Russian local nobility on the example of the Larins. Composition: Metropolitan and local nobility in the novel A

In his work, Pushkin paid attention to both the metropolitan and local nobility. He opposed home education, as it could not provide the nobles with all the knowledge. The author was annoyed by the mores of the metropolitan nobility of those times. Its representatives followed fashion trends, while they treated love as a science, performed actions for show, and not out of sincere motives. In their minds, the concept of friendship was distorted, because they called friends everyone who belonged to the same metropolitan nobility. In this environment, the formation of Onegin as a person took place.

The Larin family belongs to the local nobility. Their life is extremely different from the life of the capital's nobles. They are not talking about fashion trends and social events, but about haymaking, relatives, crops, etc. Despite the fact that the Larins were nobles, they were close to the common people. Onegin in his metropolitan society was accustomed to various delights, and in the Larins' house only traditional Russian dishes were prepared. Their home was always open to guests.

However, the local nobility was less educated, as it was located far from the capital. But Pushkin shows that in the life of both the capital and the local nobility there are dark and bright sides. Everywhere there are good people who are ready to help, as well as deceitful, evil and petty people.

Roman A.S. Pushkin "Eugene Onegin" was created over the course of seven years. The poet worked hard on it like no other work. Sometimes he called his scattered drafts of the novel in verse "notebooks", emphasizing the naturalism, realism of the sketches, which served as a kind of notebook for Pushkin, where he noted the features of the life of the society in which he moved.

V.G. Belinsky, despite the poverty of his critical article on "Eugene Onegin", belongs to the famous expression. He calls the novel "an encyclopedia of Russian life." And even if the critic’s further reflections are not characterized by logic and thoughtfulness, the above statement perfectly indicates the vastness and, no doubt, the epochal nature of the work.

The novel "Eugene Onegin" is called by literary critics the first realistic novel in the history of Russian literature. Pushkin also created a new type of character - the so-called "hero of time". Later, he will manifest himself in the work of M.Yu. Lermontov, and in the notes of I.S. Turgenev, and even F.M. Dostoevsky. The poet set himself the task of describing a person as he is, with all the vices and virtues. The main idea of ​​the novel is the need to show the confrontation between the Western, European, civilization and the original Russian, highly spiritual. This confrontation was reflected in the images of different types of nobility - the metropolitan, whose representative is Eugene Onegin, and the provincial, who owns the "sweet ideal" Tatyana Larina.

So, the European nobility, the capital, does not cause much sympathy for the author of the work. He very ironically describes the orders and customs of high society, emphasizing its emptiness, covered with ostentatious splendor. So, the nobles of the capital live, spending time at balls, dinner parties, walking. However, these amusements follow the same scenario day after day, so even Eugene often languishes with society.

The main value is European traditions, fashion, etiquette, the ability to behave in society. The most talented and educated people actually turn out to be empty, "superficial". The same Onegin studied with a Frenchwoman, and after that he was given to be raised by a "wretched Frenchman", who "taught everything in jest" to young Eugene. This led to the fact that the hero knew a little bit from everywhere, but he was not a master, a professional in any science. About Lensky, another representative of the capital's nobility, Pushkin writes modestly, making it clear that in Europe he received an equally superficial education, and brought with him from Germany only "freedom-loving dreams" and "black curls to the shoulders."

Like Onegin, Vladimir Lensky, a young idealist, was burdened by secular society, but at the same time, both heroes failed to break ties with him. So, for example, both of them, having cooled down, dream of forgetting about the duel, but at the same time, neither of them finds the strength to cancel the duel, since this contradicts secular concepts of honor and dignity. The price of this selfish desire not to lose face is the death of Lensky.

The provincial nobility is depicted by Pushkin in a much more favorable light. Village landowners live a completely different life: they still have a connection with the Russian people, Russian tradition, culture, and spirituality. That is why Tatiana likes to listen to her nanny's stories so much; Larina likes folklore legends, she is religious and devout.

