Arguments in the direction of “The Traveling Man: The Road in Human Life”

Introduction

By road you can mean different things. This is also the path that a person takes in motion, heading from one point to another. These are travels, with the help of which a person gets to know his own inner world and the surrounding reality. However, the road can be perceived not only in the literal, but also in the figurative sense of the word. Each person charts their own path in life, which is based on individual goals, interests and priorities. The path of life will say more about a person than himself. The road can also be understood as the path of creative exploration, the path of scientific research, the path of development of the state and society.

The road motif is reflected in many works of art by domestic and foreign writers, playwrights and poets. Often the physical path that the hero has taken emphasizes the changes that have occurred in him.

L.N. Tolstoy "War and Peace"

One of L.N.’s favorite characters. Tolstoy's epic novel War and Peace is Andrei Bolkonsky. Addressing him, Kutuzov gave the following description of his fate: “Your road is the road of honor.”

In the epic novel, special attention is paid to describing the life path of Prince Andrei. At first he appears as a representative of secular society, but Andrei Bolkonsky expresses dissatisfaction with the lifestyle that he was forced to lead because of his origin and social status. Having abandoned the hated secular lifestyle, Prince Andrei went to participate in the war of 1805-1807, where he accomplished a feat at Austerlitz: not afraid of the enemy, the hero raises a fallen banner and leads Russian soldiers into battle. The epic novel shows that Andrei Bolkonsky is disappointed in his service several times, but in the end he still comes to the desire to serve the Motherland and the entire Russian people. And if in the war of 1805-1807. Prince Andrei is driven by the desire to find “his Toulon” and admiration for Napoleon, while in the War of 1812 the hero is driven by a sincere desire to protect the Motherland and help it. Andrei Bolkonsky dies after being wounded during the Battle of Borodino, which shows the character’s self-sacrifice for the good of the Fatherland.

L.N. Tolstoy shows that Prince Andrei throughout his life was in constant search of his own “I.” He was disappointed many times in what he did, but he always continued his life's path with honor and dignity, making numerous attempts to find the right path. Andrei Bolkonsky made mistakes, but he never did anything that would contradict his life beliefs at a certain stage of his life. Prince Andrei died after he found the meaning of life; before his death, he left all grievances, which emphasizes the idea that Andrei Bolkonsky’s life path is a “road of honor.”

The fate of Andrei Bolkonsky makes you think about the fact that ups and downs are an integral part of every person’s life, that it is impossible to immediately determine the right path that will bring happiness to a person, that the search for one’s own “I” can be very long, and this is precisely the path of life a person whose meaning of life in the broad sense of the word can be considered to be finding the meaning of one’s own existence.

Personal problems

The most painful topic for teenagers is love. At the same time, it is the most interesting thing to write about. And how many examples can you give! Love and romantic relationships are another matter of choice. The essay is forced to be written based on one’s own thoughts, which are sometimes confused and mixed up. Let's consider what arguments can be given in this context.

I immediately want to remember the tragic love of Romeo and Juliet in Shakespeare's play. Misunderstanding on the part of relatives and enmity between clans lead to tragic consequences, although the young people were sincerely in love and experienced only the most tender and virginal feelings for each other.

An excellent example of a real romantic relationship in Kuprin’s story “The Garnet Bracelet”. After reading this work, I want to believe that love is the best feeling that has ever arisen in a person. “Garnet Bracelet” is an ode to the young, a hymn to happiness and prose of innocence.

Love is sometimes destructive. There are arguments for this in the literature. The problem of choice appeared before Anna Karenina in the novel of the same name by L.N. Tolstoy. The feelings that arose for the young officer Volkonsky became destructive for her. For the sake of new happiness, a woman abandoned her devoted husband and beloved son. She sacrificed her status, reputation, position in society. And what did you get for it? Love and happiness or sadness and disappointment?

I.S. Turgenev "Fathers and Sons"

In the novel by I.S. Turgenev’s “Fathers and Sons”, for understanding the author’s intention, the leitmotif of the road, which is closed in nature, is important. The central character Evgeny Bazarov first finds himself in Maryino, the Kirsanovs’ estate, then goes to Nikolskoye, Odintsova’s estate, and then to his parents’ house. Next, the author sends Bazarov around the same circle for the second time, not doing this by accident.

