During his life, the Soviet writer Viktor Astafyev created many bright works. Recognized as an outstanding author, he deservedly has several state awards in his creative piggy bank. “Sad Detective” is a short story, which left a strong impression on readers. In our article we will analyze its brief content. Astafyev’s “sad detective” is one of those works in which the writer is worried about the fate of his country and its individual citizens.
Live life - write a book
Victor Petrovich Astafiev wrote the work in 1987. At that time, he had already received widespread public acclaim by publishing his very best books, “Until Next Spring” and “Snow Melting”. As critics noted, “Detective ...” could have turned out different if written at a different time. The experience of the past years affected it, and the author put all his personal experiences into the work.
A brief summary will help us get acquainted with the story. “Sad Detective” Astafyeva talks about the difficult life of former policeman Leonid Soshnin, who was left alone at 42. All that pleases him is an empty apartment, to which he is accustomed, and the opportunity to do what he loves. In the evenings, when the light goes out, in the silence of the night he sits down in front of a piece of paper and begins to write. It is likely that the presentation of thoughts on behalf of the “exposing one” (Soshnin, as it were, conveys the author’s thoughts) creates an additional perception atmosphere for the reader, filled with a large number of ordinary anxieties.
The essence of the book: about the main thing
Many admitted that not the detective as a genre affiliation distinguishes the story “Sad Detective” (Astafyev). An analysis of the work can directly say that it is based on deep drama. Sadness became a faithful companion of the protagonist when he divorced his wife and now almost does not see his little daughter. A provincial policeman really wants to, but cannot completely eradicate crime. He reflects on why the surrounding reality is full of grief and suffering, and love and happiness are crowded somewhere nearby. Through memories of his own life, Soshnin learns previously incomprehensible things in the hope that this, perhaps, will give, if not answers, then at least peace of mind.
Scraps of memories
Astafiev loves to explore the human soul, giving in this case this right to the main character. The novel “Sad Detective” is fragmented. Lenya Soshnin takes a fresh look at people close to him, analyzes individual episodes of the past, recalls the events he has witnessed. Fate pushed him with different people, and now, as if summing up the intermediate results, he wonders about their role in his life. Injustice and partial lawlessness do not give him as a minister of the law of rest. Why does the helpless person who has gone through the war die alone, and those who have committed a crime but received the forgiveness of society feel free? Apparently, such an imbalance will always weigh on Soshnin ...
Criminal components of the book
From the description of the criminal incidents, some of which are really terrible, the story “Sad Detective” is composed. Astafyev (we will consider the analysis of the work below) does not in vain describe the scenes of violence, proving the simple that it is so difficult to fit into the head.
Looking at any work in which murders appear, the possible motives of the crime seem to us understandable. What can serve as a better prerequisite than power, money, revenge? Refuting this, Viktor Petrovich opens his eyes to readers that even murder “for the count” or “just like that” is also considered a crime. The author fully shows the life disorder of the killer, his poor mood, negative attitude to society, as well as family and family showdowns, which often end very poorly.
Similarly, the character of the Russian soul is boldly revealed by the realist V.P. Astafyev. “Sad Detective” clearly shows how well our people love to walk. “Break away in full” - this is the main motto of any feast, while the boundaries of what is permitted are often violated.
Failures in the service, joy in creativity
And although the work is distinguished by a small number of pages that can be mastered in a short period of time, for those who are not familiar with the book, its summary is interesting. Astafyev’s “sad detective” is also a detailed description of the main character’s service. And if in this area he had an unpleasant aftertaste, often reminiscent of himself, then in the creative plan, Soshnin is more or less doing well. Leonid dreams of writing his manuscript. The only salvation for him is to splash out experiences on paper. The cynical editor makes it clear that an inexperienced amateur has a lot to learn, but it seems that Soshnin is still not worried about it ...
Good “Sad Detective” (Astafiev)
A summary of the chapters will not be able to convey the whole idea that the author wanted to convey to the reader. Each of them is rich in regular recollections of the protagonist, slowly leading to the logical conclusion of the story. What will be the ending of his story? Can Soshnin find the long-awaited lost happiness?
Without revealing the details of the ending, it should be said that fate will return the hero to the hero as a reward. Having met his wife and daughter, he will not be able to let them go, just as they, filled with “resurrecting, life-giving sorrow”, will return to his house.
Modern techniques of old history
A distinctive technique in creating the story was used by Victor Astafyev. “Sad Detective” includes plot inserts that today would be called flashbacks. In other words, the narrative is periodically transferred to the past, to the individual and most striking episodes of Soshnin's life, which influenced him. For example, echoes of a sad, difficult childhood when aunts were engaged in his upbringing. One of them was attacked by hooligans, and Soshnin managed to pull himself together so as not to shoot them. Another time, in a dirty entrance, teenagers pounced on him, provoking retaliatory actions. The hero tries to cool their ardor, and when the young “bull” is badly wounded, Leonid first calls the police station, confessing to his deed. But, as if wishing to arouse a feeling of guilt in them , he evokes it in himself ...
Such motives clearly indicate the key message of the story “The Sad Detective” - the moral problems of the modern world. How is this manifested? Watching the outrage being created, Soshnin himself unwittingly becomes his participant. At the same time, he remains dignified to the last. But will it be possible to change the world? Or is it easier to make others change their attitude towards the world?
Strengths of the work
If you rely on a brief summary, “Sad Detective” Astafyeva quickly develops the storyline of the protagonist, preventing her from stagnating. According to readers, the story is impressive, despite the peculiarities of the language with which Soshnin, as a narrator, delivers material. This is seen as a special charm, as if Astafyev had ceded the chair of the author to someone who wanted to become a writer. On the pages of the work, we see every time with what difficulty the service was given to Soshnin and with what dignity he came out of different situations that put his life in real danger. At the same time, he loves his profession and does not want to change it, remaining an honest, fair policeman fighting for truth and calm.
Role model
Creating Soshnin as a strong personality, Astafyev showed a worthy example of how not only law enforcement officers, but also ordinary citizens should be. For such simplicity and reliability, the author and his story earned the recognition of readers and critics.
Victor Petrovich Astafiev left a bright legacy for the modern generation. The main works, in addition to “The Sad Detective,” include the novel “Cursed and Killed,” the novel “The War Thunders Somewhere,” “Starfall,” “The Pass,” “Overtone,” and others. In some works of the author, feature films were shot.