Summary of the first part of the novel “Oblomov” IA Goncharov
I
Ilya Ilyich Oblomov, a man of about thirty-two or three, of medium height, of pleasant appearance, with dark gray eyes, lay in bed in the morning on the Gorokhovaya Street. His mind was walking through thought, but at the same time there was no concentration, a certain idea on his face. His movements are soft, lazy.
He wore a robe “without brushes, velvet, without waist, very roomy, so that Oblomov could double in it.” The shoes on it were long, soft and wide, they did not have a back.
The normal condition of Ilya Ilyich was lying. The room was clean, but the experienced view would immediately appreciate only the desire to observe the appearance of cleanliness.
Ilya Ilyich woke up early and was preoccupied. The fact is that on the eve he received a letter from the village elder. He wrote that again a crop failure, arrears and it is necessary to take any measures. Oblomov, on the first letter, began to consider the plan for the reconstruction
Zakhar is a servant of Oblomov, who came with him to the city from the village. He still wears the frock coat he wore in the village, because that’s the only thing that reminds him of bars.
There is a dispute between Zakhar and Oblomov about the letter: Oblomov demands a letter from the elder, Zakhar says that he did not see him. Then Oblomov zharit Zakhara for the dirt in the house, but Zakhar unlocks, says he always sweeps and dust erases. Zahar gives the master a bill from the greengrocer, a butcher, an apartment, etc. Oblomov suffers from all the worries that have fallen on him. Among other things, the owner asks Ilya Ilyich to move out of the apartment, as it is necessary to remodel it. Oblomov tells Zakhar that he himself will persuade the owner to wait, but Zakhar advises the master to stand up and write to the owner himself about the request. Oblomov was tired of Zakhar and he sends him out
II
A young man of about twenty-five entered, who was beautifully combed, dressed with a needle. It was Volkov. Volkov informs Oblomov that he is going to Ekateringof to celebrate May 1, invites Oblomov to join him. Then he tells a bunch of secular news, to which Oblomov says that all this boring is hellish. Volkov does not understand how evenings, balls, games, parties can be boring. Oblomov wants to talk with Volkov about his affairs, but he bows and leaves.
When Volkov leaves, Oblomov argues that this person is unhappy: “And this is life, where is the man here?” What does he crush and crumble? “
Again the bell rang. Then came Sudbinsky – the gentleman in a dark green dress coat, with an exhausted face, with a wistful smile. Sudbinsky was an old colleague of Oblomov. Sudbinsky complains about the service: how he became the chief of the department, he does not belong to himself for a minute, he travels all. They remember their colleagues, as they served together as clerical officials. Oblomov is surprised that Sudbinsky stands such a routine of the day. Sudbinsky responds that there is nothing to be done, “if money is needed,” the more he will soon marry. Sudbinsky leaves, inviting Oblomov to be his best man at his wedding. Oblomov argues that he is completely mired in his affairs, in his career and blind, deaf, and dumb for everything else. “And how little is there for a man to do something: his mind, his will, his feelings – why is this? Luxury, and will live his own century, and much, much will not move in him…”
Oblomov, busy with his thoughts, did not notice that there was another visitor at his bed, a very thin, overgrown whiskers, a mustache, dressed with deliberate negligence. It was Penkin, a novelist who wrote about trade, April days, the emancipation of women, etc. He tells Oblomov that he wrote a story about how a city-dweller beats a philistine in the teeth, advises him to read, and also the poem “The Love of the Bribe-taker” to the fallen woman “. But Oblomov responds that he will not read, because in these works “there is no life in anything: there is no understanding of it and sympathy… but a person is forgotten or can not be portrayed. Penkin does not quite understand what Oblomov wants from him, and suggests that he go to Ekateringof, but Oblomov refuses. Penkin leaves, and Oblomov reasons, that his friend spends his thought and his soul on trifles, trades in the mind and imagination, rapes his nature. About himself, Oblomov rejoiced that “he is lying, carefree, like a newborn baby, that does not scatter, nothing is lost…”
Oblomov is visited by the next visitor – Alekseev – a man whom no one has ever noticed, whose name is exactly what no one knew, he has no friends, no enemies, but there are many acquaintances. Alekseev calls Ilya Ilyich to dinner with Ovchinin. Oblomov refuses, motivating by the fact that it’s damp, it’s raining. Oblomov tells Alexeyev his troubles: moving from the apartment and writing a village elder. Alekseev sympathizes with Oblomov, but he can not propose something sensible, he says that everything will change. Oblomov only hopes for Stolz, who promised to be soon, but he does not go. At this time, a desperate bell rings in the hall.
