The story of A.P. Chekhov “The Death of an Official” is one of early works writer, included in the collection “Motley Stories” in 1886. It was written in the spirit of artistic realism. This trend in literature in Russia developed in the second half of the 19th century. At the end of the work, the writer goes beyond its scope, since he considered ridicule of death unacceptable.
Chekhov, “The Death of an Official”: summary, analysis
The theme of the “little” person - the official, who is often in constant uncertainty and confusion for no reason, is brought to the fore here. This is exactly how the author protests against any suppression of the individual. Summary Chekhov's story “The Death of an Official” very clearly reflects all the consequences of such treatment.
Heroes
There are only three characters in the story. This is a low-ranking official, Ivan Dmitrievich Chervyakov, his wife and General Brizzhalov. The main focus of the work is on the official who has become the object of ridicule. But the character of the remaining characters is left undisclosed by A.P. Chekhov. “The Death of an Official” (summary) describes Chervyakov as a small, pitiful and comical person. His stupid and absurd persistence evokes genuine laughter, and his humiliation generates pity. In his persistent apologies to the general, he goes beyond all limits and renounces his human dignity.
Opposition
Analyzing the topic “Chekhov, “Death of an Official”: summary, analysis,” it should be noted that the author contrasts two personalities in the plot. This is the boss and the subordinate.
It is with the conflict that A.P. Chekhov begins his story “The Death of an Official.” The summary shows its traditional development: General Brizhalov eventually shouted at his subordinate, because of this Chervyakov dies of cardiac arrest. It would seem like a familiar plot pattern. However, the work contains the presence of certain innovative techniques, because the general shouted at his subordinate only after he himself brought him down with his annoying apologies.
A comical and somewhat unexpected turn of events lies in the worldview of the official Chervyakov, who died not at all because of fear, but because the general, as a man of high rank, violated his “sacred principles.”
Chekhov has not changed his style; his brevity is amazing. His works always contain a deep meaning, which can only be understood through artistic details.
Summary of the story “The Death of an Official”, Chekhov
Now, in fact, we can proceed to the plot of the work itself. Petty official Ivan Dmitrievich Chervyakov, acting as the caretaker of the institution, sits in the second row, looks through binoculars and enjoys the operetta of the French composer Plunkett “The Bells of Corneville”. Then his face wrinkled, his eyes rolled up, his breath caught, he bent over and sneezed. Chervyakov was a very polite man, he wiped himself with a handkerchief and looked around to see if he had hurt anyone with his sneeze. And suddenly I discovered that the old man sitting in front was wiping his bald spot with a handkerchief and muttering something. Taking a closer look, Ivan Dmitrievich saw that it was none other than State General Brizzhalov. This makes him feel sick. He awkwardly pulled himself up to him and began to whisper words of apology in his ear.
Trifles
Chekhov continues “The Death of an Official” (we present a summary of the work in the review) with the fact that the general replied that, in general, nothing terrible happened. But he continued to apologize further, then the general asked to let him calmly listen to the rest of the operetta. But the official did not let up and even during the intermission approached the general and began to ask for forgiveness, to which he replied that he had long forgotten about it.
But now it seemed to Chervyakov that the general was being sarcastic and probably thought that he wanted to spit at him. The official came home and told his wife about what had happened; she was frightened and said that her husband had taken this too lightly, that she needed to go to a reception with the general and ask for forgiveness again.
The next day, dressed in a new uniform, he goes to the general. Which turned out to have a lot of visitors in the waiting room. After interviewing several visitors, the general saw Chervyakov, who again began with his ridiculous apologies for yesterday. Brizzhalov answered with dignity: “Yes, that’s enough! What nonsense!
Apologies
But Chervyakov did not stop and even suggested writing an explanatory letter. And then the general could not stand it and shouted at him, believing that he was simply mocking him. However, Chervyakov muttered in bewilderment that he was not laughing at all.
