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Grigory Melekhov character of the hero. Grigory Melekhov in the novel "Quiet Flows the Don": characteristics. The tragic fate and spiritual quest of Grigory Melekhov. Change of outlook under the influence of other people

Grigory Melekhov is the central character of the novel Quiet Flows the Don, unsuccessfully looking for his place in a changing world. In the context of historical events, he showed the difficult fate of the Don Cossack, who knows how to love passionately and selflessly fight.

History of creation

Conceiving a new novel, Mikhail Sholokhov did not imagine that the work would eventually turn into an epic. It all started innocently. In the middle of autumn 1925, the writer began the first chapters of Donshchina, which was the original title of the work in which the author wanted to show the life of the Don Cossacks during the years of the revolution. From that he began - the Cossacks went as part of the army to Petrograd. Suddenly, the author was stopped by the thought that readers are unlikely to understand the motives of the Cossacks in suppressing the revolution without background, and he put the manuscript in the far corner.

Only a year later, the idea fully matured: in the novel, Mikhail Alexandrovich wanted to reflect the life of individuals through the prism of historical events that occurred in the period from 1914 to 1921. The tragic fate of the main characters, including Grigory Melekhov, had to be written into the epic theme, and for this it was worth getting to know the customs and characters of the inhabitants of the Cossack farm. The author of The Quiet Don moved to his homeland, to the village of Vishnevskaya, where he plunged headlong into the life of the Don.

In search of bright characters and a special atmosphere that settled on the pages of the work, the writer traveled around the neighborhood, met with witnesses of the First World War and revolutionary events, collected a mosaic of tales, beliefs and folklore elements of local residents, and also stormed Moscow and Rostov archives in search of the truth about the life of those dashing years.


Finally, the first volume of The Quiet Flows the Don was published. Russian troops appeared in it on the fronts of the war. In the second book, the February coup and the October Revolution were added, the echoes of which reached the Don. Only in the first two parts of the novel, Sholokhov placed about a hundred heroes, later 70 more characters joined them. In total, the epic stretched into four volumes, the last one was completed in 1940.

The work was published in the publications "October", "Roman-gazeta", "New World" and "Izvestia", rapidly gaining recognition from readers. They bought up magazines, flooded editorial offices with reviews, and the author with letters. Soviet book readers perceived the tragedies of heroes as personal upheavals. Among the favorites, of course, was Grigory Melekhov.


It is interesting that Gregory was absent in the first drafts, but a character with that name was found in the writer's early stories - there the hero is already endowed with some features of the future "resident" of the "Quiet Don". Researchers of Sholokhov's work consider the Cossack Kharlampy Ermakov, who was sentenced to death in the late 1920s, to be the prototype of Melekhov. The author himself did not admit that it was this man who became the prototype of the book Cossack. Meanwhile, during the collection of the historical basis of the novel, Mikhail Alexandrovich met Yermakov and even corresponded with him.

Biography

The novel sets out the entire chronology of Grigory Melekhov's life before and after the war. The Don Cossack was born in 1892 on the Tatarsky farm (the village of Veshenskaya), while the writer does not indicate the exact date of birth. His father Pantelei Melekhov once served as a constable in the Ataman Life Guards Regiment, but was retired due to old age. The life of a young guy for the time being passes in serenity, in ordinary peasant affairs: mowing, fishing, housekeeping. At night - passionate meetings with the beautiful Aksinya Astakhova, a married lady, but passionately in love with a young man.


His father is dissatisfied with this cordial affection and hastily marries his son to an unloved girl - meek Natalya Korshunova. However, marriage does not solve the problem. Grigory understands that he cannot forget Aksinya, so he leaves his legal wife and settles with his mistress on the estate of the local pan. On a summer day in 1913, Melekhov becomes a father - his first daughter was born. The happiness of the couple turned out to be short-lived: life was destroyed by the outbreak of the First World War, which called Gregory to repay his debt to the Motherland.

Melekhov fought in the war selflessly and desperately, in one of the battles he was wounded in the eye. For the courage of the warrior, he was awarded the St. George Cross and promotion, and in the future, three more crosses and four medals will be added to the awards of the man. The hero’s acquaintance in the hospital with the Bolshevik Garanzha, who convinces him of the injustice of tsarist rule, turned the political views of the hero upside down.


Meanwhile, a blow awaits Grigory Melekhov's house - Aksinya, heartbroken (by the death of her little daughter), succumbs to the spell of the son of the owner of the Listnitsky estate. The common-law husband who arrived on a visit did not forgive the betrayal and returned to his legal wife, who later bore him two children.

