“Poor Lisa” by Karamzin is a true masterpiece of Russian literature. In the 18th century, the writer first turned to a description of the life of the lower classes - peasants. He introduces us to a sensitive, living soul, using the techniques of sentimentalism. The plot of the book helps to realize the problem of social inequality in Russia at that time. You will be able to recall the main events from the story thanks to a short retelling prepared by the Literaguru team.
(349 words) The main actions of the work take place near the Simonov Monastery. It was there, in a small hut, that a poor peasant family lives: an old woman with her seventeen-year-old daughter Lisa. Two years ago, they lost their breadwinner: a hardworking and honest man. It was hard for the widow, she fell down from longing. From that moment, young Lisa took on all the work. She weaved canvases, knitted stockings, gathered flowers, berries and went to sell all this in Moscow. Lisa met there Erast, a wealthy nobleman. He liked the purity, sincerity of the girl, he demanded that she pluck lilies of the valley only of his day. The young man was open and affectionate, but frivolous by nature. He was tired of secular society, he wanted from Lisa that calm, pacification, which could not give vain Moscow life. Every day he came to the girl, met her mother. The peasant woman immediately fell in love with him, in him she saw the whole meaning of her existence. Their relationship lasted for several weeks, consisting of immaculate walks and conversations in the grove. The heroine even refused the son of a wealthy peasant, disappointing her mother. Erast promised Lisa a hand and a heart, as soon as the old woman was gone, but this was not destined to be fulfilled.
Sincere love overshadowed the girl’s mind: she trusted the young man with her innocence. From this day the attitude of the hero gradually changed. He no longer saw in her the purity that he valued so much. The carnal joys soon bored Erast. And so he said that he was leaving to serve in the army, leaving the chosen one with the hope of a speedy return.
Two months later, a peasant woman saw a young man by chance in Moscow, rushed to hug her lover. But he only coldly announced his engagement. The hero gave a farewell of one hundred rubles and ordered the servant to accompany the girl. For Lisa, everything lost its meaning at that moment. She could not bear the betrayal and rushed into the pond. Soon after learning about the death of her daughter, the mother died.
Erast squandered his entire fortune in the service, so he preferred a marriage of convenience over living in poverty. He hoped that Lisa would calmly react to this, but, learning about the tragedy, considered himself her culprit and was tormented by remorse.
