Dmitry the Pretender: summary

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

"Dmitry the Pretender" - the famous tragedy in the verses of Alexander Sumarokov. It was written in 1771.

Historical prototype

The tragedy "Dmitry the Pretender" tells about the fate of False Dmitry I, who became the first of four impostors who declared themselves the surviving sons of Ivan the Terrible.

Modern researchers most often identify False Dmitry I with the fugitive monk Grigory Otrepyev from the Chudov Monastery. He found support and supporters in Poland, from where he left with a campaign against Moscow in 1605. Having coordinated all the nuances with the Boyar Duma, on June 20 he solemnly entered the capital.

Even at the first meeting, the Moscow zealots of Orthodoxy did not like that the tsar was accompanied everywhere by the Poles. At the same time, many noticed that he did not attach himself to the images in a Moscow-like way. However, this was attributed to the fact that he spent many years abroad and could forget local customs.

On July 18, his "mother" Maria Nagaya arrived from exile, taking the name of Martha in monasticism. In front of a large number of people, they hugged and cried. The queen was placed in the Ascension Monastery, where Dmitry the Pretender visited her regularly.

Only after that hepassed the coronation ceremony, having accepted the symbols of power from the hands of the new patriarch Ignatius and the boyars.

Literally immediately after the accession to the throne around the impostor began to conspire. The most famous is the confrontation between Dmitry the Pretender and Vasily Shuisky. According to a denunciation, Shuisky was arrested for spreading rumors that the tsar was actually Otrepiev's deprivation and was planning to eradicate Orthodoxy and destroy churches. The Zemsky Sobor sentenced him to death, but Dmitry himself pardoned him, sending him into exile.

In April 1606, the bride of Dmitry the Pretender Marina Mnishek arrived in Moscow with her father. On May 8, the coronation of Marina Mnishek took place, the young people played a wedding.

The overthrow of the impostor

False Dmitry was already overthrown in 1606. The Shuiskys played a key role in this. Vasily entered the Kremlin with a sword in his hand, giving the order to "go to the evil heretic".

Dmitry himself was awakened that night by the ringing of bells. Dmitry Shuisky, who was with him, said that there was a fire in Moscow. The false king wanted to return to his wife, but the crowd was already breaking down the doors, sweeping away the personal guards of the impostor. False Dmitry snatched the halberd from one of the guards, trying to drive the crowd away. Faithful to him, Basmanov went down to the porch, trying to persuade the audience to disperse, but was stabbed to death.

When the conspirators began to break down the door, Dmitry tried to jump out the window and go down the scaffolding. But he stumbled and fell, on the ground he was picked up by archers. He was unconscious with a sprained leg and broken chest. He promised the shootersmountains of gold for salvation, so they did not give him to the conspirators, but demanded that Princess Marfa once again confirm that this was her son. A messenger was sent for her, who returned, saying that Marfa replied that her son had been killed in Uglich. The impostor was shot at and then completed with halberds and swords.

Creating a tragedy

The work to which this article is devoted, Sumarokov completed in 1771. "Dmitry the Pretender" is the eighth tragedy in his work, one of the last. Prior to that, he wrote such dramas as "Khorev", "Hamlet", "Sinav and Truvor", "Aristona", "Semira", "Yaropolk and Dimiza", "Vysheslav".

After "Dmitry the Pretender", the year of writing of which you now know from this article, he created only one tragedy. It was called "Mstislav".

In 1771 "Dmitry the Pretender" was first published. It is interesting that the work was published in Russia at a time when a new bourgeois drama was already developing in Europe, represented by the plays of Diderot, Lessing, Beaumarchais. They supplanted classical tragedy and comedy, forcing them to give way to realistic everyday drama. Sumarokov, on the other hand, was an ardent champion of classicism, therefore he resolutely rejected all sorts of newfangled dramatic trends.

Summary of the tragedy

The tragedy of Sumarokov "Dmitry the Pretender" begins at a time when False Dmitry I has already taken the Russian throne. The author notes that sincehe had already committed many atrocities. In particular, he executed and exiled worthy and innocent people. Their main sin was in doubt that the throne was taken by the true heir and son of Ivan the Terrible. And so the country, weakened by the Time of Troubles, was finally devastated, Moscow turned into one big dungeon for the boyars.

By 1606, the ruler's tyranny reaches its limit. In Sumarokov's tragedy "Dmitry the Pretender", a summary of which is given in this article, it is stated that by that time the ruler had seriously decided to convert the Russians to the Catholic faith, putting the people under the Polish yoke. His confidant named Parmen is trying to reason with the king. But all to no avail, the king does not want to repent of anything. He declares that he despises the Russian people and will continue to exercise his tyrannical power.

