With love, blood, my peace of dreaming. Mikhail Lermontov - Homeland (I love my homeland, but with a strange love): Verse

Poem by M.Yu. Lermontov
"Homeland"

The feeling of homeland, ardent love for it permeates all Lermontov's lyrics.
And the poet's thoughts about the greatness of Russia found a kind of lyrical
expression in the poem "Motherland". This poem was written in 1841, shortly before the death of M.Yu. Lermontov. In poems belonging early period creativity M.Yu. Lermontov, patriotic feeling does not achieve that analytical clarity, that awareness, which is manifested in the poem "Motherland". Rodina is one of the most significant works of Russian lyric poetry of the 19th century. The poem "Motherland" has become one of the masterpieces not only of the lyrics of M.Yu. Lermontov, but of all Russian poetry. The feeling of hopelessness gave rise to a tragic attitude, which is reflected in the poem "Motherland". Nothing seems to give such peace, such a feeling of peace, even joy, as this communication with rural Russia. This is where the feeling of loneliness recedes. M.Yu. Lermontov depicts Russia as a people, bright, solemn, stately, but, despite the general life-affirming background, there is a certain shade of sadness in the poet's perception of his native land.

I love my homeland, but with a strange love!
My mind will not conquer her.
Not blood-bought glory
No peace full of proud confidence,
Neither dark antiquity cherished traditions
Do not stir in me a joyful dream.

But I love - why, I don't know myself -
Cold silence of her steppes,
Its endless forests sway,
The floods of her rivers like the seas;
I like to ride in a cart on a country road
And, with a slow gaze piercing the night shadow,
To meet on the sides, sighing for an overnight stay,
The flickering lights of the sad villages.
I love the smoke of burnt stubble
In the steppe a train for the night,
And on a hill in the middle of a yellow cornfield
A couple of whitening birches.
With joy to many unfamiliar
I see a full threshing floor
Hut, covered with straw,
Window with carved shutters;
And on a holiday, dewy evening,
Watch until midnight ready
To the dance with stamping and whistling
Under the talk of drunken peasants.

Date of writing: 1841

Vasily Ivanovich Kachalov, real surname Shirubovich (1875-1948) - the leading actor of the Stanislavsky troupe, one of the first People's Artists of the USSR (1936).
Kazan Drama Theater, one of the oldest in Russia, bears his name.

Thanks to the outstanding virtues of voice and artistry, Kachalov left a noticeable mark in such a special kind of activity as the performance of works of poetry (Sergei Yesenin, Eduard Bagritsky, etc.) and prose (L.N. Tolstoy) in concerts, on the radio, in recordings on gramophone records.

I love my homeland, but with a strange love! My mind will not conquer her. Neither the glory, bought with blood, nor the peace full of proud confidence, Nor the cherished traditions of the dark antiquity Do not stir in me a joyful dream. But I love - for which, I don't know myself - Her cold silence of the steppes, Her boundless swaying forests, The floods of her rivers, like seas. I love to ride on a country road in a cart And, with a slow gaze piercing the night shadow, To meet on the sides, sighing for a lodging for the night, The quivering lights of sad villages. I love the smoke of a burnt stubble, In the steppe, a wagon train, And on a hill in the middle of a yellow field To a couple of white birches. With joy, unfamiliar to many, I see a full threshing floor, Hut, covered with thatch, With carved shutters window. And on a holiday, in the dewy evening, Watch until midnight is ready To dance with stamping and whistling Under the talk of drunken peasants.

The creative heritage of the Russian poet and writer Mikhail Lermontov includes many works that express the author's civic position. However, the poem "Homeland", written by Lermontov in 1941, shortly before his death, can be classified as one of the brightest examples of patriotic lyrics of the 19th century.

The writers who are contemporaries of Lermontov can be roughly divided into two categories. Some of them glorified the beauty of Russian nature, deliberately turning a blind eye to the problems of the village and serfdom. Others, on the contrary, tried to reveal the vices of society in their works and were known as rebels. Mikhail Lermontov, in turn, tried to find a golden mean in his work, and the poem "Motherland" is rightfully considered the crown of his aspirations to express his feelings for Russia as fully and objectively as possible.

One consists of two parts, different not only in size but also in concept. The solemn introduction, in which the author confesses his love for the Fatherland, is replaced by stanzas that describe the beauty of Russian nature. The author admits that he loves Russia not for its feats of arms, but for the beauty of nature, originality and bright national flavor. He clearly divides concepts such as homeland and state, noting that his love is strange and somewhat painful. On the one hand, he admires Russia, its steppes, meadows, rivers and forests. But at the same time, they realize that the Russian people are still oppressed, and the stratification of society into rich and poor becomes more and more pronounced with each generation. And beauty native land unable to disguise the "quivering fires of the sad villages."

