Makar chudra - analysis of the work. "Artistic features of the story M

The work belongs to the early work of the writer and is his first work, written in Tiflis under the influence of one of his friends.

By genre the work is a story in the style of romanticism.

Composition structure of the story is presented as a legend in the story, framed by the philosophical reasoning of the narrator, on whose behalf the narration is being conducted.

Plot. The exposition of the work is the story of a fifty-eight-year-old gypsy about the love story of two representatives of the gypsy people, represented in the image of Zobar and Radda, who are strong, freedom-loving personalities, whose fate turns out to be tragic.

Distinctive features of the story are the use by the author of a peculiar gypsy speech, which gives it a special flavor, representing an important element of the compositional structure. In addition, the story is distinguished by an unusual philosophical pathos writing style, wisdom and relationship with the common people, expressed in a surprisingly juicy, melodic and poetic language in the form of colorful expressive comparisons, personifications and metaphors, making the plot narration reminiscent of a fairy tale, legend.

Main theme The story consists in depicting freedom, internal and physical, human character and will, the limits of pride and ambition, love and its strength.

main character The story is an old gypsy Makar Chudra, presented in the form of a melancholy person, indifferent to the world around him, who considers his own happiness to be the goal of life. It is the hero who tells the narrator the love story of another main characters in the person of Radda and Zobar, who, being proud, freedom-loving, selfish young people, could not save their own love, resulting in the death of a girl at the hands of her lover, and then his death, which became revenge Radda's father.

Key issues The work is the author's reasoning about the need not only to live for the sake of one's own ego, but also the ability to sacrifice for the sake of a loved one, even precious freedom.

The originality of the story it seems that the writer uses natural sketches in the form of endless southern expanses, expressing the serenity and majesty of nature in front of the insignificance of human existence and the pettiness of human problems and suffering.

The work lies in the need to preserve one's own freedom, but the ability to be happy in love, rejecting cruelty and selfishness, which are an integral part of human existence. The writer demonstrates to the reader the consequences of displaying excessive pride and selfishness, which are human dramas and tragedies.

Option 2

“Makar Chudra” is the earliest printed work of M. Gorky, who at that time still called himself by his real name - A.M. Peshkov. It was first published in the newspaper "Kavkaz" in 1892, and was signed by the author's pseudonym - M. Gorky, under which the writer soon became famous throughout the world.

The protagonist of the work is an old gypsy named Makar Chudra, whose main life value was freedom, and he would not exchange it for any wealth of the world. In his opinion, the peasant is the same as the slave, and was born in order to plow the land all his life. His unbridled desire for freedom is manifested in the characters of the main characters of the legend he told. They perceive their own love as a strong chain that binds their freedom and independence.

They confess their love to each other, but at the same time each of them tries to dominate, which ultimately leads to serious disagreements in the relationship, and then to the death of the heroes. Thus, pride and love, the manifestation of which reaches its maximum, are not able to get along with each other. For Makar Chudra, the heroes of the told legend are an example of love of freedom. If there is a choice between freedom and life, a person must choose the first one, which was done by the heroes of the legend - Loiko Zobar and Radda.

Another feature of the story is the almost imperceptible presence of the author of the work. His image can be traced between the lines, the reader guesses his presence, he sees that the author does not fully share the point of view of Makar Chudra. The author draws the reader's attention to the fact that the pride of Loiko and Radda doomed them to eternal loneliness and the impossibility of being happy. No matter how independent they may be, as a result they themselves become slaves of the freedom they cherish so much. They are unable to make a sacrifice in the name of love, for the sake of a loved one.

To express the feelings of the characters and show his own vision, the author is helped by such a technique as a landscape sketch, in the center of which is the sea, the power of the water element. At the beginning of the story, it is calm, only a small breeze runs over the surface of the water, and the bushes rustle on the shore. As the conflict between the characters matures, the weather deteriorates more and more, it starts to rain, the wind intensifies, the sea rustles and rumbles, as if singing a solemn and gloomy hymn to proud lovers.

A detailed analysis of Gorky's work Makar Chudra

In the work there is an orientation of romanticism, and main idea romanticism is the love of heroes for freedom. Heroes reject the generally accepted way of society, they have their own views on the world and interests.

The hero is always alone; he does not find satisfaction in communicating with society. And communication takes place mainly with nature. Makar Chudra is a romantic story. The story of the relationship between Loiko Zobar and Radda helps to reveal the true character of the old gypsy.

Makar is an old gypsy and his main love in life is freedom. He tells the story of two lovers for whom freedom the main objective and the meaning of life. Radd loves the will so much that this love for freedom overshadows even the love for Loiko.

As a result, Makar concludes that the only way out of this situation is death. After all, a gypsy cannot betray his love for freedom, and he also cannot betray his love for a loved one. And at the same time feeling love, neither Loiko nor Radd can subdue their pride and submit to each other.

And therefore, Makar fully agrees with the actions of the young couple, because this is how a person proves his love for the will. Young people loved each other so much that they could not live without a friend.

