Makar Alekseevich Devushkin- a titular councilor forty-seven years old, copying papers for a small salary in one of the St. Petersburg departments. He just moved to new apartment in a “main” house near Fontanka. Along the long corridor are the doors of rooms for residents; the hero himself huddles behind a partition in the common kitchen. His previous housing was “incomparably better.” However, now the main thing for Devushkin is cheapness, because in the same courtyard he rents a more comfortable and expensive apartment for his distant relative Varvara Alekseevna Dobroselova. A poor official takes under his protection a seventeen-year-old orphan, for whom there is no one but him to intercede. Living nearby, they rarely see each other, as Makar Alekseevich is afraid of gossip. However, both need warmth and sympathy, which they draw from almost daily correspondence with each other. The history of the relationship between Makar and Varenka is revealed in thirty-one - his and twenty-four - her letters, written from April 8 to September 30, 184... Makar’s first letter is permeated with the happiness of finding heartfelt affection: “... it’s spring, and thoughts are still pleasant , sharp, intricate, and tender dreams come..." Denying himself food and clothes, he saves money for flowers and sweets for his "angel."
Varenka is angry with the patron for excessive expenses, and cools his ardor with irony: “...only poems are missing...”
“Fatherly affection animated me, the only pure fatherly affection...” - Makar is embarrassed.
Varya persuades her friend to come to her more often: “Who cares?” She takes home work - sewing.
In subsequent letters, Devushkin describes in detail his home - “Noah’s Ark” due to the abundance of a motley audience - with a “rotten, pungently sweet smell”, in which “the little siskins are dying.” He draws portraits of his neighbors: the card player midshipman, the petty writer Ratazyaev, the poor official without a job, Gorshkov and his family. The hostess is a “real witch.” He is ashamed that he is bad, he writes stupidly - “there is no syllable”: after all, he studied “not even with copper money.”
Varenka shares her anxiety: Anna Fedorovna, a distant relative, is “finding out” about her. Previously, Varya and her mother lived in her house, and then, supposedly to cover their expenses, the “benefactor” offered the girl, who was orphaned by that time, to the rich landowner Bykov, who dishonored her. Only Makar’s help saves the defenseless from final “death.” If only the pimp and Bykov didn’t find out her address! The poor thing falls ill from fear and lies unconscious for almost a month. Makar is nearby all this time. To get his little one back on his feet, he is selling a new uniform. By June, Varenka recovers and sends notes to her caring friend with the story of her life.
Her happy childhood was spent in her family in the lap of rural nature. When my father lost his position as manager of Prince P's estate, they came to St. Petersburg - “rotten,” “angry,” “sad.” Constant failures drove my father to his grave. The house was sold for debts. Fourteen-year-old Varya and her mother were left homeless and homeless. It was then that Anna Fedorovna took them in, and soon began to reproach the widow. She worked beyond her strength, ruining her poor health for the sake of a piece of bread. Whole year Varya studied with a former student, Pyotr Pokrovsky, who lived in the same house. She was surprised by the strange disrespect for the old father, who often visited his adored son, in “the kindest, most worthy man, the best of all.” He was a bitter drunkard, once a petty official. Peter's mother, a young beauty, was married to him with a rich dowry by the landowner Bykov. Soon she died. The widower remarried. Peter grew up separately, under the patronage of Bykov, who placed the young man, who left the university for health reasons, “to live” with his “short acquaintance” Anna Fedorovna.
Joint vigils at the bedside of Varya’s sick mother brought the young people closer together. An educated friend taught the girl to read and developed her taste. However, Pokrovsky soon fell ill and died of consumption. The owner took all the deceased's belongings to pay for the funeral. The old father took as many books from her as he could and stuffed them into her pockets, hat, etc. It started to rain. The old man ran, crying, behind the cart with the coffin, and books fell from his pockets into the mud. He picked them up and ran after them again... Varya, in anguish, returned home to her mother, who was also soon taken away by death...
Devushkin responds with a story about own life. He has been serving for thirty years. “Smirnenky”, “quiet” and “kind”, he became the subject of constant ridicule: “Makar Alekseevich was introduced into the proverb in our entire department”, “...they got to the boots, to the uniform, to the hair, to my figure: everything is not according to them , everything needs to be redone!” The hero is indignant: “Well, what is there [...] that I’m rewriting! What, it’s a sin to rewrite, or what? "The only joy is Varenka: “It’s as if the Lord blessed me with a house and a family!”
On June 10, Devushkin takes his ward for a walk to the islands. She's happy. Naive Makar is delighted with Ratazyaev’s writings. Varenka notes the bad taste and pomposity of “Italian Passions”, “Ermak and Zuleika”, etc.
Realizing that Devushkin’s material worries about himself are too much for him (he was so self-absorbed that he arouses contempt even among the servants and watchmen), the sick Varenka wants to get a job as a governess. Makar is against: its “usefulness” lies in its “beneficial” influence on his life. He stands up for Ratazyaev, but after reading what Varya sent “ Stationmaster"Pushkin - shocked: "I feel the same, just like in the book." Vyrina tries on fate for herself and asks her “native” not to leave, not to “ruin” him. July 6 Varenka sends Gogol’s “The Overcoat” to Makar; that same evening they visit the theater.
If Pushkin's story elevated Devushkin in her own eyes, then Gogol’s offends. Identifying himself with Bashmachkin, he believes that the author spied on all the little details of his life and unceremoniously made them public. The hero’s dignity is hurt: “after this you have to complain...”
By the beginning of July, Makar had spent everything. The only thing worse than lack of money is the ridicule of the tenants at him and Varenka. But the worst thing is that a “seeker” officer, one of her former neighbors, comes to her with an “undignified offer.” In despair, the poor man started drinking and disappeared for four days, missing service. I went to shame the offender, but was thrown down the stairs.
Varya consoles her protector and asks, despite the gossip, to come to her for dinner.
