The aristocratic nest

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The Adelsnest (also "Ein Adelsnest", from Russian: Дворянское гнездо, transcription: [dvorʲanskɔjɛ ɡnʲɛzdo]) is a novel by Ivan Turgenev , published in the Russian literary magazine " Sovremennik " in January 1859. The idea for the novel was born in January 1859 1856. In 1858 Turgenev began to write the work, mainly concerned with the question "What is happiness?" In 1856 Turgenev fell ill and finished writing for the time being. In 1857 he continued the novel. The work was well received in Russian society at the time and became Turgenev's most widely read novel up to the end of the 19th century.

content

The plot begins with the return of the Russian nobleman Fyodor Lavrezkij to his homeland, a Russian town called O. His cousin Marja Dimitrevna, her daughters, aunt Marfa Timofeevna and her servants live in the Kalitins' house where Lavrezkij comes to. Fyodor Lavrezkij is the son of a nobleman and a maid. After the early death of his mother, he was brought up strictly by his aunt and father. He marries Varvara Pavlovna and they move to Paris together. However, he never really feels comfortable there and by chance learns that his wife has cheated on him. Lavrezkij's return from abroad attracts the attention of the urban population. The Kalitins found out about Lavrezky's return through Gedeonovsky, an acquaintance of the family.

Upon arrival at the Kalitins' house, Fyodor sympathizes with Lisa Kalitina, Maria Dimitrevna's daughter, and tells her about his broken marriage with his wife. Lisa suggests that he forgive her because she is a believer and believes in the sanctity of marriage. Michaljewitsch, an old friend of Lavrezkij's, arrives unexpectedly, which encourages the old acquaintances to have long conversations. Fyodor also learns about the alleged death of his wife. He goes to Lisa and tells her this news. But she tells him that Panschin, a bachelor with a good reputation and a friend of the family, proposed to her. At Fjodor's request, Lisa takes her time to answer me. When Panschin and Fyodor talk about politics in Russia and Europe, Lisa usually pays her attention to Fyodor. Then Fyodor and Lisa confess their love. Suddenly, however, Fjodor's wife arrives and asks Fyodor for forgiveness in order to save their marriage. However, Lavrezky does not consent and Varvara seeks advice from Marja Dmitrevna.

Lisa also knows about Warwara's arrival, but until then she has a discussion with Panšin and politely declines his request. Lisa repeatedly advises Fyodor to forgive Varvara while he withdraws. Lisa goes to the monastery. Varvara is going back to Paris. Fyodor stays in his homeland.

people

Fyodor Ivanovich Lavrezky

The main character of the novel is 35-year-old nobleman Lavrezkij. He is tall, well built, blond, has blue eyes and a typically Russian face. He was raised in a Spartan manner and comes from a famous noble family. In the novel, several pages are devoted to his family history. His father Ivan was a student and follower of Rousseau. He had a thing for the young maid Malanja. His insistence on marrying her caused his disinheritance. Against the wishes of his parents, Fjodor's grandparents, he married her. After that, Ivan had to leave his Malanya with relatives while he went abroad. After the birth of Fjodor, Malanja returned to the Lavrezkijs, who then had to recognize them. After 12 years, Ivan returns to Russia. Fjodor's upbringing was taken over by his aunt, Ivan's sister, Glafira, of whom Fyodor feared because of her malevolence and jealousy. After his father's return, Fyodor learned mathematics, humanities, heraldry, international law and carpentry under a strict regime. His aunt tried to teach him French manners and attitudes, but he was never able to internalize them.

After the death of his father, Fyodor begins to study in Moscow. In this phase of his life, the consequences of his strict upbringing became noticeable: he did not find any real friends and had difficulties with relationships with women. However, he had a friend named Michalevich, whom he met through the Korobjinitsch family. Fyodor fell in love with Varvara Pavlovna at a ball and they got married. When they came to Petersburg, they had a son who, however, died. On the recommendation of a doctor, they moved to France. When Fyodor finds out that his wife has cheated, he travels to Italy. After four years he comes back to the city of O. Lavrezkij, despite severe strokes of fate, always remains human, which is not least due to his mother of simple descent.

Varwara Pavlovna Lavrezkaja, b. Korobjina

Varvara is the young beautiful daughter of a general. She is confident and a good housewife. After losing a son with Lavrezkij, she had a daughter named Ada. In Paris she blossoms a lot, meets a lot of people and is always in company, organizes and goes to many social establishments. In Paris, however, she is also exposed as a marital traitor and does not try to justify this.

Lisa Kalitina

Lisa is 19 years old, tall, slim and dark-haired. She lives with her siblings, mother and great-aunt in the city of O. on the Kalitins estate. She is the hardworking, pious and conscientious daughter of Marjas. She is sensitive, honest and understanding, but has also been strongly influenced in her upbringing by her nurse Agafja. She perceives happiness as a sin, which is why she does not allow the love between her and Lavrezkij to gain the upper hand. In the end, she devotes her life to God and the Church alone.

Marja Dimitrewna Kalitina (née Pestowa)

The 50-year-old Marja Dimitrewna is the landowner and widow of a former government attorney. She is spoiled, moody and sometimes she seems unnatural. She has blonde hair, a personable appearance and has held up well for her years. Her house, in which she lives with her three children, two daughters and one son, is one of the wealthiest in town. She often does not understand Lavrezki's views and sometimes finds them strange. When Varvara returns to Russia, she manages to get them on their side.