In the outbreak of the Civil War, Gregory takes the side of the "Reds". But by 1918, he became disillusioned with the Bolsheviks and joined the ranks of those who launched an uprising against the Red Army on the Don, becoming a division commander. Even greater anger towards the Bolsheviks in the soul of the hero awakens the death of his older brother Petro at the hands of a fellow villager, an ardent supporter of Soviet power, Mishka Koshevoy.


Passions are also seething on the love front - Grigory cannot find peace and is literally torn between his women. Because of still living feelings for Aksinya, Melekhov cannot live in peace in his family. The constant infidelity of her husband pushes Natalia to an abortion, which destroys her. A man endures the premature death of a woman with difficulty, because he also had peculiar, but tender feelings for his wife.

The offensive of the Red Army on the Cossacks forces Grigory Melekhov to go on the run to Novorossiysk. There, driven into a dead end, the hero joins the Bolsheviks. 1920 was marked by the return of Gregory to his homeland, where he settled with his children at Aksinya. The new government began the persecution of the former "whites", and during the escape to the Kuban for a "quiet life" Aksinya was mortally wounded. After wandering around the world a little more, Grigory returned to his native village, because the new authorities promised an amnesty to the rebel Cossacks.


Mikhail Sholokhov put an end to the story at the most interesting place, without telling readers about the further fate of Melekhov. However, it is not difficult to guess what happened to him. Historians urge curious lovers of the writer's work to consider the date of death of the beloved character the year of the execution of his prototype - 1927.

Image

The author conveyed the difficult fate and internal changes of Grigory Melekhov through a description of his appearance. By the end of the novel, a handsome, carefree young man in love with life turns into a stern warrior with gray hair and a frozen heart:

“... knew that he would no longer laugh at him, as before; He knew that his eyes were hollow and his cheekbones were sharply sticking out, and in his eyes a light of senseless cruelty began to shine more and more often.

Gregory is a typical choleric: temperamental, quick-tempered and unbalanced, which manifests itself both in love affairs and in relations with the environment in general. The character of the protagonist of The Quiet Flows the Don is an alloy of courage, heroism and even recklessness, it combines passion and humility, gentleness and cruelty, hatred and infinite kindness.


Gregory is a typical choleric

Sholokhov created a hero with an open soul, capable of compassion, forgiveness and humanity: Grigory is tormented by a caterpillar accidentally killed in the mowing, defends Franya, not being afraid of a whole platoon of Cossacks, saves Stepan Astakhov, his sworn enemy, Aksinya's husband, in the war

In search of the truth, Melekhov rushes from the Reds to the Whites, eventually becoming a renegade who is not accepted by either side. The man appears as a real hero of his time. His tragedy lies in history itself, when upheavals disturbed a calm life, turning peaceful workers into unhappy people. The spiritual quest of the character was accurately conveyed by the phrase of the novel:

"He stood on the edge in the struggle of two principles, denying both of them."

All illusions were dispelled in the battles of the civil war: anger towards the Bolsheviks and disappointment in the "whites" makes the hero look for a third way in the revolution, but he understands that in the "middle it is impossible - they will crush him." Once passionately loving life, Grigory Melekhov never finds faith in himself, remaining at the same time a folk character and an extra person in the current fate of the country.

Screen versions of the novel "Quiet Flows the Don"

The epic of Mikhail Sholokhov appeared on movie screens four times. Based on the first two books, a silent film was made in 1931, where the main roles were played by Andrei Abrikosov (Grigory Melekhov) and Emma Tsesarskaya (Aksinya). Rumor has it that, with an eye on the characters of the characters of this production, the writer created a sequel to The Quiet Flows the Don.


A poignant picture based on the work was presented to the Soviet audience in 1958 by the director. The beautiful half of the country fell in love with the hero in performance. A mustachioed handsome Cossack twisted love with, which convincingly appeared in the role of passionate Aksinya. Melekhov's wife Natalya played. The film's box of awards consists of seven awards, including a diploma from the Directors Guild of the USA.

Another multi-part film adaptation of the novel belongs to. Russia, Great Britain and Italy worked on the film "Quiet Flows the Don" in 2006. Approved for the main role and.

For "Quiet Don" Mikhail Sholokhov was accused of plagiarism. The "greatest epic" researchers considered stolen from a white officer who died in the Civil War. The author even had to temporarily postpone the work on writing the continuation of the novel, while a special commission investigated the information received. However, the problem of authorship has not yet been resolved.


Aspiring actor of the Maly Theater Andrey Abrikosov woke up famous after the premiere of The Quiet Flows the Don. It is noteworthy that before that, in the temple of Melpomene, he never went on stage - they simply did not give a role. The man also did not bother to get acquainted with the work, he read the novel when the shooting was already in full swing.

