Why is Makar Chudra a romantic work? Essay on the topic: Romanticism in the story of Makar Chudra, Gorky

Main features of romanticism. Romantic hero. Romantic works “Old Woman Izergil”, “Makar Chudra”. Compositional features of stories. Author: Olga Dmitrievna Zyuzina, teacher of Russian language and literature, Municipal Educational Institution Secondary School 1, Zabaikalsk, Transbaikal Territory.

Romanticism is a direction in literature, an artistic type of creativity, the characteristic feature of which is the display and reproduction of life outside the real-specific connections of a person with the surrounding reality, the image of an exceptional individual, often lonely and not satisfied with the present, striving for an ideal and therefore in conflict with society, with people.

The main features of romanticism The basis of the style is the image of the inner world of a person. The central idea is the glorification of the individual who enters into battle with a hostile environment, the suffering and death of the hero in the struggle. Features of the style: appeal to folk art; the use of themes, language, images, intonation characteristic of folk songs, ballads, epics; an abundance of metaphors, epithets, symbols; creation of a lyrical landscape.

Seagulls moan before the storm, groan, rush over the sea and are ready to hide their horror before the storm at its bottom. And the loons also groan; they, the loons, cannot enjoy the battle of life: the thunder of blows frightens them. The stupid penguin timidly hides its fat body in the rocks... Only the proud Petrel soars boldly and freely over the foam-gray sea! The petrel soars with a cry, like black lightning, like an arrow pierces the clouds, tearing off the foam of the waves with its wing. This is the brave Petrel proudly soaring between the lightning over the roaring angry sea, then the prophet of victory shouts: Let the storm break stronger!..

I lived a glorious life!.. I know happiness!.. I fought bravely!.. I saw the sky... You won’t see it so close!.. Oh, you poor fellow! “Fly or crawl, the end is known: everyone will fall into the ground, everything will be dust...” “We sing glory to the madness of the brave! The madness of the brave is the wisdom of life! O brave Falcon! ... Let you die!.. But in the song of the brave and strong in spirit, you will always be a living example, a call to the proud for freedom, for the light! We sing a song to the madness of the brave!..”

Old Woman Izergil Which character is close to Old Woman Izergil: Danko or Larra? Option 1 Read the portrait characteristics of the old woman Izergil in her youth and old age. Which character is she like? Support your opinion by referring to the text. Option 2 Tell us about the life of the old woman Izergil. What did she devote her life to? The old woman Izergil and Larra are both beautiful in their youth, but only a shadow remains of both. They went through life leaving nothing behind. Individualism The individualism of the ancient old woman makes her similar to the hero of the legend. Her life, like Danko’s life, is dedicated to love. But she loved only for herself. She easily forgot her old love for a new one and left her loved ones. Her indifference is striking indifference and brings her closer to Larra. Live with people, but for yourself

Light Darkness Good Thinks about people Thinks about himself Evil Despises the laws of society Selfishness, individualism, pride, crime For the sake of saving people, he sacrifices himself Love for people, feat in the name of saving others A burning heart that illuminates the road A worthless ghost, a shadow, a heart of stone

What expressions are called apt? Find synonyms for this word. Find such expressions in the text. What instructive meaning do they contain? Express your attitude based on one of them. Which of them serves as a parting word for young people? “What do you know, young people? If only we could look into the old days with vigilance, all the answers will be found there...” “..for everything that a person takes, he pays with himself: with his mind and strength, sometimes with his life.” “In life... there is always a place for exploits. And those who do not find them for themselves are simply lazy or cowards...” “Those who do not know how to live would go to bed. Those to whom life is sweet, sing” “To live, you must be able to do something” “... You go, well, go your own way, without turning to the side. Go straight ahead..."

The mustache lay on the shoulders and mixed with the curls, the eyes glow like clear stars, and the smile is the whole sun, by God! It was as if he had been forged from one piece of iron along with the horse. With such a person you become a better person. I wanted to cry and laugh at the same time while listening to him. Now someone is moaning bitterly to you, asking for help and cutting your chest like a knife. But the steppe tells tales to the sky, sad tales. The girl is crying, seeing off the good fellow! A good fellow calls the girl to the steppe. A free, live song thunders, and the sun itself, just look, will dance across the sky to that song!