Since the beginning of August, Devushkin has been trying in vain to borrow money at interest, especially necessary in view of new trouble: the other day another “seeker” came to Varenka, directed by Anna Fedorovna, who herself will soon visit the girl. We need to move urgently. Makar starts drinking again out of helplessness. “For my sake, my darling, don’t ruin yourself and don’t ruin me,” the unfortunate woman begs him, sending her last “thirty kopecks in silver.” The encouraged poor man explains his “fall”: “how he lost respect for himself, how he indulged in the denial of his good qualities and his dignity, so here you are all lost!” Varya gives Makar self-respect: people “disgusted” him, “and I began to disdain myself., and […] you […] illuminated my whole dark life, […] and I […] learned that […] no worse than others ; that only [...] I don’t shine with anything, there’s no gloss, I’m not drowning, but still I’m a man, that in my heart and thoughts I’m a man.”
Varenka’s health is deteriorating, she is no longer able to sew. Anxious, Makar goes out on a September evening to the Fontanka embankment. Dirt, disorder, drunks - “boring”! And on neighboring Gorokhovaya there are rich shops, luxurious carriages, elegant ladies. The walker falls into “freethinking”: if work is the basis of human dignity, then why are so many slackers well-fed? Happiness is not given by merit - therefore the rich should not be deaf to the complaints of the poor. Makar is a little proud of his reasoning and notes that “his syllable has been forming recently.” On September 9, luck smiled on Devushkin: summoned for a “scolding” to the general for a mistake in a paper, the humble and pitiful official received the sympathy of “His Excellency” and received one hundred rubles from him personally. This is a real salvation: we paid for the apartment, the table, the clothes. Devushkin is depressed by his boss’s generosity and reproaches himself for his recent “liberal” thoughts. Reading "Northern Bee". Full of hope for the future.
Meanwhile, Bykov finds out about Varenka and on September 20 comes to woo her. His goal is to have legitimate children in order to disinherit his “worthless nephew.” If Varya is against it, he will marry a Moscow merchant's wife. Despite the unceremoniousness and rudeness of the offer, the girl agrees: “If anyone can […] restore my good name, turn poverty away from me […] it’s only him.” Makar dissuades: “Your heart will be cold!” Having fallen ill from grief, he still last day shares her efforts in getting ready for the trip.
September 30 - wedding. On the same day, on the eve of leaving for Bykov’s estate, Varenka writes a farewell letter to an old friend: “Who will you stay with here, kind, priceless, the only one!”
The answer is full of despair: “I worked, and wrote papers, and walked, and walked, […] all because you […] here, on the contrary, lived nearby.” Who now needs his formed “syllable”, his letters, himself? “By what right” do they destroy “human life”?
The novel became the first great success in the works of Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. ABOUT young author started talking about him as a talented writer. Grigorovich, Nekrasov and Belinsky first saw the work and immediately recognized the talent of the newcomer. In 1846, the Petersburg Collection published the book Poor People.
The author was inspired to create a work about the life of the urban poor by his own life experience. Dostoevsky's father worked as a doctor in a city hospital, and his family lived in an outbuilding next to the wards. There, little Fedor saw many life dramas occurring due to lack of money.
In his youth, the writer continued his study of the lower strata of St. Petersburg society. He often walked in the slums, seeing drunken and depressed residents of the capital. He also rented an apartment with a doctor, who also often told his neighbor about insolvent patients and their problems.
The writer's relatives became the prototypes of the main characters. Varvara became the literary embodiment of his sister. Varvara Mikhailovna’s diaries, which contain her childhood impressions, are very similar to Dobroselova’s memoirs. In particular, the description of the heroine’s native village is reminiscent of the Dostoevsky estate in the village of Darovoye. The image of the girl’s father and his fate, the image of the nanny and her appearance were also taken from the life of Fyodor Mikhailovich’s family.
The writer begins work on the novel “Poor People” in 1844, when he leaves his position as a draftsman and decides to seriously engage in creativity. However, the new business is difficult and he, in need of money, is forced to start translating Balzac’s book “Eugenie Grande”. She inspired him, and the young author again takes up his brainchild. Therefore, the work, which was supposed to appear in October, was ready only in May 1845. During this time, Dostoevsky rewrote the drafts more than once, but in the end, something came out that shocked the critics. After the first reading, Grigorovich even woke up Nekrasov in order to inform him of the birth of a new talent. Both publicists highly praised the writer's debut. The novel was published in the Petersburg Collection in 1846 and instantly attracted the attention of the public at the suggestion of the most authoritative critics of the time.
Along with original ideas, the author used literary clichés of his time. Formally it's European social novel, the writer borrowed its structure and problems from foreign colleagues. For example, Rousseau’s work “Julia, or new Eloise" The work was also influenced by the global trend - the transition from romanticism to realism, so the book took an intermediate position between the two directions, incorporating the features of both.
Genre
The genre of the work is a novel in letters, the so-called “epistolary”. Little people talk about themselves, about their little joys and big troubles, in detail about what their life actually consists of. They openly share their experiences, thoughts and discoveries with each other. The direction that is reflected in the book is called “sentimentalism.” It occupies an intermediate position between romanticism and realism. It is characterized by increased sensitivity of characters, emphasis on emotions and the inner world of heroes, idealization rustic look life, the cult of naturalness, sincerity and simplicity. The reader finds all this in the literary debut of F. M. Dostoevsky.
The epistolary genre allows you to reveal a character not only detailed description, but also through his own style of writing. Through vocabulary, literacy, the special structure of sentences and the peculiarities of expressing thoughts, it is possible to ensure that the hero somehow characterizes himself, and unobtrusively and naturally. That is why “Poor People” is distinguished by its deep psychologism and unique immersion into the inner worlds of the characters. Fyodor Mikhailovich himself wrote about this in the “Diary of a Writer”:
Without showing the “writer’s face” anywhere, give the floor to the characters themselves
What is this work about?
Main actors The novel "Poor People" are the titular adviser Makar Devushkin and the poor orphan Varenka Dobroselova. They communicate through letters; a total of 54 were sent. The girl became a victim of violence and is now hiding from her offenders under the protection of a distant relative, who himself is barely making ends meet. They are both unhappy and very poor, but they try to help each other by sacrificing the latter. Their troubles throughout the entire narrative are increasing more and more, both in quantitative and qualitative terms, they are on the edge of the abyss, one step separates them from death, because there is nowhere to wait for support. But the hero finds the strength to pull the burden of poverty and continue to develop according to the parameters set by his ideal. The girl gives him books and valuable recommendations, and he responds to her with worship and adoration. For the first time, he has a goal in life, and even a taste for it, because Varya is engaged in his upbringing and enlightenment.
