Analysis of the reflection of the social reality of a man in a case. "Man in a case" analysis
1.Introduction. "The Man in the Case" is a textbook work of Russian literature. The story made a huge impression on contemporaries. Chekhov received a large number of letters from readers with grateful reviews about the work. Many critics immediately praised the story very highly. In particular, A. M. Skabichevsky was one of the first to predict that "the man in the case" would become a household name.
2.History of creation. "The Man in the Case" opens Chekhov's "small trilogy". It was conceived in the spring and written in the summer of 1898. It was first published in the Russian Thought magazine with the subtitle "Story".
3.The meaning of the name. Chekhov very well chose the definition for his main character. "The man in the case" denotes the one who fenced himself off from the outside world as much as possible. Belikov is trying to hide from living life with the help of galoshes, cases, dark glasses, etc. Even the soul of this gloomy person is enclosed in the "case".
4. Genus and genre. Story.
5. Subject. The main theme of the work is the danger threatening society from people like Belikov. The narrator admits that the whole city, and especially the teachers of the gymnasium, felt a deep dislike for the "man in the case." Everyone understood how boring and unbearable his lifestyle was. But at the same time, in a strange way, almost the entire city was under the influence of a teacher Greek. His constant whining and the premonition of some kind of danger seemed to hypnotize people, forced them to act according to his desires. Because of Belikov, the city "became afraid of everything." All innocent entertainment and attempts to change have ceased. provincial image life. People like Belikov resemble a fetid swamp that sucks everything in. The persistence with which Belikov daily warns those around him about "however something happens" can even break strong will. Gradually, the spirit of eternal fear will reign in society, and it will be impossible to change this.
6. Issues. the main problem story - the confrontation between the Belikovs and normal society. Chekhov sadly states that the Belikovs are winning. Suspicious, no one interesting teacher the Greek language instills fear in the whole city. They do not like him, but they are afraid to act against his will. A separate issue is the very appearance of such people. Even during the life of Chekhov, "the man in the case" was recognized collectively. There are many such people, they constantly influence society, trying to weave it in a web of fear and distrust. Great value has an appearance in the city of Mikhail Savvich Kovalenko with his sister Varenka. They are not influenced by Belikov. If the plans for the wedding came true, then Varenka would become another "victim" of Belikov. But strong personality Mikhail Savvich was able to "liberate" the entire city. It turned out that the unsolvable problem is solved extremely simply. Just one decisive step undermined the unshakable position of Belikov. Of course, Kovalenko did not want him dead. Belikov, for the first time faced with open disobedience, was doomed. All his false ideas about life were destroyed.
7. Heroes. Belikov, Mikhail Savvich Kovalenko, Varvara Savvishna Kovalenko, narrator Ivan Ivanovich Chimsha-Gimalaysky.
8. Plot and composition. Ivan Ivanovich talks about his colleague at the gymnasium, the Greek teacher Belikov. He calls him "the man in the case" who instilled fear in the whole city. The situation changes with the arrival of the Kovalenko family in the city. The teachers come up with the idea to marry Belikov to Varenka. He is convinced of the need for marriage. Belikov agrees, but out of habit he hesitates with the offer. Plans fall apart after Belikov sees his brother and sister Kovalenko on bicycles. He tries to "reason" Mikhail Savvich, but the latter pushes him down the stairs. Varenka sees this. Belikov cannot stand the humiliation and dies.
9. What does the author teach. Chekhov is convinced that it is possible to defeat Belikov only thanks to a strong will and independent character. Among the teachers there were many smart and liberal people, but they were simply afraid to speak out against the "man in a case." Only Kovalenko remained firm and saved the city from the unbearable tormentor.
"The Man in the Case" is a story by A.P. Chekhov, which is part of the "Little Trilogy" cycle. This work, which tells about the life of an ordinary rural teacher, despite the simple syllable of the story and the ordinary plot, reveals the deep problems of the human personality.