Quotes

"You have a smart head, but the fool got it."
"The blind man said, 'We'll see.'
“Like a steppe scorched by fires, Gregory’s life became black. He lost everything that was dear to his heart. Everything was taken away from him, everything was destroyed by a ruthless death. Only the children remained. But he himself still convulsively clung to the ground, as if in fact his broken life was of some value to him and to others.
"Sometimes, remembering your whole life, you look - and she is like an empty pocket, turned inside out."
“Life turned out to be sarcastic, wisely simple. Now it already seemed to him that from eternity there was no such truth in it, under the wing of which anyone could warm up, and, embittered to the extreme, he thought: everyone has his own truth, his own furrow.
“There is no truth in life. It can be seen whoever defeats whom will devour him ... And I was looking for the bad truth.

Grigory Melekhov is the main character of M. Sholokhov's epic novel "Quiet Don". His image cannot be called typical, because it also contains special individual features.

Grigory Melekhov is an ordinary Don Cossack who grew up in a fairly wealthy family with a patriarchal way of life. From the very first pages of the novel, he is depicted in everyday peasant life, which helps the reader to immediately see the main features of Gregory's character. It reveals love for nature and for all living things: “with a sudden feeling of acute pity,” he looks at a duckling accidentally cut by a scythe during a meadow mowing. In addition, sincerity and honesty are inherent in the hero. He forever retains his love for Aksinya in his soul, and he immediately admits to his wife Natalya that he does not feel anything for her: “And it’s a pity for you ... to be, for these days they became related, but there is nothing in my heart ... Empty.” However, I think that all this can be attributed to the typical features of the hero.

The individual features of Grigory Melekhov, in my opinion, include his desire to find his own way in life, to find himself. The hero is looking for the truth, despite all the difficulties and vicissitudes of fate. He is an uneducated and politically illiterate person, so he is easily instilled with different views on the war and life in general. However, Gregory does not give up, and when others offer him various paths, he firmly answers: “I myself am looking for an entrance.”

Throughout his life, the hero often commits terrible misdeeds, but Gregory looks for the root of all mistakes in himself, in his deeds. He is not without self-condemnation. The war could not ruin his soul and all the good and good that was originally in it. She broke the hero, but did not break him completely. By the end of the novel, for Melekhov, the home, family, and children become the most important values. War, murder and death only disgust him. Therefore, one can even say that Gregory is an epic hero who takes on all the historical responsibility. His image is equal to the image of the whole nation. And Melekhov's path to the truth is a tragic path of human wanderings, full of mistakes and losses, evidence of a person's deep connection with history. This is the special individuality inherent only in the image of Gregory.

Melekhov is a complex hero, combining both typical and individual traits. However, this gives his image versatility and tragedy, makes it memorable and very original.

The protagonist of The Quiet Flows the Don is going through a complex spiritual evolution throughout the novel. On his way, Melekhov meets several people (Shtokman, Chubaty, Garanzha, Izvarin, Podtelkov) who will influence him, but not so much as to lead astray or direct. He is looking for himself, painfully, hard, going through terrible trials. And these people are a kind of demons of Gregory, the influence of which he outlives along with his own weaknesses and delusions.

By the end of the novel, the author brings his hero ahead of his time, aged, lonely, who has comprehended a lot. At the beginning of the first book, Grigory Melekhov is a handsome, talented, hardworking guy who still thinks little about the meaning of his actions, lives, like most Cossacks, walking along the beaten path. The author shows him in the scenes of the everyday life of a farmer: in the house, on a fishing trip, at a watering place with a horse, in a field. Gregory has a memorable appearance. Like a true Cossack, he is an excellent rider (he jumps on a horse, slightly touching the withers with his left hand), he took the first prize at horse races for horse riding. He sings, or “shout,” as the Cossacks say, “a pure silver thread.” Grigory is talented by nature: in the future he is a wonderful warrior, a hard-working farmer who loves his work. More than once Gregory will show the nobility of the soul, the conscientiousness of nature, sensitivity to nature and a close person, the ability to deeply feel. This replaces the lack of knowledge and developed intellect. Gregory's spiritual growth also takes place outside the intellectual.

Having fallen in love with Aksinya Astakhova, a married neighbor, Grigory does not yet realize the significance of this feeling in his life and does not think about the consequences. His passion is all-consuming in a youthful way, elemental in a pagan way, "they burned so frenziedly with one shameless flame." It is no coincidence that in the description of the first meeting of Grigory and Aksinya, there is such a comparison: “Grigory threw her in his arms with a jerk - this is how a wolf throws a slaughtered sheep to his ridge, - tangling in the skirts of an open zipun, gasping, he went. However, at the same time, he agrees to marry at the choice of his father, then cruelly offends Aksinya in a conversation with indifference to her future fate and a desire to end this story.

