/ / / Female images in Nekrasov’s poem “Who Lives Well in Rus'”

Numerous creative works Nikolai Nekrasov were dedicated to the ordinary Russian people, who were subjected to severe oppression. The poet repeatedly tried to reveal the theme of the life of an ordinary peasant, to illuminate all the subtleties of existence.

The author feels a special attitude towards the woman, the ordinary peasant woman, who took on an overwhelming burden and carried it with dignity. After all, how was it possible to save a family, raise and raise children in such a difficult time?

Nekrasov also treats female characters with respect in his grandiose poem "". Already at the beginning of the work, the reader can familiarize himself with a generalized description of a simple woman - a worker, an ordinary peasant woman. Before us appear images of both young girls and envious women who have always been and will be among people.

Then, in one of the parts of the poem called “Drunken Night,” the author introduces us to Daryushka, thin and exhausted from work. Day and night she is in the service of rich people, carrying out all assignments and orders.

Continuing to read the text of the poem, the reader becomes acquainted with the most striking female image. Before us. In the chapter “Peasant Woman,” Nekrasov describes the fate and life of this woman from a young age to this day. Using her example, one can trace life path any peasant woman, filled with difficulties and hardships. However, her persistent character and desire to live shows the reader how strong and strong-willed the Russian people were.

Matryona Timofeevna is extraordinarily beautiful. She has a real Russian appearance - black eyebrows, thick hair, big eyes. Having told the emotional life story, Matryona told the wanderers about everything that she had to endure. She had a happy childhood, which ended after marriage. Hard work fell on her shoulders. She had to please the owners of the estate where she worked, fulfilling any whim.

The heroine could only cry to old man Savely. However, he also reluctantly offended the woman, causing her severe pain. The old man did not keep track of Matryona’s little son, “fed him to the pigs.” And then they accused Matryona of the deliberate murder of the baby and ordered an autopsy. And there’s nothing you can do, you can’t trample against the judges. Savely ordered Matryona to just endure.

Further, the heroine withstood both the hungry years and the cruel insults of those around her. And she was able to defend her husband, begging the governor’s wife for his release from soldiering. For such efforts, for her willpower, they called Matryona Korchagina the happiest. However, the heroine did not think so. According to her, a woman cannot be happy, because fate told her to worry and empathize for everyone, to take on someone else’s work and do it with dignity.

Nikolai Alekseevich, creating the image of a Russian woman in the poem, tried to describe how difficult her lot was, what difficult work she had to do. However, despite this, the simple peasant woman retained her femininity, beauty and kindness, the desire to be loved, to give birth and raise her children.

The most prominent representative of female images is Matryona Timofeevna Korchagina, a peasant woman to whom the third part of N.A.’s poem is dedicated. Nekrasov “Who Lives Well in Rus'.” Already her description evokes genuine interest in the image, admiration for her strength and stamina: “A dignified woman, Wide and dense, About 38 years old. Beautiful; gray hair, large, stern eyes, rich eyelashes, stern and dark.”

Among the peasants interviewed, she is called lucky. But her life is far from ideal. Matryona describes her life to the wandering men. Nekrasov depicts the very narrative of the heroine’s life story through laments and songs. So the author asserts the typical image for peasant women of that time. Matryona herself is sure that you shouldn’t even try to find happy ones among Russian women.

Biography of Matryona Timofeevna

Before her marriage, Matryona lived calmly and happily: drinking and swearing were not accepted in her family. Having moved to the house of her husband Philip Korchagin, she found herself in hell. She had to work for everyone, she was subjected to unfair attacks from her mother-in-law, while her husband was away at work and could not protect her.

The hardships of Matryona Korchagina's life

Only grandfather Savely was kind to her - he helped her in any way he could - either in word or in action. Matryona Timofeevna has seen a lot of grief in her life: the manager’s harassment, the death of her two-year-old first-born Demushka, who, due to Savely’s carelessness, was chewed up by pigs. She was unable to even bury her son according to Christian traditions - right in front of the woman, a local doctor performed an autopsy on the little body to examine the cause of the boy’s death.

Years later, Matryona Timofeevna was punished with rods instead of her eight-year-old son Fedot. In times of famine, Matryona’s husband, the main breadwinner of their family, is taken into service out of turn.

