Saltykov-Shchedrin: History of a city: On the origin of the Foolovites. Saltykov-Shchedrin: History of the city: Organchik Saltykov the history of one city summary

By creating the ironic grotesque "History of a City," Saltykov-Shchedrin hoped to arouse in the reader not laughter, but a "bitter feeling" of shame. The idea of ​​the work is built on the image of a certain hierarchy: a simple people who will not resist the instructions of often stupid rulers, and the tyrannical rulers themselves. In the face of the common people in this story, the inhabitants of the city of Foolov act, and their oppressors are the mayors. Saltykov-Shchedrin notes with irony that this people needs a leader, one who will give them instructions and keep them in "hedgehogs", otherwise the whole people will fall into anarchy.

History of creation

The concept and idea of ​​the novel "The History of a City" were formed gradually. In 1867, the writer wrote the fairy-tale-fantastic work "The Tale of the Governor with a Stuffed Head", which subsequently formed the basis of the chapter "Organchik". In 1868 Saltykov-Shchedrin began working on The History of a City and finished in 1870. Initially, the author wanted to give the work the name "Glupovsky Chronicler". The novel was published in the then popular magazine Otechestvennye Zapiski.

The plot of the work

(Illustrations by the creative team of Soviet graphic artists "Kukryniksy")

The story is told from the perspective of the chronicler. He talks about the inhabitants of the city, who were so stupid that their city was given the name "Stupid". The novel begins with the chapter "On the Root of the Origin of the Foolovites", in which the history of this people is given. It tells in particular about the tribe of bunglers, who, after defeating the neighboring tribes of onion-eaters, thick-eaters, walrus-eaters, kosobryukhy and others, decided to find a ruler for themselves, because they wanted to restore order in the tribe. Only one prince decided to rule, and even he sent a thief-innovator instead of himself. When he stole, the prince sent him a noose, but the thief was able to get out in a sense and stabbed himself with a cucumber. As you can see, irony and the grotesque coexist perfectly in the work.

After several unsuccessful candidates for the role of deputies, the prince appeared in the city in person. Becoming the first ruler, he marked the "historical time" of the city. Twenty-two rulers with their accomplishments are said to have ruled the city, but the Inventory lists twenty-one. Apparently, the missing one is the founder of the city.

Main characters

Each of the mayors performs its task in implementing the writer's idea through the grotesque to show the absurdity of their government. In many types, the features of historical figures are visible. For greater recognition, Saltykov-Shchedrin not only described the style of their government, ridiculously distorted the names, but also gave apt descriptions pointing to a historical prototype. Some of the personalities of the mayors are images collected from the characteristic features of different people in the history of the Russian state.

So, the third ruler Ivan Matveyevich Velikanov, famous for drowning the director of economic affairs and imposing taxes at three kopecks per person, was exiled to prison for having an affair with Avdotya Lopukhina, the first wife of Peter I.

Brigadier Ivan Matveyevich Baklan, the sixth mayor, was tall and proud of being a follower of Ivan the Terrible's line. The reader understands what is meant by the bell tower in Moscow. The ruler found death in the spirit of the same grotesque image that fills the novel - the foreman was broken in half during a storm.

The personality of Peter III in the image of Guards Sergeant Bogdan Bogdanovich Pfeifer is indicated by the characteristic given to him - "a Holstein native", the style of government of the mayor and his outcome - removed from the post of ruler "for ignorance".

Dementy Varlamovich Brodysty is nicknamed "Organchik" for the presence of a mechanism in his head. He kept the city at bay because he was gloomy and withdrawn. When trying to take the head of the mayor for repair to the capital's masters, she was thrown out by a frightened coachman from the carriage. After the reign of Organchik, chaos reigned in the city for 7 days.

The short period of prosperity of the townspeople is associated with the name of the ninth mayor, Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov. A civilian adviser and innovator, he took care of the appearance of the city, started honey and brewing. Tried to open an academy.

The longest reign was marked by the twelfth mayor, Vasilisk Semenovich Borodavkin, who reminds the reader of the style of government of Peter I. His “glorious deeds” also indicate the connection of the character with the historical figure - he destroyed the Streltsy and Dung settlements, and the difficult relationship with the eradication of the ignorance of the people - spent four years in Foolov wars for education and three - against. He resolutely prepared the city for burning, but suddenly died.

Onufriy Ivanovich Negodyaev, a former peasant by origin, who heated stoves before serving as a mayor, destroyed the streets paved by the former ruler and erected monuments on these resources. The image was copied from Paul I, which is also indicated by the circumstances of his removal: he was fired for disagreeing with the triumvirate about constitutions.

Under the state councilor Erast Andreevich Sadtilov, the stupid elite was busy with balls and night meetings with reading the works of a certain gentleman. As in the reign of Alexander I, the mayor did not care about the people, who were impoverished and starving.

Scoundrel, idiot and "Satan" Ugryum-Burcheev bears a "talking" surname and is "written off" from Count Arakcheev. He finally destroys Foolov and decides to build the city of Neprekolnsk in a new place. When trying to implement such a grandiose project, the “end of the world” occurred: the sun faded, the earth shook, and the mayor disappeared without a trace. Thus ended the story of "one city".

Analysis of the work

Saltykov-Shchedrin, with the help of satire and the grotesque, aims to reach out to the human soul. He wants to convince the reader that the human institution must be based on Christian principles. Otherwise, a person's life can be deformed, mutilated, and in the end can lead to the death of the human soul.

"The History of a City" is an innovative work that has overcome the usual framework of artistic satire. Each image in the novel has pronounced grotesque features, but is recognizable at the same time. That gave rise to a flurry of criticism against the author. He was accused of "slandering" the people and rulers.

