The problem of cowardice: arguments from literature and reasoning on this topic. Commentary on the topic: courage and cowardice

Epics about Ilya Muromets

Hero Ilya Muromets, son of Ivan Timofeevich and Efrosinya Yakovlevna, peasants of the village of Karacharova near Murom. The most popular character in epics, the second most powerful (after Svyatogor) Russian hero and the first Russian superman.

Sometimes identified with the epic Ilya Muromets a real man, Rev. Elijah of Pechersk, nicknamed Chobotok, buried in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra and canonized in 1643.

Years of creation. XII–XVI centuries

What's the point? Until the age of 33, Ilya lay, paralyzed, on the stove in his parents’ house, until he was miraculously healed by wanderers (“walking kalikas”). Having gained strength, he equipped his father’s farm and went to Kyiv, along the way capturing the Nightingale the Robber, who was terrorizing the surrounding area. In Kyiv, Ilya Muromets joined the squad of Prince Vladimir and found the hero Svyatogor, who gave him a treasure sword and mystical “real power”. In this episode, he demonstrated not only physical strength, but also high moral qualities, without responding to the advances of Svyatogor’s wife. Later, Ilya Muromets defeated the “great force” near Chernigov, paved the direct road from Chernigov to Kyiv, inspected the roads from the Alatyr-stone, tested the young hero Dobrynya Nikitich, saved the hero Mikhail Potyk from captivity in the Saracen kingdom, defeated Idolishche, and walked with his squad to Constantinople, one defeated the army of Tsar Kalin.

Ilya Muromets was not alien to simple human joys: in one of the epic episodes, he walks around Kyiv with “tavern heads,” and his son Sokolnik was born out of wedlock, which later leads to a fight between father and son.

What it looks like. Superman. Epics describe Ilya Muromets as “a remote, portly good fellow", he fights with a club "ninety pounds" (1440 kilograms)!

What is he fighting for? Ilya Muromets and his squad very clearly formulate the purpose of their service:

“...to stand alone for the faith for the fatherland,

...to stand alone for Kyiv-grad,

...to stand alone for the churches for the cathedrals,

...he will take care of Prince and Vladimir.”

But Ilya Muromets is not only a statesman - he is at the same time one of the most democratic fighters against evil, as he is always ready to fight “for widows, for orphans, for poor people.”

Way of fighting. A duel with an enemy or a battle with superior enemy forces.

With what result? Despite the difficulties caused by the numerical superiority of the enemy or the disdainful attitude of Prince Vladimir and the boyars, he invariably wins.

What is it fighting against? Against internal and external enemies of Rus' and their allies, violators of law and order, illegal migrants, invaders and aggressors.

2. Archpriest Avvakum

"The Life of Archpriest Avvakum"

Hero. Archpriest Avvakum worked his way up from a village priest to the leader of the resistance to the church reform of Patriarch Nikon and became one of the leaders of the Old Believers, or schismatics. Avvakum is the first religious figure of such magnitude who not only suffered for his beliefs, but also described it himself.

Years of creation. Approximately 1672–1675.

What's the point? A native of a Volga village, Avvakum from his youth was distinguished by both piety and violent disposition. Having moved to Moscow, he took an active part in church educational activities, was close to Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, but sharply opposed the church reforms carried out by Patriarch Nikon. With his characteristic temperament, Avvakum led a fierce struggle against Nikon, advocating for the old order church rite. Avvakum, not at all shy in his expressions, conducted public and journalistic activities, for which he was repeatedly imprisoned, cursed and defrocked, and exiled to Tobolsk, Transbaikalia, Mezen and Pustozersk. From the place of his last exile, he continued to write appeals, for which he was imprisoned in an “earth pit.” He had many followers. Church hierarchs tried to persuade Habakkuk to renounce his “delusions,” but he remained adamant and was eventually burned.

What it looks like. One can only guess: Avvakum did not describe himself. Maybe the way the priest looks in Surikov’s painting “Boyaryna Morozova” - Feodosia Prokopyevna Morozova was a faithful follower of Avvakum.

What is he fighting for? For the purity of the Orthodox faith, for the preservation of tradition.

Way of fighting. Word and deed. Avvakum wrote accusatory pamphlets, but he could personally beat the buffoons who entered the village and break them musical instruments. He considered self-immolation a form of possible resistance.

With what result? Avvakum's passionate preaching against church reform made resistance to it widespread, but he himself, along with three of his comrades-in-arms, was executed in 1682 in Pustozersk.

What is it fighting against? Against the desecration of Orthodoxy by “heretical novelties”, against everything alien, “external wisdom”, that is scientific knowledge, against entertainment. Suspects the imminent coming of the Antichrist and the reign of the devil.

3. Taras Bulba

"Taras Bulba"

Hero.“Taras was one of the indigenous, old colonels: he was all about scolding anxiety and was distinguished by the brutal directness of his character. Then the influence of Poland was already beginning to exert itself on the Russian nobility. Many had already adopted Polish customs, had luxury, magnificent servants, falcons, hunters, dinners, courtyards. Taras did not like this. He loved the simple life of the Cossacks and quarreled with those of his comrades who were inclined to the Warsaw side, calling them slaves of the Polish lords. Always restless, he considered himself the legitimate defender of Orthodoxy. He arbitrarily entered villages where they only complained about the harassment of tenants and the increase in new duties on smoke. He himself carried out reprisals against them with his Cossacks and made it a rule that in three cases one should always take up the saber, namely: when the commissars did not respect the elders in any way and stood before them in their caps, when they mocked Orthodoxy and did not respect the ancestral law and, finally, when the enemies were the Busurmans and the Turks, against whom he considered in any case permissible to raise arms for the glory of Christianity.”

Year of creation. The story was first published in 1835 in the collection “Mirgorod”. The 1842 edition, in which, in fact, we all read Taras Bulba, differs significantly from the original version.

What's the point? All his life, the dashing Cossack Taras Bulba has been fighting for the liberation of Ukraine from its oppressors. He, the glorious chieftain, cannot bear the thought that his own children, flesh of his flesh, may not follow his example. Therefore, Taras kills Andria’s son, who betrayed the sacred cause, without hesitation. When another son, Ostap, is captured, our hero deliberately penetrates into the heart of the enemy camp - but not in order to try to save his son. His only goal is to make sure that Ostap, under torture, does not show cowardice and does not renounce high ideals. Taras himself dies like Joan of Arc, having previously given Russian culture the immortal phrase: “There is no bond holier than comradeship!”

What it looks like. He is extremely heavy and fat (20 pounds, equivalent to 320 kg), gloomy eyes, very white eyebrows, mustache and forelock.

What is he fighting for? For the liberation of the Zaporozhye Sich, for independence.

Way of fighting. Hostilities.

With what result? With deplorable. Everyone died.

What is it fighting against? Against the oppressor Poles, the foreign yoke, police despotism, old-world landowners and court satraps.

4. Stepan Paramonovich Kalashnikov

“Song about Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich, the young guardsman and the daring merchant Kalashnikov”

Hero. Stepan Paramonovich Kalashnikov, merchant class. Trades silks - with varying success. Moskvich. Orthodox. Has two younger brothers. He is married to the beautiful Alena Dmitrievna, because of whom the whole story came out.

Year of creation. 1838

What's the point? Lermontov was not keen on the theme of Russian heroism. He wrote romantic poems about nobles, officers, Chechens and Jews. But he was one of the first to find out that the 19th century was rich only in the heroes of its time, but heroes for all times should be sought in the deep past. There, in Moscow, Ivan the Terrible was found (or rather, invented) a hero with the now common name Kalashnikov. The young guardsman Kiribeevich falls in love with his wife and attacks her at night, persuading her to surrender. The next day, the offended husband challenges the guardsman to a fist fight and kills him with one blow. For the murder of his beloved guardsman and for the fact that Kalashnikov refuses to name the reason for his action, Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich orders the execution of the young merchant, but does not leave his widow and children with mercy and care. Such is royal justice.

What it looks like.

“His falcon eyes are burning,

He looks intently at the guardsman.

He becomes opposite to him,

He pulls on his combat gloves,

Straightens his mighty shoulders.”

What is he fighting for? For the honor of his woman and family. Neighbors saw Kiribeevich's attack on Alena Dmitrievna, and now she cannot appear in front of honest people. Although, going into battle with the oprichnik, Kalashnikov solemnly declares that he is fighting “for the holy mother truth.” But the heroes sometimes distort.

Way of fighting. Fatal fistfight. Essentially a murder in broad daylight in front of thousands of witnesses.

With what result?

“And they executed Stepan Kalashnikov

A cruel, shameful death;

And the little head is mediocre

She rolled onto the chopping block covered in blood.”

But they buried Kiribeevich too.

What is it fighting against? Evil in the poem is personified by the guardsman with the foreign patronymic Kiribeevich, and also a relative of Malyuta Skuratov, that is, the enemy squared. Kalashnikov calls him “son of Basurman,” hinting at his enemy’s lack of Moscow registration. And this person of Eastern nationality delivers the first (aka last) blow not to the merchant’s face, but to Orthodox cross with relics from Kyiv that hangs on the brave chest. He says to Alena Dmitrievna: “I am not some kind of thief, a forest murderer, / I am a servant of the Tsar, the terrible Tsar...” - that is, he hides behind the highest mercy. So Kalashnikov’s heroic act is nothing more than a deliberate murder motivated by national hatred. Lermontov, who himself participated in the Caucasian campaigns and wrote a lot about the wars with the Chechens, was close to the theme of “Moscow for Muscovites” in its anti-Basurman context.