Marfa Timofejewna Pestowa

Aunt Marjas, who also lives in the Kalitins' house, is around 70 years old, smart and influential. She dislikes gossip and senseless talk like Gedeonsky's. Marfa Timofeevna is not easy to please. She even seeks hostility to Panschin and doesn't approve of this wooing Lisa, even though he has a good reputation and is one of the best bachelors in town. She sympathizes with Lavrezkij and is always on his side.

Vladimir Nikolayevich Panschin

Panschin is a well behaved 28 year old civil servant. His eloquence and good reputation make him one of the most sought-after bachelors in town. He is confident and a good judge of people. He has a number of talents and virtues: he is educated, plays the piano, writes romances, paints and in terms of office he is a Petersburg official who came to the city of O. on special instructions. Panschin advertises the young Lisa and can therefore be recognized as Lavrezkij's opponent.

More people

  • Gedeonovsky - talkative, sociable man who loves making up stories
  • Kristofor Fjodorowitsch Lemm - unfortunate old music teacher from Germany who found it difficult to find his way around Russia
  • Michalewitsch - a good friend of Lavrezkijs from student days
  • Lenochka - younger daughter of Maria
  • Shurochka - Marfa Timofeyeva's allies and servants
  • Nastyasja Karpovna - allies and servants of Marfa Timofejewas

Main themes of the novel

Russian nobility in the turn

One of the main issues Turgenev was grappling with at the time the work was written was related to the development of Russian nobility. Russia was in a turning point in the 19th century. Reforms were on the agenda and the serfdom of the peasants was to be dissolved. This leads to a new representation of the nobility, who despaired of the lack of prospects, did not want to submit to the new regime, but also offered no resistance because it seemed pointless. The role of the nobility thus becomes superfluous. The main plot of the novel revolves around the tragic story of a noble family, in which there is no major change at the end. Lavrezkij embodies this superfluous person best in the novel, since his life path is and remains unclear.

Slavophilia vs. Western culture

This contrast is particularly to be found in the two female figures Warwara and Lisa. Varvara stands for the western, the new rules and ideas. She is sociable, spontaneous, and confident, while Lisa is steadfast and pious. She embodies the conventional, so in Turgenev's sense, the traditional Russian, the old norms. She also shapes the image of Slavophilia in the novel through her faith and reason, as well as the sense of duty . Lavrezkij also plays a Slavophile role in the novel, as he doesn't really feel at home in France and, despite the upbringing of his western-oriented aunt, always sees his homeland and the traditional in the foreground. The contrast between Western culture and Slavophilia runs through the entire novel. Turgenev thus criticizes the veneration of Western culture, in particular the adoption of upbringing and manners, lifestyle and political views.

Luck vs. mandatory

Lavrezkij and Lisa embody another comparison, which is also the main reason for their unsuccessful love. Luck is important to Lavrezkij, despite his sense of duty, and he tries to convince Lisa that they can have this luck together. Lisa is absolutely dutiful through her piety and upbringing and could never put her happiness before her belief in God and duties towards her country. Other themes in the novel are the question of morality, changes in serfdom, and Turgenev's images of women.

Style and shape

The novel consists of 45 chapters and an epilogue and takes place in the year 1842. The action takes place over two months and the epilogue takes place eight years after the action. The aristocratic nest is also often classified as a novel of biographies. The novel consists largely of Lavrezkijs (8th to 16th chapters), Warwaras (13th to 14th chapters) and Lisa's (35th chapter) biographies. The long biographical discourses into the past are wanted by Turgenev and mostly necessary in order to better understand the actions of the characters. The reader is addressed directly and taken into the past. It is also a lyrical novel. This shows Turgenev's description of nature, which literally merges with the inner world of the protagonists. He is just as inclined to omissions, as in the case of the "unspoken love" between Lavrezkij and Lisa and the omission of descriptions of feelings and their analysis. Music also plays an increasingly important role, which reinforces the emotionality. Mentioned music by Beethoven, Weber, Donizetti, Strauss etc. also reinforces the poetry of the novel and is used as a mirror of the soul and to emphasize the beauty of nature.

filming

  • 1969: An aristocratic nest (Дворянское гнездо)

Literature and Sources

  • Peter Brang: "ISTurgenjew - his life and work", Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden, 1977
  • Gosudarstvennoje izdatel`stvo chudožestvennoj literatury: Turgenjew, IS "Sobranije i Sočinenij", Moscow 1961
  • Izdatel´stvo "Nauka": Turgenev, IS "Sočinenija", Moscow 1981
  • S. Turgenev, Dvrorjanskoe gnezdo. Moskva 1950
  • Safronov: Posleslovie dvorjanskogo gnezda 1950
  • Thiergen, Peter: Lawrezkij as "potentiated farmer", on ideology and visual language in IS Turgenev's novel Das Adelsnest, Munich, 1989
  • Asija Esalnek: Osnovy literaturovedenija. Analiz xudozhestvennogo proizvedeniija: uchobnoe posobie. Асия Эсалнек Основы литературоведения. Анализ художественного произведения: учебное пособие

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Gosudarstvennoje izdatel`stvo chudožestvennoj literature: Turgenjew, IS "Sobranije i Sočinenij", Moscow 1961