In general, when he came home, he thought about it and decided to go to the general again tomorrow. The next day, Brizzhalov simply could not stand it and yelled at him: “Get out!”
This is how Chekhov ends “The Death of an Official.” The summary at the end tells that Chervyakov felt ill, he backed towards the door and mechanically trudged home. Returning to the apartment, he lay down on the sofa in his uniform and died.
There are not so many characters in this work, but each of them is capable of filling the void that the author created. He did this to make each image stand out in its own way. Mr. Chervyakov especially stands out here.
This character is truly special. He has his own character traits. It became his habit that he should practically not show himself to people. He usually sits quietly like a mouse and tries not to stick his head out of the hole. His moral principles began to include the rule that he was obligated to honor people above him in rank. He must obey them unquestioningly in everything. In a word, he revered people higher in rank than him as gods. Living his life in this way, he formed his character under the influence of this belief. That is, his behavior clearly corresponded to his beliefs. And his last name only emphasizes him low level self-esteem. He did not have his own goal in life, he did not even have his own opinion about this or that event.
Throughout the entire work, his character is increasingly revealed to the reader. The worm is disgusting because he always obeys everyone. Even if he is treated unfairly, he will not say a word in his own defense. An example is one case with Chervyakov. At one point in the work, the character cannot restrain himself and accidentally sneezes on an official who is senior to him in rank. After this incident, Chervyakov is looking for an opportunity to meet this official and apologize to him. However, despite the fact that the official has long forgiven Chervyakov, he continues to persecute him. After some time, the official gets tired of this and takes out his anger on Chervyakov. He, depressed by this fact, returns to his house, where he lies down on his bed and dies.
From all of the above, it is worth concluding that Chervyakov was such a coward that he was afraid to express his justification to a higher-ranking person. He was very afraid of losing his position. The author shows that this character reached such a point of absurdity that he managed to die of shame. If a person is in a lower rank, he does not have to bow to a higher rank. Like a worm, he lost his dignity with such a worldview.
Option 2
In Chekhov’s work “The Death of an Official” we are introduced, although not to such a large number characters, but still these characters, with their image, sufficiently fill all that emptiness intentionally created by the author to create allegorical images. It is necessary to single out Chervyakov from these characters.
Chervyakov is a special person, with his own unique character traits, he is a person who is used to sitting quietly below the grass and not showing himself in public. His worldview is that people like him are obliged to serve people higher in rank, literally considering them gods. He lived like this almost his entire life, relying on these beliefs, and he formed his character in this way. Even his last name speaks of him as a low, pitiful person, without his own opinion and purpose in life.
In the work, his low character is revealed with new strength. He is shown to us as a disgusting person, disgusting precisely because of his compliance, spinelessness, and all-consuming submission. The plot reveals to us a situation where Chervyakov, having accidentally sneezed on a senior person, pursues him with constant apologies, and even despite the accepted apology, he still continues to pursue this person, and, accordingly, that person cannot stand it and shouts at Chervyakov. Chervyakov, crushed by this fact, returns home, where he goes to bed and dies.
From all of the above, we conclude that his image is based only on helpfulness and cowardice, the fear of opposing something to higher ranks, for fear of losing his position. Through this image, the author tells us how absurd the relations between officials were at that time, that it could even lead to death from shame, from which Chervyakov died. Unable to accept reproach from a higher rank, he could not cope with his emotions and died in shame.
It should also be noted that through this same image the author conveyed the absurdity of the excessive devotion of low ranks to higher ones. Since, in essence, they are all equal, it’s just that someone was lucky to advance in their career, that is, they ended up with the right people in right time, and some were not so lucky, and they remained forever in low ranks, but this is by no means a reason to curry favor with them and be so pathetic and fall as low as Chervyakov did.
