A two-pound brain, a female voice and bad laugh. The owner of all this was Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev. Perhaps the only Russian prose writer who requires almost nothing from the reader. He is respectful to him, kind. When you read Turgenev, you get the feeling that you are being received by an unusually smart and pleasant psychotherapist who understands all your problems, experiences them himself. But are fifth-grade children suitable for receptions with such a psychologist? We’ll see, because before us is the work “Mu-mu”, which the guys are in grade 5.
History of creation
The real story of the work “Mu-mu” was played out not far from the author’s estate, so all the events described in it are far from fiction. A neighbor of the Turgenevs, Sofya Gerasimovna, became the prototype of an oppressive lady. This woman was distinguished by a nervous, even hysterical character, the "charms" of which she poured out on the serfs. Among the souls belonging to the noblewoman stood out Gerasim Orlov, who in life is not deaf, not in one ear, and speaks perfectly, although not with everyone. And he was considered almost the most educated of the peasants, he wrote a lot. He was as strong as a literary double, lived in solitude, aroused respect, and sometimes fear. It was Gerasim’s pen, the one that really existed, that belonged to the study of the works of Turgenev, even the translation of “Mu-mu” into various languages.
But back to the estate, and in it, mistress Sophia, in order to better manage her three hundred souls, got a huge dog, distinguished by ferocity, as a result of which she brought serious harm to the serfs. She did not pass over Gerasim either, having bitten him several times for the causal place. After which Gerasim seemed numb, and the only thing he could say was “Mu-mu”. The rest of the peasants also suffered from dog bites. Some even went crazy. Then Gerasim decided to act, luring the dog into the boat, he tried to drown it, but in an unequal struggle he died in the water. In contrast to cruel reality, in the Turgenev's work, the relations between the janitor and the dog are filled with tenderness, unaccountable devotion, which the hero expresses without words, it is visible in the man’s look and actions. Mu-mu answers him the same.
Why did Turgenev change the ending of Mumu? He was very saddened by the news of the death of Gerasim. The work was grateful for all the help received from this simple working man. The ending of the story was changed in order to emphasize both the physical strength and the spirit of the protagonist.
The meaning of the name
Why did Turgenev call the story “Mumu”? If we consider the story in terms of the goals and objectives of the author, then it is directed against serfdom. In those days, the serf peasantry, although it was a great power, but this power had no rights, it was silent, just like the silent Gerasim. It did not contradict orders and tacitly endured a cruel attitude. The hero has absorbed all the basic features of an ordinary working man, and this is his “Mumu” - the only contradiction and the only word that he is able to insert “across” the will of his mistress.
The writer draws a terrifying parallel between the position of man and dog: they are the same. The fate of the animal was decided by the owner, and the fate of Gerasim himself depended entirely on the noble will. Therefore, in the title there is a hint that the main character is the same Mu-mu, only in human guise, and this social injustice must be eradicated.
Genre and direction
Mu-mu is a story. The proof is that the story is based on one storyline, only 4 heroes participate in the action: Gerasim, the lady, Tatyana and Kapiton. The volume of the work is small, which also corresponds to the genre.
Turgenev created within the framework of the direction traditional for his time - classical realism. This is confirmed by the fact that his story is taken from real life, all the heroes had prototypes in reality.
Essence
What is Turgenev talking about? The plot is vaguely familiar to us all. Dumb serf man Gerasim liked the lady who, during a visit to the village, decided to take him to Moscow so that he cleaned the territory. The unfortunate peasant did not take root in the big city, everyone avoided him, fearing a formidable appearance. He falls in love with the serf girl Tatyana, who also plays wild with him, but nevertheless accepts courtship, although everyone else is laughing at a clumsy couple. However, the landowner did not want to "marry the wretched," therefore she gives the heroine a married drunk Capiton. Such is life in the lady’s house.
In the meantime, Gerasim saved the puppy from the water. He went out, an affectionate and beautiful dog grew up. But the landlady did not like her barking, and she gave the order to take and sell the dog from her hands secretly from her patron. A clever animal found its way home, but its return did not stop the stubborn landowner. She gave the peasant an order to get rid of the dog. Then the man drowns her, but on this the reserve of his patience is exhausted. He walks back to the village and lives life alone.
The main characters and their characteristics
- Lady - mistress of more than three hundred serf souls. In the work, she appears before us as an unmarried landowner with a difficult character. Sometimes she experiences nerve attacks. An important detail, we are not given her name, is the often used technique in the work, when the author depersonalizes the hero, making it clear that anyone who is equally tyrannical and frightening can act in his role.
- Gerasim - A deaf, but unusually strong serf man, who became a janitor under the mistress in Moscow. Usually he was closed and sometimes gloomy, even by his face it is difficult to determine what he is going through. Perhaps his harsh nature was as unshakable as deafness. Despite the menacing appearance, he had a sensitive and kind character, knew how to faithfully and strongly love. For example, he once and for all fell in love with Tatyana, simply could not replace her. Gerasim has the same attitude towards Mu-mu. You can find a more detailed description of the hero here.
- Tatyana - a peasant woman who also serves in the courtyard. This is a timid, quiet, pretty girl who is distinguished by modesty. This is what attracted Gerasim. The heroine at first treats the admirer with fear, she is confused by his formidable appearance. But when she was married to Kapiton, Tatyana realizes that the mute janitor really deserved her attention, unlike her husband.
