For a century and a half, representatives of educated Russian society, participating either in the liberal or in the communist movement, studying with interest the well-known polemic between V. G. Belinsky and N. V. Gogol, preferred the arguments of the former.
Literary studies
After 1917, the dispute of these great people was included in the general education course. However, in the textbooks, only the point of view was adhered to by V. Belinsky. The letter to Gogol reflected his attitude to reality, showed the solidarity of his thoughts with liberal democratic ideas. Nikolai Vasilievich was a conservative. In revolutionary Russia, the Gogol thinker was not just unnecessary, but even harmful. All judgments that came from him were allowed, at best, to be interpreted, while changing them beyond recognition. For many decades, official literature has characterized Gogol on one side only. He acted as a critic of the "society in which he lived." He was shown as a writer whose work sought only to illustrate the negative aspects of the existing bourgeois landowner world, the anti-people essence of autocracy. The spiritual side of Nikolai Vasilievich remained in the shadows.
Reason for the dispute
On December 31, 1846, Gogol's book was published. It was called "Selected Places from Correspondence with Friends." Enraged Belinsky almost immediately writes a letter to Gogol. In it, he calls the book "vile", accuses its author of ignorance of reality. The work was eventually withdrawn from circulation for a long time and placed in closed storage. The Russians were allowed to read The Examiner, Dead Souls, Wii, Nevsky Prospect, and other fiction. However, the author himself called "Selected Places ..." his only practical book. It is currently returned to readers.
Public opinion
The book of 1846 caused a wave of indignation in advanced Russian society. During these years, many authors put forward a variety of reasons that prompted Gogol to write it. Some said that it was a grave and bitter fallacy of the author, who had lost the correct idea of ​​the reality surrounding him. Others believed that the book reflected his weakness not only as a thinker, but also of the person as a whole. Still others said that Gogol was frightened by the conclusions that followed from his other works of art. Fourth believed that the book showed the ideological vacillations of the author, who himself found himself in a trap of religious prejudices and reactionary utopias.
Belinsky's letter to Gogol: summary
It is believed that it drew the line of literary criticism, since it was written shortly before his death. Lenin believed that Belinsky’s letter to Gogol was one of the outstanding works of the democratic uncensored press. Its significance remained for a long time. At first, the book "Selected Places ..." was raised as a banner, having met with a positive reaction from part of society. However, a decisive rebuff to her was given by Belinsky's letter to Gogol. What was the critic talking about? In his lines he gave a merciless characterization to the writer. The critic called him "a preacher of a whip, an apostle of ignorance, a champion of obscurantism and obscurantism, a panegyrist of Tatar morals." Belinsky's letter to Gogol, a summary of which was retold by the Petrashevists and all progressive circles of society, expressed the interests and thoughts of the serfs against the autocracy. The critic said that earlier the writer denounced tsarism, ridiculed the landowners, and fought against serfdom. The revolutionary circle accepted Gogol. He made the whole country laugh at the Plyushkins, Sobakevichs, Khlestakovs, which undoubtedly greatly facilitated the fight against them. In an objective sense, he branded serfdom. Belinsky’s letter to Gogol reminds Nikolai Vasilievich of past times. The critic speaks of his respect and love for him, as a person who is vitally connected with his country, acting as one of the leaders on the path of progress. After the publication of the book “Selected Places ...” Belinsky gave an extremely negative review in Sovremennik. At that time, his appeal to Nikolai Vasilievich could not be printed, but nevertheless received wide distribution. The advanced part of society, without any difficulty, understood what the essence of Belinsky’s letter to Gogol was. The critic rebelled against preaching "immorality and lies under the auspices of religion and the whip." In a letter, Belinsky pointed out the atheism of the nature of Russian people. At the same time, he recognized the historicity of Christ and his teachings on freedom, fraternity and equality. The letter to Gogol Belinsky, in short, has become a manifesto of a thinking and progressive Russia. "The name of the critic was known to every representative of progressive youth," Aksakov said.
Belinsky's letter to Gogol: analysis
An extremely high praise was given to the critic by Lenin. At that time, the government persecuted those who kept and read it. According to the reviews of the agent of the third division and the Petrashevists, the words of the critic produced general delight. Belinsky's letter is the most important monument of social thought. The critic spoke of Nikolai Vasilievich now not as an advanced artist, but as a reactionary publicist. His book defended the Nikolaev autocracy, supported serfdom. N.V. Gogol elevated the landowner, proclaimed him "the father of the peasants," pointed out the need for obedience to him. He called the serf himself "an unwashed snout." The landowner Gogol taught more to profit from the work of the peasant, and called for obedience to the tsar and his officials, the fulfillment of the traditions of antiquity. All this caused sharp criticism. Belinsky stated that the salvation of Russia is not in asceticism, mysticism and pietism, but in the successes of humanity, enlightenment and civilization. He categorically opposed the sermons, calling for the awakening in the people of self-esteem, which for centuries was trampled in litter and dirt.
In his letter to Gogol, Belinsky pointed out the writer’s errors regarding reality. The critic said that the public will not be able to forgive the neglect of freedoms that was expressed in the book. Speaking against serfdom, Belinsky vividly illuminated all his humiliation. After reading "Selected Places ...", the critic was struck by the change that occurred in the author’s thoughts. More recently, the Inspector General and Dead Souls came out from under his pen, denouncing the landlord system, ridiculing him. I must say that at the time of writing his book, Gogol was abroad. This was another criticism argument. Belinsky said that one should not, being away from the country, understand the situation. Meanwhile, the critic, hoping that all these thoughts of the writer were the result of his errors, recommends that he create a counterweight work that would neutralize the effect of his book.
