All the works of Garshin have a piercing, tragic basis. Often you can find a detailed description of the suffering, fear, horrors that the author himself experienced. In “Coward,” the writer shows the horror of everyday life and everyday life of wartime. The plot tells of violence against a person who is forced to sacrifice himself stupidly and senselessly at the front. The main events convince the reader that one cannot hide from a bloody slaughter even at home. The rest of the author’s thoughts in abbreviation were described by the Literaguru team.
(424 words) The hero reflects on why everyone besides him is less concerned about war than killing several people. The familiar medical student Lviv reminds him that if the war drags on, they will even take him away, despite the fact that he is in the militia and a pacifist. Lvov Vasily Petrovich is only worried that the war interferes with his studies. And his sister, Marya Petrovna, is leaving for the front as a nurse. The three of them live with Kuzma Fomich, the admirer of Marya.
The hero has read about the third Pleven battle and is in dismay. He does not know whether he is a coward or not. But, learning about his unwillingness to fight, the interlocutors told him that he really was a coward.
In the evening he comes to Lviv, drinking tea. Kuzma has a flux and an abscess, since he refused to go to the doctor. A doctor arrived. After examining Kuzma, he asked to be on duty at the patient. Mary agreed. After the doctor left, they all sat together. The patient asked for a mirror and, seeing his reflection, was silent for the whole evening.
The hero finds out that the militia will be called soon. He does not want to use connections to slope. He ashamed.
Arriving to replace Marya, the hero discovers that Kuzma is almost dead. He is waiting for an awakening to find out what happened. Waking up, Fomich shows his chest covered with gangrene.
Four days there is a struggle. Gangrene was excised every two hours of washing. Marya Petrovna, who had not noticed Kuzma before, gently takes care of him and cries. And the hero reflects on the fact that all this heavy flour is just a drop in the ocean for war.
On the patient’s body there are new spots of gangrene. The hero and Marya understand that it's over. The girl blames herself for not accepting Kuzma’s love. That everything could be different if she answered him. Hearing her words, Fomich smiles and cries. Mary kisses him half-dead, and the hero leaves them alone.
In the evening, the doctor and Lvov perform an operation. Kuzmich falls asleep. The hero with Marya Petrovna talk about the war. She still wants to leave as a sister of mercy, since the struggle, albeit a general grief, cannot be avoided. For this desire, the girl condemns the hero.
Coward called. He lives in privileged parts, but, having met ordinary Ukrainians, he happily recalls his native settlement Markovka.
The Lions are discouraged. The brother is worried that the hero will either be killed or he will commit suicide. Talks about a similar case. But Kuzma, on the contrary, condemns the hero for reluctance, saying that he is not the most necessary person to stay. The “coward” himself is trying to convey the idea that it is necessary so that everyone is not taken away, and not just him.
The hero spends the night before the trip with his family at home, saying goodbye. Leaving his drafts, he goes to bed.
The hero is waiting for the departure of the train, which is all worth it. He asked him not to accompany. But Lviv appears to report that Kuzmich is dead. This ends the recordings. The episode of the battle is described in which the hero is shot in the eye.
