Subordinating clauses examples. Complex sentence with homogeneous subordination of subordinate clauses. Comma and dash in a complex sentence

Part one

Ilya Ilyich Oblomov lives on Gorokhovaya Street in a large house. The room seems clean at first glance, but there are cobwebs on the paintings and dust on the mirror.

Oblomov received a letter from the manager saying that he was reducing the money sent to the master and complaining about the drought. Several years ago, Ilya Ilyich already received a similar letter and even thought about improving the estate, but he still hasn’t done anything. Of the wealth of the Oblomov house, only one servant, Zakhar, remained.

To Oblomov’s reproaches, Zakhar replies that he sees no point in cleaning, since the dirt appears again. Measuring his needs in copper, Zakhar pockets the change from his purchases. Despite the fact that Zakhar loved to drink and secretly took money from the master for this, the servant was infinitely devoted to Oblomov. Zakhar remembers Ilya as a child and cannot imagine serving with another master.

Volkov comes to Oblomov. He talks about receptions, visits, that he is in love, and shows off his new clothes. Oblomov refuses his invitation.

Then Sudbinsky comes. He is going to get married and receive a large dowry. Now he holds a high position and receives a decent salary.

The writer Penkin pays a visit next. He encourages Oblomov to read realistic literature, of which he is a representative. Oblomov does not want to read his stories.

Alekseev appears - a man who means nothing in society. No one notices his absence or presence. He acts as others act.

He doesn’t stand out at work, he doesn’t have any special abilities, so his bosses don’t pay attention to him.

All guests are busy with their own affairs and problems. No one cares about Oblomov himself, they simply don’t listen to him.

Tarantiev is a scribe in the office. He has been working there for twenty-five years. He talks more than he does.

Of all his acquaintances, Oblomov singles out Andrei Ivanovich Stolts. If he had not been away, he would have helped Oblomov solve his problems.

Having scolded Oblomov for not having good cigars and Madeira for the guests, Tarantiev takes money from him for Madeira, but immediately forgets about it. He advises Oblomov to go to the village and find out what is happening there. Tarantiev invites Oblomov to move to live with his godfather. Suspicious of Stolz's travels.

Oblomov came to St. Petersburg to go to work. Then I wanted to get married. But he did neither one nor the other. Work made him sad.

Oblomov believes that communicating with women brings nothing but trouble. That's why he admires them from afar. Only Stolz managed to get Oblomov out of the house. After Stolz left, Ilya Ilyich settled firmly at home: he was too lazy to get dressed and dine out. Society felt cramped and stuffy for him.

Out of necessity, Oblomov studied at a boarding school for fifteen years. Stolz supplies him with books. But philosophy, and especially economics, is boring for Ilya Ilyich. Only poets were able to somehow touch his Soul.

The doctor advises Oblomov to go abroad, since constant lying down and fatty foods can cause a stroke for a couch potato. To Oblomov’s two troubles, one more is added.

Oblomov falls asleep and has a dream about his aimlessly lived life in Oblomovka. Everything was permeated with carelessness and laziness. However, there is some poetry in this laziness. Zakhar wakes up Oblomov and informs him of Stolz’s arrival.

Part two

Stolz spent his childhood in the village of Verkhleve, where his father, Ivan Bogdanovich, was a manager. He began to learn to read and write early. Andrei's father raised him harshly. The mother did not share the father's views on raising his son; she sang songs to him and read poetry. Andryusha was friends with the princely children Peter and Michel.

After graduating from university, Andrei’s father sent him to St. Petersburg. In response to his father’s advice to go to his rich friend Reingold, Andrei replies that he will only go when he himself has a four-story house.

Stolz served in St. Petersburg and retired. Got a house and money. He was never a slave to love and did not lose his head over women.

To Stolz’s entreaties to travel with him, Oblomov replies that elite and he does not need communication. He would rather lie quietly on the sofa.

Oblomov plans to rebuild his estate and then go to the village. He says that he would not mind getting married and living carefree in the village with his wife. For Stolz, work is the goal of life, but Oblomov has no life goal.

Stolz introduces Oblomov to singer Olga Ilyinskaya. Stolz makes a promise from Oblomov that he will come to him in Paris. Oblomov does not fulfill his promises, coming up with various excuses. The real reason is Ilya Ilyich's love for Olga. Under her influence, Oblomov's life changes completely.

Olga's goal is to save the "hopelessly ill" patient. Stolz “bequeathed” Olga Oblomov, and she takes care of him. Ilya Ilyich confesses his love to Olga. Ilyinskaya cannot sort out her feelings.

Seized by doubts, Oblomov writes a letter to Olga and informs him that they will not see each other again. Then he regrets his action and runs to look for Olga. He asks her for forgiveness. She reproaches him for imaginary suffering, but forgives him. Oblomov wants to marry Olga. Caring about his reputation, he decides to see Olga less often. She reluctantly agrees.

Part three

Oblomov quarrels with Tarantiev over the money that Ilya Ilyich owes for an apartment where he has never lived a day. Oblomov wants to announce his intentions to marry Olga to her aunt. But Olga asks him to first settle all matters with the apartment* with documents and property. Oblomov and Olga see each other very rarely. Guests come to the Ilyinsky house, the relationship between Olga and Oblomov becomes the subject of discussion. Oblomov's plans collapse.

Olga asks Ilya Ilyich to meet her in the Summer Garden, he goes reluctantly. Ilyinskaya invites Oblomov to visit. Anticipating that there will be a lot of people there, aunties, he tries to refuse.

Oblomov is visiting the owner of the house - the widow Agafya Matveevna Pshenitsyna. Talking to her, he feels relaxed and free. He writes a letter to Olga, in which he tells her that he is sick and will not come. Promises to be on Sunday. But on Sunday he is again at Agafya Matveevna’s. He never read the books that Olga sent him. The next Sunday, Oblomov again does not come to Olga. She is waiting for him, wants to go with him to the village. On Monday Olga herself goes to Oblomov and sees unread books. He hides behind illness and the lack of a letter from the village. Olga takes him with her. For several days Oblomov lives a full life: reads, communicates with Olga and her aunt. Soon he receives a letter from the manager saying that the state of affairs on the estate has worsened, there is no money and it would be nice for him to come himself. Because of this, the wedding will have to be postponed. Oblomov turns for advice to the owner’s brother, Ivan Matveevich, who recommends that he hire his friend Zatertoy as a manager. After Oblomov’s consent, Tarantyev and Ivan Matveevich plan to take over Oblomov’s farm.

Oblomov tells Olga about the reason for postponing the wedding. Olga feels sick. She says that she can’t do anything more with him or for him; believes he is dead. Olga and Oblomov break up. At home Oblomov has a fever.

Part four

Zaterty sent Oblomov money for the bread, but was unable to collect the dues. Oblomov was glad that he did not need to go to the village himself; he was pleased with these results. After the house was rebuilt, Oblomov was informed that he could move to the village. The household of Ilya Ilyich and the widow was united. Agafya Matveevna cares and worries about Oblomov, she is imbued with tender feelings for him. Oblomov invites her to go with him to the village. Stolz, who suddenly arrived, tells Ilya Ilyich that Olga has gone abroad; Having heard about Oblomov's affairs, Stolz says that he is being deceived and promises to arrange everything.

Worried that Oblomov will become aware of the hidden quitrent, Tarantyev and Ivan Matveevich decide to blackmail Oblomov about his relationship with Agafya Matveevna and thus extract money from him.

Having met Olga in Paris, Stoltz notes in her new features that are interesting to him and falls in love with her. Olga treats him like a friend. He begins to notice that he is ashamed of his past romance. After declaring his love to Olga and her refusal, Stolz is going to leave forever. Olga does not let him go, she talks about her love for Oblomov. After listening to her, Stolz calms down, assures her that this is not a real feeling, but a need to love.

Oblomov completely becomes dependent on Tarantiev and Ivan Matveevich, they share all the money among themselves. Knowing the state of affairs of Oblomov, Agafya Matveevna sells her things and jewelry in order to feed him. Having learned about this, Oblomov gives her all the money he receives from the village. He moves less and less, walking around in the same greasy robe.

Stolz, who arrived, informs Oblomov that he is married to Olga. Yielding to the insistence of Stolz, Oblomov tells him about the conspiracy of Tarantiev and Ivan Matveevich and about the loan letter. Stolz takes a receipt from Agafya Matveevna stating that Oblomov does not owe her anything.

Having learned about everything, the general deprives Ivan Matveyevich of his position. The case is not brought to trial, protecting Oblomov’s name. Stolz is trying to get Oblomov out of the house and take him away, but having achieved nothing, he leaves.

The next day, a quarrel between Oblomov and Tarantiev occurs. Ilya Ilyich slaps Tarantiev and kicks him out.

Olga and Stolz live happily in Odessa, enjoying their active life. In the spring they plan to visit Oblomov in St. Petersburg.

Oblomov lives carefree under the wing of Agafya Matveevna, eats and drinks a lot. He suffers a blow, but everything ends well.

