(293 words) “Biryuk” is one of the many stories in Turgenev's collection “Notes of the Hunter”. In it, the author shows the difficult life of peasants and their way of life. It has long been believed that biryuk is a lonely, unsociable person who does not care about anyone but himself. However, the author proves the opposite to us with his story.
The story begins with the storyteller finding himself in a forest during a severe thunderstorm. God alone knows what would happen to him if it were not for the suddenly appeared forester who took the master to his hut. This forester was called Thomas, but he had a nickname - Biryuk. The guest immediately recalls everything that the people said about him, namely: the master of his craft, and even incorruptible. From this we can immediately conclude that the hero is very responsible and conscientious in his work. He gives the impression of a man unwavering, not changing his principles. However, later we see that the forester is not at all a soulless machine that is blindly doing its job, but a real person who can feel the urge for people and even deviate from his principles for the sake of others. This is an episode in which Biryuk decides to let go of a man who cut down a tree in the forest. Thomas understood perfectly well that, not by his will, the poor fellow in such weather went to cut this unfortunate tree, that hunger and hopelessness forced him to do it. He does not act as his duty tells him, but as his heart tells. After this, Biryuk can no longer be called callous and insensitive, on the contrary, in this fragment he shows his best qualities.
So, we see that Biryuk deep down is a very responsive and kind-hearted person. Despite the fact that he lives in poverty with two children, the forester does not take bribes, but implicitly carries out his work. However, when it is required of him, he puts service in the background and shows those human qualities without which people would cease to be people long ago.
