Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky and Alexander Pushkin: the history of friendship, comparison of works

Zhukovsky and Pushkin - two big names in the history of Russian literature, two geniuses, two great men. Such different destinies, different characters, and such warm friendship for many years! What Zhukovsky and Pushkin were close to, is briefly described in many sources. Let's try to look deeper.

Prehistory

Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky - born in 1783, the illegitimate son of the landowner Afanasy Bunin. To give his son an opportunity to get an education and a certain position in society, Bunin gave the boy to adopt an impoverished nobleman, Andrei Zhukovsky. This made it possible to arrange a gifted child in a good boarding house, where his literary talent began to manifest.

Fifteen years later, in 1799, the future genius of Russian literature - Alexander Pushkin - was born in a poor but noble family. At the age of 13 he was enrolled in the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, where he was distinguished by a cheerful disposition, propensity for leprosy and insurrection, absolute dislike for mathematical sciences and the ability to create poetic masterpieces.

Introduction

At the age of 17 Alexander meets Vasily Andreevich, who often traveled to Tsarskoye Selo, was on friendly terms with the Pushkin family and visited the most famous literary living rooms of the capital.

During this period Alexander Pushkin has already become famous for several poems, while Zhukovsky's art is at the peak of popularity: he is recognized, read at evenings, learn by heart poetic lines and translations. Vasily Andreevich is already close to the royal family and rotates in the highest circles.

What brought together such seemingly different people as Zhukovsky and Pushkin, different in age, social status and occupation? Probably, first of all the love of literature and sensitivity to the poetic syllable. Pushkin read Zhukovsky, was his devoted admirer, and Vasily Andreyevich managed to immediately see the poetic gift of his young and mischievous comrade. He foretold him a great future.

Common interests

Love for literature contributed to the development of common interests and topics for conversation. Pushkin along with Zhukovsky and his parents began to visit the living rooms of Karamzin, Batiushkov and other famous writers. Together with his elder friend he became a member of the "Arzamas" circle, where they studied poetry, wrote and recited poetry, competed in literary mastery. Relations Zhukovsky and Pushkin became more and more warm and trusting. The difference in age did not interfere with this friendship: the wisdom and life experience of one always often helped to cool the youthful zeal of another.

A creative duel

Zhukovsky's creativity is known to us largely thanks to his tales. Pushkin considered himself a disciple of Vasily Andreevich, because it was his tales that inspired young Alexander to create his own masterpieces.

In 1831, after exile to Mikhailovskoye, Pushkin introduced his friend "The Fairy Tale and the Priest and his Balda Worker" and several other sketches. Zhukovsky appreciated the works and suggested joining the joke competition. The dispute between Zhukovsky and Pushkin concerned writing fairy tales in the folk style. Thus appeared the famous "Tale of Tsar Saltan and his son Guidon ..." and "The Tale of the Dead Princess ..." by Pushkin, as well as Zhukovsky's tales "About Tsar Berendey" and "On the Sleeping Princess". Comparison of Pushkin and Zhukovsky in this period leads to the idea that Vasily Andreevich adheres to the Western style (after all his fairy tales are based on works of European authors, and their romantic motifs persist), and Alexander Sergeyevich brings to his creations a truly Russian character, and his tales are very Remind folks.

After a while, Pushkin will bring to court his wise friend the poem "Ruslan and Lyudmila." And he will receive a gift in return - a portrait of VA Zhukovsky with the inscription "To the winner of the pupil from the defeated teacher." On this Zhukovsky and Pushkin finish their literary duel.

One can not help but notice that in the poem "Ruslan and Lyudmila" the young Pushkin allowed himself a parody of his teacher and a few rather terse phrases, which he regretted very much in his mature years.

True friendship

All the years after acquaintance and until Pushkin's death, Zhukovsky was a kind of savior (or a rescuer?) For his young friend. Temperamental, quick-tempered and straightforward Alexander from time to time fell into various turmoil, and the wise and diplomatic Vasily Andreevich knew how to find a way out of any situation for him.

When in 1820, for lines disliked by the tsar and the poignant epigrams of Pushkin were preparing to be sent to Siberia, Zhukovsky, Karamzin and other influential people made sure that such a terrible measure was replaced by a transfer to the south of the country. Thanks to this, Alexander managed to maintain his service and social position.

Zhukovsky was near and in a difficult year in 1824, when a major quarrel with his father threatened the poet with legal proceedings, and this would further aggravate his already not the most advantageous position. Thanks to diplomatic art Alexander Sergeevich again saw the favor of the king and returned to high society.

In 1825, thanks to his influence at court, Vasily Andreevich helped to justify Pushkin, accused of involvement in the Decembrist uprising.

It was Zhukovsky among the few most loyal friends that Pushkin did not leave at the time of exile to Mikhailovskoye. Yes, and in any difficult situation, he was able to support, at least by letter.

Zhukovsky - a friend of Pushkin, who remained close and in the years of joys, and in the years of disasters, did not leave in sickness and even on his deathbed.

Pushkin about Zhukovsky

Alexander Sergeyevich idolized his wise friend since the Lyceum years. Despite their not very serious rivalry, Pushkin always saw Zhukovsky as a teacher and mentor. The lines of one of the poems became textbooks:

His poems captivating sweetness

Envious ages will pass ...

"Heavenly soul" - Alexander warmly and affectionately called his beloved friend, and in letters often addressed him only as "guardian angel."

Zhukovsky about Pushkin

Regarding Vasily Andreevich to his young friend, there was never even a note of indulgence, despite the difference in age and social status. It can be safely said that in these relationships age did not play any role - so soulfully close were the two people. Zhukovsky highly valued both the personal qualities of Alexander, and his poetic gift. From school he punctured him with fame, inspired, guided, prompted - until he was convinced that the student had surpassed his teacher.

Death of poet

Very difficult for Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin were 1936-1937. The appearance of Georges d'Anthes, the frivolous behavior of Natalia's wife, the intrigues of the high world, slander and humiliating epigrams against the Pushkin family, attempts to protect the honor of the wife ... The situation was getting worse every day.

It was clear that the only goal was to provoke a quick-tempered poet to a duel. It was Zhukovsky who persuaded Alexander to not send an insulting letter to his enemy with long persuasion, because then the duel would be inevitable. It was Zhukovsky who begged him to remain prudent and not succumb to provocations.

It was Zhukovsky who brought a mortally wounded poet to the Moika apartment a few days later (temperament and the desire to protect his beloved woman still prevailed over reasoning).

Fate played a cruel joke: VA Zhukovsky's birthday, January 29, was the day of the death of his faithful and beloved friend ...

Vasily Andreevich was very worried about the death of his pupil and friend, already then he realized that not only a fine man, but also the greatest poet, had passed away.

And after the death of the poet, like an angel-keeper, Zhukovsky again came to the aid of his deceased friend: having received an order to review and deliver all letters to Pushkin, he disobeyed for the first time and secretly handed them to his wife - Natalia Nikolaevna.

Zhukovsky and Pushkin - the embodiment of a spiritual friendship, relationships, devoid of self-interest, built on common interests, love of literature and the desire to help each other in difficult situations.