A rich and noble gentleman, Kirila Petrovich Troekurov, lives in his Pokrovskoye estate. Knowing his tough temper, all his neighbors are afraid of him, except for the poor landowner Andrei Gavrilovich Dubrovsky, a retired guard lieutenant and former colleague of Troekurov. Both of them are widowers. Dubrovsky has a son, Vladimir, who works in St. Petersburg, and Troekurov has a daughter, Masha, who lives with her father, and Troekurov often talks about his desire to marry his children.
An unexpected disagreement quarrels friends, and Dubrovsky’s proud and independent behavior alienates them from each other even more. The autocratic and all-powerful Troyekurov, in order to take out his irritation, decides to deprive Dubrovsky of his estate and orders the assessor Shabashkin to find a “legal” path to this lawlessness. The court's tricksters fulfill Troekurov's wishes, and Dubrovsky is summoned to the zemstvo judge to decide the case.
At the court hearing, in the presence of the litigants, a decision filled with legal incidents is read, according to which Dubrovsky’s Kistenevka estate becomes the property of Troekurov, and Dubrovsky suffers a fit of insanity.
Dubrovsky's health is deteriorating, and the old serf woman Yegorovna, who was looking after him, writes a letter to Vladimir Dubrovsky in St. Petersburg notifying him of what happened. Having received the letter, Vladimir Dubrovsky takes his leave and goes home. The dear coachman tells him about the circumstances of the case. At home he finds his father sick and decrepit.
Andrei Gavrilovich Dubrovsky is slowly dying. Troekurov, tormented by his conscience, goes to make peace with Dubrovsky, who is paralyzed at the sight of the enemy. Vladimir orders Troekurov to get out, and at that moment old Dubrovsky dies.
After Dubrovsky’s funeral, judicial officials and the police officer come to Kistenevka to introduce Troekurov into ownership. The peasants refuse to obey and want to deal with the officials. Dubrovsky stops them.
At night, in the house, Dubrovsky finds the blacksmith Arkhip, who has decided to kill the clerks, and dissuades him from this intention. He decides to leave the estate and orders all the people to be taken out to set the house on fire. He sends Arkhip to unlock the doors so that the officials can leave the house, but Arkhip violates the master’s order and locks the door. Dubrovsky sets fire to the house and quickly leaves the yard, and the clerks die in the resulting fire.
Dubrovsky is suspected of arson and murder of officials. Troekurov sends a report to the governor, and a new case begins. But then another event distracts everyone’s attention from Dubrovsky: robbers appeared in the province who robbed all the landowners of the province, but did not touch only Troekurov’s property. Everyone is sure that the leader of the robbers is Dubrovsky.
For his illegitimate son, Sasha Troekurov, orders a French teacher from Moscow, Monsieur Deforge, who is greatly impressed by the beauty of seventeen-year-old Marya Kirilovna Troekurov, but she does not pay any attention to the hired teacher. Deforge is put to the test by being pushed into a room with a hungry bear (a common joke with guests in Troekurov's house). The unperturbed teacher kills the beast. His determination and courage make a great impression on Masha. A friendly rapprochement occurs between them, which becomes a source of love. On the day of the temple holiday, guests come to Troekurov’s house. At dinner the conversation turns to Dubrovsky. One of the guests, a landowner named Anton Pafnutich Spitsyn, admits that he once gave false testimony in court against Dubrovsky in favor of Kirila Petrovich. One lady reports that a week ago Dubrovsky dined with her, and tells the story that her clerk, sent to the post office with a letter and 2000 rubles for her son, a guards officer, returned and reported that Dubrovsky had robbed him, but was caught lies by a man who came to visit her and identified himself as a former colleague of her late husband. The clerk who was called says that Dubrovsky actually stopped him on the way to the post office, but, after reading the mother’s letter to her son, he did not rob him. The money was found in the clerk's chest. The lady believes that the person who pretended to be her husband’s friend was Dubrovsky himself. But according to her descriptions, she had a man about 35 years old, and Troekurov knows for certain that Dubrovsky is 23 years old. This fact is confirmed by the new police officer dining with Troekurov.
The holiday in Troyekurov's house ends with a ball, at which the teacher also dances. After dinner, Anton Pafnutich, who has a large sum of money with him, expresses a desire to spend the night in the same room with Deforge, since he already knows about the Frenchman’s courage and hopes for his protection in the event of an attack by robbers. The teacher agrees to Anton Pafnutich's request. At night, the landowner feels like someone is trying to take away his money hidden in a bag on his chest. Opening his eyes, he sees Deforge standing over him with a pistol. The teacher tells Anton Pafnutich that he is Dubrovsky.
