The story "Spasskaya polis" by Radishchev: summary, main idea and analysis of the work

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

"Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow" contains three main themes: criticism of the autocracy and serfdom, the question of the inevitability of the revolution. Radishchev in this work goes beyond sentimentalism and approaches the realistic principle of depicting reality. The book is unique in that it combines various genres: from short stories to philosophical discourses, from letters to allegories. All these "pieces" are assembled into a single whole with the help of the general idea of the archaism of the autocratic system and serfdom. In addition, the traveler is a cross-cutting character, despite the fact that each chapter has its own plot and its own compositional completeness.

Spasskaya Polist

One of the sharp socially critical chapters is considered to be "Spasskaya Polist". It sums up Radishchev's thoughts about the dangers of autocracy. What is worth only the story about the governor, who used the money not for the purposes of public service, but for personal purposes (purchased oysters). And his assistant, thanks to "obedient" service, was promoted. That is, there is embezzlement and nepotism. The traveler's dream issatirical allegory of the entire reign of Catherine II. According to the writer, it was during her reign that the rottenness and depravity of the autocracy reached its climax. This is especially evident in the chapter Spasskaya Polist.

Radischev is a Russian democrat and public figure of the 18th century, who made an invaluable contribution to Russian culture, literature and social thought. In the chapter Spasskaya Polist, as in the entire Journey, the author speaks on behalf of the humiliated and tired peasants in order to have his say in response to the oppressors. There was no other writer with such a consistent and revolutionary mind as the author of a large-scale work, which included the chapter "Spasskaya Polist" (analysis will confirm this).

Censorship

The work could not be printed, although Konstantin Ryleev missed it without even reading it. Then the writer equipped his printing house and put 25 copies on sale. The remaining 600 he kept. But even twenty-five pieces were enough for the city to “buzz”. Rumor reached Catherine. The Empress was angry. Despite the anonymity of the authorship of Journey, Radishchev was quickly found. The investigation went on for a long time. The writer had three tasks: not to betray accomplices, protect children and save his life. It ended up that the death pen alty was replaced by exile to Siberia. So the "rebel, worse than Pugachev" remained alive. Radishchev committed suicide when, after returning from exile, he realized that the persecution had not ended.

Reality

In Radishchev's book (and in separate chapters, such as "Spasskaya Polist"), the main idea is the denunciation of serfdom. Catherine saw in it echoes of the French Revolution, although by and large all the events were inspired by Russian reality. Each meeting of the traveler only increases his confidence in the arbitrariness and scale of bribery prevailing in the country. The writer was not afraid to openly condemn serfdom. He calls it violence against a person both physically and morally. "Spasskaya Polist" is built on a bright contrast between the external greatness of the kingdom and its internal decay, despotism. The author draws a sharp line between the court, immersed in luxury, and impoverished Russia. The author openly says that people in power are capable of meanness. The images of embezzlers and swindlers, bureaucrats and petty tyrants are multifaceted. Everyone is bound by mutual responsibility and think only about how to increase their fortune and rob the peasants more. The story "Spasskaya Polist" paints this in bright light.

Searching for a way out

Radishchev and enlightened absolutism are criticized, along with the clergy and the church. They, according to Radishchev, are the main assistants of the sovereign in the oppression of the serfs. Revolution is the only way out of this situation. The writer says that the people have gone to the extreme. The moment has come when violence will overthrow violence.

According to Radishchev, republican government is possible in Russia, based on- private property. Every person has a right to it. That is, as a result of the overthrow of the monarchy, the land will go to the peasants. Of course, he knew perfectly well that all this would not come tomorrow. First, the revolution must take place in the minds of the peasants, and then in practice.

Summary

The chapter "Spasskaya Polist" tells how the traveler's companion tells him his story on the way to Polist. Everything was fine with him, he had a wife, but not for long. The fellow traveler was deceived by his companion, as a result of which he remained on the beans, and even all in debt. The pregnant wife from a nervous shock gave birth ahead of time. Neither the baby nor the mother survived. And the most deceived had to hide. The traveler sincerely sympathizes with his companion and even imagines himself in the place of the supreme ruler, just and kind, under whom the country flourishes, the people are happy. But then suddenly the veil falls from the eyes of the ruler, and he sees that in fact the country is devastated, and those in power are outrageous. This is the chapter "Spasskaya Polist", a summary of which is presented above.

Traveler

The "journey" genre allows the hero to evolve to the end of the work, as well as to find the truth. Who is the traveler Radishcheva? It cannot be said for certain that he is a writer himself. In principle, from the work we learn practically nothing about the facts of his biography. They are scattered in separate chapters in quite a small amount. He is an official and a poor representative of the nobility. From the work becomesit is clear that he does not have a wife, but he has children. At the beginning of the Journey, the hero himself recalls his shameful act, when he beat his coachman for no reason. This recollection of his suggests that he used to be an ordinary serf master. The traveler came to an understanding of the negative basis of autocracy later. He repented and even wanted to commit suicide, as he understood his powerlessness to change anything. Despite the negative events and pictures, by the end the story still becomes more optimistic. Radishchev believes this will not last long.

Three ways

The traveler, and Radishchev along with him, come to the conclusion that there are three possible ways to rid Russia of serfdom. These are the reform (“Khotilov”), the enlightenment of the nobles (“Kresttsy”), the rebellion (“Zaitsevo”). Many contemporaries believed that the author himself was a supporter of the rebellion. But it's not. Radishchev considers all three methods, and pays tribute to each of them.

Attitude towards the church

The man Radishchev believed that the decline in morality, rampant depravity and vice are interconnected with each other. At the head of everything is the church and the autocracy. The writer touched on everything: censorship, and the royal court, and the immorality of those in power. The source of joy for the author is that he althy beginning that the people have not yet lost. It is in him that the writer seeks and finds support and hope for the brighter best. After all, in spite of everything, the people work, live and rejoice. It is in ordinary peasants that the author sees the future of the country. Not only did Radishchev speak out against the autocracy, butand against reactionary tendencies such as Freemasonry. They distracted a person from public affairs and occupied his mind with delirium. The ideal for Radishchev is a brave man who lives the life of Russia, who cares for the truth. Of course, Radishchev was a hundred years ahead of his age. Today we highly appreciate his service to the fatherland.