S altykov-Shchedrin "Dried roach": summary and analysis

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

Mikhail Evgrafovich is distinguished by sharp sarcasm in his works. He touched on topics that were forbidden in his own time. One of them was criticism of the liberals, which is reflected in the Dried Wobble, a summary of which is presented below.

Briefly about the main things

Let's start with a summary of our work. More precisely, not ours, but S altykov-Shchedrinsky, he wrote this tale. Yes, yes, the work is declared as a fairy tale for very adult children. Due to a certain irony and sarcasm inherent in the writer, the tale did not pass Russian censorship. Tough amendments were required from S altykov-Shchedrin, but he had no intention of doing so. The case ended with the fact that the fairy tale written in 1884 was published a couple of years later in Geneva. It reached the Russian reader only in 1937 in the form that the writer wanted.

What is it about?

If we read the summary of "Dried Vobla"S altykov-Shchedrin, then we will admire its author. So subtly and accurately he hits his targets, ridiculing the liberals.

Once upon a time there was a vobla, the most common underwater inhabitant. She was born sedate, the curiosity of the fish was completely absent. So our vobla would swim, surf the expanses of rivers and seas, but once it was caught. Nothing can be done, I had to come to terms with such a fate. And then the roach was gutted and hung in the sun to dry. In this form, she, in general, appears before readers: she hangs herself in the sun, without entrails and a brain, and talks about life.

In fact, if you believe the summary of "Dried roach", the main character of the tale is satisfied with her fate. You can observe the complexities from afar, without interfering anywhere. Without brains and viscera, as the fish finds out, life is much easier.

While the roach hung, she gained wits, and as she became dried, the fish went to the sermon. The roach began to push her theory of life to the masses, and people were happy and happy. They listen to the speeches of the fish, things stand still. And why take them on when the roach says: you don’t go anywhere, you live quietly and peacefully, no one will touch you. And the fish is trying, teaching people about life: you need to be more careful, walk around like a drunk, but do not consider your conscience.

Among the audience were those who were looking for true answers to their questions. According to the summary of S altykov's Dried Vobla, the main character did not give such answers. She just ranted, threw empty words, teaching nothing worthypeople.

How did the case end? Because they just ate it. There was a scoundrel who, in front of the eyes of the crowd, took the roach by the gills, took it from the sun and, smacking his lips, ate it. Do you think people stood up for a great speaker? Whatever the case, she is accused of dangerous liberalism and rejoices when the roach is eaten.

Brief analysis

With a summary of Shchedrin's Dried Vobla, we figured it out. Now it remains to analyze the tale. In general, there is nothing complicated here: the vobla is the image of a liberal, carefully veiled from censorship. And liberals at the end of the 19th century were those who were looking for some kind of compromise with the authorities. They were considered reformers, while not having a clear plan of action. S altykov-Shchedrin could not stand such people, denouncing and ridiculing them.

The essence of liberalism, according to the writer, is empty talk. There is no action plan, one continuous chatter and excuses. Who were the liberals justifying? Cowards who prefer to live according to the principle "my hut is on the edge." By the way, there is a separate fairy tale about them, called "The Wise Gudgeon". Life passes by, but such a minnow does not want to act, as well as a vobla, which is only capable of talking. But she has admirers, moreover, they become followers of dried fish. And all because there is no own inner core, the people are led to beautiful words and promises.

Of course, there were those who struggled with the speeches of the fish. But such faded in the gray crowd, unwilling to do anything and enjoyingempty speeches.

Summary of "Dried Vobla" shows how ironic the author is about Russian liberalism. In the text you can find the affectionate name of the fish - voblachka. But this is not an indicator of Mikhail Evgrafovich's good attitude towards her.

Conclusion

We analyzed the fairy tale "Dried roach", a summary of which is presented in the article. Unfortunately, its problem is still relevant today, when people are fed with fairy tales and promises of a good life.