Vladimir Nabokov, "Protection of the Luzhin": a summary

The novel by V. Nabokov "Protection of the Luzhin", the brief content of which we present to your attention, was published in the 1930s. In the opinion of many critics, this work led the author to the vanguard of the Russian literary community that created under the conditions of emigration.

In bright, but somewhat gloomy colors, Nabokov describes the vital ups and downs of a talented chess player, for whom the world around him has become a mirror image of the chess game.

Farewell to childhood

Every summer little Sasha Luzhin spends with his parents at the dacha, and in the autumn the family returns to St. Petersburg, to their city apartment. This year in the life of a boy, still in the care of a French governess, unexpected changes must occur: the father announced to Sasha that he would go to school. This news frightens the quiet house boy. His imagination paints the horrors of the future of daily communication with peers. This is how the story begins about the fate of the future genius in the book, on the cover of which there is a laconic inscription: "V. Nabokov." Luzhin's Protection. " A brief summary of the first few chapters tells about the childhood experiences of the young hero.

When the Luzhin family after the summer season, having collected the necessary things, is preparing to be sent to the city, Sasha directly escapes from the railway station to the forest. Frozen rain drives a small stubborn to a village house. The boy hides in the attic in the hope that no one will find him there. Among the usual loft trash Sasha notices the old chessboard, not knowing what role this subject will play in his later life. Soon adults discover a fugitive, and a black-bearded miller in his arms places the boy in a road cart. Parting with children's illusions could be called this part of the novel "Protection of the Luzhin." A summary of the chapters of the whole work introduces the reader to the feelings of a vulnerable teenager, a concentrated young man and an adult male.

School insults and parental misunderstanding

Relations with his classmates, which was afraid of Sasha, he does not add up. At first, the boys tease him with Antosha by the name of the character of one of the stories of Luzhin Sr., who was engaged in writing children's books. Brisk jokes in his address Sasha prefers not to notice, closes in himself. Soon everyone forgot about him, they look like an empty place.

If we had to write a short essay on the subject: "V. Nabokov: "Protecting Luzhin," a summary, analysis of the work and characterization of the protagonist, "then it would be possible to say with certainty: the isolation and unsociability of the adolescent was the very defense against encroachments of society on his inner world. In the validity of this statement, it is easy to verify by continuing reading the novel.

The father, who visited the gymnasium in a month to find out about the successes of his son, hears from the teacher that the boy, though not without abilities, is too lazy and lacks initiative. Sasha did not show any success in studying school subjects, preferred to keep silent about conversations with his parents, sometimes he had flashes of unmotivated anger. Father begins to suspect that the only son is sick with some kind of mental illness, but still hopes that the boy will have a great future.

Familiarity with the world of chess

On the anniversary of the death of Sasha's grandfather on the maternal line in the Luzhin's house, a musical evening is organized, as the deceased old man was considered a good composer. One of the invited musicians, whom Sasha accidentally encountered in his father's office, in a short conversation enthusiastically responds about the chess game, calling it "the hobby of the Gods." It is known that Vladimir Nabokov was fond of drawing the chess etudes. "Protection of Luzhin" - a brief outline of his views on this ancient game, its impact on human destinies.

The next day, when the boy's mother starts a quarrel with her father, suspecting her husband of treason, Sasha again secluded herself in her office. Here is the second cousin of the mother, who is staying at the Luzhin's house. It was this woman who caused the scandal between the parents. The boy asks his aunt to teach him how to play chess. The girl rejects the pretext that training can take too long. The boy insists on his, and the aunt with a sigh shows how to arrange the figures, explains the rules of their movement on the chess board. At first glance, the events in the novel "The Protection of the Luzhin", the brief content of which we are trying to convey, are developing slowly and quite ordinary.

Youthful protest

One day, Sasha observes the chess games of his classmates. Unexpectedly for himself, the boy discovers that, not being able to play, understands in this magical action much more than his peers. At that moment, a plan is ripening in his head, Sasha starts to realize the planned next morning. In the plot of the novel "Protection of the Luzhin", the summary of which can not contain many important details, one of the climaxes comes.

Pretending to go to school, the boy ceases to attend classes, spending days in the house of his second cousin. A young woman gives him the first lessons of a chess game. Then the old man starts to study Sasha, who often visits his aunt. About school absences soon becomes known to parents, in the house scandals flash again. But Sasha does not worry, he studies the magazines with rapture, playing chess games on them.

The first loss and the beginning of a chess career

A week later, young Luzhin learns of the death of the old man, from whom he took the lessons of the game. This news weighs heavily upon the boy's fragile psyche. Parents are forced to take Sasha abroad to provide treatment for a protracted nervous breakdown.

