What is treason? This is a betrayal of the interests of one’s country in the name of personal selfish goals. As a rule, this phenomenon acquires particular significance during war, when desertion undermines the foundations on which the state is based. Most people, of course, risk their lives if their homeland is in danger. Our history is rich in such examples and our literature is proud of it. However, there are always those few members of society who succumb to fear and serve only themselves, ignoring the troubles of the fatherland. Today, this problem, as before, is topical, because it manifests itself not only in war time. That is why arguments on the topic “Treason to the Motherland” are so diverse and cover not only periods of armed conflicts.

1. Andrei Sokolov, the hero of Sholokhov’s work “The Fate of a Man,” faces treason against his homeland. The soldier is captured and witnesses how the Germans are trying to find out which of the detainees is the Red Commissar. Members of the Bolshevik Party were shot immediately and were not taken prisoner. Their disfigured bodies served as proof that the German authorities would establish their own rules and get to every communist. A traitor appears among the ranks of prisoners and offers others to hand over the commander in exchange for safety. Then Andrei kills him so as not to sow confusion in the ranks of the soldiers. He understood that any concession to the enemy is treason, which is not only punishable by execution, but also does not find even the slightest moral justification. Because of deserters and Vlasovites, the country is losing its chances of victory.
2. The readiness for betrayal is demonstrated by high society in Tolstoy's novel War and Peace. The nobility does not risk their lives in battle, sits in salons and argues that nothing will change with the arrival of Napoleon. They know French better than their native language, manners and antics are the same everywhere. They don’t care who is in power, what will happen to the country, how the battle will end, where their compatriots die every day. They will happily accept any outcome, because they have no true patriotism. They are strangers in Russia, its suffering is alien to them. The example of Prince Rostopchin, the Governor-General of Moscow, who was only capable of pathetic patriotic speeches, but did not really help the people, is widely known. Also stupid and false is the outfit of high society ladies who dressed in sundresses and kokoshniks instead of foreign dresses, supposedly supporting the national spirit. While ordinary people were shedding blood, the rich were playing dress up.
3. In Rasputin's story “Live and Remember,” Andrei Guskov becomes a traitor by deserting the army. Front-line life was too much for him: lack of food and ammunition, constant risk, tough leadership broke his will. He moved to his native village, knowing that he was bringing a mortal threat to his wife. As you can see, treason against one’s homeland is dangerous because a person completely loses moral core and betrays all the people dear to him. He substitutes the devoted Nastena, who helps him, risking her reputation and freedom. The woman fails to hide this help, and her fellow villagers pursue her to find the deserter. Then the heroine drowned herself, and her selfish husband sat in a secluded place, feeling sorry only for himself.
4. In the story “Sotnikov” by Vasil Bykov, the handsome and strong man Rybak loses all his dignity when he encounters a real threat. He and a friend go on reconnaissance, but due to Sotnikov’s illness they are forced to take refuge in the village. As a result, they were captured by the Germans. Unlike the sick partisan, the healthy Rybak is a coward and agrees to cooperate with the invaders. Sotnikov is not trying to justify himself or take revenge. All his efforts are aimed at helping those people who sheltered them, to protect them with their silence. Meanwhile, the traitor wants, at all costs, to save his own life. Although he believes to the last that he can deceive the enemy and escape, joining his ranks for a while, Strelnikov prophetically notes that nothing can save his comrade from moral decay. In the finale, Rybak knocks the support from under his former colleague’s feet. So he set out on the path of betrayal and crossed out everything that connects him with his homeland.
5. In Griboyedov's comedy "Woe from Wit" the heroes do not fight, but still manage to harm their country. Famus society lives by conservative and hypocritical foundations, ignoring progress and the rest of the world outside their ivory tower. These people usurp the people, plunge them into ignorance and drunkenness with their extravagant and cruel antics. The nobles, the support of autocratic power, are themselves mired in hypocrisy and careerism, while their whims are provided for by the peasantry. We see, for example, the stupid and mediocre military Skalozub, who only shines with shoulder straps at balls. He cannot be trusted with his daughter, let alone a regiment or a company. He is a limited and pitiful person who is accustomed to only receiving from his homeland, but not repaying it with valiant and honest service. Isn't this treason?
6. Loyalty and betrayal in war are always obvious. For example, in Pushkin’s story “ Captain's daughter“Shvabrin calmly serves and receives ranks without being a brave man. When the battle broke out, he showed his true colors. The traitor immediately went over to the enemy’s side and swore allegiance to Pugachev, saving his life, while his friend Peter risked himself just to honestly fulfill his duty. The oath to the rebel is not Alexei’s only betrayal. During the duel, he used a dishonest tactic, thereby betraying his honor. He also dishonestly deceives Grinev and vilifies Masha’s name without any reason. Then he finally falls into the abyss of moral decline and forces Maria to marry him. That is, the baseness of a person is not limited to betrayal of his homeland, and one cannot forgive this kind of betrayal, if only on the grounds that it is clearly not the last. If he was able to betray his native country, then there is nothing to be expected from him in relation to people.
7. In Gogol's story "Taras Bulba" Andriy betrays his country because of his passionate love for a Polish woman. However, this is not entirely true: he was initially alien to the traditions and mentality of the Cossacks. This contrast between personality and environment is visible when the hero returns home from bursa: while Ostap joyfully fights with his father, younger son caresses his mother and peacefully stays away. He is not a coward or a weakling, he is simply a different person by nature, he does not have this militant spirit of the Zaporozhye Sich. Andriy was born for family and peaceful creation, while Taras and all his friends, on the contrary, see the meaning of a man’s life in eternal battle. Therefore, the younger Bulba’s decision looks natural: not finding understanding in his native land, he looks for it in the person of the Polish girl and her entourage. Probably, in this particular example, betrayal can be justified by the fact that the person could not have acted differently, that is, cheated on himself. At least he did not cheat and deceive his comrades in battle, acting on the sly. His honest position was at least known to everyone and emotionally motivated, because if you do not feel a sincere desire to help your homeland, sooner or later your lies will come out and do even more harm.
8. In Gogol's play "The Inspector General" there is no war, but there is an imperceptible and more vile betrayal of the homeland than desertion on the battlefield. Officials of the city “N” plunder the treasury and oppress their native people. Because of them, the district is in poverty, and its population is overwhelmed by constant extortions and outright robbery. Position ordinary people V Peaceful time no better than during the military turmoil. A stupid and vicious government is constantly moving against them, from which even a pitchfork cannot be defended. The nobility ravages their native land with complete impunity, like a Mongol-Tatar horde, and no one is able to stop this, except, perhaps, the auditor. In the finale, the author nevertheless hints that the real inspector has arrived, and now the thieves cannot hide from the law. But how many of these districts find themselves in an invisible state of siege for years due to the debauchery of the ruling elite? The writer also answers this question by giving his city a universal name in order to emphasize that this is the situation throughout Russia. Isn't this a betrayal of the interests of the fatherland? Yes, embezzlement is not called that out of tact, but in essence this is real treason.
9. In Sholokhov's novel "Quiet Don" the hero changes sides of the barricades several times in search of his truth and true justice. However, Gregory finds nothing like this on either side. It would seem that a person has the right to choose and make mistakes, especially in such an ambiguous situation, but some of his fellow villagers perceive these throwings as a betrayal of the homeland, although in fact Melekhov always follows the truth and is faithful to the interests of the people. It is not his fault that these interests change so often and disappear under one banner or another. It turned out that all parties only manipulated the patriotism of the Cossacks, but no one was going to act morally and fairly towards them. They were only used in the division of Russia, talking about the homeland and its defense. This is where Gregory became disillusioned, and people are already rushing to label him a traitor. Thus, there is no need to rush to blame a person for treason; maybe he is not to blame at all, and people from above use people’s anger against him as a weapon.
10. In Shalamov’s story “The Last Battle of Major Pugachev,” the hero honestly and selflessly went through the war. He defended the country at the cost of his life and never retreated. However, he, like many comrades from the front, was sent to a labor camp for fictitious treason. Anyone who was captured or besieged was sentenced to 25 years in prison. In conditions of hard labor, this is a guaranteed death. Then Pugachev and several other soldiers decide to escape, because they have nothing to lose. From point of view Soviet leadership, this is treason. But from the point of view of normal human logic, this is a feat, because innocent people, and even war heroes, should not be compared with criminals. They had the strength to defend their right to freedom, not to become slaves of the system, powerless and pathetic. Then, in 1944, in a German camp, provocateurs told the hero that he would be imprisoned in his homeland anyway. He did not believe and did not serve the enemy. Not broken. So what does he have to lose now that the darkest forecasts have come true? Although he goes against the state, I do not consider him a traitor. Traitors are the government that goes against its people.
Interesting? Save it on your wall!

