What made Ostap Bender a «great strategist», a charming swindler, a virtuoso artist and an «ideological fighter for banknotes»? Who would such a character be today? Let’s figure it out.
The «Turkish citizen» easily copes with life’s uncertainty, appearing on the forefront without a penny in his pocket, documents, housing and even socks, with only four hundred ways of relatively honest withdrawal of money. He reincarnates either as a fire inspector, or as a chess genius, or as an ardent lover of a deceived widow. He has the gift of a stage director and an artist of everyday sketches, who only benefits from a passion for posturing and a desire to manipulate others. He is a charming rebel who exposes the bureaucrats of his time.
However, Ostap’s personal charm hides psychopathic tendencies. The ability to easily solve any problem creates a false sense of great adaptability and adult ability to make informed decisions.
Personal enrichment only exacerbates the emptiness and desire to be loved and needed.
But it seems that «comrade Bender» is not very adapted to reality. Stormy energy, talents and fantasies do not fit into the socialist framework. Having received what he wants from another, much more adapted to reality psychopath Koreiko, having outplayed him, Ostap, like a child, is lost before winning.
His goals are immature, it seems to him that, having become rich, he will become happy — just like children at the age of five dream of becoming kings, thinking that being a king is the same as doing what you want. Personal enrichment only exacerbates the emptiness and desire to be loved and needed. Unlike another «noble» intruder — Robin Hood, Ostap is not able to come up with an inspiring and meaningful goal.
Behind the external effects is a child who did not know love, did not have the opportunity to grow up, and therefore set off in pursuit of a dream of paradise, where everyone is in white pants. Paradise turns out to be unattainable, the ending is natural and dramatic: the one who regularly crosses the borders will be caught sooner or later.
Ostap fixes us
Loving Ostap Bender as a literary hero, in real life we would hardly want to be in his way. Surely you have met people who lie shamelessly, cheat without shame, joyfully borrow money from you, forgetting to give back, push your border charmingly and charismatically. They get what they want without caring in the least about your feelings, without worrying about the damage caused, cynically taking advantage of your disposition, kindness and openness.
It can be very difficult for many of us to recognize the malicious use of our trust and willingness to help in time, especially if it is covered with charming smiles, flowery compliments and grandiose promises. The worst manifestation of this character is a swindler of a large or small spill, sooner or later ending up in places of detention or receiving a well-deserved reward from an angry victim.
The best is a stand-up comedian who has realized his artistic potential, humor, energy, is able to reveal what he wants to hide, helps to laugh at himself and honestly earned money, recognition, fame.