Characteristics of the hero
Mechik Pavel is an intelligent young man who graduated from high school. There are many immature traits in his character. Looking for adventures and exploits, M. falls into the partisan detachment of Shaldyba. Gradually, he finds out that "the people around him did not at all resemble those created by his ardent imagination."
In the battle, M. is wounded, and Frost saves him, who did not like M. at first sight. In the hospital, M. yearns for peaceful life and silence. He falls in love with a sister of mercy - Varya, Morozka's wife. In it, he seeks protection, warmth and care. He dreams of returning to the city with Varya, but "everything Mechik thought about was not real, but the way he would like to see everything."
Having recovered, M. falls into Levinson's detachment. Here he "found universal dislike as a" loafer and asked "for not caring for his" insulting mare ".
M. condemns Levinson for his cruel deeds, but cannot oppose anything to the decisions of the commander. For his part, Levinson considers M. "an impenetrable confusion", "lazy and weak-willed", "a worthless empty flower."
In the final chapter, M., who was the first scout, shamefully runs away from the Cossacks, dooming other partisans to death. Later, when the pursuit subsided, the hero realizes the consequences of his act: “What have I done ... oh-oh-oh ... what have I done,” he repeated ... ”But the author immediately clarifies that“ he suffered not so much because that because of this act of his, dozens of people who trusted him died, as many because the indelibly dirty, disgusting stain of this act contradicted all that good and pure that he found in himself. After thinking a little more, M. feels joyful freedom: “He still condemned himself and repented, but he could no longer suppress personal hopes and joys that immediately stirred in him when he thought that now he was completely free and could go where there is no this terrible life and where no one knows about his act.
In the socio-psychological novel Defeat, the author talks about the years of the Civil War. The composition and plot of the work are constructed in such a way that it is possible to vividly and fully show the sprouts of a new consciousness in the souls of the fighters of the partisan detachment. According to the author, this is an inevitable result revolutionary events. Fadeev, proving this idea, combined two different genres - the epic and the novel. Therefore, the plot of the work turned out to be very branched, in which various characters and events are intertwined.
Background to the creation of the novel
Alexander Fadeev became a writer of the "new time". To reflect reality, he tried to show the appropriate mood and introduced new images into literature. The writer's task was to create a hero of the revolution who would be understandable to a new, mostly illiterate, reader. By design, the thoughts and language of the book were to be accessible to people who do not have sufficient education. It was necessary to approach the issues of spiritual values in a different way, to present such concepts as humanism, love, loyalty, duty, struggle, heroism from a different angle.
date of writing
At this turning point for the country, from 1924 to 1926, Alexander Fadeev wrote the novel "Rout", which "grew" from the story "Snowstorm". The writers who dedicated their creations to the Civil War tried to somehow “smooth out” sharp corners, restrained their heroes, preventing them from sinking to the limit. In Fadeev, on the contrary, the heroes are merciless, dishonorable and cruel. The terrible conditions in which they are, his characters justify by the fact that this serves to protect and win the revolution. By serving a higher idea, they justify all actions and crimes, assuring themselves that the end justifies the means. The heroes of Fadeev are guided by such moral principles.
novel idea
Fadeev defined the main idea of the work “The Defeat” something like this: “In the war, people are hardened. Those unable to fight are weeded out.” Of course, from the position of today, such an assessment of the Civil War is unfair. But the undoubted merit of the author is that he was able to show the Civil War from the inside. And in the foreground of his novel is not military action, but a person. It is no coincidence that the author chose the time when the detachment was defeated for the description. Fadeev wanted to show not only the successes, but also the failures of the Red Army. In dramatic events, the characters of people are revealed most deeply. Such is the history of the creation of Fadeev's "Rout".
Theme of the work
The action of the novel takes place in the Far East, where the author himself fought in those years. But in the foreground is not the historical component, but socio-psychological problems. Partisan detachment, war - background for display only inner world heroes, internal conflicts and psychology. The plot of the novel is very complex, and in a short period - from the beginning of the defeat to the breakthrough - various characters of the characters, as well as the attitude of the author towards them, emerge. Several figures - Levinson, Morozka, Metelitsa and Mechik - occupy a central place in Fadeev's work "The Rout".