• Betrayal of the Motherland is shameful and knows no forgiveness
• A traitor is a cowardly person who adapts to the current situation by making concessions
• A man who abandoned an innocent girl who loves him madly can be called a traitor
• You can betray not a person, but your own beliefs and moral principles
• Betrayal of one's country is a serious crime
• A man who betrays himself cannot be happy

Arguments

A.S. Pushkin “The Captain's Daughter”. Alexey Shvabrin, one of the defenders of the Belogorsk fortress, turns out to be a coward and a traitor. At the first opportunity, he goes over to the side of the impostor Pugachev in order to save his life. Shvabrin is ready to kill those whom until recently he could consider friends and allies. Completely opposite to him is Pyotr Grinev, a man of honor with unshakable moral principles. Even under the threat of death, he does not agree to recognize Pugachev as the sovereign, because he is loyal to the Motherland and military duty. Difficult life circumstances allow us to see the main character traits of the heroes: Shvabrin turns out to be a traitor, and Pyotr Grinev remains loyal to his country.

N.V. Gogol “Taras Bulba”. The love of Taras Bulba and other Cossacks for native land deserves respect. Warriors are ready to give their lives defending their homeland. Betrayal in the ranks of the Cossacks is unacceptable. Andriy, the youngest son of Taras Bulba, turns out to be a traitor: he goes over to the side of the enemy, because his love for a Polish woman is higher than his love for his father and his native country. Taras Bulba kills Andriy, despite the fact that this is still his son. For Taras, loyalty to the Motherland is much more more important than love to his son, he cannot survive and forgive the betrayal.

N.M. Karamzin “ Poor Lisa”. Love for Erast becomes tragic for Lisa. At first, the young man sees his future in Lisa, but after the girl gives herself to him, her feelings begin to cool. Erast loses money at cards. He has no choice but to marry a rich widow. Erast betrays Lisa: he tells her that he is going to war. And when the deception is revealed, he tries to pay off the unfortunate girl with money. Lisa cannot stand Erast's betrayal. She thinks she is better off dead and throws herself into the pond. The traitor will face punishment: he will forever reproach himself for Lisa’s death.

M. Sholokhov “The Fate of Man.” Traitor Kryzhnev for the sake of salvation own life ready to hand over his colleagues to the Germans. He says that “his shirt is closer to his body,” which means he can sacrifice the lives of others for the sake of his well-being. Andrei Sokolov decides to strangle the traitor and thereby save several lives. The hero fulfills his military duty without feeling shame or pity, because the traitor Kryzhnev deserves such a shameful death. Betrayal is always unacceptable, but during war it is a terrible crime.

George Orwell "Animal Farm". Fighter Horse worked for the good of the Animal Farm with all his might, promising to “work even harder” with each failure. His contribution to the life of the farm cannot be overestimated. However, when the misfortune happened, Napoleon, the head of the Animal Farm, simply decided to turn him into meat, telling all the animals that he was sending the Fighter for treatment. This is a real betrayal: Napoleon turned his back on the one who was so devoted to him, who did everything for Animal Farm.

George Orwell "1984". Julia and Winston understand that they are thought criminals, which means they can be caught at any time. Winston says that if they are discovered, the betrayal will be a loss of feelings, and not a confession of what they have done. As a result, they are caught, but not killed or tried, but forced to learn to think differently. Winston betrays Julia: when a cage with rats is brought to him, where they want to place his face, the hero asks to give Julia to the rats. This is real betrayal, because if a person says something, he wants it. Winston really wanted Julia to be in his place. She later admits that she also betrayed Winston. It is difficult to judge the heroes, because it is impossible to imagine what they had to endure before they committed betrayal.

A literature teacher examines one of the areas of the final essay point by point.

Text: Anna Chainikova, teacher of Russian language and literature, school No. 171
Photo: Culture.RF

Already December 6 Eleventh-graders will write a final essay, which is a condition for admission to the Unified State Exam. In 3 hours 55 minutes they will have to write an essay-argument on one of five topics corresponding thematic areas, announced in September 2017. Today we will look in detail at how to prepare for a possible topic in the first direction - “Loyalty and betrayal.”

FIPI comment

Within the framework of the direction, one can talk about fidelity and betrayal as opposite manifestations of the human personality, considering them from a philosophical, ethical, psychological points vision and referring to life and literary examples.
The concepts of “loyalty” and “betrayal” are at the center of the plots of many works. different eras and characterize the actions of the heroes in situations of moral choice both in personal relationships and in a social context.

Vocabulary work

“Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language” by S. I. Ozhegov and N. Yu. Shvedova:

LOYALTY- steadfastness and immutability in feelings, relationships, in the performance of one’s duties and duty.

Loyalty is based on love, honesty, perseverance, sacrifice, devotion.

TREASON- violation of loyalty to someone or something (betrayal of the interests of the Motherland, going over to the side of the enemy.

Treason is associated with betrayal, deceit, meanness, treachery.

Synonyms:

Loyalty: devotion, constancy, reliability, immutability, steadfastness, steadfastness, firmness.

Treason: betrayal, infidelity, inconstancy, deception, adultery.

Who or what can you remain faithful to or change?

• Homeland:

Motherland, small homeland, native land;

military duty, oath

• Love:

to a loved one; spouse

• Friendship:

friend, comrades, loved ones

• Beliefs:

to myself,

beliefs, principles,

to your word

• Vera:

Christian commandments

Loyalty and betrayal are opposite manifestations of a person’s personality. Throughout life, everyone faces a moral choice: remain faithful to something or change.

Honor and dishonor are closely related to the concept of fidelity and betrayal.

By betraying principles, promises, or betraying someone, a person not only loses the respect of others, but also loses honor, bringing shame upon himself. You must remain faithful to your ideals, homeland, and loved one, regardless of the circumstances. Loyalty to one's word, honor, responsibility - qualities without which a person cannot be called decent. Fidelity to Christian commandments becomes an important category of a person’s moral assessment. Betrayal of faith and violation of God's commandments is the path to death, both moral and physical.

Treason is one of the lowest, vile and shameful manifestations of human nature. This difficult and destructive feeling changes a person, dehumanizes him. An example of this can be found in V. Rasputin’s story “Live and Remember.”

The events described in the work unfold in a remote Siberian village in the winter of 1945. Andrei Guskov, who went through the entire war, did not hide behind the backs of his comrades, but fought “like everyone else - no better, no worse,” ends up in the hospital after being wounded. The closer the end of the war is, the more he is afraid of dying, and the more desperately he is drawn to his native village: “He was afraid to go to the front, but greater than this fear was resentment and anger at everything that brought him back to the war, not allowing him to visit home.” . Driven by fear, resentment and anger, Guskov, leaving the hospital, deserts instead of going to the front.

Having betrayed his homeland, Guskov understands that “his fate has turned into a dead end” and after that his life will never be the same, now he is a traitor, a traitor to his homeland. Having lost ground under his feet, Guskov, without knowing why, commits another betrayal - he cheats on his wife Nastya with a random acquaintance. Rasputin depicts the extreme loss of the hero, devastated and having lost self-respect: “He somehow suddenly became disgusted with himself, hated himself,” something “scraped, tearing his soul,” “this attitude towards himself burdened him for a long time.”

Secretly, Andrei Guskov returns to his native village. He is afraid to appear in front of his parents and reveals his terrible secret only to his wife Nastena, who accepts him and, becoming an accomplice to his lies, helps the deserter and traitor. Conscientious Nastena is tormented by her husband’s guilt, reproaches herself for deceiving her father-in-law and mother-in-law, stealing food and supplies from the house for her husband, and secretly running to him in the forest. She has no right to betray Andrei, to abandon him, and is ready to share her husband’s fate: “She loved him, pitying him, and pitying him, loving him - these two feelings inextricably came together in her into one. And Nastena couldn’t help herself. She condemned Andrei, especially now, when the war was over and when it seemed that he would have remained alive and unharmed, like all those who survived, but, condemning him at times to the point of anger, hatred and despair, she retreated in despair: but she is his wife. And if so, we must either completely abandon him... or go with him to the end, even to the chopping block.”

Rasputin shows how betrayal and betrayal change a person, using the example of Guskov. During his time living in the forest winter hut, he not only changed outwardly beyond recognition: he grew a thick beard, became haggard, but also internally lost human form. Andrei learned to howl like a wolf, so much so that the owner of the taiga himself retreated: “When it became completely sickening, he opened the door and, as if fooling around, amusingly, let out a plaintive and demanding animal howl over the taiga. And he listened to how everything froze and froze far around him.” The hero from afar watches the cow and calf like an animal and then kills it extremely cruelly. Sometimes Guskova is overwhelmed by an “uncontrollable, fierce desire to set fire to the mill” or to harm people in some other way. Of all the feelings, he only had fear for his own life, the animal instinct of self-preservation.

According to Rasputin, treason and betrayal are destructive for humans.

Guskov, who deserted and betrayed his homeland and his people, turns into a beast, completely losing his human appearance. However, because of his betrayal, not only he himself, but also Nastena dies: “More and more often Nastena imagined that she was being forcefully pulled into some narrow neck and would be pulled in until she could breathe, and then, crushed, suffocating , half-dead, at the last moment he will take it somewhere. Here's a look at this new life she did not succeed, for her it was as dark, as hidden, as the peace of the grave.” A traitor has no future, the author claims, cowardice and betrayal are not forgotten and forgiven, it is impossible to live with them. That is why at the end of the story Nastena dies, becoming an eternal reproach to her husband: live and remember.

