"Farewell, unwashed Russia ..." Lermontov, "Farewell, unwashed Russia": creation story, analysis of the poem

The poem "Farewell, unwashed Russia ..." Lermontov wrote in the last year of his untimely interrupted life. At the time of the flowering of literary talent. These simple eight lines are almost the most recognizable passage among the poet’s rich literary heritage. And the point is not even in some special sense, beauty or perfection of the syllable of the poem. It’s just that these two verses for decades were part of the compulsory school curriculum and memorized by each new generation of students.

What did the poet want to say with this eight-poem? What circumstances prompted him to write the poem "Farewell, unwashed Russia ..."? How deep is the meaning in a few, at first glance, simple lines?

Historical background

It is practically impossible to correctly understand any work if you consider it outside the context of the historical background. In particular, this statement applies to poetry. After all, a voluminous work such as a novel or a story allows you to draw this very background, which affects our perception, and a short verse most often serves as a manifestation of emotions caused by the environment, and needs to be clarified.

The poem "Farewell, unwashed Russia ..." (Lermontov), ​​the analysis of which will be carried out, dates from 1841. At this time, the war stretching for half a century in the Caucasus was in full swing. Russia sought to annex these mountainous territories and strengthen the border, while freedom-loving mountaineers did their best to preserve their freedom.

At that time, the transfer of a soldier or officer to units operating in the Caucasus was synonymous with one-way ticket links. Especially if a person followed an appropriate order, which encouraged the use of the above brave man in the hottest points of the battle.

Writer personality

By 1841, Mikhail Yurievich Lermontov was already 26 years old (he did not live to see his birthday this year). He had already earned fame as a poet, but he was not loved as a person in society. And this attitude, admittedly, was well deserved. The writer deliberately tried to gain a reputation as a joker and a rake. Moreover, his jokes were more sharp and bold than good-natured. Lermontov’s poems and his personal qualities as a noisy regular of secular salons were so strikingly inconsistent that most readers considered the experiences reflected in poetry a continuous play of rich imagination. Just beautiful words that do not have the closest relationship to him.

However, according to the testimony of his few friends, Mikhail wore a mask in public, and on paper he poured out hidden songs of a soul that had suffered from the callousness of the surrounding world.

But the one who wrote “Farewell, unwashed Russia ...” was a true patriot, no one doubted. Love for the motherland was expressed not only in sublime rhymes, but also in military affairs. When the time came to participate in hostilities, Mikhail Yurievich did not disgrace the honor of his ancient noble family. In fairness, it is worth noting that a military career absolutely did not appeal to Mikhail. He even tried to resign in order to be able to engage in literary activities without distractions, but did not dare to disappoint his grandmother who raised him, who dreamed of seeing her only grandson as a successful military man.

Circumstances of life

In 1837, Lermontov was convicted and sent to the first exile to the Caucasus for the poem Death of a Poet. Thanks to the petition of the grandmother Elizabeth Alekseevna Arsenyeva, who had connections at the court, he did not stay there for long - only a few months. And this stay was for the poet a treasury of pleasant impressions rather than a real danger.

In early 1840, Lermontov got involved in a duel, for which he was convicted of a second exile in the combat zone. This time the order of the emperor was attached to the need to constantly use the convict in the first line of attack.

In connection with these events the poem “Farewell, unwashed Russia ...” was written. Lermontov expressed in him his attitude to the then existing order. He throws bold remarks in which there is an inexpressible bitterness from the fact that arbitrariness is happening on his beloved Fatherland, and all the people subserviently maintain the established order.

This poem, without a doubt, was written impromptu, in one fell swoop. In it, the author threw out all his indignation and desire to leave behind the pain of the ongoing injustice. He hopes to find peace far from his homeland, in the vast expanses of the Caucasus.

Literally every phrase in these two verses contains a serious semantic load. It is worth taking a little time to figure out how important the images used by Lermontov were for people who lived at the end of the turbulent XIX century. Only in this case, the strength and beauty embodied in the eight-letter under consideration will appear before you in all its splendor.

"Goodbye"

The word "goodbye" at first does not cause any special questions. The author goes to the war zone, and such an appeal is quite appropriate here. However, even in this, at first glance, a completely obvious and indisputable concept, something more lies. In fact, the poet does not seek to say goodbye to his beloved Motherland, but to the existing social order unacceptable to him.

