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How the history of one city is described. M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin “The History of a City”: description, characters, analysis of the work. Worship of Mammon and repentance

Year of publication of the book: 1870

Saltykov-Shchedrin’s novel “The History of a City” is one of the writer’s most famous works. It was inspired by the film It, as well as two animated films. The plot of the novel has more than once formed the basis of theatrical productions and is included in the school curriculum. And among the writer’s contemporaries, he caused a lot of misunderstandings, because in the main characters of the novel the emperors of the Russian Empire of different years, as well as the first persons of the state, are clearly visible.

The plot of the novel “The Story of a City” briefly

In the summary of “The History of a City,” you can read about the history of the fictional city of Foolov from 1731 to 1825. The narration is narrated by four chroniclers. They describe the life of the city through the biographies of the mayors who governed the city in different years. The story begins with a story about the prehistoric times of the tribe of blockheads. They defeated the tribes of bow-eaters, bush-eaters, walrus-eaters and others. But their life did not improve. Then they decided to look for themselves as a prince. But no one wanted to be the prince of fools. Then they turned to the innovative thief. He found them a prince, but the prince himself did not want to go to their city and sent them a deputy thief-innovator. Since then, the bunglers became Foolovites, and the city itself began to be called Foolov. But the innovative thief quickly stole. Then the prince sent him a noose. But the innovative thief got out of the situation and “stabbed himself with a cucumber.” The new governors were even greater thieves. Then the prince came to the city shouting: “I’ll screw it up!” Since then, a record of the historical time in the city has been kept. During this time, 22 rulers ruled the city.

In 1762, Dementy Varlamovich Brudasty began to rule in the city of Fulpovo. Apart from two phrases: “I’ll ruin you!” and “I won’t tolerate it!” he didn't say anything. The mayor's secret was revealed when the clerk saw his body sitting at the table, and his completely empty head lying on the table. It turned out that there was a musical organ in my head that could only play two songs. Now the organ has broken down and watchmaker Baibakov has already ordered a new organ from St. Petersburg, but for some reason it is delayed. Brudasty was replaced by two impostor mayors at once. They were exactly the same and the delivery boy took them with him. Then came a week of anarchy. During this week, as in, six mayors tried to seize power in the city. Their claims were based on the fact that the mayor was their father, husband, or were completely unfounded. But the townspeople drowned each other and threw those they didn’t like from the bell tower.

Further in the book “The History of a City” you can read about how the arrival of Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov put an end to anarchy. He ruled the city for eight years. During this time, he introduced beer and mead making, the use of mustard and bay leaves to the city. He was replaced by Pyotr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko. For six years everything was fine in the city, but then he fell in love with Alena Osipova. She was the wife of the coachman Mitka. Only after Mitka was exiled to Siberia did Alena reciprocate Ferdyshchenko’s feelings. But from then on, a drought began in the city. Pyotr Petrovich ignored all the requests of the townspeople to get rid of Alenka. Then Alenka was thrown from the bell tower. The soldiers arrived and quelled the riot. Ferdyshchenko found himself a new love - the archer Domashka. But after the drought came fires, due to which three settlements burned down. But this was not enough for Pyotr Petrovich. He went to the pasture and began to demand that he be given food. But on the third day he died from overeating.

A week later, Vasilisk Semyonovich Wartkin appeared in Shchedrin’s novel “The History of a City.” He studied history and decided to follow Dvoekurov. He decided to revive the tradition of sowing mustard. The people rebelled on their knees. Then he undertook a military campaign against the source of all troubles - Streletskaya Sloboda. The campaign lasted nine days, during which they fought with their own in complete darkness. Then, citing some directive, some of the troops were fired, replacing them with tin soldiers. But Wartkin completed the campaign, and Streletskaya Sloboda surrendered when he began to tear their houses apart for logs. Then there were three more wars. The first is in favor of stone foundations, the second is for the cultivation of Persian chamomile and the third is against the construction of the academy. The city became impoverished, and Wartkin himself died when he decided to burn the city.

