Who is the image of Masha Mironova based on? Masha Mironova - the true love of Pyotr Grinev and the moral ideal of the writer

The very sound of the phrase “ captain's daughter“The image of Masha Mironova is completely different, not the same as described on the pages of the story. It seems that this should be a girl with a mischievous, daring character, bold and flirtatious.

However, the main character of the book is a completely different girl. She is completely devoid of coquetry, she is not characterized by the enthusiasm of youth and the desire of young girls to please everyone without exception. Mary presents a different image. Masha Mironova - every schoolchild's essay quotes this passage - “chubby, ruddy, with light brown hair, smoothly combed behind the ears,” a modest eighteen-year-old girl. It is unlikely that any of the young readers will consider her an attractive person worthy of imitation.

Life and education

The image of Masha Mironova is inextricably linked with the characteristics of her parents - Ivan Kuzmich and Vasilisa Egorovna. Their life passed in Belogorsk fortress, near Orenburg. They lived in a small village with cramped streets and low huts, where the commandant occupied a simple wooden house.

Maria Mironova's parents were sincere and warm-hearted people. The captain was known as a poorly educated man, but he was distinguished by his honesty and kindness to people. Vasilisa Egorovna is a hospitable woman, accustomed to the military way of life. Over many years, she learned to deftly manage the fortress.

In short, the girl lived a secluded life, communicating mainly with her parents.

Her mother said that Masha is a girl of marriageable age, but she has absolutely no dowry, so it’s good if there is someone who will marry her. It is possible that Vasilisa Egorovna shared her thoughts with her daughter, which could hardly have added to her confidence.

The true character of the captain's daughter

The image of Masha Mironova, at first glance, will probably seem quite boring to many. Pyotr Grinev also didn’t like her at first. Despite the fact that Masha lived alone, one might say secluded, surrounded by her parents and soldiers, the girl grew up very sensitive. Maria, despite her apparent timidity, was a brave, strong person, capable of sincere, deep feelings. Masha Mironova refused Shvabrin’s offer to become his wife, although he, by society’s standards, was an eligible bachelor. Maria had no feelings for him, and the captain’s daughter did not agree. Having fallen in love with Pyotr Grinev, Masha openly talks about her feelings in response to his explanation. However, the girl does not agree to a marriage that the groom’s parents did not bless, so she moves away from Grinev. This suggests that Masha Mironova is an example of high morality. Only later, when Peter's parents fell in love with her, Maria became his wife.

Trials in the life of Maria Mironova

This girl's life cannot be called easy. However, the image of Masha Mironova is revealed more fully under the influence of difficulties.

For example, after the execution of her parents, when Maria was sheltered by the priest, and Shvabrin put her under lock and key and tried to force her to marry him, she managed to write to Pyotr Grinev about her situation. Deliverance came to the girl in a completely unexpected guise. Her savior was Pugachev, the killer of her father and mother, who released her and Grinev. After her release, Peter sent the girl to live with his parents, who sincerely loved Mary. Masha Mironova is the image of a real Russian, but at the same time vulnerable and sensitive. Despite the fact that she faints from a cannon shot, in matters concerning her honor, the girl shows unprecedented strength of character.

The best spiritual qualities of the heroine

The image of Masha Mironova is revealed even more fully after the arrest of Pyotr Grinev, when she showed the true nobility of her nature. Maria considers herself to be the culprit of the misfortune that happened in the life of her lover and constantly thinks about how to rescue her groom. Behind the girl's apparent timidity lies a heroic nature, capable of anything for the sake of loved one. Masha goes to St. Petersburg, where in the garden of Tsarskoye Selo she meets a noble lady and decides to tell her about her misfortunes. Her interlocutor, who turned out to be the empress herself, promises to help. The determination and firmness shown by the girl saves Pyotr Grinev from imprisonment.

The image of Masha Mironova in the story undergoes strong dynamics. The misfortune that happened to Grinev allows her to reveal herself as a strong, mature, one might say, heroic personality.

Maria Mironova and Mashenka Troekurova

A. S. Pushkin began writing the story “ Captain's daughter"in 1833. The idea for this book most likely arose when the writer was working on the story “Dubrovsky”. This work by Pushkin also contains a female image. Masha Mironova, about whom schoolchildren usually write essays, is a completely different person than her namesake.