5. Danko “Old Woman Izergil”

Hero Danko. Biography unknown.

“In the old days, there lived only people in the world; impenetrable forests surrounded the camps of these people on three sides, and on the fourth there was the steppe. These were cheerful, strong and brave people... Danko is one of those people..."

Year of creation. The short story “Old Woman Izergil” was first published in Samara Gazeta in 1895.

What's the point? Danko is the fruit of the uncontrollable imagination of the same old woman Izergil, after whom Gorky’s short story is named. A sultry Bessarabian old woman with a rich past tells a beautiful legend: during Ona’s time there was a redistribution of property - there was a showdown between two tribes. Not wanting to stay in the occupied territory, one of the tribes went into the forest, but there the people experienced mass depression, because “nothing - neither work nor women, exhausts the bodies and souls of people as much as sad thoughts exhaust.” At a critical moment, Danko did not allow his people to bow to the conquerors, but instead offered to follow him - in an unknown direction.

What it looks like.“Danko... a handsome young man. Beautiful people are always brave.”

What is he fighting for? Go figure. In order to get out of the forest and thereby ensure freedom for his people. It is unclear where the guarantee is that freedom is exactly where the forest ends.

Way of fighting. An unpleasant physiological operation, indicating a masochistic personality. Self-dismemberment.

With what result? With duality. He got out of the forest, but died immediately. Sophisticated abuse of one’s own body is not in vain. The hero did not receive gratitude for his feat: his heart, torn out of his chest with his own hands, was trampled under someone’s heartless heel.

What is it fighting against? Against collaboration, conciliation and sycophancy before conquerors.

6. Colonel Isaev (Stirlitz)

A body of texts, from “Diamonds for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat” to “Bombs for the Chairman,” the most important of the novels is “Seventeen Moments of Spring”

Hero. Vsevolod Vladimirovich Vladimirov, aka Maxim Maksimovich Isaev, aka Max Otto von Stirlitz, aka Estilitz, Bolzen, Brunn. An employee of the press service of the Kolchak government, an underground security officer, an intelligence officer, a history professor, exposing a conspiracy of Nazi followers.

Years of creation. Novels about Colonel Isaev were created over 24 years - from 1965 to 1989.

What's the point? In 1921, the security officer Vladimirov liberated the Far East from the remnants of the White Army. In 1927, they decided to send him to Europe - it was then that the legend of the German aristocrat Max Otto von Stirlitz was born. In 1944, he saves Krakow from destruction by helping the group of Major Whirlwind. At the very end of the war, he was entrusted with the most important mission - to disrupt separate negotiations between Germany and the West. In Berlin, the hero carries out his difficult task, simultaneously saving the radio operator Kat, the end of the war is already close, and the Third Reich is collapsing to the song of Marika Rekk “Seventeen Moments of April”. In 1945, Stirlitz was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

What it looks like. From the party characteristics of von Stirlitz, a member of the NSDAP since 1933, SS Standartenführer (VI Department of the RSHA): “ True Aryan. Character - Nordic, seasoned. Supports workmates a good relationship. Fulfills his official duty impeccably. Merciless towards the enemies of the Reich. An excellent athlete: Berlin tennis champion. Single; he was not noticed in any connections that discredited him. Recognized with awards from the Fuhrer and commendations from the Reichsfuhrer SS..."

What is he fighting for? For the victory of communism. It’s unpleasant to admit this to yourself, but in some situations - for the homeland, for Stalin.

Way of fighting. Intelligence and espionage, sometimes the deductive method, ingenuity, dexterity and camouflage.

With what result? On the one hand, he saves everyone who needs it and successfully carries out subversive activities; reveals secret intelligence networks and defeats the main enemy - Gestapo chief Müller. However Soviet country, for whose honor and victory he is fighting, thanks his hero in his own way: in 1947, he, who had just arrived in the Union on a Soviet ship, was arrested, and by order of Stalin, his wife and son were shot. Stirlitz leaves prison only after Beria's death.

What is it fighting against? Against whites, Spanish fascists, German Nazis and all enemies of the USSR.

7. Nikolai Stepanovich Gumilyov “Look into the eyes of monsters”

Hero Nikolai Stepanovich Gumilyov, symbolist poet, superman, conquistador, member of the Order of the Fifth Rome, ruler Soviet history and a fearless dragon slayer.

Year of creation. 1997

What's the point? Nikolai Gumilyov was not shot in 1921 in the dungeons of the Cheka. He was saved from execution by Yakov Wilhelmovich (or James William Bruce), a representative of the secret order of the Fifth Rome, created in the 13th century. Having acquired the gift of immortality and power, Gumilyov strides through the history of the 20th century, generously leaving his traces in it. He puts Marilyn Monroe to bed, simultaneously building chickens for Agatha Christie, gives valuable advice to Ian Fleming, due to his absurd character, he starts a duel with Mayakovsky and, leaving his cold corpse in Lubyansky Proezd, runs away, leaving the police and literary scholars to compose a version of suicide. He takes part in a writers' convention and becomes addicted to xerion, a magical drug based on dragon blood that gives immortality to members of the order. Everything would be fine - the problems begin later, when evil dragon forces begin to threaten not only the world in general, but the Gumilyov family: his wife Annushka and son Styopa.

What is he fighting for? First for goodness and beauty, then he no longer has time for lofty ideas - he simply saves his wife and son.

Way of fighting. Gumilyov participates in an unimaginable number of battles and battles, masters hand-to-hand combat techniques and all types of firearms. True, to achieve special sleight of hand, fearlessness, omnipotence, invulnerability and even immortality, he has to throw in xerion.

With what result? Nobody knows this. The novel “Look into the Eyes of Monsters” ends without giving an answer to this burning question. All the continuations of the novel (both “The Hyperborean Plague” and “The March of the Ecclesiastes”), firstly, are much less recognized by fans of Lazarchuk-Uspensky, and secondly, and this is the most important thing, they also do not offer the reader a solution.

What is it fighting against? Having learned about real reasons disasters that befell the world in the 20th century, he fights primarily against these misfortunes. In other words, with a civilization of evil lizards.

8. Vasily Terkin

"Vasily Terkin"

Hero. Vasily Terkin, reserve private, infantryman. Originally from near Smolensk. Single, no children. He has an award for the totality of his feats.

Years of creation. 1941–1945

What's the point? Contrary to popular belief, the need for such a hero appeared even before the Great Patriotic War. Tvardovsky came up with Terkin during the Finnish campaign, where he, together with the Pulkins, Mushkins, Protirkins and other characters in newspaper feuilletons, fought with the White Finns for the Motherland. So Terkin entered 1941 as an experienced fighter. By 1943, Tvardovsky was tired of his unsinkable hero and wanted to send him into retirement due to injury, but letters from readers returned Terkin to the front, where he spent another two years, was shell-shocked and was surrounded three times, conquered high and low heights, led battles in the swamps, liberated villages, took Berlin and even spoke with Death. His rustic but sparkling wit invariably saved him from enemies and censors, but it definitely did not attract girls. Tvardovsky even appealed to his readers to love his hero - just like that, from the heart. Still don't have Soviet heroes the dexterity of James Bond.

What it looks like. Endowed with beauty He was not excellent, Not tall, not that small, But a hero - a hero.

What is he fighting for? For the cause of peace for the sake of life on earth, that is, his task, like that of any liberator soldier, is global. Terkin himself is sure that he is fighting “for Russia, for the people / And for everything in the world,” but sometimes, just in case, he mentions Soviet power- no matter what happens.

Way of fighting. In war, as we know, any means are good, so everything is used: a tank, a machine gun, a knife, a wooden spoon, fists, teeth, vodka, the power of persuasion, a joke, a song, an accordion...

With what result?. He came close to death several times. He should have received a medal, but due to a typo in the list, the hero never received the award.

But imitators found it: by the end of the war, almost every company already had its own Terkin, and some had two.

What is it fighting against? First against the Finns, then against the Nazis, and sometimes also against Death. In fact, Terkin was called upon to fight depressive moods at the front, which he did with success.

9. Anastasia Kamenskaya

A series of detective stories about Anastasia Kamenskaya

Heroine. Nastya Kamenskaya, Major of the Moscow Criminal Investigation Department, Petrovka’s best analyst, a brilliant operative, investigating serious crimes in the manner of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot.

Years of creation. 1992–2006

What's the point? The work of an operative involves difficult everyday life (the first evidence of this is the television series “Streets of Broken Lights”). But Nastya Kamenskaya finds it difficult to rush around the city and catch bandits in dark alleys: she is lazy, in poor health and loves peace more than anything else. Because of this, she periodically has difficulties in relations with management. Only her first boss and teacher, nicknamed Kolobok, had unlimited faith in her analytical abilities; to others, she has to prove that she best investigates bloody crimes by sitting in her office, drinking coffee and analyzing, analyzing.

