Roman I. Goncharov - the greatest literary monument second half of the 19th century. IN this work reflected not only the usual life of a person of that time, but also his worldview, thoughts, suffering, in a word, life itself! The problems in the novel “Oblomov” are so significant that it becomes necessary to talk about them again and again. Everything is very ambiguous and deep.

Goncharov "Oblomov". Problems of the novel

The origins of Ilya Ilyich’s worldview are very remarkable and have their own roots. The chapter “Oblomov’s Dream” shows the reasons for the deep spiritual slumber from which he suffered main character. The name for this is “Oblomovism”. This terrible word is interpreted in the work as a subconscious reluctance to live, develop activities, strive for high results and achievements.

Perhaps the hero’s character was formed as a result of being overly cared for in childhood, but this care turned out to be detrimental to development and gradually limited his mind and heart. If the weather was inclement, then his mother and father not only did not let him go out into the yard for a walk, but also did not send him to study “with the German” that day. Such excessive care gradually turned the boy into a pampered creature, not adapted to anything. He was afraid of the cold and any illness and spent a lot of time at home.

Life and lifestyle

Oblomov’s problems in the novel “Oblomov” are not immediately visible to the reader, but are gradually revealed as the main character of the story begins to realize them. Ilya Ilyich lives as if in deep sleep: he doesn’t care about his surroundings, he doesn’t want to be active social life- he finds her boring. At first he still went out to visit, and then he got tired of the evenings. Soon he quit serving in the department, as it made him sad. At some point, Oblomov decided that the fortune he had was enough for him, and there was no need to work anymore - he did not find it necessary.

The hero's normal state is lying down. He is not resting from physical or mental fatigue, but simply because he does not know any other way of life. This is the norm for him. Ilya Ilyich looks for meaning in every action and, before making any movement, thinks through its usefulness in advance. He gets tired quickly and is tired of small talk. The soul yearns for something sublime, the poets “touched him to the quick.” The main character can be called an overly tender and impressionable nature. The problems of the work “Oblomov” are piercing and deep: when you read, a feeling of empathy arises, but not condemnation.

Friendship theme

Despite his certain detachment and isolation, Oblomov has the only close friend- Andrey Stolts. They became close in childhood, when they studied together at the gymnasium. However, having reached adulthood, one became an important influential person, while the other remained a naive child who tries to hide from life everywhere. Oblomov's problems in the novel "Oblomov" are revealed one after another, but gradually, more and more intriguing and bewitching the reader.

Despite the obvious contrast of views, Ilya Ilyich loves Andrei very much and is sincerely attached to him. And Stolz is ready to help his friend in any case and has helped him out more than once in difficult situations. The character of one complements the personality of the other. They are both individuals, self-sufficient and sincere.

Unmatched feeling

The problem of love occupies a special place in Oblomov. With the appearance of Olga Ilyinskaya, it seemed that the hero’s life was about to change. At some point, a movement towards change really began in him: he began to go to visit Olga, stayed there for a long time, and he and the girl walked in the garden, listened to “Casta Diva”. But then everything stopped and froze: Oblomov again lay down on his favorite sofa, allowing himself to sleep after lunch and at any other time. I remember very well the episode when the hero had to go to the young lady, but he said he was sick and stayed at home. Why did it happen? Perhaps Oblomov considered himself unworthy of the love of a girl like Olga, and he lacked self-confidence.

It must have been so difficult for him to believe that he could be truly loved that he simply did not wait for confirmation of this truth. Or maybe the whole point is that the young lady did not want to accept the hero for who he is? As much as Olga cherished her own fantasies, she loved Ilya Ilyich. Let us remember that the girl dreamed of changing him, she even made plans for how he would be transformed, which means that she was not satisfied with Oblomov’s previous image. True love is far from such aspirations. It is for this reason that the tender, sublime feeling that so suddenly flared up between them, fanned by the sweet melody of “Casta Diva,” did not find support for development in reality.

Attitude to work

Oblomov’s problems in the novel “Oblomov” affect all areas of human life. Any activity that did not correspond to Ilya Ilyich’s inner impulses was disgusting to him. In fact, he would be much more willing to devote a day to rest than to go on a visit just because there he can meet influential people and make useful connections.

Pointless activities did not inspire him. If there was no such object that excited his attention in time, then the hero’s endless sleep continued, only occasionally interrupted by something interesting. This is where the main problem of the work lies. It was not illness that destroyed Oblomov, but a genuine reluctance to live.

