It's very difficult to explain. The ending is messy, but both main ideas are expressed here. I formulated what I was trying to prove to everyone. It might be worth smearing.
Everyone's task: come up with an epigraph!!!
So, we got something like this:
"What was it: love or madness?" (based on Kuprin's story " Garnet bracelet")
It is difficult to find a writer or poet who has not touched upon the theme of love in his works. It is also difficult to find a person who has not experienced this feeling at least once. Love transforms a person. She can make him happy or, on the contrary, doom him to painful suffering.
Kuprin often presents love as a kind of force beyond the control of people, and, at the same time, a priceless gift. A gift from God.
The story described in the story "Garnet Bracelet" is real. It happened in Odessa. Kuprin wrote to Batyushkov: “Do you remember this? - the sad story of the little telegraph official P.P. Zheltikov, who was so hopelessly in love with Lyubimov’s wife... His face, who shot himself (she told him not to even try to see her), is important , deep, illuminated by that mysterious wisdom that only the dead comprehend..." Kuprin dealt with this incident in the same way as Prince Vasily Shein did in his story, about whom it was said that "he took a true episode as the basis for the story, but thus exaggerated the colors ", that in his presentation "truth was wonderfully intertwined with fiction."
For Kuprin, love is one of the “secrets” of man. The image of General Anosov in the story is not accidental. Anosov expresses the writer’s own thoughts about love: “Where is love? Unselfish, selfless, not expecting a reward? The one about which it is said “strong as death”? You understand, the kind of love for which you will accomplish any feat, give life, going to torment is not work at all, but one joy." It is through the mouth of Anosov that the author proclaims that one cannot pass by great and pure love: “Maybe he’s just an abnormal fellow, a maniac, but - who knows? - maybe it’s yours.” life path, Verochka, crossed precisely the kind of love that women dream about and that men are no longer capable of.”
The story ends sadly. Vera's brother and husband find Zheltkov and demand that he stop interfering in their personal lives. Powerless before the feeling, Zheltkov finds only one way out: to die. Vera is shocked. She visits his apartment, where she sees him for the first time, but already dead, and feels that “the love that every woman dreams of has passed her by.”
It seems that the story is tragic: the lover dies without waiting for reciprocal love, and Vera is doomed to eternal suffering. But Kuprin does not reveal what happens to Vera after. The story ends with the words “No, no, he has forgiven me now. Everything is fine.” Love is stronger than death.
Very beautiful. It's beautiful if you believe it's love. But is this love? Is it possible to love a person without once meeting his gaze, without once hearing a word from him?.. Is it possible to love such a “shadow”?
You can love the way Ivan Timofeevich loved Olesya, loved her every word, every movement. And Zheltkov, seeing Vera extremely rarely, created an image with which he fell in love. Yes, he truly loved, but he loved his fantasy. It is likely that if he got to know Vera better, he would be disappointed in her.
So, answering the question “Love or madness?”, I say: madness, because loving an image does not mean loving a real person with all his advantages and disadvantages.
However, such love Zheltkova revealed to Vera new life. This is a bright ending.
An analysis of the work “The Garnet Bracelet” has been done more than once by famous literary scholars. Paustovsky also noted the extraordinary strength and truthfulness that Kuprin was able to impart to a plot that appeared several centuries ago in medieval novels, namely the story of great and unrequited love. Talk about the meaning and significance of the story in fiction can take a very long time, but this article contains only the most important details for understanding and studying it.
Kuprin's creativity
Carrying out a brief analysis of the "Garnet Bracelet", we should begin with a description of the general artistic features works. The most striking among them are:
- The abundance and variety of themes, images, plots, which are always based on life experience. Almost all of Kuprin's stories are based on events that actually took place in reality. The characters have real prototypes - according to the writer himself, this is Lyudmila Ivanovna Tugan-Baranovskaya, married to Lyubimova, her husband, brother and father I. Ya. Tugan-Baranovsky, a participant in the Caucasian War. The features of Lyubimova’s father are reflected in the image of General Anosov. The Friesse couple is, according to contemporaries, Elena Tugan-Baranovskaya, Lyudmila’s older sister, and her husband, Gustav (Evstafiy) Nikolaevich Nitte.