Maria Troekurova also lives alone, albeit in pampered conditions, on her parents' estate. The girl loves novels and, of course, is waiting for the “Prince Charming.” Unlike Masha Mironova, she was unable to defend her love; she did not have the determination to do so.

It seems that happy ending, with which The Captain's Daughter ends, the author is trying to smooth out the bloodshed that occurred in Dubrovsky.

The image of Masha Mironova and Tatyana Larina

The image of our heroine is to a certain extent consonant with another feminine character, created by A. S. Pushkin in the novel “Eugene Onegin”, - Tatyana Larina. "The Captain's Daughter" was written about five years later than "Eugene Onegin". The image of Masha Mironova is revealed more fully and deeply than the characterization of Tatyana. Perhaps this is partly due to the fact that the author himself has become a little more mature. Masha is also, but even more than Tatiana, related to the people's environment.

The main theme and idea of ​​the work

The main problem that Pushkin identifies in his novel is the issue of honor and duty. This can be guessed from the epigraph, presented in the form folk proverb: “Take care of your honor from a young age.” The main characters of the story demonstrate these qualities in their own way. Pyotr Grinev, despite difficult circumstances, is faithful to this oath. Shvabrin, without hesitation and without delving into the problems of the country and the people, goes over to the side of Emelyan Pugachev. Grinev's servant, Savelich, is devoted to Peter, fulfills the old master's orders, watches over his son, cares for him. Ivan Kuzmich, the commandant dies while fulfilling his duty.

Image main character The story is also integrally connected with the concepts of duty, courage and loyalty. Maria Mironova, like the old captain, is more likely to die than to do something contrary to her conscience.

Another leading theme of "The Captain's Daughter" is the theme of family, home, personal relationships. In the story, the author presents two families - the Grinevs and the Mironovs, who passed on the best human virtues to their children, Peter and Maria.
It is in the family environment that moral qualities, such as spirituality, philanthropy, mercy. This theme in the story is as important as the theme of debt.

The image of Masha Mironova is briefly described in just a couple of words, and in the mind, most often, the image of a modest, ruddy, round-faced girl emerges. The depth of her character makes you realize how much is hidden under her simple appearance.

The Mironov family in the story by A.S. Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter".

