In the political attitude it is in them the Slavophile in the best sense of a word. It, the truth (in correspondence), names the most resolute Westerner, but dialogue with the Moscow Slavophiles nevertheless has imposed on it a bright press. In Aksakovskom "Day" the poem which has made a noise in due time " Sovereign you ours the father " where in favourite it to the comic form Thick represents Peter reform as "kashicu" which "sovereign Peter Alekseevich" cooks from the groats extracted "overseas" (the ostensibly "weed") has been printed, and stirs "stick"; kashica "krutenka" and "solona", will disentangle it "detushki".
In old Russia Thick involves, however, not the Moscow period saddened by cruelty Terrible, and Russia Kiev, vechevay. When the Stream-bogatyr, having woken up after a five-century dream, sees servility of crowd before tsar, it " is surprised to a parable " such: " if prince it, or tsar at last, what sweep they the ground before it a beard? We abused princes, but not so! And it is full, whether truly I in Russia? From terrestrial us the God the Lord keep! To us is specified to recognize only heavenly God strictly! "It" пытает at the counter good fellow: where here, the uncle, gathers veche? "In" Zmee Tugarine " Vladimir proclaims such toast: " for ancient Russian veche, for free, for fair slavic people, for a bell I drink Novgrada and if it even in ashes will fall, let its ring in heart of descendants lives ".
With such ideals which are not responding absolutely not by "conservatism", Thick, nevertheless, in the middle of 60th years has been enlisted in the category of writers frankly-retrogradneh. There was it because, that, having left " a banner of beauty ", it has rushed to struggle of public currents and to touch began rather sensitively "children" Bazarovskogo of type. They did not like it mainly because " they do not suffer a ring guslarnogo, submit it of the goods market, all of that it to not weigh,it will not be measured , everyone shout they, it is necessary ruin ". On struggle against it " doctrine rather dirty " Thick called "»Pantelea-Celitela": " and on these people, sovereign Pantelej, a stick you do not regret knotty ". And here, it acts in a role of the Pantelea -healer and starts to wag with a stick knotty. It is impossible to tell, that it wagged with her cautiously. It not one good-natured irony above "materialists", " at which chimney sweeps an essence above Rafaila ", which flowers in gardens wish to replace with turnip and believe, that nightingales " more likely will destroy for uselessness it is necessary ", and groves to turn into places " where fat govada would be fed on hot ", etc. Rather widely moving apart concept about " the Russian commune " Thick believes, that its adherents " wish to dirty everyone for the general pleasure ", that " another's they consider the little, when that it is necessary to them, snatch away and suffice "; " crowds all of them fight, only the will open a forum, and separately everyone swear in verba voshakorukom. In one agree all only: if at others manor you will take away yes you will divide, will begin desire ". To cope with them, in effect, it is not difficult: " that Russian power was rescueed from their invention, to hang up Stanislav to all leaders on a neck ". All this has caused in many the hostile attitude to Thick, and it has soon felt in position of the writer who has been tired out by criticism. The general character of its literary activity and after attacks fallen down on it has remained former, but repulse " to shout deafening: surrender, singers and artists! Whether by the way your fictions in our century positive! " It began to give in the form of less sharp, simply appealing to the adherents: " amicably row, in the name of fine, against current ". As in itself struggle which the poet considered exclusively with the singer of "beauty" has entered is characteristic, it is not necessary to exaggerate its value, however. "Poet-fighter" as it is named by some critics, Thick was not; much more close to true that it has told about itself: " two stanov not the fighter, but only the visitor casual, for the truth I am glad to lift my kind sword, but dispute with both is hitherto my lot secret, and any could not involve me in an oath ".
In the field of Russian historical drama Thick one of the first places belongs; here it concedes only to one Pushkin. Historically-drama of everyday life "Posadnik", unfortunately, has remained not ended. The drama poem "Don-Zhuan" is conceived Thick not only as a drama for which creation the author should not re-embody own psychology in characters of characters but also as product lyrics-philosophical; meanwhile quiet, virtuous and almost "one-woman man" Thick could not like psychology eternally looking changes of impressions, is mad-passionate Don-Zhuan. Absence of passion in personal and literary temperament of the author has led to that the essence has absolutely turned pale Don-zhuanskogo of type in the image Thick: passions to its "Don-Zhuan" also are not present. On the foreground between drama products Thick its trilogy acts, thus. The greatest popularity its first part - " John Groznogo's Death " long used. It speaks first of all that until recently only it one and was put on a stage - and scenic statement of tragedies Thick of which it and itself so cared, having written special manual for it, is of great importance for an establishment of reputation of its plays. The stage, for example, where to the dying John, in the performance of the order just given by it, with gikom and singing rushes crowd of buffoons, at reading does not make also the tenth share of that impression, as on a stage. Other reason of recent greater popularity " John Groznogo's Death " consists that in due time it there was a first attempt to deduce on a stage of Russian tsar not in usual frameworks up to that legendary greatness, and in real outlines of the alive human person.