Aphorisms and sayings of famous people:

• Without constancy there can be no love, no friendship, no virtue. (D. Addison)
• In this world I value only loyalty. Without this, you are nothing and you have no one. In life, this is the only currency that will never depreciate. (V. Vysotsky)
• Treason begins in the heart before it manifests itself in action. (J. Swift)
• Traitors are despised even by those whom they served. (Publius Cornelius Tacitus)
• Everyone’s duty is to love their homeland, to be incorruptible and courageous, to remain faithful to it, even at the cost of their lives. (J.-J. Rousseau)
• The basis of love, its primary condition is faith, unconditional loyalty and devotion. True love she is not blind, on the contrary, she, perhaps, opens a person’s eyes for the first time. The slightest betrayal of a loved one, whether it happens sooner or later, is a complete betrayal of everything, from the very beginning, it destroys not only the future, but also the past, because it means that every day of a life full of trust was a lie and the heart was deceived. Anyone who turns out to be unfaithful at least once will never be faithful. (David Scott)
• True love helps you endure all hardships. (F. Schiller)
• An unfaithful friend is like a shadow that follows you while the sun shines. (K. Dossey)
• Loyalty is the commandment of friendship, the most precious thing that can be given to a person. (E. Thelma)
• Be true to yourself, and then, as surely as night follows day, loyalty to others will follow. (W. Shakespeare)

What questions are worth thinking about?

• Can loyalty be learned or is it an innate quality?
• Can fidelity be a criterion of love?
• Is it possible to call betrayal a betrayal of oneself?
• How can cheating affect people's relationships?
• Is it acceptable to fight on the side of your enemies?
• Is it possible to forgive betrayal?
• How important is being true to your word?

An example of a final essay in the direction of “Loyalty and Betrayal”

Loyalty is very beautiful word. People usually associate this concept with relationships between a man and a woman, but the meaning of this concept is broader than it might seem at first glance.

So what does it mean to be faithful then? In order to answer this question, let’s open Ozhegov’s dictionary. “Loyalty is devotion to someone or something; it is constancy in one’s promises, words, relationships, in the performance of one’s duties, one’s duty.” As we can see from the definition, loyalty is a positive personality trait, a characteristic that correlates with other moral qualities: conscience, honesty, nobility, and courage. Thus, we can conclude that fidelity affects almost all areas of a person’s life. You can be devoted to your loved one, to your friends, to your Fatherland, to your word, or moral principles. And legends are made and songs are sung about the loyalty of animals to their owners.

The theme of fidelity is key in the works of many writers and poets. Thus, the character of the story M.A. Sholokhov's “The Fate of a Man” Andrei Sokolov is a shining example of a citizen who faithfully serves his Motherland. When war breaks into his happy and calm life, Sokolov, without hesitation, goes to defend his Fatherland and family. During the war, he is wounded twice, he proves himself to be a hero, saving his comrade. Later Sokolov is captured, but even there he shows true patriotism. Mortal danger cannot force him to abandon his country. He retains “Russian dignity and pride,” which earns him respect from his opponents. The narrator describes Andrei Sokolov as “a man of unbending will” who will be able to overcome any obstacles and raise his adopted son in his own image. Such people, according to the narrator, are capable of feats if “the Motherland calls for it.”

Since the manifestation of fidelity is multifaceted, let us turn to another work of fiction, namely the story of A.P. Platonov “The Sandy Teacher”. Maria Nikifirovna Naryshkina chose the difficult profession of teacher. She was the owner strong character and by no means a fragile build. When she was assigned to the village of Khoshutovo, where sands “reigned” and there was no vegetation, she did not refuse. In this small settlement, people were dying of hunger, there was poverty and devastation everywhere, but Maria did not give up, but decided to use her teaching gift for good: to teach residents to fight the sands. Thanks to her work, vegetation appeared in the village, and more peasants began to come to lessons. After the work was done, she was sent to help the nomadic people. She could have refused, but, remembering the hopeless fate of this people, she decided to put public interests above her own. With her actions and fortitude, she proved that loyalty to her profession is not limited to the walls of the office. Maria Nikiforovna became a great example selfless professionalism, kindness and responsiveness and showed how difficult and important the path of a teacher is. Such faithful people are the foundation on which the world rests.

After analyzing the above works, I came to the conclusion: fidelity is one of the most significant personality traits, which often goes unnoticed. To be faithful means to love people and the world in which you live, even more than yourself.

How do you understand the word “loyalty”?

What is loyalty? In my opinion, this word can be understood differently depending on the situation. If we're talking about O love relationships, then fidelity is, first of all, steadfastness and constancy in one’s feelings, readiness to be with a loved one in any situation.

Thus, N.A. Nekrasov’s poem “Russian Women” tells about Princess Trubetskoy, who followed her Decembrist husband to Siberia. The governor of Irkutsk dissuades her, describing the difficulties she will face: the harsh climate, the need to live in barracks with convicts, meager and rough food, the upcoming renunciation of all the rights and privileges of a noble person. However, the heroine is not afraid of his words. She is ready to do anything just to be close to her husband, to share both joy and sorrow with him. To all warnings she replies: I am a woman, a wife!

Let my fate be bitter -

I will be faithful to her!

We see that Princess Trubetskoy personifies loyalty and devotion to a loved one.

The word “loyalty” can also be understood as steadfastness in fulfilling one’s duties and duty, for example, to the Motherland. The Defender of the Fatherland, soldier or officer, is obliged to remain faithful to the oath and not to betray it, no matter what happens.

An example is Pyotr Grinev, the hero of A.S. Pushkin’s work “The Captain’s Daughter.” When the Belogorsk fortress was captured by Pugachev, all officers were asked to go over to the side of the rebels. If they refused, a tragic fate awaited them - to be hanged. The author shows that, faced with a choice, Pyotr Grinev was ready to give up his life, but remain faithful to the oath. Later, he also refuses Pugachev’s offer, who promised to reward him with high titles: “I am a natural nobleman; I swore allegiance to the Empress: I cannot serve you.” The writer emphasizes that above all for the hero was honor and loyalty to military duty.

Thus, we can come to the conclusion: the word “loyalty” implies devotion to someone or something: a loved one, the Fatherland, duty.

(272 words)

What action can be called treason?

What action can be called treason? Of course, everyone will answer this question in their own way. I'll try to formulate my point of view. In my opinion, treason is such actions as betraying a loved one, or in wartime, going over to the side of the enemy. To support my words, I will give several examples.

Let us remember N.M. Karamzin’s story “Poor Liza.” The main character, a simple peasant girl, fell in love with a young nobleman named Erast with all her heart. He, too, seemed to have found his ideal in Lisa. However, the happiness did not last long. The author shows that soon the passion in the hero’s heart gave way to boredom and cooling. Moreover, having lost at cards, he decided to improve his situation by marrying a rich elderly widow. He did not say a word about his intentions to Lisa, moreover, he deceived her, saying that he was going to the army and would certainly return to her. She learned the truth only by accident. This was such a heavy blow for her that out of despair the girl committed suicide. Erast’s act can undoubtedly be called treason, because he betrayed the feelings of the girl who loved him, acted dishonestly, lying to her and secretly marrying another.

Another example of betrayal can be called the act of the Fisherman from the story “Sotnikov” by V. Bykov. The work tells about two partisans who were captured by the police. If Sotnikov bravely withstood torture and accepted death with honor, Rybak, on the contrary, from the first minutes in captivity only thought about how to save his own life. He was ready to do anything for this: to reveal the location of a partisan detachment, to go over to the side of the enemy, to execute a comrade with his own hands. By doing this, he betrayed his comrade, despised his duty as a defender of the Fatherland, and betrayed his Motherland.

Thus, we can come to the conclusion: treason can be called such actions, which are based on betrayal. By cheating, a person betrays the trust of loved ones, comrades, and sacrifices duty and honor.

(274 words)

What can push a person to cheat?

What can push a person to cheat? It seems that there may be many reasons that prompted a person to commit treason. It could be selfishness, fear for one’s life, cowardice, or weakness of character. Let's look at a few examples.

So, in the story by N.M. Karamzin “Poor Liza” we see the young nobleman Erast, who won the heart of the simple peasant woman Liza. The author shows that after some time, Erast cheated on his beloved: when he went to the army, he promised the girl to return, but in reality he left her forever. Moreover, having lost almost all of his estate at cards, he decided to improve his affairs by marrying a rich woman. What prompted Erast to commit such an unseemly act? This is also greed, because he did not want to lose his fortune and settle for poverty. At the same time, the reason for the betrayal can also be considered the selfishness of the young man, who thought only about himself and his interests, not caring at all about the impact his action would have on Lisa, who was devoted to him with all her heart. Erast treated the girl as something that could be thrown away as unnecessary, and did not think that for her his behavior would become fatal blow, which ultimately ended her life (the reader learns that Lisa committed suicide after learning about her lover’s betrayal). Selfishness and selfishness are what pushed him to betrayal.