In this article, we will try to brief analysis Chekhov's short story "The Man in the Case". Main character- Greek teacher Belikov - all his life he tried to surround himself with a "cocoon". This was expressed both in clothes (even in summer he wore galoshes and a warm coat, he always took an umbrella with him), and in his way of life - he lived in solitude, did not understand any instructions, except for prohibitions. Public opinion was above all for him, even in the fact that he connected his life with teaching. However, what is most surprising, despite his low stature, he kept the whole city in check, with him no one dared to allow himself "liberties" - simple
human joys. Being a suspicious person, Belikov, "a man in a case" (an analysis of the character gives every reason for such a comparison), imposed his own life position what is it worth famous phrase: "Oh, no matter what happens." The atmosphere throughout the story is permeated with fear, not even in front of a clear threat of punishment, but fear of who knows what.
Real life - that's what's in the case. shows that the manic fear of reality and ruined the protagonist. But Chekhov does not feel sorry for him at all. He seemed to be weighed down by the presence of the figure of Belikov in his work, along with other residents of the town. Most of all, the author is concerned with the thought: how did people allow such an insignificant person to tell others how to live. How do they obey his opinion and then become burdened by it? Why are most of the good, smart, educated people, who "grew up on Shchedrin and Turgenev", is afraid of a minority of cowardly, cowardly specimens entangled in their own complexes? After all, this is not only the case in that county town, examples can be found everywhere.
"The Man in the Case", the analysis of which was made, in all its glory shows the vices of the society of that time. As if under a microscope, Chekhov examines the relationship between people and empathizes with the characters. He offers a way to get rid of imposed fears when he gloatingly describes the scene of the ill-fated Belikov descending from the stairs by Kovalev. Free people should not endure existing order things tells us
Anton Pavlovich, otherwise everything will end just as sadly as in the story "The Man in the Case". An analysis of the epilogue shows the reader that nothing has changed with the death of Belikov, because others took the place of one tyrant, and the inhabitants of the town did not receive the expected exposure, everything continued to go on as usual.
An analysis of the story "The Man in the Case" makes it clear that the author has chosen a very successful form of narration - a story within a story. Thanks to this, Chekhov, on behalf of the listener - Ivan Ivanovich - expresses his main idea: to live in a stuffy city, doing an unloved thing, to see a lie, smile and cover it up, cheat on yourself every day for the sake of a piece of bread and a warm bed - is this not a case? How long can you live like this?
Analysis of the "Man in the Case" contributes to understanding artwork, helps to imbue the idea of the author and clearly define his position.
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov in the story paints a picture of ordinary philistine life, exposes the insignificant essence of small people.
The writer evokes a lot of conflicting feelings and impressions in the soul of the reader.
The history of the creation of the work of A.P. Chekhov "The Man in the Case"
The composition opens the “Little Trilogy”, which includes “Gooseberries” and “About Love”. Anton Pavlovich wrote this series in the summer of 1898 in Melikhovo.
Main characters and their characteristics
In the work there are no heroes in the full sense of the word, people expressing the author's views, revealing the author's meaning.
Main character- a teacher of Greek Belikov, nicknamed Antropos by his students.
Other actors:
- Chimsha Himalayan- a veterinarian belonging to the nobility;
- Burkin- storyteller, teacher, colleague of Belikov;
- Mikhail Savvich Kovalenko- the character of Burkin's story, a young teacher;
- Varenka- unmarried sister of Mikhail Savvich about thirty years old;
- Cook Athanasius- a sixty-year-old man, who is in the servants of Belikov;
- Maura- the wife of the headman, who has never left the village in her life. And in the last ten years, she leaves her house only at night. The recollection of the Mavra leads Ivan Ivanych and Burkin to talk about the case.
Belikov is a man enclosed in several cases. This is a cover, which is expressed not only externally, consisting of the characteristic attributes of clothing, but also an internal case. Anthropos' life is filled with self-limitations and limitations for others.
The phrase he often repeats, “no matter what happens,” serves as a response to any inconsistency with established stereotypes. Life principles of this person are reduced to protection from the surrounding life, to constant caution, a premonition of danger and the imposition of their restrictions on others.
Chimsha-Himalayan is a lean, tall old man with a long mustache. According to others, he is absolutely not suitable strange last name Chimsha-Himalayan. Therefore, everyone calls him simply Ivan Ivanovich. The fate of Belikov prompts Ivan Ivanych to think about social evil, injustice and the inability to openly express his position.
