The work is based on real facts. Kuprin, at one of his meetings with close friends, looking through a family album with photographs, hears from them a very interesting story about the unusual relationship of two completely different people, who were not destined to be together. This was the true cause of the tragedy that happened to the main character. He could not come to terms with the situation, preferring to leave this world. The image and characterization of Anna Nikolaevna in the story “The Garnet Bracelet” is secondary, but it is this that gives the opportunity to compare two sisters and show how different they are both in character and appearance.
Anna Nikolaevna Friesse- younger sister of Vera Sheina. Married. Two children. Minor character.
Appearance
Anna is an exact copy of her father. He and Vera’s father is a Tatar prince. It was Anna who passed on all his features. The girl is short. The eyes are narrow, dark in color. The face is of a characteristic Mongolian type with wide cheekbones. Broad-shouldered. I looked at everyone with squinted eyes due to myopia.
“Anna smiled with her narrowed eyes.”
Cheerful and laughing. Always in the spotlight. Sometimes arrogance appeared on her face, but the arrogance did not repel, on the contrary, it attracted all men without exception to her. There was some kind of mystery and mystery about her. I wanted to unravel it, to penetrate into the soul. Despite the somewhat angular figure and low stature, the back, chest and shoulders were of an unusually beautiful shape. Anna knew this and deliberately exposed them more than allowed at social evenings. Men would line up just for her smile. Only she knew how to smile so invitingly at the same time, without giving men a reason to think badly of her.
Family
Anna's husband Gustav Ivanovich Friesse. He’s an unpleasant looking man, and not a very good conversationalist either. A wealthy man, but stupid. In her marriage to him, Anna had two children, a boy and a girl. The children are obedient and decent-looking. There was no love for my husband. Although he was disgusted with her, there was no betrayal in the marriage. But he doted on her. He was ready to carry his beloved wife in his arms, fulfilling any desire. All day long he follows her like a puppy, demanding attention and care. His obsession irritated Anna. Behind her husband's back, she often sent barbs at him, ridiculing him in front of others. There was one way to switch my husband’s attention: to sit him down playing cards.
Character
Anna adored life and loved getting vivid impressions. She didn’t neglect the offer to play cards. She was a gambler and never spared money, betting considerable sums.
“... She loved gambling, dancing, strong impressions, thrilling spectacles, and visited dubious cafes abroad...”
She showed interest in everything. Too curious. Kind and sincere. Believes in God.
“...She was distinguished by her generous kindness and deep, sincere piety, which even forced her to convert to Catholicism.”
Likes to flirt and flirt, but within reason. Doted on Sister Vera. She has a warm, friendly relationship with her.
In addition, today was her name day - September 17th. According to the sweet, distant memories of her childhood, she always loved this day and always expected something happily wonderful from it. Her husband, leaving in the morning on urgent business in the city, put a case with beautiful earrings made of pear-shaped pearls on her night table, and this gift amused her even more. She was alone in the whole house. Her single brother Nikolai, a fellow prosecutor, who usually lived with them, also went to the city, to court. For dinner, my husband promised to bring a few and only his closest acquaintances. It turned out well that the name day coincided with summer time. In the city, one would have to spend money on a big formal dinner, perhaps even a ball, but here, at the dacha, one could get by with very little expenses. Prince Shein, despite his prominent position in society, and perhaps thanks to it, barely made ends meet. The huge family estate was almost completely destroyed by his ancestors, and he had to live above his means: give receptions, do charity work, dress well, keep horses, etc. Princess Vera, whose former passionate love for her husband had long since turned into a feeling of strong, faithful, true friendship, tried with all her might to help the prince refrain from complete ruin. She denied herself many things, unnoticed by him, and saved as much as possible in the household. Now she walked around the garden and carefully cut flowers with scissors for the dinner table. The flower beds were empty and looked disordered. Multi-colored double carnations were blooming, as well as gillyflower - half in flowers, and half in thin green pods that smelled like cabbage; the rose bushes were still producing - for the third time this summer - buds and roses, but already shredded, sparse, as if degenerated. But dahlias, peonies and asters bloomed magnificently with their cold, arrogant beauty, spreading an autumnal, grassy, sad smell in the sensitive air. The remaining flowers, after their luxurious love and excessively abundant summer motherhood, quietly sprinkled countless seeds of future life onto the ground. Close by on the highway the familiar sounds of a three-ton car horn were heard. It