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Betrayal is an example from Sholokhov's fate of a person. Sholokhov, the fate of man is loyalty to the motherland. Composition “The fate of man is the fate of the people. Main characters and their characteristics

In any final essay, first of all, arguments from the literature are valued, which show the degree of erudition of the author. It is in the main part of the work that he shows his abilities: literacy, prudence, erudition, the ability to beautifully express his thoughts. Therefore, when preparing, it is important to focus on what works will be needed to reveal the topics, and what episodes will help reinforce the thesis. This article contains 10 arguments in the direction of "Loyalty and betrayal", which will be useful in the process of writing practice essays, and maybe on the exam itself.

In A. N. Ostrovsky's drama "Thunderstorm", the heroine faces a difficult choice between loyalty to the deep-rooted traditions of the city of Kalinov, where stupidity and narrowness of views prevail, and freedom of feeling and love. Treason is the highest manifestation of freedom for Katerina, the rebellion of her soul, in which love conquers conventions and prejudices, ceases to be sinful, becoming the only salvation from a depressing existence in the “dark kingdom”.
“Everything passes, but not everything is forgotten” - and true fidelity knows no time limits. In the story of I.A. Bunin's "Dark Alleys" the heroine carries love through the years, leaving in her life, full of everyday life, a place for the first and most important feeling. Having met her lover who once left her, who has grown old and become a complete stranger, she cannot get rid of bitterness. But a woman is not able to forgive a long-standing offense, because the price for fidelity to failed love turns out to be too high.
In the novel by L.N. Tolstoy's "War and Peace" paths of fidelity and betrayal are often intertwined. To remain faithful to Natasha Rostova, due to her young age and inexperience, turned out to be a difficult task. Her betrayal of Andrei is random and is seen more as a mistake of a girl inexperienced in love affairs, weak, subject to other people's influence, rather than as betrayal and frivolity. Caring for the wounded Bolkonsky, Natasha proves the sincerity of her feelings, showing spiritual maturity. But Helen Kuragina remains true only to her own interests. The primitiveness of feelings and the emptiness of the soul make it alien to true love, leaving room only for numerous betrayals.
The fidelity of love pushes a person to a feat, it can also be disastrous. In the story of A.I. Kuprin's "Garnet Bracelet", unrequited love becomes the meaning of life of a petty official Zheltkov, who remains true to his high feeling for a married woman who will never be able to reciprocate him. He does not defile the beloved with the demands of reciprocal feelings. Tortured and suffering, he blesses Vera for a happy future, does not allow vulgarity and everyday life to penetrate into the fragile world of love. In his fidelity - the tragic doom to death.
In the novel by A.S. Pushkin's "Eugene Onegin" fidelity becomes one of the central themes. Fate constantly forces the heroes to make decisions on which their personal happiness depends. Eugene turns out to be weak in his choice, succumbs to circumstances, for the sake of his own vanity, betraying friendship and himself. He is unable to take responsibility not only for a loved one, but also for his own actions. Tatyana, on the contrary, remains faithful to her duty, sacrificing her own interests. In this renunciation is the highest manifestation of strength of character, the struggle for inner purity, in which the sense of duty wins love.
The strength and depth of human nature are known in love and fidelity. In the novel by F.M. Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment", the heroes, tormented by the severity of crimes, are not able to find solace in the outside world. In each other, they see a reflection of their own sins, and the desire to atone for them, to gain new life meanings and guidelines, becomes a common goal for them. Each of them wants to hear words of forgiveness from the other, each is looking for salvation from the pangs of conscience. Sonya Marmeladova shows courage by following Raskolnikov to Siberia, and with her fidelity transforms Rodion, resurrected by her love.
In the novel by I.A. Goncharov "Oblomov", the theme of fidelity is reflected in the relationship of several characters at once. The love of Olga Ilyinskaya and Ilya Oblomov is a collision of two worlds, beautiful in their romance and spirituality, but incapable of coexisting in harmony. Even in love, Olga is true to her ideas about the ideal lover, whom she is trying to create from the sleepy, inactive Oblomov. She attempts to transform the hero, who lives in a cramped world artificially created by him. Agafya Pshenitsyna, on the contrary, is trying to protect Oblomov's sleeping soul from shocks, supporting his comfortable existence in the realm of carefree family happiness and comfort. She is infinitely devoted to him, and in blind obedience to the whims of her husband, becomes an indirect cause of his death. Faithful to Oblomov and servant Zakhar, for whom the master is the embodiment of true heroism. Even after the death of Ilya Ilyich, a devoted servant takes care of his grave.
Loyalty is, first of all, awareness of responsibility, renunciation of one's own interests and disinterested appeal to another person. In the story of V.G. Rasputin’s “French Lessons”, the teacher of the district school Lidia Mikhailovna faces a difficult moral choice: to help a starving student using a non-pedagogical method, or to remain indifferent to the grief of a child who needs her help. The issue of professional ethics ceases to be dominant here, giving way to compassion and tenderness for a capable boy. Loyalty to human duty becomes for her above conventional ideas about morality.
Loyalty and betrayal are opposite phenomena, mutually exclusive. But, one way or another, these are two different sides of the same choice, morally complex and not always unambiguous.
In M. A. Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita, the characters choose between good and evil, duty and conscience. They are faithful to their choice to the end, even one that brings them a lot of mental suffering. Margarita leaves her husband, actually committing a betrayal, but, in her devotion to the Master, she is ready for the most desperate step - to make a deal with evil spirits. Her fidelity to love justifies sins, because Margarita remains pure in front of herself and the person she wants to save.
In the novel by M. A. Sholokhov "Quiet Flows the Don", the themes of fidelity and betrayal are revealed in the relations of several characters at once. Love bonds closely bind the characters to each other, creating ambiguous situations in which it is difficult to find happiness. Loyalty here is different: Aksinya's passionate devotion is different from Natalya's quiet, unrequited tenderness. In a blinding craving for Gregory, Aksinya cheats on Stepan, while Natalya remains faithful to her husband to the end, forgiving dislike and indifference. Grigory Melekhov, in search of himself, finds himself a victim of fatal events. He is looking for the truth, in favor of which he is ready to make a choice, but the search is complicated by the vicissitudes of life, which the hero cannot cope with. Gregory's mental turmoil, his vain readiness to be faithful to the end only to truth and duty is another tragedy of the personality in the novel.