But Radda told Loiko to prove his love to her by bowing at her feet in front of the whole gypsy camp. In response, he plunged a knife into her heart, Radda's father immediately killed Loiko. Such is the love of freedom among gypsies.

Gypsies value freedom above all else, so a sedentary lifestyle and work is not for them. They are ready to travel all their lives and love freedom and nature above all material values and comfort.

Gypsies recognize love, mutual and not interfering with freedom. Otherwise, it is completely abandoned. If it interferes with freedom. The author shows the reader a different way of life. And talks about him in a neutral way, and does not fully support him or call for him.

He simply shows the reader a different way of life, in which the gypsies lead a freedom-loving and independent of public opinion and position in society. It shows the reader the opportunity to be special, not like everyone else.

Makar tells a story about gypsies in love to a young listener. He is romantically inclined, loves nature, life and everything beautiful. Makar, on the other hand, gives him an example of a young couple of gypsies, in which Loiko is a kind, freedom-loving and outspoken guy.

The girl is very, beautiful, proud and wayward, and because of this misunderstanding and unwillingness to obey each other, their love ended in tragedy. Which Makar expresses as the consequences of love and talks about the fact that you need to love will and nature.

The main idea and purpose of the work is to show strong and courageous people. Makar in the story recalls his colleague and immediately says that human trafficking is not according to human laws. After all, so much has been lived, and only slave owners did these vile actions.

And therefore, he does not fully accept either slavery or people who worship and obey the will of other people.

The most important in the story are the brave and unconquered gypsies. Makar and the whole camp follow the way of life of Radda and Loiko. In the story, the gypsies are the most courageous and fearless people who, fearing nothing, are fighting for their freedom and independence.

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The story "Makar Chudra" was written in 1892 and belongs to the early period of Gorky's work. Here his romantic ideals were especially clearly manifested. The story is told from the point of view of the narrator. Framing - a description of the sea and a conversation with an old gypsy. Inside the text is a legend about the love of two gypsies, which Makar Chudra recalls. Thus, we have a story within a story. Below you will find an analysis of the story "Makar Chudra" by Gorky.

Features of romanticism in the story "Makar Chudra"

Main Feature romanticism as literary direction is a dual world: the division of the world into real and ideal. The story depicts an ideal world of freedom, beauty, songs and music, beautiful freedom-loving people. Already in the exposition, Makar Chudra contrasts the eternal vegetation of the townsfolk, their shameful slavery with freedom and understanding of the world. People, according to the hero, are not born in order to "dig the earth." He thinks about man: “Does he know his will? Is the expanse of the steppe understandable? Does the sound of the sea wave gladden his heart? This is the meaning and purpose of life: in the understanding of the world, the knowledge of its secrets. What else becomes clear when we analyze the story "Makar Chudra"?

In the center of attention in romanticism is an exceptional hero, free, beautiful, standing above the surrounding everyday life. Such characters in the story are Loiko Zobar and Radda. Most of all they value the ideal of freedom. Heroes are guided by feelings, passion, not reason.

The landscape in romanticism is not just a background of action, it carries a special semantic load. The love of romantics for sea and mountain views is well known. It is in the boundless expanses of the sea and mountains that the free and passionate soul of an exceptional hero can find a response. The main technique in depicting nature is personification: “the sea sang a gloomy and solemn hymn”, “the darkness of the autumn night trembled” and timidly moved away. Makar Chudra, a philosopher, a wise old gypsy, is in complete unity with the outside world, the quiet lapping of the waves, the beauty of the sea.

In the finale, the narrator seems to be immersed in an ideal world: the melody of the sea draws him to where the proud Loiko Zobar and the beautiful Radda are circling in an eternal dance.

Analysis of the story "Makar Chudra" - conflict

IN little story Gorky touches on several serious topics. These are questions about freedom and slavery, the meaning of human life, the beauty of nature and the world as a whole, about love and pride.

The conflict is based on the antithesis of freedom - slavery. For Makar Chudra, freedom is an opportunity to enjoy life, the absence of any restrictions. Loiko and Radda value, first of all, personal freedom, independence from other people, not only external, but also internal. They put will above everything, even above love. This is the main conflict. To fall in love for the heroes means to submit to another person, but they cannot do this, it is contrary to their nature. Therefore, a vicious circle situation arises. It is no coincidence that Radda says: “Will, Loiko, I love more than you. And I can’t live without you, just as you can’t live without me.” Even brief analysis The story "Makar Chudra" allows us to clearly understand this idea.

A beautiful gypsy woman can only love a strong man, whom she cannot make submissive to herself, but, having fallen in love, she will not obey herself. She gives a task to her lover in order to test him, and knows in advance that Loiko will not fulfill the condition to bow to her in front of the whole camp. Therefore, when the gypsy plunges a knife into her chest, Radda, smiling, says that she knew what he would do. She smiles because the hero passed the test of strength of character and love of freedom, he turned out to be worthy of Radda's love. But the paradox lies in the fact that love and pride were incompatible, so the heroes die.

