Chelkash and Gavrila (comparative characteristics). Analysis of the work "Chelkash" M

Most of M. Gorky's works are written in the style of realism, but there is a romantic spirit in his early stories. The main characters of these stories live in close connection with nature. The writer identifies nature and man. In his works, he gives preference to people who are free from the laws of society. These characters have interesting views, behavior. The main character always has an antagonist - a hero who has an opposite view of the world. A conflict arises between these characters, which is the basis of the work, it reveals the plot of the work.

Like most of Gorky's stories, "Chelkash" tells about human relationships, the work depicts nature and its relationship with the state of mind of the characters.

The events that Gorky tells about in Chelkash took place on the seashore, in a port city. The main characters are Chelkash and Gavrila. These characters are opposed to each other. Chelkash is a rather middle-aged thief and drunkard who does not have his own house. Gavrila is a young peasant who ended up in these places after a failed attempt to find a job in order to earn money.

Grishka Chelkash is known to everyone in the port as an inveterate drunkard and a clever thief. His appearance was similar to other "tramp figures" encountered in the port, but he surprised by his resemblance to the "steppe hawk". He was a "long, bony, slightly stooped" man, "with a hooked predatory nose and cold gray eyes." He had a thick and long mustache of a brown color, which “shuddered every now and then”, he kept his hands behind his back and constantly rubbed them, nervously twisting his long, crooked and tenacious fingers. At first glance, his gait was calm, but sharp-sighted, like the flight of a bird, which was reminiscent of the whole appearance of Chelkash.

Chelkash traded in the port by theft, sometimes his deals were successful and then he had money, which he immediately drank away.

Chelkash and Gavrila met when Chelkash was walking along the harbor and pondering how he could carry out the "business" that was to come that night. His partner broke his leg, which greatly complicated the whole matter. Chelkash was very annoyed.

Gavrila was returning home after a failed attempt to earn extra money in the Kuban. He also had a reason to be upset - after the death of his father, he could get out of poverty in only one way - “to become a son-in-law in a good house”, which meant becoming a farm laborer.

Chelkash accidentally saw a young strong guy dressed in a tattered red cap, shod in bast shoes and sitting right by the sidewalk.

Chelkash touched the guy, got into a conversation with him and suddenly decided to take him with him to the “case”.

The meeting of the heroes is described by Gorky in detail. We hear the conversation, inner feelings and thoughts of each character. The author pays special attention to Chelkash, noticing every detail, the slightest change in the behavior of his character. These are also thoughts about the former life, about the peasant boy Gavril, who, by the will of fate, found himself in his “wolf paws”. Either he feels dominance over someone, while experiencing pride in himself, then his mood changes, and he wants to scold or hit Gavrila, then he suddenly wants to feel sorry for him. He once had a house, a wife, parents, but then he turned into a thief and an inveterate drunkard. However, to the reader, he does not seem to be a complete person. We see in him a proud and strong nature. Despite the fact that he has an unpresentable appearance, an extraordinary personality is felt in the hero. Chelkash can find an approach to everyone, he can negotiate with everyone. It has its own special relationship with the sea and nature. Being a thief, Chelkash loves the sea. The author even compares his inner world with the sea: “a seething nervous nature”, he was greedy for impressions, looking at the sea, he experienced a “wide warm feeling” that embraced his whole soul and cleansed it of worldly filth. Among the water and air, Chelkash felt himself the best, there his thoughts about life, and, by the way, life itself lost its value and sharpness.

We see Gavrila in a completely different way. First, we see a “clogged down” life, incredulous village guy, and then a slave scared to death. After the successful completion of the “case”, when Gavrila saw a lot of money for the first time in his life, he seemed to “break through”. The author describes the feelings that overwhelm Gavril very vividly. We see undisguised greed. Immediately, compassion and pity for the village boy disappeared. When, falling to his knees, Gavrila began to beg Chelkash to give him all the money, the reader saw a completely different person - a “vile slave” who forgot about everything, wanting only to beg more money from his master. Feeling intense pity and hatred for this greedy slave, Chelkash throws him all the money. At this moment, he feels like a hero. He is sure that he will never become like this, despite the fact that he is a thief and a drunkard.