was Princess Vera’s sister, Anna Nikolaevna Friesse, who had promised by telephone to come in the morning to help her sister receive guests and do housework. The subtle hearing did not deceive Vera. She went forward. A few minutes later, an elegant car-carriage stopped abruptly at the country gate, and the driver, deftly jumping from the seat, opened the door. The sisters kissed joyfully. From early childhood they were attached to each other with a warm and caring friendship. In appearance, they were strangely not similar to each other. The eldest, Vera, took after her mother, a beautiful Englishwoman, with her tall, flexible figure, gentle but cold and proud face, beautiful, although rather large hands and that charming sloping shoulders that can be seen in ancient miniatures. The youngest, Anna, on the contrary, inherited the Mongolian blood of her father, a Tatar prince, whose grandfather was baptized only at the beginning of the 19th century and whose ancient family went back to Tamerlane himself, or Lang-Temir, as her father proudly called her, in Tatar, this great bloodsucker. She was half a head shorter than her sister, somewhat broad in the shoulders, lively and frivolous, a mocker. Her face was of a strongly Mongolian type with quite noticeable cheekbones, with narrow eyes, which she also squinted due to myopia, with an arrogant expression in her small, sensual mouth, especially in her full lower lip slightly protruded forward - this face, however, captivated some then an elusive and incomprehensible charm, which consisted, perhaps, in a smile, perhaps in the deep femininity of all features, perhaps in a piquant, perky, flirtatious facial expression. Her graceful ugliness excited and attracted the attention of men much more often and more strongly than the aristocratic beauty of her sister. She was married to a very rich and very stupid man who did absolutely nothing, but was registered with some charitable institution and had the rank of chamber cadet. She couldn’t stand her husband, but she gave birth to two children from him - a boy and a girl; She decided not to have any more children and did not have any more. As for Vera, she greedily wanted children and even, it seemed to her, the more the better, but for some reason they were not born to her, and she painfully and ardently adored her younger sister’s pretty, anemic children, always decent and obedient, with pale, mealy hair. faces and with curled flaxen doll hair. Anna was all about cheerful carelessness and sweet, sometimes strange contradictions. She willingly indulged in the most risky flirtations in all the capitals and resorts of Europe, but she never cheated on her husband, whom, however, she contemptuously ridiculed both to his face and behind his back; she was wasteful, loved gambling, dancing, strong impressions, thrilling spectacles, visited dubious cafes abroad, but at the same time she was distinguished by generous kindness and deep, sincere piety, which forced her to even secretly accept Catholicism. She had a rare beauty of back, chest and shoulders. When going to big balls, she exposed herself much more than the limits allowed by decency and fashion, but they said that under her low neckline she always wore a hair shirt. Vera was strictly simple, cold with everyone and a little patronizingly kind, independent and royally calm.Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin is a Russian writer who, without a doubt, can be classified as a classic. His books are still recognizable and loved by the reader, not only under the compulsion of a school teacher, but at a conscious age. A distinctive feature of his work is documentary, his stories were based on real events or real events became the impetus for their creation - among them the story “Garnet Bracelet”.
“The Garnet Bracelet” is a true story that Kuprin heard from friends while looking through family albums. The governor's wife made sketches for letters sent to her by a certain telegraph official who was unrequitedly in love with her. One day she received a gift from him: a gold-plated chain with a pendant in the shape of an Easter egg. Alexander Ivanovich took this story as the basis for his work, turning these meager, uninteresting data into a touching story. The writer replaced the chain with the pendant with a bracelet with five garnets, which, according to what King Solomon said in one story, mean anger, passion and love.
Plot
“The Pomegranate Bracelet” begins with preparations for the celebration, when Vera Nikolaevna Sheina suddenly receives a gift from an unknown person: a bracelet with five garnets flecked in green. On the paper note that came with the gift, it is indicated that the gem is capable of endowing the owner with foresight. The princess shares the news with her husband and shows a bracelet from an unknown person. As the action progresses, it turns out that this person is a petty official named Zheltkov. He first saw Vera Nikolaevna at the circus many years ago, and since then the suddenly flared up feelings have not faded away: even her brother’s threats do not stop him. However, Zheltkov does not want to torment his beloved, and he decides to commit suicide so as not to bring shame on her.
The story ends with the realization of the strength of the stranger’s sincere feelings, which comes to Vera Nikolaevna.
