The true master of the word Mikhail Sholokhov created the great work "Quiet Don". It is considered truly a folk epic in the style of Pushkin, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky. Many destinies, characters, worldviews showed an outstanding author in his novel. The formation of the characters of the heroes is shown in the crucial years of history - revolution, civil war. A special place in the system of characters of Sholokhov, among complex, multifaceted, contradictory people, is occupied by Mikhail Koshevoi. The characterization of this person of that era will help you understand his complex, but vibrant personality.
The beginning of turbulent events in the epic novel
The history of the Cossacks during the turbulent years from 1912 to 1922 is shown by Sholokhov in the epic "The Quiet Don". This work reflects everything from a peculiar Cossack way of life to their culture, traditions, customs. The novel is overwhelmed by the events of social and political life, which greatly influenced the fate of the Don Cossacks.
The author endowed the main characters of the novel with vivid individual characters. In the ups and downs of strong passions, they have difficult destinies. The central place in the novel is occupied by Grigory Melekhov. Sholokhov shows his difficult life path and the formation of moral character. The reader observes the traditions of the Cossacks, universal moral values. To better reveal the characters of the heroes, the author uses the beautiful landscapes of the Don land.
At the beginning of the novel, the life and customs of the Cossack village before the First World War are depicted. At first, the Tatar farm lived a calm, peaceful life. Sholokhov shows the connection of original and bright personalities - Grigory Melekhov and Aksinya Astakhova. But their personal lives are compounded by the upheavals that came with the revolution and civil war. Gregory had a friend Mikhail Koshevoi, whose image is given by the author a little secondary. But it is he who is the complete counterweight to Grigory Melekhov. With the onset of Soviet rule, Gregory was tormented by doubts and hesitations, and Kosheva was completely imbued with the idea of equality, justice and fraternity. While still working as a decorator in the village, Mishka reflects on the fact that somewhere people decide other people's fates, and he just grazes the mares. And he completely decided to devote himself to communist ideas.
Koshev's appearance
At the beginning of the novel, the reader sees Mishka Kosheva as an ordinary farm guy. He has a naive and even slightly childish expression, funny eyes. Sholokhov paid special attention to the eyes of the hero. In the first book, he showed them dark, and in the second they turned into blue and cold. And this is no accident. Strong internal changes took place in Michael. He even stopped smiling.
The war made Mishka's face mature and, as it were, "shed." The hero became cruel, frowning, severely moving his eyebrows and gritting his teeth. With his pupils he penetrated the enemy so much that they had no place under his feet. At the end of the novel, a small warm light flashed in his eyes as he looked at Dunyasha and Teddy bear (children of Gregory). A small piece of warmth and affection flashed and then de faded.
The origin of the views of Mikhail Koshevoy in the novel "Quiet Don"
In the first book, Sholokhov introduces readers to Mishka Koshev. This is an ordinary guy, no different from other Cossacks. He, along with farm youth, has fun in the evenings, watches the household. At first, it seems that the author inserted this character only for extras. But he soon became involved in the Shtokman circle. A visiting member of the RSDLP was able to completely convince the guy of the correctness of the Soviet regime, and he sided with her. He had no doubts about the correctness of the communist ideas. His confidence in his innocence leads the hero to fanatical actions, very cruel.
Post-revolutionary changes in the hero
After some time, class hatred completely took over Mikhail and replaced all universal human qualities from his heart. After he learned about the death of his friends from a gathering, a final rebirth took place in him. After the assassination of Shtokman and the Yelan communists, a burning hatred of the Cossacks settled in the Mishka’s heart. Pity has ceased to be his adviser, he has brutally acted with any captive Cossack. Joining the Red Army, he killed, burned at home. The most revealing scene of Koshevsky’s cruelty is considered to be a punitive expedition to the village of Kargynskaya, where he personally set fire to 150 houses.
Where did such cruelty come from, after all, the guy was not like that before? In his youth, he could not even kill a pig. But Michael did not consider opponents of the new government as people. He simply raised his hand at such, because they had no idea. The hero constantly calls such people enemies, and they see him everywhere. Even Dunyasha, the person closest to him, should not speak badly of the Communists, otherwise he would throw her out of his life without hesitation.
Kosheva in the house of the Melekhovs
For several years, Kosheva fought in the civil war in the ranks of the Red Army. Upon his return, he comes to the house of his beloved Duna Melekhova. How does the Melikhov family greet the guest? They had nothing to love him for. At one time, Mikhail killed Dunya's brother Peter, as well as their matchmaker. Dunyasha’s mother, Ilyinichna, rudely and unfriendly met Koshevy, even with hatred. But Michael persistently takes advantage of the fact that Dunya loves him. He was not only the chosen one of Dunya, but also the enemy of her family. In a single tragic episode, hatred and love merge. Dunya still loves the former Misha, but not the real killer. After all, he did not even hesitate to order the arrest of his former friend Gregory, brother of Duni.
Be that as it may, guilt does not torment Mikhail's soul. In all Cossacks who do not support Soviet power, he sees not his countrymen, but class enemies. He does not torment himself for the murder of Peter, because he believes that he would have acted in his place too. Gregory at the end still overpowered himself and opened his arms to Mikhail for a hug, but he remained unshakable. Hatred completely possessed him. In the fourth book, Koshevoy was appointed on the farm the chairman of the revolutionary committee, which made him even colder. His eyes became icy.
Michael's actions and human traits
The revolution that swept Russia turned Kosheva’s heart into a blazing fire. He became a faithful soldier of modern times. On the way to a brighter future for all oppressed, he is ready to take lives from his fellow villagers. He does not feel sorry for either friends or the elderly. He hates fiercely people who do not support communism.
Only something a little human wakes up in him when he marries Dunyasha and helps the Ilyinichna household. Being a kind person at heart, he shows industriousness. Michael firmly believes that ruthlessness in the struggle for a new life will certainly bring good results. Is it just that?
Grigory Melekhov and Mikhail Koshevoy
Bear Kosheva is the complete antipode of Grigory Melekhov. He first served in the regular troops of the tsarist army, then crossed over to the Red Army, then was in the ranks of the volunteer and rebel army. After all the wanderings, he became a member of the Fomin detachment. People gathered there who found themselves in robbery and led a dashing lifestyle with murders and robberies. Thus, the civil war gave rise to robbers who were not guided by the moral bonds “Do not steal” and “Do not kill”.
Throwing Gregory between the red and white led him to an asocial environment. He knows how to fight, but does not want to. He wants to plow the land, raise children, live with his beloved, but they do not give him. This is where Sholokhov shows the tragedy of the Cossacks of that time.
Unlike Gregory, Michael does not want to plow the land and work for them. He got a good job as a boss. At the end of the novel, Gregory ends his war, returns home, he has no desire to hide and fight. But his fate is in the hands of the authorities, that is, Mikhail Koshevoy. The finale of the novel remained open. The reader does not know if Gregory was able to find a little warmth near his little son.
Is Kosheva a positive character?
If we consider Koshevoy from a political point of view, then he took a positive side. He became a dedicated fighter for a brighter future. But it’s even scary to think about his universal positions. Can a fanatic build something bright without soul and compassion? So, rather, this character is negative.
What did Sholokhov want to show in the image of Koshevoy?
Portraying the fate of Mikhail Koshevoy, Grigory Melekhov, as well as other heroes, Sholokhov wanted to show the pricelessness of human life. Even the noblest idea has no right to take someone's life. The author of the novel focuses on the fact that only in labor, caring for children, love is the meaning of human life. These are the values that a real Cossack should have, and not the same as Mikhail Koshevoy.