In contrast to the doctor Chimshe-Gimalaysky, Chekhov depicts the appearance of the teacher Burkin. This is a bald fat man of small stature with a black long beard. He looks with irony at the history of Belikov, being at the same time a typical representative of the petty-bourgeois provincial society.
And only one Kovalenko, an energetic, open person, frankly despises Anthropos, accusing him to his face of fiscalism. He does not understand how the surrounding teachers can exist in such conditions, in an atmosphere of "suffocating, filthy".
Mikhail Savvich's sister Varvara has bright, expressive features. The author draws her as a noisy laugher who is not averse to marrying Belikov.
Athanasius appears as a constantly drunk, half-witted old man who, as usual, stands at the door with crossed arms and indistinctly mutters the same incomprehensible phrase.
Very short summary
"The Man in the Case" is a short literary work. It has just over 10 printed pages. The story is not divided into chapters, being a whole narrative.
This is a kind of story within a story, a case from life, told between times on the hunt. Briefly, the plot of "The Man in the Case" fits in a few lines.
In the first paragraph, there is a description of the place for the overnight stay of two belated hunters: Ivan Ivanovich and Burkin. They didn't sleep. remembered various stories. The conversation turns to people hiding in a protective shell, escaping loneliness.
The teacher remembered Belikov, who had died about two months ago. He was notable for the fact that throughout his life he tried to "surround himself with a shell."
The real Belikov was disgusting, he could not stand deviations from the rules and terrorized the whole city. The Greek teacher was afraid of everything and was cautious in everything. He ate pike perch in cow butter, in fear of being accused of non-observance of fasts.
The measured course of the life of the city is disturbed by the arrival of the teacher of geography and history Kovalenko and his sister. These are new people "from crests". The inhabitants are bored out of boredom by the idea of marrying Varvara Kovalenko and Belikov. Suggestion does its job, and Anthropos tends to think that "we must marry." But this whole situation has a depressing effect on the Greek teacher, he is cautious.
There are two decisive cases here. In the gymnasium, a caricature of an "anthropos in love" appears, depicting Belikov with an umbrella in galoshes and rolled up trousers, arm in arm with Varenka. One day, an unlucky lover sees Varvara Savvishna and her brother on bicycles.
This spectacle strikes him to the depths of his soul and leads to indignation. He decides to explain himself to Kovalenko. The conversation turns into a quarrel, and Mikhail Savvich lowers Belikov down the stairs right under Varvara's feet. The girl, seeing the embarrassed and rumpled teacher, believing that he fell by accident, bursts into loud laughter. This ends for Belikov all earthly existence.
He went to bed and didn't get up again. Anthropos died a month later. After the funeral, all residents feel great fun. But after a while, life returns to its former course.
In conclusion, the hunters' reasoning on the topic of case follows. But history leads them to different thoughts and conclusions. Everyone, thinking about his own, goes to bed.
Analysis of the work
Analysis of Chekhov's work will help to identify the features of the work, to explore ways of expressing the author's intention.
The main idea - what does "a man in a case" mean?
The main idea of the story is a protest against the case and a call for a simple open life.
Chekhov expands the meaning of the concept "case". The protective cover can be divided into several layers. The main character hides not only in the outer case: in any weather he is dressed in a warm coat on wadding with a raised collar and galoshes, wears an umbrella in a case, and dark glasses. He protects his space, closes on all the latches, closes the shutters.
Belikov defends himself from external influences, is afraid of everything new, ambiguous. He only understands circulars and newspaper articles containing prohibitions. The inner layer is designed to hide Belikov from annoying reality.
Why was the whole city afraid of Belikov? Let us turn to the quotation in which Burkin describes Anthropos:
Belikov oppresses everyone with his caution, puts pressure on people, makes them afraid of everything and everything. Thus, the name Belikov becomes a household name, characterizing the phenomenon of human case. This is the meaning of the title of the story.
Composition
The product is distinguished by an unusual compositional technique. The narrative is one story within another. Moreover, the main part of "The Man in the Case" belongs to Burkin. His style is not Chekhovian, it is publicistic and distinguished by pathos.
Genre
The work "The Man in the Case" belongs to the genre of the story.
He has character traits this genre:
- small volume - about 13 pages;
- few actors;
- one significant episode from life is described;
- a big role is given to details;
- the story is told from the point of view of the narrator;
- The title has a key meaning.