What is the conflict of the work and how is it resolved? conflict But look, my will cannot be opposed - I am a free person and will live the way I want! And I also love freedom! Will, Loiko, I love you more than you. -Goodbye, Loiko! I knew you would do this!.. - Eh! and I will bow at your feet, proud queen!

Find expressions that bring the story closer to the works of UNT eyes, like clear stars, a smile like the whole sun, sharp teeth, wise, like an old man, two stones roll at each other like snow, he threw at us, shouted across the whole steppe, like a wounded man in the chest staggered, like a tree broken by the wind hearts of fellows, he was handsome, like the devil on a holiday, like a feather grass in the wind, swaying in the saddle

What is common in the compositional structure of the stories? Composition of stories Images of storytellers: Makar Chudra, old woman Izergil. A story within a story: a story about the life of the old woman Izergil, the legend of Danko and Larra; a story about the life of Makar Chudra, a story about Loiko Zobar and Radda. The image of the narrator: a man traveling around Rus', meeting different people. Characteristics of heroes through portraits Landscape sketches revealing the inner world of heroes

The stories discuss different philosophies of life: -There are only two forms of life: rotting and burning. The cowardly and greedy will choose the first, the courageous and generous the second; - He who does nothing, nothing will happen to him; -To live, you must be able to do something; - Live without people and only for yourself; -Live with people, but for yourself; -Live with people and for people... What philosophy of life is close to you? Give arguments based on reading or life experience.

Individualism - 1. The desire to express one’s personality, one’s individuality in opposition to the collective. 2. The interests of the individual are higher than the interests of society. Indifference - indifference, indifference, deprivation of interest in something. Antithesis-contrast. Conflict is a clash, a serious disagreement. Composition is the construction of a work of art. The goal is to most fully reveal the image of the main character, who is the exponent of the author's idea.

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

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

Compositional structure The story appears to be a legend within a story, framed by the philosophical reasoning of the narrator on whose behalf the story is told.

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 individuals, whose fate turns out to be tragic.

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

Main theme The story lies in the depiction of freedom, internal and physical, human character and will, the limits of pride and ambition, love and its power.

The main character The story is the old gypsy Makar Chudra, presented in the image of a melancholy person, indifferent to the world around him, who considers his own happiness to be the goal of life's existence. 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 preserve their own love, which results in the death of the 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 the writer seems to use 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 excessive pride and selfishness, which consist in 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 "Caucasus" in 1892, and was signed by the author's pseudonym - M. Gorky, under which the writer soon became famous throughout the world.

The main character 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 in the world. In his opinion, a peasant is the same as a slave, and was born 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 tells. They perceive their own love as a strong chain that fetters 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 unable to get along with each other. For Makar Chudra, the heroes of the told legend are examples of love of freedom. If there is a choice between freedom and life, a person must choose the first, which is what the heroes of the legend - Loiko Zobar and Radda - did.

Another feature of the story is the almost elusive 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 inability to be happy. No matter how independent they are, as a result they themselves become slaves to the freedom they so cherish. They are unable to make a sacrifice in the name of love, for the sake of a loved one.

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

Detailed analysis of Gorky's work Makar Chudra

The work is in the direction of romanticism, and the main idea of romanticism is the heroes’ love for freedom. The 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 occurs 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. It tells the story of two lovers for whom freedom is the main goal and meaning of life. Radda loves freedom so much that this love for freedom overshadows even his 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 also cannot betray his love for a loved one. And at the same time, feeling love, neither Loiko nor Radda can pacify their pride and submit to each other.

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

But Radda told Loiko to prove his love to her by bowing at her feet in front of the entire gypsy camp. In response, he plunged a knife into her heart, Radda’s father immediately killed Loiko. This is the love of freedom that Gypsies have.

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

Gypsies recognize love as mutual and not interfering with freedom. Otherwise, they completely abandon it. If it interferes with freedom. The author shows the reader a different way of life. And talks about it neutrally, and does not fully support it or encourage it.

