The story "The Captain's Daughter", a retelling of which is offered in this article, was written by Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin in 1836. It tells about the Pugachev uprising. The author, when creating the work, was based on the events that actually happened in 1773-1775, when the Yaik Cossacks, led by Emelyan Pugachev, who pretended to be Tsar Peter Fedorovich, began taking villains, thieves and escaped convicts as servants. Maria Mironova and Pyotr Grinev - however, their destinies truly reflected the sad time of the civil war.
Chapter 1 Sergeant of the Guard
The story "The Captain's Daughter", a retelling of which you are reading, begins with Pyotr Grinev's story about his life. He was the only child who managed to survive out of 9 children of a poor noblewoman and a retired major; he lived in a noble family with average income. The old servant was actually the young master's tutor. Peter received a poor education, since his father hired a Frenchman, the hairdresser Beaupre, as a tutor. This man led an immoral, dissolute lifestyle. Behind indecent acts and his drunkenness eventually drove him out of the estate. And Petrusha, a 17-year-old boy, his father decided to send him to serve in Orenburg through old connections. He sent him there instead of St. Petersburg, where they were supposed to take the young man into the guard. To look after his son, he assigned Savelich, an old servant, to him. Petrusha was very upset, because instead of capital partying, a joyless existence awaited him in this wilderness. Alexander Sergeevich writes about these events in the story “The Captain's Daughter” (Chapter 1).
The retelling of the work continues. During one of the stops along the way, the young master meets Zurin, a rake-captain, because of whom he became addicted to playing billiards under the pretext of studying. Soon Zurin invites the hero to play for money, and in the end Peter loses 100 rubles - a significant amount for those times. Savelich, who was entrusted with keeping the master’s “treasury,” protests that Pyotr Grinev pay the debt, but the master insists on it. Savelich had to submit and give the money.
Chapter 2 Counselor
We continue to describe the events of the story "The Captain's Daughter". The retelling of the second chapter is as follows. Peter eventually begins to feel ashamed of this loss and promises the servant not to gamble for money anymore. A long journey awaits them, and Savelich forgives his master. But they again get into trouble because of Peter's indiscretion. Despite the approaching storm, Grinev ordered the coachman to continue the journey, and they got lost and almost froze. However, luck was on the side of the heroes - they suddenly met a stranger. He helped the travelers get to
We continue our retelling of chapter 2 of "The Captain's Daughter". Grinev recalls that he, tired after this unsuccessful trip, had a dream in a wagon, which he called prophetic: he saw his mother, who said that Peter’s father was dying, and his house. After that, Grinev saw a man with a beard in his father’s bed, whom he did not know. The mother told the hero that this man was her named husband. Peter refuses to accept the stranger's "father's" blessing, and then he grabs an ax, corpses appear everywhere. However, he does not touch Grinev.
Now they are already approaching the inn, which resembles a thieves' den. A stranger, frozen in only an overcoat, asks Petrusha for wine, and he treats him. An incomprehensible conversation begins between the owner of the house and the man in the thieves' language. Peter does not understand its meaning, but what he heard seems very strange to the hero. Grinev, leaving the shelter, thanked his guide, again to Savelich’s displeasure, by giving him a sheepskin coat. The stranger bowed in response, saying that he would not forget this mercy forever.
When the hero finally gets to Orenburg, one of his father’s colleagues, having read a letter with a request to keep the young man, sends him to serve in the Belogorsk fortress - an even more remote place. This upsets Peter, who had long dreamed of a guards uniform.
Chapter 3 Fortress
Chapter 3 of the story "The Captain's Daughter", a retelling of which is offered to your attention, begins with the following events. We meet the commandant of the fortress. Ivan Kuzmich Mironov was its owner, but in fact everything was managed by the boss’s wife, Vasilisa Egorovna. These soulful and simple people Peter immediately liked them. The already middle-aged couple had a young daughter, Masha, but her acquaintance with the main character had not yet taken place. In what turned out to be an ordinary fortress village, a young man meets a lieutenant named Alexey Ivanovich Shvabrin. He was sent here from the guard for participating in a duel that ended in the death of his opponent. This hero often made sarcastic remarks about Masha, captain's daughter, making her look like a fool, and generally had a habit of speaking unflatteringly about people. After Grinev himself met the girl, he expresses doubt about the lieutenant’s remark. Let's continue our retelling. "The Captain's Daughter", chapter 4, in summary is offered to your attention below.
Chapter 4 Duel
Benevolent and kind by nature, Grinev began to communicate more and more closely with the commandant’s family, and gradually moved away from Shvabrin. Masha did not have a dowry, but she turned out to be a lovely girl. Peter did not like Shvabrin's caustic remarks. In the evenings, inspired by thoughts of this girl, he began to write poetry to her and read them to Alexei Ivanovich. But he only ridiculed him, beginning to further humiliate the girl’s dignity, saying that she would come at night to anyone who gave her earrings.
In the end, the friends quarreled violently, and a duel had to take place. Vasilisa Egorovna found out about the duel, but the heroes pretended that they had made peace, and they themselves decided to postpone the duel until the next day. In the morning, as soon as they drew their swords, 5 disabled people and Ivan Ignatich led them to Vasilisa Yegorovna under escort. Having properly reprimanded the duelists, she released them. Alarmed by the news of this duel, Masha in the evening told Pyotr Grinev about Alexei Shvabrin’s failed matchmaking with her. Then Grinev understood the motives for this man’s behavior. The duel still took place. Peter turned out to be a serious opponent for Alexei Ivanovich. However, Savelich suddenly appeared at the duel, and, having hesitated, Peter was wounded.
Chapter 5 Love
The retelling of the story "The Captain's Daughter" continues, we have already reached chapter 5. Masha was leaving the wounded Peter. The duel brought them closer together, and they fell in love with each other. Grinev, wanting to marry a girl, writes a letter to his parents, but does not receive a blessing. The father's refusal does not change the hero's intentions, but Masha does not agree to get married secretly. The lovers move away from each other for a while.
Chapter 6 Pugachevshchina
We bring to your attention a retelling of chapter 6 (“The Captain’s Daughter”). There is a commotion in the fortress. Mironov receives orders to prepare for an attack by robbers and rioters. Calling himself Peter III escaped from custody and is now terrorizing the local population. He is approaching Belogorsk. There are not enough people to defend the fortress. Mironov sends his wife and daughter to Orenburg, where it is more reliable. The wife decides not to leave her husband, and Masha says goodbye to Grinev, but she is no longer able to leave.
Chapter 7 Massacre
Pugachev offers to surrender, but the commandant does not agree to this and opens fire. The battle ends with the fortress passing into the hands of Pugachev.
Emelyan decides to carry out reprisals against those who refused to obey him. He executes Mironov and Ivan Ignatich. Grinev decides to die, but not to swear allegiance to this man. But the servant Savelich throws himself at the ataman’s feet, and he decides to have mercy on Peter. The Cossacks drag Vasilisa Yegorovna out of the house and kill her.
Chapter 8 Uninvited guest
The retelling of the story "The Captain's Daughter" does not end here. Grinev understands that Masha will also be executed if they find out that she is here. In addition, Shvabrin took the side of the rebels. The girl is hiding in the priest's house. In the evening, Peter had a friendly conversation with Pugachev. He remembered the good and in return granted the young man freedom.
Chapter 9 Parting
Pugachev ordered Peter to go to Orenburg in order to report his attack in a week. The young man leaves Belogorsk. Shvabrin becomes commandant and remains in the fortress.
Chapter 10 Siege of the city
Upon arrival in Orenburg, Grinev reported on what was happening in the council. At the council, everyone except the main character voted not for attack, but for defense.
