The story "In a beautiful and furious world" by Platonov was written in 1938, and originally had a different name - "Machinist Maltsev". The work reflects the personal experience of the writer, who in his youth worked as an assistant driver.
For the best preparation for the literature lesson, we recommend reading the online summary of "In a Beautiful and Furious World." A brief retelling of the story will also be useful for the reader's diary.
main characters
Alexander Vasilievich Maltsev- an experienced machinist who loves his job with all his heart.
Konstantin- Maltsev's assistant, a responsible, decent young man.
Other characters
Investigator- a fair representative of the law.
Chapter I
Alexander Vasilievich Maltsev is rightfully considered "the best locomotive driver in the Tolubeevsky depot." Despite his young age - only thirty years old - he already has a "first class driver's qualification" and a decent experience in driving fast trains. When the newest passenger steam locomotive appears at the station, it is Maltsev who is assigned to work on this powerful machine.
Maltsev's previous assistant successfully passes the driver's exam, and Konstantin is appointed to the empty seat, which he is incredibly happy about. Alexander Vasilyevich, "doesn't care who will be his assistants." Before the trip, he carefully monitors Kostya's work, but after "his own hands" he checks the condition of the locomotive.
Kostya sincerely admires the professionalism of his mentor, who leads "the train with the courageous confidence of a great master", and dreams of being like him.
Chapter II
Konstantin has been working as an assistant to Maltsev for about a year now. On July 5, they take the train four hours late, and the dispatcher asks "to reduce the delay of the train as much as possible." Alexander Vasilievich agrees, and the heroes set off.
Wanting to save precious minutes, Maltsev drives the train forward with all his might, "towards a powerful cloud that has appeared from the horizon." The machinist involuntarily admires the beauty of the raging natural elements, and involuntarily compares it with the work of the machine entrusted to him.
The train gets into a dusty whirlwind, and it becomes difficult not only to see, but even to breathe. However, the line-up continues to push forward, "into a vague, stifling darkness". Suddenly, an “instant blue light” flashes - this lightning almost hit the locomotive, “yes, it missed a little”.
Kostya notices that Maltsev "began to drive worse". He thinks that it is from fatigue, and begins to carefully look at the path and signals himself. Konstantin manages to notice in time the "foggy cloud of red light" - the oncoming train. At full speed, he stops the train, thanks to which he manages to avoid a terrible accident. Maltsev passes control of the locomotive to his assistant, and admits that he is blind. His vision returns the next day.
Chapter III
Maltsev is put on trial, but it is almost impossible to prove the innocence of an experienced driver. It seems very suspicious to the investigation that Alexander Vasilyevich received his sight the very next day.
He tries to explain that he “saw the world in his imagination for a long time and believed in its reality”, and therefore did not immediately realize that he was blind, but no one believes him. As a result, Maltsev is imprisoned, while Konstantin continues to work.
Chapter IV
In winter, Kostya visits his brother, a student, and learns that the university has "a Tesla installation in the physical laboratory for obtaining artificial lightning." He has a plan in his head.
Upon returning home, Kostya once again carefully considers his assumption, and then writes to the investigator who led the case of Maltsev. In the letter, he insistently asks "to test the prisoner Maltsev for his susceptibility to the action of electric discharges", and thus prove the special sensitivity of his body to the external influence of electricity.
For a long time there is no answer, but after the investigator reports the consent of the regional prosecutor to such an unusual experiment. A few days later, the investigator calls Kostya to him and reports the results of the experiment. Maltsev, having passed in complete darkness under the Tesla installation, again "does not see the light - this was established objectively, by a forensic medical examination." But only this time the driver's vision is not restored.
The investigator reproaches himself for what he did - he is sure that he irretrievably ruined an innocent person.
Chapter V
The following summer, Konstantin successfully passes the “exam for the title of machinist”, and begins to drive on his own. Every time he brings the locomotive under the train, he notices the blind Maltsev sitting on the bench.
Kostya is trying to somehow cheer up the former driver, but all to no avail. Then he decides to take it with him on a flight. Once again in the cabin of a locomotive, and leading the train under the guidance of his former student, Alexander Vasilyevich feels real bliss.