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Loyalty and betrayal - arguments

* Loyalty to a friend:

** Fyodor Dostoevsky "Crime and Punishment" (Dmitry Razumikhin supports his friend, Rodion Raskolnikov, no matter what)

** Vladimir Korolenko “In a bad society” (Children from the dungeon: Valek and Marusya made friends with a boy from the “higher” class Vasya. The guys are so faithful to each other that they are ready not to betray under torture. Vasya even committed an unseemly act: he stole from his own house a doll for the sick Marusya to brighten up the last days of her life)

* Cheating on a friend:

** Alexander Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter" (Pyotr Grinev and Shvabrin. The heroes who were once friends turn out to be enemies because of different views on such concepts as honor, loyalty, nobility. Shvabrin eventually betrays Grinev, and because of love for one and the same the girl Masha Mironova does everything possible to destroy Grinev, with whom he was once friends)

** Mikhail Lermontov “A Hero of Our Time” (Grushnitsky, out of envy and jealousy, goes to Pechorin’s betrayal, since he turned out to be happier in love. Princess Mary Ligovskaya falls in love with Pechorin, who previously sympathized with Grushnitsky, who had his own plans for the girl. Deprived generosity, Grushnitsky cannot forgive Pechorin for his defeat and decides on a vile step - a dishonorable duel... He slanders Pechorin, accusing him of having close relations with Princess Mary, and during the duel he offers his former friend a pistol loaded with blank cartridges.)

** Haruki Murakami "Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and the years of his wanderings" ("We don't want to see you anymore" - and no explanation. Four of his best friends suddenly cut him off from himself - and from his former life. After 16 years, already matured Tsukuru will have to meet with his friends again to find out what really happened.It turned out that Belaya accused him of rape and friends believed it)

* Loyalty to profession/job:

** Boris Polevoy "The Tale of a Real Man" (about the events that occurred in the life of the Soviet pilot Alexei Meresyev during the Great Patriotic War. During the battle, the Germans shot down the plane. He escaped, but his toes were crushed. Eighteen days Meresyev made his way through the forest. He was amputated in the hospital. As a result of persistent training and great willpower, Alexei achieved the ability to fly as before. In incredibly difficult living conditions, he remained devoted to his chosen profession, his chosen cause.)

** Andrei Platonov “The Sandy Teacher” (Maria Nikifirovna Naryshkina chose the difficult profession of a teacher. When she was assigned to the village of Khoshutovo, where the sands “reigned” and there was no vegetation, she did not refuse. In this small settlement, people were dying of hunger , there was poverty and devastation everywhere, but Maria did not give up, but decided to use her gift as a teacher for good: to teach the inhabitants to deal with the sands.Thanks to her labors, vegetation appeared in the village, and on

lessons began to come more peasants. After the work done, she was sent to help the nomadic people. She could refuse, but, remembering the hopeless fate of this people, she decided to put public interests above her own. With her actions and fortitude, she proved that loyalty to her profession is not limited to the walls of the office. Maria Nikiforovna became an excellent example of disinterested professionalism, kindness and responsiveness and showed how difficult and important the path of a teacher is.)

* Loyalty to a loved one

** William Shakespeare "Romeo and Juliet" (children of militant clans meet each other against the decrees of their parents. Juliet decides to pretend to be dead and avoid marrying another. Not knowing that his beloved is sleeping, Romeo takes poison. Waking up, Juliet sees dead Romeo and kills himself with a dagger)

** Mikhail Bulgakov "Master and Margarita" (Margarita loved her chosen one so much that she sold her soul to the devil. She was ready to look for him all over the world and beyond. She remained faithful to him, even when there was no hope of finding the Master.)

** Alexander Kuprin "Garnet Bracelet" (Loyalty of love pushes a person to a feat, it can also be disastrous. In A.I. Kuprin's story "Garnet Bracelet" unrequited love becomes the meaning of life of a petty official Zheltkov, who remains true to his high feeling for a married woman who will never be able to reciprocate him. He does not defile his beloved with the demands of reciprocal feelings. Tortured and suffering, he blesses Faith for a happy future, does not allow vulgarity and everyday life to penetrate into the fragile world of love. In his fidelity there is a tragic doom to death.)

* Infidelity (treason) to a loved one

** Alexander Ostrovsky "Thunderstorm" (the main character Katerina fell in love with Boris, cheating on her husband (Kabanov Tikhon), and then commits suicide)

** Nikolai Karamzin "Poor Lisa" (the rich nobleman Erast seduces Lisa, and then, having received what he wants, leaves her, leaving "for the army", but then they meet after 2 months and he announces to her that he is engaged (he had to marry a rich widow, because he lost his fortune in cards. In the finale, the heroine commits suicide)

** Leo Tolstoy "War and Peace" (Natasha Rostova spiritually betrayed Andrei Bolkonsky with Anatole Kuragin) / note: + reasons for betrayal + when betrayal is justified - Rostova, due to her age and inexperience, could not think about the consequences of her choice)

* Keeping your word

** Leonid Panteleev "Honest word" (it is said about a boy of seven or eight years old, who, during the game, was entrusted by the older boys to guard an imaginary powder warehouse and took his word of honor from him that he would not leave his post. After playing and forgetting about the sentry, the boys fled a long time ago home, but our hero stayed. It was already getting dark in the park when the narrator saw a little sentry who did not want to leave the post entrusted to him for anything, as he was afraid to break his promise. And only the permission of the major, whom the narrator accidentally finds at the tram stop, releases the boy from his word and allows him to go home.The narrator says that he does not know either the name, or the surname, or the parents of this boy,

but he knows one thing for sure: a real person will grow out of him with a strong will and a sense of loyalty to the word.)

** Alexander Pushkin "Eugene Onegin" (Tatyana Larina was the embodiment of moral strength and sincerity. Therefore, she rejected Onegin's love and remained faithful to her marital oath, despite the fact that she loved him.)

* Loyalty to yourself

** Ivan Bunin "Dark Alleys" (the heroine managed to remain faithful in her soul to her first and only love in her life - to Nikolai. Years pass, Nadezhda becomes an independent, firmly standing woman, but she remained alone. Loyalty to her beloved warms the heart of the heroine, although at the meeting she accuses him, not forgiving for betrayal.) / note: loyalty to her principles + loyalty to love + forgiveness of betrayal /

** Mikhail Bulgakov "The Master and Margarita" (The Master believed so much in what he was doing that he could not betray his life's work. He could not leave it to be torn to pieces by envious critics. To save his work from misinterpretation and condemnation, he even destroyed it.)