How did Dubrovsky get into Troekurov’s house under the guise of a teacher? At the post station he met a Frenchman on his way to see Troyekurov, gave him 10 thousand rubles, and received the teacher’s papers in return. With these documents, he came to Troekurov and settled in a house where everyone loved him and did not suspect who he really was. Finding himself in the same room with a man whom, not without reason, he could consider his enemy, Dubrovsky could not resist the temptation to take revenge. In the morning, Spitsyn leaves Troekurov’s house without saying a word about the night’s incident. Soon the rest of the guests left. Life in Pokrovsky goes on as usual. Marya Kirilovna feels love for Deforge and is annoyed with herself. Deforge treats her respectfully, and this calms her pride. But one day Deforge secretly gives her a note in which he asks for a date. At the appointed time, Masha arrives at the appointed place, and Deforge informs her that he is forced to leave soon, but before that he must tell her something important. Suddenly he reveals to Masha who he really is. Calming the frightened Masha, he says that he has forgiven her father. That it was she who saved Kirila Petrovich, that the house in which Marya Kirilovna lives is sacred to him. During Dubrovsky's confessions, a soft whistle is heard. Dubrovsky asks Masha to give him a promise that in case of misfortune she will resort to his help, and disappears. Returning to the house, Masha finds an alarm there, and her father informs her that Deforge, according to the police officer who arrived, is none other than Dubrovsky. The disappearance of the teacher confirms the truth of these words.
The following summer, Prince Vereisky returns from foreign lands to his estate Arbatov, located 30 versts from Pokrovsky. He pays a visit to Troekurov, and Masha amazes him with her beauty. Troekurov and his daughter pay a return visit. Vereisky gives them a wonderful reception.
Masha sits in her room and embroiders. A hand reaches out through the open window and places a letter on her hoop, but at this time Masha is called to her father. She hides the letter and goes. She finds Vereisky at her father’s, and Kirila Petrovich informs her that the prince is wooing her. Masha freezes in surprise and turns pale, but her father does not pay attention to her tears.
In her room, Masha thinks with horror about marriage to Vereisky and believes that it is better to marry Dubrovsky. Suddenly she remembers the letter and finds only one phrase in it: “In the evening at 10 o’clock in the same place.”
During a night date, Dubrovsky persuades Masha to resort to his protection. Masha hopes to touch her father's heart with her pleas and requests. But if he turns out to be inexorable and forces her to marry, she invites Dubrovsky to come for her and promises to become his wife. As a farewell, Dubrovsky gives Masha a ring and says that if trouble happens, all she will have to do is lower the ring into the hollow of the specified tree, then he will know what to do.
The wedding is being prepared, and Masha decides to take action. She writes a letter to Vereisky, begging him to refuse her hand. But this gives the opposite result. Having learned about Masha's letter, Kirila Petrovich is furious and schedules the wedding for the next day. Masha tearfully asks him not to marry her to Vereisky, but Kirila Petrovich is inexorable, and then Masha declares that she will resort to Dubrovsky’s defense. Having locked Masha, Kirila Petrovich leaves, ordering not to let her out of the room.
Sasha comes to the aid of Marya Kirilovna. Masha instructs him to take the ring to the hollow. Sasha carries out her instructions, but some ragged boy who sees this tries to take possession of the ring. A fight breaks out between the boys, the gardener comes to Sasha’s aid, and the boy is taken to the manor’s yard. Suddenly they meet Kirila Petrovich, and Sasha, under threats, tells him about the assignment that his sister gave him. Kirila Petrovich guesses about Masha’s relationship with Dubrovsky. He orders the caught boy to be locked up and sends for the police officer. The police officer and Troekurov agree on something and release the boy. He runs to Kistenevka, and from there secretly makes his way into the Kistenevka grove.
Preparations for the wedding are underway in Troekurov's house. Masha is taken to church, where her groom is waiting for her. The wedding begins. Masha's hopes for Dubrovsky's appearance evaporate. The young people are traveling to Arbatovo, when suddenly on a country road the carriage is surrounded by armed people, and a man in a half mask opens the doors. He tells Masha that she is free. Hearing that it is Dubrovsky, the prince shoots and wounds him. They seize the prince and intend to kill him, but Dubrovsky does not order them to touch him. Dubrovsky again tells Masha that she is free, but Masha replies that it is too late. Due to pain and excitement, Dubrovsky loses consciousness, and his accomplices take him away.
In the forest there is a military fortification of a band of robbers, behind a small rampart there are several huts. An old woman comes out of one hut and asks the guard, who is singing a robber's song, to shut up, because the master is sleeping. Dubrovsky lies in the hut. Suddenly there is alarm in the camp. The robbers under the command of Dubrovsky occupy places assigned to each. The guards who came running reported that there were soldiers in the forest. A battle ensues, in which victory is on the side of the robbers. A few days later, Dubrovsky gathers his associates and announces his intention to leave them. Dubrovsky disappears. Rumor has it that he fled abroad.
