Analysis of "Gooseberries" Chekhov. A.P. Chekhov, "Gooseberries": the main characters

The end of the 19th century in the history of Russia was marked by a period of stagnation, as the new emperor Nicholas 2 made it clear to liberal circles that he would continue the policy begun by his father. This meant that it was possible to forget about the reforms.

The works of the already well-known writer A. Chekhov at that time became a response to the relations that had developed in the socio-political sphere. Thus, he tried to reach out to thinking people capable of intervening in the current course of events. This applies to the trilogy published in 1898, which included small in volume works "The Man in a Case", "About Love" and "Gooseberries".

Chekhov's story (it was his favorite genre) is an attempt to briefly describe the phenomena taking place in society and pay attention to human vices and false notions about the meaning of life.

The history of writing the work "Gooseberries"

Once a writer was told about a Petersburg official who dreamed of a uniform embroidered with gold. When he finally got it, it turned out that there was nowhere to go in a new dress: solemn receptions were not foreseen in the near future. As a result, the uniform could not be put on: the gilding on it eventually faded, the official himself died six months later. This story served as the basis for the creation of the story, but only the dream of a petty official becomes gooseberry. Chekhov's story draws the attention of the reader to the extent to which the life of a person in pursuit of selfish happiness can become petty and meaningless.

Composition and plot of the work

"Gooseberries" is built on the principle of "story in the story." The narrative of the main character is preceded by an exposition containing a description of nature - rich, generous, majestic. The landscape emphasizes the spiritual impoverishment of the petty official, which will be discussed later. Then the reader sees acquaintances on the first part of the trilogy of characters: the landowner-laborer Alekhin, teacher of Burkina and veterinarian Ivan Ivanovich. And then the theme of "futly" life is recalled - Chekhov marked it in the first story. "Gooseberries" - its content is pretty straightforward - develops it, showing how it can be a destructively habitual existence.

With the protagonist, NI Chimsh-Himalayan, his interlocutors and readers are introduced by his brother, Ivan Ivanych. He also assesses what happens to a person who lives only to satisfy his own desires.

Nikolai Ivanovich grew up in a village where everything seemed to him beautiful and amazing. Once in the city, he did not cease to think about how to necessarily acquire an estate and live there a quiet life (which Ivan Ivanovich never approved). Soon his desire was added to the passionate desire to grow in his estate - this emphasizes AP Chekhov - gooseberry. Chimsh-Himalayan was unceasingly pursuing his goal: he regularly looked through newspapers with announcements about the sale of estates, increasingly limited himself and saved money in a bank, then married - without love - an aged but provided widow. Finally, he had the opportunity to buy a small estate: dirty, unconfined, but his own. True, the gooseberry was not there, but he immediately planted a few bushes. And he began a quiet life, happy and contented with himself.

The degradation of the main character

Analysis of "Gooseberries" Chekhov - is an attempt to understand why gradually, along with the achievement of the goal, the soul of Nikolai Ivanovich was stale. He was not at all tormented by remorse for the death of his wife - he practically starved her. The hero lived a closed, useless life and was very proud of his noble title - he, for example, was very offended when the peasants turned to him, letting "your honor." Showing his lordly mercy, he once a year, on his name-day, ordered "to take half a bucket" and was sure that it was bound to be so. He did not notice that everything was running around, the dog and she looked more like a pig. And Chimsh-Himalayan himself grew fat, flabby, aged, and seems to have lost his human form.

Here it is - the desired berry

An analysis of Chekhov's "Gooseberries" is a reflection of how a person, through self-deception, tries to give special significance to what is actually a pacifier.

Ivan Ivanovich, who visited his brother and caught him in such an unattractive form, was extremely saddened. He could not believe that a man in his selfish desire could reach such a state. Especially unpleasant to him, when Nikolai Ivanovich brought a plate with the first harvest. Chimsh-Himalayan took one berry and enjoyed it with pleasure, despite the fact that it was "hard and sour". His happiness was so great that he could not sleep at night and everything was coming to the coveted plate. Analysis of "Gooseberries" Chekhov - is also a lot of disappointing conclusions, the main of which: Nikolai Ivanovich forgot about his own dignity, and the estate and the long-awaited berry became for him that "case" with which he shut himself off from the problems and worries of the surrounding world.

What does a person need for a happy life?

The meeting with his brother forced Ivan Ivanovich to take a fresh look at the way he lives and the people around him. And to admit that he sometimes had similar desires, destroying the soul. This is precisely what AP Chekhov points out. Gooseberries in his story acquires a new meaning - it becomes a symbol of limited existence. And while one enjoys happiness, a lot of people around him suffer and die in poverty and callousness. Rescue from universal spiritual death Ivan Ivanovich, and with him the author, sees in some force that at the right time will, like a hammer, remind a happy person that not everything is so beautiful in the world and at any moment there may come a time when it will be necessary help. But only there will be no one to render it and only it will be to blame for it. To such not very cheerful, but rather important thoughts the reader is led by A. P. Chekhov.

"Gooseberries": heroes and their relation to the world

The analyzed story is one with the other two included in the trilogy. And they are united not only by Alyokhin, Burkin and Ivan Ivanych, who alternately act as storytellers and listeners. The main thing in the other - the subject of the image in the works are power, property and family, and it is they who hold the entire socio-political life of the country. The heroes of the works, unfortunately, are not yet sufficiently prepared to completely change their lives, to move away from "boxiness." Nevertheless, the analysis of "Gooseberries" Chekhov makes progressive people, like Ivan Ivanych, think about what it is worth living for.