- Kapiton Klimov - yard drunkard, later Tatyana's husband. It was Tatyana who was Gerasim’s last relationship with people, which ended after she was married. It is important to understand that it was the whim of the lady who was used to solve all problems quickly, and without thinking about anyone else's feelings. So the drunkard Kapiton did not care about the feelings of other people, he was a useless man. In appearance, yellow eyes and a duck nose stood out. He attributed himself to educated people and believed that he was underestimated.
Topics
What does Turgenev sing? This, of course, is compassion. Gerasim was able to show mercy and kindness, although he was always deprived of it in this. But, despite the landlord’s hardheartedness and the indifference of the street servants, he did not forget how to empathize with someone else’s grief: he felt sorry for Tatyana, saved the dog, etc. This is the main theme of the story. All others are described below:
- Love and devotion. The hero fell in love with Tatyana with all his heart. After her loss, he lived all his life alone. That is, this feeling, according to Turgenev, is irreplaceable: if we lose our beloved, then this loss cannot be made up for. Only then can we speak of true morality.
- Human and society. Gerasim did not take root among the people and avoided them, because he saw in their eyes a reflection of his own ailment. Unlike others, he became an outcast who was not taken into account. It was because of his dumbness that the lady did not take into account his intention to marry, because in her worldview he is miserable, which means he should not produce offspring. But the author equalizes the rights of all people. His Gerasim is kinder, more merciful and stronger than healthy men whose ceiling is drunkenness in a tavern.
- Attitude to our smaller brothers. A truly moral person treats animals well, knows how to value their trust and affection, takes care of those who are tamed.
- City and village. The author compares the urban and rural environment, identifying the one that is better for physical and spiritual life. The countryside is idealized, where the hero lived calmly and contentedly, but the "metropolis" made him realize his own loneliness, because in the crowd of residents he never found a soul mate. All citizens are fixated on themselves and their vices, they are indifferent to each other.
Problems
- What is the story directed against? No doubt against serfdom. While people from birth become slaves, tyranny and cruelty of their masters cannot be defeated by any laws. Alas, the very situation of the peasants provoked the willfulness of the landowners, who treated the person like cattle, ignoring his feelings and opinions. As long as serfdom prevails in Russia, the people, its support and foundation, will suffer — such is the message of Turgenev.
- The immorality and depravity of the peasants. Kapiton compensated for his grief by drunkenness and rowdy. He despaired of finding a worthy use of his powers, suffered from a sense of the meaninglessness of life, so this is a tragic image. It reflected the disease of enslaved and oppressed people - a craving for debauchery and alcohol. This is the flip side of serfdom.
Meaning
In the image of the protagonist is the whole Russian people. He is portrayed with all his honesty, decency and pain. Gerasim knew how to love, and regret, and take care. He worked tirelessly, even if he knew that his work would not be appreciated. His soul was clean and honest, even after milestones of humiliation and filth, the only thing he did was shut himself from everyone. Gerasim was a worthy man, it was these qualities that Turgenev sang. That is, the main idea of the story is to convey to the ruling class (at that time only nobles were readers) the whole depth of suffering of the people who feed the country and receive only the cruel and unfair attitude of the "owners".
But there is another thought, which, as many believe, is the main one in the work. She answers the frequent question: why did Gerasim drown Mu-mu? But the fact is that Mumu is the only word that Gerasim can say. This is all the best that he has in his life. All good, all happiness, the only being dear to him. So, if you don’t kill your “Mu-mu”, you cannot become a free person. The first act of liberation is to kill everything that you love, that holds you. If you killed, you are free. As long as Gerasim has Mumu, he can’t get away from the mistress, but he is still unable to stay, because the dog is taken from him. The dumb janitor resolves this dilemma in his own way: he gets rid of everything that is beloved and important in order to risk his life (the lady could punish him for escaping, whatever) and leave the house where he is tyrannized. Losing love, he gains independence. This is the most difficult Turgenev idea, which you can’t explain to any child in school, according to Turgenev, to kill a soul means to become free. And the best favorite Turgenev's heroes are not free.
But independence is not synonymous with happiness. Of course, in the departure of Gerasim from Moscow to the village we see the protest of the hero against the cruelty of the lady, but the ending of the work is not life-affirming, but quite the contrary:
And Gerasim still lives a bobyl in his lonely hut; healthy and powerful as before, and works for four still, and is still important and sedate. But the neighbors noticed that since his return from Moscow, he completely stopped hanging out with women, does not even look at them, and does not keep a single dog.
What does it teach?
Turgenev’s work teaches that you should not use your power for evil people, we are not gods to control someone’s destinies. The author shows how far an imperious person can go if he does not argue, as well as how indifferent we are sometimes to other people's lives and values. These vices - indifference and despotism - must be eradicated in oneself.
The work also teaches us that there are kind and bright people who, however, because of their kindness and devotion lose the latter. Thus, one must be strong when required, and be weak with those who need it.
Criticism
The opinions of reviewers were divided. Critics from the government magazine Northern Bee were skeptical of the story told by Turgenev. They rested on the fact that he exaggerated paints and depicted only extremes.
More liberal newspapers and magazines rated the work highly; it brought fame and respect to the author. For example, the comment by I. S. Aksakov, who praised the image of Gerasim, is noteworthy:
In it is the personification of the Russian people, their terrible power and incomprehensible meekness, their removal to themselves and to themselves, their silence to all requests ...
Some reviewers were alarmed by Turgenev's work, because he himself was a nobleman, living at the expense of involuntary peasants, so it is strange to hear from him that serfdom is fatal to Russia.
