And to Tolstoy the Russian character of the content of the work. How is the Russian character portrayed in the story "Russian Character"? Tolstoy Alexey Nikolaevich. All works

Alexei Tolstoy’s work “Russian Character” is a story within a story. The events take place in the early forties, however, despite this, the focus is not on the character’s valiant exploits, but on what happened to him after being seriously wounded. The writer sets himself the goal of showing how amazing and powerful the Russian character is. A brief summary of this work will allow you to familiarize yourself with the book and understand the author's intention.

A regular guy

At the beginning of the story, the author introduces the reader to the main character. This is a simple guy named Yegor Dremov. Before the start of the war, he lived on a collective farm and worked as a tank driver; he was a quiet, handsome young man. With his appearance, Dremov resembled God himself. His face, framed by charming curls, always radiated a warm smile. The guy loved his father and mother and treated them with respect. He was dating a girl whose loyalty he had no doubt about. He was sure that his beloved would be devoted to him.

The guy did not like to talk about his military exploits. From the driver’s stories it becomes clear that he had a lot of them. Chuvilev recalled with great pride how Lieutenant Dremov skillfully neutralized the enemy when their tank opposed a German tiger. Everything went as usual until one day a misfortune occurred, which showed how strong the character of the young Russian fighter was.

Episode about injury

The crew took part in the Battle of Kursk. During the battle the tank was hit. Two people died immediately. Before the car exploded the driver managed to pull out the burning Dremov. The guy received severe burns. In some places, bones could be seen under the charred skin. His face was badly damaged, but fortunately he did not go blind. Egor has undergone more than one operation. When the doctors removed his bandages, he saw an unfamiliar man in the mirror. Dremov calmed his worried sister. He said he could live with it. However, he had a hard time getting used to his new appearance.

After the incident, the guy was declared fit only for combat duty. The tankman came to the general and asked to return him to the regiment, citing the fact that he was not disabled, but a freak, and this certainly would not interfere with the matter.

Dremov's arguments were accepted. The general agreed with the guy and gave him twenty days of leave to recover. Yegor went home.

The guy came to his native village when it was already evening. Carefully making his way through the snow to the window, he saw his mother. She looked thin and aged. The mother was leisurely gathering food for the table. The guy didn’t want to scare his mother with his scary appearance. So, he went into the house, but introduced himself as a comrade of Lieutenant Dremov.

Everything in the room was painfully familiar. The old woman asked many questions about her son, carefully peering at the guest. After a while, the father joined the conversation. The longer Yegor stayed in this house, the heavier his soul became. He wanted to tell the truth, but he never dared to do it.

They talked for a long time on various topics:

• about how the sowing will go;
• about the end of the war;
• about warming.

The mother wondered when their son would get leave and be able to visit them. The next day, the main character told his parents that he wanted to see Dremov’s fiancee to pay her respects. Joyful and radiant Katya immediately rushed over. She approached the guest, but when she saw his terrible face, she recoiled in horror. Dremov realized that he had to leave today.

Then the mother treated them to millet pancakes. The guy talked about Yegor’s military exploits. He did not look at his beloved, so as not to see how the expression on her face reflected his ugliness.

After this date, Dremov decided to forget the girl and do everything to keep his parents in the dark as long as possible.

Returning to his comrades, Yegor felt relieved. Two weeks later he received a letter from his mother. After reading it, he decided to change his mind. The woman told how a guy came to them, introducing himself as a friend of her son. However, the mother’s heart feels that this was their Egor. The father scolds that if it really were Dremov, he would definitely tell the truth as it is. He believes that such a face is a reason for pride. The woman asked to judge whether she was right or out of her mind.

The guy came to Sudarev and told him everything, asking for advice. He assured the guy that he needed to confess everything.

He meets his mother and his beloved. The parent accepts him, and Katya says that she wants to live together all her life.

Main character

In his work, Tolstoy described an episode when there was still a year left before the end of hostilities. The author showed not even the guy’s military feat, but his family circumstances, relationships with his father, mother and girlfriend. The main characters of Tolstoy's "Russian Character" demonstrate qualities worthy of respect. This also applies to minor characters.

Thus, the tank driver Chuvilev, who was wounded, did not abandon the unconscious commander, but pulled him out of the flaming car. He saved Dremov, risking his own life, because the car could explode at any moment. In Chuvilev’s conscientiousness one can discern a trait that Russians highly value.

