The name of the city, the “history” of which is offered to the reader, is Foolov. There is no such city on the map of Russia and there never was one, but still it was... And it was everywhere. Or maybe he never disappeared anywhere, despite the phrase with which the author-chronicler ends his story: “History has stopped flowing”? Can this really happen? And isn’t this Aesop’s sly smile?..
In Russian literature, Shchedrin’s “chronicle” was immediately preceded by Pushkin’s “History of the Village of Goryukhin”. “If God sends me readers, then perhaps they will be curious to know how I decided to write the History of the Village of Goryukhin” - this is how Pushkin’s narrative begins. And here is the beginning of the text “From the publisher”, who allegedly found in the “Foolovsky city archive” “a voluminous bunch of notebooks bearing the general name “Foolish Chronicler””: “For a long time I had the intention of writing the history of some city (or region) ... but different circumstances hindered this enterprise."
But the Chronicler was found. The material collected since ancient times is at the disposal of the “publisher”. In his address to the reader, he determines the content of the “History”. Read the text “From the Publisher” in full, so that you are convinced that every word there is special, casts its own brilliance and merges in a general sparkle with others, one fantastically real (grotesque) image, as soon as it appears on the page, is crowded out by the next, and the best, What you can do is become a reader of the chronicle of Foolov, this strangely familiar city to all of us.
The structure of Shchedrin's most widely read work is complex. Behind the chapter " From the publisher"follows" Address to the reader"- a text written directly from the perspective of the “archivist-chronicler” and stylized in the language of the 18th century.
“Author” - “humble Pavlushka, son of Masloboynikov,” the fourth archivist. Note that of the three other archivists, two are Tryapichkins (the surname is taken from Gogol’s “The Inspector General”: this is what Khlestakov calls his friend, “who writes little articles”).
"About the roots of the origin of the Foolovites"
“On the Roots of the Origin of the Foolovites,” the chapter that opens The Chronicler, begins with a fictitious quote imitating the text of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign.” Historians N.I. Kostomarov (1817-1885) and S.M. Solovyov (1820-1879) are mentioned here because they held directly opposite views on the history of Rus' and Russia: according to Kostomarov, the main thing in it was spontaneous popular activity (“a gray wolf prowled the earth”), and according to Solovyov, Russian history was created only thanks to the deeds of princes and kings (“he spread his crazy eagle under the clouds”).
Both points of view were alien to the writer himself. He believed that Russian statehood could only be created through an organized and conscious popular movement.
"Inventory for mayors"
“Inventory of mayors” contains explanations for further chapters and a short list of mayors, the narratives of whose reign are developed further. One should not think that each mayor is a satirical image of one specific “autocrat”. These are always generalized images, like most of the text of “The History of a City,” but there are also clear correspondences. Negodyaev - Pavel I, Alexander I - Grustilov; Speransky and Arakcheev, close associates of Alexander I, were reflected in the characters Benevolensky and Gloomy-Burcheev.
"Organchik"
“The Organ” is the central and most famous chapter of the book. This is the nickname of the mayor Brudasty, who summarizes the most sinister features of despotism. The word “brute” has long referred exclusively to dogs: “brutty” - having a beard and mustache on the face and usually especially vicious (usually about a greyhound dog). He was called an organ because a musical instrument was discovered in his head, a mechanism that produces only one phrase: “I will not tolerate it!” The Foolovites also call Brudasty a scoundrel, but Shchedrin assures that they do not attach any specific meaning to this word. This means that the word has one - this is how the writer draws your attention to this word and asks you to figure it out. Let's figure it out.
The word “scoundrel” appeared in the Russian language under Peter I from “profost” - a regimental executor (executioner) in the German army, in Russian it was used until the 60s of the 19th century in the same meaning, after which it was a warden of military prisons. “London agitators” in the journalism of the 60s of the 19th century were called A.I. Herzen and N.P. Ogarev - Russian revolutionary publicists who published the newspaper "Bell" in London. Charles the Simple - a character similar to Organchik in medieval history - a real-life French king, deposed as a result of his unsuccessful wars. Farmazons are freemasons, freemasons, members of the society of “freemasons”, very influential in Europe since the Middle Ages.
"The Tale of the Six City Leaders"
“The Tale of the Six City Leaders” is a wonderfully written, hilariously funny, brilliant satire on 18th-century empresses and their temporary favorites.
The surname Paleologova is an allusion to the wife of Ivan III, the daughter of the last Byzantine emperor of the Paleolog dynasty, Sophia. It was this marriage that gave the Russian rulers the basis to make Russia an empire and dream of annexing Byzantium.