Indeed, the story of Glupov is largely written off from the chronicle of Nestor, which tells about the time of the beginning of Rus' - "The Tale of Bygone Years". The author intentionally emphasized this parallel in order to make it clear who he means by the Foolovites, and that all these mayors are by no means a flight of fancy, but real Russian rulers. At the same time, the author makes it clear that he is not describing the entire human race, namely Russia, rewriting its history in his own satirical way.

However, the purpose of creating the work Saltykov-Shchedrin did not make a mockery of Russia. The writer's task was to encourage society to critically rethink its history in order to eradicate existing vices. The grotesque plays a huge role in creating an artistic image in the work of Saltykov-Shchedrin. The main goal of the writer is to show the vices of people who are not noticed by society.

The writer ridiculed the ugliness of society and was called the "great mocker" among such predecessors as Griboyedov and Gogol. Reading the ironic grotesque, the reader wanted to laugh, but there was something sinister in this laughter - the audience "felt how the scourge was whipping itself."

The History of a City is a stunning novel by the Russian writer Saltykov-Shchedrin. The novel consists of 15 parts. It was released in 1980 and immediately resonated with the people of Russia. The author was ordered to distort the historical data of Russia and accused him of mocking all the inhabitants of this majestic country.

Note! The novel is written in the genre of satire. It reveals the true faces and morals, reflects the relationship of the ruling side with the people.

In creation, the desire of the people to submit to the government is highlighted. The novel belongs to the Russian classics and tells about the history of the city called "Glupov" and the life of its mayors. The events of the book take place in the 18-19 century. Based on this novel, a film was made in 1991 by directors:

• Valentin Karavaev.
• Liliana Monakhova.

The book is written very interestingly, from the first minutes of reading a person is transferred to the 18th century and observes the true confrontation between the authorities and the people. Those who read the novel were delighted with the satirical plot based on historical data.

But due to employment, not everyone can fully read this book because of its large volume. Therefore, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with a summary of the chapters of the "History of a City", presented in the form of a retelling of the famous story.

Table: the main characters of the story.

About the origin of the Foolovites

This chapter of the story highlights the history of the emergence of the Foolovites. In ancient times, there was a people - head-footers. They recognized that without a ruler it would be difficult for them to restore order and began to look for a governor. They applied to many princes, but they refused because of the stupidity of the population. Nobody wanted to become the mayor of the thugs.

The people turned to a man with the nickname "thief-turnover" with a request to find a ruler for them. The thief found the governor, but he did not want to settle with them on the same land and sent a thief as his deputy, who renamed the golovyat into Foolovites and gave the city the name "Fools".

The new ruler was distinguished by greed and greed, so he was soon sentenced to death.

All governors of the city are also indicated at the head:

• Amadeus Clement.
• Photius Ferapontov.
• Ivan Velikanov.
• Manyl Urus-Kugush-Kildibaev.
• Lambrokasis.
• Ivan Baklan.
• Bogdan Pfeifer.
• Dementy Brody.
• Semyon Dvokurov.
• Marquis Sanglot.
• Pyotr Ferdyshchenko.
• Basilisk Wartkin.
• Onufry Negodyaev.
• Xavier Mikaladze.
• Theophylact Benevolensky.
• Ivan Pimple.
• Nikodim Ivanov.
• Erast Sadilov.
• Uryum Burcheev.
• Viscount Chario.
• Archangel Zalikhvatsky.

Important! This title also indicates that the city was without a ruler for a week.

organ

The headline highlights the arrival of a new commander, who was remembered by everyone with two phrases:

• "I won't stand it."
• "I'll ruin."

The inhabitants of the city noticed that the taciturn ruler is such due to the lack of a brain in his head. His head was empty. An organ was installed in it, produced only two compositions.

But the head is broken. After this terrible find, the people called the master to repair the head, but he could not fix it. After that, fuss and lawlessness began in the city, which lasted 7 days.

The Tale of the Six Mayors (Picture of Foolovsky civil strife)

A chapter about the struggle of three women who wanted to become the rulers of the city.

Note! All three applicants had good reasons for holding public office.

But besides them, others fought for power:

1. Nelka Lyadokhovskaya.
2. Dunka.
3. Matryona.

Table: the main contenders for public office.

The war for power between these six women led the city to devastation and anarchy, which Dvoekurov managed to end.

The news about Dvokurov

The coming to power of Dvoekurov significantly changed the established order of life of the Foolovites.

Semyon Konstantinovich during his reign:

• He tried to create an academy, but he did not succeed.
• Adopted a decree on the cultivation and use of mustard and bay leaves.
• Introduced brewing in Foolovo.

Important! Dvoekurov is a smart ruler, but for disobedience he punished people with lashes.

hungry city

After the death of Dvoekurov and the reign of Marquis Sanglot, Ferdyshchenko comes to power.

Hungry City Chapter Events:

• Arrival of a new governor.
• The ruler's infatuation with a married woman named Alyona.
• Sending a beloved husband to Siberia.
• The beginning of drought and famine.
• Alena's death at the hands of the Foolovites.
• The beginning of the war between the people and the ruler.
• Pacify the inhabitants with the help of troops.

thatched city

After the death of Alenka and the war, peace temporarily sets in in the city.

Note! But the calm ends with the governor's new passion for archers named Domashka.

Table: chronology of events after the ruler fell in love.

fantasy traveler

Chronology of events in the "fantastic traveler" section:

• After a series of unpleasant events, the governor decides to go on a trip around the neighborhood.
• On the trip, people treat him with various culinary abundance.
• Three days after departure, the mayor becomes ill amid gluttony and overeating. He is dying.
• He is replaced by a new ruler - Wartkin.

Important! Vasilisk Semyonovich laid the foundation for the abundant life of the Foolovites.

Wars for enlightenment

Chronology of events:

1. Wartkin introduces the cultivation of Persian chamomile.
2. Resumes mustard cultivation.
3. The new ruler gathers a campaign that lasted only 9 days.