Gregory is quick-tempered, wild, the author draws attention to the wolf grin of Gregory's teeth both in anger and in a smile. And yet he stands out from among the Cossacks not only with his talents and beauty, but also with his originality. In the wedding scene, one can already feel his separateness, resistance to the generally accepted. Dejected by the wedding ceremonies, ”he looks at Natalia and those around her with dislike. Grigory does not want to live a double life, as many did, so he leaves with Aksinya from his native farm, from land to hired workers to the landowner Listnitsky, serves as a groom. Such a life, of course, is not for a Cossack, the author writes: “An easy, well-fed life spoiled him. He became lazy, put on weight, looked older than his years.

However, even during this period, Gregory experiences strong emotions that shape his character. Hunting, jealousy, the birth of Aksinya and fear for her life, longing for the farm, for the Don, its “flowing water”, the “acute pinching excitement” of fatherhood and the suspicions associated with it, pity for the abandoned and attempted on her life Natalia.

In the service, Grigory Melekhov is also alone in his search for truth and justice. He does not allow the sergeant to hit him, single-handedly tries to stop his comrades in the regiment from savagery over Franya, and when he fails, he almost cries from impotence. It is becoming more and more difficult for Gregory to resist the general malice, the evil that has spilled into the world.

With the beginning of the war, the internal contradictions of the hero Sholokhov escalated. A desperately brave, courageous warrior, he is grieving over the murder of an Austrian, which he committed “inflamed by the madness that was going on around”, “His step was confusingly heavy,
as if he was carrying an unbearable load behind his shoulders; I bend and bewilderment crumpled my soul. In the war, Grigory is true to his duty, shows miracles of courage: he captured three Germans and an Austrian officer, recaptured the battery, saved the officer and Stepan Astakhov, earned a full bow of St. George's crosses, four medals and an officer's rank. But at what cost did all this come to him! Just when Grigory "could not find a foothold in his soul," he
met with the cold killer Chubaty, who cold-bloodedly cut down the prisoners. He raises a gun at him, as if in Chubat Melekhov sees the focus of that blind force of evil with which he is trying to fight. Gregory perceives his injury as a relief.

Once in an eye clinic in Moscow, Melekhov yearns for the Don region, the hum of the big city has an overwhelming effect on him. In such a vague state, he argues with Garanzha, the evil Ukrainian, who destroyed "all his previous concepts about the king, the homeland, the Cossack military duty", "all those foundations on which the consciousness" of Gregory rested. Only returning home, to the Don, cured him of deep doubts. "Inexplicably native, warm breathed on Gregory from the familiar words of a long-standing Cossack song and played by him more than once." However, misfortunes awaited him at home: the death of his daughter, the betrayal of Aksinya. Having dealt with Listnitsky and turned away from Aksinya's outstretched hands, Melekhov returns to his home, to his wife.

Then again the war. The author writes: “Grigory firmly cherished the Cossack honor, seized the opportunity to show selfless courage, took risks, went wild, went disguised to the rear of the Austrians, removed outposts without bloodshed, the Cossack jigged and felt that he had left
irrevocably is the pain for a person that crushed him in the first days of the war. He understood at what cost fame was being bought, “knew that he would no longer laugh as before,” “knew that it was difficult for him, kissing a child, to openly look into clear eyes.” And outwardly Grigory changes, his eyes sunk in, they shine "dimly, like fragments of anthracite": "the war bent Grigory, sucked the blush from his face."

In January 1917, Melekhov was promoted to cornet, and after the October Revolution he was appointed to the post of commander of a hundred. An unprecedented career for an ordinary Cossack. It was then that the centurion Efim Izvarin, a gifted and educated Cossack avgonomist, meets Gregory on his way, who confuses Gregory with talk about the separation of the Don from Russia. Immediately after the coup, Melekhov encountered another Cossack, with the Bolshevik Fyodor Podtelkov, after conversations with which Grigory
“I tried painfully to sort out the confusion of thoughts, to think over something, to decide.” Political changes threatened the Cossacks with the loss of land, the destruction of their age-old way of life. There was something to think about.