The name Clementine de Bourbon is a hint that the French government helped Elizabeth Petrovna ascend to the Russian throne. The mention of the unpronounceable fictitious names of Polish cardinals here is probably an allusion to the Time of Troubles and Polish intrigue in Russian history.
"News about Dvoekurov"
“The News of Dvoekurov” contains hints about the reign of Alexander I and the peculiarities of his personality (duality, contradictory intentions and their implementation, indecision to the point of cowardice). Shchedrin emphasizes that the Foolovites owe it to him to consume mustard and bay leaves. Dvoekurov is the ancestor of the “innovators” who fought wars “in the name of potatoes.” An allusion to Nicholas I, the son of Alexander I, who introduced potatoes into Rus' during the famine of 1839-1840, which caused “potato riots”, which were brutally suppressed by military force until the most powerful peasant uprising in 1842.
"Hungry City"
"Hungry City" Mayor Ferdyshchenko rules Foolov in this and the next two chapters. After listening to the priest’s teaching about Ahab and Jezebel, Ferdyshchenko promises the people bread, and he himself calls troops to the city. Perhaps this is an allusion to the “liberation” of the peasants in 1861, carried out in such a way that it caused discontent among both landowners and peasants who resisted the reform.
"Straw City"
"Straw City" The war between the “streltsy” and the “gunners” is described. It is known that in May 1862 the famous St. Petersburg fires occurred in Apraksin Dvor. They blamed them on students and nihilists, but perhaps the fires were a provocation. The chapter is a broader generalization. It also contains hints of the flood of 1824 in St. Petersburg.
"Fantastic Traveler"
"Fantastic Traveler" Ferdyshchenko sets off on a journey. It was the custom of Russian autocrats to travel from time to time around the country, during which local authorities strenuously portrayed the people's devotion to the rulers, and the tsars bestowed favors on the people, often very insignificant. Thus, it is known that by order of Arakcheev, during the tour of military settlements by Alexander I, the same roast goose was carried from hut to hut.
"Wars for Enlightenment"
“Wars for Enlightenment” - describes the “longest and most brilliant” reign, judging by many signs, of Nicholas I. Vasilisk Semyonovich Wartkin is a collective image, like everyone else, but some features of the era clearly hint primarily at this monarch. Historian K.I. Arsenyev is the mentor of Nicholas I, who traveled with him across Russia.
The trips to Streletskaya Sloboda again take us back to the 18th century, but generalize the periods of the next century - the struggle of monarchs against the Freemasons, the “noble Fronde” and the Decembrists. There is also a hint, it seems, of Pushkin (the poet Fedka, who “insulted the venerable mother of the Basilisk with verses”). It is known that after Pushkin’s return from exile in 1826, Nicholas I told him in a personal conversation: “You’ve fooled around enough, I hope you’ll be reasonable now, and we won’t quarrel anymore. You will send me everything you write, and from now on I myself will be your censor.”
The march to the settlement of Navoznaya implies the colonial wars of the Russian tsars. Talking about the economic crisis in Foolov, Shchedrin names the economists of the magazine “Russian Messenger” - Molinari and Bezobrazov, who passed off any situation as prosperity. Finally, campaigns “against enlightenment” and to “destroy the free spirit”, dating back to the year of the revolution in France (1790), point to the French Revolution of 1848 and the revolutionary events that broke out in European countries - Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary. Nicholas I sends troops into Wallachia, Moldova, and Hungary.
"The era of dismissal from wars"
The chapter “The era of dismissal from wars” is devoted mainly to the reign of Negodyaev (Paul I), “replaced” in 1802, according to the “Inventory”, for disagreement with Czartoryski, Stroganov and Novosiltsev. These nobles were close advisers to Alexander, the son of the murdered emperor. It was they who advocated the introduction of constitutional principles in Russia, but what kind of principles they were! “The Age of Retirement from Wars” presents these “beginnings” in their true form.
Negodyaev is replaced by Mikaladze. The surname is Georgian, and there is reason to think that this refers to Emperor Alexander I, under whom Georgia (1801), Mingrelia (1803) and Imereti (1810) were annexed to Russia, and the fact that he is a descendant of the “voluptuous Queen Tamara” - an allusion to his mother Catherine II. Mayor Benevolensky - the arbiter of the destinies of Russia, who had enormous influence on Alexander I - M.M. Speransky. Lycurgus and Dragon (Dragon) - ancient Greek legislators; the expressions “draconian rules”, “draconian measures” became popular. Speransky was involved by the tsar in drawing up laws.
