Characteristics of the left-hander from Leskov's story. The image and characteristics of Lefty from the story "Lefty" by Leskov with quotes The character of the lefty from the story of Lefty with quotes
Nikolai Leskov sought to comprehend and reflect in his work the life of different classes, groups and estates. And he managed to create a complex and multicolored, not fully studied image of Russia in one of the most difficult periods for her - in the second half of the 19th century. An excellent example of this is the story "Lefty".
Briefly about the plot
Before proceeding to the analysis of "Lefty" by N. Leskov, let's recall the story itself. The events of the Tale take place at the beginning of the 19th century. During one of his trips to England, Emperor Alexander was shown a tiny flea that could dance. He brought her to Russia. After the death of the emperor, this curiosity was found in his things, and the Cossack Platov explained that the sovereign brought this flea as an example of the skill of English mechanics, and noted that the Russians could do just as well. Emperor Nicholas, who believed in the superiority of the Russians, instructed Platov to go to the Don and visit the Tula factories, to look for a craftsman who would answer the challenge of the British.
Platov summoned three well-known gunsmiths, including Levsha, showed them an outlandish flea and asked them to come up with something that would surpass the English work. The artisans answered the call - they shod the flea on all paws. Everyone was delighted and sent the shod flea back to England to demonstrate the skill of Russian craftsmen. In England, Lefty was shown factories and offered to stay. The craftsman refused, and on the way back he started a dispute with the half-skipper over who would outdrink whom. Upon arrival in St. Petersburg, half the skipper was brought back to life in a rich hospital, and Lefty died without medical care in a hospital for the poor.
The story of Nikolai Leskov "Lefty" ends with the fact that even on his deathbed, Lefty thinks about his homeland. Before his death, he reveals the secret of cleaning guns, but nothing was given to the sovereign and they continued to clean guns with crushed bricks. If they listened then to the advice of Lefty, in the Crimean War the outcome would have been completely different.
Main character
The protagonist of the story is a talented Russian craftsman Levsha. He and other craftsmen were commissioned to create a masterpiece to surprise the English. They decided that the horseshoe studs were created by Lefty. The author does not attach much importance to the description of appearance, indicating that he had a birthmark on his cheek, he was slanting in one eye and had a bald patch. The skill and ability of Lefty were more important - this is what the author paid attention to. He does not feel like someone significant, when the British offer to stay with them, he refuses. This is caused not so much by love for the motherland, but by disbelief in a better life.
An analysis of the story "Lefty" by N. S. Leskov would not be complete without the image of the protagonist, so let's consider his description in more detail. So downtrodden a person that the thought of somehow resisting circumstances does not occur to him, Lefty dies an absurd death. Here the author contrasts Lefty with the English skipper. He was immediately taken to the British Embassy, surrounded by care. The author emphasizes how indifferent to human life is in the country to which Lefty returned. In fact, a rare craftsman died, and no one cares about that. Much in the description of this character is comical. For example, the master used his strabismus and left-handedness to good use - he could do the finest work that could not be seen with the naked eye.
Other heroes
Let's continue the analysis of Leskov's "Lefty" with an acquaintance with other heroes of the work. The main characters of Lefty are the emperors Alexander and Nikolai, the Cossack ataman Platov and the Russian craftsman Lefty. Alexander Pavlovich is a big fan of Western culture and technology. He admired the work of Western craftsmen, and they invariably pleased him. Having visited England and saw a miracle flea there, he immediately bought it and brought it to St. Petersburg. Patriot Platov said that our people can do just as well. But Alexander, being a shrewd politician, nevertheless refrains from showing the works of Russian artisans in England.
Nikolai Pavlovich is the brother of Emperor Alexander and his complete opposite. He is inquisitive and patriotic. If Alexander was sure that Western craftsmen were the best, then Nikolai had no doubt that no one would surpass Russian masters. Seeing the flea and listening to Platov's explanations, he was not slow to find masters who could surpass the British. Soon the craftsmen showed their work, the emperor was very upset when he did not see anything unusual. But, looking through the microscope, I saw that the flea was shod. And immediately sent Lefty with a curiosity to England to demonstrate Russian skill.
Accompanied the emperor during a trip to England. Platov was distinguished by his love for everything Russian, he did not understand Alexander's enthusiasm and exposed the deceit of foreigners. When the British boasted of the weapon, he unscrewed the lock and showed them the inscription that it was made by Russian craftsmen, and sincerely rejoiced at the frustration of the British. But not everything was smooth in Platov's character - he was cruel to those who depended on him, and treated them with contempt.
