"In a Beautiful and Furious World" very briefly
A. Platonov “In a Beautiful and Furious World” summary for the reader’s diary:
The hero of Andrei Platonov's story is the young and talented driver of a passenger locomotive, Maltsev. This young and ambitious young man, who is about thirty years old, already holds the position of a top-class driver on the new and powerful steam locomotive "IS", devoting all his time and energy to his favorite work, he can no longer imagine his life without his favorite business.
The narrator of the work is Maltsev’s young ward, a new machinist who is just starting his work, but he is upset by his partner that he shows obvious distrust in relation to his work done. Also, the young partner was upset by the fact that work with Maltsev usually took place in exceptional silence without stories and ordinary human communication typical of two people working together.
However, all grievances and omissions were forgotten overnight at the moment when the passenger locomotive set off, Maltsev’s partner was amazed that he managed to understand this iron mechanism so subtly and sensitively, and also not miss the beauty of the passing mime of the world.
The young assistant worked for the outstanding driver for about one year and was amazed at his true talent to perform sometimes unimaginable things on the locomotive, but all this idyll was suddenly crossed out by a tragic event, which completely crossed out the usual way of life for Maltsev.
Conclusion:
The story of Andrei Platonov is true proof that even talented and successful people in their business sometimes vitally need support and understanding from the outside, and personal prejudices and hidden pride become absolutely unimportant.
This is interesting: The story “The Magic Ring” by Platonov was written in 1950. We recommend reading the summary of “The Magic Ring”. The work is based on fairy-tale and folk motifs, which, thanks to the author’s processing, took on the form of a fascinating and instructive fairy tale. The retelling will be useful for the reading diary and preparation for a literature lesson.
A short retelling of “In a Beautiful and Furious World”
Summary of “In a Beautiful and Furious World” by Platonov:
An old experienced driver becomes blind during a voyage due to a lightning strike, his vision is restored, he is tried and sentenced to prison. His assistant invents a test with artificial lightning and saves the old man.
The story is told from the perspective of assistant driver Konstantin.
Alexander Vasilyevich Maltsev is considered the best locomotive driver at the Tolumbeevsky depot. No one knows steam locomotives better than him! It is not surprising that when the first powerful passenger locomotive of the IS series arrives at the depot, Maltsev is assigned to work on this machine. Maltsev's assistant, an elderly depot mechanic Fyodor Petrovich Drabanov, soon passes the driver's exam and leaves for another car, and Konstantin is appointed in his place.
Konstantin is pleased with his appointment, but Maltsev doesn’t care who his assistants are. Alexander Vasilyevich watches the work of his assistant, but after that he always personally checks the serviceability of all mechanisms.
Later, Konstantin understood the reason for his constant indifference to his colleagues. Maltsev feels superior to them because he understands the car more accurately than they do. He does not believe that someone else can learn to feel the car, the path and everything around him at the same time.
Konstantin has been working as Maltsev’s assistant for about a year, and then on July 5th the time comes for Maltsev’s last trip. On this flight they take the train four hours late. The dispatcher asks Maltsev to reduce this gap as much as possible. Trying to fulfill this request, Maltsev drives the car forward with all his might.
On the way, they are caught by a thundercloud, and Maltsev, blinded by a flash of lightning, loses his sight, but continues to confidently lead the train to its destination. Konstantin notices that he manages the Maltsev squad noticeably worse.
Another train appears on the way of the courier train. Maltsev transfers control into the hands of the narrator, and admits his blindness:
- Kostya... You drive the car further, I’m blind.
The accident is avoided thanks to Konstantin. Here Maltsev admits that he sees nothing. The next day his vision returned.
Alexander Vasilyevich is put on trial, and an investigation begins. It is almost impossible to prove the innocence of the old driver. Maltsev is sent to prison, but his assistant continues to work.
In winter, in the regional city, Konstantin visits his brother, a student living in a university dormitory. His brother tells him that in the university's physics laboratory there is a Tesla installation for producing artificial lightning. A certain idea comes to Konstantin’s head.
