White Guard genus. White Guard

The novel "What is to be done?" Chernyshevsky wrote in 1862-1863. The work was created within the framework of the literary direction "sociological realism". Literary historians classify the novel as a utopian genre.

The central storyline of the book is a love story with a positive ending. In parallel, the work touches on the social, economic and philosophical ideas of that time, the themes of love, the relationship between fathers and children, enlightenment, the importance of human willpower. In addition, the novel contains many allusions to the coming revolution.

main characters

Vera Pavlovna Rozalskaya- a purposeful, freedom-loving girl, "with a southern type of face." She thought in a new way, did not want to be just a wife, but to do her own thing; opened sewing workshops.

Dmitry Sergeich Lopukhov- a physician, the first husband of Vera Pavlovna. After a staged suicide, he took the name Charles Beaumont.

Alexander Matveich Kirsanov- a friend of Lopukhov, a talented physician, the second husband of Vera Pavlovna.

Other characters

Marya Aleksevna Rozalskaya- the mother of Vera Pavlovna, a very enterprising woman who always looked for profit in everything.

Pavel Konstantinich Rozalsky- the manager of the Storeshnikovs' house, the father of Vera Pavlovna.

Mikhail Ivanovich Streshnikov- "a prominent and handsome officer", a ladies' man, wooed Vera Pavlovna.

Julie- a Frenchwoman, a woman with a difficult past, found herself a Russian lover, helped and sympathized with Vera.

Mertsalov Alexey Petrovich- a good friend of Lopukhov, a priest who married Lopukhov and Vera.

Mertsalova Natalia Andreevna- Mertsalov's wife, and then Vera's friend.

Rakhmetov- Lopukhov's friend, Kirsanov, was straightforward, with bold looks.

Katerina Vasilievna Polozova- Beaumont's wife (Lopukhov).

Vasily Polozov- the father of Katerina Vasilievna.

I. Fool

"On the morning of July 11, 1856, the servant of one of the large St. Petersburg hotels at the Moscow railway station was at a loss." On the eve, at 9 o'clock in the evening, a certain gentleman stayed with them. In the morning he did not respond. After breaking down the doors, they found a note: “I am leaving at 11 pm and will not return. They will hear me on Liteiny Bridge, between 2 and 3 am. Have no suspicions about anyone. "

The policeman said that at night a pistol shot was heard on the bridge and they found the shot through the cap of the missing gentleman. The gossips decided that he did it, as "just a fool."

II. The first consequence of the stupid case

That same morning at 12 o'clock a young lady was sewing and humming a French song in an undertone. She was brought a letter that brought her to tears. The young man who entered the room read the letter: “I embarrassed your calmness. I leave the stage. Don't be sorry; I love you both so much that I am very happy with my determination. Farewell". His hands were shaking. The woman exclaimed: "You have his blood on you!" , "And his blood is on me!" ...

III. Foreword

The author argues that "he used the usual cunning of the novelists: he began the story with spectacular scenes, torn from the middle or the end of it." He reflects on the fact that among his audience there is a share of people whom he respects - "kind and strong, honest and able", so he "still needs" and "already possible" to write.

Chapter 1. The life of Vera Pavlovna in the parental family

I

Vera Pavlovna grew up in a multi-storey building on Gorokhovaya, which belonged to the Streshnikovs. The Rozalskys - the house manager Pavel Konstantinich, his wife Marya Aleksevna, daughter Vera and "9-year-old son Fedya" lived on the 4th floor. Pavel Konstantinich also served in the department.

From the age of 12, Vera went to a boarding house, studied with a piano teacher. She sewed well, so she soon sheathed the whole family. Because of her swarthy skin, "like a gypsy", her mother called her "stuffed", so Vera used to consider herself an ugly woman. But after some time, her mother stopped driving her almost in rags, and began to dress up, hoping to find the daughter of a rich husband. At the age of 16, Vera began to give lessons herself.

Pavel Konstantinich's boss decided to woo the girl, but it took too long to get ready. Soon the owner's son Storeshnikov began to visit the Rozalskys, and he began to pay a lot of attention to Vera. To arrange their marriage, Marya Aleksevna even took expensive tickets to the opera in the same box where the hostess's son was with friends, they were vigorously discussing something in French. Vera was embarrassed and she, referring to a headache, left earlier.

