Goncharov, "Ordinary story": a summary, an analysis

We present to your attention the work of IA Goncharov "Ordinary History" (summary). This article describes the main events of the novel, published for the first time in 1847.

Part one

One summer, from the estate of Anna Pavlova Aduyeva, a poor landowner from the village of Grachi, to St. Petersburg, Alexander Fedorovich, her only son, a blond young man in colors, years and health, was sent to St. Petersburg for service. Together with him, the valet Evsey also travels.

Seeing off

Anna Pavlovna is grieving and gives her last instructions. He is also escorted by a strict and powerful woman, Agrafena, struggling to contain her emotions. Neighbor Marya Karpovna and her daughter Sofya come to see off. The hero has an affair with the latter, the beloved gives him a farewell strand of cut hair and a ring.

They swear allegiance and eternal love. Appears and Pospelov, a friend of Alexander, who came from a distance only to hug his comrade.

Petr Ivanovich

Let's continue to state the events of the novel "Ordinary story". The summary of the work tells about the further development of the narrative.

Finally, Alexander and Evsei set out on their journey. The uncle of the protagonist, Pyotr Ivanovich Aduyev, Alexander's father was also sent to Petersburg in his time and lived in this city for 17 years, for a long time not communicating with relatives. He served as an official of special assignments with one important person, occupied a very good apartment, had several servants. Uncle, a man of restraint, was considered a business and active member of society. He always with taste and carefully dressed, you can even say, smart. When Peter Ivanovich learned of the arrival of his nephew, he first decided, under the first pretext, to get rid of him. Uncle ejects letters from relatives, without even reading (including from his aunt Alexander, with whom he had a novel in his youth, and who never married). But in a letter to his nephew's mother something touches him, he remembers how many years ago, seeing him off to Petersburg, Anna Pavlovna cried. Pyotr Ivanovich is terrified that the latter punishes to intercede for his son before the authorities, at night baptize him and cover his mouth with a handkerchief.

First difficulties

We present you a description of the first difficulties that the young man encountered, their brief content. Goncharov's "ordinary story" of chapters continues his narrative. The first troubles the hero had were the following. Uncle does not give him a hug, indicates a room that can be removed, instead of inviting him to live with himself. It catches up with longing for the emotional and exalted Alexander, who is accustomed to sincere outpourings and a friendly disposition. The romantic attitude of a young man to life in the eyes of Peter Ivanovich is completely unacceptable. He ridicules the nephew's manner of expressing himself with romantic cliches, throws out his hair and the ring of Sophia, and pastes the wall with poems that the young man was so proud of. Pyotr Ivanovich gradually descends Alexander from heaven to earth, defines him for service. The nephew dreams of a dizzying career, very vaguely imagining it. He talks about this to his uncle, about his projects, which, according to the latter, are already executed, or they do not need to be done at all. Knowing that the young man dreams of becoming a writer, his uncle is looking for translations for one agricultural magazine.

New life

A new stage in the life of the main character of the work "Ordinary story" begins. Its summary is made up by the following events. Two years later, Alexander already possesses elegant manners, becomes more self-confident and balanced. Pyotr Ivanovich was already deciding that he was on the right track, when suddenly the young man falls in love with Nadia Lyubetskaya and forgets everything in the world: about career, education, duties. Uncle tries to explain that it is too early to get married, because to maintain a family, you need to have a decent income. In addition, you need to be able to conquer a woman with your mind and cunning, nephew is the same primitive. Nadenka's enthusiasm will pass quickly, his uncle warns. Alexander is indignant when he learns that his uncle is going to marry, reproaches him in marriage for convenience.

Nadenka Lyubetskaya

"Ordinary story" Goncharov in the summary keeps on developing. Alexander begins to visit the house Lyubetskikh. His beloved was impressionable to the extreme, had a fickle and willful heart and an ardent mind. First, it is arranged with talk about nothing, loving glances and walks under the moon. Alexander rarely visits Pyotr Ivanovich, throws up his career, starts writing again, but his works are not accepted by publishers, they indicate their unnaturalness and immaturity. Gradually, Nadia gets bored with her admirer. The year of the probation period she appointed to Alexander ends and she tries to avoid an explanation. One of the reasons is the visit of Count Novinsky, a well-educated and educated youth, a secular lion. He begins to visit Nadenka, teaches her riding. Alexander, seeing that he is avoided, falls into melancholy or panic, he decides to disappear for a while in order to be looked for, but this does not happen. The young man finally dares to call the beloved to a decisive conversation. Nadia confesses that she likes the earl. Alexander, leaving the house, sobbing.