Desperate, Matryona goes to the city and throws herself at the feet of the governor. She helps Matryona by becoming godmother to her newborn son Liodor. Misfortunes continued to haunt the woman - one of her sons was taken into the army, the hut burned down twice, anthrax was a guest in the house three times.

Conclusion

The story ends with the statement that the keys to women's happiness have been lost by God. The theme of the female share is typical for the work of N.A. Nekrasova. He sincerely sympathizes with the fate of the Russian peasant woman and hopes for her speedy improvement. I think Matryona Timofeevna is the ideal peasant woman for Nekrasov.

• Preparatory materials for an essay on the works of Nekrasov.

N. A. Nekrasov

Sample essay text

The image of a Russian woman in the poetry of N. A. Nekrasov

Every writer strives to create in his works a type of woman that would express his ideas about the ideal heroine. Such are Pushkin’s Tatyana Larina, Turgenev’s girls: Liza Kapitana, Natalya Lasunskaya, Elena Stakhova. These wonderful heroines, who embodied the best traits of the Russian character, were generated by the nobility. Nekrasov introduces a new heroine into his poems and poems - a peasant woman who combines the moral purity characteristic of noble girls and hard work, perseverance, and strength of character, which are formed precisely by the peasant environment.

In the poet’s early poems we see, as it were, the first sketches of the future bright and expressive image of the “majestic Slavic woman.” Nekrasov’s first poem, which brought him fame, "On the road" dedicated to the fate of the peasant girl Grusha, who was destroyed by the gentlemen with their apparent kindness. Having given her a noble upbringing and education, they then returned her to the peasant environment, from which she had completely alienated herself. This dramatic fate of an educated girl from the people, dependent on the whim of the master, appears before us in the story of her husband, the coachman. The fates of Russian peasant women are surprisingly similar to each other in that they are filled to the brim with grief, resentment, humiliation, and backbreaking labor. Therefore in the poem "Troika", painting a charming portrait of a “black-browed savage,” the author sadly foresees her future life, which will turn this charming creature full of life into an early aged woman, in whose face “an expression of dull patience and senseless eternal fear will suddenly appear.” Thus, drawing images of peasant women, the author persistently asserts the idea that unbearable living conditions, lack of rights, and slavery ruin their destinies, cripple their souls, in which strength is uselessly extinguished, desires and aspirations are killed. The poem “The village suffering is in full swing” tells about the hard lot of women. The basis of the life of the nameless heroine of this poem is endless hard labor, which exhausts her strength and does not allow her to rest.

The poor woman is exhausted,
A column of insects sways above her,
It stings, tickles, buzzes!

Lifting a heavy roe deer,
The woman cut her bare leg -
There is no time to stop the bleeding!

This realistically drawn picture gives a vivid idea of ​​the life of a free peasant woman, for the poem was written in 1862, that is, after the abolition of serfdom. The fate of the Russian woman from the people still remains difficult. But these unbearable conditions strengthen a woman’s character, forcing her to endure life’s trials with steadfastness.

To Daria's share from the poem "Jack Frost" a terrible grief befalls - the death of the husband, the breadwinner, the support and hope of the family. But it is not only the poverty that threatens in the near future that is drying up Daria. The worst thing for her is the loss of her beloved husband. Pride forces her to hold back the approaching tears, which nevertheless spill onto the “coffin canvas.” Daria's courageous and persistent character is manifested in the fact that she herself sews a shroud for her deceased husband, carefully takes the children to a neighbor, and goes to the forest for firewood immediately after the funeral. Pictures of Daria's dying dream reveal her high moral qualities- devoted love for husband and children, hard work, willpower. To express his deep sympathy for the heroine, the author uses such epithets to create her image as “bitter widow”, “young widow”, and affectionately calls her “Daryushka”. The poet uses a metaphor here in a very unexpected way. The tears of the crying Daria either fall like rain, then flow out like overripe grains, or harden into pearls. Mentally speaking to her husband, endlessly grieving for him, Daria courageously faces trouble, taking care of the children. But she is so accustomed to sharing her joys and sorrows with Proclus that even after his death, thinking about her son’s upcoming wedding, she addresses her deceased husband as if he were alive.

Didn’t I try to take care of him?
Did I regret anything?
I was afraid to tell him
How I loved him!