- The image of a little man, which the writer ideologically inherited from Chekhov. He plays important role in the analysis of “The Garnet Bracelet”: Kuprin explores the life of this image against the background of the completely vicious, meaningless existence of the rest of society: the writer does not idealize the latter, but creates one ideal to which it is worth striving.
- Romanticization, poeticization of a wonderful feeling (this follows from last words previous paragraph). Sublime, “not of this world” love is placed in contrast to everyday life.
- Enrichment with the beginning of events is not the main, but worthy of mention when analyzing “The Garnet Bracelet” feature of Kuprin’s prose. This stylistic feature comes from the authenticity of the plots and characters. The writer does not extract poetry from the world of fiction, but looks for it in the real world, in seemingly ordinary stories.
Vera Sheina
When starting an analysis of the Garnet Bracelet, you should pay attention to the details. The story begins with a description of nature: seaside autumn, fading flowers, calm weather - an even, indifferent calm in everything. The image of Vera Nikolaevna goes well with this weather: her “aristocratic beauty”, restraint, even some arrogance in dealing with people makes the princess alienated, devoid of vitality. This is also emphasized in her relationship with her husband, which has long cooled down and turned into an even friendship unclouded by any feelings. For Kuprin, who considered love one of the most important feelings in human life, its absence in marriage is a clear indicator of the coldness and soullessness of the heroine.
Everything that surrounds Princess Vera Nikolaevna - estate, nature, relationship with her husband, lifestyle, character - is calm, sweet, good. Kuprin emphasizes: this is not life, this is only existence.
In the analysis of "The Garnet Bracelet" one cannot ignore the image of Sister Anna. It is given for contrast: her bright appearance, lively, agile facial expressions and manner of speech, way of life - frivolity, inconstancy, frivolous flirting in marriage - everything is contrasted with Vera. Anna has two children and loves the sea. She is alive.
Princess Vera has no children, and she quickly gets tired of the sea: “I love the forest.” She is cold and reasonable. Vera Nikolaevna is not alive.
Name day and gift
When analyzing Kuprin's "Garnet Bracelet", it is convenient to follow the plot, which gradually reveals the details of the story. In the fifth chapter, the mysterious admirer of Vera Nikolaevna is talked about for the first time. In the next chapter, the reader learns his story: Vera’s husband, Vasily Lvovich, presents her to the guests as a curiosity and mocks the unfortunate telegraph operator. However, Vera Nikolaevna has a slightly different opinion: she first tries to ask her husband not to tell and then feels awkward, judging by the hasty “Gentlemen, who wants tea?” Of course, Vera still considers her admirer and his love to be something ridiculous, even indecent, but she takes this story more seriously than her husband, Vasily Lvovich. About the red garnets on the gold bracelet, she thinks: “Exactly blood!” The same comparison is repeated once again: at the end of the chapter a paraphrase is used - and the stones turn into “scarlet bloody lights.” Kuprin compares the color of garnets with blood to emphasize: the stones are alive, just like the feeling of a telegraph operator in love.
General Anosov
Next in the plot is the old general's story about love. The reader met him back in the fourth chapter, and then the description of his life took up more space than the description of Vera’s life - that is, the history of this character is much more important. In the analysis of the story “The Garnet Bracelet”, it should be noted: the way of thinking of General Anosov was inherited from Kuprin himself - the writer put his idea of love into the words of the character.
The general believes that “people nowadays have forgotten how to love.” He sees around him only selfish relationships, sometimes cemented by marriage, and cites his wife as an example. Nevertheless, he has not yet lost his ideal: the general believes that she is true, selfless and beautiful love exists, but does not expect to see it in reality. What he knows - “two similar cases” - is pitiful and absurd, although in this everyday everyday absurdity and clumsiness a spark of true feeling is visible.
