(Based on the novel by I.A. Goncharov “Oblomov”)

The formulation of this topic cannot be called traditional, so a certain amount of freedom appears in its disclosure for the graduate. The topic is suitable for those who have not only read the novel, but also have their own relationship with its characters and have themselves thought about the problems raised in it. The essay should not turn into a comparison of Oblomov and Stolz (a regular school assignment), although elements of this comparison should certainly be present in the work. But her main interest will still lie in a reasoned, personal answer to the proposed question.

And these answers can be different, even completely opposite. Someone will tell you that the reason for Stolz’s “failure” was Oblomov’s Laziness, which is the product of an entire way of life for many generations (remember “Oblomov’s Dream”). Further, the writer’s thought can turn to a broader comparison of the West and the East, the cult of personal activity (Stolz) and the typical Russian lethargy and lethargy, inability to progress (Oblomov). It is only important that such a line of development of thought does not lead to separation from the text of the novel, to reasoning “in general” and relying exclusively on examples taken from modern life (this, as is known, suffers from a certain part of high school students, especially those interested in politics).

Someone, on the contrary, will argue that Stolz’s attempts to pull Oblomov out are in themselves an empty exercise, since there is no need to pull him out anywhere. He lives his own, self-sufficient and full life from the inside (it is no coincidence that on the very first page of the novel, where there are so many echoes of “Dead Souls”, the description of the hero persistently emphasizes the presence of the soul, its broad and free expression in every feature). That’s why people are drawn to him (in just the first day so many came!), that’s why it was him, and not Stoltz, that Olga first fell in love with, that’s why Agafya Matveevna gave her whole life to him, because he embodied the fullness of life, his existence is organic, and not mechanical, like Stolz’s. Oblomov has a “heart of gold.” And if he does not care about the external progress of humanity and the vanity of modern life, then isn’t this a death sentence not for himself, but precisely for progress and vanity? Stolz absolutely needs Oblomov to live like himself, like everyone else, but Oblomov lives in his own way and protects this right. So, maybe he is more individual, “personal” than Stolz?

I highly recommend that high school students focusing on this topic read (or refresh their memory) the polemical articles by Dobrolyubov and Druzhinin, as well as watch N. Mikhalkov’s film “A Few Days in the Life of Oblomov.” Reflecting on it (and this is also one of the attempts to answer the question in the topic) can decorate the essay. In all cases, it is worth remembering that you can express your own position provided that you understand and describe the author’s position expressed in the text. Then all other “decorations” will have a solid foundation.

The outstanding Russian classic writer Ivan Aleksandrovich Goncharov, in the concept of the novel “Oblomov,” depicted the image of Stolz in a special way. The literary critic Nikolai Aleksandrovich Dobrolyubov expressed this very clearly. The idea of ​​the image, in his opinion, is a new person, capable of telling his contemporaries “what to do.” Corresponding Member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences Goncharov spent ten years carefully, step by step, writing a novel in which he solved a super task. It was obvious that with the replacement of the feudal foundations of society with bourgeois ones, the nobility finally lost its aura of progressiveness.

The new "hero of our time"?

The writer’s contemporaries no longer saw either in Pushkin’s image of the nobleman Eugene Onegin, or in Lermontov’s image of Grigory Aleksandrovich Pechorin as luminaries to follow. These heroes have become literary and historical. A clear niche has formed in Russian culture, unfilled by anyone. History, and the interests of the development of society, demanded a new insightful look and fresh ideas. In the 19th century, a new social stratum of people appeared - commoners. Having no hereditary “blue blood”, these people were brilliantly educated, amazingly efficient, introduced themselves into all spheres of social development and moved them. The image of Stolz in the novel “Oblomov” became precisely such a hero, capable of telling his compatriots “forward” with reason.

Goncharov, with maximum clarity, simply displayed in relief those new qualities that fundamentally distinguished him from Onegin and Pechorin. At the same time, the classic points out his simply “genetic” differences: the ideals, aspirations, activity, and values ​​of the individual are different. So Ivan Alesandrovich shows this by the origin of Stolz. His father, Ivan Bogdanovich Stolts, came to Russia and serves as a clerk, managing the estate. sane. Andrei's mother is an educated Russian lady, a person of a delicate soul, belonging to a poor class. The image of Stolz in the novel “Oblomov” is indicative. Goncharov thus “sculpts” the essence of the man of the future from German clearly directed education, purposefulness, efficiency, activity and the Russian spiritual world (Andrei Stolz is Orthodox), openness and sincerity towards friends, and a tendency to conform to the home life “according to the Russian type.”

