What folklore images are there in the tale of the left-hander? “The true type of Russian folk character in “Lefty. Other works on this work

Composition

1. The best features of the Russian people are Lefty.
2. The hero’s originality and talent.
3. Lefty's patriotism.
4. The tragedy of the image.

Leskov is a most original Russian writer, alien to any outside influences. Reading his books, you feel Rus' better...
M. Gorky

N. S. Leskov based his famous tale “Lefty” on a folk joke about how “the British made a flea out of steel, and our Tula people shod it and sent it back to them.”

With the power of artistic imagination, the writer created the image of a talented hero-nugget. Lefty is the embodiment of natural Russian talent, hard work, patience and cheerful good nature. The image of Lefty embodied the best features of the Russian people: sharpness, modesty, originality. How many such unknown folk craftsmen were there in Rus'!

The whole story is imbued with a feeling of deep patriotism. Undoubtedly, an important point is the fact that “Sovereign Nikolai Pavlovich was very confident in his Russian people, and did not like to yield to any foreigner.” This is what he told the Cossack Platov, ordering him to convey it to the Tula craftsmen: “Tell them from me that my brother was surprised at this thing and praised the strangers who made the ciliates most of all, but I hope for my own people that they are no worse than anyone. They won’t take my word, they’ll do something.”

Before any big or small matter in Rus', people always asked for God's blessing. And the craftsmen in Leskov’s story pray in front of the icon of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of trade and military affairs. The strict secret under which they did their work suggests that the Russian people did not like to flaunt themselves. The main thing for them was to get the job done, not to disgrace their working honor. We tried to scare them, as if the house next door was on fire, but nothing would stop these cunning masters. Once only Lefty stuck out up to his shoulders and shouted: “Burn yourself, but we have no time.” The sad thing is that many such nuggets of Russia lived in a terrible situation of trampled human dignity. And, unfortunately, the “anarchic-intoxicated element” had power over many of them, aggravating their already sad situation. Any tyrant could inadvertently, through negligence, indifference, or simply stupidity, ruin a talent. The submission of Lefty, who is taken away from his native land to God knows where without a “tugament,” sadly speaks of this. “The masters only dared to say to him on behalf of his comrade, how can you take him away from us without any tugment? It will be impossible to follow him back!” But the answer to them was only Platov’s fist. And this humility, combined with self-esteem, confidence in one’s skillful hands, and genuine modesty is clearly reflected by Leskov in the character of Lefty.

His answer to Platov, when he, without understanding, beats him and pulls his hair, evokes respect: “I already had all my hair torn out during my studies, but now I don’t know why I need such repetition?” And confident in his work, he further says with dignity: “We are very pleased that you vouched for us, and we didn’t spoil anything: take a look through the strongest microscope.”

Lefty is not ashamed to appear before the sovereign himself in his “old little house”, whose collar is torn. There is no servility or servility in him. The natural simplicity with which he answers the sovereign without embarrassment surprises the nobles, but all their nods and hints about how to deal with the sovereign in a courtly manner with flattery and cunning lead nowhere. The sovereign himself says: “Leave him... let him answer as best he can.” With this, Leskov once again emphasizes that the main thing in a person is not his appearance and manners (anyone can be dressed and taught manners), but his talent, his ability to bring benefit and joy to people. After all, it was Lefty who interested the British, and not the courier, although he “had a rank and was learned in different languages.”

Lefty's patriotism, even in its naive simplicity, evokes sincere sympathy and respect. It is constantly emphasized by the author: “We are all committed to our homeland,” “I have parents at home,” “Our Russian faith is the most correct, and as our forefathers believed, our descendants should believe the same.” The British even poured him tea out of respect, “in Russian style, with a bite of sugar.” And what they offered to Lefty, appreciating his talent and inner dignity, but “the British could not bring him down, so that he would be seduced by them...”.

His longing for his homeland is all the stronger because no comforts, amenities, or innovations could keep Lefty in a foreign land: “As they left the buffet into the Solid Earth Sea, his desire for Russia became such that it was impossible to calm him down...” And what could be more annoying, more deplorable and more absurd than Lefty’s behavior on the ship when returning from England? The “anarchic-intoxicated element” played a tragic role in his fate.