This article presented an analysis of the story "Makar Chudra". We hope you found this article useful. Our literary blog was created with the aim of highlighting different aspects of the works of world literature and their authors. Read also

The history of the creation of Gorky's work "Makar Chudra"

The story "Makar Chudra" was published in the Tiflis newspaper "Kavkaz" dated September 12, 1892. For the first time, the author signed under the pseudonym Maxim Gorky. This story begins a romantic period in the writer's work. The romantic works of M. Gorky also include: the story "The Old Woman Izergil", "The Song of the Falcon" and "The Song of the Petrel", the poem "The Girl and Death" and other works of the writer.
In one of the letters to A.P. Gorky wrote to Chekhov: “Really, the time has come for the need for the heroic: everyone wants exciting, bright, such, you know, that it doesn’t look like life, but is higher, better, more beautiful. It is imperative that contemporary literature begin to embellish life a little, and as soon as it begins to embellish life, that is, people will begin to live faster, brighter.
The title of the story is related to the name of the main character. Makar Chudra - an old gypsy, a thoughtful philosopher, knowing the essence life, whose camp roams the south of Russia.

Genus, genre, creative method of the analyzed work

The cycle of romantic works by M. Gorky immediately attracted the attention of critics and readers with an excellent literary language, relevance of the topic, interesting composition (inclusion of legends and fairy tales in the narrative). Romantic works are characterized by the opposition of the hero and reality. This is how the story "Makar Chudra" is constructed, the genre feature of which is "a story within a story". Makar Chudra acts not only as the main character, but also as a narrator. Such an artistic technique makes the narrative more poetic and original, helps to better reveal the ideas about the values of life, the ideals of the author and the narrator. The action of the story takes place against the backdrop of a raging sea, a steppe wind, and a disturbing night. This is the atmosphere of freedom. The narrator assigns himself the role of a wise contemplator of life. Makar Chudra is a skeptic who is disappointed in people. Having lived and seen a lot, he appreciates only freedom. This is the only criterion by which Makar measures the human personality.

The theme of the writer's romantic works is the desire for freedom. Makar Chudra also talks about will and freedom. The work is based on the poetic love story of Loiko and Radda, told by Makar Chudra. The heroes of a beautiful legend cannot choose between pride, freedom and love. Passion for freedom determines their thoughts and actions. As a result, both die.
Idea
The short story contains ideas of freedom, beauty and joy of life. Makar Chudra's thoughts about life testify to the philosophical mindset of the old gypsy: “Are you yourself not life? Other people live without you and will live without you. Do you think that someone needs you? You are not bread, not a stick, and no one needs you ... ". Makar Chudra speaks of the desire for inner freedom, freedom without restrictions, since only a free person can be happy. Therefore, the wise old gypsy advises the interlocutor to go his own way, so as not to "die in vain." The only value on earth is freedom, it is worth living and dying for it, as the heroes of this story think. This is what dictated the actions of Loiko and Radda. In the story, Gorky performed a hymn to a beautiful and strong man. The desire for a feat, the worship of strength, the glorification of freedom is reflected in the story "Makar Chudra".

The nature of the conflict

For the old gypsy, the most important thing in life is personal freedom, which he would never exchange for anything. His desire for freedom is also embodied by the heroes of the legend told by Makar Chudra. Young and beautiful Loiko Zobar and Radda love each other. But in both the desire for personal freedom is so strong that they even look at their own love as a chain that binds their independence. Each of them, declaring his love, sets his own conditions, trying to dominate. This leads to a tense conflict, ending in the death of the heroes.

Main heroes

In the story, one of the main characters is the old gypsy Makar Chudra. The gypsy's wisdom is revealed through the legend about Loiko and Radda, who are in love. He believes that pride and love are incompatible. Love makes you humble and submit to your loved one. Makar talks about man and freedom: “Does he know the will? Is the expanse of the steppe understandable? Does the voice of the sea wave gladden his heart? He is a slave - as soon as he was born, and that's it! In his opinion, a person born a slave is not capable of performing a feat. Makar admires Loiko and Radda. He believes that this is how a real person worthy of imitation should perceive life, and that only in such a life position can one preserve one's own freedom. As a real philosopher, he understands: it is impossible to teach a person anything if he himself does not want to learn, because "everyone learns by himself." He answers a question with a question to his interlocutor: “Can you learn how to make people happy? No you can not".
Next to Makar there is an image of the listener, on whose behalf the narration is being conducted. This hero does not take up much space in the story, but for understanding the author's position, intent and creative method, his significance is great. He is a dreamer, a romantic, feeling the beauty of the world around him. His vision of the world brings a romantic beginning, joy, boldness, an abundance of colors into the story: “A damp, cold wind blew from the sea, spreading across the steppe the thoughtful melody of the splash of a wave running ashore and the rustle of coastal bushes; ... the darkness of the autumn night surrounding us shuddered and, timidly moving away, opened for a moment on the left - the boundless steppe, on the right - the endless sea ... ".
An analysis of the work shows that the romantic beginning lies in the heroes of a beautiful legend - young gypsies, who absorbed the spirit of free life with their mother's milk. For Loiko highest value is freedom, frankness and kindness: “He loved only horses and nothing more, and then not for long - he will ride, and he will sell, and whoever wants, take the money. He didn’t have a cherished one - you need his heart, he himself would tear it out of his chest, and he would give it to you, if only you would feel good about it. Radda is so proud that her love for Loiko cannot break her: “I have never loved anyone, Loiko, but I love you. Also, I love freedom! Will, Loiko, I love more than you. The insoluble contradiction between Radda and Loiko - love and pride, according to Makar Chudra, can only be resolved by death. And the heroes refuse love, happiness and prefer to die in the name of will and absolute freedom.

