Despite the simplicity of the Turgenev character, the description of Gerasim from the story “Mumu” should be at least two-dimensional: the characteristic is external and the characteristic is internal. Gerasim is a mysterious figure and giving the key to understanding the entire Russian national character.
Plot
An unusual Russian village peasant is taken from his native village and transported to Moscow (his peculiarity is that he is dumb). There, in the house of the local lady, they trust him to be a janitor. Since Gerasim, from nature to the limit, is neat and efficient, he does a good job.
Gerasim's problems begin when he falls in love with the laundress (Tanya), who works with the mistress. All the servants and the mistress herself perfectly see what is happening with the mute janitor, but the lady decides in her own way: she gives Tanya to marry Kapiton - the shoemaker and the drunkard. This marriage is gradually disappearing, but this is not about that.
Gerasim finds (rescues) a puppy on a wave of emotional grief. This is a girl (three weeks in total). He cherishes her and cherishes. The dog grows next to the wordless janitor and does not bother anyone until he snarls at the lady. She orders the dog to be removed from the yard. When this does not work (Mumu returns to his master), then they decide to physically eliminate the dog. After a long emotional ordeal Gerasim himself takes on the role of the executioner.
Turgenev’s story ends with the fact that Gerasim returns to the village and lives in solitude without dogs and women. The plot is very important, since the description of Gerasim from the story “Mumu” in one way or another is based on a chain of events that occurred with a mute janitor.
The appearance of the protagonist
Gerasim is absolutely beautiful in terms of anthropometric data: he is tall. It is under 2 meters tall. He is strong, powerful. Broad at the shoulders.
Like a real Russian man, he is hardworking. Despite the apparent paradox, strength and performance are more likely external characteristics of a person, not internal. Because they are visible to an outsider. Gerasim is performing. And this is a quality both external and internal. It can be interpreted (perceived) and so and so. Depending on whether the person internally accepts what he is told to do or not. So Gerasim (the main character of "Mumu") appears before an external observer. Next, the logical question arises as to what Gerasim is from the inside.
Inner World of Gerasim
The terrible thing is not what Gerasim does not say, but the fact that he is silent also internally. He does not have his position in relation to the world. All his life he was not like everyone else, so he used to obey. In addition, the realities of the 19th century do not have a cripple uprising. The paradox of Gerasim is that, for all his courageous appearance, the appearance of the winner, he is a loser, because inside he is completely empty. There is no content in it.
Of course, Turgenev endows the hero with traditional Russian virtues: pity for people and animals, kindness, but, unfortunately, the beautiful aspects of human nature are fed from a fetid source - lack of content. Gerasim is kind and sensitive only because he does not have the strength to be evil. And it would be nice if it were not for the situation with the closest and closest being - Mumu. She (the situation) clearly showed how Gerasim is spineless. This is the description of Gerasim from the story “Mumu” (its internal qualities).
The mystery of Gerasim
Why did Gerasim only after he lost everything, did he decide to act against the mistress? The mute janitor took away everything that he loved so much. Moreover, the very ability to love was pulled out of him, which is much more important and sadder. You can argue, but it seems that when Gerasim returned to the village, he was no longer afraid of the fury of the lady, he did not care. What prevented him from taking a dog with him and running away? Nobody would have looked for him, and even if they had found, they would not have returned. What did he risk? People would consider him an eccentric. Still would! To refuse a place in a manor’s house for the sake of a dog.
One way or another, Gerasim did not. He needed to lose the very foundation of his life in order to abandon the servile consciousness and find himself.
I.S. Turgenev brilliantly wrote the story "Mumu." The characterization of Gerasim can perfectly determine not only him, but also every person. A person must first lose something very important in order to understand something invaluable about himself. Thus, Turgenev’s little story can be generally perceived as a parable about a Russian person or a person in general. As you like more.
This is the description of Gerasim from the story “Mumu”. Each time, touching this small composition, the reader comprehends something important about himself. That is why classics and literature in general are valuable.