The civil war forced Grigory and his comrades to turn their weapons against the brothers, one-towners, one-farmers. Trying to find a way out, Melekhov at first "almost" "accepts the red faith", but inevitably comes into conflict with Podtelkov,
reveling in their power and ordered to cut down the prisoners. A terrible scene of the extermination of prisoners, in which the sympathies of the author are clearly on the side of the courageous
Chernetsov and the officers shake Grigory and force him to grab the revolver in order to direct it at Podtelkov.

“In the midst of the struggle for power on the Don”, wounded and slightly healed, Grigory leaves his unit, returns home in a confused state: “Grigory could neither forgive nor forget the death of Chernetsov and the extrajudicial execution of captured officers. He could not “at least outline the future with milestones”, dreamed of rest. “I wanted to turn away from everything seething with hatred, hostile and incomprehensible world.” The inconsistency of what was happening tormented him with the thought: “Who should I lean against? » The Cossack's soul yearned
on the ground, plow, on the usual peasant work. "I wanted peace and quiet." Returning home stirred up the past, touched Grigory to tears, there was peace and silence. However, the struggle for power on the Don is becoming more and more fierce, and the war is approaching Grigory's native village. Melekhov witnesses the execution of Podtelnov and his detachment. “A disgusting picture of destruction. drove the shocked Gregory away from the place of execution.

As part of the Don Army, the cornet Melekhov defended the villages from the Reds, to whom he gradually became imbued with anger: “they invaded his life as enemies, took him away from the earth!” However, he did not take part in the general looting, “treating robberies with disgust”,
He kept his hundred tough, spared the prisoners, therefore, “with excessive softness caused discontent among the Cossacks and regimental authorities,” and was removed from the hundred.

"Participating in the war, Gregory indifferently watched its course". He yearned for Aksinya, whom he could not forget, for the “soft arable furrow”, for the “wine smell of the autumn land raised by a plow. Death walked nearby: three horses were killed near Gregory,
the overcoat is perforated in five places. Tormented by thoughts, the hopelessness of the situation, Grigory makes a decision and arbitrarily leaves the regiment, returns home again.

It was not possible to stay on the sidelines, the Cossacks retreat, and the Red Army men come to Grigory's house. It takes a lot of effort for him to endure their defiant presence and provocations. Suppressing his pride, he realizes that "in spirit he is ready for any test and humiliation, if only to save his own life and those of his loved ones."

The choice between reds and whites turned out to be too difficult for Grigory. For him, "that the communists, that the generals are one yoke." He cannot find a way out, “and because he stood on the verge in the struggle of two principles, denying both of them, he gave birth to an axis of deaf incessant irritation. He understands that there is no truth alone, “that from a boor pan is a hundred times worse”, therefore
for people like Shtokman, the thinking Grigory is "more dangerous than the rest put together." It is Gregory and others like him who seek to destroy Shtokman.

Melekhov is hiding from the Bolshevik authorities, and his throwing comes to an end when an uprising breaks out on the Don. He felt a surge of joy and strength, "it seemed clear, his path from now on, like a path illuminated by a month." The desire to fight for the land, for his home, hatred for the enemies who destroyed his world, led Gregory to the rebel camp, blinded and made him cruel.

The war on the Don acquired an exceptionally cruel character, people lost their human appearance, both camps exterminated each other mercilessly, with blind hatred. Pyotr Melekhov dies at the hands of the godfather. Gregory is in command of a division, showing talent as a strategist and commander, but he cannot completely suppress doubts and thoughts about the purpose of his actions. Often the general brutality captures him too. To get away from black thoughts, to drown out consciousness, Grigory begins to drink.

The feeling of doom, the immediate proximity of death make Gregory think about the past, about the meaning of life. Fatigue, mental strain resulted in a nervous attack, which happened to Grigory after the terrible felling of the sailors. “Brothers, there is no forgiveness for me! .. Death ... betray! .. "- asks
he's comrades.

A warrior devastates the soul, burns out black, and guilt and a sick conscience tear. Gregory's heart He says to Natalya: “Life is going wrong, and maybe I’m to blame for this ...” The revived relationship with Aksinya cannot fill the void in the heart. However, when he hears that Ivan Alekseevich and Mishka Koshevoy, who shot Peter, are being taken to the farm for reprisals, he hurries to help them out: “Blood has fallen between us, but are we not strangers?! ". Having driven the horse, Grigory galloped to the farm and was late.

The outcome of the uprising no longer worries Melekhov. Connection with the Volunteer Army further cooled his military ardor. Awareness of other values ​​​​comes to him: the chirping of children on his knees causes tears, the appearance of Natalia, his wife who suffered so much because of him, the mother of his children awakens a “mighty wave of tenderness”, But again he has to leave his home, this time with heavy forebodings .