During the reign of this governor, Foolov became a poor city. He left his government post before ordering the burning of the city and its entire population.

The era of dismissal from wars

In the field of the destructive rule of the old governor, the city finally became impoverished, and in order to save it, no less irresponsible and selfish people began to be appointed to the place of the ruler.

Note! In this chapter, the post of mayor was replaced by 4 people at once.

Table: the ruling mayors in this chapter in order.

Worship of mammon and repentance

Chronology of events:

• Ivanov becomes the next mayor of the city. During his reign, the inhabitants do not know poverty. But the governor is fired.
• Behind him, the post of mayor is occupied by Du-Chariault, who founded the cult of worship of pagan gods.
• After him, the state post is occupied by Sadtilov. But having taken up the duties of the mayor, he notices that the inhabitants live in debauchery.

Important! The last ruler of this chapter is arrested for non-compliance with his official duties.

Confirmation of repentance. Conclusion

Events in chronological order:

• The place of the mayor is occupied by Ugryum-Burcheev.
• He introduces a strict regime in Foolov and forces the inhabitants to obey.
• After the occurrence of a natural disaster, the cruel governor disappears.

busty- could only speak a few sentences.
Dvoekurov- the most harmless of the chapters, was obsessed with planting plants that had never been grown in Russia.
Wartkin- fought with the inhabitants of the city, trying to enlighten them.
Ferdyshchenko- a greedy and lustful mayor who almost destroyed the settlement.
Acne- a person who does not delve into the affairs of the city.
Gloomy-Grumbling- almost killed all the inhabitants of the city, trying to realize their crazy ideas.

Minor Heroes

Collective image of the inhabitants of the city. They obey the mayors. Foolovites are a people who are ready to endure any oppression from a higher authority. Of course, they start a riot, but only if ordinary people start dying around them.

Summary of the "History of one city" by chapter

From the publisher

At the beginning of the story, the creator of the work explains that he has long wanted to write a story about some locality of the Russian state. However, he was not able to fulfill his desire due to the lack of stories. But by chance, documents were found in which a certain person spoke about his hometown - Foolov. The publisher did not doubt the authenticity of the records, despite the description of some fantastic incidents that occurred with the mayors.

Address to the reader

Further, the chronicler turns to the reader and tells that before him three people kept records in these notebooks, and he continued their work. The chapter explains that this manuscript tells about twenty-two chiefs.

About the origin of the Foolovites

In the next chapter, readers get acquainted with the history of the founding of the settlement. There lived people who loved to “pull” with their heads all the objects that they met on their way. They called these people bunglers. They overcame the tribes that lived next to them. But the goofyapovtsy had an unlucky life. They decided to look for a ruler for themselves. But the princes to whom they turned did not want to rule the stupid people. The innovator thief helped them. He led people to the unwise prince, who agreed to manage the bunglers. The prince imposed a tribute on the inhabitants, and put a thief-innovator to rule them. Since those ancient times, the people began to be called Foolovites. Many thieves were then sent by the prince to rule over these people, but nothing good came of it. The prince himself had to become the ruler of the Foolovites.

Description for mayors

In this chapter, the publisher presented a list of all twenty-two of Glupov's mayors and their "accomplishments."

organ

The next chapter tells about the ruler of the city, Dementia Varlamovich Brudast, a silent and gloomy man. He could only speak a few words, which intrigued all the inhabitants. The Foolovites were even more surprised when they learned that the mayor could sit on a chair with his head on the table. But a local craftsman discovered the secret. He said that inside the ruler there is a small organ that can only perform two works. One day, the instrument inside the mayor's head broke. When the townspeople could not repair the organ, they ordered exactly the same head in the capital. As a result of the unorganized actions of the population of Glupov, two identical rulers appeared in the city.

The Tale of the Six Mayors (Picture of Foolovsky civil strife)

This fantastic story was put to an end by the arrival of a messenger who took the twin men with him. Without leaders, a mess broke out in Foolovo that lasted seven days. Throne tried to seize six ordinary women who did not have any rights to gain power. Without a head in the city, murders have become more frequent. And the pretenders fought for the opportunity to become the ruler, using all sorts of ways. For one woman, the struggle for power even ended in death: she was eaten by bedbugs.

The news about Dvokurov

The civil strife ended, and none of these townspeople got what they wanted. A new mayor Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov arrived, whose reign the Foolovites remembered for the rest of their lives. The new head was known as an advanced person and took his duties very seriously. Semyon Konstantinovich issued an order to eat food with bay leaves and mustard, as well as to make a honey intoxicating drink.

hungry city

The next chapter tells about the mayor Petr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko - a good ruler. The townspeople finally breathed freely, no one oppressed them. But the free life of the Foolovites did not last long. The mayor fell in love with the wife of a city dweller and began to harass her. To avoid obstacles, her husband was exiled. Then the beloved went to live with Ferdyshchenko. Here, a drought suddenly began in the city, many citizens began to starve. Residents said that she was to blame for natural disasters, the mistress of the mayor was killed. Ferdyshchenko wrote a petition, and soldiers were brought into the city to pacify the dissatisfied.

thatched city

Before the Foolovites had time to recover from one misfortune, a new misfortune occurred. The mayor fell in love with the walking woman again. Without listening to anyone, Ferdyshchenko brought her into the house. Immediately, the city was on fire. Angry residents could kill this beloved, so Pyotr Petrovich had to let the woman go back to where she lived. The fire was extinguished. At the request of the mayor, troops were again brought into the city.

fantasy traveler

The next chapter introduces the reader to Ferdyshchenko's new hobby. He passionately wanted to travel and went to see the sights of Glupov. Pyotr Petrovich was disappointed, since there were no remarkable or interesting places in the city and around it. From grief, the mayor reached for alcohol. Due to heavy drinking and gluttony, the man died. The townspeople were afraid that soldiers would come to the city again to figure out what killed Ferdyshchenko. But this, fortunately, did not happen. But in the city there was a new head Borodavkin Vasilisk Semenovich.

