Mikhail Koshevoy in Sholokhov's novel "Quiet Flows the Don": characteristic

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The true master of the word Mikhail Sholokhov created the great work "Quiet Don". It is considered a truly folk epic in the style of Pushkin, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky. Many destinies, characters, worldviews were shown by an outstanding author in his novel. The formation of the characters of the heroes is shown in the critical years of history - the revolution, the civil war. A special place in the system of Sholokhov's characters, among complex, multifaceted, contradictory people, is occupied by Mikhail Koshevoy. The characterization of this man 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 in the turbulent years from 1912 to 1922 is shown by Sholokhov in the epic "Quiet Don". Everything is displayed in this work, from the 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 main characters of the novelThe author endowed with bright 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 his moral character. The reader observes the traditions of the Cossacks, universal moral values. To better reveal the characters of the characters, 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 drawn. At first, the Tatarsky 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 exacerbated by the turmoil that came with the revolution and civil war. Gregory had a friend, Mikhail Koshevoy, whose image is given by the author a little secondary. But it is he who is the complete counterbalance to Grigory Melekhov. With the advent of Soviet power, Gregory was tormented by doubts and hesitation, and Koshevoy was completely imbued with the idea of equality, justice and fraternity. While still working as a farmer in the village, Mishka thinks that somewhere people decide other people's destinies, and he just grazes mares. And he fully decided to devote himself to communist ideas.

Koshevoy's appearance

At the beginning of the novel, the reader sees Mishka Koshevoy as an ordinary farm boy. He has a naive and even a little childish expression, laughing 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 intoblue and cold. And this is no accident. Michael has undergone strong internal changes. He even stopped smiling.

The war made Mishka's face matured and, as it were, "faded". The hero became cruel, frowning, severely knitting his eyebrows and clenching his teeth. With his pupils, he so pierced the enemy that they had no place under his feet. At the end of the novel, a small warm light flashed in his eyes when he looked at Dunyashka and Mishatka (Grigory's children). A small particle of warmth and affection flared up and then faded away.

The origin of the views of Mikhail Koshevoy in the novel "Quiet Don"

Even in the first book, Sholokhov introduces readers to Mishka Koshev. This is an ordinary boy, no different from other Cossacks. He, along with the farm youth, has fun in the evenings, looks after the household. At first it seems that the author inserted this character only for extras. But soon he began to participate in the Shtokman circle. A visiting member of the RSDLP was able to completely convince the guy that the Soviet government was right, and he takes her side. He had no doubts about the correctness of communist ideas. His self-righteousness leads the hero to fanatical actions, very cruel.

Post-revolutionary changes in the hero

After a while, class hatred completely took over Mikhail and ousted all universal human qualities from his heart. After he learned about the death of his friends at the gathering, a final rebirth took place in him. After the murderShtokman and the Yelan communists, a burning hatred for the Cossacks settled in Mishkin's heart. Pity had already ceased to be his adviser, he acted cruelly with any captured Cossack. Having joined the ranks of the Red Army, he killed, burned houses. The most revealing scene of Koshevoy's cruelty is the punitive expedition to the village of Kargynskaya, where he personally set fire to 150 houses.

Where did such cruelty come from, because the guy was not like that before? In his youth, he could not even kill a pig. But Mikhail did not consider opponents of the new government to be people. On such he easily raised his hand, because they had no idea. The hero constantly calls such people enemies, and he sees them everywhere. Even Dunyasha, the person closest to him, should not speak badly about the communists, otherwise he will throw her out of his life without hesitation.

Koshevoy in the Melekhovs' house

Several years Koshevoy 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 meet the guest? There was nothing for them to love. At one time, Mikhail killed Dunya's brother, Peter, as well as their matchmaker. Dunyasha's mother, Ilyinichna, greeted Koshevoy rudely and unfriendly, even with hatred. But Mikhail persistently takes advantage of the fact that Dunya loves him. He turned out to be not only the chosen one of Dunya, but also the enemy of her family. Hatred and love merge into a single tragic episode. 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 Grigory,brother Dunya.

Be that as it may, guilt does not torment Michael'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 done the same in his place. In the end, Grigory nevertheless overcame himself and opened his arms for Mikhail to embrace, but he remained unshakable. Hatred took over completely. In the fourth book, Koshevoy was appointed chairman of the revolutionary committee on the farm, which made him even colder. His eyes turned ice cold.

Michael's deeds and human traits

The revolution that swept Russia turned Koshevoy's heart into a blazing fire. He became a faithful soldier of new times. On the way to a bright future for all the oppressed, he is ready to take the lives of his fellow villagers. He does not feel sorry for either friends or old people. He hates people who do not support communism.

Only something a little human wakes up in him when he marries Dunyasha and helps Ilyinichna with the housework. Being a kind person at heart, he shows diligence. 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

Mishka Koshevoy is the complete antipode of Grigory Melekhov. He first served in the regular troops of the tsarist army, then went over to the Red Army, then was in the ranks of the volunteer and insurgent army. After all the wanderings, he became a member of the Fomin detachment. There were people whofound 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 "Thou sh alt not steal" and "Thou sh alt not kill."

Grigory's throwing between the Reds and the Whites led him to an asocial environment. He knows how to fight, but he doesn't want to. He wants to plow the land, raise children, live with his beloved, but he is not allowed to. This is where Sholokhov shows the tragedy of the Cossacks of that time.

Unlike Gregory, Mikhail does not want to plow the land and work on it. 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 end of the novel is left open. The reader does not know if Grigory was able to find a little warmth next to his son.

Is Koshevoy a positive character?

If we consider Koshevoy from a political point of view, he took a positive side. He became a devoted fighter for a brighter future. But it’s even scary to think about his universal human positions. How can a fanatic without soul and compassion build something bright? So, rather, this character is negative.

What did Sholokhov want to show as Koshevoy?

Depicting 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 work, care for children, love lies the meaning of human life. These are the values that a real Cossack should have, and not the same as Mikhail Koshevoy.