Upon learning of Natalya's death, Grigory for the first time felt a sharp, stabbing pain in his heart and a ringing in his ears. He is tormented by remorse, the loss brings him closer to the children. I suffered from typhus, Grigory becomes softer: “for a long time an ingenuous, childish smile did not leave his lips,
strangely changing the stern appearance of the face, the expression of animal eyes, softening the hard folds at the corners of the mouth.

The protracted war, the longing of the Cossacks for the land, the unwillingness to go further than their farm, the lack of internal unity led to the decomposition of the Volunteer Army and defeats, the Army retreats. With a wave of retreating Grigory rolled to Novorossiysk, where he joined the Budyonny Cavalry Army, accepting a squadron. He cheered up, because now he fought not with his own, but with the Poles. The war is coming to an end, and the victors are slaughtering the vanquished. Grigory returns to his empty house, where Dunyashka's husband Mishka Kosheva is already in charge.

The demobilized Red Commander Melekhov "went home to finally get down to work, live with the children, with Aksinya." But even now Grigory did not have a chance to return to a peaceful life. Vindictiveness and malice of Koshevoy pursue him. Grigory moves with the children to Aksinya. He lives without interest, his soul does not lie in anything because of the uncertainty of the situation. Warned about the arrest by Dunyashka, Grigory is forced to run again, hide, until the case leads him to Fomin's gang.

In the gang, he is also a stranger: robberies and drinking are disgusting to Gregory. Disgusting And Kaparin's offer of betrayal after the defeat of the gang and the murder of the wounded Sterlyadnikov, even at his request, Grigory leaves Fomin's gang and sneaks into his native farm to pick up Aksinya and run with her to the Kuban or further.

The death of Aksinn in the steppe from a random bullet deprived Grigory of his last hope for a peaceful life. He realized “that it was all over, that the worst thing that could have happened in his life had already happened.” Grigory said goodbye to Aksinya in the firm conviction that they were not parting for long, and when he raised his head, he saw a black sky above him and a dazzlingly shining black disk of the sun. Having nailed to the deserters, Melekhov lived with them for almost a year, but longing again drove him to the house. Not
waiting for the May Day amnesty, Gregory returns home for the last time, where he has only his son left. Thus ends the epic novel "Quiet Don", but the path of Gregory does not end there. The author leaves his hero on the threshold of the house. Is this the last return of Gregory?

Discussion: there is 1 comment

M. A. Sholokhov in his novel "Quiet Don" poeticizes the life of the people, deeply analyzes its way of life, as well as the origins of its crisis, which largely affected the fate of the main characters of the work. The author emphasizes that the people play a key role in history. It is he, according to Sholokhov, who is its driving force. Of course, the main character of Sholokhov's work is one of the representatives of the people - Grigory Melekhov. Its prototype is believed to be Kharlampy Ermakov, a Don Cossack (pictured below). He fought in the Civil War and in the First World War.

Grigory Melekhov, whose characteristics we are interested in, is an illiterate, simple Cossack, but his personality is multifaceted and complex. The author endowed it with the best features that are inherent in the people.

at the beginning of the work

Sholokhov, at the very beginning of his work, tells the story of the Melekhov family. Cossack Prokofy, Gregory's ancestor, returns home from the Turkish campaign. He brings with him a Turkish woman who becomes his wife. From this event begins a new history of the Melekhov family. The character of Gregory is already laid in her. This character is not accidentally similar in appearance to other men of his kind. The author notes that he is "like his father": he is half a head taller than Peter, although he is 6 years younger than him. He has the same "drooping kite nose" as Panteley Prokofievich's. Grigory Melekhov is as stooping as his father. Both even in a smile had something in common, "animal". It is he who is the successor of the Melekhov family, and not Peter, his elder brother.

Connection with nature

Gregory from the very first pages is depicted in everyday activities that are characteristic of the life of peasants. Like all of them, he leads horses to water, goes fishing, goes to games, falls in love, participates in the general peasant labor. The character of this hero is clearly revealed in the meadow mowing scene. In it, Grigory Melekhov discovers sympathy for someone else's pain, love for all living things. He feels sorry for the duckling, accidentally cut with a scythe. Gregory looks at him, as the author notes, with "a feeling of acute pity." This hero is well aware of the nature with which he is vitally connected.

How is the character of the hero revealed in his personal life?

