What does Belikov die from? Why is it a pleasure to bury people like Belikov?

A.P. Chekhov is one of the Russian writers who understood that money, rank, authority, power - all these are just external ways of enslaving the human person. The real instrument, the all-pervading instrument, is fear. Some maniacal fear of life reigned supreme in the soul of Belikov - the central figure of Chekhov's story "The Man in a Case", published in 1898. Belikov is a “man in a case”, an absurd, insignificant creature, who, however, managed to intimidate the whole city: “We, teachers, were afraid of him. And even the director was afraid. Come on, our teachers are all thinking people, deeply decent, brought up on Turgenev and Shchedrin, but this man ... held the entire gymnasium in his hands for fifteen years. What a gymnasium! The whole city!" There are many influential people among Chekhov's characters: generals, governors, privy councilors, millionaires. But there is only one hero who holds the whole city in his hands - "a man in a case." The dominion of fear comes in contact with the dominion of nothingness. The purpose of this story by A.P. Chekhov, it seems to me, is to convey to people the essence of fear: “Under the influence of people like Belikov, over the past ten to fifteen years, people in our city have become afraid of everything. They are afraid to speak loudly, to send letters, to get acquainted, to read books, they are afraid to help the poor, to teach literacy. " The compositional technique, to which Chekhov often resorts in his work, contributes to the disclosure of the image of Belikov - a story within a story. The hunters, who had lodged for the night in the shed of the elder Prokofy, told different stories. One of them, by the name of Burkin, told about a resident of his city, a teacher Greek Belikov. What was this man remarkable for? Only by the fact that "even in very good weather he went out in galoshes and with an umbrella, and certainly in a warm coat with cotton wool." In addition, "he had an umbrella in a case, and a watch in a case made of gray suede, and when he took out a penknife to sharpen a pencil, he had a knife in a case." His face, too, seemed to be in a case, as he hid it all the time in a raised collar. Belikov, according to the narrator, wore dark glasses, a sweatshirt, covered his ears with cotton wool, and when he got on a cab, he ordered to lift the top. What is this, a fad or Belikov's way of life, Burkin does not explain. However, he notes that this person had a constant desire to “surround himself with a shell, to create for himself, so to speak, a case,” which supposedly protected him from the outside world, secluded him. Belikov lived in constant anxiety, fearing the irritants of reality. Belikov praised the past, expressing disgust for the present, and the ancient languages ​​that he taught were the same umbrella and galoshes where he hid from real life. And this one a strange man all were intimidated. Those around him seemed to feel that Belikov was hiding his thought in a case: "For him, only circulars and newspaper articles in which anything was forbidden were clear." If, for example, a circular forbade pupils to go outside after nine o'clock, this was clear and definite to him. Belikov always doubted the resolution of anything and feared "something might come of it." The furnishings of his dwelling were added to his appearance and way of thinking. Belikov's bedroom was small, like a box, the bed was with a canopy. Going to bed, the hero hid with his head. But even this could not protect Belikov from the fears that pursued him, he was always afraid of everything. Once the director of the gymnasium came up with the idea to marry Belikov and the sister of the new teacher of geography and history, Kovalenko, who, however, at first sight hated Belikov. Kovalenko could not understand how people tolerate this fiscal, "this disgusting face." And this "nasty face" also condemned young man: he walks in an embroidered shirt, constantly on the street with some books, and then he started a bicycle. Belikov's threats to report this entire conversation to the director put Mikhail Savvich out of balance. Kovalenko grabbed "him from behind by the collar and pushed him." And when Belikov fell down the stairs, he saw that just at that moment Varenka (the same sister) entered with two ladies. He became a laughingstock - it is better to "break your neck, both legs." Varenka, recognizing Belikov, could not hold back her laughter: "... with this rolling, flowing" ha-ha-ha "everything ended." Belikov fell seriously ill, and died a month later. As if all his life, the weather on the day of the funeral was cloudy. And the hero, as in his lifetime, was in a case, which is now the coffin for him. The people who buried Belikov hid their pleasure that they got rid of the vigilant supervision of this man. Concluding his story, Burkin expresses deeply philosophical thought: "Isn't the fact that we live in a city in a stuffy atmosphere, in cramped quarters, write unnecessary papers, play screw - isn't this a case?" Case life is just existence. And Chekhov in his work has always advocated a fulfilling life. With the story "Man in a Case" the author wanted to say that fear of reality can imprison a person in a case created by him. Moreover, the "case" has a clearly socio-political connotation: here Chekhov gives a short, accurate, satirical, sometimes grotesque, description of the life of the entire Russian intelligentsia and of Russia in general during the just ended reign of Alexander III.