Retold
The novel “Dubrovsky” by A.S. Pushkin is the most famous Russian robber novel, created in the spirit of a genre of literary composition popular in England, France and Germany in the 18th-19th centuries, in the center of which is the image of a noble robber.
The novel is based on the idea of the moral decay of the Russian nobility and its opposition to the common people. Themes of defense of honor, family lawlessness, and peasant revolt are revealed.
History of creation
The novel in 3 parts was begun by Alexander Pushkin (1799 - 1837) after finishing work on the essay "Belkin's Tale" in the fall of 1832.
Pushkin wrote only 2 volumes of the planned three-volume work, the second of which was completed in 1833, that is, work on the novel proceeded quite quickly. The third volume was never started.
The first publication of the work took place 4 years after the poet died in a duel in 1841. Pushkin did not leave the title of the novel in the manuscript and it was prefixed with the title “Dubrovsky” after the name of the main character.
The basis for the work was an incident told to the poet by his comrade Nashchokin. According to the story, the landowner Ostrovsky, ruined by the fault of a high-ranking neighbor, gathered his serfs and created a band of robbers. History interested Pushkin as a realistic basis for prose writing.
Analysis of the work
Main plot
(Illustration by B. M. Kustodiev “Troekurov chooses puppies”)
The landowners Troekurov and Dubrovsky, the father of the main character Vladimir, are neighbors and friends. A number of conflict situations separate friends from each other and Troekurov, taking advantage of his special position, claims rights to his neighbor’s only estate. Dubrovsky is unable to confirm his right to the estate and goes crazy.
Son Vladimir, who arrived from the city, finds his father near death. Soon the elder Dubrovsky dies. Not wanting to put up with injustice, Vladimir burns the estate along with the officials who came to register it in Troyekurov’s name. Together with devoted peasants, he goes into the forest and terrifies the entire area, however, without touching Troekurov’s people.
A French teacher goes to work at the Troyekurovs' house and, thanks to bribery, Dubrovsky takes his place. In the enemy's house, he falls in love with his daughter Masha, who reciprocates his feelings.
Spitsyn recognizes the French teacher as the robber who robbed him. Vladimir has to hide.
At this time, the father gives Masha in marriage to the old prince against his will. Vladimir's attempts to break up the marriage are unsuccessful. After the wedding, Dubrovsky and his gang surround the newlyweds’ carriage and Vladimir frees his beloved. But she refuses to go with him, since she is already married to someone else.
The provincial authorities are making an attempt to surround Dubrovsky's gang. He decides to stop the robbery and, having dismissed the people loyal to him, goes abroad.
Main characters
Vladimir Dubrovsky in Pushkin’s works appears as one of the most noble and courageous heroes. He is the only son of his father, a hereditary impoverished nobleman. The young man graduated from the Cadet Corps and is a cornet. At the time of the news about the estate taken away from his father, Vladimir was 23 years old.
After the death of his father, Dubrovsky gathers loyal peasants and becomes a robber. However, his robbery is painted in noble tones. All the victims of the gang are rich people leading an unworthy lifestyle. In this, the image of the main character largely intersects with the image of Robin Hood.
Dubrovsky's goal is revenge for his father and it is aimed at Troekurov. Under the guise of a teacher, Vladimir settles in the landowner's house and establishes good relationships with all family members, and falls in love with his daughter Masha.
An incident in Troekurov’s house speaks about Dubrovsky’s courage and determination. Finding himself jokingly locked in a room with a bear, Dubrovsky does not lose his composure and kills the bear with one shot from a pistol.
After meeting Masha, the hero’s main goal changes. For the sake of reuniting with his beloved, Dubrovsky is ready to give up his desire to take revenge on her father.
Masha's refusal to follow Dubrovsky after her wedding to Vereisky, as well as the raid on the gang, force Vladimir to abandon his plans. He nobly lets his people go, not wanting to drag them into trouble. Abandoning his beloved and fleeing abroad testifies to the young man’s submissiveness and unwillingness to go against fate.
The existing drafts for the third volume trace Vladimir's return to Russia and attempts to bring Masha back. In this regard, we can say that the hero does not renounce his love, but only accepts his beloved’s desire to live according to church laws.
(editor's note - Kirila Petrovich - not to be confused with Kirill)
Troyekurov is the main negative character in the novel. A rich and influential landowner knows no bounds in his tyranny; he can lock a guest in a room with a bear as a joke. At the same time, he respects independent people, which includes Vladimir’s father Andrei Gavrilovich. Their friendship comes to an end because of Troekurov’s trifles and pride. Deciding to punish Dubrovsky for his insolence, he appropriates his estate, using his unlimited power and connections.