Gregory can be called a man of decisive actions and deeds, strong passions. Numerous episodes with Aksinya speak eloquently about this. Despite his father's slander, at midnight, during haymaking, he still goes to this girl. Pantelei Prokofievich severely punishes his son. However, not afraid of his father's threats, Gregory still goes to his beloved again at night and returns only with the dawn. Already here, in his character, the desire to reach the end in everything is manifested. Marrying a woman he does not love could not make this hero give up himself, from a sincere, natural feeling. He only slightly reassured Panteley Prokofievich, who calls out to him: "Do not fear your father!" But no more. This hero has the ability to love passionately, and also does not tolerate any ridicule of himself. He does not forgive the joke on his feelings even to Peter and grabs the pitchfork. Gregory is always sincere and honest. He directly tells Natalya, his wife, that he does not love her.

How did life at the Listnitskys influence Grigory?

At first, he does not agree to run away from the farm with Aksinya. However, the impossibility of submission and innate stubbornness eventually force him to leave his native household, go to the estate of Listnitsky with his beloved. Gregory becomes a groom. However, life apart from the parental home is not at all according to him. The author notes that he was spoiled by an easy, well-fed life. The main character got fat, lazy, began to look older than his years.

In the novel "Quiet Flows the Don" has great inner strength. The scene of this hero beating Listnitsky Jr. is clear evidence of this. Grigory, despite the position that Listnitsky occupies, does not want to forgive the offense inflicted on him. He beats him with a whip on his hands and face, not allowing him to come to his senses. Melekhov is not afraid of the punishment that will follow this act. And he treats Aksinya harshly: when he leaves, he never even looks back.

The self-esteem that is inherent in the hero

Complementing the image of Grigory Melekhov, we note that his character is clearly expressed. It is in him that his strength lies, which is able to influence other people, regardless of position and rank. Of course, in a duel at a watering place with a sergeant-major, Gregory wins, who did not allow himself to be hit by a senior in rank.

This hero is able to stand up not only for his own dignity, but also for someone else's. It is he who turns out to be the only one who defended Franya - the girl over whom the Cossacks abused. Being in this situation powerless against the evil being committed, Grigory, for the first time in a long time, almost burst into tears.

Gregory's courage in battle

The events of the First World War affected the fate of many people, including this hero. Grigory Melekhov was captured by a whirlwind of historical events. His fate is a reflection of the fate of many people, representatives of the simple Russian people. As a true Cossack, Gregory completely surrenders to the battle. He is bold and determined. Gregory easily defeats three Germans and takes them prisoner, deftly beats off an enemy battery, and also saves an officer. The medals and the officer rank he received are evidence of the courage of this hero.

The murder of a man, contrary to the nature of Gregory

Gregory is generous. He helps in battle even Stepan Astakhov, his rival, who dreams of killing him. Melekhov is shown as a skillful, courageous warrior. However, the murder still fundamentally contradicts the humane nature of Gregory, his life values. He confesses to Peter that he killed a man and through him "sick in soul."

Change of outlook under the influence of other people

Pretty quickly, Grigory Melekhov begins to experience disappointment and incredible fatigue. At first, he fearlessly fights, not thinking about the fact that he sheds both his own and other people's blood in battles. However, life and war confront Gregory with many people who have completely different views on the world and the events taking place in it. After talking with them, Melekhov begins to think about the war, as well as about the life he lives. The truth that Chubaty bears is that a person needs to be cut boldly. This hero easily talks about death, about the right and opportunity to deprive others of life. Gregory listens attentively to him and understands that such an inhuman position is alien to him, unacceptable. Garanzha is a hero who sowed the seeds of doubt in Grigory's soul. He suddenly began to question the values ​​that were previously considered unshakable, such as the military duty of the Cossacks and the king, who is "on our neck." Garanga makes the protagonist think about a lot. The spiritual quest of Grigory Melekhov begins. It is these doubts that become the beginning of Melekhov's tragic path to the truth. He is desperately trying to find the meaning and truth of life. The tragedy of Grigory Melekhov unfolds at a difficult time in the history of our country.

Undoubtedly, the character of Gregory is truly folk. The tragic fate of Grigory Melekhov, described by the author, still evokes the sympathy of many readers of The Quiet Flows the Don. Sholokhov (his portrait is presented above) managed to create a bright, strong, complex and truthful character of the Russian Cossack Grigory Melekhov.

A restless nature, a difficult fate, a strong character, a man on the border of two eras are the main epithets of the main character of Sholokhov's novel. The image and characterization of Grigory Melekhov in the novel Quiet Flows the Don is an artistic description of the fate of one Cossack. But behind him stands a whole generation of Don peasants, who were born in a vague and incomprehensible time, when family ties collapsed, the fate of the entire diverse country changed.