This is a gesture, almost bordering on despair. The feeling of indignation seething in the poet’s chest spills out with a short “Goodbye!”. Although he is defeated by the system, he is not broken in spirit.

Unwashed Russia

The first and completely legitimate question that arises for everyone who is at least slightly familiar with Mikhail Yuryevich’s work is this: why does the poet use the phrase “unwashed Russia”? Lermontov here is not referring to the physical impurity of his fellow citizens.

Firstly, Lermontov’s poems testify that it was simply unthinkable for him to humiliate ordinary Russian people. Love and respect for them permeates all his work. The poet defiantly challenges the lifestyle of the nobility, but he absorbs the life of ordinary peasants as organically as the harsh beauty of Russian nature.

And secondly, historically, it has been such that from time immemorial in Russia the maintenance of cleanliness has been held in high esteem. In the seediest villages there were baths, and peasants washed themselves at least once a week. What can not be said about "enlightened" Europe, where sophisticated noble ladies took a bath - at best - about two or three a year. And their cavaliers in gallons used perfume and cologne in order to break the stench of unwashed bodies.

So, with the expression “goodbye, unwashed Russia” Lermontov, whose verse according to the customs of that time was supposed to scatter into the noble salons, even without being published, just wanted to express his disregard for the state system. It was an offensive remark, which, incidentally, could offend only a Russian person then.

"Country of slaves"

Even a superficial analysis of the poem "Farewell, unwashed Russia ..." does not give reason to believe that the word "slaves" the author somehow means serfs. No, here he refers to the servile submission of the upper class. In fact, the lawlessness of each of them in the face of the powers that be.

"Country of gentlemen"

The word "gentlemen" here carries a clear negative connotation. It is akin to the concept of "tyrants" - executing reprisal solely at its discretion. The discontent of the young poet can be understood. After all, the duel for which he was convicted was just childish. When the opponent of Lermontov, who was the initiator of the duel, shot, missed, Mikhail simply fired his gun with a shot to the side - he was not going to harm the Ernest de Barant who had caused him.

However, it was Mikhail who had to be punished, because Ernest de Barant was the son of the French ambassador, and his participation in the unseemly incident was simply hushed up. Perhaps that is why the poem "Farewell, unwashed Russia ...", the history of which is closely connected with a not quite fair trial, is saturated with such bitterness.

“And you blue uniforms ...”

The blue uniforms in the Russian Empire were worn by representatives of the gendarmerie, who were not particularly popular among the common people or among the military. And the poem “Farewell, unwashed Russia ...” does draw them at all not as a force maintaining order, but as accomplices of the existing tsarist arbitrariness.

“And you, a loyal people to them”

A people loyal to the security department? Yes, it never happened! Here Lermontov speaks not so much about the people as people, but about the state system as a whole. The author believes that Russia is well behind the neighboring powers in Europe in terms of the development of the state apparatus. And such a situation is possible only because the people as a whole meekly support the existing order.

“Perhaps I’ll hide behind the wall of the Caucasus”

The desire to hide from anything in the war zone may not seem logical. However, for Lermontov, the Caucasus was a truly special place. He first visited him, while still a little boy, and he carried his vivid impressions from this period through his whole life.

During the first exile, Michael traveled more than fought. He admired the majestic nature and felt very comfortable away from secular squabbles. Keeping these circumstances in mind, it is easier to understand the poet’s desire to hide in the Caucasus.

"... from your pasha"

But the word “pasha” looks somewhat inconsistent when applied to representatives of power in the Russian Empire. Why does Lermontov use the title of commander of the Ottoman Empire to describe Russian gendarmes?

Some editions put the word "kings" or even "leaders" in this place. However, it is difficult to agree that it was precisely these options that Lermontov originally used. “Farewell, unwashed Russia ...” is a verse in which the author opposes a specific existing order in which the tsar played a key role. But the king, like the leader, in the country there can be only one. To use such plural titles in this case would be simply illiterate.

Such a phrase would definitely cut a rumor to Mikhail Yurievich's contemporaries. Imagine that in the news the announcer says something like: "And today the presidents of our country ...". Something like the phrase "hide from the kings" would have sounded for readers in the XIX century.

