"Polikushka" is the story of Leo Tolstoy , which was published in the Russian Bulletin in 1863, No. 2. The author began work on the story during his second trip abroad. The plot is based on actual events told to Tolstoy by one of the daughters of Prince. M. A. Dondukova-Korsakova in March 1861 in Brussels [1] .
| Polikushka | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Story |
| Author | Lev Tolstoy |
| Original language | Russian |
| Date of writing | 1862 |
| Date of first publication | 1863 |
Content
Story
In the story, the author draws the events of the serf era. The protagonist of history is the peasant Policey, who has a very bad reputation due to his drunkenness and negligence. The dodgy clerk decided to give Polikey as a soldier, since he was worthless, and his absence would not be detrimental to the estate's economy. But the eccentric and stupid lady decides to feel sorry for Polikey and, in order to give him the opportunity to atone for her former guilt, she even gives him the order to call into the city for an envelope with money. But Policey does not finish the order, because on the way back he loses the envelope. He surrenders to complete despair and decides that he will have nothing left to do but put a noose around his neck.
In the second part of the story, the author talks about the consequences that the act of Polikey had for those living in the Baryn estate. The wife of the late Polikey simply goes crazy and causes death to their newborn son, whom she forgets in a basin full of water, where the child drowns. The mistress, who very badly accepted this tragedy, in the grip of a nervous breakdown, decides to give money to the rich peasant Dutlov, who found a lost envelope on the road.
With the money received, the senior Dutlov redeems his nephew, who was chosen to serve in the army.
Turgenev wrote to Fet about Polikushka: “I read Tolstoy's Polikushka after your departure, and was surprised at the strength of this great talent. Only the material has already been painfully spent ... ” [2] .
An excess of material that clearly does not fit in a rigid plot frame is a distinguishing feature of Polikushki and Cossacks
- V.Ya. Linkov. Comments L.N. Tolstoy. Sobr. Op. in 22 tt. T.3.
.
Criticism
Criticism met the way out of the story unkindly. From the standpoint of “pure art,” Fet criticized. On the contrary, Turgenev was delighted [1] .
Screen version
In 1919, according to the novel dir. Sanin made a film .
Links
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 L.N. Tolstoy. Collected works in 22 vols. M.: Fiction, 1979. T. 3 V. Ya. Linkov. Comments L. N. Tolstoy. Polikushka
- ↑ V. Ya. Linkov. Comments L. N. Tolstoy. Sobr. Op. in 22 tt. T.3.