At the same time, the image of Troekurov is built not only in negative tones. The hero, having cooled down after a quarrel with a friend, regrets his action. In his behavior, Pushkin lays out the scheme of the Russian social structure, in which the nobles felt omnipotent and unpunished.
Troekurov is characterized as a loving father. His youngest son was born out of wedlock, but is raised in the family on equal terms with his eldest daughter Masha.
The pursuit of profit can be seen in the choice of a husband for his beloved daughter Masha. Troekurov knows about his daughter’s reluctance to marry the old man, but organizes the wedding and does not allow his daughter to run away with her beloved Dubrovsky. This is an excellent example of how parents try to arrange the lives of their children against their wishes.
Masha Troekurova at the time of the action is a 17-year-old girl who is brought up in the solitude of a large estate, she is silent and withdrawn into herself. Her main outlet is her father's rich library and French novels. The appearance of a French teacher in the house in the form of Dubrovsky for a romantic young lady develops into love, similar to numerous novels. The truth about the teacher’s personality does not frighten the girl, which speaks of her courage.
It is important to note that Masha is principled. Having married an unwanted husband - an old count - Masha rejects Dubrovsky's offer to run away with him and talks about her duty to her husband.
The work is dramatic in its composition and is based on vivid contrasts:
- friendship and court,
- the meeting of the main character with his native place and the death of his father,
- funeral and fire,
- holiday and robbery,
- love and escape
- wedding and battle.
Thus, the composition of the novel is based on the conflict method, that is, the collision of contrasting scenes.
The novel “Dubrovsky” by Pushkin, under the guise of a romantic work, contains a number of deep thoughts of the author about the problems of Russian life and structure.
We will analyze the characteristics of the heroes and a summary with special care. We will also present a short overview of critical reviews of the work by the author’s contemporaries.
History of creation
It was based on a story that Pushkin was told by his friend P.V. Nashchokin. Thus, the novel “Dubrovsky” has realistic roots. The analysis of the work therefore needs to begin precisely with this.
So, Nashchokin met a Belarusian nobleman in the prison, who had been suing his neighbor for a long time over land, was kicked out of the estate and then, left with several peasants, began to engage in robbery. The surname of that criminal was Ostrovsky, Pushkin replaced it with Dubrovsky, and moved the action of the work to the 20s of the 19th century.
Initially, Pushkin titled the novel with the date “October 21, 1832,” which marked the beginning of work on the novel. And the well-known title of the work was already given by the editor before publication in 1841.
Even at school, children study the novel “Dubrovsky”. Analysis of the work (grade 6 is the time when students become acquainted with it for the first time) is usually carried out according to a scheme. And if the first point is a description of the history of creation, then a summary of the novel should follow.
Landowner Kirill Petrovich Troekurov, a retired general-in-chief, is a classic wayward and rich gentleman, all his neighbors cater to his whims, and provincial officials tremble at the sight of him. He is friends with his neighbor and former comrade in the army service, Andrei Gavrilovich Dubrovsky, a poor and independent nobleman, a former lieutenant.
Troekurov always had a bad and cruel character. More than once he mocked his guests. His favorite trick was to lock one of those who came to him in a room with a bear.
Development of action
One day Dubrovsky comes to see Troekurov, and the landowners quarrel over the insolence of the guest’s servant. Gradually the quarrel turns into a real war. Troekurov decides to take revenge, bribes the judge and, thanks to his impunity, sues Dubrovsky for Kistenevka, his estate. Upon learning the verdict, the landowner goes crazy right in the courtroom. His son, guards cornet Vladimir, is forced to leave his service and come from St. Petersburg to his sick father. Soon the elder Dubrovsky dies.
Court officials arrive to formalize the transfer of property, they get drunk and spend the night on the estate. At night, Vladimir sets fire to the house with them. Dubrovsky, together with his loyal peasants, becomes a robber. Gradually he terrifies all the surrounding landowners. Only Troekurov's possessions remain untouched.
A teacher comes to the Troekurov family to join the service. Dubrovsky intercepts him halfway and bribes him. Now he himself, under the guise of Deforge, goes to the enemy’s estate. Gradually, love arises between him and Masha Troekurova, the daughter of a landowner.
Denouement
It is best to consider the novel as a whole. But analyzing the work “Dubrovsky” chapter by chapter will be quite problematic, since they are an element of one whole and, without context, lose most of their meaning.