A different life reigns in the village, more calm and simple, not spoiled by the pomposity of the world. But despite this, the provincial nobles try their best to match the capital: they throw feasts as rich as possible. The guests at the party amuse themselves with the game of whist and boston, as do the inhabitants of the capital, since they have no worthwhile occupation. "Young ladies" Olga and Tatyana speak French, as is customary in high society. This feature is touchingly noted by Pushkin in the scene when Larina writes a love letter to Onegin: “So,” says the author. - She wrote in French. "Sweet Ideal" reads with gusto French romance novels that replace everything for her, and Olga loves her album, in which she asks Lensky to write poetry for her. Such a desire to resemble the capital's nobles does not evoke a positive response from the poet.

But the adherence to traditions, the high spirituality of the provincial nobles are so attractive to A.S. Pushkin. These are sincere, kind and honest people, incapable of deception and betrayal, which reigns in the world of high society. The poet, as a true Christian, wants to see the Russian people as Russian, Orthodox, pious, who have abandoned the imposed European values. The same idea of ​​preserving “Russianness” was continued by other titans of Russian literature of the “Golden Age”, for example, L.N. Tolstoy or F.M. Dostoevsky.

Times are changing, and we are changing with them.

R. Owen

In the 20s of the 19th century, after the Patriotic War of 1812, an ideological stratification took place in Russian society into people with progressive views and those who still remained in the last century. That was the time of the rise of national self-consciousness, the strengthening of dissatisfaction with the autocracy.

The novel "Eugene Onegin" reflects all aspects of Russian life at the beginning of the 19th century, so the novel can be called "an encyclopedia of Russian life." Against the backdrop of changes in the life of Russia, Pushkin draws the life and customs of different groups of the nobility.

In the 1920s, the best part of the Russian nobility opposed serfdom and absolute monarchy. L.S. Pushkin portrayed Russian society in the early 19th century in his novel.

The novel also embodied provincial society. Thus, Russia of the 19th century is depicted in the novel by A.S. Pushkin "Eugene Onegin" on the example of representatives of the provincial and metropolitan society.

Pictures of the life of the capital and local nobility are organically included in Pushkin's realistic depiction of various aspects of the era. It is about the relationship of a person with his era and his society. A.S. Pushkin, using the example of the protagonist, reveals the lifestyle of the "golden noble youth".

Onegin, tired of the noise of the ball, returns late and wakes up only "after noon". The poet describes in detail the pastime of the protagonist, his office, more like a ladies' boudoir:

Perfume in cut crystal;

Combs, steel files,

Straight scissors, curved

And brushes of thirty kinds

For both nails and teeth.

Eugene's life is monotonous and colorful: balls, theaters, restaurants and again balls. Such a life could not satisfy an intelligent, thinking person, so one can understand why Onegin was disappointed in the surrounding society, he was seized by "spleen".

Eugene Onegin is an "extra" person, "smart uselessness." He has progressive views, broad intellectual interests, the ability to perceive beauty.

The high society in the novel is made up of selfish, indifferent people, devoid of lofty thoughts. Their life is artificial and empty. Knowledge and feelings are shallow here. People spend their time in inactivity with external fuss. Pushkin describes such a society in more detail:

And to know, and fashion samples,

Everywhere you meet faces

Necessary fools...

This is the highest light. It is not difficult to understand why Onegin, a man of progressive views, gets tired of this society. He becomes bored, he is cold to everything, his soul is devastated; he becomes indifferent.

So life goes on without change in the Larins' house. Everyone is doing their usual household chores. In the evenings they sometimes arrange balls or simply invite guests. Life in the village passes slowly, without changes, so there is nothing special to talk about. And if there is any news, it will be talked about for a very long time. The balls are the same. Conversations do not go beyond such topics as haymaking, wine, kennels. It is no coincidence that Pushkin depicts local nobles as monsters in Tatiana's dreams. They are so impoverished in mind that they differ little from animals.

Guests at Tatiana's name day are the clearest example of a landowner's breed. The author reveals their essence in surnames: Skotinins, Buyanov. Tatyana is just as bored in the circle of this provincial society as Evgeny is in the circle of the capital. She is fond of novels in which she represents her future chosen one.

She liked novels early on;

They replaced everything for her;

She fell in love with deceptions

And Richardson and Rousseau.