II

Mikhail Ivanovich dined with other gentlemen in a trendy restaurant. Among them was one lady - Mademoiselle Julie. Streshnikov said that Vera was his mistress. Julie, who had seen Vera at the opera, noted that she was "gorgeous", but clearly not Mikhail's mistress - "he wants to buy her."

III

When Streshnikov came to the Rozalskys the next day, Vera deliberately spoke French to him so that her mother would not understand anything. She said that she knew - yesterday he decided to "expose" her to his friends as a mistress. Vera asked not to visit them and leave as soon as possible.

IV

Julie, along with Storeshnikov, came to Vera, as the lady needed a piano teacher for her niece (but this was only a fictitious excuse). Julie told Marya Aleksevna that Mikhail made a bet on Vera with his friends.

V - IX

Julie considered Vera a good passion for Storeshnikov: "Marrying her, despite her low birth and, in comparison with you, poverty, would move your career forward a lot." Julie also advised Vera to become Streshnikov's wife in order to get rid of her mother's persecution. But Vera was unpleasant for Streshnikov.

After some deliberation, Storeshnikov really wooed. Vera's parents were delighted, but the girl herself said that she did not want to marry Mikhail. However, Streshnikov nevertheless begged to be given a delay in answering instead of refusing. Coming to visit the girl, Mikhail "was obedient to her, like a child." "Three or four months passed in this way."

Chapter 2. First love and legal marriage

I

To prepare Vera's younger brother for admission to the gymnasium, his father hired a medical student, Lopukhov. During the lessons, 9-year-old Fedya told the teacher everything about Vera and her potential fiancé.

II

Lopukhov did not live on state support, and therefore did not starve and did not get cold. From the age of 15 he gave lessons. Lopukhov rented an apartment with his friend Kirsanov. In the near future, he was to become an intern (doctor) in one of the "St. Petersburg military hospitals", soon to receive a department at the Academy.

III - VI

Marya Aleksevna invited Lopukhov to the "evening" - for her daughter's birthday. At the evening, during the dances, Lopukhov got into a conversation with Vera. He promised to help her "get out of this humiliating situation" associated with the upcoming wedding.

At the end of the evening, Vera thought how strange it was that they spoke for the first time "and became so close." She fell in love with Lopukhov, not yet realizing that her feelings were mutual.

VII - IX

Somehow, in order to finally check Lopukhov, whether he has any views on Vera, Marya Aleksevna overheard the conversation between Vera and Dmitry. She heard Lopukhov tell Vera that cold, practical people are right: "only the calculation of profit controls a person." The girl replied that she completely agreed with him. Lopukhov advised her to marry Mikhail Ivanovich. What she heard fully convinced Marya Aleksevna that conversations with Dmitry Sergeich were useful for Vera.

X - XI

Lopukhov and Vera knew that they were being watched. At the request of Vera, Lopukhov was looking for a place for her as a governess. Kirsanov helped to find the right option.

XII. Verochka's first dream

Vera dreamed that she was locked in a damp, dark basement. Suddenly the door opened and she found herself in a field. She began to dream that she was paralyzed. Someone touched her, and her illness was gone. Vera saw that a beautiful girl with a changing appearance was walking across the field - English, French, German, Polish, Russian, and her mood was constantly changing. The girl introduced herself as the bride of her grooms and asked to call her "love for people." Then Vera dreamed that she was walking through the city and frees the girls trapped in the basement and heals the girls who were broken by paralysis.

XIII - XVI

The woman, to whom Vera was supposed to go as a governess, refused, because she did not want to go against the will of the girl's parents. Upset Vera thought that if it was really hard, she would throw herself out the window.

XVII - XVIII

Vera and Dmitry decide to get married, discuss their future life. The girl wants to earn her own money so as not to be a slave to her husband. She wants them to live like friends, they have separate rooms and a common living room.

XIX - XIX

While Lopukhov had business, Vera lived at home. Once she went out with her mother to Gostiny Dvor. Suddenly, the girl told her mother that she was married to Dmitry Sergeich, sat down with the first cab driver she came across and ran away.