"Supporting documents"
The last part of the book - “Exculpatory Documents” - contains a parody of the laws compiled by Speransky. Benevolensky ended his career in the same way as Speransky; he was suspected of treason and exiled. The power of Pimple comes - the mayor with a stuffed head. This is a generalizing image, and it is not for nothing that Shchedrin compares the well-being of the Foolovites under Pimple with the life of the Russians under the legendary Prince Oleg: this is how the satirist emphasizes the fictitious, unprecedented nature of the described prosperity.
"Worship of Mammon and Repentance"
We are now talking about ordinary people - about the Foolovites themselves. The exceptionality of their endurance and vitality is pointed out, because they continue to exist under the mayors listed in the Chronicler. The series of the latter continues: Ivanov (again Alexander I, we are even talking about two options for his death: compare the legend about Alexander I’s voluntary renunciation of power, his staging of his death in Taganrog and his secret departure to monasticism), then - Angel Dorofeich Du-Chario (Angel is the nickname of the same monarch in the circles of his near and dear ones, Dorofeich - from Dorofey - gift of God (Greek), followed by Erast Grustilov (again Tsar Alexander I). Alexander's beloved and their influence on his reign are listed under various allegorical names. The appearance of the generalized image of Pfeifersch (prototypes - Baroness V.Yu. von Krugener and E.F. Tatarinov) marks the beginning of the second half of the reign of Alexander I and the immersion of the “tops” and society in dark mysticism and social obscurantism, indulging in the company of mystical-spiritual high society ladies. repentance, the real king disappears into nowhere.
“Confirmation of repentance. Conclusion"
All this mystical rabble and nonsense is dispersed by the newly emerged once offended officer (Gloomy-Burcheev - Arakcheev (1769-1834), a “gloomy idiot”, “a monkey in a uniform”, who fell out of favor under Paul I and was again called upon by Alexander I). The first part of the chapter is devoted to his struggle to implement the crazy idea of military settlements to support the army in peacetime, the second to criticism of Russian liberalism. Arakcheev, who blossomed during the years of the “liberation” of peasants from serfdom, outraged Shchedrin with his unprincipledness, idealism and inconsistent caution, empty talk and lack of understanding of the realities of Russian life. The list of martyrs of the liberal idea given in the last chapter of the book and their deeds also includes the Decembrists, whose activities Shchedrin could not help but treat ironically, knowing Russia and understanding how fantastic were the hopes of the Decembrists to overthrow the autocracy with the help of their secret societies and the uprising in Senate Square. The last in the series of mayors described in the “Chronicle” is named Archangel Stratilatovich Intercept-Zalikhvatsky - an image that again takes us back to Nicholas I. “He claimed that he was the father of his mother. He again banished mustard, bay leaves and Provençal oil from use...” Thus, the history of the city of Foolov in The Chronicler returns to normal. Everything in it is ready for the new cycle. This hint is especially clear in the Archangel’s statement that he is the father of his mother. The phantasmagoric grotesque is clearly readable.
Concluding the story about the great book by M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin, we only note that when reading it, you need to keep in mind Turgenev’s statement about the author: “He knew Russia better than all of us.”
Source (abbreviated): Michalskaya, A.K. Literature: Basic level: 10th grade. At 2 p.m. Part 1: study. allowance / A.K. Mikhalskaya, O.N. Zaitseva. - M.: Bustard, 2018
By creating the ironic, grotesque “History of a City,” Saltykov-Shchedrin hoped to evoke in the reader not laughter, but a “bitter feeling” of shame. The idea of the work is built on the image of a certain hierarchy: ordinary people who will not resist the instructions of often stupid rulers, and the tyrant rulers themselves. In this story, the common people are represented by the residents of the city of Foolov, and their oppressors are the mayors. Saltykov-Shchedrin ironically notes that these people need a boss, one who will give them instructions and keep a tight rein, otherwise the whole people will fall into anarchy.
History of creation
The concept and idea of the novel “The History of a City” was formed gradually. In 1867, the writer wrote a fairytale-fantastic work, “The Story of the Governor with a Stuffed Head,” which later formed the basis for the chapter “The Organ.” In 1868, Saltykov-Shchedrin began working on “The History of a City” and completed it in 1870. Initially, the author wanted to give the work the title “Foolish Chronicler.” The novel was published in the then popular magazine Otechestvennye zapiski.