Stolz is an active member of society

Andrei Stolts, thanks to his first teacher - his father, received the main thing along with his primary education: Then - a university education. Then he made a brilliant career (even before he was 32-33 years old). We learn that according to the table of ranks, her result is equivalent to the rank of colonel in the legal field. The image of Stolz in the novel “Oblomov” is both a lawyer and a businessman. In a few years he will increase his father's capital tenfold. Having retired, he was successful in commercial activities, skillfully representing a trading company both in Western Europe and in Russia itself. Moreover, the fact that Stolz is involved in the development of projects is evidenced by the fact that his colleagues listen to his thoughts and suggestions.

Stolz values ​​friendship and family relationships

In addition to his business qualities, Andrei Ivanovich is a loyal friend. He doesn’t leave people to their own devices. He helps practically, not with advice, but with talking points. He manages to literally drag the lazy man and couch potato out of his St. Petersburg apartment so that he can see people, communicate, and find a woman who would change his life. At first, it would seem that Stolz’s plan worked: Oblomov fell in love with Olga Ilyinskaya. She also had reciprocal emotions. However, barely sprouted love needs to be watered, like a tree, not only with movements of the soul, but also with kind, romantic deeds and deeds. But this is exactly what Ilya Ilyich turned out to be incapable of. All Andrei Ivanovich’s efforts aimed at improving the life of his comrade turn out to be in vain. Olga is also disappointed. Andrei Ivanovich, seeing the wealth of the soul and realizing the depth of the spiritual world of a woman, marries Olga.

When Oblomov dies of illness, the Stoltsy couple take in his son Andryusha to raise him.

Criticism of Stolz's image

However, major Russian writers and critics, including Chekhov and Dobrolyubov, while generally expressing admiration for Goncharov’s work, sharply criticized the image of Stolz in the novel “Oblomov.” They saw that this character did not actually serve the development and ideals of Russia; all his activities were aimed at his own personal well-being. He is an individualist, building his own theories and not listening to others. “Such people will not be able to save the Fatherland,” is the harsh verdict of the classics. By the way, Goncharov himself admitted that the ideas underlying this image remained unfulfilled.

conclusions

However, we should not forget that Goncharov’s time was the time of literary titans. His work was evaluated by true classics according to the highest criteria. Therefore, it would be correct to sum up the above with the following: Ivanovich Stolz is organically woven into the plot, he gracefully sets off Ilya Oblomov. Goncharov’s play on the contrasts between the images of Oblomov and Stolz made and continues to make many people think and reevaluate their lives. Moreover, it is the classic's most famous novel. Therefore, the greatest creative success that the writer Goncharov achieved was “Oblomov”. The image of Stolz plays the role of a good contrast for the main character - one of the most unsurpassed “lazy people” in all world literature.

Roman I.A. Goncharov's "Oblomov" permeates the pathos of social criticism. The collision of two heroes (Ilya Oblomov and Andrei Stolts), two opposing lifestyles can be viewed in a broad social sense.

Oblomov in this regard symbolizes the inert feudal lordship that has flourished everywhere in the vastness of the Russian land. He spends most of his time on the couch. Any work does not attract him: he cannot even finish reading a book he has started for years. The author constantly emphasizes the gentleness both in the character of the hero and in everything that surrounds him.

The image of the sleeping Oblomov symbolizes the ruined mind, inertia and inertia of the Russian nobility. The hero harbors some abstract plans for reform, but with his immaturity, these plans are never destined to come true. Oblomov seems to be “quietly and gradually settling into the coffin of the rest of his existence, made with his own hands, like desert elders who, turning away from life, dig their own grave.”

Andrei Stolz (this is evidenced by the German origin of the hero) is an adherent of the active capitalist mentality that came to us from Europe. An active, economic rationalist breaks into the sluggish life of Oblomovka in order to shake up the existing way of life and revive Ilya Ilyich to a different existence. It is no coincidence that Stolz reminds Oblomov of his youthful dreams of going on a trip.