However, after the words of Gavrila that he wanted to kill Chelkash and throw him into the sea, he experiences a burning rage. Chelkash takes the money, turns his back on Gavrila and leaves.

Gavril could not survive this, seizing a stone, he threw it at Chelkash's head. Seeing what he had done, he again began to beg for forgiveness.

And in this situation, Chelkash was higher. He realized that Gavrila had a vile and petty soul, and threw the money right in his face. Gavrila at first looked after Chelkash, who was staggering and holding his head, but then he sighed, as if freeing himself, crossed himself, hid the money and headed in the opposite direction.

Chelkash and Gavrila - victims of the capitalist world?

(According to the story of M. Gorky "Chelkash")

Petrova Natalia Nikolaevna,

teacher of the Kamennikovskaya school

Rybinsk region

Lesson: traditional.

Lesson type: learning new material

Purpose: using the example of M. Gorky's story "Chelkash" to show the injustice of a society where money rules, as well as the unpredictability of our life, false and real, that often a person with a certain appearance does not correspond to his inner "content".

Textbook: G.V.Moskvin, N.N.Puryaeva, E.L.Erokhina. Literature: Grade 7: Textbook-reader for educational institutions: at 2 pm H 2. - M .: Ventana-Graf, 2010.

Annotation to the lesson: a traditional lesson using techniques from the technology of critical thinking: clusters, comparative table, forecasting, syncwines; different types of work with the text are being worked out, the ability to reasonably express one's point of view, to find the necessary facts and episodes in the text, to analyze the key episodes of the story, the moral rules of human society are instilled: honesty, sincerity, nobility. Preliminary homework: reading an article about M. Gorky (pp. 198-199), reading the story "Chelkash" (preface and part 1).

During the classes:

Checking d / z. Independent reading of an article about Gorky at home makes it possible to answer questions A p. 198 and B1 p. 199, as well as predict the plot and feature of the story "Chelkash". Discussion.

Discussion of the part of the story "Chelkash" read at home.

Where is the action taking place? What time? Label colors and sounds.

As they understood the phrase - the first sentence of the third paragraph (hymn to trade).

The harbor is steamboats with goods and people who work here. We will divide into groups and give a description of them by filling in the clusters: "Steamers" and "People".

Discussion of the result. - What artistic techniques does Gorky use to create more expressive images? Examples? Why is he doing this? (The details of the picture create the feeling that labor here is not pleasure, but slave hard labor; a feeling of hopelessness, injustice ...).

Why does the author call the comparison of ships and people "cruel irony"? (people, on the one hand, are creators, they created such giant steamships, they trade, it seems that there should be money, but, on the other hand, they are beggars, they have nothing, “created by people enslaved and depersonalized them”).

What gives us, the readers, this description? What feelings do you experience and what do you foresee? (a tense feeling, something terrible, bad will happen next; in such a situation, nothing bright can be ...).

Grishka Chelkash, the main character of the story, appears on the very first lines of the first chapter. Remember his description: appearance, who he looks like, gait, speech, etc. What words Gorky focuses on. What for? Express your first opinion about the hero.

For the first time here in the story there are words tramp, tramps. How do you understand?

How do Grishka's dialogues with other workers and the port watchman help us understand his character?

At the same time, a comparative table is filled in (acceptance from the technology of the RKCHP):

Grishka Chelkash

Matching lines

Character traits

Attitude towards others

Attitude of others

In the same chapter, we meet with another hero of the story - Gavrila. Let's supplement the table by citing, recalling the facts from the read part concerning the personality of this hero.

How does part 1 end? Reread Chelkash's internal monologue. What do you say about it? Your attitude?