He simply shows the reader a different way of life, in which the gypsies lead a freedom-loving lifestyle that does not depend on public opinion and position in society. He shows the reader the opportunity to be special and 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 gives him as an example a young gypsy couple, in which Loiko is a kind, freedom-loving and frank guy.

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

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

And therefore does not fully accept either slavery or people who worship and submit to the will of other people.

The most important people in the story are the brave and unconquered gypsies. Makar and the entire camp follow the lifestyle of Radda and Loiko. In the story, the gypsies are the most courageous and fearless people who, without fear of anything, fight 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 narration is told from the point of view of the narrator. The frame is 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”

The main feature of romanticism as a literary movement is dual worlds: the division of the world into the real and the ideal. The story depicts an ideal world of freedom, beauty, songs and music, beautiful freedom-loving people. Already in the exhibition, Makar Chudra contrasts the eternal vegetation of ordinary people, their shameful slavery with freedom and understanding of the world. People, according to the hero, are not born to “pick up the earth.” He thinks about a person: “Does he know his will? Is the expanse of the steppe clear? Does the sound of the sea wave gladden his heart?” This is precisely the meaning and purpose of life: in understanding the world, learning its secrets. What else becomes clear when we analyze the story “Makar Chudra”?

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

The landscape in romanticism is not just a backdrop for action, it carries a special meaning. The love of romantics for sea and mountain views is well known. It is in the vast expanses of the sea and mountains that the free and passionate soul of an exceptional hero can find a response. The main technique when depicting nature is personification: “the sea sang a gloomy and solemn hymn,” “the darkness of the autumn night shuddered” and timidly moved away. Makar Chudra, a philosopher, a wise old gypsy, is in complete unity with the surrounding world, the quiet splash of 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 his short 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 self-love.

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

A beautiful gypsy can only love a strong man, whom she cannot make submissive to herself, but, having fallen in love, she will not submit herself. She gives her lover a task to test him, and knows in advance that Loiko will not fulfill the condition of bowing to her in front of the entire 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 is that love and pride turned out to be incompatible, so the heroes die.

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

History of creation

The story “Makar Chudra” was published in the Tiflis newspaper “Caucasus” on September 12, 1892. For the first time, the author signed himself with the pseudonym Maxim Gorky. This story begins the romantic period in the writer’s work. The romantic works of M. Gorky also include: the story “Old Woman Izergil”, “Song of the Falcon” and “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 something exciting, bright, something that, you know, is not like life, but is higher than it, better, more beautiful. It is imperative that current literature begins to embellish life a little, and as soon as it begins to do so, life will become more beautiful, that is, people will begin to live faster and brighter.”

The title of the story is associated with the name of the main character. Makar Chudra is an old gypsy, a thoughtful philosopher who knows the essence of life, whose camp wanders around the south of Russia.

Genre, genre, creative method

The cycle of romantic works by M. Gorky immediately attracted the attention of critics and readers with its excellent literary language, relevance of the topic, and interesting composition (inclusion of legends and fairy tales in the narrative). Romantic works are characterized by a contrast between the hero and reality. This is how the story “Makar Chudra” is structured, the genre feature of which is “a story within a story.” Makar Chudra acts not only as the main character, but also as the narrator. This artistic technique makes the story more poetic and original, and helps to better reveal 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 stormy sea, a steppe wind, and an alarming night. This is an 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 values only freedom. This is the only criterion by which Makar measures a human personality.

Subject

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 the beautiful legend cannot make a choice between pride, love of freedom and love. The 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: “Aren’t you yourself 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 old wise gypsy advises the interlocutor to go his own way, so as not to “perish in vain.” The only value on earth is freedom, it’s worth living and dying for, that’s 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 wonderful and strong man. The desire for heroism, the worship of strength, and the glorification of freedom are reflected in the story “Makar Chudra”.

