Nikolai Leskov sought to comprehend and reflect in his work the life of different classes, groups and classes. And he managed to create a complex and multicolored, not fully understood image of Russia in one of the most difficult periods for it - in the second half of the XIX century. A perfect example of this is the story “Left-handed”.
Briefly about the plot
Before proceeding with the analysis of Lefty by N. Leskov, let us recall the story itself. The events of Skaz take place at the beginning of the 19th century. Emperor Alexander during a trip to England showed a tiny flea that knows how to dance. He brought her to Russia. After the death of the emperor, this curiosity was discovered in his belongings, and the Cossack Platov explained that the sovereign brought this flea as an example of the skill of English mechanics, and noted that the Russians could be no worse. Emperor Nicholas, who believed in the superiority of Russians, instructed Platov to go to the Don and visit Tula factories, to look for a craftsman who would answer the challenge of the British.
Platov called three well-known gunsmiths, including Lefty, showed them an outlandish flea and asked them to come up with something that would be superior to English work. The artisans answered the call - they flew a flea to all paws. Everyone was delighted and sent a savvy flea back to England to demonstrate the skill of Russian craftsmen. In England, the Lefthander was shown plants and offered to stay. Masterov refused, and on the way back he started a dispute with a polisher, who would drink whom. Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, half a captain was returned to life in a rich hospital, and Lefty died without medical assistance in a hospital for the poor.
The story of Nikolai Leskov “Lefty” ends with the fact that even on his deathbed Lefty thinks about his homeland. Before his death, he reveals the secret of cleaning rifles, but nothing was handed over to the emperor and continued to clean the rifles with crushed brick. Then they would listen to the advice of Lefty, in the Crimean War a completely different outcome would be.
The main character
The main character of the story is a talented Russian artisan Lefty. He and other masters were instructed to create a masterpiece to surprise the British. They decided to shoe a flea; carnations for horseshoes were created by Lefthander. The author does not attach much importance to the description of appearance, indicating that he had a birthmark on his cheek, he was slanting in one eye and had bald patches. The skill and ability of the Lefthander were more important - this is what the author paid attention to. He does not feel someone significant, when the British offer to stay with them, he refuses. This is caused not so much by love for the motherland, as by disbelief in a better life.
An analysis of the story “Lefty” by N. S. Leskov would not be complete without the image of the protagonist, therefore, we will consider in more detail its description. So clogged a man that he does not come up with the idea of somehow confronting the circumstances, the Lefty dies an absurd death. Immediately, the author contrasts the Lefty with an English skipper. He was immediately taken to the English Embassy, surrounded by care. The author emphasizes how indifferent to human life in the country in which the Lefthander returned. In fact, a rare craftsman died, and nobody cares. A lot in the description of this character is comical. For example, the master applied his strabismus and left-handedness with benefit - he could do the finest work that could not be seen with the naked eye.
Other heroes
We continue the analysis of Leskov's “Left-Handed” by acquaintance with other heroes of the work. The main characters of Lefty are Emperors Alexander and Nikolai, the Cossack chieftain Platov and the Russian craftsman Lefty. Alexander Pavlovich is a big fan of Western culture and technology. He admired the work of Western craftsmen, and they always pleased him. Visiting England and seeing a miracle flea there, he immediately bought it and brought it to St. Petersburg. Patriot Platov said that ours can do no worse. But Alexander, being a shrewd politician, nevertheless refrains from showing the work of Russian artisans in England.
Nikolai Pavlovich is the brother of Emperor Alexander and his complete opposite. He is curious and patriotic. If Alexander was sure that Western craftsmen were the best, then Nikolai had no doubt that no one would surpass Russian masters. When he saw the flea and listened to Platov’s explanations, he was not slow to find masters who could surpass the British. Soon the craftsmen showed their work, the emperor was very upset when he saw nothing unusual. But, looking through a microscope, I saw that the flea was savvy. And immediately he sent Lefty with a curiosity to England to demonstrate Russian skill.
Ataman Platov accompanied the emperor during a trip to England. Platov was distinguished by his love for everything Russian, Alexander did not understand the enthusiasm and exposed the insidiousness of foreigners. When the British boasted of weapons, he unscrewed the lock and showed them the inscription that it was done by Russian masters, and he sincerely rejoiced at the frustration of the British. But not everything was smooth in the character of Platov - he was cruel to those who depended on him, and treated them with contempt.
Writing history
If we analyze the work of Leskov “Lefty” according to plan, then you should start with the date and history of writing. The Tale of the Lefthander was first published in 1881 in the journal Rus. In a separate publication, the author introduced amendments to enhance the severity of the story, emphasizing the arbitrariness of the authorities and the ignorance of the common people. Foreword Leskov initially excluded from the collected works, the first introduction to the story will appear in the 1894 edition. Until that time, the reader was given the opportunity to taste the charm of the story told by a fictional character. Removing the preface, the author wants to confuse the reader and becomes the crafty companion of the narrator, and in the last chapter replaces him.
