V. M. Shukshin belongs to the writers of the country. The hero of most of his works is an ordinary
villager, poorly educated, clumsily expressing his thoughts, often drinking. But this mediocrity is apparent. Indeed, in each such seemingly marginal person, Shukshin sees a Man - with his own peculiar weirdo, with often unconscious, incomprehensible to himself and others surrounding desire for light, spirituality, beauty, culture, knowledge. And it is not his fault that at times, not finding a way out, not being able to materialize, this weirdo takes some strange, even ugly forms.
The story "Microscope" - from the plot to the conflict
In fact, the summary of Shukshinâs story comes down to an attempt to express himself, to reveal himself, to show his own eccentricity, to become necessary for close people, neighbors, acquaintances, and humanity. To find oneself, to understand something important about life, to find one's place in it is not to be a dumb, imperceptible cog in the universal mechanism. Such, for example, Andrei Erin, the protagonist of the work "Microscope". The summary of Shukshinâs story can be expressed in two words: Andrei secretly took money from the book and bought a microscope for it. To avoid scandal at home, his wife said that he had lost a fair amount. He âworked outâ the next month, one and a half shifts, in order to compensate for the âlossâ, and then, when the passions subsided, he brought the much-desired thing home and now every evening with his little son he watched the germs. Accidentally, the fraud was revealed, Zoya, wife, took the "toy" to the commission. This is where Andrei's âscientific researchâ ended. That's the whole storyline (summary) of Shukshinâs story, that which lies on the surface ...
And if you dig deeper? What can be seen behind the seemingly anecdotal situation? A lot, you should only carefully look at the text. The fact that the name of the hero is Andrey, we learn only in the middle of the story. But the evil and contemptuous, annihilating nickname âwellâ (that is, a breakthrough!), And even âcrookedâ, sounds almost from the first words. That is what his dearest half calls his husband, Zoya. By the way, that she also has a name, we become aware even later! What is this detail talking about? Where does not allow us to glance superficial acquaintance, a summary of the story of Shukshin? That spouses are strangers to each other, that there is no respect, understanding, warm feelings between them. Everything has long swallowed life and the solution of material problems. Zoya clutches a frying pan in any situation that is not pleasing to her, her husband is under her heel and often drinks at work. The family lives not richly, and they do not really care about spiritual needs until Erin has a passionate desire to buy a microscope. Why, one asks? After all, he has neither the corresponding knowledge, nor training, and in fact where to apply the thing? However, the man is ready to endure the next batch of "bytovuhi", just to look at the germs. When a dream comes true, Andrey is transformed. He shines, speaks sedately and confidently (even shouts condescendingly at his wife), stops drinking, hurries home after work, washes, eats hastily and enthusiastically leans over the treasured device, which makes him cool with his five-year-old son. But the idyll does not end with Shukshinâs story âMicroscopeâ.
Its summary focuses our attention on a dramatic note. The hero who knows nothing about microbiology with horror learns that microbes are not only in water and soup, but even in blood. He wants to protect, save his son, other people from imminent death. Everything returns to normal, when the wife, learning about the deception, takes the microscope to the commission. Andrei gets drunk "to snot", becomes the same as he was before - a hardworking drunkard and henpecked. But the hero is sure: the son will have a different life. He will grow up, learn and become a scientist, but scientists donât drink, they have enough work for them!
On such an optimistic note, the story is completed by Vasily Shukshin. Stories, the summary of which is closely related to the topic discussed, contain a general conflict: a seeking, restless person with a gray everyday reality, a meaningless monotony of existence, wasting your life in vain. âThere must be meaning in your life, people!â - as if the writer wants to tell us. And we must hear him ...