolutionary. Opinions about him were completely opposite, from indignation to admiration. This is the ideal image of a revolutionary hero. But today, from the standpoint of knowledge of history, such a person could only arouse sympathy, since we know how accurately history proved the correctness of the words of the Emperor of France Napoleon Bonaparte: "Revolutions are conceived by heroes, performed by fools, and scoundrels use its fruits." Perhaps the voiced opinion does not quite fit into the framework of the image and characteristics of Rakhmetov formed for decades, but this is really so. The above does not in the least detract from the qualities of Rakhmetov, because he is a hero of his time.

According to Chernyshevsky, using the example of Vera, Lopukhov and Kirsanov, he wanted to show ordinary people of the new generation, of whom there are thousands. But without the image of Rakhmetov, the reader could have a deceptive opinion about the main characters of the novel. According to the writer, all people should be like these three heroes, but the highest ideal that all people should strive for is the image of Rakhmetov. And with this I completely agree.

His novel "What is to be done?" the famous Russian writer Nikolai Gavrilovich Chernyshevsky created during the period when he was imprisoned in one of the chambers of the Peter and Paul Fortress. The novel was written from December 14, 1862 to April 4, 1863, that is, the work, which became a masterpiece of Russian literature, was created in just three and a half months. Starting from January 1863 and until the author's final stay in custody, he handed over the manuscript in parts to the commission that dealt with the writer's case. Here the work was censored, which was approved. Soon the novel was published in 3, as well as 4 and 5 issues of the magazine "Sovremennik" for 1863. For such an oversight the censor Beketov lost his position. This was followed by the bans of all three issues of the magazine. However, it was already too late. Chernyshevsky's work spread throughout the country with the help of "samizdat".

And only in 1905, during the reign of Emperor Nicholas II, the ban was lifted. Already in 1906, the book "What is to be done?" published in a separate edition.

Who are the new heroes?

The reaction to Chernyshevsky's work was mixed. Readers, based on their opinion, were divided into two opposite camps. Some of them believed that the novel was devoid of artistry. The latter fully supported the author.

However, it is worth remembering that before Chernyshevsky, writers created images of "superfluous people." Pechorin, Oblomov and Onegin are a striking example of such heroes, who, despite the existing differences, are similar in their “clever uselessness”. These people, "pygmies of deed and titans of the word," were split natures, suffering from a constant discord between will and consciousness, deed and thought. In addition, their characteristic feature was moral exhaustion.

This is not how Chernyshevsky presents his heroes. He created images of "new people" who know what they need to desire, and are also able to carry out their own plans. Their thought goes next to deed. Their consciousness and will are not at odds with each other. Heroes of Chernyshevsky's novel "What is to be done?" are represented by bearers of a new morality and creators of new interhuman relations. They deserve the main attention of the author. No wonder even a summary of the chapters "What to do?" allows us to see that by the end of the second of them the author “dismisses from the stage” such representatives of the old world - Marya Alekseevna, Streshnikov, Serge, Julie and some others.

The main problematic of the essay

Even a very short summary of "What to do?" gives an idea of ​​the issues that the author raises in his book. And they are as follows:

- The need for socio-political renewal of society, which is possible through a revolution. Due to censorship, Chernyshevsky did not expand on this topic in more detail. He gave it in the form of half-hints when describing the life of one of the main characters - Rakhmetov, as well as in the 6th chapter.

- Psychological and moral problems. Chernyshevsky argues that a person, using the power of his mind, is able to create in himself new, given to him moral qualities. At the same time, the author develops this process, describing it from small, in the form of a struggle against despotism in the family, to the most ambitious, which found expression in the revolution.

- Problems of norms of family morality and female emancipation. The author reveals this topic in the first three dreams of Vera, in the history of her family, as well as in the relationship of young people and the alleged suicide of Lopukhov.

- Dreams of a bright and wonderful life that will come with the creation of a socialist society in the future. Chernyshevsky illuminates this topic thanks to the fourth dream of Vera Pavlovna. The reader sees here the lightweight work, which has become possible thanks to the development of technical means.