How much tenderness, love, care, affection and warmth is contained in these simple, artless words! Even the hard peasant labor is painted with light, joyful tones in the picture of the heroine’s dying dream, because in it next to her are those who are dearest to her: a caring, hardworking husband, an agile little son Grishukha, a beautiful playful Masha. This bright, festive picture is the last thing the freezing Daria sees. Only in death does she find peace and happiness, for life promises her only hopeless need and grief. This means that Daria’s misfortune reflected the tragedy of many peasant women: wives, sisters, mothers. It is not for nothing that in the poem the author’s narration about the sad fate of the heroine is interrupted by the poet’s excited monologue about Russian peasant women. In it, he draws a generalized image of a “majestic Slavic woman” who “will stop a galloping horse and enter a burning hut.”

Beauty, the world is a wonder,
Blush, slim, tall,
She is beautiful in any clothes,
Dexterous for any job.

He endures both hunger and cold,
Always patient, even...
I saw how she squints:
With a wave, the mop is ready!

This bright, expressive portrait reveals the high moral traits of a peasant woman: strength, endurance, hard work, integrity of character, modesty, dignity. The Russian peasant woman, crushed by backbreaking labor, nevertheless managed to preserve a free heart, strength of spirit, physical and spiritual beauty even in slavery. Perhaps, these features of a Russian woman from the people were most fully embodied in the image of Matryona Timofeevna Korchagina from the poem "Who lives well in Rus'". But there is also something new in her that distinguishes her from other heroines of Nekrasov. She protests against her slave position and actively fights for her happiness. Actually, Matryona Timofeevna’s whole life, which she tells the truth-seekers about, is an endless stubborn struggle with grief, injustice, humiliation, and lawlessness. Introducing readers to his heroine, Nekrasov gives her portrait, which expresses the popular idea of ​​female beauty.

Matrena Timofeevna,
dignified woman,
Wide and dense
About thirty-eight years old.
Beautiful: gray hair,
The eyes are large, strict,
The richest eyelashes,
Severe and dark.

The entire appearance of Nekrasov’s heroine is full of dignity and calm restraint. In her life, short joys were replaced by severe misfortunes, which, however, did not break her strong nature. The enormous spiritual powers of this woman helped her endure the terrible death of her first-born Demushka, they gave her the strength to protect her second son Fedotushka from cruel punishment, and to achieve the abolition of her husband’s illegal conscription. She achieved her relative well-being herself, bravely struggling with troubles and adversity, defending her human dignity. Matryona Timofeevna's story about her life is crowned with a parable about the keys to women's happiness.

The keys to women's happiness,
From our free will
Abandoned, lost
From God himself.

In Nekrasov’s poem there is an optimistic thought that the “keys” must be found, for the Russian peasant woman deserves a happy and free life, which will help realize her rich moral powers, finding worthy use for them.

Essay text:

In Nekrasov’s poem “Who Lives Well in Rus'”, the main character of the great poet’s work, the people, appears more fully and brightly than in other works. Here Nekrasov draws various types of peasants, comprehensively showing their life both in grief and in “happiness”.
One of the most striking in the poem is the image of Matryona Timofeevna, a typical Russian peasant woman, an image that embodies the traits of all the women of Mother Rus' with their difficult and sometimes tragic fate, but who managed to preserve their natural intelligence, kindness, and love for their neighbors.
The images of peasant women drawn by Nekrasov in works written before the poem “Who Lives Well in Rus'” are incomparable with the image of Matryona Timofeevna. If earlier the poet portrayed the peasant woman as patient, downtrodden ("You are all embodied fear, You are all the age-old languor"), submissive ("To the death of a slave to submit"), now he strives to show the emergence in a Russian woman of anger, protest against inhuman conditions, desire get rid of humility and submission.
Matryona Timofeevna appears before us in all her greatness: she is “stern and dark,” “a dignified woman, broad and dense, about thirty-eight years old.” Nekrasov describes the beauty of Matryona Timofeevna with warmth and love: “... graying hair, large, stern eyes, rich eyelashes...”
A peasant woman tells the wanderers the deeply moving story of her life. Her family “was good,” they didn’t drink, everyone loved her, cared for her and spoiled her. The girl grew up cheerful and hard-working, she loved nature, did not know trouble and sorrow.
But after Matryona’s marriage, fate turned away from her. Matryona’s path was difficult: her new family did not like her, everyone tried to offend her, overwhelm her with work, and her husband did not spoil her. But then she gave birth to a son, Demushka, who drove “all the anger from the soul” of the mother. Matryona calmed down: “No matter what they tell me, I work, no matter how much they scold me, I remain silent.”
But trouble doesn’t go alone. My beloved Demushka died, my parents and grandfather Savely, a man spiritually close to Matryona, died, and my husband was almost drafted into the army.
Matryona did not remain a soldier; pride awoke in her, anger and resentment at such injustice. With her own strength, the peasant woman achieved the return of her husband Philip, and did not submit to fate.
After a story about the most severe trials she endured in life, Matryona Timofeevna confesses to the wanderers: “I have a bowed head, I carry an angry heart...”
Matryona Timofeevna is a worthy granddaughter of grandfather Savely; in courage and vitality she is in no way inferior to him. She does not tolerate, but acts, seeks and finds a way out of the most difficult situations. The character of this woman is a new type in the depiction of the peasantry. And although not all vices have yet been exterminated, new character traits, previously not characteristic of the people, are already emerging here. The type of peasant rebel, fighter and patriot appears.
I believe that the image of Matryona Timofeevna deepens the understanding of life ordinary people, shows their development, initial fearlessness and courage combined with kindness, affection, and dedication.
The image of Matryona Timofeevna is in many ways a new type of Russian peasant woman.

