Chit captain's daughter. Pushkin, Alexander Sergeyevich

1. Petr Andreevich Grinev- the son of a retired military man who puts honor above all else. Until the age of 16, he was undersized. During the story, it is shown how Peter grows up and changes, turning into a mature man. A big role in shaping his character was played by the guy's lover - Masha Mironova. For her sake, he risks his life, grows spiritually and morally;
2. Alexey Shvabrin- the complete opposite of Grinev. Serves in the Belogorsk fortress for 5 years, is punished for murder. A sarcastic, arrogant, mean, cunning guy was rejected by Masha Mironova. Because of this, he goes to a duel with Peter;
3. Masha Mironova- a young girl, the daughter of the commandant of the fortress. The story "The Captain's Daughter" is named after her. Masha personifies a highly moral and noble person, pure and gentle. Going through difficulties, Masha remains faithful to her principles;
4. Pugachev Emelyan- the leader of the uprising, calls himself the "Great Sovereign" Peter III. An impostor who ended up executing.

Excursion to the past

At the beginning of the story, Pyotr Grinev tells the reader about his youth and childhood. He is the only one in the family who survived. There were 9 children in total. His mother was a noblewoman, and his father was a retired major. The prosperity in the family was average, although Peter lived in a family estate in the Simbirsk province. The little boy was brought up almost all the time by the servant Savelich. He spoiled the boy like his own son, taught him on the basis of stories about fairy-tale heroes. Together they watched the changes in nature, went fishing, hunting. Savelich himself knew how to read, could write and was a real storyteller.

Peter's father was not engaged in raising his son and hired as a teacher the French hairdresser Beaupre, who was a rare reveler - a libertine and a drunkard. When it became clear that the mannered Frenchman could not teach the boy anything, he was expelled.

At the age of seventeen, they decided to send Petrusha to the service for correction, since the boy's education was low. To give his son a versatile education, his father, Andrei Petrovich, exiled him to Orenburg. The servant Savelich was also attached to the boy. Peter was upset, because he dreamed of leaving for St. Petersburg.

To the service!

According to the rules, young nobles were assigned to some regiment for service. Peter's father sends his son to the remote garrison of the Orenburg province, as he was afraid that his son would go on a spree in St. Petersburg.

On the way to work, they stopped at a tavern. The entire treasury was kept by Savelich, since Peter was still too young to manage finances. In a tavern, Petrusha meets captain Zurin, who invites him to play billiards.

Then Zurin offers to play for money. The inexperienced young man agrees, believing that he has a good command of the cue. Peter loses a hundred rubles. At the time, that was a lot of money. Savelich does not want to repay the debt and persuades the master to come to his senses and not compensate for the loss. But Grinev immediately puts everything in its place, hinting who is the servant and who is the master, and orders to pay the debt. Pyotr Grinev explained to the servant that the payment of a debt is a matter of honor.

Buran in the steppe

After paying off the debt, Grinev promises Savelich not to play for money anymore, regretting his mistake. The ride is still long and the servant forgives the young master. Because of Peter's carelessness, they get into trouble - a strong storm is approaching. The young man orders the coachman to continue the journey and soon they get stuck in the steppe, where they will have to camp for the night.

Everyone understands that they have gone astray, and they are pretty cold. An old stranger helped the travelers, who led them to the nearest house. As a sign of gratitude, Pyotr Grinev wanted to give the old man money, but Savelich would not allow it. And the master gave the hare sheepskin coat.

Petrusha fell asleep in the hut and had a dream, which he later calls prophetic. He dreamed of his mother and home, his mother said that his father was dying. Further, he says that he sees an unfamiliar peasant who sits on his father's bed and calls himself his mother's husband. The stranger wants to receive his father's blessing, but Andrei Petrovich does not give it. The man grabs an ax and kills everyone. Peter remains the only living observer.

When Peter arrived in Orenburg, his father's colleague sends him to an even greater wilderness - the Belgorod fortress. The guy is even more upset.

In the Belogorsk fortress

In the fortress, which was located forty miles from Orenburg, people were engaged in hunting, fishing, and worked in the garden. Employees trained on the parade ground and rarely fired a cannon.

The owner of the fortress was Ivan Kuzmich Mironov, although his wife, Vasilisa Yegorovna, managed everything. The commandant and his wife also had a daughter, Masha. The family was simple and sincere, which Peter immediately liked. True, on this day, the acquaintance of Mashenka and Petrusha did not take place.

In the fortress, which was very similar to the village, Peter met the young lieutenant Alexei Ivanovich Shvabrin, who was sent into exile for a duel, where he killed his rival. Shvabrin constantly spoke unkindly about everyone, spoke sarcastically about Masha, making her look like a fool. What conveyed to Grinev. But when Petya met Masha himself, he thought that Alexei was a liar.

Shvabrin's insidiousness

Peter was left to live with the Cossack Semyon Kuzov. The settlement of Peter was handed down to Semyon as a punishment from the Mironov family for weeding in their garden. Thus began the monotonous days of Peter's service. Soon Grinev noticed that Alexei Shvabrin began to treat him with disdain and wariness. This happened due to the fact that they both liked the commandant's daughter - Masha.

Shvabrin took Grinev as a rival. Masha herself refused to offer Alexei a marriage proposal. For refusal, he began to shame her in front of other people and put her in an unflattering light. Although in fact Masha was an honest and kind girl. The girl's father and mother worried about her daughter, as they could not provide her with a dowry.

Duel and letter home

Once, inspired by thoughts about a girl, Grinev wrote a poem where the name Maria was written. Aleksey Shvabrin read Peter's work and began to ridicule him with a mockery, advising him to win Mashenka's favor not with rhymes, but with material things. He offered to give her a pair of earrings. Grinev flared up and called Alexei a liar.

Shvabrin challenged Peter to a duel, since such an insult was inappropriate for an officer. The young men decided to fight with swords. As a result, it did not come to a duel. The wife of the commandant Vasilisa found out about the duel and forbade it. The guys agreed, but later again made an attempt to fight with swords. But in the morning Ivan Ignatich and several other men brought the young men to Vasilisa Yegorovna. She scolded the young people again and let them go.

Masha found out about the duel, told Grinev that Shvabrin was wooing her. Peter understood why Alexei flared up and again appointed a duel in which Grinev was injured. When he woke up, he saw that Mashenka was sitting in front of him.

Petya realized that he was in love with a girl and wrote a letter to his parents in which he asked for a blessing for the wedding. However, Peter's father refuses, as he believes that his son is not yet ripe for marriage.

Unrest in the city, attack on the fortress

The fortress is in turmoil. Mironov receives an order to prepare for defense against the rebels. Allegedly, Emelyan Pugachev bears false witness and calls himself Peter III. He escaped from custody and instills fear in others. One hope is that the robbers will pass by the fortress.

Ivan Kuzmich asks to take Masha and his wife to Orenburg, where the protection in the fortress is stronger. Vasilisa Egorovna refuses to leave and decides not to leave her husband alone. Mashenka says goodbye to Grinev, but she fails to leave. All roads are blocked. Some people went over to the side of the robbers, the Belogorsk fortress surrenders.

All employees are offered to accept the new ruler Pugachev, but everyone refuses. For this, Masha's father and Ivan Ivanovich are executed. Then they were supposed to kill Peter, but Savelich begged Pugachev to take pity and have mercy on the guy. The servant later tells Peter that the old man who saved them from the storm and the one to whom Grinev gave the sheepskin coat was Yemelyan Pugachev.

Vasilisa Yegorovna learns that her husband was hanged and says that she cannot live without her husband. One of the rebels wounds her to death. Masha is sick. Pugachev settles next to her. Pugachev is told that this is the priest's niece so that he does not kill Masha.