Nature of the conflict

For the old gypsy, the most important thing in life is personal freedom, which he would never trade 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 both of them have such a strong desire for personal freedom that they even look at their love as a chain that fetters their independence. Each of them, declaring their love, sets their own conditions, trying to dominate. This leads to a tense conflict that ends with the death of the heroes. ,

Main characters

In the story, one of the main characters is the old gypsy Makar Chudra. The gypsy's wisdom is revealed through the legend he conveyed about the lovers Loiko and Radda. 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? The expanse of the steppe concept? Does the sound of the sea wave make his heart happy? 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 accomplishing a feat. Makar admires Loiko and Radca. He believes that this is how a real person worthy of imitation should perceive life, and that only in such a position in life can one preserve one’s own freedom. As a true philosopher, he understands: it is impossible to teach a person anything if he himself does not want to learn, since “everyone learns by himself.” He answers his interlocutor with a question: “Can you learn to make people happy? No you can not".

Next to Makar there is the image of a listener, on whose behalf the story is told. 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, who feels the beauty of the world around him. His vision of the world introduces a romantic element into the story, joy, boldness, and an abundance of colors: “A damp, cold wind blew from the sea, spreading across the steppe the thoughtful melody of the splash of a wave running onto the shore and the rustle of coastal bushes; ...the darkness of the autumn night surrounding us shuddered and, timidly moving away, revealed for a moment the boundless steppe on the left, the endless sea on the right...”

Of course, the romantic element lies in the heroes of the beautiful legend - young gypsies who absorbed the spirit of 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 would ride and sell, and whoever wants the money, take it. He didn’t have what he cherished - you need his heart, he himself would tear it out of his chest and give it to you, if only it would make you feel good.” Radda is so proud that her love for Loiko cannot break her: “I have never loved anyone, Loiko, but I love you. And I also 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.

Plot and composition

The traveler meets the old gypsy Makar Chudra on the seashore. In a conversation about freedom and 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 that ends with the death of the heroes. Loiko gives in to Radda, kneels before her in front of everyone, which among the gypsies is considered a terrible humiliation, and at the same moment kills her. And he himself dies at the hands of her father.

The peculiarity of the composition of this story is its construction according to the principle of “a story within a story”: the author puts a romantic legend into the mouth of the main character. It helps to better understand his inner world and value system. For Makar, Loiko and Rudd are ideals of love of freedom. He is sure that two beautiful 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 invisible, but the author himself can easily be seen in it.

Artistic originality

In his romantic works, Gorky turns to romantic poetics. First of all, this concerns the genre. Legends and fairy tales become the writer’s favorite genre 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 the whole sun”, “Loiko stands in the fire of a fire, as if in blood”, “... she said as if she had thrown snow at us” , “He looked like an old oak tree, burned by lightning...”, “... staggered like a broken tree,” etc. A special 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 main character, and only from the remarks of this one speaker do we guess about the reaction and response remarks 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 by addressing his interlocutor, calling him a falcon: “- Ege! It was like a falcon...", "That's what he was like, a falcon!..", "That's 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 brave bird. Chudra freely modifies some of the geographical names of those 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 month has flooded the whole steppe with silver...”, “Loiko barked across the whole 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 mental state of the heroes: at first it is calm, only the “wet, cold wind” carries “across the steppe the pensive melody of the splash of a wave running onto the shore and the rustling of coastal bushes.” But then it began to rain, the wind became stronger, and the sea rumbled dully and angrily and sang a gloomy and solemn hymn to the proud couple of handsome gypsies. In general, in nature, Gorky loves everything strong, impetuous, limitless: the boundless expanse of the sea and the steppe; the bottomless blue sky, sometimes playful, sometimes angry waves, a whirlwind, a thunderstorm with its rolling roar, with its sparkling shine.

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

Meaning of the work

The role of M. Gorky in the literature of the 20th century. difficult 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 importance of an innovative artist was recognized by a new generation of writers, a wide 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 creators of Russian culture.

The origins of romantic works seem clear. What is absent in reality is glorified 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 an environment of imperfect, and even cowardly, pathetic people. This motif is reinforced by the storytellers whom the author listens to: the gypsy Makar Chudra, the Bessa slave woman Izergil, the old Tatar man relaying the legend “The Khan and His Son,” the Crimean shepherd singing the “Song of the Falcon.”

