Read the chapter organchik summary. Analysis of the work "The History of a City", Saltykov Shchedrin
Year of publication of the book: 1870
Saltykov-Shchedrin's novel "The History of a City" is one of the most famous works of the writer. Based on his motives, the film "It" was shot, as well as two animated films. The plot of the novel has repeatedly formed the basis of theatrical performances and is included in the school curriculum. And among the writer's contemporaries, he caused a lot of misinterpretation, because in the main characters of the novel, the emperors of the Russian Empire of different years, as well as the first persons of the state, can be clearly traced.
The plot of the novel "The Story of a City" briefly
In the summary of "The History of a City" you can read about the history of the fictional city of Foolov from 1731 to 1825. Four chroniclers lead the story. They describe the life of the city through the biographies of the mayors who ruled the city in different years. The story begins with a narration about the prehistoric times of a tribe of blockheads. They defeated the tribes of onion-eaters, thick-eaters, walrus-eaters and others. But their life was not getting better. Then they decided to look for themselves a prince. But someone did not want to be the prince of fools. Then they turned to the novice thief. He found a prince for them, but the prince himself did not want to go to their city and sent them the governor of the innovator thief. Since then, the buggers became Foolovites, and the city itself began to be called Foolov. But the innovator thief quickly caught stealing. Then the prince sent him a noose. But the innovator thief got out of the situation and "stabbed himself with a cucumber." The new governors were even greater thieves. Then he came to the prince in the city with a shout: "I'll screw it up!" Since then, a record of the historical time in the city has been kept. During this time, the city was ruled by 22 rulers.
In 1762, Dementy Varlamovich Brudasty began to rule in the city of Foolov. Except for two phrases: "I will break!" and "I will not tolerate!" he didn't say anything. The secret of the mayor came to light when the clerk saw his body sitting at the table, and his completely empty head lying on the table. It turned out that there was a musical organ in my head that could only perform two songs. Now the organ is broken and the watchmaker Baibakov has already ordered a new organ from St. Petersburg, but he is delayed for some reason. Brudasty was replaced by two impostor town governors. They were exactly the same and the delivery boy took them with him. Then came the week of anarchy. For this week, as in, at once six mayors tried to seize power in the city. Their claims were based on the fact that the mayors were their father, husband, or were completely unfounded. But the townspeople drowned each other and threw the unwanted from the bell tower. 
Further in the book "The History of a City" you can read about how the arrival of Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov put an end to anarchy. He ruled the city for eight years. During this time, he instilled in the city beer and mead brewing, the use of mustard and bay leaves. He was replaced by Petr Petrovich Ferdischenko. Everything was fine in the city for six years, but then he fell in love with Alena Osipova. She was the wife of the coachman Mitka. Only after Mitka was exiled to Siberia did Alena reciprocate with Ferdyshchenko. But from that time on, a drought began in the city. Petr Petrovich ignored all the requests of the townspeople to get rid of Alenka. Then Alenka was thrown from the bell tower. Soldiers came and suppressed the riot. Ferdyschenko found himself a new love - the archer Domashka. But after a drought, fires came because of which three settlements burned down. But even this was not enough for Pyotr Petrovich. He went to the pasture and began to demand that he be presented with food. But on the third day he died of overeating.
A week later, Vasilisk Semenovich Borodavkin appeared in the novel "The Story of a City" by Shchedrin. He studied history and decided to look up to Dvoekurov. He decided to revive the tradition of sowing mustard. The people rebelled on their knees. Then he undertook a military campaign to the source of all troubles - Streletskaya Sloboda. The march lasted nine days, during which in complete darkness they fought with their own. Then, referring to some directive, some of the troops were fired, replacing them with tin soldiers. But Wartkin completed the campaign, and Streletskaya Sloboda surrendered when he began to drag their houses onto logs. Then there were three more wars. The first for the benefit of stone foundations, the second for the cultivation of Persian chamomile, and the third against the construction of the academy. The city became impoverished, and Wartkin himself was gone when he decided to burn the city down.
Further in the story "The History of a City" you can read about a whole series of mayors. Under Captain Negodyaev, the city became scarce in general. He was fired for disagreeing with the imposition of a constitution. But according to the chronicler, this was only a pretext. The real reason lies in the captain's belonging to the democratic principle. He was replaced by Mekeladze. He did not deal with the city, but was only interested in the fair sex. His successor was Feofilakt Irinarkhovich Benevolensky. He loved legislation, but his position did not allow it. Therefore, he wrote such laws as “Let every soul tremble,” “Let every cricket know the sixth that corresponds to his title,” and the like, and scattered them around the city at night. He was fired for suspicion of having ties to Napoleon. He was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Pimple. He was not at all interested in the city, but the city lived in abundance. His reign lasted until the representative of the nobility smelled that the head of the mayor exudes the smell of truffles. Then he attacked and ate Pimple's stuffed head. State Councilor Ivanov, who came to replace the Pimple, was so small that he could not contain anything lengthy. Viscount Chariot, who came to replace him, did nothing but arrange masquerades. He was expelled because the townspeople were mired in paganism. As it turned out later, the mayor was a special female.
Further in Shchedrin's novel "The Story of a City" you can read about how Erast Andreevich Grustilov came to rule the city. By that time, the inhabitants of Foolovsk had become idolaters, stopped sowing altogether, and famine began in the city. But Melancholyov was only interested in balls. The wife of the pharmacist Pfeier changed everything. She instructed the mayor on the right path, as a result of which the holy fools became the main ones in the city. The Foolovites repented, but did not begin to work. Instead, they began to read the works of Mr. Strakhov, for which Melancholov left his post. He was replaced by the "purest type of idiot" - Gloom-Grumblev. He decided to turn Foolov into the city of Nepreklonsk with straight streets, houses of the same type and spies assigned to every house. He began the realization of his plan with the total destruction of the city. But as it turned out, the river interferes with the plans of the new mayor. Then all the forces were thrown into the construction of dams, but they were all washed away by the current. Then Gloom-Grumblev decide to build the city of your dreams on a flat lowland. It is not known for certain how the construction ended. It is only known that "It Came", and the mayor instantly disappeared. But since then, history has stopped flowing.
The novel "The Story of a City" on the site Top Books
Saltykov-Shchedrin's novel "The History of a City" is popular to read largely due to its presence in the school curriculum. This allowed the satirical novel to take a high place in ours. At the same time, the interest in the work is quite stable and we will surely see it more than once among.
You can read the novel by Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin "The History of a City" online at the Top Books website.
In this article we will tell you about the novel written by M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin, we will describe a brief summary. "The History of a Town" is a work that is a supposedly "genuine" chronicle of the town of Foolov in the period from 1731 to 1825, which was composed successively by four archivists. The author insists on the authenticity of "The Fool's Chronicler" in the chapter "From the Publisher", inviting the reader to trace how the history of Foolov reflected the successively various changes that took place in the government. This is the main theme of "The History of a City". This work describes a number of reigns.
So, we begin our story about the novel "The History of a City" (Saltykov-Shchedrin ME).
A message to the reader
The Chronicler opens with an appeal to the reader, supposedly compiled by the last archivist, who sees his task in depicting a correspondence that, in his opinion, is “touching”, “to the extent of daring” power and “to the extent of thanksgiving” to her people. Thus, this story is, in fact, the history of the rule of city governors.