Further in the story “The History of a City” you can read about a whole series of mayors. Under Captain Negodyaev, the city became impoverished altogether. He was fired for disagreeing with the imposition of the constitution. But according to the chronicler, this was just an excuse. The real reason lies in the captain's affiliation with the democratic principle. He was replaced by Mekeladze. He was not interested in the city, but was only interested in the fair sex. His successor was Feofilakt Irinarkhovich Benevolensky. He loved legislation, but his position did not allow it. Therefore, he wrote such laws as “Let every soul tremble”, “Let every cricket know the pole corresponding to its rank” and the like, and scattered them around the city at night. He was fired for suspicion of connections with Napoleon. He was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Pimple. He was not at all interested in the city, but the city lived in abundance. His reign lasted until a representative of the nobility smelled that the mayor's head exuded the smell of truffles. Then he attacked and ate Pimple's stuffed head. State Councilor Ivanov, who arrived to replace Pimple, was so short in stature that he could not accommodate anything large. Viscount Chariot, who replaced him, did nothing but organize masquerades. He was expelled because the townspeople were mired in paganism. As it turned out later, the mayor was a special female.

Further in Shchedrin’s novel “The History of a City” you can read about how Erast Andreevich Grustilov came to rule the city. The inhabitants of Glupovsk by that time had become idolaters, stopped sowing altogether, and famine set in in the city. But Grustilov was only interested in balls. The wife of the pharmacist Pfeier changed everything. She set the mayor on the right path, as a result of which the holy fools became the main ones in the city. The Foolovites repented, but never started working. Instead, they began to read the works of Mr. Strakhov, for which Grustilov parted with his position. He was replaced by “the purest type of idiot” - Gloomy-Burcheev. He decided to make the city of Nepreklonsk out of Foolov with straight streets, houses of the same type and spies assigned to each house. He began the implementation of his plan with the total destruction of the city. But as it turned out, the river interfered with the plans of the new mayor. Then all efforts were put into building dams, but they were all washed away by the current. Then Gloomy-Burcheev decides to build the city of his dreams on a flat lowland. It is not known for certain how the construction was completed. All that is known is that “It Came,” and the mayor instantly disappeared. But since then history has stopped flowing.

The novel “The History of a City” on the Top Books website

Saltykov-Shchedrin’s novel “The History of a City” is popular to read, largely due to its presence in the school curriculum. This allowed the satirical novel to take a high place in our history. At the same time, interest in the work is quite stable and we will probably see it more than once among.

You can read Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin’s novel “The History of a City” online on the Top Books website.

“The History of a City” is essentially a satirical history of Russian society. I.S. Turgenev “It is necessary to know the history of the city of Foolov - this is our Russian history, and in general it is impossible to understand the history of Russia in the second half of the 19th century without the help of Shchedrin - the most truthful witness of spiritual poverty and instability... Maxim Gorky


After leaving service in 1868, Saltykov-Shchedrin was working on creating a literary work. After leaving service in 1868, Saltykov-Shchedrin was working on creating a literary work. - Impressions accumulated over the years of service - Impressions accumulated over the years of service are reflected in this work. are reflected in this work. - The image of the city of Foolov as an embodiment - The image of the city of Foolov as the embodiment of the autocratic-landowner system arose from the autocratic-landowner system arose from the writer back in the essays of the 60s. writer back in the essays of the 60s. In January 1869, the satirist created the first chapters of “Inventory for City Governors” and “Organchik”, which were published in the first issue of the journal “Otechestvennye zapiski”. In January 1869, the satirist created the first chapters of “Inventory for City Governors” and “Organchik”, which were published in the first issue of the journal “Otechestvennye zapiski”. The author continued work on the work in 1870. The author continued work on the work in 1870.


Satire on autocracy? The greatest dystopia on the themes of Russian reality? The greatest dystopia on the themes of Russian reality? A philosophical novel about the paradoxes of human existence? A philosophical novel about the paradoxes of human existence?


Before us is a historical novel, grotesque. The main character is the city of Fulov The main character is the city of Fulov The plot is a change of rulers The plot is a change of rulers The main artistic device is the grotesque. The main artistic technique is grotesque. The city itself is conventional, it sometimes looks like “northern Palmyra”, sometimes like a city on seven hills, like Moscow. The city itself is conventional, it sometimes looks like “northern Palmyra”, sometimes like a city on seven hills, like Moscow. The narrator sees the task of the chronicler as “to be a depicter” of the “touching correspondence” between the authorities, “to the extent daring,” and the people, “to the extent of giving thanks.” History, therefore, is the history of the reigns of various mayors.














