A number of works written by Gogol in the period 1830-1840 are collected in the collection "Petersburg Tales". They are united not only by the theme of the “little man”, but also by the common scene - Petersburg. One of the works is Nevsky Prospekt, a brief summary of the story will be considered in this article.
Critical Realism in Gogol's Works
In Petersburg Stories, the author expressed his impressions caused by life in Petersburg. All works are connected by a common problem - the power of money and ranks. Also, a typical character is a common character inherent in all the stories of the collection. The leading pathos of the works is the exposure of the injustice and the destructive power of money. The stories truly recreate the picture of St. Petersburg at that time. In these works, Gogol turns to the reception of extreme contrast. In Nevsky Prospect, the author showed a noisy crowd of people of various classes, the insane luxury of a minority and the terrifying poverty of the majority, the discord between an exalted dream and vulgar reality. The contrast of St. Petersburg and the duplicity of the big city became the main themes of the story "Nevsky Prospekt."
It was written in 1834, published for the first time in Arabesques in 1835. Gogol created in the novel an alloy of social and domestic satire and lyrics. With all the power of talent, the author painted Russian reality, while cherishing the dream of a beautiful future for his country. Thus, Gogol, in comparison with his predecessors, raised critical realism to a new, higher level. Before you familiarize yourself with the summary of Nevsky Prospekt, you should dwell in more detail on the main characters.
Lieutenant Pies
He recently received the rank and is very proud of him: "you did not notice, right, I am an officer." The young man belongs to the middle class: "there are officers" who make up the "middle class of society." The lieutenant communicates with his friend Piskarev out of selfish motives: he "encouraged the artist" because he wanted to see his "courageous physiognomy" in the portrait. Pirogov thought of himself “with a smug and presumptuous smile” and considered himself a charming man, not a single woman could resist: “he could not understand” that he could be “resisted” because of “courtesy” and “brilliant rank” gave "the right to attention."
In Nevsky Prospekt, Gogol describes Pirogov in the same way as people from the circle of lieutenant did: he was "scientist and educated." They, as you know, "praise Bulgarin", "do not miss a single lecture." But our lieutenant “had many talents”: “recited poetry”, knew how to “tell a joke”, “talk about an actress”. Pirogov says vulgar compliments to the ladies, but I am sure that this is a courtesy. He is boastful and tells his comrades about what is not really there - about an affair with a German woman. Pirogov is also proud of his beauty: "bowing", showed "the beauty of his camp." The impudent and dishonorable lieutenant is trying to seduce a married woman, "despite the fact that the German woman" gives a "clear rebuff". After her husband and his friends beat a brazen lieutenant, he also feels offended undeservedly, although he behaved shamelessly. “Siberia and the Scourges” was considered the “smallest punishment” for them.
Artist Piskarev
Another main character of Nevsky Prospekt is a young artist “in a tailcoat and cloak,” “quiet, modest,” and childishly “simple-minded.” A trusting and naive artist, a friend of Pirogov calls "a simpleton and a simpleton." Piskarev - “kind”, “shy”, interpreting “about his subject” and not caring “about superfluous”. He not only “with true pleasure” works and “loves quietly” what he is doing, but also has “true talent in himself”. He is capable of immaculate feelings, and his thoughts are "pure, like a child's."
Piskarev is so immersed in his work that he often answers inappropriately and does not look man in the eye. He is a deeply lonely man, no one comes to his funeral, not even Pirogov. Once he sees a beautiful stranger, he seems to him a real deity, but he, to his horror, finds out that she works in a brothel. This romantic Piskarev does not stop and offers a depraved girl to marry him, to which she refuses. The dreamer Piskarev cannot stand this and dies in four days. Unrequited passion leads Piskarev to a tragic death.
Walk around Petersburg
The story "Nevsky Prospekt" (a brief summary will help to quickly recall the plot) begins with how young people - Piskarev and Pirogov - stroll along Nevsky and gaze upon single ladies. The artist Piskarev, cherishing romantic dreams, follows a brunette. They reach the four-story building and go into the room, where there are still women, whose whole appearance tells Piskarev that he is in a brothel. The adorable appearance of the one he followed did not in any way connect with this vicious place or with her vulgar conversations. Piskarev in horror runs out into the street. At home, a young man can not calm down for a long time. As soon as he fell asleep, a servant came and informed that a carriage had been sent for him - the same lady he had just been with, asks to immediately come to her.
Dreams of the artist
The astonished young man was brought to the ball, and among the dancers he saw his chosen one, who is more charming than all the ladies present. They started a conversation, but the girl was called somewhere. Piskarev is looking for her in all rooms, but to no avail. In desperation, he wakes up ... at home. It's just a dream. The young man loses peace, wanting to see her even in a dream, he resorts to opium. Once he sees himself in his workshop with a palette in his hands, and she - his wife - stands nearby. Waking up, he decided to track her down at all costs. Piskarev went to the right house, it was she who opened the door, with a nice smile saying that, despite the late hour (two in the afternoon), she was asleep, since they brought her only completely drunk in the morning.
A brief summary of Nevsky Prospect gives an idea of how the dreamer Piskarev tried to reason with a seventeen-year-old beauty. He told the young girl about the abyss of debauchery in which she was immersed. He painted her pictures of family life. But the beauty with contempt refused him. A desperate artist wanders around the city. Returning home, locked at home. A week later, he is found with his throat cut. The poor man is buried in the Okhta cemetery, and at his funeral there is no friend Pirogov, since he himself is stuck in history.
Punishment for love
Having tied herself to the blonde that evening, Pirogov ended up in the apartment of a certain tinsmith. He, then drunk, asks his shoemaker friend to cut off his nose with a boot knife. Pirogov, who prevented them from fulfilling their intentions, hastily retreated. Returning here in the morning to find a beautiful stranger, he learned that the beautiful blonde was the wife of a shoemaker. Pirogov does not stop it. He orders the tinsmith spurs, but he does not take his eyes off the woman, exciting jealousy in her husband. On Sunday, when the shoemaker was not at home, Pirogov dances with his wife, kisses her. And at this very moment the spouse returns with his friend tinsmith and with the carpenter Kunts.
The plot of the story "Nevsky Prospect" takes an unexpected turn: drunk and angry artisans grabbed Lieutenant Pirogov and did something rude and impolite to him that the author does not even have words to "describe this action." Only a draft manuscript of Gogol, not missed by censorship, allowed us to find out that Pirogov was carved! He flew out of the house in a rage, threatening the offenders with a whip and Siberia. However, having come on the way to the confectionery, having eaten cakes and reading the newspaper, the lieutenant cooled down, and in the evening, having distinguished himself in dancing, completely calmed down. A strange incident, but under the wrong light of lanterns everything is exactly so. It’s as if lamps are lit in order to “show everything in a fake light.” With these words Gogol’s story “Nevsky Prospect” ends.