Many 19th century writers described Petersburg in their works. The fact is that this city is not quite ordinary, it was created at the whim of one person, but contrary to all the laws of nature. It took very little time to build it, it grew, as if by magic. Petersburg for many has become the embodiment of conflicting human qualities, a symbol of the struggle of the beautiful with ugliness, wealth and poverty. To show the city in all its manifestations, Gogol wrote Nevsky Prospect. Analysis of the work shows the reincarnation of St. Petersburg.
Description of the heart of the city
It is impossible to unequivocally evaluate Petersburg; love and hatred for it are intertwined. Many talented people in their youth tend to get into this city. It is here that they, full of hope, become famous publicists, artists, musicians, critics, writers or, disappointed in life, sink to the bottom. People here have to endure hunger and humiliation, the city slowly sucks everyone in a swamp of ostentatious luxury, stupidity and vulgarity, and the center of St. Petersburg, its heart, is Nevsky Prospect.
Gogol (the theme of human vices is touched upon in the work) turned the capital into an animated giant with his own character, appearance, whims and habits. Thousands of people pass along the avenue during the day, but, apart from the meeting place, nothing unites them. The writer shows how the same place looks during the same day. There are no specific faces; only details of the general appearance are inherent.
The story of two people with opposing characters
Using the principle of contrast, Gogol wrote Nevsky Prospect.
An analysis of the work shows that the story tells about the fate of two completely different people: Lieutenant Pirogov and the artist Piskarev. The first is the embodiment of earthly goods: money, career, personal prosperity. The second sees his mission in serving the beautiful, this is a man of art, far from everything real.
Gogol’s novel “Nevsky Prospect” tells of two characters. The lieutenant is ready to take risks, he is perfectly oriented in reality, therefore he is ready to lose everything in order to conquer merciless Petersburg. The artist is very modest, he subtly feels the world, he cannot just forget about the hopes that have been broken by the avenue, and suddenly become rude and callous.
The influence of the city on people
To show the influence of Petersburg on two completely opposite people, Gogol wrote Nevsky Prospekt. An analysis of the work shows that Pirogov takes risks and loses, but for him, such an outcome of the matter does not change anything. The lieutenant is filled with anger and indignation, but under the influence of the avenue, all this passes, a cool evening calms him, and by 9 o’clock Pirogov regains consciousness. But for the timid Piskarev, the loss does not pass just like that, for him it becomes fatal. To show the different worldview of people, Gogol wrote Nevsky Prospect. An analysis of the work makes it clear that Piskarev’s meeting with the avenue is not in vain; it is he who causes the collapse of all the artist’s hopes.