* Loyalty/treason

** Alexander Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter" (Pyotr Grinev is faithful to his duty and his state, despite the mortal danger, when Shvabrin betrays the Motherland, the honor of an officer, friends, saving his life) / note: + reasons for betrayal /

** Nikolai Gogol "Taras Bulba" (the youngest son of Taras - Andriy - fell in love with a lady and betrayed his homeland) / note: + unforgiveness of betrayal by Taras)

** Mikhail Sholokhov "The Fate of a Man" (The main character Andrei Sokolov showed patriotism, dedication and courage not only during military service, but also in captivity. The hero, being very hungry and tired, refuses to drink and eat in honor of the German victory. After all, Andrei faithful to his duty to the end, he is not afraid of being shot for his refusal to the fascist. Andrey Sokolov is a man with a capital letter. It was such people, devoted to the Motherland, who saved the country, defended it.)

What is loyalty? What does it mean to "be faithful"? I'll try to figure this out. I believe that loyalty is devotion, constancy, honesty. Loyalty to one's ideals, devotion to loved ones, honesty towards oneself and others. A special place in a person's life is occupied by devotion to the Motherland, which is inextricably linked with love for her, the ability to protect her, and even ... self-sacrifice.

Will you be able to remain faithful to the Motherland? Are you capable of a feat for her? You can only find out if you find yourself in a situation where you need to make a choice: remain faithful or betray. For example, war forces you to make this difficult choice. Fortunately, we live in peaceful times. But our great-grandfathers got it in the Great Patriotic War. And we know well that a real soldier is a devoted, faithful soldier. And traitors have always been despised. We also find examples of true fidelity in fiction. I'll try to prove it.

Literature about the war always raises the problem of loyalty, nobility, heroism, introduces us to "people of honor."

We meet with an example of true loyalty to the Motherland in the story of M.A. Sholokhov “The Fate of a Man”. The share of the protagonist Andrei Sokolov, an ordinary Russian soldier, falls to hard trials: war, captivity, the death of a family ... More than once he looked into the eyes of death. Unsuccessful attempt to escape for the first time, interrogation by Muller, where Andrei refuses to drink for the victory of the German army, unbearable conditions in captivity: labor, hunger, beatings. But he was able to endure and endure everything. He always thinks about others: the hungry one brings bread to the barracks, risking his life, escapes from captivity a second time, seizing his tongue and, as it turned out, important documents ... Having learned about the death of his wife and daughters, about the death of his son-captain on the last day of the war, the hero lives devastated, lost. All the most important, precious things were taken away by the war. But, having met Vanyushka, he regains the meaning of life, he has someone to live for. Andrey Sokolov can rightly be called a Man with a capital letter. He remains always true to himself and to the Motherland. I want to take an example from him.

Another example of true loyalty to the Motherland we meet in the story of B.L. Vasiliev “I was not on the lists”. Before our eyes, Nikolay Pluzhnikov turns from an inexperienced young lieutenant into a hero, becoming the last defender of the Brest Fortress. "Say your name!" - the German general asks him when Nikolai, blind, emaciated, with frostbite on his legs, left the fortress, saving the Jewish violinist. "I am a Russian soldier!" he answers. The Germans salute him because they understand that they have a real hero in front of them. For ten months, Nikolai defended the fortress, gave himself orders, and carried them out himself. Of course he was scared. We remember his first attack during the capture of the church, when he first saw the enemy face to face, got scared, lost his service weapon. We remember how he decided to die when it was impossible to see people dying from wounds and thirst, to hear the groans of children and to know that there was nothing you could do to help them. Mirra helped him. These were momentary and understandable weaknesses. And then Nikolai fights, and we understand that honor, duty, love for the Motherland are the most valuable things for him. He betrays no one, leaves no one in trouble. He is a man of honor, loyal and devoted.

There are many examples of true loyalty to the Motherland in Russian literature, because this topic will always be relevant. Bolkonsky, Bezukhov, Grinev, Zhilin, Sotnikov... I am sure that our world is based on such people, faithful and devoted. And they were, are and will be at all times. And we, the younger generation, need to take an example from both literary heroes and real contemporaries. Try in all situations to remain honest and faithful to yourself, loved ones, the Motherland ...

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Updated: 2017-11-17

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An example of a final essay in the direction "Loyalty and treason"

Subject: What does it mean to be faithful?

Loyalty is a very beautiful word. Usually this concept is associated in people with the relationship between a man and a woman, but the meaning of this concept is wider than it might seem at first glance.

So what does it mean to “be faithful” then? In order to answer this question, let's open the Ozhegov dictionary. "Loyalty is devotion to someone or something; it is immutability in one's promises, words, relationships, in the performance of one's duties, duty." As we can see from the definition, fidelity is a positive personality trait, a characteristic that correlates with other moral qualities: conscience, honesty, nobility, courage. Thus, we can conclude that fidelity affects almost all spheres of human life. A devotee can be loved, friends, Fatherland, word or moral principles. And about the fidelity of animals to their owners, they compose legends and sing songs.

The theme of fidelity is a key one in the work of many writers and poets. So, the character of the story M.A. Sholokhov "The Fate of Man" Andrei Sokolov is a vivid example of a citizen who faithfully serves his homeland. When war breaks into his happy and peaceful life, Sokolov, without hesitation, goes to defend his Fatherland and family. In the war, he is wounded twice, he manifests himself as a hero, saving his comrade. Later, Sokolov is captured, but even there he shows true patriotism. Mortal danger cannot force him to abandon his country. He retains "Russian dignity and pride", which inspires respect from opponents. The narrator describes Andrei Sokolov as "a man of unbending will" who can overcome any obstacles and raise his adopted son in his own image. Such people, according to the narrator, are capable of feats if "the Motherland calls for this."

Since the manifestation of fidelity is multifaceted, let's turn to another work of fiction, namely the story of A.P. Platonov "Sand teacher". Maria Nikifirovna Naryshkina chose the difficult profession of a teacher. She was the owner of a strong character and by no means a fragile physique. When, by distribution, she was sent to the village of Khoshutovo, where the sands "reigned" and there was no vegetation, she did not refuse. In this small settlement, people were dying of hunger, there was poverty and devastation everywhere, but Maria did not give up, but decided to use her teaching gift for good: to teach the inhabitants to fight the sands. Thanks to her labors, vegetation appeared in the village, and more peasants began to come to the lessons. After the work done, she was sent to help the nomadic people. She could refuse, but, remembering the hopeless fate of this people, she decided to put public interests above her own. With her actions and fortitude, she proved that loyalty to her profession is not limited to the walls of the office. Maria Nikiforovna became an excellent example of disinterested professionalism, kindness and responsiveness and showed how difficult and important the path of a teacher is. Such faithful people are the foundation on which the world is held.