Search for the meaning of life

This is how Ilya Ilyich was designed, that his soul was constantly looking for an invisible source of inspiration. He perceived going to work as hard labor and soon left it. But even while at home, he did not find anything important for himself, did not occupy his imagination with anything, which in fact required intense inner thought from him. Not finding a lofty idea that could serve for years, the hero's mind became bored and gradually began to focus on sleep. Ilya Ilyich fell asleep not only physically, but also did not awaken in soul for a long time. The problems in the novel “Oblomov” are truly pressing; they make you think about a lot. The novel will be especially useful to read for those people who, in adulthood, are still looking for their unique path.

Thus, Oblomov’s problems in the novel “Oblomov” are treated with extreme skill. The literary talent that I. Goncharov possessed gave birth to a wonderful work that does not lose its relevance today.

http://briefly.ru/goncharov/oblomov/

By the middle of the nineteenth century, the socio-political situation in Russia was changing. Aristocracy in literature fades into the background. The “new” time reveals new heroes. We named the Russian landowner Ilya Ilyich Oblomov as the first significant personality of this period. Inactivity that has become a way of life and taken to the point of absurdity. “New” heroes - “raznochintsy” - educated children of the middle strata of Russian society - starting from “Oblomovism”, began their existence in life and literature with a sharp denial of all the values ​​of the past, an example of which is Stolz. Ethical maximalism sometimes gave rise to a skeptical attitude towards the environment, and even the typical Russian melancholy, apathy... “Oblomovism.” But Oblomov’s tragedy was that he did not go further than criticism of business Stoltsevism and was not able to go. The breadth of his claims to the world degenerated into fruitless projection and empty word debate.

Oblomov is a bright and colorful character, but his main characteristic features can be called inactivity, laziness and daydreaming. The author reflected all this in the portrait of Ilya Ilyich.

Ilya Ilyich is proud of his idleness, despising work. Not only did he not do anything useful, but he “never once pulled a stocking over his feet...”. Nevertheless, the desire to do something great certainly appears in Ilya Ilyich. But he does not know which side to take on the matter, since he has no habit of work. This feature was characteristic of a number of images of “superfluous people” that preceded Oblomov.

The image of Oblomov is far from unambiguous; his nature is complex and multifaceted. Next to apathy, indifference, and inactivity coexist nobility, sincerity and gullibility. He is distinguished by his sincerity, conscientiousness, and gentleness. He is kind (“his heart is like a well, deep”). Oblomov feels that in him “closed, as in a grave, is light and good start" He is incapable of evil and is endowed with dreaminess. These positive features Olga Ilyinskaya revealed in him. The whole breadth of his soul is manifested here, his heart prevails over his mind.

But he turned out to be unable to fight for his love. He needs not equal rights, but mother's love, which Agafya Pshenitsyna gave him.

Ilya Ilyich marks a fragment of the reality that formed the basis of the entire novel.

“Oblomovism” is not a way of life of one person, but a state of society in which all bright principles and humanity, as well as morality, are suppressed. The chapter “Oblomov’s Dream” is important for understanding the entire work. Goncharov showed in it the environment that raised the hero and played a significant role in the formation of his views, worldview, and character. Little Ilya was raised in such an environment. This was the main reason for Oblomov’s mental, moral and physical death.

The environment accustomed the hero to meaningless peace and did not adapt him to independent life. Oblomov is not just a child of Oblomovka, he is the product of all Russian reality. The author endowed him with all the features that were characteristic of the original Russian type. The concept of “Oblomovism” includes an entire patriarchal structure Russian life, which includes not only negative features, but also its deeply poetic sides.

In order to contrast the “Oblomovism” with the activity and determination of the “new generation” of commoners, the author introduces the image of the enterprising Andrei Stolts. His image is not unambiguous, just like Oblomov’s image. Strong and smart, he is constantly active and does not disdain the most menial work. Through his hard work, willpower, patience and enterprise, he became rich and famous person. A real “iron” character has been formed. But in some ways he resembles a machine, a robot, his whole life is so clearly programmed, verified and calculated. He needs a woman equal in views and strength, which is what Olga Ilyinskaya, powerless before Oblomov’s laziness, became. He loves and understands Oblomov, tries to “wake up” him. But he also understands that Oblomov will never bow to the idol of lies, his soul will always be pure, bright, honest, while Stolz himself has the qualities that he needs for success, and these are cunning and resourcefulness.

The active Stolz with his rationalism and pragmatism does not take root in Russia. Goncharov embodied in his Oblomov a protest against “Westernism,” which, as he believed, kills the poetry of life, unity with nature and loyalty to truly Russian, Slavic traditions.