On the way back to Maltsev, his sight suddenly returns. Kostya escorts him home, and sits next to Alexander Vasilievich all night, afraid to leave him face to face with the hostile forces of the "beautiful and furious world."
Conclusion
In his work, Platonov reveals many themes, among which the most acute are the problems of loneliness, sympathy, guilt and responsibility.
After reading the brief retelling of In a Beautiful and Furious World, we recommend that you read the story in its entirety.
Story test
Check the memorization of the summary with the test:
Retelling rating
Average rating: 4.2. Total ratings received: 485.
A.P. Platonov (1899-1951) - a famous Soviet writer, participant in the Civil War and the Great Patriotic War. He began to write early, many of his works were autobiographical in nature. All his works are an attempt by the writer to understand a person, to help him find himself in this “beautiful and furious world”, in which there are so many difficulties and unforeseen twists of fate.
The story In a Beautiful and Furious World was written in 1937. The story contains a lot of the biography of the writer himself: he worked in railway workshops and on a steam locomotive as an assistant driver.
Summary
- The main character is Alexander Maltsev. He was considered the best machinist of the Tolube depot. Already at the age of 30, he had his first qualification and drove fast trains.
- It was Maltsev who was given a new car - a steam locomotive of the IS series. A rather young boy, Kostya, was appointed as a driver. Maltsev accepted this appointment indifferently - he did not care who would work as his assistant.
- All the work on the preparation of the locomotive, carried out by the assistant, Maltsev double-checked, as if he did not trust anyone.
- Maltsev aroused admiration for the way he worked, how well he knew his business, how he drove with the confidence of a master.
- They usually worked in silence. Only occasionally did Maltsev knock on the boiler, which meant some kind of malfunction, and the assistant quickly fixed it.
- Maltsev felt his superiority and believed that no one but him would be able to understand the engine so well, that even hard work could not achieve what he himself had achieved, that only he could love the engine so much. Therefore, he was bored with everyone. He was always alone and alone.
- But one day, something unexpected happened along the way. A whirlwind began, a thundercloud was carried right into the forehead of the locomotive, and then lightning flashed, illuminating everything around. It started to rain. Maltsev somehow changed in his face, slowed down and, it seems, did not drive the car so confidently. Then he drove at all, not noticing the warning yellow and red traffic lights. And only then did he tell Kostya that he was blind. How could he drive a steam locomotive without seeing anything! How well you need to know the path and the car itself, so as not to bring to an accident.
- For this incident, Maltsev was put on trial. His sight returned, and no one believed that he was blind when his express train followed the freight train and almost collided with him, as if he had accidentally escaped disaster. He was jailed.
- Kostya accidentally learned from a student friend that there is such a physical device that can cause artificial lightning. Then he decided to achieve an experiment to check whether Maltsev's visual organs were exposed to electromagnetic discharges. Then it will be proved that he really went blind during the tragedy.
- The experiment was carried out, Maltsev was released. But during the experiment, he went blind again, and not for a few minutes. Too high a price was paid for Maltsev to be acquitted. But the investigator noted that it is not known which is better: blindness or the conviction of an innocent.
- A year later, Kostya passed the exams for a driver and began to drive a steam locomotive himself. He often saw Maltsev sitting on a bench and listening to how the locomotive was being taken out, preparing it for dispatch.
- And once Kostya invited Maltsev on a flight. He even promised that he would sit in the driver's seat and the two of them would drive the locomotive. And so it happened. At the end of the road, Maltsev began to see again.
- Kostya took him home, " afraid to leave him alone, like his own son, without protection against the sudden and hostile forces of our beautiful and furious world.