Essay about Chervyakov
Chekhov, as an author, always tried to ridicule any human vice in his works in order to convey to the reader all the irregularities and fallacies of human behavior, in order to correct human behavior and give him the right vector of development, which he often succeeded in doing. One way or another, reflecting on some problem in the work, often with the help of satire, he pushes the reader to think exactly the same way; the work “The Death of an Official” serves as an example.
In the work, the narrative line tells us about the story of one person, which, with its comedy, cannot help but make you smile, although quite tragic events are described in the work. In the work the author talks about human cowardice, which, exceeding all conceivable and inconceivable limits, reaches its peak, the highest point, after which it begins to fly down with a roar. This topic can be clearly seen in the image of the character Chervyakov.
Chervyakov – as his last name says symbolically, is a real worm in human form. He allows the people around him to push him around, often even this does not depend on his status. Chervyakov simply wants to be controlled by someone, because since childhood he has been accustomed to curry favor with his superiors, as well as with any other person who is in one way or another trying to influence Chervyakov.
For Chervyakov, there is nothing worse than the loss of honor or general trust, and therefore he tries to protect his honor and convictions, which does not work out so well when serving the people around you. Chervyakov is truly a spineless person who will do anything to please, or benefit, his master, which characterizes him as a very unpleasant person, who with his whole appearance creates an unpleasant picture in the entire work.
The author also highlights in Chervyakov his base thresholds, such as cowardice, so that, in contrast with the other characters in the work, Chervyakov seems even more detached and flawed, which also played an important role in the structure of the entire narrative and plot.
I believe that this is exactly what the author tried to convey to the reader with the help of the image of Chervyakov in the work “The Death of an Official.” However, the opinion described in this essay does not pretend to be objective, as it is based on subjective perception.
Sample 4
In Chekhov's famous work “The Death of an Official,” the reader is introduced to an impressive number of heroes. However, these characters skillfully fill the void and make complete picture in the work. One of these characters is Chervyakov.
Chervyakov is a man who has a unique character. This person can be described as a very calm person who does not like to appear in public. He believes that it is people like him who should serve people of higher rank. This situation suited him, because he lived like this almost all his life and did not want to change anything. His character was like that and it could not be changed. The surname of this character is also telling. The surname suggests that this hero is a rather pathetic, low person who does not have his own opinion.
In the story “The Death of an Official,” the terrible character of this hero is revealed from a new side. Chekhov shows him to the reader as a negative, disgusting, stubborn, spineless person who does not mind being controlled. There is a situation in the plot where it is said that Chervyakov accidentally sneezed on a person of higher rank. Then he began to apologize endlessly. This person naturally accepts the apology, however, Chervyakov does not calm down and continues to apologize endlessly, as a result the person breaks down and shouts at Chervyakov. Chervyakov is very depressed by this fact; he came home in a depressed state and went to bed. In his sleep, in fact, he died.
From the current situation, we can say that Chervyakov’s image was built only on the fact that he served everyone and was quite cowardly. He was afraid to say a word against someone, especially if it was a person above his rank. With this hero, Chekhov wanted to show the reader how absurd the relationship between people was at that time. A man could die of shame. It's horrible. Chervyakov simply could not cope with his emotions from this and died.
One can also say that the author of the work “Death of an Official” through this image wanted to show the absurdity of all these titles and ranks. First of all, these are all people. It’s just that someone was luckier in life and was awarded a higher rank. However, this is not a reason for a person to lose self-esteem and feel like a servant for someone. After all, the fact that you are lower in rank is not a reason to become a servant for someone. It is a pity that Chervyakov did not understand this. He lived his life in vain and died a stupid death of shame. However, things could have turned out differently if this hero had self-esteem.
They say that money cannot buy true friendship. An exception to this rule is a puppy who was bought by a new owner. The dog is probably the only thing living creature, which will not betray its owner.
Thunderstorm is the most famous work by Alexander Ostrovsky. In it, the author tries, as accurately as possible, to tell what changes took place in late XIX century.
