Summary: “Natalia, the boyar’s daughter” N. M. Karamzina

It is impossible to overestimate the influence on the literature and history of Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin. An outstanding scientist and literary critic eternally erected for himself a “monument not made by hands” with his outstanding work “History of the Russian State”. Recall that it was thanks to this man that the words about which you, dear readers, probably think that they are originally Russian: “love”, “impression”, “touching”, “aesthetic”, “moral”, “future” came into our speech. "," Scene ".

No more than as an announcement, we will present a brief summary for this story by Karamzin. “Natalia, the boyar’s daughter”, however, deserves to be read.

The prototypes of the characters in the story

At the same time, the documentary and vivid perception of the history of the Fatherland is distinguished by the writer Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin. “Natalia, the boyar’s daughter” is a short and comprehensive artistic narrative documenting the era. Being a deep connoisseur of folklore, the author did not write his works in the language of the Old Russian epic, as was traditionally established. Although it always clearly indicated the historical roots of the work. Documentation is characteristic of Karamzin’s creations : a historical account of the era always complements the summary.

“Natalya, the boyar’s daughter” has an epistemological source related to the biography of boyar Artamon Sergeyevich Matveev, educator Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina (mother of Peter I). His biography is really dramatic, at first - a brilliant career (the boyar became the right hand of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich). After the death of the suzerain, Artamon Sergeyevich was beaten by rival boyars, and he fell into disgrace (under Tsarevich Fedor Alekseevich). This bright and tragic biography is divided by Karamzin into two parts: before the disgrace and after it. In particular, the ordeals of Artamon Sergeyevich Matveyev with his young son Andrei were transformed by Karamzin into the sad story of the hiding young boyar Alexei Lyuboslavsky.

Story plot

For a real scientist, objectivity is above all, therefore history itself defines Karamzin's short story. Natalia, the boyar’s daughter, lives with her father, boyar Matvey Andreyev. (He is the owner of the “prosperous” part of the biography of the prototype.) Boyarin Matvey is in favor with the tsar and respected by people, rich, active, fair. Widower. The delight of his soul is the only daughter, the beautiful Natalya.

She is already on marriageable age. She was raised by a nanny. The girl’s life proceeds in a rather narrow channel, regulated by the set of housekeeping rules - “Homebuilding”. However, an adult girl with all her being feels the need to love, she already has a narrow life in the framework of the "Domostroy", which combines Christian norms and domestic recommendations of the 16th century.

In the temple at the church, she sees a young man whose gaze arouses passion in her. After a second meeting with him, the nanny organizes a date for the young. At the meeting, Alexey convinces Natalya of the need to follow him and marry without the blessing of his father. And so it happened.

When the nanny and the girl saw armed people near the forest dwelling of Alexei, they were frightened, considering them robbers. But Alex reassured them by telling the story of the disgrace of his kind. Secretly married, they lived happily ever after.

Further - that vassals by military affairs proved their loyalty to the kings, and the summary is evidenced. “Natalya, the boyar’s daughter” introduces the theme of war and service into the outline of her story. The young man learned about the beginning of the war with the Lithuanians. Alexei made a firm decision: with valor to earn the mercy of the king and the forgiveness of the family. He suggested to his wife Natalia for a while to return to his father. But the girl, dressed in a military dress, said that she would be with him in the war, calling herself his younger brother.

The war ended in victory. In the battles, the military merits of Alexei were undeniable. The tsar himself awarded the hero, but the highest award for Alexei was the cessation of disgrace. Having learned that Natalya, as a simple soldier, fought shoulder to shoulder with her beloved, the tsar was moved, and his father blessed their marriage. Boyarin lived to a very old age with the friendly family of Alexei and Natalia, rich in children. On behalf of the author of the story, who heard this story from great-grandmother, Karamzin at the end of the story testifies that he himself saw a huge stone over the grave of Alexei and Natalia.

Output

According to his convictions, Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin is a conservative. But the conservative is peculiar, in opposition to everything that came to Russia from outside. He sincerely considered the path of development of the Fatherland to be special, not western. The historian idealized the pre-Petrine era. It is this train of thought, dear readers, you can catch by reading the story "Natalia, the boyar's daughter." Its summary is surprisingly harmonious, the author is witty, it is interesting to read, there is a lot of subtle irony in the story.

Unfortunately, in real life, everything does not always end with a happy ending. When Peter I, who ascended the throne, admitted by his grace the innocence of the boyar Artamon Sergeyevich Matveev, he elevated and summoned him to himself, just then the streltsy rebellion began. Boyar, trying to pacify a ripening uprising, troublemakers literally torn to pieces right in front of the windows of the royal palace. This cruel scene deeply impressed the man who later “cut a window to Europe”.