Zoshchenko's anti-alcoholic story "Trouble". Analysis of peasant psychology by Yegor Glotov

It is difficult to reproach the remarkable novelist Mikhail Mikhailovich Zoshchenko for conformism and the nomenklatura attitude to creativity. His characters do not correspond to the poster images promoting the ideal of the Soviet worker, for which the writer was criticized many times, accusing him of slander and excessive caricature. However, some works in quite accessible form call for observance of eternal and universal norms of life. For example, Zoshchenko's story "The trouble". The analysis of the plot leads to the conclusion about its bright anti-alcohol orientation. This topic was actual in the 1920s, and it has not lost its relevance today.

The reasons for the disgrace of the writer Zoshchenko

Yes, Mikhail Mikhailovich got for his peculiar form of narration, but if all the stories described by him were presented in the usual, correct and stylistically flawless language, then they would lose most of their attractiveness. What would have happened is the worst thing that can happen to a satirical writer and a humorist. The reader would no longer laugh, but without this, humanity does not part with the past. Posters with edifying calls to observe sobriety are weak, if at all, one can hope for their effectiveness. In the years of total domination of primitive propaganda, the writer had to struggle, and in 1946 there was a danger over him. After Zhdanov's speech, the decision of the Orgburo of the Central Committee concerning the journals Leningrad and Zvezda, and expulsions from the Writers' Union, he had only to work on translations and wait for the arrest. But what does the story of Zoshchenko (the "Trouble") have to do with this? The analysis of this short work does not allow to blame the author for attacking the achievements of socialism, on the contrary, the main character, apparently, is a single peasant peasant who dreamed of his own horse. And maybe this was also seditious? After all, the bezel is clearly not a fist, not a "myrrh", but its own, classically close representative of the rural poor.

Nevertheless, one can hardly see the desire to denigrate the future of the collective farmer by reading Zoshchenko's story "The trouble". The summary and subsequent detailed analysis of the work suggest that it is quite different. But first things first.

Staging the plot

The story is written in the traditional manner of the detached exposition of the plot of events, which Mikhail Zoshchenko often used. "Trouble" - a story about the unsuccessful completion of a simple peasant plan. For many years, a man named Yegor with a simple surname Glotov dreamed of a wet nurse, a horse that was extremely necessary in the household. For this purpose, a resident of Rotten Prudkov (the so-called native village of the hero) denied himself simple human joys, from makhorka and ending with moonshine (whose taste he generally forgot). Having collected, at last, the necessary sum, Egor goes to city for fulfillment of so important transaction. A detailed listing of all the victims, which he went on, eloquently speaks about the poor inner world of the character, about his simplicity (which, as is known, is worse than stealing). There is absolutely no mention of who plowed all these long years instead of draft horsepower, apparently they were members of his family. They, on a par with the main character, ate straw. This is how Yegor determines his two- or three-year diet.

Peasant adventurer Yegor Glotov

The vulgar speech fills Zoshchenko's story "The trouble". Analysis of phraseology suggests the close acquaintance of the author with peasant life. But knowledge of psychology is also important. The refusal to purchase a horse from a neighbor of a nearby village only seems at first glance to be an irrational decision. Indeed, to find out how good the proposed individual was, in this case, it was not difficult, it was enough to make inquiries among acquaintances, which obviously was quite a lot, and buy it without risk. But in this case all the pleasure from such an important event was lost. On some adventurous character of Yegor Glotov and Zoshchenko's story "The Trouble" is built. An analysis of his motives leads to the idea that the peasant is prone to risk associated with the long journey, the danger of being robbed or deceived. But the adventure is more expensive, and it happened.

Bargain

A suitable horse was soon found, Yegor asked a ritual question, which was appropriate for the situation, waiting to hear an equally insignificant review. Zoshchenko, whose misfortune consisted in the same, in which was the secret of his success, namely in the knowledge of philistine psychology and speech, revealed himself in the trade scene in the full breadth of his talent. Yegor's initial intention was to hide his interest in every possible way, but it failed. Already the second phrase he fully revealed himself, laying out all his hardships, including "grass feeding", as well as a passionate desire to acquire a horse. Then follows the description of the bargaining process, the full text of which is omitted in Zoshchenko's story "The trouble". The summary of the negotiations consists in describing the slapping on the bootleg (there were hidden money), taking off the boot twice, extracting money, boasting, tears and other weighty arguments in favor of reducing the price, leading finally to a consensus.

Joy

The deal took place, and Yegor gave vent to his emotions. He himself liked the persistence and resourcefulness that succeeded, he was convinced that he was able to "entangle" the seller. Even the suit (unclear, something like manure, mixed with clay), he tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to cause a discount. Now joy filled the soul, she was looking for a way out, but there was not much money left, and that amount was enough to "wash" the purchase, to break up after a long forced post. Perhaps, if there was not a seller so compliant, everything would have ended safely, but fate wanted to punish the main character for his intemperance. So the author decided, Mikhail Zoshchenko. The misfortune lay in wait for Yegor and soon assumed the concrete outlines of an unfamiliar peasant, whom he at once called "the godfather." And it raced ...

Sad final

About what happened "on Monday night on Wednesday," the reader is reliably unknown. He remains himself, straining his imagination, imagining a scene of stupid revelry, drunken conversations of drinking companions, obsequious faces of cabbage attendants and Egor's hungover. All these descriptions are deprived of the work "The trouble". Zoshchenko is deliberately limited to stingy information about the absence of a horse. "Kum" is a little tongue-tied and tongue-tied consolation to Glotov, resting on the value of memories. It helps a little. First, Yegor, apparently, does not remember anything. Secondly, the horse really does not exist, and it turns out that the two-year efforts were in vain. And Yegor still has one question: "How is this and why are they selling wine?" Many people who have suffered under similar circumstances are looking for answers to him ...