The heroine tries to earn money by honest labor (sewing at home), but she is found by Anna Feodorovna, a woman who sold an orphan to a lustful nobleman. She again invites the girl to show favor to Bykov (the rich landowner who dishonored Varya), wants to arrange for her. Of course, Makar is against this, but he himself cannot offer anything, because the money he spends on his pupil is the last, and even that is not enough. He himself lives from hand to mouth, his unkempt appearance creates problems for him at work, and there are no prospects at his age and position. Out of self-pity and jealousy (Vara was pestered by an officer), he begins to drink, for which he is condemned by his Varenka. But a miracle happens: the author saves the heroes from starvation with the help of the boss Devushkin, who gives him 100 rubles for free.
But this does not save them from the moral decline that Dostoevsky describes. The girl accepts the courtship of her offender and agrees to marry him. Her patron cannot do anything and resigns himself to fate. In fact, Makar Alekseevich and Varenka remain alive, they have money, but they lose each other and, for sure, this will be the end for both. The poor official lives only for the orphan, she is the meaning of his life. Without her he will be lost. And Varenka, too, will die after marrying Bykov.
The main characters and their characteristics
The characteristics of the characters in the novel “Poor People” are similar in many ways. Both Varenka and Makar Alekseevich are kind, sincere, and have a great open soul. But they are both very weak in front of this world; the self-confident and vicious Bulls will calmly crush them. They have neither cunning nor dexterity to survive. Although at the same time the two characters are very different.
- Devushkin Makar Alekseevich- a meek, meek, weak-willed, mediocre and even pitiful person. He is 47 years old, most of his life he has been rewriting other people’s texts, he often reads superficial, empty literature that makes no sense, but he is still able to appreciate Pushkin, but he does not like Gogol with “The Overcoat”, since he is too Akaki Akakievich looks like himself. He is weak and very dependent on the opinions of others. This is the image of Makar Devushkin, akin to both Chervyakov from the story “The Death of an Official” and Samson Vyrin from the story “The Station Warden.”
- Varenka Dobroselova although she was still very young, she experienced a lot of grief, which did not break her at all (a rich nobleman dishonored her, having been sold by a relative to pay for her maintenance). However beautiful girl She did not take the wrong path and lived by honest work, without succumbing to provocations and persuasion. The heroine is well-read and has a literary taste, which was instilled in her by a student (Bykov’s pupil). She is virtuous and hardworking, because she steadfastly repels the attacks of her relative, who wants to arrange for her to be supported by the masters. She is much stronger than Makar Alekseevich. Varya evokes only admiration and respect.
- Petersburg- Another one main character novel "Poor People". A place that is always depicted quite voluminously in Dostoevsky’s works. Petersburg is described here as Big city bringing misfortune. In Varenka’s memoirs, the village where she spent her childhood appears as a bright, beautiful paradise on earth, and the city to which her parents brought her brought only suffering, deprivation, humiliation, and the loss of her closest people. This is a dark, cruel world that breaks many.
Subject
- Subject little man. The title “Poor People” shows that the main theme of the work was the little man. Dostoevsky finds in each of them a great personality, because only the ability to love and kindness characterize living soul. The author describes good and decent people who were crushed by poverty. Arbitrariness reigns around them and injustice is at work, but in these pitiful and insignificant inhabitants of St. Petersburg there was still hope for the best and faith in each other. They are the owners of true virtue, although no one notices their moral greatness. They do not live for show; their modest work is devoted only to the selfless desire to help another person. Both Devushkin’s numerous deprivations and Varya’s self-sacrifice in the finale indicate that these individuals are small only because they do not value themselves. The writer idealizes them and praises them, following the tradition of sentimentalists like Karamzin.
- Theme of love. For the sake of this bright feeling, the heroes make self-sacrifice. Makar renounces caring for himself; he spends all his money on his pupil. All his thoughts are devoted to her alone, nothing else bothers him. In the finale, Varya decides to repay her guardian and marries Bykov out of convenience, so as not to burden Devushkin with her existence any longer. She understands that he will never leave her himself. This guardianship is beyond his means, it destroys him and brings him to poverty, so the heroine tramples on her pride and gets married. That's what it is real love when people are ready to do anything for the sake of the chosen one.
- Contrast between city and countryside. In the novel “Poor People,” the author deliberately contrasts the indifference and dullness of St. Petersburg with bright colors a good-natured village where residents always help each other. The capital grinds and passes souls through itself, making greedy, vicious and indifferent to everything holders of ranks and titles from its citizens. They are angry because of the cramped conditions and fuss around them; human life is nothing to them. The village, on the contrary, has a healing effect on the individual, because village residents are calmer and more friendly towards each other. They have nothing to share; they will happily accept someone else’s misfortune as their own and help solve the problem. This conflict is also characteristic of sentimentalism.
- Art theme. Dostoevsky, through the mouth of his heroine, speaks of the distinction between literature of high quality and low quality. To the first he classifies the works of Pushkin and Gogol, to the second are boulevard novels, where the authors focus only on the plot side of the work.
- The theme of parental love. The writer depicts a vivid episode where a father trails behind his son’s coffin and drops his books. This touching scene is striking in its tragedy. Varenka also touchingly describes her family, who did a lot for her.
- Mercy. Devushkin’s boss sees the depressing state of his affairs and helps him financially. This gift, which means nothing to him, saves a person from starvation.
Issues
- Poverty. Even a working person in St. Petersburg at that time could not afford to eat enough and buy clothes. There is nothing to say about a girl who cannot provide for herself with honest and hard work. That is, even hard workers and conscientious workers cannot feed themselves and earn decent living conditions. Due to their financial insolvency, they are in slavish subordination to circumstances: they are overcome by debts, harassment, insults and humiliation. The writer mercilessly criticizes the current system, portraying rich people as indifferent, greedy and evil. Not only do they not help others, but they also drag them further into the dirt. It's not worth the trouble, because the beggar in Tsarist Russia deprived of the right to justice and respectful treatment. He is either used, like Varvara, or ignored, like Makar. In such realities, the poor themselves lose their value, selling dignity, pride and honor for a piece of bread.