The road motif helps I.S. Turgenev in revealing the inner world of Yevgeny Bazarov. Through physical movement, internal movement is shown. The central character does not stay in one place for long, he is constantly on the move. This in turn emphasizes the existing internal conflict. The road becomes a symbolic reflection of Bazarov’s inner experiences and his internal changes. The author demonstrates the inconsistency of Bazarov's nihilistic views. Walking twice in the circle “Maryino - Nikolskoye - parental home”, the main character behaves differently in similar situations with the same people. I.S. Turgenev demonstrates Bazarov’s internal changes, despite the fact that he tried to deny them and suppress them in himself. The novel “Fathers and Sons” makes you think about the fact that internal changes are an integral part of human life and that there is no need to resist them.

On his life's path, Evgeny Bazarov had to face an obstacle, since the emerging and developing love feelings for Anna Odintsova made him think that his nihilism was untenable, that his worldview collided with reality, and at the same time lost. I.S. Turgenev shows that with the help of nihilism, denying all generally accepted norms, such as love, art, nature, Bazarov has been trying for a long time to protect himself from reality. The nihilist Bazarov is on the road throughout the entire story, but he himself does not know where he is going and what goal he is trying to achieve. As a result, Bazarov meets death, which again emphasizes the inconsistency of the nihilistic theory, which contradicts the entire essence of life. It is important that Evgeny Bazarov meets death in his parents' home, essentially ending his life's journey where he began it. I.S. Turgenev shows that that period of life when the main character, as a result of an acquired nihilistic outlook, “broke himself”, eradicating everything that was embedded in him by home education, was not justified, that at the end of his life he still returned to the past.

School relationship problems

Such difficulties also occur quite often. Moreover, understanding them, let alone solving them, can be very difficult for a teenager. Parents, as a rule, cannot or do not want to interfere with the relationship between teachers and students. Let's consider what the literature has to say about this.

A.S. Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter"

In the story by A.S. Pushkin's "The Captain's Daughter" shows how the main character Pyotr Grinev, together with his servant Savelich, leaves his home and goes to serve in the Belogorsk fortress. Changing the scene helps to see the changes that have occurred inside Peter Grinev.

On Pyotr Grinev's way to the service, his image is revealed from two sides. On the one hand, the protagonist’s past dreams of serving in St. Petersburg, where he could lead a riotous and idle lifestyle, can be traced: Petrusha Grinev loses money to Zurin. On the other hand, already on the way to Orenburg, Pyotr Grinev shows nobility towards the stranger who led them out of the snowstorm: the central character, despite Savelich’s dissatisfaction, gives the stranger a hare’s sheepskin coat as a sign of gratitude.

Arriving at the Belogorsk fortress, Pyotr Grinev began to behave like a noble man. From chasing pigeons and not striving to acquire knowledge, a typical teenager, which he was until the age of sixteen, the central character turns into a man of honor and dignity, guided by the order given by his father “Take care of your dress again, and honor from a young age.” The behavior of Pyotr Grinev during the peasant uprising led by Emelyan Pugachev cannot be called the behavior of a typical spoiled undergrowth; he demonstrates the best qualities of the nobility.

A.S. Pushkin shows that Pyotr Grinev feels responsible for his own life. Finding himself in the center of bloody actions in the country, which required a decision as to which side to be on, the main character immediately determines his path: he remains on the side of the state. At the risk of being executed by the Pugachevites, Pyotr Grinev decides to be true to himself and his path until the very end. Unlike many nobles who went over to the side of Emelyan Pugachev, Pyotr Grinev refused the offer of the leader of the uprising himself to serve him “faithfully and truthfully.” Pyotr Grinev was not interested in the impostor’s promise to make him “both a field marshal and a prince.” By refusing to swear allegiance to the leader of the peasant uprising, the main character risks his own life, but he is not ready to go against himself: “I am a natural nobleman, I swore allegiance to the Empress: I cannot serve you”; “You know, it’s not my will: if they tell you to go against you, I’ll go, there’s nothing to do.”

Thus, through a change of scene, the author demonstrates the internal changes that have occurred in Pyotr Grinev, who remains faithful to his chosen path in life, no matter what.