Researchers of this poet's work are convinced that by nature Mikhail Lermontov was not a sentimental person. In his entourage, the poet was known as a bully and brawler, he loved to taunt his fellow soldiers and resolved disputes with the help of a duel. Therefore, it is all the more strange that from under his pen were born not bravura patriotic and not accusatory lines, but delicate lyrics with a touch of light sadness. However, there is a logical explanation for this, which some literary critics adhere to. It is believed that creative people have amazing intuition or, as it is commonly called in literary circles, the gift of foresight. Mikhail Lermontov was no exception and, according to Prince Peter Vyazemsky, he foresaw his death in a duel. That is why he hastened to say goodbye to everything that was dear to him, taking off for a moment the mask of the jester and the actor, without which he did not consider it necessary to appear in high society.

However, there is also an alternative interpretation of this work, which, undoubtedly, is the key one in the poet's work. In the opinion literary critic Vissarion Belinsky, Mikhail Lermontov not only advocated the need for state reforms, but also had a premonition that very soon Russian society with its patriarchal way of life will change completely, finally and irrevocably. Therefore, sad and even nostalgic notes slip through the poem "Motherland", and the main leitmotif of the work, if you read it between the lines, is an appeal to the descendants to love Russia as it is. Not to praise her achievements and merits, not to focus on social vices and imperfection of the political system. After all, the homeland and the state are two completely different concepts that should not be tried to bring to a common denominator, even from good intentions. Otherwise, love for the Motherland will be seasoned with the bitterness of disappointment, which the poet, who experienced this feeling, was so afraid of.

Poem by M.Yu. Lermontov
"Homeland"

The feeling of homeland, ardent love for it permeates all Lermontov's lyrics.
And the poet's thoughts about the greatness of Russia found a kind of lyrical
expression in the poem "Motherland". This poem was written in 1841, shortly before the death of M.Yu. Lermontov. In poems belonging to the early period of M.Yu. Lermontov's work, patriotic feeling does not achieve that analytical clarity, that awareness that is manifested in the poem "Motherland". Rodina is one of the most significant works of Russian lyric poetry of the 19th century. The poem "Motherland" has become one of the masterpieces not only of the lyrics of M.Yu. Lermontov, but of all Russian poetry. The feeling of hopelessness gave rise to a tragic attitude, which is reflected in the poem "Motherland". Nothing seems to give such peace, such a feeling of peace, even joy, as this communication with rural Russia. This is where the feeling of loneliness recedes. M.Yu. Lermontov depicts Russia as a people, bright, solemn, stately, but, despite the general life-affirming background, there is a certain shade of sadness in the poet's perception of his native land.

But I love - why, I don't know myself -
Cold silence of her steppes,
Its endless forests sway,
The floods of its rivers are like the seas;
I like to ride in a cart on a country road
And, with a slow gaze piercing the night shadow,
To meet on the sides, sighing for an overnight stay,
The flickering lights of the sad villages.
I love the smoke of burnt stubble
In the steppe a train for the night,
And on a hill in the middle of a yellow cornfield
A couple of whitening birches.
With joy to many unfamiliar
I see a full threshing floor
Hut, covered with straw,
Window with carved shutters;
And on a holiday, dewy evening,
Watch until midnight ready
To the dance with stamping and whistling
Under the talk of drunken peasants.

Date of writing: 1841

Eduard Evgenievich Martsevich (born 1936) - Soviet and Russian theater and film actor, People's Artist of the RSFSR.
Currently, the actor continues to work in cinema and regularly appears on the stage of the State Academic Maly Theater.

Analysis of the poem "Homeland" by Lermontov

In the late period of Lermontov's work, deep philosophical themes appear. The rebelliousness and open protest inherent in him in his youth are replaced by a more mature outlook on life. If earlier, when describing Russia, Lermontov was guided by lofty civic ideas associated with martyrdom for the good of the Fatherland, now his love for the Motherland is expressed in more moderate tones and resembles Pushkin's patriotic poems. An example of this attitude was the work "Homeland" (1841).

Lermontov already admits in the first lines that his love for Russia is “strange”. At that time, it was customary to express it in pompous words and loud statements. This was fully manifested in the views of the Slavophiles. Russia was declared the greatest and happiest country with a very special path of development. All shortcomings and troubles were ignored. Autocratic power and the Orthodox faith were declared the guarantee of the eternal well-being of the Russian people.

The poet declares that his love has no reasonable basis, it is his innate feeling. The great past and the heroic deeds of his ancestors do not evoke any response in his soul. The author himself does not understand why Russia is so incredibly close and understandable to him. Lermontov perfectly understood the backwardness of his country from the West, the poverty of the people and their slavery position. But it is impossible not to love his own mother, so he is delighted with the pictures of the immense Russian landscape. Using vivid epithets ("boundless", "whitening"), Lermontov depicts a majestic panorama of his native nature.

The author does not speak directly about his contempt for the life of high society. It is guessed in a loving description of a simple country landscape. Lermontov is much closer to a ride on an ordinary peasant cart than a walk in a brilliant carriage. This allows you to feel the life of the common people, to feel your inextricable connection with them.