Oblomov escorts the arrived Stolz and asks him not to come again and not to disturb him. He is married to Agafya Matveevna, they have a son. Olga wants to enter the house and see Oblomov. Stolz does not allow her. They are leaving.

Two years later Oblomov died. His son Andryusha was taken in by Olga and Stolz. Ivan Matveevich is working again in his old position. Agafya leaves the income received from the estate to Andryusha.

The composition of “Oblomov” was built by the writer according to the strict logic of displaying the national character, expressed in the image of the main character.

Dividing logic:

• Part 1 - Oblomov’s day, his character, childhood story. Characters that highlight the character of the hero.
• Part 2 - the love story of Oblomov and Olga Ilyinskaya. Contrast between the main character and Stolz.
• Part 3 - The end of love, the hero’s relationship with Agafya Tikhonovna.
• Part 4 - the end of Oblomov.

The first part of the novel is a reflection of the character of the hero

According to Goncharov’s plan, the plot of the work is divided into 4 main parts. The purpose of the first part is to show Oblomov’s character from life in the village and problems in his career.

• Chapter 1 is a portrait of the hero, the setting that characterizes him. Zakhar as the alter ego of his master;
• Chapters 2-4 - characteristics of life that Oblomov refuses

(Volkov is the embodiment of social life, Sudbinsky - career, service, Penkin - literary pursuits, journalism, Volkov and Tarantyev as hangers-on with the master); preparation for Stolz's appearance;

• Chapters 5-6 - a story about the service, the reasons for the hero’s aversion to life, a story about his teaching. Oblomov's inner life

("So he let his moral forces enter, so he often worried for whole days, and only then would he wake up with a deep sigh from a charming dream or from painful care, when the day was leaning towards evening... Then he again sees him off with a painful look and a sad smile and will rest peacefully from unrest");

• Characteristics of Zakhar and his relationship with the master

(“He belonged to two eras, and both left their mark on him. From one he inherited boundless devotion to the Oblomov family, and from the other, later, sophistication and corruption of morals”, “the ancient connection was ineradicable between them”);

• chapters 2-8 - the inability for Oblomov to act and solve practical matters: reading a letter from the estate, the hero turning to everyone, even the doctor, for advice and help - an inability to act.

• Chapter 9 is the central place of the novel, explaining the essence of Oblomovism as a phenomenon.

• Chapters 10-11 - clarify the character of the servants, in particular, show Zakhar’s devotion to the master, prepare the arrival of Stolz, who appears at the end of chapter 10.

The second part of the novel “Oblomov” is a love plot line

Part 2 of the novel in the overall composition is devoted to the love story of the hero and Olga Ilyinskaya, as well as depicting the hero’s test of love, an attempt to tear him out of Oblomovism. The motto of this part is “now or never.”

• 1-2 chapters - about Stolz as an alternative to Oblomov, the combination of German (father) and Russian (mother) -

"Above all, he put perseverance in achieving goals ...", "... he himself went to his goal, bravely stepping through all obstacles ...", Oblomov "always experienced that calming feeling that a person experiences when coming from magnificent halls under his own modest shelter ..."

• Chapters 3-4 - dialogues between the main character and Stolz. Oblomov's criticism of modern life

(“this is not life, but a distortion of the norm, the ideal of life, which nature has indicated to man”, Oblomov’s idyll is a quiet life, without fuss, without wars, careers).

Stolz program

(“Labor is the image, content, element and purpose of life”). Oblomovism is Stolz’s diagnosis.

• Chapter 5 - Meeting Oblomov and Olga Ilyinskaya. The goal of Stolz and Olga is to save Ilya Ilyich from Oblomovism. Olga singing

(“For a long time he had not felt such vigor and such strength, which seemed to rise from the bottom of his soul, ready for a feat.”)

• Olga's attitude towards Oblomov. At first, the only goal is to awaken him to life

(“He will live, act, bless life and her”).

A branch of lilac (Chapter 6) as a symbol of sincere love not only of the hero, but also of Olga.

• Chapter 7 - The transformation of Zakhar’s life as an echo of the master’s life.

• Chapters 8-12 - development of love: meetings. Doubts, explanation, letter from Ilya Ilyich, intoxication with happiness. Olga

“And now she realized that she had just begun to live.”

Oblomov —

“He fell asleep thinking about her, went for a walk, read - she was here.” “For me, this love is the same as... life... Life is a duty, an obligation, therefore, love is also a duty; It’s as if God sent her to me and told me to love her.”

Hero Transformation

(“Oblomov was beaming as he walked home. His blood was boiling, his eyes were shining.”)

The third part of the composition “Oblomov” - the collapse of the hero

In part 3, Goncharov shows the downfall of his main character. Ilya Ilyich does not stand the test of love. The appearance of another heroine - Agafya Tikhonovna.

• Chapters 1-4 - the intervention of life, requiring action from him: the situation with the apartment is not resolved, Oblomov remains. Oblomov's attention to Agafya Tikhonovna

(“They remind me of a village, Oblomovka”).

The beginning of the intrigue of Ivan Matveevich and Tarantiev against Oblomov. The hero's lack of knowledge about life. Conversations about the wedding and Oblomov’s reaction to them

(“He wanted to scare Zakhar and was more afraid than him when he delved into the practical side of the question of the wedding...”)

• Chapter 5-6 - the beginning of the end of love (in response to Olga’s offer to ride along the Neva -

"What you? God be with you! It's so cold...")

to talk about the wedding -

“Wait, Olga: why be in such a hurry?”

Reluctance to go to Olga. A gradual return to the previous way of life - thoughts of settling next to Olga -

“...but, after thinking a little, with a caring face and a sigh, he slowly lay down in his place again.”

• Chapter 7 - explanation with Olga, final takeoff

(“You will see, you and Andrey, to what heights the love of a woman like you lifts a person!”)

• Chapters 8-10 - Oblomov's collision with life (a letter from the estate, a conversation with Ivan Matveevich, naivety in practical matters, the desire to get rid of them with someone else's help)

• Chapter 11 - the last explanation with Olga - the end of the relationship

("You are meek, honest, Ilya; you are gentle ... like a dove; you hide your head under your wing - and you don't want anything else ... but I'm not like that")

The fourth part is the overall result of “Oblomov”

In part 4, the writer shows a gradual approach to the end. Time frame: a year, one and a half, five years have passed.

• Chapter 1 - Agafya Tikhonovna's love

(“... she fell in love with Oblomov simply, as if she had caught a cold and caught an incurable fever”). “His relationship to her was much simpler: ... the ideal of that boundless, like the ocean, and inviolable peace of life, the picture of which indelibly fell on his soul in childhood, under the paternal roof, was embodied.”

• Chapter 2 - explanation with Stolz. Stolz:

“It started with the inability to put on stockings and ended with the inability to live.”

• Chapter 4 - Stolz and Olga

(“Friendship drowned in love”).

• 5-7 chapters - Stolz triples the affairs of Oblomov (reveals the intrigue of Tarantiev and Ivan Matveevich). The decisive act of the hero - a slap in the face to Tarantiev - is a response to Stolz's insults.

• Chapter 8 - the life of Stolz and Olga. Olga's spiritual growth. A woman in Russian literature is spiritually superior to the hero. Olga about Oblomov -

“Oblomov will never bow to the idol of lies, his soul will always be pure, bright, honest...”

• Chapter 9 - Last meeting Stolz and Oblomov.

“Oblomov was a complete and natural reflection and expression of that peace, contentment and serene silence.” The hero's last act. In response to Stoltz’s words about Agafya Tikhonovna, Oblomov says with dignity that this is his wife.

• Chapters 10-11 are a kind of epilogue - life after the death of the hero. The dignity of Agafya Tikhonovna

(“She responds to everything with the dignity of her grief and proud silence”).

Stolz's activities. Raising Oblomov's son, Andrei, in the family of Stolz and Olga. Zakhar's fate is a reflection of the master's fate. The same reluctance and inability to live. Oblomovism is like a sentence.

The composition of Goncharov’s novel is a skillful interweaving of chapters that help the author recreate the type of Russian national character, show its principles, character traits, destiny.

Oblomov was of a noble family, had the rank of collegiate secretary, and for twelve years he lived without a break in St. Petersburg. When his parents were alive, he occupied only two rooms. He was served by his servant Zakhar, who had been taken from the village. After the death of his father and mother, he inherited three hundred and fifty souls in one of the remote provinces. “Then he was still young and, if it cannot be said that he was alive, then at least he is more alive than now; he was also full of various aspirations, he kept hoping for something, expecting a lot both from fate and from himself ... ”He thought a lot about his role in society and painted pictures of family happiness in his imagination.

But the years went by - "the fluff turned into a stiff beard, the rays of the eyes were replaced by two dull dots, the waist was rounded, the hair began to climb mercilessly." He was thirty years old, and he did not move a single step forward in his life - he was only going and preparing to start living. Life, in his understanding, was divided into two halves: one consisted of work and boredom, the other of peace and peaceful fun.