The rights to the essay “The Image of a Russian Woman in N. A. Nekrasov’s Poem “Who Lives Well in Rus'”” belong to its author. When quoting material, it is necessary to indicate a hyperlink to

The image of a Russian woman and her fate occupy a special place in Nekrasov’s poetry. A woman is always the main bearer of life, the embodiment of its fullness and diversity. In the poem “Who Lives Well in Rus',” the largest of all chapters, “The Peasant Woman,” is devoted to understanding the female lot. The image of Matryona Timofeevna embodied the features of all Russian women connected by the same fate. A woman’s lot is hard and sometimes tragic, but, not bending under the blows of fate, the Russian woman remains the embodiment of wisdom, kindness and love.

Matryona Timofeevna Korchagina is not young, and, probably, it is no coincidence that the poet inscribed her image in the most mature, most fertile time of nature - the time of harvest. After all, maturity implies summing up life's results, rethinking the years lived - a kind of harvesting.

What does Matryona Timofeevna reap? Nekrasov shows the Russian peasant woman in all her greatness:

dignified woman,

Wide and dense

About thirty-eight years old.

Beautiful; gray streaked hair,

The eyes are big and strict

The richest eyelashes,

Severe and dark.

It was to her, the sensible and strong one, that the poet entrusted the story about the difficult lot of women. This part of the poem, the only one of all, is written in the first person. But the voice of a peasant woman is the voice of the entire people, who are accustomed to expressing their feelings in song. That’s why Matryona Timofeevna often doesn’t talk, but sings. The entire chapter is based by the poet on folk poetic images and motifs. We see traditional rituals of peasant matchmaking, wedding cries and lamentations. We hear folk songs and the personal fate of the heroine seems to be the fate of the entire Russian people. Matryona Timofeevna lived a hard life. Happy in her maidenhood, she sipped "goryushka", falling "from the maiden holiday to hell." Like all her contemporaries, resentment, humiliation, and backbreaking work awaited her in her new family. These women had one joy - their children. So is Demushka - “my handsome man drove away all the anger from my soul with an angelic smile.” But Demushka died and Matryona was orphaned. Other relatives also died, and my husband was under threat of being recruited. Matrena Timofeevna defended him and did not become a soldier:

Thanks to the governor

Elena Alexandrovna,

I'm so grateful to her

Like a mother!

From the moment the peasant woman begged for her happiness, they nicknamed her “governor” and “glorified her as a lucky woman.”

Raising children... Isn't it joy?

The men are perplexed: were they really looking for such happiness? But the courageous woman Matryona Timofeevna does not complain about her fate, adequately repelling all its blows. Isn't her happiness in her strength of character? After all, a weak person cannot be happy; he is always dissatisfied with his fate.

Nekrasov is one of the few writers who admires a woman not for her “sweet” weakness, femininity, but for the strength of character of a Russian woman, her resilience, and ability to defend her rightness. The image of Matryona Timofeevna Korchagina is one of the most vivid and capacious images of the poem, personifying the fate of Russia itself.