Summary of “Sevastopol Stories” by Tolstoy
Morning. Above Sapun Mountain is an incredibly beautiful dawn: a dark blue sea, a light chill and fog. There is no snow, but the frost still burns his cheeks, and the sound of the sea is interrupted by shots in the city of Sevastopol. When you look at this beautiful city, the thought of a certain courage, great pride, and the blood seems to congeal in all the veins.
In Sevastopol, the war is still raging, but if you do not look at everything that is happening, life goes on, and the markets sell different goods. Here for a long time everything has been mixed up, people do not pay attention to anything, they are busy with their problems. Only on the bastions it is possible to see heart-rending spectacles.
In hospitals, the wounded share their impressions of the fighting and the way each of them lost their health. In the next room, operations are performed and the wounded are bandaged. All very awkward and scary, because doctors easily remove parts of the body and indifferently
One of the officers behaves very strange, complaining about the dirt, and not on the bombs falling on the heads. But no one here for a long time does not pay attention to this, because people are shocked. In the fourth bastion there are a lot of military men and a lot of wounded. But, despite this, the artilleryman is very calm. The artillery officer shares that recently they had only one weapon, and almost no assistants at all, but by the morning, he, as if in nothing, was standing on a cannon. He described how 11 people died from one explosion.
In the faces of the soldiers, the whole Russian spirit is clearly visible: there is stubbornness, anger, and simplicity with dignity. Malice is expressed in vengeance to the enemy. All the soldiers are scared, but when a bomb flies over them, it creates a feeling of enchantment and a game of life and death. But the Russian people are unshakeable, and will never give up their Sevastopol to the enemy. Love for the homeland defeats all fears and doubts, and all unbearable conditions fade in comparison with the shame that the people will
Sevastopol in May
The fighting has been going on for six months. The most just and original way out of the conflict would be if one man on each side of the armies fought, and he who can win and win, he would win the whole battle. Since this method would be safer for civilians and all citizens in general. Wars are not logical and primitive at all, Tolstoy believes. War is crazy, and people themselves create this craziness.
On the streets of the city of Sevastopol, people wander in military uniform every day. Mikhailov, who is a captain, is one of them, he is a tall stooped man. Mikhailov received a message from a friend a few days ago, telling him that his wife was watching how the regiment’s regiment and its achievements were moving.
The staff captain with sadness remembered his former circle of friends. After all, he was at the ball at the governor himself, he was thrown into cards with the general, he was respected by everyone, but incredulously and indifferently, and he had to defend his positions. Mikhailov pondered when he would be promoted to office.
After meeting Obzhogov with Suslikov, who serve in his regiment, he shakes hands without much desire, but he does not want to do business with them for a long time. Aristocrats are very vain, and not aristocrats behave in this way, and since the people in the city are many and death for six months hangs over everyone’s heads, then already peaceful residents began to behave with a certain vanity.
It is, most likely, at every war so as to somehow survive. At this time, there are three types of citizens: only entering vanity, accepting it as a condition of survival, and a flock that follows the first two… The captain-captain does not want to meet anyone, but a little round in circles, he approaches the “aristocrats “. Before that, he was afraid of them, because they can prick into the most “tender” and sick, and in general they could not even say hello.
“Aristocrats” refer to the staff officer very arrogantly, Galtsyn takes his hand and leads him to walk because he wants to deliver Mikhailov a little pleasure. But after a while everyone stops paying any attention to him, and Mikhailov understands that they are not very happy here.
Mikhailov returns home with a memory that he promised to go out to work in the morning, replacing the officer. Mikhailova does not leave the feeling that he will either die or be promoted to rank. He believes that he acts honestly. On the road, he tries to guess where he is wounded.
Everyone gathers at Kalugin to drink tea, play the piano and remember life before the war. All of them are extremely pompous, and show themselves to be important personalities, as if explaining that they are “aristocrats”.
An infantry officer comes to the general to report something important, everyone in the room pretends not to see the person who entered. As soon as the messenger leaves, Kalugin begins to worry. Galtsyn asks the question about the exit, Kalugin discourages him, knowing that he is not going to leave. Galtsyn is nervous and starts walking around, asking passers-by. as the battle goes on.
Staff officer Kalugin goes to the bastion, along the way demonstrating to others that he is a brave man. He does not notice bullets over his head, taking various poses. He is at a loss because the commander is afraid. Kalugin goes to inspect the bastion, accompanied by a young officer. Praskukhin notifies the captain’s battalion of redeployment.
Mikhailov and Praskukhin start moving at night, but each of them reflects on how he looks in the eyes of the other. Praskukhin dies, and Kalugin is wounded in the head. Mikhailov does not go to dressing, because he believes that debt is above all. He does not yet know that his friend is dead, so, despite everything, he crawls back. Clouds of bloody corpses, which were recently full of desires and hopes, lie on a flourishing field. So much groaning and suffering have not yet seen the walls of Sevastopol.