I.A. Bunin "Clean Monday"

To demonstrate the changes that occurred inside the main character of the story “Clean Monday”, I.A. Bunin uses a description of Moscow from different sides. First, the author shows that She and He lead a typical social lifestyle: visiting one of the restaurants, attending a concert or theater, visiting the restaurant again - this is the usual daily routine of the main characters. However, on the day of the forgiven resurrection, She physically or mentally leads her companion to completely different places: Novodevichy Convent, Ordynka, Okhotny Ryad, Marfo-Mariinskaya Convent, Rogozhskoye Cemetery, Conception Monastery, Chudov Monastery, etc. The main character admits that she is tired of “drag” to restaurants and various social events. Contrasting riotous Moscow with spiritual Moscow, I.A. Bunin demonstrates the main character’s rejection of a secular lifestyle and transition to religion.

Constant self-examination, the search for the meaning of her own existence, eternal conversation with herself, careful consideration of the decision force the main character to abandon the life to which she was accustomed, but which did not give her feelings of satisfaction and joy. Being a rich girl, the daughter of an “enlightened man of a noble merchant family,” She understands that a secular lifestyle is not capable of bringing her true happiness. She feels alien to the society in which she had to be. The main character no longer wanted to be in disharmony with her own self. She decided to surrender to what could bring her satisfaction from life. The heroine goes to the monastery for obedience, and then for tonsure. Two years later, He sees his former lover in the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent, where She felt great, feeling the inner harmony that she lacked before.

I.A. Bunin demonstrates how the main character at one moment changes her way of life, no longer wanting to follow the path that was given to her by her origin and social position; She decided to follow the path of life that she chose on her own, without depending on anyone, even on the main character, with whom she had a “strange love.” The story “Clean Monday” makes you think about the need to find your own path in life, even if it is the opposite of everything that a person has at the moment.

M.Yu. Lermontov "Mtsyri"

In the poem by M.Yu. Lermontov’s “Mtsyri” demonstrates the “travels” of the central character Mtsyri. The author shows that Mtsyri, who was born in an aul and lived for 6 years among freedom-loving mountaineers, spent a long time in a monastery, where his life changed dramatically. The calm monastic life did not bring Mtsyri any pleasure or happiness, since it contradicted the entire essence of the hero, the monastery was disgusting to him, Mtsyri calls it a prison, and himself - “a flower raised in prison.” Dreaming of gaining both external and internal freedom, striving for various adventures, Mtsyri decides to escape in order to find himself in a “wonderful world of anxiety and battles” in order to “look at the distant fields, // find out if the earth is beautiful, // find out for freedom or prison // we will be born into this world.” Mtsyri wanted to find the way to his homeland, which he loved dearly and which he did not forget about for a day while living in the monastery.

M.Yu. Lermontov demonstrates that the life of the main character is changing significantly: the monastic confinement was replaced by the opportunity to walk where he wanted, to encounter various dangers and obstacles that he so lacked. The trials that Mtsyri faces do not break him; on the contrary, they strengthen his character, connect him with nature and give him the freedom that he could only dream of for a long time. Despite the fact that Mtsyri was freed for a short period of time, this freedom in connection with nature and adventure gave the main character a lot: these few days brought him true happiness. A short-term freedom for Mtsyri turns out to be much more important than long years of life in a hated monastery-prison. Poem by M.Yu. Lermontov makes you think that a self-chosen path in life, even if it is short, brings a person much more happiness than a long path in life, which was not chosen by the person himself. In order to follow his own path, Mtsyri risks his own life. Despite the tragic ending of the poem, Mtsyri, who was near death and found himself again within the walls of the monastery, can be called a winner, since he achieved freedom and found happiness, at least for a short time. The central character of Lermontov's "Mtsyri" is an example of love of freedom and the struggle for the opportunity to live, regardless of the people around him and external circumstances.

Problems of ecology, relationships with nature

The problem of choice in life is different. A variety of arguments were given. It's time to talk about the environment in which we live. Recently, humanity has seriously thought about the fact that man, in fact, treats his home, Mother Earth, very disdainfully. And all actions aimed at preserving the health of the planet do not bring significant results. The ozone layer is being destroyed, the air is being polluted, there is practically no clean fresh water left in the world...

Do you protect nature? Do you allow yourself to leave trash behind after a vacation in the forest? Do you burn plastic and put out the flames before leaving? The authors wrote a lot about relationships with nature. Let's consider what can be useful for the Unified State Exam.

