GERASIM is the central character in I.S. Turgenev's story "Mumu" (1852), a dumb janitor of a self-indulgent lady, a man of a strict and serious disposition, a real Russian hero, of enormous growth and extraordinary physical strength. The fate of G. is not invented - the story of the janitor Andrei Nemoy, who belonged to Turgenev's mother Varvara Petrovna, became the basis of the storyline of the story.
G., who lived in the village, at the whim of the mistress is brought to the city, where he falls into the atmosphere of sycophancy and envy that reigns among the serfs in the house of the landowner. Against this background, a touching story of his love for the washerwoman Tatiana unfolds: “Wherever, it happened, she goes, he is right there, goes to meet her, smiles, hums, waves her arms…” , with which G. has to come to terms. Therefore, the hero's attachment to the puppy he saved is understandable: Mumu turned out to be the only creature that reciprocated his caress. It has long been argued why G. fulfills the order of the mistress to drown Mumu, and then, without permission, leaves for the village. This act was seen as a pronounced protest against serfdom. But then the reasons for his unexpected cruelty towards his beloved creature are incomprehensible. One of the likely clues is in the interpretation belonging to I.S. Aksakov, who considered G. a symbol of the Russian people, their terrible strength and incomprehensible meekness.
One of the servants of the old lady was the janitor Gerasim.
Gerasim lived in the village from childhood. He was a serf. It was a man twelve inches tall, built as a hero and deaf-mute from birth. Gifted with extraordinary strength, Gerasim worked for four. Any business was argued in his hands. But Gerasim was brought to Moscow, they bought him boots, sewed a caftan and a sheepskin coat, gave him a broom and appointed him a janitor.
Moved to the city, he did not understand what was happening to him and was bored, because from childhood he was used to field work and village life. But even in the city, he diligently and regularly performed his duties. He never had any chips lying around or litter. And after he caught two thieves one night, everyone began to respect him very much.
He had a short relationship with the rest of the servants: he considered them to be his own. In general, Gerasim had a strict and serious disposition, knew his rights and loved order in everything; even the roosters did not dare to fight in his presence. He went after the geese, fed them, and himself looked like a sedate gander. Gerasim lived in a closet above the kitchen. He arranged it according to his taste and did not like to be visited.
Once, when Gerasim was walking along the river, he suddenly noticed that something was floundering in the mud near the shore, bent down and saw a small puppy, white with black spots. The puppy was trembling all over. Gerasim took the unfortunate dog to his closet. He laid her on the bed, gave her a drink, fed her and left her to live with him. He named the dog Mumu. Gerasim loved her without memory. No mother takes care of her child the way Gerasim took care of Mumu. She grew into a very fine Spanish breed dog. Mumu became passionately attached to Gerasim, kept following him, wagging her tail. She was extremely intelligent, affectionate with everyone, but she loved only Gerasim.
A year has passed, Gerasim was very happy.
But one day the lady saw Mumu, ordered to bring her to her room. Mumu was frightened of the mistress and her companions and growled. The lady did not like this and she ordered to remove her from the yard. First, the dog was secretly sold from Gerasim, and when she returned to her master, the mistress ordered Gavrila to kill her.
As a serf and bonded man, Gerasim carried out this order. But after he drowned poor Mumu, he ran to his closet, put his belongings in an old blanket and returned to the village in his hut. He could no longer live in the city and serve the mistress.
"... a man twelve inches tall, built by a hero and deaf-mute from birth"
"... His face, already lifeless, like all deaf-mutes..."
"... the oblong and hard muscles of his shoulders..."
"...stretched out his huge hand..."
A tall, powerful man.
The attitude of Gerasim from "Mumu" to work
“... was considered perhaps the most serviceable draft man ... almost the most serviceable draft man. - Tax - serf service, which the landlords imposed on their peasants. A conditional family (two adult workers, a man and a woman, sometimes with the addition of a half-worker - a teenager) was taken as a unit of taxation with corvée or dues. Turgenev emphasizes that Gerasim was a full-fledged worker who carried all the peasant duties.
Gifted with extraordinary strength, he worked for four - the matter was arguing in his hands, and it was fun to look at him ... "
“... Gerasim's occupations in his new position seemed to him a joke after hard peasant work; in half an hour everything was ready for him ... "
“... he diligently fulfilled his duty: in the yard he never had any chips lying around, nor copy ...”