Yegor's character is manifested not only in battle, but also in relationships with family and loved ones. Arriving home after being wounded, he felt sorry for his mother and father, deciding not to upset them with the bitter truth. He thought that they would be upset because of his ugly face, because it had turned into a lifeless mask: only his eyes remained the same.

Thus, the following traits can be traced in Dremov’s character:

• restraint;
• modesty;
• sacrifice.

All these qualities are highly valued by Russian people, who are convinced that a real person should think first of all not about himself, but about others. The main character was mistaken when he believed that he would upset his loved ones by admitting that he was their son. He was convinced that he was sparing them without revealing the real truth. However, in reality, mother and father were already happy that Yegor was alive, because everyone around them was receiving a “funeral” from the front.

Yegor's parents

Parents love the main character simply because he is their child, and not for his appearance. They are proud that their son is a real hero; they value him for his honesty and courage, and not for his beauty. This reveals another feature characteristic of the character being described. This is where the focus is on inner qualities rather than appearance. After all, the guy’s disfigured face suggests that he took part in terrible battles and did not spare himself while defending his homeland. Among Russians, such a personality evokes great admiration, even despite the external ugliness.

That is why the elder Dremov says that “one should be proud” of having a face like that of the soldier who was visiting them. Yegor's mother also has a Russian character. She recognized her child, although after numerous plastic surgeries he had changed beyond recognition.

The parent realized that the visiting front-line soldier was their son. She felt it in her heart. At the same time, the woman demonstrated unprecedented sensitivity, so characteristic of the Russian people, who, as a rule, are restrained in showing emotions. The mother turned out to be very observant and attentive. She guessed about the experiences of a person close to her. It is very valuable when family and friends can understand each other without words.

Katya and friend Sudarev

The Russian character is also revealed in Yegor’s beloved. The bride remains faithful to Dremov. She remains devoted to him to the end, promises the chosen one that she will wait after the war and will accept anyone. The girl keeps her word, despite the fact that she is not the guy’s wife and, in fact, owes nothing.

Ivan Sudarev is Dremov's comrade and a friendly narrator. This man can be described in the following words:

• restrained;
• reasonable;
• thoughtful.

He gives an assessment to each character that appears in a small story. Thus, the author of the work, by combining the qualities of various heroes, forms a national character. This technique allows you to create the image of a multifaceted person.

As for artistic principles, the story should be classified as socialist realism. In the work, the conflict between the main character and his loved ones is far-fetched, since it exists exclusively in the head of the modest and sensitive Dremov. In reality, the characters are one more noble than the other.

The edifying nature of the national character is manifested through Sudarev, who evaluates all the characters. The author teaches the reader: he is convinced that every soldier should behave exactly like the main character. The fighter’s relatives and friends, in his opinion, are obliged to follow the example of Yegor’s father, mother and fiancee.

At first glance, Russian people are simple. However, when severe trouble comes, great strength is revealed in him. So, the story about Lieutenant Dremov has a happy ending.

If you need to prepare a retelling of a work for a reader’s diary, it is better to read a summary of Tolstoy’s “Russian Character”. Of course, ideally you should study the original work. However, if time is short, the shortened version will be the best solution.

“Russian character! Go ahead and describe him…” - the story “Russian Character” by Alexei Tolstoy begins with these amazing, heartfelt words. Indeed, is it possible to describe, measure, define what is beyond words and feelings? Yes and no. Yes, because talking, reasoning, trying to understand, getting to know the very essence is all necessary. These are, so to speak, those impulses, shocks, thanks to which life revolves. On the other hand, no matter how much we talk, we still can’t reach the bottom. This depth is infinite. How to describe what words to choose? This can also be done using the example of a heroic deed. But how to choose which one to prefer? There are so many of them that it’s hard not to get lost.

Alexey Tolstoy, “Russian character”: analysis of the work

During the war, Alexey Tolstoy creates an amazing collection “Stories of Ivan Sudarev”, consisting of seven short stories. All of them are united by one theme - the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, one idea - admiration and admiration for the patriotism and heroism of the Russian people, and one main character, on whose behalf the story is told. This is an experienced cavalryman Ivan Sudarev. The last story, which completes the entire cycle, is the story “Russian Character”. Alexei Tolstoy, with his help, summarizes what was said earlier. It is a kind of summary of everything that was said before, all the author’s reasoning and thoughts about the Russian person, about the Russian soul, about the Russian character: beauty, depth and strength are not “a vessel in which there is emptiness”, but “a fire flickering in a vessel."