“At first, the service puzzled him in the most unpleasant way.” Brought up in the provinces, among relatives, friends and acquaintances, he was “imbued with family principles”; future service seemed to him to be some kind of family activity. Officials in one place, in his opinion, amounted to friendly family caring for mutual peace and pleasure. He thought that going to work every day was not necessary, and reasons such as bad weather or bad mood may be good reason to absence from place. What was his surprise when he realized that a healthy official could not come to the service only if an earthquake or flood happened.

“Oblomov became even more thoughtful when packets with the inscription necessary And very necessary, when he was forced to make various references, extracts, rummage through his affairs, write notebooks two fingers thick, which, as if in mockery, were called notes; moreover, everyone demanded soon, everyone was in a hurry somewhere, they did not stop at anything ... ”Even at night they would wake him up and force him to write notes. “When to live? When to live? - he repeated. He imagined the boss as something like a second father, who always takes care of his subordinates and puts himself in their position. However, on the first day he was disappointed. When the boss arrived, everyone started running, knocking each other down, and trying to appear as good as possible.

The first boss of Ilya Ilyich was a kind and pleasant person, he never shouted or spoke badly about anyone. All subordinates were pleased with him, but for some reason in his presence they were always shy and answered all his questions in a voice that was not their own. Ilya Ilyich also became shy in the presence of the chief, and spoke to him in a "thin and nasty" voice. It was not easy for him to serve under a kind boss, and it is not known what would have happened to him if he had ended up with a strict boss.

Somehow Oblomov served for two years, and if one unforeseen incident had not occurred, he would have continued to serve. One day he accidentally sent some the right paper instead of Astrakhan to Arkhangelsk, and was afraid that he would have to answer. Without waiting for punishment, he went home, sent a medical certificate of illness to the service, and then resigned.

“Thus ended - and then was not resumed - his state activity. He was better able to play a role in society.” In the first years of his stay in St. Petersburg, when he was young, “his eyes shone for a long time with the fire of life, rays of light, hope, and strength flowed from them.” But that was a long time ago when a person sees only good in any other person and falls in love with any woman, and anyone is ready to offer their hand and heart.

In previous years, Ilya Ilyich had a lot of “passionate looks”, “promising smiles”, handshakes and kisses, but he never surrendered to beauties and was never even their “diligent admirer”, because courtship is always accompanied by troubles. Oblomov preferred to worship from afar. Women with whom he could immediately fall in love rarely came across to him in society, he avoided too ardent virgins, so he love relationship never developed into novels, but stopped at the very beginning. “His soul was still pure and innocent; she may have been waiting for her love, her support, her passion, and then, over the years, it seems, she stopped waiting and despaired.

Ilya Ilyich’s friends became fewer and fewer every year. After the headman sent the first letter about arrears in the village, he replaced his first friend, the cook, with a cook, then sold the horses and said goodbye to other friends. “Almost nothing attracted him from the house,” and every day he left the apartment less and less. At first it was hard for him to walk around dressed all day, then he gradually became lazy about dining out, and only went to close friends, where he could free himself from tight clothes and get some sleep. Soon he got tired of putting on a tailcoat and shaving every day. And only his friend Stolz managed to bring him into the public eye. But Stolz was often on the road, and, left alone, Oblomov “plunged head over heels into his solitude, from which only something extraordinary could bring him out,” but this was not expected. In addition, over the years he became more timid and expected harm from everything he encountered at home, for example, from a crack in the ceiling. “He was not used to movement, to life, to crowds, to vanity.” Sometimes he fell into a state of nervous fear, afraid of silence. He lazily waved his hand at all the hopes that youth had brought and all the bright memories.

“What was he doing at home? Read? Did you write? Studied?"

If he came across a book or newspaper, he read it. If he hears about some wonderful work, he will have a desire to get acquainted with it. He will ask you to bring it and, if it is brought quickly, he will begin to read. If he had made at least some effort, he would have mastered the subject about which we're talking about in the book. But without finishing the book, he put it aside, lay down and looked at the ceiling.

He studied, like everyone else, until he was fifteen years old in a boarding school. Then his parents sent him to Moscow, “where he, willy-nilly, followed the course of science to the end.” During his years of study he did not show laziness or whims; he listened to what the teachers told him and had difficulty learning the assigned lessons. “He generally considered all this to be a punishment sent down by heaven for our sins.” Furthermore What the teachers asked, he did not read or teach and did not require explanations. When Stolz brought him books that he needed to read beyond what he had learned, Oblomov looked at his friend for a long time, but still read. “Serious reading tired him.” At some point, he became interested in poetry, and Stolz tried to prolong this hobby longer. “Stolz’s youthful gift infected Oblomov, and he burned with a thirst for work, a distant but charming goal.” However, Ilya Ilyich soon sobered up, and only occasionally, on the advice of Stolz, lazily skimmed the lines. He had difficulty getting through the books that were brought to him and often fell asleep even in the most interesting places.

After finishing his studies, he no longer sought to learn anything. Everything he learned during his studies was stored in his head in the form of an “archive of dead cases.” The teaching had a strange effect on Ilya Ilyich: “he had a whole abyss between science and life, which he did not try to cross.” He went through the entire course of legal proceedings, but when something was stolen in his house and he needed to write some kind of paper to the police, he sent for a clerk.

All affairs in the village, including money, were conducted by the headman. Oblomov himself “continued to draw the pattern of his own life.” Thinking about the purpose of his existence, he came to the conclusion that the meaning of his life lies in himself, that he got " family happiness and taking care of the estate. Until that time, he did not know all his affairs, because Stolz took care of them. Since the death of his parents, things on the estate have been getting worse every year. Oblomov understood that he needed to go there and figure it out himself, but “the trip was a feat for him.” In his life, Ilya Ilyich made only one trip: from his village to Moscow, “among feather beds, caskets, suitcases, hams, rolls... and accompanied by several servants.” And now, lying on the sofa, he was drawing up in his mind “a new, fresh plan for organizing the estate and managing the peasants.” The idea for this plan had been in place for a long time; all that remained was to calculate a few things.

As soon as he gets out of bed in the morning, after tea, he will immediately lie down on the sofa, prop his head on his hand and think, sparing no effort, until his head is finally tired of hard work and when his conscience says: enough has been done today for the common good.

Only then does he decide to take a break from his work and change his caring posture to another, less businesslike and strict, more convenient for dreams and bliss.

Freed from business concerns, Oblomov loved to withdraw into himself and live in the world he created.

The pleasures of lofty thoughts were available to him; he was no stranger to universal human sorrows. He cried bitterly in the depths of his soul at other times over the misfortunes of mankind, experienced unknown, nameless suffering, and melancholy, and a longing for somewhere far away, probably to the world where Stolz used to take him.

Sweet tears will flow down his cheeks...

But towards evening, “Oblomov’s weary forces tend towards peace: storms and unrest are humbled in the soul, the head is sobered from thoughts, the blood slowly makes its way through the veins...” Ilya Ilyich thoughtfully turned over on his back, fixed a sad look at the sky and sadly followed the sun with his eyes . But the next day came, and with it new worries and dreams arose. He liked to imagine himself as an invincible commander, a great artist or thinker, and to invent wars and their causes. In bitter moments, he turned over from side to side, lay face down, sometimes knelt down and prayed fervently. And all his moral strength went into this.

No one knew or saw this inner life of Ilya Ilyich: everyone thought that Oblomov was so-so, just lying down and eating to his health, and that there was nothing more to expect from him; that he hardly even has thoughts in his head. This is how he was talked about wherever he was known.

Stolz knew in detail about his abilities, about his inner volcanic work of an ardent head, a humane heart and could testify, but Stoltz was almost never in St. Petersburg.

Only Zakhar, who spent his entire life around his master, knew even more in detail his entire inner life; but he was convinced that he and the master were doing business and living normally, as they should, and that they should not live differently.

Zakhar was over fifty years old. He faithfully served his master, and at the same time lied to him at every step, stole a little, loved to drink with friends, sometimes spread some incredible story about the master, but sometimes, at meetings at the gate, he suddenly began to exalt Ilya Ilyich, and “then there was no end to the delights.”

Zakhar is untidy. He rarely shaves and although he washes his hands and face, it seems that he mostly pretends to wash; and you can't wash it off with soap. When he goes to the bathhouse, his hands turn from black to red for only two hours, and then black again.

He is very awkward: whether he opens gates or doors, he opens one half, the other closes; runs to that one, this one closes.

He never immediately picks up a handkerchief or any other thing from the floor, but always bends down three times, as if catching it, and perhaps on the fourth he picks it up, and then sometimes he drops it again.

If he carries a bunch of dishes or other things across the room, then from the very first step the upper things begin to desert to the floor. First she will fly alone; he suddenly makes a late and useless movement to prevent her from falling, and drops two more. He looks, open-mouthed in surprise, at the things falling, and not at those that remain in his hands, and therefore holds the tray askance, and things continue to fall - and so sometimes he will bring one glass or plate to the other end of the room, and sometimes with abuse and curses he himself will throw away the last thing left in his hands.