What it looks like. Tall, thin blonde, expressionless facial features. He never wears cosmetics and prefers discreet, comfortable clothes.

What is he fighting for? Definitely not for a modest police salary: knowing five foreign languages and having some connections, Nastya could leave Petrovka at any moment, but she does not. It turns out that he is fighting for the triumph of law and order.

Way of fighting. First of all, analytics. But sometimes Nastya has to change her habits and go out on the warpath on her own. In this case, acting skills, the art of transformation and feminine charm are used.

With what result? Most often - with brilliant results: criminals are exposed, caught, punished. But in rare cases, some of them manage to escape, and then Nastya does not sleep at night, smokes one cigarette after another, goes crazy and tries to come to terms with the injustice of life. However, there are clearly more successful endings so far.

What is it fighting against? Against crime.

10. Erast Fandorin

A series of novels about Erast Fandorin

Hero. Erast Petrovich Fandorin, a nobleman, the son of a small landowner who lost his family fortune at cards. He began his career in the detective police with the rank of collegiate registrar, managed to attend Russian-Turkish War 1877–1878, serve in the diplomatic corps in Japan and displease Nicholas II. He rose to the rank of state councilor and resigned. Private detective and consultant to various influential people since 1892. Phenomenally lucky in everything, especially in gambling. Single. Has a number of children and other descendants.

Years of creation. 1998–2006

What's the point? The turn of the 20th–21st centuries once again turned out to be an era that is looking for heroes in the past. Akunin found his defender of the weak and oppressed in the gallant XIX century, but in that professional field that is becoming especially popular right now - in the intelligence services. Of all Akunin's stylizing endeavors, Fandorin is the most charming and therefore enduring. His biography begins in 1856, the action of the last novel dates back to 1905, and the end of the story has not yet been written, so you can always expect new achievements from Erast Petrovich. Although Akunin, like Tvardovsky before, since 2000 everyone has been trying to do away with his hero and write about him last novel. "Coronation" is subtitled "The Last of the Romances"; “Death's Lover” and “Death's Lover,” written after it, were published as a bonus, but then it became clear that Fandorin’s readers would not let go so easily. The people need, the people need, an elegant detective, knowledgeable of languages and is wildly popular with women. Not all “Cops”, indeed!

What it looks like.“He was a very handsome young man, with black hair (of which he was secretly proud) and blue eyes (alas, it would have been better if they were black too) tall, with white skin and a damned, ineradicable blush on his cheeks.” After the misfortune he experienced, his appearance acquires an intriguing detail for ladies - gray temples.

What is he fighting for? For an enlightened monarchy, order and legality. Fandorin dreams of a new Russia - ennobled in the Japanese style, with firmly and reasonably established laws and their scrupulous implementation. About Russia, which did not go through the Russo-Japanese and the First World War, revolution and civil war. That is, about Russia, which could be if we had enough luck and common sense build it.

Way of fighting. A combination of the deductive method, meditation techniques and Japanese martial arts with almost mystical luck. By the way, there is also female love, which Fandorin uses in every sense.

With what result? As we know, the Russia that Fandorin dreams of did not happen. So globally he suffers a crushing defeat. And in small things too: those whom he tries to save most often die, and the criminals never end up behind bars (they die, or pay off the trial, or simply disappear). However, Fandorin himself invariably remains alive, as does the hope for the final triumph of justice.

What is it fighting against? Against the unenlightened monarchy, bombing revolutionaries, nihilists and socio-political chaos, which can occur in Russia at any moment. Along the way, he has to fight bureaucracy, corruption in the highest echelons of power, fools, roads and ordinary criminals.

Illustrations: Maria Sosnina

Subject: "Courage and cowardice"

Introduction: The topic of courage and cowardice is truly inexhaustible. These qualities become especially noticeable and important in the most difficult times for a particular state and society. It could be, say, a drought. According to ancient Egyptian myths, it is at such a difficult moment that the god Set is treacherously killed.

People are saved only by his resurrection. With some reservations, this can be considered the first literary treatment of this topic. However, there was also a Sumerian legend about Gilgamesh. But let us recall in more detail the immortal “Iliad” of Homer. There are many interpretations of the work of the blind storyteller. In one of them, the Trojans are reckless brave men, but the Greeks are like that only with big reservations. After all, if you think about it, what is their idea with a wooden horse?

You can call this a military trick, or you can just call it meanness, the necessity of which is caused by the fear of the soldiers of the besieged city. But this is a long time ago days gone by. Let's remember the 19th century, taking as an example the work of N.V. Gogol. We will, of course, talk about Taras Bulba. In the contrast between the two sons of the old Cossack, we mean not only Andrei’s preference for love, and Ostap’s for loyalty to his comrades.

The brother who became a traitor did not just give vent to his feelings. He wanted comfort and honor in a more civilized society at that time. Life in the Cossack camp cannot be compared, of course, with the one he experienced in the Polish castle. Love has become in this case an excuse for cowardice. It may be a controversial point of view, but it has a right to exist. After all, Nikolai Vasilyevich was not a romantic to limit himself to describing a love story. He reflected in the mirror of his creativity a reality that is woven from very different aspects of life.

Argument: Cowardice and betrayal can be considered different sides one medal. One thing leads to another. Quite recent, tragic and heroic history provides as many examples as possible. I mean the Great Patriotic War. Those who voluntarily surrendered to the Germans had no choice. They were simply forced to join the police units, or even the army of General Vlasov, who fought on the side of the Nazis. However, there was a choice.

Here you can recall an episode from Konstantin Simonov’s novel “The Living and the Dead.” This completely undeservedly forgotten work was in many ways a turning point for its time. The trilogy covers three years of the war, but the main thing there is a description of the tragic 1941. Probably only Simonov, given his authority, could dare to write the truth about this time.

The retreat, the confusion of the first months, the stupid orders of the generals. And at the same time - people like Serpilin. Undeservedly convicted in 1937, he did not harbor a grudge, but became one of the best military leaders, thanks to whom the Germans’ dreams of a lightning victory did not come true. In a short episode, Serpilin is contrasted with another hero, Baranov. This is the one who once wrote a denunciation against him. He is not a coward in the traditional sense of the word. But opportunism and readiness for any meanness for his own safety and career led him to cowardice.

But Serpilin didn’t even take revenge, he simply demoted ex-friend. And he, unable to bear it, shot himself. Not even because of damaged pride, but because of cowardice. In the novel, thus, another person took his own life. This is Kozyrev, who headed the USSR Air Force shortly before the war. The recent lieutenant made so many mistakes in a high post that, realizing this, he found no other way out except a bullet to the temple. The choice seems to be the same, but the reasons that led to this are completely different.

Most obviously, Vasil Bykov contrasts courage and cowardice. Although his Sotnikov in the story of the same name does not look like a hero. On the contrary, on the first pages his antipode, the Fisherman, seems to be a candidate for hero. He is strong, adapted to difficult life, resourceful. And he doesn’t abandon his comrade, although he can give them away with his cough at any moment. But Bykov’s prose is different in that he takes his heroes to the limit. Their essence is revealed when the opportunity remains last choice: death, or meanness, betrayal.

Sotnikov - battery commander, son of a hero civil war. But in the story he is an ordinary fighter in a partisan detachment. A weak, sick intellectual, it was only among the partisans that he ceased to be afraid of death. Because I was already “afraid.” And before that, at the front, he had to “hide within himself the quiet satisfaction that the bullet missed him.” He was ashamed of such a completely understandable feeling. He was also afraid of “quietly and unnoticed dying in battle.” Another fear is caused by the reluctance to become a burden to others. That’s why he feels awkward when the Fisherman drags him, unhealthy and wounded, to the forest. But he never experienced a simple, animal fear of death.

The reason for Rybak’s betrayal was precisely this fear. The desire to save life at all costs. He understood everything. When he ran to the bushes, throwing Sotnikov who was covering him, he suddenly felt uneasy. But he thought not about duty, but about what he would say to the detachment when he got to the camp. However, even this did not stop him from leaving his comrade. By chance, he remained alive, and they met again. But captivity could not be avoided. Sotnikov also recognizes it as the worst thing that could happen. But he, wounded, even funny, completely unlike a soldier, is unbending. He even dares to laugh in the eyes of the police beating him.

He had already come to terms with his imminent death. All thoughts are focused on the fact that one must die in a way that is indicative of the villagers, who were usually forced to watch executions. The true essence of the Fisherman is revealed gradually. He's an opportunist. Perhaps, having fought at the front, in a regular unit, if he had not found himself in a critical situation, he would even have been in good standing. But now he, already making his way to his own with the wounded Sotnikov, begins to think about whether he will be able to “get out” or not.

Fate presented him with an even more difficult choice. After interrogation and torture, his comrade tries to save the life of another. He says that Rybak is not guilty, he shot. And they got into the house where they were hiding without the knowledge of the owners. This will not save the peasants. The fisherman probably wouldn't have been saved either. But when the time comes to choose, he gives in immediately, without hesitation. His agreement to the offer to become a policeman no longer surprises the reader. This is natural, given the person's previous behavior.

