iconic figures in Russian literature is Nikolai Chernyshevsky."What should I do?" - A novel with which most people associate his name.However, the activities of the great philosopher, critic and publicist was not limited to one single product.
Life and Work
As noted above, a bunch of "Chernyshevsky /" What? "" Firmly stuck in the minds of students.Through this work, the writer can rightly be considered the first Russian philosopher utopian.By beliefs Chernyshevsky himself called himself a revolutionary democrat.He was born in Saratov in the family of a poor priest.Primary education received at home under the guidance of his father.Then he entered the seminary, but soon realized that he does not feel the vocation for such activities and transferred to the St. Petersburg University, where he studied history, philosophy and philology.In 1850, a young scientist received the master's degree.His further activities aimed at promoting the revolutionary ideas."St. Petersburg Vedomosti", "Notes of the Fatherland", "Contemporary" - with all these advanced editions actively cooperated young Chernyshevsky."What should I do?" - A novel that would bring him fame - then existed only as vague ideas and sketches.
arrest
Today, it is known that since 1861 Didenko was under the constant surveillance of the secret police.None of his contemporaries had no doubt that he actively participated in the drafting of anti-government appeals and was even involved in the famous fire in 1862 in St. Petersburg.June 12 the writer was arrested and placed in solitary confinement and Paul Fortress.As the official charges he faced writing proclamations "Barsky peasants."The reason for his arrest was sent from abroad Herzen's letter, which referred to Chernyshevsky."What should I do?" - A novel that has been written entirely in the fortress.
civil penalty, link, death
7 February 1864 the writer was sentenced seven years in prison, followed by lifelong exile in Siberia.May 19 Cavalry Square was held a civil penalty of Chernyshevsky.Family members and numerous followers in different time petitioned for a pardon, but the return of revolutionary in Saratov took place only in June 1889.In the autumn he died.
Chernyshevsky "What to do": a summary of product
The novel was written in part as a polemic with the "Fathers and Children" Turgenev.According to Chernyshevsky himself, he set a goal to describe the "ordinary decent people of the new generation."The central characters in the book are three: Faith Rozalskaya Dmitry Lopukhov and Alexander Kirsanov.Vera - the daughter of the manager.Greedy and vulgar mother intends to issue Woman advantageous marriage, however noble and proud beauty decides to take fate into their own hands and enter into a marriage with a medical student Lopukhov.Their family life is built on the principles of mutual respect, equality and freedom.Faith even opened a sewing workshop commune.However, their happiness does not last long - a young woman falls in love with the best friend of her husband, Kirsanov.Noble Dmitry does not want to stand in their way, and fakes a suicide (to Vera could remarry), and then went to America, where he studied industrial production.A few years later he returned to Russia under a different name, and marries Catherine Polozova, the daughter of a wealthy industrialist.Naturally, the two families are closely communicate with the intention to build a "new" society.Thus ends the novel "What?".N. Chernyshevsky to the end of life remained faithful to the ideals that declared in his main work.