Let's start with the dystopian novel “We” by E. Zamyatin. We are talking about the inhabitants of a certain Unified State who have become numbers, and their entire existence is possible only within the framework of the Tablet of Hours. They have no trees and rivers, because the whole world is built from human buildings and devices. They are surrounded by perfectly even proportions of glass houses. And relationships and love are allowed if there is a pink card. Such a world was depicted by Zamyatin specifically to show that a person will turn into a programmed robot without nature, real feelings and the beauty of the world around him.

The struggle between nature and man takes place in E. Hemingway’s work “The Old Man and the Sea.” This shows the real problem of human choice. The arguments are flawless. If you want to live, hold on. This applies to both a weak old man and a strong shark caught on a hook. The fight for life goes to the death. Who will win and who will give up? A short story that makes you think deeply about the meaning and price of life.

M.A. Sholokhov “The Fate of Man”

In the story by M.A. Sholokhov’s “The Fate of a Man” shows that the narrator, while resting on the road, meets Andrei Sokolov, who, together with the boy Vanyushka, is on his way somewhere. Already at the beginning of the story, the motif of the road is observed.

Particular attention in the story is paid to describing the life path of the central character Andrei Sokolov. Already at a young age he had to face life's difficulties: in the famine year of 1922, his father, mother and sister died. After Andrei Sokolov met his future wife Irina and their children Anatoly, Nastenka and Olyushka were born, the main character found happiness. However, it was cut short when the Great Patriotic War began, separating him from his beloved family. One of the main military trials that Andrei Sokolov had to face was being captured by the Germans, where he once came very close to death. But the most painful difficulty that overtook Andrei Sokolov was that he lost those who were dear to him, thoughts about whom motivated him to fight for his own existence: his wife Irina and daughters died because a bomb was dropped on the house , and son Anatoly, who also took part in the war, was killed right on Victory Day.

The story is called “The Fate of a Man” and not “The Fate of Andrei Sokolov” for a reason. It was important for the author to show that the events that happened in the life of the main character were no exception, that all people whose lives were changed by the war faced such difficulties and misfortunes. The image of Andrei Sokolov can be called a collective image; his fate is the fate of the entire Soviet people.

M.A. Sholokhov shows what grief Andrei Sokolov had to face on his life’s path, but the main character did not give up, he continued to live, no matter what, because he understood that life, which many of his compatriots lost during the Great Patriotic War, is the most valuable what a person has. The fact that Andrei Sokolov’s life journey continues is evidenced by the ending of the story, which describes how the main character and Vanyushka, who gave Andrei Sokolov a new meaning in life, say goodbye to the narrator and continue on their way.

Thus, in the story of M.A. Sholokhov, in which the road motif is observed, attention is paid to the description of the life path of Andrei Sokolov, symbolizing the life path of the entire Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War.

What to do with the profession

Another insoluble problem of the younger generation is the problem of choosing a profession. Parents can give completely different arguments when offering their child the best activity in life, in their opinion. Now this situation is not uncommon. Moms and dads force them to go to study where their child does not want to go. They argue their position in different ways: being a doctor is profitable, being a financier is prestigious, being a programmer is in demand, but a poor teenager just wants to become a machinist.

This happened with the main character of Mikhail Weller’s work “I Want to Be a Janitor.” The main character had a problem choosing a profession. His parents gave him arguments in favor of who he should become. They advised me to look at others who successfully defend their candidate's theses and perform at concerts after the conservatory. But the hero did not want to exchange his freedom for sitting in his pants in classrooms and studying books. He was attracted by his childhood dream of becoming a janitor, which is what he aspired to.

An example of the fact that it is not enough to choose a good profession to your liking, but you also need to develop your skills, is given by A.P. Chekhov in the story “Ionych”. Especially if you are a doctor. This was the case with the main character Ionych. He worked conscientiously, helping people until he became obsolete. He did not follow new developments in pharmacology and was not interested in new methods of treatment. He risked losing his well-being. Moral of the piece: choosing the right profession is only half the success; you need to improve your skills and talent.

A.S. Griboyedov "Woe from Wit"

The plot of the comedy by A.S. Griboedov's "Woe from Wit" is the return of the central character Alexander Chatsky from abroad to Moscow. Abroad, Chatsky received a good education, there he saw how he could live differently, realizing that Russia was lagging behind in development, that it needed to be led forward. 3 years of “wandering around the world” had a huge impact on the protagonist’s worldview.