Let's take a closer look at the characteristics of the characters. All of them are in equal conditions, which most accurately allows you to judge the characters of these characters and their actions.
Squad leader
Levinson is a true hero of the times. He is the epitome of the heroic in the novel. Born and raised in a working-peasant environment, he devoted his entire life to serving the people. In the soul of this person lives a dream of a bright and strong person - this is exactly what, in his opinion, should be new person revolution. The commander of the detachment is a man of duty, "special", cold and unshakable, "of the right breed", putting only business above all else. He knew that people would follow a strong and confident person. And he knew how to be.
Levinson makes decisions quickly, acts confidently, does not share his feelings and thoughts with anyone, "presents ready-made yes or no." His heroism is based on an unwavering belief in his ideals; the end goal justifies "even death". This confidence gives him the moral right to cruel orders. For the sake of a great idea, many things can be allowed: to take away the only pig from a Korean family with six children (after all, isn’t the squad fighting for their future?); poison a wounded comrade, otherwise he will slow down the retreat of the detachment ...
But it is not easy for Levinson to remain cold and impregnable: he suffers when he learns about the murder of Frolov, does not hide his tears when he learns about the death of young Baklanov. He feels sorry for the Korean, and his children, and his own, suffering from scurvy and anemia, but he stops at nothing, the main thing for him is to fulfill the task of the Bolshevik center. He thinks about the future and the present: “How can you talk about a wonderful person if millions of people are forced to live an unbearably poor and miserable life?”
Snowstorm
The former shepherd Metelitsa also stands out in the work. The pride of the entire detachment is the platoon Metelitsa, whom the commander appreciates for his "extraordinary tenacity" and "vitality." He became one of the main characters only towards the middle of the novel. The author explained this by the fact that he saw the need to reveal in more detail the character of this hero. It was too late to reshape the novel, and the episode with this character somewhat disturbed the harmony of the narrative. The snowstorm is clearly sympathetic to the author of the work "Rout" - Alexander Alexandrovich Fadeev. Firstly, this can be seen from the appearance of the hero: a slender hero, he was beaten by "extraordinary value" and "vital force". Secondly, the hero's lifestyle - he lives as he wants, does not limit himself in anything, a hot, brave and determined person. Thirdly, the actions of Metelitsa prove the positive individuality of this hero: he fearlessly goes on reconnaissance, behaves with dignity in captivity, and accepts death for the sake of others. He is bold and determined.
Being in captivity, Metelitsa calmly reflects on death and wants only one thing - to die with dignity. He holds himself proudly and independently and rushes to save the shepherd boy, who did not want to give the scout to the whites. Metelitsa's courage admires those around her. He was like that even before the war, in his working life, and the revolution helped the hero not to lose his best qualities. In the novel, he is like Levinson's addition: Metelitsa's determination, as it were, complements the commander's doubts and experience. This can be seen from how cleverly the commander replaces Metelitsa's impetuous plan with a more cautious and calm one. Having been captured, he understands the hopelessness of his situation. But acting like real hero and wants to show those who will kill him that "he is not afraid and despises them." According to the author, new hero and must be imbued with class hatred, which is capable of making a real hero out of an ordinary fighter.
Frost
Ivan Morozov or, as he is called, Morozka, did not look for easy ways in life. This is a broken and talkative guy of about twenty-seven, a miner. He always walked long-established paths. Frost feels compassion for Mechik and saves him. Frost showed courage, but still considered Mechik somehow "clean" and despised this person. The guy is very offended that Varya falls in love with Mechik, he indignantly asks: “And with whom? In entogo, mother's? And with contempt calls the opponent "yellow-mouthed", from pain and anger. In personal relationships, he fails. Ivan has no one closer to Varya, so he seeks salvation in the detachment, with his comrades.