Theme and idea of ​​the story

From the first lines, the author indicates the theme of the story. Of course, we will talk about the Russian character. Quote from the work: “I just want to talk to you about the Russian character...” And here we hear notes not so much of doubt, but rather of regret that the form of the work is so small and limited - a short story that does not correspond to what the author has chosen scope. And the topic and title are very “meaningful”. But there is nothing to do, because I want to talk...

The ring composition of the story helps to clearly clarify the idea of ​​the work. Both at the beginning and at the end we read the author’s reflections on beauty. What is beauty? Physical attractiveness is clear to everyone, it is on the very surface, you just have to stretch out your hand. No, she is not the one who worries the narrator. He sees beauty in other things - in the soul, in character, in actions. It especially manifests itself in war, when death is constantly around. Then they become, from a person “every kind of nonsense, husk, peels off, like skin that has become dead after a sunburn,” and does not disappear, and only one thing remains - the core. It is clearly visible in the main character - in the silent, calm, strict Yegor Dremov, in his elderly parents, in the beautiful and faithful bride Katerina, in the tank driver Chuvilov.

Exposition and setup

The story is set in the spring of 1944. The liberation war against the fascist invaders is in full swing. But she is not a character, but rather a background, dark and harsh, but so clearly and vividly showing the amazing colors of love, kindness, friendship and beauty.

The exhibition provides brief information about the main character of the story - Yegor Dremov. He was a simple, modest, quiet, reserved man. He spoke little, especially did not like to “rant” about military exploits and was embarrassed to talk about love. Only once did he casually mention his fiancée - a good and faithful girl. From this moment we can begin to describe the summary of Tolstoy’s “Russian Character”. It is noteworthy here that Ivan Suzdalev, on whose behalf the story is told, met Yegor after his terrible injury and plastic surgery, but in his description there is not a single word about his comrade’s physical disabilities. On the contrary, he sees only beauty, “spiritual affection”, looks at him when he jumps from the armor to the ground - “the god of war.”

We continue to reveal a brief summary of Tolstoy’s “Russian Character”. The plot of the plot is the terrible wound of Yegor Dremov during the battle, his face was practically bruised, and even bones were visible in places, but he survived. His eyelids, lips, and nose were restored, but it was a completely different face.

Climax

The climax scene is the brave warrior's arrival home on leave after the hospital. A meeting with his father and mother, with his bride - with the closest people in his life, turned out not to be a long-awaited joy, but to bitter inner loneliness. He could not, did not dare to admit to his old parents that the man standing in front of them with a disfigured appearance and an alien voice was their son. You can’t let your mother’s old face tremble desperately. However, there was a glimmer of hope in him that his father and mother themselves would recognize him, guess without explanation who had come to them, and then this invisible barrier would be broken. But that did not happen. It cannot be said that Maria Polikarpovna’s maternal heart felt nothing at all. His hand with a spoon while eating, his movements - these seemingly smallest details did not escape her gaze, but she still did not guess. And here Katerina, Yegor’s fiancée, not only didn’t recognize him, but at the sight of the terrible face-mask, she leaned back and got scared. This was the last straw, and the next day he left his father’s house. Of course, he had resentment, disappointment, and despair, but he decided to sacrifice his feelings - it was better to leave, to isolate himself, so as not to frighten his nearest and dearest. Summary of Tolstoy’s “Russian Character” does not end there.

Denouement and conclusion

One of the main features of the Russian character, the Russian soul is sacrificial love. It is precisely this feeling that is true, unconditional. They love not for something and not for the sake of something. This is an irresistible, unconscious need to always be close to a person, to take care of him, to help him, to sympathize with him, to breathe with him. And the word “nearby” is not measured in physical quantities, it means an intangible, thin, but incredibly strong spiritual thread between people who love each other.

After Yegor's quick departure, his mother could not find a place for herself. She guessed that this man with a disfigured face was her beloved son. The father doubted, but still said that if that visiting soldier was really his son, then there is no need to be ashamed, but to be proud. This means that he truly defended his homeland. His mother writes a letter to him at the front and asks him not to torment him and to tell the truth as it is. Touched, he admits to deception and asks for forgiveness... After some time, both his mother and his bride come to his regiment. Mutual forgiveness, love without further ado and fidelity - this is a happy ending, these are Russian characters. As they say, a man seems simple in appearance, there is nothing remarkable about him, but trouble will come, harsh days will come, and immediately a great strength rises in him - human beauty.