The main pathos of the novel is the propaganda of the idea of ​​transforming the world by accomplishing a revolution, as well as its expectation and preparation of the best minds for this event. At the same time, the idea is expressed about active participation in the upcoming events.

What was the main goal of Chernyshevsky? He dreamed of the development and implementation of the latest methodology that would allow the revolutionary education of the masses. His work was supposed to be a kind of textbook, with the help of which every thinking person would begin to form a new worldview.

The entire content of the novel "What is to be done?" Chernyshevsky is divided into six chapters. Moreover, each of them, except for the last, is further subdivided into small chapters. In order to emphasize the particular importance of the final events, the author speaks about them separately. To do this, the content of the novel "What is to be done?" Chernyshevsky includes a one-page chapter entitled "Change of Scenery".

The beginning of the story

Consider a summary of Chernyshevsky's novel "What is to be done?" Its plot begins with a note found, which a strange guest left in one of the rooms of a St. Petersburg hotel. It happened in 1823, on July 11. The note says that soon they will hear about its author on one of the bridges of St. Petersburg - Liteiny. At the same time, the man asked not to look for the guilty. The incident happened the same night. A man shot himself on the Liteiny Bridge. A perforated cap that belonged to him was fished out of the water.

Further, a summary of the novel "What is to be done?" introduces us to a young lady. On the morning when the event described above happened, she is at a dacha located on Kamenny Island. The lady sews, singing at the same time a bold and lively French song, which speaks of a working people, whose release will require a change of consciousness. The name of this woman is Vera Pavlovna. At this moment, the maid brings the lady a letter, after reading which she begins to sob, covering her face with her hands. The young man who entered the room makes attempts to calm her down. However, the woman is inconsolable. She pushes the young man away. At the same time she says: “His blood is on you! You're covered in blood! I am the only one to blame ... ".

What was said in the letter that Vera Pavlovna received? We can learn about this from the presented summary "What to do?". In his message, the writer indicated that he was leaving the stage.

The appearance of Lopukhov

What further we learn from the summary of Chernyshevsky's novel "What is to be done?" After the events described, a story follows that tells about Vera Pavlovna, about her life, as well as about the reasons that led to such a sad outcome.

The author says that his heroine was born in St. Petersburg. This is where she grew up. The lady's father - Pavel Konstantinovich Vozalsky - was the manager of the house. The mother was engaged in giving money on bail. The main goal of Marya Alekseevna (mother of Vera Pavlovna) was the beneficial marriage of her daughter. And to resolve this issue, she made every effort. The angry and close-minded Marya Alekseevna invites a music teacher to her daughter. She buys Vera beautiful clothes and goes to the theater with her. Soon, the son of the owner, the officer Storeshnikov, draws attention to the dark-skinned, beautiful girl. The young man decides to seduce Vera.

Marya Alekseevna hopes to force Streshnikov to marry her daughter. To do this, she requires Vera to be in favor of the young man. However, the girl perfectly understands the true intentions of her boyfriend and in every possible way refuses signs of attention. Somehow she even manages to mislead her mother. She pretends to be supportive of the ladies' man. But sooner or later the deception will be revealed. This makes Vera Pavlovna's position in the house simply unbearable. However, everything was suddenly resolved, and at the same time in the most unexpected way.

Dmitry Sergeevich Lopukhov appeared in the house. This graduate medical student was invited by Vera's parents to her brother Fedya as a teacher. At first, young people were very wary of each other. However, then their communication began to take place in conversations about music and about books, as well as about a fair direction of thought.

Time has passed. Vera and Dmitry felt sympathy for each other. Lopukhov learns about the plight of the girl and makes attempts to help her. He is looking for a place of governess for Vera. Such work would allow the girl to live separately from her parents.

However, all of Lopukhov's efforts were unsuccessful. He could not find such owners who would agree to take a girl who had run away from home. Then the young man in love takes another step. He leaves his studies and begins to engage in textbook translation and private lessons. This allows him to start receiving sufficient funds. At the same time, Dmitry makes an offer to Vera.

