Writing take care of your honor in youth


At literature lessons we got acquainted with Pushkin’s story “The Captain’s Daughter”. Before the work is placed the epigraph: “Take care of the honor from the youth.” I heard this saying many times, but I understood its meaning only now, reflecting on what I read, comparing the two heroes, Grinev and Shvabrin. These are young officers sent to serve in the Belogorsky fortress. At first I decided that they were both negative heroes.

The author writes that Shvabrin was exiled to the fortress because of his participation in the duel. And Grinev from the very first pages of the story made a bad impression on me. He did not really want to learn, somehow he could read French, dreamed of leading a merry life in Petersburg, serving in the Guards. On the way to the Belogorsky fortress Grinev drank, played billiards. Only in the fortress he appeared before me quite a different person. Here Peter defends the honor of his beloved girl, causing Shvabrin to duel. He was not stopped by the fact that he could die. It’s a matter of honor to protect the name of your beloved.

And Grinev is facing an even more severe trial ahead of him. The fortress is occupied by Pugachev. Shvabrin goes over to the side of the rebels (not because of ideological convictions, of course, but, wishing to save his life), and Peter Grinev, feeling sympathy for Pugachev, refuses to serve him even under the gallows. “I swore allegiance to the Empress – the Empress, I can not serve you.” This scene very well reveals the meaning of the proverb. Shvabrin blotted out his honor by becoming a traitor. Grinev showed himself to be courageous, who can keep his word, defend his convictions. And, finally, one more act of Peter Grinev, confirming that.


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Writing take care of your honor in youth