Part 2. independent reading in the classroom. Discussion.

What is this part about?

How do the characters behave in the same situation?

What else do we learn about the heroes? What can be added to the table?

What is your attitude towards both characters? Is it changing?

Part 3 The last part remains. It is done. We confirmed to ourselves that Chelkash is a thief, experienced, courageous, always thinking everything over, but risking for big money, for the sake of rest and entertainment that will come later. The attitude of most of you towards him is negative, and this is understandable. The relationship with Gabriel is different. A goof, a hard worker-peasant, getting along with Chelkash, broke the law, became a thief, an accomplice. We are sincerely sorry for him, we are worried about him: no matter how his good intentions end in tears (after all, we know the “predatory” Grishka!).

We read aloud part 3 (reception "reading with stops" from the technology of RKCHP)

1) up to p.222 to the question “What is it that makes you writhing”?

So what action of the heroes did Gorky leave us in the end?

Money. What is the attitude of our heroes towards them? What are their actions? Compare. What is your attitude to what is happening?

2) to the words "... Give them to me!"

Did you expect this?

Reread the words describing the state of Gavrila, Chelkash. Conclusion?

What do you think Chelkash will do?

3) until the end of the story.

Express your attitude to what is happening. What was expected and what was not?

And one more moment that cannot be missed in the story: this is the sea. We see his description throughout the story. What meaning does it carry? (the scene, the character of the protagonist is emphasized ...). Why do the last lines of the story end again with a seascape?

5. Conclusions.

What are the themes and problems of Gorky's story?

Let's return to the topic of our lesson: confirm once again that both Chelkash and Gavrila are victims of the capitalist world?

What features of Gorky's early stories have we met?

6. D / z: 1) draw up a story plan (optional - quote); 2) written reasoning - p.228 question B 10; 3) optional - syncwines.

"cruel irony"

"THE MADE BY PEOPLE HAS enslaved and depersonalized them"

All the plots of M. Gorky can be logically divided into several, approximately two, groups, which were based on the division of the use of plots. So, some were created by the writer on the basis of legends and traditions, while others were based on real facts. By the way, Aleksey Maksimovich invented some of his legends on his own. And if these were stories based on real events, then most often this reality came from the life of tramps, people who found themselves at the very bottom of life, and it completely ceased to be interesting.

It is known that the author based his unusual story "" on an incident that really happened in life. The writer himself claimed that the main character even had a prototype. Maxim Gorky himself said that with this prototype, from which he painted the image of the main character Chelkash, the author himself met and met in a big city.

Then he lived for some time in Nikolaev, and when he saw one tramp, he was surprised by his cheerfulness and carelessness. He also told a story to a writer about a guy he hired, who acted treacherously. But when he was telling his story, Maxim Gorky drew attention to his face, highlighting the lips that bared his snow-white teeth.

There are two main characters in the Gorky story - Chelkash himself and Gavrila. They are poor people, tramps, people from the countryside, so they knew perfectly well how hard peasant labor was, and they themselves were accustomed to work. According to the plot, the reader learns that he met Gavrila by chance, in the port where he came to visit his friend. But he was in the hospital, and Chelkash needed a partner for the "case".

Chelkash, he seemed like his own person, because they have the same roots. Even their clothes were the same: wide trousers, bast shoes and some kind of cap of a strange reddish color. Gavrila, according to the description of the writer, was a dense and large young man. The author himself drew attention to the interesting eyes of the village boy: large and blue, very trusting and a little good-natured.

The village hero easily defines the profession of Chelkash's partner: he casts his nets over other people's sheds and barns. Gavrila is the complete opposite of Chelkash. And this man at first simply despised Gavrila, and then, after the “case”, he simply began to hate him. And, according to Chelkash, he had something to hate for. For example, because Gavrila was young and strong, because his eyes were clean, and his face was tanned and muscular, and his hands were strong.