- Arbitrariness and injustice. The landowner Bykov dishonored Varya, but there was nothing for him for this, and there could not be. He is a rich man, and justice works for him, not for mere mortals. The problem of injustice is especially acute in the work “Poor People,” because the main characters are poor because they themselves are not worth a penny. Makar is paid so little that it can’t even be called a living wage; Varin’s work is also terribly cheap. But the nobles live in luxury, idleness and contentment, while those who make this possible languish in poverty and ignorance.
- Indifference. In the city, everyone remains indifferent to each other; no one will be surprised by someone else’s misfortune when they are everywhere. For example, only Makar was concerned about Varya’s fate, although the orphan lived with a relative, Anna Fedorovna. The woman was so spoiled by greed and greed that she sold the defenseless girl for Bykov’s amusement. Then she didn’t calm down and gave the victim’s address to her other friends so that they could also try their luck. When such morals reign within the family, there is nothing to say about the relationships of strangers.
- Drunkenness. Devushkin washes away his grief; he has no other solution to the problem. Even feelings of love and guilt cannot save him from his addiction. However, Dostoevsky in “Poor People” is in no hurry to place all responsibility on his unfortunate hero. He shows the hopelessness and despair of Makar, as well as his lack of will. When a person is trampled into the mud, he, not being strong and persistent, merges with it, becomes low and disgusted with himself. The character could not withstand the pressure of circumstances and found solace in alcohol, because there was nowhere else. The author described the last lot of the Russian poor in vivid colors to show the scale of the problem. As you can see, the official is paid just enough to forget in a glass. By the way, the same illness struck the father of student Pokrovsky, who also once worked, but became an alcoholic and sank to the very bottom of the social hierarchy.
- Loneliness. The heroes of the novel “Poor People” are terribly lonely and, perhaps, because of this they are vicious and embittered. Even Bykov, who understands that he has no one to leave even an inheritance, is tragically broken: there are only hunters around for other people’s property, who are just waiting for his death. Realizing his situation, he marries Varya, without hiding the fact that he simply wants to have offspring, a family. He, oddly enough, lacks sincere participation and warmth. In a simple village girl, he saw naturalness and honesty, which means she will not leave him in difficult times.
- Unsanitary conditions and lack of medical care for the poor. The author touches upon not only philosophical and sociological problems, but also the most ordinary, everyday ones relating to the life and life of people of that time. In particular, student Pokrovsky, a very young man, who, due to lack of money, no one helped, dies of consumption. This disease of the poor (it develops from malnutrition and poor living conditions) spread very widely in St. Petersburg at that time.
The meaning of the work
The book is filled with acute social meaning, which sheds light on the author’s critical attitude to reality. He is outraged by the poverty and lack of rights of the inhabitants of the “corners” and the permissiveness of senior officials and nobles. The oppositional mood of the work is given not by slogans or appeals, but by the plot, which, despite all its ordinariness, shocked the reader with descriptions and details of the life of the unfortunate characters. By the end, it became clear that they were unhappy not because of a personal drama, but because of the injustice of the political system. But the main idea the novel "Poor People" is above politics. It lies in the fact that even in such inhuman and cruel realities you need to find the strength to love sincerely and selflessly. This feeling elevates even a small person above the hostile reality.
In addition, although this story ends, at first glance, not very well, it has an ambiguous ending. Bykov still repents of what he did. He understands that he will die alone, surrounded by hypocritical enemies, if he does not start a family. He is driven by the desire to acquire a direct heir. However, why did his choice fall on Varenka, a homeless woman and an orphan? He could have counted on a more lucrative bride. But still, he decides to atone for the old sin and legitimize the position of his victim, because he sees in her all the virtues that are necessary to create a family. She definitely won’t betray or deceive. This insight is the main idea of the novel “Poor People” - small people sometimes turn out to be big treasures that need to be seen and protected. They should be appreciated, and not broken and ground in the millstones of trials.
Ending
"Poor People" ends with an ambiguous event. After the unexpected rescue, Makar became soaring and drove away “liberal thoughts.” Now he hopes for a bright future and believes in himself. However, at the same time, Varya finds Bykov. He proposes marriage to her. He wants to have his own children so that they will inherit his property, which is encroached upon by his worthless nephew. The groom demands an immediate answer, otherwise the proposal will go to the Moscow merchant's wife. The girl hesitates, but eventually agrees, because only the landowner can restore her good name and lost dignity by legitimizing the relationship. Devushkin is in despair, but cannot change anything. The hero even falls ill from grief, but still courageously and humbly helps his pupil to bother about the wedding.
The end of Dostoevsky’s novel “Poor People” is the wedding day. Varya writes a farewell letter to her friend, where she complains about his helplessness and loneliness. He replies that all this time he lived only for her sake, and now he has no need to “work, write papers, walk, walk.” Makar wonders “by what right” are they destroying “human life”?
What does it teach?
Dostoevsky gives moral lessons to the reader in each of his works. For example, in “Poor People,” the author reveals the essence of homely and pitiful heroes in the most favorable light and seems to invite us to evaluate how wrong we would be in this person, drawing conclusions about him based on appearance. The narrow-minded and weak-willed Makar is capable of a feat of self-denial for the sake of a selfless feeling for Varya, and surrounding colleagues and neighbors see in him only an unkempt and ridiculous clown. For everyone, he is just a laughing stock: they take out their anger on him and sharpen their tongues. However, he has not become hardened by the blows of fate and is still able to help anyone in need by giving his last. For example, he gives all his money to Gorshkov only because he has nothing to feed his family. Thus, the writer teaches us not to judge by the wrapper, but to get to know more deeply the one about whom we're talking about, because he may be worthy of respect and support, and not ridicule. This is what the only positive image from high society does - Devushkin’s boss, who gives him money, saving him from poverty.
Virtue and a sincere desire to help serve the heroes faithfully, allowing them to overcome all the difficulties of life together and remain honest people. Love guides and nourishes them, giving them strength to fight problems. The author teaches us the same nobility of soul. We must maintain purity of thoughts, warmth of heart and moral principles, no matter what, and generously give them to those who need support. This is wealth, which elevates and ennobles even the poor.