She sees her betrothed in her dreams. Reading for her is her favorite pastime, which distinguishes her from Olga, who from childhood loved to play, frolic in the yard with the guys. She is more talkative, sociable than Tatyana. Olga is a vivid image of simple and cutesy provincial young ladies. Native nature nourishes the spiritual world of Tatyana, she loves to "warn the dawn of the sunrise."

At the beginning of the novel, Tatyana is a young provincial noblewoman; at the end of the work, we see her as a magnificent secular lady. But from the first to the last pages, Pushkin in this image reveals the best features of the Russian character: moral purity, integrity, poetry, simplicity.

I would like to say that in order to show off education, in order to be known then in Russian society as a smart and nice person, one had to have little: an excellent knowledge of the French language, the manners of a secular person, the ability to dance, “bow at ease” and “with the learned look of a connoisseur // To remain silent in an important dispute. It is in high society that a person truly learns to "slander caustically", to hide true feelings and thoughts, to be hypocritical. Everything is false here, there is no sincerity, there are scoffers and egoists all around, who consider "all zeros, // And themselves as ones." In this society, life is filled with endless balls and dinners, card games, intrigues. Years pass, people grow old, but there is no change in them ...

In the novel "Eugene Onegin", Pushkin outlined the nobility with light strokes - the people in whose society Eugene Onegin revolved, and with whom, in addition to the main characters, he had to maintain relations and communicate. The metropolitan nobility was strikingly different from the provincial landowners who lived in the outback. This gap was all the more noticeable the less often the landowners traveled to the capital. The interests, level of culture, and education of both were often at different levels.

The images of the landowners and the high-society nobility were only partly fictitious. Pushkin himself revolved in their environment, and most of the paintings depicted in the work were peeped at social events, balls, and dinners. The poet communicated with the provincial society during his forced exile in Mikhailovsky and during his stay in Boldino. Therefore, the life of the nobility, in the countryside, in Moscow and St. Petersburg, is depicted by poets with knowledge of the matter.

Provincial landed nobility

Along with the Larin family, other landowners also lived in the province. The reader gets acquainted with most of them at name days. But some touches-sketches to the portraits of neighbors-landlords can be seen in the second chapter, when Onegin settled in the village. Simple in their mental disposition, even somewhat primitive people tried to make friends with a new neighbor, but as soon as he saw the approaching droshky, he mounted his horse and left the back porch so as not to be noticed. The maneuver of the newly-minted landowner was noticed, and the neighbors, offended in their best intentions, stopped their attempts to make friendship with Onegin. Pushkin interestingly describes the reaction to the replacement of corvée with dues:

But in his corner pouted,
Seeing this terrible harm,
His prudent neighbor;
The other smiled slyly,
And in a voice everyone decided so,
That he is the most dangerous eccentric.

The attitude of the nobles towards Onegin became hostile. Sharp-tongued gossip began to talk about him:

“Our neighbor is ignorant; crazy;
He is a pharmacist; he drinks one
A glass of red wine;
He does not fit the ladies' hands;
All Yes Yes No; won't say yes, sir
ile no with". That was the general voice.

Invented stories are able to show the level of intelligence and education of people. And since he left much to be desired, Lensky was also not enthusiastic about his neighbors, although out of courtesy he paid them visits. Although

Lords of neighboring villages
He did not like feasts;

Some landowners, whose daughters were growing up, dreamed of getting a "rich neighbor" to be their son-in-law. And since Lensky did not seek to fall into someone's skillfully placed networks, he also began to visit his neighbors less and less:

He ran their noisy conversation.
Their conversation is prudent
About haymaking, about wine,
About the kennel, about your family.

In addition, Lensky was in love with Olga Larina and spent almost all his evenings in their family.

Almost all the neighbors came to Tatyana's name day:

With his stout wife
The fat Trifle has arrived;
Gvozdin, an excellent host,
Owner of poor men;

Here Pushkin is clearly being ironic. But, unfortunately, among the landowners there were many such Gvozdins, who ripped off their peasants like sticky.