Departure to Orenburg

Grinev is released from the fortress to convey that he demands to surrender the city. Before that, they talk for a long time, and Pugachev tells Peter the tale of the eagle and the raven. Peter draws a different conclusion about what he heard than Pugachev. Grinev does not agree to swear allegiance to Emelyan, saying that he is faithful to the empress.

Peter leaves for Orenburg, knowing that Masha remains in the fortress. He goes straight to the general and asks to recapture the fortress back. Gather a council on which officials sit. It was decided not to risk and not to attack the fortress. Peter is confused and upset, does not know how to rescue Mashenka.

Pugachev recruits more and more people into his detachment and tries to attack Orenburg. However, this time the city resisted and it is impossible to break through the defense. One day Peter is given a letter from Mashenka. He reads with excitement. It turns out that Shvabrin was appointed to keep order in the fortress and he gave Masha three days to think so that she would become his wife. To which Masha writes in a letter - "It is better to die than to be with Shvabrin."

Grinev goes to the Belogorsk fortress together with Savelich. With great difficulty, with the permission of Emelyan, Peter manages to take Masha out of the fortress. Shvabrin in pursuit tells that Masha is the daughter of the commandant. But Pugachev replies that it is in his rules not to cancel the pardon if he has already decided it.

Trip to relatives and military investigation

The uprising is defeated, Pugachev's detachments retreat beyond the Urals. Grinev sent Masha to his parents and they met her as their own. The same captain Zurov, to whom Grinev paid a debt of one hundred rubles, helped to send Masha to Peter's parents.

Clouds gathered over Grinev. He was summoned to the investigator and accused of betrayal and relations with the rebels. The denunciation of Peter was written by Shvabrin. Peter tries to justify himself, but does not want to substitute his beloved. The investigation finds Peter guilty and appoints a punishment - hanging. But later they replace the punishment with a life exile in Siberia. Masha understands that Peter was punished because of her, wanting to protect her.

denouement

Mashenka goes to the Empress herself. Peter's parents believe that Masha does not want to marry a traitor to the motherland and sadly say goodbye to her. However, Masha comes back with a victory for a pardon from the Empress herself. Masha proved that Grinev was punished out of nobility. Mashenka becomes a rich bride, as she receives gifts from the Empress herself. The Empress thus compensates her daughter for the death of her father, Ivan Mironov.

The lovers get married and move to live in the Simbirsk province. Pugachev is executed on Red Square, and Grinev goes to the execution for the last time to look him in the face with gratitude. Their eyes meet at the end.

Test on the story The Captain's Daughter

Main characters

Petr Grinev- Pyotr Andreevich Grinev. 16 year old nobleman. Grinev enters the service in the Belogorsk fortress near Orenburg. Here he falls in love with the boss's daughter, the captain's daughter Masha Mironova.

Masha Mironova- Marya Ivanovna Mironova, the captain's daughter. 18-year-old daughter of Captain Mironov. A smart and kind girl, a poor noblewoman. Masha and Petr Grinev fall in love with each other. They overcome many difficulties on the way to happiness.

Emelyan Pugachev— Don Cossack. Raises an uprising and pretends to be the late Emperor Peter III (husband of Catherine II). He attacks the Belogorsk fortress, where Grinev serves. Pugachev has friendly relations with Grinev, despite the fact that Pugachev is a cruel robber.

Chapter 1. Sergeant of the Guard

At the beginning of the story, the main character Peter Grinev tells the reader about his young life. He is the only survivor of 9 children of a retired major and a poor noblewoman, he lived in a middle-class noble family. The upbringing of the young master was actually engaged in the old servant. Peter's education was low, since his father, a retired major, hired the French hairdresser Beaupré as a tutor, leading an immoral lifestyle. For drunkenness and depraved actions, he was expelled from the estate. And 17-year-old Petrusha, his father decided, through old connections, to send him to serve in Orenburg (instead of St. Petersburg, where he was supposed to go to serve in the guards) and attached an old servant Savelich to him for supervision. Petrusha was upset, because instead of parties in the capital, a dull existence in the wilderness awaited him. During a stopover on the way, the young gentleman made an acquaintance with the rake-captain Zurin, because of whom, under the pretext of training, he got involved in playing billiards. Then Zurin offered to play for money and as a result, Petrusha lost as much as 100 rubles - a lot of money at that time. Savelich, being the keeper of the master's "treasury", is against Peter paying the debt, but the master insists. The servant is indignant, but gives the money back.

Chapter 2

In the end, Piotr is ashamed of his loss and promises Savelich not to gamble again. There is a long road ahead of them, and the servant forgives the master. But because of the indiscretion of Petrusha, they again get into trouble - the impending snowstorm did not embarrass the young man and he ordered the driver not to return. As a result, they lost their way and almost froze. For luck, they met a stranger who helped the lost travelers to go to the inn.

Grinev recalls how then, tired from the road, he had a dream in a wagon, which he called prophetic: he sees his house and his mother, who says that his father is dying. Then he sees an unfamiliar man with a beard in his father's bed, and his mother says that he is her named husband. The stranger wants to give a "father's" blessing, but Peter refuses, and then the man takes up the ax, and corpses appear around. He does not touch Peter.

They drive up to the inn, reminiscent of a thieves' haven. A stranger, frozen in a cold in one Armenian coat, asks Petrusha for wine, and he treats him. A strange conversation took place between the peasant and the owner of the house in the language of thieves. Peter does not understand the meaning, but everything he hears seems very strange to him. Leaving the rooming house, Peter, to Savelich's next displeasure, thanked the escort by granting him a hare sheepskin coat. To which the stranger bowed, saying that the age would not forget such mercy.

When Peter finally gets to Orenburg, his father's colleague, having read the cover letter with the order to keep the young man "in tight rein", sends him to serve in the Belgorod fortress - even more wilderness. This could not but upset Peter, who had long dreamed of a guards uniform.

Chapter 3

The owner of the Belgorod garrison was Ivan Kuzmich Mironov, but his wife, Vasilisa Yegorovna, actually ran everything. Simple and sincere people immediately liked Grinev. The elderly Mironov couple had a daughter, Masha, but so far their acquaintance has not taken place. In the fortress (which turned out to be a simple village), Peter meets a young lieutenant Alexei Ivanovich Shvabrin, who was exiled here from the guards for a duel that ended in the death of the enemy. Shvabrin, having a habit of speaking unflatteringly about those around him, often spoke caustically about Masha, the captain's daughter, exposing her as a complete fool. Then Grinev himself gets acquainted with the daughter of the commander and questions the statements of the lieutenant.

Chapter 4

By nature, the kind and benevolent Grinev began to become friends with the commandant and his family more and more, and moved away from Shvabrin. The captain's daughter Masha did not have a dowry, but turned out to be a charming girl. Shvabrin's caustic remarks did not please Peter. Inspired by thoughts of a young girl in quiet evenings, he began to write poems for her, the content of which he shared with a friend. But he ridiculed him, and even more began to humiliate Masha's dignity, assuring that she would come at night to the one who would give her a pair of earrings.

As a result, the friends quarreled, and it came to a duel. Vasilisa Yegorovna, the wife of the commandant, found out about the duel, but the duelists pretended to have reconciled, deciding to postpone the meeting the next day. But in the morning, as soon as they had time to draw their swords, Ivan Ignatich and 5 invalids were led out under escort to Vasilisa Yegorovna. Having reprimanded, as it should, she let them go. In the evening, Masha, disturbed by the news of the duel, told Peter about Shvabrin's unsuccessful matchmaking for her. Now Grinev understood his motives for his behavior. The duel did take place. The confident swordsman Peter, taught at least something worthwhile by the tutor Beaupre, turned out to be a strong opponent for Shvabrin. But Savelich appeared at the duel, Peter hesitated for a second and was eventually wounded.

Chapter 5

The wounded Peter was nursed by his servant and Masha. As a result, the duel brought the young people closer, and they were inflamed with mutual love for each other. Wanting to marry Masha, Grinev sends a letter to his parents.