Gloomy-Burcheev, “former scoundrel.” He destroyed the old city and built another in a new place. Scoundrel - distorted from profos. (This was the name given to executioners in the army under Peter I, and then wardens of military prisons.) Under Peter I, executioners in the army, and then wardens of military prisons.)


Wartkin Vasilisk Semyonovich. This mayorship was the longest and most brilliant. Again he applied for the establishment of an academy in Foolov, but, having received a refusal, he built a moving house about the establishment of an academy in Foolov, but, having received a refusal, he built a moving house.


What common features can be identified when describing mayors? What common features can be identified when describing mayors? What generalized image of autocracy is created in the chapter? What generalized image of autocracy is created in the chapter? What can you say about a city with such rulers? What can you say about a city with such rulers? What techniques does the author use to satirically depict characters? What techniques does the author use to satirically depict characters?




The main problem of the work is the problem of the relationship between the people and the authorities. What is this relationship? What is this relationship? “...for me it is not the details that are important, but the overall results; the overall result, in my opinion, is passivity..." M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin


Utopia (from ancient Greek τοπος “place”, υ-τοπος “not a place”, “a place that does not exist”) is a genre of fiction, close to science fiction, describing a model of an ideal, from the author’s point of view, society. Dystopia is a genre in fiction that describes a state in which negative development trends have prevailed (in some cases it describes not a separate state, but the world as a whole). Dystopia is the complete opposite of utopia. Dystopia is a genre in fiction that describes a state in which negative development trends have prevailed (in some cases it describes not a separate state, but the world as a whole). Dystopia is the exact opposite of utopia. “The History of a City” is not a grotesque satirical novel, not a satirical historical chronicle, not a parody. This is a dystopia, a warning to the future (the most important function of the dystopian genre). “The History of a City” is not a grotesque satirical novel, not a satirical historical chronicle, not a parody. This is a dystopia, a warning to the future (the most important function of the dystopian genre)


“... Who could have thought that in this case I would be a prophet - but, however, it turned out that I foresaw and depicted all this.” M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin “Shchedrin kept pace with life, not one step behind it, he gazed into her face and laughed bitterly prophetically at everyone and everything” M. Gorky M. Gorky

“The History of a City,” a brief summary of which is given in this article, is an ironic, grotesque chronicle of the city of Foolov. Saltykov-Shchedrin's satire is transparent, so the appearance of modern Russia is easily guessed in the text.

Only at first glance it seems that the story is like an inventory of city governors - a gallery of human madness and moral deformities. In fact, each image is recognizable in its own way.

Unfortunately, the work does not lose its uniqueness to this day.

The history of the creation of “The Story of a City”

The idea of ​​the work was nurtured by the author for several years. In 1867, a story appears about a mayor with a stuffed head, eaten with gusto at the end. This hero transformed into a governor named Pyshch. And the story itself became one of the chapters of the story.

Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin (1826-1889)

A year later, the author began writing Foolov's chronicle itself. The work lasted more than a year. Initially, the work was called “The Foolov Chronicler”; the final title appeared later. The name change is due to the fact that the second carries a broader meaning.

In the year of graduation, the story was first published in the anthology “Notes of the Fatherland,” where Mikhail Evgrafovich signed the pseudonym N. Shchedrin. An independent publication comes out in six months. The text is slightly different. The sequence of chapters has been changed, and the characteristics and descriptions of the governors have been rewritten in abbreviation, but have become more expressive.

The main characters and their characteristics

The main characters of the work are the mayors and townspeople - the inhabitants of Foolov. Below is a table with characteristics. A brief overview of the main characters is given.