As this interest of novelty vanished, interest to " John Groznogo's Death " which now is put seldom decreased also and in general has conceded superiority "Feodor Ioannovichu". Not passing advantage of tragedy, besides very picturesque details and strong language, extreme harmony in development of action is: there is no superfluous word, all is directed to one purpose expressed already in the title of the play. John's death rushes above the play since the first moment; its any trifle prepares, adjusting an idea of the reader and the spectator in one direction. At the same time each stage depicts before us John from any new party; we learn it and as the state person, both as the husband, and as the father, from different directions its character which basis is made with extreme nervousness, fast change of impressions, transition from rise to a depression. It is necessary to notice, however, that in the strengthened aspiration to concentration Thick has mixed actions two points of view: extremely-superstitious and realistic. If the author wished to make unit of a drama execution of a prediction volhvov, that tsar will by all means die in Kirillin day there was no need to attach paramount significance Boris's to diligence to cause in John disastrous excitement for it which as Boris knew from the doctor, will be fatal to tsar besides any predictions volhvov. In the third part of the trilogy - "Tsar Boris" - the author as though has absolutely forgotten about that Boris who has deduced in first two parts of the trilogy, about Boris indirect to murderer John and almost direct - tsarevitch Dimitriya, the artful, artful, severe governor of Russia in reign Fedora, put above all the personal interests. Now, except for few moments, Boris - an ideal of tsar and the family man. Thick not in a condition was to get off charm of the image created by Pushkin, and has run into the psychological contradiction with itself, and still has considerably strengthened Godunov's Pushkin rehabilitation. Tolstovsky Boris is directly sentimental. Boris's children are excessively sentimental also: groom Xenia, the Danish king's son, reminds the young man of an epoch Werther, than the adventurer who has arrived to Russia for a favourable marriage more likely. A wreath of the trilogy is its median play - "Feodor Ioannovich". It have a little noticed at occurrence, read a little, made comments a little. But here, in the end of 1890th years, prohibition has been removed to stage the play. It have put all over again in pridvorno-aristocratic mugs, then on a stage of the Petersburg Small theatre; later the play has bypassed all province. The success was unknown in annals of Russian theatre. Many attributed to its surprising game of actor Orleneva who has created a role of Feodor Ioannovicha - but also in a province everywhere there were " the Orleneve ". Business, means, not in the actor, and in that is remarkable a rewarding material which is given by tragedy. As to execution "Don-Zhuana" has prevented contrast between psychology of the author and passionate temperament of the hero so far as likeness of sincere moods has brought extreme heat in Feodor Ioannovicha's image. The desire to refuse shine to leave in itself so was familiar Thick, infinitely-tender feeling Feodor to Irina so close is reminded with love Thick to the wife. With full creative originality Thick has understood in own way absolutely differently Feodor shined by history - has understood, that it is completely not feeble-minded person deprived to a spiritual life, that in it there were deposits of the noble initiative, able to give dazzling flashes. Not only in the Russian literature, but also in the world few stages equal, on tremendous impression, that place of tragedy when Feodor asks Boris: " tsar I or not tsar? " Besides originality, force and brightness, this stage up to such degree is free from conditions of a place and time, up to such degree is taken from hiding places of human soul that can become property of any literature. Tolstovsky Feodor Ioannovich - one of the world types, created from not passing elements of human psychology. Last product Thick became a drama from drevnenovgorodskoi histories «Posadnik» Work above it has begun at once upon termination of the trilogy, but to finish its author was not in time. In the age of 58 years Thick has died on October, 10th (on old style on September, 28th) 1875 in the manor the Red Horn from overdose of morphine which used for simplification of sufferings from an asthma and a neuralgia with heavy headaches. Has been buried near rural church. Later itself Sofia Andreevna in the same place bequeathed to bury. The poetry Thick has found a due recognition only after its death when it was estimated by poets-simvolists.