Olya Meshcherskaya - main character story " Easy breathing» Ivan Bunin. This is a young girl, a high school student. She is a little over fifteen years old.
- Category: Preparation for the State Examination
Time and history of creation
The story “The Death of an Official” was first published in the magazine “Oskolki” in 1883 with the subtitle “The Case.” Included in the collection "Motley Stories".
A minor official, Ivan Dmitrich Chervyakov, was watching the play “The Bells of Corneville” and sneezed. He apologized, but, to his horror, he saw that the civil general sitting in front of him was wiping his bald head and neck with a glove, since Chervyakov had accidentally sprayed him. Chervyakov is frozen with horror. During intermission, he apologizes to the general again, who irritably accepts the apology.
But this incident haunts Chervyakov. He comes to the general's place of duty to apologize again. Again he receives indifference in response and decides to write a letter to the general. But he changes his mind and again goes to the general with an apology. He, enraged by his intrusiveness, shouts at him and orders him to get out. Chervyakov could not bear such a general’s “scolding”, came home, lay down on the sofa, without taking off his uniform, and died.
Poetics, composition, idea
The genre of the work is short story. The work is very small in volume, has a clearly defined composition, each part of which carries an important semantic load.
The first two sentences are the exposition of the story: “One fine evening, an equally wonderful executor, Ivan Dmitrich Chervyakov, sat in the second row of chairs and looked through binoculars at the Bells of Corneville.” He looked and felt at the height of bliss.”
This fragment contains important information: the hero of the story is a small man, a minor official. The author's irony is heard both in the twice repeated word “beautiful” and in the word “at the height of bliss,” which clearly exaggeratedly and mockingly conveys the state of the executor.
Following this intensification of “beauty” we wait for an unexpected turn, and then follows: “suddenly” - the official’s sneeze: “His face wrinkled, his eyes rolled up, his breathing stopped... he took the binoculars away from his eyes, bent over and... apchhi!!! »
This episode is the beginning of the conflict. The comical nature of the situation is enhanced by the author’s comment: “Everyone is sneezing.”
Next unfolds " internal conflict“: Chervyakov understands that he “concerned” not just a person, but a general. From this moment on, he not only ceases to be “at the height of bliss,” but with each subsequent episode he slides into the abyss of awareness of his human insignificance. The “electricity of rank” has an irresistible effect on him. It is this fear of a higher rank and the awareness of his insignificance that ultimately leads to his death.
Chervyakov will now go to “explain” his offense, because the general “impatiently moved lower lip", and "Chervyakov saw malice in his eyes."
His actions are now driven by fear. The official's further behavior is absurd.
The absurdity of the situation increases: “The next day Chervyakov put on a new uniform, cut his hair and went to Brizzhalov to explain...”
These details of preparation for a conversation with the general, emphasized by Chekhov, give a vivid description of the state of his hero: for him this is a solemn moment of deciding his future fate.
With each subsequent apology from Chervyakov, the general's increasingly irritated reaction makes an explanation increasingly impossible. Chervyakov, with manic persistence, wants to “explain himself,” since only after “true” forgiveness will he be able to restore his peace of mind.
Chervyakov’s “rebellion” looks comical when the general once again exposes him, suspecting ridicule of the official’s sincere servility: “What kind of ridicule is there? - thought Chervyakov. - There is no ridicule here at all! General, he can’t understand! When this happens, I will no longer apologize to this fanfare! To hell with him! I’ll write him a letter, but I won’t go! By God, I won’t!”
But he couldn't invent letters - intellectual abilities officials are mortally struck by fear of high rank.
The climax of the story is last trip Chervyakova to the general with an apology for the involuntary sneeze. The cry of an angry general appears to the official as a terrible shock, a blatant injustice that his humiliated consciousness cannot bear. The denouement comes - the death of the official.