The plot and composition of the work

The traveler meets the old gypsy Makar Chudra on the seashore. In a conversation about freedom, the meaning of life, Makar Chudra tells a beautiful legend about the love of a young gypsy couple. Loiko Zobar and Radda love each other. But both have a desire for personal freedom above all else. This leads to a tense conflict, ending in the death of the heroes. Loiko yields to Radda, kneels in front of her in front of everyone, which is considered a terrible humiliation among the gypsies, and at the same moment kills her. And he himself dies at the hands of her father.
A feature of the composition of this story is its construction on the principle of "a story within a story": the author puts a romantic legend into the mouth of the protagonist. It helps to better understand his inner world and value system. For Makar, Loiko and Rudd are the ideals of love of freedom. He is sure that two wonderful feelings, pride and love, brought to their highest expression, cannot be reconciled.
Another feature of the composition of this story is the presence of the image of the narrator. It is almost imperceptible, but the author himself is easily guessed in it.

Artistic originality

In romantic works, Gorky turns to romantic poetics. First of all, it concerns the genre. Legends and fairy tales become the favorite genre of the writer during this period of creativity.
The palette of visual means used by the writer in the story is diverse. "Makar Chudra" is full of figurative comparisons that accurately convey the feelings and mood of the characters: "... a smile is a whole sun", "Loiko stands in the fire of a fire, as if in blood", "... she said that she threw snow at us" , “He looked like an old oak tree, burned by lightning ...”, “... staggered like a broken tree”, etc. The feature of the story is unusual shape dialogue between Makar Chudra and the narrator. Only one voice is heard in it - the voice of the protagonist, and only from the replicas of this one speaker do we guess the reaction and replies of his interlocutor: “Learn and teach, you say?” This peculiar form of phrases serves the author to make his presence in the story less noticeable.
Gorky pays great attention to the speech of his heroes. So, for example, Makar Chudra, according to the gypsy tradition, interrupts his story with an appeal to the interlocutor, calling him a falcon: “Hey! It was, a falcon ...”, “Here he was, a falcon! ..”, “Here she was, what was Radda, a falcon! ..”, “That's right, a falcon! ..” In the address “falcon” we see an image close to the gypsy spirit, the image of a free and bold bird. Chudra freely modifies some of the geographical names of the places where the gypsies roamed: "Galicia" - instead of Galicia, "Slavonia" - instead of Slovakia. In his story, the word “steppe” is often repeated, since the steppe was the main place of life for the gypsies: “The girl is crying, seeing off the good fellow! A good fellow calls the girl to the steppe...”, “The night is bright, the moon flooded the whole steppe with silver...”, “Loiko barked all over the steppe...”.
The author widely uses the technique of landscape sketches. The seascape is a kind of frame for the entire storyline of the story. The sea is closely connected with the state of mind of the characters: at first it is calm, only a "wet, cold wind" carries "across the steppe the thoughtful melody of the splash of a wave running ashore and the rustle of coastal bushes." But now it began to rain, the wind grew stronger, and the sea rumbles muffled and angrily and sings a gloomy and solemn hymn to the proud pair of handsome gypsies. In general, in nature, Gorky loves everything strong, impetuous, boundless: the boundless expanse of the sea and the steppe, the bottomless blue sky, then playful, then angry waves, a whirlwind, a thunderstorm with its rolling roar, with its sparkling brilliance.
A characteristic feature of this story is its musicality. Music accompanies the whole story about the fate of lovers. “You can’t say anything about her, this Rudd, in words. Perhaps her beauty could be played on a violin, and even then to someone who knows this violin as his soul.