Returning home, he ponders his guess regarding the Tesla installation and writes a letter to the investigator who was at one time in charge of the Maltsev case, asking him to test the prisoner Maltsev by creating artificial lightning. If the susceptibility of Maltsev’s psyche or visual organs to sudden and close electrical discharges is proven, then his case should be reconsidered.
Konstantin explains to the investigator where the Tesla installation is located and how to perform the experiment on a person. For a long time there was no answer, but then the investigator reported that the regional prosecutor agreed to conduct the proposed examination in the university physics laboratory.
The experiment is carried out, Maltsev’s innocence is proven, and he himself is released. But as a result of the experience, the old driver loses his sight, and this time it is not restored.
Konstantin tries to encourage the blind old man, but he fails. Then he tells Maltsev that he will take him on the flight.
During this trip, the blind man’s sight returns, and the narrator allows him to independently drive the locomotive to Tolumbeev:
- Drive the car to the end, Alexander Vasilyevich: now you see the whole world!
After work, Konstantin, together with the old driver, go to Maltsev’s apartment, where they sit all night.
Konstantin is afraid to leave him alone, like his own son, without protection against the action of the sudden and hostile forces of our beautiful and furious world.
Platonov wrote the story “Yushka” in the 30s of the twentieth century. You can read a summary of “Yushka” on our website. In the story, Platonov touches on the themes of universal love and compassion. The main character of the work, the holy fool, becomes the embodiment of human kindness and mercy.
Summary of the story by A.P. Platonov “In a beautiful and furious world”
The fictional stories of the famous Russian writer Platonov are distinguished by a deep rethinking of the purpose of human existence on Earth. A lot of attention is paid to the harmony of the soul in the bosom of nature, relationships at the soul level. We suggest studying the main points of the work. This will help develop ideological theses for completing essays in the school curriculum.
Alexander Vasilyevich, the main character of the story “In a Beautiful and Furious World,” appears before the reader’s eyes from the very first pages. Maltsev represents the image of an experienced driver, a competent locomotive worker. In the Tolubeevsky depot, where the character of the work worked, he was rightfully considered one of the best specialists in locomotive traction, who knew the machine thoroughly. With the arrival of new and unexplored equipment - IS mainline steam locomotives, it was Alexander Vasilyevich who was entrusted with carrying out the first experimental trips. The narrator of this story, the reader’s humble servant, worked with him in the same brigade as an assistant driver. The driver treated his partner indifferently, one might even say very coolly, with condescension. Distrust reigned in the brigade; Alexander Vasilyevich did not trust his assistant to inspect the units on his own, he was constantly next to him and criticized him for the slightest omissions.
A competent and experienced mentor suppressed the “green” youth with his authority, inspired that no one would ever be able to come even a millimeter closer to his level of knowledge of such complex technology. He didn’t want to share his talent and was in no hurry, he kept everything to himself. When Maltsev started working, it was interesting to watch him. He devoted himself completely to technology, controlled a complex locomotive with undisguised enthusiasm, and at the same time his gaze was completely detached. The trains, driven by the famous driver, always arrived and departed second by second. Accuracy was the main credo in the work of Alexander Vasilyevich.
The last flight will be remembered for a long time. We received the train almost five hours late, the train dispatcher begged us to catch up on time and reduce the delay by at least 2 hours. This trip was almost no different from all the others except for one factor - a thunderstorm was raging ahead. Fierce lightning streaked the black clouds, and there were only a few kilometers left to the wall of rain. The train was rushing at a speed of about 70 kilometers per hour, pierced by a thunderstorm front, the rumbles of thunder drowned out the roar of the carriage wheels. This went on for almost half an hour, and then suddenly there was silence. The locomotive escaped from the captivity of the rain storm and, tired and wet, continued its journey to the destination station.