Leskov’s innovation was once again manifested in Lefty: he does not use the word “fairy tale”, since it does not meet the intentions of the writer. After all, there are no fantastic characters, real historical figures are mentioned here - emperors Alexander and Nikolai, Empress Elizabeth, Cossack chieftain Platov. Clarification of the “legend” allows you to better understand the author’s intention - to look at the history through the eyes of a person from the people, in this case, a gunsmith. Leskov once again emphasizes the ability of the people to compose legends and myths, which are based on real events.
Means of Expression
Continuing the analysis of “Lefty” Leskov, let us dwell on the artistic means that the author used in his work. According to Leskov’s story, the play was shot; there is a ballet version of Lefty. But there is no tragic component of the tale. The narrator in "Left-Handed" gives vent to imagination and verbal play to further irritate the audience. As one of the techniques for transmitting the comic component, a hyperbole is used - the colorful ataman Platov snores so that not one Englishman in the house can fall asleep. An English flea made of pure steel dances a counter-dance and cannot be seen with the naked eye.
In literature classes in the 6th grade, enough time is devoted to the analysis of Leskov’s Lefty. They study in detail the character and actions of the heroes, the author’s intention, the means of expression that the author used. Let us dwell on them in more detail. An example of the use of hyperbole is the return of Platov from the Don to Tula: a description of the impatience of the Cossack chieftain and the work of the Tula masters who savvy a flea and wrote their name on a horseshoe. The game of the writer with the language in this story goes much further than in other works - this is a celebration of neologisms and baroque turns. As A. Volynsky noted: “The whole tale is represented by a set of clownish expressions.”
Leskov uses many tricks here, including combining two words that sound the same but have different meanings. The basis of this technique is the tendency of the common people to redo unfamiliar or foreign words in a way that is understandable. In addition, in “Left-hander” there are verbal absurdities: “nails” - socks, “wind paddock” - a headdress from the wind. Colloquial expressions, strange phrases, dialectisms predominate in the story.
The main idea of the work
Critics after this story attacked Leskov, they say, in the person of the Tula gunsmith, he belittled the Russian people. And only the “Herald of Europe” understood the main theme and conflict in the tale “Left-handed”, as well as the plan of the writer. Leskov portrayed the Russian people, who deny European recipes, and at the same time look limited and dependent on social conditions. It must be admitted that “Lefty” is replete with ironic remarks worthy of attention. When the tsar travels with the chieftain across Europe, Platov in every possible way distracts his attention - we have no worse. Ataman does not want to speak French: "He considered all French conversations to be trifles." While the British demonstrate their weapons, he says that his fellows won without it.
Lefty through the eyes of the author
Of course, the chieftain is a comedic character, and gives his common sense limitedness. He treats his messengers brutally. Inhuman acts with Lefty in the episode with "nymphosoria" and the royal daughter. When a polkiper asks him to help, he refuses to do anything for the English master. Without a doubt, the story “Lefty” proves Russian superiority. Lefty says that the Orthodox faith is the most correct, because "our books are thicker than yours." Through the whole work, the author’s mockery of nationalism is visible, people obsessed with him are unable to see the true value of things. But Leskov wanted to good-naturedly ridicule the bragging of the Russian people, the inability to recognize the value of what was done on the other side.
Continuing the analysis of “Lefty” Leskov, it is impossible not to stop on the opinion of critics. During the years of Soviet power, critics did not fail to emphasize the bitter satire in the history of Lefty. Its end is tragic - the flowering of national talent is impossible in Russia. The author depicts both kings as comedic characters. Alexander tries to please the British in everything, looks superficially at Russian life. Nikolai does not trust foreigners, but succumbs to the flattery and cunning of the courtiers, who hide the death of Lefty from him. The dying Lefty asked to tell the tsar not to clean their guns with crushed bricks, but no one began to listen to him. The tsar did not find out about anything, but they lost the Crimean campaign.
True reality
People’s life cannot be called pleasing either. Platov treats the Cossacks cruelly and mends arbitrariness with impunity. Beats Lefty and gets off with an apology. The left-hander was thrown in front of the police station, he lay in the cold for a long time, then he was half-dressed and taken from hospital to hospital, and finally brought to the hospital for the poor. The author shows in which ignorance the people live, are in captivity of their prejudices and customs. Leskov wrote that at first he wanted to portray the Lefthander as a symbol of the Russian people with all its shortcomings and advantages: quick wit and ingenuity.
Concluding the analysis of “Lefty” Leskov, let us summarize - did the author manage to carry out his plan? Could the reader understand it? Probably yes. Illiterate people did many amazing things, not knowing arithmetic, only the Psalter and the dream book. A lefty is like a bird that has flown too close to the sun and scorched its wings. And the Russian people are not able to use their talents, not only because of ignorance, but also because they have a sense of superiority. And common sense and prudence are Western concepts. In Lefty, the author says that a Russian person has two tenacious habits that have been eaten into the bloodstream: drunkenness and fanfare.
“The Tale of the Left-Handed” can not be called either a pamphlet against the Russian people, or an openly nationalist work. Leskov talentedly presented here a lively and truthful image of reality.