He leads Sotnikov to the gallows, as if still not believing that he will have to do this. But he knocks the stand out from under his feet. When the body of a recent friend hangs in a noose, he is confused, but is soon relieved to hear the order to get into line. “Marching in step,” and Rybak thoughtlessly stepped in step with the others. “You would have thought that he was in the detachment, among his own.” It doesn’t matter to this person whose commands to follow, as long as it doesn’t force him to think.

Vasil Bykov knew what he was writing about. He went through the war from the first to last days. He was wounded three times. Among the names buried in one of mass graves His name also appears. Fortunately, this turned out to be a mistake. In any case, he understood the experiences and feelings of the characters in his books. Surely I have seen manifestations of both courage and cowardice more than once. The characters in his novels and stories are always nondescript, not like epic heroes. To overcome his weakness and completely understandable fear, to remain human to the end, this is a feat for Bykov, and not at all the pretentiousness of the situation. In this, Sentsov, the main character of “The Living and the Dead,” is similar to them. He is a random person at the front, a war correspondent who, of his own free will, remained in Serpilin’s encircled regiment.

Conclusion: Courage... Can Sotnikov be called that? He doesn’t seem to throw himself under a tank with a grenade. But it is precisely people who, despite all their weaknesses, who are able to ultimately fulfill their duty, deserve the right to positivity from Vasil Bykov. His death, with the idea that it must mean something, looks like propaganda. But she is depicted with restraint and realistically, without any glorification. In fact, thousands of such feats were performed; for that war they were commonplace. Otherwise there would not have been May 1945.

Discussions about courage and cowardice can lead very far. This is understandable, because many works have been written on their topic throughout the history of the development of literature. One can even recall the downtrodden and humiliated Akaki Akakievich from Gogol’s “The Overcoat”. And this man found the courage to be indignant when he was deprived of the most valuable thing he had. But such courage doesn't come cheap. It would be much more correct to remember in conclusion once again about Ostap from Taras Bulba.

His cry to his father before his death seems to be heard in many Russian and Soviet books. But could the son of a Cossack die like Sotnikov? Without spectators, not on display, doomed to complete oblivion, knowing only that it is impossible otherwise? This is the greatness of the feat of people like the partisan from the story by Vasil Bykov. Serpilin also died in Simonov's trilogy. By accident, from a shell fragment, unnoticeably. He did his job. Like every person whose courage helps others realize their destiny.

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FINAL ESSAY 2017/2018. THEMATIC DIRECTION “Courage and cowardice.” “The madness of the brave is the wisdom of life! M. Gorky

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Cowardice Cowardice is the oldest human vice, And you have to be especially wise here, To make a simple leap through fear And maintain the courage in everyday life! And envy has long since crept into the masses, But there is an unexpected turn - When in broad daylight, someone who has not been kindly treated, Spouts blind nonsense contemptuously! And smiling maliciously at himself, I’m glad to choke on my own sting, If only no one could see - The soul is empty, and there is discord in the heart! Courage It's good to be brave, but it's scary... A madman can't be afraid, And walk on the edge where it's dangerous, Is that really courage? Of course not. Fear is always present in us, in everyone, For someone closer or further, Having once overcome fear in yourself, You can live by honor and without falsehood. And stop a boor on the train, pull a drowning person to shore, save the weak from a bully, If a person believes in himself. Fear should not control your mind, So that you can mock you later, Therefore, every minute we need to remain human

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At the core this direction lies a comparison of opposite manifestations of the human “I”: readiness for decisive actions and the desire to hide from danger, to avoid resolving difficult, sometimes extreme life situations. On the pages of many literary works, both heroes capable of bold actions and characters demonstrating weakness of spirit and lack of will are presented.

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It is not for nothing that courage is considered the highest virtue - after all, courage is the key to other positive qualities. (W. Churchill) How can a tree bloom if its roots have dried up? So it is here: until there is proper order in the kingdom, where will military courage come from? If the leader does not constantly strengthen the army, then he is more likely to be defeated than victorious. You, having despised all this, praise only courage; and what courage is based on is not important to you. (Ivan groznyj)

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According to V.S. Bezrukova’s dictionary, COURAGE is a positive moral-volitional personality trait, manifested as determination, fearlessness, courage when performing actions associated with risk and danger. Courage allows a person to overcome, through volitional efforts, the fear of something unknown, complex, new and achieve success in achieving a goal. It is not for nothing that this quality is highly revered by the people: “God controls the brave,” “The city takes courage.” It is also revered as the ability to speak the truth (“Dare to have your own judgment”). Courage allows you to face the “truth” and objectively assess your capabilities, not be afraid of darkness, loneliness, water, heights and other difficulties and obstacles. Courage provides a person with a sense of self-worth, a sense of responsibility, security, and reliability of life. Synonyms: courage, determination, courage, heroism, enterprise, arrogance, self-confidence, energy; presence, uplifting spirit; spirit, courage, desire (to tell the truth), audacity, boldness; fearlessness, fearlessness, fearlessness, fearlessness; fearlessness, determination, daring, heroism, courage, riskiness, desperation, audacity, innovation, daring, audacity, daring, daring, poverty, valor, novelty, courage, masculinity.

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Cowardice is one of the expressions of cowardice; negative, moral quality, characterizing the behavior of a person who is unable to perform actions that meet moral requirements (or, conversely, refrain from immoral actions), due to the inability to overcome fear of natural or social forces. T. can be a manifestation of calculating selfishness, when it is based on fears of incurring unfavorable consequences, someone’s anger, or fear of losing existing benefits or social position. It can also be subconscious, a manifestation of elemental fear of unknown phenomena, unknown and uncontrollable social and natural laws. In both cases, T. is not just an individual property of the psyche of a particular person, but social phenomenon. It is associated either with selfishness, rooted in the psychology of people over the centuries-old history of private property, or with the powerlessness and depressed position of a person generated by a state of alienation (even fear of natural phenomena develops into T. only under certain conditions of social life and the corresponding upbringing of a person). Synonyms: timidity, timidity, cowardice, suspiciousness, indecisiveness, hesitation, fear; apprehension, fear, shyness, cowardice, timidity, fearfulness, capitulation, cowardice, cowardice.

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In this area, we will talk about indifference and responsiveness from several perspectives. 1. Courage and cowardice as abstract concepts and properties of a person (in the broad sense). Within the framework of this section, you can reflect on the following topics: Courage and cowardice as personality traits, as two sides of the same coin. Courage/cowardice as personality traits determined by reflexes. True and false courage/cowardice. Courage as a manifestation of excessive self-confidence. Courage and risk taking. Courage/cowardice and self-confidence. The connection between cowardice and selfishness. The difference between rational fear and cowardice. The connection between courage and philanthropy, philanthropy, etc. 2. Courage/cowardice in minds, souls, characters. In this section, you can reflect on the concepts of willpower, fortitude, the ability to say no, the courage to stand up for your ideals, the courage needed to stand up for what you believe in. You can also talk about cowardice, as the inability to defend one’s ideals and principles. Courage or cowardice when making decisions. Courage and cowardice when accepting something new. Courage and cowardice when trying to leave your comfort zone. The courage to admit the truth or admit your mistakes. The influence of courage and cowardice on the formation of personality. Contrasting two types of people.

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3. Courage/cowardice in life. Pettiness, inability to show courage in a specific life situation. 4. Courage/cowardice in war and in extreme conditions. War exposes the most basic human fears. In war, a person is able to display previously unknown character traits. Sometimes a person surprises himself by showing heroism and unprecedented fortitude. And sometimes even good people, contrary to his expectations, shows cowardice. The concepts of heroism, feat, as well as desertion, betrayal, etc. are associated with courage/cowardice within this section. 5. Courage and cowardice in love.

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Sample list what does it mean to be brave? Why does a person need courage? What does cowardice lead to? What actions does cowardice push a person to do? Can we say that courage is the engine of progress? In what life situations Is courage best demonstrated? Do you need courage in love? Do you need to have courage to admit your mistakes? Courage is the beginning of victory Do you agree with the statement of O. de Balzac: “Fear can make a daredevil timid, but it gives courage to the indecisive”? As you understand stable expression"fear has big eyes"? How do you understand the words of Confucius: “Cowardice is knowing what you should do and not doing it”?

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How do you understand the saying: “A timid dog barks more than it bites”? Is the saying “courage is half the battle” true? What actions can be called courageous? What is the difference between arrogance and courage? Who can be called a coward? Is it possible to cultivate courage in yourself? How do you understand M. Twain’s statement: “Courage is resistance to fear, not its absence.” Do you agree with L. Berne’s statement: “A coward is more dangerous than any other person, he should be feared most of all”? What are the causes of fear? Can a person with tall moral principles be a coward? Is cowardice a death sentence? Do you agree with B. Russell’s statement: “To be afraid of love is to be afraid of life, and to be afraid of life is to be two-thirds dead”? Is it possible to love someone you are afraid of? Can a brave person be afraid of anything? Is it possible to say that a person fears only what he does not know? Do you agree with the statement of D. Diderot: “We consider the one who allowed his friend to be insulted in his presence to be a coward. D. Diderot"

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How do you understand F. Cooper’s expression: “Fear makes the smart stupid and the strong weak”? What is the difference between true courage and false courage? Is courage always expressed in actions? How do you understand the expression: “The master’s work is afraid”? Is it a shame to be afraid? How do extreme conditions affect courage? How do you understand W. Shakespeare’s statement: “Cowards die many times before they die, the brave die only once”? Is it possible to say that courage and cowardice are two sides of the same coin? Why is it important to be brave in life? Do you agree with the statement of Zh.Zh. Rousseau: “You should not confuse courage with impudence and rudeness: there is nothing more dissimilar both in its source and in its result”? Do you agree with the statement of G.S. Crispus: “In battle, those most exposed to danger are those who are most possessed by fear; courage is like a wall”? What does it mean to be brave in Everyday life? What's the difference between being bold and taking risks? What is the difference between fear and cowardice? Do you agree with Voltaire’s statement: “The success of science is a matter of time and courage of mind”? How is willpower related to courage? Do you need to have the courage to say no? Why is it important to have the courage to stand up for your ideals? Why is it important to have courage when making decisions? Does it take courage to embrace something new?