The romantic hero was first conceived as the savior of people from their own weakness, worthlessness, and sleepy vegetation. It is said about Zobar: “With such a person you yourself become better.” That is why images-symbols of a “fiery heart”, flight, and battle arise. Majestic in themselves, they are also enlarged by the “participation of Mother Nature.” She decorates the world with blue sparkles in memory of Danko. The real sea listens to the “lion’s roar” of the legendary waves carrying the call of the Falcon.

An encounter with an unprecedented harmony of feelings and actions calls for the comprehension of existence in some new dimensions. This is the true influence of the legendary hero on the individual. This must be remembered and not replace the content of Gorky’s romantic works with an unambiguous call for social protest. In the images of Danko, Falcon, as well as in the proud lovers, young Izergil, spiritual impulse and thirst for beauty are embodied.

Gorky was more concerned with thinking about what a person is and should become than the real path that lies to the future. The future was pictured as a complete overcoming of primordial spiritual contradictions. “I believe,” wrote Gorky 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 for intellect and instinct to merge in harmonious harmony...” Life phenomena were perceived from the height of universal human ideals. That is why, apparently, Gorky said in the same letter: “... I see that I do not belong anywhere yet, to any of our “parties.” I’m glad about this, because this is freedom.”

What do you need to do to look at the world in a new way? Experience an important event, visit an unknown place. But how to get acquainted with a different attitude towards life? Gorky's story "Makar Chudra" solves all the questions raised. This early work of the writer goes beyond the romantic sketch that it is traditionally considered to be. This creation has philosophical overtones and remains relevant to this day.

“Makar Chudra” is the first story of the young writer Alexei Peshkov, which he published under the pseudonym M. Gorky. This bright debut took place in 1892 in the newspaper “Caucasus”. The author was then working in a provincial newspaper in Tiflis, and the impetus for writing was conversations with A. Kalyuzhny, a revolutionary and wanderer. It was this man who was the first to see a talented prose writer in the young writer and instilled in Alexei confidence in his own abilities. He also helped Gorky take the first step into the world of great literature - to publish a work. The writer was grateful to Kalyuzhny and considered him his teacher.

The story is called, like many other early works of Gorky, after the name of the main character - an old gypsy. And it is not accidental: Makar is translated from Greek as “happy,” and Chudra is the occasionalism of the creator of the text, the etymology of which probably goes back to the word “miracle.”

Genre and direction

Gorky's early work is permeated with the spirit of romanticism: the author asks questions about the ideal, freedom, and the meaning of life. As a rule, these themes are heard in the narration of a hero who is wise and experienced, and these memories are presented to a still young interlocutor with an unformed worldview. So, for example, in the work of the gypsies under consideration, Makar Chudra tells the young man about his fate, about what he values, what, in his opinion, is worth valuing.

Here is a view that is in many ways exotic to the average reader: is there happiness in a settled life? What is real will? In the heroes there is no struggle between reason and feeling: unconditional preference is given to passion and will. They are worth living for, and you can die for them. In order to form the most complete idea of the direction of Gorky’s early work, pay attention to.

Composition

The main feature of the composition is that Gorky in his work uses the technique of a story within a story: the young hero hears from the lips of Chudra the legend of a daring gypsy named Loiko Zobar. This beautiful story is framed by Makar’s philosophical reasoning, presented in the form of replicas. This method of presentation is reminiscent in its nature of confession.

The story about Loika has a classic three-part composition: the introduction of the hero, his character and environment, the climax - the main conflict of the character and its romantic resolution at the end of the story.

The work is rounded off by a description of the sea - an imperturbable element that symbolizes freedom and eternity.

Conflict

The main conflict of the work is freedom and slavery. The story is permeated by the collision of two fundamentally different worldviews: people of a nomadic lifestyle and a sedentary one. It is this conflict that becomes the impetus for remembering the legend of Loika Zobar. Some value freedom, both internal and external, which is expressed in the refusal to own material wealth and independence from anyone. The inability to obey is explained by pride and self-esteem. Any admiration for such a person is seen as slavery, with which a free soul will never agree.

This attitude to life led to the death of two young people who continue to be admired even after death. Radda admitted that she loves Loika, but still freedom is more than him. The passionately loving gypsy could not come to terms with such a revelation: he could not lose his will for the sake of someone who could not make the same sacrifice.