In the work "The Man in the Case" the heroes are skillfully selected by the author, the list of characters includes absolutely opposite ones, incompatible people who are forced to get along, working in a gymnasium and living in small town... In the works of Chekhov, questions of morality, conscience, and personal choice are often sharply raised. The main characters of “The Man in the Case” make the reader think about our own “case”, about whether we have real freedom while living in society.

Characteristics of the characters "Man in a case"

main characters

Minor characters

Conclusion

The central image of Belikov is something inconceivably strange, empty, limited, for such people life itself is unnatural and terrible. The entire existence of Belikov is a hyperbole with a negative sign. The most important idea of ​​the story is not to get bogged down in your "case" of doubts, fears, prejudices, not to put restrictions on yourself and those around you, to live fully, with thirst, with joy.

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Topic “ case man”Can rightfully be considered a cross-cutting in the work of Chekhov. The writer takes the first step in revealing this topic in his early work"Teacher of literature", but in 1898 there are three stories, the so-called "Little Trilogy", which can be combined into a cycle based on their common problems.
The author gives the most grotesque picture of "case" life in the first story of the trilogy, where the theme is already stated in the title. Chekhov paints a clearly exaggerated image, which is an artistic generalization social phenomenon that time. So, before us appears Belikov - a man with a very interesting and even “wonderful” character and habits: “in very good weather” he “went out in galoshes and with an umbrella, and certainly in a warm coat with cotton wool. He had an umbrella in a case, and a watch in a case made of gray suede, and when he took out a penknife to sharpen a pencil, he also had a knife in a case; and the face, it seemed, was also in the case, since he hid it all the time in the raised collar ”. It is no coincidence that the author pays special attention to the portrait of the hero. With the help of the characteristics of everyday life, Belikov's costume, he seeks to reveal his soul, inner world, to show his true face.
So, already from portrait description we see that the teacher of the Greek language completely fenced himself off from living life, locked himself tightly in his "case" world, which seems to him better than the real one. The case "envelops" the brain, controls the thoughts of the hero, suppressing positive principles. Thus, he loses everything human, living, turns into a mechanical machine of rules and circulars.
But the worst thing is that he imposes these rules and prejudices on the whole world around him, in which all goals are set and achieved only by necessity. Oppressing everyone with his caution, Belikov puts pressure on people, makes them afraid: “Our teachers are all thinking people, deeply decent, brought up on Turgenev and Shchedrin, but this little man, who always walked in galoshes and with an umbrella, held the entire gymnasium in his hands for fifteen years! But what about the gymnasium? The whole city!" Developing Chekhov's thought, we understand that the "case" is a generalized image of the whole of Russia with its state regime. New turn in comprehending the problem, he introduces the image of Mavra. The darkness and ignorance of the people of the people is also a "case" covering all the great aspects of life.
But the spirit of the new time is penetrating into the city. Independent, free personalities appear (Kovalenko, his sister), revealing with merciless force the “suffocating atmosphere” of such a life. They find the key to solving the problem, which is contained in the main phrase of the work: "No, it is impossible to live like this anymore!" Indeed, with the arrival of such people, the reign of Belikov ends. He is dying. But one gets the impression that the hero lived precisely for this, finally he reached his ideal: “Now, when he was lying in the coffin, his expression was mild, pleasant, even cheerful, as if he was glad that he was finally put in a case from which he will never leave ”. Yes, Belikov died, but “how many more such people are left in the case, how many there will be!”. During the funeral, the weather was rainy and all the teachers of the gymnasium “were in galoshes and with umbrellas,” as if continuing the traditions of the deceased.
What awaits people leading a "case" lifestyle? Of course, the inevitable loneliness, more terrible than which there is nothing in the world.
But what helped the author create such an original grotesque image that the reader will remember for a long time? Of course, these are various artistic representational and expressive means.
Interested in the life, the hero's costume, the writer gives a full, detailed description of his nature, draws an accurate portrait of his soul. For such a description, Chekhov uses complex syntactic constructions with big amount homogeneous members, broadening the panorama of reality.
The phonetic composition of the work is striking in its diversity. But we note that the sound "o" (assonance) is often encountered, which also conveys the isolation of the hero's life, going in a circle, his remoteness from the world.
Many of Belikov's household items are symbolic. So, a case, glasses, galoshes and an umbrella are indispensable attributes of a “case” human existence. It is no coincidence that the story begins and ends with their mention.
The lexical composition of the story also surprises us with its richness. It contains both common and obsolete words("Cab", "sweatshirt", "batman", etc.), which convey the situation of the era.
I would like to note that in the most important, key phrase of the work there is an inversion: "It is impossible to live like this anymore." She kind of rivets the reader's attention to these words, makes them think about their deep meaning.
Chekhov's language is distinguished by its special liveliness, emotionality and at the same time simplicity, which makes his stories accessible and understandable.
The subtleties of the author's skill amaze us already at the first reading of the story, the true intention of his works is revealed to us.
It seems to me that the problem that Chekhov touches on in the story "The Man in the Case" will always remain relevant. The writer warns about the danger of philistine, everyday vulgarity. Unbeknownst to himself, everyone can fall into the "box" of their own prejudices, ceasing to think and reflect, seek and doubt. And this is really scary, as it leads to spiritual devastation and personality degradation.