First dream

Vera has her first dream. In it, she sees herself emerging from a dark and damp basement and meeting an amazing beauty who calls herself love for people. Vera talks to her and promises to release girls from such basements, who are locked in them, as she was locked.

Family well-being

Young people live in a rented apartment, and everything is going well for them. However, the landlady notices the strangeness in their relationship. Vera and Dmitry call each other only "cute" and "cute", they sleep in separate rooms, entering them only after knocking, and so on. All this is surprising to a stranger. Vera tries to explain to the woman that this is a completely normal relationship between spouses. After all, this is the only way not to get bored with each other.

The young wife runs the house, gives private lessons, reads books. Soon she opens her own sewing workshop, in which the girls are self-employed, but receive part of the income as co-owners.

Second dream

What else we learn from the summary of Chernyshevsky's novel "What is to be done?" In the course of the plot, the author introduces us to Vera Pavlovna's second dream. In it, she sees a field with ears growing on it. There is also dirt. And one of them is fantastic, and the second is real.

Real dirt means caring for what is most needed in life. It was with this that Marya Alekseevna was constantly burdened. On this, ears can be grown. Fantastic dirt is a concern for the unnecessary and unnecessary. The ears will never grow on such soil.

The emergence of a new hero

The author shows Kirsanov as a strong-willed and courageous person, capable not only of decisive action, but also of subtle feelings. Alexander spends time with Vera when Dmitry is busy. Together with his friend's wife, he goes to the opera. However, soon, without explaining any reasons, Kirsanov ceases to come to the Lopukhovs, which greatly offends them. What was the real reason for this? Kirsanov's love for a friend's wife.

The young man reappeared in the house when Dmitry fell ill in order to cure him and help Vera in leaving. And here the woman realizes that she is in love with Alexander, which is why she is in complete confusion.

Third dream

From the summary of the work "What is to be done?" we learn that Vera Pavlovna has a third dream. In it, she reads the pages of her diary with the help of some unknown woman. From him she learns that she is only grateful to her husband. However, at the same time, Vera needs a gentle and quiet feeling, which she does not have for Dmitry.

Solution

The situation in which three decent and intelligent people found themselves, at first glance, seems insoluble. But Lopukhov finds a way out. He shoots himself on the Liteiny Bridge. On the day when Vera Pavlovna received this news, Rakhmetov came to her. This old acquaintance of Lopukhov and Kirsanov, who is called "a special person".

Acquaintance with Rakhmetov

In the summary of the novel “What to do”, the “special person” Rakhmetov is presented as the author of the “higher nature”, which Kirsanov helped to awaken in his time by familiarizing himself with the necessary books. The young man comes from a wealthy family. He sold his estate and distributed the proceeds for it to fellows. Now Rakhmetov adheres to a harsh lifestyle. In part, this was prompted by his unwillingness to possess what an ordinary person does not have. In addition, Rakhmetov set himself the goal of educating his own character. For example, to test his physical capabilities, he decides to sleep on nails. In addition, he does not drink wine and does not make acquaintances with women. In order to get closer to the people, Rakhmetov even walked with barge haulers along the Volga.

What else is said about this hero in Chernyshevsky's novel "What is to be done?" The summary makes it clear that Rakhmetov's entire life consists of sacraments, which have a clearly revolutionary sense. The young man has many things to do, but none of them are personal. He travels around Europe, but three years later he is going to Russia, where he will certainly need to be.

It was Rakhmetov who came to Vera Pavlovna after receiving a note from Lopukhov. After his persuasion, she calmed down and even became cheerful. Rakhmetov explains that Vera Pavlovna and Lopukhov had very different characters. That is why the woman reached out to Kirsanov. Soon Vera Pavlovna left for Novgorod. There she married Kirsanov.

The dissimilarity of the characters of Vera and Lopukhov was also mentioned in a letter that soon arrived from Berlin. In this message, some medical student who supposedly knew Lopukhov well, conveyed Dmitry's words that he began to feel much better after the separation of the spouses, as he always strove for solitude. And this is precisely what the sociable Vera Pavlovna did not allow him.