Reflections on some themes and problems of the work
| Theme: "Labor"
Problems:
The hero of the story - Maltsev - was a truly talented person, a master of his craft, no one knew steam locomotives better than him. It is no coincidence that he was entrusted with the most powerful, new type of steam locomotive - "IS". He seemed to merge with the machine, he felt the beating of the "steam heart". “... the professional vision of the driver is all-encompassing: it is also turned inside the locomotive mechanism, and at the same time absorbs the surrounding space, as if trying to extend its influence of the master master to him". He devoted himself entirely to work. He lived by her, she was the meaning of his life. Readers admire Maltsev, his dedication to the cause. He is really handsome when he is completely immersed in his work. However, we must not forget that labor activity is only a part of our life. You need to be able to see its meaning in something else: in communication with loved ones, acquaintances, be able to see all the beauty and fullness of life, so that a tragedy does not happen, if suddenly for some reason a person cannot do what he loves. So Maltsev, having lost his job, sank, grew old, life became meaningless for him. Driver Assistant Kostya loves work too. Maybe he is not so talented, but diligent, hardworking. He will also become a driver. But Kostya is more attentive to people, responsive. It is he who will help restore justice and achieve the release of Maltsev. And then literally bring him back to life, allowing him to go on a flight with him. And even after Maltsev's insight, Kostya does not leave him, brings him home, takes care of him. Yes, work plays an important role in human life. It is in work that you can express yourself, self-actualize. Favorite business transforms people, fills life with meaning. However, we must not forget that people around us live with their problems and joys. They sometimes need our help, mutual support. This is tedious to remember, even completely immersed in your favorite work. |
| Subject: " Meaning of life"
Problems:
Each person has repeatedly thought about what is the meaning of his life. For some - in love, in caring for loved ones, family, for others in serving the Motherland, the people. For the third - in your favorite work. But we should not still limit our existence on earth to one thing, we need to rejoice in the fullness of life. The world is beautiful both in nature and in the people who live next to us. It's about this "beautiful" world and writes Platonov, a world in which friendship and mutual support are so valued, although not everyone realizes this immediately, like the hero of the story Maltsev. Fenced off from people, living only in the world of his locomotives, he did not see people, he lived, in essence, alone, although he had a wife, he was surrounded by people. And only having survived the tragedy, he understood the beauty of human relationships. However, the world at the same time "furious", bringing trouble, trouble. These are natural phenomena that a person is unable to fight (it is during a thunderstorm that Maltsev loses his sight), this is misunderstanding, the injustice of others (they did not believe in court that Maltsev was really blinded and therefore almost led to an accident by his actions, laws people turned out to be more cruel than the laws of nature). Life goes on in eternal struggle. And this struggle hardens a person, makes him stronger. It is in it that the essence of a person is revealed (how decent Kostya is. After all, it was he who managed to restore justice by proving Maltsev’s innocence) In the struggle with difficulties, the person himself also changes. Maltsev "saw the light" spiritually when he realized how kindly Kostya treats him. How he rescued him from trouble, and the vision returned to the hero precisely after Kosya took Maltsev with him on the next flight. Thanks to Kostya, Maltsev became "to see the whole world." He realized that the beauty in the world is not only his profession, but also the people around him. Thus, the meaning of life is in life itself, in daily activities, in communication, in the ability to see how it, this life, is beautiful, albeit furious. |
|
Subject: "Way"
Choosing a path is a difficult, sometimes painful process. How to live, which road to take, what to make your moral guidelines? Maltsev chose his own path. It consisted in selfless devotion to the cause, even love for it. He immersed himself in work. Yes, we admire his professionalism, the way he skillfully manages the locomotive. However, the hero did not understand that the locomotive is just a machine. There are people around who need attention: his wife, who lives, in general, alone, assistant Kostya, who needs help to master the profession of a machinist. And just around life in all its charms. And only after the accident did true spiritual insight come to the hero. How beautiful is another hero - Kostya. He enthusiastically masters a new profession, he also loves it. However, at the same time he is attentive to people. His kindness helped Maltsev. There are no offenses in Kostya's soul, but only a desire to help, sincerely, humanly. In his own words, he "was not a friend of Maltsev," and the latter treated the boy "without attention and care." Nevertheless, Kostya did not leave his comrade in trouble, but helped in difficult times. “But I wanted to protect him from the grief of fate, I was hardened against the fatal forces that accidentally and indifferently destroy a person ... I decided not to give up, because I felt something in myself that could not be in the external forces of nature and in our destiny, - I felt my human nature. And I came to bitterness and decided to oppose myself, not yet knowing how to do it. Even when Maltsev's vision returned, Kostya did not leave him alone, he was there, realizing how much he needed his support. Everyone chooses his own path. But still, it must be remembered that only the path of goodness, justice, humanity, decency will make a person truly happy. |
Material prepared: Melnikova Vera Alexandrovna
The hero of Andrey Platonov's story is a young and talented driver of a passenger steam locomotive, Maltsev. This young and ambitious young man, who is about thirty years old, already holds the position of a top-class machinist, on a brand new and powerful steam locomotive "IS", giving all his time and energy to his beloved work, he no longer imagines his life without his favorite business.