Gerasim is a hardworking, responsible, diligent and obedient worker, he loves order in everything, he does nothing somehow.
Gerasim was of a strict and serious disposition, he loved order in everything; even the roosters did not dare to fight in his presence.
Economical and hardworking.
The attitude of Gerasim from "Mumu" to the Baryn
Gerasim was rather afraid of her, but still hoped for her mercy ... "
Gerasim is afraid of the mistress, because he is a serf, a forced man.
The attitude of Gerasim from "Mumu" to Tatiana
“... Gerasim<…>he began to chuckle when she came across to him, then he began to look at her, and finally, he did not take his eyes off her at all. She fell in love with him ... "" ... From that day on, he did not give her rest: wherever she went, he was right there ... "
Tatyana likes the deaf-mute Gerasim.
“... after all, this capercaillie, Garaska, he is looking after you ...”
“... he walks towards her, smiles, hums, waves his arms, suddenly pulls out the ribbon from his bosom and hands it to her, clears the dust in front of her with a broom ...”
Gerasim takes care of Tatyana.
Laughing stupidly and lowing affectionately, he held out a spicy cockerel to her ... "
“... The Rada is not happy, but the girl fell under his protection ...”
Experiencing tender and touching feelings.
Gerasim suddenly got up, stretched out his huge hand, put it on the wardrobe-maid's head, and looked into her face with such sullen ferocity that she stooped down to the very table.
Gerasim becomes Tatyana's patron. He protects her from other peasants.
“... noticing that Kapiton<…>somehow too graciously broke up with Tatyana, Gerasim beckoned him to him with his finger, led him into the carriage house, and, grabbing the end of the drawbar that was standing in the corner, lightly but significantly threatened him with it. Since then, no one has spoken to Tatyana ... "
Gerasim is jealous of Tatyana for the drunkard Kapiton.
“... was about to go to her with a request if she would allow him to marry Tatyana. He was only waiting for a new caftan, promised to him by the butler, in order to appear in decent form before the mistress ... "
Gerasim wants to marry the washerwoman Tatyana.
Gerasim stood for a moment, looked at her, waved his hand, grinned and went, stepping heavily, to his closet ... He did not leave there for a whole day.
In Tatiana, Gerasim is attracted by her diligence, responsibility, patience, meekness of character and sincerity. After the episode with "intoxication", he is deeply disappointed and offended that the woman he fell in love with did not live up to his expectations, is disappointed in love. He suffers. This can be judged by individual details (look, smile).
“... Gerasim left his closet, approached Tatyana and gave her a red paper handkerchief, which he had bought for her a year ago ...”
Gerasim is generous. He did not hate Tatyana, but treats her kindly, pities her, went out to say goodbye and support in the difficult moment of parting with the house. At parting, he gives Tatyana a gift.
The attitude of Gerasim from "Mumu" to the courtyards
“... but he also knew his rights, and no one dared to take his place in the capital ...”
Gerasim behaves with dignity, knows his rights.
“Yes, you will deceive,” Gavrila waved him back. Gerasim looked at him, smiled contemptuously, hit his chest again and slammed the door.
“... he will do, if he promised. He's so... Well, if he promises, it's probably. He is not like our brother. What's true is true."
Gerasim despises false, insincere, deceitful and cruel people. He is disgusted by the evil, callousness and indifference of the courtyards - the faithful servants of the mistress.
The attitude of the lady from "Mumu" to Gerasim
“... the next day I sent Gerasim a ruble. She complained about him as a faithful and strong watchman.
“... Madam,” he thought, sitting by the window, “of course, favors Gerasim (Gavrila knew this well ...”
The lady favored Gerasim as a faithful and strong watchman.
The attitude of Tatyana from "Mumu" to Gerasim
“... When Gerasim was brought from the village, she almost died of horror at the sight of his huge figure ...”
Tatyana is not pleased, but frightened by signs of attention from Gerasim.
“... He only seemed to become more gloomy and did not pay the slightest attention to Tatyana and Kapiton ...”
To "discourage" Gerasim, Tatiana once pretends to be drunk. Gerasim doesn't like drunk people. He stops courting Tatyana.
