M. Yu. Lermontov "Fugitive": a short summary of the poem

Based on the mountain legend heard in the Caucasus, Lermontov wrote his poem. "The Fugitive" (a brief summary will be presented in the article) is a work about the coward and traitor Garun who threw his father and brothers on the battlefield, who lost his checker and rifle, fled to the mountains far from the battle, saving his useless life. The poem was presumably written between 1840 and 1841. The exact date of writing was not preserved, but it was during this period that Mikhail Yurievich was in the Caucasus, familiarized himself with the customs of Circassians, saw bloody battles with his own eyes.

Escape from the battlefield

During the battle all the Circassians fell, including the father and the two brothers Harun. The young man remained alive and, instead of avenging the spilled blood, fled. The relatives died for freedom and honor, but this is not familiar to Garun, for him his own life is more important, he understands that he had to take revenge, but forgets about duty and shame. The mountaineers had a tradition - the survivors should take away and bury the fallen in battle, and not leave them for dishonor to the enemies, Lermontov knew about this. The "Fugitive" poem glorified the coward for ages, for the Circassians do not forget the brave warriors and traitors.

Contempt of a friend and beloved

Garun, stealing between the rocks, came to his native village. He was met with peace and silence, because no one but him returned from the fight. The young man decided to find shelter with an old friend Selim, he lay on the lava, we fight with an ailment and died, so the stranger did not recognize him. Garun himself told him about the battle, that all were lost, and only he survived. Selim hoped, at least before his death, to hear good news, but the conversation with the fugitive awakened the blood of the fighter in him. The dying man with contempt treated the coward and drove him out of his house. That's what he writes about in the work of Lermontov.

The fugitive (the brief content of the poem is not able to convey all his misadventures) went further, then he remembered his beloved. The girl was waiting for him day and night, the young man hoped that she would accept him, despite the cowardice. Only Harun went to the familiar sakle, as he heard the ancient song, which the beloved sang. People's creativity also used in the poem "The Fugitive" M. Yu. Lermontov. The song said about the young man whom the girl escorted to the war, instructing to be brave, because one who does not slay the enemy and change his own will perish without glory, his bones are not even bitten by animals. Hearing this, Haroun walked away from the beloved's house, he had only the hope of forgiving his mother.

Inglourious death

Even parents do not forgive their motherland-Lermontov wrote about this. The fugitive (the brief content allows you to get acquainted with the work, but it is better to read it in the original) hoped to be adopted by the mother. He knocked on his father's house, begging to open it. His mother is waiting for him from the war, but he is not waiting for one. Learning that her husband and two sons were killed, the woman asks if Harun has avenged them for them. The young man says that no, but he was in a hurry to comfort his mother, brighten up her old age. She refuses such a son, because he disgraced the whole family. For the whole night there were pleading under the window, until the dagger stopped the disgrace of the unfortunate man. Whether Harun killed himself or someone else punished him, Lermontov does not specify. "Fugitive" (a brief summary of the work we have now covered) - a poem that became a reminder of the shameful death of all cowards and traitors to the homeland. The corpse of Garun was not even carried to the cemetery, his blood was licked by yard dogs.