Masha Mironova is the daughter of the commandant of the Belogorsk fortress. This is an ordinary Russian girl, “chubby, ruddy, with light brown hair.” By nature she was cowardly: she was afraid even of a gun shot. Masha lived rather secluded and lonely; there were no suitors in their village. Her mother, Vasilisa Yegorovna, spoke about her: “Masha; a girl of marriageable age, and what is her dowry? - a fine comb, a broom, and an altyn of money, with which to go to the bathhouse. It’s good if you have it.” kind person; Otherwise you’ll sit as an eternal bride among the girls.”
Having met Grinev, Masha fell in love with him. After Shvabrin’s quarrel with Grinev, she talked about Shvabrin’s proposal to become his wife. Masha, naturally, refused this proposal: “Alexei Ivanovich, of course, is a smart man, and has a good family name, and has a fortune; but when I think that it will be necessary to kiss him under the aisle in front of everyone. No way! Not for any well-being. !" Masha, who did not dream of fabulous wealth, did not want to marry for convenience.
In a duel with Shvabrin, Grinev was seriously wounded and lay unconscious for several days. All these days Masha looked after him. Having come to his senses, Grinev confesses his love to her, after which “she, without any affectation, confessed to Grinev her heartfelt inclination and said that her parents would be glad of her happiness.” But Masha did not want to get married without the blessing of his parents. Grinev did not receive a blessing, and Masha immediately moved away from him, although it was very difficult for her to do this, since her feelings still remained strong.
After the capture of the fortress by Pugachev, Masha’s parents were executed, and she was hidden in her house by the priest. Shvabrin, intimidating the priest and priest, took Masha and put her under lock and key, forcing her to marry him. Fortunately, she manages to send a letter to Grinev asking for release: “God was pleased to suddenly deprive me of my father and mother: I have neither relatives nor patrons on earth. I come running to you, knowing that you always wished me well and that you will help everyone.” ready to help the person"
Grinev did not leave her in difficult moment and arrived with Pugachev. Masha had a conversation with Pugachev, from which he learned that Shvabrin was not her husband. She said: “He is not my husband. I will never be his wife! I decided better to die, and I will die if they don’t deliver me.” After these words, Pugachev understood everything: “Come out, red maiden; I will give you freedom.” Masha saw in front of her a man who was the killer of her parents, and, at the same time, her savior. And instead of words of gratitude, “she covered her face with both hands and fell unconscious.”
Pugachev released Grinev and Masha, saying: “Take your beauty; take her wherever you want, and God give you love and advice!” They went to Grinev’s parents, but along the way Grinev stayed to fight in another fortress, and Masha and Savelich continued on their way. Grinev’s parents received Masha well: “they saw the grace of God in the fact that they had the opportunity to shelter and caress a poor orphan. Soon they sincerely became attached to her, because it was impossible not to recognize her and not love her.” Grinev’s love for Masha no longer seemed like an “empty whim” to his parents; they only wanted their son to marry the captain’s daughter.
Soon Grinev was arrested. Masha was very worried, because she knew the real reason arrest and considered herself guilty of Grinev’s misfortunes. “She hid her tears and suffering from everyone and meanwhile constantly thought about ways to save him.”
Masha got ready to go to St. Petersburg, telling Grinev’s parents that “all future destiny she depends on this journey that she goes to seek protection and help from strong people like the daughter of a man who suffered for his loyalty." In Tsarskoe Selo, while walking in the garden, she met and talked with a noble lady. Masha told her about Grinev, and the lady promised to help by talking with the empress. Soon Masha was called to the palace. In the palace she I recognized the Empress as the same lady with whom she had spoken in the garden. The Empress announced to her the release of Grinev, saying: “I am indebted to the daughter of Captain Mironov.”
In Masha's meeting with the empress, the character of the captain's daughter is truly revealed - a simple Russian girl, cowardly by nature, without any education, who found in herself necessary moment enough strength, fortitude and unyielding determination to achieve the acquittal of your innocent fiancé.

Masha Mironova is the main character of A. S. Pushkin’s story “The Captain’s Daughter”. This is a shy, modest girl with an unremarkable appearance: “Then a girl of about eighteen came in, round-faced, ruddy, with light brown hair, combed smoothly behind her ears, which was on fire.” Grinev perceived the captain’s daughter with prejudice, since Shvabrin described her as “a complete fool.”

However, gradually between Pyotr Grinev and The captain's daughter develops mutual sympathy, which has grown into love. Masha is attentive to Grinev, is sincerely worried about him when he decided to fight a duel with Shvabrin (“Marya Ivanovna tenderly reprimanded me for the anxiety caused to everyone by my quarrel with Shvabrin”). The characters' feelings for each other were fully revealed after being seriously wounded, received by Grinev in a duel. Masha did not leave the wounded man, caring for him. The heroine is not characterized by affectation, she simply talks about her feelings (“she, without any affectation, admitted to me her heartfelt inclination...”).

For the chapters in which Masha Mironova appears, the author selected excerpts from Russian texts as epigraphs. folk songs, proverb: Oh, you girl, you red girl! Don’t go, girl, you’re young to get married; You ask, girl, father, mother, Father, mother, clan-tribe; Accumulate, girl, mind-mind, mind-mind, dowry.

If you find me better, you will forget. If you find me worse, you will remember. The use of such epigraphs, whose content corresponds to a particular situation, serves as one of the means of poetizing the image of Masha Mironova, and also allows A. S. Pushkin to emphasize the high spiritual qualities of his heroine, her closeness to the people.

Masha is a poor bride: according to Vasilisa Yegorovna, her daughter’s dowry includes “a fine comb, a broom, and an altyn of money (God forgive me!), with which to go to the bathhouse”; but she does not set herself the goal of ensuring her material well-being through an arranged marriage. She rejected Shvabrin’s marriage proposal because she doesn’t love him: “I don’t love Alexei Ivanych. He is very disgusting to me... Alexey Ivanovich, of course, is an intelligent man, and has a good family name, and has a fortune; but when I think that it will be necessary to kiss him under the aisle in front of everyone... No way! not for any well-being!”