It is abroad that changes occur within Alexander Chatsky. This can be seen thanks to the changes that have occurred within the relationship between Chatsky and Sofia Famusova. If earlier the main character, who was brought up in the Famusovs’ house, was close to Sophia, then after returning to his homeland he could not find a common language with her, she was distant from him and did not want to get closer. Sophia continued to be raised and live in accordance with the principles of the so-called “Famus society,” while Chatsky completely separated from him, having the opportunity to see his depravity. It is likely that if Chatsky had not gone abroad, he would have remained close to Sophia, as he would have become a typical representative of the “Famus society.” Traveling to foreign countries developed Chatsky's mind and character. He wanted to engage not only in self-development, but also in the development of all of Russia, which required changes.

The life principles of the central character of Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit” are demonstrated in the form of contrasts with the ideas of the “past century” about life. Chatsky states: “I would be glad to serve, but being served is sickening.” Seeing how people like Molchalin occupy a high position in society (“But by the way, he will reach the well-known degrees, // After all, nowadays they love the dumb”; “Molchalins are blissful in the world”), Chatsky comes to the conclusion: “Ranks are given by people, but people may be deceived." The main character exposes the vices of stupid and narrow-minded people with the goal of the progressive development of Russia, but no one understands Chatsky’s motives; he is considered first a “dangerous man” and a revolutionary, and then completely crazy, which suggests that the life path of the main character of Griboyedov’s comedy is filled various difficulties and trials. The final phrases of Chatsky (“Get out of Moscow! I don’t go here anymore. // I’m running, I won’t look back, I’ll go looking around the world, // Where there is a corner for an offended feeling!.. // A carriage for me, a carriage!”) indicate that that Chatsky never managed to find a common language with the “past century.”

N.V. Gogol "Dead Souls"

The image of the road, which has a rather symbolic meaning, occupies the poem by N.V. Gogol's "Dead Souls" is an important place.

The entire narrative is connected with the image of the road, since the main character Chichikov is on the road throughout the entire narrative, either visiting landowners or visiting the provincial town of NN. The road becomes what helps the central character in buying “dead” peasant souls. Chichikov goes to some landowners purposefully, gets to someone completely by accident, but in any situation he manages to “get away with it”, either by acquiring the souls of dead peasants, or by leaving without any special adventures. The road, symbolizing the entire life path of Chichikov, who, despite various difficulties, problems and surprises, generally achieves his goals, demonstrates that Chichikov had the ability to adapt to external circumstances.

The motif of the road is important in the poem not only for revealing the image of the central character, but also for demonstrating the depravity of the landowners and bureaucrats. The narrative of “Dead Souls” is structured in such a way that Chichikov moves from the “groundless dreamer” Manilov to Plyushkin, who was a “hole in humanity.” Plot features with the help of which moral degradation is demonstrated help to express an idea that is important for the entire narrative: the “dead” are not so much the souls of the dead peasants whom Chichikov wants to buy, but the souls of landowners and officials who are only physically alive. N.V. Gogol demonstrates the path that Russia is following: this is the path of “mortification” of the soul, when people independently doom themselves to a purposeless existence.

The image of the “three bird” symbolizing the whole of Russia, observed in lyrical digressions, is important. The author expresses the idea that Russia’s path is unknown: it, like the “three bird,” “rushes” in an unknown direction, and its future is unknown. However, in the finale of the first volume of the poem, the reappearing image of the “three bird” is interpreted by the author differently. N.V. Gogol expresses the idea of ​​the possibility of the revival of Russia, he expresses the hope that Russia will take the true path and move towards a better future, to which the second and third volumes of Dead Souls should have been devoted.

Thus, the image of the road in Gogol’s poem helps in demonstrating the life path of the central character Chichikov and in revealing the problem of Russia’s path.

M. Gorky “At the Bottom”

In M. Gorky's play "At the Lower Depths" special attention is paid to the residents of the shelter who find themselves at the "day of life." The author leads the reader to the idea that the heroes lead such a lifestyle not so much because of external circumstances, but because of their own reluctance to change their existence.