So, Troekurov decides to marry his daughter to Prince Vereisky. The girl is against it and does not want to marry the old man. Dubrovsky makes an unsuccessful attempt to prevent their marriage. Masha sends him a prearranged sign, he comes to save her, but it turns out to be too late.
When the wedding cortege follows from the church to the prince's estate, Dubrovsky's people surround him. Vladimir offers Masha freedom; she can leave her old husband and go with him. But the girl refuses - she has already made an oath and cannot break it.
Soon the provincial authorities almost manage to catch Dubrovsky's gang. After this, he dismisses his people, and he himself goes abroad.
Analysis of Pushkin’s work “Dubrovsky”: theme and idea
This work is one of the most significant in the writer’s work. In it, Pushkin reflected many of the problems of his time. For example, the tyranny of landowners, the arbitrariness of officials and judges, the lack of rights of serfs and robbery as a reaction to all this of rebellious and brave people.
The theme of robbery for good purposes is not new in world and Russian literature. The image of a noble and freedom-loving robber did not leave many romantic writers indifferent. However, this is not the only thing that declares Pushkin’s interest in this topic. For many years, robbery was widespread in Russia. The robbers were former soldiers, impoverished nobles, and escaped serfs. However, the people did not blame them for the robberies, but the authorities that brought them to this. And Pushkin decided in his work to show why honest people have to take the high road.
The uniqueness of the conflict
We continue to describe the analysis of Pushkin’s work “Dubrovsky”. 6th grade, which is where they study the novel, is already familiar with the concept of “conflict,” so it will definitely need to be considered.
So, in the novel there are only 2 conflicts, which are strikingly different both in nature and in social significance. The first has a strong social connotation and is associated with class inequality. In it, Andrei Dubrovsky and Kirila Troekurov collide. And as a result, it leads to the rebellion of Vladimir, who cannot come to terms with arbitrariness. This is the main conflict of the novel.
However, there is a second one, related to the theme of love and family relationships. It manifests itself in the formal marriage of Masha to the old prince. Pushkin raises the topic of women's lack of rights, talks about the impossibility of lovers to be happy because of the whims of their parents.
Both of these conflicts are united by the figure of Kirila Troekurov, who became the cause of troubles for both the Dubrovskys and their own daughter.
Image of Vladimir Dubrovsky
The main character of the novel is Vladimir Andreevich Dubrovsky. Analysis of the work allows us to give it a very flattering description. He is a poor nobleman, he is 23 years old, he has a majestic appearance and a loud voice. Despite his position, he did not lose his honor and pride. He, like his father, always treated serfs well and earned their love. That is why they entered into an agreement with him when he planned to burn the estate and then began to rob.
His mother died when he was only one year old. However, he knew that his parents married for love. He wanted such a future for himself. Masha Troekurova became for him that one and only love. However, her father intervened in the matter. Vladimir made a desperate attempt to save his beloved, but failed. His nobility was also manifested in the fact that he resignedly left when Masha refused to run away with him. We can say that this hero embodies the concept of noble honor.
Image of Troekurov
To expose people like Troekurov, the novel “Dubrovsky” was written. Analysis of the work makes us understand the baseness and unprincipledness of this person. Nothing is sacred to him. He brings his servants and friends into the world with equal ease. Even the death of a comrade and good friend did not stop his greed. He did not spare his daughter either. For the sake of profit, Troekurov doomed Masha to an unhappy married life and deprived her of true love. At the same time, he is confident that he is right and does not even allow the thought that he might be punished.
The novel as assessed by critics
What did critics think about the novel “Dubrovsky”? Analysis of the work helped us understand that Pushkin wrote a rather topical book. However, Belinsky, for example, called her melodramatic, and Dubrovsky a hero who does not evoke sympathy. On the other hand, the critic highly appreciated the authenticity with which Pushkin portrayed Troekurov and the landowner life of his time.
P. Annenkov noted that the novel has a romantic ending, incompatible with its content, but the characters described are particularly psychological and authentic. also emphasized the vitality of the situation described and the realism of the characters.
“Dubrovsky”: a brief analysis of the work
If necessary, make a brief analysis. Then you can write the following. The main theme of the work is robbery in Russia. The idea is to show how people take this path and who is to blame. Pushkin tried to expose the authorities and show the social injustice reigning around. There are two conflicts in the work - social and love. The first is associated with the unlimited power of those who have it, and the second with complete parental authority over their children. The main culprit is Troekurov, who embodies the classic type of Russian master.
The novel “Dubrovsky” was written by A. S. Pushkin at the end of 1832 - beginning of 1833. The idea of the work is connected with the real story of the poor landowner Ostrovsky, who was deprived of his estate and, with the support of the peasants, became a robber.
Meaning of the name
The novel is laconically named after the surname of the main character - Vladimir Andreevich Dubrovsky.