The outcome of this insignificant situation is also ridiculous and absurd: a person does not die from such trifles (he sneezed unsuccessfully, did not apologize convincingly enough, found himself in awkward situation with a superior person, etc.). But already in the title “The Death (Not of a Person!) of an Official,” Chekhov emphasizes that this is possible precisely in the case of an official who has lost other life guidelines and values, except for official ones.
Chekhov's work is a story not about the disappearance of a unique human individuality, but about the cessation of functioning of a cog of some soulless mechanism.
The writer exaggerates the situation, the character of the hero, emphasizes his “reptile” nature with a telling surname.
The story contains the comic, turning into an accusatory one: the destruction of humanity in a person, the absence of the life of the spirit, the replacement of life with “functioning” as a cog of the state mechanism - this is sharply condemned by the writer. This is the idea of the story “Death of an Official.”
"The world of the "little" man in little story A.P. Chekhov's "Death of an Official". The right to grovel.
Plot, genre, chronotope.
Target: development of reading culture and understanding of the author's position.
Subject study results:
Personal
results:
- encourage students to think about human dignity.
Metasubject
results:
- ability to listen, reason, comment, draw conclusions;
Work with text, find the necessary information in it, process it; master speech (monologue, dialogical);
Subject
results:
in the cognitive sphere- the ability to analyze a story, characterize Chervyakov, understand and formulate a theme, an idea;
in the value-orientation sphere– evaluate the author’s idea, express your opinion;
in the communication field– perceive the reading of a story by ear, answer questions about the text, construct a monologue text;
in the aesthetic sphere– understand the role that artistic detail plays in creating an image.
Visual material.
Multimedia presentation, portrait of Chekhov.
Handout material.
Text of the story "Death of an Official".
Appendix 1. Student work card (for each).
Appendix 2. Additional material (on the desk).
Board design
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov
"Death of an Official"
The world of the “little man” in Chekhov’s short story ??????? Right to grovel
Illustrations for the story.
??????? Why did Ivan Dmitrich Chervyakov die?
Plot, genre, chronotope. Epigraph for the lesson.
Recognize your insignificance, you know where? Before God
perhaps before intelligence, beauty, nature, but not before
people. Among people you need to be aware of your
dignity.
A. Chekhov - brother Mikhail
Lesson progress
Goal setting
Today we continue the conversation about the wonderful writer Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. We remembered his biography, analyzed the story “Tosca”, and went on an excursion to the A.P. House-Museum. Chekhov. Thus, at least for a little while, we plunged into the world of the writer. You have already seen, I hope, that it is not without reason that they talk about the beauty of Chekhov’s work, where words are cramped and thoughts spacious, where every word is meaningful and capacious, like a deep vessel with a narrow neck: you look into it, but you won’t see the bottom... But you definitely need to see: for this you need to get used to it - then your eyes will begin to discern many things that you can’t see right away, in bright light...
Let us turn to his story “The Death of an Official.”
Written on the board TWO LESSON TOPICS. Unusual...I would like you to decide for yourself at the end of the lesson which topic was more important for you.
Today we will analyze Chekhov's story "The Death of an Official".
??? What would you suggest to cover in class?(students' answers)
GOALS: In today's lesson
Let’s analyze the story, talk about its plot, genre, chronotope;
let's characterize the main character;
Let's track how the theme of the "little man" develops in Chekhov's work;
Let's answer the question: Why did Ivan Dmitrich Chervyakov die?
As you work through the lesson, you fill out the cards in front of you.
Today we will need a dictionary for the story and additional material.
What is the story behind the creation of the story “Death of an Official”?
(students tell using additional material)
History of creation:
According to Chekhov’s recollections, the plot of the story “Death of an Official” was told to Anton Pavlovich Begichev(former director of Moscow theaters). It was simple: some man, who carelessly sneezed in the theater, came to see him the next day. to a stranger and began to apologize for causing him trouble in the theater. Funny anecdotal incident.“The Death of an Official” refers to the so-called early stories of the writer. Published in 1883 in the magazine "Oskolki" with subtitle - "Happening".“The Death of an Official,” like other stories of the writer, are included by the author in 1886 collection “Motley Stories.”