Direction
Literary direction of Chekhov's work - realism. The author reproduces typical features life of his time, depicts characteristic personalities.
The "Man in the Case" reflects a historical era. And typical social qualities are embodied in the image of the protagonist.
Plot Features
The plot of the work is based on the clash of two dissimilar people of the same profession, Belikov and Mikhail Savvich. The conflict unfolds against the backdrop of everyday life. And the narrative is framed in a lyrical shell.
It is no coincidence that at the end of the story about the life of Anthropos, a lyrical description sounds surrounding nature, silence and serenity of the night.
Issues
In the story, Chekhov raises important issues concerning the individual, his place in society and his role in social life. The writer draws the image of Belikov as a man who fenced himself off from people, hiding in a case of conventions and fears.
And there are many problems hiding here: the problem of loneliness and hostility towards progress, the meaninglessness of life, the fear of love and the search for happiness.
Conclusion
Critics expressed mixed reviews about the story "The Man in the Case". Most of the writer's contemporaries noted the living image of Belikov, which was an "artistic revelation" and expresses a "whole public environment". And only a few critics did not see the depth of the work, calling it bad and empty.
More than ten years separate the story “The Man in the Case” from early humor, but in this, one of the most famous works Chekhov the prose writer, a lot in common with the masterpieces of his literary youth. First of all, it is a combination of a specific social satire of a certain historical era With philosophical theme, with eternal, universal questions.
Both the title of the story and the name of its protagonist were immediately perceived as a great generalization. Belikov, as he wrote contemporary critic, is one of those types who, like Oblomov or Chichikov, express either an entire social environment or the spirit of their time. “ Case people”, “Belikovs” - these common nouns flashed in the headlines, on the pages of articles, came into use, became commonly understood formulas. Six years earlier, Leskov said, after reading another story by Chekhov: “Ward No. 6 is everywhere. This is Russia...” And now the impression was largely the same: “All of Russia seemed to me in a case,” a reader writes to Chekhov.
This story about the gymnasium and the city, terrorized by the fear that inspires insignificance, has absorbed the signs of the life of the whole country for a decade and a half. Yes, it was the whole Russia of the era of Alexander III, which had just receded into the past, but now and then reminded of itself.
The image of Belikov goes from the biological, characteristic psychological, to the social, to the manifestations of the natural principle in public life. This is not surprising: Chekhov is a doctor who possesses a natural scientific point of view, convinced that exact knowledge and poetry have never been at enmity with each other.
The comparison with the village recluse Mavra gives reason to mention those times when the human ancestor “lived alone in his lair”, to mention the phenomena of atavism in human nature. The description of the strange and funny character traits, appearance, behavior of Belikov is at first quite funny and harmless. This person is likened to animals, a snail or a hermit crab - who is harmed by these creatures, who themselves are afraid of everything?
And then a signal sounds, so understandable to Chekhov's contemporaries. Belikov is a teacher of ancient languages, but in the name of what did he teach them? They were for him the same case, “where he hid from real life". This is a direct allusion to an era that has just ended. The teaching of ancient languages in gymnasiums was considered by the ministers of Alexander III as a means designed to distract young people from “harmful” hobbies, from interest in the topic of the day. “And Belikov also tried to hide his thought in a case.”
From the description of a frail gymnasium teacher I grow up! well-marked signs of the era. Thought that they try to hide in a case. Dominance of the circular forbidding. Rampant espionage, spying, denunciation. Newspaper articles with the rationale for prohibitions on everything, even the most ridiculous (“carnal love was forbidden”). And as a result - fear, slavish, voluntary, universal. Belikov “oppressed us”, “pressed on everyone”, “began to be afraid of everything”, “submitted, endured”. Immediately, in parallel with the image of Belikov, in Chekhov's laconic and precise description of the intimidated Russian intelligentsia: “...began to be afraid of everything. They are afraid to speak loudly, send letters, make acquaintances, read books, they are afraid to help the poor, teach them to read and write...” This is how “thinking, decent” intellectuals behave, succumbing to fear of a man in a case.