The main theme of the work
The main theme of the work is the tragic influence of lawlessness on the fate of man.
Landowners in pre-revolutionary Russia did not represent a single cohesive class. In this environment there was also significant property differentiation. Troekurov’s lawsuit with the elder Dubrovsky is a completely typical phenomenon. The wealth of the first gave power, the poverty of the second led to an increased, painful sense of self-esteem.
The conflict broke out over a completely trivial reason, but the noble blood of the opponents “speaked.” The all-powerful Troekurov did not particularly need his neighbor’s estate, he simply could not tolerate disobedience. Dubrovsky’s position is clearly stated in one phrase: “I am not a buffoon, but an old nobleman.”
Troekurov, most likely, in any case, with the help of money and connections, could get Dubrovsky’s estate into his own hands. But the loot itself comes to him: the documents burned during the fire actually deprive Andrei Gavrilovich of the rights to his property. Thanks to the resourceful assessor Shabashkin, the court decision is made in favor of Troekurov.
Andrei Gavrilovich is poor, but noble. He is not afraid to meet the enemy in open battle (Dubrovsky’s participation in the war with Turkey is mentioned in the novel), but the judicial “duel” becomes a stab in the back for him. A fit of madness that occurred after the decision was made foreshadows Andrei Gavrilovich's imminent death. He has no place in a society where honor and justice are replaced by cunning, meanness and a false interpretation of the laws.
The loss of the estate has a much more significant impact on the fate of the young Dubrovsky - Vladimir. In addition, before his eyes, at the sight of Troekurov, his father dies.
An internal struggle takes place in Vladimir’s soul for some time. The shocked young man must choose his future path in life. Having lost his only source of income, Vladimir is doomed to poverty and destitution. Continuing to fight with a wealthy neighbor will inevitably put him outside the law. The decisive argument for Vladimir is the selfless devotion of the peasants of Kistenevka and their willingness to die for the sake of their owner.
A young nobleman becomes the head of a band of robbers under the pressure of circumstances. He simply has no other decent way out. The name of Dubrovsky strikes fear in the entire district. At the same time, people feel an involuntary respect for the noble robber who robs only the rich, thus fighting injustice.
Dubrovsky's gang would have been destroyed sooner or later. The leader understands this very well, but wants to end his “career” with dignity. Having given up the desire to destroy his main enemy for the sake of Masha, he finds a new goal - to save the girl from an unhappy marriage. A slight delay becomes fatal for Masha, Vladimir and all the robbers. Dubrovsky still manages to repel the attack of the soldiers, after which he disbands his gang and disappears abroad.
Thus, the fate of a carefree young officer changes dramatically because of a joke from a serf. He quickly loses his estate, his father, and even his first serious love. Defending his noble honor, Vladimir unwittingly becomes a criminal. In the end, Dubrovsky is forced to part with his homeland.
Issues
The central problem of the work is the arbitrariness of rich landowners. Troekurov was, in general, not the worst person at heart. He was spoiled by wealth and nobility. Universal respect and honor developed in Troekurov a false belief in his indisputable superiority. This conviction gradually drowns out the previous positive qualities in the landowner’s soul. He decisively begins a legal battle against his best friend, knowing that this will lead him to ruin and possible death.
Troekurov treats his beloved daughter in the same despotic manner. He is touched and embarrassed by Masha's tears, but stubbornness does not allow him to change the decision he has already made. By marrying his daughter to an old man, Troekurov dooms her to misfortune.
Composition
Pushkin divided the short novel into two volumes. The first describes the essence of Dubrovsky’s tragedy, the beginning of his predatory activities; the main characters appear. The climax that separates the novel is the appearance of Dubrovsky in Troyekurov’s house under the guise of the Frenchman Deforge. The second volume is dedicated to the short-term unsuccessful romance between Vladimir and Masha, after which the leader disbands the gang.
What the author teaches
Pushkin leaves it to the reader to decide for himself whether Dubrovsky is right or wrong. According to the law, he is a criminal deserving of the strictest punishment. But according to the concepts of honor and supreme justice, Vladimir’s actions are completely justified. And all his crimes do not allow one to doubt the nobility of the involuntary robber.
Year of writing:
1833
Reading time:
Description of the work:
It is interesting that the publishers named the novel in 1841, when its first publication took place, because Pushkin himself in the manuscript, instead of the title, wrote the date of the start of work on the novel “October 21, 1832.”
Read a summary of the novel by Dubrovsky.