Grinev reconciled with Shvabrin. Peter's father, having learned about the duel and not wanting to hear about the marriage, became furious and sent an angry letter to his son, where he threatened to be transferred from the fortress. At a loss as to how his father could find out about the duel, Peter attacked Savelich with accusations, but he himself received a letter with the host's displeasure. Grinev finds only one answer - Shvabrin reported the duel. Father's refusal to bless does not change Peter's intentions, but Masha does not agree to secretly marry. For a while they move away from each other, and Grinev understands that unhappy love can deprive him of his mind and lead to debauchery.

Chapter 6

Unrest begins in the Belgorod fortress. Captain Mironov receives an order from the general to prepare the fortress for an attack by rebels and robbers. Emelyan Pugachev, who called himself Peter III, escaped from custody and terrified the neighborhood. According to rumors, he had already captured several fortresses and was approaching Belgorod. It was not necessary to count on victory with 4 officers and army "disabled". Alarmed by rumors about the capture of a nearby fortress and the execution of officers, Captain Mironov decided to send Masha and Vasilisa Yegorovna to Orenburg, where the fortress is stronger. The captain's wife speaks out against the departure, and decides not to leave her husband in difficult times. Masha says goodbye to Peter, but she fails to leave the fortress.

Chapter 7

Ataman Pugachev appears at the walls of the fortress and offers to surrender without a fight. Commandant Mironov, having learned about the betrayal of the constable and several Cossacks who joined the rebel clan, does not agree to the proposal. He orders his wife to dress Masha as a commoner and take the priest to the hut, and he himself opens fire on the rebels. The battle ends with the capture of the fortress, which, together with the city, passes into the hands of Pugachev.

Right at the commandant's house, Pugachev perpetrates reprisals against those who refused to take the oath to him. He orders the execution of Captain Mironov and Lieutenant Ivan Ignatich. Grinev decides that he will not swear allegiance to the robber and will accept an honorable death. However, here Shvabrin comes up to Pugachev and whispers something in his ear. The chieftain decides not to ask for the oath, ordering all three to be hanged. But the old faithful servant Savelyich rushes at the feet of the ataman and he agrees to pardon Grinev. Ordinary soldiers and residents of the city take the oath of allegiance to Pugachev. As soon as the oath ended, Pugachev decided to dine, but the Cossacks dragged Vasilisa Yegorovna naked from the commandant's house, where they robbed property, by the hair, who was crying for her husband and cursing the convict. Ataman ordered to kill her.

Chapter 8

Grinev's heart is out of place. He understands that if the soldiers find out that Masha is here and alive, she cannot escape reprisals, especially since Shvabrin took the side of the rebels. He knows that his beloved is hiding in the priest's house. In the evening the Cossacks came, sent to take him to Pugachev. Although Peter did not accept the False Tsar's offer of all honors for the oath, the conversation between the rebel and the officer was friendly. Pugachev remembered the good and now gave Peter freedom in return.

Chapter 9

The next morning, Pugachev, in front of the people, called Peter to him and told him to go to Orenburg and report on his offensive in a week. Savelich began to fuss about the plundered property, but the villain said that he would let him go on sheepskin coats for such impudence. Grinev and his servant leave Belogorsk. Pugachev appoints Shvabrin as a commandant, and he himself goes on another feat.

Pyotr and Savelich are on foot, but one of Pugachev's gang caught up with them and said that His Majesty would grant them a horse and a sheepskin coat, and fifty, but he supposedly lost it.
Masha fell ill and lay delirious.

Chapter 10

Arriving in Orenburg, Grinev immediately reported on the deeds of Pugachev in the Belgorod fortress. A council met, at which everyone except Peter voted for defense, not attack.

A long siege begins - hunger and want. Peter, on another sortie into the camp of the enemy, receives a letter from Masha, in which she prays to save her. Shvabrin wants to marry her and keeps her in captivity. Grinev goes to the general with a request to give half a company of soldiers to save the girl, which is refused. Then Peter decides to help out his beloved alone.

Chapter 11

On the way to the fortress, Pyotr falls into Pugachev's guard and is taken for interrogation. Grinev honestly tells everything about his plans to the troublemaker and says that he is free to do whatever he wants with him. Pugachev's thug-advisers offer to execute the officer, but he says, "pardon, so pardon."

Together with the robber ataman, Peter goes to the Belgorod fortress, on the way they are talking. The rebel says that he wants to go to Moscow. Peter in his heart pities him, begging him to surrender to the mercy of the empress. But Pugachev knows that it is already too late, and says, come what may.

Chapter 12

Shvabrin keeps the girl on water and bread. Pugachev pardons the arbiter, but learns from Shvabrin that Masha is the daughter of an unsworn commandant. At first he is furious, but Peter, with his sincerity, this time also achieves favor.

Chapter 13

Pugachev gives Peter a pass to all outposts. Happy lovers go to their parents' house. They confused the army convoy with the Pugachev traitors and were arrested. In the head of the outpost, Grinev recognized Zurin. He said he was going home to get married. He dissuades him, assuring him to remain in the service. Peter himself understands that duty calls him. He sends Masha and Savelich to their parents.

The fighting of the detachments that arrived in time to rescue broke the robber plans. But Pugachev could not be caught. Then there were rumors that he was rampant in Siberia. Zurin's detachment is sent to suppress another outbreak. Grinev recalls the unfortunate villages plundered by savages. The troops had to take away what people could save. The news came that Pugachev had been caught.

Chapter 14

Grinev, on Shvabrin's denunciation, was arrested as a traitor. He could not justify himself with love, fearing that Masha would also be interrogated. The Empress, taking into account the merits of her father, pardoned him, but sentenced him to life exile. The father was in shock. Masha decided to go to Petersburg and ask the Empress for her beloved.

By the will of fate, Maria meets the Empress in the early autumn morning and tells her everything, not knowing who she is talking to. On the same morning, a cab was sent for her to the house of a secular lady, where Masha got a job for a while, with an order to deliver Mironov's daughter to the palace.

There Masha saw Catherine II and recognized her as her interlocutor.

Grinev was released from hard labor. Pugachev was executed. Standing on the chopping block in the crowd, he saw Grinev and nodded.

The reunited loving hearts continued the Grinev family, and in their Simbirsk province, under glass, was kept a letter from Catherine II pardoning Peter and praising Mary for her intelligence and kind heart.

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Take care of honor from a young age.

Sergeant of the Guard

- If he were a guard, he would be captain tomorrow.

- That is not necessary; let him serve in the army.

- Pretty well said! let him push it...

………………………………………………………

Who is his father?

My father, Andrey Petrovich Grinev, served under Count Munnich in his youth and retired as prime minister in 17…. Since then, he lived in his Simbirsk village, where he married the girl Avdotya Vasilievna Yu., the daughter of a poor local nobleman. We were nine children. All my brothers and sisters died in infancy.

My mother was still my belly, as I was already enrolled in the Semenovsky regiment as a sergeant, by the grace of the major of the guard, Prince B., our close relative. If, more than any hope, mother had given birth to a daughter, then the father would have announced the death of the non-appearing sergeant, and that would have been the end of the matter. I was considered on vacation until graduation. At that time, we were brought up not in the modern way. From the age of five, I was given into the hands of the aspirant Savelich, who was granted me uncles for sober behavior. Under his supervision, in the twelfth year, I learned to read and write Russian and could very sensibly judge the properties of a greyhound dog. At this time, the priest hired a Frenchman for me, Monsieur Beaupre, who was discharged from Moscow along with a year's supply of wine and olive oil. Savelitch did not like his arrival much. “Thank God,” he grumbled to himself, “it seems that the child is washed, combed, fed. Where should you spend extra money and hire Monsieur, as if your own people were gone!”

