"Dmitry the Impostor" is a famous tragedy in the verses of Alexander Sumarokov. It was written in 1771.
Historical prototype
The tragedy "Dmitry the Pretender" tells about the fate of False Dmitry I, who became the first of four impostors who declared themselves the surviving sons of Ivan the Terrible.
Modern scholars most often identify False Dmitry I with the fugitive monk Grigory Otrepiev from the Chudov Monastery. He found support and supporters in Poland, from where he came out with a campaign to Moscow in 1605. Having agreed all the nuances with the Boyar Duma, on June 20, he solemnly entered the capital.
Even at the first meeting, Moscow zealots of Orthodoxy did not like the fact that the Tsar was everywhere accompanied by Poles. At the same time, many noticed that he did not apply to images in a Moscow way. However, this was attributed to the fact that he spent many years abroad and could forget the local customs.
On July 18, his “mother” Maria Nagaya arrived from exile, and as a monk took the name Martha. In front of a large number of people, they hugged and cried. The Queen was placed in the Ascension Monastery, where Dmitry the Pretender regularly visited her.
Only after that he went through the ceremony of coronation, having accepted the symbols of power from the hands of the new patriarch Ignatius and the boyars.
Literally immediately after the accession to the throne, conspiracies began to be built around the impostor. The most famous is the confrontation between Dmitry the Pretender and Vasily Shuisky. According to the denunciation, Shuisky was arrested for spreading rumors that the tsar was in fact Otrepyev’s hack and plans to eradicate Orthodoxy and destroy the churches. Zemsky Sobor sentenced him to death, but Dmitry himself pardoned him by sending him into exile.
In April 1606, the bride of Dmitry the Pretender Marina Mnishek arrived in Moscow with his father. The coronation of Marina Mnishek took place on May 8, the young people played a wedding.
The overthrow of the impostor
False Dmitry was overthrown as early as 1606. The Shuisky played a key role in this. Vasily entered the Kremlin with a sword in his hand, giving the order "to go to the evil heretic."
Dmitry himself was woken up by a ringing bell that night. Dmitry Shuisky, who was with him, said that there was a fire in Moscow. The liar wanted to return to his wife, but the crowd was already breaking down the doors, sweeping away the personal guard of the impostor. False Dmitry pulled out a halberd from one of the guards, trying to drive out the crowd. Faithful to him, Basmanov went down to the porch, trying to persuade the audience to disperse, but was stabbed to death.
When the conspirators began to break the door, Dmitry tried to jump out the window and go down the woods. But he stumbled and fell, archers on his land. He was unconscious with a sprained leg and broken chest. He promised the Sagittarius the golden mountains for salvation, so they did not give it to the conspirators, but demanded that Princess Martha once again confirm that it was her son. A messenger was sent for her, who returned, reporting that Martha replied that her son was killed in Uglich. They shot at the impostor, and then completed what had begun with halberds and swords.
Creating tragedy
The work to which this article is devoted, Sumarokov finished in 1771. "Dmitry the Pretender" is the eighth tragedy in his work, one of the last. Prior to this, he wrote such dramas as “Horev”, “Hamlet”, “Sinav and Truvor”, “Ariston”, “Semira”, “Yaropolk and Dimiza”, “Vsesheslav”.
After Dmitry the Pretender, the year of writing of which you now know from this article, created only one tragedy. It was called "Mstislav."
In 1771, Dmitry the Impostor was first published. Interestingly, the work was released in Russia at a time when a new bourgeois drama was already developing in Europe, represented by the plays of Didro, Lessing, Beaumarchais. They supplanted classic tragedy and comedy, forcing them to give way to realistic everyday drama. Sumarokov, on the other hand, was an ardent champion of classicism, so he resolutely denied all kinds of newfangled dramatic movements.
Summary of the tragedy
Sumarokov’s tragedy “Dmitry the Pretender” begins at a time when False Dmitry I already took the Russian throne. The author notes that since then he has already managed to commit many atrocities. In particular, he executed and exiled worthy and innocent people. Their main sin was in doubt that the throne was taken by the true heir and son of Ivan the Terrible. And so the country weakened by the Time of Troubles was finally ruined, Moscow turned into one big dungeon for the boyars.
By 1606, the tyranny of the ruler reaches its limit. In Sumarokov’s tragedy, “Dmitry the Imposter,” a summary of which is given in this article, it is stated that by that time the ruler had seriously decided to convert the Russians to the Catholic faith, putting the people under the Polish yoke. He is trying to enlighten the king by his confidant named Parmen. But all to no avail, the king does not want to repent of anything. He states that he despises the Russian people and will continue to use his tyrannical power.