Walking around the room, he will touch either his foot or his side on a table or a chair; he does not always hit the open half of the door directly, but hits his shoulder against the other, and curses both halves, or the owner of the house, or the carpenter who made them.

Almost all the things in Oblomov’s office are broken or broken, especially small ones that require careful handling - and all by the grace of Zakhar.

He applies his ability to pick up a thing equally to all things, without making any difference in the way he handles this or that thing.

They are told, for example, to remove it from a candle or pour water into a glass: he will use as much force for this as is necessary to open the gate.

God forbid, when Zakhar becomes inflamed with zeal to please his master and decides to remove, clean, install, quickly, put everything in order at once! There was no end to the troubles and losses: it is unlikely that an enemy soldier breaking into a house would cause so much damage. Breaking began, various things fell, dishes were broken, chairs were overturned; It ended with him having to be kicked out of the room, or he himself would leave with abuse and curses.

Fortunately, he was very rarely inflamed by such zeal.

The reason for all these troubles was Zakhar’s upbringing, which he received in the village, in the free air, and not in cramped offices. He was used to serving without any restrictions on his movements, and handling solid things - a crowbar, a shovel, massive chairs.

Zakhar drew up a certain circle of activity for himself, which he did not step beyond at will. In the morning he put on the samovar and cleaned the dress that the master asked for, and never cleaned the one that he did not ask for. Then he swept the room (and not every day), without reaching the corners, and wiped the dust only from the table on which there was nothing. After that, unencumbered by worries, he dozed on the couch or chatted with the servants at the gate. If it was necessary to do something besides this, Zakhar always did it reluctantly, and nothing could be added to the responsibilities that Zakhar himself established for himself.

But, despite all his shortcomings, Zakhar was devoted to his master, and if necessary, he would not hesitate to burn or drown for him. He did not reflect on his feelings for the master, they came from the heart. Zakhar would have died instead of the master, considering it his duty. But if it were necessary to sit all night at Ilya Ilyich’s bedside, and the master’s health or life depended on it, Zakhar would definitely fall asleep.

Zakhar’s feelings towards the master did not appear, he treated him rudely and familiarly, was angry with him for every little thing and slandered him at the gate, but his sense of devotion to Ilya Ilyich and to everything that was connected with the Oblomovs did not weaken. "Zakhar loved Oblomovka like a cat loves his attic."

While serving in the village, in a manor house in Oblomovka, the naturally lazy Zakhar became even more lazy. Most of the time he napped in the hallway or chatted with the other servants. “And after such a life, he was suddenly burdened with the heavy burden of carrying the service of an entire house on his shoulders!” And not reconciled to this to the end, he became gloomy and cruel. “Because of this, he grumbled every time the master’s voice forced him to leave the couch.”

Despite, however, this outward gloominess and wildness, Zakhar had a rather soft and kind heart. He even loved spending time with the kids. In the yard, at the gate, he was often seen with a bunch of children. He makes peace with them, teases them, arranges games, or simply sits with them, taking one on one knee, the other on the other, and some other naughty person will wrap his arms around his neck from behind or pull his sideburns.

And so Oblomov prevented Zakhar from living by constantly demanding his services and presence around him, while his heart, sociable disposition, love of inaction and the eternal, never-ending need to chew drew Zakhar first to his godfather, then to the kitchen, then to the bench, then to the gate.

They had known each other for a long time and lived together for a long time. Zakhar nursed little Oblomov in his arms, and Oblomov remembers him as a young, agile, gluttonous and crafty guy.

The ancient connection was ineradicable between them. Just as Ilya Ilyich did not know how to get up, or go to bed, or be combed and put on shoes, or have dinner without Zakhar’s help, so Zakhar could not imagine another master besides Ilya Ilyich, another existence, how to dress him, feed him, be rude to him, be disingenuous , lie and at the same time inwardly revere him.

Zakhar, having closed the door behind Tarantiev and Alekseev, did not go to the couch. He stayed waiting for the master to call him, because he heard that Ilya Ilyich was going to write. But everything was quiet in the master’s office. Looking through the door crack, Zakhar saw that Oblomov was lying on the sofa, leaning his head on his palm, and reading a book. He reminded the master that he was going to wash and write. Oblomov, putting the book aside, yawned and again began to think about his misfortunes, “he was drawn to bliss and dreams.”

“No, first things first,” he thought sternly, “and then...” He lay down on his back and began to imagine the plan for a new village house and orchard. He imagined himself sitting on the terrace on a summer evening, at the tea table, in the shade of the trees and enjoying the silence and coolness. At the gate one can hear the cheerful voices of the servants, little children are frolicking around him, and “the queen of everything around him, his deity... a woman, sees behind the samovar! wife!" Zakhar sets the table in the dining room, and everyone, including his childhood friend Stolz, sits down for dinner. And this dream was so bright and alive that Oblomov’s face lit up with happiness, and “he suddenly felt a vague desire for love, quiet happiness..., for his home, wife and children. “Oh my god!” - he said from complete happiness and woke up.”

But the voices and noise heard from the street brought him back to reality, and the same worries arose in his memory: the plan of the house, the headman, the apartment... Oblomov quickly got up on the sofa, sat down and called Zakhar. When the servant arrived, he again fell into thought, began to pull himself up, yawning... Zakhar said that the manager came again and ordered him to move out next week. After another squabble with a servant, Oblomov sat down to write a letter to the landlord. The letter turned out awkward, and then there was Zakhar with his bills... “This is ruin! “This is not like anything,” said Oblomov, pushing away the greasy notebooks with bills, and Zakhar, “closing his eyes and grumbling,” explained to him where the debts came from.

Finally, Ilya Ilyich drove Zakhar away, sat down on a chair, tucked his legs under him, and at that moment the bell rang. It was the doctor who came, a short man with a bald head, rosy cheeks and a caring, attentive face.

Doctor! What destinies? Oblomov exclaimed, holding out one hand to the guest, and moving a chair with the other.

I miss that you are all healthy, don't call me, I came in myself, - the doctor answered jokingly. “No,” he then added seriously, “I was upstairs, at your neighbor’s, and I came in to check on you.”

Thank you. What about the neighbor?

What: three or four weeks, and maybe it will last until the fall, and then... water in the chest: the end is known. Well, what are you doing?

Oblomov shook his head sadly.

Not good, doctor. I was thinking of consulting you myself. I do not know what to do. My stomach almost doesn’t cook, there’s a heaviness in the pit of my stomach, heartburn is tormenting me, my breathing is heavy... - Oblomov said with a pitiful expression.

Give me your hand, - said the doctor, took a pulse and closed his eyes for a minute. - Do you have a cough? - he asked.

At night, especially when I have dinner.

Hm! Is there a heartbeat? My head hurts?

And the doctor made several more similar questions, then tilted his bald head and thought deeply. After two minutes, he suddenly raised his head and said in a decisive voice:

If you live another two or three years in this climate and just lie around and eat fatty and heavy food, you will die with a blow.

Oblomov perked up.

What should I do? Teach, for God's sake! - he asked.

The same thing that others do: go abroad.

Abroad! Oblomov repeated in amazement.

Yes; And what?

For mercy, doctor, go abroad! How is this possible?

Why is it not possible?

Oblomov silently looked around himself, then his office and mechanically repeated:

Abroad!

What's stopping you?

Like what? All...

Lord!.. - Oblomov groaned.

Finally,” the doctor concluded, “before winter, go to Paris and there, in the whirlwind of life, have fun, don’t think twice: from the theater to the ball, to the masquerade, to the countryside on visits, so that you have friends, noise, laughter around you...

Is there anything else needed? - asked Oblomov with thinly hidden annoyance.

The doctor thought...

Should I use it? sea ​​air: Take a boat in England and take a ride to America...

He stood up and began to say goodbye.

If you do all this exactly... - he said...

“Okay, okay, I’ll definitely do it,” Oblomov answered caustically, seeing him off.

The doctor left, leaving Oblomov in the most pitiful position. He closed his eyes, put both hands on his head, curled up in the chair and sat like that, not looking anywhere, not feeling anything.

After seeing the doctor off, Oblomov again began to quarrel with Zakhar. The reasons for the discord were the same: troubles associated with the move and a letter from the headman. When Zakhar humbly remarked: “Others, no worse than us, are moving, so we can too...”, Ilya Ilyich lost his temper. He considered the fact that Zakhar compared him with others to be an insult. He imperiously pointed Zakhar to the door and for a long time could not calm down. After some time, he called the servant to explain to him the vileness of his act. Without understanding each other, the master and the servant made peace.

