For many of us, courage is associated with great feats, especially battles in war. This readiness is rejected to go to battle, as many believe. We undoubtedly call such heroes brave. However, what might boldness mean now? In everyday life, we do not sacrifice life for a noble purpose, but this does not mean that exploits are performed exclusively by knights and kings from the past. Courage can be shown at any time and under any circumstances, and literature only proves this once again.
If we turn to Goncharov’s novel “Oblomov,” at first we won’t see circumstances requiring courage there. However, if you adhere to the understanding that courage requires decisive action and a willingness to sacrifice comfort, then we more clearly consider this quality in one of the most lazy heroes of Russian literature. In the world of bustle, Oblomov is doomed to lie on the couch, but in the life of each character there are circumstances pushing for change. For the sake of Olga’s beloved, Ilya Ilyich Oblomov changes his lifestyle: gets up from the couch, puts on a dress coat, goes into society. Is this not courage? Of course, the hero was not able to fully be faithful to his goal, he returns to where he started, because of which there is a break with his beloved. However, not everyone is able to go to such an attempt to bravely re-shift himself for the sake of a loved one at any time.
The theme of courage also arises in the tales of Saltykov-Shchedrin. The Wise Piskar tells of the cowardice of a hero who is unable to go out. He is hiding to save his life. The clerk was so afraid of being eaten that he spent all his time alone, hiding in a hole. Trembling and dying, he realized that he did not live at all. The tale is satirically directed against the intelligentsia inhabitants, frightened by the government reaction. The reader understands that it was worth showing courage to the hero; his fate would have been different. However, he is so afraid of the result of his efforts that he continues to sit in his hole, not daring to exploit - go out and breathe deeply.
You can be brave at any time, even in everyday life. Of course, before completely different circumstances forced to show their courage, but now it can still be seen in the actions of man. Selflessness and willingness to take risks - this is a manifestation of courage at all times.