Let us now turn to V. Bykov’s story “Sotnikov”. We see a partisan named Rybak, who, having fallen into the hands of the enemy, decides to betray: he is ready to betray the location of the partisan detachment to the enemies, serve in the police, and even take part in the execution of a comrade. What pushed him to betray his Motherland and his duty as a defender of the Fatherland? First of all, fear for your life. Cowardice and weakness of character determine his post-farts. The fisherman wants to live at all costs. For him, this is more important than duty to his homeland, honor, and camaraderie. He thinks only about himself, and is easily ready to sacrifice others in order to save himself. This is also selfishness, which can be considered the cause of betrayal in this case.

To sum up, we can come to the conclusion: a person is pushed to cheat different reasons, but they are always based on selfishness, concern only for one’s own interests, and disregard for the lives of other people.

How do you understand the expression “fidelity to duty”?

How do I understand the expression “fidelity to duty”? In my opinion, the meaning of this expression is revealed when it comes to military duty. For a defender of the Motherland, this is, first of all, the readiness to fulfill one’s duty in any situation, to be ready to give one’s life if necessary. I will illustrate what has been said with several examples.

So, in the work of A.S. Pushkin “The Captain's Daughter” main character Petr Grinev demonstrates loyalty to duty. When Pugachev captured the Belogorsk fortress, all its defenders were asked to go over to the side of the rebels. Otherwise they were executed. The author shows that Pyotr Grinev, just like the commandant of the fortress, refused to become a traitor and was ready to accept death, but not betray the oath. Only a happy accident saved the hero from the gallows. Later, Pugachev again invites Grinev to join him in his service, to which he responds with a decisive refusal: “I am a natural nobleman; I swore allegiance to the Empress: I cannot serve you.” When Pugachev asks him to at least not fight against him, Grinev again answers negatively: “How can I promise you this? ... You know, it’s not my will: if they tell you to go against you, I’ll go, there’s nothing to do. You are now the boss yourself; you yourself demand obedience from your own. What will it be like if I refuse to serve when my service is needed? We see that the hero shows loyalty to military duty: he does not betray the oath, even risking his life.

(1) The father settled his son in a room rented for a while in a wooden Solombala house, on the very bank of the Kurya River. (2) The distant cries of the horns, singing in the mornings in the Crew’s yards, tirelessly called for exploits. (3) You wake up and immediately see in the window, behind the buds of lush geraniums, a tangle of gear, a confusion of ship spars. (4) Everything reminded me of the sea. (5) It seems that Solombala, the historical district of Arkhangelsk, has been designed since ancient times to take teenagers into the tempting depths of sea wanderings. (6) From here, from its berths, where the diesel engines of the “sea hunters” now roar, Lazarev and Chichagov, Litke and Rusanov, Sedov and Voronin began their journeys! (7) From the grave of the sailor who died at Cape Zhelaniya, a straight road will lead you to the crooked alleys of Solombala, and you will knock on the house where his descendants live. (8) It was here that restless wanderers were born and grew up, who are only happy at sea. (9) Even the children of Solombala, playing on the water until late in the evening, sing their special songs.

(10) Savka didn’t even look into the city. (11) For days he disappeared on the streets and rivers of Solombala, wandered near the piers, inhaling the acrid fumes of ship repair shops, and more than once wandered in the labyrinths of the lumber exchange, among the stacks of timber laid in “avenues”. (12) Solombala is the oldest shipyard in Russia, and its inhabitants do not know the soil under their feet: the houses stand on centuries-old deposits of chips and sawdust - waste from the construction of ships, long lost in campaigns, forgotten. (13) That is probably why the homes of the Solombala artisans sank into the unstable ground, like sinking ships into the abyss. (14) You walk along the creaky wooden walkways, and level with them the windows of the first floors look out at the world - the owners have already moved to the second floor. (15) Over the rivers of Solombala, as if in Venice, there are humpbacked bridges, and their banks are closely lined with boats, rowing and motorized.

(16) In the spring, Solombala was flooded with extensive floods, but life continued as usual. (17) Children were sailing on motorboats to school, women were sailing on boats from shops with string bags, and near the doors of the hairdresser, boats of Solombala men were rocking on the wave, standing in the wake to shave and freshen up.

(18) Summer has come. (19) Sometimes, in a hurry, the father visited his son.

“(20) You need to get better,” he said.

(21) After the blockade, Savka experienced constant hunger and was ready to eat from morning to night. (22) His father gave him his “dry” officer’s rations: cod liver, sticks of yellow butter and stew. (23) He brought pine extract in bottles.

- (24) Drink here. (25) Don’t be crooked. (26) This saves you from scurvy. (27) Once my father brought a big pink salmon.

“(28) Don’t cook it or fry it,” he told Savka. - (29) Eat as Pomors eat - raw. (30) Cut a slice, add salt and eat.

- (31) Dad, did you catch it yourself?

- (32) No. (33) When the “hunters” throw depth charges at the enemy, after the explosions a mass of stunned fish floats up. (34) It’s not a pleasant sight.

(35) The summer was hot. (36) Arkhangelsk, as a rear city, did not yet know blackout. (37) In the evenings, its boulevards and embankments were illuminated with cozy lights.

(38) In July, the northern bird cherry blossomed wildly. (39) She completely hid the houses of the Solombala artisans. (40) On one of these days, Savka, having nothing better to do, trudged to the transport, and from afar he noticed that an endless column of teenage boys, almost his age - a little older, was pouring from the river towards the Crew, in whose hands plywood suitcases were shaking. (41) And there were also household bags dangling on their backs. (42) This whole noisy gang moved in an uneven formation, accompanied by naval foremen, sweating from zeal.

- (43) Hey, who are you? - Savka shouted.

“(44) Yoongi,” came the answer.

- (45) What kind of cabin boys? - Savka was stunned. - (46) Where did you come from?

(47) From the ranks they answered him randomly that they were from Moscow, from Karaganda, from Irkutsk, the Volga.

(48) The foreman pushed Savka away:

- Don’t interfere, you can’t talk to the formation.

(49) And then everything was like a dream. (50) In one fell swoop, Savka rushed home, grabbed two volumes of his works from his suitcase and rushed along the Kurya River, not feeling his feet under him, towards the Crew. (51) The cabin boys had already passed through the gate into the narrow courtyards of the naval citadel, Savka blatantly lied to the sentry:

- I'm with them! (52) Hey, hey, he fell behind on the transport.

(53) The sentry's bayonet fell back, clearing the way to the new Magic world which is called the fleet. (54) Sometimes it happens that a person’s fate is decided in a matter of minutes. (55) And may they be blessed! (56) It was July - hot July of forty-two. (57) It was a hot, exhausting July, when a new military rank appeared in the Soviet fleet - cabin boy!

(According to V.S. Pikul)

* Valentin Savvich Pikul (1928-1990)- Soviet writer, author of numerous works of art on historical and naval topics.

Finished essay 9.3 “What is the meaning of the expression “THE FATE OF MAN”?”

A person's destiny is the predetermined circumstances and events that occur in his life. Each of us is given our own destiny. I will prove this with examples from the text I read and my personal experience.

In the text by V. S. Pikul, the main character Savka lived in Solombala, where everything beckoned him to go to sea. When the teenager saw the column of boys and the foremen accompanying them, in a matter of seconds he decided to go to the fleet as a cabin boy (sentences 50-52). All these events are the fate of the hero.

An example of a person with a difficult fate can be considered Andrei Sokolov, the hero of Mikhail Sholokhov’s story “The Fate of a Man.” First he lost his sister and parents, then he was wounded at the front and captured. After escaping from German captivity Andrei Sokolov learns that his wife and daughters died, and subsequently his son, his only joy and hope, is killed... It would seem, how to continue to live after all this? But fate gave him new meaning life: the orphan boy Vanya, for whom Andrei became a father. You are amazed at this Russian man, a man of unbending will...

Thus, a person's destiny is the various predetermined events in his life. Everyone’s fate is different; throughout their life, it prepares tests for people that they will have to pass.

20.02.2019

What is treason? This is a betrayal of the interests of one’s country in the name of personal selfish goals. As a rule, this phenomenon acquires particular significance during war, when desertion undermines the foundations on which the state is based. Most people, of course, risk their lives if their homeland is in danger. Our history is rich in such examples and our literature is proud of it. However, there are always those few members of society who succumb to fear and serve only themselves, ignoring the troubles of the fatherland. Today, this problem, as before, is topical, because it manifests itself not only in wartime. That is why arguments on the topic “Treason to the Motherland” are so diverse and cover not only periods of armed conflicts.