The plot of the work
(Illustrations by the creative team of Soviet graphic artists "Kukryniksy")
The narration is told on behalf of the chronicler. He talks about the inhabitants of the city who were so stupid that their city was given the name “Fools”. The novel begins with the chapter “On the Roots of the Origin of the Foolovites,” which gives the history of this people. It tells in particular about a tribe of bunglers, who, after defeating the neighboring tribes of bow-eaters, bush-eaters, walrus-eaters, cross-bellied people and others, decided to find a ruler for themselves, because they wanted to restore order in the tribe. Only one prince decided to rule, and even he sent an innovative thief in his place. When he was stealing, the prince sent him a noose, but the thief was able to somehow get out of it and stabbed himself with a cucumber. As you can see, irony and grotesque coexist perfectly in the work.
After several unsuccessful candidates for the role of deputies, the prince came to the city in person. Having become the first ruler, he started the countdown of the city’s “historical time”. It is said that twenty-two rulers with their achievements ruled the city, but the Inventory lists twenty-one. Apparently, the missing one is the founder of the city.
Main characters
Each of the mayors fulfills his task in implementing the writer’s idea through the grotesque to show the absurdity of their rule. Many types show traits of historical figures. For greater recognition, Saltykov-Shchedrin not only described the style of their rule, comically distorted their surnames, but also gave apt characteristics pointing to the historical prototype. Some personalities of mayors represent images collected from the characteristic features of different persons in the history of the Russian state.
Thus, the third ruler, Ivan Matveevich Velikanov, famous for drowning the director of economic affairs and introducing taxes of three kopecks per person, was exiled to prison for an affair with Avdotya Lopukhina, the first wife of Peter I.
Brigadier Ivan Matveyevich Baklan, the sixth mayor, was tall and proud to be a follower of the line of Ivan the Terrible. The reader understands that this refers to the bell tower in Moscow. The ruler found his death in the spirit of the same grotesque image that fills the novel - the foreman was broken in half during a storm.
The personality of Peter III in the image of Guard Sergeant Bogdan Bogdanovich Pfeiffer is indicated by the characteristic given to him - “a Holstein native”, the style of government of the mayor and his outcome - removed from the post of ruler “for ignorance”.
Dementy Varlamovich Brudasty was nicknamed “Organchik” for the presence of a mechanism in his head. He kept the city in fear because he was gloomy and withdrawn. When trying to take the mayor's head to the capital's craftsmen for repairs, it was thrown out of the carriage by a frightened coachman. After Organchik's reign, chaos reigned in the city for 7 days.
A short period of prosperity for the townspeople is associated with the name of the ninth mayor, Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov. A civilian adviser and innovator, he took up the appearance of the city and started a honey and brewing business. Tried to open an academy.
The longest reign was marked by the twelfth mayor, Vasilisk Semenovich Wartkin, who reminds the reader of the style of rule of Peter I. The character’s connection with a historical figure is indicated by his “glorious deeds” - he destroyed the Streletskaya and Dung settlements, and difficult relations with the eradication of the ignorance of the people - he spent four wars for education and three - against. He resolutely prepared the city for burning, but suddenly died.
By origin, a former peasant Onufriy Ivanovich Negodyaev, who, before serving as mayor, stoked furnaces, destroyed the streets paved by the former ruler and erected monuments on these resources. The image is copied from Paul I, as evidenced by the circumstances of his removal: he was dismissed for disagreeing with the triumvirate regarding the constitutions.
Under State Councilor Erast Andreevich Grustilov, Foolov's elite was busy with balls and nightly meetings with the reading of the works of a certain gentleman. As in the reign of Alexander I, the mayor did not care about the people, who were impoverished and starving.
The scoundrel, idiot and “Satan” Gloomy-Burcheev has a “speaking” surname and is “copied” from Count Arakcheev. He finally destroys Foolov and decides to build the city of Neprekolnsk in a new place. When attempting to implement such a grandiose project, the “end of the world” occurred: the sun went dark, the earth shook, and the mayor disappeared without a trace. This is how the story of “one city” ended.
Analysis of the work
Saltykov-Shchedrin, with the help of satire and grotesquery, aims to reach the human soul. He wants to convince the reader that human institutions must be based on Christian principles. Otherwise, a person’s life can be deformed, disfigured, and in the end can lead to the death of the human soul.
“The History of a City” is an innovative work that has overcome the usual boundaries of artistic satire. Each image in the novel has pronounced grotesque features, but is at the same time recognizable. Which gave rise to a flurry of criticism against the author. He was accused of “slander” against the people and rulers.