The life of the Kirsanovs

What then tells its reader the novel "What is to be done?" Nikolai Chernyshevsky? The summary of the work makes it possible to understand that the love affairs of the young couple settled well for the general pleasure. The Kirsanovs' lifestyle is not much different from that of the Lopukhov family.

Alexander works hard. As for Vera Pavlovna, she takes baths, eats cream and is already engaged in two sewing workshops. The house, as before, has neutral and common rooms. However, the woman notes that her new spouse does not just allow her to lead the way of life she likes. He is interested in her affairs and is ready to come to the rescue in difficult times. In addition, the husband perfectly understands her desire to master some urgent occupation and begins to help her in the study of medicine.

Fourth dream

Acquainted briefly with Chernyshevsky's novel "What is to be done?", We move on to the continuation of the plot. It tells us about the fourth dream of Vera Pavlovna, in which she sees the amazing nature and pictures from the life of women of different millennia.

First, the image of a slave appears before her. This woman obeys her master. After that, in a dream, Vera sees the Athenians. They begin to worship a woman, but at the same time they do not recognize her as their equal. Then the following image appears. This is a beautiful lady for the sake of which the knight is ready to fight in the tournament. However, his love immediately passes after the lady becomes his wife. Then, instead of the face of the goddess, Vera Pavlovna sees her own. It is not distinguished by perfect features, but at the same time it is illuminated with the radiance of love. And here comes the woman who was in the first dream. She explains to Vera the meaning of equality and presents pictures of the citizens of the future Russia. They all live in a house built of crystal, cast iron and aluminum. In the morning these people work, and in the evening they start having fun. The woman explains that this future must be loved and should be strived for.

Completion of the story

How does N. G. Chernyshevsky's novel "What is to be done?" The author tells his reader that guests often come to the Kirsanovs' house. The Beaumont family soon appears among them. When meeting with Charles Beaumont, Kirsanov recognizes him as Lopukhov. The two families are so close to each other that they decide to live further in the same house.

The main character of the novel. This is a beautiful, slender girl with a southern type of face. She has black hair and dark skin. Before meeting with Lopukhov, she lived with her mother, father and brother Fedya on Gorokhovaya Street in St. Petersburg. Vera's father was the manager of an apartment building, and her mother gave money at interest and dreamed of marrying her daughter to a rich man.

One of the main characters in the novel, a friend of Lopukhov, a commoner, later the husband of Vera Pavlovna. He is a tall, well-built man with dark blond hair and dark blue eyes. He has an oblong, strong-willed face of remarkable whiteness and a straight, Greek nose. He worked from the age of 12, helped his father in everything.

One of the main characters of the novel, husband and friend of Vera Pavlovna, a student at the medical academy, the son of a Ryazan landowner. In the Rozalskys' house, he falls as Fedya's teacher. There he meets Vera and sympathizes with her difficult situation in the family. Lopukhov's best friend is Kirsanov.

The character of the novel, who has an important purpose in the life of the main characters, according to the author, is a "special person", a friend of Lopukhov, a young man from a noble milieu. He is an honest and selfless person. From an early age, he set himself the goal of strengthening the will and becoming physically strong. For this, he became a laborer for several hours a day.

Polozova Katerina Vasilievna

An acquaintance of Vera Pavlovna, who was saved from death by her husband, Alexander Kirsanov. She was passionately in love with one rogue - Solovtsov. The father flatly refused to bless the marriage with him, and she fell ill with an illness. Kirsanov managed to convince her father to give her time to deal with Solovtsov, and she soon realized that he was a bad person. She was on the mend. At this time, her father goes bankrupt and sells the last plant. An American came to conclude the deal - Charles Beaumont, who turned out to be previously Lopukhov and the first husband of Vera Pavlovna. Caterina and Beaumont fall in love and soon get married. In the future, the Kirsanovs and Beaumont became close friends and began to live in neighboring apartments.