Amadeus Manuilovich Klementy Italian. At home he served as a cook. His signature and most delicious dish was pasta. The Duke of Courland, admired by his culinary skills, took him with him as the family cook. After Amadeus Manuilovich received a high status, which helped him take the position of mayor. Clementy forced all the Foolovites to make pasta. Sent into exile for high treason.
Fotiy Petrovich Ferapontov He was the personal hairdresser of the Duke of Courland. After which he began to manage the city. A big fan of spectacles. I never missed public punishments in the square. Always present when someone was flogged. In 1738, the manager was torn to pieces by dogs.
Ivan Matveevich Velikanov He is famous for drowning the director responsible for economics and management in a reservoir. For the first time he introduced a tax on citizens. From each, a few kopecks into the board's treasury. He often beat police officers most severely. Spotted in an indecent relationship with the first wife of Peter I (Avdotya Lopukhina). After which he was taken into custody, where he remains to this day.
Manyl Samylovich Urus-Kugush-Kildibaev Brave military man, guardsman. Management methods are appropriate. The townspeople remembered him for his courage, bordering on madness. Once Foolov even took the city by storm. There is little information about him in the chronicle. But it is known that in 1745 he was dismissed from the post of governor.
Lamvrokakis Fugitive Greek citizen of unknown origin, name and family. Before becoming a mayor, he sold soap, oils, nuts and other small items at the market of a neighboring city. He died in his own bed in an unequal battle with bedbugs.
Ivan Matveevich Baklan Famous for his tall height of more than two meters. Killed during a hurricane. A strong wind broke the man in half.
Dementy Varlamovich Brudasty The role of the brain in his head was performed by a peculiar mechanism resembling an organ. But this did not interfere with the performance of the duties of the governor, the preparation and execution of papers. That's why the residents affectionately called him Organchik. He had no contact with the public, but constantly uttered a single menacing phrase: “I will not tolerate it!” Why were the city dwellers in constant fear? He actively collected taxes and taxes. After his reign there was anarchy for about a week.

The image symbolizes the stupidity, emptiness and limitations of the majority of officials and managers.
Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov Active and active manager. Paved roads (two of them). Organized local production of beer and honey drinks. Forced residents to grow and consume mustard and bay leaves. He collected arrears more actively than others. For any offenses and without them, the Foolovites were flogged. The only one who died of natural causes.
Petr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko Former soldier. He was Potemkin's orderly, of which he was quite proud. The first six years passed quietly. But then the foreman seemed to go crazy. He didn't have much depth of mind. He had a speech impediment and was therefore tongue-tied. Died from overeating.
Vasilisk Semenovich Wartkin Appears in the chapter "Wars for Enlightenment".

The hero's portrait corresponds to his surname.

The longest reign in the city's history. His predecessors started arrears, so Wartkin took it strictly. In the process, more than 30 villages burned down, and only two and a half rubles were saved. I landscaped one square and planted trees on one street.

Constantly buttoned up, put out fires, created false alarms. Solved problems that didn't exist.

He forced the Foolovites to build houses on foundations, plant Persian chamomile, and use Provençal oil.

He dreamed of annexing Byzantium, and then renaming Constantinople to Ekaterinograd.

I tried to open an academy, but it didn’t work. That's why he built a prison. He fought for enlightenment, but at the same time against it. True, the inhabitants of the city did not see the difference. He could have done a lot more “useful” things, but he suddenly died.
Onufriy Ivanovich Negodyaev A man of the people. He served as a stoker in Gatchina. He ordered the destruction of the streets paved by his predecessors. And from the resulting stone, build monuments and monuments. Foolov fell into decay, there was devastation all around, and the townspeople became wild, even overgrown with wool.

He was dismissed from his position.
Gloomy-Burcheev In the past he was a military man, so he is obsessed with the army and military operations. Empty, limited, stupid, like most of the characters in the book. He preferred to destroy Foolov and rebuild another city nearby, making it a military fortification. Forced residents to wear military uniforms, live according to army regulations, follow absurd orders, line up and march. Ugryumov always slept on the bare ground. He went missing during a natural phenomenon that no one could explain.
Erast Andreevich Grustilov He always looked offended and upset, which did not stop him from being depraved and vulgar. During his reign, the city was mired in debauchery. He wrote melancholic odes. He died of inexplicable melancholy.
Acne Like many of the city's rulers, they are former military men. Was in office for several years. I decided to take up management to take a break from work. The Foolovites suddenly became rich under him, which aroused suspicion and unhealthy reactions among the masses. It later turned out that the governor had a stuffed head. The ending is deplorable and unpleasant: the head was eaten.

