The personality of Boris Godunov was attractive to many historians, writers and poets. After all, his achievements were swift, and his demise was tragic. He began his service as an ordinary nobleman, and then became the ruler of a huge power. Godunov’s image is truly tragic. Wishing good to the people, the king seeks to act farsightedly, but he is hated by people as an oppressor who has criminally seized the throne.
Main features
The image of Boris Godunov in the tragedy of Pushkin was revealed by the great Russian poet widely and diversely. First of all, the main character attracts the mind, its responsiveness, the ability to sympathize. He sincerely sympathizes with his daughter, who has lost her bridegroom, calls her "a widow in brides." In addition, he is very well versed in politics, clearly understands how the boyars relate to him. The image of Boris Godunov in the tragedy of Pushkin is, first of all, the image of a wise man and a skilled politician. He gives valuable advice in a testament to his son, and having caught his daughter for the Swedish prince, he thinks in advance about how to strengthen ties between Russia and European states.
Godunov’s policy
In those difficult times, when Godunov criminally seizes power, the country enters a period of difficult trials. Huge natural disasters undermine its economy for several decades, and a long war completes their work. However, despite all these advantages, the people are not supportive of the king. He is a representative of the typical autocracy, which took shape on the territory of Kievan Rus since the time of Ivan III.
Boris Godunov continues the course, which was taken by Ivan VI, - all state power was concentrated in the hands of the ruler. He also fights against the boyars, and in his struggle he tries to lean on the serving nobility. In relation to the people, he also follows the path taken by his predecessors, believing that he can be restrained only by applying "vigilant rigor."
Attitude to the peasants
The image of Boris Godunov in Pushkin’s tragedy cannot be called completely positive, because he continues the policy of further enslaving the poor peasants, and even wants to completely abolish St. George’s Day — the possibility of each serf on one day to transfer from the power of one landowner to another. Thus Godunov wants to finally consolidate power over the serfs for the landlords. And such a policy first contributes to the build-up of mistrust, and then to a hostile attitude towards the king of the people.
Retribution for evil
However, the image of Boris Godunov in the tragedy of Pushkin does not reveal to the reader the wrong ruler who ascended the throne according to the rules of legal inheritance. Boris Godunov became king as a result of a crime. Some writers of those times testify that in the 17th century Godunov was considered the murderer of the real prince, son of Ivan VI. The historian Karamzin agrees with the same opinion.
He sees the tragedy of Boris Godunov as a natural punishment that befell him for his sins. In the analysis of the image of Boris Godunov in the tragedy of Pushkin, one should mention the fact that the murder of the prince really brings the main character mental suffering, but it is not the main reason for his tragic fate. After all, his death is caused primarily by social causes.
The boyars, the Cossacks, the gentry took the path of struggle against the tsar, but most importantly, the people themselves. He turned his back on the tsar precisely for the reason that he saw in him the real despot - that is how the image of Boris Godunov can be briefly described. The main cause of Godunov’s death is the people. It is he who is also the decisive force of the whole story. In him, he sees primarily a criminal, an infanticide.
Where crime is committed, there is evil
In order to describe the image of an impostor in the tragedy “Boris Godunov”, Pushkin uses special vocabulary. “Crime”, “evil” - these are the words with such a root that constantly stand in tragedy next to the words “horror”, “terrible”. The poet seeks to emphasize that where crime is committed, horror and despair always reign. When Boris Godunov only ascends the throne, the boyars are surprised at how skillfully he plays the role of not participating in the crime that took place in Uglich. Subsequently, Shuisky will be convinced that even Godunov’s abdication of the throne is nothing more than a sham. Godunov’s game becomes even more sophisticated at the moment when he first faces his close associates. In his words you hear suffering, the cry of the soul.
Summary of the tragedy
It is the suffering, tormented by constant remorse that appears before us the image of Boris Godunov in the tragedy of Pushkin. The summary of the work is as follows. Boris Godunov abdicates the throne, as Shuisky accuses him of the fact that he killed the prince. However, Godunov is forced to submit to the popular will, and becomes the king. Then the reader gets acquainted with the conversation between Pimen and Gregory, they say that on the throne there is now an infanticide. Gregory escapes from the monastery to the capital, hoping to become a ruler.
Godunov’s reign lasts for six years, but he understands that the people do not love him. Finally comes the news of the impostor. An army appears on the Lithuanian border. At first, the impostor wins, but then Godunov. Godunov dies shortly afterwards. Basman takes charge of the army. He proposes that the legitimate Dmitry become king. Rod Rodunov is cursed. One of the boyars, Mosalsky, reports that the entire Godunov family was poisoned. Boyarin also appeals to the people to greet the king. But the people remain silent.