"Superfluous people" in literature. The theme of "superfluous man" in Russian literature

"Superfluous people" in literature are images typical of Russian prose of the mid-nineteenth century. Examples of such characters in works of art are the topic of the article.

Who introduced this term?

"Superfluous people" in literature - characters that appeared in the early nineteenth century. Who exactly entered this term is unknown. Probably, Herzen. According to some reports - Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. After all, the great Russian poet once said that his Onegin is an "extra man". One way or another, this image is firmly established in the writings of other writers.

Every schoolchild who does not even read Goncharov's novel knows about such a literary hero as Oblomov. This character is a representative of the obsolete landlord world, and therefore can not adapt in any way in the new world.

General features

"Superfluous people" are found in the works of such classics as IS Turgenev, M. Yu. Lermontov. Before considering each of the characters that can be attributed to this category, it is necessary to outline common features. "Superfluous people" in literature are heroes who are contradictory, in conflict with the society to which they belong. As a rule, they are deprived of both glory and wealth.

Examples

"Superfluous people" in literature - these are the characters introduced by the author in an environment alien to them. They are moderately educated, but their knowledge is unsystematic. "Superfluous man" can not be a deep thinker or scientist, but he has a "judgment ability", a gift of eloquence. And the main sign of this literary character is a disdainful attitude towards others. As an example, one can recall Pushkin's Onegin avoiding communication with his neighbors.

"Superfluous people" in nineteenth-century Russian literature were heroes who could see the vices of modern society, but did not know how to resist them. They are aware of the problems of the world around them. But, alas, too passive in order to change something.

Causes

Characters, which are discussed in this article, began to appear on the pages of works of Russian writers in the Mykolaiv era. In 1825 there was an uprising of the Decembrists. The next decades the government was in fear, but it was at this time in society that the spirit of freedom appeared, the desire for change. The policy of Nicholas I was quite contradictory.

The tsar introduced reforms to ease the life of the peasants, but at the same time did everything to strengthen the autocracy. Various circles began to appear, the participants of which discussed and criticized the current authorities. The lodging lifestyle for many educated people was contemptuous. But the trouble is that the participants of various political associations belonged to that society, to which they suddenly became inflamed with hatred.

The reasons for the appearance of "superfluous people" in Russian literature lie in the emergence in society of a new type of person who has not been accepted by society and has not accepted it. Such a person stands out from the general mass, and therefore causes bewilderment and irritation.

As already mentioned, the concept of "superfluous man" was first introduced into literature by Pushkin. However, this term is somewhat blurred. Characters that are in conflict with the social environment, met in the literature and earlier. The main character of the comedy Griboyedov has the features inherent in this type of characters. Can we say that Chatsky is an example of an "extra person"? In order to answer this question, we should make a brief analysis of the comedy.

Chatsky

The hero of Griboyedov rejects the stagnant foundations of the Famous society. He denounces the chastity and blind imitation of the French fashion. This does not remain without attention among the representatives of the Famusov society - lash, hrymine, and Zagorets. As a result, Chatsky is considered strange, if not crazy.

Griboyedov's hero is a representative of an advanced society, to which people who do not want to put up with the reactionary order and the remnants of the past belong. Thus, we can say that the theme of "superfluous man" was first raised by the author of "Sorrow from Wit".

Eugene Onegin

But most literary scholars believe that this hero is the first "superfluous man" in the prose and poetry of Russian authors. Onegin is a nobleman, "the heir of all his relatives." He received an education very tolerable, but does not have any deep knowledge. To write and speak in French, to behave freely in society, to recite several quotations from the writings of ancient authors - this is enough to create a favorable impression in the world.

Onegin is a typical representative of an aristocratic society. He is not able to "work hard", but he knows how to shine in society. He leads an aimless, idle existence, but this is not his fault. Eugene became the same as his father, who gave three balls annually. He lives as there is a majority of representatives of the Russian nobility. However, unlike them, at some point begins to experience fatigue, disappointment.

Loneliness

Onegin is an "extra man". He is languishing in idleness, trying to occupy himself with useful work. In the society to which he belongs, idleness is the main component of life. Hardly any of Onegin's surroundings are familiar with his experiences.

Eugene at first tries to compose. But the writer does not come out of it. Then he begins to read with enthusiasm. However, in books Onegin does not find moral satisfaction. Then he retires to the house of the deceased uncle, who bequeathed his village to him. Here the young nobleman, it would seem, finds for himself an occupation. It facilitates the life of the peasants: replaces the yare with a light quitrent. However, these good undertakings do not lead to anything.

The type of "superfluous man" in Russian literature appeared in the first third of the nineteenth century. But by the middle of the century, this character has acquired new features. Pushkin's Onegin is rather passive. He treats others with disdain, remains in spleen and can not get rid of conventions and prejudices, which he himself criticizes. Let us consider other examples of "superfluous man" in the literature.

Pechorin

The work of Lermontov's "The Hero of Our Time" is devoted to the problems of a man rejected, spiritually not accepted by society. Pechorin, like Pushkin's character, belongs to the higher world. But he is tired of the mores of aristocratic society. Pechorin is not pleased with visiting balls, dinners, festive evenings. It is oppressed by tedious and meaningless conversations, which are accepted at such events.