Criticism
Liberal reviewers were enthusiastic about the new talent on the literary horizon. Belinsky himself (the most authoritative critic of that time) read the manuscript of “Poor People” even before publication and was delighted. He, together with Nekrasov and Grigorovich, stirred up public interest in the release of the novel and dubbed the unknown Dostoevsky “The New Gogol.” The writer mentions this in a letter to his brother Mikhail (November 16, 1845):
Never, I think, will my glory reach such a climax as it does now. Everywhere there is incredible respect, terrible curiosity about me...
In his detailed review, Belinsky writes about the phenomenal gift of the writer, whose debut is so good. However, not everyone shared his admiration. For example, the editor of “Northern Bee” and conservative Thaddeus Bulgarin spoke negatively about the work “Poor People,” affecting the entire liberal press. It is his authorship that belongs to the term “ natural school" He used it as a curse word in relation to all novels of this kind. His attack was continued by Leopold Brant, who stated that Dostoevsky himself writes well, and the unsuccessful start of his career was due to the excessive influence of employees of a competing publication. Thus, the book became the occasion for a battle between two ideologies: progressive and reactionary.
Out of nothing, he decided to build a poem, a drama, and nothing came of it, despite all the claims to create something deep, writes the critic Brant.
Reviewer Pyotr Pletnev positively singled out only Varya's diary, and he called the rest a sluggish imitation of Gogol. Stepan Shevyrev (publicist from the Moskvityanin magazine) believed that the author was too carried away by philanthropic ideas and forgot about giving the work the necessary artistry and beauty of style. However, he noted several successful episodes, for example, meeting the student Pokrovsky and his father. Censor Alexander Nikitenko also agreed with his assessment, who highly valued the deep psychological analysis characters, but complained about the length of the text.
The religious morality of the work was criticized by Apollo Grigoriev in the Finnish Herald, noting the “false sentimentality” of the narrative. He believed that the author glorified a petty personality, and not the ideals of Christian love. An unknown reviewer argued with him in the magazine “Russian Invalid”. He spoke of the exceptional authenticity of the events described, and that the writer’s indignation was noble and fully consistent with the interests of the people.
Finally, Gogol himself read the book, with whom Dostoevsky was very often compared. He highly appreciated the work, but, nevertheless, gently scolded his novice colleague:
The author of “Poor People” shows talent, the choice of subjects speaks in favor of his spiritual qualities, but it is also clear that he is still young. There is still a lot of talkativeness and little concentration in oneself: everything would turn out to be much livelier and stronger if it were more compressed.
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Makar Alek-seevich Devushkin is a forty-seven-year-old titular councilor who writes papers for a small salary in one of the St. Petersburg departments. He had just moved to a new apartment in a “main” building near Fontanka. Along the long corridor are the doors of rooms for residents; the hero himself huddles behind a partition in the common kitchen. His previous housing was “incomparably better.” However, now the main thing for Devushkin is cheapness, because in the same courtyard he rents a more comfortable and expensive apartment for his distant relative Varvara Alekseevna Dobroselova. A poor official takes under his protection a seventeen-year-old orphan, for whom there is no one but him to intercede. Living nearby, they rarely see each other, since Makar Alekseevich is afraid of gossip. However, both need warmth and sympathy, which they draw from almost daily correspondence with each other. The history of the relationship between Makar and Varenka is revealed in thirty-one - his and twenty-four - her letters, written from April 8 to September 30, 184... First letter Makara is permeated with the happiness of finding heartfelt affection: “... it’s spring, and thoughts are still so pleasant, sharp, intricate, and tender dreams come...” Denying himself food and dress, he is looking for flowers and sweets for his “angel”.
Varenka is angry with the patron for excessive expenses, and cools his ardor with irony: “... only poems are missing...”
“Fatherly affection animated me, the only pure fatherly affection...” - Makar is embarrassed.
Varya persuades her friend to come to her more often: “What does anyone else care!” She takes home work - sewing.
In subsequent letters, Devushkin describes in detail his home - “Noah’s Ark” due to the abundance of a motley audience - with a “rotten, pungently sweet smell” in which “siskins are dying.” He draws portraits of his neighbors: the midshipman card player, the minor writer Rata-Zyaev, the poor unemployed official Gorshkov and his family. The hostess is “a real witch.” He is ashamed that he writes poorly, stupidly - “there is no syllable”: after all, he studied “not even with copper money.”
Varenka shares her anxiety: Anna Fedorovna, a distant relative, “finds out” about her. Previously, Varya and her mother lived in her house, and then, supposedly to cover their expenses, the “charity” offered to live with the orphaned girl by that time to the godly landowner Bykov, who gave her and provided. Only Makar’s help saves the defenseless from final “death.” If only the pimp and Bykov didn’t find out her address! The poor thing falls ill from fear and lies unconscious for almost a month. Makar is nearby all this time. To get his little one back on his feet, he sells a new uniform. By June, Varenka recovers and sends notes to her caring friend with the story of her life.
Her happy childhood was spent in her family in the lap of rural nature. When father lost his place as manager of Prince P’s estate, they came to St. Petersburg - “rotten,” “angry,” “melancholy.” Constant failures brought my father to his grave. The house was sold for debts. Four-and-twenty-year-old Varya and her mother were left homeless and without money. It was then that Anna Fedorovna took them in, and soon began to reproach the widow. She worked beyond her strength, ruining her poor health for the sake of a piece of bread. For a whole year, Varya studied with a former student, Pyotr Pokrovsky, who lived in the same house. She was surprised by the strange disrespect for the old father, who often visited his adored son, in “the kindest, most worthy man, the best of all.” He was a bitter drunkard, once a petty official. Peter's mother, a young beauty, was married to him with a rich dowry to the landowner Bykov. Soon she died. The widower remarried. Peter grew up separately, under the patronage of Bykov, who placed the young man, who had left the university for health reasons, “for bread” with his “short acquaintance” Anna Fedorovna.