Problems and tests on the topic "The symbolic meaning of the image of Belyakov in the story of A. Chekhov" The Man in the Case "

• Morphological norm - Important topics for repeating the exam in Russian

  Lessons: 1 Assignments: 8

• SPP with subordinate clauses (subordinate comparisons, modes of action, measures and degrees) - Complex sentence Grade 9

Who are they case people? They surround us everywhere, but few people realize that they can be characterized by just such an interesting term. Because not everyone has read the famous story by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, which was called “The Man in a Case”. It was this Russian prose writer-playwright who proposed this type of personality for the first time in history. However, about everything - in order.

Visual image

Anyone who is familiar with knows how rich the world of his works is in human types... Who else is found in his stories! And conscientious individuals who are not satisfied public laws and themselves, and narrow-minded inhabitants, and noble dreamers, and time-serving officials. And the images of "case" people are also found. In particular - in the story mentioned above.

In the center of the plot of "Man in a Case" is a gymnasium teacher by the name of Belikov. Teaching the Greek language has long ceased to be needed by anyone. He's very weird. Even if the sun is outside, he wears galoshes, a warm cotton coat with a high collar and takes an umbrella. A must-have accessory is dark glasses. He always covers his ears with cotton. Rides a cab, with the top always up. And also Belikov keeps everything in covers - an umbrella, a watch, and even a penknife.

But this is only an image. It would seem that the description only says that the person is neat and prudent, maybe even a little pedantic. But it is not without reason that they say that the external manifestation reflects the internal state of a person. And indeed it is.

Personal characteristic

Examples of "case" people encountered in life are reflected in Belikov. He is a kind of mixture of sociopath, paranoid and introvert. He is afraid of all living things. His is: "No matter what happens." He treats everything that surrounds him with caution and fear. Belikov is not able to think freely, since each of his ideas is in a "case".

And okay, if he was like that in society. But even at home, he behaves the same way! He dresses in a long robe and a cap, closes the shutters on the windows tightly, snapping the latches. His bed is with a canopy, and when Belikov lies down in it, he covers himself with a blanket over his head.

Naturally, he observes all the fasts, and does not get female servants - fearing that others will suspect him of having a relationship with them. Belikov is a real hermit. Who, in the literal sense of the word, is afraid to live.

Effects

Naturally, such a lifestyle that Belikov leads cannot but be reflected in anything. Who are the case people? These are real hermits who believe that they live quite normally for themselves, unlike the rest. This is also evident in Chekhov's hero.

At one point, he meets Varenka, a girl who is the sister of a new teacher of geography and history. She shows an unexpected interest in Belikov. Which society begins to persuade to marry her. He agrees, despite the fact that the thought of marriage oppresses and worries him. Belikov grows thinner, turns pale, becomes even more nervous and fearful. And the first thing that worries him the most is the “bride's” lifestyle.