Andrey introduces Ilya Ilyich to Olga, hoping that love can change a friend. At some point, the heroine was able to awaken sparks of living life in her admirer. However, Oblomov and Olga are different people. And the heroine soon realized this. She exclaims: “I loved the future Oblomov! You are meek and honest, Ilya; you are gentle... like a dove; you hide your head under your wing - and don’t want anything more; you’re ready to coo under the roof all your life... but I’m not like that: this is not enough for me, I need something else, but I don’t know what!”

In the end, Olga chooses Stolz. This indicates that the future belongs to such active and enterprising people. “He was all made up of bones, muscles and nerves, like a blooded English horse,” writes I.A. Goncharov. Stolz's ideal is material wealth, comfort and well-being, which he achieves through his own labor: the hero lives by reason, and his inert friend lives by feelings and dreams.

Oblomov sees wonderful dreams, but this does not change anything in his real life. Looking at this, Stolz derives his own term denoting landowner idleness and inertia, leading to death - “Oblomovism.”

Why didn’t A. Stolz manage to change Oblomov’s lifestyle? The fact is that Ilya Ilyich is not just afraid of change: he also protected himself from the living and diverse world with a special philosophy of life in order to justify his inaction and laziness. Oblomov is soaring in the clouds of his own illusions, claiming that he has no empty desires and thoughts. He despises vanity and is proud that he can afford not to engage in trade, not to go to the office with a report or papers - to be above all the base problems of everyday life. Oblomov is satisfied with himself, so he does not strive to change. The hero refuses to grow up and understand that no miracle that suddenly descends on him will solve all the pressing problems either in the household or in his personal life.

However, gradually a belated insight still comes to Ilya Ilyich. He confesses to Stolz: “From the first minute, when I became aware of myself, I felt that I was already extinguishing... Either I did not understand this life, or it is no good, and I didn’t know anything better, I didn’t see anything, no one showed it to me.” ..." Although Oblomov has not changed, he at least belatedly admitted his mistakes. The trouble is that he did not see a life ideal in front of him, and due to the nature of his soul, he could not become like Stolz.

Other works on the topic:

Love, the strongest human feeling, has played a big role in life. Oblomov. The love of two women, one smart, sophisticated, gentle, demanding, the other economical, simple-minded, accepting the hero as he is.

Oblomov’s image consists, as it were, of parts. There is Oblomov, a moldy, almost disgusting, greasy, awkward piece of meat. There is Oblomov, in love with Olga Oblomov, who is deeply touching and sympathetic in his sad comedy.

Appearing in 1859 in Otechestvennye zapiski, Goncharov’s novel Oblomov immediately attracted the attention of the reading public. Everyone recognized “Oblomov” as an outstanding artistic phenomenon, but in understanding the main pathos of the novel there is no unity of opinion to this day.

Autumn evening. There is no one at home, and I am reading Goncharov’s novel. Still a strange hero - Ilya Ilyich Oblomov. He patiently endures all the blows of fate, resigns himself to the constant shortages in the village and Zakhar’s laziness, to the fact that he is constantly deceived, robbed, and his inherent kindness is abused. He does not strive to achieve wealth, fame, position in society.

Goncharov considered the main task of his novel “Oblomov” to be the search for a truly human “norm” of existence, lost in the modern world, and a hero who meets this “norm.” But the peculiarity of the embodiment of this author’s plan is that the “artistic ideal” of the individual turns out to be unattainable. It seems to fall into two parts, two main images - Oblomov and Stolz, which are depicted on the basis of the principle of antithesis.

V. G. Belinsky’s statement that education “determines a person’s fate” can be attributed to Ilya Ilyich Oblomov and Andrei Ivanovich Stolts, the main characters of the novel by I.A. Goncharov "Oblomov". It would seem that these people, belonging to the same class, environment, time, should have the same aspirations, worldviews, and lifestyles.

Andrei Stolts is Oblomov’s closest friend; they grew up together and carried their friendship through life. It remains a mystery how such dissimilar people, with such different views on life, could maintain deep affection.

Oblomov's personality is far from ordinary, although other characters treat him with slight disrespect. For some reason, they read him as almost inferior in comparison to them. This was precisely the task of Olga Ilyinskaya - to awaken Oblomov, to force him to show himself as an active person.

The image of Oblomov in Russian literature closes the series of “superfluous” people. An inactive contemplator, incapable of active action, at first glance really seems incapable of a great and bright feeling, but is this really so? There is no place for global and cardinal changes in the life of Ilya Ilyich Oblomov.

