Oblomov’s childhood: at the source of apathy and inertia

Oblomov is one of Goncharov’s three extensive novels, written by him with an interval of 10 years. It was first printed in 1859. This is the time of an active search for a modern hero, a man who knows how to get along in the new world.

The main character of the novel is Ilya Ilyich Oblomov. His childhood passed in a family estate, he was always surrounded by the care of his mother and nannies. Now, the adult Ilya Ilyich is a resident of St. Petersburg. It is in the apartment of the protagonist that the novel begins. The situation in his house immediately declares his inertness. Goncharov creates a special type of character. Moreover, this type is not single, but generalizing, characteristic of the era of that time. The question that the author asks is whether such a hero can take root in the new environment or is he doomed?

In order to see the origins and root causes of laziness, you should look at Oblomov’s childhood. From an early age, little Ilyusha was used to the fact that everyone in the house was making cooks and servants. He was strictly monitored. His every step was monitored: God forbid that he would hurt himself, get cold, get hit, etc. Life in the village of Oblomovka flowed serene, slowly and calmly. There was no place for violent activity and fussiness. Oblomov’s childhood passed in an earthly paradise, at least so he sees his family estate in a dream. Oblomov’s dream is the key to solving the novel. Goncharov sees Oblomov's problem in his upbringing. Laziness was instilled in him from infancy. By the way, the author himself also had similar character traits. That is why contemporaries sometimes held the Goncharov-Oblomov parallel. His childhood (Oblomov and Goncharov spent it in the family estates) was similar, a love of “home-staying”, a kind of idleness, lack of entrepreneurial spirit, apathy, unwillingness to change something in life — this is what makes the author related to his hero.

In contrast to Ilya Ilyich, his friend Andrei Shtolts is shown. He is lively, energetic, agile. The German name is associated with punctuality and pragmatism. For Goncharov, the names were very important. After all, the name of the protagonist is symbolic. Ilya Ilyich - a reference to the national (Ilya Muromets), in the continuity of generations (he bears the same name as his father), "Oblo" - a circle. It is Andrei who introduces Oblomov to Olga - his failed love. Ilya Ilyich does not pass the test of love. He finds peace in the house of Agafia Pshenitsyna. They have a son - Andryusha. After the death of Ilya Ilyich, Stolz and Olga took him up to education. researchers see this as the author’s hope for the appearance of an ideal hero, combining Oblomov’s soulfulness and Stolz’s pragmatism.

Contemporaries met Goncharov’s novel well. Oblomov’s childhood, Oblomovka became key symbols. And laziness, apathy and inertia began to be called the common name "Oblomovism". This is the subject of an article by one of the most significant critics of the time, Dobrolyubov. True, the author could not see anything positive in the hero. The revolutionary-minded Dobrolyubov evaluated the hero only from the standpoint of his public orientations. Despite this, Ilya Ilyich is a pure, spiritually free, sensual nature. Oblomov’s childhood proves his closeness to the people and to everything Russian.