He had his own house in the country and came to the city to earn some money and then buy a house in the country and get married. But all the same, the main thing for which Chelkash hated Gavrila so much was that this young village guy had not yet known all life, had not deteriorated. He still loved nature, freedom and life.

But when a conflict began between the young people and Gavrila dared to object, Chelkash boiled up, and he considered the objection from the young man an insult, which, in his opinion, some young village guy inflicted on him as an adult and independent man.

But this guy from the village was afraid of the fishing he went with Chelkash. After all, he did not immediately understand what he would need to do. This case of this nature was new for him, he was involved in such cases for the first time, so he was so worried. But Chelkash behaved in a completely different way: he was calm and balanced.

The partner's fear to some extent even amused and amused him. He also experienced some strange feeling, like pleasure, from the fact that he, a simple village guy, Chelkash, for someone could be a formidable and stern person, and this elevated him in his own eyes.

When the young people went to work, Chelkash even here behaved calmly and evenly. So he rowed smoothly with oars, unlike Gavrila, who, realizing that the matter was not easy, rowed nervously and very quickly. Of course, Gavrila is a novice in this strange "case", which is why it was so hard for the young man. And Chelkash, who perceives such a campaign as the most common thing, is a completely different matter. And here he acts as a negative character. So, he does not try to understand the young guy, he yells at him, condemns and even intimidates.

But, returning, a conversation arises between the young people, where he tries to find out from the thief how he lives without land, without labor. These questions of a young guy make him think, remember his simple village childhood. But this one was in the past, still the one in which there was no theft. And this made Chelkash feel different. He became lonely and sad.

The climax in Gorky's story is a fight that starts over money. The young man Gavrila, who was so sympathetic to the reader throughout the plot, begins to demand all the money. And here Chelkash turns out to be more noble: he still gives him everything, although he offended him even with words, calling him an unnecessary and even superfluous person.

A comparative description of the two characters in the work helps the author to portray his characters more vividly and more clearly. When compared, the images of heroes can be revealed from the most unexpected side. This happened to Chelkash and Gavrila from M. Gorky's story "Chelkash".

Chelkash is a representative of the “bottom” of a big city. He is well known to everyone working in the harbor, "an inveterate drunkard and a clever, bold thief." The author emphasizes his resemblance to a predator - "an old poisoned wolf", he has a mustache like a cat, and he especially looks like a steppe hawk with his "predatory thinness" and "aiming" gait.

Gavrila came from the village to work, but unsuccessfully. He is good-natured, trusting and, by Chelkash's definition, looks like a calf. Gavrila agrees to work with Chelkash because he needs money, but he does not know what kind of work he is talking about. Gavrila trusts Chelkash, especially when they are fed in a tavern on credit, this is proof for Gavrila that Chelkash is a respected person in the city.

Both heroes value freedom, but understand it differently. For Gavrila, this is material well-being. Then he will be able to return home, fix the household, get married. There is no money - you will have to go "in-law" and depend on your father-in-law in everything, work for him. Chelkash does not value money, for him freedom is a broader concept. He is free from property, from a family with which he parted long ago, from social conventions. He has no roots, he doesn't care where he lives, but he loved the sea. The author emphasizes the similarity of the sea element, the boundless and powerful, and freedom-loving nature of the hero. At sea, he felt that his soul was being cleansed "of worldly filth." Gavrila, on the contrary, is afraid of the sea, the lack of soil under his feet instills fear in him. Chelkash knows what he is doing and is not afraid to take risks. Gavrila, realizing what he was dragged into, is scared to death. He is afraid of being caught, and of sin - to ruin his soul.

Seeing a wad of money from Chelkash, Gavrila forgets about sin and agrees to steal again for money. After all, maybe you won’t ruin your soul, but you will become a man for life. He humiliatedly wallows at Chelkash's feet, begging for money, and at that moment the author shows the moral superiority of Chelkash: he "felt that he was a thief, a reveler, cut off from everything native - he would never be so greedy, so forgetful of himself" .