Prehistoric times
The prehistoric chapter tells about where the Foolovites came from, what are their roots. It tells how the people of blockheads defeated kosobryhikh, onion-eaters, morge-eaters and other neighboring tribes. But, not knowing what to do next to establish order, people went to look for the prince. They turned to more than one potential ruler, but even the stupidest of them did not want to own this people and let them go, teaching them with a rod. Then the bunglers called a rogue thief who helped them in this matter. The prince agreed to "volode" them, but did not go to live on their land, instead of himself he sent a thief-novotor. The prince called the Golovotyapov themselves "Foolovites", and this is how the name of the city appeared.
The Foolovites were a submissive people, but the novotor needed riots in order to pacify them. However, he soon caught stealing to the point that the prince "sent a noose" to his unfaithful slave. But here, too, the novator dodged. He stabbed himself with a cucumber without waiting for the noose.
The beginning of historical times
We will describe further events, their brief content. The "History of a City" continues as follows.
And other mayors were sent by the prince - a Kalyazin, an Oryol, an Odoyev, but they turned out to be thieves. Then the ruler himself arrived at Foolov and shouted: "I'll screw it up!" With these words, historical times began for this people.
After that, there is an inventory of the mayors who ruled the city at different times. The biographies of these people are given in detail.
Busty
In 1762 Dementy Varlamovich Brudasty arrived in Foolov. He immediately impressed the inhabitants with his laconic speech and sullenness - a suspicious characteristic. The Story of a City describes the strange details of this person. Brudasty's only words were "I will break!" and "I will not tolerate it!"
The city did not know what to think, until one day the clerk who entered with a report saw the following strange sight: as usual, the mayor's body was sitting at the table, but his head, completely empty, lay on the table. Foolov was shocked by this.
Suddenly they remembered about the organ and watchmaker by the name of Baybakov, who secretly visited the mayor, and found out everything, summoning him. So this story of one city got its continuation. Its essence was as follows. It turned out that in the head of the ruler there was an organ that could play only two pieces of music: "I will not tolerate it!" and "I will bust!" The head was damp on the road and therefore needed a fix. Baibakov himself could not cope with this task, so he turned to St. Petersburg for help. From here they promised to send him a new head, which for some reason was delayed.
Anarchy
The novel "The Story of a City" continues. Beginning came, the end of which came with the appearance of two mayors at once, and the same. These impostors looked at each other with their eyes. The crowd "dispersed in silence." A messenger immediately arrived from the province and took both of them. The Foolovites, who were left without a mayor, immediately fell into anarchy, which continued until the end of the next week. During this time, six mayors were replaced in the city. Residents rushed from Iraida Paleologova to Clemantinka de Bourbon, and from the latter to Amalia Stockfish.
"The history of one city" images of these applicants are very unattractive. The claims of Iraida Lukinichna were based on short-term activities as the mayor of her husband, Clemantinka - her father, and Amalia Karlovna herself was a pompadour for some time. Even less substantiated were the claims to power of Nelka Lyadokhovskaya, and after Matryonka-nostrils and Dunka-fat-five. The Foolovites threw citizens from the bell tower or drowned them in the intervals between hostilities in the city. But after a while they got tired of lawlessness.
Dvoekurov
Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov, the new mayor, finally arrived in the city. The activity of this man in Foolov was very beneficial. According to the chronicler, he introduced brewing and honey brewing, and also made the use of bay leaves and mustard compulsory, and wanted to open an academy in the city.
Ferdyschenko
Under Peter Petrovich Ferdyshchenka, the next ruler, Foolov prospered for six years. But in the seventh year this mayor was "confused by the demon." He was inflamed with love for Alenka, the coachman's wife, who refused her boyfriend. Then Mitka, her husband, with the help of some consistent measures, was branded and exiled to Siberia, and Alenka eventually came to his senses. Through the sins of the mayor, a drought struck Foolov, and then famine began. People began to die in great numbers. Then Foolov's patience came to an end. First, a walker was sent to Ferdyshchenka, but he did not return. Then they sent a petition to the ruler, but this did not have any effect. In the end, we got to Alenka and threw her from the bell tower. Ferdischenko was not dozing either, all this time writing reports to his superiors. No bread was sent to him, but a team of soldiers arrived.
Through the shooter Domashka, the next hobby of Pyotr Petrovich, fires came to Foolov. Pushkarskaya, Bolotnaya Sloboda and Negodnitsa were burnt down. Ferdyshchenko again lost his temper, returned Domashka to the "opchest" and called the team.
The reign of Pyotr Petrovich ended with a journey. He decided to visit the city pasture, where he was greeted in various places by the townspeople, and also waited for lunch. Ferdyshchenko died on the third day from overeating.
Wartkin
Vasilisk Semenovich Borodavkin, his successor, resolutely took up his post. Having studied the history of the city of Foolov, he found only one role model - the mayor Dvoekurov. The achievements of this ruler, however, were long forgotten, and the inhabitants stopped even sowing mustard. The new mayor first of all ordered this mistake to be corrected, and as punishment he also added Provencal oil. However, the Foolovites did not want to give in. Therefore, Wartkin had to go to the Streletskaya Sloboda on a military campaign. Not everything went well on this nine-day hike. Theirs fought with theirs in the dark. Many living soldiers were replaced with tin soldiers. Wartkin managed to withstand all the same. Having reached the very settlement and not finding anyone there, he began to drag the houses to the logs. Then the whole city surrendered.
Let's describe further events, their brief content. The "story of a city" continues as follows. After that, there were several more wars in the history of Foolov, which were fought for enlightenment. The government as a whole led to the fact that the city became impoverished. The final devastation came under Negodyaev, the next mayor.
Mikeladze
Cherkeshenin Mikeladze found Foolov in this deplorable state. The story of one city was sad. Analysis of Mikeladze's rule suggests the following. No events were held. He was only interested in the female sex, retiring from all affairs. The city was resting at that time. As the mayor writes, the investigations were numerous, although there were few "visible facts".
Benevolensky
Feofilakt Irinarkhovich Benevolensky replaced this Cherkeshenin. This mayor was a friend of Speransky. They went to seminary together. This ruler was distinguished from others by a passion for legislation. But since he did not have the right to issue his own laws, he did it secretly, in the house of a certain merchant Raspopova, and scattered his laws around the city at night. Soon, however, Benevolensky was dismissed from office for intercourse with Napoleon.
Acne
Let's describe further events, their brief content. The Story of One City continues with the arrival of the next ruler, Lieutenant Colonel Pimple. He did not do business at all, but Foolov flourished with him. The harvests were huge. The inhabitants of the city were alarmed. Soon the secret of the Pimple was revealed by the leader of the nobility. This minced meat lover sensed that the head of the ruler smelled of truffles and, unable to contain himself, attacked the stuffed head and ate it.
After that Ivanov, the state councilor, arrived in the city. However, he turned out to be so small that he could not contain anything spacious in himself, and soon died. The Viscount de Chariot, his successor, an émigré, had fun all the time and was exiled abroad at the behest of his superiors. On closer inspection, this ruler turned out to be a maiden.