1. Andrei Sokolov, the hero of Sholokhov’s work “The Fate of a Man,” faces treason against his homeland. The soldier is captured and witnesses how the Germans are trying to find out which of the detainees is the Red Commissar. Members of the Bolshevik Party were shot immediately and were not taken prisoner. Their disfigured bodies served as proof that the German authorities would establish their own rules and get to every communist. A traitor appears among the ranks of prisoners and offers others to hand over the commander in exchange for safety. Then Andrei kills him so as not to sow confusion in the ranks of the soldiers. He understood that any concession to the enemy is treason, which is not only punishable by execution, but also does not find even the slightest moral justification. Because of deserters and Vlasovites, the country is losing its chances of victory.
2. The readiness for betrayal is demonstrated by high society in Tolstoy's novel War and Peace. The nobility does not risk their lives in battle, sits in salons and argues that nothing will change with the arrival of Napoleon. They know French better than their native language, manners and antics are the same everywhere. They don’t care who is in power, what will happen to the country, how the battle will end, where their compatriots die every day. They will happily accept any outcome, because they have no true patriotism. They are strangers in Russia, its suffering is alien to them. The example of Prince Rostopchin, the Governor-General of Moscow, who was only capable of pathetic patriotic speeches, but did not really help the people, is widely known. Also stupid and false is the outfit of high society ladies who dressed in sundresses and kokoshniks instead of foreign dresses, supposedly supporting the national spirit. While ordinary people were shedding blood, the rich were playing dress up.
3. In Rasputin's story “Live and Remember,” Andrei Guskov becomes a traitor by deserting the army. Front-line life was too much for him: lack of food and ammunition, constant risk, tough leadership broke his will. He moved to his native village, knowing that he was bringing a mortal threat to his wife. As you can see, betrayal of one’s homeland is dangerous because a person completely loses his moral core and betrays all the people dear to him. He substitutes the devoted Nastena, who helps him, risking her reputation and freedom. The woman fails to hide this help, and her fellow villagers pursue her to find the deserter. Then the heroine drowned herself, and her selfish husband sat in a secluded place, feeling sorry only for himself.
4. In the story “Sotnikov” by Vasil Bykov, the handsome and strong man Rybak loses all his dignity when he encounters a real threat. He and a friend go on reconnaissance, but due to Sotnikov’s illness they are forced to take refuge in the village. As a result, they were captured by the Germans. Unlike the sick partisan, the healthy Rybak is a coward and agrees to cooperate with the invaders. Sotnikov is not trying to justify himself or take revenge. All his efforts are aimed at helping those people who sheltered them, to protect them with their silence. Meanwhile, the traitor wants, at all costs, to save his own life. Although he believes to the last that he can deceive the enemy and escape, joining his ranks for a while, Strelnikov prophetically notes that nothing can save his comrade from moral decay. In the finale, Rybak knocks the support from under his former colleague’s feet. So he set out on the path of betrayal and crossed out everything that connects him with his homeland.
5. In Griboyedov's comedy "Woe from Wit" the heroes do not fight, but still manage to harm their country. Famus society lives by conservative and hypocritical foundations, ignoring progress and the rest of the world outside their ivory tower. These people usurp the people, plunge them into ignorance and drunkenness with their extravagant and cruel antics. The nobles, the support of autocratic power, are themselves mired in hypocrisy and careerism, while their whims are provided for by the peasantry. We see, for example, the stupid and mediocre military Skalozub, who only shines with shoulder straps at balls. He cannot be trusted with his daughter, let alone a regiment or a company. He is a limited and pitiful person who is accustomed to only receiving from his homeland, but not repaying it with valiant and honest service. Isn't this treason?
6. Loyalty and betrayal in war are always obvious. For example, in Pushkin’s story “The Captain’s Daughter,” Shvabrin calmly serves and receives ranks without being a brave man. When the battle broke out, he showed his true colors. The traitor immediately went over to the enemy’s side and swore allegiance to Pugachev, saving his life, while his friend Peter risked himself just to honestly fulfill his duty. The oath to the rebel is not Alexei’s only betrayal. During the duel, he used a dishonest tactic, thereby betraying his honor. He also dishonestly deceives Grinev and vilifies Masha’s name without any reason. Then he finally falls into the abyss of moral decline and forces Maria to marry him. That is, the baseness of a person is not limited to betrayal of his homeland, and one cannot forgive this kind of betrayal, if only on the grounds that it is clearly not the last. If he was able to betray his native country, then there is nothing to be expected from him in relation to people.
7. In Gogol's story "Taras Bulba" Andriy betrays his country because of his passionate love for a Polish woman. However, this is not entirely true: he was initially alien to the traditions and mentality of the Cossacks. This contrast between personality and environment is visible when the hero returns home from the bursa: while Ostap joyfully fights with his father, the youngest son caresses his mother and peacefully stays away. He is not a coward or a weakling, he is simply a different person by nature, he does not have this militant spirit of the Zaporozhye Sich. Andriy was born for family and peaceful creation, while Taras and all his friends, on the contrary, see the meaning of a man’s life in eternal battle. Therefore, the younger Bulba’s decision looks natural: not finding understanding in his native land, he seeks it in the person of the Polish girl and her entourage. Probably, in this particular example, betrayal can be justified by the fact that the person could not have acted differently, that is, cheated on himself. At least he did not cheat and deceive his comrades in battle, acting on the sly. His honest position was at least known to everyone and emotionally motivated, because if you do not feel a sincere desire to help your homeland, sooner or later your lies will come out and do even more harm.
8. In Gogol's play "The Inspector General" there is no war, but there is an imperceptible and more vile betrayal of the homeland than desertion on the battlefield. Officials of the city “N” plunder the treasury and oppress their native people. Because of them, the district is in poverty, and its population is overwhelmed by constant extortions and outright robbery. The situation of ordinary people in peacetime is no better than in times of war. A stupid and vicious government is constantly moving against them, from which even a pitchfork cannot be defended. The nobility ravages their native land with complete impunity, like a Mongol-Tatar horde, and no one is able to stop this, except, perhaps, the auditor. In the finale, the author nevertheless hints that the real inspector has arrived, and now the thieves cannot hide from the law. But how many of these districts find themselves in an invisible state of siege for years due to the debauchery of the ruling elite? The writer also answers this question by giving his city a universal name in order to emphasize that this is the situation throughout Russia. Isn't this a betrayal of the interests of the fatherland? Yes, embezzlement is not called that out of tact, but in essence this is real treason.
9. In Sholokhov's novel "Quiet Don" the hero changes sides of the barricades several times in search of his truth and true justice. However, Gregory finds nothing like this on either side. It would seem that a person has the right to choose and make mistakes, especially in such an ambiguous situation, but some of his fellow villagers perceive these throwings as a betrayal of the homeland, although in fact Melekhov always follows the truth and is faithful to the interests of the people. It is not his fault that these interests change so often and disappear under one banner or another. It turned out that all parties only manipulated the patriotism of the Cossacks, but no one was going to act morally and fairly towards them. They were only used in the division of Russia, talking about the homeland and its defense. This is where Gregory became disillusioned, and people are already rushing to label him a traitor. Thus, there is no need to rush to blame a person for treason; maybe he is not to blame at all, and people from above use people’s anger against him as a weapon.
10. In Shalamov’s story “The Last Battle of Major Pugachev,” the hero honestly and selflessly went through the war. He defended the country at the cost of his life and never retreated. However, he, like many comrades from the front, was sent to a labor camp for fictitious treason. Anyone who was captured or besieged was sentenced to 25 years in prison. In conditions of hard labor, this is a guaranteed death. Then Pugachev and several other soldiers decide to escape, because they have nothing to lose. From the point of view of the Soviet leadership, this is treason. But from the point of view of normal human logic, this is a feat, because innocent people, and even war heroes, should not be compared with criminals. They had the strength to defend their right to freedom, not to become slaves of the system, powerless and pathetic. Then, in 1944, in a German camp, provocateurs told the hero that he would be imprisoned in his homeland anyway. He did not believe and did not serve the enemy. Not broken. So what does he have to lose now that the darkest forecasts have come true? Although he goes against the state, I do not consider him a traitor. Traitors are the government that goes against its people.

"Man's Fate" (1956) is sad story about the life of Andrei Sokolov. This simple man has faced so many different trials that the hero himself sometimes asks himself: “Why have you, life, maimed me so much?” - but he can’t find an answer to his difficult question.

Despite everything that Andrei Sokolov had to go through, he managed to maintain his human face, and in the war he not only showed courage and courage, but also demonstrated great love and devotion to his Motherland.

Upon learning that it had begun fighting, Andrei Sokolov almost immediately goes to the front. It’s hard for the hero to part with his beloved wife and children, but he goes to fight for his country, as well as for his family, and for many other similar families, in order to give these people hope for a better and happier life in the future. Therefore, for Andrey this is already becoming a matter of honor.

Once at the front, soldier Sokolov serves as a driver, but he is soon captured by the Germans. Talking about this episode of his life, the hero explains how difficult it was for him to realize that he was not in captivity of his own free will. According to the man, it is difficult for someone “who has not experienced this firsthand” to immediately “enter the soul” so that all this “reaches him in a human way.”

Indeed, it is difficult to convey in words the entire horror of German captivity and to describe the cruel tortures to which the Germans subjected Russian soldiers. But Andrei Sokolov was able to go through these tests with dignity, and, in his own words, “not turn into a beast.” And most importantly, his love for his Motherland not only did not fade away during all this time, but only became stronger.

It is enough to remember how bravely this man refuses to drink “to the victory of German weapons” and proudly rejects the enemy’s snack, despite the fact that he can barely stand on his feet. The desire to return “to his people, to his homeland” is so strong in the hero that he makes two attempts to escape.