"…Tatiana<…>getting into the cart, in a Christian way, kissed Gerasim three times ... "
Tatyana warmly says goodbye to Gerasim. After all, this is the only person to whom she is not indifferent.
The attitude of Kapiton from "Mumu" to Gerasim
“... Yes, have mercy, Gavrilo Andreevich! after all, he will kill me, by God, he will kill me, like he will swat some fly ... "
Kapiton is afraid of Gerasim, who is also in love with Tatyana.
The attitude of the courtyards from "Mumu" to Gerasim
“... With the rest of the servants, Gerasim was in a relationship not exactly friendly, they were afraid of him, but short; he considered them to be his…”
The people around are afraid of Gerasim.
- What a wonderful this Gerasim! - squeaked a fat washerwoman, - is it possible to get laid because of a dog!.
They consider him an eccentric and make fun of him behind his back.
The attitude of Gerasim to Mumu
“... Gerasim looked at the unfortunate dog, picked it up with one hand, thrust it into his bosom and set off with long steps home ...”
Gerasim is kind and sensitive to someone else's misfortune.
“... All night long he fiddled with her, laid her down, wiped her, and finally fell asleep himself next to her with some kind of joyful and quiet sleep ...”
“... No mother takes care of her child like Gerasim took care of his pet ...”
“... The wool on it was so shiny; it was clear that it had recently been combed out ... "
Caring, affectionate, tenderly treats Mumu.
“... She was extremely smart, caressed everyone, but she loved one Gerasim. Gerasim himself loved her without memory ... "
Gerasim loves Mumu. Thanks to her, his life is filled with joy and meaning.
"... significantly hit himself in the chest, as if announcing that he himself takes it upon himself to destroy Mumu ..."
He drowns Mumu with his own hands so that someone else does not do it.
“... Gerasim looked at her for a long time; two heavy tears suddenly rolled out of his eyes: one fell on the dog's steep forehead, the other into the cabbage soup. He covered his face with his hand…”
Gerasim cries when he goes to drown his beloved Mumu.
Gerasim is the main character of the story by Turgenev I.S. "Mu Mu". In the image of Gerasim in the story "Mumu", the author embodied the best human traits. Kindness, love of work, strength, sympathy for the weak and defenseless, love for animals, sensitivity. All these features were endowed with the hero of Turgenev. When you read the story, you understand that the author himself admires his created hero, his greed for work, his spiritual kindness, strength. Turgenev compares Gerasim with a large tree that has grown on fertile soil.
The image of Gerasim in the story of Mumu
Gerasim grew up in the village and was a serf. Deaf and mute by nature, this hero was economic and had a big heart. Everything he did, he did sincerely, diligently and from the heart. He loved the village and the land on which he worked. But, by the will of fate, he is brought to the capital, where he has to do the work of a janitor. This position was not to his liking, just as the city was not to his liking. He wanted to go back to nature, to the earth, but since nothing can be changed, Gerasim resigned himself and did the work carefully and responsibly. Because of his formidable appearance, everyone was afraid of him, but at the same time respected him.
Gerasim is very homesick, misses the village, doing field work. The only consolation was the feelings that appeared for Tatyana, but the lady marries the laundress to another, which causes pain to Gerasim, making him unhappy. But soon a sip of happiness appears in his life in the form of a small dog, to which the man gives the nickname "Mumu". He accidentally finds this puppy by the river, and could no longer pass by. He warmed his dog, fattened her up and became her friend. With the advent of the four-legged, Gerasim's life became brighter, more joyful. The dog also fell in love with the man and was always there. But happiness did not last long, since the lady, seeing the dog, wanted to play with it, and when she heard a roar in her address, she ordered to kill it. No matter how Gerasim tried to save his faithful friend, anyway, later he had to kill the animal with his own hands, the field of which he could no longer stay in the city and arbitrarily, spitting on everyone, returned back to the village.
The evil lady managed to take away what was dear to his heart, this is Tatyana and the dog, but she never managed to break him, his strength of mind, his self-esteem.
"Mumu" Turgenev plunges us into the times of serfdom, in a rather cruel time. A time where there is little justice. In a world where there is almost no justice for "little people".
In the story, Gerasim appears before us as a gloomy and reserved person, imposing, about two meters tall, with great strength and great love for work.
Gerasim is a serf who works as a janitor for an old lady in Moscow "... a nice man."