The commandant's daughter was brought up in strictness, obedient to parents, easy to communicate. Having learned that Grinev’s father is against his son’s marriage to her, Masha is upset, but resigns herself to the decision of her beloved’s parents: “I can see fate... Your relatives don’t want me into their family. Let the Lord's will be in everything! God knows better than we do what we need. There is nothing to do, Pyotr Andreich, at least be happy...” In this episode, the depth of her nature is revealed. Masha, feeling responsible for her beloved, refuses to get married without her parents’ blessing: “Without their blessing, you will not be happy.”

Tests The hardships that befall the girl instill in her perseverance and courage. Parents considered Masha a coward, because she was scared to death of a cannon shot on Vasilisa Egorovna’s name day. But when Shvabrin, under pain of death, forces her to marry him, Masha does everything possible to save herself. Left orphaned and deprived of her home, the girl managed to survive without losing her spiritual qualities. Considering himself to be the culprit of Grinev’s arrest and realizing that in order to save her honor, he would never utter her name in court, Masha decides to go to St. Petersburg and independently draws up an action plan to restore justice. Big role Masha’s ability to win over people of different character and social status also played a role in this.

What is the meaning of the title of the story? Why “The Captain’s Daughter”, because the main character of the work is rather Pyotr Grinev? Of course, the events taking place in the story are in one way or another connected with the image of Masha Mironova. But I believe that A. S. Pushkin sought to show how in difficult trials manifestations human qualities , sometimes hidden. Honesty, morality, purity - the main qualities of Masha Mironova - allowed her to overcome her bitter fate, find a home, family, happiness, save the future of her loved one, his honor.

Masha Mironova image and characteristics of the heroine in the story The Captain's Daughter

Plan

1. “Pushkin’s” heroine.

2. Masha Mironova. Characteristics and image in the story “”

2.1. Masha and parents.

2.2. First love.

2.3. Strength of spirit.

3. My attitude towards the main character.

In his talented works, he created the image of an ideal girl, to which he returned repeatedly, from novel to novel, from poem to poem. The standard of the “Pushkin” heroine was a meek and pretty young lady, a little romantic, a little dreamy, kind and simple, but at the same time full of inner fire and hidden strength. Tatyana Larina was like that, and so was Masha Mironova.

The girl spent her childhood and youth in the solitude of the Belogorodskaya fortress, in poverty and labor. Her parents, although minor nobles, lived on a captain's salary alone. So they taught their daughter to simple image life and permanent job. Masha, an eighteen-year-old young lady, did not shy away from helping her mother in the kitchen, tidying up the rooms, and mending clothes. She did not receive a decent education and upbringing, but she acquired something more valuable and eternal - tender heart, good character, spiritual beauty.

In the story, the girl appears to us as a respectful and polite daughter. She does not strive for balls and dresses, does not beg her parents for the best, rich life. She is happy with what she has, she is very attached to her father and her mother and values ​​them. Masha knows that she dresses “simply and sweetly”, that she does not have a large dowry, which means she is unlikely to be able to find a good match. But this does not upset the main character. She does not cling to the first person she meets who shows her signs of attention. For the captain's daughter, sincere love and mutual sympathy are not an empty phrase. A girl refuses a rich gentleman because she notices bad character traits and base feelings in him. She is not ready to live with someone she doesn’t love just because it will ensure her comfortable existence. “When I think that it will be necessary... to kiss him. No way! Not for any well-being!” - Masha explains her refusal in simplicity. And at the same time, the girl is capable of strong tender feelings.

Having met, she falls in love with him sincerely and passionately. This is not a fleeting feeling caused by momentary weakness or euphoria. Masha loves truly, selflessly. Feelings between the main characters do not immediately develop, but the girl gradually begins to understand that she is passionate about it seriously and for a long time. Unnoticed watching Grinev, noticing him positive qualities and habits, the captain's daughter begins to love with all her heart and all her soul. But even here its deepness is visible. moral basis. Without flirting, without playing with a man’s feelings, Masha “without any affectation” reciprocates the proposal young Peter. Her love is pure and innocent, just like herself. And although the girl is truly in love and “sensitive,” she values ​​​​her good name and unblemished honor.