The siege began, and with it need and hunger. Peter secretly corresponds with Masha, and in one of the letters she tells the hero that Shvabrin is holding her captive and wants to marry her. Grinev reports this to the general and asks for soldiers to save the girl, but he refuses. Then Peter alone decides to save his beloved.
Chapter 11 Rebel settlement
On the way, Grinev ends up with Pugachev’s people, and he is sent for interrogation. Peter tells Pugachev about everything, and he decides to have mercy on him.
They travel to the fortress together and have a conversation along the way. Peter persuades the troublemaker to surrender, but Emelyan knows that it is too late.
Chapter 12 Orphan
Pugachev learns from Shvabrin that Masha is the daughter of the former commandant. At first he is angry, but this time Peter manages to gain Emelyan’s favor.
Chapter 13 Arrest
Pugachev releases the lovers, and they go home to their parents. On the way they meet Zurin, former boss outposts He persuades the young man to stay in the service. Peter himself understands that duty is calling him. He sends Savelich and Masha to their parents.
In battles, Pugachev begins to suffer defeat. But he himself could not be caught. Zurin and his squad are sent to suppress a new rebellion. Then news comes that Pugachev has been captured.
Chapter 14 Court
We continue our brief retelling. Pushkin ("The Captain's Daughter") further narrates the following events. Grinev is arrested as a traitor, following Shvabrin's denunciation. The Empress pardoned him, taking into account his father's merits, but sentenced the hero to lifelong exile. Masha decides to go to St. Petersburg to ask the Empress for her beloved.
By chance, a girl meets her on a walk in the garden and talks about her grief, not knowing who her interlocutor is. After this conversation, Maria Mironova was invited to the palace, where she saw Catherine II. She pardoned Grinev. Pugachev was executed. The lovers reunited and continued the Grinev family.
Only a brief retelling of the chapters has been offered to your attention. It does not cover all the events and does not fully reveal the psychology of the characters, therefore, to form a more detailed idea of this work, we recommend turning to the original.
Current page: 1 (book has 9 pages in total)
Take care of your honor from a young age.
Sergeant of the Guard
“If only he were a guard captain tomorrow.”
- That’s not necessary; let him serve in the army.
- Well said! let him push...
………………………………………………………
Who's his father?
My father, Andrei Petrovich Grinev, in his youth served under Count Minich and retired as prime minister in 17.... Since then, he lived in his Simbirsk village, where he married the girl Avdotya Vasilievna Yu., the daughter of a poor nobleman there. There were nine of us children. All my brothers and sisters died in infancy.
Mother was still pregnant with me, as I had already been enlisted in the Semenovsky regiment as a sergeant, by the grace of Guard Major Prince B., a close relative of ours. If, more than anything else, mother had given birth to a daughter, then the priest would have announced the death of the sergeant who had not appeared, and that would have been the end of the matter. I was considered on leave until I finished my studies. At that time, we were not brought up in the traditional way. From the age of five I was given into the hands of the eager Savelich, who was granted my uncle status for his sober behavior. Under his supervision, in my twelfth year, I learned Russian literacy and could very sensibly judge the properties of a greyhound dog. At this time, the priest hired a Frenchman for me, Monsieur Beaupré, who was discharged from Moscow along with a year's supply of wine and Provençal oil. Savelich did not like his arrival very much. “Thank God,” he grumbled to himself, “it seems the child is washed, combed, and fed. Where should we spend extra money and hire monsieur, as if our people were gone!”
Beaupre was a hairdresser in his homeland, then a soldier in Prussia, then he came to Russia pour être outchitel, not really understanding the meaning of this word. He was a kind fellow, but flighty and dissolute to the extreme. His main weakness was his passion for the fair sex; Often, for his tenderness, he received pushes, from which he groaned for whole days. Moreover, he was not (as he put it) and the enemy of the bottle, that is (speaking in Russian) he liked to take a sip too much. But since we only served wine at dinner, and then only in small glasses, and the teachers usually carried it around, my Beaupre very soon got used to the Russian liqueur and even began to prefer it to the wines of his fatherland, as it was much healthier for the stomach. We hit it off immediately, and although he was contractually obligated to teach me in French, German and all sciences, but he preferred to quickly learn from me how to chat in Russian, and then each of us went about his own business. We lived in perfect harmony. I didn't want any other mentor. But soon fate separated us, and for this reason.
The washerwoman Palashka, a fat and pockmarked girl, and the crooked cowwoman Akulka somehow agreed at the same time to throw themselves at mother’s feet, blaming themselves for their criminal weakness and complaining with tears about the monsieur who had seduced their inexperience. Mother didn’t like to joke about this and complained to the priest. His reprisal was short. He immediately demanded the Frenchman's channel. They reported that Monsieur was giving me his lesson. Father went to my room. At this time, Beaupre was sleeping on the bed in the sleep of innocence. I was busy with business. You need to know that for me she was discharged from Moscow geographic map. It hung on the wall without any use and had long tempted me with the width and goodness of the paper. I decided to make snakes out of it and, taking advantage of Beaupre's sleep, I set to work. Father came in at the same time as I was adjusting the bast tail to the Cape of Good Hope. Seeing my exercises in geography, the priest pulled me by the ear, then ran up to Beaupre, woke him up very carelessly and began to shower him with reproaches. Beaupre, in confusion, wanted to get up but could not: the unfortunate Frenchman was dead drunk. Seven troubles, one answer. Father lifted him out of bed by the collar, pushed him out of the door and drove him out of the yard that same day, to Savelich’s indescribable joy. That was the end of my upbringing.
I lived as a teenager, chasing pigeons and playing leapfrog with the yard boys. Meanwhile, I was sixteen years old. Then my fate changed.
One autumn, my mother was making honey jam in the living room, and I, licking my lips, looked at the seething foam. Father at the window was reading the Court Calendar, which he receives every year. This book always had a strong influence on him: he never re-read it without special participation, and reading this always produced in him an amazing excitement of bile. Mother, who knew by heart all his habits and customs, always tried to shove the unfortunate book as far away as possible, and thus the Court Calendar did not catch his eye sometimes for entire months. But when he found it by chance, he would not let it out of his hands for hours at a time. So, the priest read the Court Calendar, occasionally shrugging his shoulders and repeating in a low voice: “Lieutenant General!.. He was a sergeant in my company!.. Both Russian orders gentleman!.. How long ago have we been…” Finally, the priest threw the calendar on the sofa and plunged into reverie, which did not bode well.
Suddenly he turned to his mother: “Avdotya Vasilyevna, how old is Petrusha?”
“Yes, I’ve just reached my seventeenth year,” answered my mother. “Petrusha was born in the same year that Aunt Nastasya Gerasimovna became sad, and when else...
“Okay,” interrupted the priest, “it’s time for him to go into service. It’s enough for him to run around the maidens and climb dovecotes.”
The thought of imminent separation from me struck my mother so much that she dropped the spoon into the saucepan and tears streamed down her face. On the contrary, it is difficult to describe my admiration. The thought of service merged in me with thoughts of freedom, of the pleasures of St. Petersburg life. I imagined myself as a guard officer, which, in my opinion, was the height of human well-being.
Father did not like to change his intentions or postpone their implementation. The day for my departure was set. The day before, the priest announced that he intended to write with me to my future boss, and demanded pen and paper.
“Don’t forget, Andrei Petrovich,” said mother, “to bow to Prince B. for me; I, they say, hope that he will not abandon Petrusha with his favors.
- What nonsense! - answered the priest, frowning. - Why on earth would I write to Prince B.?
“But you said that you would like to write to Petrusha’s boss.”
- Well, what’s there?
- But the chief Petrushin is Prince B. After all, Petrusha is enrolled in the Semenovsky regiment.