The narrator of the work becomes a young ward of Maltsev, a new machinist who is just starting his labor business, but he is frustrated by a couple that he shows obvious distrust in relation to his work done. Also, the young partner was upset by the fact that the work with Maltsev usually took place in exceptional silence without stories and ordinary human communication, characteristic of two people working together.
However, all insults and omissions were forgotten overnight at the moment when the passenger locomotive set off, Maltsev's partner was amazed at what he manages to understand this iron mechanism so subtly and sensitively, and also not to miss the beauty of the flying mime of the world.
The young assistant worked for an outstanding machinist for about one year and was surprised at his true talent to perform sometimes unthinkable things on a steam locomotive, but all this idyll was suddenly crossed out by a tragic event that completely crossed out the habitual foundation of Maltsev's life.
The story of Andrey Platonov is true proof that even talented and successful people sometimes vitally need support and understanding from the outside, and personal prejudices and hidden pride become absolutely unimportant.
Read the summary In the furious and beautiful world of Platonov
The usual way of life for Maltsev is destroyed by the ongoing tragic event that occurred in one of the summer months. Then in July, Maltsev's assistant went on his last flight with his senior mentor and they had to take with them a train that was four hours late. The station dispatcher asked the senior driver to make up for at least one hour of lost time.
Trying to follow the instructions of the dispatcher, the senior engineer squeezes out all the power of his train. But suddenly, an obstacle in their path, a summer thundercloud rises, which blinds Maltsev with its discharges. But despite his blurred vision, an experienced driver does not slow down and with all his confidence continues to drive a passenger locomotive. Very awkward and sometimes bad management notices his junior partner.
On the way of the passenger train, an oncoming steam locomotive appears, which goes to meet them. Then Maltsev has to confess to the loss of his sight and give control to his partner Konstantin. Thanks to the actions of the young driver, it is possible to warn of an emergency. And by the morning after arriving at Maltsev, his vision returns.
However, based on the fact that an experienced driver did not transfer control to his assistant in the event of a dangerous situation, a trial awaited him.
Trying to help his friend and mentor, Konstantin is looking for a way out of this situation. Then he turns to his friend from the institute for help. And he learns that with the help of the Tesla machine, which produces an artificial lightning discharge, it is possible to prove the innocence of his partner.
Konstantin turns to the investigative committee with a request to check Maltsev on this car. And during the experiment, the innocence of the senior engineer was fully proved, but unfortunately, there was a complete loss of Maltsev's vision.
The senior engineer completely loses hope that someday he will again have the opportunity to drive his beloved passenger steam locomotive again and catch the flying beauties of his native land with his eyes.
Dejected by his current situation, the saddened senior engineer with a cane constantly comes to the station, sits on a bench and simply listens to the trains passing by him.
Having once noticed a destitute partner with a cane, Konstantin decides to take Maltsev with him on a flight. Maltsev gladly agrees to this proposal and promises that he will not interfere, but will simply sit quietly next to him.
Incredibly, Maltsev's lost vision is restored during the trip and Konstantin decides that the path should be brought by his mentor on his own.
After the work done, both partners go together to Maltsev's house and talk to each other on various topics all night. Konstantin is afraid to leave Maltsev, feeling responsible for him before the cruel and furious world.
The work “In a Beautiful and Furious World” reflects and proves the existence of human compassion, support, friendship, love and devotion to loved ones, all this is the facets of the soul and cordiality in the human world.
Picture or drawing In a beautiful and furious world
Miriam was born in Afghanistan in the mid-1970s. She was born out of wedlock. Her father was Jalil, a respectable merchant who had a decent income from his trade.
