Arguments from literature for essay 15.3: What is self-doubt? (OGE in Russian language)

Arguments from literature for essay 15.3: What is self-doubt? (OGE in Russian language)

Self-doubt is a negative self-esteem of an individual. This illness torments many people, so the authors found a place for it on the pages of their books. The many-wise Litrekon has selected interesting literary examples from works with the help of which you can easily reveal this topic.

1. N.V.
   Gogol, "The Overcoat" . The hero of the story constantly endures ridicule, but cannot oppose anything to them, because he does not believe in himself. General neglect left its mark on him. He does not see himself as a person, so he seeks salvation in a new thing that will inspire others to respect his person. But the thing could not help him transform: to a “significant person” he again appears as a humiliated and insulted petitioner, and not as a person with rights.
2. A.I.
   Kuprin, "The Wonderful Doctor" . Mertsalov lost faith in himself when he was unable to get a job and lift his family out of poverty. The collapse of self-esteem led the man to thoughts of suicide. This example shows how important it is not to lose self-confidence, because the hero managed to change his life for the better when faith in his own strength returned to him.
3. A.P.
   Chekhov, "The Man in a Case" . Belikov was known as a strange man in his city: he always wore a warm coat and an umbrella, even if it was hot outside. He reduced all his reasoning on any subject to fear and said: “No matter what happens.” The shallowness of his behavior and thoughts indicates hypertrophied self-doubt, which makes a person afraid and hide behind sweeping condemnation of everything he sees. The ending of the story shows the depressing consequences of this uncertainty: the hero dies of a nervous breakdown.
4. A.S.
   Pushkin, "The Captain's Daughter" . Marya was cowardly and silent, even her mother reproached her for this. Lack of self-confidence made her shy away from people and distance herself from life itself in the family nest. But the death of her parents, love for Grinev and numerous trials forced the heroine to overcome fear and leave her comfort zone. In the finale, we are no longer facing the captain’s daughter, but a full-fledged woman with her own feat in the name of love.
5. N.V.
   Gogol ,
   "The Nose"
   . Kovalev was an indecisive and modest person, so he achieved little in life. But the hero’s revived and detached nose succeeded in this, and he immediately acquired an important post, beautiful clothes, and even false documents. But the owner of the nose himself could not return it, because the deepest self-doubt fettered his will. Unfortunately, a person with low self-esteem does not even control himself.
6. A.P.
   Chekhov, "The Slut" . In the story, the employer issues a salary to his employee, but with every minute of the conversation it becomes obvious that the amount is melting before our eyes: the boss is brazenly deceiving the heroine. She cries but cannot say anything because she lacks self-confidence. As a result, the master exposes his deception and gives away his entire salary, but scolds Yulia for not being able to stand up for her rights. And he’s right: poor self-esteem turns a person into a slave to other people’s whims.
7. ON THE.
   Nekrasov, “Reflections at the Main Entrance” . Petitioners from the common people came to the official, but he ordered the doorman to drive them out of the yard. And people obediently trudged past, because who are they, and who is he?! The author condemns this slavish humility, because the people were not created for the authorities, but the authorities were created for their needs. But subjects do not consider themselves citizens, and their class-based self-doubt gives rise to arbitrary power.
8. A.P.
   Chekhov, "The Death of an Official" . The hero of the story values ​​himself so low compared to the general that he dies of frustration after an incident in the theater. He accidentally sneezed on the bald head of the man sitting in front of him and since then could not calm down, begging for the long-received forgiveness. His lack of self-confidence caused him to die stupidly from excessive self-abasement.
9. M.Yu.
   Lermontov, "Hero of Our Time" . Sometimes lack of self-confidence and strength pushes a person to meanness. Grushnitsky was afraid of losing the duel and decided to replace the enemy’s weapon. He so wanted to make an effect on his comrades and humiliate the enemy that he chose an unprincipled and illegal way to achieve his intention. As a result, even before his death he did not have the courage to admit his deception. Thus, insufficient self-esteem became the basis for the development of vice.
10. 10. A.P.
    Chekhov, "The Jumper" . The hero of the story played the role of a servant in front of his wife and obeyed her in everything. He considered himself insignificant next to her, and this self-doubt gave the flirtatious woman a free hand. She cheated on her husband and continued to live as if nothing had happened, but he was unable to save his family and go against his idol. Because of his inadequate self-esteem, family life began to crack.

What is self-doubt?

One of the main reasons for a failed person is precisely the lack of self-confidence. Read more about this shortcoming in our essay options!