Beaupré was a hairdresser in his own country, then a soldier in Prussia, then came to Russia pour être outchitel, not really understanding the meaning of this word. He was a kind fellow, but windy and dissolute to the extreme. His main weakness was a passion for the fair sex; often for his tenderness he received shocks, from which he groaned for whole days. Moreover, he was not (as he put it) and bottle enemy, that is (speaking in Russian) he liked to sip too much. But as wine was served with us only at dinner, and then by a glass, and the teachers usually carried it around, then my Beaupré very soon got used to the Russian tincture and even began to prefer it to the wines of his fatherland, as unlike more useful for the stomach. We got along right away, and although he was contractually obligated to teach me in French, German and all sciences, but he preferred to hastily learn from me how to chat in Russian, and then each of us went about his own business. We lived soul to soul. I didn't want another mentor. But soon fate separated us, and here's the occasion.

The washerwoman Palashka, a fat and pockmarked girl, and the crooked cowherd Akulka somehow agreed at one time to throw themselves at mother's feet, confessing their criminal weakness and complaining with tears about the monsieur who had seduced their inexperience. Mother did not like to joke about this and complained to the father. His reprisal was short. He immediately demanded a French canal. It was reported that Monsieur was giving me his lesson. Father went to my room. At this time, Beaupré slept on the bed with the sleep of innocence. I was busy with business. You need to know that a geographical map was issued for me from Moscow. It hung on the wall without any use and had long tempted me with the breadth and goodness of the paper. I made up my mind to make a snake out of her, and taking advantage of Beaupré's dream, I set to work. Batiushka came in at the same time as I was fitting a wash tail to the Cape of Good Hope. Seeing my exercises in geography, the priest pulled my ear, then ran up to Beaupre, woke him very carelessly and began to shower reproaches. Beaupré, in dismay, wanted to get up, but could not: the unfortunate Frenchman was dead drunk. Seven troubles, one answer. Batiushka lifted him out of bed by the collar, pushed him out of the door, and on the same day drove him out of the yard, to Savelich's indescribable joy. That was the end of my upbringing.

I lived underage, chasing pigeons and playing leapfrog with the yard boys. Meanwhile, I was sixteen years old. Here my fate changed.

Once in autumn, my mother was making honey jam in the living room, and I, licking my lips, looked at the effervescent foam. Father at the window read the Court Calendar, which he receives every year. This book always had a strong influence on him: he never reread it without special participation, and reading this always produced in him an amazing excitement of bile. Mother, who knew by heart all his habits and customs, always tried to shove the unfortunate book as far away as possible, and in this way the Court Calendar did not catch his eye, sometimes for whole months. On the other hand, when he accidentally found him, he would not let go of his hands for whole hours. So, the father read the Court calendar, occasionally shrugging his shoulders and repeating in an undertone: “Lieutenant General! .. He was a sergeant in my company! .. Cavalier of both Russian orders! .. How long have we ...” Finally, the father threw the calendar on the sofa and plunged into thoughtfulness, which did not bode well.

Suddenly he turned to his mother: “Avdotya Vasilievna, how old is Petrusha?”

“Yes, the seventeenth year has gone,” answered mother. “Petrusha was born in the same year that Aunt Nastasya Gerasimovna became crooked, and when else ...”

“Good,” the priest interrupted, “it’s time for him to serve. It’s enough for him to run around girls’ rooms and climb dovecotes.”

The thought of an imminent separation from me struck my mother so much that she dropped the spoon into the saucepan and tears flowed down her face. On the contrary, it is difficult to describe my admiration. The thought of service merged in me with thoughts of freedom, of the pleasures of Petersburg life. I imagined myself as an officer of the guard, which, in my opinion, was the height of human well-being.

Batiushka did not like to change his intentions, nor to postpone their fulfillment. The day of my departure was fixed. The day before, the priest announced that he intended to write with me to my future boss, and demanded a pen and paper.

“Do not forget, Andrey Petrovich,” said mother, “to bow from me to Prince B.; I, they say, hope that he will not leave Petrusha with his favors.

- What nonsense! - Father answered with a frown. - Why should I write to Prince B.?

“Why, you said that you would deign to write to Petrusha’s chief.

- Well, what is there?

- Why, the chief Petrushin is Prince B. After all, Petrusha is enlisted in the Semenovsky regiment.

- Recorded by! What do I care if it's recorded? Petrusha will not go to Petersburg. What will he learn by serving in St. Petersburg? wind and hang? No, let him serve in the army, let him pull the strap, let him sniff gunpowder, let him be a soldier, not a shamaton. Registered in the guard! Where is his passport? bring it here.

Mother found my passport, which was kept in her casket along with the shirt in which I was baptized, and handed it to the priest with a trembling hand. Batiushka read it with attention, put it on the table in front of him, and began his letter.

Curiosity tormented me: where are they sending me, if not to Petersburg? I did not take my eyes off Batiushkin's pen, which moved rather slowly. Finally, he finished, sealed the letter in the same package with his passport, took off his glasses and, calling me, said: “Here is a letter for you to Andrey Karlovich R., my old comrade and friend. You are going to Orenburg to serve under his command.”

So, all my brilliant hopes collapsed! Instead of a cheerful Petersburg life, boredom awaited me in a deaf and distant side. The service, which for a minute I thought with such enthusiasm, seemed to me a grave misfortune. But there was nothing to argue! The next day, in the morning, a traveling wagon was brought up to the porch; they put a suitcase in it, a cellar with a tea set, and bundles of rolls and pies, the last signs of home pampering. My parents blessed me. The father said to me: “Goodbye, Peter. Serve faithfully to whom you swear; obey the bosses; do not chase after their affection; do not ask for service; do not excuse yourself from the service; and remember the proverb: take care of the dress again, and honor from youth. Mother, in tears, ordered me to take care of my health, and Savelich to look after the child. They put a hare coat on me, and a fox coat on top. I got into the wagon with Savelich and set off on the road, shedding tears.

That same night I arrived in Simbirsk, where I had to stay for a day to purchase the necessary things, which was entrusted to Savelich. I stopped at a tavern. Savelich went to the shops in the morning. Getting bored of looking out the window at the dirty lane, I went to wander through all the rooms. Entering the billiard room, I saw a tall gentleman, about thirty-five, with a long black mustache, in a dressing gown, with a cue in his hand and a pipe in his teeth. He played with a marker that, when he won, drank a glass of vodka, and when he lost, he had to crawl under the billiards on all fours. I started watching them play. The longer it went on, the more frequent the walks on all fours, until at last the marker remained under the pool table. The master uttered several strong expressions over him in the form of a funeral word and invited me to play a game. I reluctantly refused. It seemed to him, apparently, strange. He looked at me as if with regret; however, we talked. I learned that his name was Ivan Ivanovich Zurin, that he was a captain of the ** hussar regiment and was in Simbirsk when recruiting, but was standing in a tavern. Zurin invited me to dine with him, like God sent, like a soldier. I readily agreed. We sat down at the table. Zurin drank a lot and regaled me too, saying that one must get used to the service; he told me army jokes, from which I almost collapsed with laughter, and we got up from the table perfect friends. Then he volunteered to teach me how to play billiards. “This,” he said, “is necessary for our service brother. On a hike, for example, you come to a place - what do you order to do? After all, it’s not all the same to beat the Jews. Involuntarily you will go to a tavern and start playing billiards; And for that you need to know how to play!” I was completely convinced and set to work with great diligence. Zurin loudly encouraged me, marveled at my rapid successes, and after several lessons suggested that I play money, one penny each, not to win, but so as not to play for nothing, which, according to him, is the worst habit. I agreed to this, and Zurin ordered punch to be served and persuaded me to try, repeating that I need to get used to the service; and without punch, what a service! I obeyed him. Meanwhile, our game continued. The more I sipped from my glass, the bolder I became. Balloons kept flying over my side; I got excited, scolded the marker, who considered God knows how, multiplied the game from hour to hour, in a word - behaved like a boy who broke free. In the meantime, time has passed imperceptibly. Zurin glanced at his watch, put down his cue and announced to me that I had lost a hundred rubles. This confused me a little. Savelich had my money. I began to apologize. Zurin interrupted me: “Have mercy! Don't you dare worry. I can wait, but for now let's go to Arinushka.