In Oblomov, Goncharov managed to concentrate a huge number of vices of the entire noble class. Oblomov is not just a child of Oblomovka, he is the product of all Russian reality.

Goncharov called the novel “Oblomov* a “novel-monograph.” He was referring to his plan to write the story of one man's life, to present a deep psychological research one biography: “I had one artistic ideal: this is an image of an honest and kind, sympathetic nature, in highest degree an idealist who struggles all his life, seeks the truth, encounters lies at every step, is deceived and falls into apathy and powerlessness.”

In the first part of the novel, the stillness of life, slumber, closed existence is not only a sign of the existence of Ilya Ilyich, it is the essence of life in Oblomovka. She is isolated from the whole world: “Neither strong passions nor brave undertakings worried the Oblomovites.” This life is full and harmonious in its own way: it is Russian nature, a fairy tale, the love and affection of a mother, Russian hospitality, the beauty of the holidays. These childhood impressions are an ideal for Oblomov, from the height of which he judges life. Therefore, he does not accept the “St. Petersburg life”; he is not attracted by either his career or the desire to get rich. Oblomov's visitors personify three life path which Oblomov could go through: becoming a spoiled dude like Volkov; head of the department, like Sudbinsky; a writer like Penkin. Oblomov goes into contemplative inaction, wanting to preserve “his human dignity and his peace.” The image of Zakhar determines the structure of the first part of the novel. Oblomov is unthinkable without a servant, and vice versa. Both of them are children of Oblomovka.

The second and third parts of the novel are a test of friendship and love. The action becomes dynamic. Oblomov's main antagonist is his friend Andrei Stolts. The image of Stolz is important for understanding the author's intention and for a deeper understanding of the main character. Goncharov intended to show Stolz as a figure preparing progressive changes in Russia. Unlike Oblomov, Stolz is an energetic, active person, confidence is felt in his speeches and actions, he stands firmly on his feet, believes in the energy and transformative power of man. He is constantly on the move (the novel talks about his travels: Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Crimea, Kyiv, Odessa, Belgium, England, France) - and he sees happiness in this. German hard work, prudence and punctuality are combined in Stolz with Russian dreaminess and gentleness (his father is German and his mother is Russian). However, in Stolz the mind still prevails over the heart; he subordinates even the most subtle feelings to control. He lacks humanity, which is Oblomov’s main property. About childhood and family life Stolz is just told. We don’t know what Stolz was happy about, what he was upset about, who his friends were, who his enemies were. Stolz, in contrast to Oblomov, makes his own way in life (he graduated from university brilliantly, successfully serves, begins to run his own business, makes a house and money). The portrait of Stolz contrasts with the portrait of Oblomov: “He is entirely made up of bones, muscles and nerves.” Oblomov is “fat beyond his years,” he has a “sleepy look.” However, Stolz’s image is more multidimensional than it seems at first glance. He sincerely loves Oblomov, speaks of Oblomov’s “honest” and “faithful” heart, “which cannot be bribed by anything.” It was Stolz who the author endowed with an understanding of the moral essence of Oblomov, and it was Stolz who told the “writer” the whole life story of Ilya Ilyich. And at the end of the novel, Stolz finds peace in family well-being, he comes to where Oblomov started and where he stopped. This “reflection” of images in each other can be considered as a process of combining extremes.

The theme of love occupies an important place in the novel. Love, according to Goncharov, is one of the “main forces” of progress; the world is driven by love. The heroes are tested by love. Goncharov does not give a detailed portrait of Olga, but emphasizes that there was “no affectation, no coquetry, no lies, no tinsel, no intent.” For the first time, the outline of his ideal flashed before Oblomov. The breakup was natural, because Olga and Oblomov expected the impossible from each other. He is of selfless, reckless love, when you can sacrifice everything: “peace, word of mouth, respect.” It comes from his activity, will, energy. But Olga fell in love not with Oblomov, but with her dream. Oblomov also feels this when he writes her a letter. In the future, each of the heroes acquires a life that corresponds to his ideal. Olga marries Stolz, Oblomov finds the heartfelt love of Agafya Matveevna. In her house on the Vyborg side “he was now surrounded by such simple, kind, loving people who agreed with their existence to support his life, to help him not notice, not feel it.” The disappeared world of childhood, Oblomovka, appears again.

Introduction

The novel “Oblomov” was written by Goncharov in the mid-19th century - during a turning point for serf Russia, marked by rapid political, economic and social changes. In the work, the writer raised not just sensitive topics for that era, but also raised eternal questions regarding the goal human life and the meaning of human existence. The problematics of Goncharov’s novel “Oblomov” cover various social, psychological and philosophical topics, revealing the deep ideological essence of the work.