Charles Beaumont

An American who came as an agent of the London firm of Hodgson, Lottery and Co. to purchase the Polozov plant. He told everyone that he was born in Russia, but at the age of 20 his American father took him to New York. Now Charles has grown up and decided to return to Russia, finding a job in a London firm. At dinners with Polozov, he met his daughter, Katerina. He was keenly interested in her acquaintances - the Kirsanovs. We soon learn that Charles Beaumont is actually Dmitry Lopukhov. Beaumont and Catherine fall in love and then get married. Beaumont is put in charge of the former Polozov plant with a good salary. The Kirsanovs and Beaumont live together in neighboring apartments.

Mertsalov

Priest and friend of Lopukhov, who married them to Vera Pavlovna. Later, together with his wife, he became a close friend to Vera Pavlovna.

Mertsalova

The wife of the priest Mertsalov and a close friend of Vera Pavlovna. Over time, she became the head of one of her sewing workshops.

Julie

Frenchwoman, former Parisian prostitute, friend of Serge. Having learned about the bet between Storeshnikov and Zhan Solovtsov about Vera Pavlovna, she went and warned her. In the future, she helped her to promote a sewing workshop.

Solovtsov (Jean)

One of the most vile characters in the novel. First, he made a bet on Vera Pavlovna with Streshnikov. And then he wooed Katerina Polozova, so much so that it turned her head. He did not love her at all, but Katya's father was still a millionaire then, so he wanted his money. In the future, she figured out who he was and canceled the wedding.

Polozov

Katerina's father, retired captain or staff captain, former millionaire. Once he married a merchant's wife, successfully disposed of her dowry, and earned 3-4 million. At 60, he quarreled with one right person and lost almost all his money.

Storeshnikov

The groom of Vera Pavlovna, to whom her mother wanted to marry her. He did not love her, even argued against her as his mistress.

Marya Aleksevna

Mother of Vera Pavlovna. She really disliked her daughter, constantly shouted at her and dreamed of marrying everything off as a rich groom. Because of her, Vera Pavlovna had to run away from home, marrying Lopukhov.

Faith's father

A minor character, the father of Vera Pavlovna, who does not have his own opinion. Lives under the thumb of his wife.

Characteristics of the hero

Vera Pavlovna Rozalskaya is the main character of the novel. This is a beautiful girl with a southern type of face. She grew up in St. Petersburg in a multi-storey building on Gorokhovaya Street. From the age of twelve she has been attending the boarding house. She has a great talent for sewing, at the age of fourteen she sews for the whole family, at sixteen she begins to give lessons herself in a boarding house. She has a cheerful, sociable disposition. The heroine demonstrates maturity of character even in her youth. She is looked after by the son of the mistress Storeshnikov. On advice to marry him V.P. replies with a resolute refusal: "I want to be independent and live my own way; what I need myself, I’m ready for that; what I don’t need, I don’t want and don’t want ... I don’t want to demand anything from anyone, I I want not to constrain anyone's freedom and I myself want to be free. " Unable to endure the difficult home environment any longer, V.P. fictitiously marries the teacher of her brother Lopukhov, who loves her. Discussing with him the plan of her life together, she asks her future husband to treat her as an outsider, as this prevents impoliteness and strengthens family harmony. They live like brother and sister, in separate rooms, meeting in neutral territory for meals or conversations. V.P. begins to do her own thing: she opens a sewing workshop. The profits in this workshop are distributed equally among the workers. Thus, she saves many young girls from poverty and a dissolute life. The workshop becomes the main business of her life. Over time, V.P. realizes that he really loves not Lopukhov, but his friend Kirsanov. Lopukhov frees her from family relations, and she finds real happiness with Kirsanov. The dreams of V.P. : about the release of women; about real dirt, from which crops will be born, and rotten dirt, which gives birth to nothing; about her diary, from which she understands that she really does not love Lopukhov, but Kirsanov; about different epochs of human development and about people of the future.

Topic: - Rakhmetov is a "special" hero of N. Chernyshevsky's novel "What is to be done?"