Skotinins, gray-haired couple,
With children of all ages, counting
Thirty to two years;
County dandy Petushkov,
My cousin, Buyanov,
In down, in a cap with a visor
(As you, of course, know him),
And retired adviser Flyanov,
Heavy gossip, old rogue,
A glutton, a bribe taker and a jester.

XXVII

With the family of Panfil Kharlikov
Monsieur Triquet also arrived,
Wit, recently from Tambov,
With glasses and a red wig.

Pushkin does not need to spend long stanzas on characterizing the guests-landlords. The names spoke for themselves.

The celebration was attended not only by landlords representing several generations. The older generation was represented by the Skotinins, the gray-haired couple, they were clearly over 50, the retired adviser Flyanov, he was also well over 40. In each family there were children who made up the younger generation, who were happy with the regimental orchestra and dancing.

The provincial nobility tries to imitate the capital by arranging balls and holidays, but here everything is much more modest. If in St. Petersburg dishes prepared by French chefs from overseas products are offered, then in the provinces their own stocks are put on the table. The oversalted fatty pie was prepared by yard cooks, tinctures and liqueurs were made from berries and fruits picked in their own garden.

In the next chapter, which describes the preparation for the duel, the reader will meet another landowner

Zaretsky, once a brawler,
Ataman of the gambling gang,
The head of the rake, the tribune of the tavern,
Now kind and simple
The father of the family is single,
Reliable friend, peaceful landowner
And even an honest person.

This is him, Onegin is afraid, not daring to offer Lensky reconciliation. He knew that Zaretsky could

Friends quarrel young
And put them on the barrier
Or make them reconcile,
To have breakfast together
And then secretly defame
A funny joke, a lie.

Moscow noble society

Tatyana came to Moscow not by chance. She came with her mother to the bride fair. Close relatives of the Larins lived in Moscow, and Tatyana and her mother stayed with them. In Moscow, Tatyana came into close contact with the society of the nobility, which was more archaic and frozen than in St. Petersburg or the provinces.

In Moscow, Tanya was received warmly and sincerely by her relatives. The old women scattered in their memories, the “young graces of Moscow”, looking closely at the new relative and friend, found a common language with her, shared the secrets of beauty and fashion, talked about their heartfelt victories and tried to extort her secrets from Tatyana. But

the secret of your heart,
Treasured treasure and tears and happiness,
Keeps silent meanwhile
And they don't share it with anyone.

Guests came to Aunt Alina's mansion. In order not to appear overly distracted or arrogant,

Tatyana wants to listen
In conversations, in general conversation;
But everyone in the living room takes
Such incoherent, vulgar nonsense;
Everything in them is so pale, indifferent;
They slander even boringly.

All this was not interesting to a romantically inclined girl, who, deep down, might have been waiting for some kind of miracle. She often stood somewhere on the sidelines, and only

Archival young men in a crowd
They stare at Tanya
And about her among themselves
They speak unfavorably.

Of course, such "archival young men" could not interest the young lady. Here Pushkin used the Old Slavonic form of the adjective to emphasize the belonging of the "young men" to the "last century". Late marriages were not uncommon in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Men were forced to serve in order to make a certain fortune, and only then did they get married. But they chose young girls as brides. So marriages of unequal age were not uncommon at that time. They looked down on the provincial young lady.

Together with her mother or cousins, Tatyana visited theaters, she was taken to Moscow balls.

There is tightness, excitement, heat,
The roar of music, the sparkle of candles,
Flashing, whirlwind of fast couples,
Beauties light dresses,
People full of choirs,
Brides a vast semicircle,
All the senses strike suddenly.
Here they seem dandies note
Your impudence, your vest
And an inattentive lorgnette.
Holiday hussars come here
They rush to appear, to thunder,
Shine, captivate and fly away.

At one of the balls, her future husband drew attention to Tatyana.

Nobles of St. Petersburg

In the first part of the poetic novel, the secular society of St. Petersburg was described in light sketches, a look from the outside. About Onegin's father, Pushkin writes that

Serving excellently nobly,
His father lived in debt
Gave three balls annually,
And finally screwed up.

