Understand the meaning of the work helps its detailed literary analysis. āBoris Godunovā (Pushkin, as you know, has always been interested in historical subjects) is a play that has become a landmark event not only in Russian, but also in world drama. The tragedy was a turning point in the work of the poet, marking his transition from romanticism to realism. For the writer himself, it was a very successful experience in working with historical material. The success of the work determined the future work of the classic in this direction.
Writing a work
First, a few words should be said about how the work on the play went and what is the story of the creation of Boris Godunov. The biography of the brother-in-law of Tsar Fedor I Ivanovich interested the writer because he was a very complex and controversial person. In addition, the period of his reign was a turning point in the history of Russia, marking the beginning of the Time of Troubles.
That is why the poet turned to the years of his reign, taking as a basis folk tales about him, as well as the famous "History of the Russian State" by the famous historian N. M. Karamzin. In the second half of the 1820s, the author became interested in the work of W. Shakespeare and therefore decided to create his own large-scale tragedy, the plot of which would develop against the background of real events of the past. It is from this that one should build on, telling about what was the story of the creation of Boris Godunov. This historical figure interested the poet in that Boris was a strong, strong-willed and charismatic figure who, by his origin, could not aspire to the Moscow throne, but because of his mind and talent, he achieved what he wanted: he was proclaimed king, and he reigned seven years.
Introduction
A brief description of the first scene of the work should begin its analysis. āBoris Godunovā (Pushkin was interested in the tragedies of Shakespeare, and therefore, like the English playwright, he began with a large-scale artistic sketch of the first picture of the action) - this is a play in which, according to the generally accepted opinion of critics, the main character is the simple Russian people. Therefore, the first scene immediately opens before the reader a wide panorama of Kremlin Square, where, in fact, after the death of the last son of Ivan the Terrible Fedor, the fate of the kingdom was decided.
Representatives of the Zemsky Cathedral ordered the audience to ask Boris Godunov to accept the royal title. The latter refuses for a long time, and this plot move is very similar to about the same scene from Shakespeare's play āRichard IIIā. However, in the end, he agrees and promises to rule fairly and wisely. The heroās rights to the throne were explained by the fact that his sister was the wife of the deceased Tsar Fedor, who died childless.
Tsarina Irina herself gave up power and went to the monastery.
Monastery scene
A separate characterization of the monk Pimen must be included in this literary analysis. āBoris Godunovā (Pushkin was always attracted to the image of the Russian chronicler, whom he captured in his play) is a work that differs from Shakespeareās historical chronicles in its greater coverage of the place and time of the action. The next scene takes place five years after the events described above. The poet describes the peaceful work of the monk Pimen, who works on his chronicle. His monologue is a wonderful example of ancient speech, imbued with a deep philosophical meaning. It sounds the idea of āāthe fate of Russia and the place of man in history. The monk argues that descendants must know the fate of their homeland. His long work and humble mood contrast sharply with the behavior of Grigory Otrepiev, who decided to occupy the Moscow throne, calling himself the name of the murdered prince Dmitry Uglichsky, the younger Tsar Ivan the Terrible.
The story of Otrepiev
The characterization of this character must necessarily include artistic analysis. āBoris Godunovā (Pushkin has always been attracted to the personality of an adventurous warehouse, and this character embodies precisely this type of hero) is a drama that is built on a dynamic plot that includes political intrigue and philosophical problems. So, Gregory fled from the monastery and tried to cross the Lithuanian border.
However, at the inn, he was nearly seized by guards. Gregory deceived his pursuers and managed to hide in Krakow. Here he began to gather strength for a campaign in Moscow and at the same time courted the daughter of the local governor Marina Mnishek.
The image of the protagonist
In the tragedy "Boris Godunov", a brief summary of which should be retold on the main scenes of the drama, a psychological portrait of the king is given. First, the author shows him in the family circle, in conversation with his daughter and son. In these passages, the reader sees him as a caring father who cares about the happiness of his heirs.
From his conversation with his son, it becomes obvious that Boris is a wise ruler who is engaged in public affairs and seeks to teach his successor the same. However, then follows a scene in which he appears before the reader in a completely different way. The tsar blames himself for the murder of Tsarevich Dmitry (this fact is not confirmed by historical science, but the author used folk rumor) and is afraid that this crime will affect his fate. He does his best to be a fair and wise ruler, but the thought of the death of a child haunts him. Thus, the author gave a detailed psychological portrait of the king, revealing him from two sides and showing his secret spiritual suffering.
Otrepiev's characteristic
A.S. Pushkin attached great importance to historical subjects in his work. The drama "Boris Godunov" tells of one of the most dramatic events in the past of Russia - the beginning of the Time of Troubles, which almost led to the fall of state independence.
The author pays much attention to the image of Otrepiev, who became an impostor and occupied the Moscow throne. According to the writer, he was a man of an adventurous warehouse: lively, cunning, and very ambitious. In the scene in the border tavern, he showed dexterity, ingenuity, as well as endurance, managing to get away from the chase. The work āBoris Godunovā, whose characters are distinguished by a strong and outstanding character, attracts readers not only with an interesting and dynamic plot, but also with carefully written characters that seem to have come down from the pages of Karamzin's famous work. The impostor became one of the main key figures of the work, although the play does not show his direct confrontation with the king.
Image of a monk
Pushkin built his work on the basis of historical material. āBoris Godunovā (the chronicler Pimen turned out to be one of the most memorable characters in the drama under consideration) is a tragedy that presents a whole gallery of portraits of the late 16th and early 17th century. The monk of the monastery, where Grigory Otrepyev lived for some time , is represented in the play as the embodiment of wisdom, peace and rest. He is busy writing a chronicle of events of past times, and it is with his eyes that the reader sees the past, since he himself was an eyewitness of great events. From his monologue, we learn about his reverent and reverent attitude towards his work: Pimen understands the importance of creating a chronicle of Russian history. The whole play āBoris Godunovā is imbued with historical certainty. The passage describing the scene in the Miracle Monastery is especially solemn, as the monkās speech breathes peace and tranquility, and his calm contrasts with Grigory Otrepyevās restless mood.
The people in the drama
According to the generally accepted opinion of critics, the author brought to the fore the common people who are constantly present in the most important scenes of the work. At first, when the Tsar was elected, ordinary residents of the capital gathered on Kremlin Square in order to ask him to take the Moscow throne.
In the scene in the border tavern again there are people from the social lower classes of society: the innkeeper, ordinary soldiers. This is what distinguishes the play āBoris Godunovā from Shakespeareās historical chronicles. The passage in the finale is especially eloquent and significant: at the decisive moment of the proclamation of the king of the impostor, the assembled crowd is silent. Thus, the author showed that at the moment fate was decided at the top, among the boyars who took the side of Otrepiev. This scene is, in fact, the climax, although the poet brought to the very end.
So, the people in the tragedy āBoris Godunovā is the main character. This feature of the drama was reflected in the opera of the same name by the famous Russian composer M. Mussorgsky, in which choral parts are of paramount importance.
Start of war
The play āBoris Godunovā, the brief content of which is the subject of this review, consists of several scenes that are united by one common idea - the confrontation of man and power. The next scene begins with a description of the impostor's hostilities. He moves to Moscow in the hope of seizing power. However, in the capital, meanwhile, Boris unexpectedly dies, but manages to bless his eldest son Fyodor to reign before his death. Among the boyars, meanwhile, the plan was ripe to raise a rebellion against the children of the deceased ruler, and one of them proclaims the impostor as king. The play ends with the silence of the people.