The first of them turns out to be unsuccessful, and the Germans brutally punish Andrei Sokolov by setting a pack of dogs on him. Despite this, the hero still makes a second desperate attempt to escape from the enemy’s hands, and this time he succeeds.

Running away from the Germans, soldier Sokolov thinks not only about himself, but also about what benefit he can bring to his country. That is why he takes with him the German major, whose driver he was in captivity. This act also says a lot about how devoted Andrei Sokolov is to his homeland.

For the fact that the hero brought to his unit a German who “is worth more than twenty ‘tongues’,” the Russian colonel wants to petition for Andrei’s nomination for a reward. These words make the man experience joyful excitement, but the emotions are so strong in him not at all because he wants to receive a medal for his services to the Fatherland. It’s just that during the time spent in German captivity, Andrei Sokolov “lost the habit of human treatment.”

The only desire of a half-dead soldier who has barely escaped from the enemy’s lair and set foot on Russian soil is to be enlisted in a rifle unit. Andrei Sokolov strives to do everything in his power to help his country, and this shows the true patriotism of this man and the full strength of his love for the Motherland.

Loyalty and betrayal - arguments

* Loyalty to a friend:

** Fyodor Dostoevsky “Crime and Punishment” (Dmitry Razumikhin supports his friend, Rodion Raskolnikov, no matter what)

** Vladimir Korolenko “In bad society"(Children from the dungeon: Valek and Marusya became friends with a boy from the “upper” class Vasya. The guys are so faithful to each other that they are ready not to betray under torture. Vasya even committed an unseemly act: he stole a doll from his own house for the sick Marusya to brighten up the last days of her life)

* Cheating on a friend:

** Alexander Pushkin “The Captain's Daughter” (Petr Grinev and Shvabrin. Once friendly heroes turn out to be enemies because of different views on such concepts as honor, loyalty, nobility. Shvabrin eventually betrays Grinev, and because of his love for the same the same girl, Masha Mironova, is doing everything possible to destroy Grinev, with whom he was once friends)

** Mikhail Lermontov “Hero of Our Time” (Grushnitsky, out of envy and jealousy, betrays Pechorin, since he turned out to be happier than him in love. Princess Mary Ligovskaya, who previously sympathized with Grushnitsky, who had his own plans for the girl, falls in love with Pechorin. generosity, Grushnitsky cannot forgive Pechorin for his defeat and decides to take a vile step - a dishonest duel. He slanderes Pechorin, accusing him of having a close relationship with Princess Mary, and during the duel he offers his former friend a pistol loaded with blank cartridges.)

** Haruki Murakami “Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and the Years of His Wanderings” (“We don’t want to see you anymore” - and no explanation. Four of him best friend overnight they cut him off from themselves - and from his former life. After 16 years, the now matured Tsukuru will have to meet his friends again to find out what really happened. It turned out that Belaya accused him of rape and his friends believed it)

* Loyalty to the profession/your work:

** Boris Polevoy “The Tale of a Real Man” (about events that happened in life Soviet pilot Alexey Meresyev during the Great Patriotic War. During the battle, the plane was shot down by the Germans. He escaped, but his toes were crushed. For eighteen days Meresyev made his way through the forest. At the hospital he underwent amputation. As a result of persistent training and enormous willpower, Alexei achieved the ability to fly as before. In incredibly difficult living conditions, he remained devoted to his chosen profession, his chosen business.)

** Andrei Platonov “The Sand Teacher” (Maria Nikifirovna Naryshkina chose the difficult profession of teacher. When she was assigned to the village of Khoshutovo, where sand “reigned” and there was no vegetation, she did not refuse. In this small settlement people were dying of hunger , there was poverty and devastation everywhere, but Maria did not give up, but decided to use her teaching gift for good: to teach residents to fight the sands. Thanks to her work, vegetation appeared in the village, and on.

More peasants began to come to lessons. After the work was done, she was sent to help the nomadic people. She could have refused, but, remembering the hopeless fate of this people, she decided to put public interests above her own. With her actions and fortitude, she proved that loyalty to her profession is not limited to the walls of the office. Maria Nikiforovna became an excellent example of selfless professionalism, kindness and responsiveness and showed how difficult and important the path of a teacher is.)

* Loyalty to your loved one

** William Shakespeare “Romeo and Juliet” (children of militant clans meet each other against the orders of their parents. Juliet decides to pretend to be dead and avoid marrying another. Not knowing that his beloved is sleeping, Romeo takes poison. Waking up, Juliet sees the dead Romeo and kills himself with a dagger)

** Mikhail Bulgakov “The Master and Margarita” (Margarita loved her chosen one so much that she sold her soul to the devil. She was ready to look for him all over the world and beyond. She remained faithful to him, even when there was no hope of finding the Master.)

** Alexander Kuprin " Garnet bracelet"(Loyalty to love pushes a person to heroic deeds, but it can also be destructive. In A.I. Kuprin’s story “The Garnet Bracelet,” unrequited love becomes the meaning of life for the petty official Zheltkov, who remains faithful to his high feelings for a married woman who will never be able to answer him reciprocity. He does not defile his beloved with the demands of reciprocal feelings. While suffering and suffering, he blesses Vera for a happy future, does not allow vulgarity and everyday life to penetrate the fragile world of love. In his fidelity there is a tragic doom.)

* Infidelity (betrayal) to a loved one

** Alexander Ostrovsky “The Thunderstorm” (the main character Katerina fell in love with Boris, cheating on her husband (Tikhon Kabanov), and then commits suicide)

** Nikolai Karamzin “Poor Liza” (the rich nobleman Erast seduces Liza, and then, having received what he wants, abandons her, leaving “for the army”, but then they meet 2 months later and he announces to her that he is engaged (he had to marry a rich widow, because he lost his fortune at cards). In the finale, the heroine commits suicide)

** Leo Tolstoy “War and Peace” (Natasha Rostova spiritually cheated on Andrei Bolkonsky with Anatoly Kuragin) / note: + reasons for betrayal + when betrayal is justified - Rostova, due to her age and inexperience, was unable to think about the consequences of her choice)

*True to your word

** Leonid Panteleev “Honest Word” (talks about a boy of seven or eight years old, who, during a game, the older boys entrusted to guard an imaginary gunpowder warehouse and took from him honestly that he will not leave his post. Having played and forgotten about the sentry, the boys had long since fled to their homes, but our hero remained. It was already getting dark in the park when the narrator saw a little sentry who never wanted to leave the post entrusted to him, because he was afraid to break his promise. And only the permission of the major, whom the narrator accidentally finds at a tram stop, frees the boy from his word and allows him to go home. The narrator says that he does not know the name, surname, or parents of this boy,

but he knows one thing for sure: he will grow into a real person with a strong will and a sense of loyalty to his word.)

** Alexander Pushkin “Eugene Onegin” (Tatiana Larina was the embodiment of moral strength and sincerity. Therefore, she rejected Onegin’s love and remained faithful to her marital vows, despite the fact that she loved him.)

*True to yourself

** Ivan Bunin " Dark alleys"(the heroine managed to remain faithful in her soul to her first and only love in her life - to Nikolai. Years pass, Nadezhda becomes an independent woman standing firmly on her feet, but she remained lonely. Loyalty to her beloved warms the heroine’s heart, although when they meet she blames him , not forgiving for betrayal.) /note: fidelity to your principles + fidelity to love + forgiveness of betrayal/

** Mikhail Bulgakov “The Master and Margarita” (The Master believed so much in what he was doing that he could not betray the work of his whole life. He could not leave it to be torn apart by envious critics. To save his work from misinterpretation and condemnation, he even destroyed it.)

* Loyalty/betrayal to the Motherland

** Alexander Pushkin “The Captain's Daughter” (Peter Grinev is faithful to his duty and his state, despite the mortal danger when Shvabrin betrays his Motherland, the honor of an officer, his friends, saving his life) /note: + reasons for betrayal/

** Nikolai Gogol “Taras Bulba” (Taras’s youngest son, Andriy, fell in love with the lady and betrayed his homeland) / note: + unforgiveness of betrayal on the part of Taras)

** Mikhail Sholokhov “The Fate of a Man” (The main character Andrei Sokolov showed patriotism, dedication and courage not only during military service, but also in captivity. The hero, being very hungry and tired, refuses to drink or eat in honor of the German victory. After all, Andrei is faithful to his Von duty to the end; he is not afraid of being shot for his refusal to the fascist. Andrey Sokolov is a man with a capital letter. It was precisely such people, devoted to the Motherland, who saved the country and protected it.)

“Betrayal of the Motherland requires extreme baseness of soul,” asserts N.G. Chernyshevsky. Indeed, betrayal is one of the lowest acts that a person can commit. Betraying a loved one or close friend, we degrade spiritually, causing pain not only to others, but also to ourselves. By betraying our Motherland, we also degrade morally and demonstrate spiritual baseness.

Let us recall the work of V. Bykov “Sotnikov”. We see two soldiers - Rybak and Sotnikov - who are captured by the Germans.