When he steals melons, he is very afraid that for this offense he will be kicked out of the squad. For him, even the thought of this is unbearable, he lives the life of the detachment so closely, he has become accustomed to these people. And he has nowhere to go. At the meeting, he says that for each of them "a drop" of his blood would "give" without hesitation. He respects his commanders - Levinson, Dubov, Baklanov - and tries to imitate them. They also saw in the guy not only a good fighter, but also a good-natured, sympathetic person, and they supported and trusted him in everything. It was he who was sent to the last reconnaissance. And Frost justifies their trust - at the cost of his life, he warns his comrades about the danger. Even in his last moments, he thinks of others. That's why Fadeev loves the main character of "Rout" - for devotion and courage, for kindness, because Morozka did not take revenge on Mechik for Varya.
sword
Heroic images Frost and Metelitsy are contrasted with the image of the Sword. This is a nineteen-year-old boy who came to the detachment voluntarily to amuse his vanity. To prove himself at least somehow, he rushes to the hottest places. He fails to get close to the members of the detachment, because he loves himself first of all. He had the idea of desertion, although no one drove him to the detachment - he came himself. This means only one thing: he did not come here to serve the cause, but simply to show off his valor. He stands apart from the rest. And when he deserts, the reader is not surprised.
Levinson calls Mechik weak and lazy, a "worthless hollow flower". He deserved that attitude. An egoist who values himself highly does not confirm this by his actions. At decisive moments, he, without realizing it, acts vilely. His selfish nature was revealed already when he allowed to step on a photo of a girl, and then he himself tore it up. He became angry with his horse for its unattractive appearance and stopped caring for the animal, dooming it to unsuitability. It is the Sword that is to blame for Frost's death. The terrible thing is that after the betrayal, he is tormented by the thought not of the death of his friends, but that he, the Mechik, “soiled” his spotless soul.
And yet in Alexander Fadeev's novel "The Rout" he is not the embodiment of evil. Most likely, the reason for his failures is that Mechik comes from a different social stratum, a representative of the "rotten intelligentsia." He was not instilled with the features inherent in other members of the detachment, who for the most part come from the people - rude, courageous, devoted to the people and loving him. In Mechik, the desire for beauty is alive. He was shocked by the death of Frolov. He is inexperienced, young and afraid of not being liked by those among whom he will live. Perhaps this makes him act so unnaturally.
Comrades in arms
Continuing the analysis of Fadeev's "Defeat", let's get acquainted with the members of the detachment. Those who surround Levinson are just as dedicated to the idea. His assistant Baklanov imitates the commander in everything. Platoon Dubov, a former miner, is an honest and loyal person who can be sent to the most critical areas. Demoman Goncharenko is a shrewd and reliable Red Army soldier.
Levinson's rank-and-file comrades know their inner strength, but, burdened with daily bustle, "feel their weakness" and "entrust" themselves to stronger comrades like Baklanov, Dubov, Levinson. As the analysis of "The Rout" showed, Fadeev, in order to highlight the heroic in the characters more clearly, creates anti-heroic images, such as Chizh and Mechik. They are happy to shirk "from the slumber, from the kitchen", retreat or betray, they are always so "clean" and "with the right speech."
The plot of the novel
We continue the analysis of Fadeev's "Defeat". The epic plot of the novel is based on the story of the defeat of a partisan detachment. The exposition features a respite in the war in the Far East, when a partisan detachment settled down to rest. The plot of the work is the receipt of a package from the headquarters with the instruction - "keep small but strong combat units." The development of the action in the work is the maneuvers of the detachment, which breaks away from the Kolchak and Japanese pursuing it. The ring of encirclement shrinks irreparably, and the climactic scene in the novel is a night fight in the swamp, which tests who and what is. Immediately after the climax, the denouement follows - the remnants of the detachment, having got out of the swamps, are ambushed and almost all of them die under machine-gun fire. Only nineteen fighters remain alive.
Composition of the work
Concluding the analysis of Fadeev's "Defeat", let's consider the composition of the novel, which has some peculiarities. One of them is the slow unfolding of events. Almost the entire work is, as it were, a development of the action, and only in the last two chapters is there a climax and a denouement. This construction is explained by the genre feature of the work. "Rout" is a social psychological novel, the purpose of which is to depict human characters and significant changes in the minds of the heroes in the course of the revolutionary struggle. The peculiarity of the novel is also that Fadeev skillfully intertwines the epic plot and individual storylines heroes.
For example, he introduces Frost's backstory at the moment when he is traveling with a package to Shaldyba's detachment. Here is this event pause, while the orderly is driving, the author fills in the story about past life hero. In the same way, the author depicted many significant details from the former life of Mechik, Baklanov, Levinson, Vari, Metelitsa, Dubov. Thanks to this construction, Fadeev's heroes turned out to be bright and convincing. The author chose the direct order of the narrative, where each chapter is an independent story, in the center of which is a separate character.