- Recorded by! Why do I care that it’s recorded? Petrusha will not go to St. Petersburg. What will he learn while serving in St. Petersburg? hang around and hang out? No, let him serve in the army, let him pull the strap, let him smell gunpowder, let him be a soldier, not a chamaton. Enlisted in the Guard! Where is his passport? give it here.
Mother found my passport, which was kept in her box along with the shirt in which I was baptized, and handed it to the priest with a trembling hand. Father read it with attention, placed it on the table in front of him and began his letter.
Curiosity tormented me: where are they sending me, if not to St. Petersburg? I didn’t take my eyes off Father’s pen, which was moving quite slowly. Finally he finished, sealed the letter in the same bag with his passport, took off his glasses and, calling me, said: “Here is a letter for you to Andrei Karlovich R., my old comrade and friend. You are going to Orenburg to serve under his command.”
So, all my bright hopes were dashed! Instead of a cheerful life in St. Petersburg, boredom awaited me in a remote and remote place. The service, which I had been thinking about with such delight for a minute, seemed to me like a grave misfortune. But there was no point in arguing! The next day, in the morning, a road wagon was brought to the porch; They packed it with a suitcase, a cellar with a tea set, and bundles of buns and pies, the last signs of home pampering. My parents blessed me. Father told me: “Goodbye, Peter. Serve faithfully to whom you pledge allegiance; obey your superiors; Don’t chase their affection; don’t ask for service; do not dissuade yourself from serving; and remember the proverb: take care of your dress again, but take care of your honor from a young age.” Mother, in tears, ordered me to take care of my health and Savelich to look after the child. They put a hare sheepskin coat on me, and a fox fur coat on top. I got into the wagon with Savelich and set off on the road, shedding tears.
That same night I arrived in Simbirsk, where I was supposed to stay for a day to purchase the necessary things, which was entrusted to Savelich. I stopped at a tavern. Savelich went to the shops in the morning. Bored of looking out the window at the dirty alley, I went to wander through all the rooms. Entering the billiard room, I saw a tall gentleman, about thirty-five, with a long black mustache, in a dressing gown, with a cue in his hand and a pipe in his teeth. He played with a marker, who, when he won, drank a glass of vodka, and when he lost, he had to crawl under the billiards on all fours. I started watching them play. The longer it went on, the more frequent the walks on all fours became, until finally the marker remained under the billiards. The master uttered several strong expressions over him in the form of a funeral word and invited me to play a game. I refused out of incompetence. This apparently seemed strange to him. He looked at me as if with regret; however, we started talking. I found out that his name is Ivan Ivanovich Zurin, that he is the captain of the ** hussar regiment and is in Simbirsk receiving recruits, and is standing in a tavern. Zurin invited me to dine with him as God sent, like a soldier. I readily agreed. We sat down at the table. Zurin drank a lot and treated me too, saying that I needed to get used to the service; he told me army jokes that almost made me laugh, and we left the table perfect friends. Then he volunteered to teach me to play billiards. “This,” he said, “is necessary for our serving brother. On a hike, for example, you come to a place - what do you want to do? After all, it’s not all about beating the Jews. Involuntarily, you will go to a tavern and start playing billiards; and for that you need to know how to play!” I was completely convinced and began to study with great diligence. Zurin loudly encouraged me, marveled at my quick successes and, after several lessons, invited me to play for money, one penny at a time, not to win, but so as not to play for nothing, which, according to him, is the worst habit. I agreed to this too, and Zurin ordered punch to be served and persuaded me to try, repeating that I needed to get used to the service; and without punch, what is the service! I listened to him. Meanwhile, our game continued. The more often I sipped from my glass, the more courageous I became. Balloons were constantly flying over my side; I got excited, scolded the marker, who counted God knows how, increased the game hour by hour, in a word, I behaved like a boy who had broken free. Meanwhile, time passed unnoticed. Zurin looked at his watch, put down his cue and announced to me that I had lost a hundred rubles. This confused me a little. Savelich had my money. I started apologizing. Zurin interrupted me: “Have mercy! Don't worry. I can wait, but in the meantime we’ll go to Arinushka.”
What do you want? I ended the day as dissolutely as I started it. We had dinner at Arinushka's. Zurin kept adding more to me every minute, repeating that I needed to get used to the service. Getting up from the table, I could barely stand; at midnight Zurin took me to the tavern.
Savelich met us on the porch. He gasped when he saw the unmistakable signs of my zeal for service. “What has happened to you, sir? - he said in a pitiful voice, - where did you load this? Oh my goodness! Such a sin has never happened in my life!” - “Be quiet, you bastard! “I answered him, stuttering, “you’re probably drunk, go to bed... and put me to bed.”
The next day I woke up with a headache, vaguely remembering yesterday’s incidents. My thoughts were interrupted by Savelich, who came to me with a cup of tea. “It’s early, Pyotr Andreich,” he told me, shaking his head, “you start walking early. And who did you go to? It seems that neither the father nor the grandfather were drunkards; There’s nothing to say about my mother: from her childhood she never deigned to take anything into her mouth except kvass. And who is to blame for everything? damn monsieur. Every now and then, it would happen that he would run to Antipyevna: “Madam, wow, vodka.” So much for you! There is nothing to say: he taught me good things, son of a dog. And it was necessary to hire an infidel as an uncle, as if the master no longer had his own people!”
I was ashamed. I turned away and told him: “Get out, Savelich; I don’t want tea.” But it was difficult to calm Savelich down when he started preaching. “You see, Pyotr Andreich, what it’s like to cheat. And my head feels heavy, and I don’t want to eat. A person who drinks is good for nothing... Drink cucumber pickle with honey, but it would be better to get over your hangover with half a glass of tincture. Won't you give me an order?"
At this time, the boy came in and gave me a note from I.I. Zurin. I unfolded it and read the following lines:
...“Dear Pyotr Andreevich, please send me and my boy the hundred rubles that you lost to me yesterday. I am in dire need of money.
Ready for service
Ivan Zurin."
There was nothing to do. I assumed an indifferent look and, turning to Savelich, who was and money, and linen, and my affairs, a steward, ordered to give the boy one hundred rubles. "How! For what?" – asked the amazed Savelich. “I owe them to him,” I answered with all possible coldness. "Must! - Savelich objected, more and more astonished from time to time, - but when, sir, did you manage to owe him? Something is wrong. It’s your will, sir, but I won’t give you any money.”
I thought that if at this decisive moment I did not overcome the stubborn old man, then in the future it would be difficult for me to free myself from his tutelage, and, looking at him proudly, I said: “I am your master, and you are my servant. The money is mine. I lost them because I felt like it. And I advise you not to be smart and do what you are ordered.”
Savelich was so amazed by my words that he clasped his hands and was dumbfounded. “Why are you standing there!” – I shouted angrily. Savelich began to cry. “Father Pyotr Andreich,” he said in a trembling voice, “don’t kill me with sadness. You are my light! listen to me, old man: write to this robber that you were joking, that we don’t even have that kind of money. One hundred rubles! God you are merciful! Tell me that your parents firmly ordered you not to play, except like nuts...” - “Stop lying,” I interrupted sternly, “give me the money here or I’ll drive you away.”
Savelich looked at me with deep sorrow and went to collect my debt. I felt sorry for the poor old man; but I wanted to break free and prove that I was no longer a child. The money was delivered to Zurin. Savelich hastened to take me out of the damned tavern. He came with the news that the horses were ready. With an uneasy conscience and silent repentance, I left Simbirsk, without saying goodbye to my teacher and without thinking of ever seeing him again.
Is it my side, my side,
Unfamiliar side!
Was it not I who came upon you?
Wasn’t it a good horse that brought me:
She brought me, good fellow,
Agility, good cheerfulness
And the tavern's hop drink.
