“Dowry”: Sergei Paratov, characterization. Quoted description of Paratov (dowryless)
Paratov Sergey Sergeevich - “a brilliant gentleman, from the ship’s son-in-law, over 30 years old.” Despite the impression made, P. is actually a much more primitive character than Larisa and Karandyshev. This hero is closely associated with the type of chic playmakers, handsome men who end up as dowry seekers, contenders for the hands of rich merchants, whose passionate heart and affection puts an end to their life’s quest (Dulchin, Okoemov).
P.'s traits, which delight Larisa, are of no value in Ostrovsky's world. In the “chic”, external splendor of such characters, the playwright sees only a pose; there is no genuine emotional life in them, no clarity of feelings. They differ from a hero like Karandyshev in that it is in this position that they feel most comfortable; the mask has become second nature to them. At the same time, P. easily combines lordly irrationality (the ability to waste money, antics with shooting at the woman he loves, etc.) and simple, unsightly calculation. However, the ability to theatricalize, to make any of his actions spectacular and mysterious, based on a very precise feeling of the “role” of the rich and fatal master in which he performs (this feeling is sorely lacking in such “amateurs” as Karandyshev), gives him the ability to even openly present baseness as something extraordinarily noble. This is manifested, for example, in a conversation with Larisa’s mother about his arranged marriage, as well as in the spectacular phrases with which he tries to get rid of Larisa at the end of the play: “Do you admit that a person bound hand and foot with inextricable chains can get so carried away that he will forget everything in the world, he will forget the reality that oppresses him, he will forget his chains?” Both chains and “oppressive reality” are only a cover for an unseemly act and can no longer deceive. For P. at this moment it is only important to look as impressive as possible and keep the mask.
Committing unsightly acts, taking revenge on Karandyshev, making fun of Robinson, whom he keeps with him in the role of a jester, taking Larisa away for his whim straight from the dinner arranged by her fiancé, P. joins the ranks of dirty “jokers” capable of serving their own whims and satisfying their ambitions trample on someone else's life and self-esteem.
There is nothing behind P.'s spectacular pose. He is a mirage, a phantom created by the imagination of Larisa and partly Karandyshev. He is an empty place in the most different relationships, and this is well understood by Knurov and Vozhevatov, who contrast him as the true masters of life - a man living an ephemeral, illusory life.
P.'s role in the play is exclusively negative. His appearance brings chaos into an already more or less established life, sharply disrupts the fragile balance in Larisa’s soul between the desire to come to terms with her fate and the longing for a bright and beautiful life. Almost all events in the play take place for him and because of him.
His speech and behavior are characterized by a kind of theatricality, the ability to take, depending on the interlocutor and the situation, exactly the tone that will present him in the most advantageous light: with Knurov, Vozhevatov and Larisa’s mother, he speaks cynically, directly communicating his intentions to sell himself profitably, with Karandyshev in the presence of Larisa, he takes on a defiant tone, demonstrating superiority over his rival; alone with Larisa, he seeks to hurt and challenge her with almost Pechorin-like phrases: “I want to know how soon a woman forgets a passionately loved person: the next day after separation from him, a week or a month later... did Hamlet have the right to tell his mother that she “hasn’t worn out her shoes yet” - etc.
Sergei Sergeevich Paratov was prominent handsome man, a favorite of women (“a brilliant gentleman, over thirty, one of the shipowners”). Unlike his friends, merchants Knurov and Vozhevatov, Paratov was a real aristocrat and squandered money left and right (he squandered family capital received as an inheritance). Gypsies, a luxury ship, restaurants... - in general, Paratov knew how to “live beautifully.”
At the same time, he, apparently, truly loved ordinary people and, for the sake of entertainment, sometimes shared them with them hard labour(like Peter I).
Possessing remarkable physical strength(he went at the bear with a spear, and also single-handedly moved the stroller with Larisa closer to a dry place), Paratov was a very strong character, an alpha male. This is evidenced by the scene with the officer, to whom Sergei Sergeevich showed what real courage is (a separate one is dedicated to this) and the scene with Karandyshev, who disparaged the barge haulers (being angry with the poor official, Paratov took revenge on him by getting him drunk with the help of Robinson).