I hope that you have understood your misdeed,” said Ilya Ilyich, when Zakhar brought kvass, “and in future you will not compare the master with others.” To make up for your guilt, you somehow settle things with the owner so that I don’t have to move. This is how you protect the master’s peace: you completely upset me and deprived me of any new useful thought. And from whom did he take it? At home; I dedicated myself entirely to you, I retired for you, I’m locked up... Well, God bless you! Look, it's striking three o'clock! It’s only two hours before lunch, what can you do in two hours? - Nothing. There's a lot to do. So be it, I’ll put the letter aside until the next mail, and I’ll sketch out a plan tomorrow. Well, now I’ll lie down a little: I’m completely exhausted; you lower the curtains and shut me tightly so that they don’t interfere; Maybe I’ll fall asleep in an hour; and wake me up at half past four.

Zakhar began to block the master in the office; He first covered him and tucked the blanket under him, then he lowered the curtains, locked all the doors tightly and went to his room.

May you die, you devil! - he grumbled, wiping away traces of tears and climbing onto the couch. - Right, goblin! A special house, a garden, a salary! - said Zakhar, who only understood last words. - A master of miserable words to say: so it cuts to the heart like a knife ... Here is my house and garden, here I will stretch my legs! - he said, furiously hitting the couch. - Salary! Just as you can’t get hryvnias and nickels into your hands, so there’s nothing to buy tobacco with, and there’s nothing for the godfather to regale! May you be empty!.. Just think, death is not coming!

Ilya Ilyich lay down on his back, but did not suddenly fall asleep. He thought, thought, worried, worried...

Two misfortunes suddenly! - he said, wrapping his head completely in the blanket. - Please resist!

But in fact, these two misfortunes, that is, the ominous letter from the headman and the move to a new apartment, ceased to disturb Oblomov and only entered into a series of restless memories...

“Or maybe Zakhar will try to arrange it in such a way that there will be no need to move at all, maybe it will work out: they will postpone it until next summer or completely cancel the restructuring; Well, they’ll do it somehow! You really can’t... move!..”

So he was alternately worried and calmed down, and finally, in these conciliatory and reassuring words maybe, maybe And somehow Oblomov found this time, as he always found, a whole ark of hopes and consolations, as in the ark of the covenant of our fathers, and at the present moment he managed to protect himself from two misfortunes with them ...

Almost falling asleep, Ilya Ilyich suddenly opened his eyes, thought and realized that everything he was going to do today - the plan of the estate, the letter to the police officer ... - could not be completed. “But someone else could have done everything...” he thought and yawned. “This is one of the clear, conscious moments in Oblomov’s life.” Questions about human destiny and purpose arose in his mind. He felt ashamed and hurt for the way he lives - he doesn’t develop, he doesn’t strive anywhere ... “And envy gnawed at him that others live so fully and widely, and it’s as if he had thrown a heavy stone on the narrow and miserable path of his existence ...” He realized with complete clarity that many sides of his soul had not awakened, and all the good that was in him had not manifested itself. And there was no way out: “the forest in the soul is becoming more and more frequent and dark.” Remembering the recent scene with Zakhar, he suddenly felt a burning shame. So, sighing and cursing himself, he continued to toss and turn until sleep stopped the flow of his thoughts.

IX. Oblomov's dream

Where are we? To what blessed corner of the earth did Oblomov’s dream take us? What a wonderful land!.. There is nothing grandiose, wild and gloomy. The sky there presses closer to the earth..; it spreads so low above your head, like a parent’s reliable roof, in order to protect, it seems, the chosen corner from all kinds of adversity. The sun shines brightly and hotly there for about six months... The mountains there are a series of gentle hills, from which it is pleasant to ride, frolic, on your back, or, sitting on them, look thoughtfully at the setting sun. The river runs merrily, frolicking and playing... Everything promises a peaceful, long-lasting life there... The annual cycle takes place there correctly and calmly... No terrible storms or destruction can be heard in that land... How quiet everything is, everything is sleepy in three or four villages that make up this corner!.. The nearest villages and the district town were twenty-five and thirty miles away. This was the corner where Oblomov was suddenly transported in a dream.

One of the villages was Sosnovka, the other was Vavilovka. They were located a mile from each other and both belonged to the Oblomovs, therefore they were known under the common name Oblomovs.

“Ilya Ilyich woke up in the morning in his small bed. He is only seven years old. It’s easy and fun for him.” The nanny waits for him to wake up, and then dresses him, washes him, combs his hair and takes him to his mother. His mother kisses him passionately, leads him to the image and prays. The boy absentmindedly repeats the words of the prayer after her. Afterwards they go to their father and then to tea. A lot of people gathered at the table: distant relatives of my father, an elderly aunt, my mother's slightly crazy brother-in-law, a landowner who came to visit, and some other old women and old men. Everyone showered Ilya Ilyich with caresses and kisses, and then fed them with buns, crackers and cream.

Then the mother let him go for a walk in the garden, around the yard and on the meadow, strictly ordering the nanny not to leave the child alone, not to allow him to horses and dogs, not to go far from home, and most importantly, not to let him into the ravine - the most terrible place in the neighborhood. , about which there were bad rumors. But the child did not wait for his mother’s warnings, and long ago ran into the yard. With joyful amazement, he ran around the whole parental house, and was about to run up the dilapidated steps to the gallery in order to look at the river from there, but the nanny managed to catch him.

The child looks at how and what adults are doing this morning, and not a single trifle escapes his gaze - "the picture of home life is indelibly cut into the soul." The noise of a spindle and a woman's voice are heard from the people's room. In the yard, as soon as Antip returned with the barrel, women and coachmen rushed towards it from different corners. The old woman carries a cup of flour and eggs from the barn... The old man Oblomov himself sits at the window all morning and watches everything that is happening in the yard, and, if anything happens, takes measures against unrest. And his wife is also busy: she chats with the tailor for three hours, then goes to the maid’s room, then inspects the garden...

“But the main concern was the kitchen and dinner.” The whole house decided what to cook for dinner. “Caring for food was the first and main concern of life in Oblomovka.” Calves, turkeys and chickens were specially fattened for the holidays. “What stocks there were of jams, pickles, and cookies! What honeys, what kvass were brewed, what pies were baked in Oblomovka!” “And so until noon everything was fussing and worrying, everything lived such a full, ant-like, such a noticeable life.” And on Sunday holidays everything was fussing even more: the knives in the kitchen were knocking more often and stronger, a gigantic cake was being baked... And the child, watching all this, saw how after a busy morning, noon and lunch came. Dead silence reigned in the house - the hour of the afternoon nap came.

The child sees that his father, his mother, his old aunt, and his retinue have all scattered to their own corners; and whoever didn’t have one went to the hayloft, another to the garden, a third sought coolness in the hallway, and another, covering his face with a handkerchief from the flies, fell asleep where the heat overpowered him and the bulky dinner fell on him. And the gardener stretched out under a bush in the garden, next to his ice pick, and the coachman slept in the stable.

Ilya Ilyich looked into the people's room: in the people's room everyone lay down, on the benches, on the floor and in the hallway, leaving the children to their own devices; children crawl around the yard and dig in the sand. And the dogs climbed far into the kennels, since there was no one to bark at.

One could walk right through the whole house and not meet a soul; it was easy to rob everything around and take it out of the yard on carts: no one would have interfered, if only there were thieves in that region.

It was some kind of all-consuming, invincible dream, a true likeness of death. Everything is dead, only from all corners comes a variety of snoring in all tones and modes.

Occasionally, someone will suddenly raise his head from sleep, look senselessly, with surprise, on both sides and roll over to the other side, or, without opening his eyes, he will spit in his sleep and, chewing his lips or muttering something under his breath, will fall asleep again.

And the other quickly, without any preliminary preparations, will jump with both feet from his bed, as if afraid to lose precious minutes, grab a mug of kvass and, blowing on the flies floating there, so that they are carried to the other edge, causing the flies, until motionless, begin to move violently, in the hope of improving their situation, wet their throat and then fall back onto the bed as if shot.

And the child watched and watched everything.

When it began to get dark, the servants gathered at the gate, laughter was heard. The sun was sinking behind the forest, and everything merged into gray, and then into a dark mass. Everything was silent, the first stars appeared in the sky.

So the day has passed, and thank God! - said the Oblomovites, lying in bed, groaning and making the sign of the cross. - Lived well; God willing it will be the same tomorrow! Glory to you, Lord! Glory to you, Lord!

“Then Oblomov dreamed of another time: on an endless winter evening he timidly cuddles up to his nanny, and she whispers to him about some unknown country, where there are no nights, no cold, where miracles happen... and all they know is day after day. , that all the good fellows are walking, such as Ilya Ilyich, and beauties, which cannot be said in a fairy tale or described with a pen.” The child listened to the story, “pricking up his ears and eyes,” and the nanny told him about the exploits of Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich, Alyosha Popovich, about sleeping princesses, petrified cities and people, about monsters and werewolves. Listening to his nanny's fairy tales, the boy either imagined himself as a hero of a feat, or suffered for the failures of the young man. “The story flowed after story,” and the boy’s imagination was filled with strange ghosts, fear settled in his soul. Looking around and seeing harm in life, he dreams of that magical land where there is no evil, where they feed well and clothe for nothing...

“The fairy tale retains its power not only over children in Oblomovka, but also over adults until the end of their lives.” Everyone in Oblomovka believed in the existence of werewolves and the dead.