How does this brilliant, sharply social pamphlet end? A return to where the story began - to nature, to psychology: “... to him, a lonely man by nature ...” Chekhov, a naturalist, physician and artist, constantly in his work comes from a living, healthy life like the norm. He does not oppose the natural, including the biological, to the social, but sees their interweaving, conditionality, mutual influence.
Circular prohibitions, so close and understandable to Belikov, fight precisely with this living life, with nature. The waves of the lapping sea of life break against the circular: the pranks of schoolchildren, love dates, home performances, loud words, games, helping the poor, correspondence, i.e. any form of communication. With all the diversity and unequalness, these are various manifestations of living life.
Chekhov did not name the most serious, important forms of social life and activity, against which bans and circulars were directed in the first place (perhaps only a hint in Belikov’s comments about Kovalenki: “a strange way of thinking”, “they argue”, “you will get into some kind of some story”). It is impossible to name these forms more specifically, and, perhaps, there is no need for this. The main thing for the writer is to show the incompatibility of Belik's case with living life, with mental health- with everything that was for Chekhov "the holy of holies".
And the description of Belikov is summed up in a key characteristic of Chekhov, everything is controlled by a purely Chekhovian paradox. The person who should feel most at home in the environment he creates, in the customs he inculcates, is the first to suffer from them himself.
Belikov holding in his hands whole city, himself “bored, pale”, does not sleep at night. First of all, he frightened himself, he was afraid in a case, at night under a blanket, he was afraid of the cook Athanasius, the authorities, thieves. This paradox is again prompted by the sudden past - the fear of Alexander III, who was hiding from his subjects intimidated by him in Gatchina. If this is “nature”, just “a variety of human character”, as the narrator Burkin is inclined to explain the phenomenon of Belikovism, then how unnatural, self-destructive, hostile to life itself!
The whole story is the story of Belikov's almost married marriage to Varenka Kovalenko. Red-cheeked, serious or thoughtful, warm-hearted, singing, arguing Varenka, with her song “Vitry Winds”, borscht “with red and blue ones”, is life itself next to the deadly infection - Belikov. Her appearance in art system stories - a reminder of another life, free, filled with movement, laughter. The Ukrainian, "Little Russian" theme also sounded in Gogol's stories - in contrast to the theme of gray and boring life.
The story of Belikov's almost failed marriage ends with his death. And in this, actually plot, part of the story, two specific beginnings collide - life and a deadly infection. Life itself - Varenka Kovalenko. Attributes of life - laughter (caricature), movement (bicycle). And death itself - Belikov, who has grown thinner, turned green, even more deeply drawn into his case.
Chekhov, an artist-musician, actively uses such methods of musical composition as repetition, carrying out a theme through different voice-instruments to express his thoughts. What we learn from the narrator, the gymnasium teacher Burkin, - a description of Belikov and the infection, the disease he spreads - will be said again in a much sharper and more decisive tone. The teacher Kovalenko, who came from Ukraine, will rudely and directly call everything by its proper name: Belikov - “spider, viper, Judas”, the atmosphere in the gymnasium is “suffocating”, “it stinks of sourness, like in a police box” ... Already famous theme as if performed on another musical instrument, in a different key, somewhat sharply clarifying this topic.
“Kolossalische Skandal” is described in such a way that the writer now allows you to see everything through the eyes of Belikov, from the point of view of his concepts. And here he is not afraid to make the reader feel something like pity for his patient. So the doctor carefully and sympathetically listens to the testimony of a patient who is unsympathetic to him. But even ridiculed, horrified and shocked, Belikov remains true to himself to the end (“I will have to report to Mr. Director the content of our conversation ... in the main lines. I am obliged to do this”).
From such a change in point of view, the image became more voluminous, more complete. But the final impression is unequivocal: the pleasure with which the teachers buried Belikov is completely conveyed to the reader.
Burkin's conclusion to the story once again sounded topical for his contemporaries: “... life went on as before... not circularly forbidden, but not completely resolved either; didn't get better." After the death of his father, the new Tsar Nicholas II called “meaningless dreams” those hopes for granting the most modest rights that were expressed in society, and declared that he would “guard the beginnings of autocracy as firmly and unswervingly as his unforgettable deceased parent guarded.”