Melanov
Then came Erast Andreevich Grustilov, a state councilor. By this time, the foolish people clung to idols, forgetting the real God. This is how the history of one city continued. Analysis of the board of Grustilov is as follows. The city under him was completely mired in laziness and debauchery. They stopped sowing, hoping for happiness, and famine came to Foolov. Erast Andreevich was busy exclusively with daily balls. But when he met his love, everything changed dramatically. It was the wife of the pharmacist Pfeier. This lady showed the path of goodness to Melancholy. The wretched and holy fools, who in the old days of idol worship had experienced difficult days, became the main people in the city. The Foolovites repented, but the fields remained empty. Beaumond got together at night to read a certain Mr. Strakhov and to "admire" him. The authorities soon found out about this, and Grustilov was dismissed.
Gloom-Grumblev
Gloom-Grumblev, the last mayor in the history of the city, was an idiot. The goal he set was to turn Foolov into Nepreklonsk with "companies", identical straight streets, houses in which the same families would live, and so on. Gloom-Grumblev thought out his plan in detail, and then proceeded to implement it. Foolov was destroyed to the ground, and now it was possible to begin construction, but this was hampered by the river running on the way. She did not fit into the plans of Gloom-Grumblev.
The mayor decisively launched an offensive against it. All the rubbish was put into action, all that remained of the old city, but the river turned out to be stronger - it eroded any dams. Then the mayor walked away, taking the Foolovites with him. Another location, a flat lowland, was chosen for the city, and construction began. However, something has changed.
Unfortunately, the notebooks in which this history of one city was described have been lost. A fragment of it survived, and only the denouement is given by the publisher. He writes that the sun was darkened, the earth shook, "It has come." The author does not explain what exactly. "The history of one city" (Saltykov-Shchedrin) is silent about this, only it is said that the "scoundrel" immediately disappeared, as if it had disappeared into thin air.
The novel is closed by the surviving "vouchers", that is, compositions written for the edification of successors by various mayors: Benevolensky, Mikeladze, Borodavkin.
In 1870, after a series of publications of individual chapters, M.'s work "The History of a City" was published. After reading the summary of "The History of a City" in a summary of the chapters, you will get acquainted with the most important moments of the work, clearly demonstrating the satirical orientation of the story.
The story "The Story of a City" is full of such devices as irony, allegory. All this allows the author, in some episodes bringing what is described to the point of absurdity, to vividly depict the absolute obedience of the people to any arbitrariness of the authorities. The vices of the contemporary author's society have not been eliminated in our days.
The main characters of the story
Main characters:
- The main characters of the story are the mayors, each of whom managed to be remembered in some way in the history of the city of Foolov. Since the story describes a lot of portraits of mayors, it is worth dwelling on the most significant characters.
- Busty - shocked the residents with his categoricalness, with his exclamations on any occasion "I will ruin!" and "I will not tolerate!"
- Dvoekurov, with his "great" reforms regarding bay leaves and mustard, seems completely harmless against the background of subsequent mayors.
- Wartkin - fought with his own people "for enlightenment."
- Ferdyshchenko - his greed and lust almost killed the townspeople.
- Pimple - the people were not ready for such a ruler like him - people lived too well under him, who did not interfere in any business.
- Gloom-Grumblev - for all his idiocy, he managed not only to become the mayor, but also to destroy the entire city, trying to bring his crazy idea to life.
Other characters:
If the main characters are the mayors, the minor ones are the people with whom they interact. The common people are shown as a collective image. The author as a whole portrays him as obedient to his ruler, ready to endure all the oppression and various oddities of his power. Shown by the author as a faceless mass that revolts only when around there is a general death of people from hunger or fires.
"The history of one city" is very brief
History of one city summary for the reader's diary:
“The Story of a Town” is the story of the life of the small town of Foolov.
Once upon a time in Russia there lived a stupid people - blockheads. One day the bunglers decided to find a boss to put things in order in the tribe. The thugs with difficulty found one very stupid prince who agreed to lead them. The prince gave the blockheads a new name "Foolovtsy", founded the city of Foolov and began to rule over it.
Then, during the century, 1731 to 1826, 21 mayors came to power in Foolov in turn. All these mayors turn out to be stupid and narrow-minded people. Some mayors make life in Foolov unbearable. Others are making improvements, but not for long. Still others do nothing at all.
As a result, life in Foolov turns out to be very unstable: the inhabitants either get richer, then go bankrupt, then have crazy fun, then fall into melancholy, etc. The city has repeatedly suffered from fires, crop failures, etc.
The fault of these troubles is the Foolovites themselves - very stupid, ignorant and careless people. The foolish people suffer from "love of authority" and are in dire need of leadership. Therefore, they tolerate the most incredible whims of their mayors. When it becomes too hard for the Foolovites, they riot, but their riots are stupid and stupid.
The story of Foolov in the novel is described up to 1826. What happens in the city afterwards is unknown. It can be assumed that nothing changes in Foolov.
Read also: A summary of the fairy tale "e" by ME Saltykov-Shchedrin.
A short retelling of the "History of a City" in 3 minutes
This story is the “true” chronicle of the city of Foolov, “The Foolov Chronicler”, embracing the period from 1731 to 1825, which was “successively composed” by four Foolov's archivists. In the chapter "From the Publisher" the author especially insists on the authenticity of the "Chronicler" and invites the reader to "catch the physiognomy of the city and keep track of how its history reflected the various changes that were simultaneously taking place in the higher spheres."
The Chronicler opens with an Appeal to the Reader from the Last Archivist-Chronicler. The archivist sees the task of the chronicler in "being a representative" of "touching conformity" - the authorities "daring to the best of their ability" and the people "giving thanks". History, therefore, is the history of the rule of various mayors.
First, the prehistoric chapter “On the Root of the Foolovites” is given, which tells about how the ancient people of blockheads defeated the neighboring tribes of morge-eaters, onion-eaters, kosobryhikh, etc. But, not knowing what to do to ensure order, the blockheads went to look for a prince ... They turned to more than one prince, but even the most stupid princes did not want to "be stupid" and, having taught them with a rod, let them go with honor. Then they summoned the bunglers of the novotor thief, who helped them find the prince. The prince agreed to "volode" them, but he did not go to live with them, sending instead of himself a thief-novotor. Themselves as golovotyapov called the prince "Foolovtsy", hence the name of the city.
The Foolovites were submissive people, but the novator needed riots to pacify them. But soon he was so caught stealing that the prince "sent a noose to the unfaithful slave." But the novator "and then dodged: <…> without waiting for the loop, he stabbed himself with a cucumber".
The prince sent and more rulers - an Odoyev, an Orlov, a Kalyazin - but they all turned out to be real thieves. Then the prince “… come in his own person to Foolov and cry out:“ I'll screw it up! ”. With these words, historical times began. "
In 1762 Dementy Varlamovich Brudasty arrived in Foolov. He immediately struck the Foolovites with his gloom and laconicism. His only words were "I will not tolerate!" and "I will break!" The city was lost in conjectures, until one day the clerk, entering with a report, saw a strange sight: the body of the mayor, as usual, was sitting at the table, while his head lay on the table completely empty. Foolov was shocked.
But then they remembered about the watchmaking and organ affairs of master Baibakov, who secretly visited the mayor, and, having summoned him, they found out everything. In the head of the mayor, in one corner, there was an organ that could perform two pieces of music: "I will ruin!" and "I will not tolerate!" But on the way, the head became damp and needed to be repaired. Baibakov himself could not cope and turned to St. Petersburg for help, from where they promised to send a new head, but for some reason the head lingered.
