Perhaps one of the characteristic features of Russia has always been strong women. It is not in vain that they say that women "They will stop the galloping horse and enter the burning hut." In some situations, this strength of character and firmness of will manifest itself especially strongly. One of such high-profile actions was the escort by the wives of their husbands-Decembrists to distant Siberia.
Poem "Russian women"
The poem "Russian Women" was created in 1872 by the great Russian poet Nikolai Alekseevich Nekrasov. This is an ode to Russian wives who followed their husbands to hard labor. The poet was inspired by these events, which he wrote at the end of his work that these were “captivating images” that people should remember.
ON THE. Nekrasov in his work really was able to perpetuate the feat of women, because his poem evokes strong emotions that are difficult to forget.
The fate of the Decembrists
December 14, 1825 there was an uprising of the Decembrists who did not agree with the power of the king. They wanted to destroy the monarchy and serfdom, but the uprising could not be carried out according to plan, and the Decembrists simply dispersed. Tsar Nicholas found out who participated in the uprising, and punished everyone. He sent the nobles to hard labor in Siberia, and this was an unprecedented punishment in power for the upper strata of society.
Incidentally, the first woman, so to speak, in this uprising was Princess Trubetskoy. The characterization of the heroine will be incomplete without mentioning her husband, who was the leader of the uprising.
A brief plot of the poem
The story of the wives of the Decembrists begins with the departure of Princess Trubetskoy from her father's house. The sentimental scene of her farewell to family is shown. Further we see how the princess travels across half the country in difficult conditions, and this is interspersed with her bright and happy memories, making up a strong contrast. Perhaps the main point where the characterization of Princess Trubetskoy is manifested in full force is her meeting with the governor, who is trying to stop the princess by any means. But nevertheless, in spite of everything, she continues to follow her husband.
Later, another woman, Princess Volkonskaya, whose husband also went to hard labor, catches up with her on the way. The poem ends with her meeting with her husband, which Nekrasov described with amazing strength.
Characteristics of Princess Trubetskoy
Nekrasov’s poem turned out to have a wonderful vivid and understandable characterization. Princess Trubetskaya (Russian women are represented precisely in her person) calls the most important duty of a woman the sacred duty to her husband. She puts him even higher than a duty to his father.
The quote characterization of Princess Trubetskoy may take several pages, so we give a description only in general terms.
Princess of Trubetskaya is ready to overcome any hardships and obstacles. The characterization of the heroine is manifested in a conversation with the governor. He scares her with the loss of title, the hardships of life in hard labor, even the death of her father, but nothing can stop her. The governor even told her that he would have to walk along with the convicts all the way, she agreed to this. True, when he saw such determination, he did not interfere anymore and set off transport. Princess Trubetskaya, not only in words but also in practice, proved that she was ready to go anywhere for her beloved husband.
Perhaps now this does not seem to be such a terrible punishment as before. But if you imagine that a woman from a higher society, for whom servants have always done everything, agrees to the life of a peasant woman, then the sensations are strong.
Characterization of Russian women through Princess Trubetskoy
In order to better understand the work and spirit of the times, at least one characterization of the hero is necessary. Princess Trubetskaya, her character in a poem, is ideally suited to paint the image of not only one woman, but also convey the mood of all women in Russia.
Reading a poem, we can immediately say that the princess sincerely loves her husband. For the sake of love, she is ready to overcome any obstacles, and this is one of the main features of all Russian women. They do not need either a higher society or a position in society if the husband is somewhere in hard labor. Princess Trubetskaya was not alone in her decision and her fidelity, another nine Russian women went after their husbands.
As they described living conditions in their notes, it was very difficult. Basically, they could only look at the prison, but even this gave enormous strength to their husbands.
Such selflessness can indeed be considered a great feat of Russian women.
The real story of Princess Trubetskoy
The life and characterization of Princess Trubetskoy are historical facts, and even more so - they are written down from the words of her son, I.S. Trubetskoy, using memoirs of the wives of the Decembrists themselves. Trubetskaya was the first woman to follow her husband, defying the whole secular society. Since she was the first, it was the hardest for her, which is why the poem is about Princess Trubetskoy. Yes, the princess really assumed incredible torment and hardships of the harsh life in Siberia, but her fate was not too bad. At first, she and her husband really lived in hard labor, and only 15 years later they were given permission to leave there. They settled in their home and were engaged in agriculture.
Over time, the link expired, and they moved to Irkutsk. Here the family was able to acquire a home. The historical characteristics of Princess Trubetskoy require an indication that this woman not only once accomplished a feat, but all her life was a strong personality. Everyone in the city knew her, because in the house of the princess she was always ready to feed and warm travelers, convicts and all the unfortunate. So Princess Trubetskaya earned respect and honor, so almost the whole city came to accompany her on her last journey in 1854.