In the Tolubeevsky depot, Alexander Vasilyevich Maltsev was considered the best locomotive driver.
He was about thirty years old, but he already had the qualifications of a first class driver and had long driven fast trains. When the first powerful passenger steam locomotive of the IS series arrived at our depot, Maltsev was assigned to work on this machine, which was quite reasonable and correct. An elderly man from the depot locksmiths named Fyodor Petrovich Drabanov worked as an assistant to Maltsev, but he soon passed the exam for a driver and went to work on another machine, and I, instead of Drabanov, was assigned to work in Maltsev's brigade as an assistant; before that, I also worked as a mechanic's assistant, but only on an old, low-powered machine.
I was pleased with my appointment. The IS machine, the only one in our traction section at that time, by its very appearance evoked a feeling of inspiration in me; I could look at her for a long time, and a special touched joy awakened in me - as beautiful as in childhood when I read Pushkin's poems for the first time. In addition, I wanted to work in the crew of a first-class mechanic in order to learn from him the art of driving heavy high-speed trains.
Alexander Vasilievich accepted my appointment to his brigade calmly and indifferently; he apparently did not care who he would have as assistants.
Before the trip, as usual, I checked all the components of the car, tested all its service and auxiliary mechanisms, and calmed down, considering the car ready for the trip. Alexander Vasilievich saw my work, he followed it, but after me, he checked the condition of the machine again with his own hands, as if he did not trust me.
This was repeated later, and I was already used to the fact that Alexander Vasilyevich constantly interfered in my duties, although he was silently upset. But usually, as soon as we were on the move, I forgot about my chagrin. Distracting my attention from the instruments monitoring the state of the running engine, from observing the operation of the left engine and the path ahead, I looked at Maltsev. He led the cast with the courageous confidence of a great master, with the concentration of an inspired artist who absorbed the entire external world into his inner experience and therefore dominated it. Alexander Vasilyevich's eyes looked forward abstractly, as if empty, but I knew that he saw with them all the road ahead and all nature rushing towards us - even a sparrow swept away from the ballast slope by the wind of a car piercing into space, even this sparrow attracted Maltsev's eyes, and for a moment he turned his head after the sparrow: what will happen to him after us, where he flew.
It was our fault that we were never late; on the contrary, we were often delayed at intermediate stations, which we had to follow on the move, because we were going with a surge of time and we were brought back into the schedule by means of delays.
Usually we worked in silence; only occasionally Alexander Vasilyevich, without turning in my direction, banged on the boiler with the key, wishing that I would turn my attention to some disorder in the mode of operation of the machine, or preparing me for a sharp change in this mode so that I would be vigilant. I always understood the silent instructions of my older comrade and worked with full diligence, however, the mechanic still treated me, as well as the oiler-fireman, aloofly and constantly checked the grease fittings in the parking lots, the tightness of the bolts in the drawbar assemblies, tested the axle boxes on the leading axes and more. If I had just examined and lubricated some working rubbing part, then Maltsev, following me, examined it again and lubricated it, as if not considering my work to be valid.
I, Alexander Vasilyevich, have already checked this crosshead, - I told him once, when he began to check this part after me.
And I myself want to, ”Maltsev answered with a smile, and in his smile there was sadness that struck me.
Later I understood the meaning of his sadness and the reason for his constant indifference to us.
Retelling plan
1. Acquaintance with the machinist Maltsev and his assistant.
2. Maltsev takes on a difficult task and goes blind while the train is moving. Such management of the composition could lead to disaster.
3. Maltsev begins to see clearly, he is put on trial and put in jail.
4. A former machinist goes blind again during an investigative experiment with lightning-like electrical discharges.
5. The driver's assistant, after a special exam, drives passenger trains himself. He takes the blind Maltsev on a trip.
6. Maltsev begins to see clearly.
retelling
The hero talks about the incident that happened to him and the "best locomotive driver" Maltsev. He was young, in his thirties, but he already had a first-class qualification and drove fast trains.
Maltsev was the first to be transferred to the new passenger locomotive "IS". The narrator was appointed as his assistant. He was very pleased with the opportunity to master the art of driving, and at the same time to join the new technology.