After analyzing the above works, I came to the conclusion that loyalty is one of the most significant personality traits that often goes unnoticed. To be faithful means to love the people and the world you live in, even more than yourself.

What is treason? This is a betrayal of the interests of your country in the name of personal selfish goals. As a rule, this phenomenon takes on special significance in times of war, when desertion undermines the foundations on which the state is based. Most people, of course, risk their lives if their homeland is in danger. Our history is rich in such examples and our literature is proud of. However, there are always those few members of society who succumb to fear and serve only themselves, ignoring the troubles of the fatherland. Today, this problem, as before, is topical, because it manifests itself not only in wartime. Therefore, the arguments on the theme of "Treason" are so diverse and cover not only periods of armed clashes.

Andrey Sokolov, the hero of Sholokhov's work "The Fate of a Man", faces betrayal of his homeland. The soldier is captured and witnesses how the Germans are trying to find out which of the detainees is the Red Commissar. Members of the Bolshevik Party were immediately shot, they were not taken prisoner. Their disfigured bodies served as proof that the German authorities would establish their own rules and get to every communist. A traitor appears in the ranks of the captives, who offers others to hand over the commander in exchange for safety. Then Andrei kills him so that he does not sow confusion in the ranks of the soldiers. He understood that any concession to the enemy is treason, which is not only punishable by execution, but also does not find even the slightest moral justification. Because of the deserters and Vlasovites, the country is losing its chances of winning.
Readiness for betrayal demonstrates the highest light in Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace". The nobility does not risk their lives on the battlefield, sits in the salons and argues that nothing will change with the advent of Napoleon. They know French better than their native language, manners and antics are the same everywhere. They do not care who is in power, what will happen to the country, how the battle will end, where their compatriots die every day. They will gladly accept any outcome, because there is no true patriotism in them. They are strangers in Russia, her suffering is alien to them. The example of Prince Rostopchin, the governor-general of Moscow, is widely known, who was only capable of pathetic patriotic speeches, but did not really help the people in any way. Also, the outfit of high-society ladies who dressed up in sundresses and kokoshniks instead of foreign dresses looks stupid and fake, supposedly supporting the national spirit. While the common people shed blood, the rich played dress-up.
In Rasputin's story "Live and Remember", Andrey Guskov becomes a traitor, deserting from the army. Front-line life is too tough for him: lack of food and ammunition, constant risk, tough leadership broke his will. He went to his native village, knowing that he was bringing a mortal threat to his wife. As you can see, betrayal of the homeland is dangerous because a person completely loses the moral core and betrays all the people dear to him. He substitutes a devoted Nastena, who helps him, risking his reputation and freedom. The woman fails to hide this help, and her fellow villagers pursue her to find the deserter. Then the heroine drowned herself, and her selfish husband sat in a secluded place, pitying only himself.
In Vasil Bykov's story "The Sotnikov", the handsome and strong man Rybak loses all his dignity when he meets a real threat. He and his friend go on reconnaissance, but due to Sotnikov's illness, they are forced to take refuge in the village. As a result, they were captured by the Germans. Unlike the sick partisan, the healthy Rybak is a coward and agrees to cooperate with the invaders. Sotnikov does not try to justify himself or take revenge. All his efforts are aimed at helping those people who sheltered them to protect them with his silence. Meanwhile, the traitor wants, by all means, to save his own life. Although he believes to the last that he can deceive the enemy and run away, joining his ranks for a while, Strelnikov prophetically notices that nothing will save his comrade from moral decay. In the finale, Rybak knocks out a support from under the feet of a former colleague. So he stepped on the path of betrayal and crossed out everything that connects him with his homeland.
In Griboyedov's comedy Woe from Wit, the characters do not fight, but they still manage to harm their country. The Famus society lives by conservative and hypocritical foundations, ignoring progress and the rest of the world beyond their ivory tower. These people usurp the people, plunge them into ignorance and drunkenness with their extravagant and cruel antics. The nobles, the backbone of autocratic power, are themselves mired in hypocrisy and careerism, as long as the peasantry provides for their whims. We see, for example, the stupid and mediocre military Skalozub, who only shines with epaulettes at balls. He and his daughter cannot be trusted, not like a regiment or a company. He is a narrow-minded and pathetic person who is accustomed only to receive from his homeland, but not to pay her with a valiant and honest service. Is this not treason to the fatherland?
Loyalty and treason in war are always obvious. For example, in Pushkin's story "The Captain's Daughter" Shvabrin calmly serves and receives ranks without being a brave man. When the battle broke out, he showed his true face. The traitor immediately went over to the side of the enemy and swore allegiance to Pugachev, saving his life, while his friend Peter risked himself, just to honestly fulfill his duty. The oath to the rebel is not the only betrayal of Alexei. During the duel, he took advantage of a dishonest technique, thereby betraying his honor. He also dishonestly deceives Grinev and slanders the name of Masha without any reason. Then he finally breaks into the abyss of moral decline and by force forces Mary to marry him. That is, the baseness of a person is not limited to betrayal of the homeland, and this kind of betrayal cannot be forgiven, if only on the grounds that it is clearly not the last. If he was able to betray his native country, then there is nothing to be expected from him in relation to people.
In Gogol's story "Taras Bulba", Andriy betrays his country because of his passionate love for a Polish woman. However, this is not entirely true: it was originally a stranger in relation to the traditions and mentality of the Cossacks. This contrast of personality and environment is visible when the hero returns home from the bursa: while Ostap happily fights with his father, the youngest son caresses his mother and peacefully keeps aloof. He is not a coward and not a weakling, just a different person by nature, he does not have this militant spirit of the Zaporizhian Sich. Andriy was born for family and peaceful creation, while Taras and all his friends, on the contrary, see the meaning of a man's life in eternal battle. Therefore, the decision of the younger Bulba looks natural: not finding understanding in his native land, he is looking for it in the face of a Polish girl and her entourage. Probably, it is in this example that treason can be justified by the fact that a person could not act differently, that is, change himself. He, at least, did not cheat and deceive his comrades in battle, acting on the sly. At least his honest position was known to everyone and emotionally motivated, because if you do not feel a sincere desire to help your homeland, sooner or later your lies will come out and hurt even more.
In Gogol's play The Inspector General there is no war, but there is an imperceptible and more vile betrayal of the motherland than desertion on the battlefield. Officials of the city "N" plunder the treasury and oppress their native people. Because of them, the county is in poverty, and its population is crammed with constant requisitions and outright robbery. The situation of ordinary people in peacetime is no better than in military turmoil. Against them, the stupid and vicious power relentlessly marches against them, from which even a pitchfork cannot be defended. The nobility is completely ruining their native land with impunity, like the Mongol-Tatar horde, and no one is able to prevent this, except, perhaps, the auditor. The author in the finale nevertheless makes a hint that the real inspector has arrived, and now the thieves cannot hide from the law. But how many of these counties find themselves in an invisible state of siege for years because of the promiscuity of the ruling elite? The writer also answers this question, making his city with a universal name in order to emphasize that this is the situation throughout Russia. Is this not a betrayal of the interests of the fatherland? Yes, embezzlement out of tact is not called that, but in fact this is real treason.
In Sholokhov's novel The Quiet Flows the Don, the hero changes sides of the barricades several times in search of his own truth and true justice. However, Gregory finds nothing of the kind on either side. It would seem that a person has the right to choose and make mistakes, especially in such an ambiguous situation, but some of his fellow villagers perceive these throwing as a betrayal of their homeland, although in fact Melekhov always follows the truth and is faithful to the interests of the people. It is not his fault that these interests so often change and disappear under one banner or another. It turned out that all the parties only manipulated the patriotism of the Cossacks, but no one was going to act morally and fairly towards them. They were only used in the division of Russia, speaking about the motherland and its defense. Grigory was disappointed in this, and people are already in a hurry to stick a traitorous label on him. Thus, there is no need to rush to blame a person for treason, maybe he is not to blame at all, and people from above use the people's anger against him as a weapon.
In Shalamov's story "The Last Battle of Major Pugachev", the hero honestly and selflessly went through the war. He defended the country at the cost of his life and never retreated. However, he, like many comrades from the front, was put in a labor camp for fictitious treason. Anyone who was captured or under siege was sentenced to 25 years in prison. In conditions of hard labor, this is a guaranteed death. Then Pugachev and a few other soldiers decide to escape, because they have nothing to lose. From the point of view of the Soviet leadership, this is treason. But from the point of view of normal human logic, this is a feat, because innocent people, and even war heroes, should not be compared with criminals. They had the strength to defend their right to freedom, not to become slaves of the system, powerless and miserable. Then, in 1944, in a German camp, provocateurs told the hero that they would put him in his homeland anyway. He did not believe and did not serve the enemy. Didn't break. So what does he have to lose now that the most gloomy predictions have come true? Although he goes against the state, I do not consider him a traitor. Traitors are the power that goes against its people.

