Description of the merchant Kalashnikov. Description of the image and interesting facts

Lermontov’s work has always remained a mystery, not without reason and his works are called unique. They reflected the emotional mood of the poet. Take even the variety of forms and the one that is observed in his work: the fantastic alternates with the real, laughter with sadness, strength with fatigue, prayer with a joke, romantic outbursts with cold skepticism.

Who would have thought that the same author is able at the same time to create works that are completely different in thought, mood and pace? In recent years, the poet’s soul has become increasingly peaceful. The best example is a song written in 1837 about the merchant Kalashnikov. Description of the main character in this article.

Folk Song Story

"Song about the merchant Kalashnikov" was created by the poet in 1837 in the Caucasian exile. This work of Lermontov is exceptional in its style. It is written in the spirit of a folk song and is presented to the reader as a legend sung by guslars.

The “Song” is also interesting in the religious mood with which it is colored. The main idea of ​​the poem is the humility of a strong, truthful person before a court, unjust, but binding. The author tells the tragic fate of a merchant's son, who stood up for his offended wife and washed off the offense with blood, but was executed.

The merchant Kalashnikov (characterization of the hero below) humbly endures the fate, he obeys the royal court and God's. He does not say a word against injustice, does not show the slightest threat.

Sovereign Oprichnik

The story begins with a feast scene. Among the many people present in the refectory of the king, the author in an art form identifies the main character: at the table everyone drinks, but only one does not drink. This hero is Kiribeevich. Following this, there is a dialogue between Grozny and the oprichnik. In the characterization of the merchant Kalashnikov, this episode plays an important role. It allows you to fully reveal the characters' characters.

The appeal of Grozny to his guardian and his questions are built up: first, the tsar frowned, then hit him with a stick on the ground and finally said a word that awakened the guardian from oblivion. Kiribeevich meets the sovereign. The tsar’s secondary appeal is built on the same principle: has the caftan not worn out, has the treasury become worn out, or has the saber been notched?

This episode shows that Kiribeevich is the king’s favorite. He takes advantage of his favor and grace. The oprichnik has everything - expensive caftans, money, good weapons. As the sovereign becomes interested, his anger and desire to take part in the fate of Kiribeevich also increase. This episode predicts the fate of the merchant Kalashnikov. The opponent’s description is hidden behind the Tsar’s last question: “Did the merchant’s son knock you down in a fist fight?”

The Oprichnik answers that the hand in the merchant family has not yet been born; his argamak walks merrily. The tsar’s assumption that the invincible fighter lost the battle to the merchant’s son was rejected by Kiribeevich as impossible. In his boast lies a psychological anticipation of the poem, a certain prophecy.

The cause of sadness of the oprichnik

At the peak of tsarist participation, the cunning and crafty Kiribeevich plays a heart-rending scene in front of him: I do not wet my mustache in a gilded bucket because I fell in love with a beauty without memory, and she turns away, as if from unchristian. The autocrat, having learned that the sweetheart’s sweetheart was just a merchant’s daughter, laughed: take a ring, buy a necklace and send gifts to Alena Dmitrievna. And do not forget to invite to the wedding, but bow to the matchmaker.

Slukavil Kiribeevich, outwitting Ivan the Terrible himself. It seems like he told everything in spirit, but withheld from the king that the beauty was married in the church of God. And why should the matchmaker Kiribeevich, if the sovereign himself is on his side. The author reveals the image of the enemy of the daring merchant Kalashnikov. Kiribeevich’s description is fully presented: a cunning self-confident person, a professional fighter and a noble family. His name indicates a non-Russian origin, Kalashnikov calls him a Basurm son.

The wealth and patronage of the king ruined the guardian. Kiribeevich became a selfish person, trampling on the family foundations. He is not stopped by the marriage of Alena Dmitrievna. Having stole his sweetheart, he offers her wealth in exchange for love. Nor does the presence of neighbors stop him, in the eyes of which he embraces and kisses his beloved, knowing full well that this threatens her with dishonor.

Merchant Kalashnikov

Kalashnikov is one of the main characters. We can say that this is the main image of the poem, since it has a positive role. A young merchant is sitting at the counter. He lays out goods in his shop, lures guests with a sweet speech, recounts gold and silver. He locks the bench as the bells ring off in the evening, and goes home to his young wife and children.

