Fairy tale "Conscience Lost" S altykov-Shchedrin. Summary, analysis of the work

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

This article examines in detail the work of S altykov-Shchedrin's "Conscience Lost". A brief summary and analysis will touch upon those special moral strings of the soul of a person and society as a whole. The question that has been of interest to people for more than one century, which should be understood first of all: “What is it - conscience?” Censor, controller, inner voice? Why is she needed if without her it becomes so calm? This and many other things are described in the article devoted to such a difficult topic, touched upon in the work of the outstanding Russian writer M. E. S altykov-Shchedrin "Conscience Lost".

About the writer

To begin with, I would like to say a few words about the writer himself, whose merits are significant and great, and the works written by him throughout his life put him on a par with the great minds of Russia: with Dostoevsky,Tolstoy, Pushkin, Chekhov.

So, S altykov-Shchedrin was born in 1826 on January 27 (15 according to the old style) in a noble family of an old family. Giftedness, intelligence, incredible diligence were faithful companions of the writer from childhood. At the age of 10 he was sent to the Moscow Noble Institute, two years later he was transferred to the Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum for excellent studies. "For freethinking" was exiled to Vyatka for 8 years. In 1856, in connection with the death of Nicholas I, the young writer returned back and resumed writing. Participation in the peasant reform, the position of governor of the province and work in the Ministry of the Interior became an integral part of the writer's life.

When he retired, he became the editor-in-chief of Sovremennik magazine. Agree, an impressive list of achievements! A talented writer, satirist, statesman, artist left an unforgettable mark on the history of his country, the works of S altykov-Shchedrin are topical and have not lost their relevance today.

The problem of one's own imperfection

The writer often refers to the theme of a fairy tale in his works. And here is an unusual situation before the reader - conscience disappears from the life of society. What happened to the people? They began to feel freer, but do not be mistaken and confuse the inspiring feeling of freedom with a sense of permissiveness that generates chaos, aggression and anger. The human disappears in man himself, exactly what should be distinguished in him by a thinking, creative, non-destructive being.and collapse.

What happened to the conscience? Pay attention to how the author calls her: "annoying hooker", and this is not accidental. Thus, the author makes it clear to the reader that conscience is like something alive and real, in need of nourishment and care, which in turn will thank its “owner” with a blessed feeling of peace and self-satisfaction. And without a person, she turns into that unnecessary appendage and becomes that “annoying hanger”.

Further in the work of S altykov-Shchedrin, as an example, one can observe the peaceful dream of the owner of a drinking establishment, who, perhaps for the first time in his life, behaved like a responsible person for his actions. Or, say, the very first "owner" of conscience - a drunkard who freed himself from the yoke of wine intoxication and realized all his worthlessness of existence, which is why he feels fear. But the bitter drunkard destroys only himself, he is only responsible for his actions, unlike Prokhor, the owner of a drinking establishment, who destroys so many people with his potion. Conscience gives Prokhor a sense of relief, since for the first time in his life he acts according to his conscience. What does the author want to tell us?

Summary of "Conscience Lost" by S altykov-Shchedrin, analyzed by us in this material, covers important aspects of the life of human society. If there was a conscience nearby, then there would be no drunkards in the world, and the owners of beer houses would bake bread and buns. Adults will definitely smile in this place, as each of them knows how difficult our world is. But that's why it's a fairy tale - you might think. Story“Conscience Lost” is a kind of reminder for adults and a lesson for children.

Own choice, or the Power of one drop

The journey of conscience continues, but most likely it was a ordeal that brings suffering, wandering. Conscience falls to the Trapper. The author does not give a name to his character, but is limited only by a nickname, thereby emphasizing the essence of this person. What is his fault? Unlike the first two characters, one of which destroyed himself, and the other - others, in this case the sin of the Catcher is great and heavy, he is a bribe taker.

The next owner of conscience is a completely different person, the author paints a picture of a prosperous family of a banker, but extreme prudence is the vice of a hero that even conscience sells on the sly. The tale “Conscience Lost” by S altykov-Shchedrin, the analysis of which makes one involuntarily think about the globality and depth of the question, about whether there is a place for conscience in our world at all? How easy and difficult it is to act according to conscience at the same time, but how easy it becomes on the soul when it is pure. How to breathe, how to live in a new way!

Comprehension of the concept of conscience

Turning to dictionaries, we find the definition of the concept of conscience. Conscience is a feeling and a concept at the same time, a sense of responsibility for one's actions is intertwined with the awareness of those moral principles on which the he alth of society should be based. This ability to distinguish between good and bad must be inculcated from infancy.years. Parents are a kind of guides to the world who teach the child to love good and hate evil, and children, in turn, fearing to lose the love and favor of their parents, clearly and quickly absorb and assimilate exactly those concepts that are given by their father and mother.

Summary of "Conscience Lost" by S altykov-Shchedrin, discussed in our material, can serve as the seed, the shoots of which will give food to the soul of every person.

Expected hopes

In the work, S altykov-Shchedrin gives voice to his main character - conscience. What does she ask for, what does she want? She asks to find her a little Russian child so that she can dissolve in his heart. “Why exactly in the heart of a child?” - you ask. The author thus wants to make the reader understand how important it is to place hopes on the younger generation, and it should be remembered that children are innocent and pure, and it will depend only on adults what colors their future world, conscience, life will be filled with. The problem of “Conscience Lost” by S altykov-Shchedrin concerns that side of the human soul, where the realization of good and evil, truth and hope comes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, summing up what has been said, I would like to note that the author of the immortal work wanted to emphasize the importance of conscience in human life, to show the reader conscience as the guardian of all those human qualities on which the best part of civilization was built. The summary of “Conscience Lost” by S altykov-Shchedrin, analyzed in our article, we hopewill give food for thought and touch the strings of your soul, help you make the right choice, give you peace.