Beginning came, ending with the appearance of two identical mayors at once. “The impostors met and measured each other with their eyes. The crowd dispersed slowly and in silence. A messenger immediately arrived from the province and took both impostors away. And the Foolovites, left without a town governor, immediately fell into anarchy.
The anarchy continued throughout the next week, during which the city was replaced by six mayors. The inhabitants rushed from Iraida Lukinichna Paleologova to Clementinka de Bourbon, and from her to Amalia Karlovna Stockfish. The claims of the first were based on the short-term city governors' activities of her husband, the second on her father, and the third was herself a city governor pompadour. The claims of Nelka Lyadokhovskaya, and then Dunka the Fat-Five and Matryonka-Nostrils were even less substantiated.
In between hostilities, the Foolovites threw some citizens from the bell tower and drowned others. But they too are tired of anarchy. Finally, a new mayor arrived in the city - Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov. His work in Foolov was beneficial. “He introduced mead brewing and brewing and made the use of mustard and bay leaves obligatory,” and also wanted to establish an academy in Foolov.
Under the next ruler, Petr Petrovich Ferdyshchenka, the city flourished for six years. But in the seventh year, "Ferdyshchenka was confused by a demon." The city governor was inflamed with love for the coachman's wife Alenka. But Alenka refused him. Then, with the help of a series of successive measures, Alyonka's husband, Mitka, was branded and sent to Siberia, and Alenka came to his senses.
Through the city governor's sins, a drought fell on Foolov, followed by famine. People started to die. Then came the end of Foolov's patience. First they sent a walker to Ferdyshchenka, but the walker did not return. Then they sent a petition, but this did not help either. Then they got to Alenka, and threw her from the bell tower. But Ferdyshchenko did not doze, and wrote reports to his superiors. No bread was sent to him, but a team of soldiers arrived.
Through the next hobby of Ferdyshchenka, the shooter Domashka, fires came to the city. The Pushkarskaya Sloboda was on fire, followed by the Bolotnaya and Negodnitsa settlements. Ferdyshchenko again lost his temper, returned Domashka to the "opchest" and called the team.
The reign of Ferdyshchenka ended with a journey. The mayor went to the city pasture. In various places he was greeted by the townspeople and was waiting for dinner. On the third day of the trip, Ferdyshchenko died of overeating.
Ferdyshchenka's successor, Vasilisk Semenovich Borodavkin, took up the post decisively. Having studied the history of Foolov, he found only one role model - Dvoekurov. But his achievements were already forgotten, and the Foolovites even stopped sowing mustard. Wartkin ordered to correct this mistake, and added Provencal oil as punishment. But the Foolovites did not give in. Then Wartkin went on a military campaign to the Streletskaya Sloboda. Not everything on the nine-day hike was successful.
In the dark, their own fought with theirs. Many of the real soldiers were fired and replaced with tin soldiers. But Wartkin survived. When he reached the settlement and did not find anyone, he began to drag the houses to the logs. And then the settlement, and behind it the whole city surrendered. Subsequently, there were several more wars for education. In general, the reign led to the impoverishment of the city, which finally ended under the next ruler, Negodyaev. It was in this state that Foolov found Cherkeshenin Mikeladze.
There were no activities under this board. Mikeladze withdrew from administrative measures and dealt only with the female sex, to which he was a great hunter. The city was resting. "The visible facts were few, but the consequences are countless."
Cherkeshenin was replaced by Feofilakt Irinarkhovich Benevolensky, a friend and comrade of Speransky in the seminary. He was distinguished by a passion for legislation. But since the mayor had no right to issue his own laws, Benevolensky issued laws secretly, in the house of the merchant Raspopova, and scattered them around the city at night. However, he was soon dismissed for intercourse with Napoleon.
Lieutenant Colonel Pimple was next. He did not do business at all, but the city blossomed. The yields were enormous. The Foolovites were on their guard. And the secret of the Pimple was revealed by the leader of the nobility. A big lover of minced meat, the leader sensed that the mayor's head smelled of truffles and, unable to bear it, attacked and ate the stuffed head.
After that, the state councilor Ivanov arrived in the city, but "turned out to be so small that he could not contain anything extensive," and died. His successor, the emigrant Viscount de Chariot, was constantly having fun and was exiled abroad by order of his superiors. On examination, it turned out to be a girl.
Finally, State Councilor Erast Andreyevich Grustilov appeared in Foolov. By this time, the Foolovites had forgotten the true God and clung to idols. Under him, the city was completely mired in debauchery and laziness. Relying on their own happiness, they stopped sowing, and famine came to the city. Melancholov was busy with daily balls. But everything suddenly changed when he appeared to him. The wife of the pharmacist Pfeifer showed Melancholyov the path of goodness. The foolish and wretched, who lived through difficult days during the worship of idols, became the main people in the city. The Foolovites repented, but the fields were still empty. The Foolov elite gathered at night to read Mr. Strakhov and "admiration", which the authorities soon found out about, and Grustilov was dismissed.
The last Foolov's mayor, Gloom-Grumblev, was an idiot. He set a goal - to turn Foolov into the "ever-worthy memory of Grand Duke Svyatoslav Igorevich the city of Nepreklonsk" with straight identical streets, "companies", identical houses for identical families, etc. Gloom-Grumblev thought out the plan in detail and proceeded to implementation. The city was destroyed to the ground, and it was possible to start construction, but the river interfered. It did not fit into the plans of Gloom-Grumblev. The indefatigable mayor launched an offensive on it.
All the rubbish, all that was left of the city, was put into action, but the river washed away all the dams. And then Gloom-Grumblev turned around and walked away from the river, taking the Foolovites with him. A completely flat lowland was chosen for the city, and construction began. But something has changed. However, the notebooks with the details of this story were lost, and the publisher gives only the denouement: "... the earth shook, the sun darkened <..." It came. " Without explaining what exactly, the author only reports that “the scoundrel instantly disappeared, as if it had disappeared into thin air. History has stopped flowing. "
The story is closed by "vouchers", that is, the works of various mayors, such as: Borodavkin, Mikeladze and Benevolensky, written for the edification of other mayors.
This is interesting: M. Saltykov-Shchedrin wrote the satirical tale "" in 1884. In his work, the author, with a fair amount of satire, reflected the features of the social structure of the second half of the 19th century. We recommend that you read the summary "The idealist carp" for the reader's diary. Retelling will also be useful to prepare for a literature lesson.
Contents "History of a city" by chapters
From the publisher
"The Story of a City" tells about the city of Foolov, its history. The chapter "From the Publisher" in the voice of the author assures the reader that the "Chronicler" is genuine. He invites the reader "to catch the physiognomy of the city and keep track of how its history reflected the various changes that were simultaneously taking place in the higher spheres." The author emphasizes that the plot of the narrative is monotonous, "it is almost exclusively exhausted by the biographies of the mayors."
Address to the reader from the last archivist-chronicler
In this chapter, the author sets himself the task of conveying the "touching conformity" of the city authorities, "to the best of daring" to the people, "to the measure of thanksgiving." The archivist tells that he will present to the reader the history of the government in the city of Foolov of the mayors, one after the other who are replaced at the highest post. The storytellers, four local chroniclers, recount in turn the "true" events that took place in the city from 1731 to 1825.