The brief content of the book "Ordinary History" continues. In the middle of the night the hero runs to Pyotr Ivanovich to arouse sympathy, asks his uncle to agree to be his second during the duel with Novinsky. Pyotr Ivanovich speaks of the pointlessness of the duel: Nadenka can not be returned, but one can gain her hatred if the count is harmed. In addition, in the event of a murder, he is awaiting penal servitude or exile. In return, he proposes to beat the opponent, to convince Nadenka of superiority over the count, primarily in the intellectual. The uncle proves that the beloved is not to blame for preferring Novinsky. At the end of the conversation, his nephew burst into tears. The wife of Peter Ivanovich, Lizaveta Alexandrovna, comes to console him.

Part two

We reached the second part of the novel "Ordinary story." The summary is the following.

Another year has passed. Alexander went to cold despondency. Auntie spends a lot of time on his consolation. The nephew likes the role of the sufferer. To her objection that true love does not seek to demonstrate to all, Alexander immodestly observes that the love for Peter's wife is hidden very deeply, so that it is completely invisible. Mentally, my aunt agrees with him. Although she has no right to complain about her husband, who provides it to everyone, Lizaveta Alexandrovna still wants a greater sense of feelings.

Meeting with a friend

Here's how the subsequent events unfold Goncharov IA ("Ordinary History"). The summary of the chapters that you read continues with the meeting of the main character with an old friend. One day Alexander comes to his aunt and tells her about the betrayal of a friend whom he has not seen for many years. He met him on Nevsky Prospekt. He did not respond to sincere outpourings, inquiring dryly about the service and inviting him to come to his room the next day for dinner, attended by about a dozen guests. Here he offers to play cards, as well as money, if he needs. Alexander begins to talk about unhappy love, but his friend just laughs. The nephew reads his aunt's uncle with quotations from French novelists, who defined friendship quite pretentiously. This angered Peter Ivanovich, he states that the friend behaved decently in relation to him. The uncle reprimands the young man that it's time to stop complaining about people and whining when he has friends, who also includes himself and his wife.

The Story of Alexander

We will describe further events, their brief content. "Ordinary story" Goncharova continues its development. Peter Ivanovich reminds his nephew that he has not written to his mother for 4 months. Alexander is completely crushed. To comfort him, Auntie advises to take up literature again. The young man writes a novel, the action of which takes place in the Tambov village, and the heroes are liars, slanderers and monsters. He reads it aloud to his uncle. Pyotr Ivanovich writes a letter to the familiar editor, in which he says that the story is written by himself, and he intends to publish it for a fee. He read the editor's reply to his nephew. He has smacked the deception, noticing that the author is a young man, not stupid, but angry at the whole world. The reasons for this, in his opinion, are dreaminess, self-love, premature development of the heart and immobility of the mind, leading to laziness. Work, science, and practical work should help this young man. According to the editor, the author of the story has no talent.

Relations with Julia Tafayeva

How will events develop further? This will tell us their brief content: an ordinary story. Goncharov IA emphasizes this even by the very title of the novel.

After the events described above, Alexander burns all his literary works. Uncle asks him for help: to compete with Surkov, his companion. He is in love (Peter Ivanovich believes that he only thinks he is in love) with a certain Julia Tafaeva, a young widow. He intends for her to throw money away, and take them from Uncle Alexander. The young man begins to visit Tafaeva, with whom they have much in common (gloomy view of the world, dreaminess). Soon he falls in love, and brought up on French sentimental literature and early married a man to many of her older Tafaeva responds to him in return.