It was noticeable how suddenly tired Alexander Vasilyevich was. At first, I didn’t attach any importance to this, but the train began to be controlled worse, and erroneous actions appeared in the mechanic’s work. Suddenly a stop signal appeared before my eyes - three red stripes. The driver applied the emergency brake, and the train stopped just a couple of meters from the tail of the passing train. Cold sweat poured down my back. It turns out that it was the fireman of the train crew of another train, who was spinning a red-hot piece of iron in the air, similar to a poker. That fateful trip is over. I accompanied the driver home and wrote a report addressed to the head of the depot about the actions of Alexander Vasilyevich, which almost led to a disaster.
Then there was a trial. Maltsev argued that he did not see the obstacle because he was blinded by lightning discharges. They didn’t believe him and put him in prison. The best professional in his field ended up behind bars. It was hard to believe. Your humble servant continued his career with another driver, less competent, but very careful and wary. He told how an investigative experiment was carried out on Maltsev a year later. Using a setup for producing artificial lightning, they tried to check whether Alexander Vasilyevich was lying. Flashes of bright light blinded his eyes and observed the reaction of his pupils. This had no effect, and the man suffered repeated severe eye injuries. He emerged from his place of imprisonment completely blind, and his vision never returned to him.
Soon I myself moved to the right wing of the locomotive. One day I saw Maltsev at the station; he had been retired for 5 years and had lost noticeably weight. I invited him into the cabin, to ride the new equipment and remember the past years. The old man's joy knew no bounds. He sat tenderly in the assistant's chair and silently watched into the distance with a blind gaze. By the end of the trip, tears flowed from his eyes. The flight ended, I invited the old man to go home and drink tea. He agreed. We sat almost half the night by candlelight and remembered our trips, and especially that fateful one on a terrible rainy night. Maltsev did not regret anything, he fulfilled his duty and continued to live with a calm soul and a pure heart.
The plot of “In a Beautiful and Furious World” by chapters
“In a Beautiful and Furious World” by Platonov summary:
Chapter 1
Alexander Vasilyevich Maltsev is rightfully considered “the best locomotive driver at the Tolubeevsky depot.” Despite his young age - only thirty years old - he already has a “first class driver qualification” and decent experience driving fast trains. When a new passenger 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 position, which he is incredibly happy about. Alexander Vasilyevich “doesn’t care who his assistants are.” Before the trip, he carefully monitors Kostya’s work, but afterwards he checks the condition of the locomotive “with his own hands.”
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 2
Konstantin has been working as Maltsev’s assistant for about a year. On July 5, they take the train four hours late, and the dispatcher asks to “reduce the train’s delay as much as possible.” Alexander Vasilyevich agrees, and the heroes hit the road.
Wanting to save precious minutes, Maltsev drives the train forward with all his might, “towards a powerful cloud appearing over the horizon.” The driver 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 caught in a dust storm, and it becomes difficult not only to see, but even to breathe. However, the train continues to make its way forward, “into the vague, stuffy darkness.” Suddenly, an “instant blue light” flashes - it was lightning that almost hit the locomotive, “but missed it a little.”
Kostya notices that Maltsev “has become worse at driving.” He thinks it’s because he’s tired and begins to look carefully at the path and signals. Konstantin manages to notice in time a “foggy cloud of red light” - an oncoming train.
At full speed, he stops the train, thanks to which he manages to avoid a terrible accident. Maltsev transfers control of the locomotive to his assistant, and admits that he is blind. His vision returns the next day.
Chapter 3
Maltsev is put on trial, but it is almost impossible to prove the innocence of the experienced driver. The investigation finds it very suspicious that Alexander Vasilyevich regained 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 sent to prison, and Konstantin continues to work.
Chapter 4
In winter, Kostya visits his brother, a student, and learns that the university has “a Tesla installation in the physics laboratory for producing artificial lightning.” A plan emerges in his head.
Upon returning home, Kostya once again carefully considers his assumption, and then writes to the investigator who was in charge of Maltsev’s case. In the letter, he insistently asks to “test prisoner Maltsev for his exposure to electrical discharges,” and thus prove the special sensitivity of his body to the external influence of electricity.