The driver accepted the new assistant indifferently. He relied only on himself and his knowledge in everything, so he carefully double-checked all the details and components of the machine. It was a habit, but it offended the student with disbelief in his abilities. But for professionalism, the hero forgave a lot to his teacher, who definitely felt the way. The train was never late, even delays at intermediate stations along the way they quickly caught up.
Maltsev practically did not communicate with either the assistant or the stoker. If he wanted to point out flaws in the operation of the machine that needed to be corrected, he banged on the boiler with a key. He thought that no one else could love a steam locomotive and drive it the way he did. “And we really couldn’t understand his skills,” the author admits.
Once the driver allowed the narrator to drive the train on his own. But after some time, he was four and a half minutes behind schedule. Maltsev successfully made up for this time.
For almost a year, the hero worked as an assistant. And then an event occurred that turned the life of the heroes. They took the train four hours late. The dispatcher asked to close this gap in order to put the empty car on the next road. The train entered the thundercloud zone. Blue light hit the windshield, blinding the hero. It was lightning, but Maltsev did not see it.
The night has come. The hero noticed that Maltsev began to drive worse, later it became clear that something was wrong with him. When the hero screamed, the driver braked urgently. A man stood on the road and waved a red-hot poker to stop the train. Ahead, only ten meters away, was a freight train locomotive. They did not notice how yellow, red, and other warning signals passed. This could lead to disaster. Maltsev ordered an assistant to drive the locomotive, confessing that he was blind.
Having reported to the head of the depot about the incident, the assistant went to see him home. Already on the way to the house, Maltsev regained his sight.
After the incident, Maltsev was put on trial. The investigator called the driver's assistant as a witness, and he said that he did not consider Maltsev guilty, since the driver was blinded by a close lightning bolt. But the investigator was distrustful of these words, because the lightning had no effect on the rest. But the hero had his own explanation. In his opinion, Maltsev went blind from the light of lightning, and not from the discharge itself. And when the lightning struck, he was already blind.
Maltsev was still found guilty because he did not hand over control to an assistant, risking the lives of hundreds of people. From the investigator, the hero went to Maltsev. When asked why he did not entrust him with his place, he replied that it seemed to him that he saw the light, but in fact it was in his imagination. Maltsev was sent to prison. The hero became an assistant to another driver. But he missed Maltsev, his ability to really work, and did not leave the thought of helping him.
He suggested experimenting with a prisoner using a Tesla machine to produce artificial lightning. However, the experiment was carried out without warning, and Maltsev went blind again. But now the chances of returning vision were much less. Both the investigator and the hero felt guilty for what had happened. Having found justice and innocence, Maltsev received an illness that prevented him from living and working.
At this moment, for the first time, the hero came up with the idea of the existence of some fatal forces that accidentally and indifferently destroy a person. “I saw that facts are happening that prove the existence of circumstances hostile to human life, and these disastrous forces crush the chosen, exalted people.” But the hero decided not to give up and resist the circumstances. A year later, the former assistant passed the exam for the title of driver and began to independently drive passenger trains. Very often he met Maltsev, who, leaning on his cane, stood at the station platform and "greedily breathed the smell of burning and lubricating oil, carefully listening to the rhythmic work of the steam-air pump." He understood the anguish of Maltsev, who had lost the meaning of life, but could not help him in any way.
Maltsev was irritated by benevolent words and sympathy. Once the hero promised to take him on a trip if he would "sit quietly." The blind man agreed to all conditions. The next morning, the hero put him in the driver's seat. He put his hands on top of his hands, and so they rode to their destination. On the way back, he again put the teacher in his place. And in quiet areas even allowed him to drive the car on his own. The flight ended safely, the train was not late. The hero hoped for a miracle. On the last stage, he deliberately did not reduce the speed before the yellow traffic light. Suddenly Maltsev stood up, extended his hand to the regulator and turned off the steam. “I see a yellow light,” he said and began to brake. “He turned his face and wept. I went up to him and kissed him back." Kostya's desire to "protect him (his teacher) from the grief of fate" performed a miracle. Until the end of the journey, Maltsev drove the car on his own. After the flight, they sat together all evening and all night. This time, the hostile forces retreated.