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How do you understand Helvetius’s statement: “To be completely devoid of courage, one must be completely devoid of desires”? Can cowardice hinder personal development? Do you agree with W. Churchill’s statement: “It is not for nothing that courage is considered the highest virtue - after all, courage is the key to other positive qualities”? How does courage influence the formation of personality? Confirm or refute Thucydides' statement: “Ignorance makes people bold, but reflection makes them hesitant.” How does cowardice influence the formation of personality? What is the difference between a coward and a daredevil? Do you agree with P. Holbach: “You can never live happily when you are always trembling with fear”? Why are people afraid to express their opinions? How is courage demonstrated in war? Do you agree with the statement of G.Yu. Caesar: “It is easier to find people who voluntarily go to death than those who patiently endure pain”? What qualities does a person show in war? Do you agree with G. Ibsen’s statement: “Cowardice in its prime turns into cruelty”? Why does creativity require courage? Why do people show cowardice in war? How do you understand F. Bacon’s statement: “Heroism is an artificial concept, because courage is relative”? Do you agree with S. Lagerlöf’s statement: “More soldiers always die when fleeing than in battle”? How is suspiciousness related to cowardice? Do you need courage in love? Can a coward be happy? Do you agree with the words of Plutarch: “Courage is the beginning of victory”?

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List of references for preparing for the final essay. VC. Zheleznikov “Scarecrow” V.M. Garshin “Coward” M.A. Bulgakov “The Master and Margarita”, “The White Guard” B.L. Vasiliev “Tomorrow there was a war”, “And the dawns here are quiet” A.S. Pushkin “The Captain’s Daughter” V.V. Bykov "Sotnikov" M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin “The Wise Minnow” E. Remarque “Three Comrades”, “On Western Front without change" A. Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo", "The Three Musketeers" E. Ilyin "The Fourth Height" J. London "White Fang", "Martin Eden" V. Nabokov "Invitation to an Execution" S. Collins "The Hunger Games" » A.I. Kuprin “Garnet Bracelet”, “Olesya” W. Golding “Lord of the Flies” R. Gallego “White on Black” F.M. Dostoevsky “The Idiot” V.G. Korolenko “The Blind Musician” J. Orwell “1984” V. Roth “Divergent” M.A. Sholokhov “The Fate of Man”, “Insolent” E. Hemingway “A Farewell to Arms!” M.Yu. Lermontov “Hero of Our Time”, “Song about Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich, the young guardsman and the daring merchant Kalashnikov” N.V. Gogol “Taras Bulba”, “The Overcoat” M. Gorky “Old Woman Izergil” A.T. Tvardovsky “Vasily Terkin” B.N. Field "The Tale of a Real Man"

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On the pages of many literary works, both heroes capable of bold actions and characters demonstrating weakness of spirit and lack of will are presented.

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Quotes for the final essay on “Courage and Cowardice.” Be bold in truth. He who dared ate (and mounted a horse) Courage is the beginning of victory. (Plutarch) Courage, bordering on recklessness, contains more madness than perseverance. (M. Cervantes) When you are afraid, act boldly, and you will avoid the worst troubles (G. Sachs) To be completely devoid of courage, you need to be completely devoid of desires (Helvetius K.) It is easier to find people who voluntarily go to. death than those who patiently endure pain. (Y. Caesar) He who is courageous is courageous. (Cicero) One should not confuse courage with arrogance and rudeness: there is nothing more dissimilar both in its source and in its result (J.J. . Rousseau) Excessive courage is the same vice as excessive timidity (B. Johnson)

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Courage, which is based on prudence, is not called recklessness, but the exploits of a reckless person should rather be attributed to mere luck than to his courage. (M. Cervantes) In battle, those most exposed to danger are those who are most obsessed with fear; courage is like a wall. (Sallust) Courage replaces fortress walls. (Sallust) To be brave means to consider everything that is terrible as distant and everything that inspires courage as close. (Aristotle) ​​Heroism is an artificial concept, because courage is relative. (F. Bacon) Others show courage without having it, but there is no person who would demonstrate wit if he were not naturally witty. (J. Halifax) True courage rarely comes without stupidity. (F. Bacon)

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Ignorance makes people bold, but reflection makes people indecisive. (Thucydides) Knowing in advance what you want to do gives you courage and ease. (D. Diderot) It is not for nothing that courage is considered the highest virtue - after all, courage is the key to other positive qualities. (W. Churchill) Courage is resistance to fear, not its absence. (M. Twain) Happy is he who boldly takes under his protection what he loves. (Ovid) Creativity requires courage. (A. Matisse) It takes considerable courage to bring bad news to people. (R. Branson)

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The success of science is a matter of time and courage of mind. (Voltaire) To use your own reason requires remarkable courage. (E. Burke) Fear can make a daredevil timid, but it gives courage to the indecisive. (O. Balzac) A person fears only what he does not know; knowledge conquers all fear. (V.G. Belinsky) A coward is more dangerous than any other person, he should be feared most of all. (L. Berne) There is nothing worse than fear itself. (F. Bacon) Cowardice can never be moral. (M. Gandhi) A coward sends threats only when he is sure of safety. (I. Goethe)

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You can never live happily when you are always trembling with fear. (P. Holbach) Cowardice is very harmful because it keeps the will from useful actions. (R. Descartes) We consider a coward the one who allowed his friend to be insultingly spoken about in his presence. (D. Diderot) Cowardice in its heyday turns into cruelty. (G. Ibsen) Whoever fearfully worries about losing his life will never rejoice in it. (I. Kant) The difference between a brave man and a coward is that the first, aware of the danger, does not feel fear, and the second feels fear, not realizing the danger. (V. O. Klyuchevsky) Cowardice is knowing what you should do and not doing it. (Confucius) Fear makes the smart stupid and the strong weak. (F. Cooper) A timid dog barks more than it bites. (Curtius) More soldiers always die when fleeing than in battle. (S. Lagerlöf) Fear is a bad mentor. (Pliny the Younger) Fear arises due to the powerlessness of the spirit. (B. Spinoza) Frightened - half defeated. (A.V. Suvorov) Cowards speak most about courage, and scoundrels speak most about nobility. (A.N. Tolstoy)

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A.S. Pushkin “The Captain's Daughter” As an example, we can take the comparison of Grinev and Shvabrin: the first is ready to die in the battle for the fortress, directly expresses his position to Pugachev, risking his life, under pain of death remained faithful to the oath, the second was afraid for his life and went over to the side of the enemy. The daughter of Captain Mironov turns out to be truly courageous. The “coward” Masha, who flinched from shots during a training exercise in the fortress, shows remarkable courage and firmness, resisting Shvabrin’s claims, being in his complete power in the fortress occupied by the Pugachevites. The title character of the novel A.S. Pushkin’s “Eugene Onegin” essentially turned out to be a coward - he completely subordinated his life to the opinion of society, which he himself despised. Realizing that he is to blame for the impending duel and can prevent it, he does not do this, because he is afraid of the opinion of the world and gossip about himself. To avoid accusations of cowardice, he kills his friend.

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A striking example of true courage is the main character of the novel M.A. Sholokhov " Quiet Don» Grigory Melekhov. First World War grabbed Gregory and spun him in a whirlwind of stormy historical events. Grigory, like a true Cossack, devotes himself entirely to battle. He is decisive and brave. He easily captures three Germans, deftly recaptures a battery from the enemy, and saves the officer. Evidence of his courage is St. George's crosses and medals, officer rank. Gregory shows courage not only in battle. He is not afraid to radically change his life, to go against his father’s will for the sake of the woman he loves. Grigory does not tolerate injustice and always speaks openly about it. He is ready to radically change his destiny, but not to change himself. Grigory Melekhov showed extraordinary courage in his search for the truth. But for him she is not just an idea, some idealized symbol of the best human existence. He seeks its embodiment in life. Coming into contact with many small particles of truth and ready to accept each one, he often discovers their inconsistency when faced with life, but the hero does not stop in search of truth and justice and goes to the end, making his choice at the end of the novel.