III
A forty-year-old man entered, large, with a big head, bulging eyes, thick-lipped. It was Mikha Andreevich Tarantyev, a fellow countryman of Oblomov. Tarantyev was smart and smart, but at the same time, he never went beyond words. He remained a theorist for a lifetime, “and yet he wore and realized the dormant power trapped in him by hostile circumstances forever.” He was a big bribe taker who “will certainly grab a piece of meat on the fly, from where and wherever he goes”. In the room Oblomov, where reigned sleep and rest, Tarantiev always brought some movement, life, to lead from the outside.
Here such visitors visited Oblomov, with other friends Oblomov more and more broke off live communications.
There was also a man in the life of Oblomov, whom Ilya Ilyich loved most of all. This person “loved news, light, science, and all his life, but somehow deeper, more sincere.” It was Andrei Ivanovich Stoltz, who was away now and whom Oblomov was waiting for any minute.
IV
Tarantiev tries to finally lift Oblomov from his bed, and he succeeds. He demands from Oblomov that he treat him to breakfast, cigarettes, then takes money from Oblomov for Madera. Oblomov complains to the guest about his misfortunes. Tarantyev says that he served the right way to Ilya Ilyich, and suggested that he move to his kuma on the Vyborg side tomorrow. Oblomov refuses, as it is very far: there are no theaters, shops nearby. Tarantyev tells Ilya Ilyich that he has not been out for a long time, whether it’s all the same where to live, so that Oblomov will not go anywhere, move and that’s it. Then Oblomov complains to Tarantiev for the elder. The guest answers that the elder is a fraudster, he invented arrears, drought, poor harvest, etc. He offers to change the headman, and also to go to the village himself and find out everything in place, and it would be quite good to write letters. Let Oblomov sit down and write with Alexeyev right now. Oblomov does not want to hear to go to the village. Tarantyev is outraged by the will of Ilya Ilyich, says that he will be lost. Oblomov says that if Stolz was here, he would have settled everything in a hurry. Because of this phrase Tarantiev flares up, he does not like that some German is more expensive to Oblomov than he is to Tarantyev. Oblomov asked to respect Stolz, since he grew up with him. Finally, Tarantiev asks Oblomov to give him his coat, because there is nothing to wear for the wedding. Oblomov agrees, but Zakhar does not give a coat. Offended Tarantyev leaves. Alekseev suggests that Oblomov write letters, but he says that after lunch he will take care of everyone. Alekseev leaves, and Oblomov, picking up his legs under him, plunged into something drowsiness, or thoughtfulness. Oblomov does not want to hear to go to the village. Tarantyev is outraged by the will of Ilya Ilyich, says that he will be lost. Oblomov says that if Stolz was here, he would have settled everything in a hurry. Because of this phrase Tarantiev flares up, he does not like that some German is more expensive to Oblomov than he is to Tarantyev. Oblomov asked to respect Stolz, since he grew up with him. Finally, Tarantiev asks Oblomov to give him his coat, because there is nothing to wear for the wedding. Oblomov agrees, but Zakhar does not give a coat. Offended Tarantyev leaves. Alekseev suggests that Oblomov write letters, but he says that after lunch he will take care of everyone. Alekseev leaves, and Oblomov, picking up his legs under him, plunged into something drowsiness, or thoughtfulness. Oblomov does not want to hear to go to the village. Tarantyev is outraged by the will of Ilya Ilyich, says that he will be lost. Oblomov says that if Stolz was here, he would have settled everything in a hurry. Because of this phrase Tarantiev flares up, he does not like that some German is more expensive to Oblomov than he is to Tarantyev. Oblomov asked to respect Stolz, since he grew up with him. Finally, Tarantiev asks Oblomov to give him his coat, because there is nothing to wear for the wedding. Oblomov agrees, but Zakhar does not give a coat. Offended Tarantyev leaves. Alekseev suggests