Satin, Bubnov, Actor, Vaska Ash, Natasha, Kleshch, Anna, Baron, Nastya, Kvashnya, Alyoshka, Crooked Zob and Tatarin follow the path of drunkards, murderers, thieves, gamblers, cheaters, unemployed people, women with unfortunate destinies. The actor lost his stage position due to his alcoholism; Nastya has to be a girl of “easy virtue” to ensure her existence. Through the image of dying Anna, the author demonstrates the real destinies of women who had to face various difficulties in their life. Most of the night shelters are lovers of drink and do not like to work, especially to support themselves with honest labor. Many residents of the shelter are characterized by inaction, which in turn is closely related to a person’s life path.

M. Gorky shows that the residents of the Kostylevo shelter are reconciled with the situation in which they find themselves. They do nothing to escape from the “bottom” of life. Some heroes live meaningless lives from birth, but there are also those who previously lived a very good life, but even they do not want to do anything to return to their previous position. None of the people at the bottom takes the path of change, although some of them had thoughts and dreams about it. The actor dreams of ending up in a hospital for alcohol addiction, but doesn’t really do anything to really change his life for the better. He thinks about the road, but does not begin his journey and completely deprives himself of the opportunity to change his life by committing suicide. Vaska Pepel, whose father spent most of his life in prison, was sure that the same path awaited him. Even Kleshch, who was trying to get out of the shelter, sells his tools and comes to terms with his miserable situation, realizing that the people around him, whom he had previously treated with contempt, are the same people as him. The life paths of the heroes of Gorky's play are truly tragic, but in many ways they themselves are to blame for this, since they did not make real attempts to change their lives for the better, believing that all these attempts would be in vain.

The problem of choosing a life path. Arguments from literature

Even an adult sometimes feels like his life has failed. The work is not to your liking, the profession does not bring the desired profit, there is no love, nothing around promises happiness. Now, if I had then, ten years ago, gone to study there, or married so-and-so, then my life would have turned out completely differently, perhaps happier. A person creates his own destiny and everything depends on this choice. The biggest difficulty is the problem of choosing a life path. Arguments from the literature will help to understand this extremely complex issue.

A.S. Pushkin "Eugene Onegin"

In the novel in verse by A.S. Pushkin's "Eugene Onegin" shows that the central character Eugene Onegin is in motion. At the beginning of the story, he, leading the life of a typical representative of secular society, is in St. Petersburg. The reader's acquaintance with Evgeny Onegin occurs when he “flies in the dust on a post office” to the village to visit his dying uncle. After the death of his uncle, Eugene Onegin remains in the village, on the estate he inherited. There he communicates with Vladimir Lensky, visits the Larins' estate, where he meets Tatyana Larina. After a duel with Lensky, Eugene Onegin sets off “to distant places, where he himself does not know exactly.” After the journey, Onegin arrives in St. Petersburg, where he meets Tatyana Larina, who in turn has traveled the following path: village - Moscow - St. Petersburg. As we see, in the novel in verse by A.S. Pushkin there is a motif of the road.

This motive helps in revealing the inner world of Eugene Onegin. The life of the main character in St. Petersburg is connected with his idle lifestyle. The trip to the village is connected with Eugene Onegin’s desire to abandon his past way of life and find himself in a village existence. The lines “He was overcome by restlessness, // A desire to change places // (A very painful quality, // Few are willing to cross)” emphasize the unhappy state of Eugene Onegin and demonstrate that “changing places” is an attempt to find happiness. However, life in the village quickly became boring for the central character. The journey of Eugene Onegin after the duel with Lensky, his “wanderings without a goal” is another attempt to find his own destiny. He probably wanted to escape from the life that was left to him after the tragic result of the duel that took Lensky’s life. The journey that Eugene Onegin goes on is not a sign of a romantic poem; for the author of a realistic novel in verse, it was important not to describe the places that the main character visited, but to show the reasons why he went on a journey.

A.S. Pushkin, through changing locations, shows that Eugene Onegin is trying to find his own “I”, constantly doubting himself and the entire world around him. The motif of the road helps to emphasize the conflict of the central character with himself; the movement becomes a symbolic reflection of the internal changes of Eugene Onegin. The physical movement of the hero becomes a symbol of internal movement.

J.R.R. Tolkien "The Lord of the Rings"

The epic novel by J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings can be called a travel novel because the Ring Bearers (Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Boromir, Gimli, Merry and Pin) make a journey. However, this is not a journey that friends make for fun and pleasure, it is a journey on which the fate of all Middle-earth depends. The heroes needed to destroy the One Ring.