Gerasim does not accept jokes on his person: "... However, not everyone dared to mock Gerasim ...". Possessing the plot of great stubbornness and living a loner life because of his disability, oddly enough, has a big heart.
However, even such a person, possessing great kindness, took the loss of Mumu too hard. He had to leave the mistress's court.
Appearances are deceptive. Not everyone who looks ugly or frightening is the one that we are seeing with the example of Turgenev's Gerasim.
- Who is Gerasim;
- The appearance of the hero;
- How did he get to the mistress;
- His duties;
- Dwelling;
- Attitude towards Mumu;
- The character of Gerasim;
- Why does he leave the mistress;
- My attitude to Gerasim.
Gerasim is the protagonist of the story "Mumu" by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev. From birth, he was deaf and mute, therefore he could not hear either human speech or the sounds of nature, and he himself could not utter a single word. Gerasim had no one. He lived alone in the village, in his small hut. Like many ordinary people of that time, he was not free, a serf and belonged to a Moscow absurd lady. He worked for her, meekly performed the hardest peasant work.
This village peasant was a real Russian hero. Nature generously endowed him with extraordinary physical strength. He was a very tall man - "12 inches" or almost two meters tall and very strong build. He had large working hands and huge palms. He had no equal in his work, everything was easy for him. He worked tirelessly, for four. And he mowed, and plowed, and he threshed deftly and skillfully. Everyone considered him a very nice man.
But fate wanted the lady to take the deaf-mute hero from the village to her place in Moscow. She probably liked his silent industriousness. And he could not resist her, because she was his rightful mistress. In the Moscow estate, he was given new clothes and instructed to do new work. From a peasant, Gerasim, unexpectedly for himself, turned into a janitor and watchman.
Working in the city in a new position was too easy for him. After all, he was used to hard field work, and it was not difficult for him to work in the yard. His circle of affairs was quite small: sweep the yard, deliver a barrel of water to the estate, provide firewood for the household, keep strangers out, and guard at night. Gerasim did all the main work in half an hour. He worked very hard, as he used to in the countryside. Everywhere and in everything he had an exemplary order. But he did not like his new place of residence, he yearned, his soul was torn to his native village house. He felt like a beast that had been caught and imprisoned in a cage.
His dwelling was very modest and really looked like a cramped cage. He settled in a small room directly above the kitchen. The setting was very simple. There was very little furniture, only the bare necessities: a bed, a table and a chair. But all of it was very strong, oak, to withstand the weight of the village hero. Gerasim always locked his closet with a key - he was still unsociable and did not like strangers to come to him.
The yard people who lived with the lady treated Gerasim with apprehension. They were afraid of the deaf-mute because his character was painfully strict and serious, and also because of his extraordinary strength and stern silence. "Who knows what he's not smart about," they probably thought. Behind their backs, they called the janitor "Goblin."
Once it was the hero Gerasim who saved a little puppy, took him to his closet, warmed him up, dried him and fed him. He took care of his pet as "no mother takes care of her child." It turned out that a very kind, gentle heart is hidden behind a stern appearance and a powerful physique. Gerasim called the little dog Mumu, because he could not pronounce any other word than this lowing. Mumu always responded with joy to this uncomplicated name. Gerasim warmly took care of the dog, loved her without memory. He gave all his unspent affection to this little devoted creature. And Mumu followed on his heels, unquestioningly obeyed and faithfully served him.
But they did not have long to live happily together. Feeling his helplessness, out of hopelessness and despair, Gerasim drowned Mumu. For him, it was an irreparable loss. He raised her as his own child, and with his own hands he had to kill her. His heart trembled, heavy tears rolled from his eyes, but at that moment he saw no other way out.
After the death of the dog, Gerasim could no longer endure his confinement in the city. He shows determination, which was unusual for him before, and returns to his native village. Although he understands perfectly well, for such self-will - an escape - he faces a severe punishment: hard labor or even death.
I feel sorry for Gerasim. Fate was hard on him. Deprived of the gift of hearing and speech, he was deprived of everything that was dear to his heart, gave him joy and consolation. And yet I do not quite understand the hero of the story: why did he decide to drown the poor animal. There must have been some way out. For example, give it to good hands. What thoughts and experiences tormented Gerasim and why he committed his cruel act, we, unfortunately, will no longer know.