Wars for enlightenment

The next chapter tells how the new mayor began to fight for the doctrine, which the townspeople lacked so much. Having chosen Dvoekurov as a role model, the newly arrived ruler forced people to sow mustard again. The mayor himself went on a military campaign against the inhabitants of another settlement. Since there were not enough living fighters, Vasilisk Semenovich ordered to fight with toy soldiers. Then Borodavkin waged more wars for education. He gave the order to burn and destroy several houses, but suddenly died. The actions of the mayor led to even greater impoverishment of many townspeople.

The era of dismissal from wars

The next chapter tells about the actions of several mayors. The reign of Negodyaev led to the savagery of the population, which was overgrown with wool.

Then power passed to Mikaladze, a lover of women. Foolovtsy came to their senses and cheered up. However, the mayor soon died of sexual exhaustion. After him, the place of the head was taken by Benevolensky - a great lover of writing laws. Since he did not have the right to issue real legal acts, the mayor worked secretly from everyone and scattered leaflets about Foolov. Then the news spread throughout the city that Benevolensky had entered into secret relations with Napoleon. For this, the higher authorities arrested the man.

Benevolensky was replaced by officer Pimple. He was not engaged in the service, but only arranged balls, had fun and went hunting. But despite this, surpluses of honey, wax, and leather appeared in the city. All this Foolovites sold abroad. This state of affairs aroused suspicion among the townspeople. Soon the marshal of the nobility discovered that Benevolensky's head smelled of truffles. Unable to restrain himself, the leader ate it.

Worship of mammon and repentance

The next chapter introduces readers to several mayors of Glupovsk. Under Ivanov, the Foolovites lived very well. But soon the man died, either from fright after receiving a large-scale decree from above, or from drying out of his head, due to the fact that he did not use it for its intended purpose.

Further, the cheerful and stupid Viscount Du-Chariault, who loves entertainment, became the mayor. The townspeople lived cheerfully and stupidly during his reign. Everyone began to worship pagan gods, wear strange clothes, communicate in an invented language. Nobody worked in the fields. It soon became clear that the mayor was a woman. The deceiver was expelled from Glupovsk.

Then Sadtilov became the head. Together with the Foolovites, he himself indulged in debauchery and ceased to deal with the affairs of the city. People did not cultivate the land, and soon famine times came. Sadtilov had to return the people to the old faith. But even after that, the Foolovites did not want to work. The mayor, together with the city beau monde, began to read forbidden books, for which he was demoted.

Confirmation of repentance. Conclusion

The next chapter tells about the last mayor of Glupov - Gloomy-Grumbling - a gloomy and dumb-headed man. He wanted to destroy the settlement and create a new city called Nepreklonsk. People, like soldiers, were forced to dress in the same clothes and work according to a certain schedule. Soon the townspeople got tired of such methods of government and prepared for a riot. But then the city came under heavy rain with a tornado. Gloomy-Grumbling has disappeared.

supporting documents

The finale of the chronicle contains “Supporting documents written for the future heads of the city.

In the satirical story "The History of a City", written by Saltykov-Shchedrin, the relationship between ordinary citizens and the authorities is ridiculed.

Retelling plan

1. The chronicler introduces the reader to the purpose of his work and the history of the origin of the Foolovites.
2. Characteristic features of 22 rulers of the city of Glupov.
3. The life of the mayor Brodasty, who had an organ in his head.
4. Struggle for power in Foolovo.
5. Board Dvoekurova.
6. Quiet years and famine under the mayor Ferdyshchenko.
7. "Progressive" activity of Vasilisk Semenovich Borodavkin.
8. Many different rulers of the city, who made changes in his way of life.
9. Corruption of the morals of the city.
10. Gloomy-Grumbling.
11. Composition of Vasilisk Borodavkin about the obligations of the mayor.
12. The work of Xavier Mikaladze on the external and internal appearance of the ruler.
13. The composition of the mayor Benevolsky about the kindness of the ruler.

retelling

Chapter 1. Address to the reader

From the last archivist-chronicler. The work is written in the form of a chronicler's narration, stylized as an old style, then the narration is conducted on behalf of the author, publisher and commentator of archival materials. The goal is to “depict successively the mayors who were appointed to the city of Foolov from the Russian government at different times.”

Chapter 2

The chapter is a retelling of the chronicle, an imitation of the "Tale of Igor's Campaign": the inhabitants of the city, who were called bunglers, are described, their life, communication with neighboring tribes is told. The prehistoric times of the city of Foolov seem unreal (fantastic), absurd, and the actions of the peoples living in ancient times are stupid, unconscious.

Chapter 3

This chapter is a commentary on subsequent chapters. Each of the 22 rulers of the city of Glupov passed away for an absurd reason. For example, Fotiy Petrovich Ferapontov was torn to pieces by dogs in the forest; Lamvrokanis - eaten by bedbugs in bed; Cormorant Ivan Matveyevich - broken in half during a storm ... Each image is individual and at the same time typical. In the inventory of city governors, brief characteristics of Foolov's statesmen are given, the most stable negative features of Russian reality are shown satirically.

Chapter 4

With this chapter, the author opens the biographies of Foolov's mayors on the example of the life of Brudasty - a "fool", "scoundrel", "evil dog". In the head of this figure, instead of the brain, something like a hurdy-gurdy operates, periodically playing two shouts: “I will ruin!” and "I will not stand it!". Saltykov-Shchedrin ridicules the brainlessness of the bureaucratic Russian state power.

