We present to your attention the work of I. A. Goncharov "Ordinary History" (short summary). This article describes the main events of the novel, published for the first time in 1847.
Part one
One summer, from the estate of Anna Pavlovna Adueva, a poor landowner from the village of Grachi, they sent Alexander Fedorovich, her only son, a fair-haired young man in the color of strength, years and health, to serve in St. Petersburg. Together with him goes the valet Eusei.
Wires
Anna Pavlovna is grieving and gives her son the last instructions. He is also escorted by a strict and domineering woman, Agrafena, struggling to restrain her emotions. Neighbor Marya Karpovna together with her daughter Sophia come to see off. The hero has an affair with the latter, the beloved gives him a farewell lock of cut hair and a ring.
They swear allegiance and eternal love. Pospelov also appears, a friend of Alexander, who came from afar only to hug his comrade.
Peter Ivanovich
We continue to expound the events of the novel Ordinary Story. The summary of the work tells about the further development of the story.
Finally, Alexander and Eusebay set off on a journey. The uncle of the protagonist, Pyotr Ivanovich Aduev, Alexander’s father was also sent to Petersburg at the time and lived in this city for 17 years, without communicating with relatives for a long time. He served as a special assignment officer with one important person, occupied a very good apartment, had several servants. Uncle, a reserved man, was considered a business and active member of society. He was always tastefully and carefully dressed, one might even say dapper. When Pyotr Ivanovich learned of the arrival of his nephew, he first decided to get rid of him under the very first pretext. Uncle throws out letters from relatives without even reading (including from Aunt Alexander, with whom he had an affair in his youth, and who never married). But in a letter to his nephew’s mother, something touches him, he recalls how many years ago Anna Pavlovna cried, seeing him off to Petersburg. Pyotr Ivanovich is horrified that the latter punishes her son in front of her superiors, baptizing him at night and covering her mouth with a handkerchief from flies.
First difficulties
We present you a description of the first difficulties that the young man encountered, their summary. Goncharov's "Ordinary History" continues his narrative chapter by chapter. The hero’s first troubles were as follows. Uncle does not give him a hug, indicates a room that can be rented, instead of inviting him to live. This catches the longing for the emotional and exalted Alexander, who is used to sincere outpourings and friendly disposition. The romantic attitude of a young man to life in the eyes of Pyotr Ivanovich is completely unacceptable. He makes fun of his nephew’s manner of expressing himself in romantic cliches, throws out Sophia’s hair and ring, and glues the wall with verses that the young man was so proud of. Peter Ivanovich gradually lowers Alexander from heaven to earth, defines him to serve. The nephew dreams of a dizzying career, very vaguely imagining her. He talks about this uncle, about his projects, which, in the opinion of the latter, are either already completed or do not need to be done at all. Knowing that the young man dreams of becoming a writer, his uncle is looking for translations for him for an agricultural journal.
New life
A new stage begins in the life of the protagonist of Ordinary History. A summary of it consists of the following events. Two years later, Alexander already takes possession of elegant manners, becoming more confident and balanced. Pyotr Ivanovich already decided that he was on the right track, when suddenly a young man falls in love with Nadya Lyubetskaya and forgets about everything in the world: about his career, education, and responsibilities. Uncle is trying to explain that he is too early to marry, because in order to support his family, you need to have a decent income. In addition, you need to be able to conquer a woman with your mind and cunning, while the nephew is primitive. Nadia’s hobby will pass quickly, his uncle warns. Alexander is indignant when he learns that his uncle is going to marry, reproaches him for marriage of convenience.
Nadia Lyubetskaya
Goncharov’s “Ordinary History” in brief continues its development. Alexander begins to visit the Lyubetskys house. His beloved was extremely impressionable, had a fickle and willful heart and an ardent mind. At first, she was satisfied with conversations about anything, gazes and walks under the moon. Alexander visits Peter Ivanovich less and less often, gives up his career, starts writing again, however, publishers do not accept his works, indicate their unnaturalness and immaturity. Gradually Nadenka gets bored with her fan. The year of her probationary period, which she appointed for Alexander, is ending, and she tries to avoid an explanation. One of the reasons is a visit to Count Novinsky, a well-educated and well-mannered young man, a secular lion. He begins to visit Nadia, teaches her how to ride. Alexander, seeing that he is being avoided, falls into melancholy, now into panic, then decides to disappear for a while so that they begin to search for him, but this does not happen. The young man finally dares to call his beloved for a decisive conversation. Nadia admits that she likes the count. Alexander, leaving the house, weeps.