About what?

The old gypsy Makar Chudra reflects on existence, freedom and the destiny of man. He recalls the story of the daring Loika Zobar. He was handsome, strong and incredibly talented. The daredevil allowed himself to play with women’s hearts because he could not find his equal, that worthy girl. The meeting with the beauty turned his life upside down: he realized that he could only be happy by possessing her, or death. The obstinate gypsy puts will above love and invites her knight to bow at her feet in front of the entire camp - to submit to her. The young gypsy cannot agree to such humiliation in front of a woman: he decides to test her stone heart for strength with his knife. Radda's father pays him the same - this is how these lovers are united in heaven.

The main characters and their characteristics

The first image of Makar Chudra appears before us in this story. The author's admiration for this man is felt: the writer repeatedly appeals to the fact that the hero is already 58 years old, but he still retains his powerful physique. His conversation with the young man resembles a philosophical dialogue between a self-satisfied sage and a student. The main thesis of Makar Chudra is that you are your own life. It is better to be free from prejudices, rather than listen to imaginary instructions. For him, the standard of such a free and independent personality is Loiko Zobar.

This young gypsy was incredibly kind and talented, his pride did not develop into arrogance: it was a sincere joy in freedom, in the opportunity to enjoy the vastness of this world. His crime was not caused by fear of what other gypsies would say. No, this is not that kind of character. Love replaced the passion for will, but Radda did not experience the same feeling for Loika in order to fill the place of her former life in his heart. The young man could not survive this grief, there could be no other outcome: the path of humiliation is not for a proud gypsy, longing for his beloved is not for a warm heart.

Themes

Freedom. Nomads value independence from everything material and do not understand how they can spend all their years on endless work in the field and arranging their home. So, for the entire period that is allotted from above, you may not see anything in the world and not comprehend wisdom.
Love. For the main characters, love has a special value: you can kill for it, give your life. Everything is radical and clear: this feeling either comes first, or it should be torn out of the heart.
Nature. She acts as the keeper of the secrets of knowledge. Only she knows will, willfulness, independence. The landscape in the story is rich in symbols: the steppe and the sea - freedom, the cultivated field - slavery.
Meaning of life. The text is permeated by philosophical reflections on the search for the purpose of existence: wandering or cultivation, the search for beauty or everyday life? The old gypsy offers his point of view to the Russian youth, and it seems that he manages to charm the young interlocutor with it.

Issues

Freedom and slavery. This antithesis concerns absolutely all topics: from love to way of existence. What is really worth spending your life on: “come and see” or stay and settle down? Perhaps the worldview of a nomad and a peasant are alien to each other, but still everyone has something to adopt for themselves.
Impossibility of love. The wayward beauty does not respond to Loika with the same feeling, but offers to submit. Deep down, the enchantress knows what this gypsy will do. Can we say that she deliberately doomed herself to death, that she wanted to die for the sake of his passionate love? Probably yes, because two loves fought inside Radda: for a young man and for freedom, and she lost this battle in favor of her will. But was the girl happy with this outcome of the internal conflict? Hardly. That's why she made such an offer. Loiko could not come to terms with Radda’s decision, which prompted him to do just that. These heroes were worth each other: the young gypsy also understood that her father would avenge her - only death would unite proud hearts.

The meaning of the story

Showing a worldview that is exotic for the majority of the readership, Gorky reminds the public of the natural, primordial beginning of man, when he was not tied to his place, home, things. The author's position is expressed in rejection of a slavish attitude towards life. It is worth remembering that this writer will later say: “Man, that sounds proud.” Gorky is outraged by the cowardice of people, their attention to public opinion, and thoughtless adherence to accepted orders. It is worth noting that he does not follow the path of ridiculing the current situation. A different method is proposed here: it shows people of other faiths with completely different values and preferences.

The idea of “Makar...” is to remember your individuality and not merge with the masses. Perhaps Gorky hopes that his creation will make the same bewitching impression on the reader as on the young listener of Makar Chudra. Thus, people will awaken the desire to discover a new life.