Love theme
The main theme of the work “Garnet Bracelet” is undoubtedly the theme of unrequited love. Moreover, Zheltkov is a shining example of selfless, sincere, sacrificial feelings that he does not betray, even when his loyalty cost his life. Princess Sheina also fully feels the power of these emotions: years later she realizes that she wants to be loved and love again - and the jewelry donated by Zheltkov marks the imminent appearance of passion. Indeed, she soon falls in love with life again and feels it in a new way. you can read on our website.
The theme of love in the story is frontal and permeates the entire text: this love is high and pure, a manifestation of God. Vera Nikolaevna feels internal changes even after Zheltkov’s suicide - she learned the sincerity of a noble feeling and willingness to sacrifice herself for the sake of someone who will give nothing in return. Love changes the character of the entire story: the princess’s feelings die, fade, fall asleep, having once been passionate and ardent, and turned into a strong friendship with her husband. But Vera Nikolaevna still continues to strive for love in her soul, even if this has become dulled over time: she needed time to let passion and sensuality come out, but before that her calmness could seem indifferent and cold - this puts a high wall for Zheltkov.
Main characters (characteristics)
- Zheltkov worked as a minor official in the control chamber (the author placed him there to emphasize that the main character was a small man). Kuprin does not even indicate his name in the work: only the letters are signed with initials. Zheltkov is exactly how the reader imagines a man of low position: thin, pale-skinned, straightening his jacket with nervous fingers. He has delicate facial features and blue eyes. According to the story, Zheltkov is about thirty years old, he is not rich, modest, decent and noble - even Vera Nikolaevna’s husband notes this. The elderly owner of his room says that during the eight years that he lived with her, he became like family to her, and he was a very nice person to talk to. “...Eight years ago I saw you in a box at the circus, and then in the first second I said to myself: I love her because there is nothing like her in the world, there is nothing better...” - this is how the modern fairy tale about Zheltkov’s feelings for Vera Nikolaevna, although he never cherished hopes that they would be mutual: “...seven years of hopeless and polite love...”. He knows the address of his beloved, what she does, where she spends her time, what she wears - he admits that he is not interested in anything but her and is not happy. you can also find it on our website.
- Vera Nikolaevna Sheina inherited her mother's appearance: a tall, stately aristocrat with a proud face. Her character is strict, uncomplicated, calm, she is polite and courteous, kind to everyone. She has been married to Prince Vasily Shein for more than six years; together they are full members of high society, organizing balls and receptions, despite financial difficulties.
- Vera Nikolaevna has a younger sister, Anna Nikolaevna Friesse, who, unlike her, inherited her father’s features and his Mongolian blood: narrow eyes, femininity of features, flirtatious facial expressions. Her character is frivolous, perky, cheerful, but contradictory. Her husband, Gustav Ivanovich, is rich and stupid, but he idolizes her and is constantly nearby: his feelings seem to have not changed from the first day, he looked after her and still adored her just as much. Anna Nikolaevna cannot stand her husband, but they have a son and a daughter, she is faithful to him, although she treats him quite contemptuously.
- General Anosov is Anna’s godfather, his full name is Yakov Mikhailovich Anosov. He is fat and tall, good-natured, patient, hard of hearing, he has a large, red face with clear eyes, he is very respected for the years of his service, fair and courageous, has a clear conscience, always wears a frock coat and cap, uses a hearing horn and a stick.
- Prince Vasily Lvovich Shein is the husband of Vera Nikolaevna. Little is said about his appearance, only that he has blond hair and a large head. He is very soft, compassionate, sensitive - he treats Zheltkov’s feelings with understanding, and is unshakably calm. He has a sister, a widow, whom he invites to the celebration.
Features of Kuprin's creativity
Kuprin was close to the theme of the character’s awareness of life’s truth. He saw the world around him in a special way and sought to learn something new; his works are characterized by drama, a certain anxiety, and excitement. “Educational pathos” is called the hallmark of his work.
In many ways, Kuprin’s work was influenced by Dostoevsky, especially in the early stages, when he writes about fatal and significant moments, the role of chance, the psychology of characters’ passions - often the writer makes it clear that not everything can be understood.
It can be said that one of the features of Kuprin’s work is a dialogue with readers, in which the plot is traced and reality is depicted - this is especially noticeable in his essays, which in turn were influenced by G. Uspensky.