What do you order? I ended the day as dissolutely as I started. We dined at Arinushka's. Zurin poured me every minute, repeating that it was necessary to get used to the service. Rising from the table, I could barely stand on my feet; at midnight Zurin took me to a tavern.

Savelich met us on the porch. He gasped, seeing the unmistakable signs of my zeal for the service. “What, sir, has become of you? – he said in a pitiful voice, – where did you load it? Oh my god! there has never been such a sin!” - "Shut up, bastard! - I answered him, stammering, - you must be drunk, go to bed ... and put me to bed.

The next day I woke up with a headache, vaguely remembering yesterday's events. My reflections were interrupted by Savelich, who came in with a cup of tea. “It’s early, Pyotr Andreevich,” he said to me, shaking his head, “you start walking early. And who did you go to? It seems that neither father nor grandfather were drunkards; there is nothing to say about mother: from birth, except for kvass, she deigned to take nothing in her mouth. And who's to blame? damn monsieur. Every now and then, it happened, he would run to Antipievna: “Madame, woo, vodka.” So much for you! There is nothing to say: good instructed, dog son. And it was necessary to hire a basurman as uncles, as if the master had no more of his own people!

I was ashamed. I turned away and said to him: “Get out, Savelich; I don't want tea." But Savelich was hard-pressed to appease when he used to set about preaching. “You see, Pyotr Andreevich, what it’s like to play along. And the head is hard, and you don’t want to eat. A person who drinks is good for nothing ... Drink some cucumber pickle with honey, but it would be better to get drunk with half a glass of tincture. Won't you tell me?"

At this time the boy came in and handed me a note from I. I. Zurin. I opened it and read the following lines:

...

“Dear Pyotr Andreevich, please send me with my boy a hundred rubles, which you lost to me yesterday. I am in dire need of money.

Ready for service

Ivan Zurin.

There was nothing to do. I assumed an air of indifference and, turning to Savelitch, who was and money, and underwear, and my deeds are a caretaker, ordered to give the boy a hundred rubles. "How! For what?" asked the astonished Savelich. "I owe them to him," I answered with every kind of coldness. "Must! Savelich objected, more astonished from time to time, “but when, sir, did you manage to owe him a debt?” Something is not right. Your will, sir, but I will not give out money.

I thought that if at this decisive moment I did not outguess the stubborn old man, then later on it would be difficult for me to free myself from his guardianship, and, looking at him proudly, I said: “I am your master, and you are my servant. My money. I lost them because I felt like it. And I advise you not to be smart and do what you are ordered.

Savelich was so struck by my words that he clasped his hands and was dumbfounded. "Why are you standing there!" I shouted angrily. Savelich wept. “Father Pyotr Andreevich,” he said in a trembling voice, “do not kill me with sadness. You are my light! listen to me, old man: write to this robber that you were joking, that we don’t even have that kind of money. One hundred rubles! God you are merciful! Tell me that your parents strongly ordered you not to play, except for nuts ... "-" It's full of lies, - I interrupted sternly, - give the money here or I'll drive you out of it.

Savelich looked at me with deep sorrow and went to collect my duty. I felt sorry for the poor old man; but I wanted to break free and prove that I was no longer a child. The money was delivered to Zurin. Savelich hurried to take me out of the accursed tavern. He came with the news that the horses were ready. With a troubled conscience and silent remorse I left Simbirsk, without saying goodbye to my teacher and not thinking of seeing him again.

Is it my side, side,

Unfamiliar side!

Why didn't I come to you myself,

Is it not a good horse that brought me:

Brought me, good fellow,

Agility, gallant vivacity

And khmelinushka tavern.

old song

My travel thoughts were not very pleasant. My loss, at the then prices, was important. I could not help admitting in my heart that my behavior in the Simbirsk tavern was stupid, and I felt guilty before Savelitch. All this tormented me. The old man sat gloomily on the irradiation, turning away from me, and was silent, occasionally only grunting. I certainly wanted to make peace with him and did not know where to start. Finally I said to him: “Well, well, Savelich! full, reconcile, guilty; I can see that it's my fault. I messed up yesterday, but I offended you in vain. I promise to be smarter and listen to you in the future. Well, don't be angry; let's make up."

“Oh, Father Pyotr Andreevich! he answered with a deep sigh. - I'm angry with myself; I myself am to blame. How could I leave you alone in a tavern! What to do? Sin beguiled: he took it into his head to wander to the deacah, to see the godfather. So something: went to the godfather, but sat down in prison. Trouble and only! How will I appear before the eyes of the gentlemen? what will they say, how will they know that the child is drinking and playing.

In order to console poor Savelich, I gave him my word that I would never have a single penny at my disposal without his consent. Little by little he calmed down, although from time to time he still grumbled to himself, shaking his head: “A hundred roubles! is it easy!"

I was approaching my destination. Sad deserts stretched around me, criss-crossed by hills and ravines. Everything was covered with snow. The sun was setting. The kibitka rode along a narrow road, or rather, along a trail laid by peasant sledges. Suddenly the coachman began to look away and, finally, taking off his hat, turned to me and said: “Master, would you order me to come back?”

- What is this for?

– Time is unreliable: the wind rises slightly; see how he sweeps away the powder.

– What a trouble!

– Do you see what is there? (The coachman pointed east with his whip.)

- I see nothing but the white steppe and the clear sky.

- And over there - over there: this is a cloud.

I actually saw a white cloud at the edge of the sky, which at first I took for a distant mound. The coachman explained to me that the cloud foreshadowed a blizzard.

I heard about the blizzards there and knew that entire wagon trains were covered with them. Savelich, in accordance with the coachman's opinion, advised him to turn back. But the wind seemed to me not strong; I hoped to get to the next station in advance and ordered to go faster.

The coachman galloped; but kept looking to the east. The horses ran together. The wind meanwhile grew stronger by the hour. The cloud turned into a white cloud, which rose heavily, grew and gradually enveloped the sky. A fine snow began to fall and suddenly fell in flakes. The wind howled; there was a blizzard. In an instant, the dark sky mingled with the snowy sea. Everything is gone. “Well, sir,” shouted the coachman, “trouble: a snowstorm! ..”

I looked out of the wagon: everything was dark and whirlwind. The wind howled with such fierce expressiveness that it seemed animated; the snow covered me and Savelich; the horses walked at a pace - and soon they stopped. "Why aren't you eating?" I asked the driver impatiently. “Yes, why go? - he answered, getting down from the irradiation, - who knows where we stopped: there is no road, and darkness is all around. I began to scold him. Savelich interceded for him: “And the desire was not to obey,” he said angrily, “would return to the inn, eat tea, rest until morning, the storm would subside, we would go further. And where are we going? Welcome to the wedding! Savelich was right. There was nothing to do. The snow fell like that. A snowdrift was rising near the wagon. The horses stood with bowed heads and occasionally trembling. The coachman walked around, having nothing to do, adjusting the harness. Savelich grumbled; I looked in all directions, hoping to see at least a sign of a vein or a road, but I could not distinguish anything except the muddy whirling of a snowstorm ... Suddenly I saw something black. "Hey, coachman! I shouted, “look: what’s blackening there?” The coachman began to peer. “But God knows, master,” he said, sitting down in his place, “it’s not a cart, a tree is not a tree, but it seems that it is moving. It must be either a wolf or a man." I ordered to go to an unfamiliar object, which immediately began to move towards us. Two minutes later we drew level with the man. "Hey, good man! the coachman shouted to him. “Tell me, do you know where the road is?”

- The road is here; I’m standing on a hard lane,” answered the roadman, “but what’s the point?