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The young monk, the hero of the poem by M.Yu., is not afraid to completely change his life. Lermontov "Mtsyri". The dream of a free life completely captured Mtsyri, a fighter by nature, forced by force of circumstances to live in a gloomy monastery that he hated. He, who has not lived a day in freedom, independently decides to take a brave action - escaping from the monastery in the hope of returning to his homeland. Only in freedom, in those days that Mtsyri spent outside the monastery, all the richness of his nature was revealed: love of freedom, thirst for life and struggle, perseverance in achieving his goal, unbending willpower, courage, contempt for danger, love for nature, understanding of its beauty and power. Mtsyri shows courage and the will to win in the fight against the leopard. In his story about how he descended from the rocks to the stream, one can hear contempt for danger: But free youth is strong, And death seemed not terrible. Mtsyri failed to achieve his goal - to find his homeland, his people. “The prison left its mark on me,” this is how he explains the reason for his failure. Mtsyri fell victim to circumstances that turned out to be stronger than him (a stable motif of fate in Lermontov’s works). But he dies adamant, his spirit is not broken. Great courage is required to preserve oneself, one's personality in conditions totalitarian regime, do not give up your ideals and ideas, including in creativity, do not submit to the situation.

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Many works of classical Russian literature raise the issue of fear of life in its various manifestations. In particular, many works by A.P. are devoted to the theme of fear and cowardice. Chekhov: “Fears”, “Cossack”, “Champagne”, “Beauties”, “Lights”, “Steppe”, “Man in a Case”, “Death of an Official”, “Ionych”, “Lady with a Dog”, “Chameleon” , “Ward No. 6”, “Fear”, “Black Monk”, etc. The hero of the story “Fear” Dmitry Petrovich Silin is afraid of everything. According to the author of the story, he is “sick with the fear of life.” The hero, according to Chekhov, is frightened by the incomprehensible and incomprehensible. For example, Silin is afraid of terrible events, disasters and the most ordinary events. He is afraid of life itself. Everything that is incomprehensible in the world around him is a threat to him. He reflects and tries to find answers to questions that concern him about the meaning of life and human existence. He is convinced that people understand what they see and hear, but he poisons himself daily with his own fear. The hero of the story is constantly trying to hide and retire. He seems to be running away from life: he leaves his service in St. Petersburg because he experiences feelings of fear and apprehension, and decides to live alone in his estate. And then he receives a second strong blow when his wife and friend betray him. When he finds out about the betrayal, fear drives him out of the house: “His hands were shaking, he was in a hurry and looked back at the house, he was probably scared.” It is not surprising that the hero of the story compares himself to a newborn midge, whose life consists of nothing but horrors.

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In the story “Ward No. 6” the theme of fear also comes to the fore. The hero of the story, Andrei Efimovich, is afraid of everything and everyone. Most of all, he is wary of reality. Nature itself looks scary to him. The most ordinary things and objects seem frightening: “This is reality!” thought Andrei Efimovich. The moon, and the prison, and the nails on the fence, and the distant flame in the bone plant were scary.” The fear of the incomprehensibility of life is presented in the story "The Man in the Case." This fear forces the hero to move away from reality. The hero of the story, Belikov, is always trying to “hide from life” in a case. His case is made of circulars and instructions, the implementation of which he constantly monitors. His fear is vague. He is afraid of everything and at the same time nothing specific. The most hated thing for him is failure to follow the rules and deviations from the regulations. Even insignificant little things plunge Belikov into mystical horror. “Reality irritated him, frightened him, kept him in constant anxiety, and, perhaps, in order to justify this timidity of his, his aversion to the present, he always praised the past and what never happened; and the ancient languages ​​that he taught , were for him, in essence, the same galoshes and an umbrella where he hid from real life." If Silin, out of fear of life, tries to hide in his estate, then Belikov’s fear of life forces him to hide in a case of rules and strict laws and, in the end, hide underground forever.

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The fairy tale by M.E. is dedicated to the problem of fear of life. Saltykov-Shchedrin “The Wise Minnow”. The life of a minnow flashes before the reader, simple in its structure, based on fear of the potential dangers of the world order. The hero's father and mother lived long life and died a natural death. And before leaving for another world, they bequeathed their son to be careful, since all the inhabitants of the water world, and even humans, could destroy him at any moment. The young minnow mastered his parents' science so well that he literally imprisoned himself in an underwater hole. He came out of it only at night, when everyone was sleeping, he was malnourished and all day long“trembled” - just so as not to be grabbed! He lived in this fear for 100 years, truly outliving his relatives, even though he was a small fish that anyone could swallow. And in this sense, his life was a success. His other dream also came true - to live in such a way that no one would ever know about the existence of wise minnow. Before his death, the hero thinks about what would happen if all the fish lived the same way as he does. And he begins to see the light: the race of minnows would cease! All possibilities passed him by - making friends, starting a family, raising children and passing on his life experience. He clearly realizes this before his death and, deep in thought, falls asleep, and then involuntarily violates the boundaries of his hole: “his snout” appears outward from the hole. And then there is scope for the reader’s imagination, because the author does not say what happened to the hero, but only states that he suddenly disappeared. There were no witnesses to this incident, so not only the task of living at least unnoticed was achieved by the gudgeon, but also the “ultimate task” - to also disappear unnoticed. The author bitterly sums up the life of his hero: “He lived and trembled, and he died - he trembled.”

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Often anxiety and caring for loved ones help you become brave. The little boy from the story by A.I. shows remarkable courage. Kuprin " White poodle"In the story, all the most important events are connected with the white poodle Artaud. The dog is one of the artists of the traveling troupe. Grandfather Lodyzhkin values ​​him very much and says about the dog: “He feeds, waters and clothes the two of us.” It is with the help of the image of a poodle that the author reveals human feelings and relationships. Grandfather and Seryozha love Artoshka and treat him as a friend and family member. That is why they do not agree to sell their beloved dog for any money. But Trilly’s mother believes: “Everything that can be bought is sold.” When her spoiled son wanted a dog, she offered the artists fabulous money and didn’t even want to hear that the dog was not for sale. When they couldn’t buy Artaud, they decided to steal it. Here, when grandfather Lodyzhkin showed weakness, Seryozha shows determination and takes a brave action worthy of an adult: return the dog at any cost. At the risk of his life, almost getting caught by the janitor, he frees his friend.

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True courage and courage in war can be shown not only by a soldier, a warrior, but also by an ordinary person, drawn by the forces of circumstances into a terrible cycle of events. Such a story of a simple woman is described in the novel by V.A. Zakrutkina “Mother of Man”. In September 1941, Hitler's troops advanced far into Soviet territory. Many regions of Ukraine and Belarus were occupied. What remained on the territory occupied by the Germans was a farm lost in the steppes, where a young woman Maria, her husband Ivan and their son Vasyatka lived happily. Having captured previously peaceful and abundant land, the Nazis destroyed everything, burned the farm, drove people to Germany, and hanged Ivan and Vasyatka. Only Maria managed to escape. Alone, she had to fight for her life and for the life of her unborn child

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V. Bykov’s story “Sotnikov” emphasizes the problem of real and imaginary courage and heroism, which is the essence storyline works. The main characters of the story - Sotnikov and Rybak - behaved differently in the same circumstances. The fisherman, cowardly, agreed to join the police, hoping to return to the partisan detachment at an opportunity. Sotnikov chooses a heroic death because he is a man with a heightened sense of responsibility, duty, and the ability not to think about himself, about his own fate, when the fate of the Motherland is being decided. Sotnikov's death became his moral triumph: "And if anything else cared about him in life, it was his last responsibilities towards people." The fisherman discovered shameful cowardice and cowardice and, for the sake of his salvation, agreed to become a policeman: “The opportunity to live has appeared - this is the main thing. Everything else will come later.”

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Courage and cowardice are themes that have long been raised in literary works (remember greatest monument ancient Russian literature"The Tale of Igor's Campaign"). The relevance of these topics is due to the fact that these qualities are inherent in every person, and in a situation of choice, he manifests himself either as brave and strong-willed, or as a coward who does not want to decide anything, putting everything on the shoulders of others. The relevance of these concepts for every person is confirmed by the abundance of proverbs and sayings dedicated to cowardice and courage, aphorisms and catchphrases.

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All arguments for the final essay in the direction of “Courage and Cowardice.” Does it take courage to say no?

Some people tend to be timid. Such people very often do not know how to refuse, which others take advantage of. The heroine of A.P.’s story can serve as such an example. Chekhov "". Yulia Vasilievna works as the narrator's governess. She is characterized by shyness, but this quality of hers reaches the point of absurdity. Even when she is openly oppressed and unjustly deprived of the money she has earned, she remains silent because her character does not allow her to fight back and say “no.” The heroine’s behavior shows us that courage is needed not only in emergency situations, but also in everyday life, when you need to stand up for yourself.

How is courage demonstrated in war?

Extreme conditions tend to reveal the true essence of a person. Confirmation of this can be found in the story of M.A. Sholokhov "The Fate of Man". During the war, Andrei Sokolov was captured by the Germans, he was starved, kept in a punishment cell for attempting to escape, but he did not lose his human dignity, did not behave like a coward. The situation is indicative when, for careless words, the camp commandant summoned him to his place to shoot him. But Sokolov did not give up his words, did not show his fear to the German soldiers. He was ready to face death with dignity, and for this his life was spared. However, after the war more awaited him serious challenge: he learned that his wife and daughters had died, and only a crater remained in place of the house. His son survived, but his father’s happiness was short-lived: on the last day of the war, Anatoly was killed by a sniper. Despair did not break his spirit; he found the courage to continue life. He adopted a boy who also lost his entire family during the war. Thus, Andrei Sokolov shows a wonderful example of how to maintain dignity, honor and remain courageous in the most difficult life situations. Such people make the world a better and kinder place.