The only thing that makes Dmitry the Pretender suffer at Sumarokov's is the daughter of the boyar Shuisky named Ksenia. But she is indifferent to him, besides, the king is married to a Pole Marina Mnishek. True, False Dmitry is not particularly embarrassed, he still expects to win the favor of his beloved. He plans to poison his wife. He tells about this plan to Parmen, who decides from now on to protect the queen in every possible way.

Civil unrest

Events in the tragedy "Dmitry the Pretender", a summary of which you are now reading, begin to develop actively after the head of the guard comes with an alarming message. He says that people are worried on the streets. Some are already openthey say that the current sovereign is not the son of Ivan the Terrible, but an impostor, a fugitive monk, whose real name is Grigory Otrepyev.

The protagonist of the work immediately guesses who is behind the rebellion. This is the father of Xenia Shuisky. He immediately demands to bring both of them to his palace.

Shuisky strongly denies all accusations. He assures that both himself and all the people believe in the king and love him. The impostor seizes the opportunity and demands, as proof of the boyar's devotion, to give Xenia for himself. The girl is categorically against and proudly refuses this proposal. Dmitry begins to threaten her with death, but even this does not make her change her mind. She has a fiancé named George, she is unable to forget him. Shuisky promises the tsar to influence his daughter and make her change her mind.

When father and daughter are left alone, he reveals to her that in reality he is going to overthrow the tyrant soon, but for the time being, you need to hide and agree with him in everything. Shuisky convinces Xenia to pretend that she has submitted to his will. Both Ksenia and Georgy agree to this deception for the good of the Fatherland.

Dmitry the Pretender in Sumarokov's tragedy easily believes this lie. True, he cannot restrain himself and immediately begins to mock his defeated opponent. George is outraged by this, although Xenia is trying to stop him, he tells the king everything that he thinks about him, calling him a tyrant, a murderer and an impostor. The groom Xenia is ordered to be imprisoned. After that, the girl cannot control herself either. Then the impostor, who is overwhelmed with anger, threatens to execute both young people. It is possible to soften it only in time for Shuisky, who arrived in time, who again assures that from now on Xenia will no longer oppose the wishes of the king. He even takes the ring from Dmitry to give it to his daughter as a token of the monarch's love.

Boyarin also convinces the impostor in every possible way that he himself is his faithful companion, the most reliable support of the throne. Under this pretext, he takes upon himself the settlement of the issue of popular unrest, which began again after George was imprisoned. In the tragedy of Sumarokov, Dmitry the Pretender does not object to this, but at the same time orders to strengthen his own security.

Georgy's release

In the tragedy "Dmitry the Pretender" (a brief summary will help you better understand this work), the main character himself understands that with ferocity and bloodthirstiness he sets people and subjects against himself. But nothing can do about it.

Parmen succeeds in this moment of weakness to influence him in order to release George. Discussing the tsar with Shuisky, he notes that even if the current tsar is an impostor, if he adequately fulfills his mission, he should remain on the throne. After that, he once again confesses his loy alty to the king. But even after that, Shuisky does not trust the feelings of Dmitry's confidante, so he does not dare to open up to him.

Ksenia and Georgy meet Shuisky again. This time they promise him with an oath that they will continue to endure everything.curses of an impostor, so as not to accidentally give himself away. In the end, the lovers swear that they will remain faithful to each other.

This time, their plan is more successful. In Sumarokov's tragedy "Dmitry the Pretender" (a brief summary will help you remember the plot), Ksenia and Georgy swear to Dmitry that they are striving to overcome their love with all their might. At this time, both turn very pale, and tears come out of their eyes. But the king is pleased with their renunciation of each other. He enjoys watching them suffer, feeling absolute power over his subjects.

Night of betrayal

True, he does not have to revel in his victory for a long time. Disturbing news arrives from the head of the guard. The people and the nobility are bitter. The coming night could be decisive. Dmitry summons Parmen to him.

At this time, Ksenia is trying to somehow stand up for the instigators of the rebellion, including her lover and father. But all in vain.

Parmen tries to convince the king that the only way to salvation is a merciful attitude towards his subjects and repentance. But the temper of the king does not accept virtue, he has only villainy in his mind. Therefore, Parmen receives an order to execute the boyars.

When the death warrant is announced to Georgy and Shuisky, they proudly declare that they are ready to accept death. Shuisky asks for only one thing - to say goodbye to his daughter before his death. Dimitri agrees to this only because he knows it will only increase their suffering and anguish.

Xenialead to the groom and father, she touchingly says goodbye to them. The girl, in fact, is deprived of all the people who made up happiness in her life. In desperation, she asks to be hacked to death with a sword. Finally, she rushes to Parmen, who was about to take the boyars to prison. She asks, has he really changed his compassionate disposition to villainy? He does not respond to her pleas in any way, but secretly sends prayers to heaven to fulfill his cherished dream of overthrowing the tyrant.