Important points of the message
Belinsky was struck by Gogol’s words about the futility and even harmfulness of literacy for the common people. The words of Nikolai Vasilievich that perhaps his book is a fallacy are categorically rejected. Belinsky says that such a line of thought in Russia has long been known. Moreover, the critic points out the absence of any mind and talent in the work. He says that this does not fit in with the creations that he created earlier. Belinsky resolutely rejects the conclusion that the book was the fruit of Gogol’s mental disorder. He explains this by the fact that it was written not one or two days, but, possibly, for years.
Answer of Nikolay Vasilievich
As mentioned above, the critic published an article about the new book, "Selected Places ..." in Sovremennik. Offended by her, Gogol wrote a letter to Belinsky. In it, he says that criticism of his book is most likely caused by personal attitude. Meanwhile, Belinsky fell seriously ill. Staying in Russia, he could not answer Nikolai Vasilievich, since censorship was tough at that time. But the illness forced him to go abroad. From there he sent an angry reply.
A letter from N. Gogol to Belinsky was sent on August 10. In it, the writer is deeply shocked by the reaction of the public to his book. He says that he received about 50 reviews, and they were all different. Nikolai Vasilievich admits that he really did not understand the current situation well. However, Gogol’s letter to Belinsky cannot be called remorse for "Selected places ...". Moreover, we can say that he did not recognize the fallacy of his opinion, conclusions, words and ideas. He only says that you should come to Russia, see and again find out everything that is in it. Gogol’s last letter to Belinsky testifies to the reluctance of the author to create something new before he visits the country. At the same time, the author believes that even those people who are in Russia cannot fully understand the whole situation. Addressing Vissarion Grigorievich, he points out that he, for his part, cannot know many things that are known to him. Accordingly, there cannot be a full understanding of the reasons that prompted the creation of “Selected Places ...”. Gogol’s letter to Belinsky does not promote anything, nor calls for anything. Nikolai Vasilievich is trying to justify himself in some way, to explain the superficial state of affairs. However, he understands that, most likely, his words will not find a response from the critic.
Gogol's letter to Belinsky reflects the state of the author. He was suppressed and almost destroyed by criticism. The advanced circles met his work with indignation, but they enthusiastically discussed the answer to it by Vissarion Grigorievich. Despite the support provided to his book by the government, Gogol did not feel the satisfaction he expected. In his response to criticism, he does not indicate the true reasons that prompted him to write a book. Gogol’s letter to Belinsky seems fuzzy and blurry in comparison with the critic’s message. However, he admits to focusing too much on himself. At the same time, he indicates to Belinsky that he was too "scattered". He says that the critic neglects the need to know everything that he knows in order to understand his motives and thoughts. Gogol's letter to Belinsky in 1847 ends with a wish for health. Nikolai Vasilievich reminds Vissarion Grigorievich that only in the absence of illness can one do reasonable things in any field.
conclusions
Belinsky pointed out to Gogol that, in the distance from Russia, the situation seemed quite prosperous. However, near it will not be so beautiful. Gogol admits this. However, at the same time, it says that the critic himself cannot know many things. But, unlike Belinsky, Gogol indicates that he is ready to admit his mistakes and work on them. At the same time, the critic does not see the same desire, which, of course, greatly disappoints him. He says that Russia is on the verge of great events that require people to consider life from all sides without rushing headlong into the revolution. Perhaps Gogol was indeed influenced by religious teachings. The perception that he had directed his thoughts towards autocracy. He spoke of the spiritual connection of the people and the king, the need to maintain it further. This contrasted sharply with the ideas he had followed earlier. However, from his answer to Belinsky it follows that he does not intend to give up his thoughts at all. He is ready only to re-study Russia and the state of affairs in it. But this, most likely, was necessary for him for even greater approval of his ideas.
Communication of figures
Belinsky and Gogol were once good friends and supporters of some ideas. The first, as a critic, put forward decisive social and political demands to the government, insisting on meeting the pressing needs of the peasant masses, who were under the yoke of serfdom. To the most pressing issues of our time, he included the abolition of punishments, the introduction of strict enforcement of all existing laws. The key requirement was the overthrow of the serfdom. Gogol, in turn, as a writer was a denouncer of landowners, officials, and autocracy. It was in this that the views of these people converged. Belinsky, highlighting the humiliating position of the peasants, wrote that Russia is becoming a terrible country in which human trafficking is taking place. In the state there were not only any guarantees for property, honor, personality, but also the police order. Belinsky considered the elimination of serfdom to be a priority. Literary activity, in his opinion, was a guide for the people. In the writers, he saw the leaders of the new system. Among them, Gogol enjoyed special respect and love from Belinsky himself and other representatives of the advanced society. But, having traveled abroad, he publishes a book that turns over all ideas about him.
Conclusion
Responding to criticism, Gogol does not give any arguments in his favor. He only states the prevailing facts. There is no desire in his letter to improve, “change his mind”, apologize, in the end, to the public. His book was not at that time recognized by the advanced layers of society. This was mainly due to the fact that the people had already firmly rooted the desire for a new, free life, which the autocracy was not able to provide.