The captain's daughter is also prudent and intelligent. She does not want to marry Grinev without the blessing of his parents and is even ready to return his promised word to him. “If you find yourself a betrothed, if you fall in love with another, God be with you, Pyotr Andreich,” says Masha, crying, and later adds: “I will never forget you; Until your grave, you will remain alone in my heart.” Apparently, the girl agrees to sacrifice her feelings for the well-being of her chosen one. In addition, she is ready to remain faithful and devoted to her beloved until death.

But the most best qualities Marya Ivanovna reveals herself to us during her terrible trials -. It is then that the main character shows those feelings and that strength of spirit that, it would seem, is impossible to expect from her. Having suddenly lost her father and mother, deprived of freedom and her usual way of life, having experienced the betrayal of soldiers and having gone through the bullying of a cruel officer, the captain’s daughter remained true to her principles and beliefs, her concept of duty and honor. How much fortitude and courage she needed to survive the death of her beloved parents and her imprisonment. How much courage and boldness the girl needed to resist Shvabrin’s attempts to force her to marry him. Sick, destitute, starving, she steadfastly withstood the test of her love for the Fatherland and for Grinev.

Much about Masha’s character can be seen in the fact that she came to the hearts of Grinev’s parents. The girl did not harbor any grudge against them because they did not immediately accept her as a daughter-in-law, and did not torment them with lamentations and complaints. She behaved respectfully and meekly, so that soon her future fathers-in-law “sincerely became attached to her, since it was impossible to recognize her and not love her.” Courage and moral strength were needed by these people who fell in love with each other when they learned about Grinev’s arrest and the terrible sentence that was handed down to him.

Special courage and perseverance were required from Masha. She remained faithful to her beloved both in her grief and in his misfortune. She did not leave him, did not doubt his honor, did not take advantage of his absence to find herself a more distinguished and richer groom. No, Maria Mironova boldly decided to take the initiative into her own hands and turn to the empress herself for pardon of the convicted person. This action demonstrates the strong determination, absolute independence and skillful enterprise of the young girl. She sincerely and clearly explains everything to the empress, and she grants forgiveness to the innocent.

Having gone through difficult difficulties and trials, Masha Mironova and Pyotr Grinev did not stop loving each other. Having got married, they lived happily ever after, in peace and harmony. I am amazed by the strength of spirit and moral purity of the main character. Her modesty and common sense, respectful attitude towards elders and unyielding persistent spirit are an example and standard to follow. Those who possess such qualities and character traits, regardless of whether they are men or women, will definitely be rewarded by fate. After all, true happiness and success must be earned and won.

A.S. Pushkin often created various female images in his work: Tatyana Larina, Maria Troekurova, Liza Muromskaya, Lyudmila and others. However, one of the most unusual women in his prose became the main character of The Captain's Daughter. How did the image of Masha Mironova differ from others? Let's figure it out.

A little about the background to the writing of the story “The Captain’s Daughter”

Although the story is named after the main character, at the center of the plot is her lover - Pyotr Grinev and the rebel Emelyan Pugachev. Moreover, initially in the work Pugachev’s rebellion was given significant attention more space, and the main character was supposed to be an officer who joined the rebels (Shvabrin).

However, this construction of the plot presented rebellion from a positive side. And in Tsarist Russia During Pushkin's time, censorship was very strict, and a story that actually praised the anti-monarchist uprising could remain unpublished.

Knowing this, Alexander Sergeevich changed the mood of the main character, reduced references to the riot and its causes, and focused the plot on a love story. As a result of all these alterations, the image of Masha Mironova found itself at the center of all events. Although the story is named after this heroine, a lot of attention is still paid to Grinev and his relationship with Pugachev in the work.

Biography of Maria Mironova

Before considering in detail the image of Masha Mironova, it is worth briefly learning about the content of the story “The Captain's Daughter”. At the same time, it is more appropriate to present the events not from the point of view of Grinev the narrator, but as part of the heroine’s biography.

Maria Ivanovna Mironova was the only daughter of the captain of the Belgorod garrison Ivan Kuzmich and his strong-willed wife, Vasilisa Egorovna.