Motivation for cognitive activity
Before reading. Forecast.
??? What is this work about? The title is “Death of an Official.” Your forecast: what will we talk about?
Getting to know the text.
Your impressions...
Formation of skills and abilities
Analysis of the epigraph for the lesson.
(Teacher reads lines)
Recognize your insignificance, you know where? Before God, perhaps, before intelligence, beauty, nature, but not before people. Among people you need to be aware of your dignity.
????This is what Anton Pavlovich wrote to his brother Mikhail. How do you understand this idea? What does this quote have to do with "Death of an Official"?
We proceed directly to the analysis of the work. Plot.
??? What is a plot?
The course of events in a literary text.
??? What are the plot elements?
Exposition, plot, development of action, climax, fall of action, epilogue.
Assignment: Find and write down plot elements in a story(entry in work cards)
1.Exposition. Ivan Chervyakov in the theater.
2. The beginning. The official sneezed and sprayed the general.
3. Development of action. Chervyakov goes to apologize to the general.
4. Climax. The general shouted and stamped his feet.
5.Decoupling. The official died.
Task: Make a quotation story (entry in work cards)
“...Ivan Dmitrich Chervyakov sat in the second row of seats and...felt at the height of bliss.”
2. “...bent over and...apchhi!!!”
3. “...the old man...was diligently wiping his bald spot...”
4. “You need to apologize.”
5. “I apologized, but he was somehow strange...”
6. “What nonsense...”
7. “General, he can’t understand!”
8. “Get out!!!”
9. “...he lay down on the sofa and...died.”
CONCLUSION: What does this alignment of events give us? As always, Chekhov’s simplicity of plot hides a deep meaning. And it can only be known through artistic details, which are designed to convey to the reader the main idea.
3. Next stage: Chronotope.
??? What is a chronotope?
Chronotope is time and space in a work of art.
Exercise(group work)
Let's analyze the time and space of "Death of an Official" together.
Time
Space
One fine evening
Arcadia Theater
That same evening
At home
The next day
General's reception room
Same day
At home
The next day
General's reception room
Same day
At home
??? What features of the chronotope did you notice?
Just three days, alternating official locations.
CONCLUSION: What did the analysis of time and space in the work give us???
It is as if the plot is being threaded together.
We see the so-called suffering of the hero.
You can determine the genre of the work.
4. Genre “Death of an Official”
??? What is the genre of the work? Define a story.
The story is an epic genre of small volume, requiring at least two events and a shock ending. The story is characterized by an economy mode.
??? Prove it's a story(students' answers)
The story “Death of an Official” has a very small volume, three , a minimum of events, an economical narrative, an unexpected ending.
Philologists claim that Chekhov's story is a fusion of anecdote and parable.
Chekhov's story is rooted in the tradition of anecdote and parable. Chekhov's stories are a fusion of anecdote and parable.
(Joke(Greek) - a short entertaining story about an unexpected event with an unpredictable ending.
Parable – short story in an edifying form, claiming to be a universal generalization)
5. Very often writers use so-called Speaking Names in their works.
??? What kind of reception is this?
??? Why do writers use telling names in their works?
??? Remember the telling names in works of Russian literature?
??? Why does Chervyakov have a first name, patronymic, and last name, but the general only has a last name? (for Chekhov, the general is a minor figure. Chervyakov is important to him. The general is deprived of a name and patronymic, and this is natural, because we see him through the eyes of Chervyakov, and he sees only the uniform (this word is often repeated in the text) of an important person)
Look at the meanings of the names.
Ivan(Old Hebrew) - God granted, the mercy of God.
Dmitry(ancient Greek) – dedicated to Demeter, the goddess of fertility and agriculture.