“Listen, little man,” I said to him, “do you know this side? Will you take me to bed for the night?

- The side is familiar to me, - answered the roadman, - thank God, well-worn and traveled up and down. Look what the weather is like: you’ll just go astray. It is better to stop here and wait, perhaps the storm will subside and the sky will clear up: then we will find the way by the stars.

His composure encouraged me. I had already decided, betraying myself to God's will, to spend the night in the middle of the steppe, when suddenly the roadman sat down nimbly on the box and said to the driver: “Well, thank God, they lived not far; turn right and go."

Why should I go to the right? the coachman asked with displeasure. - Where do you see the road? I suppose: the horses are strangers, the collar is not your own, don’t stop chasing. “The coachman seemed right to me. “Indeed,” I said, “why do you think that lived nearby?” “But because the wind pulled from there,” answered the traveler, “and I hear it smells of smoke; know the village is near. His sharpness and subtlety of instinct amazed me. I told the driver to go. The horses trod heavily in the deep snow. The kibitka moved quietly, now driving onto a snowdrift, now collapsing into a ravine and wading over to one side or the other. It was like sailing a ship on a stormy sea. Savelich groaned, constantly pushing against my sides. I lowered the mat, wrapped myself in a fur coat and dozed off, lulled by the singing of the storm and the rocking of a quiet ride.

I had a dream that I could never forget, and in which I still see something prophetic when I reflect with it on the strange circumstances of my life. The reader will excuse me: for he probably knows from experience how akin to a person to indulge in superstition, despite all possible contempt for prejudice.

I was in that state of feelings and soul when materiality, yielding to dreams, merges with them in obscure visions of the first dream. It seemed to me that the storm was still raging and we were still wandering through the snowy desert ... Suddenly I saw the gate and drove into the manor yard of our estate. My first thought was the fear that the priest would not be angry with me for my involuntary return to my parents' roof and would not consider it a deliberate disobedience. With anxiety, I jumped out of the wagon and saw: mother meets me on the porch with an air of deep chagrin. “Hush,” she says to me, “father is ill at death and wants to say goodbye to you.” Stricken with fear, I follow her into the bedroom. I see the room is dimly lit; people with sad faces are standing by the bed. I quietly approach the bed; Mother raises the curtain and says: “Andrei Petrovich, Petrusha has arrived; he returned when he learned about your illness; bless him." I knelt down and fixed my eyes on the patient. Well? .. Instead of my father, I see a man with a black beard lying in bed, looking at me cheerfully. I turned to my mother in bewilderment, saying to her: “What does this mean? This is not a dad. And why should I ask a peasant for a blessing? “It doesn’t matter, Petrusha,” my mother answered me, “this is your planted father; kiss his hand and let him bless you ... ”I did not agree. Then the peasant jumped out of bed, grabbed the ax from behind his back and began to swing in all directions. I wanted to run... and I couldn't; the room filled with dead bodies; I stumbled over bodies and slid in bloody puddles... A terrible peasant called me affectionately, saying: "Don't be afraid, come under my blessing..." Horror and bewilderment seized me... And at that moment I woke up; the horses were standing; Savelich pulled my hand, saying: "Come out, sir; you've arrived."

- Where did you come? I asked, rubbing my eyes.

- To the inn. The Lord helped, stumbled right on the fence. Come out, sir, and get warm.

I got out of the kibitka. The storm still continued, although with less force. It was so dark that you could poke out your eyes. The owner met us at the gate, holding a lantern under the skirt, and led me into the chamber, which was cramped, but rather clean; the beam illuminated her. A rifle and a tall Cossack hat hung on the wall.

The owner, a Yaik Cossack by birth, seemed to be a peasant of about sixty, still fresh and vigorous. Savelich brought in a cellar after me, demanded a fire to prepare tea, which I never seemed to need so much. The owner went to work.

- Where is the counselor? I asked Savelich. “Here, your honor,” a voice answered me from above. I looked at the bed and saw a black beard and two sparkling eyes. "What, brother, vegetate?" - “How not to vegetate in one thin Armenian! There was a sheepskin coat, but what's the sin to hide? laid the evening at the kisser: the frost did not seem great. At that moment the owner entered with a boiling samovar; I offered our counselor a cup of tea; the man got down from the floor. His appearance seemed remarkable to me: he was about forty, medium height, thin and broad-shouldered. There was gray in his black beard; living large eyes and ran. His face had an expression rather pleasant, but roguish. Her hair was cut in a circle; he was wearing a tattered coat and Tatar trousers. I brought him a cup of tea; he took it and winced. “Your honor, do me such a favor, order me to bring a glass of wine; tea is not our Cossack drink. I gladly granted his wish. The owner took out a damask and a glass from the stall, went up to him and, looking into his face: “Ehe,” he said, “again you are in our land! Where did God bring it from? My guide blinked significantly and answered with a saying: “I flew into the garden, pecked hemp; grandmother threw a pebble - yes past. Well, what about yours?

- Yes, ours! - answered the owner, continuing the allegorical conversation. - They began to call for evening, but the priest does not order: the priest is visiting, the devil is in the churchyard.

“Be quiet, uncle,” my tramp objected, “it will rain, there will be fungi; and there will be fungi, there will be a body. And now (here he blinked again) plug the ax behind your back: the forester walks. Your honor! For your health!" - At these words, he took a glass, crossed himself and drank in one breath. Then he bowed to me and returned to the bed.

I could then understand nothing from this thieves' conversation; but afterwards I guessed that it was about the affairs of the Yaitsky army, at that time just pacified after the 1772 rebellion. Savelich listened with an air of great displeasure. He glanced suspiciously first at the owner, then at the counselor. An inn, or, in the local way, know how, was on the sidelines, in the steppe, far from any village, and looked very much like a robber's pier. But there was nothing to be done. It was impossible to think about continuing the path. Savelich's uneasiness amused me greatly. In the meantime, I settled down for the night and lay down on a bench. Savelich made up his mind to get out on the stove; the owner lay down on the floor. Soon the whole hut was snoring, and I fell asleep like a log.

When I woke up quite late in the morning, I saw that the storm had subsided. The sun was shining. Snow lay in a dazzling shroud on the boundless steppe. The horses were harnessed. I paid the landlord, who took such a moderate payment from us that even Savelich did not argue with him and did not bargain in his usual way, and yesterday's suspicions completely disappeared from his head. I called the counselor, thanked him for the help, and ordered Savelich to give him half a ruble for vodka. Savelich frowned. “Half a vodka! he said, what is it for? Because you deigned to give him a ride to the inn? Your will, sir: we don't have extra fifty dollars. Give everyone for vodka, so you yourself will soon have to starve. I couldn't argue with Savelich. The money, according to my promise, was at his full disposal. I was annoyed, however, that I could not thank the person who helped me out, if not out of trouble, then at least out of a very unpleasant situation. “All right,” I said coolly, “if you don’t want to give half a ruble, then take something out of my dress for him. He is dressed too lightly. Give him my bunny coat."

- Have mercy, father Pyotr Andreevich! Savelich said. “Why does he need your bunny sheepskin coat?” He will drink it, dog, in the first tavern.

“This, old lady, is not your sadness,” said my tramp, “whether I drink or not. His nobility favors me with a fur coat from his shoulder: it is his master's will, and your serf's business is not to argue and obey.

“You are not afraid of God, robber! Savelich answered him in an angry voice. - You see that the child still does not understand, and you are glad to rob him, for the sake of his simplicity. Why do you need a lord's sheepskin coat? You won't put it on your cursed shoulders.

“Please don’t be clever,” I said to my uncle, “now bring a sheepskin coat here.”

- Lord, lord! moaned my Savelich. - The hare sheepskin coat is almost brand new! and it would be good for someone, otherwise a bare drunkard!