Therefore, General Anosov, unlike Vera Nikolaevna’s husband and brother Nikolai Nikolaevich, takes the story of love letters seriously. He respects the feeling of a mysterious admirer, because behind the curiosity and naivety he was able to discern the image of true love - “one, all-forgiving, ready for anything, modest and selfless.”
Zheltkov
The reader manages to “see” Zheltkov only in the tenth chapter, and here in the analysis of “Garnet Bracelet” his characteristics are given. Zheltkov’s appearance complements and reveals his letters and actions. Noble appearance, conversation, and then the most important thing - how he behaves with Prince Shein and Nikolai Nikolaevich. At first, Zheltkov, who was worried, when he learns that Vera Nikolaevna’s brother thinks that this issue can be resolved by force, that with the help of power it is possible to force a person to give up feelings, he is completely transformed. He understands that he is spiritually higher, stronger than Nikolai Nikolaevich, that it is he who can understand feelings. In part, this feeling is shared with Zheltkov by Prince Vasily Lvovich: he, unlike his brother-in-law, listens carefully to the words of his lover and will later tell Vera Nikolaevna that he believed and accepted the story of Zheltkov, extraordinary in his strength and purity of feeling, and understood his tragedy.
Bottom line
Concluding the analysis of “The Garnet Bracelet,” it is worth saying that if for the reader the question of whether Zheltkov’s feeling was the embodiment of true love or just a manic obsession remains open, then for Kuprin everything was obvious. And in the way Vera Nikolaevna perceived Zheltkov’s suicide, and in the feeling and in the tears that were caused by Beethoven’s sonata from his last letter, there is an awareness of that huge, true feeling that “happens only once in a thousand years.”
Each generation asks itself questions: Is there love? What is she like? Is it necessary? The questions are difficult and impossible to answer definitively. A. Kuprin is an unsurpassed master of the pen, capable of asking such questions and answering them. Kuprin loves to write about love, this is one of his favorite topics. A feeling of aching melancholy and at the same time enlightenment comes after reading “The Garnet Bracelet.”
A modest postal worker selflessly loves the princess. For seven long, weary years, Zheltkov loves a woman whom he has never even met. He just follows her, collects the things she forgot, breathes the air that she breathes. And what letters he writes to her! As a sign of his love, he gives her a garnet bracelet, which is very dear to him. But Vera Nikolaevna is offended and tells everything to her husband, whom she does not love, but is very attached to him. Shein, Vera Nikolaevna’s husband, sorts things out with Zheltkov. He asks her not to bother his wife anymore with letters and gifts, but allows her to write a farewell letter of apology. This was the reason for Zheltkov’s suicide. The realization that he would never achieve the love of his ideal, that his days would be empty and cold, pushed Zheltkov to a terrible act.
“Hallowed be thy name!” - with such enthusiastic words Zheltkov departs this life. And hasn’t Vera Nikolaevna lost the opportunity to love? Love is not given to everyone. Only a person with a pure, unsullied soul can surrender to this feeling. The modest Zheltkov, who may not be noticed in the crowd, is contrasted with the rich, callous people of the secular circle. But the soul, what a soul he has... It is not visible, it is not in clothes. You can only feel it, love it. Zheltkov was unlucky. No one saw his soul.
I cried when I read this work. I re-read Zheltkova’s experiences several times. And his letters to the woman he loves? They can be learned by heart. What depth of love, self-sacrifice and self-denial. They say that they can’t love like that now. Maybe. General Anosov says in the story that there is no love, and there wasn’t in our time. It turns out that all generations think about eternal love, but only a few manage to recognize it.