XX- XIV

They had actually been married three days earlier. Lopukhov agreed to be married by his friend Mertsalov. He remembered that they kiss in church and, so that there would not be too much shame, they kissed beforehand.

Having escaped from her mother, Vera went to the apartment found by Lopukhov for them. Lopukhov himself went to the Rozalskys and reassured them about what had happened.

Chapter 3. Marriage and second love

I

"Things were going well for the Lopukhovs." Vera gave lessons, Lopukhov worked. The owners, with whom the spouses lived, were surprised by their way of life - as if they were not a family, but a brother and sister. The Lopukhovs entered each other only knocking. Vera believed that this only contributes to a strong marriage and love.

II

Vera Pavlovna opened a sewing workshop. Julie helped her find clients. Having gone to her parents, she, returning home, did not understand how she could live in "such disgusting embarrassment" and "grow up with a love of goodness."

III. Vera Pavlovna's second dream

Vera dreamed that her husband and Alexei Petrovich were walking around the field. Lopukhov told a friend that there is "pure dirt", "real dirt" from which an ear grows. And there is "rotten mud" - "fantastic mud" from which there is no development.

Then her mother dreamed. Marya Aleksevna, with anger in her voice, said that she cared about a piece of bread for her daughter, and if she had not been evil, the daughter would not have been kind.

IV

"The workshop of Vera Pavlovna has settled down." She first had three seamstresses, who then found four more. For three years, their workshop only developed and expanded. "After a year and a half, almost all the girls already lived in one large apartment, had a common table, and stocked up on provisions in the same order as is done on large farms."

V - XVIII

Once, after a walk, Dmitry Sergeevich fell seriously ill with pneumonia. Kirsanov and Vera were on duty at the patient's bedside until he recovered. Kirsanov had long been in love with Vera, so before his friend's illness he rarely visited them.

Both Kirsanov and Lopukhov "made their way with their breasts, without connections, without acquaintances." Kirsanov was a physician, "already had a department" and was known as a "master" of his craft.

While staying with the Lopukhovs during his friend's illness, Kirsanov understood that he was "treading on a dangerous road for himself." Despite the fact that his attachment to Vera renewed with greater strength, he managed to cope with it.

XIX. Vera Pavlovna's third dream

Vera dreamed that she was reading her own diary. From him, she understands that she loves Lopukhov because he "brought her out of the basement." That before she did not know the need for a quiet, tender feeling, which is not in her husband.

XX - XXI

Vera had a premonition that she did not love her husband. Lopukhov began to think that he would not "keep her love behind him." After analyzing the latest events, Lopukhov realized that feelings had arisen between Kirsanov and Vera.

XXII - XXVIII

Lopukhov asked Kirsanov to visit them more often. Vera realized her passion for Kirsanov and wrote a note to her husband apologizing that she loved Alexander. The next day, Lopukhov left for his relatives in Ryazan, returned a month and a half later, lived for three weeks in St. Petersburg, and then left for Moscow. He left on July 9, and on July 11, "in the morning there was confusion in the hotel near the station of the Moscow railway."

XXIX - XXX

An acquaintance of the Lopukhovs Rakhmetov volunteered to help Vera. He knew about Lopukhov's plans and handed over a note where he wrote that he was going to "leave the stage."

Rakhmetov was nicknamed Nikitushka Lomov after the barge haule, who walked along the Volga, "the giant of Herculean power." Rakhmetov worked a lot on himself and acquired "exorbitant strength." He was quite harsh and straightforward in communication. Somehow I even slept on nails to test my willpower. The author believes that such people as Rakhmetov “the life of all is flourishing; without them it would have died out. "

XXXI

Chapter 4. Second marriage

I - III

Berlin, July 20, 1856. Letter to Vera Pavlovna from a "retired medical student" in which he conveys the words of Dmitry Sergeich. Lopukhov understood that their relationship with Vera would no longer be the same as before, reflected on his mistakes and said that Kirsanov should take his place.