How is courage demonstrated in war? What kind of person can be called brave?

War - terrible event in the life of any person. It takes away friends and loved ones, makes children orphans, and destroys hopes. War breaks some people, makes others stronger. A striking example of a courageous, strong-willed personality is Alexey Meresyev, the main character of “The Tale of a Real Man” by B.N. Polevoy. Meresyev, who has dreamed all his life of becoming a professional fighter pilot, is seriously wounded in battle, and both legs are amputated in the hospital. It seems to the hero that his life is over, he cannot fly, walk, and is losing hope of starting a family. While in a military hospital and seeing the example of courage of other wounded, he understands that he must fight. Every day, overcoming physical pain, Alexey does exercises. Soon he can walk and even dance. Meresyev is trying with all his might to get accepted into a flight school, because only in the sky does he feel like he belongs. Despite the serious demands placed on pilots, Alexey receives a positive response. The girl he loves does not give up on him: after the war they get married and have a son. Alexey Meresyev is an example of a man with an unbending will, whose courage even war could not break.

In the epic novel "" you can find many examples of human behavior in war. Thus, officer Zherkov shows himself as a person who is not ready to sacrifice himself for the sake of victory. During the Battle of Shengraben, he shows cowardice, which leads to the death of many soldiers. By order of Bagration, he must go to the left flank with a very important message - the order to retreat. However, Zherkov is a coward and does not convey the message. At this time, the French are attacking the left flank, and the authorities do not know what to do, because they did not receive any orders. Chaos begins: the infantry flees into the forest, and the hussars go on the attack. Because of Zherkov’s actions, a huge number of soldiers die. During this battle he is wounded young Nikolai Rostov, he and the hussars boldly rush into the attack, while other soldiers are in confusion. Unlike Zherkov, he did not chicken out, for which he was promoted to officer. Using the example of one episode in the work, we can see the consequences of courage and cowardice in war. Fear paralyzes some and forces others to act. Neither flight nor fight guarantees survival, but courageous behavior not only preserves honor, but also gives strength in battle, which increases the chances of survival.

How are the concepts of courage and self-confidence related? The courage to admit when you are wrong. What is the difference between true courage and false courage? What's the difference between being bold and taking risks? Do you need to have courage to admit your mistakes? Who can be called a coward?

Courage expressed in excessive self-confidence can lead to irreparable consequences. It is generally accepted that courage is positive quality character. This statement is true if it is associated with intelligence. but a fool can sometimes be dangerous. Thus, in the novel “Hero of Our Time” by M.Yu. Lermontov can find confirmation of this. The young cadet Grushnitsky, one of the characters in the chapter “Princess Mary,” is an example of a person who pays great attention to external manifestations of courage. He loves to impress people, speaks in pompous phrases and devotes his time to his military uniform excessive attention. He cannot be called a coward, but his courage is ostentatious and not aimed at real threats. Grushnitsky and Pechorin have a conflict, and their offended pride demands a duel with Grigory. However, Grushnitsky decides to be mean and does not load the enemy’s pistol. Finding out about this puts him in a difficult situation: ask for forgiveness or be killed. Unfortunately, the cadet cannot overcome his pride; he is ready to bravely face death, because recognition is unthinkable for him. His “courage” does no one any good. He dies because he does not realize that the courage to admit his mistakes is sometimes the most important thing.

How are the concepts of courage and riskiness, self-confidence, and stupidity related? What is the difference between arrogance and courage?

Another character whose courage was foolish is Azamat, Bela's younger brother. He is not afraid of risk and bullets whistling overhead, but his courage is stupid, even fatal. He steals his sister from home, risking not only his relationship with his father and his safety, but also Bela's happiness. His courage is not aimed either at self-defense or at saving lives, and therefore leads to sad consequences: his father and sister die at the hands of the robber from whom he stole a horse, and he himself is forced to flee to the mountains. Thus, courage can lead to dire consequences if it is used by a person to achieve goals or protect his ego.

Courage in love. Can love inspire people to great deeds?

Love inspires people to great deeds. Thus, the main characters of O. Henry’s story “” showed an example of courage to readers. For the sake of love, they sacrificed the most precious thing: Della gave her beautiful hair, and Jim gave him the watch he inherited from his father. In order to realize what is truly important in life, remarkable courage is required. Even more courage is needed to sacrifice anything for the sake of a loved one.

Can a brave man be afraid? Why shouldn't you be afraid to admit your feelings? What is the danger of indecisiveness in love?

A. Maurois in the story “” shows readers why indecision in love is dangerous. Main character story Andre falls in love with an actress named Jenny. He brings her violets every Wednesday, but does not even dare to approach her. Passions are seething in his soul, the walls of his room are hung with portraits of his beloved, but in real life he can't even write her a letter. The reason for this behavior lies in his fear of being rejected, as well as his lack of self-confidence. He considers his passion for the actress “hopeless” and elevates Jenny to an unattainable ideal. However, this person cannot be called a “coward”. A plan arises in his head: to go to war in order to accomplish a feat that will “bring him closer” to Jenny. Unfortunately, he dies there without having time to tell her about his feelings. After his death, Jenny learns from his father that he wrote many letters, but never sent a single one. If Andre had come closer to her at least once, he would have learned that for her “modesty, constancy and nobility are better than any feat.” This example proves that indecisiveness in love is dangerous because it prevents a person from becoming happy. It is likely that Andre's courage could make two people happy, and no one would have to mourn an unnecessary feat that did not bring him closer to his main goal.

What actions can be called courageous? What is the feat of a doctor? Why is it important to be brave in life? What does it mean to be brave in everyday life?

Doctor Dymov is a noble man who has chosen serving people as his profession. Only concern for others, their troubles and illnesses can be the reason for such a choice. Despite the hardships in his family life, Dymov thinks more about his patients than about himself. His dedication to his work often puts him in danger, so he dies saving a boy from diphtheria. He proves himself to be a hero by doing what he was not supposed to do. His courage, loyalty to his profession and duty do not allow him to do otherwise. To be a doctor with capital letters you need to be brave and decisive, like Osip Ivanovich Dymov.

What does cowardice lead to? What actions does cowardice push a person to do? Why is cowardice dangerous? What is the difference between fear and cowardice? Who can be called a coward? Can a brave man be afraid? Is it possible to say that there is only one step from fear to cowardice? Is cowardice a death sentence? How do extreme conditions affect courage? Why is it important to have courage when making your decisions? Can cowardice hinder personal development? Do you agree with Diderot’s statement: “We consider him a coward who allowed his friend to be insulted in his presence”? Do you agree with the statement of Confucius: “Cowardice is knowing what you should do and not doing it”

It's hard to always be brave. Sometimes even strong and honest people with high moral principles can get scared, like, for example, the hero of the story V.V. Zheleznikova Dima Somov. His character traits, such as “courage” and “correctness,” set him apart from other guys from the very beginning; he appears to readers as a hero who does not allow the weak to be offended, protects animals, strives for independence and loves work. During the hike, Dima saves Lena from her classmates, who began to scare her by wearing the “muzzles” of animals. It is for this reason that Lenochka Bessoltseva falls in love with him.

But over time, we observe the moral decline of the “hero” Dima. At first he is frightened by the problem with his classmate's brother and violates his principle. He does not talk about the fact that his classmate Valya is a flayer because he is afraid of his brother. But the next act showed a completely different side of Dima Somov. He deliberately allowed the whole class to think that Lena told the teacher about disrupting the lesson, although he did it himself. The reason for this act was cowardice. Further, Dima Somov plunges deeper and deeper into the abyss of fear. Even when they boycotted Lena and mocked her, Somov could not confess, although he had many chances. This hero was paralyzed by fear, turning him from a “hero” into an ordinary “coward” and devaluing all his positive qualities.

This hero shows us another truth: we are all made of contradictions. Sometimes we are brave, sometimes we are afraid. But there is a huge gap between fear and cowardice. Cowardice is not useful, it is dangerous, because it pushes a person to do bad things, awakens base instincts. And fear is something that is inherent in everyone. A person who performs a feat may be afraid. Heroes are afraid ordinary people they are afraid, and this is normal, fear itself is a condition for the survival of the species. But cowardice is an already formed character trait.

What does it mean to be brave? How does courage influence the formation of personality? In what life situations is courage best demonstrated? What is true courage? What actions can be called courageous? Courage is resistance to fear, not the absence of it. Can a brave man be afraid?

Lena Bessoltseva is one of the most strong images in Russian literature. From her example we can see the huge gap between fear and cowardice. This is a little girl who finds herself in an unfair situation. She is inherently afraid: she is frightened by the cruelty of children, she is afraid of stuffed animals at night. But in fact, she turns out to be the bravest of all the heroes, because she is able to stand up for those who are weaker, she is not afraid of universal condemnation, she is not afraid of being special, not like those around her. Lena proves her courage many times, such as when she rushes to Dima's aid when he is in danger, even though he betrayed her. Her example taught the whole class about goodness and showed that everything in the world is not always decided by force. “And longing, such a desperate longing for human purity, for selfless courage and nobility, more and more captured their hearts and demanded a way out.”