His dignity and contempt for the spiritual slavery of man arouse the respect and admiration of the author. And Gavrila's greed is such that he is ready to commit murder for the sake of money, and really makes such an attempt. He later repents of her, but he took the money offered by Chelkash.

Therefore, when comparing these two heroes, we see that Chelkash is a more proud and free person, and the author's sympathies are on his side.

First of all, it is worth noting that Gorky’s early work (90s of the 19th century) was created under the sign of “gathering” truly human: “I got to know people very early and from my youth I began to invent Man in order to satisfy my thirst for beauty. Wise people ... convinced me that I had ill-invented consolation for myself. Then I again went to the people and - it's so understandable! - again from them I return to the Man, ”Gorky wrote at that time.
Stories from the 1890s can be divided into two groups: some of them are based on fiction - the author uses legends or composes them himself; others draw characters and scenes from the real life of tramps.
The story "Chelkash" is based on a real case. Later, the writer recalled the tramp, who served as the prototype of Chelkash. Gorky met this man in a hospital in the city of Nikolaev (Chersonese). “I was amazed at the harmless mockery of the Odessa tramp, who told me the incident described by me in the story“ Chelkash ”. I well remember his smile, which showed his magnificent white teeth, - the smile with which he concluded the story of the treacherous act of the guy he hired ... "
So, in the story there are two main characters: Chelkash and Gavrila. Both tramps, poor, both village peasants, of peasant origin, accustomed to work. Chelkash met this guy by chance, on the street. Chelkash recognized him as “his own”: Gavrila was “in the same pants, in bast shoes and in a torn red cap.” He was of a heavy build. Gorky several times draws our attention to the large blue eyes, looking trustingly and good-naturedly. With psychological accuracy, the guy defined Chelkash's "profession" - "we cast nets along dry shores and along barns, along lashes."
I believe that Gorky opposes Chelkash to Gavril. Chelkash at first “despised”, and then, “hated” the guy for his youth, “clear blue eyes”, healthy tanned face, short strong arms, because he has his own house in the village, that he wants to start a family, but most importantly it seems to me that Gavrila has not yet known the life that this experienced man leads, because he dares to love freedom, which he does not know the price of, and which he does not need.
Chelkash seethed and trembled from the insult inflicted by the guy, from the fact that he dared to object to an adult man.
Gavrila was very afraid to go fishing, because this was his first case of such a plan. Chelkash was calm as always, he was amused by the guy's fear, and he enjoyed it and reveled in what he, Chelkash, is a formidable person.
Chelkash rowed slowly and evenly, Gavrila - quickly, nervously. It speaks of the resilience of character. Gavrila is a beginner, so the first trip is so hard for him, for Chelkash this is another trip, a common thing. Here the negative side of the man is manifested: he does not show patience and does not understand the guy, yells at him and intimidates him. However, on the way back, a conversation began, during which Gavrila asked the man: “What are you now without land?” These words made Chelkash think, pictures of childhood, the past, the life that was before the thieves surfaced. The conversation fell silent, but Chelkash even from Gavrila's silence blew the countryside. These memories made me feel lonely, torn out, thrown out of that life.
It is important to mention the fact that the climax of the story is the fight scene over money. Greed attacked Gavrila, he became terrible, an incomprehensible excitement moved him. Greed took possession of the young man, who began to demand all the money. Chelkash perfectly understood the state of his ward, went to meet him - gave the money.
But Gavrila acted low, cruelly, humiliated Chelkash, saying that he was an unnecessary person and that no one would miss him if Gavrila killed him. This, of course, hit Chelkash's self-esteem, anyone in his place would have done the same.
Chelkash, undoubtedly, is a positive hero, in contrast to him, Gorky puts Gavrila.
It is worth noting that Chelkash, despite the fact that he leads a wild life, steals, would never act as low as this guy. It seems to me that the main things for Chelkash are life, freedom, and he would not tell anyone that his life is worth nothing. Unlike a young man, he knows the joys of life and, most importantly, life and moral values.