At that time, the prevailing opinion was that the nobles differed from the peasants not only in education, but in the physical and moral structure of the body. Lermontov, however, declares the common roots of the entire people. How else can one explain the unconscious admiration for village life. The poet is happy to exchange fake capital balls and masquerades for "dancing with stamping and whistling."

The poem "Motherland" is one of the best patriotic works. Its main advantage lies in the absence of pathos and the great sincerity of the author.

"I love the Motherland, but with a strange love"

Perhaps the theme of the homeland is the main one in the work of all great Russian writers. She finds a peculiar refraction in the lyrics of M. Yu. Lermontov. In some ways, his soulful thoughts about Russia coincide with those of Pushkin's. Lermontov is also not satisfied with the present of his homeland, he also wishes her freedom. But in his lyrics, there is no Pushkin's ardent optimistic confidence that "she will rise, the star of captivating happiness." His shrewd and merciless gaze of the artist exposes those negative aspects of Russian life that make the poet feel hatred towards them and part with his fatherland without any regret.

Goodbye unwashed Russia

Land of slaves, land of masters

And you blue uniforms

And you, their loyal people.

In the chased, laconic Lermontov lines, the evil that causes his anger and indignation is concentrated to the limit. And this evil is the slavery of the people, the despotism of the autocratic power, the persecution of dissent, the constraint of civil liberties.

The feeling of sorrow for the oppressed homeland pervades the poem "Complaints of a Turk". The poignant political content forces the poet to resort to allegory. The title of the poem refers to the despotic state regime of Turkey, in which the national liberation struggle of the Greeks under her dominion was waged. These anti-Turkish sentiments found sympathy in Russian society. At the same time, progressive-minded readers understood the true meaning of the poem, directed against the hated autocratic-feudal regime of Russia.

There, early life is hard for people,

There, for the joys, reproach rushes,

There a man groans from slavery and chains! ..

Friend! this land ... my homeland!

Yes, Lermontov was not satisfied with the Nikolaev Russia of the 30s of the XIX century, in which his creative maturity fell. What nourished Lermontov's love for the motherland? Maybe her glorious heroic past? Lermontov, like Pushkin, admired the courage, fortitude, patriotism of the Russian people, who defended freedom home country v formidable years Patriotic War 1812 The most striking heroic event of this war, which was already history for Lermontov, he dedicated the wonderful poem "Borodino". Admiring the feat of the Russian heroes of the past, the poet involuntarily recalls his generation, which passively endures oppression, without making an attempt to change the life of his fatherland for the better.

Yes, there were people in our time,

Not like the current tribe:

Bogatyrs are not you!

They got a bad share:

Not many returned from the field ...

Do not be the will of the Lord,

They wouldn't give Moscow away!

In the poem "Homeland" Lermontov still says that this "glory bought with blood" cannot give him a "joyful dream." But why is this poem filled with some kind of light, Pushkin's mood? There is no rebellious, angry spirit characteristic of Lermontov. Everything is quiet, simple, peaceful. Even the rhythm of poetry here gives the work smoothness, slowness and majesty. At the beginning of the poem, Lermontov speaks of his "strange" love for his homeland. This oddity lies in the fact that he hates the autocratic-serf Russia, the country " blue uniforms", and with all his heart he loves the people of Russia, its discreet, but charming nature. In" Rodina "the poet draws people's Russia. Pictures dear to the heart of every Russian person appear before the poet's mind's eye.

But I love - why, I don't know myself -

Cold silence of her steppes,

Its endless forests sway,

The floods of her rivers are like the seas.

The artist paints here three successively changing landscape images: steppe, forest and river, which are typical of Russian folklore. Indeed, in folk songs, the steppe is always wide, free. With its immensity, infinity, it attracts the poet. The image of a heroic, mighty forest enhances the impression of the power and scope of Russian nature. The third image is the river. In contrast to the fast, impetuous mountain rivers of the Caucasus, they are majestic, calm, full-flowing. Lermontov emphasizes their strength by comparing them with the seas. This means that the greatness, scope and breadth of his native nature evokes in the poet "gratifying dreams" about the great future of Russia and its people. These reflections of Lermontov resonate with the thoughts of other great writers of Russia - Gogol and Chekhov, who saw in their native nature a reflection of the national spirit of their people. All Lermontov's poem is imbued with an ardent love for rural, rural Russia.

I love the smoke of burnt stubble

A nomadic wagon train in the steppe

And on a hill in the middle of a yellow cornfield

A couple of whitening birches.

With joy to many unfamiliar

I see a full threshing floor

Hut, covered with straw,

Window with carved shutters ...

The severity of the servitude of the people makes the poet with particular joy to see the few "traces of contentment and labor" that still exist in peasant life. He seems to lead the reader through the forest and the steppes, along a country road to the village, to a simple hut and stops to admire the daring Russian dance "with stamping and whistling to the sound of drunken peasants." He is endlessly pleased with the sincere folk fun at the holiday. One can feel the poet's ardent desire to see the Russian people happy and free. Only her, people's Russia, is considered by the poet his real homeland.