The meaning of the work

The role of M. Gorky in the literature of the XX century. hard to overestimate. He was immediately noticed by L.N. Tolstoy and A.P. Chekhov, V.G. Korolenko, endowing the young author with their friendly disposition. The value of the innovative artist was recognized by the new generation of writers, the general readership, and criticism. Gorky's works have always been at the center of controversy between supporters of different aesthetic trends. Gorky was loved by people whose names are included in the sacred list of the creators of Russian culture.
The origins of romantic works seem to be clear. What is absent in reality is sung in legends. Not quite so. In them, the writer did not at all abandon his main sphere of observation - behind the contradictory human soul. The romantic hero is included in the environment of imperfect, and even cowardly, miserable people. This motive is strengthened on behalf of the storytellers whom the author listens to: the gypsy Makar Chudra, the Bessarabian Izergil, the old Tatar man, who conveys the legend "Khan and his son", the Crimean shepherd, singing "The Song of the Falcon".
The romantic hero was conceived for the first time as a savior of people from their own weakness, worthlessness, and sleepy vegetative existence. It is said about Zobar: “With such a person, you yourself become better.” That is why there are images-symbols of the "fiery heart", flight, battle. Majestic in themselves, they are further enlarged by the "participation of mother nature." She decorates the world with blue sparks in memory of Danko. The real sea listens to the "lion's roar" of the legendary waves that carry the call of the Falcon.
Meeting with an unprecedented harmony of feelings and deeds calls for the comprehension of things in some new dimensions. This is true influence. legendary hero on personality. This must be remembered and not replaced by the content of Gorky's romantic works with an unequivocal call for social protest. In the images of Danko, the Falcon, as well as in the proud lovers, the young Izergil, the spiritual impulse, the thirst for beauty are embodied.
Gorky was more concerned with reflections on what a person is and what a person should become than on the real path that lies to the future. The future was depicted as a complete overcoming of primordial spiritual contradictions. “I believe,” Gorky wrote to I.E. Repin in 1899 - into the infinity of life, and I understand life as a movement towards the improvement of the spirit<...>. It is necessary that the intellect and instinct merge in harmonious harmony ... ”Life phenomena were perceived from the height of universal ideals. Therefore, apparently, Gorky said in the same letter: “... I see that I do not belong anywhere yet, to any of our “parties”. I am glad about this, because this is freedom.
(According to the book by L. Smirnova "Russian literature of the late XIX - early XX century", M .: Education, 1993)

Point of view

This is interesting

In September 1892, Gorky's first printed work, Makar Chudra, appeared in the Tiflis newspaper Kavkaz. This story was destined to open all the collected works of Maxim Gorky and become, according to I. Gruzdev, "a frontier in Russian literature." From the history of the creation of this work, it is known that it was written in the Caucasus, in the apartment of Kalyuzhny, at a time when young Alexei Maksimovich was actively promoting among the Tiflis workers. Although Gorky considered this work as his first hesitant step on the path of a writer, he always emphasized that he considers the creation of Makar Chudra to be the beginning of his “literary existence”.
There is a solid literature on the early work of M. Gorky, but the independence and originality of Gorky's literary debut is clearly underestimated by researchers. Usually, the story "Makar Chudra" is spoken of in a patter, incidentally, only as the first printed word of the artist. A specific historical and literary analysis of "Makar Chudra", comparing it with the works of the 80-90s, depicting people's life, make us think that this is not a simple test of the pen, but the voice of the future petrel of the revolution. Already in his first work, M. Gorky brings people out of the people, continuing and developing the best traditions of progressive Russian literature. In the story "Makar Chudra" he also resorts to historical parallels, to the resurrection of authentic heroic deeds, to the chanting of the strong and brave in spirit.
Makar Chudra recalls his old friend Danil, a soldier, a hero of the Hungarian revolution of 1848, who "fought together with Kossuth." According to Chudra’s story, an incorruptible and courageous man looms before us, throwing impudent words full of hatred and contempt and at the same time his own dignity in the face of the all-powerful pan in response to the landowner’s proposal to sell him the beautiful Radd: “It’s only the gentlemen who sell everything, from their pigs to my conscience, but I fought with Kossuth and do not trade in anything. The story is based on the legend of brave and strong people. The legend is transmitted through the mouth of an experienced witness-narrator in the form of a friendly conversation with the writers themselves. The action of the story is transferred to the south, to the seashore; and the darkness of the cold autumn night that surrounded the heroes is not so hopeless. She sometimes shuddered from the fire and, timidly moving away, opened for a moment on the left - the boundless steppe, on the right - the endless sea.
Makar Chudra lived interesting life “And I, look,” he says to his interlocutor, “at fifty-eight years old I saw so much that if you write all this on paper, you won’t put it in a thousand bags like yours. Come on, tell me, in what regions have I not been? And you won't say. You don't even know the places I've been." "...Ege, as far as I know!" exclaims the old gypsy. Makar's words are not empty boasting, he really knows a lot. Although Makar feels the beauty and charm of life, he himself is skeptical about work. His ideals are vague and contradictory. He only strongly advises Gorky not to stop in one place: "go, go - and that's it"; “As day and night run, chasing each other, so you run from thoughts about life, so as not to stop loving it.” Not possessing a clear consciousness, he does not know, does not see a way out for a human slave: “... Does he know his will? Is the expanse of the steppe understandable? Does the voice of the sea wave gladden his heart? He is a slave - as soon as he was born, he is a slave all his life, and that's it! What can he do with himself? Only to strangle himself if he grows a little wiser. Makar sees no way out for a human slave, but he firmly knows one thing - there should be no slavery, for slavery is the scourge of life. He does not believe in the power of the slave, but he believes in the power of freedom. He tells about the great power of a free person in his legend about the beautiful Radda and Loiko Zobar. Loiko Zobar will not share her happiness with anyone, and the beautiful Radda will not give in to her will, her freedom. Strong, brave, beautiful, proud, they sow joy around themselves and enjoy it, valuing freedom above all, above love, above life itself, for life without freedom is not life, but slavery. Makar does not spare paints to describe his heroes. If Loiko has a mustache, then it is certainly up to his shoulders, “eyes are like clear stars are burning, and a smile is a whole sun, by God!” old Chudra swears. Loiko Zobar is good, but the beautiful Radda is even better. The old gypsy does not even know the words that could describe her beauty. “Perhaps its beauty could be played on a violin, and even then to someone who knows this violin like his soul,” Makar assures. Radda is a brave and proud person. The all-powerful sir turned out to be powerless and ridiculous before Radd. The old tycoon throws money at the feet of the beauty, ready for anything for one kiss, but the proud girl did not even honor him with a glance. “If an eagle entered the raven’s nest of her own free will, what would she become?” - Radda answered all the harassment of the pan and thus took him out of the game. Volna was Radda in love and happy. But her main sorrow is not about love, and her happiness is not in love. She says to Loiko Zobar: “I saw good fellows, and you are more distant and more beautiful than their soul and face. Each of them would shave off his mustache - if I blinked an eye at him, they would all fall at my feet if I wanted to. But what's the point? They don't hurt too much anyway, and I would beat them all. There are few daring gypsies left in the world, few, Loiko. I have never loved anyone, Loiko, but I love you. Also, I love freedom! Will, Loiko, I love more than you. And she dies happy, brave, proud and invincible.
Analysis of the work shows that the gypsies in the story are active and active. Makar himself is a direct participant in the events. He is in awe of his heroes, ready to follow them, like others in the camp. He is impressed by strong, courageous people who are able not to wait for happiness from someone else's hands, but to fight for it.
(According to the article by I.K. Kuzmichev “The Birth of the Petrel”
("Makar Chudra" by M. Gorky)