Reference material for the student:

Maxim Gorky is a famous writer, poet and prose writer. Real name - Alexei Maksimovich Gorky.
Years of life: 1868 - 1936.
The most famous works:
1899 - "Foma Gordeev"
1900-1901 - "Three"
1906 - "Mother" (second edition - 1907)
1900 - “Man. Essays" (remained unfinished, the third chapter was not published during the life of the author)
1908 - "The life of an unnecessary person."
1908 - "Confession"
1909 - "Summer"
1913-1914 - "Childhood"
1915-1916 - "In people"
1895 - "Chelkash", "Old Woman Izergil".
1912-1917 - "In Russia" (a cycle of stories)
1902 - "At the bottom"
1922 - "On the Russian peasantry".

“The blue southern sky, darkened by dust, is cloudy; the hot sun looks into the greenish sea, as if through a thin gray veil; it is almost not reflected in the water... Vanity and confusion reign in the port. People in this noise seem insignificant. What they created enslaved and depersonalized them.” The line of loaders carrying thousands of poods of bread in order to earn a few pounds of bread for their food were ridiculous and pathetic. The noise was overwhelming, and the dust irritated the nostrils. At the sound of the gong, dinner began.
The movers sat in a circle, laying out their simple food. Now Grishka Chelkash appeared among them, an old poisoned wolf, well known to those present, an inveterate drunkard and a clever, bold thief. “He was barefoot, in old worn-out plush trousers, without a hat, in a dirty cotton shirt with a torn collar that revealed his dry and angular bones covered with brown leather. From his tousled black hair with graying hair and wrinkled, sharp, predatory face, it was clear that he had just woken up. He walked, casting sharp glances around. Even in this crowd, he stood out sharply with his resemblance to a steppe hawk, his predatory thinness and this aiming gait, smooth and calm in appearance, but internally excited and vigilant, like the years of that bird of prey that he resembled.
With those addressing him, he spoke curtly and abruptly, probably out of sorts. Suddenly Chelkash was blocked by a watchman. Chelkash asked him about his friend Mishka, and he replied that Mishka's leg was crushed with a "cast-iron bayonet", and he was taken to the hospital. The watchman escorted Chelkash out of the gate, but he was in a great mood: "Ahead of him was a solid income, requiring a little work and a lot of dexterity." He was already dreaming about how he would go out tomorrow morning when money appeared in his pocket. But Chelkash cannot cope alone, without a partner, and Mishka broke his leg. Chelkash looked around and saw a village boy with a bag at his feet. "The guy was stocky, broad-shouldered, fair-haired, with a tanned and weather-beaten face and big blue eyes that looked trustingly and good-naturedly at Chelkash."
The guy spoke to Chelkash, and immediately liked him. The guy asked about the occupation of Chelkash: a shoemaker or a tailor? Chelkash said that he was a fisherman. The guy started talking about freedom, and Chelkash was surprised why the guy needs freedom? The peasant said: his father died, the economy was depleted. Of course, he can go to the “primacies” in a rich house, but these are years of work for his father-in-law. If he had a hundred and fifty rubles, he would have risen to his feet and lived independently. And now there is nothing to do but to go to the son-in-law. Here I went to mow in the Kuban, but did not earn anything, they paid pennies.
Suddenly, Chelkash offered the guy to work with him at night. When asked by a peasant what to do, Chelkash replied: row. Chelkash, who had previously despised the guy, suddenly hated him "for the fact that he has such clear blue eyes, a healthy tanned face, short strong arms, for the fact that a wealthy peasant invites him as a son-in-law - for his whole life, past and future , and most of all for the fact that he, this child, in comparison with him, Chelkash, dares to love freedom, which he knows no price and which he does not need. It is always unpleasant to see that a person whom you consider inferior and inferior to yourself loves or hates the same thing as you, and thus becomes like you. The guy agreed, because he really came to look for a job. They got to know each other. The guy's name was Gavrila. They went to a tavern located in a dirty and damp basement.