that Oblomov write letters, but he says that after lunch he will take care of everyone. Alekseev leaves, and Oblomov, picking up his legs under him, plunged into something drowsiness, or thoughtfulness. that if there was Stolz, he would settle everything in a moment. Because of this phrase Tarantiev flares up, he does not like that some German is more expensive to Oblomov than he is to Tarantyev. Oblomov asked to respect Stolz, since he grew up with him. Finally, Tarantiev asks Oblomov to give him his coat, because there is nothing to wear for the wedding. Oblomov agrees, but Zakhar does not give a coat. Offended Tarantyev leaves. Alekseev suggests that Oblomov write letters, but he says that after lunch he will take care of everyone. Alekseev leaves, and Oblomov, picking up his legs under him, plunged into something drowsiness, or thoughtfulness. that if there was Stolz, he would settle everything in a moment. Because of this phrase Tarantiev flares up, he does not like that some German is more expensive to Oblomov than he is to Tarantyev. Oblomov asked to respect Stolz, since he grew up with him. Finally, Tarantiev asks Oblomov to give him his coat, because there is nothing to wear for the wedding. Oblomov agrees, but Zakhar does not give a coat. Offended Tarantyev leaves. Alekseev suggests that Oblomov write letters, but he says that after lunch he will take care of everyone. Alekseev leaves, and Oblomov, picking up his legs under him, plunged into something drowsiness, or thoughtfulness. so Oblomov gave him his coat, because there is nothing to wear for the wedding. Oblomov agrees, but Zakhar does not give a coat. Offended Tarantyev leaves. Alekseev suggests that Oblomov write letters, but he says that after lunch he will take care of everyone. Alekseev leaves, and Oblomov, picking up his legs under him, plunged into something drowsiness, or thoughtfulness. so Oblomov gave him his coat, because there is nothing to wear for the wedding. Oblomov agrees, but Zakhar does not give a coat. Offended Tarantyev leaves. Alekseev suggests that Oblomov write letters, but he says that after lunch he will take care of everyone. Alekseev leaves, and Oblomov, picking up his legs under him, plunged into something drowsiness, or thoughtfulness.
V
Oblomov, a nobleman, a college secretary, has been living in St. Petersburg for 12 years.
At first he lived in a small apartment, but when his parents died and he became the only heir, he rented a bigger apartment. Then he was still young and full of aspirations, desires and dreams. But years went by, and he did not do anything, only grew stout, still being “at the threshold of his arena, where he was ten years ago.”
Especially puzzled by his office. He believed that officials are a big family, and service is some kind of family activity. But everything turned out to be not so: everyone in the service was in a hurry somewhere, did not talk to each other, they all demanded something and quickly. “All this brought fear and great boredom to him.” When will we live? When to live? “He kept saying. So Oblomov served two years. He would stretch out the third year, if not for one case. Once he sent an important paper instead of Astrakhan to Arkhangelsk, he was punished. But Oblomov did not wait for punishment, but left home and sent later a medical certificate. In this certificate Oblomov was instructed not to go to the service and refrain from mental activities and all activities in general. After recovering Oblomov resigned. More than he has never served.
The role in society also failed. He rejoiced in the evenings, received a lot of supportive female views. He tried to stay away from the ladies, especially from “pale, sad maidens, mostly with black eyes.” His soul was waiting for some pure virgin love, but over the years, it seems, stopped waiting. Ilya Ilyich also said good-bye to his friends.
Now nothing more dragged him out of the house, “and he grew more and more steady in his apartment every day.” He stopped attending the evening, then began to be afraid of dampness, and therefore left the house only in the morning, and later stopped altogether.