The novel "The Rout" is built very well and has a dynamic plot. At the same time, the author does not confine himself to the chronicle of the defeat of Levinson's detachment, Fadeev reveals the characters of the characters and problems in "The Rout" not only through the general plot, but also through their interaction and comparison.
In 1927, A. Fadeev's novel "The Rout" was published, in which the author turned to the events of the revolution and civil war. By that time this topic already well covered in the literature. Some writers considered the events that completely changed the life of the country as the greatest tragedy of the people, others portrayed everything in a romantic halo.
Aleksandrovich approached the coverage of the revolutionary movement somewhat differently. He continued the traditions of L. Tolstoy in the study human soul and created a psychological novel, which was often blamed on him by the "new writers" who rejected the classical traditions.
The plot and composition of the work
The action develops in the Far East, where the combined troops of the White Guards and the Japanese waged a fierce struggle against the partisans of Primorye. The latter often found themselves in complete isolation and were forced to act independently without receiving support. It is precisely in such a situation that Levinson's detachment finds itself, about which Fadeev's novel "Rout" narrates. An analysis of his composition determines the main task that the writer set himself: to create psychological portraits of the people of the revolution.
The novel of 17 chapters can be divided into 3 parts.
- Chapters 1-9 - an extensive exposition introducing the situation and the main actors: Frost, Mechik, Levinson. The detachment is on vacation, but its commander must maintain discipline in the "combat unit" and be ready to act at any moment. Here the main conflicts are outlined and the action begins.
- 10-13 chapters - the squad makes endless transitions and enters into minor collisions with the enemy. Fadeev Alexander Alexandrovich pays great attention to the development of the characters of the main characters, who often find themselves in difficult situations.
- Chapters 14-17 - the climax of the action and the denouement. Of the entire detachment, forced to fight alone, only 19 people remain alive. But the main focus is on Frost and Mechik, who find themselves in equal conditions - in the face of death.
Thus, in the novel there is no heroic description of the military exploits of people who defend the ideas of the revolution. To show the influence of the events that took place on the formation of the human personality - A. Fadeev strove for this. “Defeat” is an analysis of a difficult situation when there is a “selection of human material”. In such conditions, according to the author, everything “hostile is swept away”, and “what has risen from the true roots of the revolution ... is tempered, grows, develops.”
Antithesis as the main device of the novel
Opposition in the work occurs at all levels. It also concerns the position of the opposing sides ("Reds" - "Whites"), and the moral analysis of the actions of people involved in the events that served as the basis of Fadeev's novel "The Rout".
An analysis of the images of the main characters, Frost and Sword, makes it clear that they are opposed in everything: origin and education, appearance, actions performed and their motivation, relationships with people, place in the squad. Thus, the author gives his answer to the question, what is the path of different social groups in the revolution.
Frost
The reader gets acquainted with the "miner in the second generation" already in the 1st chapter. This is a young man who goes through a difficult path
At first it seems that Morozka consists of only flaws. Rude, uneducated, constantly violating discipline in the detachment. He did all his actions thoughtlessly, and life was seen by him as "simple, unwise." At the same time, the reader immediately notices his courage: he, risking his life, saves a completely unknown person - Mechik.
Frost is given a lot of attention in Fadeev's novel "Rout". An analysis of his actions allows us to understand how the attitude of the hero towards himself and those around him changed. The first significant event for him was the trial for the theft of melons. Frost was shocked and frightened that he might be expelled from the detachment, and for the first time he gives the "miner's" word to improve, which he will never violate. Gradually, the hero realizes his responsibility to the detachment, learns to live meaningfully.
Frost's advantage was also the fact that he clearly knew why he came to the detachment. He was always drawn to the best people, which are many in Fadeev's novel "The Defeat". An analysis of the actions of Levinson, Baklanov, Goncharenko will become the basis for the formation of the best moral qualities in the former miner. A devoted comrade, a selfless fighter, a person who feels responsible for his actions - this is how Frost appears in the final, when at the cost of his own life he saves the squad.
sword
Absolutely different Paul. First introduced in the rushing crowd, he will not find a place for himself until the end of the novel.
