Grigory Melekhov in the novel "Quiet Flows the Don": characteristic. The tragic fate and spiritual quest of Grigory Melekhov

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

M. A. Sholokhov in his novel "Quiet Flows the Don" poeticizes the life of the people, deeply analyzes its way of life, as well as the origins of its crisis, which largely affected the fate of the main characters of the work. The author emphasizes that the people play a key role in history. It is he, according to Sholokhov, who is its driving force. Of course, the main character of Sholokhov's work is one of the representatives of the people - Grigory Melekhov. Its prototype is believed to be Kharlampy Ermakov, a Don Cossack (pictured below). He fought in the Civil War and in World War I.

Grigory Melekhov, whose characteristics we are interested in, is an illiterate, simple Cossack, but his personality is multifaceted and complex. The author endowed it with the best features that are inherent in the people.

Grigory Melekhov at the beginning of the piece

Sholokhov at the very beginningof his work tells the story of the Melekhov family. Cossack Prokofy, Gregory's ancestor, returns home from the Turkish campaign. He brings with him a Turkish woman who becomes his wife. From this event begins a new history of the Melekhov family. The character of Gregory is already laid in her. This character is not accidentally similar in appearance to other men of his kind. The author notes that he is "like his father": he is half a head taller than Peter, although he is 6 years younger than him. He has the same "drooping kite nose" as Panteley Prokofievich's. Grigory Melekhov is as stooping as his father. Both even in a smile had something in common, "animal". It is he who is the successor of the Melekhov family, and not Peter, his elder brother.

Connect with nature

Grigory from the very first pages is depicted in everyday activities, typical for the life of peasants. Like all of them, he leads horses to water, goes fishing, goes to games, falls in love, participates in the general peasant labor. The character of this hero is clearly revealed in the meadow mowing scene. In it, Grigory Melekhov discovers sympathy for someone else's pain, love for all living things. He feels sorry for the duckling, accidentally cut with a scythe. Gregory looks at him, as the author notes, with "a feeling of acute pity." This hero has a good sense of nature, with which he is vitally connected.

How is the character of the hero revealed in his personal life?

Gregory can be called a man of decisive actions and deeds, strong passions. AboutNumerous episodes with Aksinya speak eloquently of this. Despite his father's slander, at midnight, during haymaking, he still goes to this girl. Pantelei Prokofievich severely punishes his son. However, not afraid of his father's threats, Gregory still goes to his beloved again at night and returns only with the dawn. Already here, in his character, the desire to reach the end in everything is manifested. Marrying a woman he does not love could not make this hero give up himself, from a sincere, natural feeling. He only slightly reassured Panteley Prokofievich, who calls out to him: "Do not fear your father!" But no more. This hero has the ability to love passionately, and also does not tolerate any ridicule of himself. He does not forgive the joke on his feelings even to Peter and grabs the pitchfork. Gregory is always sincere and honest. He directly tells Natalya, his wife, that he does not love her.

How did the life of the Listnitskys influence Grigory?

At first he does not agree to run away from the farm with Aksinya. However, the impossibility of submission and innate stubbornness eventually force him to leave his native household, go to the estate of Listnitsky with his beloved. Gregory becomes a groom. However, life apart from the parental home is not at all according to him. The author notes that he was spoiled by an easy, well-fed life. The main character got fat, lazy, began to look older than his years.

Grigory Melekhov in the novel "Quiet Flows the Don" has great inner strength. Scene of beating by this heroListnitsky Jr. is a clear evidence of this. Grigory, despite the position that Listnitsky occupies, does not want to forgive the offense inflicted on him. He beats him with a whip on his hands and face, not allowing him to come to his senses. Melekhov is not afraid of the punishment that will follow this act. And he treats Aksinya harshly: leaving, he never even looks back.

The self-respect that is inherent in a hero

Supplementing the image of Grigory Melekhov, we note that in his character there is a pronounced sense of dignity. It is in him that his strength lies, which is able to influence other people, regardless of position and rank. Of course, in a duel at a watering place with a sergeant-major, Grigory wins, who did not allow himself to be hit by a senior in rank.

This hero is able to stand up not only for his own dignity, but also for someone else's. It is he who turns out to be the only one who defended Franya - the girl over whom the Cossacks abused. Being powerless against the evil being committed in this situation, Grigory almost cried for the first time in a long time.

Grigory's courage in battle

The events of the First World War affected the fate of many people, including this hero. Grigory Melekhov was captured by a whirlwind of historical events. His fate is a reflection of the fate of many people, representatives of the simple Russian people. As a true Cossack, Gregory completely surrenders to the battle. He is bold and determined. Grigory easily defeats three Germans and takes them prisoner, deftly beats off the enemybattery, and also saves the officer. Medals and St. George's crosses, the officer rank he received are evidence of the courage of this hero.

Killing a man contrary to the nature of Gregory

Grigory is generous. He helps in battle even Stepan Astakhov, his rival, who dreams of killing him. Melekhov is shown as a skillful, courageous warrior. However, the murder still fundamentally contradicts the humane nature of Gregory, his life values. He confesses to Peter that he killed a man and through him "sick in soul".

Changing the worldview under the influence of other people

Quite quickly, Grigory Melekhov begins to experience disappointment and incredible fatigue. At first, he fearlessly fights, not thinking about the fact that he sheds both his own and other people's blood in battles. However, life and war confront Gregory with many people who have completely different views on the world and the events taking place in it. After talking with them, Melekhov begins to think about the war, as well as about the life he lives. The truth that Chubaty bears is that a person needs to be cut boldly. This hero easily talks about death, about the right and opportunity to deprive others of life. Gregory listens attentively to him and understands that such an inhuman position is alien to him, unacceptable. Garanzha is a hero who sowed the seeds of doubt in Grigory's soul. He suddenly began to doubt the values that were previously considered unshakable, such as military Cossack duty and the king, who is "on our neck." Garanga makes the protagonist think about a lot. Gregory's spiritual quest beginsMelekhov. It is these doubts that become the beginning of Melekhov's tragic path to the truth. He is desperately trying to find the meaning and truth of life. The tragedy of Grigory Melekhov unfolds at a difficult time in the history of our country.

Of course, the character of Gregory is truly folk. The tragic fate of Grigory Melekhov, described by the author, still evokes the sympathy of many readers of The Quiet Flows the Don. Sholokhov (his portrait is presented above) managed to create a bright, strong, complex and truthful character of the Russian Cossack Grigory Melekhov.