Only Stolts managed to get Oblomov out of the house. But Stolz often left Petersburg, and without him Oblomov again plunged into seclusion.
Gradually, Oblomov lost his habit of life, from vanity, from movement.
VI
What did he do at home?
Sometimes I read, but books quickly bored him, because the cooling quickly took over him.
He did not understand what he would do with all this knowledge in Oblomovka.
But they hurt Oblomov for a lively poet, and “he shook off the nap, the soul asked for activity.” Stoltz, as best he could, tried to maintain this impulse in Oblomov. But the desire for activity quickly evaporated, and Oblomov again plunged into his drowsiness.
He graduated from the school, but failed to apply his knowledge in practice. “His life was on his own, and science itself”. And then Oblomov realized that his destiny was family happiness and concern for the estate. The business in the estate was getting worse and worse every year, Oblomov had to go there himself. But he postponed everything and put it off, inventing various reasons that interfered with him.
In his head, Ilya Ilyich was building a plan for the reconstruction of the estate. He worked on it, sparing no effort. As he wakes up in the morning, he lies and thinks, something is thinking, “Tzoka, finally, the head will get tired of hard work and when the conscience says: it’s pretty much done today for the common good.”
But Oblomov was not alien and universal human tribulations, he even sometimes cried over the calamities and suffering of men. It happened that he filled with hatred for lies, libel, and then he was ready to do great things, perform feats. But the sun was bending towards the sunset, the day was ending, and with it the dreams of Oblomov were coming to an end.
In the morning, everything repeated. He many times imagined himself as some unconquerable commander, doing good on earth. But no one saw this inner life of Ilya Ilyich, except Stolz, but that often was not in Petersburg. Others thought, “that Oblomov is so-so, only lies and eats for health, and that there is nothing more to wait for him, and that hardly any thoughts in his head are tied to him.” Zakhar also knew, of course, the inner world of his master. But he believed that they live with the master correctly, and otherwise one should not live.
VII
Zahar was over fifty. It belonged to two epochs, which left a mark on it. “From one he inherited boundless devotion to the Oblomovs’ house, and from another, later, sophistication and corruption of morals.”
He constantly lied to the master, liked to drink and gossip, stealthily steal money, ate what the servants were not allowed to, was upset when the master finished everything to pieces without leaving anything on the plate.
He was slovenly, rarely washed, shaved, was very clumsy, constantly broke everything. All these qualities were due only to the fact that he received his upbringing “in the countryside, in peace, space and free air.”
He did only what he once took into his duties, it was impossible to force him to do something more than that. But, despite all this, it turned out that he was a servant devoted to his master. He could die for the sake of the master, but if, for example, it was necessary to sit at the master’s bed all night, and this would depend on the life of the master, Zakhar would certainly fall asleep.
Outwardly Zakhar never showed obsequiousness to Oblomov, but to everything that had to do with the Oblomovs, he treated with awe, all this was close, sweet, dear to him.
Ilya Ilyich was used to the fact that Zakhar was completely devoted to him, and believed that it could not be otherwise. But Oblomov no longer had friendly feelings for Zakhar, like the old gentlemen, he even often swore with his servant.
Oblomov also bothered Zakhar. Since his childhood, Zachar had been attached to him as an uncle, and therefore considered himself only a luxury item. From this, he, dressing the little bag in the morning and undressing him in the evening, did nothing for days.
Zakhar was lazy, so when all the Oblomov household fell on him in Petersburg, he became sullen, rude and cruel, constantly grumbling, grumbling, arguing with the master.
Zakhar and Oblomov had known each other for a long time, and the connection between them was indestructible. They did not imagine life without each other. How Oblomov would not get out of bed, did not eat, would not be clothed without Zahar, so Zakhar did not imagine another master and other existence, except how to raise, feed and clothe Oblomov.