The fate of the hero Leskov is deeply tragic. With what indifference he was greeted in his homeland! Lefty dies senselessly and unknown, as often happened in Russian history, amazing talents perished, neglected by their contemporaries and bitterly mourned by their descendants. “They were transporting Lefty so uncovered, and when they transferred him from one cab to another, they would drop everything, but when they picked him up, they would tear his ears so that he would remember. They brought him to one hospital - they wouldn’t admit him without a certificate, they brought him to another - and they wouldn’t admit him there, and so on to the third, and to the fourth - until the morning they dragged him through all the remote crooked paths and kept changing them, so that he was completely beaten.” Being already near death, Lefty thinks not about his life, but about his Fatherland and asks to convey to the sovereign what struck him most about the British: “Tell the sovereign that the British don’t clean their guns with bricks, even if they don’t clean ours, but then God bless war, they are not suitable for shooting.”

The tale of Lefty, who shod a steel flea, soon after it was written became a legend in Russia, and the hero himself became a symbol of the amazing art of folk craftsmen, a true type of Russian folk character, his amazing spiritual simplicity, inner human dignity, talent, patience and honesty. The writer himself agreed with the general idea of ​​the reviewer of “New Time” that “where “left-handed” stands, one should read “Russian people.”

Other works on this work

The topic of patriotism was often raised in works of Russian literature of the late 19th century. But only in the story “Lefty” is it connected with the idea of ​​the need to take care of talents that ennoble the face of Russia in the eyes of other countries.

History of creation

The story “Lefty” first began to be published in the magazine “Rus” Nos. 49, 50 and 51 in October 1881 under the title “The Tale of the Tula Lefty and the Steel Flea (Workshop Legend).” The idea for Leskov’s creation of the work was the popular joke that the British made a flea, and the Russians “shod it and sent it back.” According to the testimony of the writer’s son, his father spent the summer of 1878 in Sestroretsk, visiting a gunsmith. There, in a conversation with Colonel N.E. Bolonin, one of the employees of the local arms factory, he found out the origin of the joke.

In the preface, the author wrote that he was only retelling a legend known among gunsmiths. This well-known technique, once used by Gogol and Pushkin to give special authenticity to the narrative, in this case did Leskov a disservice. Critics and the reading public literally took the writer’s words, and subsequently he had to specifically explain that he was, after all, the author, and not a reteller of the work.

Description of the work

Leskov's story would most accurately be called a story in terms of genre: it presents a large time layer of the narrative, there is a development of the plot, its beginning and conclusion. The writer called his work a story, apparently in order to emphasize the special “storyteller” form of narration used in it.

(The Emperor examines the savvy flea with difficulty and interest)

The story begins in 1815 with the trip of Emperor Alexander I with General Platov to England. There, the Russian Tsar is presented with a gift from local craftsmen - a miniature steel flea that can “drive with its antennae” and “switch with its legs.” The gift was intended to show the superiority of English masters over Russians. After the death of Alexander I, his successor Nicholas I became interested in the gift and demanded to find craftsmen who would be “no worse than anyone.” So in Tula, Platov called three masters, among them Lefty, who managed to shoe a flea and put the name of the master on each horseshoe. Lefty didn’t leave his name, because he forged nails, and “there’s no small scope there that can take it.”

(But the guns at court were cleaned the old fashioned way.)

Lefty was sent to England with a “savvy nymphosoria” so that they would understand that “this is not surprising to us.” The British were amazed by the jewelry work and invited the master to stay and showed him everything they had learned. Lefty could do everything himself. He was struck only by the condition of the gun barrels - they were not cleaned with crushed bricks, so the shooting accuracy from such guns was high. Lefty began to get ready to go home, he urgently needed to tell the Emperor about the guns, otherwise “God bless the war, they are not suitable for shooting.” Out of melancholy, Lefty drank all the way with his English friend “half-skipper”, fell ill and upon arrival in Russia found himself near death. But until the last minute of his life he tried to convey to the generals the secret of cleaning guns. And if Lefty’s words had been brought to the attention of the Emperor, then, as he writes,

Main characters

Among the heroes of the story there are fictional and real personalities who existed in history, among them: two Russian emperors, Alexander I and Nicholas I, ataman of the Don Army M.I. Platov, prince, Russian intelligence agent A.I. Chernyshev, Doctor of Medicine M.D. Solsky (in the story - Martyn-Solsky), Count K.V. Nesselrode (in the story - Kiselvrode).