A little earlier than meeting Pyotr Grinev, officer Alexey Shvabrin wooed her. Considering that Mironova was homeless, the young man was an excellent match for the girl financially and socially. However, Maria did not love him, so she refused.

The offended officer, harboring a grudge, began to spread false rumors about the girl. These slander contributed to the fact that Grinev initially had a negative attitude towards Masha. But having gotten to know her better, he became interested in the girl, challenged the slanderous Shvabrin to a duel and was wounded.

While nursing him, Masha Mironova sincerely falls in love with Grinev, and he offers her his hand and heart. Having received the consent of his beloved, he sends a letter to his father, informing him of his intention to marry and asking for his blessing.

But Shvabrin again gets in the way of Masha and Peter’s happiness, and informs Grinev’s family about the duel and its reason. Now the father denies his son his blessing. Masha does not want to quarrel her beloved with his family and refuses to secretly marry him.

Meanwhile, Emelyan Pugachev rebels, declaring himself Peter II. His army is moving towards Belgorod fortress. The commandant, realizing that they are doomed, tries to save Masha: he dresses her in peasant clothes and hides her in the priest’s house. When Pugachev's troops take the fortress, most of its inhabitants go over to the side of the rebel. However, several officers remain faithful to the oath. For this they will be executed.

The only one who manages to survive is Grinev, who once helped Pugachev, not knowing at that time who he was. Together with his faithful servant, Peter goes to the Orenburg fortress. But he is unable to take Maria, who remains an orphan, with him, since she is seriously ill.

Shvabrin, who swore allegiance to Pugachev and was appointed commandant of the Belgorod fortress, becomes aware of Maria’s refuge. The officer locks the girl up and demands that she marry him. Having received another refusal, he starves her.

The girl manages to deliver the letter to her beloved, and he rushes to her aid. Although Grinev is again captured by Pugachev’s supporters, the “resurrected Peter II” once again has mercy on the young man and helps him reunite with his beloved.

Having overcome a lot of obstacles, Masha and Peter get home to the Grinevs. Personal acquaintance with the young man’s bride had a beneficial effect on Andrei Grinev, and he agreed to the marriage.

But until the rebellion is suppressed, Peter considers it his duty to fight. Soon the riot can be pacified. Among those arrested is Shvabrin, who, in order to take revenge on Grinev, slanderes him. Peter was also arrested and sentenced to exile. Fearing for Masha's fate, he does not say anything about the reasons for his relationship with Pugachev.

Having learned about this, Masha goes to the capital on her own to tell the truth and save Grinev. Fate turns out to be merciful to her: she accidentally meets Tsarina Catherine. Not knowing who her interlocutor is, the girl tells the whole truth, and the empress has mercy on the young man. Then the lovers go home and get married.

The image of Masha Mironova in the story “The Captain's Daughter”

Having dealt with the biography, it is worth paying more attention to the character of the heroine. Throughout the entire story, Pushkin presents the image of Masha Mironova as the image of a girl from the people. It is for this reason that an epigraph from folk songs was selected for each chapter in which it appears.

At the time the action began, Masha was already 18 years old, and by the standards of those times, she had already spent too much time as a girl. Despite this, the pretty creature did not turn into a greedy husband-seeker. Masha does not try to preen herself, but dresses simply. She combs her blond hair smoothly into a regular hairstyle, and does not create intricate compositions from it, as was customary among noble ladies of those times.

Humility and adventurism are two sides of Maria Mironova’s character

Although some researchers call Mironova a variation of the image of Tatyana Larina, this is a controversial statement. After all, girls are very different. Thus, Tatyana at first actively fights for her love, violating certain standards of decency (she confesses her love to a man first), but later she resigns herself, marries a rich and noble man chosen by her parents and refuses Onegin.

For Maria Mironova, everything is different. Having fallen in love, she is full of humility and is ready to give up her happiness for the benefit of Grinev. But when her beloved is threatened with exile, the girl shows unprecedented courage and goes to ask the queen herself for him.

It is worth noting that such an act for a young lady of the 19th century. was real audacity. After all, without the necessary connections in society, an unmarried girl, who has lived all her life in a remote province, goes to St. Petersburg. And in those days, apart from the queen, other women of the empire were not particularly allowed to interfere in “male” affairs such as politics. It turns out that Masha’s action is an adventure.