New disappointment

The hero again expects disappointment in the further development of events. We give them a brief summary. "Ordinary story" Goncharova is already approaching the finale. There is a preparation for the wedding. Alexander asked a secret from his uncle's assistance to Lizaveta Alexandrovna. Aunt strikes Yulia, the girl is amazed by her beauty and youth. Tafayeva protests against the communication of her lover with the Aduyevs. Alexander behaves with Julia despotically, requires obedience and execution of any whim (fences her from familiar men, forbids to leave). Julia takes it down, but after a while they get bored, the hero's carping for the lover begins. He realizes that he has lost nothing for two whole years, his career has once again suffered. He wants to communicate with friends, work, travel to the light, and she despotically demands that Alexander belong only to her. Julia is humiliated, even begs to marry her with the condition of granting complete freedom to the hero. Alexander does not want this, but does not know how to refuse. He turns to the uncle for advice. With Julia there is a nervous attack, Peter Ivanovich comes to her and settles the matter, saying that Alexander does not know how to love. The nephew falls into apathy. He does not strive for anything, does not appear at his uncle's. The young man remarks that there is not a single hope and dream left, only naked reality before him, which he is not ready to resist.

Lisa

The author, however, this does not end the novel "Ordinary story." A brief description tells how this story will end. The main character goes fishing with old Kostikov, a miser and a grumbler.

They meet once with some elderly summer owner and his daughter Lisa, who falls in love with the hero. He plays the part of his uncle, teaches her to be sober about love and life. Lisa's father expels him. The young man is thinking of committing suicide, but the bridge on which he stands is bred at that moment, and he jumps on a firm support. After a while, he receives a note from his aunt asking him to take her to a concert because his uncle is ill. Music makes a strong impression on Alexander, he just cries in the hall, he is laughed at.

Return to the village

Such were the main events before returning to the village (briefly). "Ordinary story" Goncharova unfolds already in Rooks. The young man completely loses faith in humanity, decides to return to the village. He tells his uncle that he does not reproach him for opening his eyes, but seeing things in the true light, he was finally disappointed in life. In the village, Alexander learns that his former beloved Sophia has long been married and is waiting for the sixth child. Mother is taken to fatten the young man, allows nothing to do, hints that it's time to get married, but the hero refuses.

New trip to St. Petersburg

Our common history continues. A brief development of events is as follows. The thirst for activity is gradually awakening in the hero, and a desire arises to return to the capital. He writes letters to his aunt and uncle, in which he confesses in his own selfishness. He also carries the evidence to his uncle - a letter to his aunt from Rook, in which he once reasoned in a romantic vein.

Epilogue

Four years after the next arrival of the young man in Petersburg, he announces to his uncle about his intention to marry. He takes a great dowry, and hardly remembers the bride himself. Uncle, however, can not fully support his nephew, since during that time in itself there have been great changes. Pyotr Ivanovich began to treat his wife differently. He tries to show his feelings, but it's too late: she does not care, she lives, only silently obeying her husband, in no way reacting to these attempts. The doctor discovers a strange illness in his aunt, one of the reasons for which, in his opinion, is that she did not have children. Peter Ivanovich decides to sell the plant, to retire and go with his wife on a journey. But she is not ready to accept such sacrifices. She does not need belated love or freedom. Lizaveta Aleksandrovna is sorry for the former Alexander. Peter Ivanovich hugs his nephew - for the first time in all their dating.

This is the plot of the work "Ordinary History", briefly described in this article. Hopefully, it will help you with the study of this novel.

Brief analysis

In this work, every person at all stages of life and development will find the right lesson for himself. In a businesslike atmosphere, the sentimentality and naivety of Alexander Aduyev are ridiculous. Its pathos is false, and the ideas about life and the loftiness of speeches are far from reality. However, the uncle can not be called an ideal: a respected person, a breeder, he is afraid of a living feeling and goes too far in his practicality. He finds himself unable to show a warm feeling for his wife, which leads to her nervous breakdown. In the teachings of this hero a lot of irony, and nephew, being a simple, simple man, too directly accepts them.

Alexander Aduyev, having lost his former false ideals, does not acquire other, genuine. He simply turns into a calculating vulgar. Goncharov sneers at the fact that such a way is far from an exception. Youth ideals disappear - this is an ordinary story. Few people can resist pressure on their soul and the minds of a large city and bourgeois society. At the end of the work, the cynical uncle is much more human than his nephew student. Alexander became a business man, for whom only money and career matter. And the city is waiting for new victims - inexperienced and naive.