The publication of the novel "Rudin" by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev in the socio-political magazine "Sovremennik" became an important event in the literary career of the writer. Initially, the work "Rudin" Turgenev planned to write in the form of a story. However, the writer wanted to show a more complete scale of the social reality of his time and supplemented the novel with an epilogue and minor characters.
The history of the writing of the novel
This novel is not considered the main creation of the writer. Nevertheless, it was of great importance for Turgenev's career, as it became the first great work of the author. The novel "Rudin" consists of twelve chapters and an epilogue. In "Rudin" the writer was looking for his own creative style, and this novel became a successful attempt to move from novellas and short stories to larger works. The novel "Rudin" was written by Turgenev in the Spasskoye-Lutovinovo estate in the summer of 1855. At first, the work was called "Genius Nature", and the names of the main characters were different.
The first listeners to the work were the sister of Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy - Maria Nikolaevna and her husband Valerian Petrovich. Subsequently, Turgenev took into account the remarks of Maria Nikolaevna and changed some scenes of the novel. In 1855, Turgenev was given permission to publish Rudin in the 1st and 2nd issues of Sovremennik for 1856. The epilogue, in which the main character dies on the barricades, was published four years later.
Characters of the work
Daria Mikhailovna Lasunskaya is an eminent and wealthy widow of a privy councilor, has three children.
Natalya Alekseevna Lasunskaya is the daughter of Daria Mikhailovna, a girl of seventeen years old.
Vanya and Petya are the sons of Daria Mikhailovna, ten and nine years old.
Dmitry Nikolaevich Rudin is a guest at the Lasunsky estate, a young man of thirty-five years old.
Alexandra Pavlovna Lipina is a young rich widow without children; she lives with her brother Sergei Volyntsev on her own estate.
Sergei Pavlovich Volyntsev - brother of Alexandra Pavlovna Lipina, retired staff captain, is in love with Natalia Lasunskaya.
Mikhailo Mikhailovich Lezhnev is a young landowner of thirty years old, a neighbor of the Lasunskys. I have known Dmitry Nikolayevich Rudin since his student years. Silent and independent, in love with Alexandra Pavlovna Lipina.
Pandalevsky is a young, polite man. He lives in the Lasunskys' house as a dependent.
Bassistov is a 22-year-old teacher who has been teaching and raising the sons of Lasunskaya. Bows before Rudin.
Afrikan Semyonovich Pigasov - often visits the Lasunskys' house.
Summary of the novel
The novel takes place in the 1840s. The secular lady, Daria Mikhailovna Lasunskaya, comes to the village with her children every summer. Her estate is considered the first in the entire province. Daria Mikhailovna tries to maintain a cheeky and simple atmosphere in her house, with a slight tinge of contempt of a socialite for the "little people" around her.
On a calm summer morning, the reader meets the young widow Alexandra Pavlovna Lipina. She helps treat peasants in a rural hospital. Mikhailo Mikhailovich Lezhnev is unrequitedly in love with Alexandra Lipina. In the monotonous village life, the only entertainment for an educated widow is dinner parties and evenings at Daria Mikhailovna Lasunskaya's. Interesting and enlightened guests often gather at these meetings to discuss music, literature and social and social problems.
Once a certain Dmitry Nikolaevich Rudin appears in the house of Lasunskaya. He conquers listeners with his sensible speeches, wit, erudition and ardor of nature. In the course of small talk, Dmitry immediately puts in place the impudent Afrikan Pigasov, who often visited the Lasunskys. Also, the guest makes a great impression on the hostess's seventeen-year-old daughter, Natalya Alekseevna. Daria Mikhailovna Lasunskaya, impressed by the competence of the young man in matters of science, education and the meaning of life, invites Dmitry Nikolaevich to stay at her estate.
The next morning, Daria Mikhailovna invites Rudin to her office, where she tells him about the local society. She speaks with respect about Mikhailo Mikhailovich Lezhnev. It turned out that Rudin knew him when they studied together at the university, but at the end of their studies, their paths parted. After a while, the footman reports to the hostess about the arrival of Lezhnev, who has arrived to resolve the boundary question. Lezhnev, at the sight of Rudin, bowed very coldly to him, letting everyone know that he was not happy about this meeting.
During the time spent at the Lasunsky estate, Rudin became Daria Mikhailovna's favorite interlocutor. He often communicates with the daughter of the hostess, Natalya Alekseevna - he gives her rare books to read, recites his articles aloud. The educator of Lasunskaya's sons, Bassists, looks and listens to Rudin with admiration; impudent Pigasov, began to come to the estate of the Lasunsky much less often.
The news that Dmitry Rudin was visiting the house of his neighbor, Lasunskaya, became unpleasant news for the landowner Mikhailo Mikhailovich Lezhnev. In his student years, when they studied together in the capital, Lezhnev was in love with one girl. He told Rudin about his feelings. He began to actively interfere with the relationship of the couple, as a result destroying Lezhnev's happiness, and the upcoming wedding with his beloved.
Communication between Natalia Alekseevna and Rudin makes an increasing impression on the young lady, she falls in love with Dmitry. Alexandra Lipina urges Mikhailo Lezhnev to change his judgment about Rudin. In response, she listens to an even more negative opinion about Dmitry Mikhailovich: he is hypocritical, cold, often lives at someone else's expense, his fiery nature and speech is only a mask. And the most dangerous thing is that he can easily destroy such a young and naive girl like Natalya Alekseevna. Lasunskaya Sr. does not approve of Rudin's frequent conversations with her daughter, but she is not afraid of them either. She believes that in the village Natalya gravitates towards Rudin more from boredom than from any other feelings. Daria Mikhailovna is mistaken.
On one of the fine summer days, Dmitry Rudin invites Natalia on a date, where he declares his love to the girl. In response, he hears: "I will be yours." Daria Mikhailovna learns about this conversation from Pandalevsky. She declares to her daughter that she would rather see her dead than the wife of Dmitry Nikolaevich. Rudin, having met with Natalia, tells her that it is necessary to submit to the will of her mother and fate. The girl considers him a coward and leaves. The couple in love breaks up because of Rudin's indecision.
Rudin, writes a note to Volynsky, and then proceeds to a farewell letter for Natalia. Rudin modestly says goodbye to Elder Lasunskaya, explaining that he needs to leave for his village. Daria Mikhailovna says goodbye to him very dryly. Dmitry Nikolaevich hastily prepares for departure, having managed to hand over the letter to Natalya. Natalia feels ashamed for her love.
Two years pass, Natalia becomes the wife of Volyntsev. Alexandra Pavlovna Lipina is getting married to Lezhnev, their son is growing up. Rudin wanders around the world. He wanders from city to city, completely indifferent to where to go.
Epilogue
After several years, Lezhnev and Rudin meet by chance. They sit down to have lunch together, Mikhailo Mikhailovich tells about the fate of their mutual acquaintances: Pigasov got married; Pandalevsky, thanks to the petition of Daria Mikhailovna, entered a good position. Rudin asks about Natalya Alekseevna. Lezhnev simply replies that everything is all right with her. Rudin retells his life. Over the years, he has not been able to succeed anywhere. He was a teacher, a secretary, and tried to farm. However, he did not acquire a family or a home.
During the Parisian Revolution of 1848, Dmitry Rudin dies on the barricades from a stray bullet that hit him in the heart.