The sword is introduced into Fadeev's novel "The Rout" not by chance. A city dweller, educated and well-mannered, clean (words with diminutive suffixes are often used in the description of the hero) - this is a typical representative of the intelligentsia, whose attitude to the revolution has always caused controversy.
The sword often causes contempt for itself. Once he imagined the romantic, heroic environment that would await him in the war. When the reality turned out to be completely different (“dirtier, lousier, tougher”), he experienced great disappointment. And the more Mechik was in the detachment, the thinner the connection between him and the partisans became. Pavel does not use the opportunity to become part of the "detachment mechanism" - Fadeev gives them to him more than once. The "rout", the problems of which are also associated with the role of the intelligentsia cut off from the people's roots in the revolution, ends with the moral fall of the hero. He betrays the detachment, and the condemnation of his own cowardice is quickly replaced by joy at the fact that his "terrible life" is now over.
Levinson
This character starts and ends the story. The role of Levinson is significant: he contributes to the unity of the detachment, unites the partisans into one whole.
The hero is interesting already because his appearance (because of his short stature and the wedge, he resembled the Sword of a Dwarf) did not correspond in any way to the image of a heroic commander in a leather jacket created in literature. But unsightly appearance only emphasized the originality of the individual. The attitude of all the heroes of Fadeev's novel "The Rout" towards him, the analysis of actions and thoughts prove that Levinson was an indisputable authority for everyone in the detachment. No one could even imagine the commander doubting, he always served as a model of a "special, correct breed." Even the moment when the last thing is taken away from the peasants to save the detachment is seen, for example, by Morozka not as a robbery, similar to the theft of melons, but as a necessary deed. And only the reader becomes a witness that Levinson is a living person with fears and insecurities inherent in everyone.
It is also noteworthy that difficulties only temper the commander, make him stronger. Only such a person, according to the writer, is able to lead people.
The idea of the novel as Fadeev saw it
“The rout”, the content and theme of which is largely explained by the author himself, shows how, in the process of complex historical events appears true character person.
The "huge remake of people" concerns representatives of different ages and social groups. Some come out of trials with dignity, while others reveal emptiness and worthlessness.
Today, Fadeev's work is perceived ambiguously. So, the indisputable merits of the novel include a deep analysis of the psychology of the main characters, especially since it was practically the first attempt in post-revolutionary literature. But at the same time, it is difficult to agree with the opinion that for the sake of the triumph of an idea, all methods are good, even the murder of the mortally wounded Frolov. No goals can justify cruelty and violence - that's main principle inviolable laws of humanism, on which humanity rests.
Mechik Pavel
ROUTE
Novel (1927)
Mechik Pavel is a young man who graduated from the gymnasium, blond, with curly hair. The character is dominated by infantile traits. Being captive of romantic illusions, M. joins the Maximalist Socialist-Revolutionary Party and is sent to the partisan detachment Shal Ryba. M. craves "book" heroic deeds, however, it turns out that "the surrounding people did not at all resemble those created by his ardent imagination." In the battle, M. was wounded in the legs by three bullets; he is saved by Frost, who did not like M. at first sight: "Morozka did not like clean people." Delivered to the hospital, M. subconsciously yearns for a peaceful life and silence. He falls in love with sister of mercy Varya, the wife of Morozka, who saved him. When Frost, having come to Varya, treats him with disdain, M. feels alone in the world; his attitude towards Varya is conditioned by the intuitive search for the mother, the need for children's "security". Varya, who is famous for her accessibility to men, falls in love with M. He dreams of returning to the city with Varya, however, “everything the Mechik thought about was not real, but the way he would like to see everything.” When Frost arrives, M. feels guilty before him, and this guilt does not allow him to get close to Varya: thinking about Frost, M. experiences "a mixture of fear and consciousness of his unrequited debt to this person."