Old song
My thoughts on the road were not very pleasant. My loss, at the prices at that time, was significant. I could not help but admit in my heart that my behavior in the Simbirsk tavern was stupid, and I felt guilty before Savelich. All this tormented me. The old man sat gloomily on the bench, turned away from me, and was silent, only quacking occasionally. I definitely wanted to make peace with him and didn’t know where to start. Finally I told him: “Well, well, Savelich! that's enough, let's make peace, it's my fault; I see for myself that I am guilty. Yesterday I misbehaved, and I wronged you in vain. I promise to behave smarter and obey you in the future. Well, don't be angry; let's make peace."
- Eh, Father Pyotr Andreich! - he answered with a deep sigh. – I’m angry with myself; It's all my fault. How could I have left you alone in the tavern! What to do? I was confused by sin: I decided to wander into the sacristan’s house and see my godfather. That's it: I went to see my godfather and ended up in prison. Trouble and nothing more! How will I show myself to the gentlemen? what will they say when they find out that the child is drinking and playing?
To console poor Savelich, I gave him my word that in future I would not dispose of a single penny without his consent. He gradually calmed down, although he still occasionally grumbled to himself, shaking his head: “A hundred rubles! Isn’t it easy!”
I was approaching my destination. Around me stretched sad deserts, intersected by hills and ravines. Everything was covered with snow. The sun was setting. The carriage was traveling along a narrow road, or more precisely along a trail made by peasant sleighs. Suddenly the driver began to look to the side and, finally, taking off his hat, turned to me and said: “Master, would you order me to turn back?”
- What is this for?
– Time is unreliable: the wind rises slightly; see how it sweeps away the powder.
- What a problem!
– Do you see what there? (The coachman pointed his whip to the east.)
“I see nothing but the white steppe and the clear sky.”
- And there - there: this is a cloud.
I actually saw a white cloud at the edge of the sky, which at first I took for a distant hill. The driver explained to me that the cloud foreshadowed a snowstorm.
I heard about the blizzards there and knew that entire convoys were covered in them. Savelich, in agreement with the driver’s opinion, advised him to turn back. But the wind did not seem strong to me; I hoped to get there in good time next station and ordered to go quickly.
The coachman galloped off; but kept looking to the east. The horses ran together. Meanwhile, the wind became stronger hour by hour. The cloud turned into a white cloud, which rose heavily, grew and gradually covered the sky. It began to snow lightly and suddenly began to fall in flakes. The wind howled; there was a snowstorm. In an instant, the dark sky mixed with the snowy sea. Everything has disappeared. “Well, master,” the coachman shouted, “trouble: a snowstorm!..”
I looked out of the wagon: everything was darkness and whirlwind. The wind howled with such ferocious expressiveness that it seemed animated; the snow covered me and Savelich; the horses walked at a pace - and soon stopped. “Why aren’t you going?” – I asked the driver impatiently. “Why go? - he answered, getting off the bench, - God knows where we ended up: there is no road, and there is darkness all around. I started to scold him. Savelich stood up for him: “And I would have disobeyed,” he said angrily, “I would have returned to the inn, had some tea, rested until the morning, the storm would have subsided, and we would have moved on. And where are we rushing? You’d be welcome to the wedding!” Savelich was right. There was nothing to do. The snow was still falling. A snowdrift was rising near the wagon. The horses stood with their heads down and occasionally shuddering. The coachman walked around, having nothing better to do, adjusting the harness. Savelich grumbled; I looked in all directions, hoping to see at least a sign of a vein or a road, but I could not discern anything except the muddy whirling of a snowstorm... Suddenly I saw something black. “Hey, coachman! - I shouted, “look: what’s black there?” The coachman began to peer closely. “God knows, master,” he said, sitting down in his place, “a cart is not a cart, a tree is not a tree, but it seems that it is moving. It must be either a wolf or a man." I ordered to go towards an unfamiliar object, which immediately began to move towards us. Two minutes later we caught up with the man. “Hey, good man! - the coachman shouted to him. “Tell me, do you know where the road is?”
- The road is here; “I’m standing on a solid strip,” answered the roadie, “but what’s the point?”
“Listen, little man,” I told him, “do you know this side?” Will you undertake to take me to my lodging for the night?
“The side is familiar to me,” answered the traveler, “thank God, it’s well-trodden and traveled far and wide.” Look what the weather is like: you’ll just lose your way. It’s better to stop here and wait, maybe the storm will subside and the sky will clear: then we’ll find our way by the stars.
His composure encouraged me. I had already decided, surrendering myself to God’s will, to spend the night in the middle of the steppe, when suddenly the roadman quickly sat down on the beam and said to the coachman: “Well, thank God, he lived not far away; turn right and go."
- Why should I go to the right? – the driver asked with displeasure. -Where do you see the road? Probably: the horses are strangers, the collar is not yours, don’t stop driving. “The coachman seemed right to me.” “Really,” I said, “why do you think that they lived not far away?” “But because the wind blew away from here,” answered the roadman, “and I heard the smell of smoke; know the village is close." His intelligence and subtlety of instinct amazed me. I told the coachman to go. The horses tramped heavily through the deep snow. The wagon moved quietly, now driving onto a snowdrift, now collapsing into a ravine and rolling over to one side or the other. It was like sailing a ship on a stormy sea. Savelich groaned, constantly pushing against my sides. I lowered the mat, wrapped myself in a fur coat and dozed off, lulled by the singing of the storm and the rolling of the quiet ride.
I had a dream that I could never forget and in which I still see something prophetic when I consider the strange circumstances of my life with it. The reader will excuse me: for he probably knows from experience how human it is to indulge in superstition, despite all possible contempt for prejudice.
I was in that state of feelings and soul when materiality, yielding to dreams, merges with them in the unclear visions of first sleep. It seemed to me that the storm was still raging and we were still wandering through the snowy desert... Suddenly I saw a gate and drove into the manor’s courtyard of our estate. My first thought was the fear that my father would be angry with me for my involuntary return to my parents’ roof and would consider it deliberate disobedience. With anxiety, I jumped out of the wagon and saw: mother met me on the porch with an appearance of deep grief. “Hush,” she tells me, “your father is dying and wants to say goodbye to you.” Struck with fear, I follow her into the bedroom. I see the room is dimly lit; there are people with sad faces standing by the bed. I quietly approach the bed; Mother lifts the curtain and says: “Andrei Petrovich, Petrusha has arrived; he returned after learning about your illness; bless him." I knelt down and fixed my eyes on the patient. Well?.. Instead of my father, I see a man with a black beard lying in bed, looking at me cheerfully. I turned to my mother in bewilderment, telling her: “What does this mean? This is not father. And why should I ask for a man’s blessing?” “It doesn’t matter, Petrusha,” my mother answered me, “this is your imprisoned father; kiss his hand and may he bless you...” I did not agree. Then the man jumped out of bed, grabbed the ax from behind his back and began swinging it in all directions. I wanted to run... and couldn’t; the room was filled with dead bodies; I stumbled over bodies and slid in bloody puddles... The scary man called me affectionately, saying: “Don’t be afraid, come under my blessing...” Horror and bewilderment took possession of me... And at that moment I woke up; the horses stood; Savelich tugged at my hand, saying: “Come out, sir: we’ve arrived.”
-Where have you arrived? – I asked, rubbing my eyes.
- To the inn. The Lord helped, we ran straight into a fence. Come out, sir, quickly and warm yourself up.
I left the wagon. The storm still continued, although with less force. It was so dark that you could put out your eyes. The owner met us at the gate, holding a lantern under his skirt, and led me into the room, cramped, but quite clean; a torch illuminated her. A rifle and a tall Cossack hat hung on the wall.