Gavrila quickly got drunk and wanted to say something pleasant to Chelkash. Chelkash looked at the guy and thought that he was able to turn his life around, break it like a playing card, or help it settle into a solid peasant framework. Finally, Chelkash realized that he felt sorry for the little one and he needed him. Drunk Gavrila fell asleep in a tavern.
At night they prepared the boat for going to sea. The night is dark, the whole sky is covered with clouds. And the sea is calm. Gavrila rowed, Chelkash steered. Chelkash asks Gavrila if he likes the sea, he is a little scared. But Chelkash loves the sea. On the sea, a wide, warm feeling rises in him - embracing his whole soul, it cleanses it a little of worldly filth. He appreciates it and likes to see himself as the best here, among water and air. Gavrila asks where the tackle is, and Chelkash nods to the stern, and then gets angry that he has to lie to the guy; he angrily advises Gavrila to row - he was hired for this. They were heard and called out, but Chelkash threatened Gavrila to tear him apart if he uttered a peep. There was no chase, and Chelkash calmed down. And Gavrila prays and asks to let him go. From fright, he cries and squelches in the dark with his nose, but the boat is rapidly moving forward. Chelkash orders to leave the oars and, leaning his hands against the wall, moves forward.
Chelkash takes the oars and Gavrila's knapsack with a passport so that he does not run away, orders the little one to wait in the boat, and he himself suddenly disappears. Gavrila was seized with horror, even greater than under Chelkash, it seemed to him that he was about to die. Chelkash suddenly appeared, giving the guy something cubic and heavy, oars, Gavrila's knapsack, and jumped into the boat himself. Gavrila joyfully met Chelkash, asked if he was tired, not without that, Chelkash answered. He is pleased with the booty, now you need to sneak back unnoticed, and then get your money, Gavrila. The guy is rowing with all his might, wanting to finish this dangerous work as soon as possible and run away from the terrible person while he is safe. Chelkash warns that there is one dangerous place, it must be passed unnoticed and silently, because if they notice, they can be killed with a gun. Gavrila was seized with horror, he was ready to shout at the top of his lungs, but then he fell off the bench. Chelkash whispered angrily that the customs cruiser was lighting up the harbor with a lantern, and if it illuminated them, they were dead. Gotta row. With a kick, Chelkash brought Gavrila to her senses, reassured her that they were catching smugglers, but they were not noticed, they sailed away, the danger was over. "It's the end of everything..."
Chelkash sat on the oars, and Gavrila at the helm. The tramp tried to encourage the guy with good earnings. He promised Gavrila a quarter, but he only had to get to the shore alive - there are no more desires.
Chelkash asks Gavrila what joy he has in village life. Here is his life, full of danger, and in one night he "grabbed" half a thousand. Gavrila was struck by the amount named by Chelkash. To calm the guy, Chelkash started talking about the village. He wanted to talk to Gavrila, but got carried away and began to tell himself that the peasant is his own master, if he has at least a piece of land. Gavrila even forgot who he was dealing with. It seemed to him that before him was a peasant. Gavrila said that Chelkash was speaking correctly; here he is, Chelkash, off the ground and what he has turned into! Chelkash was touched by this guy's speech. He abruptly interrupted Gavrila, saying that all this was not serious. He doesn't think the way he talks. Angry at the guy, Chel-Kash put him back on the oars, barely restraining himself so as not to throw the guy into the water. Sitting at the stern, Chelkash remembered his parents, his wife Anfisa, himself a guards soldier. Waking up from the memories, he said that he would hand over the cargo and get five hundred. They quickly approached the barge and even poked into its side, climbed onto the deck, and Gavrila immediately began to snore, and Chelkash, sitting next to him, tried on someone's boot. Then he stretched out and fell asleep.
