The legend of the robber Kudeyar and its interpretation by N. Nekrasov in the poem "To whom in Russia to live well"
The article examines the image of the robber Kudeyar in Russian folklore and its echoes in the legend «About two Great Sinners» from the poem by N. Nekrasov «To Whom in Russia to live well». The work shows that Nekrasov freely perceives the folklore plot and interprets the image of the robber differently than the folk storytellers. Instead of understanding the image of Kudeyar, Nekrasov shifts towards the «other sinner», which, in the poet’s view, turns out to be pan Glukhovskoy. The article concludes that Nekrasov rationally approaches the question «Who is the most sinful in Russia?» and instead of understanding the spiritual tragedy of Kudeyar, switches to the social problems of modern society. The center of the conflict of the «legend of the two sinners» turns out to be sociologized.