The image of Prince Igor. The image of Prince Igor in the "Lay of Igor's Host"

Not everyone is given the full depth of wisdomworks "The Lay of Igor's Host". Created eight centuries ago, the ancient Russian masterpiece can still be safely called a monument of culture and history of Russia. In "The Lay of Igor's Campaign," the genre is defined - not the main thing, the language on which the work is written is important.

Some may think that the chronicle tells of one person, but it is not.

Prince Igor Svyatoslavovich

Characteristics of the image of Prince Igor quiteinteresting. He is described as a brave, honest, knowledgeable person. It was impossible to say about him what he does first, and then thinks. The prince counted each step, but, unfortunately, the warnings and persuasion of the wise people surrounding Igor did not stop him. Wisdom, so necessary for Igor, he lacked. Unfortunately, the hero did not possess it. Despite all this, Igor was not stupid and understood that death was waiting for him on the battlefield.

Opinion of historians

As in most cases, opinionshistorian scholars are not so unambiguous. "The Lay of Igor's Host" was no exception. We are again facing two opposing camps. On one side are those who consider Igor a true hero-patriot who unshakably defended his land. They believe that the chronicle reflects all of Rus, and the image of Prince Igor personifies all princes ruling in Russia. Others, on the contrary, represent him as a thoughtless and reckless prince. Igor's campaign was deliberately doomed to failure, the meaning of such sacrifice is not clear. But still in one historians agree, Igor did not take place as a wise politician, but he did not have military prowess.

There is also a third camp, he is not like thatnumerous as the first two, but not to mention it was impossible. The third opinion is that Prince Igor was a true greedy person, who decided to become famous as a hero-liberator, a defender of the Russian land, and thereby press his increased popularity of the Grand Duke Sviatoslav.

Poetization of the image

Poetization and characterization of the image of Prince Igorthe author carried a strictly political character, in the poem "The Lay of Igor's Campaign," clearly calls for the unification of disparate Russian principalities. The author of the Old Russian masterpiece understood perfectly well that the princes of civil strife in Russia did not lead to anything good, only to foreign policy misery and collapse. Thus, the author seeks to rally the princes, to remind them of their kinship ties. In the annals actively discussing all the adherents of fragmentation and strife, as well as one of their pioneers - Prince Oleg.

In order for the effect to be bright and colorful, it(the author) gives Igor the qualities of a valiant warrior and knight. After all, in the work "The Lay of Igor's Campaign," the genre is a poem. The prince is capable of a great deed, of any sacrifice, for him there is nothing difficult in accomplishing a feat. All actions and deeds of Prince Igor are committed only for the benefit of Rus. He is not devoid of eloquence and, like any commander, before the fight, beautiful, courageous and full of courage inspires his squad. Igor's position is clear enough - it is better to die in battle than to be in captivity: "O my squad and brothers! It is better to be killed than to be a prisoner; Let us sit down, brothers, on the greyhounds and see at least the blue Don. " This is the image of Prince Igor.

Looking closely at the epithets that vestsPrince author, it is possible to say with certainty what exactly he thinks about Igor. The author identifies the image of Prince Igor with the falcon, calls it "the sun is red." On the way of the prince meets a squad of Polovtsians, and his soldiers with ease, breaking them, bring him victory. Of course, a lot of Rusich's production was received after the victory: expensive aksamity, gold, paws, beautiful Polovtsian girls were taken prisoner. The chronicle says "there was so much production that carpets, casings, precious stones and even gold made their way through rivers, swamps and various hot places." This situation, according to Prince Igor, shows how much he is unselfish and noble. After all, he came to defeat the enemies, and not to enjoy the profit. Confirmation of his words is the fact that of all the riches he took to himself only the battle signs of enemies.

Thanks to this episode, we can conclude thatFor Igor, it is not personal gain that is important, but, above all, the fight against the enemies of the Russians. Gold and other riches are too small and do not mean anything to him. He is above all these worries. This is the description of Prince Igor.

Defeat

The nobility of the prince manifests itself in the lastbattle, but at the same time you can see his proximity as a strategist and tactician. The next battle was simply devastating for Rusich. When Vsevolod, Igor's brother, began to experience difficulties during the battle, he immediately goes to the rescue to him, completely not thinking about the consequences, since he feels sorry for his brother. Despite everything - Igor's heroic deed, the courage of Vsevolod and valiant Russian soldiers, the battle is lost, and Igor himself is taken prisoner. That's how his action made the death of the warriors in vain. Many historians think that Prince Igor's character ruined him. The solution is complex, but sometimes it is worth choosing between the right and heroic deed

The escape

Despite the fact that the prince, having committed a recklessact, substituted for the blow Rus, and along with it and the entire Slavic people, the author still adheres to the image of the prince as a positive hero. The author mourns, describing the defeat in the battle. His personal attitude to the protagonist of the "Word" he shows not only when describing the defeat, but also during the escape of the prince from captivity. The author is full of sincere glee, after all, after Igor's return to his homeland he is rejoiced and all the Russian people.

Power of love

Of course, the author of "The Word" could not help but mentionlove. The description of Prince Igor as the conqueror of women's hearts in the annals is, of course, absent. And that he feels feelings for some person, nothing specifically said. The chronicle tells how he is loved, strongly and sincerely, such images in the "Lay of Igor's Host" are enough. The author creates such a powerful image of love that, it seems, it can be touched and felt. The text says: the love is so huge that it overcame long distances and penetrated the camp to the Polovtsians, and it was she who helped to escape as a result to the prince.

Yaroslavna

Describing love, the author had in mind Yaroslavna,the lawful spouse of the prince. Yaroslavna's weeping for Igor is filled with tenderness and warmth. Speaking of these emotions, the author makes it clear to the reader that only worthy people deserve such feelings. Prince Igor deserves the kind of love that his wife Yaroslavna feels for him.

Attitude to the hero of the "Word"

So what was the image of Prince Igor? You can treat this person in different ways. You can condemn him and consider that in the battle he acted selfishly, and thanks to his deed many Russians-Russians were killed, and in vain. You can condemn his strategic and tactical abilities, as well as ridiculing his short-sightedness and recklessness. But also do not forget about the good character traits, about his valor, faith and courage, unbroken will and patriotism. And a bad person can not deserve sincere and tender love from such a beautiful woman as Yaroslavna.

How many people - so many opinions. It's hard to say who exactly from the real life the author wanted to describe in his masterpiece. But the fact that the image of the prince in it is positive, it is clear from the first line. Prince Igor is a true fighter against the enemies of the Russians, a defender of Russia. No doubt, the main message of the author is the cessation of the feudal war of the Russian princes and their further reunification under a common banner.

The great man was Prince Igor. The work of the ancient chronicler greatly impressed many. No one will deny this. It is peculiar for a person to make mistakes, so it's not for us to judge the actions of an ancient Russian prince.