Naturally, Larisa fell in love with a rich, strong gentleman who knows how to charm a woman. Paratov had no moral principles and did what he wanted (I, Mokiy Parmenych, have nothing treasured; if I find a profit, I’ll sell everything, whatever). Therefore, he took advantage of Larisa twice, luring her onto the ship (without intending to marry her).
By and large, Paratov is an empty person. Of course, he knew how to waste money and show off, but he had no real core and nobility of soul.
Role in the plot of the play
Paratov, being a frequent guest in the Ogudalovs’ house, became the object of Larisa Ogudalova’s adoration. He scared away all the suitors and spent the night with her on his ship. After this, Paratov went to his estate to resolve problems with the manager. It is clear that living in this spirit, it is difficult to remain rich. Paratov went broke, but immediately found a way out, using his last name and external data. He married a girl with a rich dowry.
Having sold his ship to Vozhevatov, Paratov again came to the city where the Ogudalovs lived. He came to visit them and again disturbed the heart of Larisa, who was going to marry Karandyshev. Having quarreled with the latter, he, with the help of his jester Robinson, got him drunk and took Larisa onto the ship (to mark its sale). After spending the night with her, Sergei Sergeevich told her that he did not need her... As a result, the desperate Larisa was shot by the jealous Karandyshev.
Quotes from Paratov
- I want to know how soon a woman forgets her passionately loved one: the day after separation from him, a week or a month...
- I will always think of you with respect; but women in general, after your action, lose a lot in my eyes.
- But jealous people are jealous for no reason.
- Look, I will shoot the girl who is dearer to me than anything in the world, and I will not turn pale
- Everyone has their own taste: one person loves watermelon, and another loves pork cartilage.
- And now, gentlemen, I have other matters and other calculations. I am marrying a very rich girl and taking gold mines as a dowry.
- I'll just teach him. I have a rule: don’t forgive anyone anything; otherwise they will forget fear, they will begin to forget.
- If I want to teach someone, I lock myself at home for a week and invent an execution.
- I'm engaged. - Ah! - These are the golden chains with which I am bound for life.
- Very simple; because if a man cries, they will call him a woman; and this nickname for a man is worse than anything that the human mind can invent.
Sergei Sergeevich Paratov is a “brilliant gentleman, one of the shipowners,” a handsome and impressive man, slightly over thirty. Paratov gives the impression of a chic playmaker, and in the finale of the play he turns out to be an ordinary dowry hunter of rich merchants.
Paratov’s features, which Larisa admires so much, are in fact an empty deception. Behind the hero's brilliant appearance lies a lack of sincere emotions and clarity of feelings. He is like a mirage that was created by the imagination of Larisa and Karandyshev.
In reality, Paratov is an empty place. The real masters of life, the Knurovs and Vozhevats, understand this very well. Paratov very easily combines the breadth of a lordly nature (he easily wastes money) and hard, cold calculation. At the same time, he always manages to present his actions as spectacular and a little mysterious. This quality allows Paratov to pass off even the most outright baseness (Larissa’s deception, mockery of Robinson) as something noble. For the sake of his own whim and the complete satisfaction of his ambitions, Paratov is capable of humiliating a person, ruining his life, trampling on his feelings. The image of Paratov in the play is extremely negative.
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"Dowry"
he is a brilliant gentleman, a shipowner, over thirty years old.
Paratov is a rich man who lives for profit, in other words, his main
the goal is to make a profit; for this he sold his barges and is ready
sell anything if it makes sense to him - profit.
“Paratov. What is “sorry”, I don’t know. I, Mokiy Parmenych, have nothing
there is no treasure; If I find a profit, I’ll sell everything, anything. And now, gentlemen,
I have other things to do and other calculations. I'm marrying a girl, very rich, I'm taking
dowry gold mines."
Paratov first appears to us in the fifth scene of the first act. He is dressed:
". black single-breasted tight-fitting frock coat, high patent leather boots, white cap,
travel bag over the shoulder." In other actions, Paratov also monitors
his appearance, always behaves very strictly.