The only thing that makes the impostor of Dmitry the Impostor of Sumarokov is the daughter of the boyar Shuisky named Ksenia. But she is indifferent to him, in addition, the king is married to a Polish girl Marina Mnishek. True, this is not particularly embarrassing for False Dmitry, he still expects to achieve the location of his beloved. He expects to poison his wife. He tells of this plan to Parmen, who from now on decides to protect the Queen in every possible way.
Riots
The events in the tragedy of Dmitry the Impostor, which you are now reading a summary of, begin to develop actively after the head of the guard arrives with an alarming message. He says that people are worried in the streets. Some already openly declare that the current sovereign is not the son of Ivan the Terrible, but an impostor, a runaway monk, whose real name is Grigory Otrepyev.
The protagonist immediately guesses who is behind the rebellion. This is the father of Ksenia Shuisky. He immediately demands to bring both to his palace.
Shuisky denies all charges in every possible way. He assures that both he and the whole people believe in the king and love him. The impostor takes the opportunity and demands to prove Ksenia as evidence for the boyar’s allegiance. The girl categorically against and proudly rejects this offer. Dmitry begins to threaten her with death, but even this does not force her to change her mind. She has a groom named George, she is not able to forget him. Shuisky promises the king to influence his daughter and make her change her mind.
When the father and daughter are left alone, he reveals to her that he is actually going to overthrow the tyrant soon, but for the time being, one must lurk and agree with him in everything. Shuisky convinces Xenia to pretend that she obeyed his will. Both Ksenia and George agree to go for this deception for the good of the Fatherland.
Dmitry the Impostor in Sumarokov’s tragedy easily believes this lie. True, he can not restrain himself and immediately begins to scoff at the defeated rival. George is indignant, although Ksenia is trying to stop him, he tells the tsar everything that he thinks about him, calling him a tyrant, a murderer and an impostor. Xenia's bridegroom is ordered to be imprisoned. After that, the girl can not control herself. Then the impostor, who is overwhelmed by anger, threatens to execute both young people. It is possible to soften it only in time to be in time, Shuisky, who again assures that from now on Xenia will no longer resist the wishes of the king. He even takes a ring from Dmitry to give his daughter a token of love of the monarch.
Moreover, Boyarin convinces the impostor in every way that he himself is his faithful companion, the most reliable support of the throne. Under this pretext, he takes on the settlement of the issue with the unrest, which began again after George was imprisoned. In the Sumarokov tragedy, Dmitry the Pretender does not object to this, but at the same time orders to strengthen his own guard.
The Liberation of George
In the tragedy "Dmitry the Impostor" (a brief summary will help you better understand this work), the protagonist himself understands that the people and subjects set themselves against themselves by ferocity and bloodthirstiness. But nothing can be done about it.
At that moment Parmen manages to influence him in order to free George. Discussing the tsar with Shuisky, he notes that even if the current tsar and impostor, but if he is worthily fulfilling his mission, he must remain on the throne. After that, he once again confesses allegiance to the king. But even after this, Shuisky does not trust the feelings of Dmitry's confidant, therefore he does not dare to reveal himself to him.
Ksenia and George again meet with Shuisky. This time, they swear to him vow that they will continue to endure all the curses of the impostor, so as not to accidentally betray themselves. Finally, the lovers swear that they will remain faithful to each other.
This time their plan is more successful. In Sumarokov’s tragedy, “Dmitry the Impostor” (a brief summary will help you remember the plot), Ksenia and George swear to Dmitry that they are striving to overcome their love with all their might. At this time, both became very pale, and tears appeared in their eyes. But the king is pleased with their renunciation of each other. It gives him pleasure to watch their suffering, to feel absolute power over his subjects.
Night of treason
True, he does not have to revel in his victory for a long time. There is disturbing news from the guard chief. The people and the nobility are fierce. The coming night may be decisive. Dmitry calls for Parmen.
At this time, Ksenia is trying to somehow intercede for the instigators of rebellion, among which her lover and father. But all in vain.
Parmen tries to convince the king that the only way to salvation is a merciful attitude towards his subjects and repentance. But the tsar’s temper does not accept virtues, he has only evil in mind. Therefore, Parmen receives an order to execute the boyars.
When the death order is announced to George and Shuisky, they proudly declare that they are ready to accept death. Shuisky asks for only one thing - to say goodbye to death with his daughter. Dmitry agrees to this only because he knows that this will only intensify their suffering and torment.
Ksenia is brought to the groom and father, she touchingly says goodbye to them. The girl, in fact, loses all the people who made up happiness in her life. In desperation, she asks to kill her with a sword. Finally, she rushes to Parmen, who was about to take the boyars to prison. She asks, has he changed his compassionate disposition to villainy? He does not react to her prayers, but secretly sends prayers to heaven, so that his cherished dream of overthrowing the tyrant will be fulfilled.