The owner, a Yaik Cossack by birth, seemed to be a man of about sixty, still fresh and vigorous. Savelich brought the cellar behind me and demanded a fire to prepare tea, which I never seemed to need so much. The owner went to do some work.
- Where is the counselor? – I asked Savelich. “Here, your honor,” the voice from above answered me. I looked at the Polati and saw a black beard and two sparkling eyes. “What, brother, are you cold?” - “How not to vegetate in one skinny armyak! There was a sheepskin coat, but let’s be honest? I laid the evening at the kisser’s: the frost did not seem too great.” At that moment the owner came in with a boiling samovar; I offered our counselor a cup of tea; the man got off the floor. His appearance seemed remarkable to me: he was about forty, average height, thin and broad-shouldered. His black beard showed streaks of gray; the lively big eyes kept darting around. His face had a rather pleasant, but roguish expression. The hair was cut into a circle; he was wearing a tattered overcoat and Tatar trousers. I brought him a cup of tea; he tasted it and winced. “Your Honor, do me such a favor - order me to bring a glass of wine; tea is not our Cossack drink.” I willingly fulfilled his wish. The owner took a damask and a glass out of the stall, walked up to him and, looking into his face: “Ehe,” he said, “you’re in our land again!” Where did God bring it?” My counselor blinked significantly and answered with a saying: “He flew into the garden, pecked hemp; Grandmother threw a pebble - yes, it missed. Well, what about yours?”
- Yes, ours! - the owner answered, continuing the allegorical conversation. “They started ringing for vespers, but the priest didn’t say: the priest is visiting, the devils are in the graveyard.”
“Be quiet, uncle,” my tramp objected, “there will be rain, there will be fungi; and if there are fungi, there will be a body. And now (here he blinked again) put the ax behind your back: the forester is walking. Your honor! For your health!" - With these words, he took the glass, crossed himself and drank in one breath. Then he bowed to me and returned to the floor.
I couldn’t understand anything from this thieves’ conversation at the time; but later I guessed that it was about the affairs of the Yaitsky army, which at that time had just been pacified after the riot of 1772. Savelich listened with an air of great displeasure. He looked with suspicion first at the owner, then at the counselor. Inn, or, in the local language, able, was located on the side, in the steppe, far from any settlement, and very much looked like a robber's haven. But there was nothing to do. It was impossible to even think about continuing the journey. Savelich's anxiety amused me very much. Meanwhile, I settled down for the night and lay down on a bench. Savelich decided to go to the stove; the owner lay down on the floor. Soon the whole hut was snoring, and I fell asleep like the dead.
Waking up quite late in the morning, I saw that the storm had subsided. The sun was shining. The snow lay in a dazzling veil on the vast steppe. The horses were harnessed. I paid the owner, who took such a reasonable payment from us that even Savelich did not argue with him and did not bargain as usual, and yesterday’s suspicions were completely erased from his mind. I called the counselor, thanked him for his help and told Savelich to give him half a ruble for vodka. Savelich frowned. “Half a ruble for vodka! - he said, - what is this for? Because you deigned to give him a ride to the inn? It's your choice, sir: we don't have any extra fifty. If you give everyone vodka, you’ll soon have to starve.” I couldn't argue with Savelich. The money, according to my promise, was at his complete disposal. I was annoyed, however, that I could not thank the person who rescued me, if not from trouble, then at least from a very unpleasant situation. “Okay,” I said coolly, “if you don’t want to give half a ruble, then take him something from my dress. He is dressed too lightly. Give him my rabbit sheepskin coat."
- Have mercy, Father Pyotr Andreich! - said Savelich. - Why does he need your hare sheepskin coat? He will drink it, the dog, in the first tavern.
“This, old lady, is not your sadness,” said my tramp, “whether I drink or not.” His nobility grants me a fur coat from his shoulder: it is his lordly will, and it is your servant’s business not to argue and obey.
- You are not afraid of God, robber! - Savelich answered him in an angry voice. “You see that the child doesn’t understand yet, and you’re glad to rob him, for the sake of his simplicity.” Why do you need a master's sheepskin coat? You won’t even put it on your damned shoulders.
“Please don’t be smart,” I told my uncle, “now bring the sheepskin coat here.”
- Lord, Lord! - my Savelich groaned. – The hare sheepskin coat is almost brand new! and it would be good for anyone, otherwise it’s a naked drunkard!
However, the hare sheepskin coat appeared. The man immediately began trying it on. In fact, the sheepskin coat that I had grown out of was a little narrow for him. However, he somehow managed to put it on, tearing it apart at the seams. Savelich almost howled when he heard the threads crackle. The tramp was extremely pleased with my gift. He walked me to the tent and said with a low bow: “Thank you, your honor! God reward you for your virtue. I will never forget your mercies." - He went in his direction, and I went further, not paying attention to Savelich’s annoyance, and soon forgot about yesterday’s blizzard, about my counselor and about the hare’s sheepskin coat.
Arriving in Orenburg, I went straight to the general. I saw a man who was tall, but already hunched over with old age. Long hair his were completely white. The old, faded uniform resembled a warrior from the time of Anna Ioannovna, and his speech was strongly reminiscent of a German accent. I gave him a letter from my father. At his name, he looked at me quickly: “My dear!” - he said. - How long ago, it seems, Andrei Petrovich was even younger than your age, and now he has such a hammer ear! Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!” He opened the letter and began to read it in a low voice, making his comments. “Dear Sir Andrei Karlovich, I hope that your Excellency”... What kind of ceremony is this? Ugh, how inappropriate he is! Of course: discipline is the first thing, but is this how they write to the old comrade?.. “Your Excellency has not forgotten”... um... “and... when... the late Field Marshal Min... campaign... also... Karolinka”... Ehe, brooder! So he still remembers our old pranks? “Now about the matter... I’ll bring my rake to you”... um... “keep a tight rein”... What are mittens? This must be a Russian proverb... What does “handle with gloves” mean?” – he repeated, turning to me.
“This means,” I answered him with an air as innocent as possible, “to treat him kindly, not too strictly, to give him more freedom, to keep a tight rein.”
“Hm, I understand... “and don’t give him free rein” - no, apparently, Yesha’s mittens mean the wrong thing... “At the same time... his passport”... Where is he? And, here... “write off to Semyonovsky”... Okay, okay: everything will be done... “Allow yourself to be embraced without rank and... by an old comrade and friend” - ah! finally I guessed... and so on and so forth... Well, father,” he said, having read the letter and putting my passport aside, “everything will be done: you will be transferred as an officer to the *** regiment, and so as not to waste time, then tomorrow go to the Belogorsk fortress, where you will be on the team of Captain Mironov, a kind and honest man. There you will be in real service, you will learn discipline. There is nothing for you to do in Orenburg; distraction is harmful to a young person. And today you are welcome to dine with me.”
“It’s not getting any easier hour by hour! - I thought to myself, - what did it serve me that even in my mother’s womb I was already a guard sergeant! Where has this got me? To the *** regiment and to a remote fortress on the border of the Kyrgyz-Kaisak steppes!..” I dined with Andrei Karlovich, the three of us with his old adjutant. Strict German economy reigned at his table, and I think that the fear of sometimes seeing an extra guest at his single meal was partly the reason for my hasty removal to the garrison. The next day I said goodbye to the general and went to my destination.
The Captain's Daughter is a historical novel dedicated to the bloodiest uprising of the late 18th century - the uprising led by Emelyan Pugachev.
Chapter 1
He spent his life in entertainment and amusements. His teacher, a Frenchman, did not bother his student with work, but rather drank and had fun with his student.
Grinev's father, seeing that with such a life nothing good will come of his son, sends him to military service to his former colleague Captain Mironov.