IV - XIII

Vera is happy with Kirsanov. They read and discuss books together. Once during a conversation, Vera said that "the organization of a woman is almost higher than that of men," that women are stronger and more enduring than men.

Vera suggested that "you need to have a business that cannot be abandoned, which cannot be postponed - then a person is incomparably firmer." Vera cited Rakhmetov as an example, for whom a common business replaced a personal one, while they, Alexander and Vera, only need a personal life.

To be equal to her husband in everything, Vera took up medicine. At that time, there were still no female doctors and for a woman it was a compromising matter.

XIV

Vera and Alexander note that over time, their feelings only become stronger. Kirsanov believes that without his wife he would have stopped growing in the professional field long ago.

Xvi. The fourth dream of Vera Pavlovna

Vera dreamed of a field covered with flowers, flowering shrubs, a forest, a luxurious palace. Vera is shown three queens whose goddesses were worshiped. The first is Astarte, who was a slave to her husband. The second was Aphrodite, who was offered up only as a source of pleasure. The third - "Integrity", showing a knightly tournament and a knight who loved an inaccessible lady of the heart. The knights loved their ladies only as long as they did not become their wives and subjects.

Vera's guide said that the kingdoms of those queens are falling, and now her time has come. Vera understands that she herself is the guide and the new queen. The guide says that it can be expressed in one word - equality. Vera dreams of New Russia, where people live and work happily.

Xvii

A year later, Vera's new workshop "was already completely settled." The first workshop is run by Mertsalova. They soon opened a shop on Nevsky.

Xviii

Letter from Katerina Vasilievna Polozova. She writes that she met Vera Pavlovna and is delighted with her workshop.

Chapter 5. New faces and denouement

I

Polozova owed a lot to Kirsanov. Her father was "a retired captain or staff captain." After retirement, he began to engage in entrepreneurship and soon created "hefty capital". His wife died, leaving him with his daughter Katya. Over time, his capital has already reached several million. But at some point, he quarreled with the "right person" and at the age of 60 he remained a beggar (compared to the recent one, otherwise he lived well).

II - V

When Katya was 17 years old, she suddenly began to lose weight and fell ill. Just a year before the wedding with Vera, Kirsanov was among the doctors who took care of Katya's health. Alexander guessed that the cause of the girl's ill health was unhappy love.

"Hundreds of grooms were running after the heiress of an enormous fortune." Polozov immediately noticed that his daughter liked Solovtsov. But he was "a very bad man." Polozov once told Solovtsov a taunt, he began to visit them rarely, but began to send Katya hopeless letters. Rereading them, she fantasized about love and fell ill.

VI - VIII

At the next medical consultation, Kirsanov said that Polozova's disease is incurable, so her suffering must be stopped by taking a lethal dose of morphine. Upon learning of this, Polozov allowed the girl to do what she wants. Three months later, a wedding was scheduled. Soon, the girl herself realized her mistake and broke off the engagement. Her views had changed, now she was even glad that her father had lost his wealth and "the vulgar, boring, ugly crowd had left them."

IX

Polozov decided to sell the stearic plant and, after a long search, found a buyer - Charles Beaumont, who was an agent of the London firm of Hodchson, Lother and K.

X

Beaumont said that his father came from America, was here "a distiller at a factory in the Tambov province," but after the death of his wife he returned to America. When his father died, Charles got a job in a London office that deals with St. Petersburg and asked for a job in Russia.

XI - XII

Polozov invited Beaumont to dinner. During the conversation, Katya said that she wanted to do something useful. Beaumont advised her to get acquainted with Mrs. Kirsanova, but then tell about how her affairs are.

XIII - XVIII

Beaumont began to visit the Polozovs very often. Polozov considered him a good match for Katerina. Catherine and Charles fell in love with each other, but did not show their passion, they were very restrained.

Charles proposed to Katherine, warning that he was already married. The girl realized that it was Vera. Katerina gave him consent.

XIX - XXI

The next day, Katerina went to Vera and said that she would introduce her to her fiancé. The Kirsanovs, upon learning that it was Lopukhov, were very happy (Dmitry faked suicide, changed his name, left for America, but then returned). “On the same evening, we agreed: both families should look for apartments that would be close by.”