Tragedy denouement
The denouement in the tragedy of "Dmitry the Impostor" begins the very next night. The king wakes the bell ringing. He understands that the popular rebellion has nevertheless begun. He is horrified, it seems to him that not only all the people, but even the sky, are against him, it is impossible to be saved.
Dmitry is in a panic. He demands from his small guard to defeat the crowd that has already surrounded the royal house, begins to build an escape plan. But even in these moments he is afraid not of impending doom, but of the fact that he can die without taking revenge on all his enemies. He takes out all his anger on Xenia, declaring that the daughter of the traitors should perish for the father and groom.
Armed conspirators burst into the royal chambers just at the moment when Dmitry puts a dagger over the girl. Both the groom and father would be happy to die in her place. Dmitry agrees to keep Ksenia alive only on one condition - they must return the crown and power to him.
Shuisky cannot do this; loyalty to the Fatherland is more important to him. George rushes to the villain, realizing that he will not be in time. Dmitry is ready to stab Xenia, but at the last moment Parmen reveals his true identity. With a sword at the ready, he wrests Xenia from the hands of an impostor. With curses, Dmitry pierces his own chest with a dagger and dies in front of others.
Analysis of the work
Researchers note that in many of Sumarokov’s works, one of the key motives is the uprising, which ends in a successful or failed coup. This theme is especially pronounced in the work "Dmitry the Pretender." This tragedy is entirely devoted to attempts to overthrow the tyrant and usurper.
In the center of the story is False Dmitry I, the villain and the monster. He kills people without hesitation, without any twinge of conscience. Moreover, he hates the whole Russian people, which he undertook to control. He is ready to fulfill the agreement with the Poles and give it to the Poles. He plans to establish Catholicism and the supremacy of the Pope in Russia.
When analyzing Sumarokov’s “Dmitry the Pretender”, it is worth noting that the work describes in detail how popular anger rises against an objectionable ruler. Dmitry already in the first act learns that the throne under him is staggering. This is at the very beginning of the tragedy. In the future, this topic is only developing.
In the fifth act, the tyrant is finally overthrown. Realizing that he is doomed to defeat, he commits suicide in front of others. In the analysis of Dmitry the Pretender, it is worth emphasizing that the conspiracy itself is not organized spontaneously. He has a specific ideological inspirer, which is the boyar Shuisky. At first, he in every possible way pretends to be a faithful servant of Dmitry in order to rub himself into his confidence. The breastplate of the ruler Parmen also plays the same role in the work. Sumarokov in every possible way approves this intrigue, believing that in a particular case the end justifies the means. For the sake of overthrowing a despot who is ready to destroy the country, you can lie, impersonate and flatter, the author believes.
Sumarokov categorically rejects excessive rigor and principles in his work. Instead, he clearly demonstrates what fate the monarch can expect if he does not act in the interests of his people.
At the end of the 18th century, the tragedy was perceived as a work by which Sumarokov seemed to tell the nobles that the tsar’s power was not absolute and limitless. He directly threatens the rulers with the prospect of overthrowing in the event that they choose a tyrant’s behavior model, as False Dmitry I. Sumarokov says, that the people themselves have the right to decide who is worthy to govern them, and if they are able to overthrow an objectionable monarch. According to the writer, the king is a servant of the people, who must rule in his interests, in accordance with the laws of honor and virtue.
These thoughts were very bold for that time. In addition, they were reinforced by maxims about evil kings, about tsarist power in general, all this was said by the heroes of Sumarokov’s tragedy.
Other literary sources
It is worth noting that the theme of the Time of Troubles was very popular in the domestic fiction and historical literature of the XVIII century, it remains to this day. In addition to Sumarokov, many writers and historians addressed this topic.
Of course, many were interested in the figure of False Dmitry I, who managed to achieve more than all his followers (there were four False Dmitry in total). The runaway monk Grigory Otrepyev spent the whole year on the throne, brought the Polish noblewoman whom he married, got supporters among the boyars, but still was overthrown.
Another piece dedicated to this historical character is also called "Dmitry the Pretender." Bulgarin wrote it in 1830. This is a historical novel.
True, according to most researchers, he stole the idea for the novel from Pushkin, having read the drafts of his Boris Godunov. This happened with unpleasant events. After the defeat of the Decembrist uprising, Thaddeus Bulgarin began to collaborate with the third branch of His Imperial Majesty’s Chancellery, which was specially created to investigate the activities of the Decembrists, to identify all the conspirators involved in it.
Even Alexander Pushkin himself accused Bulgarin of having stolen his ideas by familiarizing himself with them as an employee of the secret police. It is believed that Bulgarin could not have another opportunity. Therefore, with the submission of the poet, he earned a reputation as an informant.
This was the second novel of Bulgarin. Two years before that, he had published a work called The Estherka.