About the roots of the Foolovites' origin
This chapter tells about prehistoric times, about how the ancient tribe of blockheads defeated the neighboring tribes of onion-eaters, gush-eaters, ice-eaters, frogs, kosobrykhiv and so on. After the victory, the bunglers began to think about how to put things in order in their new society, since things were not going well for them: either "they kneaded the Volga with oatmeal," then "they dragged the calf to the bathhouse." They decided they needed a ruler. To this end, the blockheads went to look for a prince who would govern them. However, all the princes to whom they turned with this request refused, since no one wanted to rule stupid people. The princes, having “taught” with the rod, let go of the bunglers in peace and with “honor”. Desperate, they turned to a rogue thief who managed to help find the prince. The prince agreed to manage them, but he did not live with the bunglers - he sent a novotor thief as his governor.
Golovotyapov was renamed "Foolovites", and the city, accordingly, began to be called "Foolov".
It was not at all difficult for the Novotor to manage the Foolovites - this people was distinguished by obedience and unquestioning execution of the orders of the authorities. However, this did not please their ruler, the novator wanted riots that could be pacified. The end of his reign was very sad: the rogue thief caught stealing to the point that the prince could not stand it and sent him a noose. But the novator also managed to get out of this situation - without waiting for the loop, he "stabbed himself with a cucumber."
Then other rulers, who were sent by the prince, began to appear one by one in Foolov. All of them - Odoyev, Oryol, Kalyazin - turned out to be shameless thieves even worse than the innovator. The prince was tired of such events, he personally came to the city with a shout: "I'll screw it up!" With this cry, the countdown of "historical time" began.
Inventory of the city governors, at different times in the city of Foolov from the higher authorities put (1731 - 1826)
This chapter lists the town governors of Foolov by name and briefly mentions their "achievements". It is spoken of twenty-two rulers. So, for example, about one of the city governors in the document is written as follows: “22) Intercept-Zalivatsky, Archangel Stratilatovich, major. I will not mention this. He drove into Foolov on a white horse, burned down the gymnasium and abolished the sciences. "
Organchik
The year 1762 was marked by the beginning of the reign of the mayor Dementy Varlamovich Brudasty. The foolish people were surprised that their new ruler was gloomy and did not say anything except two phrases: "I will not tolerate!" and "I will break!" They did not know what to think until the secret of Brudasty was revealed: his head was completely empty. The clerk accidentally saw a terrible thing: the body of the town governor, as usual, sat at the table, but his head lay separately on the table. And there was nothing in it at all. The townspeople did not know what to do now. They remembered Baibakov, a watchmaker and organ master, who had recently come to see Brudasty. After questioning Baybakov, the Foolovites found out that the head of the mayor was equipped with a musical organ, which performed only two pieces: "I will not tolerate it!" and "I will break!" The organ is out of order, damp on the road. The master could not fix it on his own, so he ordered a new head in St. Petersburg, but the order was delayed.
Anarchy ensued, the ending of which was laid by the unexpected appearance of two absolutely identical impostor rulers at the same time. They saw each other, “looked at each other with their eyes,” and the inhabitants watching this scene slowly dispersed in silence. A messenger who arrived from the province took both "mayors" with him, and anarchy began in Foolov, which lasted a whole week.
The Legend of the Six City Governors (Picture of Foolov's civil strife)
This time was very eventful in the sphere of city government - the city survived as many as six mayors. Residents watched the struggle of Iraida Lukinichna Paleologova, Clementinka de Bourbon, Amalia Karlovna Stockfish. The first one assured that she was worthy to be a mayor because her husband was engaged in town governor's activities for some time, the second one was occupied by her father, the third one was once herself a gradonal pompadour. In addition to those named, Nelka Lyadokhovskaya, Dunka the fat-five and Matryonka-nostril also claimed power. The latter had no grounds at all to claim the role of mayors. Serious battles broke out in the city. The Foolovites drowned and threw their fellow citizens from the belfry. The city is tired of anarchy. And then a new mayor finally appeared - Semyon Konstatinovich Dvoekurov.
News about Dvoekurov
The newly-minted ruler Dvoekurov ruled Foolov for eight years. He is noted as a man of advanced views. Dvoekurov developed activities that became beneficial for the city. Under him, they began to engage in honey and beer brewing, ordered to eat mustard and bay leaves. It was his intention to establish an academy in Foolov.
Hungry city
Dvoekurov's reign was replaced by Petr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko. The city has lived for six years in prosperity and prosperity. But in the seventh year, the mayor fell in love with Alena Osipova, the wife of the coachman Mitka. However, Alenka did not share the feelings of Petr Petrovich. Ferdyschenko took all sorts of actions to make Alyonka fall in love with him, even sent Mitka to Siberia. Alenka became supportive of the courting of the mayor.
A drought began in Foolov, followed by famine and human deaths. The Foolovites lost patience and sent a messenger to Ferdyshchenko, but the walker did not return. The petition filed also did not find an answer. Then the inhabitants rebelled and threw Alenka from the bell tower. A company of soldiers came to the city to suppress the riot.
Thatched city
The next love interest of Pyotr Petrovich was the shooter Domashka, whom he recaptured from the "opchestvo". Along with a new love, the fires caused by the drought came to the city. Pushkarskaya Sloboda burned down, then Bolotnaya and Negodnitsa. The Foolovites accused Ferdishchenko of a new misfortune.
Fantastic traveler
Ferdyschenko's new stupidity hardly brought new trouble to the townspeople: he went on a journey through the city pasture, forcing the residents to present themselves with food. The journey ended three days later with Ferdyshchenko's death from gluttony. The Foolovites were afraid that they would be accused of deliberately "feeding the brigadier." However, a week later, the fears of the townspeople dissipated - a new governor arrived from the province. Resolute and active Wartkin marked the beginning of Foolov's "golden age." People began to live in abundance.
Wars of Enlightenment
Vasilisk Semenovich Borodavkin, the new mayor of Foolov, studied the history of the city, and decided that the only previous ruler to look up to was Dvoekurov, and he was amazed not even by the fact that his predecessor had paved the streets of the city and collected arrears, but by what was sown with him mustard. Unfortunately, the people have already forgotten it and even stopped sowing this culture. Wartkin decided to remember the old days, to resume sowing mustard and eating it. But the residents stubbornly did not want to return to the past. The foolish men rebelled on their knees. They were afraid that if they obey Wartkin, in the future he would force them "there is still no abomination." The mayor undertook a military campaign against the Streletskaya Sloboda, "the source of all evil", in order to suppress the revolt. The hike lasted nine days and it is difficult to call it completely successful. In absolute darkness, their own fought with theirs. The mayor suffered the betrayal of his supporters: one morning he discovered that a larger number of soldiers had been fired, replaced by tin soldiers, citing a certain resolution. However, the mayor managed to hold out by organizing a reserve of tin soldiers. He reached the settlement, but found no one there. Wartkin began to dismantle the houses on logs, which forced the settlement to surrender.
The future brought three more wars, which were also fought for "enlightenment". The first of the three subsequent wars was fought to explain to the residents of the city the benefits of stone foundations of houses, the second was due to the refusal of residents to grow Persian chamomile, and the third was against the establishment of an academy in the city.