Under pain of death, Rybak becomes a traitor. He immediately agrees to go over to the enemy’s side, and soon helps them execute his friend Sotnikov. This act characterizes Rybak as a man of weak spirit and low soul. Unlike Rybak, Sotnikov remains loyal to the Motherland. A modest, seemingly inconspicuous fighter, he accomplishes a real feat. He accepts death with dignity without becoming a traitor.

In M. Sholokhov’s work “The Fate of Man,” a hero named Kryzhnev also agrees to betray his homeland in order to save his own life. He wants to hand over his platoon commander to the Germans because he is only worried about his future. Like Rybak, he commits a low, vile act. He shows himself to be a coward, ready to betray not only his comrade, but also his Motherland. But Andrei Sokolov, on the contrary, demonstrates fortitude and readiness to defend his Motherland to the end. He refuses to drink for enemy Germany, proving that it is better to die than to betray the Motherland. Such patriotism commands respect even from the German commandant, and he remains to live.

Thus, any betrayal, including betrayal of the Motherland, reveals the true human essence, showing the baseness of the soul. Loyalty reveals the main virtues of a person, his strong spirit, moral fortitude and steadfastness of moral principles.

Effective preparation for the Unified State Exam (all subjects) - start preparing

Updated: 2017-10-18

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The problem of a person’s moral choice has always been especially significant in Russian literature. It is in difficult situations, making one or another moral choice, that a person truly reveals his true nature. moral qualities, showing how worthy he is of the title of Man.

M. A. Sholokhov’s story “The Fate of Man” was written in 1956 - at the beginning of the “Thaw”, a complex, transitional historical period. It is dedicated to the events of the Great Patriotic War and the post-war years and is a story of a simple man, driver Andrei Sokolov, about his life. This simple story contains a typical story of thousands of people: in his youth he worked as a farm laborer, fought in the civil war, worked in a factory, started a family, built a house. The war destroyed all his peaceful happiness: his family died, his eldest son, an officer, was killed. All this was usual for that time, as usual, that like thousands of other people, for Andrei Sokolov in this situation there was the only possible moral choice: to courageously defend his Motherland. “That’s why you’re a man, that’s why you’re a soldier, to endure everything, to endure everything, if need calls for it,” he says to his interlocutor. When it is necessary to deliver shells to the artillerymen and the commander asks Sokolov if he will get through, for Andrei there cannot even be a doubt about this: “I have to get through, and that’s it!” He is not used to thinking about himself; he first of all thinks about his dying comrades. But shell shock and captivity put him in completely new, unusual conditions for him. He is ready for death, and for him it is more important not to lose his dignity, to remain a person, faithful moral law own conscience. It is not easy for him to make the decision to kill a traitor who is ready to betray his commander. But he cannot live by the principle “his shirt is closer to his body,” and in order to save the skinny boy commander, Sokolov strangled the traitor with his own hands. He experiences this event: “For the first time in my life I killed, and then it was my own... But what is he like? He’s worse than a stranger, a traitor.” The situation of moral choice is resolved by the hero according to the laws of socialist realism: the death of the traitor will prevent the death of many honest people.

The main moral choice of the hero in captivity was the same: not to collude with enemies, not to betray his comrades for a piece of bread, to bravely endure torture and humiliation. Someone less resistant in spirit denounced Andrei for a carelessly spoken phrase, and Sokolov, summoned to the commandant of the camp, prepares to fearlessly accept death, “so that my enemies do not see at my last minute that it is still difficult for me to part with life...”. Refusing to drink “for the victory of German weapons,” Andrei Sokolov agrees to drink “for his death and deliverance from torment,” proudly refusing the snack. It was important for him to show “that although I am disappearing from hunger, I am not going to choke on their handouts, that I have my own, Russian dignity and pride, and that they did not turn me into a beast, no matter how hard they tried.” And even his enemy appreciated his dignity, letting Sokolov go to the barracks in peace and giving him bread and lard. Dividing the “grub” among everyone is also the moral choice of the hero, who remains true to his concepts of honor, justice, and collectivism.

Andrei Sokolov still has a lot to endure: escape from captivity, news of the death of his family, the death of his son - “exactly on the ninth of May, in the morning, on Victory Day.” Such blows of fate can break any person no less persistent than Andrei Sokolov. Having been demobilized, he works as a driver, drinking “one hundred grams a day” after a flight. But he doesn’t drink himself to death, doesn’t complain about his fate - the hero finds the strength in himself to pick up an orphan boy and adopt him. This is also Andrei Sokolov’s moral choice - to find in himself generosity and take responsibility for the little man, dispossessed by the war. And the author believes that, a man of strong will, with a kind and courageous heart, Andrei Sokolov will be able to raise a person with the same moral criteria, like him, a person “who, having matured, will be able to endure everything, overcome everything on his way, if his Motherland calls him to do so.”

Loyalty. What it is? This is the moral foundation on which the human world rests. This is devotion to one’s principles, duty, one’s Motherland, one’s land, parents, friends and loved ones. The opposite concept is treason. A person cheats first of all on himself, failing to pass the test of moral strength. People are tested for loyalty and treason primarily in relation to their duty, to the Fatherland. This is especially evident during years of difficult trials, during the war.

Let's look at examples from fiction.

In the novel by A.S. Pushkin's "The Captain's Daughter" is about a popular uprising led by Pugachev. Almost everything is related to this storylines stories. The main character is Pyotr Grinev, a young officer who serves in the Belogorsk fortress. When the fortress was captured by the Pugachevites, he was faced with a choice: to die, but remain faithful to the oath, to the Fatherland, or to stay alive, but betray his duty, betray the moral principles that had been ingrained in him since childhood. “Take care of your honor from a young age,” the father instructed his son, seeing him off to service. And Grinev preserved his honor, remained faithful to the oath and was ready to die, but not go over to the side of the impostor. And Pushkin talks about treason in his work. Shvabrin, also a young officer, swears allegiance to Pugachev so as not to be hanged. He betrays his military duty, his oath to faithfully serve the Tsar and the Fatherland. Of course, who wants to die young? But betrayal is a shame, people’s contempt, and it has never made a person happier.

M. Sholokhov’s story “The Fate of Man” talks about loyalty to human and military duty. The main character, Andrei Sokolov, endured many trials: he fought, was captured, lost his family, but even in the most difficult moments of his life he managed to remain a man and a faithful defender of his native land. Loyalty does not live in every heart. Let us remember the episode that tells how prisoners were kept in a barn in inhumane conditions. And one of them is ready to betray others, to point out communists and Komsomol members to the fascists in order to survive, curry favor with enemies, and save his life. He does not withstand the tests, betrays his duty, would become a traitor if not for Andrei Sokolov, who kills the traitor. The author wants to say that only qualities such as loyalty and courage help people preserve the human being within them.

V. Bykov’s story “Sotnikov” also talks about loyalty and betrayal of one’s human and military duty. The action takes place during the Great Patriotic War. The two main characters, Sotnikov and Rybak, find themselves facing death: they fall into the clutches of their enemies. Sotnikov holds on courageously. Beaten, tormented, he does not agree to go into service with the fascists, remains faithful to his comrades in arms, military oath, Motherland. Courage, boldness, and loyalty to his native land help him remain human to the end. And what about the second one – Rybak? He became a coward even when he abandoned his comrade on the road, who was alone in a shootout with the police. And only fear of the partisans forced Rybak to return. He became a traitor in the face of death: he agreed to join the police to save his life, and even became an executioner: he knocked out the stool under the gallows on which Sotnikov stood. Loyalty and betrayal manifest themselves most clearly in war.

Thinking about fidelity and betrayal, re-reading the works of Russian writers, I came to the conclusion that fidelity, devotion to the country, love for the Fatherland are the keys to courage, honor, and the preservation of human dignity, and betrayal is a shame, cowardice, the path to betrayal.

The Great Patriotic War left an indelible mark on the memory of all the peoples of the USSR, which could not but affect literature. Today there are thousands and thousands literary monuments of varying degrees of quality dedicated to this period of our history. Couldn't stay away and famous writer Soviet era- Mikhail Sholokhov. His story “The Fate of Man” is considered one of the most piercing literary masterpieces dedicated to the Great Patriotic War. The many-wise Litrecon offers you its analysis.

“The Fate of Man” was created within the literary framework. The author strives for as natural a depiction of reality as possible. His characters, their words and actions are written as realistically as possible. The reader can believe that the events described in the story could actually happen.

The genre of the work can be defined as a story. The narrative covers a relatively short period of time. Quantity characters limited. The images created by the writer are blurry and non-specific, which only emphasizes the typical nature of the story told.

Meaning of the name

The title of the story “The Fate of a Man” accurately reflects its essence - the life path of a simple Russian man who had to overcome many trials. Through the fate of an ordinary soldier, does the author show what the entire Soviet people went through? Sokolov’s whole life is a reflection of what each fighter experienced. This is the meaning of the title of the work.

The very word “man” in the title emphasizes main idea Sholokhov - about how, having gone through hell, one can and should remain a person capable of compassion. How, after seeing what horrors humanity is creating, not to despair and continue to live, hoping for the best.

The gist: what is the story about?