Some of his works are famous for their lightness and spontaneity, poeticization of reality, naturalness and authenticity. Others are the theme of inhumanity and protest, the struggle for feelings. At some point, he begins to be interested in history, antiquity, legends, and thus fantastic stories are born with motives of the inevitability of chance and fate.
Genre and composition
Kuprin is characterized by a love of plots within plots. “The Garnet Bracelet” is further proof: Zheltkov’s note about the qualities of the jewelry is the plot within the plot.
The author shows love from different points of view - love in general terms and Zheltkov’s unrequited feelings. These feelings have no future: Vera Nikolaevna’s marital status, differences in social status, circumstances - everything is against them. This doom reveals the subtle romanticism invested by the writer in the text of the story.
The entire work is ringed by references to the same piece of music – a Beethoven sonata. Thus, the music that “sounds” throughout the story shows the power of love and is the key to understanding the text, heard in the final lines. Music communicates the unsaid. Moreover, it is Beethoven’s sonata at the climax that symbolizes the awakening of Vera Nikolaevna’s soul and the awareness that comes to her. Such attention to melody is also a manifestation of romanticism.
The composition of the story implies the presence of symbols and hidden meanings. So the fading garden implies the fading passion of Vera Nikolaevna. General Anosov tells short stories about love - these are also small plots within the main narrative.
It is difficult to determine the genre of “Garnet Bracelet”. In fact, the work is called a story largely due to its composition: it consists of thirteen short chapters. However, the writer himself called “The Garnet Bracelet” a story.
Interesting? Save it on your wall!Tatiana Shekhanova
Tatyana Sergeevna SHEKHANOVA is a teacher at Moscow Lyceum No. 1536, a member of the Union of Writers of Russia, the Union of Journalists of Russia.
“Garnet bracelet” in questions and answers
Due to the reduction in hours for literature, many teachers complain about a lack of time, especially in high school. Scissors arise between the requirements of the standard and the real situation, in which one often has to not even pass, but “run through” the work.
One way to neutralize these scissors is to unload the high school program (especially graduation) by redistributing the material. Some of the works can easily be transferred to the 8th–9th grades: they are accessible to teenagers by age and can be combined into semantic blocks with the works traditionally studied in these classes.
This can be done, for example, with the “Garnet Bracelet” by A.I. Kuprin, which successfully fits in with “Romeo and Juliet”, knightly ballads, Turgenev’s stories, Bunin’s stories, love lyrics of different times.
To help language learners who decide to take this step, we are printing ten questions and answers about the story “The Garnet Bracelet,” which will help them take an “inventory” of information before planning a lesson, and will also serve as reference lines for the lesson.
1. Compare Vera and Anna. Are they happy? Why did you decide so?
2. Tell us about Prince Shein, Nikolai Nikolaevich, General Anosov. They have a successful career and a strong position in society. Are these heroes happy?
3. What is the meaning of the love stories told by General Anosov? What are the causes of unhappiness in all three stories?
4. Why is it that General Anosov feels, first of all, the different scale of Zheltkov’s experiences and spiritual life?
5. What are Nikolai Nikolaevich, Vasily Lvovich and she herself doing “wrong”, in Vera’s words? What does one Zheltkov do “so”?
6. How does Zheltkov change over “seven years of hopeless and polite love”? Tell us about Zheltkov’s “three steps” in his last attempt to explain himself - with Shein, with Vera and, finally, with everyone (with his departure).
7. How do the images of General Anosov and the petty official Zheltkov, who have never met, compare? Images of Pushkin and Napoleon - “great sufferers”?
8. What do you think is the role of the epigraph and ring composition in the Largo Appassionato theme from Beethoven’s Second Sonata (Op. 2), associated with the theme of true love and true life?
9. Analyze the motifs of the rose, the letter, the symbolism of the detail (the bracelet is a gift from Zheltkov, the earrings are a gift from Shein), gesture, and numbers. What is their role in the story?
10. How can you interpret the ending of the story?
1. Sisters Vera and Anna, on the one hand, are similar: both are married, both have influential husbands, both love to be with each other, cherish these moments. On the other hand, they are antipodes: this is manifested both in their portraits (Vera’s English thoroughbred and Tatar breed, Anna’s “graceful ugliness”) and in their attitude (Vera follows secular customs, Anna is willful and daring, but to a certain limit: “ she wears a hair shirt under her deep neckline”), and in their family life (Vera does not know that she does not love her husband, because she does not know love, and Anna is aware of her dislike for her husband, but, having agreed to the marriage, tolerates him). In the latter - in an unhappy married life - both are similar. Faith seems to be “lost” in everyday life, her beauty is not noticeable, her exclusivity is erased (for everyone and for herself), and Anna “despises” her foolish husband and is rewarded with children who seem to be pretty, but with “mealy” faces.