Minor characters

Prince A foreign ruler whom the Foolovites asked to become their prince. He was stupid, but cruel. All questions were resolved with the exclamation: “I’ll screw it up!”
Iraida Lukinichna Paleologova An impostor who appeared during the period of unrest after the death of Brudasty (Organchik). Based on the fact that her husband reigned for several days, and her historical surname (an allusion to Sophia Paleologus, the grandmother of Ivan the Terrible), she demanded power. Rules for a few days outside the city.
Intercept-Zalikhvatsky He appeared victoriously on a white horse. He burned down the school. Zalikhvatsky became the prototype of Paul I.
Foolovites Residents of the city. A collective image of a people blindly worshiping the tyranny of power.

The list of heroes is not complete, it is given in abbreviation. During the time of unrest alone, more than ten rulers were replaced, six of them women.

It is a summary of the work in chapters.

From the publisher

The narrator assures the reader of the document's authenticity. To prove the absence of artistic fiction, an argument is made about the monotony of the narrative. The text is entirely devoted to the biographies of mayors and the peculiarities of their reign.

The story begins with the address of the last clerk, who outlined the chronicle of events.

About the root of the origin of fools

The chapter describes the prehistoric period. The tribe of bunglers waged internecine wars with their neighbors, defeating them. When the last enemy was defeated, the population was confused. Then they began the search for a prince to rule them. But even the stupidest princes did not want to take power over the savages.

They found someone who agreed to “volody”, but did not go to live on the territory of the property. He sent governors who turned out to be thieves. I had to appear to the prince in person.

Organ

The reign of Dementy Brudasty began. The townsfolk were surprised by his lack of emotion. It turned out that there was a small device in his head. The mechanism played only two short compositions: “I’ll ruin” and “I won’t tolerate it.”

Then the unit broke down. The local watchmaker couldn't fix it himself. We ordered a new head from the capital. But the parcel, as often happens in Russia, was lost.

Due to anarchy, unrest began, and then a week-long anarchy.

The Tale of the Six City Leaders

During the anarchic week, six impostors were replaced. Women's claims to power were based on the fact that their husbands, brothers, or other relatives had once ruled. Or they themselves were in service in the families of mayors. And some had no reason at all.

News about Dvoekurov

Semyon Konstantinovich remained in power for about eight years. A leader of progressive views. Main innovations: brewing, mead making, planting and eating bay leaves and mustard.

Reform activities are worthy of respect. But the changes were forced, ridiculous and unnecessary.

Hungry City

The first six years of Pyotr Ferdyshchenko's governorship were measured and calm. But then he fell in love with someone else’s wife, who did not share the feelings. A drought began, then other disasters. The result: hunger and death.

The people rebelled, caught and threw the official's chosen one from the bell tower. The uprising was brutally suppressed.

Straw City

After the manager's next love affair, fires started. The whole area burned down.

Fantastic traveler

The mayor went on a journey to homes and villages, demanding that food be brought to him. This was the reason for his death. The townsfolk are afraid that they will be accused of deliberately feeding their boss. But everything worked out. The fantastic traveler from the capital was replaced by a new one.

Wars for enlightenment

Wartkin approached the position thoroughly. Studied the activities of his predecessors. I decided to follow the example of the reformer Dvoekurov. He ordered them to sow mustard again and collect arrears.

Residents rioted, on their knees. Wars began to be waged against them “for enlightenment.” Victory has always been with the authorities. As punishment for disobedience, it was ordered to consume Provençal oil and sow Persian chamomile.

The era of retirement from wars

Under Negodyaev, the city became even more impoverished than under the previous ruler. This is the only manager from the people, who previously served as a stoker. But the democratic beginning did not bring benefits to the population.

The Pimple period is noteworthy. He was not engaged in any activity, but the people were getting rich, which raised doubts. The leader of the nobility revealed a secret: the chief's head was stuffed with truffles. The quick-witted henchman feasted on it himself.

