The image of Zakhar Berkut: an example of a great man

In the treasury of literary masterpieces there are many works that are captured from the first line and do not let go until the last. Classics have left a legacy on which many generations learn, both young and old are read out. Kamenyar, a great philosopher, talented writer, poet, enlightener, revolutionary and public figure, takes an honorable place among them . And in some ways a prophet, because he foresaw much of the life of his people and of humanity in general. This is Ivan Franko, the Ukrainian genius who lived at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

One of the best works

Ivan Franko wrote many works. "Zakhar Berkut" is considered to be one of the best. What is so attractive to the reader today? What did people like it at the time of its creation? First of all, characters. The image of Zakhar Berkut is central in the work. His description will be given below, but for now consider other highlights of the story.

The second feature of it is nature, skillfully sketched by the writer. In love with his native land, the author draws it, like an artist, noting every detail. But Frank's nature is not just a background for events, but an active participant. Nature helps positive heroes as best they can: lightning predicts trouble, stones seem to obey the will of the community, stop the river and turn it into a valley where the enemy hides. And even the big stone The watchman, who was prayed by the distant ancestors of the inhabitants of Tukhli, seemed an accomplice to Zakhar.

The third highlight - this is an amazing and melodic language, which communicated tuholtsy, which appealed to the author. Overflowed with folk wisdom, proverbs, phraseologicalisms and archaisms, he carries the reader back to those distant times. Well, the fourth feature of the story, of course, is an interesting story, which reflects the struggle of the civilian population with a cruel invader.

Zakhar Berkut: the plot

If you briefly tell the plot of the story, then Franco draws the idyll of the Carpathian village in the distant thirteenth century. The community of Rus still lived according to the laws of the clan: all important decisions were taken at the council, and the wise elder guided the public life. The image of Zakhar Berkut is a composite portrait of such an elder.

Despite the fact that in Russia Christianity already dominated, people worshiped nature, elements, believed in dreams and signs. They are opposed by a boyar appointed from the capital, who seeks to seize all power in their own hands. At this time, the Tatar-Mongol horde went through the country, carrying war and destruction, tears and rivers of blood. In this picturesque place she came suddenly. Tucholcy together rose to fight. But the boyar Tugar Wolf volunteered to help the invaders. His daughter Miroslava, in love with Maxim, son of Zakhar, renounces his father and helps the peasants. The image of Zakhar Berkut and boyar Tugar is extremely opposite, but all the same the author believed in the best in every person. Otherwise, the Wolf would never understand his mistake.

Personal and public

Characterization of Zakhar Berkut will be incomplete, if not to mention the struggle of feelings and contradictions in man. When Maxim falls prisoner to the Mongols, the elder refuses to categorically exchange his son for the enemy's safe passage into the valley. He is very fond of a young man, but believes that the security of Tukhli and neighboring villages (that is, of his native land) is more important than the life of one person.

The same can be said about Miroslava: a noble girl has a love for ordinary people and renounces her father for his despicable act. She asks Zakhar to become her parent and helps the peasants and business and wise advice.

Love in the Carpathians

Characteristics of Zakhar Berkut - this is what the writer focuses on. Ivan Franco draws a brave, wise, honest man who serves society. In parallel, the love line of Maxim and Miroslava, two young people, unfolds. Not opposites, although they grew up in different conditions, and pure-hearted, noble and loyal guys and girls whose hearts beat in unison. They also knew how to separate personal interest from the public and even in a minute of death they thought about saving the villagers. They understood that they could lose each other, but they had no thought of betraying them.

Epilogue

Tucholtsy won, young people are saved - the story is approaching a happy end. But death reminds us that nothing on earth is eternal. Saving Maxim, Tugar perishes, then Zakhar Berkut dies, commemorating the coming changes. The writer as if wants to emphasize that there is a moment of a turning point in history, a withering away of the public spirit, but human values will never lose their relevance.

The image of Zakhar Berkut is both complex and understandable. In his character there are no flaws, contradictions, evil intentions, he said that he thought, and served people as he could. However, this simple man understood that the well-being of his land depends on his people, on their coherence, unity, rejection. And before his death, he predicted prosperity for his country, but on the condition that people will continue to hold on to each other. And his prophetic words can be repeated again and again, and the story of Ivan Franko wants to read and re-read to infinity.