For a long time there was no answer, but then the investigator announced the consent of the regional prosecutor to such an unusual experiment. A few days later, an investigator calls Kostya 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 forensic medical examination.” But only this time the driver’s vision is not restored.
The investigator reproaches himself for what he has done - he is sure that he has irrevocably ruined an innocent person.
Chapter 5
The following summer, Konstantin successfully passes the “driver exam” and begins to drive independently. Every time he brings the locomotive under the train, he notices the blind Maltsev sitting on a bench.
Kostya is trying to somehow cheer up the former driver, but to no avail. Then he decides to take it with him on the flight. Once again finding himself in the cabin of a steam locomotive, and leading the train under the guidance of his former student, Alexander Vasilyevich experiences real bliss.
On the way back, Maltsev’s vision suddenly returns. Kostya accompanies him home and sits next to Alexander Vasilyevich all night, afraid to leave him alone with the hostile forces of the “beautiful and furious world.”
Conclusion
In his work, Platonov reveals many topics, among which the most pressing are the problems of loneliness, sympathy, guilt and responsibility.
Platonov wrote the story “Nikita” in 1945; it tells the story of a little boy with a kind heart. Thanks to his imagination, Nikita sees life in all the objects around him. To prepare for a literature lesson, we recommend reading a summary of “Nikita” for the reader’s diary.
Summary
Chapter I
Alexander Vasilyevich Maltsev is rightfully considered “the best locomotive driver at the Tolubeevsky depot.” Despite his young age - only thirty years old - he already has a “qualification as a first-class driver” and decent experience in driving fast trains. When a new passenger 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 position, which he is incredibly happy about. Alexander Vasilyevich “doesn’t care who his assistants are.” Before the trip, he carefully monitors Kostya’s work, but afterwards he checks the condition of the locomotive “with his own hands.”
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 Maltsev’s assistant for about a year. On July 5, they take the train four hours late, and the dispatcher asks to “reduce the train’s delay as much as possible.” Alexander Vasilyevich agrees, and the heroes hit the road.
Wanting to save precious minutes, Maltsev drives the train forward with all his might, “towards a powerful cloud appearing over the horizon.” The driver 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 caught in a dust storm, and it becomes difficult not only to see, but even to breathe. However, the train continues to make its way forward, “into the vague, stuffy darkness.” Suddenly, an “instant blue light” flashes: it was lightning that almost hit the locomotive, “but missed it a little.”
Kostya notices that Maltsev “has become worse at driving.” He thinks it’s because he’s tired and begins to look carefully at the path and signals. Konstantin manages to notice in time a “foggy cloud of red light” - an oncoming train. At full speed, he stops the train, thanks to which he manages to avoid a terrible accident. Maltsev transfers 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 the experienced driver. The investigation finds it very suspicious that Alexander Vasilyevich regained 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 sent to prison, and 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 physics laboratory for producing artificial lightning.” A plan emerges in his head.
Upon returning home, Kostya once again carefully considers his assumption, and then writes to the investigator who was in charge of Maltsev’s case. In the letter, he insistently asks to “test prisoner Maltsev for his exposure to electrical discharges,” and thus prove the special sensitivity of his body to the external influence of electricity.
For a long time there was no answer, but then the investigator announced the consent of the regional prosecutor to such an unusual experiment. A few days later, an investigator calls Kostya 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 forensic medical examination.” But only this time the driver’s vision is not restored.
The investigator reproaches himself for what he has done: he is sure that he has irrevocably ruined an innocent person.
Chapter V
The following summer, Konstantin successfully passes the “driver exam” and begins to drive independently. Every time he brings the locomotive under the train, he notices the blind Maltsev sitting on a bench.
Kostya is trying to somehow cheer up the former driver, but to no avail. Then he decides to take it with him on the flight. Once again finding himself in the cabin of a steam locomotive and leading the train under the guidance of his former student, Alexander Vasilyevich experiences real bliss.
On the way back, Maltsev’s vision suddenly returns. Kostya accompanies him home and sits next to Alexander Vasilyevich all night, afraid to leave him alone with the hostile forces of the “beautiful and furious world.”