Kuprin wrote “Garnet Bracelet” in 1911. Until now, his work has not lost its relevance and relevance. Why? Because the theme of love is eternal. If there were no love, we would become all callous, iron machines without a heart and conscience. Love saves us, makes us human. Sometimes, it turns out, blood is shed because of love. It's painful and cruel, but it cleanses us.
I want to experience happy love in my life. And if there is no reciprocity, well. The main thing is that there is love.
Option 2
In the story of Alexander Kuprin, true love is described with extraordinary subtlety and tragedy, although unrequited, but pure, undeniable and sublime. Who else if not Kuprin to write about this great feeling. “...Almost all my works are my autobiography...” the writer noted.
...The main character is Vera Nikolaevna Sheina, who stood out for her kindness, courtesy, education, prudence and special love for children, whom she could not have. She was married to Prince Shein, who was in a state of bankruptcy.
On Vera’s name day, her husband presented her with earrings, and her sister gave her an antique prayer book made in the form of a notebook. Only close relatives were present at the holiday, as a result of which the holiday turned out to be good, everyone congratulated the princess. But at any holiday something can happen, and so it is here.
The main character is brought another present and a letter. This gift, a garnet bracelet, was of great significance for the writer, as he considered it a sign of love. The addressee of this offering was a secret admirer of Princess G.S. Zheltkov. He was a man aged thirty-five, of thin build with a puffy face, and worked as an official. His feelings for the woman seethed for eight years; it was unrequited love, reaching the point of recklessness. Zheltkov collected all the objects that belonged to or were held in the hands of his beloved.
With his gift, he showed his feelings in front of the entire Shein family. The spouse and relatives decide that they need to return the gift to the owner and explain that this is an indecent act on his part. Vera’s husband, in a conversation with a fan, shows his nobility; he sees that Zheltkov’s feelings are genuine. Soon, the princess learns from the newspaper about the suicide of her admirer. She has a desire to look at a person, even after his death.
While in the apartment of the deceased, Vera Nikolaevna realizes that it was her man. Feelings for your spouse have long faded, only respect remains. An important symbol is the letter left by Zheltkov to his beloved.
In fiction, the theme of love is considered the main one; it is one of the main elements of society.
Analysis of the story for grade 11
Several interesting essays
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- The ideological concept of the author in the comedy The Inspector General by Gogol
The idea to write a comedy based on a “Russian joke” arose from Gogol while working on “ Dead souls" Gogol embodied his idea in the comedy “The Inspector General,” which is a bureaucratic picture
- Bird in the story French lessons: image and characterization essay
“French Lessons” is one of the most striking stories by Valentin Rasputin. It tells the story of a conscientious boy who lived through a difficult post-war period.
- The image and characteristics of the Lady in the story of Mumu Turgenev essay
The main character of the story is an old rich lady living in a large mansion in the center of Moscow. Among the serfs surrounding the landowner was a janitor. Gerasim was of quite a large build
It seems to me that a teacher should be smart, kind and responsive: feed cats and dogs, help us, do what is difficult for us.
How does Kuprin draw the main character of the story, Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina?
(The outward inaccessibility and inaccessibility of the heroine is stated at the beginning of the story by her title and position in society - she is the wife of the leader of the nobility. But Kuprin shows the heroine against the backdrop of clear, sunny, warm days, in silence and solitude, which Vera rejoices in, perhaps reminiscent of love for the solitude and beauty of nature of Tatyana Larina (also, by the way, a married princess). , chapter eight, stanza XX “But an indifferent princess, / But an unapproachable goddess / Of the luxurious, royal Neva”) - a sensitive, delicate, selfless person: she tries to quietly help her husband “make ends meet”, observing decency, still saving , since “I had to live above my means.” She dearly loves her younger sister (their obvious dissimilarity in both appearance and character is emphasized by the author himself, Chapter II), with “a feeling of lasting, faithful, true friendship” she treats her husband, childishly affectionate with “grandfather General Anosov, a friend of their father.)