Golubkov MM. Maksim Gorky. - M., 1997.
Ovcharenko A.I. Maxim Gorky and literary searches of the 20th century. - M., 1978.
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History of creation

In one of the letters to A.P. Gorky wrote to Chekhov: “Really, the time has come for the need for the heroic: everyone wants exciting, bright, such, you know, that it doesn’t look like life, but is higher, better, more beautiful. It is imperative that today's literature begin to embellish life a little, and as soon as it begins to embellish life, that is, people will begin to live faster, brighter.

The title of the story is related to the name of the main character. Makar Chudra is an old gypsy, a thoughtful philosopher who knows the essence of life, whose camp roams the south of Russia.

Genus, genre, creative method

The cycle of romantic works by M. Gorky immediately attracted the attention of critics and readers with its excellent literary language, the relevance of the topic, and an interesting composition (the inclusion of legends and fairy tales in the narrative). Romantic works are characterized by the opposition of the hero and reality. This is how the story "Makar Chudra" is constructed, the genre feature of which is "a story within a story". Makar Chudra acts not only as the main character, but also as a narrator. Such an artistic technique makes the narrative more poetic and original, helps to better reveal the ideas about the values of life, the ideals of the author and the narrator. The action of the story takes place against the backdrop of a raging sea, a steppe wind, and a disturbing night. This is the atmosphere of freedom. The narrator assigns himself the role of a wise contemplator of life. Makar Chudra is a skeptic who is disappointed in people. Having lived and seen a lot, he appreciates only freedom. This is the only criterion by which Makar measures the human personality.

Topic

Idea

The short story contains ideas of freedom, beauty and joy of life. Makar Chudra's thoughts about life testify to the philosophical mindset of the old gypsy: “Are you yourself not life? Other people live without you and will live without you. Do you think that someone needs you? You are not bread, not a stick, and no one needs you ... ". Makar Chudra speaks of the desire for inner freedom, freedom without restrictions, since only a free person can be happy. Therefore, the wise old gypsy advises the interlocutor to go his own way, so as not to "perish. in vain." The only value on earth is freedom, it is worth living and dying for it, - this is what the heroes of this story think. This is what dictated the actions of Loiko and Radda. In the story, Gorky performed a hymn to a beautiful and strong man. The desire for a feat, the worship of strength, the glorification of freedom is reflected in the story "Makar Chudra".

The nature of the conflict

Main heroes

Next to Makar there is an image of the listener, on whose behalf the narration is being conducted. This hero does not take up much space in the story, but for understanding the author's position, intent and creative method, his significance is great. He is a dreamer, a romantic, feeling the beauty of the world around him. His vision of the world brings a romantic beginning, joy, boldness, an abundance of colors into the story: “A damp, cold wind blew from the sea, spreading across the steppe the thoughtful melody of the splash of a wave running ashore and the rustle of coastal bushes; ... the darkness of the autumn night surrounding us shuddered and, timidly moving away, opened for a moment on the left - the boundless steppe, on the right - the endless sea ... ".