History of writing
If we analyze the work of Leskov "Lefty" according to the plan, then we should start with the date and history of writing. The tale of Lefty was first published in 1881 in the Rus magazine. In a separate edition, the author made amendments that increase the sharpness of the story, emphasizing the arbitrariness of the authorities and the ignorance of the common people. Leskov initially excluded the preface from the collected works, for the first time the introduction to the story will appear in the 1894 edition. And until that time, the reader was given the opportunity to taste the beauty of the story told by a fictional character. Removing the preface, the author wants to puzzle the reader and becomes the sly companion of the narrator, and in the last chapter replaces him.
In "Lefty" Leskov's innovation once again manifested itself: he does not use the word "fairy tale", since it does not correspond to the writer's intentions. After all, there are no fantastic characters here, real historical figures are mentioned here - the emperors Alexander and Nikolai, the Empress Elizabeth, the Cossack ataman Platov. The clarification "legend" allows us to better understand the author's intention - to look at history through the eyes of a person from the people, in this case, a gunsmith. Leskov once again emphasizes the ability of the people to compose legends and myths, which are based on real events.
means of expression
Continuing the analysis of "Lefty" by Leskov, let us dwell on the artistic means that the author used in his work. According to Leskov's story, a play was shot, there is a ballet version of "Lefty". But there is no tragic component of the tale. The narrator in "Lefty" uses his imagination and wordplay to further provoke his listeners. As one of the techniques for conveying the comic component, hyperbole is used - the colorful ataman Platov snores so that not one Englishman in the house can fall asleep. An English flea made of pure steel dances a country dance and cannot be seen with the naked eye.
At literature lessons in the 6th grade, enough time is given to the analysis of Leskov's work "Lefty". They study in detail the character and actions of the characters, the author's intention, the means of expression used by the author. Let's dwell on them in more detail. An example of the use of hyperbole is the return of Platov from the Don to Tula: a description of the impatience of the Cossack ataman and the work of the Tula masters who shod a flea and wrote their name on the horseshoe. The play of the writer with language in this story goes much further than in other works - it is a celebration of neologisms and baroque turns. As A. Volynsky noted: "The whole tale seems to be a set of clownish expressions."
Leskov uses many tricks here, including combinations of two words that sound the same but have different meanings. This technique is based on the tendency of the common people to remake unfamiliar or foreign words so that it is understandable. In addition, in "Lefty" there are verbal absurdities: "legs" - socks, "wind hood" - a hood from the wind. The story is dominated by colloquial expressions, strange phrases, dialectisms.
The main idea of the work
Critics after this story attacked Leskov, he supposedly, in the person of the Tula gunsmith, belittled the Russian people. And only "Bulletin of Europe" understood the main theme and conflict in the tale "Lefty", as well as the writer's intention. Leskov portrayed the Russian people, who reject European recipes, and at the same time look limited and dependent on social conditions. It must be admitted that "Lefty" is replete with ironic remarks worthy of attention. When the tsar is traveling with the ataman across Europe, Platov diverts his attention in every possible way - we are no worse off. The ataman does not want to speak French: "He considered all French conversations to be trifles." While the British are demonstrating weapons, he says that his fellows won without it.
"Lefty" through the eyes of the author
Of course, the ataman is a comedic character, and his common sense smacks of limitation. He treats his messengers cruelly. Acts inhumanly with Lefty in the episode with the "nymphosoria" and the royal daughter. When the half-skipper asks for his help, he refuses to do anything for the English master. Without a doubt, the story "Lefty" proves Russian superiority. Lefty says that the Orthodox faith is the most correct, because "our books are thicker than yours." Through the whole work, the author's mockery of nationalism is visible, people obsessed with it are unable to see the true value of things. But Leskov wanted to good-naturedly ridicule the bragging of the Russian people, the inability to recognize the value of what was done on a foreign side.
Continuing the analysis of "Lefty" by Leskov, it is impossible not to dwell on the opinion of critics. During the years of Soviet power, critics did not fail to emphasize the bitter satire in the story of Lefty. Its end is tragic - in Russia the flourishing of folk talent is impossible. The author depicts both kings as comedic characters. Alexander tries to please the British in everything, superficially looks at Russian life. Nicholas does not trust foreigners, but succumbs to the flattery and cunning of the courtiers, who hide Lefty's death from him. The dying left-hander asked the tsar to tell them not to clean their guns with crushed bricks, but no one listened to him. The tsar did not find out about anything, and the Crimean campaign was lost.
true reality
People's life, too, can not be called encouraging. Platov treats the Cossacks cruelly and commits arbitrariness with impunity. He beats Lefty and gets off with an apology. Lefty was thrown in front of the police station, he lay in the cold for a long time, then he was taken half-dressed from hospital to hospital and finally brought to the hospital for the poor. The author shows in what ignorance the people vegetate, is in captivity of their prejudices and customs. Leskov wrote that at first he wanted to portray Lefty as a symbol of the Russian people with all its shortcomings and virtues: quick wits and ingenuity.