(Kuprin “gathers all the characters in the story, with the exception of Zheltkov, for the name day of Princess Vera. A small society of people who are pleasant to each other cheerfully celebrates the name day, but Vera suddenly notes that there are thirteen guests, and this alarms her: “she was superstitious.”)
What gifts did Vera receive? What is their significance?
(The princess receives not just expensive, but lovingly chosen gifts: “beautiful earrings made of pear-shaped pearls” from her husband, “a small notebook in an amazing binding... the labor of love of the hands of a skillful and patient artist” from her sister.)
How does Zheltkov’s gift look against this background? What is its value?
(Zheltkov’s gift - “a gold, low-grade, very thick, but exaggerated and on the outside completely covered with small old, poorly polished garnets” bracelet looks like a tasteless trinket. But its meaning and value lie elsewhere. Deep red garnets light up alive under electric light lights, and it occurs to Vera: “It’s like blood! - this is another alarming omen. Zheltkov gives the most valuable thing he has - a family jewel.)
What is the symbolic meaning of this detail?
(This is a symbol of his hopeless, enthusiastic, selfless, reverent love. Let us remember the gift Olesya left for Ivan Timofeevich - a string of red beads.)
How does the theme of love develop in the story?
(At the beginning of the story, the feeling of love is parodied. Vera’s husband, Prince Vasily Lvovich, a cheerful and witty man, makes fun of Zheltkov, who is still unfamiliar to him, showing the guests a humorous album with the “love story” of a telegraph operator for the princess. However, the end of this funny story turns out to be almost prophetic: “Finally he dies, but before his death he bequeaths to give Vera two telegraph buttons and a perfume bottle filled with his tears.”
Further, the theme of love is revealed in inserted episodes and acquires a tragic connotation. General Anosov tells his love story, which he will remember forever - short and simple, which in the retelling seems to be just a vulgar adventure of an army officer. “I don’t see true love. And I haven’t seen it in my time!” - says the general and gives examples of ordinary, vulgar unions of people concluded for one reason or another. “Where is the love? Is love unselfish, selfless, not waiting for reward? The one about which it is said “strong as death”?.. Love should be a tragedy. The greatest secret in the world! Anosov talks about tragic cases similar to such love. The conversation about love brought up the telegraph operator’s story, and the general felt its truth: “maybe your path in life, Verochka, was crossed by exactly the kind of love that women dream about and that men are no longer capable of.”)
(Kuprin develops the theme of the “little man”, traditional for Russian literature. An official with the funny surname Zheltkov, quiet and inconspicuous, not only grows into a tragic hero, he, with the power of his love, rises above the petty vanity, life’s conveniences, decency. He turns out to be a man, not at all inferior in nobility to aristocrats. Love elevated him. Love became suffering, the only meaning of life “It so happened that I am not interested in anything in life: neither politics, nor science, nor philosophy, nor concern for the future happiness of people - for me, life is all about. only in you - he writes in farewell letter Princess Vera. Leaving this life, Zheltkov blesses his beloved: “Hallowed be thy name.” Here one can see blasphemy - after all, these are the words of a prayer. For the hero, love is above everything earthly; it is of divine origin. No amount of “decisive measures” or “appeals to the authorities” can make you stop loving. There is not a shadow of resentment or complaint in the hero’s words, only gratitude for the “tremendous happiness” - love.)
What is the significance of the image of a hero after his death?
(The dead Zheltkov acquires deep importance... as if, before parting with life, he had learned some deep and sweet secret that resolved his entire human life." The face of the deceased reminds Vera of the death masks of "the great sufferers - Pushkin and Napoleon." So Kuprin shows the great talent of love, equating it with the talents of recognized geniuses.)
What mood will the ending of the story have? What role does music play in creating this mood?
(The ending of the story is elegiac, imbued with a feeling of light sadness, and not tragedy. Zheltkov dies, but Princess Vera awakens to life, something inaccessible to her was revealed to her, that same “great love that repeats itself once every thousand years.” The heroes “loved each other only one moment, but forever.” Music plays a big role in awakening the soul of Vera.