XXII

“Each of the two families lives in its own way, as it likes best. They are seen as family. " “Sewing continues to exist, continuing to shrink; there are three of them now; Katerina Vasilievna arranged her own long ago. This year Vera Pavlovna will already "take the exam for a doctor."

XXIII

Several years passed, they lived in the same amicable manner. The author depicts a scene of festivities. Among young people there is a certain lady in mourning who says that "you can fall in love, and you can marry, only with discrimination, and without deception."

Chapter 6. Change of scenery

“- To the Passage! - said the lady in mourning, only now she was no longer in mourning: a bright pink dress, a pink hat, a white mantilla, a bouquet in her hand. She had been waiting for this day for over two years. But, the author, not wanting to continue, ends his story.

Conclusion

Chernyshevsky's novel "What is to be done?" interesting for the gallery of strong, strong-willed characters - "new" people. These are Vera Pavlovna, Kirsanov, Lopukhov, over whom the image of Rakhmetov seems to rise, being apart. All these people made themselves and did not stop working on self-development, while trying to invest as much as possible in the "common cause". In fact, they are revolutionaries.

The main character of the book, Vera Pavlovna, appears not an ordinary woman for that time. She decides to go against the will of her parents, is not afraid of the condemnation of society, opening her workshops, and then becoming a doctor. She inspires other women and people around them for self-development, serving a common cause.

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Nikolai Gavrilovich Chernyshevsky is the creator of a work of a special genre - the fictional and publicistic novel "What is to be done?" In it, the writer tried to answer the eternal questions of Russian literature. The dreams of the heroine, Vera Pavlovna, contribute to the disclosure of the writer's plan, since the novel, due to censorship considerations, is written in an allegorical form. The writer, in numerous journalistic digressions, explains his views on others, the role of literature in shaping public opinion.

Chernyshevsky, through his activities, tried to bring closer the construction of a fair, reasonable system, in which every person could develop his abilities, working for himself and for the state. It is not the writer's fault that over the centuries many have strived for this utopia. Nikolai Gavrilovich gives specific recipes: what needs to be done to become happy and rich, to build that social formation that would be universally acceptable for everyone.

In the heroine's dreams, the author shows the way of a thinking girl to the heights of professionalism. It should be borne in mind that the novel was written at a time when there was no system of female education in Russia. Women were assigned a secondary role: keepers of the hearth, educators of children who will be given to live in the new world, but mothers, wives, sisters and daughters could not count on a wider range of social activities. Only "crumbs from the master's table" could be lifted by a woman.

Chernyshevsky's heroes are new people. They look at a woman and her role in public life differently. It is no coincidence that Lopukhov gives Vera Pavlovna complete freedom after marriage. He "released her from the basement" of life, now she has the right to choose her own path. She becomes the creator of a women's artisan workshop. But soon Vera Pavlovna realizes that this is not the case to which she would like to devote her life. Business in the sewing workshop is well-established, it provides a stable income for both the owners and workers who participate in the share of the profits, and Vera Pavlovna becomes an assistant to her second husband, the doctor Kirsanov. Isn't this a free choice of a woman ?!

In the dreams of Vera Pavlovna, the writer explains or predicts what will follow in the lives of the heroes or Russia as a whole. Vera Pavlovna's fourth dream is Chernyshevsky's utopian vision of the future just social structure of the country. This is a kind of classic description of the communist structure of the country, to which Russia subsequently moved over the course of a number of years.

It is not the fault of the writer that his dreams and plans were not given to come true. The artist has the right to fiction, and Chernyshevsky won this right with his ascetic activity and life, which he laid on the altar of a wonderful future.

Now, from the height of the XXI century, it is easy to assess, judge the past and ancestors, especially since opponents cannot answer. It is easy to blame them for all sins, even their own. But history retains irrefutable evidence that Chernyshevsky subordinated his activities not to self-interest, proprietary interests, career, future glory, but to high service to Russia. He is not so much a great writer as a selfless and honest man who managed to live in harmony with himself, and this is not easy and deserves the respect of posterity.