The merchant had a bad day. So far this is only evident from the fact that the rich boyars walk past, but they don’t look at him in the shop. The merchant returned home in the evening and sees that it is not right here either: his wife does not meet him, the oak table is not covered with a white tablecloth, and the candle barely glows before the images. He asked the worker a question, what is happening? They answered him that Alena Dmitrievna had not yet returned in the evening.

When the wife returned, he did not recognize her: she was pale, straight-haired and braided with braids covered with snow. He looks with crazy eyes and whispers strange words. His wife told him that his oprichnik Tsarist Kiribeevich had dishonored him. Such resentment could not bear Kalashnikov. He called his younger brothers and said that he would challenge the offender and fight to death. The merchant of the brothers asked if they beat him, then go out instead to stand for the holy truth.

The daring merchant Kalashnikov, whose characterization you are reading now, goes into a duel not out of jealousy, but for the holy truth. Kiribeevich violated the patriarchal order and God's law: to look at someone else's wife is a crime. Stepan Paramonovich is not out of jealousy going to a duel, but to defend his honor. First of all - the honor of the family, and therefore asks the brothers to stand up for the truth.

Duel

Before the battle, Kiribeevich leaves and bows silently to the tsar. The merchant Kalashnikov observes the rules of old veterancy: first he bows to the tsar, then to the Kremlin and the holy churches, and after the Russian people. Kalashnikov sacredly preserves the ancient foundations. He is not just a courageous and brave man, a merchant is strong in his spirit. Therefore, it wins.

The duel is preceded by a scene of boasting. Praise of Kiribeevich is just a ritual, and the merchant's answer is an accusation and a challenge to a deadly battle. The fight has ceased to be a contest, it is all a matter of moral correctness. Kalashnikov answers his offender that he has nothing to fear: he lived according to the law of the Lord, didn’t dishonor another person’s wife, he didn’t rob and “didn’t hide from heavenly light”. Kiribeevich, hearing the words of Kalashnikov, turned pale in his face, which means he admitted his wrong. Nevertheless, he hit his opponent in the chest.

The bones cracked, but he saved a copper cross hanging on the chest of the merchant Kalashnikov. In the characterization of the hero, this detail is significant. She says that the outcome of the match was already a foregone conclusion. Kiribeevich, pestering a woman married in a church, violated not only human laws, but also God's laws. Stepan Paramonovich trusts in God's judgment and tells himself that he will stand for the truth to the last.

Kalashnikov hits the enemy on a grand scale in the left temple, which contradicted the rules of the battle. Kiribeevich falls dead. In fact, the merchant committed the murder. But he is not deprived of sympathy - neither reading nor authoring. He goes to judge and fulfills his plan. From the point of view of popular consciousness, Kalashnikov is right.

The trial of Kalashnikov

The tsar, and he already knew the rules of the battle, in anger asks Kalashnikov if he accidentally or voluntarily killed his faithful servant. The merchant admits that he killed Kiribeevich of his own free will, and why he did so, he will only tell God one. In order not to scold the honor of the family, he cannot say this to the king. He boldly confesses to the deed of the king and is ready to suffer punishment. Only before death, he entrusts his family to the care of the sovereign. And the king promises to welcome orphans, a young widow and brothers Stepan Paramonovich.

In the description of the merchant Kalashnikov, it should be noted that without regrets he goes to the block for his honesty and courage. The fact that he did not bother and kept the answer honestly, the emperor liked. But the sovereign could not just forgive and release him. After all, his faithful servant and best guardian were killed. The merchant arbitrates. He aggravated his guilt by his denial to the king. And for this he must be punished.

The king is formidable, but fair. For honesty and courage, he does not leave the merchant his grace: he orders to go to a high place. He orders the ax to be sharpened, the executioner to dress up, and to ring the big bell. The sovereign bestowed the young wife of Kalashnikov and children from the treasury, did not offend the brothers either - he ordered them to trade duty free.

Stately well done

In the poem, Lermontov contrasts the merchant Kalashnikov with the oprichnik Kiribeevich. The author shows the merchant not only as a remote fighter, but as a fighter for the holy truth. The characterization of the merchant Kalashnikov from "Songs about the Merchant Kalashnikov" reflects the image of a stately young man, a Russian hero: falcon eyes burn, straightens his mighty shoulders and pulls on mittens.

The image of the merchant Kalashnikov is an image of a brave and strong man, steadfast and honest. Therefore, the song about the merchant was folded. And although his grave is nameless, people do not forget it: an old man passes by - crosses himself, a well-done man walks past - he will touch, if a damsel passes, then he will be sad. And the guslars will pass - they will sing a song.