Concluding the analysis of Leskov's "Lefty", let's summarize - did the author succeed in fulfilling his plan? Could the reader understand it? Probably yes. Many amazing things were created by illiterate people, not knowing arithmetic, only the Psalter and the dream book. Lefty is like a bird that flew too close to the sun and singed its wings. And the Russian people are unable to use their talents, not only because of ignorance, but also because they are possessed by a sense of superiority. And common sense and prudence are Western concepts. In "Lefty", the author says that a Russian person has two tenacious habits, ingrained in the blood: drunkenness and fanfare.
The Tale of the Left-hander cannot be called either a pamphlet against the Russian people, or an openly nationalist work. Leskov skillfully presented here a living and truthful image of reality.
Arms master Levsha is the main character of N. Leskov's story. An interesting tale, which has become the plot of animated and feature films, theatrical performances, conveys the essence of the life of Russian talent.
The image and characteristics of Lefty in the story "Lefty" help to feel the events of the history of Rus', to understand how and what a simple Tula gunsmith lived.
Lefty's appearance
The master gunsmith Lefty remained known to everyone only by his nickname. Nobody knows his real name. The nickname is given for the skillful use of the left hand. It is even more convenient for the master to be baptized with the left. This ability surprised the British. Overseas engineers did not even imagine that it was possible to become a skilled craftsman without owning the right hand.
The left-hander suffers from strabismus. This feature is even more amazing. How did the oblique man manage to forge the smallest details for a miniature flea? What is the acuity of his vision that he works without any microscopes and complex magnifying instruments? Moreover, it performs the thinnest part of the product.
Other special features:
- speck on the face;
- lack of "hair" on the temples.
"... one oblique Left-hander, a birthmark on the cheek, and the hairs on the temples were torn out during teaching ..."
The teacher fought for the boy's hair, which means that the guy managed to be not a particularly diligent and diligent student.
A peasant dresses modestly because of poverty:
- peasant's shoes (buttons) worn down;
- Cossack on hooks.
He wears what he was: in shawls, one leg is in a boot, the other is dangled, and the ozyamchik is old, the hooks do not fasten, they are lost, and the collar is torn; but nothing, do not be embarrassed.
The guy is not shy about his appearance. Get used to it. There is no feeling of discomfort in the story when the boy is being changed, that is, clothes mean nothing to him. It is terrible to read the pages where he is stripped in the hospital and left practically naked on the cold floor. Someone liked his new suit very much.
The image of talent from the outback
Lefty lives in the city of Tula in a small house. A close mansion - this is how the narrator characterizes it. The couriers who arrived with Platov tried to get into the hut, but failed. The doors were so strong that they remained standing, having withstood numerous blows of the heroic force. The roof of the house was removed quickly, on a log. The tightness is proved by the stuffiness of the air, which, when the roof was removed, rose so high above the house that there was not enough air for everyone around. The poor peasant loves his parents. When he is asked to stay in England, the first reason why he refuses new living conditions is his old parents. He affectionately calls his father "Attenka", his mother - "Old Lady". Lefty does not yet have his own family, he is not married.
I'm still single.
The character of a hero from the people
Lefty is one of the three most skilled craftsmen in the city of Tula gunsmiths. This means that among all the gunsmiths of the ancient city, only those who are very talented were chosen. It is even difficult to imagine how many real artisans live in the city of arms production. According to the narrator, the whole Russian nation hopes for Lefty and his friends. The task that the masters face is to prove that Russian craftsmen can do everything better than others, in this story, better than the British.
Masters are hardworking and persistent. They did not give up the work before completion, not fearing the anger of the chieftain, they brought everything to the end.
Special personality traits
The main character has many of his individual characteristics, but at the same time, his personality traits make Lefty a symbol of the entire Russian people, kind and talented.
Education. The gunsmith is not literate, not educated, like almost all the peasantry in Rus' in those years. His school consisted of two textbooks: "Psalter" and "Dream Book". Talent lives in the master by nature. He managed to open it.
Cunning. A simple craftsman does not betray the ideas that three gunsmiths had about an English craft. He is silent in England, not trusting his thoughts to overseas engineers. Cunning in a kind way, without evil and intent.
