Sleep, Bogatyr! Analysis of the fairy tale by S altykov-Shchedrin

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

Such a genre as a fairy tale is familiar to everyone since childhood. As we grow older, we begin to understand that many moments in these magical stories may not be as clear-cut as we thought in our youth. A number of fairy tales, especially author's, and not folk, have a clear deep subtext. Writers often turned to this genre in order to be able to convey to the audience in an allegorical form those thoughts and ideas that, if directly expressed, might seem seditious. An example of one of these works is S altykov-Shchedrin's fairy tale "Bogatyr", written in 1886. Like his other works, this one is addressed to children of a “fair age” - in other words, adults will reach the essence of the story. Even a superficial analysis of the S altykov-Shchedrin fairy tale makes it possible to understand that under the upper “popular-folk” layer there is a deeper and more exciting meaning for the author. The writer in a special manner, rather caustically and cleverly, ridiculed the vices of the then society and its shortcomings.

Before analyzing the tale of S altykov-Shchedrin, it is worth recalling that the author lived and worked in Russia in the 19th century, came fromnoble noble family. Mikhail Evgrafovich S altykov - Shchedrin (1826-1889) for a long time combined writing with public service, working as an official. Later, he was a renowned editor and publicist for various publications.

The work "Bogatyr" itself is small in volume. Therefore, it may seem that the analysis of the fairy tale by S altykov-Shchedrin will be a simple task. But, like other works of the author, this one is not at all easy. Outwardly, this is a story about a strong man who slept all his life in a hollow, instead of protecting his people from the cruel raids of strangers. But under the guise of the Bogatyr, who frightened everyone in the district with one of his snores, another idea invested by the writer is visible. Here the short-sightedness of the ruling class is denounced, the discrepancy between the actions of the top and the expectations and needs of the common people.

Starting the analysis of S altykov-Shchedrin's fairy tale, the reader first of all notices that its outward resemblance to the epics composed by the people is quite large. Here we will meet familiar fairy-tale characters - Baba Yaga and her son - Bogatyr, the owner of the power of a noble, forest destroyer oak forest. We recognize well-known folk motifs, the spirit and speech of Old Russian. The thoughts and actions of “their own” are also recognizable, who are afraid even of the heroic snoring, but rely only on his protection. The “adversaries” are also understandable, who were frightened by the booming sounds, but did not dare to rob their neighbors for a thousand years while the defender was sleeping. In the land of fairy tales, while the Bogatyr was sleeping, “our own” tormented each other so much that “strangers” would never have dreamed of. When the enemy forces attackedthe country where the strong man rested in a hollow, it turned out that he had died long ago, and the snakes ate his body in the hollow where he slept. The hopes of the people for the unknown hero will not come true. No one will save ordinary people from invaders, as you do not rely on fabulous defenders.

So, even a superficial analysis of the fairy tale "Bogatyr" by S altykov-Shchedrin shows the author's attitude to the situation in Russia at that time. The situation described allegorically reveals the idea: relying on the loud promises of high-ranking intercessors, the people deceive themselves. Not protection, but only plunder is brought to ordinary people by the top of society. Yes, and it is rotten, at its root. And we must not forget this, so that in the days of disaster we would not be unprepared or weakened by our own rulers.

In the days of brutal censorship that any work had to go through in order to be published, such tales seem bolder than the most outspoken statements of modern journalists who criticize the current authorities. In addition, wondering whether the relevance of the works of S altykov-Shchedrin has been lost today, can we give a positive answer without prevaricating?