(Left-handed "nameless" master at work)

The main character is a gunsmith, left-handed. He has no name, only a craftsman's peculiarity - he worked with his left hand. Leskov's Lefty had a prototype - Alexey Mikhailovich Surnin, who worked as a gunsmith, studied in England and, after returning, passed on the secrets of the business to Russian craftsmen. It is no coincidence that the author did not give the hero his own name, leaving the common noun - Lefty is one of the types of righteous people depicted in various works, with their self-denial and sacrifice. The hero's personality has clearly defined national traits, but the type is universal and international.

It is not for nothing that the hero’s only friend, about whom the story is told, is a representative of a different nationality. This is a sailor from the English ship Polskipper, who did his “comrade” Lefty a disservice. To dispel his Russian friend's longing for his homeland, Polskipper made a bet with him that he would outdrink Lefty. A large amount of vodka drunk became the cause of the illness and then the death of the yearning hero.

Lefty's patriotism is contrasted with the false commitment to the interests of the Fatherland of the other heroes of the story. Emperor Alexander I is embarrassed in front of the British when Platov points out to him that Russian craftsmen can do things just as well. Nicholas I's sense of patriotism is mixed with personal vanity. And the brightest “patriot” in Platov’s story is such only abroad, and upon arriving home, he becomes a cruel and rude serf owner. He does not trust Russian craftsmen and is afraid that they will spoil the English work and replace the diamond.

Analysis of the work

(Flea, savvy Lefty)

The work is distinguished by its genre and narrative originality. It resembles the genre of a Russian fairy tale, based on a legend. There is a lot of fantasy and fabulousness in it. There are also direct references to the plots of Russian fairy tales. So, the emperor first hides the gift in a nut, which he then puts in a golden snuff box, and the latter, in turn, hides in a travel box, almost the same way as the fabulous Kashchei hides a needle. In Russian fairy tales, tsars are traditionally described with irony, just as in Leskov's story both emperors are presented.

The idea of ​​the story is the fate and place in the state of a talented master. The entire work is permeated with the idea that talent in Russia is defenseless and not in demand. It is in the interests of the state to support it, but it brutally destroys talent, as if it were a useless, ubiquitous weed.

Another ideological theme of the work was the contrast of the real patriotism of the national hero with the vanity of characters from the upper strata of society and the rulers of the country themselves. Lefty loves his fatherland selflessly and passionately. Representatives of the nobility are looking for reasons to be proud, but do not give themselves the trouble to make life in the country better. This consumer attitude leads to the fact that at the end of the work the state loses another talent, which was sacrificed to the vanity of first the general, then the emperor.

The story “Lefty” gave literature the image of another righteous man, now on the martyr’s path of serving the Russian state. The originality of the language of the work, its aphorism, brightness and precision of wording made it possible to parse the story into quotes that were widely circulated among the people.

The core of my essay “Lefty is a People’s Hero” (as well as the idea of ​​N.S. Leskov’s tale itself) is an unquenchable faith in the Russian people, his decency, loyalty to the fatherland and incomparable skill. The personification of the collective image of the folk hero in the story of Nikolai Semenovich is the simple Tula master Lefty.

The similarity of the image of Lefty with folk heroes

The image of Lefty in Leskov’s work echoes the heroes of Russian folk art, where the generalized image personified the characteristic features, identity and aspirations of the Russian people. Lefty's closeness to folk heroes is also evidenced by his namelessness. After all, we do not know his name or any biographical information. The namelessness of the hero emphasizes the fact that in Rus' there were many people just as devoted to the state - unsurpassed masters and true sons of their land.

Individual traits in the image of the Tula master

The hero has only two features. The main feature is the extraordinary talent of the master. Together with Tula craftsmen, Lefty managed to create a truly wonderful invention by shoeing a miniature English flea. In addition, in this very difficult job, Lefty got the most difficult part - forging microscopic nails for horseshoes.