Author: Goncharov I.A. The scene takes place at the end of the work - the end of the fourth part. It sums up what happened in the novel. Oblomov lived a long life: he lived his childhood, he lived his youth, he lived his old age, without ever deviating from his lifestyle, and this episode shows the results of his life, what his life led to, what such a life should have led to, who is to blame for that she is like this, and whether her end is fair.

The meaning of the Oblomov-Stolz opposition in the novel by I.A. Goncharov "Oblomov" Author: Goncharov I.A. I believe that the meaning of the opposition in this novel is to characterize the main character in the most clear, open, and deep way.

The theme of love in I. A. Goncharov’s novel “Oblomov” Author: I. A. Goncharov In the novel “Oblomov” by I. A. Goncharov, three love stories are shown: Oblomov and Olga, Oblomov and Agafya Matveevna, Olga and Stolz. They all have different attitudes towards love, they have different goals in life, different views on life itself, but they have something in common - the ability to love.

Mini-essay “Oblomov and his entourage” Author: Goncharov I.A. Oblomov is a backwardness that interferes with historical progress. Oblomov is sincere, gentle, and has not lost his conscience; subjectively he is incapable of doing evil. The storyline depicts the spiritual desolation of the hero, there is lordship and slavery in him - he is a slave to his sofa, laziness.

The image of Oblomov is the greatest creation of I. A. Goncharov. This type of hero, in general, is not new to Russian literature. We meet him both in the comedy "Lazy" by Fonvizin, and in Gogol's "Marriage". But its most complete and multifaceted embodiment was the image of Oblomov from Goncharov’s novel of the same name.

“Oblomov’s Dream” is a special chapter of the novel. “Oblomov’s Dream” tells the story of Ilya Ilyich’s childhood and his influence on Oblomov’s character. “Oblomov’s Dream” shows his native village of Oblomovka, his family, and the way of life according to which they lived on Oblomov’s estate. Oblomovka is the name of two villages owned by the Oblomovs.

The reasons that prompted Oblomov to write a letter to Olga. How Oblomov appears to readers in his letter.

In the novel "Oblomov" Goncharov presented two types of life: life in motion and life in a state of rest, sleep.

Did Oblomov ever have a moment of clarity in his life? Yes, and not just once. Love brought him back to life. The love of two women - one: sophisticated, tender, graceful, and the other: economical, simple-minded, sincere. Who can understand Ilya Oblomov?

The image of Oblomov is the greatest artistic generalization, embodying typical character traits generated by Russian patriarchal landowner life.

“Oblomov’s Dream” is a magnificent episode from Goncharov’s novel “Oblomov”. In my opinion, the dream is nothing more than an attempt by Goncharov himself to understand the essence of Oblomov and Oblomovism.

What are Stolz's life ideals? (based on the novel “Oblomov” by I.A. Goncharov) Author: Goncharov I.A. In I. A. Goncharov’s novel “Oblomov,” Andrei Stolts is the antipode of Oblomov. Every feature of Stolz is a blatant protest against the qualities of Oblomov. The first loves an active and interesting life, the second often falls into apathy, he is like a snail that is afraid to get out of its shell.

Oblomov and Stolz (based on the novel “Oblomov” by I.A. Goncharov) Author: Goncharov I.A. Oblomov and Stolz In one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, I.A. Goncharov wrote the novel “Oblomov”. The main theme of the novel is the fate of a generation searching for its place in society and history, but unable to find the right path.

Author: Goncharov I.A. Letter from Oblomov to Stolz Hello, dear Andrei Ivanovich! I will be very glad if you read my letter. I’ve been wanting to write to you for a long time, but I kept thinking that when you come now, I’ll tell you everything. But you still don’t go and don’t go... And the troubles grow and grow... The idea of ​​the letter came to me two weeks ago: I told Zakhar: “Write a letter to Stolz: let him come as soon as possible!”, and he still refuses: “No,” he says “I don’t know how to write well, and anyway you will write better: I don’t know what you need to say in a letter.”

Problems of the novel by I. A. Goncharov “Oblomov” Author: Goncharov I.A. “Oblomov” was published in “Otechestvennye zapiski” starting in January 1859, in parts, for four months and caused a stormy response from critics. In Dobrolyubov’s article “What is Oblomovism?” The problems of the novel were considered from a sociological perspective, Oblomov’s character was interpreted as the embodiment of all the class vices of the nobility, while the philosophical aspect of “Oblomov” was left without consideration.