2. Prince Shein is respected in society, as evidenced by his position, he is outwardly prosperous (there are not enough funds, but he manages to hide this; he is not aware of the “lack of love” in the family). Nikolai Nikolaevich is proud of his rank, position, active and outwardly also prosperous; however, he is alone, which is remarkable. General Anosov, one of the most charming heroes of the story, is also lonely. A brave soldier, in his old age he is left without a family home. This is the main misfortune of all three heroes.
3. “Girls” in comparison with the ancient General Anosov, Vera and Anya ask him about love. The general answers this three times. Two parables are about the fact that there is “not love, but some kind of sourness” (fake, delusion), and one - the story of one’s own life - is about anti-love. The meaning of all three inserted short stories: this feeling requires no less strength and spiritual boldness than achievement. A person must be worthy of love and not humiliate it.
4. Unlike Vera, Vasily Lvovich, Nikolai Nikolaevich and even Anna with her sensitivity (“the sea smells like watermelon”, “there is a pink color in the moonlight”), the general shares the authenticity of the “telegraph operator” feeling and the “averageness” accepted in the world, erasure, rituality of relationships between people. Love requires the same heroism and dedication as the battlefield. In the vulgarized story in the mouth of Prince Shein about the “adventures of a telegraph operator,” Anosov hears notes of spiritual valor familiar to him, an old soldier.
5. The gift from the petty official Zheltkov to Princess Sheina did not make her happy and caused concern for the entire family, including her brother Nikolai Nikolaevich, assistant prosecutor. All this leads to a tragic ending. What did they do? not this way(according to Vera’s definition) Prince Shein and Nikolai Nikolaevich? They tried to stop Zheltkov’s feeling of love for Princess Vera by putting the insignificant, in their opinion, official “in his place.” That's why they go to him. Shein is passive, he is “attracted” by Nikolai Nikolaevich as material evidence of the guilt of Zheltkov, who encroached on Vera. She Married, and my husband is proof of this. Shein is silent and weak-willed, his attempts to interrupt Nikolai Nikolaevich’s peremptory speeches are sluggish. That's what it's about not this way. Nikolai Nikolaevich threatens Zheltkov, referring to his connections and official capabilities, that is, he acts, assuming that Zheltkov can become afraid and obediently stop loving Princess Vera, not suspecting that the nature of true love is such that it is not a person who controls it, but she controls a person. In that - not this way Nikolai Nikolaevich. Faith, having failed to accept the gift of love (and, as its manifestation, the gift of a bracelet), also acts not this way, because he lives not according to his own, but according to someone else’s rules, once established by someone, without feeling himself. She will come to her senses only after the news of Zheltkov’s death and saying goodbye to him (twice - with body and with soul).
6. Who is Zheltkov? It is not for nothing that at first we see a parodic reproduction of his strange behavior: it does not fit into the framework of decency. Shein parodicly interprets the letters and actions of G.Zh. There are reasons for this: Zheltkov’s early letter is very different from his later, and his passionate, awkward actions a young man in love- from deeds truly loving mature man. There is a growth of personality, and it is a high feeling that determines this growth, as evidenced by the vocabulary, structure of sentences, and the system of arguments of the “late” Zheltkov. Through parodic portraiture, we, readers, make our way, as if through an annoying obstacle, to the true appearance of Zheltkov’s personality. The hero's portrait and speech grow with him. The author teaches us to see not a place on the social ladder, but the person himself. He warns that, once we are convinced of a person’s imperfection, we do not stop seeing the prospect of his development, do not deny him the opportunity to improve, and ourselves the opportunity to see his self-improvement. Zheltkov takes three steps to explain himself to Shein, to Vera and, finally, to the whole world. Sheinu Zheltkov talks about love that cannot be resisted. But he promises that he won’t bother him again. Vera - she refuses to listen to Zheltkov - talks about the same thing, but posthumously (in a letter). And finally, his last explanation to the world and to everyone who can hear, is Beethoven's Sonata No. 2 - about life, death and love.