A. Tolstoy’s work “Russian Character”, a summary of which is given in the article, has the subtitle “From the Stories of Ivan Sudarev”. Thus, the author uses the “story within a story” technique, in which his friend, a fellow soldier, told the reader about the Russian warrior. And although the action takes place in the early forties, the focus is not on the valiant exploits of the protagonist, but on what happened to him after being seriously wounded. The author's task is to show how powerful and amazing a person is.

An ordinary guy - Egor Dremov

A. Tolstoy begins the story “Russian Character,” a summary of which you are reading, by introducing the main character. This is a quiet, simple tanker who lived on a collective farm before the war. He probably differed from his comrades in appearance. Tall, with curls and always with a warm smile on his face, he resembled a god. Dremov loved and respected his parents very much, and spoke with respect of his father, who was an example for him. Yegor also had a beloved girl, whose feelings he had no doubt at all: she would wait, even if she had to return on one leg.

Dremov did not like to boast about his military exploits. This is the real Russian character. A summary of his driver’s stories, meanwhile, shows that they were not uncommon for him. Chuvilev recalled with pride how their tank performed against the German tiger and how skillfully Lieutenant Dremov was able to neutralize the enemy.

So everything went as usual until a misfortune happened to the hero. It was this that showed how strong and firm the Russian character can be.

The crew had a chance to participate in the battle of Kursk. By the end of the battle the tank was knocked out. Two died immediately, and the driver pulled the burning lieutenant out of the car just before it exploded. Yegor received large burns: bones were visible in places under the charred skin. The face was badly damaged, but his vision was preserved. The guy had several plastic surgeries, and when the bandages were removed, a complete stranger was looking at him from the mirror. But he reassured his sister, saying that she could live with this. And he himself often felt his face, as if he was getting used to a new appearance - continues the story “Russian Character” by Tolstoy.

The summary of the conversation between the lieutenant and the general, to whom the tanker came after he was declared fit only for combat duty, boils down to the following. Yegor asked to be returned to the regiment and clarified that he was a freak, not a disabled person: “... This will not interfere with the matter.” The general, who tried not to look at him, accepted the arguments and ordered twenty days of leave to recover. After which the hero went home.

Meeting with family

He came to the village in the evening. Having made my way through the snow to the window, I saw how my mother, leisurely, kind, but thin and aged, was preparing for the table. And then she thought, folding her arms over her chest. Yegor realized that he could not frighten her with his appearance, and, knocking on the door, he introduced himself as his son’s friend, Lieutenant Gromov. He entered a house where everything was painfully familiar. The mother peered at him and asked about her son. Soon their father joined them. And the longer Dremov sat, the harder it was for him to admit to the old people that he was their son.

This is how the hero’s first meeting with his parents in the story “Russian Character” is described. Brief summary (Alexey Tolstoy in every possible way emphasizes how difficult it was for both the hero and the mother) conversations at dinner can be reduced to questions about what spring will be like and how sowing will go when the war ends. The old woman was also interested in when her son would be given leave.

Meeting with the bride

The next day, Yegor wanted to meet their son’s fiancée, Katya, to pay his respects. The girl came running instantly: joyful, radiant, beautiful... She came very close to the guy, looked at him and stepped back. At that moment, Yegor decided: he needed to leave today. Then they ate and the lieutenant talked about Dremov’s exploits (it turned out, his own). And he himself tried not to look at Katya, so as not to see the reflection of his ugliness on her beautiful face.

This is how the meeting with the past, pre-war life ended for the main character of the story “Russian Character”. The summary of the meeting suggests what decision Yegor made: to hide the truth from his mother for as long as possible and try to forget Katya forever.

Letter from home

Having met his comrades, Dremov felt relieved. And two weeks later he received a letter about his mother, forcing him to change his decision. Such is the Russian character. The summary of the letter is as follows. Marya Polikarpovna told how a man came to them. The mother's heart suggests that it was Yegor himself. The old man scolds and says that if he had a son, he would certainly open up. After all, you should be proud of such a face. That's why I asked you to judge whether she was right or

Yegor came with a letter to Sudarev, and he advised him to quickly give an answer and confess everything.

