This article reviews one of the key short stories of the King-Fish series. Astafyev, most of whose works are devoted to military subjects, appears here in an unusual role for him as a writer, a countryman. Despite this, the author showed himself to be a true connoisseur of rural reality, human souls and the complexity of relationships.
About the book
Astafyev's collection of short stories “Tsar-fish” was published in 1976. The main theme of all the stories included in it was the description of the relationship of man and nature in a moral and philosophical aspect. That is, the attitude of heroes to nature acts as a means of identifying personal vices and human virtues.
The collection includes twelve stories, one of which has the same name as the whole cycle - "King of the Fish." This work is the key to understanding the author’s intention. All the themes and motifs found in other short stories of the collection are concentrated in it.
Summary: Astafiev, “Tsar-fish”
The content begins with a description of the main character - Ignatich. He is known among the villagers as a disinterested person who never refuses help, smart and resourceful, and also as an unsurpassed master of fishing. Ignatych is the most prosperous villager; everything in his household is rational and adjusted. He is ready to help anyone and does not ask for anything for it, but there is no sincerity in his actions. So with the sibling, the relationship with the protagonist does not go well at all.
Best fisherman
Ignatich is the best fisherman in the village, he has no equal in this craft. He possesses an unprecedented fishing instinct, the experience that was transmitted to him from his ancestors, and the knowledge gained over many years of practice.
Victor Astafyev (“Tsar-fish” raises the complex issue of the relationship of the individual with nature and society) does not at all try to idealize his hero. The author openly says that Ignatich often used his skills and experience to the detriment of his fellow villagers and nature, because he hunted poaching. He is well aware of the evil that nature does by destroying fish in unlimited quantities. The hero knows about the punishment, which can comprehend him if he is caught by fish surveillance. Excessive greed and thirst for profit are pushing him into such a dangerous crime. All that considerable good that Ignatich already has seems to him insufficient.
King fish
Astafyev’s story “Tsar-fish” has a pronounced moral orientation, therefore, a fatal meeting with nature embodied in the king-fish was inevitable for Ignatych.
Seeing a huge sturgeon, the main character marveled at its unimaginable size. It is amazing that such a huge fish was able to grow, eating "loosers" and "boogers." However, not only these feelings were visited by Ignatych, something sinister seemed to him in the guise of a king of fish. He will not be able to overcome such a monster alone.
But the thought of calling for a brother and a mechanic for help immediately replaced the greed: you have to share the sturgeon with the assistants. At this moment, the hero was even ashamed of himself for his own feelings. But shame did not last long. Ignatich decided to take him for excitement, drowning out the voice of reason. In addition, fishing pride awoke in him: such a fish comes only once in a lifetime, and even then not for everyone, you should not miss the chance to show your bait.
Fight
Ignatich decides that today his king of fish will be his prey. Astafiev begins a description of the severe struggle of man with nature. His hero bravely throws himself at the sturgeon, trying to stun him with the ax ax. But he himself falls into the water, where, together with his prey, he is entangled in nets, and fishing hooks dig into his body.
And only after that Ignatich realized that he could not overcome such a fish alone. Now the fisherman and his catch have one fate ahead - death. Trying to save himself, the hero unsuccessfully seeks to break out of the bond, praying the fish to let him go. The crown of despair becomes overcoming one's own pride - Ignatich calls his brother for help. But in response, only an echo is heard.
The protagonist understands that he is dying. The fact that the fish is denser, like a woman, is pressed against him, Ignatich is horrified. At the same time, the hero begins to remember his past. But few bright thoughts come to his mind. He thinks about how much trouble he brought with his poaching. Ignatich recalls an undeservedly offended girl whom he once loved and wanted to marry her. He realizes how badly he lived his life and how many mistakes he made.
The hero understands that the meeting with the king of fish became for him a reckoning for committed sins and atrocities. He is especially burdened by what he did to his bride Glasha, having unreasonably jealous of her. And nothing of the perfect Ignatych has no excuse.
Denouement
Continues to describe the remorse of Ignatych Astafyev. The king of fish, the heroes from among the villagers and the brother become the reasons for the main character to realize his evil deeds.
In a moment of despair, Ignatich calls to God and begs to let “this creature” go free, recognizing that he “cannot handle” the king-fish. He apologizes to Glasha, repenting that he once offended her. After these words, the fish is released from the fetters and swims away.
Ignatych feels light: bodily - because he got rid of the fish that pulled him to the bottom, spiritual - because his sins were forgiven. Now the hero has a chance to start life anew, without making past mistakes and not taking sin into his soul.
Such is the path of man’s spiritual rebirth, which Astafyev decided to show him.
King Fish: An Analysis
The main theme of the story, as noted above, is the relationship of man with nature. But the writer is not limited to this, at the same time he raises another problem - human relations with society.
Ignatich’s attitude to his fellow villagers and close people is similar to the hero’s attitude to nature. Arrogance, neglect, condescension and awareness of one's own power - these are the feelings that the protagonist experiences in contact with the outside world.
According to the plan of Astafiev, a person should live in harmony with nature, be a part of it, otherwise the struggle with the elements will lead him to death. It was this idea that became plot-forming in the work.
The writer to the smallest details prescribes the symbolic image of Ignatich, embodying the very king of nature, who is accustomed to consider himself the ruler of the world. And to show all the illusory power of this pseudo-ruler, Astafyev depicts his meeting with the king of fish. However, it is noteworthy that not only the hero himself, but also his rival should die from this collision. The fate of Ignatich and the king of fish are closely intertwined. And the only way to survive for both is the liberation of the protagonist from the burden of mistakes and sins that lies on his soul. It is precisely those moral baseness that Ignatich committed during his life that become the cause of the possible death of himself and the fish king.
With this story, Astafyev clearly illustrates the idea that nature is a sacred temple in which a person is not a master, but a caretaker and assistant. Only in this case does a person have the opportunity to exist in harmony with himself, society and the world around him as a whole. Otherwise, all his actions will lead to death.
The image of Ignatich
The greatest attention in the work was given precisely to the image of Ignatych Astafyev (“Tsar Fish”). The main characters of the story are grouped around the central character, helping to reveal his character traits. So, from relationships with fellow villagers and brother, we learn about the vanity of Ignatych. And when the author talks about the motives that motivate the hero to fight the king of fish himself, another unpleasant trait of his character is revealed - greed.
As mentioned above, the image of Ignatius personifies the king of nature, accustomed to feel like a master of the world. However, this character cannot be regarded only as negative. The hero has positive traits. He is a good master, capable of wisely disposing of his wealth. In addition, Ignatych will always come to the aid of the needy, no matter what motives motivate him to this. And finally, to become an excellent fisherman, you need to make a lot of effort, not be lazy and strive for your goal.
Thus, Ignatich acts as a very ambiguous character, endowed with both positive and negative traits. And the main mistake of this person is that he is not used to reckoning with others and appreciating them. Realizing his own sins, Ignatich receives the right to start life anew.
Other characters
The rest of the images in the story “Tsar-fish” by Astafiev are intended only to shade the image of the main character. Noteworthy can only be called the king of the fish, who acted as the original force. No wonder the author compares it with the "prehistoric pangolin."