About what the Russian character is, what features are defining, initial in it, many studies have been written - artistic and journalistic. The best minds of Russian and Western philosophy and literature have argued about the mysterious Russian soul for several centuries. The very same Dostoevsky, through the mouth of Dmitry Karamazov, argued that in the soul of every Russian person two ideals coexist - Madonna and Sodom. Time has proved the full justice of his words and their relevance to date.
So, the Russian character - what is it? Let us try and highlight some of its defining sides.
Quality characteristic
- Domestic poets and writers, such as Khomyakov, Aksakov, Tolstoy, Leskov, Nekrasov, were considered a distinctive feature of man from the people by collegiality. Since ancient times in Russia, it was decided by the "world" to solve many issues, ranging from helping impoverished villagers to global problems. Naturally, this moral category was considered as an attribute of village life. And since Russia was originally an agrarian country and the main mass of the population was the peasantry, it was the peasant who personified the character of the Russian man. It is not for nothing that Leo Tolstoy in War and Peace, by his spiritual proximity to the people, determines the value of all the heroes.
- With collegiality, another feature inherent in the people is directly related - religiosity. Belief in God, sincere, deep, unbearable, and the peacefulness, humility, mercy associated with it, enter the character of a Russian person as its organic part. An example of this is the legendary archpriest Avvakum, Peter and Fevronia of Murom, Matryona of Moscow and many other personalities. No wonder the saints and holy fools, wandering monks and pilgrims enjoyed special respect and love among the people. And although the people treated the official church ironically and critically, examples of true piety can be considered as features of a Russian national character.
- The mysterious Russian soul is more likely than other nationalities to sacrifice itself. Sonechka Marmeladova as the personification of the eternal sacrifice in the name of neighbors "while the world stands" - here it is, the Russian character in its pure form, without any foreign impurities. And if we recall the Great Patriotic War, the simplicity and grandeur of the soldier’s feat, it becomes clear that neither time, nor the change of state system have power over true values, over what is eternal.
- Oddly enough, but among the natural properties of man from the people include such qualities as stupidity, recklessness - on the one hand, and a sharp mind, a natural estimate - on the other. The most famous and popular heroes of folk tales - Ivan the Fool and the idler Emelya, as well as the craftsman Soldier, who managed to cook soup and porridge from an ax, and embody these features of a Russian national character.
- Heroism, courage, devotion to one’s ideals, the cause you serve, modesty, peacefulness - this also should not be forgotten when it comes to Russian people. The writer Alexei Tolstoy has a wonderful essay in which the Russian character is defined capaciously, deeply and figuratively - “human beauty”.
- However, the Russian people are ambivalent. No wonder Dostoevsky spoke of two ideals fighting in his soul. And therefore, along with boundless kindness, sacrifice, he is capable of the same boundless cruelty. The "Russian revolt", meaningless, merciless, about which Pushkin had already warned, and then the civil war are terrible examples of what people are capable of, if their patience has burst, if they are brought to the limit of the possible.
- Alcoholism and theft are also, alas, native Russian qualities. The famous phrase of Karamzin about what is being done at home was included in the jokes. His laconic answer - “They steal!” - says a lot. By the way, it is relevant now!
Afterword
One can talk a lot about the Russian national character for a long time. Love for the native land, for "fatherly tombs", respect for the ancestors and the memory of them - these are Russians. But even the Ivanes, who do not remember kinship, who betrayed their small homeland, are also Russians. Truth seekers, ready to suffer for the idea, neglected material values for the sake of the spiritual, are Russians. But Chichikov, Sharikov and others like him are the same Russian …