Literally throughout the history of the Turks for the Russian people were irreconcilable enemies. And still identification with this nationality is used for offensive nicknames. The verse "Goodbye, unwashed Russia ..." was written at a time when Turkey for Russian society was steadily associated with a tough, oppressive state. Therefore, representatives of the top gendarmes were sometimes called Pashas to emphasize the attitude of the common people towards them. Apparently, this is the meaning that the great Russian poet put into his poem.

"All-seeing" and "all-hearing"

The ill-fated duel of Mikhail Lermontov with Ernest de Barant was, of course, exclusively private. The quarrel between the young people took place in the house of a certain Countess Laval, who gave a ball. The duel itself took place two days later by all unwritten rules - in a secluded place and in the presence of seconds from both sides.

Despite the fact that this skirmish did not have any unpleasant consequences, less than three weeks passed before Lermontov was taken into custody. He was charged with an article on "failure to report." Neither seconds nor his opponent were brought to justice.

The reason for the beginning of the investigation was not some specific denunciation of one of the direct participants, but rumors about a duel that spread among young officers. Therefore, the poet applies the epithets “all-seeing” and “all-hearing”, characterizing the work of the security department.

However, some editions of the poem “Farewell, unwashed Russia ...” give a diametrically opposite reading of the last two lines. In them, the author complains about "not seeing the eye" and "not hearing ears", speaking of the blindness and partiality of the proceedings.

Well, this theory has a right to exist. However, where so many variations come from? In the end, Lermontov’s poems are not works of a thousand years ago, which archaeologists have to restore bit by bit. And at the time of writing this poem, the author was already famous enough for his creation to scatter among the intelligentsia in the blink of an eye, thereby leaving a mark in tens and hundreds of copies. Such discrepancies made many doubt even that this verse was written by Lermontov at all. “Farewell, unwashed Russia ...” was subjected to a crushing attack of critics.

Doubts about authorship

The main argument brought by doubters that the author of this poem is Mikhail Lermontov is the time of publication of the work. Almost half a century has passed since the poet’s death - 46 years. And the earliest copy of the manuscript lists that have survived to our time dates back to the early 70s of the century before last. And this implies a gap of three decades between writing the original and a copy.

Not a single draft or draft, made by the hand of Mikhail Yuryevich himself, also exists. True, Bartnev (the historian who revealed the previously unknown poem) in a personal letter refers to the existence of the original written by Lermontov's pen, but no one has ever seen this document except for him.

Even more puzzling among literary scholars is the very nature of the poem "Farewell, unwashed Russia ...". An analysis of the author’s attitude to the country he leaves leaves no doubt not only in disappointment, but even, in some way, in neglect of the motherland, which Lermontov had never previously shown.

But, somewhat besieging fans of spectacular revelations, it is worth noting that its famous “Goodbye!” Lermontov does not abandon the Motherland, but the imperfect state apparatus. And all literary critics and biographers of the poet agree with this.

Another argument used by critics is a comparative analysis of two verses: “Homeland” and “Farewell, unwashed Russia ...”. They were supposedly written with a difference of several months. However, one is imbued with reverence for the Fatherland, and the second is full of epithets unflattering for the same Motherland.

Could the poet’s mood change so dramatically? Is not it so? Notes of bitterness of loneliness are inherent in most of Lermontov’s works. They are also simply expressed more expressively, and we find in the verse "Farewell, unwashed Russia ...". There is no neglect of the native land, which critics stubbornly try to point out. Here there is pain from the fact that the poet would like to see his country prosperous and progressive, but he is forced to accept the fact that these aspirations are stifled by the existing regime.

But, in the end, everyone decides for himself personally what to believe in him. Arguments are sufficient both on the one and on the other hand. And whoever the author of this poem really is, it is firmly rooted in Russian literature and can tell a lot about the situation prevailing in the middle of the 19th century.

And for fans of the works of Mikhail Yurievich Lermontov, there are enough works, the author of which, undoubtedly, is the poet. By the way, the very one whom during his lifetime was called the successor of Pushkin! His literary heritage, no doubt, can be compared with placers of precious stones in the treasury of Russian literature.