Worship of Mammon and repentance

The successor to the stuffed head, State Councilor Ivanov, died from a decree that he could not understand and burst from mental strain.

The Viscount de Chariot came to replace him. Life under him was fun, but stupid. No one was involved in administrative matters, but there were many holidays, balls, masquerades, and other fun.

Confirmation of repentance and conclusion

The last manager was Ugryum-Burcheev. A thick-headed guy, a martinet. The author calls him “the purest type of idiot.” He intended to destroy the city and recreate a new one - Nepreklonsk, making it a military fortification.

Supporting documents

Notes created by foremen are presented for the edification of followers and successors.

Analysis of the work

The work cannot belong to small literary forms: a story or a fairy tale. In terms of content, composition and depth of meaning, it is much broader.

On the one hand, the style and style of writing resemble real reports. On the other hand, the content, description of heroes, events, brought to the point of absurdity.

The retelling of the city's history spans about a hundred years. Four local archivists took part in writing the chronicle. The plot even illuminates the history of the people. The local residents descended from the ancient tribe of “Bunglers”. But then they were renamed by their neighbors for savagery and ignorance.

Conclusion

The history of the state is reflected from the time of Rurik’s calling to the principality and feudal fragmentation. The appearance of two False Dmitrys, the reign of Ivan the Terrible and the turmoil after his death are covered. He appears in the form of Brudasty. Dvoekurov, who becomes an activist and innovator, establishing brewing and mead making, symbolizes Peter I with his reforms.

The Foolovites unconsciously worship autocrats and tyrants, carrying out the most absurd orders. Residents are the image of the Russian people.

The satirical chronicle could be applied to any city. The work ironically conveys the fate of Russia. The story does not lose its relevance to this day. A film was made based on the work.

Having left work on the series “Pompadours and Pompadours” for a while, Saltykov got excited about the idea of ​​​​creating the novel “The History of a City,” thematically related to “Pompadours and Pompadours.”

The difficult sixties of the last century for Russia turned out to be the most fruitful and important for M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin. For ten years (from 1858 to 1868), excluding two and a half years (1862-1864), Saltykov served as vice-governor in Tver and Ryazan, chairman of the treasury chamber in Penza, Tula and Ryazan. Public service did not prevent the writer from seeing the truth and serving it all the years. Saltykov was a fair, honest, incorruptible, demanding, principled man, he fought against the abuses of officials and landowners, and therefore his relationship with “high society” did not work out. In addition, the bitter “experience” of Vyatka exile, during which young Saltykov fought against bribery and abuse of power, became a school of life.

In 1868, Saltykov left public service, disillusioned with its purpose and realizing his inability to change anything in the life of the people. The accumulated impressions were reflected in a bright, unusual and bold work, sharply different from a number of works of Russian writers created during these years, and even Saltykov-Shchedrin himself.

“The History of a City” caused a lot of interpretation and indignation, which forced Saltykov to respond to an article by the famous publicist A. Suvorin. The author of the critical article “Historical Satire,” which appeared in the April issue of the magazine “Bulletin of Europe” for 1871, accused the writer of mocking the Russian people and distorting the facts of Russian history, without penetrating the depth of the plan and the essence of the artistic originality of the work. I. S. Turgenev called the book wonderful and believed that it reflected “the satirical history of Russian society in the second half of the last and the beginning of this century.” ….

“Provincial life is a great school, but the school is dirty,” the writer reported to his brother in December 1852. It was in the northern city that Saltykov defended the peasants, and then, characterizing the essence of the state system of autocracy, he argued that “in the provinces there is not action, but the arbitrariness of the police power, completely convinced that it does not exist for the people, but the people for it.”

Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin ridiculed the Russian government with his novel and described all its flaws in a satirical form. The novel is written about a city that has changed a large number of bosses, but none of them could do anything good for the city. Saltykov-Shchedrin highlighted in his work reality intertwined with fantasy.

In such a light and satirical form, the writer was able to fully express his thought and intended idea. The novel “The Story of a City” depicts the problem of all of Russia. In a city where bosses are constantly changing and cannot lead the state normally. All bosses are very stupid and each of them pursues their own goals.