The summary of Ordinary History continues. In the middle of the night, the hero runs to Pyotr Ivanovich to arouse sympathy, asks his uncle to agree to be his second in a duel with Novinsky. Pyotr Ivanovich speaks of the meaninglessness of the duel: Nadenka can no longer be returned, but her hatred can be gained if the column is harmed. In addition, in the event of a murder he is awaiting hard labor or exile. In exchange, he offers to beat an opponent, to convince Nadia of superiority over the graph, especially intellectual. Uncle argues that the beloved is not to blame for choosing Novinsky. At the end of the conversation, the nephew is filled with tears. The wife of Peter Ivanovich, Lizaveta Alexandrovna, comes to console him.
Part two
We got to the second part of the novel "Ordinary History". A summary of its following.
Another year passed. Alexander turned to cold gloom. Auntie spends a lot of time consoling him. The nephew likes the role of the sufferer. To her objection that true love does not seek to show itself to everyone, Alexander indiscreetly notes that the love for Pyotr Ivanovich’s wife is hidden very deeply, so that she is completely invisible. Mentally, the aunt agrees with him. Although she does not have the right to complain about her husband, who provides her with everything, Lizaveta Alexandrovna still wants sometimes a greater manifestation of feelings.
Meeting with a friend
Here is how Goncharov I. A. unfolds further events (Ordinary History). The chapter summary you are reading continues with the main character meeting with an old friend. One day, Alexander comes to his aunt and tells her about the betrayal of a friend whom he has not seen for many years. He met him on Nevsky Prospect. He did not respond to sincere outpourings, dryly inquiring about the service and inviting him to come to his house the next day for dinner, which was attended by about a dozen guests. Here he offers to play cards, as well as money if he needs. Alexander begins to talk about unhappy love, but his friend only laughs. The nephew reads to the aunt and uncle quotes from the French novelists, who defined friendship as very elaborate. This angers Pyotr Ivanovich, he claims that the friend behaved decently towards him. Uncle reprimands the young man that it is time to stop complaining about people and whining when he has friends, to whom he also considers himself and his wife.
The story of Alexander
We describe further events, their summary. Goncharov's “Ordinary History” continues its development. Pyotr Ivanovich reminds his nephew that he had not written to his mother for 4 months. Alexander is completely crushed. To console him, her aunt advises her to take up literature again. The young man writes a story, the action of which takes place in the Tambov village, and the heroes are liars, slanderers and fiends. He reads it out loud to an aunt and uncle. Pyotr Ivanovich writes a letter to a friend of the editor, in which he claims that the story was written by himself, and he intends to publish it for a fee. He reads the answer of the editor to his nephew. He saw through the deception, noting that the author is a young man, not stupid, but angry with the whole world. The reasons for this, in his opinion, are reverie, pride, premature development of the heart and immobility of the mind, leading to laziness. Labor, science, practical work should help this young man. According to the editor, the author of the story has no talent.
Relations with Yulia Tafaeva
What will happen next? Their summary will tell us about this: an ordinary story. Goncharov I.A. emphasizes this even with the very name of the novel.
After the events described above, Alexander burns all his literary works. Uncle asks him for help: to compete with Surkov, his companion. He is in love (Petr Ivanovich believes that he only thinks he is in love) with a certain Julia Tafaeva, a young widow. He intends to throw money for the sake of her, and take it from Uncle Alexander. The young man begins to visit Tafaeva, with whom they have a lot in common (gloomy view of the world, daydreaming). Soon he falls in love, and brought up in French sentimental literature and early married a man many of her older Tafaeva reciprocates.