A rich and noble gentleman, Kirila Petrovich Troekurov, lives in his Pokrovskoye estate. Knowing his tough temper, all his neighbors are afraid of him, except for the poor landowner Andrei Gavrilovich Dubrovsky, a retired guard lieutenant and former colleague of Troekurov. Both of them are widowers. Dubrovsky has a son, Vladimir, who works in St. Petersburg, and Troekurov has a daughter, Masha, who lives with her father, and Troekurov often talks about his desire to marry his children.
An unexpected disagreement quarrels friends, and Dubrovsky’s proud and independent behavior alienates them from each other even more. The autocratic and all-powerful Troyekurov, in order to take out his irritation, decides to deprive Dubrovsky of his estate and orders the assessor Shabashkin to find a “legal” path to this lawlessness. The court's tricksters fulfill Troekurov's wishes, and Dubrovsky is summoned to the zemstvo judge to decide the case.
At the court hearing, in the presence of the litigants, a decision filled with legal incidents is read, according to which Dubrovsky’s Kistenevka estate becomes the property of Troekurov, and Dubrovsky suffers a fit of insanity.
Dubrovsky's health is deteriorating, and the old serf woman Yegorovna, who was looking after him, writes a letter to Vladimir Dubrovsky in St. Petersburg notifying him of what happened. Having received the letter, Vladimir Dubrovsky takes his leave and goes home. The dear coachman tells him about the circumstances of the case. At home he finds his father sick and decrepit.
Andrei Gavrilovich Dubrovsky is slowly dying. Troekurov, tormented by his conscience, goes to make peace with Dubrovsky, who is paralyzed at the sight of the enemy. Vladimir orders Troekurov to get out, and at that moment old Dubrovsky dies.
After Dubrovsky’s funeral, judicial officials and the police officer come to Kistenevka to introduce Troekurov into ownership. The peasants refuse to obey and want to deal with the officials. Dubrovsky stops them.
At night, in the house, Dubrovsky finds the blacksmith Arkhip, who has decided to kill the clerks, and dissuades him from this intention. He decides to leave the estate and orders all the people to be taken out to set the house on fire. He sends Arkhip to unlock the doors so that the officials can leave the house, but Arkhip violates the master’s order and locks the door. Dubrovsky sets fire to the house and quickly leaves the yard, and the clerks die in the resulting fire.
Dubrovsky is suspected of arson and murder of officials. Troekurov sends a report to the governor, and a new case begins. But then another event distracts everyone’s attention from Dubrovsky: robbers appeared in the province who robbed all the landowners of the province, but did not touch only Troekurov’s property. Everyone is sure that the leader of the robbers is Dubrovsky.
For his illegitimate son, Sasha Troekurov, orders a French teacher from Moscow, Monsieur Deforge, who is greatly impressed by the beauty of seventeen-year-old Marya Kirilovna Troekurov, but she does not pay any attention to the hired teacher. Deforge is put to the test by being pushed into a room with a hungry bear (a common joke with guests in Troekurov's house). The unperturbed teacher kills the beast. His determination and courage make a great impression on Masha. A friendly rapprochement occurs between them, which becomes a source of love. On the day of the temple holiday, guests come to Troekurov’s house. At dinner the conversation turns to Dubrovsky. One of the guests, a landowner named Anton Pafnutich Spitsyn, admits that he once gave false testimony in court against Dubrovsky in favor of Kirila Petrovich. One lady reports that a week ago Dubrovsky dined with her, and tells the story that her clerk, sent to the post office with a letter and 2000 rubles for her son, a guards officer, returned and reported that Dubrovsky had robbed him, but was caught lies by a man who came to visit her and identified himself as a former colleague of her late husband. The clerk who was called says that Dubrovsky actually stopped him on the way to the post office, but, after reading the mother’s letter to her son, he did not rob him. The money was found in the clerk's chest. The lady believes that the person who pretended to be her husband’s friend was Dubrovsky himself. But according to her descriptions, she had a man about 35 years old, and Troekurov knows for certain that Dubrovsky is 23 years old. This fact is confirmed by the new police officer dining with Troekurov.
The holiday in Troyekurov's house ends with a ball, at which the teacher also dances. After dinner, Anton Pafnutich, who has a large sum of money with him, expresses a desire to spend the night in the same room with Deforge, since he already knows about the Frenchman’s courage and hopes for his protection in the event of an attack by robbers. The teacher agrees to Anton Pafnutich's request. At night, the landowner feels like someone is trying to take away his money hidden in a bag on his chest. Opening his eyes, he sees Deforge standing over him with a pistol. The teacher tells Anton Pafnutich that he is Dubrovsky.