Who are the case people? Those who do not understand others because of their detachment. Varenka loves to ride a bike with her brother. And Belikov is sure that this is quite common hobby is not normal! Because it is useless to ride a bicycle for those who teach history to young people. And the woman on this vehicle and looks indecent at all. Belikov did not hesitate to lay out his thoughts to his brother Varenka, who hates him. And he threatened to report his hobby to the director of the gymnasium. In response, Varenka's brother let Belikov down the stairs. What's the bottom line? Belikov falls ill - from stress, he is not let go of the thought that someone will find out about his shame. And a month later he dies. This is the end.

Main thought

Well, who are the case people - on the example of Belikov, one can understand. And the idea, in principle, Chekhov wanted to convey a simple one. The prose writer tried to convey to the readers that life "closed" from society only cripples human soul... You can't be outside the rest. We are all members of a single society. Everything that a person has confused for himself, set up - only fences him off from life. From reality filled with colors. And indeed it is. Spiritual wretchedness only limits human existence. This is what Chekhov is thinking about in this story.

Modernity

The man of the XXI century, who read Chekhov, knows what kind of people are called case. And he is able to recognize them among the rest. They are now called introverts. These are people whose mental makeup is characterized by concentration for contemplation, isolation and focus on their own the inner world... They are not inclined to communicate with other people - it is difficult for them to establish contact with someone.

However, to understand the essence of this term, it is enough to turn to etymology. "Introvert" is a word derived from the German introvertiert. Which literally translates as "facing inward."

End of the 19th century Countryside in Russia. The village of Mironositskoe. The veterinarian Ivan Ivanovich Chimsha-Himalayan and the gymnasium teacher Burkin, after hunting all day, settle down for the night in the headman's shed. Burkin tells Ivan Ivanych the story of the Greek language teacher Belikov, with whom they taught at the same gymnasium.

Belikov was known for the fact that "even in good weather he went out in galoshes and with an umbrella, and certainly in a warm coat with cotton wool." The watch, umbrella, and Belikov's penknife were packed into cases. He went to dark glasses, and the house was locked with all locks. Belikov strove to create a "case" for himself that would protect him from "external influences". Only the circulars in which something was forbidden were clear to him. Any deviation from the norm caused confusion in him. With his "case" considerations, he oppressed not only the gymnasium, but the entire city. But once a strange story happened to Belikov: he almost got married.

It happened that a new teacher of history and geography, Mikhail Savvich Kovalenko, was appointed to the gymnasium, a young, cheerful man from the Ukrainians. His sister Varenka, about thirty, came with him. She was pretty, tall, blush, cheerful, sang and danced endlessly. Varenka charmed everyone in the gymnasium, and even Belikov. Then the idea came to the teachers' mind to marry Belikov and Varenka. Belikov began to be convinced of the need to marry. Varenka began to show him "obvious favor", and he went for a walk with her and kept repeating that "marriage is a serious thing."

Belikov often visited Kovalenoks and in the end would have proposed to Varenka, if not for one incident. Some mischievous person drew a caricature of Belikov, where he was depicted with an umbrella under his arm with Varenka. Copies of the picture were sent to all teachers. This made a very heavy impression on Belikov.

Soon Belikov met Kovalenok on the street, riding bicycles. He was extremely indignant at this spectacle, since, in his opinion, a gymnasium teacher and a woman should not ride a bicycle. The next day Belikov went to the Kovalenki "to lighten the soul." Varenka was not at home. Her brother, being a freedom-loving person, disliked Belikov from the first day. Unable to tolerate his teachings about cycling, Kovalenko simply let Belikov down the stairs. At that moment Varenka was just entering the entrance with two acquaintances. Seeing Belikov rolling down the stairs, she laughed loudly. The thought that the whole city would find out about what had happened led Belikov to such horror that he went home, went to bed and died a month later.

As he lay in the coffin, his expression was happy. It seemed that he had reached his ideal, “he was put in a case, from which he will never come out. They buried Belikov with a pleasant feeling of liberation. But a week later, life began to flow the same - "a tiresome, stupid life, not prohibited by the circular, but not completely permitted."

Burkin ends the story. Reflecting on what he has heard, Ivan Ivanovich says: "Is it really the fact that we live in a city in a stuffy, crowded space, write unnecessary papers, play screw - isn't this a case?"