Indeed, the story of Foolov is largely copied from Nestor’s chronicle, which tells about the time of the beginning of Rus' - “The Tale of Bygone Years.” The author deliberately emphasized this parallel so that it becomes obvious who he means by the Foolovites, and that all these mayors are by no means a flight of fancy, but real Russian rulers. At the same time, the author makes it clear that he is not describing the entire human race, but specifically Russia, reinterpreting its history in his own satirical way.
However, the purpose of creating the work Saltykov-Shchedrin did not make fun of Russia. The writer’s task was to encourage society to critically rethink its history in order to eradicate existing vices. The grotesque plays a huge role in creating an artistic image in the work of Saltykov-Shchedrin. The main goal of the writer is to show the vices of people that are not noticed by society.
The writer ridiculed the ugliness of society and was called a “great scoffer” among such predecessors as Griboyedov and Gogol. Reading the ironic grotesque, the reader wanted to laugh, but there was something sinister in this laughter - the audience “felt like a scourge lashing itself.”
Let's analyze the novel "The History of a City", which was written by Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin. Let us immediately note that the name of the city in which the events of the novel take place reveals a lot about what is going on there. The city is called Glupov. Its founders were people who certainly cannot be called smart. After the victory over the neighboring tribes, they decided to live happily, for which they did what they could, but there was no point, so they began to look for someone who would rule wisely and restore order. Finding such a ruler was not an easy task. Finally, one prince found it tempting to take up management for money, but this brought nothing but ruin.
Rulers of the city of Foolov
In addition to the analysis of “The Story of a City,” we also suggest you read a summary of this novel. What other interesting things can you notice when talking about government in this city?
Each ruler of the city of Foolov had his own oddity. One was not ashamed to plunder and steal, and without even hiding from others. Another hated science, so he set fire to the gymnasium and simply forbade him to study science. The third ruler had such a strange thing - he had a musical organ in his head, and he could remove this very empty head.
Let us pay attention to the others: the fourth was distinguished by his love, and his course of action led either to a fire or to riots. And the fifth was literally obsessed with planting mustard. There was another one who was fixated on straightness in the streets and dreamed of changing the course of rivers.
We will definitely emphasize the idea, without which the analysis of the novel “The History of a City” would be incomplete, that each mayor had an interesting feature in his character or ideas about how best to rule, but all this turned out to be based on stupidity. The analogy does not escape close attention - Foolov's governors are very similar to real political figures who rose to a high position in the Russian government when palace coups were raging. The author's reference to Biron, who received the place of favorite under Empress Anna Ioannovna, is very clearly traced.
Residents in the analysis "The History of a City"
One can speak no less critically about the residents of the city of Foolov than about its governors. They are just as stupid and one-sided. They like to rebel, and it doesn’t matter whether there is a reason for rebellion or not. Residents strive for war, strive to prove something, achieve something, for example, education and order. Again, everything turns out the other way around for them, because stupid ideas and arguing about obvious things lead to nothing but discord. For example, questions about whether it is advisable to grow Persian chamomile, or whether it is worth abandoning the stone foundations of houses, as well as disagreements over such conversations, reveal the stupidity of the inhabitants of the city with such an appropriate name.
Separately, it should be noted that as soon as the townspeople have a reason to celebrate the change of another ruler, they take advantage of it, and do it to the full extent of their souls, which finally confirms their stupidity and illegibility. They hug, kiss each other, express congratulations and sincerely believe in the new government, that it will become the best.
conclusions
However, here Saltykov-Shchedrin points out the most important idea that we should not miss when analyzing the novel: what the people themselves and their condition are, such will be the power over this people. Essentially, we are saying that when electing power, people themselves bear responsibility for this choice. Real life and history of Russia, in fact, confirms the above.
So, we did an analysis of the novel “The History of a City” by Saltykov-Shchedrin, which is a satirical parody of the change of power, especially in Russia. We see what becomes the result of lawlessness, permissiveness and impunity in the government system. In bright colors, the author depicted stupid people among the people, bureaucratic stupidity and greed.
Saltykov-Shchedrin is called one of the most famous and great Russian satirists of the 19th century.
And the key work with which the work of Saltykov-Shchedrin is associated is “The History of a City,” filled with symbolism and subtle satire.
Saltykov-Shchedrin began writing the masterpiece of social satire in 1868, and in 1870 “The History of a City” was completed.
Naturally, the idea and main theme of this satirical work caused a certain resonance not only in literary circles, but also in much wider, completely different circles of society.