The story “Russian Character”, a summary of which you have read, receives an unexpected ending. After some time, Dremov was summoned by the captain, and Sudarev went with him. So the narrator witnessed Yegor’s meeting with his mother and Katya. The latter really was a beauty, and to the lieutenant’s words that she shouldn’t wait for him like that, she replied: “... I’m going to live with you forever...”.

“It seems like a simple man, but a severe misfortune will come... and a great strength rises in him - human beauty,” ends the story “Russian Character” by Tolstoy.

Russian character can be very difficult to describe. You can take some feat as a basis. But which one? After all, there are many of them. Let me tell you, Ivan Sudarev, a story from the life of my friend Lieutenant Yegor Dremov. This is a simple man from the Saratov region. He has a Gold Star and many medals on his chest. He has a strong build, wavy hair, a handsome face and a charming smile.

People often become better people in war. But my friend has always been like this. He treated his parents, Marya Polikarpovna and Yegor Egorovich, with respect and love. Yegor did not boast about his bride. He only mentioned her in passing as a good and faithful girl. The guy also did not like to talk about his military exploits. We learned about them from members of his crew, because Dremov was a tank driver.

One day a misfortune happened to the lieutenant. During another battle with the German invaders, his tank was hit by two shells and caught fire. Yegor was unconscious, and his clothes were on fire. The driver Chuvilev pulled him out of the burning tank. The guy survived, but underwent many plastic surgeries on his face. It was now so terrible that people tried not to look at it.

The commission recognized Dremov as fit for non-combatant service. But first the lieutenant received three weeks leave and went home. This was in March. From the station he walked about twenty kilometers. Yegor arrived in the village when it was already dark. He approached the house, looked out the window and saw his mother. Afraid of scaring her, the guy decided to introduce himself as a different person.

The mother did not recognize her son either by appearance or voice. After all the operations, even the guy’s voice became dull and hoarse. Yegor called himself Lieutenant Gromov, who brought news from her son. He began to tell the woman in detail about Senior Lieutenant Dremov, that is, about himself. At this time, the father came, sat down at the table and also began to listen to the guest’s story.

We started having dinner. Yegor noticed that his mother was looking very intently at his hand. He grinned. On the one hand, it was good for him that he was at home, on the other hand, it was terribly offensive that he was not recognized. After talking a little more, everyone went to bed. The father fell asleep, but the mother could not sleep for a long time.

In the morning, Yegor began asking his mother about Katya Malysheva in order to see her. A neighbor's girl was sent for her, and after a short time Katya was already standing on the threshold of his house. How the guy wanted to kiss her. She was gentle, cheerful and beautiful. The girl did not immediately see the lieutenant’s face. Before that, she managed to say that she was really looking forward to the young man. But then, looking at Yegor, Katerina got scared and fell silent. That's when he decided to leave his home.

He walked to the station and all the way asked himself the question: “What should he do now?” The guy returned to the regiment, where he was greeted with great joy, and his soul became lighter. He decided not to tell his mother about his misfortune for as long as possible, and to forget Katya. But two weeks later Yegor received a letter from his mother. In it, she wrote that she saw her son in the unexpected guest, and not a stranger. But my father doesn’t believe it. She says she's gone crazy.

Yegor showed me this letter. And I advised him to confess everything to his mother. He listened to me and wrote a response letter in which he confirmed his presence in the house and asked forgiveness for his ignorance. After some time, his mother and a beautiful girl Katya came to see Senior Lieutenant Dremov, promising the guy to love him and always be by his side.

This is the Russian character! A simple person has great strength—spiritual beauty. She sleeps for the time being. And when trouble comes, it wakes up.

From the first lines, the author indicates the theme of the story. Of course, we will talk about the Russian character. Quote from the work: “I just want to talk to you about the Russian character...” And here we hear notes not so much of doubt, but rather of regret that the form of the work is so small and limited - a short story that does not correspond to what the author has chosen scope. And the topic and title are very “meaningful”. But there is nothing to do, because I want to talk...

The ring composition of the story helps to clearly clarify the idea of ​​the work. Both at the beginning and at the end we read the author’s reflections on beauty. What is beauty? Physical attractiveness is clear to everyone, it is on the very surface, you just have to stretch out your hand. No, she is not the one who worries the narrator. He sees beauty in other things - in the soul, in character, in actions. It especially manifests itself in war, when death is constantly around. Then people become better, “every kind of nonsense, husk, peels off from a person, like skin that has become dead after a sunburn,” and does not disappear, and only one thing remains - the core. It is clearly visible in the main character - in the silent, calm, strict Yegor Dremov, in his elderly parents, in the beautiful and faithful bride Katerina, in the tank driver Chuvilov.