Is it necessary to defend the truth, to fight for justice? Do you agree with Diderot’s statement: “We consider him a coward who allowed his friend to be insulted in his presence”? Why is it important to have the courage to stand up for your ideals? Why are people afraid to express their opinions? Do you agree with the statement of Confucius: “Cowardice is knowing what you should do and not doing it”

It takes courage to fight injustice. The hero of the story, Vasiliev, saw injustice, but due to his weakness of character, he could not resist the team and its leader, Iron Button. This hero tries not to offend Lena Bessoltseva, refuses to beat her, but at the same time tries to maintain neutrality. Vasiliev tries to protect Lena, but he lacks character and courage. On the one hand, there remains hope that this character will improve. Perhaps the example of the brave Lena Bessoltseva will help him overcome his fears and teach him to stand up for the truth, even if everyone around him is against it. On the other hand, Vasiliev’s behavior and what his inaction led to teaches us that we cannot stand by if you understand that injustice is happening. Silent agreement Vasiliev is instructive, since many of us face similar situations in life. But there is a question that every person should ask themselves before making a choice: is there anything worse than knowing about injustice, witnessing it and simply remaining silent? Courage, like cowardice, is a matter of choice.

Do you agree with the statement: “You can never live happily when you are always trembling with fear”? How is suspiciousness related to cowardice? Why is fear dangerous? Can fear prevent a person from living? How do you understand Helvetius’s statement: “To be completely devoid of courage, one must be completely devoid of desires”? How do you understand the common expression: “fear has big eyes”? Is it possible to say that a person fears what he does not know? How do you understand Shakespeare's statement: “Cowards die many times before they die, but the brave die only once”?

"The Wise Piskar" - instructive story about the dangers of fear. The gudgeon lived and trembled all his life. He thought himself very clever because he made a cave in which he could be safe, but reverse side such existence became a complete absence of real life. He didn't create a family, didn't make friends, didn't breathe full breasts, did not eat to his fill, did not live, just sat in his hole. He sometimes thought about whether someone benefited from his existence, he understood that there was no, but fear did not allow him to leave his comfort and safety zone. So Piskar died without knowing any joy in life. Many people can see themselves in this instructive allegory. This fairy tale teaches us not to be afraid of life. Yes, it is full of dangers and disappointments, but if you are afraid of everything, then when to live?

Do you agree with the words of Plutarch: “Courage is the beginning of victory”? Is it important to be able to overcome your fears? Why do you need to fight fears? What does it mean to be brave? Is it possible to cultivate courage in yourself? Do you agree with Balzac’s statement: “Fear can make a daredevil timid, but it gives courage to the indecisive”? Can a brave man be afraid?

The problem of overcoming fear is also explored in Veronica Roth's novel Divergent. Beatrice Prior, the main character of the work, leaves her home, the Abnegation faction, to become Dauntless. She is afraid of her parents' reaction, afraid of not going through the initiation rite, of not being accepted in a new place. But her main strength is that she challenges all her fears and faces them. Tris puts herself in great danger by being in the company of Dauntless, because she is “different”, people like her are destroyed. This scares her terribly, but she is much more afraid of herself. She does not understand the nature of her difference from others, she is frightened by the thought that her very existence could be dangerous for people.

The fight against fears is one of the key problems of the novel. So, Beatrice’s lover’s name is Faure, which means “four” in English. This is exactly the number of fears he needs to overcome. Tris and For fearlessly fight for their lives, for justice, for peace in the city they call home. They defeat both external and internal enemies, which undoubtedly characterizes them as brave people.

A.I. Kuprin "Garnet Bracelet"
Georgy Zheltkov is a minor official whose life is dedicated to unrequited love to Princess Vera. As you know, his love began long before her marriage, but he preferred to write letters to her and pursued her. The reason for this behavior lay in his lack of self-confidence and fear of being rejected. Perhaps if he were braver, he could become happy with the woman he loves.

Can a person be afraid of happiness? Do you need to have courage to change your life? Is it necessary to take risks?

Vera Sheina was afraid to be happy and wanted a calm marriage, without shocks, so she married the cheerful and handsome Vasily, with whom everything was very simple, but great love she didn't experience it. Only after the death of her admirer, looking at his dead body, Vera realized that the love that every woman dreams of had passed her by. The moral of this story is this: you need to be brave not only in everyday life, but also in love, you need to take risks without fear of being rejected. Only courage can lead to happiness, cowardice and, as a result, conformism leads to great disappointment, as happened with Vera Sheina.

How do you understand Twain's statement: “Courage is the resistance to fear, not the absence of it”? How is willpower related to courage? Do you agree with the words of Plutarch: “Courage is the beginning of victory”? Is it important to be able to overcome your fears? Why do you need to fight fears? What does it mean to be brave? Is it possible to cultivate courage in yourself? Do you agree with Balzac’s statement: “Fear can make a daredevil timid, but it gives courage to the indecisive”? Can a brave man be afraid?

Many writers have addressed this topic. Thus, E. Ilyina’s story “The Fourth Height” is dedicated to overcoming fears. Gulya Koroleva is an example of courage in all its manifestations. Her whole life is a battle with fear, and each of her victories is a new height. In the work we see the life story of one person, the formation of a real personality. Every step she takes is a manifesto of determination. From the first lines of the story, little Gulya shows real courage in a variety of life situations. Overcoming childhood fears, he takes a snake out of the box with bare hands, sneaks into a cage with elephants at the zoo. The heroine grows up, and the challenges encountered in life become more serious: the first role in a movie, the admission of being wrong, the ability to take responsibility for one’s actions. Throughout the entire work, she struggles with her fears, does what she is afraid of. Already an adult, Gulya Koroleva gets married, her son is born, it seems that her fears have been conquered, she can live in peace family life, but her biggest challenge lies ahead. The war begins, and her husband goes to the front. She fears for her husband, for her son, for the future of the country. But fear does not paralyze her, does not force her to hide. The girl is walking work as a nurse in a hospital to help somehow. Unfortunately, her husband dies, and Gulya is forced to continue to fight alone. She goes to the front, unable to look at the horrors happening to her loved ones. The heroine takes the fourth height, she dies, having defeated the very last fear living in a person, the fear of death. On the pages of the story we see how the main character is afraid, but she overcomes all her fears; such a person can undoubtedly be called a brave man.

Courage. What it is? I think that courage is decisiveness in thoughts and actions, the ability to stand up for yourself and for other people who need your help, overcoming all sorts of fears: for example, fear of the dark, of someone else's brute force, of life's obstacles and difficulties. Is it easy to be brave? Not easy. This quality probably needs to be cultivated from childhood. Overcoming your fears, moving forward despite difficulties, developing willpower, not being afraid to defend your opinion - all this will help cultivate in yourself such a quality as courage. Synonyms for the word “courage” are “courage”, “determination”, “courage”. The antonym is “cowardice.” Cowardice is one of the human vices. We are afraid of many things in life, but fear and cowardice are not the same thing. I think that out of cowardice comes meanness. A coward will always hide in the shadows, remain on the sidelines, fearing for his own life, betray in order to save himself.

The theme of courage and cowardice is also reflected in fiction, in particular in the works of the Russian writer Maxim Gorky.

“We sing glory to the madness of the brave!” - wrote M. Gorky in his “Song about the Falcon”. This work is a hymn to courage and courage. In a battle with enemies, Falcon received his mortal wounds and is bleeding. Already, for whom the main thing is that it is “warm and damp,” does not understand what heaven, battle, real life is, and not a miserable existence. A Sokol and last minutes in his life he thinks not about pain and wounds, but about a bold flight in the sky, about the battle with the enemy. Courage lives in Gorky's hero. The falcon does not want to die, lying on the rocks, bleeding. On the advice of the snake, he approaches the edge of the cliff and rushes down, making his last flight. “The madness of the brave is the wisdom of life!” - exclaims the author. Without people like Falcon, life would be dull and joyless.

In M. Gorky's story “The Old Woman Izergil” there is a legend about Danko. The image of his burning heart has long become a symbol of love for people, readiness to give his life for them. Danko's courage is manifested in the fact that he was not afraid to take responsibility for the lives of other people who had a choice: either die or go through dense forest to be saved. Danko stood at the head of these people. The path was difficult, many died in the forest. And when they lost faith that they would come out of the thicket, the brave Danko illuminated the path for them with his heart and led the people to freedom. But the writer is not only talking about courage. He talks about Danko's compatriots who were afraid to die so as not to lose their traditions. I think they were simply cowardly, afraid of their enemies, and who needs the traditions of cowards. After all, they did not fight for their land, but left, giving it to the enemy. Gorky calls the one who steps on Danko’s heart so that it doesn’t shine a cautious person more people. I would call such a coward. A “cautious person” is afraid of the brave, because it is easier to live without them.

In conclusion, I would like to say that this topic of the essay made me think about what role courage and cowardice play in our lives, how to cultivate the best human qualities in ourselves, become brave and strong, and not be a coward.