On the examples of Onegin and Pechorin, the concept of "superfluous man" in Russian literature can be supplemented. It is a character who, due to some alienation from society, acquires such traits as closure, selfishness, cynicism and even cruelty.

"Notes of a superfluous person"

And yet, most likely, the author of the concept of "superfluous people" - IS Turgenev. Many literary scholars believe that it was he who introduced this term. According to them, Onegin and Pechorin were subsequently ranked as "superfluous people", although they have little in common with the image created by Turgenev. The writer has a story called "Notes of a superfluous person." The hero of this work feels alien to society. This character himself calls himself so.

Is the "superfluous man" the hero of the novel "Fathers and Sons" - a controversial issue.

Bazarov

In "Fathers and Children" society of the mid-nineteenth century is shown. Strong political disputes by this time reached their climax. In these disputes, liberal democrats stood on one side and revolutionary democrats-raznochintsy on the other. Both of them understood that change was needed. Revolutionary democrats, unlike their opponents, were determined to take rather radical measures.

Political disputes have penetrated all spheres of life. And, of course, became the theme of artistic and journalistic works. But there was at that time another phenomenon that interested writer Turgenev. Namely - nihilism. Adherents of this trend rejected everything that relates to the spiritual.

Bazarov, like Onegin, is a deeply lonely person. This feature is also characteristic of all characters, which literary critics refer to as "superfluous people". But, unlike the Pushkin hero, Bazarov does not spend time in idleness: he is engaged in natural sciences.

The hero of the novel "Fathers and Sons" has followers. He is not considered a madman. On the contrary, some of the heroes try to adopt the bazaar oddities and skepticism. Nevertheless, Bazarov is lonely, despite the fact that his parents love him, they adore him. He dies, and only at the end of life realizes that his ideas were false. There are simple joys in life. There is love and romantic feelings. And this all has a right to exist.

Rudin

Turgenev's works often contain "extra people". The novel "Rudin" takes place in the forties. Daria Lasunskaya, one of the heroines of the novel, lives in Moscow, but in the summer she goes out of town, where she organizes musical evenings. Her guests are extremely educated people.

Once in the house of Lasunsky appears a certain Rudin. This man is inclined to polemics, extremely ardent, and wit his audience. The guests and the mistress of the house are enchanted by Rudin's amazing eloquence. Lasunsky suggests that he stay at her house.

In order to give a clear description of Rudin, Turgenev talks about the facts from his life. This man was born in a poor family, but he never had the desire to earn, get out of poverty. First he lived on the pennies his mother sent him. Then there was at the expense of rich friends. Rudin in his youth was distinguished by his unusual oratorical skill. He was a very educated man, because he spent all his leisure time reading books. But the trouble is that after his speeches nothing should be. By the time he got to know Lasunsky, he had already become a man, fairly battered by life's misfortunes. In addition, he became painfully selfish and even conceited.

Rudin is an "extra person". Many years of immersion in the philosophical sphere led to the fact that ordinary emotional experiences seemed to die out. This Turgenev hero is a natural speaker, and the only thing he wanted to do was to conquer his people. But he was too weak, spineless to become a political leader.

Oblomov

So, the "extra man" in Russian prose is a disillusioned nobleman. The hero of the novel Goncharova is sometimes referred to this type of literary heroes. But can we call Oblomov an "extra person"? After all, he is bored, languishing in his father's house and all that was the landlord's life. And he is in no way disappointed in the way of life and traditions, characteristic for the representatives of his society.

Who is Oblomov? This is a descendant of a landowner, who is bored to work in an office, and therefore he does not get up from his sofa for days. This is a common opinion, but it is not entirely true. Oblomov could not get used to St. Petersburg life, because the people around him were completely calculating, heartless people. The protagonist of the novel, unlike them, is intelligent, educated and, most importantly, has high spiritual qualities. But why does not he want to work then?

The fact is that Oblomov, like Onegin and Rudin, does not see any sense in such work, such a life. These people can not work only for the sake of material well-being. Each of them needs a high spiritual goal. But it is not there or it proved to be untenable. And Onegin, and Rudin, and Oblomov become "superfluous."

The main hero of his novel Goncharov opposed Stolz - a childhood friend. This character first creates a positive impression on the reader. Stolz is a hard-working, purposeful person. The writer endowed this hero with German ancestry not by chance. Goncharov seems to be hinting at the fact that only a Russian person can suffer "Oblomovism". And in the last chapters it becomes clear that behind the diligence of Stolz there is nothing. This person has no dreams, no high ideas. He finds sufficient means of subsistence and stops, not continuing his development.

The influence of the "superfluous person" on others

It is also worth mentioning a few words about the heroes who surround the "superfluous man". The literary characters mentioned in this article are lonely, unhappy. Some of them end their lives too early. In addition, "superfluous people" bring grief to others. Especially women who had carelessness to love them.

To "superfluous people" sometimes rank and Pierre Bezukhov. In the first part of the novel he is in uninterrupted anguish, searching for something. He spends a lot of time at parties, he buys pictures, reads a lot. Unlike the above-mentioned heroes, Bezukhov finds himself, he does not die physically or morally.