The art of satire in “The Story of a City”
The focus of Saltykov-Shchedrin’s work is the history of the city of Foolov and its people, who are called Foolovites. Initially, critics and many readers perceived the general concept of the story and its satirical motives as a depiction of Russia's past - the 18th century.
But the writer intended to depict the general system of national autocracy, which applies both to the past and to the pitiful present. The life of the city of Foolov and the consciousness of its population is an extensive caricature of the life and government structure of all of Russia, as well as the behavior and meaning of existence of Russians.
The central character of the story is the people themselves, whose image the writer reveals wider and wider with new chapters. A more detailed picture of Saltykov-Shchedrin’s critical attitude towards society can be seen with the help of the mayors, who constantly change throughout the narrative.
Images of mayors
The images of mayors are different, but similar in their limitations and absurdity. The foolish Brudasty is despotic, limited in his mind and awareness of reality, he is an accurate example of an autocratic system that absorbs human feelings and souls on its way.
And the mayor Pyshch, whose name speaks for itself, is represented by the image of “a head living separately from the body.” Saltykov-Shchedrin symbolically showed how his head was once eaten by an official.
The author grotesquely ridicules the activities of another mayor - Ugryum-Burcheev - in the “military populations” he organized and in the way of thinking, which represented “what I want, I do.”
Grotesque, pathos, Aesopian language as a means of depicting reality
The power of Saltykov-Shchedrin’s creativity can be called the power of satirical exposure of that reality, which to many people, out of habit and spinelessness, seems to be the norm.
The most paradoxical thing is that what he described turns out to be the real truth, despite all the grotesque and pathos used by the writer as a means of depicting the past and present.
The parody that the writer creates in “The History of a City” is so accurate and skillfully played that it has nothing to do with absurdity and simple humor.
“The History of a City,” a brief summary of which is given in this article, is an ironic, grotesque chronicle of the city of Foolov. Saltykov-Shchedrin's satire is transparent, so the appearance of modern Russia is easily guessed in the text.
Only at first glance it seems that the story is like an inventory of city governors - a gallery of human madness and moral deformities. In fact, each image is recognizable in its own way.
Unfortunately, the work does not lose its uniqueness to this day.
The history of the creation of “The Story of a City”
The idea of the work was nurtured by the author for several years. In 1867, a story appears about a mayor with a stuffed head, eaten with gusto at the end. This hero transformed into a governor named Pyshch. And the story itself became one of the chapters of the story.
Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin (1826-1889)
A year later, the author began writing Foolov's chronicle itself. The work lasted more than a year. Initially, the work was called “The Foolov Chronicler”; the final title appeared later. The name change is due to the fact that the second carries a broader meaning.
In the year of graduation, the story was first published in the anthology “Notes of the Fatherland,” where Mikhail Evgrafovich signed the pseudonym N. Shchedrin. An independent publication comes out in six months. The text is slightly different. The sequence of chapters has been changed, and the characteristics and descriptions of the governors have been rewritten in abbreviation, but have become more expressive.
The main characters and their characteristics
The main characters of the work are the mayors and townspeople - the inhabitants of Foolov. Below is a table with characteristics. A brief overview of the main characters is given.
| Amadeus Manuilovich Klementy | Italian. At home he served as a cook. His signature and most delicious dish was pasta. The Duke of Courland, admired by his culinary skills, took him with him as the family cook. After Amadeus Manuilovich received a high status, which helped him take the position of mayor. Clementy forced all the Foolovites to make pasta. Sent into exile for high treason. |
| Fotiy Petrovich Ferapontov | He was the personal hairdresser of the Duke of Courland. After which he began to manage the city. A big fan of spectacles. I never missed public punishments in the square. Always present when someone was flogged. In 1738, the manager was torn to pieces by dogs. |
| Ivan Matveevich Velikanov | He is famous for drowning the director responsible for economics and management in a reservoir. For the first time he introduced a tax on citizens. From each, a few kopecks go into the board’s treasury. He often beat police officers most severely. Spotted in an indecent relationship with the first wife of Peter I (Avdotya Lopukhina). After which he was taken into custody, where he remains to this day. |
| Manyl Samylovich Urus-Kugush-Kildibaev | Brave military man, guardsman. Management methods are appropriate. The townspeople remembered him for his courage, bordering on madness. Once Foolov even took the city by storm. There is little information about him in the chronicle. But it is known that in 1745 he was dismissed from the post of governor. |