Brusty would still have ruled the city for a long time, if not for one circumstance. One morning a clerk came into the mayor's office for a report and saw that the chief's body was sitting at a desk, and an empty head was lying in front of him. Following the clerk, an assistant to the mayor, a senior quarterly, and the chief city doctor visited the office. None of them could understand how the head of the mayor could separate from the body without hemorrhage. Rumors spread throughout the city that the mayor, whom everyone obeyed, had an empty vessel on his shoulders instead of a head. In the evening, all the members gathered in the club and began, excitedly, to recall various circumstances and find facts on the above case. And Brudasty's assistant remembered that he had once seen the chief's head on the watchmaker Baibakov's desk. A watchmaker was called in for questioning, who said that one night he was taken to the mayor to have his head repaired. Having examined the head of Brodystoy, the watchmaker realized that it contained an organ that performed simple pieces of music: “I will ruin!” and "I will not stand it!". After listening to Baibakov's testimony, the mayor's assistant sends a telegram to Winterhalter and proceeds to calm the public unrest. A few days later, Winterhalter sends another (new) head. And the Foolovites, who by that time were very agitated, calmed down when they saw the mayor again. The two mayors met in the same office. Baibakov delivered the corrected head of the chief. The fools were so dumbfounded. The impostors met and measured each other with their eyes. The crowd that had been watching this scene dispersed slowly and in silence.

Chapter 5 A picture of Foolov's civil strife

In this chapter, the writer sarcastically describes the reign of the crowned heads. After a short period of dual power, a messenger arrives in the city of Foolov from the province and takes away both impostors. A struggle for power begins in the city.

The first mayor was Iraida Lukinishna Paleologova. She took possession of the treasury of the city by cunning and decided to bribe the people by throwing copper money into the crowd. The next morning, the assistant to the mayor joined the fight, he wanted to take back the reins of government. Iraida ordered all her rivals (enemies) to be seized and, under the threat of reprisal against them, forced them to recognize her as the mayor.

But another woman appears in the city - Clementine de Bourbon - who also set a goal to become the head of the city of Foolov. In the struggle for power, Clementine won.

But things in Foolov became more and more confused. A third contender appeared, a native of Reval, Amalia Karlovna Stockfish, who bribed the townspeople with vodka. The drunken crowd caught Clementine and, putting her in a cage, took her to the square. Meanwhile, Amalia Stockfish took over the reign, and Clementine was in a cage. The townspeople, coming to the square, teased her. In response, she began to say that she, whatever she was, was the daughter of the mayor. Then the Foolovites thought about it and decided that Klemantinka was telling the truth and that she should be released.

Nelka Lyadokhovskaya appeared in the city, who interrogated Amalia, ordered her to be locked in the same cage with Clementine. The next morning, rumors spread around the city that the dissolute girls had eaten each other.

Before the Foolovites had time to get used to the rule of Nelka Lyadokhovskaya, two more appeared: Dunka the fat-footed and Matryona the nostril. Both justified their rights to power by the fact that they had repeatedly visited the mayors for a treat.

The Foolovites had to deal with three applicants at once. The people began to resent. But on the seventh day after the beginning of the indignation, the Foolovites triumphed. Finally, the "existing" mayor arrived in their city - state councilor and gentleman Semyon Konstantinovich Dvoekurov. Thus ended this "idle and laughable frenzy ..." and did not repeat itself.

Chapter 6

The biography of the mayor did not reach his contemporaries, who could understand the theory of his government. Dvoekurov's most important work was a note on the need to establish an academy in Foolov.

One of Dvoekurov's successors, Borodavkin, failed to realize the attempt to open the academy. And the merit of Dvoekurov is that he contributed to the development of education in the city.

Chapter 7

In this chapter, the writer tells how for six years the city of Foolov did not burn, did not starve, did not experience any epidemic diseases or bestial cases, and the people attributed such prosperity to the simplicity of their boss, Pyotr Petrovich Ferdyshchenko.

But in the seventh year of the reign of this mayor, changes took place: he threw off his greasy robe and began to walk around the city in a uniform. At the beginning of 1776, visiting a tavern, the mayor saw Alena Osipova there and fell in love with her. Alenka had a husband - Dmitry Prokofiev. Alenka refused Ferdyshchenko's offer to live with him in love. Then the mayor decided to take revenge on her. He ordered to put two disabled people in the apartment where Alena and her husband lived. Alena drove these invalids away. The next time the foreman again made signs to Alena in the tavern and was again refused. In the evening, the woman, falling at her husband's feet, said that she would have to become the mayor's mistress. Alena's husband, Mitka, rebelled, began to threaten her with violence. Upon learning of this rebellion, the mayor ordered that he be punished for it. The rebel was chained and taken away. Alena rushed to the foreman in the yard. The brigadier tried to persuade her to love, but Alyonka did not cheat on her husband. Mitka was accused of setting fire to the mayor's yard and sent to Siberia. Alenka sobbed.

All the Foolovites paid for the sins of the brigadier: famine set in the city, people began to die. Blaming Alena for all the sins, the Foolovites dealt with her: “they carried her to the upper tier of the bell tower and threw from there more than fifteen fathoms to a peal from a height ...” Her body was smashed by hungry dogs. And bread appeared in the city after this bloody drama.

Chapter 8

This chapter is about how the brigadier fell in love with archer Domashka. She, using the location of the mayor (brigadier), pushed the gunners and archers. The city suffered the most from this hatred. On the first day of his voluptuousness with Domashka, the foreman climbed up with her to the tower of the mayor's house and drank dead drunk.

And here again the disaster befell the city. On the eve of the feast of the Kazan Mother of God, on July 7, a fire broke out. The author gives a detailed description of this event. The result of the fire was that the crowd, left without shelter, food and clothing, poured into the city, into its center. Only in the evening the fire began to subside, because it began to pour rain. The Foolovites blamed the foreman for all these troubles and began to demand from him an answer for his sins. The brigadier brought Domashka out to the furious archers. The woman, with her impudent smile, was able to appease the crowd with her behavior: The foreman, repentant, shed crocodile tears, the Foolovites rejoiced at their success. The foreman began to write a denunciation of the Foolovites, who raised a revolt against him, the head of the city. Foolovtsy, having learned about this, were numb with fear.