Of course, the romantic beginning lies in the heroes of a beautiful legend - young gypsies, who absorbed the spirit of a free life with their mother's milk. For Loiko, the highest value is freedom, frankness and kindness: “He loved only horses and nothing else, and even then not for long - he will ride, and he will sell, and whoever wants, take the money. He didn’t have a cherished one - you need his heart, he himself would tear it out of his chest, and he would give it to you, if only you would feel good about it. Radda is so proud that her love for Loiko cannot break her: “I have never loved anyone, Loiko, but I love you. Also, I love freedom! Will, Loiko, I love more than you. The irresolvable contradiction between Radda and Loiko - love and pride, according to Makar Chudra, can only be resolved by death. And the heroes refuse love, happiness and prefer to die in the name of will and absolute freedom.

Plot and composition

A feature of the composition of this story is its construction on the principle of "a story within a story": the author puts a romantic legend into the mouth of the protagonist. It helps to better understand his inner world and value system. For Makar, Loiko and Rudd are the ideals of love of freedom. He is sure that two wonderful feelings, pride and love, brought to their highest expression, cannot be reconciled.

Another feature of the composition of this story is the presence of the image of the narrator. It is almost imperceptible, but the author himself is easily guessed in it.

Artistic originality

In romantic works, Gorky turns to romantic poetics. First of all, it concerns the genre. Legends and fairy tales become the favorite genre of the writer during this period of creativity.

The palette of visual means used by the writer in the story is diverse. "Makar Chudra" is full of figurative comparisons that accurately convey the feelings and mood of the characters: "... a smile is a whole sun", "Loiko stands in the fire of a fire, as if in blood", "... she said that she threw snow at us" , “He looked like an old oak tree, burned by lightning ...”, “... staggered like a broken tree”, etc. A feature of the story is the unusual form of dialogue between Makar Chudra and the narrator. Only one voice is heard in it - the voice of the protagonist, and only from the replicas of this one speaker do we guess the reaction and replies of his interlocutor: “Learn and teach, you say?” This peculiar form of phrases serves the author to make his presence in the story less noticeable.

Gorky pays great attention to the speech of his heroes. So, for example, Makar Chudra, according to the gypsy tradition, interrupts his story with an appeal to the interlocutor, calling him a falcon: “- Ege! It was, a falcon ...”, “- There he was, a falcon! ..”, “- Here she is what Radda was like, a falcon! ..”, “That's right, a falcon! ..” In circulation “falcon” we see an image close to the gypsy spirit, the image of a free and bold bird. Chudra freely modifies some of the geographical names of the places where the gypsies roamed: "Galicia" - instead of Galicia, "Slavonia" - instead of Slovakia. In his story, the word “steppe” is often repeated, since the steppe was the main place of life for the gypsies: “The girl is crying, seeing off the good fellow! A good fellow calls the girl to the steppe...”, “The night is bright, the moon flooded the whole steppe with silver...”, “Loiko barked all over the steppe...”.

The author widely uses the technique of landscape sketches. The seascape is a kind of frame for the entire storyline of the story. The sea is closely connected with the state of mind of the characters: at first it is calm, only a "wet, cold wind" carries "across the steppe the thoughtful melody of the splash of a wave running ashore and the rustle of coastal bushes." But now it began to rain, the wind grew stronger, and the sea rumbles muffled and angrily and sings a gloomy and solemn hymn to the proud pair of handsome gypsies. In general, in nature, Gorky loves everything strong, impetuous, boundless: the boundless expanse of the sea and the steppe; a bottomless blue sky, now playful, now angry waves, a whirlwind, a thunderstorm with its rolling roar, with its sparkling brilliance.

A characteristic feature of this story is its musicality. Music accompanies the whole story about the fate of lovers. “You can’t say anything about her, this Rudd, in words. Perhaps her beauty could be played on a violin, and even then to someone who knows this violin as his soul.

The meaning of the work

The role of M. Gorky in the literature of the XX century. hard to overestimate. He was immediately noticed by JI.H. Tolstoy and A.P. Chekhov, V.G. Korolenko, endowing the young author with his friendly disposition. The value of the innovative artist was recognized by the new generation of writers, the general readership, and criticism. Gorky's works have always been at the center of controversy between supporters of different aesthetic trends. Gorky was loved by people whose names are included in the sacred list of the creators of Russian culture.

The origins of romantic works seem to be clear. What is absent in reality is sung in legends. Not certainly in that way. In them, the writer did not at all abandon his main sphere of observation - the contradictory human soul. The romantic hero is included in the environment of imperfect, and even cowardly, miserable people. This motive is strengthened on behalf of the storytellers whom the author listens to: the gypsy Makar Chudra, the Bessarabian Izergil, the old Tatar man, who conveys the legend "Khan and his son", the Crimean shepherd, singing "The Song of the Falcon".

The romantic hero was conceived for the first time as a savior of people from their own weakness, worthlessness, and sleepy vegetative existence. It is said about Zobar: “With such a person, you yourself become better.” That is why there are images-symbols of the "fiery heart", flight, battle. Majestic in themselves, they are further enlarged by the "participation of mother nature." She decorates the world with blue sparks in memory of Danko. The real sea listens to the "lion's roar" of the legendary waves that carry the call of the Falcon.