| Lamvrokakis | Fugitive Greek citizen of unknown origin, name and family. Before becoming a mayor, he sold soap, oils, nuts and other small items at the market of a neighboring city. He died in his own bed in an unequal battle with bedbugs. |
| Ivan Matveevich Baklan | Famous for his tall height of more than two meters. Killed during a hurricane. A strong wind broke the man in half. |
| Dementy Varlamovich Brudasty | The role of the brain in his head was performed by a peculiar mechanism resembling an organ. But this did not interfere with the performance of the duties of the governor, the preparation and execution of papers. That's why the residents affectionately called him Organchik. He had no contact with the public, but constantly uttered a single menacing phrase: “I will not tolerate it!” Why were the city dwellers in constant fear? He actively collected taxes and taxes. After his reign there was anarchy for about a week. The image symbolizes the stupidity, emptiness and limitations of the majority of officials and managers. |
| Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov | Active and active manager. Paved roads (two of them). Organized local production of beer and honey drinks. Forced residents to grow and consume mustard and bay leaves. He collected arrears more actively than others. For any offenses and without them, the Foolovites were flogged with rods. The only one who died of natural causes. |
| Petr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko | Former soldier. He was Potemkin's orderly, of which he was quite proud. The first six years passed quietly. But then the foreman seemed to go crazy. He didn't have much depth of mind. He had a speech impediment and was therefore tongue-tied. Died from overeating. |
| Vasilisk Semenovich Wartkin | Appears in the chapter "Wars for Enlightenment". The hero's portrait corresponds to his surname. The longest reign in the city's history. His predecessors started arrears, so Wartkin took it strictly. In the process, more than 30 villages burned down, and only two and a half rubles were saved. He arranged one square and planted trees on one street. Constantly buttoned up, put out fires, created false alarms. Solved problems that didn't exist. He forced the Foolovites to build houses on foundations, plant Persian chamomile, and use Provençal oil. He dreamed of annexing Byzantium, and then renaming Constantinople to Ekaterinograd. I tried to open an academy, but it didn’t work. That's why he built a prison. He fought for enlightenment, but at the same time against it. True, the inhabitants of the city did not see the difference. He could have done a lot more “useful” things, but he suddenly died. |
| Onufriy Ivanovich Negodyaev | A man of the people. He served as a stoker in Gatchina. He ordered the destruction of the streets paved by his predecessors. And from the resulting stone, build monuments and monuments. Foolov fell into decay, there was devastation all around, and the townspeople became wild, even overgrown with wool. He was dismissed from his position. |
| Gloomy-Burcheev | In the past he was a military man, so he is obsessed with the army and military operations. Empty, limited, stupid, like most of the characters in the book. He preferred to destroy Foolov and rebuild another city nearby, making it a military fortification. Forced residents to wear military uniforms, live according to army regulations, follow absurd orders, line up and march. Ugryumov always slept on the bare ground. He went missing during a natural phenomenon that no one could explain. |
| Erast Andreevich Grustilov | He always looked offended and upset, which did not stop him from being depraved and vulgar. During his reign, the city was mired in debauchery. He wrote melancholic odes. He died of inexplicable melancholy. |
| Acne | Like many of the city's rulers, they are former military men. He was in office for several years. I decided to take up management to take a break from work. The Foolovites suddenly became rich under him, which aroused suspicion and unhealthy reactions among the masses. It later turned out that the governor had a stuffed head. The ending is deplorable and unpleasant: the head was eaten. |
Minor characters
| Prince | A foreign ruler whom the Foolovites asked to become their prince. He was stupid, but cruel. All questions were resolved with the exclamation: “I’ll screw it up!” |
| Iraida Lukinichna Paleologova | An impostor who appeared during the period of unrest after the death of Brudasty (Organchik). Based on the fact that her husband reigned for several days, and her historical surname (an allusion to Sophia Paleologus, the grandmother of Ivan the Terrible), she demanded power. Rules for a few days outside the city. |
| Intercept-Zalikhvatsky | He appeared victoriously on a white horse. He burned down the gymnasium. Zalikhvatsky became the prototype of Paul I. |
| Foolovites | Residents of the city. A collective image of a people blindly worshiping the tyranny of power. |
The list of heroes is not complete, it is given in abbreviation. During the time of unrest alone, more than ten rulers were replaced, six of them women.
It is a summary of the work in chapters.
From the publisher
The narrator assures the reader of the document's authenticity. To prove the absence of artistic fiction, an argument is made about the monotony of the narrative. The text is entirely devoted to the biographies of mayors and the peculiarities of their reign.
The story begins with the address of the last clerk, who outlined the chronicle of events.
