Characteristics of Matryona (Matrenin Yard by A. I. Solzhenitsyn)

Among the best works of A. I. Solzhenitsyn, undoubtedly, is the story “Matrenin Dvor” about a simple Russian woman with a difficult fate. Many trials fell on her lot, but the heroine, until the end of her days, retained in her soul vitality, boundless kindness, willingness to sacrifice herself for the well-being of others. In the article, the reader is invited to characterize the image of Matryona.

Matrenin Dvor: the real basis of the work

Solzhenitsyn wrote his story in 1959 and at first called it “A Village Is Not Righteous” (due to censorship reasons, the title was subsequently changed). The prototype of the main character was Matrena Timofeevna Zakharova, a resident of the village of Miltsevo, located in the Vladimir region. The writer lived with her during the years of her teaching after returning from the camps. Therefore, the narrator’s feelings and thoughts largely reflect the views of the author himself, from the first day, according to his confession, who felt something familiar and close to his heart in the house of an unknown woman. Why this became possible will help explain the characteristics of Matryona.

Matrenin Dvor: first acquaintance with the heroine

The narrator was brought to Grigoryeva's house when all options for apartments for settlement were already considered. The fact is that Matrena Vasilievna lived alone in an old house. All of her belongings consisted of a bed, a table, benches and ficuses beloved by the hostess. Yes, even a pygmy cat, which a woman out of pity picked up on the street, and a goat. She did not receive a pension, since on the collective farm instead of workdays she was charged with sticks. For health reasons, she could no longer work. Then, however, with great difficulty she applied for a pension for the loss of her husband. At the same time, she always silently came to the aid of everyone who turned to her, and did not take anything for her work. Such is the first characteristic of Matryona in the story Matrenin Dvor. To this we can add that the peasant did not know how to cook, although the tenant was not picky and did not complain. And a couple of times a month a strong ailment attacked her, when a woman could not even get up. But even in these minutes she did not complain, and even tried not to moan, so as not to disturb the tenant. The author emphasizes blue eyes and a radiant smile - a symbol of openness and kindness.

The difficult fate of the heroine

Life story helps to better understand a person. Without it, the characteristics of Matryona in the story Matrenin Dvor will also be incomplete.

The peasant did not have her own children: all six died in infancy. She did not marry for love: she waited for the groom from the front for several years, and then agreed to become the wife of his younger brother - the time was difficult, and there weren’t enough hands in the family. Soon after the wedding of the young, Thaddeus returned, who never forgave Efim and Matryona. It was believed that he imposed a curse on them, and later the heroine’s husband will perish already in World War II. And the woman will bring up Kira, the youngest daughter of Thaddeus, and give her love and care. The storyteller learned about all this from the hostess, and she suddenly appeared before him in a new guise. Even then, the narrator realized how far from the first his characteristics of Matryona were far from real.

Meanwhile, Matrenin Dvor began to attract the eyes of Thaddeus more strongly, who wished to pick up the dowry appointed by Kira as the adoptive mother. This part of the room and will cause the death of the heroine.

Live for others

Matrena Vasilievna had long anticipated trouble. The author describes her suffering when it turned out that at the time of baptism, someone took her pot of holy water. Then the cat suddenly disappeared. And before the parlor’s analysis, the mistress herself didn’t go at all. The collapse of the roof meant for her the end of life. From such trifles formed the whole life of the heroine, whom she lived not for herself, but for the sake of others. And when Matrena Vasilievna went along with everyone to the railway crossing, she also wanted to help. Sincere, open, not embittered by the injustices of life. She accepted everything as appointed by fate and never murmured. This conclusion leads characteristic Matryona.

Matrenin Dvor ends with a description of the heroine’s funeral scene. She plays an important role in understanding how this peasant woman was different from the people who surrounded her. The narrator painfully notes that the sisters and Thaddeus immediately began to share the scarce property of the mistress. And even a friend, as if sincerely experiencing the loss, managed to grab a blouse for herself. Against the background of what is happening, the narrator suddenly remembered the living Matrena, so unlike everyone else. And I realized: she is the righteous one, without whom not a single village stands. Why is there a village - all our land. This is proved by the life and characteristics of Matryona.

“Matrenin Dvor” contains the author’s regret that during his life he (as, indeed, others) could not fully understand the greatness of this woman. Therefore, one can perceive the work of Solzhenitsyn as a kind of repentance before the heroine for her own and someone else's mental blindness.

Another moment is indicative. On the mutilated body of the heroine, a bright face and right hand remained untouched. “She will pray for us in the next world,” said one of the women in the story Matrenin Dvor. The characteristic of Matryona, therefore, makes us think about the fact that people live nearby who are able to preserve human dignity, kindness and humility in unbearable conditions. And partly thanks to them, there are still in our world filled with cruelty, such concepts as sympathy, compassion, mutual assistance.