The Great Patriotic War left an indelible mark on the memory of all the peoples of the USSR, which could not but be reflected in literature. Today there are thousands and thousands of literary monuments of varying degrees of quality dedicated to this period of our history. The most famous writer of the Soviet era, Mikhail Sholokhov, could not stand aside. His story "The Fate of a Man" is considered one of the most poignant literary masterpieces dedicated to the Great Patriotic War. The wise Litrekon offers you his analysis.

"The Fate of Man" was created as part of the literary. The author strives for the most natural depiction of reality. His characters, their words and actions are spelled out as realistically as possible. The reader may believe that the events described in the story could actually happen.

The genre of a work can be defined as a story. The narrative covers a relatively short period of time. The number of actors is limited. The images created by the writer are blurry and vague, which only emphasizes the typical nature of the story told.

The meaning of the name

The title of the story "The Fate of a Man" accurately reflects its essence - the life path of a simple Russian person who had to overcome many trials. Through the fate of an ordinary soldier, the author shows what the entire Soviet people went through? Sokolov's whole life is a reflection of what every fighter has experienced. This is the meaning of the title of the work.

The very word "man" in the title emphasizes Sholokhov's main idea - how, having gone through hell, one can and should remain a person capable of compassion. How, having seen what horrors humanity creates, do not despair and continue to live, hoping for the best.

Bottom line: what is the story about?

The story “The Fate of a Man” begins with the author, during a trip to the south of post-war Russia, meeting with the driver Andrei Sokolov and the little boy Ivan. Sokolov tells the story of his life.

Even before the war, Sokolov had a family, a wife, a son and two daughters, and lived a simple working life.

In the forty-first year, Sokolov was drafted into the Red Army as a driver and was taken prisoner, carrying shells for an artillery battery. After passing through the concentration camp, the hero escapes from captivity, taking with him an important German officer.

Returning home, Skolov learns that his wife and daughters were killed, and his son, Anatoly, went to the front. After a while, he learns that his son is in command of batteries.

Some time later, Andrei participates in the capture of Berlin, on the day of victory he learns that his son was killed by a German sniper.

The war took away from Sokolov everything for which he lived. However, having met the orphan Ivan, whose parents died during the war, the protagonist takes him under his care and finds the strength to live on.

Main characters and their characteristics

The system of images is reflected by the Wise Litrecon in the format of a table:

heroes of the story "the fate of man"	characteristic
andrey sokolov	an unremarkable citizen of the Soviet Union. chauffeur. before the war he was a decent man and a family man: he loved his wife and children, worked for them. has a strong sense of duty: he carried shells for artillery, despite enemy shelling, and immediately after escaping from captivity, he asked to be enlisted in the rifle unit. thanks to the enormous fortitude, he withstood all the trials of life without losing his dignity, but the wounds received are unlikely to ever fully heal. he loves his homeland and is ready to die for it, because he refuses a toast to the victory of Germany, risking his life. it is a collective image of the entire Soviet people.
Muller	commandant of the camp where the falcon was kept. a power-hungry sadist who regularly beats prisoners. speaks excellent Russian. despises the Soviet people. however, wanting to prove Sokolov's weakness, by offering him a drink for the victory of German weapons before being shot, he failed and even imbued with respect for the hero, saving his life.
Ivan	normal boy 5-6 years old. during the war he lost his parents, but retained his childlike cheerfulness.