Social issues

The main problems of Goncharov’s novel “Oblomov” are related to central theme works - “Oblomovism”. The author portrays it, first of all, as a social phenomenon, tendentious for a whole layer of Russian landowners who remain faithful to the old traditions of their family and the archaic, patriarchal way of life of the feudal era. “Oblomovism” is becoming an acute vice of Russian society, brought up on morals and concepts based on the use of the labor of other people - serfs, as well as the cultivation of the ideals of a carefree, lazy, idle life.

A prominent representative of “Oblomovism” is the main character of the novel, Ilya Ilyich Oblomov, raised in an old landowner family in the distant village of Oblomovka, bordering Asia. The remoteness of the estate from Europe and the new civilization, “mothballing” in the usual, measured time and existence, reminiscent of half-asleep - it is through Oblomov’s dream that the author portrays Oblomovshchina to the reader, thus recreating the very atmosphere of calm and tranquility close to Ilya Ilyich, bordering on laziness and degradation, characterized by dilapidated estates, old furniture, etc.

In the novel, “Oblomovism” is as primordially Russian phenomenon, inherent in Russian landowners, is contrasted with European activity, constant independent work, continuous learning and personal development. The bearer of new values ​​in the work is Oblomov’s friend, Andrei Ivanovich Stolts. Unlike Ilya Ilyich, who, instead of solving his problems on his own, is looking for a person who can do everything for him, Stolz himself creates paths in his life. Andrei Ivanovich has no time to dream and build castles in the air - he confidently moves forward, knowing how to get what he needs in life through his own labor.

Social and psychological problems of “Oblomov”

Question of national character

Most researchers define the novel “Oblomov” as a socio-psychological work, which is due to the peculiarities of the problems revealed in the book. Touching upon the topic of “Oblomovism,” Goncharov could not avoid questions national character, based on the differences and similarities between the Russian and European mentalities. It is no coincidence that Oblomov, a bearer of the Russian mentality and Russian values, brought up on national fairy tales, is contrasted with the practical and hard-working Stolz, born into the family of a Russian bourgeois woman and a German entrepreneur.

Many researchers characterize Stolz as a kind of machine - a perfect automated mechanism that works for the sake of the work process itself. However, the image of Andrei Ivanovich is no less tragic than the image of Oblomov, who lives in a world of dreams and illusions. If Ilya Ilyich from childhood was instilled with only single-minded “Oblomov” values, which became the leading ones for him, then for Stolz, the values ​​received from his mother, similar to “Oblomov’s”, were overwhelmed by European, “German” values ​​instilled by his father. Andrei Ivanovich, like Oblomov, is not a harmonious personality in which Russian soulfulness and poetry could be combined with European practicality. He is constantly looking for himself, trying to understand the purpose and meaning of his life, but does not find them, as evidenced by Stolz’s attempts throughout his life to become closer to Oblomov as a source of primordially Russian values ​​and peace of mind, which he lacked in life.

The problem of the “extra hero”

The following socio-psychological problems in the novel “Oblomov” arise from the problem of depicting national character - the problem extra person and the problem of a person’s self-identification with the time in which he lives. Oblomov is a classic superfluous hero in the novel, the society around him is alien to him, it is difficult for him to live in a rapidly changing world, completely different from his native quiet Oblomovka. Ilya Ilyich seems to be mired in the past time - even when planning the future, he still sees it through the prism of the past, wanting the future to be the same as his past was, namely, similar to his childhood years in Oblomovka. At the end of the novel, Ilya Ilyich gets what he wants - the atmosphere reigning in Agafya’s house seems to take him back to childhood, where his dear, loving mother constantly pampered him and protected him from all sorts of shocks - it is not surprising that Agafya is very similar to Oblomov’s women.

Philosophical issues

Love theme

In the novel “Oblomov,” Goncharov touches on a number of eternal philosophical issues that are still relevant today. Presenter philosophical theme The work is the theme of love. Revealing the relationship between the characters, the author depicts several types of love. The first is a romantic, filled with high feeling and inspiration, but fleeting relationship between Olga and Oblomov. The lovers idealized each other, creating in their imagination distant, different real people images. In addition, Olga and Oblomov had different understandings of the essence of love - Ilya Ilyich saw love for a girl in distant adoration, inaccessibility, and the unreality of their feelings, while Olga perceived their relationship as the beginning of a new, real path. For the girl, love was closely connected with duty, obliging her to pull Ilya Ilyich out of the “swamp” of Oblomovshchina.