The result of Wartkin's rule was the impoverishment of the city. The mayor died at the moment when he once again decided to burn the city.
The era of dismissal from wars
In abbreviated form, the subsequent events look like this: the city finally became impoverished under the next ruler, Captain Negodyaev, who replaced Wartkin. The villains were soon fired for disagreeing with the imposition of the constitution. However, the chronicler considered this reason to be formal. The real reason was the fact that the mayor at one time served as a stoker, which to a certain extent was regarded as belonging to the democratic principle. And the wars for enlightenment and against it were not needed by the city, exhausted by battles. After the dismissal of Negodyaev, "Cherkeshenin" Mikeladze took the reins into his own hands. However, his reign also did not affect the situation in the city: the mayor did not deal with Foolov at all, since all his thoughts were connected exclusively with the fair sex.
Benevolensky Feofilakt Irinarkhovich became Mikeladze's successor. The seminary friend of the new mayor was Speransky, and from him, apparently, Benevolensky passed on a love of legislation. He wrote the following laws: "Let every man have a contrite heart", "Let every soul tremble" and "Let every cricket know the six corresponding to its title." However, Benevolenskys had no right to write laws, he was forced to publish them in secret, and scatter his works around the city at night. This did not last long - he was suspected of having links with Napoleon and was fired.
Lieutenant Colonel Pimple was appointed next. It was surprising that under him the city lived in abundance, the harvests were huge, despite the fact that the mayor did not attend to his direct duties at all. The townspeople again suspected something. And they were right in their suspicions: the leader of the nobility noticed that the head of the mayor exudes the smell of truffles. He attacked Pimple and ate the ruler's stuffed head.
Mammon worship and repentance
A successor to the eaten Pimple appeared in Foolov - State Councilor Ivanov. However, he soon died, as "he turned out to be so small that he could not contain anything extensive."
He was replaced by the Viscount de Chariot. This ruler did not know how to do anything except to have fun all the time, to arrange masquerades. He “did not do business and did not interfere with the administration. This last circumstance promised to prolong the well-being of the Foolovites without end ... ”But the emigrant, who allowed the inhabitants to turn to paganism, was ordered to be sent abroad. Interestingly, he turned out to be a special female.
State Councilor Erast Andreevich Grustilov was the next to appear in Foolov. By the time of his appearance, the inhabitants of the city had already become absolute idolaters. They forgot God, plunged into debauchery and laziness. They stopped working, sowing fields, hoping for some kind of happiness, and as a result, famine came to the city. Melancholyov cared very little about this situation, since he was busy with balls. However, changes soon took place. The wife of the pharmacist Pfeyer influenced Melancholy, showing the true path of good. And the main people in the city were the wretched and holy fools, who in the era of idolatry found themselves on the sidelines of life.
The inhabitants of Foolov repented of their sins, but that was the end of the matter - the Foolovites never began to work. At night, the city elite would gather to read the works of Mr. Strakhov. This soon became known to the higher authorities and Melancholyov had to say goodbye to the post of governor.
Confirmation of repentance. Conclusion
Gloom-Grumblev became the last mayor of Foolov. This man was a complete idiot - "the purest type of idiot," as the author writes. For himself, he set a single goal - to make from the city of Foolov the city of Nepreklonsk, "eternally worthy of the memory of the Grand Duke Svyatoslav Igorevich." The adamant was supposed to look like this: city streets should be uniformly straight, houses and buildings should also be identical to each other, people should too. Each house must become a "settlement unit", which will be watched by him, Gloom-Burcheeva, a spy. The townspeople called him "Satan" and had a vague fear of their ruler. As it turned out, it was not unfounded: the mayor developed a detailed plan and began to implement it. He destroyed the city without leaving a stone unturned. Now the task was to build the city of his dreams. But the river violated these plans, it interfered. Gloom-Grumblev started a real war with her, used all the garbage that remained as a result of the destruction of the city. However, the river did not give up, eroding all the dams and dams being built. Gloom-Grumblev turned around and, leading the people, walked away from the river. He chose a new place to build the city - a flat lowland, and began to build the city of his dreams. However, something went wrong. Unfortunately, it was not possible to find out what exactly interfered with the construction, since no records with the details of this story have been preserved. The denouement became known: “… time stopped its running. Finally the earth shook, the sun darkened ... the Foolovites fell on their faces. Indescribable horror appeared on all faces, seized all hearts. It came ... ". What exactly came, the reader does not know. However, the fate of Gloom-Burcheev is as follows: “the scoundrel instantly disappeared, as if he had disappeared into thin air. History has stopped flowing. "
Supporting documents
At the end of the narrative, the "Justification Papers" are published, which are the works of Borodavkin, Mikeladze and Benevolensky, written for the edification of other mayors.
Conclusion
A short retelling of "The History of a City" clearly demonstrates not only the satirical direction of the story, but also ambiguously points to historical parallels. The images of mayors are copied from historical figures, many events also refer to palace coups. The full version of the story, of course, will provide an opportunity to get acquainted with the content of the work in detail.
Video summary History of one city
The publication of "The History of a City" by M. Saltykov-Shchedrin received a wide public response - the writer was accused of mocking the Russian people and denigrating the facts of Russian history. The genre of the work is a satirical story that denounces the mores, the relationship between the authorities and the people in an autocratic society.
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 has never been such a city - but nevertheless there was ... And there was - everywhere. Or maybe he did not disappear anywhere, despite the phrase with which the author-chronicler ends his narration: "History has stopped its course"? Could this be true? And isn't that Aesopian sly grin? ..
In Russian literature, Pushkin's History of the Village of Goryukhina immediately preceded the Shchedrin Chronicle. “If God sends me readers, then maybe they will be curious to know how I decided to write the History of the village of Goryukhina” - this is how Pushkin's story begins. And here is the beginning of the text "From the publisher", allegedly found in the "Foolov's city archive" "a voluminous bundle of notebooks bearing the general name of the" Foolov Chronicler "": "For a long time I already had the intention to write the history of some city (or region) ... circumstances hindered this undertaking. "
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, shines with its brilliance and merges in a common sparkle with others, one fantastically real (grotesque) image, having barely appeared on the page, is crowded into the next, and the best, what can be done is to 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 not simple. Behind the chapter “ From the publisher"Follows" Address to the reader "- a text written directly on behalf of the "archivist-chronicler" and stylized in the language of the 18th century.
"Author" - "humble Pavlushka, Masloboinikov's son", the fourth archivist. Note that out of the other three archivists, two are the Tryapichkins (the surname is taken from Gogol's "Inspector General": this is how Khlestakov calls his friend "writing articles").
"On the Root of the Foolovites"
"On the Root of the Foolovites," the chapter that opens the "Chronicler", begins with a fictional quote imitating the text of "The Lay of Igor's Campaign." Historians N.I. Kostomarov (1817-1885) and S.M. Solovyov (1820-1879) are mentioned here because they adhered to directly opposite views on the history of Russia and Russia: according to Kostomarov, the main thing in it was spontaneous folk activity ("he roamed the earth like a gray wolf"), and according to Soloviev, Russian history was created only thanks to deeds of princes and kings ("he shook his shy eagle under the clouds").
Both points of view were alien to the writer himself. He believed that Russian statehood can only be created through an organized and conscious popular movement.