The story “The Fate of a Man” begins with how the author, during a trip to the south of post-war Russia, meets the driver Andrei Sokolov and the little boy Ivan. Sokolov tells the story of his life.

Even before the war, Sokolov had a family, a wife, a son and two daughters, and lived a simple working life.

In 1941, Sokolov was drafted into the Red Army as a driver and was captured while carrying shells for an artillery battery. Having passed through concentration camp, the hero escapes from captivity, taking with him an important German officer.

Returning home, Skolov learns that his wife and daughters have died, and his son, Anatoly, has gone to the front. After some time, he learns that his son is in command of the batteries.

Some time later, Andrei participates in the capture of Berlin; on the day of victory he learns that his son was killed by a German sniper.

The war took away from Sokolov everything he lived for. However, having met the orphan Ivan, whose parents died during the war, the main character takes him under his wing and finds the strength to live on.

The main characters and their characteristics

The system of images is reflected by the Many-Wise Litrecon in table format:

Themes

The theme of the work “The Fate of Man” reflects all the hardships and hardships of the war, but there is even more heroism and fortitude of the Soviet people in it:

• Humanity- the main theme of the story “The Fate of Man.” Despite difficulties and losses, Sokolov does not harden his heart. He takes pity on the orphan and finds the strength to begin working in a peaceful life again. The hero does not want revenge; the fate of his country is important to him.
• Love– Sholokhov’s love is presented primarily as love within the family. The writer shows that only in the family, having experienced all the difficulties of everyday life, do people show true feelings that even death cannot destroy. Sokolov will never forget his family.
• Family– the family in the story is presented as the highest human value, which serves as an important support for a person. Sokolov, having lost his family, lost his purpose of existence, but, having found a new one, he again found a purpose in life. Only those who have close people and are responsible for them can sincerely love their homeland, because it is also part of the family.
• Mutual assistance- talking about the fate of Soviet prisoners of war, Sholokhov emphasizes the importance of mutual assistance between Soviet people who were captured by Germans. Despite the fact that some show their rotten essence, most retain their humanity.
• Feat- Sholokhov’s story is free from pathos and pathos, but there is a place for real feat in it, which, according to Sholokhov, lies in fulfilling one’s duty to the country and loved ones. Andrei is not a fabulous hero, but he tried and brought benefit to his homeland on the battlefields and even in captivity.
• Life values– the writer extols such human values ​​as loyalty, honesty and pride, and the ability to preserve them in the most terrible situation. But main value his hero reads love: for family, for homeland, for comrades.
• Devotion– according to Sholokhov, devotion to the homeland and family is one of the greatest virtues of a person. It is she who is the guarantor of perseverance in trials and hardships.
• Kindness– it is especially important, according to the writer, to treat other people with kindness. It is this attitude that can provide sufficient strength to defeat evil.
• Happiness– the author shows that a person finds happiness only in the family circle. But it is impossible without its own place - that is, a country where people have lived freely from time immemorial. The Soviet people fought not for land, but for their happiness.

Problems

The problematics of the story “The Fate of Man” serve as an eternal reminder to us of what our ancestors experienced:

1. Strength of mind– Sholokhov in every possible way emphasizes the strength of spirit of his hero, who does not break before anything, even death itself. This quality of the Soviet people made it possible to defeat an enemy superior in strength and technical equipment.
2. War- the main theme of the story “The Fate of Man.” The writer is not inclined to embellish the war. Dirt, blood, death and violence - this is what the Great Patriotic War is, devoid of any gloss. However, Sholokhov emphasizes the importance and necessity of these tests in the face of the Nazi invasion.
3. Treason– Sholokhov emphasizes the patriotism of that war, showing the unshakable devotion of the majority of Soviet citizens, going through terrible torment, to their fatherland. The author portrayed a traitor, emphasizing his loneliness in the crowd. The people did not support him, since they remained loyal to the country of hell under the threat of death.
4. Death– throughout the war, death haunts the heroes, taking away their closest people and threatening them themselves. However, even she is not able to break the fighters who continue to live, no matter what.
5. Cruelty– the main character faces inhuman cruelty on the part of the German occupiers, for whom human life doesn't mean anything. Beatings, abuse and murder by the Nazis become commonplace in captivity.

main idea

The story "The Fate of Man" is an outstanding work about the Great Patriotic War, which tells about those events as accurately as possible, without any embellishment. The meaning of the story “The Fate of a Man” is as follows: using the example of the fate of Andrei Sokolov, Sholokhov talks about the monstrous ordeal that befell the entire Soviet people. He emphasizes the strength of ordinary people who were able not only to defeat a terrible inhuman enemy, but then return to peaceful life and restore their country.

The main idea in the story “The Fate of Man” is the need to preserve one’s humanity, no matter what happens. Even in the midst of war and devastation, people must remain human: love and be loved.

What does it teach?

The story “The Fate of Man” once again emphasizes the significance and patriotic nature of that war. The author demonstrates the will of the peoples of the USSR and stigmatizes Nazism, which sought to destroy entire countries and peoples. The conclusion from the book can be drawn as follows: the war for life and freedom is the moral duty of those who value their country.

Sokolov demonstrates to us colossal fortitude, with the help of which one can overcome even the horrors of a concentration camp, not to mention everyday problems. The author emphasizes the importance of family, kindness and love, condemns meanness and opportunism. Sholokhov's morality is eternal, because he is the author who puts family, love and kindness above empty ambitions, and this is an eternal truth.

Criticism

During his lifetime, Sholokhov had a dubious reputation. Many accused him of plagiarism and appropriation of other people's merits. "The Destiny of Man" was also under suspicion. She was also accused of a pro-Soviet position, of keeping silent about the allegedly terrible fate of those who returned from German captivity. For example, the famous dissident A. I. Solzhenitsyn described in his work “The Gulag Archipelago” how Sokolov would actually be greeted:

“Escape to your homeland - through the camp cordon, through half of Germany, then through Poland or the Balkans, led to SMERSH and to the dock: how did you escape when others cannot escape? Things are dirty here! Tell me, you bastard, what task you were sent with (Mikhail Burnatsev, Pavel Bondarenko and many, many.) In our criticism it is established to write that Sholokhov in his immortal story “The Fate of Man” expressed the “bitter truth” about “this side of our life, “ discovered the problem. We are forced to admit that in this generally very weak story, where the war pages are pale and unconvincing (the author apparently does not know the last war), where the description of the Germans is standard, popular to the point of an anecdote (and only the hero’s wife is a success, but she is a pure Christian from Dostoevsky) , - in this story about the fate of a prisoner of war, THE TRUE PROBLEM OF CAPTIVITY IS HIDDEN OR DISTORTED"

Today, Sholokhov’s reputation has been practically cleared, and “The Fate of a Man” is considered one of greatest stories in Russian literature.

Speaking about Sholokhov’s desire for truth, one cannot help but recall the story “The Fate of a Man,” which also became another breakthrough in showing the truth about the war. Some critics reproached Sholokhov for the fact that this is not the whole truth, in the sense that Andrei Sokolov could also face a Soviet concentration camp. But Sholokhov always counted on mutual understanding with the reader. So, he said about “Virgin Soil Upturned”: “I would like to not chew everything in the second book, but leave the reader room for reflection.” And although Sholokhov’s story is a work for all times, it also fits into the literary disputes of the 50s-60s of the twentieth century (discussions about the positive and ideal hero and about " common man"). Sholokhov’s artistic discovery was the image of a man who, according to his social status, should have been called small, but who shows unparalleled greatness of soul, giving everything to the altar of the fatherland and remaining unbroken in the fight against historical circumstances. With his courage and stoicism, Andrei Sokolov resembles the heroes of ancient tragedies, but at the same time, this is a truly Russian character in all its manifestations, not realizing his own greatness, but simply living according to the canon of behavior that took shape during the times of Dmitry Donskoy and Kozma Minin and which, perhaps it has already been lost to our days, so Sholokhov’s “micro-epic” is, in the words of G.D. Gacheva, a “giant gravestone” to the Russian character. (Osipov V.O. Sholokhov)

Modern literary scholars highly value Sholokhov’s work, seeing in it hints that the fate of man in the post-war USSR was far from ideal:

M. Sholokhov was the first to set a great goal: to morally rehabilitate those who survived all the horrors of fascist captivity, to prove that a person can preserve himself in inhumane circumstances. Yes, he said nothing about filtration camps, humiliating checks and accusations of espionage against former prisoners. But, firstly, as V. Osipov rightly noted, one cannot “judge a story for what is not in it.” And secondly, Andrei Sokolov’s opponents have a very original idea of ​​the hero’s post-war life as happy and cloudless. A burnt-out quilted jacket, clumsily patched pants, eyes filled with “inescapable mortal melancholy,” a sick heart and the arbitrariness of the little masters of life—this is what the defender of the fatherland, forced to wander around Mother Russia, deserves. It is difficult to imagine that such a great writer, as A.I. Solzhenitsyn certainly is, could not see what makes the hearts of more than one generation of readers clench. And finally, are we not too wasteful in our desire to reject everything that was created before us? (Osipova T.O.)