Chervyakov- a worm, a worm, a ringed, legless animal that crawls, reptiles
Brizzhalov- to rattle - to strum, to tremble, to chatter; disdain – shout in a sharp voice, grumble
??? Why this choice?
Ivan. God gave life to the hero.
Dmitry. Connection with the ground on which it crawls.
Worm. An animal that crawls on the ground is a reptile.
CONCLUSION: God himself gave the hero the life of a man, and he turned it into the life of an animal.
6. Keywords
Exercise. Write down the key words (verbs) that create the image of the official.
I looked - 5 times. Sneezed - 6 times. Confused - 3 times.
Sprayed - 5 times. Apologize – 7 times. Explain – 5 times.
Muttered - 3 times. Sorry - 1 time. Understand – 1 time
??? How do they characterize Chervyakov?
As we work on the image of Chervyakov, we write down the characteristics on the board.
Chervyakov's image:
modest official, "little man"
official not by line of service, but by nature
grovelling voluntarily
constantly humiliated
renounced his human dignity, etc.
7. Creative task. Imagine that a general found out about Chervyakov’s death. Compose a monologue of a general after the death of an official.
8. Interpretation of the story. "The Little Man" by Chekhov
A.P. Chekhov addresses the traditional theme of the “little man”
??? What heroes in Russian literature are “little people”? Give examples.
1. They all occupy one of lowest places in the social hierarchy.
2. Humiliation combined with a feeling of injustice, wounded pride.
3. “Little Man” often performs in opposition to a "significant person", and the development of the plot is constructed mainly as a story of resentment, insult.
??? Chervyakov – “little man”?
Chervyakov could be classified as one of the traditional “little man” types in Russian literature.
Chekhov presents us with the theme of the “little man” in a completely different way.
??? TO then he can say: where did Chekhov’s innovation manifest itself?
Behind the anecdotal situation in Chekhov's humorous stories there often appears psychological paradox.
Paradox– unexpected, unusual, contrary to common sense.
??? What psychological paradox are we talking about in the story “The Death of an Official”?
Traditional in Russian prose about “ little man“The pair of a formidable general - a timid official in Chekhov’s story turned upside down: the modest official turned into an oppressor (executioner), and his Excellency into an oppressed victim. Brizzhalov's high bureaucratic rank did not prevent him from staying normal person. Chervyakov, on the contrary, even with his low rank, is not a person.
He wrote to his brother Alexander in 1885 (after the creation of the story “The Death of an Official”) about “little” people: “Have mercy on your oppressed college registrars! Can’t you just smell that this topic has already become obsolete and is making you yawn? And where in Asia do you find the torment that the chino-shi experience in your stories? Truly I tell you, it’s scary to even read! It is now more realistic to portray collegiate registrars who do not allow their excellencies to live.”
??? Do you agree with this thought of M. Rybnikova: “ This is a story about FEAR. The general was a major official, and Chervyakov was a minor official. Such was the way of life, such was the system, that the younger ones were terribly afraid of the older ones. He apologized ten times, he yelled at him, Chervyakov got scared and died” (students’ answers)
It's not about fear. Chervyakov does not understand why the general did not curse him. After all, that’s the way it’s supposed to be. And Chervyakov died not from fright at all, but from the fact that a man of high rank violated his sacred principles.
??? Why is Chervyakov pursuing the general?
In Chekhov's works there are many characters with stereotypical thinking who live according to the “program”. Chervyakov believes that the general must humiliate and punish a minor official for any mistake. Shown here program crash: Chervyakov doesn't understand, why the general does not listen to his apologies. It seems to be doing everything right, but achieving the opposite effect.
??? Why did Chervyakov die?
If Chervyakov was humiliated in his human dignity, it was by no means by General Brizzhalov. Chervyakov humiliates his human dignity, at the same time very persistently, only myself. So, Chekhov's Chervyakov is an official not by type of service or position, but by nature. This type exists in any environment and in any people. He, alas, is eternal, immortal. Hero of "Death of an Official" died because he was not understood and satisfied with the RIGHT TO CROSS.