New disappointment
The hero again expects disappointment with the further development of events. We give a brief summary of them. Goncharov’s “Ordinary Story” is already approaching the finale. Preparing for the wedding. Alexander asks for secret assistance from Uncle Lizaveta Alexandrovna. Aunt visits Yulia, the girl is amazed at her beauty and youth. Tafaeva protests against the communication of her lover with the Aduevs. Alexander behaves tyrannically with Julia, requires obedience and fulfillment of any whim (fences her from familiar men, forbids her to leave). Julia blows it, but after a while they become bored, the hero’s nit-picking begins with her lover. He understands that he lost in vain for two whole years, once again his career suffered. He wants to communicate with friends, work, travel to the world, and she despotically demands that Alexander belong only to her. Julia is humiliated, even begs to marry her with the condition of providing complete freedom to the hero. Alexander does not want this, but does not know how to refuse. He seeks advice from his uncle. A nervous attack occurs with Julia, Pyotr Ivanovich comes to her and settles the matter, saying that Alexander does not know how to love. Nephew falls into apathy. He does not strive for anything, does not appear as a guest with his uncle. The young man remarks that there is not a single hope and dream left, before him is only a bare reality, which he is not ready to confront.
Liza
The author, however, does not end the novel Ordinary Story. A brief summary will tell how this story will end. The main character goes fishing with the old man Kostikov, hunks and squeamish.
They meet once with a certain elderly summer resident and his daughter Lisa, who falls in love with a hero. He plays the role of an uncle, teaches her to be sober about love and life. Lisa's father kicks him out. The young man is thinking of suicide, but the bridge on which he stands is being drawn at that moment, and he jumps on a solid support. After a while, he receives a note from his aunt asking him to take it to the concert, because his uncle is sick. The music makes a strong impression on Alexander, he cries right in the hall, they laugh at him.
Return to the village
These were the main events before returning to the village (briefly). Goncharov’s “Ordinary Story” unfolds already in Rooks. The young man completely loses faith in humanity, decides to return to the village. He tells his uncle that he does not blame him for opening his eyes to him, but when he saw things in the true light, he was completely disappointed in life. In the village, Alexander finds out that his ex-girlfriend, Sophia, has been married for a long time and is expecting a sixth child. Mother begins to fatten the young man, allows him to do nothing, hints that the time has come to marry, but the hero refuses.
New trip to Petersburg
Our ordinary story continues. A brief development of events is as follows. A thirst for activity gradually awakens in the hero, and a desire arises to return to the capital. He writes letters to his aunt and uncle, in which he confesses to his selfishness. He also carries uncle's evidence - a letter to his aunt from Rooks, in which he once reasoned in a romantic way.
Epilogue
4 years after the young man’s next visit to St. Petersburg, he announces to his uncle his intention to marry. He takes a large dowry, and he barely remembers the bride herself. Uncle, however, cannot fully support his nephew, since during that time he himself had undergone great changes. Pyotr Ivanovich began to treat his wife differently. He tries to show his feelings, but it's too late: she doesn’t care, she lives only silently obeying her husband, not reacting in any way to these attempts. The doctor discovers in her aunt a strange disease, one of the reasons for which, in his opinion, was that she had no children. Pyotr Ivanovich decides to sell the plant, resign and go on a trip with his wife. But she is not ready to accept such sacrifices. She does not need any belated love, nor freedom. Lizaveta Alexandrovna is sorry for the former Alexander. Petr Ivanovich hugs his nephew - for the first time since they met.
This is the plot of the work "Ordinary History", briefly described in this article. We hope she helps you learn this novel.
Brief analysis
In this work, every person at all stages of life and development will find the necessary lesson for himself. In the business atmosphere, the sentimentality and naivety of Alexander Aduev is ridiculous. His pathos is false, and the ideas about life and the exaltation of speeches are far from reality. However, uncle cannot be called an ideal: a respected man, a breeder, he is afraid of a living feeling and goes too far in his practicality. He is unable to show warm feelings for his wife, which leads to her nervous breakdown. There is a lot of irony in the teachings of this hero, and his nephew, being a simple, ingenuous person, takes them too directly.
Alexander Aduev, having lost his former false ideals, does not acquire other, genuine ones. He simply turns into a calculating vulgarity. Goncharov sneers at the fact that such a path is far from an exception. Youthful ideals disappear - this is an ordinary story. Few people can withstand the pressure on their souls and minds of a large city and bourgeois society. At the end of the work, the cynical uncle is much more humane than his nephew. Alexander became a business man, for whom only money and a career matter. And the city is waiting for new victims - inexperienced and naive.