Sometimes researchers compare this image with another Pushkin heroine (Masha Mironova - “The Captain's Daughter”). It's about about the heroine of the novel “Dubrovsky” Masha Troekurova, who at the very end did not find the courage to achieve her happiness and surrendered to the will of circumstances.

Some literary scholars argue that the image of Masha Mironova is inconsistent. After all, constantly showing an easygoing character and prudence, in the finale she takes extraordinary courage from nowhere, although logically she should have humbly gone into exile, like the wives of the Decembrists or Sonechka Marmeladova from Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment.” This change in character can be explained by the fact that the girl short term I lost my beloved parents, went through a lot of shocks, and in order to survive, I was forced to change and become brave.

Masha's relationship with her parents

When considering the image of Masha Mironova, it is worth paying attention to her relationship with her family. The girl's parents were sincere and honest people. For this reason, my father’s career did not particularly work out, and the Mironovs failed to accumulate a fortune. Although they were not poor, they did not have money for a dowry for Mashenka. Therefore, the girl did not have any special prospects in terms of marriage.

Although Ivan Kuzmich and Vasilisa Egorovna raised their daughter to be a decent girl with a noble soul, they did not provide her with either an education or a position in society.

On the other hand, they always took into account their daughter’s opinion. After all, when she refused a wonderful groom (Shvabrin), who could provide her future, the Mironovs did not reproach and force the girl.

The captain's daughter and Shvabrin

The relationship with Alexey Ivanovich especially characterizes Masha. Although this hero was not handsome, he was quite educated (he spoke French, understood literature), courteous and knew how to charm. And for a young provincial simpleton (which, in essence, was the heroine) it could generally seem ideal.

His matchmaking with Mironova looked like great luck for an “elderly” woman without a dowry. But the girl suddenly refused. Perhaps Masha sensed the vile essence of her would-be groom or learned some rumors about his behavior. After all, he once offered Grinev to seduce a girl for a pair of earrings, which means he could have experience in similar seduction of other young ladies. Or maybe the young and romantic Masha simply didn’t like Shvabrin. Such naive girls tend to fall in love with handsome and slightly stupid guys like Grinev.

Why did her refusal hurt the man so much? Perhaps he wanted to marry her in order to become her father’s successor in the future. And since the bride had no dowry and had an easy-going disposition, the hero expected that she would be grateful to him until the end of her days. But the provincial dowry suddenly refused, destroying his ambitious plan.

The image of Masha Mironova, in particular, her high morality, is revealed in more detail in the light of her further relationship with her failed groom. She made no excuses when he spread gossip about her. And finding herself in his power, when Shvabrin tried to break her morally, she bravely withstood the test.

Masha Mironova and Petr Grinev

The relationships between these characters are also very revealing. Their love story looks very traditional: poetry, a duel, parental bans and overcoming a lot of obstacles on the way to your happiness. But through this story the full depth of Masha’s spiritual nobility is shown. Her feelings are more meaningful and deeper than Grinev’s. In particular, loving her parents very much, the girl does not want a quarrel between Peter and his father.

She endures the first separation more stoically than Grinev, who rushes about and finds himself on the verge of either going crazy or indulging in debauchery.

After the capture of the fortress by Pugachev and the murder of Masha’s parents, the love of the heroes only grows stronger. At a certain moment, each of them, risking his life, saves the other.

Prototypes of the captain's daughter

Masha Mironova had several prototypes, on the basis of which Pushkin created this image. Thus, in those days there was a widespread joke about the meeting of the German ruler Joseph II with the daughter of an unknown captain. Subsequently, Alexander Sergeevich adapted it to the story of the meeting with Catherine II and even called the story “The Captain’s Daughter.”

Mironova owes her simplicity and closeness to the people to Walter Scott’s heroine, Jeanie Deans (“Edinburgh Dungeon”). To save her sister, this modest and noble Scottish peasant woman went to the capital and, having achieved an audience with the queen, saved the unfortunate woman from death penalty. By the way, from the same novel Pushkin borrowed the idea of ​​using the words of folk songs as epigraphs.