Saltykov-Shchedrin writes about the city of Glupov as a capital, or as a provincial small town, or generally calls it a village. The author collected all segments of the population and described different times for the city. Mikhail Evgrafovich writes that the city stands on a swamp, and at other times it stands on seven hills.

In the novel “The History of a City,” the main part is occupied by a description of the mayors who were sent to govern the city. Here Saltykov-Shchedrin also approached with great exaggeration and a satirical note. Each of the mayors did nothing to make the city prosper, but only destroyed it and tore it to pieces. Some bosses had an empty head, and only an organ stood in the corner, while others had a head that smelled like minced meat, so much so that it had even been eaten.

But the novel also describes the inhabitants of this very city who are inactive. They do absolutely nothing to change the situation in their hometown and in their lives. The people simply watched as a myriad of bosses were replaced and how they destroyed the city and, at the same time, their lives. Residents of the city only adapt to each new boss and did not want to get out of this circle of injustice. One might think that the residents themselves do not want a good mayor for themselves, but are content with the ones they have.

Each boss is despotic towards the people in his own way, and the people, in turn, have already resigned themselves to their fate. The last mayor who decides to destroy the city and rebuild it. Gloomy-Burcheev's gaze terrifies the townspeople, and they follow him unconditionally. Construction began just like that, and the townspeople were left with the ruins of their own city.

In his novel, Saltykov-Shchedrin was able to vividly describe the problems of society and the state.

Option 2

Most writers of one era or another tried to convey their dissatisfaction with a particular situation through their works, trying to convey them as best as possible to the general mass of people. Some tried to identify a problem that was inherent only to the period of their life, while others tried to convey their experiences about a topic that was characteristic not only of their generation, but also of previous ones. One of these writers was Saltykov-Shchedrin.

Many of his works were educational in nature, trying to help people see the problem and suggest ways to solve it. Reading such works, people realized what was happening around them and tried to do at least something, and this is what makes the works of Saltykov-Shchedrin good, they gave reason to think.

The work “The History of a City” told the reader about one city in which lived people who, without exaggeration, could be called the personification of a particular period in the life of our homeland. The city was called Foolov, and its inhabitants called themselves Foolovites; most likely, Saltykov-Shchedrin tried to convey their ignorance and limitations as strongly as possible. Further in the course of the story, we see that the city and its inhabitants are the literal personification of everything that a person would like to hide in himself and not let out. All the vices that are in him. The city is full of stupid people who try to obey rather than think for themselves.

The works reveal many problems that were inherent in a particular period. For example, the work clearly shows the problem of excessive corruption in the bureaucracy. Also in the work we see the problem of human rejection from society, the residents of the city don’t care about everyone except themselves, they only care about their loved ones, which makes us think about human indifference in our society.

Also in the work one can see the obvious comic superiority of officials over ordinary people, as it was in the time of the writer.

One way or another, the work tells us about the most important things in human life that we need to adhere to and follow. Saltykov-Shchedrin tells us that spiritual things are much more important for a person than material values. The author tells us to stick to ourselves and not be led by surrounding opinions, which can often be wrong. Saltykov-Shchedrin recommends that you be guided by this generalized opinion throughout your life, which is what he, in fact, did.

Also, for his works, he experienced pressure from the authorities for his seemingly revolutionary impulses and oppositional themes.

In this essay, I analyzed Saltykov-Shchedrin’s work “The History of a City,” from which I concluded that the work has a number of issues that the author reflected on in the work, and the problems of which are described above. The opinion described in the essay is subjective and does not claim to be truly correct.

Essay on the story The Story of a City

Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin wrote his work over several years, from 1869 to 1870. Initially, the novel was called “The Foolov Chronicler.” Later it was renamed “The History of a City” and published in parts in the journal “Otechestvennye zapiski” and aroused strong emotions among readers.

Most readers compare a written book to a short story, but in reality it is not. The genre of “Stories of a City” is “Satirical Novel”, which describes the life of the fictional city of Foolov, but the chronological events taking place in it take place from the chronicles found by the writer.