Appearance and family of Gregory

It is not difficult to introduce Grigory Panteleevich Melekhov. The young Cossack is the youngest son of Pantelei Prokofievich. There are three children in the family: Peter, Grigory and Dunyasha. The roots of the surname came from crossing Turkish blood (grandmother) with Cossack (grandfather). This origin left its mark on the character of the hero. How many scientific papers are now devoted to Turkish roots that have changed the Russian character. The Melekhovs' yard is located on the outskirts of the farm. The family is not rich, but not poor either. The average income for some is enviable, which means that there are poorer families in the village. For the father of Natalia, the bride of Gregory, the Cossack is not rich. At the beginning of the novel, Grishka is about 19-20 years old. Age should be calculated at the beginning of the service. The draft age of those years is 21 years old. Gregory is waiting for a call.

Character traits:

  • nose: hook-nosed, kite;
  • look: wild;
  • cheekbones: sharp;
  • skin: swarthy, brown blushing;
  • black like a gypsy;
  • teeth: wolf, dazzling white:
  • height: not particularly tall, half a head taller than his brother, 6 years older than him;
  • eyes: bluish tonsils, hot, black, non-Russian;
  • smile: beastly.

They say about the beauty of a guy in different ways: handsome, handsome. The epithet beautiful accompanies Gregory throughout the novel, even when he has grown old, he retains his attractiveness and attractiveness. But there is a lot of masculine in his attractiveness: coarse hair, male hands unyielding to affection, curly growth on his chest, legs overgrown with thick hair. Even for those whom he scares, Gregory stands out from the crowd: a degenerate, wild, gangster face. It is felt that by the look of a Cossack one can determine his mood. It seems to some that there are only eyes on the face, burning, clear and piercing.

Cossack clothes

Melekhov dresses in the usual Cossack uniform. Traditional Cossack set:

  • everyday bloomers;
  • festive with bright stripes;
  • white wool stockings;
  • tweets;
  • satin shirts;
  • short fur coat;
  • hat.

Of the elegant clothes, the Cossack has a frock coat, in which he goes to woo Natalia. But he is not comfortable for the guy. Grisha tugs at the skirts of his coat, trying to take it off as soon as possible.

Attitude towards children

Gregory loves children, but the realization of complete love comes to him very late. The son of Mishatok is the last thread that connects him with life after the loss of his beloved. He accepts Tanya, Aksinya's daughter, but is tormented by thoughts that she might not be his. In the letter, the man confesses that he dreams of the girl in a red dress. There are few lines about the Cossack and children, they are mean and not bright. It's probably right. It is difficult to imagine a strong Cossack playing with a child. He is passionate about communicating with children from Natalia when he returns on a visit from the war. He wants to forget everything he has experienced, plunging into household chores. For Gregory, children are not just a continuation of the family, they are a shrine, part of the homeland.

Male character traits

Grigory Melekhov is a male image. He is a bright representative of the Cossacks. Character traits help to understand the complex problems that are happening around.

Waywardness. The guy is not afraid of his opinion, he cannot retreat from it. He does not listen to advice, does not tolerate ridicule, is not afraid of fights and brawls.

Physical strength. The guy is liked for his valiant prowess, strength and endurance. He receives his first St. George Cross for patience and endurance. Overcoming fatigue and pain, he carries the wounded from the battlefield.

Diligence. A working Cossack is not afraid of any work. He is ready to do anything to support his family, to help his parents.

Honesty. Gregory's conscience is constantly with him, he is tormented by doing things, not of his own free will, but due to circumstances. The Cossack is not ready for looting. He refuses even his father when he comes to him for the loot.

Pride. The son does not allow his father to beat him. He doesn't ask for help when he needs it.

Education. Gregory is a literate Cossack. He knows how to write, and conveys thoughts on paper clearly and understandably. Melekhov rarely writes, as befits secretive natures. Everything is in their soul, on paper only mean, precise phrases.

Gregory loves his farm, village life. He likes nature and the Don. He can admire the water and the horses splashing in it.

Gregory, war and homeland

The most difficult storyline is the Cossack and power. The war from different sides appears before the eyes of the reader as the hero of the novel saw it. There are practically no differences between whites and reds, bandits and ordinary soldiers. Both kill, loot, rape, humiliate. Melekhov is tormented, he does not understand the meaning of killing people. He is struck by the Cossacks, who live in war, enjoying the deaths around. But time changes. Grigory becomes more callous, cold-blooded, although he does not agree with unnecessary murders. Humanity is the basis of his soul. Melekhov does not have the categoricalness of Mishka Korshunov, the prototype of revolutionary activists who see only enemies around them. Melekhov does not allow his superiors to speak rudely to him. He fights back, immediately puts in his place those who want to command him.