7. Zheltkov was never heard during his lifetime, just as Pushkin and Napoleon, the “great sufferers,” were not fully heard during their lifetime. It is here, after Zheltkov’s death, that Kuprin openly introduces the romantic motive of rejection and misunderstanding hero, elevating him above everyday life. It was not for nothing that only General Anosov, who knew the value of life, death and love, was able to hear this in the mocking speeches of Shein and especially Nikolai Nikolaevich. It is very important that small talk does not confuse the general; he questions Vera - and in response to her counter questions, he gives the definition of true love, which he himself was not awarded, but about which he thought a lot. Anosov and Zheltkov do not meet, but the general recognizes in him a hero incomparable in scale with Prince Shein, according to rumors about him.
8. The epigraph sets us up to listen to Beethoven’s sonata - a majestic, romantically elevated reflection on the gift of life and love. The story ends with these same sounds. Enveloped by them, it teaches the same thing - not to be petty, not to fuss, but to think and feel truly, in proportion to oneself. The music clearly tells Princess Vera, What there is life and What is love. This is Zheltkov’s last gift, which only the deaf can refuse. This generosity and mercy clarify the Faith to myself. This is how she will remain. This is the main gift of Zheltkov, who once in his youth saw the authenticity and perfection of Vera, which was unclear to her. Only three things can explain everything to a person so quickly - love, music and death. Kuprin combines all three in the finale of the story. This is the special meaning of the musical theme, which gives - from the epigraph to the last scene - exceptional completeness to the work.
9. The system of details and symbols in the story works intensely. The rose is a symbol not only of love, but also of the perfection of the universe. Throughout the entire story, only two heroes are awarded roses: General Anosov and Zheltkov (the latter posthumously). The gifts of Prince Shein (earrings with pearls - two disconnected objects, decorated with a symbol of sorrow and tears) and Zheltkov (garnet bracelet with a green garnet in the middle; a bracelet closed in a ring - the embodiment of harmony, a garnet, according to legend, brought joy and fun to its owner) are symbolic , and the green pomegranate communicated, as Zheltkov himself rightly warns, the gift of insight). The gestures of the heroes, especially the antipodes - Nikolai Nikolaevich and Zheltkov - when explaining to each other are symbolic.
10. All these observations allow us to conclude that Kuprin’s theme of romantic love is unusually deep and attractive. It is deceptively simple. In fact, behind its transparency there is depth and scope. It is not without reason that such powerful symbolic images as Pushkin, Napoleon, and Beethoven appear in the artistic space of the story. Another image is unnamed, subtly present here - Prince Myshkin (the portrait, the speech in the scene of Zheltkov’s explanation with Shein and Nikolai Nikolaevich remind us of him), Dostoevsky’s character. It is not for nothing that Kuprin says through the mouth of General Anosov that love is a “great tragedy.” However, despite the tragedy, love remains majestic and strong in our memory. This is the peculiarity of Kuprin’s approach to the topic.
Portrait of Princess VeraThe heroine of the story “The Pomegranate Bracelet,” Princess Vera, appears against the backdrop of autumn flowers: “...she walked through the garden and carefully cut flowers with scissors for the dining table. The flower beds were empty and looked disorganized. Multi-colored double carnations were blooming, as well as gillyflower - half in flowers, and half in thin green pods smelling of cabbage, the rose bushes were still producing - for the third time this summer - buds and roses, but already shredding rare ones, as if degenerated. But dahlias, peonies and asters bloomed magnificently with their cold, arrogant beauty, spreading a sad, herbaceous smell in the sensitive air. The rest of the flowers, after their luxurious love and excessive motherhood, quietly scattered countless seeds of future life onto the ground.” The heroine doesn’t seem to exist yet - we have a description of the flowers she picks. Let's take a closer look at it: out of all the flowers, dahlias, peonies and asters are singled out and placed in the center of the fragment - the union “but” contrasts them with gillyflowers and roses that bloom not so “lush”, “coldly” and “arrogantly” ”, the word “rest” at the beginning of the next sentence again distinguishes them from the series - this time by the attribute sterility. All the other flowers not only bloomed, but also gave seeds, they knew the love and joy of motherhood, autumn for them is not only the time of death, but also the time of the beginning of the “future life”. “Human” motives in the description of flowers prepare the characterization of the heroine herself. On the same page we read: “...Vera took after her mother beauty his Englishwoman highly flexible figure, gentle, but cold And proud face...“The definitions we have highlighted connect in the minds of the reader Vera, who has no children and whose passion for her husband has long passed, with beautiful but barren flowers. She's not just among them - the impression is created that she is one of them. Thus, the image of the heroine... having entered the time of her autumn, is embedded... in a broader landscape context, which enriches... this image with additional meanings. |
A sad love story forms the basis of the story “The Garnet Bracelet”. True, selfless, faithful love is a deep and sincere feeling, the main theme of the story of the great writer.