>Video on the topic

Exposition and setup

The story is set in the spring of 1944. The liberation war against the fascist invaders is in full swing. But she is not a character, but rather a background, dark and harsh, but so clearly and vividly showing the amazing colors of love, kindness, friendship and beauty.

The exhibition provides brief information about the main character of the story - Yegor Dremov. He was a simple, modest, quiet, reserved man. He spoke little, especially did not like to “rant” about military exploits and was embarrassed to talk about love. Only once did he casually mention his fiancée, a good and faithful girl. From this moment we can begin to describe the summary of Tolstoy’s “Russian Character”. It is noteworthy here that Ivan Suzdalev, on whose behalf the story is told, met Yegor after his terrible injury and plastic surgery, but in his description there is not a single word about his comrade’s physical disabilities. On the contrary, he sees only beauty, “spiritual affection”, looks at him when he jumps from the armor to the ground - “the god of war.”

We continue to reveal a brief summary of Tolstoy’s “Russian Character”. The plot begins with the terrible injury of Yegor Dremov during the battle on the Kursk Bulge. His face was almost destroyed, and even bones were visible in places, but he survived. His eyelids, lips, and nose were restored, but it was a completely different face.

Climax

The climax scene is the brave warrior’s arrival home on leave after the hospital. A meeting with his father and mother, with his bride - with the closest people in his life, turned out not to be a long-awaited joy, but to bitter inner loneliness. He could not, did not dare to admit to his old parents that the man standing in front of them with a disfigured appearance and an alien voice was their son. You can’t let your mother’s old face tremble desperately. However, there was a glimmer of hope in him that his father and mother themselves would recognize him, guess without explanation who had come to them, and then this invisible barrier would be broken. But that did not happen. It cannot be said that Maria Polikarpovna’s maternal heart felt nothing at all. His hand with a spoon while eating, his movements - these seemingly smallest details did not escape her gaze, but she still did not guess. And here Katerina, Yegor’s fiancée, not only didn’t recognize him, but at the sight of the terrible face-mask, she leaned back and got scared. This was the last straw, and the next day he left his father’s house. Of course, he had resentment, disappointment, and despair, but he decided to sacrifice his feelings - it was better to leave, to isolate himself, so as not to frighten his nearest and dearest. Summary of Tolstoy’s “Russian Character” does not end there.

Denouement and conclusion

One of the main features of the Russian character, the Russian soul is sacrificial love. It is precisely this feeling that is true, unconditional. They love not for something and not for the sake of something. This is an irresistible, unconscious need to always be close to a person, to take care of him, to help him, to sympathize with him, to breathe with him. And the word “nearby” is not measured in physical quantities, it means an intangible, thin, but incredibly strong spiritual thread between people who love each other.

After Yegor's quick departure, his mother could not find a place for herself. She guessed that this man with a disfigured face was her beloved son. The father doubted, but still said that if that visiting soldier was really his son, then there is no need to be ashamed, but to be proud. This means that he truly defended his homeland. His mother writes a letter to him at the front and asks him not to torment him and to tell the truth as it is. Touched, he admits to deception and asks for forgiveness... After some time, both his mother and his bride come to his regiment. Mutual forgiveness, love without unnecessary words and fidelity - this is a happy ending, these are Russian characters. As they say, a man seems simple in appearance, there is nothing remarkable about him, but trouble will come, harsh days will come, and immediately a great power rises in him - human beauty.

>Summary of Tolstoy Russian character for a reader's diary

• Summary
• Tolstoy A.N.
• Russian character

Summary of Tolstoy Russian character

Egor Dremov is the simplest and most ordinary tanker. He lives an ordinary life. Egor is a very handsome guy. He is tall, strong, and has curly hair. Parents occupy a huge place in the hero’s life. He loves and respects them. Yegor has a chosen one. When leaving for war, he is sure that his beloved will be waiting for him and will accept him in any condition. During the war, Dremov performed many feats and brave deeds, however, he himself did not say a word about it to anyone. The war continued and Dremov fought bravely, but a terrible misfortune befell him.