The second individual feature of the hero is his natural feature - he is left-handed, which has become the character’s common name. This fact, which simply shocked the British, only emphasizes his uniqueness - being able to create such a complex invention without any special devices, and even being left-handed.

The problem of power and people in the story

The people and power in the tale “Lefty” is one of the problems that the author raises. N.S. Leskov contrasts two kings - Alexander and Nicholas, during whose reign the events of the work take place, in their attitude towards the Russian people. Emperor Alexander Pavlovich loved everything foreign and spent little time in his native country, because he believed that Russian people were not capable of anything great. His brother Nicholas, who followed him to the throne, had a completely opposite point of view; he believed in the true skill and dedication of his people.

Nikolai Pavlovich’s attitude towards ordinary Russian people is perfectly illustrated by the case of Lefty. When Platov could not understand what the invention of the Tula craftsmen was, deciding that they had deceived him, he sadly reported this to the tsar. However, the emperor did not believe it and ordered to send for Lefty, expecting something incredible: “I know that my people cannot deceive me. Something has been done here beyond the pale.”

And the Russian people, in the form of Lefty, did not disappoint the sovereign.

Simplicity and modesty, indifference to wealth and fame, the namelessness of the character and great love for the fatherland allow us to consider Lefty as a collective image of the Russian people in the work. The national hero Lefty is the personification of the true soul of a simple Russian man, for whom the work of serving the fatherland, although it cost his life, was able to justify the trust placed in him and prove the power of skill.

Work test

“Lefty” is a touching story about a master who devoted his entire life to working for the good of his homeland. Leskov creates many literary images that live and act in the setting of bygone days.

In 1881, the magazine “Rus” published “The Tale of the Tula Lefty and the Steel Flea.” Later, the author will include the work in the collection “The Righteous”.

The fictional and the real are intertwined into a single whole. The plot is based on true events, which allow us to adequately perceive the characters described in the work.

Thus, Emperor Alexander I, accompanied by the Cossack Matvey Platov, actually visited England. In accordance with his rank, he was given due honors.

The true story of Lefty unfolded in 1785, when two Tula gunsmiths, Surnin and Leontyev, by order of the emperor, went to England to get acquainted with weapons production. Surnin is tireless in acquiring new knowledge, and Leontyev “plunges” into a chaotic life and “gets lost” in a foreign land. Seven years later, the first master returns home to Russia and introduces innovations to improve weapons production.

It is believed that Master Surnin is the prototype of the main character of the work.

Leskov makes extensive use of folklore. Thus, a feuilleton about the miracle master Ilya Yunitsyn, who creates tiny locks, no larger than a flea, is the basis for the image of Lefty.

Real historical material is harmoniously integrated into the narrative.

Genre, direction

There are discrepancies regarding genre affiliation. Some authors prefer the story, others prefer the tale. As for N. S. Leskov, he insists that the work be defined as a tale.

“Lefty” is also characterized as a “weapon” or “shop” legend that has developed among people of this profession.

According to Nikolai Semenovich, the origin of the tale is a “fable” he heard in 1878 from some gunsmith in Sestroretsk. The legend became the starting point that formed the basis of the concept of the book.

The writer’s love for the people, admiration for their talents and ingenuity are embodied in the relief characters. The work is full of elements of a fairy tale, popular words and expressions, and folk satire.

The essence

The plot of the book makes you wonder whether Russia can truly appreciate its talents. The main events of the work clearly indicate that both the authorities and the mob are equally blind and indifferent towards the masters of their craft. Tsar Alexander I visits England. He is shown the amazing work of the “Aglitsky” masters - a dancing metal flea. He acquires a “curiosity” and brings it to Russia. For some time they forget about “nymphosoria”. Then Emperor Nicholas I became interested in the British “masterpiece.” He sent General Platov to the Tula gunsmiths.

In Tula, a “courageous old man” orders three craftsmen to make something more skillful than the “Aglitsky” flea. The craftsmen thank him for the sovereign’s trust and get to work.