The history of the creation of the story “Garnet Bracelet”
Alexander Ivanovich began writing his new story, which the famous writer Kuprin conceived as a novella, in the autumn of 1910 in the Ukrainian city of Odessa. He thought that he could write it in a few days, and even reports this in one of his letters to his friend, the literary critic Klestov. He wrote to him that very soon he would send his new manuscript to a familiar book publisher. But the writer was wrong.
The story went beyond the required plot, and therefore took the writer not several days, as he planned, but several months. It is also known that the work is based on a story that actually happened. Alexander Ivanovich reports this in a letter to the philologist and friend Fyodor Batyushkov, when, describing to him how the work on the manuscript is going, they remind him of the history itself, which formed the basis of the work:
“This - remember? - the sad story of a small telegraph official P.P. Zheltikov, who was so hopelessly, touchingly and selflessly in love with Lyubimov’s wife (D.N. is now the governor in Vilna).”
He admitted in a letter to his friend Batyushkov, dated November 21, 1910, that work on a new work was going hard. He wrote:
“Now I’m writing “Bracelet,” but it’s not going well. The main reason is my ignorance of music... And the secular tone!
It is known that in December the manuscript was not yet ready, but work was intensively going on on it, and in one of the letters Kuprin himself gives an assessment of his manuscript, saying that the result is a rather “cute” thing that you don’t even want to crumple up .
The manuscript was published in 1911, when it was published in the magazine “Earth”. At that time, it also contained a dedication to Kuprin’s friend, the writer Klestov, who took an active part in its creation. The story “The Garnet Bracelet” also had an epigraph - the first line of music from one of Beethoven’s sonnets.
Plot of the story
The composition of the story consists of thirteen chapters. At the beginning of the story it is told how difficult it was for Princess Vera Nikolaevna Shein. After all, at the beginning of autumn she was still living in the country, when all the neighbors had long since moved to the city due to bad weather. The young woman could not do this, since her city house was being renovated. But soon the weather calmed down, and the sun even came out. With the warmth, the mood of the main character also improved.
In the second chapter, the reader learns that the princess’s birthday had to be celebrated with pomp, because this was required by her husband’s position. A celebration was scheduled for September 17, which was clearly beyond the family’s means. The thing is that her husband had been bankrupt for a long time, but still did not show it to others, although this affected the family: Vera Nikolaevna not only could not afford anything extra, she even saved on everything. On this day, her sister, with whom the princess was on good terms, came to help the young woman. Anna Nikolaevna Friesse was not at all like her sister, but her relatives were very attached to each other.
In the third chapter, the writer talks about the meeting of the sisters and about a walk by the sea, where Anna gave her sister her valuable gift - a notebook with an antique cover. The fourth chapter takes the reader to that evening when guests began to arrive for the celebration. Among the other invitees was General Anosov, who was a friend of the girls’ father and had known the sisters since childhood. The girls called him grandfather, but they did it sweetly and with great respect and love.
The fifth chapter tells how fun the evening was in the Sheins’ house. Prince Vasily Shein, Vera’s husband, constantly told stories that happened to his relatives and friends, but he did it so cleverly that the guests no longer even understood where the truth was and where it was fiction. Vera Nikolaevna was about to give the order to serve tea, but after counting the guests, she became very frightened. The princess was a superstitious woman, and there were thirteen guests at the table.
Going out to the maid, she learned that the messenger had brought a gift and a note. Vera Nikolaevna started with a note and immediately, from the first lines, realized that it was from her secret admirer. But she felt a little uneasy. The woman also looked at the bracelet, it was beautiful! But the princess faced an important question about whether she should show this gift to her husband.
The sixth chapter is the story of the princess and the telegraph operator. Vera’s husband showed his album with funny pictures and one of them was the story of his wife and a minor official. But it was not finished yet, so Prince Vasily began to simply tell it, not paying attention to the fact that his wife was against it.
