Irreconcilable Gogol. Summary of "Taras Bulba" - a knightly challenge to "mouse souls"

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

The world created by Gogol once fascinated the great Pushkin. He cannot leave us indifferent either.

In a special, epic manner, Gogol created the story "Taras Bulba". Views on patriotism, raising children, comradeship, serving the Motherland of the old Cossack colonel, hardened in battles, reflecting on the lost greatness of the Russian Land, deserve close attention and respect today. Not in vain for the modern classic of cinematography Vladimir Bortko, Gogol became the next height after Bulgakov (the adaptation of The Master and Margarita). The summary of "Taras Bulba" was revealed by the Russian film director as close as possible to the original source and the writer's intention. The choice of the script was not accidental: the relevance of the story only increases with time. Too many public Little Russians and Great Russians suddenly appeared in the post-Soviet expanses. Each of them is trying to build his personal well-being and imaginary greatness, humiliatingopponent, but actually humiliating himself.

In an artistic epic manner, Gogol wrote his work - "Taras Bulba". The summary of the story, even in an extremely compressed form, achieves a lofty goal - to show partnership on the Russian Land as the cornerstone of our statehood. And what can we say about the unabridged version of the work! Mercantilism in the relations of the Slavs, as a harmful education introduced from outside, Gogol humiliates with his story, shows it to be untenable, calls it "Busurman". He denounces those who seek to replace private property (“stacks of bread”, “herds”) and the enslavement of other people - the original primordial spirit of camaraderie, which laid the foundation of the Russian Land.

The plot of the story plunges us into the "chivalrous" XVI century. Taras Bulba, a non-poor and very worthy person, managed to give his sons Ostap and Andriy a solid pro-Western education. What would our millionaires do in his place? They would help their children "settle down" in "bread" places in prosperous countries. (Although not our contemporary Gogol, we will try to correlate the summary of Taras Bulba as much as possible with modernity.) However, the wise Cossack colonel recalls them to their homeland so that in serving her they acquire the meaning of life.

Father's school of martial art, his views on life, born from the heart, "wise grief, work, prowess" was fully adopted by his eldest son Ostap. He has the gift of a commander: he quickly assesses the situation, understands and feels where the keythe direction of the blow, is able to turn the tide of the battle. Ostap actually saves the Cossacks of Nezamaikovsky and Steblikivsky kurens, by a quick maneuver repulsing the guns from the enemy, who were already ready to fire a volley of grapeshot. The gentry, having surrounded the daredevil in an unequal battle, captured him and, bringing him to Warsaw, publicly executed him, trying to break him down by torture. Ostap demonstrates unbending strength of mind, dying a hero. His last words are a call to his father to see if he sees him. His father is second only to God. Old Taras, arriving incognito in Warsaw in the hope of freeing his son by bribery, cannot but respond from the crowd. He is proud of Ostap.

But the youngest son of the chieftain, Andriy, is not like that. Although God did not offend him either by his article or his military qualities, he is a man of emotions and impulses. Having fallen in love with a Polish lady, Andriy rejects the idea of service, replaces it with mercantile views on life, goes over to the side of the enemy. And about this type of Slavs, who believe that there is a Motherland where they feel good, Gogol tells. The summary of "Taras Bulba" cannot do without a story about the implementation of the Cossack court and retribution to the apostate. Capturing Andriy in battle, Taras Bulba personally fires a fatal shot at his son, after first throwing a harsh accusation in his face about selling faith, “his own”.

The author (to whom, as you know, the brilliant Pushkin gladly "gifted" the plots of both "The Inspector General" and "Dead Souls") in the story "Taras Bulba" fundamentally stepped over the Rubicon, which separates two fraternal Slavic branches. Was he aware of the danger of further aggravationsuch discord Gogol? The summary of "Taras Bulba", corresponding to the classical heroic epic, cannot but indicate the depth and seriousness of the writer's understanding of this problem. Figuratively speaking, like the legendary King Arthur, with his story he tries to seat the Slavs at a round knightly table, where everyone is equally responsible for the Motherland with everything that he has. Unfortunately, it has so happened in our history that we “give a hand to the brotherhood” only at critical, fateful moments, “miserable”, “hitting the floors with our hands”, “grasping our heads”. Is this why our history is so replete with such critical moments?

The burning heart of Taras Bulba, the Cossack King Lear, who calls for brotherhood, is still a powerful allegory today, calling on both branches of the Russian people to discard everything fake, superficial, mercantile, to return to the original sources - to partnership.