Ilya Ilyich will see later that the world is simply structured, that the dead do not rise from their graves, that giants, as soon as they get started, are immediately put in a booth, and robbers in prison; but if the very belief in ghosts disappears, then some kind of residue of fear and unaccountable melancholy remains.

Ilya Ilyich learned that there are no troubles from monsters, and what kind there are, he barely knows, and at every step everyone expects and is afraid of something terrible. And now, when left in a dark room or seeing a dead person, he trembles from the ominous melancholy implanted in his soul in childhood; laughing at his fears in the morning, he turns pale again in the evening.

“Next, Ilya Ilyich suddenly saw himself as a boy of thirteen or fourteen years old.” He studies in the village of Verkhleve, with the local manager, the German Stolz, together with his own son Andrei. “Maybe... Ilyusha would have had time to learn something well if Oblomovka had been five hundred versts from Verkhlev.” After all, this village was also once Oblomovka, and everything here, “except for Stolz’s house, everything breathed the same primitive laziness, simplicity of morals, silence and stillness.” The Oblomovites did not even know about those worries that dedicate their lives to work, they did not know worries and were afraid of passions like fire. They understood life as an ideal of peace and inaction, which is occasionally disrupted by minor troubles, such as illness and quarrels. They never asked themselves vague questions and therefore looked healthy and thriving; They didn’t talk to the children about the purpose of life, but gave it ready-made, the same as they themselves received from their parents. And they didn’t need anything: “life, like a calm river, flowed past them; they could only sit on the banks of this river and observe the inevitable phenomena that, in turn, without calling, appeared before each of them.”

Before the imagination of the sleeping Oblomov, “three main acts of his life” opened up, which are played out in every family: homeland, wedding, funeral; and then its cheerful and sad divisions followed: christenings, name days, family holidays, noisy dinners, congratulations, tears and smiles. Familiar faces floated before his mind's eye. Everything in Oblomovka was accomplished according to established rules, but these rules affected only the external side of life. When a child was born, everyone cared only that he grew up healthy and ate well; then they looked for a bride and celebrated a merry wedding. So life went on as usual until it was interrupted by the grave. One day, a dilapidated gallery collapsed in the Oblomovs’ house. Everyone began to think about how to fix the matter. About three weeks later they ordered the men to drag the boards to the barns so that they would not lie on the road. There they lay until spring. Old man Oblomov, every time he saw them through the window, thought about what could be done. He will call the carpenter over and discuss it with him, and then dismiss him with the words: “Go ahead, and I’ll think about it.” In the end, they decided to prop up the central part of the gallery with old debris, which they did by the end of the month. One day, old man Oblomov lifted a fence in the garden with his own hands and ordered the gardener to support it with poles. Thanks to the foresight of Ilya Ilyich’s father, the fence stood there all summer, and only in winter it was covered with snow again.

A long winter evening is approaching.

The mother sits on the sofa, her legs tucked under her, and lazily knits a child's stocking, yawning and occasionally scratching her head with a knitting needle.

Nastasya Ivanovna and Pelageya Ignatievna are sitting next to her and, with their noses buried in their work, they are diligently sewing something for the holiday for Ilyusha, or for his father, or for themselves.

The father, with his hands behind him, walks back and forth around the room, in complete pleasure, or sits down in a chair and, after sitting for a while, begins to walk again, carefully listening to the sound of his own steps. Then he sniffs the tobacco, blows his nose, and sniffs again.

There was one tallow candle burning dimly in the room, and this was only allowed on winter and autumn evenings. IN summer months everyone tried to go to bed and get up without candles, in daylight.

This was done partly out of habit, partly out of economy.

For any item that was not produced at home, but was purchased by purchase, the Oblomovites were extremely stingy...

In general, they didn’t like to spend money there, and no matter how necessary the thing was, money for it was always given with great sympathy, and only if the cost was insignificant. Significant spending was accompanied by groans, screams and curses.

The Oblomovites agreed to endure all kinds of inconveniences better, they even got used to not considering them as inconveniences, rather than spending money.

Because of this, the sofa in the living room was covered in stains a long time ago, because of this, Ilya Ivanovich’s leather chair is only called leather, but in fact it is either a washcloth or a rope: there is only one scrap of leather left on the back, and the rest had already fallen into pieces and peeled off for five years; That may be why the gates are all crooked and the porch is wobbly. But suddenly paying two hundred, three hundred, five hundred rubles for something, even the most necessary thing, seemed almost suicide to them...

On the chairs in the living room, in different positions, the inhabitants or ordinary visitors of the house sit and snore.

For the most part, deep silence reigns between the interlocutors: everyone sees each other every day; mental treasures are mutually exhausted and exhausted, and there is little news from outside.

Quiet; only heavy steps are heard, homework Ilya Ivanovich’s boot, the wall clock in its case is still tapping dully with a pendulum, and from time to time a thread torn by hand or teeth from Pelageya Ignatievna or Nastasya Ivanovna breaks the deep silence.

So sometimes half an hour will pass, unless someone yawns out loud and crosses his mouth, saying: “Lord have mercy!”

A neighbor yawns behind him, then the next one, slowly, as if on command, opens his mouth, and so on, the infectious play of air in the lungs will bypass everyone, and some will burst into tears.

Or Ilya Ivanovich will go to the window, look there and say with some surprise: “It’s only five o’clock, and how dark it is outside!”

Yes, someone will answer, it’s always dark at this time; long evenings are coming.

And in the spring they will be surprised and delighted that long days are coming. But ask why they need these long days, they themselves don’t know.

And they will be silent again...

Ilya Ilyich sees in his dreams not just one, not two such evenings, but whole weeks, months and years of days and evenings spent like this. Nothing disturbed the monotony of this life, and the Oblomovites themselves were not burdened by it, because they could not imagine another life... They didn’t want another life... Why do they need variety, change, chance...? After all, they require care, trouble, running around...

They continued to sniffle, doze and yawn all day long, or burst into good-natured laughter from village humor, or, gathering in a circle, they told what they saw in their dreams at night.

One day, the monotonous course of life was disrupted by an unusual incident. One of Oblomov’s men brought a letter from the station. This event excited the whole family - the hostess even changed a little in her face. However, the letter was not opened immediately - for four days they wondered who it could be from. But curiosity turned out to be stronger. On the fourth day, a crowd gathered and opened the letter. In it, a family acquaintance asked to send him a recipe for beer, which was brewed especially well in Oblomovka. It was decided to send. But they were in no hurry to write: they couldn’t find the recipe for a long time, and then they decided not to spend forty kopecks on mailing, but give the letter with the opportunity. Whether the author received the letter with the recipe or not is unknown.

Ilya Ivanovich considered reading a luxury - an activity that one could do without, and he looked at a book as a thing intended for entertainment. “I haven’t read a book for a long time,” he will say, and if by chance he sees a stack of books inherited from his brother, he will take out whatever he comes across and read “with even pleasure.” On Mondays, when it was necessary to go to Stolz, Ilyusha was attacked by melancholy. That morning they fed him buns and pretzels, gave him jam, cookies and other delicacies for the road. But Ilyusha’s trip was often postponed due to a holiday or an imaginary illness; his parents found any excuse to leave their son at home. “Behind pretexts, and except for holidays, the matter did not arise. In winter it seemed cold to them, in summer it was also unsuitable to travel in the heat, and sometimes it's going to rain, in the fall the slush gets in the way..."

“The old people understood the benefits of enlightenment, but only its external benefits.” They understood that they could become people only through training, but they had a vague idea of ​​the very need for training, “that’s why they wanted to catch some brilliant advantages for their Ilyusha... They also dreamed of an embroidered uniform for him, imagined him as an adviser in the ward, and his mother was even a governor; but they wanted to achieve all this somehow cheaper, with various tricks... that is, for example, to study lightly, not to the point of exhaustion of soul and body..., but so that only to comply with the prescribed form and somehow obtain a certificate in which it was said that Ilyusha passed all sciences and arts».

Ilyusha sometimes got tired of the tender care of her parents. He will run across the yard, and rush after him: “Ah, ah! He’ll fall and hurt himself!” He wants to open the window in winter, again: “Where? How is it possible? You'll kill yourself! You’ll catch a cold!” And Ilyusha grew, “cherished like an exotic flower in a greenhouse, and just like the last one under glass, he grew slowly and sluggishly.”

And sometimes he wakes up so cheerful, fresh, cheerful; he feels: something is playing in him, seething, as if some kind of imp has taken up residence, who is teasing him to either climb onto the roof, or sit on the Savraska and gallop into the meadows where hay is being cut, or sit on the fence astride, or tease village dogs; or suddenly you want to run through the village, then into the field, along the gullies, into the birch forest, and in three leaps rush to the bottom of the ravine, or tag along with the boys to play snowballs, try your hand.

The imp just keeps trying to wash him away: he holds on and on, finally he can’t stand it and suddenly, without a cap, in winter, he jumps from the porch into the yard, from there through the gate, grabs a lump of snow in both hands and rushes towards a bunch of boys.