The important thing is that together the nine Ring Bearers cover only a small part of the journey. Each of the Ring Guardians has their own path, each of them faces their own trials, obstacles and temptations. The words of one of the heroines are important in the narrative: “Or perhaps each of you has already begun - without noticing it - the only path that is destined for him by fate.” The epic novel expresses the idea that the path of life is destined by fate. However, the storylines demonstrate that nothing in the world is completely predetermined, that in life there is always the right to choose. Each hero independently, making his own choice, decides his fate. This is evidenced by the fact that Frodo overcomes the temptations of the Ring a large number of times, while Boromir, succumbing to the temptation of the Ring, ultimately dies.

The search for Mount Doom, where the Ring can be destroyed, falls on the shoulders of the hobbits Frodo and Sam. Frodo constantly faces temptations from the Ring, since he is the owner of it. The motif of the way of the cross is associated with his image: bearing, suffering, destruction of sin. Sam, who promised to accompany Frodo, cannot fail to fulfill his promise. He states: “I know that the road ahead of us is long and leads into darkness, but I cannot turn back. I need to walk this path to the end - do you understand?”

The paths of the other seven Ring-Keepers are also important for the future fate of all of Middle-earth, for universal peace and freedom, since the unification of peoples to fight a common enemy depends on them. Most Ring Bearers perform the necessary actions to destroy the Ring and defeat the enemy, which actually lead to overall victory.

Problems of choice in human life

Think about it, how often in a day do you have to solve questions to which there are two or even more answers? First you think about what to eat for breakfast, then how to dress for school and which way to go there. After classes, you usually wonder whether to do your homework now, or after the party? Should I go for a walk with Masha or Kolya today? All these issues are just minor daily problems that you can surely handle easily.

But in life there are more serious choices. Sooner or later, you will have to think about where to go to study, where to work, how to determine your path in life. We need to think about this now, on the threshold of adulthood. This is why teachers ask students to read works at school, analyze them and draw conclusions. So that in the future it will be easier for you, based on the experience of others. We invite you to consider the problem of life choice found in literature. We present the arguments as examples.

M. Zusak “The Book Thief”

One of the main characters in M. Zusak’s novel “The Book Thief” is Hans Hubermann, Liesel Meminger’s adoptive father.

During the emergence and development of Nazi beliefs, Hans Hubermann consciously refused to join the party. The novel states that Hans Hubermann was one of the 10 percent of people who did not show strong support for the activities of Adolf Hitler. Working as a painter, Hans Hubermann, despite the persecution of Jews, continued to paint their houses, thereby expressing support. Such actions were a real risk to freedom and even one’s own life, since not only Jews were persecuted, but also the Germans who supported them. The decision to hide the son of his late friend Max Vandenburg, who was Jewish, in his own home was a risk not only for himself, but also for his wife Rosa Hubermann and adopted daughter Liesel Meminger. When a column of Jews passed by the city of Molching, in which the Huberman family lived, Hans Huberman could not restrain himself and gave one of the prisoners of war a piece of bread, but even the fact that because of this he was sent to war did not embitter the hero and did not force him to refuse good and go over to the side of the fascists. Hans Hubermann never regretted the good deeds he did towards the Jews.

M. Zusak shows how true Hans Hubermann was to his own convictions. He could not have a negative attitude towards people like himself. Even the developing Nazism at that time did not become the reason why Hans Hubermann betrayed his own self. He was ready to risk everything he had, even his own life, in order not to be a cruel person who decided that he had the right to control the destinies and lives of other people. Hans Hubermann even quarreled with his son, who supported the new order in Germany. Hans Hubermann followed his own path, which was radically different from the life paths of most Germans, who either consciously supported Hitler's worldview, or joined the party out of fear of losing their lives and everything they had. When Hans Hubermann also applied to join the party in order not to cause problems for his family, he almost immediately refused to join the party, since he did not want to be part of the reigning cruelty. The author shows that Hans Hubermann defended the freedom of his own beliefs until the end of his life, no matter what.

The problem of moral choice. Arguments

All our actions are influenced by the world around us. Before taking this or that step, we will definitely think about whether it contradicts the norms of social relations, conscience, morality, etc. This is all a problem of moral choice. The arguments here are simple. A wise man once said that there is never a right decision. Because for you it will be true, but for others it will be false. Let's see what literature teaches us.