Chapter 9

No sooner had the Foolovites moved away from the fire, when the brigadier's frivolity almost brought a new disaster upon them. Ferdyshchenko decided to capitalize on the use of pastures. He "imagined that the grasses would turn greener and the flowers would bloom brighter as soon as he rode out into the pasture." He left on Nikolin's Day, and ordered the Glu-Povites to beat in the basins. The foreman told the old men who met on the pasture to show what sights they had. It turned out that there were no sights, except for one dunghill. The foreman got drunk to the point of disgrace and began to frighten the Foolovites that he would burn them all. His batman Vasily Chernostup tried to calm him down.

The next day, driving across the pasture, they met a shepherd. For three days they interrogated him about what happened in the pasture. The shepherd could not explain anything. The Brigadier moved on. The fame of his travels grew by leaps and bounds. The Foolovites decided to celebrate this in the field; while waiting for their boss, they put on new clothes. Coming out of the chaise, the foreman shed a tear when he saw such a picture. He understood that people's love is a force containing something edible.

At lunch the tables were set and dinner began. The brigadier drank two glasses of clean water before dinner and added more during dinner, and suddenly he remembered that he had to run somewhere. The Foolovites tried to keep their mayor, but after the second break (there was a pig in sour cream), he became ill, but he ate another goose with cabbage. After that, his mouth twisted.

A week later, the mayor Vasilisk Semyonovich Borodavkin arrived in the city, from which the "golden age of Glupov" began.

Chapter 10

In this chapter, the author gives a detailed description of the new mayor who replaced Ferdyshchenko. Pointing to the peculiarities of his manner and methods of governing the city, Saltykov-Shchedrin shows as one of the distinguishing features of the character's character his ability to "shout at any time" and shout to achieve a goal. Vasilisk Semyonovich Borodavkin won benefits for the Foolovites. He slept with only one eye, the other, not sleeping eye, was constantly watching everything. Borodavkin was also a writer. For ten years he wrote a project "about the thing of the army and fleets ..." and every day he added one line to it. The mayor's writings were quite a voluminous notebook, which included three thousand six hundred and fifty-two lines.

Borodavkin was waiting for a call - a call to overthrow Byzantium, to rename it the city of Ekaterinograd. But there was no such cry. And troops on foot and horseback passed through the city of Foolov. The new mayor considered all the options for managing the city by his predecessors and chose Dvoekurov's version of government to emulate. Dvokurov did a lot for the Foolovites: he paved the streets, collected arrears, patronized the sciences and petitioned for the establishment of an academy, introduced mustard and bay leaves into use. Wartkin decided to do the same with Provence oil. According to the stories and legends of the inhabitants, Borodavkin learned that all the innovations introduced by Dvoekurov were not supported by the two mayors who followed him and dirtied them. And Wartkin set a goal - to save a dying civilization. He decided to start his reforms by enlightening the Foolovites, who were desperately resisting this. The war for education has begun. Wartkin, having made several attempts, realized that in some cases, many-mindedness is tantamount to bewilderment. And he decides to form a trustworthy reserve out of tin soldiers. Mustard was nevertheless approved everywhere.

There were four wars for education in total. But, having won, Wartkin begins the struggle against enlightenment: he burned the settlement, ruined it, squandered it. In 1798 he died.

Chapter 11

This chapter tells that the wars for enlightenment, which later turned into wars against enlightenment, so exhausted the Foolovs that the inhabitants felt the need to free the city from wars in general. The mayor Negodyaev fell in 1802 for disagreeing with Novosiltsev and Stroganov about constitutions. In place of Negodyaev, the mayor was appointed "Circassian" Mikaladze, who hardly "had a clue" about constitutions. The new mayor was in a military rank, always walked in an unbuttoned frock coat, gave his subordinates a hand, indulged in passion in the ladies' society and in this passion found himself an untimely death. Nevertheless, the appointment of Mikaladze was "an extremely gratifying phenomenon" for the Foolovites. During the reign of Mikaladze's predecessor, Captain Negodyaev, the city of Foolov turned into a disorderly heap of blackened and dilapidated huts, only the moving house proudly raised its tower to the sky. There was no food, no clothes, the Foolovites were overgrown with hair and sucked their paws. And so Mikaladze undertook reforms, the essence of which was as follows: stop education, do not issue laws. A month later, the wool on the Foolovts began to shed; after another month, they stopped sucking their paws, and six months later, the first round dance took place in Glupovo, at which the mayor himself was present and treated women with printed gingerbread.

Many, studying the reign of Mikaladze, noted its imperfection. He had his shortcomings and mistakes. Mikaladze died in 1806 from exhaustion.

In place of the mayor of Mikaladze, the State Councilor Feofilakt Irinarkhovich Benevolsky, a friend and comrade of Speransky in the seminary, was appointed. The author notes Benevolsky's inclination from early youth to legislation: being a seminarian, he "drew several laws". Feofilakt Irinarkhovich, continuing the work begun by Mikaladze, introduces his additions and changes. He makes an attempt to make the city of Foolov a second-law city. But his request was not accepted in the province. Nevertheless, the Foolovites lived well. Hiding from the Foolovites in the house of the merchant Raspopova, the mayor began to write sermons, orders and secretly distribute them. The Foolovites did not understand Benevolsky and did not support his orders and the charter on respectable baking pies. He left the city for the region, "where Makar did not drive calves."