Faith in God. The masters did not start the work without the blessing of the higher divine powers. They went to the icon of Nicholas the Wonderworker. Gunsmiths hope for themselves and for help from above.
Decisiveness and courage. The master is not afraid to meet with the Russian emperor. Do not be embarrassed by torn clothes. He knows that, together with his friends, he fulfilled his order, he is ready to answer for the work. He boldly tells the king that they engraved their names on the horseshoes, what his work was.
It is necessary to take thought and with God's blessing.
Loyal to the Russian people, the oblique craftsman Lefty did not stay abroad, did not seek benefits for himself, even dying, he thought about how to help the Motherland. The patriotism of a simple peasant is amazing.
In "The Tale of the Tula Oblique Lefty and the Steel Flea" N.S. Leskov tells of a talented gunsmith who performed a technical miracle by making horseshoes and shoeing a steel flea created by the British, and so small that it cannot be seen without a "melkoscope".
Left-hander is a man of the people, dark, small and nondescript. The external characteristic of Lefty is also unpretentious: "a left-handed oblique, a birthmark on the cheek, and the hair on the temples was torn out during training." At first glance, this character is completely uninteresting. However, opinion about him changes when he, having received the task of creating a product more amazing than an English flea that can dance, puts horseshoes on this flea.
He is at the same time a very skilled craftsman, a rare craftsman, and at the same time he is a downtrodden man who considers himself an insignificant creature. When the British make an offer to Lefty to stay with them, he resolutely refuses. The hero cannot even imagine life away from his homeland, where he is absolutely powerless, but he feels himself in his environment. Lefty is not ready to fight the circumstances. Dying, he does not complain about his fate, does not feel bitterness, but only feels the need to discover the secret of the British gunsmithing skills: a gun cannot be cleaned with a brick.
The character of the Russian people is revealed in the image of Lefty. Talented and nameless, a sincere patriot, content with his share, hardworking and undemanding - such is Lefty, such is the whole Russian people. Leskov sees the moral value of a person in his close connection with the Russian national element - nature, native land, people and traditions. However, the author is not inclined to idealize his hero. Leskov does not exalt, but does not belittle the people, but portrays them according to specific historical conditions, penetrating into the depths of the people's soul, where the richest creative abilities, the desire for ingenuity, skill and service to the motherland are hidden. The author realistically depicts an ordinary representative of the Russian people: he has ingenuity, talent, but is uneducated. The left-hander does not have enough knowledge to bring the matter to the end: the savvy steel flea has lost the ability to dance. This is understandable, because the hero "instead of the four rules of addition from arithmetic, he takes everything according to the Psalter and according to the Half Dream Book."
And with all this, a specific representative of the Russian people with all their talents turns out to be useless to anyone. Having fulfilled his function, proving to the British that Russian masters have no less ability than English ones, he dies, forgotten by everyone.
This inattention of the authorities to the fate of ordinary people, the denseness and lack of education of the people is, according to Leskov, the reason for Russia's backwardness. This can be easily seen by comparing the conversation between Nikolai and Lefty, when the emperor condescends to be a craftsman, and the meeting of the hero with the English, who talk to Lefty on an equal footing, respecting the master in him. The image of Lefty is the image of a righteous person who is ready to sacrifice himself in the name of the Fatherland and the Common Cause. The hero goes to England, without documents, hungry, “at each station, the belts were still tightened by one badge so that the intestines and lungs would not get mixed up.” He seeks to show foreigners the skill and ingenuity of the Russian people. He earns the respect of the English for his talent and refusal to stay in their country.
But in his own country, Lefty remains unrecognized, he dies, as thousands of the same unrecognized craftsmen from the people died. Only an Englishman was able to see the true essence of a talented master: “Even though he has a sheepskin coat, but the soul of a man.”
First of all, Lefty is associated with a real Russian person. The author describes him very concisely, mentioning without unnecessary details only that he is a gunsmith, there is a small mole on his cheek, and torn hair on his temples, this happened during the exercises. He worked at a weapons factory and with him three more. All of them were very quiet and took their work very seriously, which is why they took on a special order in order to prove to the whole world that our specialists are the best.
The author writes about the main character, meaning the entire ordinary people of Russia. And he says that he is a working man who respects the authorities, is always ready to fulfill the instructions of his superiors, is patriotic, honest with everyone and, above all, with himself. Such was the time and, accordingly, people treated everything differently, unlike today. Lefty was a real patriot and respectful of his power. This is very clearly reflected in the last scene when he was dying. His last words were: “Tell the sovereign that the British don’t clean their guns with bricks: let them not clean ours either, otherwise, God forbid, they are not good for shooting.” Yes, indeed, leaving for England, he managed to find out. In the last minutes of his life, he could have simply remained silent, but he spoke with the last of his strength and brought yet another benefit to the state. This once again confirms his love for his homeland and efforts. And this is how every Russian person should act, bringing his contribution to the development of the country.