Plot antitheses in the novel "Oblomov" Author: Goncharov I.A. 1. Oblomov - Stolz. 2. Oblomov - Olga Ilyinskaya Stolz is not a positive hero of the novel, his activities sometimes resemble the activities of Sudbinsky from Stolz’s despised St. Petersburg entourage of Oblomov: work, work, work again, like a machine, without rest, entertainment and hobbies.

Andrey Stolts as a “man of action”. (Based on the novel “Oblomov” by I.A. Goncharov) At the end of the 50s of the 19th century, Ivan Aleksandrovich Goncharov’s novel “Oblomov” was born.

The main characters of the novel by I.A. Goncharov "Oblomov" are Oblomov and Stolz. The essay must begin with a description of the writer’s intention. Goncharov shows the gradual death of the human soul. Of course, the author was not the first to bring such an image to the pages of the work, but he depicted it on such a scale and versatility that literature had never known before.

Master Ilya Oblomov

From the beginning of the novel, the writer introduces the reader to an unremarkable gentleman. This is a typical image of the Russian nobility. Sedentary, imposing, loose, passive. The plot is devoid of action and intrigue. The apathy of Ilya Oblomov seems absolutely incomprehensible. All day long Ilya lies on the sofa in a greasy robe and thinks about everything. Many ideas float in his head, but none find further continuation. Oblomov has no desire to start communication. He tries not to disturb the peaceful course of life in Oblomovka. His lazy dreams are interrupted only by petitioners who profit from him. But Oblomov doesn’t care. He is so far from reality that he does not even notice the true intentions of his “guests”. And here Goncharov introduces which takes us into the hero’s childhood. This is where the reason for his behavior lies. It was in childhood that the boy was raised into a person unadapted to life. Indulging his desires, protecting him from any action, they instilled in Ilyusha the idea that there was no need to do anything, there would always be someone who would do it for him. A typical position of nobles living at the expense of the peasants.

Friend's arrival

The life of Ilya Oblomov changes with the arrival of Andrei Stolts, an old friend. Oblomov sincerely hopes that Stolz is able to change the current situation, is able to bring him out of his half-asleep state. And sure enough, a handsome young man arrives with both experience and money. No wonder Goncharov compares him to a blood English horse. Unlike his friend, Stolz in Oblomov is alien to daydreaming and laziness. He is practical in everything.

It cannot be said that Oblomov has always been the same as he is now. In their youth, Ilya and Andrey studied science together, enjoyed life, and strived for something. However, then the lively and active Andrei could not captivate Oblomov with his enthusiasm, and gradually this young master revived on his estate the environment to which he had been accustomed since childhood. Stolz in the novel “Oblomov” is the complete opposite of the main character and at the same time the closest person. And it helps to reveal the characteristics of Ilyusha, to identify and emphasize his advantages and disadvantages.

Friends since childhood

The heroes are childhood friends. These are two completely different people who were brought together by fate. Ilya Oblomov was a family favorite from an early age. He lived in harmony with himself and with the world around him. Ilyusha had everything he wanted. His family protected him from all troubles. He grew up as a kind of darling of fate, brought up on nanny fairy tales, in an atmosphere of laziness and serenity, without much desire to learn or learn something new. As a teenager, Oblomov meets Stolz in the neighboring village of Verkhlevo. The little gentleman, accustomed to bliss on his estate, Ilya, enters a completely different world, energetic, new. Andrei Stolts's father taught his son to be independent early, instilling in him German pedantry. From his mother, Oblomov's friend Stolz inherited a love of poetry, from his father - a craving for science, for precision and accuracy. Since childhood, he not only helps his father in business, but works and receives a salary. Hence Andrei’s ability to make bold and independent decisions and be responsible for his actions. Even outwardly, the friends are completely opposite. Ilya is a plump, loose, lethargic man who does not know what work is. On the contrary, Andrey is a fit, cheerful, active person, accustomed to constant work. Lack of movement is like death for him.

The table “Oblomov and Stolz”, located below, will allow you to more clearly present the difference in the images of the characters.

Love in the lives of heroes

Both experience love in life differently. And in love, Oblomov and Stolz are completely opposite. Due to its length, the essay cannot cover the entirety of the differences between the characters in the novel. However, the theme of love should be considered.