Young Pyotr Grinev dreams of a brilliant career in St. Petersburg, but instead he is sent to a small fortress near Orenburg on the Yaik River. The serf Savelich is sent with him as a servant and nanny. Already on the way to the fortress, the young man loses 100 rubles at cards and seriously quarrels with his mentor because of this loss.
Chapter 2
In the winter steppe, the coachman loses his way. Travelers are in danger of death. But at this time a guide appears and takes them to the inn. Spending the night in this place, Grinev sees prophetic dream. He sees his father's recent escort in his father's bed. At the same time, Grinev’s mother calls the stranger father.
Then the man jumps out of bed and starts swinging an ax. There are corpses and blood everywhere. Peter wakes up in horror. Waking up, he hears an incomprehensible conversation between the guide and the owner of the inn about upcoming events. As a token of gratitude for the rescue, the young officer gives the escort a hare sheepskin coat and a glass of vodka. Savelich is again very dissatisfied with his young master.
Chapter 3
The fortress in which the young officer was assigned was a tiny village with two dozen disabled people. He is warmly greeted by the family of the fortress commandant, Captain Mironov, a former colleague of Andrei Grinev. The captain's wife Vasilisa Yegorovna managed all the affairs in the fortress and in her small household. Grinev immediately liked these people.
His attention was also attracted by Shvabrin, a young and educated officer exiled from St. Petersburg for a duel, witty and cheerful. Lieutenant Shvabrin was the first to come to Peter to get acquainted, explaining that there was mortal boredom in the fortress. While talking with the new man, Shvabrin spoke extremely disrespectfully about Masha Mironova, the captain’s daughter, calling her a narrow-minded person.
When Peter meets a girl and talks to her, he understands that she is a modest, reasonable and very kind girl.
Chapter 4
The young officer is completely absorbed in his new life. He began to read serious books, became interested in poetry, and even began to compose himself. He dedicated one love song to Masha Mironova. Like a true poet, he wanted to show off his work, and sang it to Shvabrina. In response, he ridiculed the poet and his work, again speaking disparagingly about the subject of Grinev’s passion. What followed was a challenge to a duel.
Having learned about the duel, Masha and the kind Vasilisa Egorovna tried to reconcile the opponents and force them to abandon the duel. But the duel still took place. Pyotr Grinev was wounded in the shoulder.
Chapter 5
Grinev is diligently looked after by Masha and the regimental barber, who also serves as a doctor. The young man cordially forgives Shvabrin, because he understands that his wounded pride spoke. After all, Masha admitted to Peter that Shvabrin wooed her, but was refused. Now much became clear to the young man about his opponent’s behavior.
During his illness, Grinev talks to Masha and asks for her hand in marriage. The girl happily agrees. Peter writes a touching letter to his family asking them to bless their union. In response, he receives an angry message from his father denying his blessing for the marriage. Having also learned about the duel, the father believes that Peter should be immediately transferred to another regiment. The young man invites Masha to get married secretly, but the girl flatly refuses to violate the will of her parents.
Chapter 6
Troubled times are beginning. From Orenburg, the commandant receives a secret report about the “gang” of Emelyan Pugachev, which is joined by peasants and even some military personnel. The fortress was ordered to be prepared for military action. The worried captain intends to send Masha to her relatives away from danger.
Chapter 7
Pugachev's army appears unexpectedly. The commandant never had time to send Masha out of the fortress. The first onslaught and the fortress fell. The commandant, realizing the horror of the situation, ordered his wife to dress her daughter in a peasant dress. At this time, Pugachev, in the guise of a king, begins the trial of the defenders of the fortress.
He offers to obey him and go over to the side of the rebels in exchange for life. Shvabrin is the first to go over to the side of the rebels. The commandant proudly rejected this proposal and was immediately executed. When Grinev is made the same offer, he indignantly rejects it and is already preparing for death.
At this time Savelich appears. He throws himself on his knees before the “king” and asks for his master. A bloody picture of the massacre of Captain Mironov’s wife, who is stabbed to death with sabers, is immediately played out.
Chapter 8
At home, Grinev learned from Savelich that the “sovereign” was their long-time guide who saved them from the blizzard. All thoughts young man are busy with Masha, because if the rebels find out that she is the daughter of the captain, the commandant of the fortress, they will kill her. Shvabrin, who has gone over to the side of the rebels, can give her away.
At this moment, Grineva invites Pugachev to his place and invites Peter to once again come over to his side - to serve the new “tsar” faithfully, for which he will be made a general. Grinev, respecting officer honor, says that he swore allegiance to the empress and cannot break it. Moreover, he is obliged, if ordered, to fight against the rebels. Pugachev, admiring the young officer’s truthfulness and courage, releases him.
Chapter 9
In the morning, Pugachev publicly sends Grinev to Orenburg with the news that he intends to attack this city in a week. With gloomy thoughts and anxiety in his heart, the young man leaves the Belgorod fortress, because his bride remains in the hands of Shvabrin, who was appointed commandant.
Chapter 10
Upon arrival in Orenburg, Grinev tells the generals everything he knows about Pugachev’s army. Opinions are divided: some are in favor of a swift attack, others want to wait. As a result, the city comes under siege. A few days later, Peter secretly receives a letter from Masha asking him to save her from Shvabrin, who is trying to force the girl into marriage. Peter asks for an army to attack the Belgorod fortress. Having received a refusal, he begins to look for other ways to save the girl.
Chapter 11
Grinev, together with Savelich, goes back to the fortress. On the way, they were captured by rebels and presented to Pugachev. Peter, with his usual directness and truthfulness, talks about Masha and Shvabrin’s meanness. The new “king” likes the idea of uniting two loving hearts. In addition, he tells the young man a Kalmyk parable about the raven and the eagle. To which Grinev says that one cannot live by robbery and murder.
Chapter 12
Arriving at the Belgorod fortress, Pugachev demands that Shvabrin show Masha. The new commandant keeps the girl in the pantry on water and bread. In response to the “king’s” anger, Shvabrin immediately reveals to him the secret of the girl’s origin. But at this moment Pugachev is merciful, he releases both Grinev and Masha to freedom.
Chapter 13
On the way to Orenburg, Grinev and Masha are detained by Cossacks, mistaking them for rebels. Luckily for the young people, they are commanded by Lieutenant Zurin, a friend of Grinev’s. He gives useful advice: send the girl to the Grinev family estate, and the young man remain in the active army.
Peter happily took this advice. Seeing the devastated villages and the huge number of innocent people killed, he is horrified by the behavior of the rebels. After some time, Zurin receives a notification with an order to arrest Grinev and send him to Kazan for secret communication with the rebels.
Chapter 14
In Kazan, before the investigative committee, Grinev behaves simply and truthfully, because he is confident that he is right. But Shvabrin slanderes the young man, pointing to him as Pugachev’s secret spy. As a result, Grinev is sent to St. Petersburg, where he will appear before a state court. Either execution or eternal hard labor in Siberia awaits him.
Masha, having learned about the pitiful fate of her fiancé, decides to go to St. Petersburg to the empress herself. Here, in the Tsarskoye Selo garden, early in the morning she meets a certain lady, to whom she openly tells all her misadventures. The lady promises to help her. Later Masha learns that she had a conversation with the empress herself. Grinev's case was reviewed, and the young man was completely acquitted.
Afterword
In 1774, Pyotr Andreevich Grinev was acquitted thanks to the dedication and determination of his bride. In 1775, he was present at the execution of Emelyan Pugachev, this was their last meeting. The young people got married and lived happily.
CHAPTER I. SERGEANT OF THE GUARD
Pyotr Grinev was enrolled in the Semenovsky regiment as a sergeant even before his birth. He grew up in the village with his parents and was the only child in the family, as his eight brothers and sisters died in infancy. He was raised by the former stepladder Savelich, who by the age of twelve taught the boy to read, write and understand hunting dogs.