Two weeks later, Platov, who arrived to pick up the finished product, without understanding what exactly the gunsmiths had done, grabs Lefty and takes him to the Tsar’s palace. Presenting himself before Nikolai Pavlovich, Lefty shows what work they have done. It turned out that the gunsmiths had shod the “Aglitz” flea. The Emperor is happy that the Russian fellows did not let him down.

Then follows the order of the sovereign to send the flea back to England in order to demonstrate the skill of Russian gunsmiths. Lefty accompanies the "nymphosoria". The British welcome him warmly. Having become interested in his talent, they are doing everything possible to ensure that the Russian craftsman remains in a foreign land. But Lefty refuses. He misses his homeland and asks to be sent home. The British are sorry to let him go, but you can’t keep him by force.

On the ship, the master meets the half-skipper, who speaks Russian. The acquaintance ends with drinking. In St. Petersburg, half a skipper is sent to a hospital for foreigners, and Lefty, a patient, is imprisoned in a “cold quarter” and robbed. Later they are brought to die in the common people's Obukhov hospital. Lefty, living his last hours, asks Doctor Martyn-Solsky to tell the sovereign important information. But it does not reach Nicholas I, since Count Chernyshev does not want to listen to anything about it. This is what the work says.

The main characters and their characteristics

1. Emperor Alexander I- “enemy of labor.” He is inquisitive and a very impressionable person. Suffering from melancholy. He admires foreign wonders, believing that only the English can create them. He is compassionate and compassionate, builds a policy with the British, carefully smoothing out the rough edges.
2. Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich- an ambitious martinet. Has an excellent memory. Doesn't like to concede to foreigners in anything. He believes in the professionalism of his subjects and proves the inadequacy of foreign masters. However, he is not interested in the common man. He never thinks about how hard it is to achieve this mastery.
3. Platov Matvey Ivanovich- Don Cossack, count. His figure exudes heroism and sweeping prowess. A truly legendary personality, a living embodiment of courage and bravery. He has enormous endurance and willpower. He loves his native land immensely. A family man, in a foreign land he misses his family. Insensitive to foreign creations. He believes that Russian people can do anything, no matter what they look at. Impatient. Without understanding it, he can beat up a commoner. If he is wrong, then he certainly asks for forgiveness, since behind the image of a tough and invincible chieftain hides a generous heart.
4. Tula masters- the hope of the nation. They are knowledgeable in metal work. They have a bold imagination. Excellent gunsmiths who believe in miracles. Orthodox people are full of church piety. They hope for God's help in solving difficult problems. They honor the gracious word of the sovereign. Thank you for the trust you place in them. They personify the Russian people and their good qualities, which are described in detail Here.
5. Left-handed oblique- a skilled gunsmith. There is a birthmark on the cheek. He wears an old “zyamchik” with hooks. The modest appearance of a great worker hides a bright mind and a kind soul. Before taking on any important matter, he goes to church to receive a blessing. The characteristics and description of Lefty are described in detail in this essay. He patiently endures Platov’s bullying, although he has done nothing wrong. Later he forgives the old Cossack, without harboring resentment in his heart. Lefty is sincere, speaks simply, without flattery or cunning. He loves his fatherland immensely and would never agree to exchange his homeland for prosperity and comfort in England. It is difficult to bear separation from his native places.
6. Half skipper– an acquaintance of Levsha who speaks Russian. We met on a ship heading to Russia. We drank a lot together. After arriving in St. Petersburg, he takes care of the gunsmith, trying to rescue him from the terrible conditions of the Obukhov hospital and find a person who would convey an important message from the master to the sovereign.
7. Doctor Martyn-Solsky– a true professional in his field. He tries to help Lefty overcome his illness, but does not have time. He becomes the confidant to whom Lefty tells the secret intended for the sovereign.
8. Count Chernyshev- a narrow-minded Minister of War with enormous self-esteem. Despises the common people. He has little interest in firearms. Because of his narrow-mindedness and narrow-mindedness, he substitutes the Russian army in battles with the enemy in the Crimean War.