The fresh wind cuts his face, the frost stings his ears, his mouth and throat smell of cold, and his chest is filled with joy - he rushes where his legs came from, he himself squeals and laughs.

Here come the boys: he bangs the snow - he misses: there is no skill; Just wanted to grab another snowball, when a whole block of snow covered his whole face: he fell; and it hurts him out of habit, and he is happy, and he laughs, and there are tears in his eyes...

And there is a hubbub in the house: Ilyusha is gone! Scream, noise. Zakharka jumped out into the yard, followed by Vaska, Mitka, Vanka - everyone was running, confused, around the yard.

Two dogs rushed after them, grabbing their heels, which, as you know, cannot indifferently see a running person.

People screaming, screaming, dogs barking rush through the village.

Finally they ran at the boys and began to inflict justice: some by the hair, some by the ears, another on the back of the head; They also threatened their fathers.

Then they took possession of the little boy, wrapped him in a captured sheepskin coat, then in his father’s fur coat, then in two blankets and solemnly carried him home in his arms.

At home they despaired of seeing him, considering him dead; but at the sight of him, alive and unharmed, the parents’ joy was indescribable. They thanked the Lord God, then they gave him mint, then elderberry, and in the evening raspberries to drink, and kept him in bed for three days, but one thing could be useful for him: playing snowballs again...

As soon as Ilya Ilyich’s snoring reached Zakhar’s ears, he jumped carefully, without noise, from the couch, tiptoed out into the hallway, locked the master and went to the gate.

Ah, Zakhar Trofimych: welcome! Haven't seen you for a long time! - the coachman, footmen, women and boys at the gate spoke in different voices.

While Oblomov was sleeping, Zakhar was gossiping at the gate with the coachmen, lackeys, women and boys. He lied that Oblomov got drunk, that’s why he sleeps at such a time that the master could insult anyone for no reason at all... Afterwards he quarreled with the coachman and promised to complain about him to the master.

Well, master! - the coachman remarked sarcastically. - Where did you dig this up?

He himself, and the janitor, and the barber, and the footman, and the defender of the swearing system - all laughed.

Laugh, laugh, and I’ll tell the master! - Zakhar wheezed.

And you,” he said, turning to the janitor, “should calm down these robbers, and not laugh.” Why are you assigned here? - Correct every order. What about you? I’ll tell the master something; wait, it will be for you!

Well, that's enough, that's enough, Zakhar Trofimych! - the janitor said, trying to calm him down, - what did he do to you?

How dare he talk like that about my master? - Zakhar objected hotly, pointing to the coachman. - Does he know who my master is? - he asked with reverence. “Yes,” he said, turning to the coachman, “you’ll never see such a gentleman in your dreams: kind, smart, handsome!” And yours is definitely an unfed nag! It’s a shame to see you ride out of the yard on a brown mare: they look like beggars! Eat radishes with kvass. There you are wearing an Armenian shirt: you can’t count the holes!..

Having quarreled with everyone, Zakhar went to the pub.

At the beginning of the fifth hour, Zakhar carefully, without noise, unlocked the hallway and tiptoed into his room; There he went up to the door of the master's office and first put his ear to it, then he sat down and put his eye to the keyhole.

Steady snoring was heard in the office.

“He’s asleep,” he whispered, “we need to wake him up: it’s almost half past four.”

He coughed and entered the office.

Ilya Ilyich! Ah, Ilya Ilyich! - he began quietly, standing at Oblomov’s head.

The snoring continued.

He's asleep! - said Zakhar, - like a mason. Ilya Ilyich!

Zakhar lightly touched Oblomov’s sleeve.

Get up: it's half past five.

Ilya Ilyich only hummed in response to this, but did not wake up...

Well,” Zakhar said in despair, “oh, you little head!” Why are you lying like a log? It's sickening to look at you. Look, good people!.. Ugh!

Get up, get up! - he suddenly spoke in a frightened voice. - Ilya Ilyich! Look what's happening around you.

Oblomov quickly raised his head, looked around and lay down again, with a deep sigh.

Leave me alone! - he said importantly. - I told you to wake me up, and now I’m canceling the order - do you hear? I'll wake up whenever I want.

Sometimes Zakhar will lag behind, saying: “Well, take a nap, to hell with you!” And next time he will insist on his own, and now he has insisted.

Get up, get up! - he screamed at the top of his lungs and grabbed Oblomov by the shirt and sleeve with both hands.

Oblomov suddenly, unexpectedly jumped to his feet and rushed at Zakhar.

Wait, I’ll teach you how to disturb the master when he wants to rest! - he said.

Zakhar rushed away from him as fast as he could, but on the third step Oblomov sobered up completely from sleep and began to stretch, yawning.

Give... kvass... - he said in between yawns.

Immediately, from behind Zakhar, someone burst into loud laughter. Both looked back.

Stolz! Stolz! - Oblomov shouted in delight, rushing to the guest.

Andrey Ivanovich! - Zakhar said, grinning.

Stolz continued to roll with laughter: he saw the whole scene that was taking place.

A gentleman, Ilya Oblomov, lives in a large house in St. Petersburg. He is very lazy and can lie in bed all day. Two people often come to Oblomov: Mikhei Tarantyev and Andrei Stolts. The first one wants his money, the second one is his friend and wants to help him overcome his laziness. To do this, he introduces him to Olga Ilyinskaya, who begins to have a positive effect on him. He begins to go out into the world and take care of himself. Soon he proposes to her and she accepts. Mikhei Tarantyev, weaving intrigues, persuades Oblomov to move into his apartment, where the widow Agafya Pshenitsyna, sister of Mukhoyarov, who is a friend of Tarantyev, also lives. They slip him a contract, after the conclusion of which, Oblomov is forced to stay in this apartment for a long time. Over time, he begins to like Agafya Pshenitsyna, who knows how to cook deliciously and takes good care of him. Olga Ilyinskaya comes to his house, and realizing that he has returned to his lazy life again, breaks up with him. Stolz helps him manage his estate and fights for his debts. Stolz and Olga Ilyinskaya unexpectedly fall in love with each other and get married. A few years later they come to Oblomov and find out that he and Agafya Pshenitsyna had a son. A few years later, Oblomov dies, and the Stolts take their son to be raised.

Summary (detailed in parts)

First part

On Gorokhovaya Street in Petersburg, in one of the large houses, on the same morning as usual, Ilya Ilyich Oblomov lay in his bed. He was a young man of pleasant appearance, of medium height, about thirty-two years old. He had dark gray eyes, devoid of any definition. He was neither ruddy nor dark, and his expression seemed indifferent. His lounge suit suited this apparent indifference perfectly.

Lying on the couch and doing nothing was not chosen by Oblomov by chance. He did not want to burden himself with all sorts of activities, as if in protest of the prevailing conventions. To all attempts to lift him off the couch and bring him out into the light, he answers philosophically calmly, without changing his mind. Oblomov's servant fully corresponds to him. Zakhar is also distinguished by laziness and idleness. He lives exactly the same as the master, and that suits him.

On this serene morning, guests came to Ilya Ilyich one after another. All of them said that on this day the entire St. Petersburg beau monde was gathering, and it would be nice if he joined the secular festivities. No matter how his friends tried to stir him up, he remained adamant. Among the guests were Volkov, Sudbinsky and Penkin. Oblomov tried to tell each of them about his pressing problems and that he might be in danger of moving to another apartment, judging by the letter from the headman of Oblomovka.

However, it seemed that no one cared about the worries and worries of the lazy master. This topic was of interest only to Mikhei Tarantiev, a rare rogue and fellow countryman Oblomov. He was aware that Ilya Ilyich was the only heir to the estate and three hundred and fifty souls. In this regard, I was not against “warming my hands” with such a tasty morsel. He himself suspected that the elder Oblomov was stealing more than allowed.

On the same day, the owner was expecting his childhood friend, Andrei Stolts. In his opinion, he was the only person who could help him deal with the difficulties that had arisen. During his first stay in St. Petersburg, Ilya Ilyich at least somehow tried to fit into social life, but noticed that no one needed him, nor were these people close to him. After these futile attempts, he lay down on the sofa and did not want to bother himself anymore. His devoted servant Zakhar did not lag behind him. He knew exactly who the master was a friend, and who was just pretending to be him, like Tarantiev.

While Zakhar went to gossip with other servants, Oblomov fell into a sweet dream. He was transported to a past life in Oblomovka, where everything breathed calmness and serenity. Life there flowed smoothly, flowing from one season to another. People just ate, slept and discussed the news that reached them with a delay. This blessed land was not disturbed by either care or passion. The protagonist’s childhood passed in such a sleepy atmosphere. Such a dream could have lasted forever if it had not been interrupted by the arrival of Stoltz.