Themes

The theme of the work “The Fate of a Man” reflects all the hardships and hardships of the war, but even more heroism and fortitude of the Soviet people are in it:

Humanity- the main theme of the story "The fate of man." Despite the difficulties and losses, Sokolov does not harden his heart. He takes pity on the orphan and finds the strength to start working again in a peaceful life. The hero does not want revenge, the fate of his country is important to him.
Love- Sholokhov's love is presented primarily as love within the family. The writer shows that only in the family, having experienced all the difficulties of everyday life, people show true feelings that even death will not destroy. Sokolov will never forget his family.
Family- the family in the story is presented as the highest human value, which serves as an important support for a person. Sokolov, having lost his family, lost the purpose of existence, but, having found a new one, again found a purpose in life. Only those who have close people and are responsible for them can sincerely love their homeland, because it is also part of the family.
Mutual assistance- Talking about the fate of Soviet prisoners of war, Sholokhov emphasizes the importance of mutual assistance between Soviet people who fell into German captivity. Despite the fact that some show their rotten nature, most retain their humanity.
Feat- Sholokhov's story is free from pathos and pathos, but there is a place for a real feat in it, which, according to Sholokhov, consists in fulfilling one's duty to the country and loved ones. Andrei is not a fabulous hero, but he tried and brought benefit to his homeland on the battlefields and even in captivity.
Life values- the writer extols such human values as loyalty, honesty and pride, the ability to maintain them in the most terrible situation. But the main value of his hero reads love: for the family, for the motherland, for comrades.
Devotion- according to Sholokhov, devotion to the motherland and family is one of the greatest virtues of a person. It is she who is the guarantor of perseverance in trials and hardships.
Kindness- it is especially important, according to the writer, to treat other people with kindness. It is this attitude that can give sufficient strength to overcome evil.
Happiness- the author shows that a person finds happiness only in the family circle. But it is impossible without its place - that is, the country where the people live freely from time immemorial. The Soviet people fought not for land, but for their own happiness.

Problems

The problematics of the story "The Fate of Man" serves us as an eternal reminder of what our ancestors experienced:

Strength of mind– Sholokhov in every possible way emphasizes the strength of the spirit of his hero, who does not break before anything, even death itself. This quality of the Soviet people made it possible to defeat the enemy, superior in strength and technical equipment.
War- the main theme of the story "The fate of man." The writer is not inclined to embellish the war. Dirt, blood, death and violence - this is what the Great Patriotic War is, devoid of any glossiness. However, Sholokhov emphasizes the importance and necessity of the milestones of these tests in the face of the Nazi invasion.
treason- Sholokhov emphasizes the patriotism of that war, showing the unshakable devotion of most of the Soviet citizens, going through terrible torment, to their fatherland. The author portrayed a traitor, emphasizing his loneliness in the crowd. People did not support him, as they remained loyal to the land of hell under the threat of death.
Death- Throughout the war, death haunts the heroes, taking away their closest people and threatening them. However, even she is not able to break the fighters who continue to live, no matter what.
Cruelty- the main character is faced with inhuman cruelty from the German invaders, for whom human life means nothing. Beatings, bullying and murder by the Nazis become commonplace in captivity.

main idea

The story "The Fate of a Man" is an outstanding work about the Great Patriotic War, which tells about those events as authentically as possible, without any embellishment. The meaning of the story “The Fate of a Man” is as follows: using the example of the fate of Andrei Sokolov, Sholokhov tells about the monstrous test that befell the entire Soviet people. He emphasizes the strength of ordinary people who were able not only to defeat the terrible inhuman enemy, but then return to peaceful life and restore their country.

The main idea in the story "The Fate of a Man" is the need to preserve one's humanity, no matter what happens. Even in the midst of war and devastation, people must remain people: to love and be loved.

What does it teach?

The story "The Fate of a Man" once again emphasizes the significance, the patriotic nature of that war. The author demonstrates the will of the peoples of the USSR and stigmatizes Nazism, which sought to destroy entire countries and peoples. The conclusion from the book can be drawn as follows: the war for life and freedom is the moral duty of those who value their country.

Sokolov demonstrates to us the colossal strength of mind, with the help of which even the horrors of a concentration camp can be overcome, not to mention everyday problems. The author emphasizes the importance of family, kindness and love, condemns meanness and opportunism. Sholokhov's morality is eternal, because he puts family, love and kindness above empty ambitions, and this is the eternal truth.

Criticism

During his lifetime, Sholokhov had a dubious reputation. Many accused him of plagiarism and appropriation of other people's merits. The "destiny of man" was also under suspicion. She was also accused of a pro-Soviet position, hushing up, allegedly, the terrible fate of those who returned from German captivity. For example, the well-known dissident A. I. Solzhenitsyn described in his work “The Gulag Archipelago” how Sokolov would actually be met:

“Escape to your homeland - through the camp cordon, through half of Germany, then through Poland or the Balkans, led to SMERSH and to the dock: how did you escape when others cannot escape? It's dirty here! Tell me, you bastard, what task you were sent with (Mikhail Burnatsev, Pavel Bondarenko and many, many.) In our criticism, it is established to write that Sholokhov, in his immortal story “The Fate of a Man,” expressed the “bitter truth” about “this side of our life,“ opened" problem. We are forced to respond that in this generally very weak story, where the military pages are pale and unconvincing (the author apparently does not know the last war), where the description of the Germans is standard-basic to the point of a joke (and only the hero’s wife was a success, but she is a pure Christian from Dostoevsky) , - in this story about the fate of a prisoner of war, THE TRUE PROBLEM OF CAPTURE IS HIDDEN OR DISTORTED "

To date, Sholokhov's reputation has been virtually wiped out, and The Fate of a Man is considered one of the greatest short stories in Russian literature.

Speaking of Sholokhov's desire for truth, one cannot help but recall the story "The Fate of a Man", which also became another breakthrough in showing the truth about the war. Some critics reproached Sholokhov for not being the whole truth, in the sense that Andrei Sokolov could also be waiting for a Soviet concentration camp. But Sholokhov always counted on rapport with the reader. So, he spoke about "Virgin Soil Upturned": "I would like not to chew everything in the second book, to leave the reader room for reflection." And although Sholokhov's story is a work for all time, it also fits into the literary disputes of the 50s-60s of the twentieth century (discussions about a positive and ideal hero and about a "simple person"). Sholokhov's artistic discovery was the image of a man who, according to his social status, should have been called small, but who shows unparalleled greatness of soul, giving everything to the altar of the fatherland and remaining unbroken in the struggle with historical circumstances. With his courage and stoicism, Andrey Sokolov resembles the heroes of ancient tragedies, but at the same time, this character is truly Russian in all its manifestations, not realizing its own greatness, but simply living according to the canon of behavior that developed during the time of Dmitry Donskoy and Kozma Minin and which, perhaps it has already been lost to our days, so Sholokhov’s “micro-epopee” is, in the words of G.D. Gachev, "a giant gravestone" to the Russian character. (Osipov V.O. Sholokhov)

Modern literary critics highly value Sholokhov's work, seeing in it hints that the fate of a person in the post-war USSR was far from ideal:

M. Sholokhov was the first to set himself a great goal: to morally rehabilitate those who survived all the horrors of fascist captivity, to prove that a person can save himself in inhuman circumstances. Yes, he did not say anything about filtration camps, about humiliating checks and accusations of former prisoners of espionage. But, firstly, as V. Osipov rightly noted, one cannot “judge a story for what is not in it”. And secondly, the opponents of Andrei Sokolov have a very original idea of \u200b\u200bthe post-war life of the hero as happy and cloudless. A burnt padded jacket, clumsily patched trousers, eyes filled with “inescapable mortal longing”, a sick heart and the arbitrariness of the little masters of life - this is what the defender of the fatherland, forced to wander around Mother Russia, deserved. It is hard to imagine that such a great writer, as A.I. Solzhenitsyn, of course, is, could not see what makes the hearts of more than one generation of readers shrink. And finally, are we not too wasteful in our desire to reject everything that has been created before us? (Osipova T.O.)