The love between Oblomov and Agafya appears completely different. Ilya Ilyich’s feelings were more like the love of a son for his mother, while Agafya’s feelings were an unconditional adoration for Oblomov, similar to the blind adoration of a mother ready to give everything to her child.

Goncharov reveals the third type of love using the example of the family of Stolz and Olga. Their love arose on the basis of strong friendship and complete trust in each other, but over time, the sensual, poetic Olga begins to realize that their stable relationship still lacks that great all-encompassing feeling that she felt next to Oblomov.

The meaning of human life

The main problem of the novel "Oblomov", covering all the topics discussed above, is the question of the meaning of human life, complete happiness and the method of achieving it. In the work, none of the heroes finds true happiness - not even Oblomov, who at the end of the work supposedly receives what he has dreamed of all his life. Through the veil of a falling asleep, degrading consciousness, Ilya Ilyich simply could not understand that the path of destruction cannot lead to true happiness. Stolz and Olga cannot be called happy either - despite family well-being and a quiet life, they continue to chase something important, but elusive, which they sensed in Oblomov, but were never able to catch.

Conclusion

The questions revealed do not exhaust the ideological depth of the work, but only represent a brief analysis of the problems of Oblomov. Goncharov does not give specific answers to the question: what is a person’s happiness: in a constant striving forward or in measured calm? The author only brings the reader closer to solving this eternal dilemma, the correct way out of which, perhaps, is the harmony of the two leading principles in our lives.

Work test

In the first part of the novel, the stillness of life, slumber, closed existence is not only a sign of the existence of Ilya Ilyich, it is the essence of life in Oblomovka. She is isolated from the whole world: “Neither strong passions nor brave undertakings worried the Oblomovites.” This life is full and harmonious in its own way: it is Russian nature, a fairy tale, the love and affection of a mother, Russian hospitality, the beauty of the holidays. These childhood impressions are an ideal for Oblomov, from the height of which he judges life. Therefore, he does not accept the “St. Petersburg life”; he is not attracted by either his career or the desire to get rich. Oblomov’s visitors personify three life paths that Oblomov could have gone through: becoming a spoiled dude, like Volkov; head of the department, like Sudbinsky; a writer like Penkin. Oblomov goes into contemplative inaction, wanting to preserve “his human dignity and his peace.” The image of Zakhar determines the structure of the first part of the novel. Oblomov is unthinkable without a servant, and vice versa. Both of them are children of Oblomovka.

Goncharov called the novel “Oblomov” a “novel-monograph.” He was referring to his plan to write the life story of one person, to present a deep psychological study of one biography: “I had one artistic ideal: this is the image of an honest and kind, sympathetic nature, a highly idealist, who has been struggling all his life, seeking the truth, encountering lies. at every step, deceived and falling into apathy and powerlessness.”

The second and third parts of the novel are a test of friendship and love. The action becomes dynamic. Oblomov's main antagonist is his friend Andrei Stolts. The image of Stolz is important for understanding the author's intention and for a deeper understanding of the main character. Goncharov intended to show Stolz as a figure preparing progressive changes in Russia. Unlike Oblomov, Stolz is an energetic, active person, confidence is felt in his speeches and actions, he stands firmly on his feet, believes in the energy and transformative power of man. He is constantly on the move (the novel talks about his moves: Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Crimea, Kyiv, Odessa, Belgium, England, France) - and in this he sees happiness. German hard work, prudence and punctuality are combined in Stolz with Russian dreaminess and gentleness (his father is German and his mother is Russian). However, in Stolz the mind still prevails over the heart; he subordinates even the most subtle feelings to control. He lacks humanity, which is Oblomov’s main property. Stolz’s childhood and family life are only described. We don’t know what Stolz was happy about, what he was upset about, who his friends were, who his enemies were. Stolz, in contrast to Oblomov, makes his own way in life (he graduated from university brilliantly, successfully serves, begins to run his own business, makes a house and money). The portrait of Stolz contrasts with the portrait of Oblomov: “He is entirely made up of bones, muscles and nerves.” Oblomov is “fat beyond his years,” he has a “sleepy look.” However, Stolz’s image is more multidimensional than it seems at first glance. He sincerely loves Oblomov, speaks of Oblomov’s “honest” and “faithful” heart, “which cannot be bribed by anything.” It was Stolz who the author endowed with an understanding of the moral essence of Oblomov, and it was Stolz who told the “writer” the whole life story of Ilya Ilyich. And at the end of the novel, Stolz finds peace in family well-being, he comes to where Oblomov started and stopped. This “reflection” of images in each other can be considered as a process of combining extremes.