Lieutenant Colonel Pryshch appeared to replace Benevolsky. Describing the appearance, character traits, demeanor of the new mayor, the narrator notes his liberality: he did not issue laws, did not arrange parades ... During these years, the Foolovites healed well: "everyone ate real bread, cabbage soup with welding." Pimple looked at the life of the Foolovites and rejoiced. The general abundance was also reflected in him: his barns were bursting with offerings, chests could not contain silver and gold, banknotes lay on the floor. A year has passed. The fortune of the Foolovites doubled and tripled. The townspeople began to notice special qualities of mind and heart in their boss; his stomach was very strong, in it "all sorts of pieces disappeared in the grave", his head was stuffed. Thanks to these circumstances, the Foolovites achieved prosperity.

Chapter 12

The author describes the difficult days for the Foolovites that came after the numerous changes of city governors. Due to the absence of mayors, the city's district governors ruled for some time. There was famine in the city. The quarters decided to poison all the dogs in the Gostiny Dvor in order to have access to the shops at night.

State Councilor Ivanov arrived in the city. But he did not rule the city for long. There are two versions of his death: the first is that Ivanov died of fright, having received too extensive a Senate decree, which he did not hope to understand; the second version was that Ivanov did not die, but was dismissed because his head, due to the gradual drying of the brain (from the uselessness of them in use), went into its infancy. During the reign of Ivanov, the Foolovites continued their prosperous life.

In 1815 Ivanov was replaced by a French native, Viscount du Chario. At that time, Paris was taken; Napoleon was expelled to Saint Helena. Du Chario liked the stuffed pies. Having eaten his fill, he demanded that they show him places where you can have fun. Having fun tirelessly, almost every day the mayor arranged masquerades, "he did not do any business and did not interfere in the administration."

The Foolovites began to build a tower so that its upper end rested against the sky, but they did not complete the tower. The Foolovites got the idols of Perun and Volos from the archive, "noble people of both sexes began to bow to Perun, and the smerds made sacrifices to Volos." In the city of Foolovo, the corruption of morals developed by leaps and bounds. A new language was formed, half-human, half-monkey; noble persons walked the streets and sang. Respect for elders disappeared, self-interest prevailed, and the Foolovites decided to sell the old men and women into slavery. And the Foolovites continued to consider themselves the wisest people in the world.

The State Councilor Erast Andreyevich Sadtilov found Foolov's affairs in this position. He was by nature a sensitive and shy person. He composed the story "Saturn, stopping his run in the arms of Venus", which combined the tenderness of Apuleius with the playfulness of Guys. Under the name of Saturn, he portrayed himself, under the name of Venus - the then-famous beauty Natalia Kirillovna de Pompadour.

The licentiousness of the Foolovites pleased the new mayor. The Foolovites themselves felt happy and content, and as such did not want to hinder the happiness and contentment of others. Everyone was in a hurry to live and enjoy: Sadtilov was also in a hurry. He was careless in his official duties, easily concealed government money. Melancholy thought that everyone could parasitize and that the productive forces of the country would not only not dry up from this, but even increase. This was his first delusion. The second misconception is the fascination with the brilliant side of the domestic politics of their predecessors. Having fallen in love with Aksinyushka, Sadtilov, as it were, was renewed. Aksinyushka helped the poor and the crippled.

Chapter 13

The anti-utopianism and prophetic meaning of this chapter is clear: the perverted idea of ​​equality turns into barracks leveling, unanimity is replaced by unanimity and is supported by a system of total denunciation, and these nightmares are justified in reality by “past and present disasters.” The idea of ​​leveling Gloom-Burcheev is embodied in the outward appearance of the "idiot".

The landscape, which for the writer has become the personification of normal life, is the only opponent of the inhuman, dead idea of ​​the state. The chapter ends with the disappearance of Moody-Grumbling, he has vanished into thin air.

Chapter 14

I. Thoughts on the unanimity of the mayor, as well as on the autocracy of the mayor and other things

The first part of this chapter consists of the writings of Foolov's mayor Vasilisk Borodavkin. He writes about the rights and duties of the head of the city. "Rights - so that the villains tremble, and the rest obey." “Obligations are to use measures of meekness, but not to lose sight of the measures of severity.” He proposes to encourage science, but to fight free thought. Borodavkin warns that mayors should be prudent in considering their own actions. The duties of the mayor are expressed in greetings and wishes, a smile should play on the face.

He gives sound advice to mayors on how to act in a given situation: he proposes to abolish the administration, to establish an educational city governor's institute (to feed the mayors not with mother's milk, but by decrees of the ruling Senate and instructions from the authorities), to educate in each mayor a person who fulfills all the instructions of the highest authorities ; recommends that from time to time secret congresses of town governors be held in provincial cities, and awards be presented to them.

The autocracy of city governors consists in conquering the elements. One city governor complains that the sun rises every day in the east, and he can order that it rise in the west; it is impossible to stop the passage of time.

II. About the plausible appearance of all mayors

In the composition of the mayor, Prince Xavier Georgievich Mikaladze, valuable instructions are given, advice on how the mayor should look outwardly: to have a specious appearance, not huge growth, proportionality in all parts of the body and to have a clean face (without warts and rashes), eyes should be gray, capable of expressing and mercy, and severity. Mikaladze describes in detail why these characteristics are needed. For example, a clean face adorns not only the mayor, but every person. It provides numerous services: it ensures the trust of the authorities, the love and devotion of subordinates. The slightest wart can disturb harmony.

Each mayor must secretly communicate with the female sex.

III. Charter on the kindness characteristic of the city governor

Mayor Benevolsky gives fifteen practical advice on the respectable behavior of mayors. Each city governor must be kind-hearted, have the ability to listen to the inhabitants who come to him, not to interfere with them doing their own business. Punish for the sins of every inhabitant, and protect the mayor himself from this. To issue good laws, not to put pressure on gatherings and festivities, to introduce education with moderation, to avoid bloodshed. For the rest, do as you please.