"Inventory for city governors"
"Inventory of the city governors" contains explanations for further chapters and a short list of mayors, the narratives of whose rule are developed further. One should not think that every mayor is a satirical image of one particular "autocrat". These are always generalized images, like most of the text of the "History of one city", but there are also clear correspondences. Scoundrels - Pavel I, Alexander I - Melancholy; Speransky and Arakcheev, close associates of Alexander I, were reflected in the characters of Benevolensky and Gloom-Burcheev.
"Organchik"
Organchik 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. For a long time the word "busty" refers exclusively to dogs: busty - having a beard and mustache on the face and usually especially vicious (more often about a greyhound dog). He was named the organ because a musical instrument was found in his head, a mechanism that produces only one phrase: "I will not tolerate it!" The foolish people also call Brudasty a scoundrel, but Shchedrin assures this word, they do not attach any definite meaning to this word. This means that the word has such - this is how the writer draws your attention to this word and asks you to understand it. Let's figure it out.
The word "scoundrel" appeared in Russian under Peter I from "profost" - a regimental executor (executioner) in the German army, in the Russian it was used until the 60s of the XIX century in the same sense, after - the warden of military prisons. AI Herzen and N.P. Ogarev - Russian revolutionary publicists who published the Kolokol newspaper in London. Charles the Innocent - a character like Organchik in medieval history - a real-life French king, deposed as a result of his unsuccessful wars. Freemasons are Freemasons, Freemasons, members of the Freemasons Society, which has been very influential in Europe since the Middle Ages.
"The Legend of the Six City Governors"
"The Tale of the Six City Governors" is a wonderfully written, hilariously funny, brilliant satire on the empresses of the 18th century and their favorite temporary workers.
The surname Paleologova is an allusion to the wife of Ivan III, the daughter of the last Byzantine emperor of the Palaeologus 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 an allusion to the fact that the French government helped Elizabeth Petrovna to ascend to the Russian throne. The mention of the hard-to-pronounce fictitious surnames of the Polish cardinals here is probably a hint of the Time of Troubles and Polish intrigue in Russian history.
"News about Dvoekurov"
"The News of Dvoekurov" contains allusions to the reign of Alexander I and features of his personality (duality, contradictory intentions and their implementation, indecision to cowardice). Shchedrin emphasizes that the Foolovites owe him the obligation to consume mustard and bay leaves. Dvoekurov is the ancestor of "innovators" who waged wars "in the name of potatoes." A hint of Nicholas I, the son of Alexander I, who introduced potatoes to Russia during the famine times of 1839-1840, which caused "potato riots", brutally suppressed by military force until the most powerful peasant uprising in 1842.
"Hungry City"
The Hungry City. The 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 summons 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 aroused the discontent of both landlords and peasants who resisted the reform.
"Straw City"
"Straw City". The war between "archers" and "gunners" is described. It is known that in May 1862, the famous St. Petersburg fires took place in the Apraksin Dvor. They blamed students and nihilists for them, but perhaps the fires were a provocation. The chapter is a broader generalization. It also contains hints of the 1824 flood in St. Petersburg.
"Fantastic Traveler"
"Fantastic Traveler". Ferdyshchenko embarks on a journey. The custom of the Russian autocrats was to embark from time to time on trips around the country, during which the local authorities strenuously portrayed the people's loyalty to the rulers, and the tsars bestowed favors on the people, often very insignificant. So, it is known that by order of Arakcheev, during Alexander I's tour of military settlements, the same roasted goose was transferred from the hut to the hut.
"Wars of Enlightenment"
"Wars for the 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. The historian K.I. Arseniev was the mentor of Nicholas I, who traveled with him across Russia.
Campaigns to Streletskaya Sloboda again take us back to the 18th century, but they generalize the periods of the next century - the struggle of monarchs against Freemasons, "noble opposition" and the Decembrists. There is, it seems, a hint 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 been fooling enough, I hope you will now be reasonable and we will not quarrel anymore. You will send me everything that you compose, from now on I myself will be your censor. "
A trip to the Dung settlement implies the colonial wars of the Russian tsars. Talking about the economic crisis in Foolov, Shchedrin names the economists of the Russian Bulletin magazine - Molinari and Bezobrazova, who passed off any position as prosperity. Finally, the campaigns "against the enlightenment" and for the "destruction of the free spirit", dated to the year of the revolution in France (1790), point to the French Revolution of 1848 and revolutionary events that broke out in European countries - Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary. Nicholas I introduces troops to Wallachia, Moldavia, 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. The named nobles were close advisers to Alexander, the son of the slain emperor. It was they who advocated the introduction of constitutional principles in Russia, but what a beginning they were! "The era of dismissal from wars" presents these "principles" 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 Imeretia (1810) were annexed to Russia, and the fact that he is a descendant of the "voluptuous Queen Tamara" - a hint of his mother Catherine II. The mayor of Benevolensky - the arbiter of the destinies of Russia, who had a huge influence on Alexander I, - M.M. Speransky. Lycurgus and Dragon (Drakont) - ancient Greek legislators; expressions "draconian rules", "draconian measures" became winged. Speransky was attracted by the tsar to draw up laws.
"Supporting documents"
In the last part of the book - "Justification documents" - there is a parody of the laws drawn up 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 the 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 fictional, unprecedented nature of the described prosperity.
"Adoration of mammon and repentance"
Now we are talking about the townsfolk - about the Foolovites themselves. The uniqueness of their endurance and vitality is pointed out, because they continue to exist under the mayors listed in the Chronicle. The series of the latter continues: Ivanov (again Alexander I, we are even talking about two versions of his death: compare the legend of Alexander I's voluntary renunciation of power, his staging of his death in Taganrog and his secret departure to monasticism), then - Angel Dorofeich Du-Chariot (Angel is the nickname of the same monarch in the circles of those close and close, Dorofeich - from Dorotheus - the gift of God (Greek), followed by Erast Melanov (again Tsar Alexander I.) Alexander's beloved and their influence on his reign are listed under different allegorical names. The emergence of the generalized image of Pfeifersha (prototypes - Baroness V.Yu. von Krugener and E.F. Tatarinova) marks the beginning of the second half of the reign of Alexander I and the immersion of the "upper classes" and society in dark mysticism and social obscurantism. repentance, the real king disappears into nowhere.
“Confirmation of repentance. Conclusion"
All this mystical rabble and delirium is dispersed by the once offended officer who arose again (Gloom-Grumblev - Arakcheev (1769-1834), "a sullen idiot", "a monkey in a uniform," who fell out of favor under Paul I and was recruited by Alexander I). The first part of the chapter is devoted to his struggle for the embodiment of the crazy idea of military settlements to maintain the army in peacetime, the second - to the criticism of Russian liberalism. Arakcheev, who flourished during the years of the "liberation" of the peasants from serfdom, angered Shchedrin with his lack of principle, idealism and inconsistent caution, idle talk and a 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 include the Decembrists, to whose activities Shchedrin could not help being ironic, knowing Russia and realizing how fantastic were the hopes of the Decembrists for the overthrow of the autocracy with the help of their secret societies and an uprising on Senate Square. The last in the series of mayors described in the "Chronicler" is named Archangel Stratilatovich Intercept-Zalivatsky - an image that again brings us back to Nicholas I. “He claimed that he was the father of his mother. He again banished mustard, bay leaf and Provencal oil from use ... "Thus, the history of the city of Foolov in" The Chronicler "returns to square one. Everything in it is ready for a new cycle. This hint is especially clear in the Archangel's statement that he is the father of his mother. The phantasmagoric grotesque is read clearly.