Second part

Andrei Stolts grew up in the village of Verkhlevo, which was part of Oblomovka. His father is German by birth, and his mother is a Russian woman. Stolz's faith is Orthodox and his language is Russian. Since childhood, he read a lot of books, as his parents carefully engaged in his upbringing and education. While his mother wanted to see him as a well-groomed romantic boy, his father raised Andrei as a strong and strong-willed person who could stand up for himself. In contrast to his childhood friend Oblomov, Stolz is very mobile and always leads an active lifestyle. If the society needs to send someone as an agent to Europe, then they elect him. If you need to come up with some new project or an idea, they turn to him again. During breaks, he often goes out, reads, and socializes. It is not clear when he manages to do everything.

Stolz sincerely empathizes and sympathizes with his friend. The first thing he wants to do is get him out of bed and into action. He is the only person who somehow manages to stir up Oblomov and bring him into the light. Stoltz doesn’t like Ilya Ilyich’s guests; they make him wary. He listens carefully to his friend’s problems, gives good advice, and also recommends going to Europe with him. Stolz himself is going on a trip in two weeks and takes his friend’s word that he will join him in Paris. But he, of course, doesn’t go anywhere in a week or two.

The reason that holds Oblomov is Olga Ilyinskaya. He was introduced to her by Stolz, who considers the girl simple, natural and devoid of coquetry. In his opinion, Olga will be able to stir up his friend and bring out and disperse laziness in him. That's how it all turned out. Oblomov became seriously interested in Olga, and then truly fell in love. This was a true shock to his soul. If at first she only aroused benevolent curiosity in him, then, after hearing her performance of a famous aria, he simply disappeared.

Ilyinskaya herself notices how she affects Ilya Ilyich and is proud of it. Olga and Stolz's experiment was a success. Oblomov begins to become interested surrounding life, read books and newspapers, put on new clothes. He feels a surge of strength and vigor. He even decides to confess his love to Olga. And, noticing that the neighbors are looking at them ambiguously, he proposes to the girl so as not to tarnish her reputation. In response, Olga easily agrees, without showing any unexpected reaction. Because of this, doubt settles in Oblomov’s heart.

Meanwhile, his devoted servant Zakhar finds his happiness. He marries the cook Anisya, who is simple and kind by nature. In a short time, he realizes that he cannot put up with dust, dirt and cockroaches, but needs to keep everything in the owner’s house in order. Anisya immediately takes on this. Now her power is manifested not only in the kitchen, but throughout the home. But this general awakening did not last long. Moving from the countryside to the city becomes a new obstacle to active action. Oblomov is again gradually being sucked into the swamp of laziness, and Olga is no longer able to understand him.

The third part

During Stoltz's next absence, Ilya Ilyich finally succumbs to Tarantiev's persuasion to move to another apartment. This is the apartment of godfather Mikhei Andreevich on the Vyborg side. At first Oblomov is a little reluctant to move, but soon gives in to persuasion. The widow of the college secretary, Agafya Pshenitsyna, lives in the house. She is the sister of Mukhoyarov, whom Tarantiev introduced him to. She looks about thirty years old, surprisingly white and plump in face. The hostess's eyes are greyish-simple, and her hands are white, hard and with protruding blue veins.

Before the move, Oblomov saw Olga. Together they discuss household matters that need to be taken care of before the wedding, and are also thinking about telling Olga’s aunt about the engagement, but they haven’t decided yet. Oblomov notes to himself that there is no dream or mystery in this relationship, but only a practical goal to live like everyone else. He goes to Olga for a few more days, and then stops, considering it inconvenient. And the servants are already in full swing discussing the upcoming wedding, to which Ilya Ilyich replies that it is too early to draw such conclusions.

Autumn comes, Oblomov does not dare to move anywhere and remains in the “godfather’s” apartment. Here he is often served delicious coffee, huge pieces of pie, and liqueur on currant leaves. All this makes him take a fresh look at the mistress of the house. For himself, he notes that there is something about her, especially in her strong white hands. In this apartment, he increasingly feels himself in the atmosphere of his native Oblomovka. It is this way of life that is dear to him.

Inadvertently, he signs a contract slipped to him by Mikhei Andreevich. Now it is definitely in the hands of Tarantiev and Mukhoyarov. After all, if he decides to move out of the apartment and look for another place to live, he will have to pay a huge penalty. And since Oblomov has no money, he remains to live with Pshenitsyna. Soon he receives a letter from Olga asking him to meet. She comes to the date alone, which scares Oblomov. He says he fears for her reputation. When Olga suggests telling her aunt about everything, he asks to hold off for now.

Meanwhile, the girl receives news that the litigation about her estate. Now Olga has her own estate, which she is very happy about. She keeps thinking about how she will say this to her betrothed and that they can both live happily in her village. Oblomov is adapting more and more in his present life, but doesn’t go to Olga. Deciding that he is ill or suffering from loneliness, she comes to him herself.

What she sees upsets her to the core. Oblomov again returned to his low lifestyle. All the books are covered with dust, the pen is in a dry inkwell. She tells him that she doesn't want that kind of love and that loving people full of action, and not lying on the couch all day long. In response, Oblomov becomes inspired again and begins going to the theater, but in his heart this situation oppresses him. He believes that this lifestyle does not suit him, and that Stolz instilled it in him.

Meanwhile, Ivan Matveevich Mukhoyarov is increasingly dragging Oblomov into debt and assuring Tarantiev that there is nothing to be afraid of. There will most likely not be a wedding, because their guest is “staring” at Mukhoyarov’s sister. When Oblomov informs Ilyinskaya that he has decided to entrust his affairs to some worn-out Isai Fomich, whom Mukhoyarov recommended to him, she is frankly surprised. She doesn't understand how you can entrust your affairs unfamiliar people. As a result, she is increasingly convinced that she was too hasty in choosing a groom. Despite all her efforts, he never changed. They part, and Ilya Ilyich wanders around the city all night in despair. When he returns, he is diagnosed with a fever.

Fourth part

A year has passed since Oblomov’s illness. Much was changing in the world, but in Pshenitsyna’s house time moved very slowly. Zatarty sent money from the village, earned for bread, and wrote about the rest that he could not collect. Ilya Ilyich’s gloominess after his illness gradually turned into mute indifference. Agafya Matveevna started a cult of food in her house. She prepared everything herself and served it to Oblomov. If he left for a long time or stayed late, she could not even close her eyes and prayed for his health. In her opinion, Ilya Ilyich was quite different from other men. Every day they became closer and closer, and he almost didn’t even remember about his previous love, which had brought him so much suffering.

Soon he was visited by Stolz, who came to St. Petersburg for two weeks on business. He is in Once again convinced that his friend’s lifestyle had not changed, he told him that he had seen Ilyinskaya in Switzerland. She is cheerful and in good health, and soon plans to settle on her estate. Stolz noticed that this dwelling was somewhat reminiscent of Oblomovka, only even nastier, and said that if Oblomov did not change his situation, he would disappear there completely. When he tries to call Ilya Ilyich with him, he complains about poor health. Stolz loses all hope of reviving or stirring up his friend. Having learned about the predatory acts of Oblomov’s dishonest friends, he offers to take over the business affairs in Oblomovka until he decides to take care of them himself. Tarantyev and Mukhoyarov are frightened by this state of affairs. They decide to blackmail Oblomov with his connection with Pshenitsyna.

A few months before the events, Stolz met with Ilyinskaya in Paris. He spends a lot of time with her and notices that he is in love with her. Olga also notices in her attitude towards Stolz something more than friendship. As a result, she agrees to his proposal to marry.

Six months after Stolz’s meeting with Oblomov, undesirable changes occur in Pshenitsyna’s house. Ilya Ilyich was all flabby, the curtains on the windows were faded, the hostess walked around in only a cotton dress. All the income sent by Stolz from the estate in Oblomovka was spent on a debt to Tarantiev and Mukhoyarov, arranged using a false loan letter. Even Agafya Matveevna sells her pearls just to help Ilya Ilyich pay off his debt.

Stolz unexpectedly arrives. He is amazed by what he sees and tries to find out why his friend is in such a “hole.” Having learned about the promissory note, she asks Pshenitsyna to write a certificate that she has no monetary claims against Ilya Ilyich. With this he goes to Mukhoyarov, for whom it is like a bolt from the blue. Stolz tries to take his friend with him, but he refuses.

A few years later, Stolz again visits his friend, this time together with Olga, who remains waiting at the gate. He learns that his friend had an apocalyptic blow, but thanks to the care of Agafya Matveevna, he recovered. Oblomov asks to leave him alone and not to disturb him anymore. It turns out that he and Pshenitsyna had a son, who was named Andrei. After several more years, Ilya Ilyich died. The Stolts took his son in for upbringing, and for Pshenitsyna, life lost all meaning. Now the Mukhoyarovs and Tarantievs ruled in her house.

While walking around St. Petersburg with a friend, Stolz saw Zakhar, a former servant of Ilya Ilyich. He asked the old man about his life, to which he replied that Tarantyev, after the master’s death, drove him out of the house. That's why he's begging now. When Stolz offered to go into his service, Zakhar chose to stay where his master died, that is, on the Vyborg side.