The denouement of the tragedy

The denouement in the tragedy "Dmitry the Pretender" comes the very next night. The king is awakened by the sound of a bell. He understands that the people's revolt still began. He is horrified, it seems to him that not only all people, but even the sky, have taken up arms against him, there is no way to escape.

Dmitry is in a panic. He demands from his small guards to defeat the crowd, which has already surrounded the royal house, and begins to plan an escape. But even in these moments it is not the approaching death that frightens him, but the fact that he can die without taking revenge on all his enemies. He takes out all his anger on Xenia, declaring that the daughter of traitors must die for her father and groom.

Armed conspirators burst into the royal chambers just at the moment when Dmitry raises a dagger over the girl. Both the groom and the father would be glad to die in her place. Dmitry agrees to leave Xenia alive only on one condition - he must return the crown and power.

Shuisky can't go for it, loy alty to the Fatherland is more important for him. George rushes to the villain, realizing that he will not be able to make it in time. Dmitry is already ready to stab Xenia, but at the lastmoment Parmen reveals his true self. With a sword at the ready, he pulls Xenia out of the hands of the impostor. Cursing, Dmitry pierces his own chest with a dagger and dies in front of others.

Analysis of the product

Researchers note that in many of Sumarokov's works, one of the key motives is an uprising, which ends with a successful or failed coup d'état. This theme is especially vividly manifested in the work "Dmitry the Pretender". This tragedy is all about trying to overthrow a tyrant and usurper.

In the center of the story is False Dmitry I, a villain and a monster. He kills people without hesitation, without any twinge of conscience. Moreover, he hates the entire Russian people, whom he undertook to rule. He is ready to fulfill the agreement with the Poles and give it into the possession of the Poles. He plans to establish Catholicism and the supremacy of the Pope in Russia.

When analyzing "Dmitry the Pretender" by Sumarokov, it is worth noting that the work describes in detail how the people's anger rises against the objectionable ruler. Dmitry already in the first act finds out that the throne is shaking under him. This is at the very beginning of the tragedy. In the future, this topic only develops.

In the fifth act, the overthrow of the tyrant finally takes place. Realizing that he is doomed to failure, he commits suicide in front of others. In the analysis of "Dmitry the Pretender" it is worth emphasizing that the conspiracy itself is not organized spontaneously. He has a specific ideological inspirer, which is the boyar Shuisky. At first, he pretends in every possible way to be a faithful servant of Dmitry in order to ingratiate himself with him. The ruler's confidante Parmen plays the same role in the work. Sumarokov approves this intrigue in every possible way, believing that in a particular case the end justifies the means. For the sake of overthrowing a despot who is ready to destroy the country, one can lie, dishonor and flatter, the author believes.

Sumarokov in his work categorically refuses excessive rigor and principles. Instead, he clearly demonstrates what fate can await the monarch if he does not act in the interests of his people.

At the end of the 18th century, the tragedy was perceived as a work by which Sumarokov, as it were, tells the nobles that the power of the tsar is by no means absolute and unlimited. He directly threatens the rulers with the prospect of overthrowing if they choose the model of behavior of a tyrant, as False Dmitry I did. Sumarokov says that the people themselves have the right to decide who is worthy to rule them, and on occasion is able to overthrow the objectionable monarch. According to the writer, the king is a servant of the people who is obliged to rule in their interests, in accordance with the laws of honor and virtue.

These thoughts were quite bold for the time. In addition, they were supported by maxims about evil tsars, about royal power in general, all this was uttered by the heroes of the Sumarokov tragedy.

Other literary sources

It is worth noting that the theme of the Time of Troubles was very popular in Russian fiction and historical literature of the 18th century, and remains so to this day. Apart fromSumarokov, many writers and historians have addressed this topic.

Of course, many were interested in the figure of False Dmitry I, who managed to achieve more than all his followers (there were four False Dmitry). The fugitive monk Grigory Otrepiev spent a whole year on the throne, brought a Polish noblewoman, whom he married, acquired supporters among the boyars, but was nevertheless overthrown.

Another work dedicated to this historical character is also called "Dmitry the Pretender". Bulgarin wrote it in 1830. This is a historical novel.

True, according to most researchers, he stole the idea for the novel from Pushkin, having read the drafts of his "Boris Godunov". It happened during unfortunate events. After the defeat of the Decembrist uprising, Thaddeus Bulgarin began to cooperate with the third branch of His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery, which was specially created to investigate the activities of the Decembrists, to identify all the conspirators involved in it.

Even Alexander Pushkin himself accused Bulgarin of stealing his ideas, having read them as an Okhrana officer. It is believed that Bulgarin could not have had another opportunity. Therefore, at the suggestion of the poet, he earned a reputation as an informer.

This was Bulgarin's second novel. Two years earlier, he published a work that he called "Esterka".