However, the hare sheepskin coat appeared. The man immediately began to try it on. In fact, the sheepskin coat, from which I also managed to grow, was a little narrow for him. However, he somehow managed to put it on, tearing at the seams. Savelich almost howled when he heard the threads crackle. The tramp was extremely pleased with my gift. He escorted me to the wagon and said with a low bow: “Thank you, your honor! God bless you for your virtue. I will never forget your favors." - He went in his direction, and I went on, not paying attention to Savelich's annoyance, and soon forgot about yesterday's blizzard, about my leader and about the hare's sheepskin coat.

Arriving in Orenburg, I went straight to the general. I saw a tall man, but already hunched over by old age. His long hair was completely white. The old, faded uniform resembled a warrior from the time of Anna Ioannovna, and his speech had a strong German accent. I gave him a letter from my father. At his name, he glanced at me quickly: “Oh my! - he said. “Is it true, it seems Andrei Petrovich was even your age, and now what a hammer he has! Ah, fremya, fremya! He opened the letter and began to read it in an undertone, making his remarks. “Dear Sir Andrei Karlovich, I hope that Your Excellency”… What kind of ceremony is this? Phew, how embarrassing for him! Of course: discipline is the first thing, but is this how they write to an old comrade? .. “your excellency has not forgotten” ... um ... “and ... when ... the late Field Marshal Ming ... campaign ... also ... Caroline" ... Ehe, brooder! so he still remembers our old pranks? "Now about the case ... To you my rake" ... um ... "keep it in a tight rein" ... What are Yeshov's mittens? This must be a Russian proverb... he repeated, turning to me.

“That means,” I answered him with an air as innocent as possible, “to be kind, not too strict, to give more freedom, to keep in tight rein.

“Hm, I understand… ‘and don’t let him go’ – no, apparently, Yes’s gloves don’t mean that… ‘At the same time… his passport’… Where is he? And, here ... “to write to Semenovsky” ... Well, well: everything will be done ... “Let me hug myself without ranks and ... an old comrade and friend” - ah! Finally I guessed... and so on and so forth... Well, father," he said, after reading the letter and putting aside my passport, "everything will be done: you will be transferred as an officer to the *** regiment, and so as not to waste your time, then tomorrow go to the Belogorsk fortress, where you will be in the team of Captain Mironov, a kind and honest man. There you will be in the service of the present, you will learn discipline. There is nothing for you to do in Orenburg; scattering is harmful to a young person. And today you are welcome: dine with me.

“It doesn’t get any easier from time to time! - I thought to myself, - what did it serve me that even in the womb I was already a guard sergeant! Where did it take me? To the *** regiment and to a remote fortress on the border of the Kirghiz-Kaisak steppes! .. ”I dined with Andrei Karlovich, the three of us with his old adjutant. Strict German economy reigned at his table, and I think that the fear of sometimes seeing an extra guest at my idle meal was partly the reason for my hasty removal to the garrison. The next day I said goodbye to the general and went to my destination.

Pushkin's interest in the history of Russia has always manifested itself very clearly, most of all the poet was attracted by the theme of popular uprisings, led by Emelyan Pugachev and Stenka Razin. The result of the poet's reworking of folk songs about Stepan Razin was his lyrical songs about this folk hero. The poet devoted a lot of time to collecting and processing information concerning the personality of Pugachev. Such interest was due to the fact that at the same time a wave of peasant uprisings passed through Russia. The personality of Pugachev was ambiguous, collecting and analyzing historical facts about him, Pushkin tried to figure out what this “villain” and “rebel” was after all. The result of painstaking and many years of work on the "History of Pugachev" was Pushkin's story "The Captain's Daughter", in which the author vividly depicted the events of the time of "Pugachevshchina". On our website, you can read the story "The Captain's Daughter" in full, without abbreviations, and prepare for the analysis of this work.

A painstaking study of historical materials helped Pushkin to reliably recreate the pictures of a bloody war and a peasant revolt, terrible in its ruthlessness (“God forbid to see a Russian rebellion, senseless and merciless!”). The main character of the story "The Captain's Daughter" is Pyotr Grinev, a young man who is sent to serve in the Belogorsk fortress. On the way, he meets Emelyan Pugachev, not knowing that in front of him is the very robber about whom there are so many rumors, in gratitude for his help during a snowstorm, Grinev gives him a rabbit coat. Pyotr, having arrived at the fortress, falls in love with Masha, the commandant's daughter, she reciprocates, but Grinev's parents refuse to accept their son's choice. As a result of a duel with Shvabrin, Peter is wounded. At this time, the flames of rebellion flare up. Pugachev with his army captures the fortress, and executes the nobles who refused to swear allegiance to him. Peter's colleague, Shvabrin, goes over to the side of the rebels. Masha's parents become victims of the invaders. Grinev is saved from execution by Pugachev himself, who recognizes in him the one who gave him a sheepskin coat. He is released, as he honestly explains to Pugachev that he cannot break the oath and go over to his side. He goes to Orenburg and fights on the side of the government. Later, he has to return to the fortress in order to save Masha from the claims of Shvabrin, he succeeds with the help of Pugachev. A former colleague denounces Grinev to government troops, he is arrested. But thanks to Masha, who goes for pardon to the Empress herself, the conclusion did not last long. Young people return to the Grinev estate and play a wedding.

After reading the novel by Alexander Pushkin, the reader remains fascinated by the image of the villain Pugachev, who on the pages of the story sometimes looks fair, wise and sincere. This bloody time in the history of Russia is described in great detail by the writer, there is a terrible hopelessness from the futility of this terrible rebellion. Even the most noble goals do not justify such robbery, as a result of which many innocent people suffered. "The Captain's Daughter", according to most literature programs, is included in the list of works that are studied in the 8th grade. The result of work with the story should be the implementation of creative work on the development of speech. For a superficial acquaintance with the work, it is enough to read the summary. But in order to appreciate the book at its true worth, you need to read it in its entirety. On our site you can download and read all the chapters of the story. And also there is an opportunity to read the text of the work of A.S. Pushkin online, it does not require registration and payment.

Frame from the film "The Captain's Daughter" (1959)

The novel is based on the memoirs of the fifty-year-old nobleman Pyotr Andreevich Grinev, written by him during the reign of Emperor Alexander and dedicated to the “Pugachevshchina”, in which the seventeen-year-old officer Pyotr Grinev, due to a “strange chain of circumstances”, took an involuntary part.

Pyotr Andreevich recalls his childhood with slight irony, the childhood of a noble undergrowth. His father, Andrey Petrovich Grinev, in his youth “served under Count Munnich and retired as prime minister in 17 .... Since then, he lived in his Simbirsk village, where he married the girl Avdotya Vasilyevna Yu., the daughter of a poor local nobleman. The Grinev family had nine children, but all Petrusha's brothers and sisters "died in infancy." “Mother was still my belly,” recalls Grinev, “as I was already enrolled in the Semyonovsky regiment as a sergeant.”

From the age of five, Petrusha has been looked after by the stirrup Savelich, “for sober behavior” granted to him as uncles. “Under his supervision, in the twelfth year, I learned Russian literacy and could very sensibly judge the properties of a greyhound male.” Then a teacher appeared - the Frenchman Beaupré, who did not understand the "meaning of this word", since he was a hairdresser in his own country, and a soldier in Prussia. Young Grinev and the Frenchman Beaupré quickly got along, and although Beaupré was contractually obliged to teach Petrusha "in French, German and all sciences", he preferred to soon learn from his student "to chat in Russian." Grinev's upbringing ends with the expulsion of Beaupre, convicted of debauchery, drunkenness and neglect of the duties of a teacher.

Until the age of sixteen, Grinev lives "undersized, chasing pigeons and playing leapfrog with the yard boys." In the seventeenth year, the father decides to send his son to the service, but not to St. Petersburg, but to the army "to smell gunpowder" and "pull the strap." He sends him to Orenburg, instructing him to serve faithfully "to whom you swear", and to remember the proverb: "take care of the dress again, and honor from youth." All the "brilliant hopes" of the young Grinev for a cheerful life in St. Petersburg collapsed, "boredom in the deaf and distant side" awaited ahead.