Beethoven's second sonata is in tune with Vera's mood; through music her soul seems to connect with Zheltkov's soul.)
Introduction
“The Garnet Bracelet” is one of the most famous stories by Russian prose writer Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin. It was published in 1910, but for the domestic reader it still remains a symbol of unselfish, sincere love, the kind that girls dream about, and the one that we so often miss. We previously published this wonderful work. In this same publication we will tell you about the main characters, analyze the work and talk about its problems.
The events of the story begin to unfold on the birthday of Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina. They celebrate at the dacha with their closest people. At the height of the fun, the hero of the occasion receives a gift - a garnet bracelet. The sender decided to remain unrecognized and signed the short note only with the initials of the HSG. However, everyone immediately guesses that this is Vera’s long-time admirer, a certain petty official who has been inundating her with love letters for many years. The princess's husband and brother quickly figure out the identity of the annoying suitor and the next day they go to his home.
In a wretched apartment they are met by a timid official named Zheltkov, he meekly agrees to take the gift and promises never to appear in front of the respectable family again, provided that he makes a final farewell call to Vera and makes sure that she does not want to know him. Vera Nikolaevna, of course, asks Zheltkov to leave her. The next morning the newspapers will write that a certain official took his own life. In his farewell note, he wrote that he had squandered government property.
Main characters: characteristics of key images
Kuprin is a master of portraiture, and through appearance he draws the character of the characters. The author pays a lot of attention to each character, devoting a good half of the story to portrait characteristics and memories, which also reveal characters. The main characters of the story are:
- – princess, central female image;
- - her husband, the prince, the provincial leader of the nobility;
- - a minor official of the control chamber, passionately in love with Vera Nikolaevna;
- Anna Nikolaevna Friesse– Vera’s younger sister;
- Nikolai Nikolaevich Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky– brother of Vera and Anna;
- Yakov Mikhailovich Anosov- general, military comrade of Vera’s father, close friend of the family.
Vera is an ideal representative of high society in appearance, manners, and character.
“Vera took after her mother, a beautiful Englishwoman, with her tall, flexible figure, gentle but cold and proud face, beautiful, albeit rather large hands and that charming sloping shoulders that can be seen in ancient miniatures.”
Princess Vera was married to Vasily Nikolaevich Shein. Their love had long ceased to be passionate and moved into that calm stage of mutual respect and tender friendship. Their union was happy. The couple did not have children, although Vera Nikolaevna passionately wanted a baby, and therefore gave all her unspent feelings to the children of her younger sister.
Vera was royally calm, coldly kind to everyone, but at the same time very funny, open and sincere with close people. She was not characterized by such feminine tricks as affectation and coquetry. Despite her high status, Vera was very prudent, and knowing how poorly things were going for her husband, she sometimes tried to deprive herself so as not to put him in an uncomfortable position.
Vera Nikolaevna’s husband is talented, pleasant, gallant, noble man. He has an amazing sense of humor and is a brilliant storyteller. Shein keeps a home journal, which contains true stories with pictures about the life of the family and those close to them.
Vasily Lvovich loves his wife, perhaps not as passionately as in the first years of marriage, but who knows how long passion actually lasts? The husband deeply respects her opinion, feelings, and personality. He is compassionate and merciful to others, even those who are much lower in status than him (this is evidenced by his meeting with Zheltkov). Shein is noble and endowed with the courage to admit mistakes and his own wrongness.
We first meet Official Zheltkov towards the end of the story. Until this moment, he is present in the work invisibly in the grotesque image of a klutz, an eccentric, a fool in love. When the long-awaited meeting finally takes place, we see before us a meek and shy person, such people are usually not noticed and called “little”:
“He was tall, thin, with long, fluffy, soft hair.”