And the dawn continues to day after day to rise above the Sapun Mountain: already faded stars, a dense fog of almost black sea, scattered clouds on the bright red horizon, which still promise wonderful joyful days, and peace throughout the world. The next day, all the military are walking along the avenue, and retelling the events of the past day, showing all around their bravery around them.
All of them feel themselves to be Napoleons, since they are ready to re-enter the path of battle, in order to be able to catch a star and increased salaries. The Russians and the French declare a truce, the military easily communicate with each other, and there is absolutely no enmity. They are even happy about this kind of communication, suspecting the mind of each of the parties. They understand how inhuman the war is.
The boy walks through the clearing and, not noticing around the corpses, collects wild flowers. Around the white flags. An infinite number of people smile around. All of them worship one god, all profess the same laws of life and love, but still they will not be able to fall to their knees and ask for the death of their loved ones.
But the flags are removed. And again, citizens of both sides take up their guns, and red rivers flow again, and frantic moans come from every corner of the city. But the hero of this story, beautiful and manly, he was able to prove himself as an officer worthy of which can not be, like him though rare, but still live in all countries and at all times.
Sevastopol in August 1855goda.
After the treatment, Kozeltzov appears on the battlefield, this respected officer is independent in his reasoning. He is not very stupid and very talented. Can make state securities. He had a kind of self-esteem, which has long merged with everyday life, with him it is possible and humble and excel at the same time.
All the carts with the horses disappeared, a lot of residents gathered at the stop. Some officers do not have the means to exist at all. Here is the brother of Mikhail Kozeltsev named Vladimir. Despite plans, he did not get into the guard and was appointed a soldier. Like any newcomer, he likes fighting.
Vladimir is proud of his brother and travels with him to Sevastopol. Vladimir is somewhat embarrassed, he is not so eager to fight, sitting at the station, he lost money. His elder brother helps pay the debt, and they set out on their journey. Volodya awaits heroic deeds, which he thinks he will do with Michael. He reflects on how he will be killed and all those reproaches that he will say before death to people who do not know how to value life.
When they arrive, they are sent to a farce. In the booth, the officer is sitting over a bunch of money that he has to count. Nobody understands why Vladimir came to Sevastopol. The brothers leave to sleep on the 5th bastion, but before they sleep they still have to visit a dying friend in the hospital. The brothers diverge.
The commander suggested that Vladimir spend the night, although Vlang is already sleeping on the bed. He gives way to the arriving ensign. Vladimir hardly falls asleep, before bedtime he is scared by the night, and he thinks about his death. But still falls asleep under the whistling bullets. Michael enters the disposal of his commander, who most recently was with him in one position.
The new commander is outraged by the entry into the system of Kozeltsov. But everyone else is happy about his return, he enjoys all the success, and they give him a very warm welcome. In the morning, military actions are gaining momentum again. Vladimir is among the officers of artillery. Everyone sympathizes with him here. But the special attention is given to him by Junker Vlang. He tries in every possible way to please the new ensign Vladimir.
Captain Kraut, a German by birth, unexpectedly returned from the war, but is presented in Russian, as in his native language, very beautifully and without errors. Between them begins a conversation about legal theft in high positions. Vladimir blushes and assures everyone that if he survives to this position, then for no reason he will not do so.
Vladimir gets to lunch with the commander. There are a lot of interesting conversations on it, and even a modest menu does not interfere with conversations. The chief of artillery sends a letter, it says that a mortar officer in the city of Malakhov needs an officer, but since this is an uneasy place, no one agrees. Someone proposes to this post Vladimir, after a while he agrees. Vlang goes with him.
The officer begins to study the conduct of artillery combat. But as soon as he arrives at his destination, all his knowledge is not accepted, since the war takes place without order, and everything that is described in the books does not even closely resemble actual combat operations. Even fix no one’s guns. The officer several times was a hair’s breadth from death. Junker is scared, he can only think about death. Volodya treats everything with a kind of humor. Volodya likes to communicate with Melnikov, because he believes that he will die not in war. Vladimir very quickly finds a common language with the commander.
The soldiers are talking, as soon as Prince Constantine is about to come to them, and they will finally be able to rest a little. Volodya is talking with Melnikov until the morning, on the threshold of the house, he no longer pays any attention to bullets or to bombs. Vladimir, forgetting about fear, sincerely happy with the high quality of performing his duties.
Storm. Sleepy Kozeltsev goes to the fight, he is not bothered by his sleepiness, much more he worries about not being considered a coward. He snatches his sword and rushes toward the French. Volodya is badly wounded.
The priest, in order to please Volodya before his death, said that the Russians had won. He is very glad that he was able to serve his homeland, and until his last breath he thinks about his elder brother. Volodya continues to command, but after a while understands that the French troops bypass them. Near it lies the corpse of Melnikov. Vlang still beats, not noticing the death of the commanders. Above the Malakhov barrow appears the banner of the French. Vlang is leaving for a safe place. Soldiers, watching the abandoned Sevastopol…
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