“The Foolovites descended from the bunglers, next to whom lived the tribes of onion-eaters, blind-bearers, spinning beans, rukosuev and others. They were all at odds with each other.

The bunglers went to look for a prince. Everyone refused such incapable subjects, finally one agreed and called them Foolovists. Historical times in the city of Foolovo began with one of the princes crying out: “I’ll shut it up!”

The author cites an ironic chronicle of the mayors of the city. So, for example, number eighteen is “Du-Charlot, Angel Dorofeevich, a French native. He liked to dress up in a woman's dress and feast on frogs. Upon examination, it turned out to be a girl ... ” Separate chapters are devoted to the most remarkable city governors.

organ
This mayor sat in his office all the time, scribbling something with a pen. Only from time to time did he jump out of his office and say ominously: “I won’t stand it!” At night, watchmaker Baibakov visited him. It turned out that in the boss’s head there is an organ that can play only two pieces: “I’ll ruin!” and "I won't stand it!" To repair the damaged organ, the masters were called. No matter how limited the ruler's repertoire was, the Foolovites were afraid of him and staged popular unrest when the head was sent for repairs. As a result of misunderstandings with repairs, even two identical mayors appeared in Foolovo: one with a damaged head, the other with a new, varnished one.

The Tale of the Six Mayors
Anarchy began in Foolov. At this time, only women aspired to rule. Fought for power were the “evil Iraida Paleologova”, who robbed the treasury and threw copper money at the people, and the adventuress Clementine de Bourbon, who “was tall, loved to drink vodka and rode like a man.” Then the third contender appeared - Amalia Stockfish, who excited everyone with her luxurious bodies. The “fearless German woman” ordered the soldiers to roll out “three barrels of foam”, for which they greatly supported her. Then the Polish candidate entered the fight - Anelka with tar smeared before for debauchery gates. Then Dunka Tolstopaya and Matryonka Nozdrya got involved in the struggle for power. After all, they have been in the houses of mayors more than once - "for a treat." Complete anarchy, revelry and horror reigned in the city. Finally, after unimaginable incidents (for example, Dunka was eaten to death by bugs at a bug plant), the newly appointed mayor and his wife reigned.

Hungry city. thatched city
The reign of Ferdyshchenko (the author changes this Ukrainian surname in cases). He was simple and lazy, although he flogged citizens for misconduct and forced them to sell the last cow "for arrears." I wanted to "crawl like a bug on a feather bed" to my husband's wife Alenka. Alenka resisted, for which her husband Mitka was beaten with a whip and sent to hard labor. Alyonka was presented with a “dradedam scarf”. After crying, Alenka began to live with Ferdyshchenko.

Things started to go wrong in the city: either thunderstorms or drought deprived both people and cattle of food. The people blamed Alenka for all this. She was thrown from the bell tower. A "team" was sent to pacify the riot.

After Alenka, Ferdyshchenko was tempted by the "opestvennaya" archer girl Domashka. Because of this, fires began in a fantastic way. But the people did not destroy the archer at all, but simply returned it with triumph "to the opposition." To pacify the rebellion, a "team" was again sent. Twice the Foolovites were "reasoned" and this filled them with horror.

Wars for enlightenment
Basilisk Wartkin "introduced enlightenment" - made false fire alarms, made sure that every inhabitant had a cheerful look, composed meaningless treatises. He dreamed of fighting with Byzantium, introduced mustard, Provence oil and Persian chamomile (against bedbugs) with general murmuring. He also became famous for waging wars with the help of tin soldiers. All this was considered "enlightenment". When taxes began to be withheld, the wars "for enlightenment" turned into wars "against enlightenment." And Wartkin began to ruin and burn down settlement after settlement ...

The era of dismissal from wars
In this era, Theophylact Benevolensky, who loved to legislate, became especially famous. These laws were completely meaningless. The main thing in them was to provide bribes to the mayor: “Let everyone bake pies on holidays, not forbidding himself such cookies on weekdays ... After taking out of the oven, let everyone take a knife in his hand and, cutting out a part from the middle, let him bring it as a gift. Whoever does this, let him eat."

Mayor Pryshch used to put mousetraps around his bed before going to bed, or even go to sleep on the glacier. And the strangest thing: he smelled of truffles (rare delicacy edible mushrooms). In the end, the local leader of the nobility poured vinegar and mustard on him and ... ate Pimple's head, which turned out to be stuffed.

Worship of mammon and repentance
State Councilor Erast Andreevich Sadtilov combined practicality and sensitivity. He stole from a soldier's cauldron - and shed tears, looking at the warriors who ate musty bread. He was very feminine. He showed himself as a writer of love stories. The dreaminess and haberdashery of Sadtilov played into the hands of the Foolovites, who were prone to parasitism - therefore the fields were not plowed and nothing sprouted on them. But there were costume balls almost every day!

Then Sadilov, in company with a certain Pfeyfersha, began to engage in occultism, went to witches and sorceresses and betrayed his body to scourging. He even wrote a treatise On the Rapture of a Pious Soul. "Rampages and dances" in the city stopped. But nothing has really changed, only "from the inaction of the merry and violent they switched to the inaction of the gloomy."

Confirmation of repentance. Conclusion
And then Gloomy-Grumbling appeared. "He was terrible." This mayor did not recognize anything but the "correct construction." He struck with his "soldierly imperturbable confidence." This machine-like monster arranged life in Foolovo like a military camp. Such was his "systematic delirium". All people lived according to the same regime, dressed in specially prescribed clothes, and performed all the work on command. Barracks! "In this fantasy world, there are no passions, no hobbies, no attachments." The inhabitants themselves had to demolish the habitable houses and move to the same barracks. An order was issued to appoint spies - Grim-Grumbling was afraid that someone would oppose his barracks regime. However, the precautionary measures did not justify themselves: no one knows from where a certain “it” approached, and the mayor melted into the air. On this "history stopped its course."