How did Dubrovsky get into Troekurov’s house under the guise of a teacher? At the post station he met a Frenchman on his way to see Troyekurov, gave him 10 thousand rubles, and received the teacher’s papers in return. With these documents, he came to Troekurov and settled in a house where everyone loved him and did not suspect who he really was. Finding himself in the same room with a man whom, not without reason, he could consider his enemy, Dubrovsky could not resist the temptation to take revenge. In the morning, Spitsyn leaves Troekurov’s house without saying a word about the night’s incident. Soon the rest of the guests left. Life in Pokrovsky goes on as usual. Marya Kirilovna feels love for Deforge and is annoyed with herself. Deforge treats her respectfully, and this calms her pride. But one day Deforge secretly gives her a note in which he asks for a date. At the appointed time, Masha arrives at the appointed place, and Deforge informs her that he is forced to leave soon, but before that he must tell her something important. Suddenly he reveals to Masha who he really is. Calming the frightened Masha, he says that he has forgiven her father. That it was she who saved Kirila Petrovich, that the house in which Marya Kirilovna lives is sacred to him. During Dubrovsky's confessions, a soft whistle is heard. Dubrovsky asks Masha to give him a promise that in case of misfortune she will resort to his help, and disappears. Returning to the house, Masha finds an alarm there, and her father informs her that Deforge, according to the police officer who arrived, is none other than Dubrovsky. The disappearance of the teacher confirms the truth of these words.
The following summer, Prince Vereisky returns from foreign lands to his estate Arbatov, located 30 versts from Pokrovsky. He pays a visit to Troekurov, and Masha amazes him with her beauty. Troekurov and his daughter pay a return visit. Vereisky gives them a wonderful reception.
Masha sits in her room and embroiders. A hand reaches out through the open window and places a letter on her hoop, but at this time Masha is called to her father. She hides the letter and goes. She finds Vereisky at her father’s, and Kirila Petrovich informs her that the prince is wooing her. Masha freezes in surprise and turns pale, but her father does not pay attention to her tears.
In her room, Masha thinks with horror about marriage to Vereisky and believes that it is better to marry Dubrovsky. Suddenly she remembers the letter and finds only one phrase in it: “In the evening at 10 o’clock in the same place.”
During a night date, Dubrovsky persuades Masha to resort to his protection. Masha hopes to touch her father's heart with her pleas and requests. But if he turns out to be inexorable and forces her to marry, she invites Dubrovsky to come for her and promises to become his wife. As a farewell, Dubrovsky gives Masha a ring and says that if trouble happens, all she will have to do is lower the ring into the hollow of the specified tree, then he will know what to do.
The wedding is being prepared, and Masha decides to take action. She writes a letter to Vereisky, begging him to refuse her hand. But this gives the opposite result. Having learned about Masha's letter, Kirila Petrovich is furious and schedules the wedding for the next day. Masha tearfully asks him not to marry her to Vereisky, but Kirila Petrovich is inexorable, and then Masha declares that she will resort to Dubrovsky’s defense. Having locked Masha, Kirila Petrovich leaves, ordering not to let her out of the room.
Sasha comes to the aid of Marya Kirilovna. Masha instructs him to take the ring to the hollow. Sasha carries out her instructions, but some ragged boy who sees this tries to take possession of the ring. A fight breaks out between the boys, the gardener comes to Sasha’s aid, and the boy is taken to the manor’s yard. Suddenly they meet Kirila Petrovich, and Sasha, under threats, tells him about the assignment that his sister gave him. Kirila Petrovich guesses about Masha’s relationship with Dubrovsky. He orders the caught boy to be locked up and sends for the police officer. The police officer and Troekurov agree on something and release the boy. He runs to Kistenevka, and from there secretly makes his way into the Kistenevka grove.
Preparations for the wedding are underway in Troekurov's house. Masha is taken to church, where her groom is waiting for her. The wedding begins. Masha's hopes for Dubrovsky's appearance evaporate. The young people are traveling to Arbatovo, when suddenly on a country road the carriage is surrounded by armed people, and a man in a half mask opens the doors. He tells Masha that she is free. Hearing that it is Dubrovsky, the prince shoots and wounds him. They seize the prince and intend to kill him, but Dubrovsky does not order them to touch him. Dubrovsky again tells Masha that she is free, but Masha replies that it is too late. Due to pain and excitement, Dubrovsky loses consciousness, and his accomplices take him away.
In the forest there is a military fortification of a band of robbers, behind a small rampart there are several huts. An old woman comes out of one hut and asks the guard, who is singing a robber's song, to shut up, because the master is sleeping. Dubrovsky lies in the hut. Suddenly there is alarm in the camp. The robbers under the command of Dubrovsky occupy places assigned to each. The guards who came running reported that there were soldiers in the forest. A battle ensues, in which victory is on the side of the robbers. A few days later, Dubrovsky gathers his associates and announces his intention to leave them. Dubrovsky disappears. Rumor has it that he fled abroad.
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