Loyalty. What it is? This is the moral basis on which the human world rests. This is devotion to one's principles, duty, Motherland, one's land, parents, friends and loved ones. The opposite concept is treason. A person changes, first of all, to himself, not withstanding the test of moral strength. For loyalty and treason, people are tested primarily in relation to their duty, to the Fatherland. This is especially evident in the years of severe trials, in the years of war.

Let's look at some examples from the literature.

In the novel by A.S. Pushkin's "The Captain's Daughter" is about a popular uprising led by Pugachev. Almost all storylines of the story are connected with this. The main character is Pyotr Grinev, a young officer who serves in the Belogorsk fortress. When the fortress was captured by the Pugachevites, he was faced with a choice: to die, but remain faithful to the oath, to the Fatherland, or to stay alive, but betray his duty, betray those moral principles that were laid down in him from childhood. “Take care of honor from a young age,” the father instructed his son, seeing him off to the service. And Grinev saved his honor, remained faithful to his oath and was ready to die, but not go over to the side of the impostor. And Pushkin speaks of treason in his work. Shvabrin, also a young officer, swears allegiance to Pugachev so as not to be hanged. He betrays his military duty, his oath to faithfully serve the Tsar and the Fatherland. Of course, who wants to die young. But betrayal is a disgrace, contempt of people, and it has never made a person happier.

M. Sholokhov's story "The Fate of a Man" speaks of loyalty to human and military duty. The main character, Andrei Sokolov, endured many trials: he fought, was captured, lost his family, but even in the most difficult moments of his life he managed to remain a man and a faithful defender of his native land. Loyalty does not live in every heart. Recall the episode, which tells about how the prisoners were kept in a barn, in inhuman conditions. And one of them is ready to betray the others, point out the communists and Komsomol members to the Nazis in order to survive, to curry favor with the enemies, to save his life. He does not stand the test, betrays his duty, would become a traitor, if not for Andrei Sokolov, who kills the traitor. The author wants to say that only such qualities as loyalty and courage help people to keep a person in themselves.

The story of V. Bykov "Sotnikov" also speaks of loyalty and betrayal of one's human and military duty. The action takes place during the Great Patriotic War. Two main characters, Sotnikov and Rybak, face death: they fall into the clutches of enemies. Courageously keeps Sotnikov. Beaten, tormented, he does not agree to go to the service of the Nazis, remains faithful to his comrades-in-arms, the military oath, and the Motherland. Courage, courage, loyalty to his native land help him to remain a man to the end. And what about the second - Rybak? He was already afraid when he left a comrade on the road, who alone was shooting with the policemen. And only the fear of the partisans made Rybak return. He became a traitor in the face of death: he agreed to go to the police to save his life, and even became an executioner: he knocked out a stool under the gallows on which Sotnikov stood. Loyalty and treason manifest themselves most clearly in war.

Thinking about loyalty and treason, rereading the works of Russian writers, I came to the conclusion that loyalty, devotion to the country, love for the Fatherland is the key to courage, honor, the preservation of human dignity, and treason is shame, cowardice, the path to betrayal.

M.A. Sholokhov wrote a story about the fate of a former prisoner of war, about the tragedy and strength of character of a man who had to endure the most difficult trials. During and immediately after the Great Patriotic War, soldiers who returned from captivity were considered traitors, they were not trusted, and a thorough check was carried out to clarify the circumstances. The story "The Fate of a Man" has become such a work that allows you to see and understand the cruel truth of the war.

The word "fate" can be interpreted as a "life story" or used in the sense of "fate, share, coincidence." In Sholokhov's story, we find both, but only the hero turned out to be not one of those who resignedly accepts the fate destined for him.

The author showed how dignified and courageous the Russians behaved in captivity. There were few traitors "shaking in their own skins". By the way, they surrendered voluntarily, at the first opportunity. The hero of the story "The Fate of a Man" during the battle was wounded, shell-shocked and in a helpless state was taken prisoner by the Germans. In the prisoner of war camp, Andrey Sokolov endured a lot of suffering: bullying, beating, hunger, death of comrades, "unhuman torment." For example, commandant Müller, bypassing the line of prisoners, beat with his fist (or rather, with a piece of lead embedded in a glove) every second person in the nose, “bleeded”. Such was his way of expressing Aryan superiority, emphasizing the insignificance of the human life of representatives of all nations (unlike the Germans).

Andrei Sokolov had a chance to personally confront Muller, and the author showed this "duel" in one of the climactic episodes of the story.
The conversation of the captured soldier with the commandant took place because someone informed the Germans about the words spoken by Andrei on the eve of the order in the concentration camp. Barely alive captives chiseled the stone by hand, and the rate per person was four cubic meters per day. Once after work, wet, exhausted, hungry, Sokolov said: "They need four cubic meters of output, but for the grave of each of us, even one cubic meter through the eyes is enough." For these words he had to answer to the commandant.

In Muller's office, all the camp authorities sat at the table. The Germans celebrated another victory at the front, drinking schnapps, eating lard and canned food. And Sokolov, when he entered, almost vomited (constant starvation affected). Muller, clarifying the words spoken by Sokolov the day before, promised that he would honor him and personally shoot him. In addition, the commandant decided to show generosity and invited the captured soldier to drink and eat before he died. Andrei had already taken a glass and a snack, but the commandant added that it was necessary to drink for the victory of the Germans. This hurt Sokolov very much: “So that I, a Russian soldier, should start drinking for the victory of German weapons ?!” Andrei was no longer afraid of death, so he put down the glass and said that he was a non-drinker. And Muller, smiling, suggested: "If you don't want to drink to our victory, then drink to your death." The soldier, who had nothing to lose, boldly declared that he would drink to get rid of torment. He overturned the glass in one gulp, and put the snack aside, although he was mortally hungry.