Despite the fact that Sergei Sergeich Paratov is a gentleman, he calmly allows
talk on equal terms with the owner of the coffee shop, with his servant, etc. Paratov
generous man (when Ivan rushed to sweep Sergei Sergeich with a broom, he
paid him a ruble).
Paratov is a sociable person, with a lordly speech, sometimes he speaks in sayings,
characteristic of folk, simple speech.
Personal freedom is very important for Paratov, he never depended on anyone,
but since he gets married, he will have to say goodbye to his former cheerful
life and become tied by marriage.
"Paratov. But I won’t get it (happiness) cheaply: I have to say goodbye to
my freedom, with my cheerful life; so we have to try as hard as we can
more fun to have last days".
Paratov really does not depend on anyone. People are just toys for him, though
he behaves quite well with them. However, he is heartless and this
manifests itself in the fact that when he sailed past the island and decided to take with him
the person who happened to be there, he took him like a toy, he didn’t take both
people because he needed an actor to entertain him further
travel.
Paratov’s behavior towards Larisa is ambiguous. On the one hand he
decides to visit Larisa, although he should have known that this would bring her suffering,
i.e. he doesn't care about her. But on the other hand, he admits to Vasily that
happy for Larisa, that she is marrying her husband.
Among “his” society, Paratov is a welcome guest. He is well received everywhere.
Larisa again confesses her love to him, not understanding him as a person.
that's what condemns.
For Larisa Paratov, this is an idol, the ideal of a real man. Something like
"the handsome prince on a white horse" that everyone dreams of. In fact
Larisa does not love Paratov, but the ideal that she created for herself. She sees
only a “mask” that she herself put on him and does not want to look under it,
to understand Paratov, to realize his true essence.
"Dowry"
he is a brilliant gentleman, a shipowner, over thirty years old.
Paratov is a rich man who lives for profit, in other words, his main
the goal is to make a profit; for this he sold his barges and is ready
sell anything if it makes sense for him - profit.
“Paratov. What “sorry” is, I don’t know. I, Mokiy Parmenych, have nothing
there is no treasure; If I find a profit, I’ll sell everything, anything. And now, gentlemen,
I have other things to do and other calculations. I'm marrying a girl, very rich, I'm taking
dowry gold mines".
Paratov first appears to us in the fifth scene of the first act. He is dressed:
“...a tight black single-breasted frock coat, high patent leather boots, a white cap,
travel bag over the shoulder." . In other actions, Paratov also monitors
with his appearance, he always behaves very strictly.
Despite the fact that Sergei Sergeich Paratov is a gentleman, he calmly allows
talk on equal terms with the owner of the coffee shop, with his servant, etc. Paratov
generous man (when Ivan rushed to sweep Sergei Sergeich with a broom, he
paid him a ruble).
Paratov is a sociable person, with a lordly speech, sometimes he speaks in sayings,
characteristic of folk, simple speech.
Personal freedom is very important for Paratov, he never depended on anyone,
but since he gets married, he will have to say goodbye to his former cheerful
life and become tied by marriage.
“Paratov. But getting it (happiness) won’t come cheap: I have to say goodbye to
my freedom, with my cheerful life; so we have to try as hard as we can
spend your last days more fun."
Paratov really does not depend on anyone. People are just toys for him, though
he behaves quite well with them. However, he is heartless and this
manifests itself in the fact that when he sailed past the island and decided to take with him
the person who happened to be there, he took him like a toy, he didn’t take both
people because he needed an actor to entertain him further
travel.
Paratov’s behavior towards Larisa is ambiguous. On the one hand he
decides to visit Larisa, although he should have known that this would bring her suffering,
i.e. he doesn't care about her. But on the other hand, he admits to Vasily that
happy for Larisa, that she is marrying her husband.
Among “his” society, Paratov is a welcome guest. He is well received everywhere.
Larisa again confesses her love to him, not understanding him as a person.
The author treats this hero differently. Somewhere he supports it, but somewhere...
that's what condemns.
For Larisa Paratov, this is an idol, the ideal of a real man. Something like
“the handsome prince on a white horse” that everyone dreams of. In fact
Larisa does not love Paratov, but the ideal that she created for herself. She sees
only a “mask” that she herself put on him and does not want to look under it,
to understand Paratov, to realize his true essence.
