When Nekrasov found out that the son of the Decembrist Volkonsky kept the diaries of his mother, who had gone to Siberia for her husband, he began to ask him for permission to get acquainted with the papers. For three evenings Mikhail Sergeevich and Nikolai Alekseevich read the notes. During the reading, the poet repeatedly jumped up, clutched his head and began to cry. These documentary evidence formed the basis of the poem Russian Women. Description of Princess Trubetskoy (part 1) and Princess Volkonskaya (part 2) is the plot basis of the famous work, first read by the poet in the summer of 1871.
Historical reference
Ekaterina Ivanovna Laval married Sergei Trubetskoy for love. She became his faithful friend and associate, was aware of her husband’s political views. Having learned about the events on Senate Square, twenty-five-year-old Catherine immediately decided for herself that she would share his fate with her husband, no matter how terrible she might be. The princess became the first of eleven women who followed the Decembrists to Siberia: the verdict was announced on July 23, and the next day she went on the road. She was accompanied by her father’s secretary Karl Vaucher (on the way he will fall ill and return, as Nekrasov writes in a poem). “Russian Women” is a poem that tells about the difficult journey from Petersburg to Irkutsk, showing the heroine’s stamina, tolerance, her devotion to her husband and her willingness to sacrifice.
Road description
The sobs of the father, seeing off the daughter, who "is going somewhere tonight." Farewell words of the heroine, who understands that she will never see her relatives again. The princess is completely confident that her duty is to be with her husband. Memories of a serene youth and the man who became the culprit of her misfortunes (meaning the dance at the ball in 1818 with the future emperor Nicholas I). So begins the poem (she attached great importance in his work to the Nekrasov) "Russian Women".
Princess Trubetskaya is the central image of the first part. The author does not give a description of the appearance of the heroine, since for him something else is important - to show her inner world, to trace the formation of significant character traits. From the very beginning of the poem, Ekaterina Ivanovna is full of determination and does not in the least doubt her act. She knows how terrible her future fate will be. In order to obtain permission to travel, she deliberately refused the title, the ability to communicate with relatives, welfare - her father’s house was the best in St. Petersburg. “I dressed breast with steel,” she admits when she says goodbye to my father, and in these words you hear the readiness to follow your beloved at all costs, the ability to overcome any obstacles for the sake of the opportunity to fulfill your holy duty and be near my husband.
The role of memories and dreams
The road to Siberia is very long and difficult, but there is no time for rest. Approaching the station, the princess demands to change horses as soon as possible and sets off on. The author uses a very successful technique, describing the paintings that her imagination paints in this endless way. Either dreams, or just memories arising in her head, is the best characteristic of Princess Trubetskoy from the poem Russian Women. First, she sees a magnificent social life with fun and balls, a trip abroad with her young husband, all that now has become insignificant and unimportant for her. These vivid pictures unexpectedly give way to a painful sight: peasant workers in the field, groaning at the river barge haulers. Her husband drew her attention to this side of Russian life.
On the way there is a party of exiles, which recalls the plight of the Decembrists. The heroine’s consciousness returns her to the tragic events of six months ago. A concise but accurate picture of the rebellion. Ekaterina Ivanovna not only knew about his preparation, but also kept a printing press at her place. And then there was a meeting with her husband in prison, during which he asked for forgiveness and gave her complete freedom. However, a loving woman, even at the time of the arrest of Sergei Petrovich, decided that she would support him in everything. It is from these details that the characterization of Princess Trubetskoy from the poem Russian Women is formed. The author shows the sympathy of the heroine to the common people, hatred of the king and his regime. And also the desire to fight and prove their right to independence.
Meeting with the Governor
The second chapter is a dialogue. It is he who helps to fully understand the character of the heroine, her determination and confidence in the correctness of the choice made. I must say that the scene described by Nekrasov took place in reality, and Zeidler actually received an order from the emperor to stop Ekaterina Ivanovna at all costs. The arguments of the heroine during the conversation can also be perceived as a characteristic of Princess Trubetskoy from the poem Russian Women. She is not afraid of the details of how convicts live, nor the harsh climate where the sun shines only three months a year, nor the fact that the princess and her children are equated with ordinary peasants. Ekaterina Ivanovna, who has signed the waiver of all her rights, is ready to go forward even as part of the convict party. The strong character, tremendous willpower, incomparable courage and perseverance of Trubetskoy forced the governor to retreat. “I did everything I could ...”, these words of Zeidler became an acknowledgment of the moral victory, which a decisive, ready-for-all woman won.
Instead of an afterword
“She enthralled others for a feat,” N. Nekrasov said about Yekaterina Ivanovna. Russian women, Princess Trubetskaya in particular, who wanted to share the fate of their husbands, to fulfill their duty to God and themselves to the end, have forever become a symbol of inexhaustible heroism, self-sacrifice, great human love and devotion.
Ekaterina Ivanovna fully experienced hunger, and prison life, and the exhausting Siberian cold. The first of the Decembrists did not survive the amnesty for only two years and died in Irkutsk. But although she never saw her relatives or the capital, according to contemporaries, she never regretted what had been done.
Such is the characteristic of Princess Trubetskoy from the poem Russian Women by N. Nekrasov.