Joint vigils at the bedside of Varya’s sick mother brought the young people closer together. An educated friend taught the girl to read and developed her taste. However, Pokrovsky soon fell ill and died of consumption. The hostess took all the deceased's belongings to pay for the funeral. The old father took as many books from her as he could and stuffed them into her pockets, hat, etc. Rain is coming. The old man ran, crying, behind the cart with the coffin, and books fell from his pockets into the mud. He picked them up and ran after them again... Varya, in anguish, returned home to her mother, who was also soon taken away by death...
Devushkin responds with a story about his own life. He has been serving for thirty years. “Smir-nenky”, “quiet” and “kind”, he became the subject of constant ridicule: “Makar Alek-se-evich was introduced into the proverb in our entire department”, “... We got to the boots, to the uniform, to the hair, to my figure: everything is not up to them, everything needs to be redone! The hero is indignant: “Well, what’s going on here?<...>such that I'm re-peeing! What, it’s a sin to over-write, or what? “The only joy is Varenka: “It’s as if the Lord blessed me with a home and family!”
On June 10, Devushkin takes his ward for a walk to the islands. She's happy. Naive Makar is delighted with the works of Rata-zyayev. Varenka notes the bad taste and pompousness of “Italian Passions”, “Ermak and Zuleika”, etc.
Realizing how overwhelming it is for Devushkin to take care of himself financially (he has become so self-possessed that he arouses contempt even among the servants and watchmen), the sick Varenka wants to get a job as a tutor. Makar is against: its “usefulness” lies in its “beneficial” influence on his life. He stands up for Rata-zyaev, but after reading Pushkin’s “Stand-on-the-monitor” sent by Varya, he is shocked: “I feel the same, exactly as and in the book." Vyrina tries on fate and asks her “native” not to leave, not to “ruin” him. July 6 Varenka sends Makar Gogol’s “The Overcoat”; that same evening they visit the theater.
If Pushkin’s story exalted Devushkin in his own eyes, then Gogol’s story offends him. Identifying himself with Bashmachkin, he believes that the author spied on all the little details of his life and unceremoniously revealed them. The hero’s dignity is hurt: “after this you have to complain...”
By the beginning of July, Makar had spent everything. The only thing worse than the lack of money is the ridicule of the residents at him and Varenka. But the worst thing is that a “seeker” officer, one of her former neighbors, comes to her with an “undignified proposal.” In despair, the poor man started drinking and disappeared for four days, missing service. He went to shame the offender, but was thrown down the stairs.
Varya consoles her protector and asks, despite the gossip, to come to her for dinner.
Since the beginning of August, Devushkin has been trying in vain to borrow money at interest, especially necessary in view of a new misfortune: the other day another “seeker” came to Varenka, directed by Anna Fedorovna, who herself will soon visit the girl . We urgently need to move. Makar starts drinking again out of helplessness. “For my sake, my darling, don’t ruin yourself and don’t ruin me,” the unfortunate woman begs him, sending her last “thirty kopecks in silver.” The encouraged poor man explains his “fall”: “how he lost respect for himself, how he indulged in the denial of his good qualities and his dignity, so here you are all lost!” Varya gives Makar self-respect: people “disgusted” him, “and I began to disdain myself., and<...>You<...>all my dark life they illuminated,<...>and I<...>I learned that<...>no worse than others; that's just<...>I don’t shine with anything, there’s no shine, I’m not drowning, but still I’m a man, that in my heart and thoughts I’m a man.”
Varenka’s health is deteriorating, she is no longer able to sew. In alarm, Makar goes out on a September evening to the Fontanka embankment. Dirt, disorder, drunk people - “boring”! And on neighboring Gorokhovaya there are rich shops, luxurious carriages, elegant ladies. The walker falls into “free-thinking”: if work is the basis of human dignity, then why are so many idle people well-fed? Happiness is not given by merit - so the rich should not be deaf to the complaints of the poor. Makar is a little proud of his reasoning and notes that he “has been forming a syllable recently.” On September 9, luck smiles on Devushkin: summoned for a mistake in a paper for a “dispatch” to the general, the humble and pitiful official was awarded the sympathy of “his superiority” and received one hundred rubles from him personally. This is real salvation: paid for an apartment, a table, clothes. Devushkin is depressed by his superior boss and reproaches himself for his recent “liberal” thoughts. Reading "Northern Bee". Full of hope for the future.
Meanwhile, Bykov finds out about Varenka and on September 20 comes to woo her. His goal is to have legitimate children in order to deprive his “worthless nephew” of his inheritance. If Varya is against it, he will marry a Moscow merchant's wife. Despite the shamelessness and rudeness of the offer, the girl agrees: “If anyone can<...>restore my good name, avert poverty from me<...>so it’s the only one.” Makar replies: “Your heart will be cold!” Having fallen ill from grief, he still shares her troubles of getting ready for the trip until the last day.
September 30 - wedding. On the same day, on the eve of leaving for Bykov’s estate, Varenka writes a farewell letter to an old friend: “Who are you staying with here, kind, priceless, one and only!”
The answer is full of despair: “I worked, and wrote papers, and walked, and walked,<...>all because you<...>here, on the contrary, they lived nearby.” Who now needs his formed “syllable”, his letters, himself? “By what right” do they destroy “human life”?
Forty-seven-year-old Devushkin Makar Alekseevich works in one of the departments of St. Petersburg as a minor clerical official, or, simply, as a clerk. His salary is not that great, so Makar Alekseevich occupies part of the common kitchen behind a partition in an apartment in a building not far from Fontanka. Although the house is solid and “major,” Devushkin nostalgically recalls his previous home, which was “incomparably better.” What prompted an ordinary titular adviser to take such a decisive step to worsen his living conditions? Yes, the fact is that the lion’s share of Devushkin’s salary goes to pay for a much more decent and expensive apartment located in the courtyard of that house. A distant relative of the official, Varvara Alekseevna Dobroselova, lives there, seventeen years old.
Varenka is an orphan, and Devushkin, with the best intentions, patronizes the young maiden, considering himself the only one in life who can stand up for her. Although distant relatives live very close by, Makar Alekseevich, in order not to compromise the orphan with constant visits, found the only possible way out for constant communication - correspondence. Being natures of a subtle mental organization, in need of empathy and warmth, Varenka and Makar Alekseevich correspond with each other at the first opportunity. In these letters, thirty-one from Devushkin to her, and twenty-four from Varenka to him, the entire almost six-month history of their touching relationship is revealed.