Many of us got acquainted with Leskov's story "Lefty" at school, when we, while reading, did not understand the whole meaning of this masterpiece. But even then, the main character Lefty was deposited in our memory and struck us with his skill and calmness, which he showed every day and used it actively, thereby making his rather difficult life easier.
I was very surprised by this character after reading the story. After all, so many positive qualities can be found quite rarely in one person.
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In N. S. Leskov's story "Lefty", the main character is an oblique Tula master, a self-taught left-hander. However, the hero does not appear immediately, but in the middle of the story. Lefty is the favorite hero of N. S. Leskov, the author is proud of his hero, respects him. But, despite his positive assessment, during the acquaintance, the author does not single out this person: “the gunsmiths are three people, the most skilled of them, one is left-handed obliquely, there is a birthmark on the cheek, and the hair on the temples was torn out during training.” N. S. Leskov shows that this Tula master has a truly Russian national character. This is evidenced by the descriptions of his work and leisure, and the expression of passionate love for the Motherland. The left-hander, among the three gunsmiths, dutifully worked on an outlandish flea for two weeks. All this time they were locked up, keeping their work secret. It is here that strength of mind is manifested, since I had to work in difficult conditions: with windows and doors closed, without rest. However, Platov did not believe it when he saw the same flea in a diamond nut, as if the Tula masters were able to do something better than the British. He got angry, thought that they wanted to take him away, and, ironically, took a lefty with him to St. Petersburg, because if something goes wrong, then there will be someone to answer for everything.
And here is a left-hander in St. Petersburg. He obediently, as befits a subject, stood near the palace and waited for what would happen next. At first, Platov ruffled his hair because the masters allegedly ruined a rare thing, but then, when they figured it out, the left-hander was invited to the palace and personally listened to praise from the sovereign and was kissed by him.
Indeed, there is something to marvel at here - the craftsmen not only did not spoil the curiosity, but also bypassed the British in terms of skill: they shod a steel flea and wrote their names on the horseshoes. This is such a miniature work that you can see the result in a “melkoskop”, which magnifies several hundred times, and the craftsmen, in the absence of a “milkoscope”, due to poverty, did all the delicate work, because they “have shot their eyes like that”. However, the name of the left-hander was not on the horseshoes, as he considered himself unworthy of it. In his opinion, he did nothing special, because he worked with parts less than horseshoes: he forged carnations to nail them. The left-hander was thanked for such a service and sent to London to show the British that Russian masters are no worse than foreign ones, but, on the contrary, better.
And now the Tula tramp “in shawls, one leg is in a boot, the other is dangled, and the ozyamchik is old, the hooks are not fastened, they are lost, and the scruff of the collar is torn”, which in this form appeared before the sovereign, without embarrassment and embarrassment, was now heading to England. He was drunk, fed, rewarded, dressed up. And here he is in London.
It is in London that his truly Russian national character manifests itself. He loves Russia very much - his homeland - and he refuses invitations from the British to settle in London, learn science, visit factories in practice, get a prestigious job, marry, start a family. He also loves his already elderly parents, because they cannot do without him; loves the traditions of Russia. But this is not just love, the left-hander cannot imagine himself without the Motherland.
However, he agreed to stay abroad. He had seen enough of their life and work, paid special attention to how new and how old guns are made, and in what condition they are stored. However, such a boring life soon got tired of him, he yearned for his homeland, and the British had to let him go. On the ship, he met a half-skipper, with whom they began to bet who would outdrink whom. Nothing good came of this, of course. The half-skipper was taken to "treat" to the embassy's house on the embankment, and the left-hander was thrown drunk on the floor in a quarter. Not finding any documents, he was robbed, his gold watch and coat were shining. He ended up in the Obukhov hospital, where they take him to die. But, dying, the left-hander did not think about himself. The only thing he wanted; so it is to see the sovereign, to say that the guns are not cleaned with bricks. With these words on his lips, the Tula master died.
Leskov presents a truly great man: a talented master, with a broad soul, a warm loving heart, with deep patriotic feelings. This is a real Man with a capital letter, a man with a national Russian character. His shortcomings, like many Russian people, were a craving for alcohol and a passion for arguing, betting. These two qualities have killed a large number of talented people.