Not one Onegin Sr. lived in this way. For many nobles, this was the norm. Another stroke of the secular society of St. Petersburg:

Here is my Onegin at large;
Shaved in the latest fashion
How dandy London dressed -
And finally saw the light.
He's completely French
Could speak and write;
Easily danced the mazurka
And bowed at ease;
What do you want more? The world decided
That he is smart and very nice.

Description, Pushkin shows what interests and worldviews aristocratic youth have.

No one is embarrassed that the young man does not serve anywhere. If a noble family has estates and serfs, then why serve? In the eyes of some mothers, perhaps Onegin was a good match for the marriage of their daughters. This is one of the reasons why young people are accepted and invited to balls and dinners in the world.

He used to be in bed:
They bring notes to him.
What? Invitations? Indeed,
Three houses for the evening call:
There will be a ball, there is a children's party.

But Onegin, as you know, did not seek to tie the knot. Although he was a connoisseur of the "science of tender passion."

Pushkin describes the ball to which Onegin arrived. This description also serves as a sketch to characterize Petersburg customs. At such balls, young people met, fell in love

I was crazy about balls:
There is no place for confessions
And to deliver a letter.
O you venerable spouses!
I will offer you my services;
I ask you to notice my speech:
I want to warn you.
You also, mothers, are stricter
Look after your daughters
Keep your lorgnette straight!

At the end of the novel, St. Petersburg secular society is no longer as faceless as at the beginning.

Through the close row of aristocrats,
Military dandies, diplomats
And proud ladies she glides;
Here she sat quietly and looked,
Admiring the noisy crampedness,
Flashing dresses and speeches,
Apparition of slow guests
In front of the young mistress ...

The author introduces the reader to Nina Voronskaya, a dazzling beauty. Pushkin gives a detailed portrait of the secular society of the capital in the description of dinner at Tatyana's house. Here gathered, as they said then, all the cream of society. Describing the people present at the dinner, Pushkin shows how high Tatyana rose in the hierarchical ladder, marrying a prince, a military officer and a veteran of the Patriotic War of 1812.

capital color,
And to know, and fashion samples,
Everywhere you meet faces
Necessary fools;
There were old ladies
In caps and roses, they look evil;
There were a few girls
Not smiling faces;
There was a messenger who said
About state affairs;
There he was in fragrant gray hair
The old man, joking in the old way:
Superbly subtle and smart
Which is kinda funny these days.

Here he was greedy for epigrams,
Angry sir to everything:

But, along with representatives of high society, the dinner was attended by several random people who came here for various reasons.

There was Prolasov, who deserved
Known for the meanness of the soul,
In all albums blunted,
St.-Priest, your pencils;
At the door another ballroom dictator
He stood like a magazine picture,
Blush, like a willow cherub,
Tightened, dumb and immovable,
And the vagrant traveler,
Overstarched impudent.

Noble status made very high demands on its representatives. And in Russia there were many truly worthy nobles. But in the novel "Eugene Onegin" Pushkin shows, along with brilliance and luxury, vices, emptiness and vulgarity. The propensity to spend, living beyond one's means, and the desire for imitation, unwillingness to serve and benefit society, the impracticality and carelessness of secular society are shown in full in the novel. These lines were intended to make readers think, most of whom represented this very nobility, to reconsider their way of life. It is not surprising that "Eugene Onegin" was received by the reading public ambiguously, and not always favorably.

In this novel, the author openly and without embellishment shows both sides of the nobility. All old school representatives of high society, seasoned, noble, have a sharp inquisitive mind. For them, there are no vivid emotions and vulgarity, if an aristocrat feels contempt or surprise, he does not show it, conversations are conducted on highly spiritual topics.

The local nobility is a part of people who belong to a noble family, but do not have the proper education, their manners do not radiate sophistication. All actions are hypocritical, aimed at satisfying their base needs. Such cream of society often receive training at home.

Accordingly, all sciences have been studied superficially, the necessary knowledge has not been obtained, therefore, the conversations of such nobles are empty, cutesy with excessive arrogance, which they justify with their attitude towards the nobility.