Everything will remain the same, it will not get better - such moods really captured most Russian society at the beginning of a new reign. And the words of the teacher Burkin: “... and how many more such people are left in the case, how many more there will be!” - conveyed this oppressed state.
But sensitive to the present, Chekhov distinguished other voices, other moods. At the end of the story, the public radical temperament of the listener to whom Burkin told his story, Ivan Ivanovich Chimshi-Himalayan, is manifested. “No, it’s impossible to live like this anymore!” he declares, arguing with Burkin's dismal conclusion. IN musical composition stories burst like a trumpet party, the words of a man who does not want to be satisfied with the old truth that everything will remain as it was, everything will pass, but wants decisive changes, breaking around him.
Russia was already on the eve of great upheavals, and it was about this, about the expectation of imminent changes, that Chekhov's heroes were among the first to speak. Ivan Ivanovich and the teacher Kovalenko from the story are unfamiliar, they have never met each other, but they are very similar in their irreconcilable reaction to Belikovism, to the case. It is not by chance that Chekhov writes about such people: in reality, they came across more and more often, life itself gave birth to them more and more.
AND public importance Chekhov's creativity in that period was enormous. “Such stories as your “The Man in the Case” wakes you up well, pushes you apart,” one of the readers wrote to Chekhov. Chekhov's stories aroused in contemporaries, as the young Maxim Gorky wrote in 1900, "a disgust for this sleepy, half-dead life - damn it!"
Of course there is a big difference meanwhile, how the work was read by contemporaries and how it is seen more than a hundred years later. The most topical things for their era may turn out to be given over to indifferent oblivion by the next generation of readers. The meaning of great creations, the riches hidden in them, as always, are gradually revealed in time, they are tested for strength. And “The Man in the Case” is by no means only a picture of the life of the Russian provinces in a certain era. On the basis of contemporary material, Chekhov posed problems of great universal significance, having a universal meaning, remaining relevant at all times.
Cases, templates, stereotypes of thinking and behavior are different in different cases. In “The Man in the Case” the case has a clearly socio-political coloring, because this is a “false idea”, according to which the life of the whole country was built in a certain era.
Chekhov's story "The Man in the Case" is included in a small trilogy and reveals the theme " case life"which can gradually lead to the degradation of the whole city
The protagonist of the story is the teacher of the gymnasium Belikov. He teaches the ancient Greek ("dead") language and lives by the principle: "No matter what happens." The narrator, teacher Burkin says: "
“We teachers were afraid of him. And even the director was afraid. Come on, our teachers are all thinking people, deeply decent, brought up on Turgenev and Shchedrin, but this man ... held the entire gymnasium in his hands for fifteen whole years. Yes, high school! The whole city!"
This scary man he inspired everyone that they should live according to the rules and circulars, and threatened everyone who violated them with the fact that there are people at the top who will deal with violators of the established order.
Belikov himself led a "case life":
“Even in very good weather, he went out in galoshes and with an umbrella, and certainly in a warm coat with wadding.” In addition, “he had an umbrella in a case, and a watch in a case made of gray suede, and when he took out a penknife to sharpen a pencil, he also had a knife in a case.” His face, too, seemed to be covered with a case, as he always hid it in his upturned collar. "
This man had a constant desire to "surround himself with a shell, create for himself, so to speak, a" case ", which supposedly protected him from the outside world, secluded him. But the fact is that the hero did not just live in a case himself, he tried to force The whole city did it. And he almost succeeded. The degradation of personality characteristic of Belikov. covered everyone.
"they are afraid to speak loudly, send letters, make acquaintances, read books and are afraid to help the poor, to teach literacy"
But our hero is sliding down from the height of the "case" life: both literally and figuratively. The brother of the girl whom Belikov decided to marry, expresses everything that he thinks about him and, pushing him, lowers him down the stairs right under the feet of the one who returned from Varenka's walks. Laughter rang out, which ruined the "man in the case". He could not survive such a shame. He fell ill and died
When he was buried, it seemed that he had finally found peace and an eternal case, in which the whole city almost fell into.
It turns out that fear can make people degenerate and submit to the insignificance that triumphs because they are afraid of it.
With his works, Chekhov warns the reader against degradation, but does not “doom it.” With this story, he urged the reader not to succumb to the influence of the environment and take care of the person in himself.