The novel takes place in the city of Foolov, whose name speaks for itself. The novel describes the life of the mayors, their “great deeds”: bribery, imposition of tribute, collection of various taxes and much more. Saltykov-Shchedrin in his work raised the main problem - the essence of the history of the Russian state. He assessed the past and present of Russia quite critically, since he considered the majority of the country’s inhabitants to be “Fools.” Which, translated from the language of the ancient people, means “head-scratchers.” Because of his ignorance and lack of understanding, he renamed them.

The novel begins with small warring tribes. Tired of the constant war among themselves, they decided to choose a person who would manage the affairs of the tribes and command their people. This is how the first prince in Rus' and the city of Foolov appeared.
With this he described the formation of Ancient Rus' and the reign of the Rurik dynasty.

At first, the prince called to power entrusted part of the affairs to his landowner. But he turned out to be a thief, the ruler had to take tough measures himself. Then the writer lists most of the rulers of the Russian state, their contributions to history and the deeds in which they distinguished themselves. The bosses changed one after another, their worldview and the absurdity of the government, which the author points out in his work, also changed.

Madness and unnecessary reforms created chaos and disorder in the country, people became beggars, and devastation set in. But the monarchs were in a constant state of either drunkenness or war, and they had nothing to do with the ordinary people. A gradual series of mistakes on the part of the authorities led to dire consequences, which the author narrates with sarcasm and satire. Ultimately, the death that overtook the last ruler of Ugryum-Burcheev, due to which the narrative ends, gives hope to the Russian people to change their lives for the better.

In the novel “The History of a City,” the writer touched on many topics important for the history of Russia, such as war, power, ignorance, religion, servility and fanaticism. Each topic is important in its own way and carries great meaning to the way of life of ordinary people.

The main problem described in the work, which Saltykov-Shchedrin wanted to emphasize, is the inaction and humility of the common people in relation to the authorities, their agreement that monarchs infringe and oppress their rights, infringe on them. The writer is inclined to believe that people are afraid of being without their ruler. The fear of falling into anarchy is so strong that they are driven by force and the desire to obey their boss.

The essence of the novel “The History of a City” is that society does not want to make responsible decisions on its own, placing everything on the shoulders of one person who cannot change the history of the country. The author wants to show that without the will of the people, their awareness and desire for a better life, nothing will change. The writer does not call for open rebellion or revolution, but he is trying to convince the people that one cannot have blind obedience, only people and their will can influence changes for the better, one cannot be afraid of power, but, on the contrary, turn to it with one’s problems.

Sample 4

Perhaps Saltykov-Shchedrin is one of the few satirical writers in Russia in the 19th century. Yes, there were many classical authors, but in such a way as to make caustic ridicule, to present reality from the other side, then, of course, this is for Saltykov-Shchedrin. “The History of a City” is the pinnacle of satire for that time. This novel will be discussed now.

At one time it caused a lot of controversy and controversy. Critics sometimes gave completely opposite assessments. Some did not hide their admiration for the author’s skill, others denounced him in every possible way, calling him a Russophobe. Which side should you take?

Rather, the side of the former, since it is known for sure that the writer loved his country. He simply described the current reality “without cuts” in a humorously absurd tone. The censors most often took pro-government positions, and they could not like the emphasis on the corruption and lawlessness that was then raging.

The novel has an interesting structure. It is based on a certain fictional chronicle of the city of Foolov. It carefully describes how the mayors and their mental and external characteristics were replaced. The work is replete with allusions to various rulers of Russia. That is, these leaders were presented in the form of one of the emperors.

Some bosses looked like robots. Their stupidity is emphasized. Someone constantly carried out reforms that only worsened life in the city. Someone's head looked like minced meat and one day it was eaten.

The novel contains a general outline of the description in that not a single boss has ever proven himself to be an intelligent official. All their activities boiled down to tyranny and arbitrariness. They dishonestly robbed the people, taking away their last. Corruption and bureaucracy have reached unprecedented proportions.

The worst thing is that the work had a real historical background, and a typical Foolov differed little from a typical Kostroma, for example. That’s why the censorship was so annoying to him: she perfectly understood what the author was trying to convey and who he was laughing at.

In fact, the city of Foolov is a collective image of any Russian provincial city of those years. And the author reminded between the lines that it is high time to take up reforms and destroy the negative consequences of Borocracy.

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