Topics and issues

1. Theme of Russian talents runs like a red thread through all of Leskov’s work. Lefty, without any glass magnifiers, was able to make small nails to nail the horseshoes of a metal flea. There are no limits to his imagination. But it's not just about talent. Tula gunsmiths are workers who do not know how to rest. With their diligence, they create not only outlandish products, but also a unique national code that is passed on from generation to generation.
2. Theme of patriotism deeply worried Leskov. Dying on the cold floor in the hospital corridor, Lefty thinks about his homeland. He asks the doctor to find a way to inform the sovereign that guns cannot be cleaned with bricks, since this will make them unusable. Martyn-Solsky tries to convey this information to the Minister of War, Chernyshev, but everything turns out to be in vain. The master’s words do not reach the sovereign, but the cleaning of the guns continues until the Crimean campaign. This unforgivable disregard of the tsarist officials for the people and their fatherland is outrageous!
3. The tragic fate of Lefty is a reflection of the problem of social injustice in Russia. Leskov's tale is both cheerful and sad. The story of how Tula craftsmen shoe a flea is captivating, demonstrating a selfless attitude to work. In parallel with this, the author’s serious thoughts are heard about the difficult destinies of brilliant people who came from the people. The problem of attitude towards folk craftsmen at home and abroad worries the writer. In England, Lefty is respected, they offer him excellent working conditions, and they also try to interest him in various wonders. In Russia, he faces indifference and cruelty.
4. The problem of love for one's native places, to native nature. The native corner of the earth is especially dear to man. Memories of him captivate the soul and give energy to create something beautiful. Many, like Lefty, are drawn to their homeland, since no foreign blessings can replace parental love, the atmosphere of their father’s home and the sincerity of their faithful comrades.
5. The problem of the attitude of talented people to work. Masters are obsessed with finding new ideas. These are hard workers, fanatically passionate about their work. Many of them “burn out” at work, because they devote themselves completely to the implementation of their plans.
6. Problems of power. What is the true strength of a person? Representatives of the authorities allow themselves to go beyond what is “permissible” in relation to ordinary people, shout at them, and use their fists. Craftsmen with calm dignity withstand this attitude of their masters. The true strength of a person lies in balance and perseverance of character, and not in the manifestation of intemperance and spiritual impoverishment. Leskov cannot stay away from the problem of heartless attitude towards people, their lack of rights and oppression. Why is so much cruelty used against the people? Doesn't he deserve humane treatment? Poor Lefty is indifferently left to die on a cold hospital floor, without having done anything that could in any way help him get out of the strong bonds of illness.

the main idea

Lefty is a symbol of the talent of the Russian people. Another striking image from Leskov’s gallery of “righteous people”. No matter how difficult it is, the righteous always fulfills his promise, giving himself to the fatherland to the last drop, without demanding anything in return. Love for one’s native land, for the sovereign, works wonders and makes one believe in the impossible. The righteous rise above the line of simple morality and selflessly do good - this is their moral idea, their main idea.

Many statesmen do not appreciate this, but in the memory of the people there always remain examples of selfless behavior and sincere, selfless actions of those people who lived not for themselves, but for the glory and well-being of their Fatherland. The meaning of their life is the prosperity of the Fatherland.

Peculiarities

Bringing together bright flashes of folk humor and folk wisdom, the creator of “Skaz” wrote a work of art that reflected an entire era of Russian life.

In places in “Lefty” it is difficult to determine where good ends and evil begins. This reveals the “cunning” of the writer’s style. He creates characters that are sometimes contradictory, containing positive and negative traits. Thus, the courageous old man Platov, being of a heroic nature, could never raise his hand against a “little” man.

“The Wizard of the Word”—that’s what Gorky called Leskov after reading the book. The folk language of the heroes of the work is their vivid and accurate description. The speech of each character is figurative and original. It exists in unison with his character, helping to understand the character and his actions. Russian people are characterized by ingenuity, so they come up with unusual neologisms in the spirit of “folk etymology”: “trifle”, “busters”, “peck”, “valdakhin”, “melkoskop”, “nymphosoria”, etc.

What does it teach?

N. S. Leskov teaches fair treatment of people. Everyone is equal before God. It is necessary to judge each person not by his social affiliation, but by his Christian actions and spiritual qualities.

Only then can you find a diamond glowing with righteous rays of warmth and sincerity.

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