“The Rakhmetovs are a different breed,” says Vera Pavlovna, “they merge with the common cause so that it is now a necessity for them that fills their life; for them it even replaces privacy. "
The novel by N. G. Chernyshevsky "What is to be done?" - a novel about new people, about their new life. This is an advanced, progressively minded intelligentsia from the common people. These are people of deed, not of abstract dreams; they strive to win happiness for the people in the struggle against the existing unjust social foundations. They love work, are ardently devoted to science, their moral ideals are high. These people build their relationships on mutual trust and respect. They do not know hesitation in the struggle, do not give in to difficulties. The heroes of the novel are fighting for the ideal of a brighter future, for a better life. Among them, the figure of the “special person” Rakhmetov stands out. Probably wanting to more convincingly prove to his readers that Lopukhov, Kirsanov and Vera Pavlovna are really ordinary people, Chernyshevsky brings to the stage the titanic hero Rakhmetov, whom he himself recognizes as extraordinary and calls a special person. Rakhmetov does not participate in the action of the novel. There are very few people like him: they are not satisfied with either science or family happiness; they love all people, suffer from any injustice committed, experience great sorrow in their own souls - the miserable vegetation of millions of people and devote themselves to the healing of this ailment with all their fervor.
In the novel, Rakhmetov became a true example of a comprehensively developed person who broke with his class and found his ideal, his goal in the life of the common people, in the struggle for their happiness. Critics wrote: "Even in the early student years, the rigorism of a special person was formed, that is, habits were developed for strict, adamant adherence to original principles in material, moral, and mental life." The path of an ordinary, good, kind and honest youth student began with reading books, with developing a new outlook on life. He went through the school of political education with the student of commoners Kirsanov. Rakhmetov took books for reading recommended by Kirsanov from bookstores. After reading such books, he was strengthened in the idea of ​​the need for an early improvement in the material and moral life of the most numerous and poorest class.
Rakhmetov studies and works at home, not abroad. He learns from Russian people who are busy with everyday work. First of all, he needs to know how materially constrained their life is in comparison with his own life. From the age of seventeen, he joins the harsh lifestyle of the common people. In his youth, he worked as a laborer for several hours a day: he transported water, carried firewood, dug earth, forged iron. Rakhmetov finally acquired the respect and love of ordinary people during his three-year wanderings around Russia, after he passed the whole Volga as a barge haule. The comrades in the shoulder strap affectionately christened him Nikitushka Lomov.
Rakhmetov, with his harsh lifestyle, raised the physical endurance and spiritual stamina necessary for future trials. Confidence in the correctness of their political ideals, the joy of fighting for the happiness of the people strengthened the spirit and strength of the fighter in them. Rakhmetov understood that the struggle for a new world would not be for life, but for death, and therefore prepared himself for it in advance. It seems to me that it does not take much effort and special imagination to understand the general nature of Rakhmetov's activities: he was constantly engaged in other people's affairs, he simply did not have personal affairs, everyone knew that. Rakhmetov deals with the affairs of other people, he is seriously working for society. Rakhmetov generally possessed many distinctive features. For example, outside his circle, he met only with people who have influence on others, who have authority. And it was difficult to dismiss Rakhmetov if he planned to meet someone for the sake of business. And with unnecessary people, he behaved simply in a boorish way.
Rakhmetov set up unimaginable experiments on his body and scared his mistress to death, Agrafena Antonovna, who rented him a room. He did not recognize love, suppressed this feeling in himself, not wanting to allow love to bind him hand and foot. Rakhmetov gave up love in the name of a great cause.
“Yes, funny people, even funny ... There are few of them, but the life of everyone around them flourishes with them; without them it would have died out, sour; there are few of them, but they enable all people to breathe, without them people would suffocate.
There is a great mass of honest and kind people, but such obsessed people are few; but they are in it - tein for tea, a bouquet in noble wine; from them her strength and aroma; it is the color of the best people, it is the engines of the engines, it is the salt of the earth ”.