About the root of the origin of fools
The chapter describes the prehistoric period. The tribe of bunglers waged internecine wars with their neighbors, defeating them. When the last enemy was defeated, the population was confused. Then they began the search for a prince to rule them. But even the stupidest princes did not want to take power over the savages.
They found someone who agreed to “volody”, but did not go to live on the territory of the property. He sent governors who turned out to be thieves. I had to appear to the prince in person.
Organ
The reign of Dementy Brudasty began. The townsfolk were surprised by his lack of emotion. It turned out that there was a small device in his head. The mechanism played only two short compositions: “I’ll ruin” and “I won’t tolerate it.”
Then the unit broke down. The local watchmaker couldn't fix it himself. We ordered a new head from the capital. But the parcel, as often happens in Russia, was lost.
Due to anarchy, unrest began, and then a week-long anarchy.
The Tale of the Six City Leaders
During the anarchic week, six impostors were replaced. Women's claims to power were based on the fact that their husbands, brothers, or other relatives had once ruled. Or they themselves were in service in the families of mayors. And some had no reason at all.
News about Dvoekurov
Semyon Konstantinovich remained in power for about eight years. A leader of progressive views. Main innovations: brewing, mead making, planting and eating bay leaves and mustard.
Reform activities are worthy of respect. But the changes were forced, ridiculous and unnecessary.
Hungry City
The first six years of Pyotr Ferdyshchenko's governorship were measured and calm. But then he fell in love with someone else’s wife, who did not share the feelings. A drought began, then other disasters. The result: hunger and death.
The people rebelled, caught and threw the official's chosen one from the bell tower. The uprising was brutally suppressed.
Straw City
After the manager's next love affair, fires started. The whole area burned down.
Fantastic traveler
The mayor went on a journey to homes and villages, demanding that food be brought to him. This was the reason for his death. The townsfolk are afraid that they will be accused of deliberately feeding their boss. But everything worked out. The fantastic traveler from the capital was replaced by a new one.
Wars for enlightenment
Wartkin approached the position thoroughly. Studied the activities of his predecessors. I decided to follow the example of the reformer Dvoekurov. He ordered them to sow mustard again and collect arrears.
Residents rioted on their knees. Wars began to be waged against them “for enlightenment.” Victory has always been with the authorities. As punishment for disobedience, it was ordered to consume Provençal oil and sow Persian chamomile.
The era of retirement from wars
Under Negodyaev, the city became even more impoverished than under the previous ruler. This is the only manager from the people, who previously served as a stoker. But the democratic beginning did not bring benefits to the population.
The Pimple period is noteworthy. He was not engaged in any activity, but the people were getting rich, which raised doubts. The leader of the nobility revealed a secret: the chief's head was stuffed with truffles. The quick-witted henchman feasted on it himself.
Worship of Mammon and repentance
The successor to the stuffed head, State Councilor Ivanov, died from a decree that he could not understand and burst from mental strain.
The Viscount de Chariot came to replace him. Life under him was fun, but stupid. No one was involved in administrative affairs, but there were many holidays, balls, masquerades, and other fun.
Confirmation of repentance and conclusion
The last manager was Ugryum-Burcheev. A thick-headed guy, a martinet. The author calls him “the purest type of idiot.” He intended to destroy the city and recreate a new one - Nepreklonsk, making it a military fortification.
Supporting documents
Notes created by foremen are presented for the edification of followers and successors.
Analysis of the work
The work cannot belong to small literary forms: a story or a fairy tale. In terms of content, composition and depth of meaning, it is much broader.
On the one hand, the style and style of writing resemble real reports. On the other hand, the content, description of heroes, events, brought to the point of absurdity.
The retelling of the city's history spans about a hundred years. Four local archivists took part in writing the chronicle. The plot even illuminates the history of the people. The local residents descended from the ancient tribe of “Bunglers”. But then they were renamed by their neighbors for savagery and ignorance.
Conclusion
The history of the state is reflected from the time of Rurik's calling to the principality and feudal fragmentation. The appearance of two False Dmitrys, the reign of Ivan the Terrible and the turmoil after his death are covered. He appears in the form of Brudasty. Dvoekurov, who becomes an activist and innovator, establishing brewing and mead making, symbolizes Peter I with his reforms.
The Foolovites unconsciously worship autocrats and tyrants, carrying out the most absurd orders. Residents are the image of the Russian people.
The satirical chronicle could be applied to any city. The work ironically conveys the fate of Russia. The story does not lose its relevance to this day. A film was made based on the work.