??? Why did Chervyakov die without taking off his uniform?
Violation of logic in actions people in Chekhov's works are a reflection of illogicality, the absurdity of reality itself. The title is preceded by a hint about the incompatibility of some concepts: the death is not of a person, but of a bureaucrat, a slave. The author constantly draws attention to the inconsistency, the contrast of cause and effect (the official sneezed - the official “died”). Harmless Chervyakov turns out to be a kind of tyrant, despot. Chervyakov scary because on it, on it voluntary groveling, the whole system holds sycophancy, rank, humiliation And self-humiliation.
??? How does Chekhov feel about his hero?
IN creative development Chekhov's early stories play a very important role. In particular, the writer’s attitude towards a downtrodden and humiliated person, who became like this through his own fault, changes dramatically. Instead of the pity traditional for previous literature, one feels contempt to people like this. And an excellent illustration of this is the story “The Death of an Official.” There is no hopelessness in Chervyakov’s situation, and his suffering is far-fetched. He's himself voluntarily drives into spiritual slavery by constantly humiliating himself, annoying the general with his apologies. Therefore, it is unlikely that Chekhov’s sympathies could be on the side of such a character. Rather, this is the “anti-ideal” of the author.
Reflection.
???What topic will you write on your work card? Why?
??? What does this story make us think about?
That a person should always remain a person, never lose his dignity and value others primarily by their human qualities, and not by their positions. And the writer convinced us of this by laughing at the absurd death of the official Chervyakov, who forgot about his human dignity and became like a worm.
??? What to do to avoid becoming like the official Chervyakov?
Ratings. Bottom line.
According to the testimony of contemporaries, Chekhov may have known cases similar to those described in the story “The Death of an Official” (1883), but this does not mean that the work is documentary in nature. If the plot could have been taken by the writer from life, then its psychological interpretation is entirely the merit of Chekhov.
The hero of the story has a very typical “speaking” surname for Chekhov’s characters: Chervyakov, a man who behaves in highest degree disgusting, completely loses his human appearance, he turns into something (namely, “something”!) insignificant, pitiful, even, perhaps, not like a worm... And this happens because the hero has a strong the “honor the rank of rank” hammered into him by the service, which he is unable to get rid of even when, it would seem, one can forget about the service - after all, the plot of the action takes place in the theater, where the hero enjoys life, “felt at the height of bliss.” Chervyakov's behavior is so ridiculous that it is difficult to believe that all this is happening to him seriously. However, for him what is happening is a question, as it turns out at the end of the story, of life or death. His persistent desire to apologize is quite understandable, but after he does this, he finds himself subjugated by fear, that very bureaucratic fear of his superiors that Gogol once wrote about. Just as the Governor is looking for a meaning in Khlestakov’s words that is not and cannot be in them, Chervyakov still cannot fully believe that General Brizzhalov has “already forgotten” everything, and this fear pushes him to the most absurd from the point of view common sense actions: he begins to pursue the general, trying to “explain himself”, but instead he becomes more and more confused in his explanations, eventually causing an explosion of rage in the “alien boss”, exhausted by his persecution.. This boss “Get out!!! " Chervyakov literally could not survive: “Coming home mechanically, without taking off his uniform, he lay down on the sofa and... died.” A magnificent detail: an official who lived his whole life as an official, died because he was an official at heart, died “without taking off his uniform”... An official...
In the analyzed story “The Death of an Official,” the image of the author, as was inherent in Chekhov’s early stories, is practically absent, although the author’s position is expressed quite clearly: Chekhov condemns people who do not find the strength to remain human, lose their self-esteem, succumbing to external circumstances . He makes fun of Chervyakov, but this laughter cannot be called either humorous or satirical; rather, Chekhov feels pain for the hero, who himself does not realize his own insignificance.