Having recovered, M. leaves the hospital for Levinson's detachment. However, here he is given an ugly old horse, and he is immediately imbued with "impotent hatred" for this "hurtful mare." Not properly caring for her, M. "gained general dislike as" a quitter and asked. Of the partisans, he communicates only with a former student Chizh, who teaches M. how best to evade the performance of duties and assignments. "And since then, the seething life of the detachment has gone past Mechik." However, when Levinson's assistant Baklanov takes him with him to reconnaissance, it seems to M. that one "bold move" can atone for all his faults. During reconnaissance, after entering the village, they encounter four Japanese soldiers; two are killed by Baklanov, one by M., "by instinctively shooting several times." Returning to the detachment, M. has a terrible dream; the next morning he participates in a shootout with the Japanese and a retreat, and he does not understand the meaning of what is happening and feels that someone else is in charge of his life.
Levinson, examining the horses, draws attention to the fact that M.'s horse has a knocked back, and as a punishment transfers him to the wagon train. When, by order of Levinson, a pig is taken away from a poor Korean, M. internally condemns the commander for cruelty: “The swordsman knew that he himself would never do this to a Korean, but he ate the pig along with everyone, because he was hungry.” M. accidentally overhears Levinson's conversation with the doctor Stashinsky about the fate of the hopelessly wounded partisan Frolov; seeing how Stashinsky pours poison into a beaker to give it to the wounded under the guise of bromine, M. rushes to the doctor in horror, shouting that he “heard everything”; Stashinsky kicks him out. M. runs through the forest and runs into Varya, whom he tells about Frolov's poisoning. She tries to take him away, but M. fights back, and Varya runs away. At the next halt, she comes to the fire, where M. and Chizh are sitting; however, M. behaves aloofly, and Varya gives herself up to Chizh chasing her.
At night, on patrol, M. talks with Levinson, offers to take a report to the city, then admits: “It seems to me that I am a good-for-nothing and useless partisan, and it would be better if you send me<...>, I can’t get along with anyone here, I don’t see support from anyone<...>. I don't trust anyone now." Levinson silently calls M. "an impenetrable muddler," "lazy and weak-willed," "a worthless empty flower." When the partisans pursue the fleeing Cossacks, M., losing direction, fights off the detachment. He sees how a horse is being killed under Frost, and offers him help, which he does not accept. Sitting in the bushes, M. thinks about the partisans: "They will kill me too sooner or later ... But I don't live anyway - I definitely died." In the evening, walking along the village street, M. meets a drunken Mo-rozka, who, together with the village guys, is celebrating a funeral for the horse. Frost offers M. a drink, and he cannot refuse. After retreating into the taiga and breaking through the quagmire, M., together with Morozka, was sent to forward patrol. Dozing in the saddle, M. almost falls into the hands of the Cossacks, but he manages to escape; M.'s flight serves as an indirect cause of the death of Morozka and the entire detachment. Coming to his senses and realizing his guilt, M. suffers “not so much because of the fact that dozens of people who trusted him died because of this act of his, but because the indelibly dirty, disgusting stain of this act contradicted all that good and pure that he found in myself. Thinking about suicide, M. "felt that he would never kill, could not kill himself, because more than anything in the world he still loved himself." He also understands that he no longer cares what power is in the city, and goes there.
Pavel Mechik is one of the heroes of A. A. Fadeev’s novel “The Rout”, young and intelligent person, graduated from the gymnasium in the city. There are many immature traits in this character. He gets into a partisan detachment in search of adventure and exploits, but quickly becomes disappointed in his choice. As it turned out, the people around him are not at all like the heroes that his imagination painted. For the first time in the novel, he appears when he is saved from imminent death by the brave and desperate orderly Frost. By nature, he is somehow too “clean” and Frost immediately understands that this person should not be trusted. Over time, he even calls him "mama's boy." In addition, Mechik starts an affair with Morozka's wife, Varya, a nurse.
The character of the Mechik appears a little later, when he is discharged from the infirmary and accepted into the squad. He doesn’t get along with anyone, and he comes across some kind of “mournful” horse, and he decides not to take special care of her. When the squad leader, Levinson, reprimands him, he begins to make excuses. Somehow he even admits that he feels bad in the detachment, since no one understands his lofty reasoning. For a while, he becomes close to Chizh, who teaches him to shirk work and often speaks unflatteringly about the commander in conversation. In the worst and meanest way, the Swordman manifests himself during the retreat of the detachment, when he goes ahead and must warn the detachment of a passing threat, but instead cowardly runs into the forest. So, through his fault, Morozka dies, following him, but having managed to warn the detachment about the advancing Cossacks with shots in the air.