After some time, the mother returns to Russia, Sasha stays with his father. Luzhin the elder often appears in society with a young lady, in which the boy recognizes his second cousin. Soon a telegram arrives from St. Petersburg informing about Sasha's mother's death.

The father, imbued with the son's infatuation with chess, allows him to participate in various tournaments. The growing young man wins one victory after another, this occupation begins to bring not only fame, but money. The organization of chess fights and simultaneous games is dealt with by a specially attracted person - Mr. Valentinov.

Life in emigration and marriage

The First World War and the October Revolution compel the Luzhin family to settle permanently abroad, they settle in Berlin. In 1928, Luzhin the elder recalled his long-standing idea of writing a book about a talented young man who died early. The details of the work are carefully thought out, but something prevents this idea from being realized. Soon it turns out that even the most failed author does not live long: as a result of a severe cold, he develops lung disease, which led to a sudden death.

Young Luzhin, turning into a surly man with a heavy, hunched figure, continues his chess career. All his parties end in an unchanging victory, in the near future he hopes to win the championship title. During the preparation for one of the most important tournaments Alexander meets a Russian girl from an emigre family. A young woman considers Luzhin a genius and soon, despite protests from his parents, marries him.

Mixing the game with reality

The undefeated chess player manages to leave far behind all rivals. But this tournament should be decisive in a dispute with a long-time opponent - a grandmaster from Italy named Turati. A multi-hour duel is interrupted, and without revealing the winner, the position on the chessboard foreshadows a draw result.

This hard game completely exhausts the strength of Luzhin, which leads to another nervous breakdown and a long illness. On the recommendation of the doctor, the wife seeks to erase from memory of Alexander all the memories of chess, tries to make sure that no attributes of the game come to his attention. But in the inflamed brain of a chess player, episodes of real life are firmly intertwined with chess etudes.

Valentinov, who has not been heard about for the last few years, reminds himself of a phone call, asks for a meeting with Luzhin. The wife, referring to the illness of Alexander, denies Valentinov in his request. In the immediate plans of the spouses - moving to another city, and before that visit to the grave of his father. Here we begin to guess why this particular name gave Nabokov his work "The Protection of the Luzhin". The summary of the chapters of this novel brings us closer to the denouement of the plot.

All the thoughts of the chess genius are occupied with analyzing the unfinished game. In his imagination, chess pieces take on the images of people whom he has ever met, and play moves are associated with the actions of others or with their own actions. Luzhin's head is building plans for impenetrable defense against an enemy attack. A chess player is sure that only an unexpected, even an absurd move, is capable of breaking the opponent's tactics. At the same time, the chess strategy is transferred to the events of the real world.

A painful search for the right move

One day, having left for the city accompanied by his wife and mother-in-law, Luzhin leaves them under the pretext of visiting the dentist. He wanders the streets, visits various institutions, as if he traces out traces. He understands that in all these actions there is nothing new, every move is known to the chess opponent, so victory will not be achieved. Luzhin's defense is a summary of the life strategy that a person with an upset mentality associates with playing chess.

Approaching his house, Luzhin meets an old friend of Valentinov's at the entrance. He places the man in the car and takes him to the film studio, where he now works. Valentinov tries to persuade Luzhin to appear in a feature film with the participation of real chess players. Alexander feels that shooting is only an excuse to drag him into a losing game, to force him to make the wrong move.

The ingenious solution of a complex multivider

Luzhin comes home, hardly rises to the top floor. He starts to walk quickly through the rooms of the apartment, despite the requests of the weeping couple to stop and explain the essence of what is happening. Finally, Luzhin finishes his marathon, puts the contents of his pockets on the nightstand and kisses his wife's hands. "The only true move is found! You just need to leave the game, fall out of it! "- this idea illuminates the inflamed imagination of chess genius.

This evening guests are invited to the house. The first bell rings at the door, the maid runs to open, the wife goes to greet the visitor. Taking advantage of the moment, Luzhin locked himself in the bathroom. On the shelves of the chest standing here, Alexander climbs on the window sill of a tall window. Bracing his feet on the street, he fully breathes in the frosty air. The door shudders at the onslaught of people, clearly heard the wife's worried voice. But the chess player does not care. He was prepared to make the last move, leading to victory and unrestricted freedom. A minute later the door to the bathroom was knocked out, but there was no one to save.

Thus ends the last chapter of the novel, the plot of which contains a description of a lifetime, and the title does not differ in particular ornate (but so decided by the author - V. Nabokov) - "Protection of Luzhin." Reviews of this work can be summarized and expressed in just one phrase: the burden of genius is capable of withstanding not everyone. But it's not the fault, but the trouble of people endowed with exceptional talents. Is not it?