His speeches, however, are devoid of the chaotic whims of a madman. He is fully aware of his words and actions. Despite his apparent cowardice, this man is very courageous; he boldly tells the prince, Vera Nikolaevna’s legal husband, that he is in love with her and cannot do anything about it. Zheltkov does not fawn over the rank and position in society of his guests. He submits, but not to fate, but only to his beloved. And he also knows how to love – selflessly and sincerely.
“It so happened that I am not interested in anything in life: neither politics, nor science, nor philosophy, nor concern for the future happiness of people - for me life lies only in you. I now feel that I have crashed into your life like some kind of uncomfortable wedge. If you can, forgive me for this"
Analysis of the work
Kuprin got the idea for his story from real life. In reality, the story was more of an anecdotal nature. A certain poor telegraph operator named Zheltikov was in love with the wife of one of the Russian generals. One day this eccentric was so brave that he sent his beloved a simple gold chain with a pendant in the shape of an Easter egg. It's hilarious and that's it! Everyone laughed at the stupid telegraph operator, but the inquisitive writer’s mind decided to look beyond the anecdote, because real drama can always be hidden behind the apparent curiosity.
Also in “The Pomegranate Bracelet,” the Sheins and their guests first make fun of Zheltkov. Vasily Lvovich even has a funny story about this in his home magazine called “Princess Vera and the telegraph operator in love.” People tend not to think about other people's feelings. The Sheins were not bad, callous, soulless (this is proven by the metamorphosis in them after meeting Zheltkov), they just did not believe that the love that the official admitted could exist..
There are many symbolic elements in the work. For example, a garnet bracelet. Garnet is a stone of love, anger and blood. If a feverish person picks it up (a parallel with the expression “love fever”), the stone will take on a more saturated hue. According to Zheltkov himself, this special type of pomegranate (green pomegranate) gives women the gift of foresight, and protects men from violent death. Zheltkov, having parted with his amulet bracelet, dies, and Vera unexpectedly predicts his death.
Another symbolic stone - pearls - also appears in the work. Vera receives pearl earrings as a gift from her husband on the morning of her name day. Pearls, despite their beauty and nobility, are an omen of bad news.
The weather also tried to predict something bad. On the eve of the fateful day, a terrible storm broke out, but on the birthday everything calmed down, the sun came out and the weather was calm, like a calm before a deafening clap of thunder and an even stronger storm.
Problems of the story
The key problem of the work is the question “What is real love? In order for the “experiment” to be pure, the author gives different types of “love”. This is the tender love-friendship of the Sheins, and the calculating, convenient love of Anna Friesse for her indecently rich old man-husband, who blindly adores her soul mate, and the long-forgotten ancient love of General Amosov, and the all-consuming love-worship of Zheltkov for Vera.
The main character herself cannot understand for a long time whether it is love or madness, but looking into his face, albeit hidden by the mask of death, she is convinced that it was love. Vasily Lvovich draws the same conclusions after meeting his wife’s admirer. And if at first he was somewhat belligerent, then later he could not be angry with the unfortunate man, because, it seems, a secret was revealed to him, which neither he, nor Vera, nor their friends could comprehend.
People are selfish by nature and even in love, they think first of all about their feelings, masking their own egocentrism from their other half and even themselves. True love, which occurs between a man and a woman once every hundred years, puts the beloved first. So Zheltkov calmly lets Vera go, because that’s the only way she will be happy. The only problem is that he doesn’t need life without her. In his world, suicide is a completely natural step.
Princess Sheina understands this. She sincerely mourns Zheltkov, a man whom she practically did not know, but, oh my God, perhaps true love, which occurs once every hundred years, passed her by.
“I am eternally grateful to you just for the fact that you exist. I checked myself - this is not a disease, not a manic idea - this is love with which God was pleased to reward me for something... Leaving, I say in delight: “Hallowed be Thy name.”
Place in literature: Literature of the 20th century → Russian literature of the 20th century → Works of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin → The story “Garnet Bracelet” (1910)