In this work, the local nobility is expressed in the Larin family and their neighbors, Onegin did not go to visit them, so as not to constantly hear stories about peasants, about how to pickle mushrooms or feed pigs properly.

Tatyana's mother was from a noble family, when she got married and came to live in the village, at first she resisted circumstances for a long time, wore beautiful outfits, and spoke French. But soon this life broke her, she got used to the society of peasants, began to manage the economy.

An example of the fact that Tatyana also became close to the peasants, she can wash herself with snow, is friends with her nanny, the way of life brings its own adjustments even to the most refined and highly spiritual natures. Onegin, in order to go out for dinner, changes clothes, puts himself in order, while Larins can sit down at the table in dressing gowns, a cap and everyday clothes.

Many habits of the local nobility are relics of the past, but on the other hand, it is the preservation of the traditions of our ancestors. Onegin himself is a representative of the metropolitan aristocracy, educated, cultured, but spends all his time at balls in restaurants. He spends a lot of time in his office, where he takes care of himself, then reads books. That's why this monotony made him depressed, he was tired of everything.

He himself is very smart, his mind is comprehensively developed, his views on life are progressive, he understands and perceives everything beautiful in this world. And the rest of the circle of aristocrats is empty, hypocritical, selfish. Their apparent employment and activity, in fact, does not produce anything and does not bring any benefit. Only an endless waste of time, huge amounts of money for balls and entertainment.

Onegin does not find a place for himself in the capital's aristocratic circles, he is bored and not interested there. At the same time, Tatyana is in her estate in a circle of peasants, who have gathered on the next day to dine with their neighbors and talk about how the day went.

To get away from this unsatisfying society, Onegin came to the village, Tatyana began to read novels. Tatyana is spiritually developed, she loves nature, well-mannered, smart and subtle personality. Soon this heroine will become a real secular lady with the necessary level of education. At the same time, she is simple and sincere, these best features of the Russian character, the author gave to our heroine.

It’s just that the nobles living in the outback are ill-mannered, have the habits of peasants, but have retained the customs of their ancestors. As a result, in each of these societies there is something positive and negative, these are two inseparable parts of society.

Composition Capital and local nobility

One of the main plot lines of the novel is the description of the Russian nobility. The work "Eugene Onegin" describes in detail the life and customs of society. When you read it, it's like you're in that time. A.S. Pushkin described secular and rural life from his own experience. The author's attitude is ambiguous towards different strata of society, he ridicules secular society, and writes with sympathy about the local nobility

The metropolitan nobility is expressed in the daily routine of Onegin - the morning begins in the afternoon, a short walk to the restaurant, after dinner a trip to the theater, and at night the main celebration is a ball. And in the morning, when working Petersburg wakes up, the nobles leave the ball. The metropolitan nobility can be described as fussy, idle, and their main feature is boredom. In their life there are only balls, gossip, everyone is afraid of the opinions of others. They are all chasing fashion so that the outfit is better than the other. People from high society are selfish and indifferent, they are artificial, everyone smiles sweetly in public, and gossips evilly behind their backs. Knowledge and feelings are superficial, in such a society such a person as Tatyana Larina could never grow up. In this society, life is filled with constant balls, card games, intrigues. Years go by, people grow old, but their life does not change.

The provincial nobility is a tribute to antiquity, patriarchy and family values ​​​​rule here. Life in the village is slow, everything goes on as usual, nothing changes significantly. People are ignorant and not very smart, the main topics of conversation are haymaking and kennels, if something extraordinary happens, it will be discussed for a very long time. Gossip here goes like home, as they are all like a big family and everyone knows everything about each other. There is not much entertainment in the village, it is a hunting trip or a visit. The main celebration is considered to be a ball, where ancient traditions have been preserved. Pushkin through the names clearly depicts the characters of the landowners (Skotinins, Buyanov, Petushkov)

The provincial nobility is a caricature of the capital. To show his upbringing in high society, it was enough to know French perfectly, be able to dance and have the manners of a secular person. It is in the metropolitan society that people become hypocrites and hide their feelings. Pushkin, describing different strata of society, gives his preference to the landlords living in the countryside, who still retained folk traditions and life principles.