Platonov, "The Secret Person": a summary of the chapters

Today we look at the summary of the book “The Secret Man,” written by Soviet writer Andrei Platonov.

A bit about the author

Andrey Platonov is a talented Soviet poet and playwright. The boy was born in Voronezh. His real name is Klimentov. His father worked as a machinist, then as a locksmith. The mother of the future writer was a housewife, she gave birth to ten children. Andrei was the eldest in the family, he always followed brothers and sisters, helped them.

The boy graduated from a regular parish school, and then enrolled in a technical school, which he graduated only at the end of hostilities. Then he begins to publish his stories in magazines and newspapers, gaining literary experience.

Andrei Platonov wrote the work For Future, for which I. Stalin punished him. When the Great Patriotic War began, the writer worked as a war correspondent. At the front, Platonov was active, often exceeded his duties and was not afraid to be at the forefront. In the last years of his life, he earned his living by processing fairy tales. The author died in 1951, was buried in the Armenian cemetery.

First lines

How did Andrei Platonov begin his story? The “Confidential Man,” a summary of which will be presented below, begins with an acquaintance with Thomas Pukhov. The author immediately warns that the main character - the soul is not particularly sensitive (does not disdain to cut sausage on the coffin of his own wife). Thomas himself explains this by the fact that the body takes its own. After the funeral, Pukhov decides to rest, as he was exhausted for a long, busy day. Waking up, he wants to drink kvass, but it turns out that it is over. In order to remove thirst, the widower lights a cigarette, at this time someone knocks on his door loudly. He is angry, thinking that even in grief he cannot be left alone. Nevertheless, he opens the door: you never know why the guest came.

A guard came to visit, who needed to sign a ticket. Letting him go, Thomas looks out the window and sees that a blizzard has begun. This makes him sad and longing for his caring wife. To reassure himself, he decides that everything in the world happens according to the laws of nature, and they have nothing to argue with. However, longing did not pass: loneliness became a test.

How does the summary go on? The "hidden man" Platonov decides to take a nap before going to the station: you have to arrive there at 16 o’clock, but for now it's only noon. Razomlev and relaxing, he falls asleep with a childhood dream. Having woken up with difficulty, the man out of habit called Glasha, his deceased wife, but no one answered him. Fending off lousy thoughts, he began to gather at the station: to lace up his shoes, to fold millet and bread.

Having crossed the threshold of the house, Thomas felt a malicious gust of icy wind. All the way, he sadly stepped forward, something bad whispering under his breath. A huge noisy locomotive with side carriages for snow removal has already arrived at the station. Then the distance head approached Thomas and extended an order so that Pukhov could read and sign it. The widower quickly signed and even experienced a strange sense of satisfaction from the fact that he had a difficult sleepless week: so unobtrusive grief would pass.

At work

Cannot convey a summary. “The Secret Man” by Platonov is one of those works that leave sad and bright feelings at the same time. There were workers in the car who were burning cast iron. A strong smell quickly hit his nose, causing Thomas to grimace. He took his workplace, and others followed suit. The blizzard was fierce, but calm and inevitable. The car was dirty, but quite comfortable and secluded.

We know that Andrei Platonov himself visited the front. The “Confidential Man”, the brief content of which we are considering, conveys this atmosphere in great detail and sincerely. The place of hostilities was only 60 miles. At some point, the carriage braked sharply, workers fell, smashing their heads in the blood. The stuck snowplow surrounds a detachment of horse-drawn Cossacks who order the locomotives to be delivered to the White Station. At this time, a red armored train arrives with soldiers who liberate the workers and kill the enemies.

Liski Station

The train arrives at Liski station - this is where the brief summary leads us. The “Confidential Man” (A. Platonov) continues with the rest of the workers at the station for three days. On one hut, Thomas finds an advertisement for recruiting mechanics in the south. Pukhov invites comrade Zvorychny to abandon the snowplow together, since spring is coming, and after the revolution it will be difficult to work at all. Despite persuasion, Zvorichny does not want to leave his wife and little son.

Novorossiysk

What adventures of Thomas did Platonov A.P. prepare? The “Confidential Man” (summarized in the article) continues with the trip of Pukhov and his five comrades to Novorossiysk. Three red ships set off for the Crimea. Our hero is sailing on the ship "Shan" and works there as an engine adjuster. At night, a storm occurs, due to which the ships are far from each other. The outbreak of the elements does not allow to approach the Crimean coast, so the ship returns to the city. Here the hero finds work for 4 months, but often yearns and sheds stingy male tears for his wife.

Baku

What then prepares for its reader A. Platonov (“The Concealed Man”)? The summary that we follow leads us after the main character in Baku. Here Thomas meets the sailor Sharikov, who sends him to Tsaritsyn to hire workers. Thomas gives the documents of the sailor to a fitter and gets on the nearest train. When he asks passengers where he should go, they answer that they do not know.

Native Penates

Thomas returns to his hometown - says Platonov. The “Confidential Man”, the summary of which we are now considering, continues in the house of Zvorychny. Thomas settles there and gets a job as a mechanic in the city. Soon he returns to his house, but often visits a friend because of boredom and longing. Meanwhile, whites are attacking the city. The workers are trying to organize a defense, but nothing sensible happens: many die. In the morning two trains arrive: the city is repulsed. Soon the dull work completely plagues Pukhov, and he writes to the sailor Sharikov. He invites him to work at the oil fields. Thomas happily agrees and goes to Baku again. His life is getting better, he regrets only uninvited old age and loneliness.

How does the summary end? "The Secret Man" (Platonov A.) comes to the end on a positive note. To Sharikov comes from captivity brother. At some point, sympathy awakens in Thomas' soul. This new sensation inspires him, he finally feels an extraordinary emotional upsurge. Warmth and love for the Motherland come to him, as if he had returned to his mother’s arms after a long life with a grumpy wife.

This is how Andrei Platonov ends his story. The “Confidential Man” (a brief summary of the chapters see above) ends on an inspiring, calm and inspiring note: a person has finally regained his peace of mind, he enjoys simple things and a new sunny day.