The first thing that makes you see the essence of the relationship between these people differently and suspect yourself of lack of discernment is that Lopukhov leaves the Medical Academy two months before graduation in order to get married and save Vera Rozalskaya from oppression in her parents' house. And this is the Lopukhov who rationally and rationally claims that his actions are always guided by profit!

What does this person understand by the word “profit” if he is capable of actions that are clearly illogical precisely from the point of view of everyday convenience? This idea allows one to see the relationship between the "new people" - with their help Chernyshevsky and presents human relations in the novel - with a different look ...

You begin to understand that a student

Lopukhov, leaving the Academy, is really acting in accordance with his own benefit. The thing is that such deeds are beneficial to a kind and decent person. But it is about Dmitry Lopukhov that Chernyshevsky writes: "These people, like Lopukhov, have magic words that attract every upset, offended creature to them." It is not hard to guess that "magic words" are an expression of the high properties of the human soul. Chernyshevsky is sure that the one who does not admire himself at this time is really doing good. This characteristic fits the personality of Lopukhov as well as possible.

For Lopukhov, human relations are not bargaining according to the principle: "You are for me, I am for you," but a relay race: "You are for me, I am for others." It is no coincidence that Vera, not feeling love for Lopukhov, communicating with him in a friendly manner, immediately perceives this moral principle. Her first dream, in which she frees people from the basement, just testifies to this.

As soon as you feel this main, inherently inherent principle of human relations, professed by the main characters, you begin to think: maybe it is not so important how they arrange their family life? Specific features of everyday life change depending on the time, and the main thing remains unchanged ... For a modern person, it is important to understand the main thing that determines the relationship of "new people" in the novel "What is to be done?"

Relations between people are fully revealed when Alexander Kirsanov appears on the stage. In many ways, he is similar to Lopukhov. Both of them, according to the author, made their way with their breasts, without connections, without acquaintances. Both worked hard to realize their abilities. And when an insoluble "love triangle" developed in the relationship between Kirsanov, Lopukhov and Vera Pavlovna, both behaved with dignity in the most difficult situation.

Kirsanov tried for a long time to abandon any relationship with his friend's wife. But feeling turns out to be stronger than logical constructions, and the heroes of the novel "What is to be done?" would not be themselves if they built their life only according to the laws of logic, ignoring feelings.

But there are still conditions of everyday life, and everyone decides for himself how to relate his feelings to them. Kirsanov and Vera Pavlovna cannot join their lives without going through a divorce procedure that is humiliating for everyone. Realizing this, Lopukhov takes the only possible step: he decides to leave the stage. He does this, obeying the dictates of the very "benefit" that determines for him human relations in general and his own actions in particular. And for this benefit, if you strive to transform life, dream of a future in which people will be harmonious and spiritually free, then today you need to be not only educated, hardworking and honest, but also happy, relying not so much on fate as to myself.

Perhaps someone will think that Lopukhov acted wrong, someone will approve of his act - this already depends on the code of honor of each of us. Lopukhov behaved as he found it necessary: ​​he faked a suicide and gave Vera Pavlovna and Kirsanov the opportunity to be together. He goes abroad and returns to Petersburg only when the former feeling has passed.

But the most important thing is that human relations built on such a moral basis do not seem to Chernyshevsky to be something out of the ordinary. He directly writes about this in the novel: “I bet that until the last sections of this chapter, Vera Pavlovna, Kirsanov, Lopukhov seemed to the majority of the public to be heroes, persons of a higher nature ... No, my friends, they are not standing too high, but you are standing too low ... At the height at which they stand, all people must stand, can stand. "

Here is the main lesson given by the heroes of the novel "What is to be done?" Political systems are changing, people's life aspirations are changing, and the moral principles of human relations remain unchanged at all times. You can be grateful to the writer who reminds of this.

WHAT TO DO?