Makar's first letters are filled with reckless happiness. It’s spring outside, his heart and soul are filled with “thoughts that are still so pleasant, sharp, and intricate.” He is infinitely glad to have the opportunity to take care of Varenka, and willy-nilly, “tender dreams come to his mind...” Devushkin saves in every possible way on his well-being, trying to spend every extra penny for the benefit of the young girl’s existence.
Varenka’s spiritual and financial support is also facilitated by her sad letters to him, in which she talks in all colors about the misfortune of her existence. Varvara Alekseevna was born and raised in the village, in the family of the manager of a landowner's estate. Soon the father was left without a place and salary, so the family was forced to move to St. Petersburg. The “rotten”, “dreary” and “angry” city did not at all impress fourteen-year-old Varenka, and soon the family was beset with problems one after another. Varvara Alekseevna’s father died without surviving constant failures, and the house had to be paid off for debts. Varenka and her mother settled with a distant relative, Anna Fedorovna. Varya’s mother worked tirelessly so as not to be a burden.
Varenka, to improve her education, studied with a student who lived in the same house. Student Pyotr Pokrovsky suffered from consumption, so he made a living as best he could by giving private lessons. Varenka idolized him, considering him “the kindest, most worthy person, the best of all.” Peter was placed in a boarding house with Anna Feodorovna by her close acquaintance, the landowner Bykov.
Educational classes brought the young people closer together, and when Varenka’s mother fell ill from overwork and fell ill, they spent time together at her bedside. Varenka learned a lot from Peter and fell in love with reading. But grief came unexpectedly: the student was unable to overcome his illness and died. Heartless Anna Fedorovna took all the deceased’s belongings to pay for the arrangement funeral events. Peter's father took away from her several books that he could carry away. He ran after the coffin, cried, and the books fell from his hands straight into the dirt...
The “virtuous” relative constantly reproached the hangers-on, reproaching them for freeloading. Soon Varenka’s mother also died. The girl was left completely alone. The insidious Anna Fedorovna “invoiced” Varvara Alekseevna, announcing exorbitant losses incurred due to the presence of unexpected relatives in her house. Considering that the only way to repay the debts is Varenka’s pimping with her friend, the landowner Bykov, Anna Fedorovna, without thinking twice, does just that. The landowner deprives the girl of her virginity, but she manages to escape.
In letters to Devushkin, Varya laments that Anna Fedorovna is trying to find out her place of residence. Varenka hopes that today Makar Alekseevich, her only hope and support, will be able to protect her from the machinations of her relative. The sadness gnaws at her so much that nervous soil Varya falls ill and spends a whole month unconscious. Makar Alekseevich is right there, and even sells a new uniform in order to maintain the health of his ward.
Makar responds to letters from young Varvarushka with stories from his life. He complains that at work everyone laughs at him and comes up with offensive epithets: “humble,” “kind,” and “quiet.” And his boots are not the same, and his uniform, and his hair and figure need to be altered. They mock him that he has been copying documents for thirty years now. Makar does not understand the ridicule: “Is it a sin to rewrite, or what?” The only outlet for him now is Varenka. “It’s as if the Lord blessed me with a house and a family,” Devushkin writes joyfully and shyly. But he’s a little shy about his style in letters, because he studied “not even with copper money.”
Makar Alekseevich describes his home to Varenka, characterizing it as a slum: a dark, dirty, long corridor “with a rotten, pungently sweet smell”, it is not surprising that “little siskins are dying” in it. By left side The corridor is entirely filled with doors, behind which all sorts of people live. “It seems that the people are good, they are all so educated, learned”: an official with his family, gamblers-officers, an English teacher. Devushkin characterizes the owner of the apartment as “a real witch.”
He says that he huddles in a secluded corner of the kitchen only “for convenience,” because opposite there is the window of Varenka, “a bird of heaven, created for the joy of people and for the decoration of nature.” And how happy he is when her “pretty face” flashes outside the window. And he saves and saves money. Although, to be honest, it’s cheaper here, behind the partition, and now he even allows himself to drink tea with sugar. And for dear Varenka, Makar bought pots of balsam and geranium. In addition to the letter, Makar sends Varya a pound of sweets.
Varenka is delighted with the flowers sent, but reproaches Makar for such waste. She understands that Devushkin is denying himself the essentials, trying to provide her with a decent existence. Fedora, the owner of the apartment, blurted out to Varvara that Makar Alekseevich used to be much lived better. Varenka ironically cools down the ardor of Makar, with his care and gifts: “only poetry is missing.” Makar is confused: “Fatherly affection animated me, the only pure fatherly affection...” On the tenth of June, Devushkin takes Varvara for a walk to the islands so that she can rest and gain strength in the fresh air.
Upon arrival home, Varenka writes another message, where she thanks her benefactor for the perfect country promenade, but reports that she got her feet wet and is sick again. Makar promises to visit her and bring her a book. Varya again tries to reason with Devushkin with a request not to spend so much money on her and it is better to buy herself a new uniform so as not to walk around in such rags. Additionally, Varenka says that Anna Fedorovna knows where she lives and calls her back, promising to settle matters with Bykov. But Varvara Alekseevna was adamant and told her relative that she was happy in Fedora’s apartment under the protection of Makar Alekseevich.
Makar is flattered, he likes that he is needed. He tells Varenka that he admires literature and can spend hours with his neighbor Ratazyaev, in the company of his friends - writers. Varenka is indignant about the books that Ratazyaev recommends to Makar and sends him to read Pushkin. Makar in indescribable delight from the work: “I feel the same, just like in the book.” On July 6th, Varenka introduces Devushkin to Gogol’s “The Overcoat” and on the same day Makar takes Varvara Alekseevna to the theater.
Varya reports that the owner of Fedora’s apartment can arrange her as a governess for one landowner’s family, but she doubts whether to go. In general, she has a bad cough, she is sad and she is afraid that she will die soon. Varya asks Makar to save his money and not send more sweets. She writes that she embroidered a carpet, and for it they give fifty rubles in banknotes. So she herself will pay Fedora the amount that Devushkin owes for housing, sew herself a new dress, and Makar a vest.