Then his father hired him a Frenchman, Beaupre, who did not stay in the house for long and was kicked out for having relationships with courtyard girls. When the young man turned sixteen, his father decided that the time had come for Petrusha to serve in the army, but not in the Semenovsky regiment in St. Petersburg - he would be spoiled by metropolitan life, but in Orenburg under the command of his old friend, General Andrei Karlovich R.
The mother, crying, equipped her son for the long journey, the father gave his blessing, and Pyotr Andreevich left, accompanied by Uncle Savelich.
In Simbirsk, where they were supposed to buy the necessary things, Grinev met the hussar captain and immediately lost a hundred rubles to him in billiards. Despite Savelich's reproaches, the debt was repaid, and they moved on.
CHAPTER II. COUNSELOR
Petrusha and his uncle were already approaching their destination when a snowstorm caught them in the steppe. A strong snowstorm began and they got lost. Suddenly, an unfamiliar man appeared from somewhere, showed them the way and led them to the inn. There, their counselor had an allegorical conversation with the owner, from which Grinev understood nothing.
Waking up in the morning, in gratitude for the help provided, he gave the peasant his sheepskin coat. The counselor’s clothes turned out to be too small and were torn at the seams, but the tramp was still very pleased with this gift.
In Orenburg, Grinev came to General R., who sent him to the Belogorsk fortress under the command of Captain Mironov.
CHAPTER III. FORTRESS
The fortress was located forty miles from Orenburg and was a small, surrounded log fence a village with low thatched huts and a cannon at the gate.
Petrusha immediately went to the commandant; he was not at home, but his wife, Vasilisa Egorovna, herself assigned the new arrival to billet. The next day he met Shvabrin, a young officer whom he really liked. They went together to the commandant. at the commandant's house they saw about twenty old disabled people, lined up in front, commanded by Captain Mironov himself in a cap and robe.
He invited the young people to his house for dinner. It was there that Grinev first saw the commandant’s daughter, Masha, whom Shvabrin spoke of as a complete fool, and therefore treated her with prejudice, but soon changed his attitude.
CHAPTER IV. DUEL
CHAPTER IV. DUEL
Life in the fortress was monotonous. Pyotr Andreevich was received in the commandant's house as if he were his own, he really liked Mironov and his wife, and having gotten to know Masha better, he found in her a prudent and sensitive girl and fell in love with her.
One day he wrote poems to her and showed them to Shvabrin, hoping for praise, but the officer laughed at them and made an obscene remark about Masha. This greatly offended Grinev, and he challenged his friend to a duel. The commandant found out about this and banned the fight. Masha told Petrusha that at one time Shvabrin wooed her, but she refused him. Finally, the rivals seized the moment and the sword fight took place.
Savelich, who suddenly appeared, distracted Grinev’s attention, Shvabrin took advantage of this and wounded the enemy in the chest.
CHAPTER V. LOVE
Masha and Vasilisa Egorovna looked after the wounded man. Seeing the girl’s attitude towards him, Petrusha realized that she also loved him, proposed to her and received consent. He wrote a letter to his parents, asking for their blessing to marry Masha.
But the father refused the blessing, scolded his son for the duel and threatened to ask for his transfer to another fortress. Grinev and Masha were very upset, the girl cried, but refused to get married without a blessing. Pyotr Andreevich fell into a gloomy reverie and did not want to see anyone, but his love flared up more and more.
CHAPTER VI. PUGACHEVSHCHINA
At the beginning of October 1773, a letter arrived from General R., in which he warned about the danger of an attack on the fortress by the Cossack army led by the fugitive Don Cossack Emelyan Pugachev, posing as the late Emperor Peter the Third, and asked to take appropriate measures.
The commandant gave orders to the officers about guards and night watches, ordered them to clean the only cannon and, most importantly. keep your mouth shut. Meanwhile, he himself accidentally let it slip to his wife. Pugachev's army was approaching. there were many rumors about his size and strength.
The Nizhneozernaya fortress, located nearby, was taken, and the parents decided to send Masha to Orenburg to her godmother. But she did not have time to leave: in the morning the fortress was surrounded. All the residents gathered on the rampart.
CHAPTER VII. ATTACK
In the ranks of the attackers, Pugachev was visible in a red caftan, riding on a white horse. The commandant, having blessed Masha and said goodbye to Vasilisa Yegorovna, sent the women home, ordering his wife to put a sundress on her daughter. so that if something happens, she will be mistaken for a simple peasant woman.
The assault began. The battle was short-lived; the attackers far outnumbered the garrison. Having burst into the fortress, they demanded the keys from Captain Mironov, who was wounded in the head, and Grinev. who rushed to his aid was tied up. The prisoners were dragged to the square, where Pugachev was supposed to take the oath of allegiance from them.
The impostor sat in a chair on the porch of the commandant's house and administered justice to those captured. The commandant and lieutenant Ivan Ignatievich, who refused to recognize him as the Sovereign, were hanged; it was Grinev’s turn. At that moment, he saw among the rebels Shvabrin, with his hair cut in a circle and wearing a Cossack caftan, who said something to Pugachev, after which Pyotr Andreevich was dragged to the gallows without further proceedings.
Suddenly Savelich ran out of the crowd and begged Pugachev to pardon the young man. When the villagers began to swear allegiance to the impostor, a woman’s cry was heard, and Vasilisa Yegorovna was dragged onto the porch, who, seeing her husband hanged, began to lament. One of the Kazakhs hit her with a saber, and the commandant fell dead.
CHAPTER VIII. UNINVITED GUEST
In the evening, Grinev went to the commandant’s house and found out that his beloved was alive. She was saved by the maid Palash, passing her off as her sick niece. Masha, in a fever, lay behind the partition on Palash’s bed and almost did not come to her senses. Pyotr Andreevich returned home and was very surprised when Savelich declared that Pugachev was the man who led them out of the snowstorm. A little later, a Cossack appeared on behalf of the great Sovereign and conveyed the demand to appear before him.
Grinev found Pugachev and his associates having dinner. They all communicated as equals, without showing any preference to the leader. After dinner, the impostor sent everyone away to talk with Grinev alone. The young man answered honestly and directly, without hiding his thoughts, and Pugachev decided to let him go.
CHAPTER IX. PARTING
Pugachev orders Grineva to inform the Orenburg governor that the Pugachevites will be in the city in a week. Pugachev himself leaves the Belogorsk fortress, leaving Shvabrin as commandant. Savelich gives Pugachev a “register” of the lord’s plundered goods; Pugachev, in a “fit of generosity,” leaves him without attention and without punishment. He favors Grinev with a horse and a fur coat from his shoulder. Masha gets sick.
CHAPTER X. SIEGE OF THE CITY
CHAPTER X. SIEGE OF THE CITY
Grinev goes to Orenburg. Upon arrival, he saw that the city was preparing for a siege. The military decided to stick to defensive tactics, underestimating Pugachev, who soon approached Orenburg and began a siege. One day after a battle, Grinev met a Cossack who had lagged behind his own, and recognized him as a constable of the Belogorsk fortress, who gave him a letter from Masha. She wrote that Shvabrin was forcing her to marry him and asked for help.
Pyotr Andreevich immediately went straight to the general and began to ask for a company of soldiers and fifty Cossacks to take the Belogorsk fortress. The general refused, citing the distance.
CHAPTER X. SIEGE OF THE CITY
Grinev goes to Orenburg. Upon arrival, he saw that the city was preparing for a siege. The military decided to stick to defensive tactics, underestimating Pugachev, who soon approached Orenburg and began a siege. One day after a battle, Grinev met a Cossack who had lagged behind his own, and recognized him as a constable of the Belogorsk fortress, who gave him a letter from Masha. She wrote that Shvabrin was forcing her to marry him and asked for help.