He woke up first. Chelkash climbed up from the hold, and returned only two hours later. He was wearing leather pants and a jacket. The suit is shabby, but strong and suits Chelkash very well. The awakened Gavrila was at first frightened, not recognizing the transformed Chelkash. The guy looked at Chelkash with admiration, calling him a master, and he, laughing at Gavrila's nightly fears, asks if he is ready to try his luck again for two hundred rubles. Gavrila agrees. Chelkash laughs at the guy who easily succumbed to temptation. They got into the boat and swam to the shore. Chelkash realized that a "good storm" would break out by nightfall. Gavrila impatiently asks Chelkash how much he got for the goods. Chelkash takes out a pack of iridescent papers from his pocket. Gavrila, looking at them with greedy eyes, says that she does not believe in the possibility of obtaining such a sum.
“What kind of money!” and he sighed dejectedly. And Chelkash at that time carelessly dreamed aloud how they would walk together on the shore. Chelkash does not need such an abundance of money, he gave several pieces of paper to Gavrila. He hurriedly hid them in his bosom. The tramp was unpleasantly struck by Gavrila's greed. And the guy began to excitedly tell what he would do if he had such “money”. They got to the shore. Chelkash had the air of a man who had a very pleasant idea in mind. He smiled slyly.
Chelkash was surprised by the state of Gavrila, he even asked the guy: “What is writhing you?” In response, Gavrila laughed, but the laughter was like a sob. Chelkash waved his hand and walked away. Gavrila caught up with him, grabbed him by the legs and pulled. Chelkash fell on the sand, wanted to hit Gavrila, but stopped, listening to the shy whisper of the guy: “Darling! Give me that money! Give, for Christ's sake! Indeed, in one night ... You blow them to the wind, and I would - to the ground! .. Do me a good deed ... Lost after all, you ... there is no way for you.
Chelkash looked squeamishly at the guy, then took money out of his pocket and tossed it to Gavrila. "On, eat!" Chelkash felt like a hero. He was surprised that a man for the sake of money can torture himself like that. Gavrila, squealing with delight, collected money, began to tell that he wanted to kill his partner. Chelkash jumped up and shouted: “Give me money here!” Then he knocked Gavrila down and took the money from him. Turning his back on the guy, Chelkash walked away. But before he had gone even five steps, Gavrila threw a large stone at him. Chelkash turned to face Gavrila and fell face down in the sand, clutching his head. Gavrila rushed away, but soon returned. The guy shook Chelkash, trying to pick him up, calling him brother. The awakened Chelkash drove Gavrila away, but he did not leave, asked to forgive him, said that the devil had beguiled him, lifted Chelkash and led him, supporting him by the waist. Chelkash was angry, saying that the guy did not even know how to fornicate.
Chelkash asked if Gavrila took the money, but he said that he did not. Chelkash took a pack out of his pocket, put one hundred in his pocket, and gave the rest of the money to Gavrila.
Gavrila refused, saying that he would take it only if Chelkash would forgive him. Chelkash reassured him:
“Take it! Take it! Didn't work for nothing! Take it, don't be afraid! Don't be ashamed that you almost killed a man! For people like me, no one will exact. Thank you again as soon as you know. Here, take it!
Gavrila, seeing Chelkash's laughter, took the money.
The rain was already pouring down like a bucket. They said goodbye and went in different directions. Chelkash carried his head in such a way, "as if he was afraid of losing it." Gavrila looked after him for a long time, until he disappeared behind a veil of rain. Then Gavrila sighed, crossed himself, hid the money and with broad, firm steps walked in the opposite direction from Chelkash.
“Soon, the rain and the splashes of the waves washed away the red spot where Chelkash lay, washed away the traces of Chelkash and the traces of the young guy on the coastal sand ... And on the deserted seashore there was nothing left in memory of the little drama that played out between two people.”