When Olga brightens up Ilya’s boring everyday life, he comes to life and turns from a flabby creature into an interesting man. Oblomov’s energy is in full swing, he needs everything, everything is interesting. He forgets about his old habits and even wants to get married. But suddenly he begins to be tormented by doubts about the truth of Olga’s love. The endless questions Oblomov asks himself ultimately do not allow him to change his life. He returns to his previous existence, and nothing touches him anymore. Andrei Stolts loves selflessly, passionately, surrendering to the feeling without a trace.

Opposites come together

In other words, we see that Oblomov and Stolz (the essay reflects the generally accepted point of view) are completely different people who grew up in different environments. However, it was precisely this difference that brought them together. Each of them finds in the other what they themselves lack. Oblomov attracts Stolz with his calm and kind disposition. And vice versa, in Andrey Ilya admires his vitality. Time tests both of their strength, but their friendship only grows stronger.

Table "Oblomov and Stolz"

Ilya Oblomov	Andrey Stolts
Origin
Oblomov is a family nobleman who lives in accordance with patriarchal traditions.	Stolz is the son of a German who manages the estate of a Russian noblewoman.
Upbringing
He was brought up in an atmosphere of idleness. He was not accustomed to either mental or physical labor.	Since childhood, he was interested in science and art, and began earning money and making independent decisions early.
Life position
Half asleep, daydreaming, lack of desire to change anything	Activity, practicality
Character traits
Kind, calm, weak, lazy, sincere, dreamer, philosopher	Strong, smart, hardworking, cheerful

This is exactly how Oblomov and Stolz are presented to readers. The work can be concluded with the words of the author himself: “He had something that is more valuable than any mind: an honest, faithful heart! This is his natural gold; he carried it through life unharmed.”

In Goncharov’s novel, Oblomov is opposed by Stolz, his classmate and friend, a businessman of a new formation. He maintained contacts with gold miners, visited Kyiv - the trading center of the beet-sugar industry, Nizhny Novgorod, famous for its annual fairs, Odessa - the largest center of grain exports from Russia, visited London, Paris, Lyon - the commercial and industrial centers of Europe. Constantly active, he, however, is inferior to Oblomov in spiritual needs and, in fact, turns out to be not alien to Oblomovism, for he does not have high goals calling forward and forward. In any case, he cannot answer Olga’s vague questions and doubts, calling on her to bow her head to the circumstances.

“Of all our writers, Goncharov, together with Gogol, has the greatest ability of symbolism... The ability of philosophical generalization of characters is extremely strong in Goncharov; sometimes she breaks through, like a sharp edge, the living artistic fabric of the novel and appears in complete nakedness... dreamy Oblomov and active Stolz - isn’t this the purest and, moreover, involuntary, deeply real symbolism!” - writes D. Merezhkovsky.

Here we come to the question of the writer’s attitude towards the hero. Literary scholars have expressed at least two considerations on this matter. The first was formulated by N.A. Dobrolyubov: Goncharov “does not give and, apparently, does not want to give any conclusions. He does not care about the reader and the conclusions you draw from the novel: that is your business. He will not sing a lyrical song when looking at a rose and a nightingale, he will amazed by them, he will stop, he will peer and listen for a long time, he will think about what process will take place in his soul at this time, you will not understand this well.”

Another opinion can be formulated in the words of the critic Yu. Aikhenvald: “We see too clearly who and what Goncharov loves, to whom he denies his sympathy.”

Perhaps, adherents of the second point of view are closer to the truth. Of course, Goncharov does not impose his conclusions on readers. He tries to avoid direct, “frontal” characterizations of the heroes (another thing is whether he always succeeds in this?). The writer even complained that at the end of the novel he “inserted a few words from which the consciousness of 06-Lomov himself peeks out,” that he put the phrase into Stolz’s mouth: “Farewell, old Oblomovka, you have outlived your time!”

The image of the German Stoltz was originally conceived as an alternative, integral character, opposed to Oblomov, and even as an image of a positive hero from whom an example should be taken. Hence some idealization. “How many Stoltsevs should appear under Russian names!” - writes Goncharov. But by the end of the novel it turns out that the salvation of Russia did not come with him. Dobrolyubov explains this by the fact that “there is no soil for them yet” in Russian society. Perhaps some kind of synthesis of Oblomov's and Stoltsev's principles is needed - hence the plot device, which has a symbolic meaning: Stolz takes in raising Oblomov's son, Andrei, named after him.