Pyotr Andreevich immediately went straight to the general and began to ask for a company of soldiers and fifty Cossacks to take the Belogorsk fortress. The general refused, citing the distance.
CHAPTER XI. REBEL SLOBODA
Then Grinev went to the fortress with Savelich.
On the way, they were captured by the rebels and taken to Pugacheva. Grinev told him that he was going to free the orphan, and told him about Masha, calling her the priest’s niece, and about Shvabrina. The impostor believed, but Khlopusha decided to torture the prisoner with fire.
The young man’s life hung in the balance, but Grinev started a conversation. He thanked Pugachev for the sheepskin coat and the horse, without which he would have frozen, which amused his master. They had dinner, and in the morning they rode together in a wagon to the Beloror fortress.
CHAPTER XII. ORPHAN
There they were met by Shvabrin, who kept Masha locked up on bread and water. Pugachev freed her and wanted to immediately marry Grinev, as Shvabrin said that she was the daughter of Commandant Mironov. But the impostor forgave the young people for this deception and even ordered them to be given a pass to all his possessions.
CHAPTER XIII. ARREST
Soon, under the Tatishcheva fortress, Pugachev was defeated by the troops of Prince Golitsyn, but was able to escape. He showed up in Siberia, where he again began to raise the people, took Kazan and went to Moscow. Finally, news came of his defeat and capture, and Grinev was given leave so that he could go to his parents. But on the day appointed for departure, a secret order came for his arrest.
CHAPTER XIV. COURT
Pyotr Andreevich was put in a cart and brought under escort to Kazan, where the trial took place. Grinev spoke candidly about everything that concerned his acquaintance with Pugachev, but did not mention Masha, not wanting to involve her in this matter. Shvabrin, shackled, testified against him. He accused his former friend of spying for the rebels, but the name of Captain Mironov’s daughter was not mentioned in his testimony.
Masha, meanwhile, lived on the estate of Grinev’s parents, who loved her very much. One day they received a letter from St. Petersburg from one of the relatives who reported. that their son was threatened with the gallows, but out of respect for his father’s merits he would serve his sentence in Siberia. This dishonor almost killed her father, and Masha, feeling guilty, got ready and went to St. Petersburg.
The Empress's court was in Tsarskoe Selo. The girl stayed in the caretaker's house. The next morning, while walking in the garden, she met a very pleasant lady, to whom she told everything about herself. The lady agreed to convey to the empress a petition for Grinev.
Returning to the caretaker’s house, Masha was drinking tea, when suddenly a carriage arrived and the girl was ordered to come to the empress. She recognized Catherine the Second as the lady she had spoken to in the morning. The Empress gave her a letter pardoning Grinev and promised to arrange their future. Masha fell at her feet. The Empress treated her kindly and released her. On the same day, the captain's daughter left for the village.
Pugachev was executed. Grinev was released from prison at the end of 1774, he was present at the execution of Pugachev, who recognized him in the crowd and nodded. Soon Pyotr Andreevich married Masha.
The captain's daughter summary by chapter
4.7 (94.91%) 161 votesThe novel tells about life young officer Pyotr Andreevich Grinev, who unwittingly became a participant in the events that occurred during the reign of Catherine II. These events are recorded in history as “Pugachevism”. The basis for the work is the memories of the main character. He tells his biography. At his place of service, Peter finds his true love and, having gone through all the trials of fate, marries and continues to live, not forgetting what he had to endure.
The manifestation of willpower, courage and kindness of the main characters shows readers that they cannot give up and give up, but must go to the end and help those who need it.
Read the summary of Pushkin The Captain's Daughter in chapters
Chapter 1
The first chapter describes the childhood of Pyotr Grinev. From the age of five he was educated and taught to read and write by the eager Savelich. Having reached the age of 17, Petrusha goes to Orenburg with her teacher. Along the way, they stop in Simbirsk, where in a tavern Grinev loses 100 rubles to his new acquaintance, captain Ivan Zurin.
Chapter 2
On the road, Peter and Savelich fall into the shackles of a snow storm and cannot continue their journey. While they are leaving the snow captivity, Grinev sees in a dream a man with black beard and an ax in his hands. Helps them leave stranger and brings them to the hut for the night. In the morning, Petrusha gives the savior her sheepskin coat. Having arrived at his destination, Pyotr Andreevich learns that he will then have to go to the Belogorsk fortress.
Chapter 3
In the fortress, Grinev meets its inhabitants and makes a new friend, Alexey Shvabrin, who was imprisoned in the fortress for murder in a duel. Alexei speaks poorly of the captain's daughter and condemns her. Having met
her, Peter begins to distrust Shvabrin, since he turns out to be wrong.
Chapter 4
Pyotr Andreevich likes it in the fortress, he begins to write poems for Masha, and Shvabrin ridicules them and continues to talk badly about the commandant’s daughter. Peter cannot stand it and challenges Shvabrin to a duel, in which he is subsequently wounded.
Chapter 5
Peter lies in bed and Masha takes care of him. Suddenly he begins to realize that he is in love with her and decides to write a letter to his father, asking for his blessing. In response, his father sends him a refusal and scolds Grinev for his tricks.
Chapter 6
An order comes to the fortress to prepare for defense. There are rumors about the leader peasant uprising Emelyan Pugachev, who with his retinue robs and kills people. Mironov wants to send his wife and daughter to Orenburg, but Vasilisa Egorovna refuses the trip, and they don’t have time to take Masha away.
Chapter 7
The fortress was conquered quickly; there were too many people on the ataman’s side. Pugachev summons everyone to his oath; Captain Mironov and those who did not bow to the impostor were immediately hanged. Grinev was also led to the gallows, but Savelich was able to prevent Petrusha’s death by promising a reward for him from his parents.
Chapter 8
Shvabrin took the oath to Pugachev. Masha remains besieged by the fortress. Peter is brought to Emelyan and he remembers where he saw him. He dreamed about him, and then showed him the way when they got stuck in a snowstorm. Pugachev remembered Peter’s gift and pardoned him.
Chapter 9
The next day, Emelyan sent Grinev to Orenburg to tell him that the city would soon be captured and destroyed. Having said goodbye to Masha, Peter and Savelich go on foot to Orenburg, but soon Pugachev’s close associate catches up with them and leaves them a horse and a fur coat.
Chapter 10
In Orenburg, Peter goes to the commander-in-chief and explains to him that it is better to prepare a defense than to go on the attack. At the time appointed by Emelyan, the robbers besieged the city. Grinev receives a letter from Masha, where she tells him that Shvabrin is keeping her locked up and forcing her to marry him.
Chapter 11
Peter decides to save his beloved himself and goes to his enemy, but they are attacked by Pugachev’s people and taken to him. Grinev tells Emelyan about Shvabrin’s action. Pugachev travels with Peter to the fortress to free Masha.
Chapter 12
Emelyan gives the order to release the captive girl and releases them along with Grinev. He gives the young people a pass on the journey so that they can travel without attacks by robbers.
Chapter 13
On the way, they are arrested, mistaking Pugachev for people. It soon turns out that the head of the convoy is an acquaintance of Peter’s – Zurin. Masha and Savelich continue their journey home, and Peter remains with the military and helps them catch the chieftain and his supporters. Soon Pugachev is caught, and Peter is arrested and taken for interrogation.
Chapter 14
Masha goes to St. Petersburg to help Grinev. Quite by accident, she starts a conversation with a woman and tells her about her grief; Masha soon finds out that her interlocutor was the empress herself. Catherine II, imbued with Masha’s story, cancels the punishment for Peter. Grinev comes to Pugachev’s execution and he nods to him as if he were his friend.
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