VIII
Zakhar, closing the doors behind Tarantyev and Alexeyev, reminded Oblomov that it was time to get up and write letters. But Oblomov did not get up, but lay and thought out the plan for the estate. Especially Oblomov occupied the construction of a new house, he disassembled all the details of his device, then he reached the fruit garden, imagined how he was sitting on the terrace in the evening and drinking tea, next to his wife, children, Stolz’s childhood friend. And Oblomov so wanted love, happiness, his home, his family, his children. Ilya Ilyich sees himself surrounded by friends who live nearby, and his face glows with happiness. But he had to wake up from the screams of people in the yard.
Oblomov got up and asked Zakhar to cook. Zahar says that there is nothing and there is no money. Then Oblomov asks to bring what is. Zahar brings food and recalls the request of the owner of the apartment to release her. Zahar suggests writing a letter. Oblomov sits down to write, but he does not come out beautifully and competently. Finally, completely tormented, Ilya Ilyich tears the letter and throws it to the floor.
A doctor comes who, having examined Oblomov, says that if Ilya Ilyich lives in this climate for another two or three years, leading a similar way of life, he will die. The doctor advises you to go abroad, to avoid stress of the mind, reading, writing, you can also hire a villa to have more flowers, but it would be nice to walk about eight hours a day. And then it is necessary to go to Paris, where to have fun, without hesitation, to turn in the whirlwind of life; then take the steamer to England and ride to America. Oblomov is horrified at the doctor’s advice. The doctor leaves.
Zahar returns to the room and recalls the move. Oblomov wants to drive him away. Zahar advises Ilya Ilyich to go for a walk, go to the theater, and then you can move. But Oblomov resists, says that there is no human power to move, and he can not fall asleep five nights in a new place, and so one can get sick. Zakhar says: “I thought that the others were no worse than us, but moved…” This phrase takes Oblomov out of himself, he can not understand how Zakhar could compare him to others. The word “others” touched Oblomov’s pride, and he decided to show Zakhar the difference between him and others.
Oblomov says that the other is a cursed ass, which “cracks herring and potatoes”, cleans his boots, dresses himself, does not know what servants are. The other bowed, asked, humiliated. And he, Oblomov, was brought up tenderly, he never tolerated cold or hunger, he never did anything himself. And how dared Zahar compare it to another?! Zakhar understood little of Oblomov’s speech, but his lips trembled with inner excitement. Oblomov says that he cares about Zakhar all day, even in his plan, took him to the role of attorney for business, to whom the peasants bow to their feet. And he looked what he threw out: he did not take care of the master’s peace at all. Because Oblomov does not regret himself for him and other peasants, he thinks everything, even retired.
Zahar leaves, calling Oblomov the master of pathetic words to speak.
Oblomov calmed down a little, turned over on the other side and began to think that maybe everything will turn out by itself and will not have to move. He begins to ponder, and what is “the other” really? After all, probably, “the other” would have written letters to the owner of the apartment and to the village elder, and maybe even from the apartment, he would have left. After all, he, Oblomov, could do all this. But why can not? “One of the clear conscious minutes in Oblomov’s life came.” He understands that many aspects of his soul have not been developed, but meanwhile there is a bright beginning in him. But this treasure is stuffed with rubbish. Someone dropped it at the beginning of life from a direct human purpose. And no longer get out of the wilderness on a straight path. The mind and will of him have long been paralyzed. Oblomov felt bitter at this confession in front of himself. He tries to find the culprit. But, having not found one, Oblomov slowly falls asleep, thinking, why is he still like that? The dream moved him to another place, another era, to other people.
IX The dream of Oblomov
We are in that peaceful corner where the sky lovingly embraces the earth, the sun shines brightly and hotly for six months, and then slowly retires to rest. The mountains there are like gentle hills. The river runs fun and playing. Summer, spring, winter and autumn come exactly with the calendar, there is no such thing that the winter suddenly returns in the spring and brought it all with snow. “Neither storms, nor destruction can not be heard in that region.” The poet and dreamer would be satisfied with this unpretentious terrain.
Three or four villages made up this corner, in which everything was quiet, sleepy. Everywhere there is silence and peace. This corner was impassable, and therefore there was nowhere to draw knowledge. And people lived happily, thinking that they could not live otherwise.