There are many autobiographical features in Oblomov’s characterization. By the way, Ilya Ilyich of the first half of the novel differs from Ilya Ilyich of the second half. These are two types, equally characteristic of Russian life, closely related, but not quite the same. The first - with the undoubted tragic beginning of the consciousness of his powerlessness - dies without having done anything useful and lofty in life, which he strived for. Strong excitement, passion, indignation can ignite them with fire, however, for one moment, but at that moment they can appear as heroes, capable of sacrificing themselves, in the name of an idea or for the smile of a beauty, depending on the moment.

The second category of Oblomovs is of a different nature. If they had any worldview, in the sense of ideas and moral requirements, then this worldview has already fallen asleep. The prose of everyday home life, the baseness of desires that do not go beyond the circle of digestive instincts and elementary animal contentment - this is the atmosphere from which no Stoltz and Olga Ilyinsky will ever pull them out into the light of God. Although at first there were the most serious hopes for this. Like a stream of clean air into a stuffy room, Stolz burst into the sluggish existence of Ilya Oblomov and once again resurrected him, inspired him with his saving impulse.

Stolz sincerely loved Oblomov for his spiritual purity, for his warmth and tenderness. He saw in him a “crystal soul”, incapable of anything dirty or base. He also appreciated Oblomov’s intelligence. This was not the worldly, practical mind that he himself was rich in, but a broad, bright one, capable of both criticism of reality and broad generalizations. This intelligence is reflected in the correct assessment of the insignificance of human aspirations, which are expressed in bureaucratic careerism, in hobbies for an empty social life. Oblomov expresses his thoughts on this topic in conversations with Sudbinsky and the young man Volkov.

This mind is clearly defined in those views on the meaning of literature that Oblomov expresses in a conversation with the writer Penkin, who considers the purpose of literature only to be a complete, accurate reproduction of reality, whatever it may be. Oblomov is outraged by such a narrow and incorrect understanding of the goals of art, and he energetically attacks such writers, accusing them of lack of love for people. It was not from Stolz or from the university that Oblomov learned the thoughts about God’s mercy towards fallen man - this was taught to him by Oblomovka, who kept many of the good feelings and moods of antiquity completely intact. Russian common humanity, reflected in the cordial attitude towards the “unlucky ones,” was reflected in Oblomov’s reasoning. In such humanity, sanctified by religion, there is a high national rationality, which Andrei Stolz valued so much in Oblomov.

Arriving in St. Petersburg, Stolz was horrified to see what his friend had become. He realized that for him it all “began with the inability to put on stockings, and ended with the inability to live!” Weakness of will, lack of living interests - all this with invincible force paralyzed Oblomov’s inherent desire to serve people, lulled his mental abilities, and clipped the wings of his idealism. Stolz energetically set about awakening his friend. He freed him from the tenacious hands of various rogues, forced him to live a social life, and finally introduced him to Olga. However, Oblomov was unexpectedly frightened by the troubles and worries of the upcoming wedding, then a temporary lack of money, and finally, ice drift on the Neva... All this weakened and then simply discharged his energy. Olga realized that his laziness was not a comic, not a charming, but a tragic trait of his soul. Disappointed in Oblomov, she marries Stolz.

Stolz continues to triumph over life, which he won in the name of his wise faith in the saving power of labor, and Oblomov slowly faded away, without struggle and without grumbling, “gradually fitting into the simple and wide coffin of his existence, made with his own hands, like the desert elders “who, turning away from the world, are digging their own grave”... Stolz tried once again to bring Oblomov back to life, but now Oblomov did not respond to the new attempt.

“You are dead, Ilya! - Stolz told him. “There’s no need to tell you that your Oblomovka is no longer in the wilderness, that its turn has come to it, that the rays of the sun have fallen on it... that in four years it will be a road station, that your men will go to work on the embankment, and then it will roll along the cast iron.” your bread to the pier... And there are schools, literacy, and then... Goodbye, old Oblomovka, you have outlived your time!”

In these final words, the entire historical significance of the novel is clarified. Indeed, Stolz had no choice but to say goodbye forever to Oblomov, this personification of an outdated old time. Not Oblomov - time was forever fading into the past. Is it possible for a person to fight against time?