Concluding the story of the great book of M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin, we will only note that when reading it, one should bear in mind Turgenev's statement about the author: "He knew Russia better than all of us."
Source (abridged): Mikhalskaya, A.K. Literature: Basic level: grade 10. At 2 o'clock, Part 1: uch. allowance / A.K. Mikhalskaya, O. N. Zaitsev. - M .: Bustard, 2018
The idea of this work and its main idea were not immediately born to the writer. In 1867, he published “The Story of the Governor with the False Head” of a fantastic and fantastic character, which became the basis for the chapter “Organchik”. In 1868 he began work on the novel and finished it only in 1870. The work was published in the journal Otechestvennye zapiski.Important! The novel can be safely called innovative. It was written, but clearly has parallels with the real history of Russia. The author emphasizes this on purpose, hinting that all rulers have real prototypes in the faces of the heads of the Russian state.
main characters
The main characters in the novel are the mayors. The author depicted many heads of the city of Foolov, but we will highlight the most striking characters:- Giants- the third mayor, who became famous for having killed the director of economic affairs and introduced a tax of 3 kopecks. Then he started an affair with the wife of Peter I and was sent into exile.
- Busty- very categorical, uncommunicative and gloomy. On any occasion he loudly exclaimed “I will not tolerate” and “I will ruin!”. The people nicknamed him "Organchik" because he had a mechanism in his head. When the head was about to be taken for repair, the coachman got scared and threw it out of the carriage. Although then she somehow miraculously returned to him and he drove her next to him.
- Dvoekurov- is carrying out unusually "important" reforms on mustard and bay leaves. Quite harmless. He tidied up the city's appearance, wanted to found an academy and brewery.
- Wartkin- fights with its population "for enlightenment". He ruled the city the longest. He destroyed all the settlements, almost prepared the city for burning, but died before this plan was realized.
- Ferdyschenko- a very lustful and greedy person, whose vices almost ruined Foolov.
- Melanov- occupied the upper strata of Foolov with balls and readings, he did not care about the people, which led to poverty and hunger.
- Acne- he did not interfere in any business and the people lived with him too well.
- Gloom-Grumblev- an extremely stupid person, a scoundrel. He tried to implement a crazy idea - to build a new city of Nepreklonsk. It almost killed the whole people.
- People- a collective image. He is distinguished by his obedience, obeys the ruler in everything, and is ready to endure any oppression. This is a mass without a face and character, which can rebel only if people begin to die en masse from serious disasters or starvation.
Summary of the novel "The Story of a City"
The story is told by the chronicler in the first person. It tells about the inhabitants of one settlement, their leaders and history.From the publisher
The author says that this work is the chronicle of a small town located in the province. It was written by four chroniclers who lived here at different periods. The events described in the novel cover the period from 1731 to 1825.Address to the reader from the last archivist-chronicler
Appeal of the last author of the chronicle named Pavlusha Masloboinikov. He explains that the book contains information about the 22 mayors and their reforms, as well as about that week when the people lived for 7 days without a ruler.About the roots of the Foolovites' origin
The reader is told about where the people of Foolov came from, how the city was founded. In Russia, in ancient times, there lived a people of blockheads, who did not differ in developed mental abilities. He did not make friendly relations with neighbors and often enmity arose within him.
Inventory of the city governors, at different times in the city of Foolov from the higher authorities put (1731-1826)
The reader is given a list of 21 mayors with a short description of each of them. We see a detailed account of their reign below.Organchik
At the head of Foolov is Brudasty. He is harsh and rude, very hot-tempered. Once the people understand that their head is actually a musical instrument - an organ. A commotion began and a double of the mayor appeared. As a result, both of them are removed from their posts.
The Legend of the Six City Governors. Foolov's painting of civil strife
After the mayor's departure, there was no ruler in Foolov for a whole week. This leads to the fact that the settlement is seized by anarchy. Six ordinary women are fighting for a seat on the board. They build obstacles to each other, but none of them gets power.Finally, Dvoekurov was sent to the city, and he managed to restore order.News about Dvoekurov
Dvoekurov was a person who was determined to work. The boss forces the population to massively grow and eat bay leaves and mustard. He also wants to open an educational institution, but it does not work out for him. His next step was to establish a business of brewing beer and honey. He flogs the people a lot to keep them humble. He dies in 1770.
Hungry city
Ferdyshchenko came to office in 1772 to replace the Marquis de Sanglot. For the six years that he has been in this post, the Foolovites have been living well. But the seventh year is remembered for the fact that he falls in love with Alenka, a married lady. He exiles her husband and lives with Alenka illegally. At this time, the population begins to starve severely. Residents think that this woman is to blame for everything, that she is a witch. They kill her by throwing her off the bell tower. Ferdischenko calls in troops to pacify the people.Thatched city
The mayor experiences the death of a woman and falls in love with Domashka (archer). He also lodges her with him. Fires start abruptly in the city, the population again blames the mayor's woman for this. Then he returned Domashka to her home and again calls the army to restore order in the city.Fantastic traveler
One day Ferdyshchenko decides to go on a trip around the city's outskirts. He was bored, he communicated with the population, he was treated a lot. At one of the meals, he suddenly dies.
Wars of Enlightenment
Wartkin becomes the next ruler. He diligently wages wars for education among the population. Under his leadership, the mass production of mustard and chamomile begins. Soon there are so many of them that a crisis begins. The Foolish people are rapidly becoming poorer. At this point, they learn that a revolution is underway in France. The head of the city fears that unrest will begin in him, which leads to the outbreak of a war against the education. He destroys houses, his paranoia leads to the fact that he almost burned all Foolov, but his unexpected death saved the inhabitants.The era of dismissal from wars
Wartkin is replaced by the Scoundrels. He remains in office for 4 years. His actions lead to the fact that the city is completely ruined, the population becomes wild and even becomes overgrown with wool. Prince Mikaladze becomes the next head of Glukhov. It is invisible and quiet, residents come to their senses over time and become more cheerful. Mikaladze has an extraordinary passion for women, this brings him to exhaustion and death.
Important! The population at this time is very rich. Then it becomes known that the head of the mayor is false, and the leader of the nobility kills him.
Worship of Mamon and repentance
The next post of head of Foolov is Ivanov. He does not work with his head and the people are still flourishing. Then he dies. There were 2 hypotheses about how this happened. The first one assumed that he died of fright after seeing the decree of his superiors. And the second - that he was fired for the fact that his head had shrunk, since he did not use it. Viscount Du Chariot was appointed in his place. This man was cheerful and rather stupid. Under him, the people live so merrily that they literally begin to become crazy. People have returned to the pagan faith, wear wonderful clothes, invent their own language and completely quit their jobs.Then it turns out that the Viscount is a lady, and she is kicked out. Melancholy takes the place of the head of the city and finds the population mired in debauchery. He follows the same path and gives up all sorts of things. But then there was a crop failure and Melancholov began to actively act. He brought the people back to the faith, but he could not make it work. During his reign, he meets with representatives of the highest circles to read the articles of the banned publicist. They find out about this above and he is arrested.
