Mikhail Aleksandrovich Sholokhov - author of famous stories about the Cossacks, the Civil, Great Patriotic War. In his works, the author talks not only about the events taking place in the country, but also about people, very accurately characterizing them. Such is Sholokhov’s famous story “The Fate of Man”. Analysis of the work will help the reader to get respect for the main character of the book, to know the depth of his soul.
A little bit about the writer
M. A. Sholokhov - Soviet writer, who lived in 1905-1984. He witnessed many historical events that took place at that time in the country.
The writer began his creative activity with feuilleton, then the author creates more serious works: “Quiet Don”, “Virgin Soil Upturned”. Among his writings on the war can be distinguished: "They fought for their homeland," "Light and darkness," "The struggle continues." On the same subject and the story of Sholokhov, "The fate of man." An analysis of the first lines will help the reader mentally move into that setting.
Acquaintance with Andrei Sokolov, who had a real prototype
The work begins with an acquaintance with the narrator. He rode on a chaise to the village of Bukhanovskaya. Together with the driver swam across the river. The narrator had to wait 2 hours until the driver returned. He was not far from a Willis car and wanted to smoke, but his cigarettes turned out to be raw.
The narrator was seen by a man with a child and went up to him. This was the main character of the story - Andrei Sokolov. He thought that a man trying to smoke, like him, was a chauffeur, so he went up to talk with a colleague.
This begins Sholokhov’s short story “The Fate of Man.” An analysis of the dating scene will tell the reader that the story is based on real events. In the spring of 1946, Mikhail Alexandrovich was on the hunt and there he talked like this with a man who told him his fate. After 10 years, remembering this meeting, Sholokhov wrote a story in a week. Now it’s clear that the narration is conducted on behalf of the author.
Sokolov's biography
After Andrey treated the oncoming one with dry cigarettes, they got into a conversation. Rather, Sokolov began to tell about himself. He was born in 1900 in the Voronezh province. During the Civil War, he fought in the Red Army.
In 1922, he went to the Kuban in order to somehow feed on this hungry time. But his whole family died - his father, sister and mother died of starvation. When Andrei returned from the Kuban to his homeland, he sold the house and drove to the city of Voronezh. At first he worked here as a carpenter, and then as a locksmith.
Further, he talks about a significant event in the life of his hero M. A. Sholokhov. "The fate of man" continues with the fact that the young man marries a good girl. She had no relatives, and she was brought up in an orphanage. According to Andrei himself, Irina was not a special beauty, but it seemed to him that she was better than all the girls in the world.
Marriage and children
Irina's character was beautiful. When the young people got married, sometimes the husband came home from work angry from fatigue, so he was frustrated by his wife. But a smart girl did not respond to insulting words, but was friendly and affectionate with her husband. Irina tried to feed him better, to meet him well. Having been in such a favorable environment, Andrei understood his wrongness, asked his wife for forgiveness for his lack of restraint.
The woman was very flexible, did not scold her husband for the fact that he sometimes drank too much with friends. But soon he even stopped sometimes abusing alcohol, as young people had children. First a son was born, and a year later two twin girls were born. The husband began to bring the entire salary home, only occasionally allowed himself a bottle of beer.
Andrei learned to become a driver, began to drive a truck, earn good money - the life of the family was comfortable.
War
So 10 years have passed. The Sokolovs set up a new home, Irina bought two goats. Everything was fine, but the war began. It is she who will bring a lot of grief to the family, will make the main character again lonely. This was described in his almost documentary work by M. A. Sholokhov. “The fate of man” continues with a sad moment - Andrei was called to the front. Irina seemed to feel that a big disaster would happen. Seeing her beloved, she cried on her husband’s chest and said that they would not see each other again.
Further, Sokolov tells how in one of the battles he volunteered to take ammunition to his comrades, but the enemy shell that exploded near him shocked the soldier. The joint on the arm was damaged from the blow.
In captivity
After some time, 6 German submachine gunners approached him, captured him, but not only him. First, the prisoners were led to the west, then ordered to stay for the night in the church. Here Andrey was lucky - the doctor set his hand. He walked between the soldiers, asked if there were any wounded, and helped them. These were such noble people among Soviet soldiers and officers. But there were others. Sokolov heard how one person by the name of Kryzhnev threatened another, saying that he would extradite him to the Germans. The traitor said that he would tell the opponents in the morning that there were communists among the prisoners, and they had shot the members of the CPSU. What further did Mikhail Sholokhov tell? "The fate of man" helps to understand how indifferent even to someone else's misfortune was Andrei Sokolov.
The protagonist could not endure such injustice, he told the communist, who was a platoon, so that he would keep Kryzhnov’s legs and strangle the traitor.
But the next morning, when the Germans lined up the prisoners and asked if there were commanders, communists, commissars among them, no one betrayed anyone, since there were no more traitors. But the Nazis shot four, very similar to the Jews. They mercilessly destroyed the people of this nation in those difficult times. Mikhail Sholokhov knew about this. "The fate of man" continues with stories of two captive years of Sokolov. During this time, the main character was in many areas of Germany, he had to work for the Germans. He worked in a mine, in a silicate factory and in other places.
Sholokhov, "The fate of man." Excerpt from the heroism of a soldier
When not far from Dresden, along with other prisoners, Sokolov mined stones at a quarry, having come to his hut, he said that the output was three cubes, and each one needed only one for the grave.
Someone passed these words to the Germans, and they decided to shoot the soldier. He was called to command, but here Sokolov proved himself a real hero. This is clearly seen when you read about the tense moment in Sholokhov’s story “The Fate of Man.” The analysis of the next episode shows the fearlessness of a simple Russian person.
When the camp commandant Muller said that he would personally shoot Sokolov, he was not afraid. Muller suggested that Andrei drink German victory for the victory, the Red Army did not, but agreed for his death. The prisoner drank a glass of vodka in two sips, did not bite, which surprised the Germans. He drank the second glass in the same way, the third - more slowly and bit off quite a bit of bread.
The amazed Muller said that he gives life to such a brave soldier and awarded him a loaf and bacon. Andrey carried the treats to the barrack so that the food was divided equally. Sholokhov wrote about this in detail.
“The fate of man”: a soldier’s feat and irreparable loss
Since 1944, Sokolov began working as a driver - he drove a German major. When the opportunity presented itself, Andrei rushed to his car and brought the major with valuable documents as a trophy.
The hero was sent to a hospital for treatment. From there he wrote a letter to his wife, but received a response from a neighbor that Irina and her daughters died in 1942 - a bomb hit the house.
One now only warmed the head of the family - his son Anatoly. He graduated with honors from the artillery school and fought with the rank of captain. But fate wished to rob the soldier and son, Anatoly died on Victory Day - May 9, 1945.
Named son
After the war ended, Andrei Sokolov went to Uryupinsk - his friend lived here. By chance in a tea room I met a grimy hungry orphan boy Vanya, whose mother died. After thinking, after some time Sokolov told the child that he was his dad. Sholokhov (“The Fate of Man”) tells about this very touchingly in his work.
The author described the heroism of a simple soldier, telling about his military exploits, fearlessness, courage with which he met the news of the death of his relatives. He will certainly bring up his adopted son as unbending as he himself, so that Ivan could endure everything and overcome on his way.