From stories of new people

(Roman, 1863)

Vera Pavlovna (Rozalskaya) - main character. "... A tall, slender girl, rather dark, with black hair -" thick good hair ", with black eyes -" good eyes, even very good ", with a southern type of face -" as if from Little Russia; perhaps, rather, even a Caucasian type, nothing, a very handsome face, only very cold, this is no longer southern; good health ... "- this is how VP Lopukhov sees at the time of his acquaintance. She grew up in St. Petersburg in a multi-storey building on Gorokhovaya. From the age of twelve he has been visiting the boarding house. Learns to play the piano. From fourteen she sews the whole family. At sixteen she gives lessons at the same boarding house. Cheerful, sociable disposition, loves to dance. She is looked after by the owner's son Streshnikov, who brags to his friends that V.P. is his mistress. They do not believe him, and he promises to prove it by bringing V.P. to dinner with friends, but receives a firm refusal from the heroine. Does not accept V.P. and his proposals to marry him.

Despite her youth and inexperience, the heroine shows maturity of character. To Julie Le Tellier's advice to marry Storeshnikov, she replies: “I want to be independent and live my own way; what I need myself, I’m ready for that; what I don’t need, I don’t want and don’t want ... I don’t want to demand anything from anyone, I want not to hinder anyone’s freedom and I myself want to be free. ” Nevertheless, V.P. naively believes in the sincerity of Storeshnikov's love for her, and only Lopukhov manages to open her eyes. The heroine asks him to find her a place as a governess, at first he succeeds, but then they are refused. V.P. even thinks about suicide, so life at home becomes unbearable for her. And then Lopukhov, who fell in love with her, offers her another way out - to marry him fictitiously.

Discussing the plan of life together with Lopukhov, V.P. asks him to treat her as an outsider, as this prevents impoliteness and strengthens family harmony. This is how they live - like brother and sister, in separate rooms, meeting on "neutral territory" for a joint meal or conversation. VP organizes on a new economic basis (profit is distributed among the workers) a workshop-partnership, which becomes the main business of her life. At some point, V.P. understands that, despite the family spirit and excellent relations with Lopukhov, she does not love him, but loves Kirsanov. She tries to deepen her relationship with her husband, making them more earthly and passionate, but this is just an escape from herself. Idylls don't work. In the end, Lopukhov disappears, having staged suicide in order to free V.P. for a new union. The heroine finds true happiness with Kirsanov.

In the structure of the image of V.P., like the novel as a whole, dreams occupy an important place. They reflect the spiritual and moral evolution of the heroine. V.P.'s first dream: she is locked in a damp, dark basement, broken by paralysis, she hears an unfamiliar voice, someone touches her hand, and the disease immediately passes, she sees a girl in the field in which everything is constantly changing - and her face , and gait, and even nationality. When the heroine asks who she is, the girl replies that she is the bride of her groom and, although she has many names, VP can call her "love for people."

V.P.'s second dream: again a field, Lopukhov and Mer-tsalov walk on it, and the first explains to the second the difference between clean, that is, real, dirt from rotten, that is, fantastic. Real dirt is one in which there is movement, life (its signs are work and efficiency). In the rotten mud, respectively, life and work are absent. V.P. sees his mother Marya Aleksevna in an atmosphere of poverty, pale and emaciated, but kind, sees herself on the knees of an officer or taking a job and getting turned down. “The bride of her suitors, the sister of her sisters” explains to VP that she should be grateful to her mother, because she owes everything to her, and she became angry because of the conditions in which she was forced to live. If the environment changes, then the wicked will become kind.

V.P.'s third dream: the singer Bosio reads her diary with her (although V.P. never kept it). This diary contains the history of her relationship with Lopukhov. In fright, V.P. refuses to read the last page, and then her mentor reads herself. The bottom line is that V.P. doubts the truth of his feelings for Lopukhov: her love for him is rather respect, trust, willingness to act at the same time, friendship, gratitude, but not the love that she needs ... V.P. wants to love Lopukhov and does not want to offend him, but her heart yearns for Kirsanov.

V.P.'s fourth dream: she sees different images of women-queens, the embodiment of love - Astarte, Aphrodite, "Integrity". Finally, she recognizes in a bright beauty who leads her through different epochs of human development, herself - a free woman. A woman who loves and who is loved. "... It is she herself, but a goddess." He sees VP and the Crystal Palace-Garden, fertile fields, people who work cheerfully and also have fun having a rest - an image of the future, which is "bright and beautiful." Her family happiness and her workshop, according to the author, are the prototype of this happy future, its embryo.