From the villages there were Sosnovka and Vasilovka, known collectively as Oblomovka.
Ilya Ilyich woke up early. He’s still small, “pretty, red, full.” He sees his mother, who showered him with kisses. The boy asks her if they will go for a walk today? Mother says that they will. Then they go to their father to drink tea. At the table sit relatives and guests, and they all pick up Ilyusha, shower with caresses and praise, feed him with rolls, crackers.
Then Ilyusha goes for a walk, but her mother warns that he does not run far. But Ilyusha does not listen to her. He rushed to the hayloft, then to the ravine, but the nurse stops him on time, saying that it’s not a child, but some kind of yule. And Ilyusha has to come back. He wants to know everything, to find out, but his mother and nurse do not allow him to step.
The main concern of Oblomov was the kitchen and dinner. Since the morning and until noon, food was prepared in huge quantities.
At noon the house seemed to die out: the hour of universal afternoon nap was coming. “It was some kind of all-consuming, nothing unbeatable dream, a true likeness of death. Everything is dead, only from all angles there is a variety of snoring in all tones and frets.”
And at this time the child was left to himself, he examined everything, climbed into the ditch, into the ravine. But the heat gradually subsided, and everything was awakening in the house. Drank tea. But now it’s starting to get dark, and the house is being taken to prepare dinner. After supper everyone goes to bed, and the nurse reads Ilyusha’s tales. Both Oblomov’s mind and imagination, “imbued with fiction, remained already in his slavery until his old age.” Already an adult, Ilya Ilyich learns that there are no milk rivers, good witches, etc. But “his tale is mixed with life, and he unconscious sad sometimes, why the tale is not life, and life is not a fairy tale.” “The imagination of the boy was filled with strange ghosts, fear and longing settled for a long time, maybe forever in the soul.”
Then Ilya Ilyich saw himself as a boy of thirteen or fourteen. He is already learning from the German Stolz, who had a son Andrei.
Maybe Ilya Ilyich learned something, and learned, but here’s where Verloveka, where Stolz lived, was far from Oblomovka, and in the frost, rain and wind, parents did not let Ilyusha go to school.
Dreams also Oblomov dark living room, the mother sits, with her legs tucked, in the room burns a tallow candle. Oblomovtsy were very stingy, so they agreed to tolerate any inconvenience, but just do not spend money.
The account of the time in Oblomovka was conducted on holidays, for various family and home cases. Nothing broke in the house of the usual current of life, monotony. Everything was here monotonous: Oblomovtsy “continued for decades to snort, doze, yawn…”
Only once there was an incident that violated the existing life Oblomov: they received a letter. At first they did not want to open the message, but later they found out that it was a letter from Filip Matveyich asking him to send him a beer recipe. All calmed down, decided that we should write an answer. Father said that he would write about the holiday better. It is not known whether Philip Matveyich waited for a prescription.
Oblomovs always understood the benefits of education, it could bring the ranks that Ilyusha dreamed about. But they did not like to study in Oblomovka.
Ilyusha never did anything himself. Something will make him think, and then three or four servants will do everything themselves. So Oblomov lived, “cherished as an exotic flower in a greenhouse, and just like the last one under glass, he grew slowly and sluggishly.” The seekers of manifestation of power turned inward and nikli, withering. “
X
Zahar gossips at the gate about his master. Describes how Oblomov scolded him for “another”, that he did not want to leave the apartment, because he was already furious with the fat. He is told that if his master curses, it means that this is a glorious master, characteristic. One of the servants said something unflattering about Oblomov, so Zakhar is ready to kill for his master. He says that Oblomov is gold, and not a gentleman, it is still necessary to look for this. Zakhara is reassured by inviting him to the pub, he agrees. Everyone leaves.
XI
At the beginning of the fifth, Zakhar returned home and went to wake up his master. Oblomov does not want to get up, Zahar yells at him, swears. Oblomov stands up and wants to hit Zakhara for such impudence. But he is stopped by a loud laugh at the door. “Stolz, Stolz,” Oblomov shouted enthusiastically, rushing to the guest. “
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