In the seventh chapter, the princess says goodbye to the guests: some of them went home, while others settled on the summer terrace. Taking a moment, the young woman shows the letter from her secret admirer to her husband.
General Anosov, leaving in the eighth chapter, listens to the story of Vera Nikolaevna about the letters that the secret sender has been writing for a long time, and then tells the woman that true love is quite rare, but she was lucky. After all, this “madman” loves her with the selfless love that every woman can dream of.
In the ninth chapter, the princess's husband and her brother discuss the bracelet case and come to the conclusion that this story has not only dragged on, but can also negatively affect the family's reputation. Before going to bed, they decide tomorrow to find this secret admirer of Vera Nikolaevna, return the bracelet to him and put an end to this story forever.
In the tenth chapter, Prince Vasily and the girl’s brother Nikolai find Zheltkov and ask to end this story forever. Vera Nikolaevna's husband felt the tragedy of his soul in this man, so he allows him to write a last letter to his wife. After reading this message, the princess immediately realized that this man would definitely do something to himself, for example, kill himself.
In the eleventh chapter, the princess learns about Zheltkov’s death and reads his last letter, where she remembers the following lines: “I tested myself - this is not a disease, not a manic idea - this is love with which God wanted to reward me for something. As I leave, I say in delight: “Hallowed be Thy name.” The princess decides to go to his funeral and look at this man. My husband doesn't mind.
The twelfth and thirteenth chapters are a visit to the deceased Zheltkov, reading his last message and the woman’s disappointment that true love has passed her by.
Characteristics of the characters
There are few characters in the work. But it’s worth dwelling in more detail on the main characters:
Vera Nikolaevna Sheina.
Mr. Zheltkov.
The main character of the story is Vera Nikolaevna Sheina. She comes from an old noble family. Vera is liked by everyone around her, as she is very beautiful and sweet: a gentle face, an aristocratic figure. She has been married for six years. The husband occupies an important place in secular society, although he has financial problems. Vera Nikolaevna has a good education. She also has a brother Nikolai and a sister Anna. She lives with her husband somewhere on the Black Sea coast. Despite the fact that Vera is a superstitious woman and does not read newspapers at all, she loves gambling.
Another main and important character of the story is Mr. Zheltkov. The thin and tall man with nervous fingers was not a rich man. He looked about thirty-five years old. He serves in the control chamber, but holds a low position - a minor official. Kuprin characterizes him as a modest, well-mannered and noble person. Kuprin copied this image from a real person. The prototype of the main character was the petty telegraph official P.P. Zheltikov.
There are other characters in this story:
✔ Anna.
✔ Nikolay
✔ The husband of the main character, Vasily Shein.
✔ General Anosov.
✔ Others.
Each of the characters played a role in the content of the story.
Details in the novel
The story “The Garnet Bracelet” contains many important details that allow us to more deeply reveal the content of the work. But especially among all these details, the garnet bracelet stands out. According to the plot, the main character Vera receives it as a gift from a secret admirer. But first Zheltkov, who is a secret admirer, puts it in a bright red case.
Kuprin gives a detailed description of the bracelet, making one admire its beauty and sophistication: “It was gold, low-grade, very thick, but inflated and on the outside completely covered with small old, poorly polished garnets.” But the further description of the precious bracelet attracts special attention: “In the middle of the bracelet rose, surrounding some strange small green stone, five beautiful cabochon garnets, each the size of a pea.”
The writer also talks about the history of this bracelet, thus emphasizing how important it was for the petty official Zheltkov. The writer writes that this expensive jewelry belonged to the great-grandmother of the protagonist, and the last person to wear it was his late mother, whom he loved very much and kept the warmest memories of her. The green garnet in the middle of the bracelet, according to a minor official, had its own ancient legend, which was passed down in the Zheltkov family from generation to generation. According to this legend, a person is freed from difficult thoughts, a woman also receives the gift of providence as a reward, and a man will be protected from any violent death.
Criticism of the story “The Garnet Bracelet”
Writers highly appreciated Kuprin's skill.
The first review of the work was given by Maxim Gorky in one of his letters in 1911. He was delighted with this story and constantly repeated that it was wonderfully written and that good literature was finally beginning. Reading “The Garnet Bracelet” for the famous revolutionary writer Maxim Gorky became a real holiday. He wrote:
“And what an excellent thing “Garnet Bracelet” by Kuprin... Wonderful!”