Meeting with an unprecedented harmony of feelings and deeds calls for the comprehension of things in some new dimensions. Such is the true influence of the legendary hero on the individual. This must be remembered and not replaced by the content of Gorky's romantic works with an unequivocal call for social protest. In the images of Danko, the Falcon, as well as in the proud lovers, the young Izergil, the spiritual impulse, the thirst for beauty are embodied.

Gorky was more concerned with reflections on what a person is and what a person should become than on the real path that lies to the future. The future was depicted as a complete overcoming of primordial spiritual contradictions. “I believe,” Gorky wrote to I.E. Repin in 1899 - into the infinity of life, and I understand life as a movement towards the improvement of the spirit. It is necessary that intellect and instinct merge in harmonious harmony ... ”Life phenomena were perceived from the height of universal ideals. Therefore, apparently, Gorky said in the same letter: “... I see that I don’t belong anywhere yet, to any of our “parties”. I am glad about this, because this is freedom.

Composition

"Makar Chudra" refers to Gorky's early romantic stories. The whole work bears the stamp of this "romantic".

Firstly, this story is a retelling of an old legend. The writer turns to folk art, takes the necessary material from it and introduces it into his work. Secondly, Gorky's heroes are strong, proud, noble, courageous, selfless, thirsty for exploits, freedom-loving gypsies.

It seems to me that it is no coincidence that the writer made the gypsies the main characters of his work. After all, this is one of the most romantic characters. They are always on the road, overcoming endless expanses. Gypsies are always ready to defend their freedom, these people are subject to no one but themselves. Gypsies have their own world, their own traditions. We can say with full confidence that these are exceptional people and exceptional heroes.

Very unusual among gypsies and appearance: bright costumes, lots of shiny jewelry. How beautiful are these people! Makar Chudra says this about Radda: “You can’t say anything about her, this Radda, in words. Perhaps her beauty could be played on a violin, and even then to someone who knows this violin as his soul.

Another feature of the story is the pictures of bright, southern, simply fabulous nature. This nature introduces us, it seems to me, into the unusual world of the gypsies: “A damp cold wind blew from the sea, spreading across the steppe the soulful melody of the splash of a wave running ashore and the rustle of coastal bushes.” The steppe and the sea symbolize in the story unlimited freedom, space, where there are no borders or barriers. Here man is his own master. But both the steppe and the sea promise many difficulties, they are deceptive in their calmness. Only the extraordinary and strong man. It is these people who "inhabit" Gorky's story.

I must say that the composition of this work is also unusual. It is a story within a story. The old gypsy Makar Chudra acts here as the "second" narrator. At first, he simply talks about life, reflects, shares his impressions with the "first" narrator - the author. Chudra then tells him the legend of Radd and Loiko.

The story is told in the form of a dialogue. Chudra constantly addresses his companion, but we do not hear the answers of the interlocutor of the gypsy. The narrator here is just a listener: “So you walk? It's good! You have chosen a glorious fate for yourself, falcon. That's how it should be: go and look, you've seen enough - lay down and die - that's all!

But it is precisely thanks to the “listener” that we “see” nature in the story, we look at the gypsy through his eyes, and through his consciousness we perceive everything said and told by Chudra.

The conflict in the story is also interesting. This is not a juxtaposition of a hero and society, or a 'good' hero and a 'bad' one. At the same time, this is not an internal conflict between the characters. And Chudra, and Loiko, and Radda harmoniously fit into their gypsy world. They fully accept his philosophy and worldview. These heroes do not want revenge, they are not vain, they do not need money and they are not envious. Loiko "loves horses and nothing else, and that is not for long - he rides and sells, and whoever wants, take the money." And Rudd throws a purse of money into the dirt.

In this story, conflict arises between two romantic, strong characters. This is its feature. Each of these heroes values freedom more than anything else. Loiko says this about it: “I am a free person and I will live the way I want!” And Radda echoes him: "I also love freedom."

And although the heroes fell in love with each other, they cannot give in to each other, it seems to them that in doing so they will lose their freedom. Radda says to Loiko: “Will, Loiko, I love more than you. And I can’t live without you, just as you can’t live without me.”

These heroes cannot live without each other, but they cannot live without freedom either. From here, from this situation, there is only one way out - the death of one or two heroes. And so it happens - Loiko kills Radda and dies at the hands of her father.

Another feature of the story "Makar Chudra" is its aphoristic language. Makar Chudra says laconically and succinctly: “Go and see, you’ve seen enough, lay down and die - that’s all”, “... aren’t you life yourself?”, “... everyone learns by himself”, “this is how you need to live: go, go - and everyone is here”, “Don’t stand in one place for a long time. You run away from thoughts about life, so as not to stop loving it ... "

Makar Chudra lived a lot, saw a lot. His whole life is now expressed in such “life-like” aphorisms, in which the experience, the wisdom of the life lived is visible.

Thus, Gorky's story "Makar Chudra" is a vivid romantic story. It tells about exceptional heroes in exceptional circumstances. This work calls for a bright, bold, eventful life, full of passions and courage of the heart.

Other writings on this work

Heroes of early romantic prose by M. Gorky