Makar encourages Varya that she is not sick at all, but only pale and has lost a little weight, and also asks under no circumstances to agree to become a governess, because for him her “usefulness” lies in her “beneficial” influence on his life. The beginning of July was marked by complete lack of money for Makar. He even borrowed his salary in advance, but that doesn’t help at all. The guests of the house increasingly mock his relationship with Varenka. And then Varvara Alekseevna reported that one of the neighbor officers approached her with an unambiguous proposal.
In despair, Makar started drinking, and for four days he was neither at Varya’s nor at work. He was found drunk on the street, and the police brought him home. In addition, he went to sort things out with the officer, but he, without thinking twice, lowered him down the stairs. Varvara Alekseevna laments: “I brought you such misfortunes that you have never experienced before in your modest and solitary life. All this torments and kills me.” She asks Devushkin, despite the gossip, to still come to her for dinner. August passes with Devushkin drunk and both lacking money. Since the beginning of the month, Makar has been trying in vain to borrow money at interest. Varvara is visited by new womanizers, this time from Anna Fedorovna. Makar is unhappy and wants to move somewhere with Varvara, but he starts drinking again. Varenka is inconsolable and sends him the remaining “thirty kopecks in silver”: “For my sake, my darling, don’t ruin yourself and don’t ruin me.”
On September 5, Varya writes that autumn has already arrived. And she loved autumn very much while she lived in native village. In autumn it was very beautiful in the lap of nature: a clear lake with huge trees on the shore, a fiery sunset sky, bonfires of fallen leaves and white steam rising above the water. And when autumn is already late, peasant work ends, everything freezes on the eve of winter. Varya writes that the feeling does not leave her near death. And now Fedora has gone somewhere, and someone is walking in the room, and she is scared, only letters to Makar distract her. Varenka also reports that she sold the dress and hat, but there was not much money left. It’s good that Makar gave Fedora two rubles: at least for a while she won’t blame her for the unpaid apartment.
Makar writes that in his evening thoughts he walked along the dirty and disorderly embankment of the Fontanka. And on neighboring Gorokhovaya there is a world through the looking glass - rich shops, expensive carriages, luxurious ladies. Makar wonders why labor is so poorly rewarded, while a bunch of idle rich people are well-fed and happy? Devushkin is even proud of his reasoning, noting that “his syllable has been forming recently.” He also made a typo in the document, and he should be punished. But the general, looking at his pitiful appearance, even gave him a hundred rubles. Makar was gnawed by his conscience for his recent freethinking; he paid off his debts and perked up in the hope of a bright future.
But the landowner Bykov finds Varenka and offers to marry him. He needs to have children in order to disinherit a relative. If Varya refuses, he will marry a rich merchant's wife. Varenka agrees, realizing that only this can restore her good name. Makar is struck on the spot: “Your heart will be cold!”, but still helps her get ready for the trip. On the eve of departure, Varenka writes to farewell letter: “To whom will you stay here, kind, priceless, the only one!” Makar is in despair: “I worked... all because you... on the contrary, lived nearby.” Devushkin is left alone with his formed style and with thoughts about “by what right” are they destroying “human life”...
The inner world of the “little man”, his experiences, problems, disappointments, but, at the same time, spiritual development, moral purity is what worries Fyodor Mikhailovich, who raised the topic of personality transformation in difficult life circumstances. Returning self-respect through helping another disadvantaged creature, maintaining personal integrity in spite of adversity - the correspondence of two not very happy people makes you think about this.
History of creation
In the spring of 1845, editing of the text continues, and final amendments are made. The manuscript is ready in early May. Grigorovich, Nekrasov and Belinsky were the first readers, and already in January 1846, the “Petersburg Collection” introduced the novel to the general public. A separate edition was published in 1847.
Stylistic changes were added by Dostoevsky later, when preparing collected works of his works.
Researchers of the writer’s work believe that many of the characters in “Poor People” had prototypes.
Analysis of the work
Description of the work
A poor official decides to help a distant relative who is in a difficult situation. He spares no money, no time, no good advice, no kind words for her. Varya gratefully accepts the help, responding with warmth and cordiality. In the relationship between two disadvantaged people, who have become a support for each other, best sides both.
In the finale, Varvara decides to marry the unloved landowner Bykov in order to gain social status and financial well-being.
Main characters
There are two central characters in the novel: the lonely Makar Devushkin and the young orphan Varenka Dobroselova. The revelation of their characters, characteristics and shortcomings, outlook on life, motives for actions occurs gradually, from letter to letter.
Makar is 47 years old, 30 of which he has been doing unimportant work for a meager salary. His service gives him neither moral satisfaction nor the respect of his colleagues. Devushkin has high ambitions, he is not confident in himself and is dependent on public opinion. Unsuccessful attempts to create a prestigious image in the eyes of others further lower the self-esteem of the titular adviser. But underneath the shyness and uncertainty of the main character lies a big heart: having met a girl in need, he rents a place for her, tries to help financially, and shares his warmth. Taking a sincere part in Varya’s fate, feeling his importance, Devushkin grows in his own eyes.
Varvara Dobroselova, who lost her relatives, faced with meanness and betrayal, also reaches out with all her soul to good man sent to her by fate. Confiding the details of her life to her interlocutor, Varya, in turn, treats the official’s complaints with sympathy and cordiality and supports him morally. But, unlike Makar, the girl is more pragmatic, has determination and inner strength.
(Scene from the play "Poor People" Theater Young Spectators named after A.A. Bryantseva, St. Petersburg)
The format of the novel in letters, presented by Dostoevsky, has distinctive feature: we hear the direct speech of the heroes, their attitude to the surrounding reality, their own assessment events taking place, while Subjective opinion the author is missing. The reader is invited to understand the situation for himself and draw conclusions regarding the characters’ characters and actions. We are seeing the development of two storylines. The identity of the characters' patronymics hints at the similarity of their destinies. At the same time, if Dobroselova remains at the same level throughout the narrative, then Devushkin grows spiritually and is transformed.
Lack of money and adversity did not destroy the most important thing in the soul of the “little man” - the ability to compassion and mercy. Increased self-esteem, awakening self-awareness leads to a rethinking of one’s life and the life around us.
