(375 words) In Russian literature there are many images of strong Russian women. These include Tatyana Larina (A.S. Pushkin “Eugene Onegin”), Masha Mironova (A.S. Pushkin “The Captain's Daughter”), Natasha Rostov (L.N. Tolstoy “War and Peace”), as well as Natalia - the heroine of the novel-epic M.A.Sholokhov "Quiet Don". Let us consider in more detail the tragic fate of the last of them.
From childhood, Natalia lived in love and care, her parents always paid her sufficient attention. The Korshunov family was quite wealthy - this was an important factor that influenced Pantelei Prokofievich’s decision to come to them to marry his son, Grigory Melekhov. Natalia at first sight fell in love with the hero. Given her opinion, parents soon agreed to the wedding. However, the girl never made a happy life beyond the threshold of her native home.
Natalia and Gregory were too different in character. The girl could not give Melekhov what his “Turkish” nature wanted - passion, fire, a storm of emotions. She loved him with her special, quiet, faithful love. Soon Gregory began to cheat on her with Aksinya. Natalya heavily accepted this fact, but still, with tenderness and warmth, she was waiting for him in her native home.
The heroine always kept her pure soul. The girl remained faithful to moral principles, so slander was a strong blow for her. Once on the farm, a rumor spread that Natalya had entered into a relationship with her father-in-law, Pantelei Prokofievich. Unable to bear such slander, she decided to commit suicide. The girl mutilated her neck, but remained alive. Sholokhov especially emphasizes the pure beauty of Natalia, which was on her face even after she laid hands on herself and lost her former appearance.
The strength of the character of the heroine lies in her ability to sincere, gratuitous love. Throughout all the emotional throwings of Grigory Melekhov, she was next to him, always greeted with tenderness, despite his adventures, always tried to understand her husband, to help cope with the hardships of military service. The heroine was an exemplary mother. Natalia was completely dissolved in her children, the heroine devoted all her time to their upbringing, giving them love and affection.
However, the end of Natalia’s fate became tragic. Having learned that Aksinya had again “taken possession” of Gregory, she decided to get rid of her unborn child. At night, she left home, and returned bleeding. Soon the girl died. Natalya could no longer endure the suffering that her own husband inflicted on her, her heart was breaking from torment. Unfortunately, Gregory realized too late how dear to him was Natalia, and what kind of warm feelings he felt for her throughout their life together.