During the next battle, Yegor's tank was knocked out. He was pulled out in a burning state a minute before the tank exploded. His friends died. The tanker's burns were so severe and severe that in some places bones could be seen under the burns and swollen skin. After the burns, Yegor had to undergo numerous plastic surgeries. His face was completely changed. It’s good that at least the poor guy still has his sight. Yegor looked in the mirror for a long time and tried to recognize the stranger looking at him from the mirror. The hero asks to be returned to the regiment, but is ordered to remain on vacation for another 20 days.

After resting he returns home. Egor meets with his parents. He does not want to scare them with his disfigured appearance. The idea comes to his mind to call himself a friend of their son. His parents warmly welcome him, feed him, give him water and ask him about their beloved son. The next day the hero meets his beloved girl, Katya. She immediately greets him joyfully, but when she sees his disfigured face, she shrinks away. Dremov talks about the exploits of her fiancé, and he decides to leave her life and forget about her forever.

Returning to the front, Yegor receives a letter from his mother, where she writes about her doubts that the son himself is coming to them. She wrote that she was proud of her son’s face and wanted to know the truth. Egor meets with his mother and fiancee. The mother accepts him, and the bride says that she wants to live her whole life only with him.

“Russian character” Summary of Tolstoy’s story

Alexei Tolstoy’s artistic task was to explore those traits of the Russian character that throughout history made it possible to survive and win. The completion of the cycle “Stories of Ivan Sutsarev” (1942-1944) was a story with the significant title “Russian Character” (1944).

An employee of the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper told Tolstoy about the fate of the tanker, who almost burned to death in the tank. This particular story acquired a general meaning and grew into the writer’s reflections on the strength of spirit of the Russian man, the courage of a soldier, the love of a mother, and the fidelity of a woman.

In the depiction of Yegor Dremov, the typical character of the hero is emphasized first of all. He was, according to the narrator, a “simple, quiet, ordinary” man. He is endowed with the most common biography: before the war he lived in a village, treated his mother and father with respect, worked conscientiously on the land, and now he is fighting heroically. Dremov, like his father and grandfather, bears the name Yegor, which means “cultivator of the land,” and with this detail the author emphasizes the connection between generations and the continuity of moral values ​​of the people.

It is this “ordinary” person who is aesthetically singled out by the writer from others, placed in circumstances that, despite their reality, cannot but be considered exceptional. Even outwardly, Yegor is especially noted for his heroic build and beauty: “You used to see him crawling out of a tank turret - the god of war! He jumps from the armor to the ground, pulls off the helmet from his wet curls, wipes his grimy face with a rag and will certainly smile from spiritual affection.” The motif of “heroism” is also heard in the story about the deeds of Yegor, who is one of the few! - marked with an “asterisk” (“Golden Star” of the Hero of the Soviet Union).

But the main thing in the story is not the combat episodes with the participation of Lieutenant Dremov (they are shown in the presentation of other characters). At the center of the work is a seemingly personal situation related to the hero’s experiences after being seriously wounded during a tank battle on the Kursk Bulge.

Dremov's face was almost completely burned, and his voice changed after the operations. A number of details emphasized by the author make it possible to show the process of exposing the deep essence of character. Yegor has lost his external attractiveness (the motif of “ugliness” in the second part of the story varies in the instinctive reaction of people to the appearance of the burnt tanker). But the more clearly the inner beauty and strength of the hero manifests itself.

It is in the desire to remain in the ranks, in the real military brotherhood that connects Yegor with his comrades in arms, in his love for his loved ones and care for them.

The culmination of the story was the scene in his home, when the dearest people did not recognize Yegor in a man with a disfigured face, and he decided not to be a burden to them with his misfortune and called himself by someone else’s name. But now his relatives are teaching Yegor a lesson in true humanity and love. A mother who felt in her heart that it was her son who was in his home.

The father, as always, laconicly said the main thing: “We need to be proud of a face like this one who came to us” (the epithet “fair” used in relation to the father is not accidental). Katya Malysheva, who forever linked her life with Yegor (“beautiful Katya,” whose image emphasizes the harmony of internal and external). “Yes, here they are, Russian characters! It seems like a simple person, but a severe misfortune comes, in big or small ways, and a great power rises in him - human beauty.”

These words, which conclude the story, sum up the emotional conclusion of Tolstoy’s thoughts about the Russian character, the artistic study of which the writer conducted throughout his life.

“Russian character” Summary of Tolstoy’s story 5 (100%) 6 votes