What willpower this man had! Not only did he not humiliate himself because of a crumb of bacon and a piece of bread, but he did not lose his dignity, his sense of humor, and this gave him a sense of superiority over the Germans. He suggested that Muller go to the yard, where the German would "sign" him, that is, sign a death sentence, shoot him. Muller allowed Sokolov to have a bite, but the soldier said that after the first one he did not have a bite. And after the second glass he announced that he did not have a snack. He himself understood that he showed this courage not so much to surprise the Germans, but for himself, so that before death he would not look like a coward. With his behavior, Sokolov made the Germans laugh, and the commandant poured him a third glass. Andrei took a bite, as if reluctantly; he really wanted to prove that he had pride, "that the fascists did not turn him into a beast."

The Germans, surprisingly, appreciated the pride, courage and humor of the Russian soldier, and Muller told him that he respected worthy opponents, and therefore would not shoot him. For courage, Sokolov was given a loaf of bread and a piece of lard. The soldier did not really believe in the generosity of the Nazis, he was waiting for a shot in the back and regretted that he would not bring the unexpectedly dropped treat to the hungry cellmates. And again the soldier was not thinking about himself, but about those who were dying of hunger. He managed to bring these "gifts" to the prisoners, and they divided everything equally.

In this episode, Sholokhov raised an ordinary person to the hero's pedestal, despite the fact that he was a prisoner of war. It was not Sokolov's fault in his captivity, he was not going to surrender. And in captivity he did not grovel, did not betray his own, did not change his beliefs. He remained a devoted citizen of his homeland and dreamed of returning to the ranks in order to fight against the Nazis again. This incident from the life of a soldier turned out to be decisive in his fate: Sokolov could have been shot, but he saved himself, because he was less afraid of death than shame. That's where he stayed alive.

And the “superman” Müller suddenly saw pride in the Russian soldier, the desire to preserve human dignity, courage and even contempt for death, since the prisoner did not want to clutch at life at the cost of humiliation and cowardice. It was one of the victories of Andrei Sokolov in the circumstances that fate presented.

What kind of character do you need to have in order not to submit to circumstances? Andrey's habits that became character traits were the most common for people of that time: diligence, generosity, perseverance, courage, the ability to love people and the Motherland, the ability to pity a person, to sympathize with him. And he was satisfied with his life, because he had a house, a job, his children grew up and studied. Only the life and destiny of people can easily be broken by politicians and militarists who need power, money, new territories and income. Can a person survive in this meat grinder? It turns out that this is sometimes possible.

Fate was merciless to Sokolov: a bomb hit his house in Voronezh, his daughters and wife died. He loses his last hope for the future (dreams of his son's marriage and grandchildren) at the very end of the war, when he learns of his son's death in Berlin.
The endless blows of fate did not destroy this man. He did not become embittered, did not hate anyone, realizing that only the Nazis, who destroyed millions of human lives all over the earth, can be cursed. Now the enemy is defeated, and we must live on. However, the memories were heavy, it is difficult to think about the future. The pain did not let go for a long time, and sometimes there was a desire to forget with the help of vodka, but he coped with this, overcame weakness.
The meeting of Andrei Sokolov with a boy, an orphan homeless, changed a lot in his life. The man's heart sank with pain when he saw someone who lives even harder and worse than himself.

The writer does not just show us the twists of fate that either break or temper a person, Sholokhov explains why his hero acts in a way that can change his life. Andrei Sokolov gives the warmth of his heart to those who need it, and thereby protests the fate that sentenced him to loneliness. Hope and the will to live were revived. He can say to himself: cast aside your weaknesses, stop feeling sorry for yourself, become a protector and support for the weaker. This is the peculiarity of the image of a person with a strong character created by M.A. Sholokhov. His hero argued with fate, managed to reshape life, directing it in the right direction.

The writer Sholokhov spoke not only about the life of a specific person, a citizen of the Soviet Union Andrei Sokolov. He called his work “The Fate of a Man”, thereby emphasizing that every person, if he is spiritually rich and strong, like his hero, is able to withstand any trials, create a new destiny, a new life, where he will have a worthy role. Apparently, this is the meaning of the title of the story.
And in the current aggravated situation, M.A. Sholokhov could remind the current Russophobes and Nazis that the Sokolovs among the Russian people have not disappeared.

Reviews

M. Sholokhov - Great Russian writer, no words! "The Destiny of Man" is a prime example of this. Just a story about a simple Russian peasant, but how it is written! And S. Bondarchuk's film based on this work is also great! How he played Sokolov! This scene, when he drinks vodka with faceted glasses, is simply incomparable! And a meeting with a homeless boy brought him back to life, when it seemed that there was simply no point in living on ... Thank you, Zoya! R.R.

The theme of fidelity and betrayal is raised in many works of Russian literature. These include M. Sholokhov's story "The Fate of Man". The main character Andrei Sokolov personifies all the best features of a Russian person. He is a conscientious worker, an honest worker and an exemplary family man, and during the war he was also a brave soldier. He lived a measured life, gave up drinking for the sake of his family. And so he would have lived if the war had not intervened. In the face of danger, Sokolov stands up for the defense of the Motherland, his land and a happy life. He knows all the hardships of war, he is wounded, taken prisoner, but nothing forced him to abandon his moral principles. Through all this difficult time, Andrei carried loyalty to the Motherland and comrades. Even his enemies admired his courage and dignified behavior.

In the work, Andrei Sokolov is characterized as "a man of unbending will." He did not become shy in captivity before the German Muller, and he, having an involuntary respect for the strength of his spirit, saves his life.

From a letter from a neighbor, Andrey learns terrible news: during the bombing of an aircraft factory in the summer of 1942, his wife and daughters were killed by a bomb. Unfortunately, he also lost his son: Anatoly died on May 9th.

From the story we see how many sorrows fell on the lot of Andrei Sokolov. But he retained his humanity and the ability to give others care and warmth. After the war, he adopts an orphan boy.

Humanity has hope for a brighter future as long as there are such devoted and worthy people on earth.

An example of a low act and betrayal is presented by the soldier Kryzhnev. He wanted to hand over the platoon commander to the enemies. He put his life and personal interests above the interests of the Motherland, for which he was strangled by Sokolov. In this case, the murder is morally justified, since by this Sokolov stopped the traitor and saved the lives of people.