The peasant uprising of 1773-1774 was one of the most cruel, bloody and meaningless in the history of Russia. Many writers have repeatedly addressed these events, and Alexander Pushkin was no exception, telling in the novel "The Captain's Daughter" about such an ambiguous historical figure as Emelyan Pugachev - the leader of the uprising. The author did not insist on the veracity of his story, he adhered to the rule of depicting a certain historical era in a fictional story.
Bloodthirsty killer or good-natured rebel?
Pugachev’s characteristic is ambiguous. Pushkin did not want to make him a vile villain and murderer, although historians represented him that way, the writer created the image of a talented national leader endowed with intelligence, energy, and ingenuity. Emelian himself understands that he is an impostor, associating himself with Grigory Otrepiev, but still, if he had not acted like a real ruler and deliverer, then the people would not have followed him. Pugachev was highly respected; people from all over the country flocked under his leadership.
The characterization of Emelyan Pugachev for some may seem frightening, because he mercilessly killed those whom he considered to be oppressors of ordinary peasants. Representatives of the authorities or landowners cannot be kind, therefore the hero kills captain Mironov and his subordinates, although they are not bad. At the same time, Pugachev remembers the good and knows how to be grateful. For the rest of his life, he remembered the donated hare sheepskin coat and a glass of vodka brought during the storm by Grinev. Three times, Emelyan allows him to avoid execution, and even frees the bride of Peter from the hands of Shvabrin.
Pugachev's characteristic - a simple peasant with royal manners
Even at the first meeting with Pugachev, Grinev was struck by his composure. He was about 40 years old, broad-shouldered, thin, in the beard began to appear gray, his face was pleasant, but with a roguish expression, his large lively eyes hit. Pushkin portrayed Emelyan as a Cossack, who communicates with his subordinates on an equal footing, in his speech he uses sayings, proverbs, allegories, not everyone understands.
Pugachev’s characterization shows that he was not averse to playing the wise ruler. Emelyan ordered to call himself the king-father, because the people always believed in a good and fair king. He understood that he was surrounded by thieves who were ready at any moment to redeem their lives for his head. Pugachev remained real only with Grinev, while in public he showed acting talent, playing the tsar.
The story of an intelligent, courageous, heroic man was told by Pushkin in the novel "The Captain's Daughter." The characteristic of Emelyan Pugachev allows him to be compared with the hero of the Cossack epics. Despite some sympathy for the rebel, nevertheless, Alexander Sergeyevich repeatedly repeats that he does not want to see the ruthless and meaningless Russian rebellion. In his story, the writer did not want to show the villainy of Emelyan and his subordinates, but to tell about the history of the uprising and the personality of the leader himself. It should be noted that the characterization of Pugachev to Pushkin was a success.