Approaching Orenburg, Grinev and Savelich fell into a snowstorm. A random person who met on the road leads a wagon lost in a snowstorm to a litter. While the wagon was “quietly moving” towards the dwelling, Pyotr Andreevich had a terrible dream in which the fifty-year-old Grinev sees something prophetic, connecting it with the “strange circumstances” of his later life. A man with a black beard lies in the bed of Father Grinev, and mother, calling him Andrei Petrovich and “an imprisoned father,” wants Petrusha to “kiss his hand” and ask for blessings. A man swings an ax, the room is filled with dead bodies; Grinev stumbles over them, slips in bloody puddles, but his "terrible man" "calls affectionately", saying: "Do not be afraid, come under my blessing."

In gratitude for the rescue, Grinev gives the “counselor”, dressed too lightly, his hare coat and brings a glass of wine, for which he thanks him with a low bow: “Thank you, your honor! God bless you for your goodness." The appearance of the “counselor” seemed “wonderful” to Grinev: “He was about forty, medium height, thin and broad-shouldered. Gray hair showed in his black beard; living large eyes and ran. His face had a rather pleasant, but roguish expression.

The Belogorsk fortress, where Grinev was sent to serve from Orenburg, meets the young man not with formidable bastions, towers and ramparts, but turns out to be a village surrounded by a wooden fence. Instead of a brave garrison - disabled people who do not know where the left and where the right side is, instead of deadly artillery - an old cannon clogged with garbage.

The commandant of the fortress Ivan Kuzmich Mironov is an officer "from soldiers' children", an uneducated man, but an honest and kind one. His wife, Vasilisa Egorovna, manages him completely and looks at the affairs of the service as if they were her own business. Soon, Grinev becomes “native” to the Mironovs, and he himself “invisibly ‹…› became attached to a good family.” In the daughter of the Mironovs, Masha, Grinev "found a prudent and sensitive girl."

The service does not burden Grinev, he became interested in reading books, practicing translations and writing poetry. At first, he becomes close to Lieutenant Shvabrin, the only person in the fortress who is close to Grinev in terms of education, age and occupation. But soon they quarrel - Shvabrin mockingly criticized the love "song" written by Grinev, and also allowed himself dirty hints about the "custom and customs" of Masha Mironova, to whom this song was dedicated. Later, in a conversation with Masha, Grinev will find out the reasons for the stubborn slander with which Shvabrin pursued her: the lieutenant wooed her, but was refused. “I do not like Alexei Ivanovich. He is very disgusting to me, ”admits Masha Grinev. The quarrel is resolved by a duel and wounding Grinev.

Masha takes care of the wounded Grinev. Young people confess to each other "in a heartfelt inclination", and Grinev writes a letter to the priest, "asking for parental blessings." But Masha is a dowry. The Mironovs have “only one girl Palashka”, while the Grinevs have three hundred souls of peasants. The father forbids Grinev to marry and promises to transfer him from the Belogorsk fortress "somewhere far away" so that the "nonsense" will pass.

After this letter, life became unbearable for Grinev, he falls into gloomy thought, seeks solitude. "I was afraid to either go crazy or fall into debauchery." And only “unexpected incidents,” Grinev writes, “which had an important impact on my whole life, suddenly gave my soul a strong and good shock.”

At the beginning of October 1773, the commandant of the fortress received a secret message about the Don Cossack Emelyan Pugachev, who, posing as "the late Emperor Peter III", "gathered a villainous gang, made an outrage in the Yaik villages and already took and ruined several fortresses." The commandant was asked to "take appropriate measures to repulse the aforementioned villain and impostor."

Soon everyone was talking about Pugachev. A Bashkir with "outrageous sheets" was captured in the fortress. But it was not possible to interrogate him - the Bashkir's tongue was torn out. From day to day, the inhabitants of the Belogorsk fortress expect an attack by Pugachev,

The rebels appear unexpectedly - the Mironovs did not even have time to send Masha to Orenburg. At the first attack, the fortress was taken. Residents greet the Pugachevites with bread and salt. The prisoners, among whom was Grinev, are taken to the square to swear allegiance to Pugachev. The first to die on the gallows is the commandant, who refused to swear allegiance to the "thief and impostor." Under the blow of a saber, Vasilisa Yegorovna falls dead. Death on the gallows awaits Grinev, but Pugachev pardons him. A little later, Grinev learns from Savelich "the reason for mercy" - the ataman of the robbers turned out to be the tramp who received from him, Grinev, a hare sheepskin coat.

In the evening, Grinev was invited to the “great sovereign”. “I pardoned you for your virtue,” Pugachev says to Grinev, “‹…› Do you promise to serve me with diligence?” But Grinev is a “natural nobleman” and “sweared allegiance to the empress”. He cannot even promise Pugachev not to serve against him. “My head is in your power,” he says to Pugachev, “let me go - thank you, execute me - God will judge you.”

Grinev's sincerity amazes Pugachev, and he releases the officer "on all four sides." Grinev decides to go to Orenburg for help - after all, Masha remained in the fortress in a strong fever, whom the priest passed off as her niece. He is especially worried that Shvabrin, who swore allegiance to Pugachev, was appointed commandant of the fortress.

But in Orenburg, Grinev was denied help, and a few days later the rebel troops surrounded the city. Long days of siege dragged on. Soon, by chance, a letter from Masha falls into Grinev's hands, from which he learns that Shvabrin is forcing her to marry him, threatening otherwise to extradite her to the Pugachevites. Again, Grinev turns to the military commandant for help, and is again refused.

Grinev and Savelich leave for the Belogorsk fortress, but they are captured by the rebels near Berdskaya Sloboda. And again, providence brings Grinev and Pugachev together, giving the officer a chance to fulfill his intention: having learned from Grinev the essence of the matter on which he is going to the Belogorsk fortress, Pugachev himself decides to free the orphan and punish the offender.

On the way to the fortress, a confidential conversation takes place between Pugachev and Grinev. Pugachev is clearly aware of his doom, expecting betrayal, first of all, from his comrades, he knows that he can’t wait for the “mercy of the empress”. For Pugachev, as for an eagle from a Kalmyk fairy tale, which he tells Grinev with “wild inspiration”, “rather than eating carrion for three hundred years, it is better to drink living blood once; and then what God will give!”. Grinev draws a different moral conclusion from the tale, which surprises Pugacheva: “To live by murder and robbery means for me to peck at carrion.”

In the Belogorsk fortress, Grinev, with the help of Pugachev, frees Masha. And although the enraged Shvabrin reveals the deceit to Pugachev, he is full of generosity: “Execute, execute like this, favor, favor like that: this is my custom.” Grinev and Pugachev part "friendly".

Grinev sends Masha as a bride to his parents, and he remains in the army due to his “debt of honor”. The war "with robbers and savages" is "boring and petty." Grinev's observations are filled with bitterness: "God forbid to see a Russian rebellion, senseless and merciless."

The end of the military campaign coincides with the arrest of Grinev. Appearing before the court, he is calm in his confidence that he can be justified, but Shvabrin slanders him, exposing Grinev as a spy sent from Pugachev to Orenburg. Grinev is condemned, shame awaits him, exile to Siberia for an eternal settlement.

Grinev is saved from shame and exile by Masha, who goes to the queen to "beg for mercy." Walking through the garden of Tsarskoye Selo, Masha met a middle-aged lady. In this lady, everything "involuntarily attracted the heart and inspired confidence." Having learned who Masha was, she offered her help, and Masha sincerely told the lady the whole story. The lady turned out to be the empress, who pardoned Grinev in the same way that Pugachev had pardoned both Masha and Grinev in his time.