I.A. Bunin left quite a rich literary heritage. He wrote stories, novels, novels, and was an amazing poet. But perhaps the most famous work Bunin is the cycle " Dark alleys" Each story in this series is dedicated to the theme of love. This feeling for Bunin is incomprehensible, frantic, piercing, happy and sad at the same moment.
One of the most remarkable works of this cycle, in my opinion, is the story “ Clean Monday", written in 1944. Bunin was 74 years old, the Second World War was raging in the world. world war, Russia came under a terrible blow from the enemy army, the fate of our Motherland was being decided. The writer was very worried about Russia; he was with his country with all his heart. The state of instability and anxiety could not but affect Bunin’s work. It was at this time that the writer faced the question of the origins and essence of the Russian language. national character, about the mystery of the Russian soul, about the secrets of national psychology.
It is very difficult to see all these thoughts when reading the story “Clean Monday” superficially, paying attention only to the plot. This work is very deep and ambiguous.
There are only two characters in the story: he and she. They don’t even have names, although this is not immediately noticeable - the storytelling is so easy, interesting, and exciting. The absence of a name is, perhaps, more typical for the heroine, because her spiritual appearance is too complex, elusive, she is mysterious, enigmatic. We hear the whole story as if from first-hand, as the hero himself tells it.
It is noteworthy that although the heroes themselves are not named, Bunin gives us a very clear time frame. The action takes place in December 1911 - March 1912. The writer surrounds us with reality historical figures, contemporaries of Bunin, who became unique “symbols” of the era. The characters meet at a lecture given by Andrei Bely, at a theater skit we see Stanislavsky and Moskvin doing a desperate cancan to the “laughter of the audience”, the heroine is invited to dance by the famous theater figure Sulerzhitsky, and the fairly tipsy Kachalov almost falls, trying to kiss his hand “ Tsar-Maiden."
The alignment of the characters in the work is quite interesting. At the center of the story is the heroine, the hero is, as it were, with her. She makes up the meaning of his life: “... he was incredibly happy with every hour spent near her.” The heroine is wise, she seems to be deeper than a hero. Her statements are striking: “Who knows what love is?..”, “Happiness, happiness... Our happiness, my friend, is like water in delirium: if you pull it, it’s inflated, but if you pull it out, there’s nothing.” The hero is constantly trying to unravel what is the secret of her feminine charm: appearance? gestures? demeanor? He is trying to understand her, to realize what is the source of her spiritual wandering?
Bunin's heroine combines opposite principles, her soul is simply woven from contradictions. On the one hand, she loves luxury, social life, but this coexists in her with an internal craving for something different, significant. She is interested in Western European fashionable writers and, at the same time, loves, understands and knows Russian literature well, which she periodically quotes by heart. Behind the visible European gloss hides the original Russian soul. The heroine talks with quiet delight about the Old Believer funeral, enjoying the sound of the Old Russian name. The complexity and originality of her soul is not revealed to us explicitly, but in passing, in unexpected phrases, wise and original sayings.
The heroine’s experiences are inaccessible to the narrator; he does not understand her behavior. The girl accepts his impudent caresses, but does not allow him to reach the end; she interrupts his conversations about the wedding, about legitimizing their relationship. It seems to me that the hero is too fixated on his feelings for her, which is why he is not able to get to know her deeper, to understand the essence of her actions. It comes as a shock to him that the girl attends the Rogozh Old Believer Church, Novodevichy Convent, Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
The heroine is smart, beautiful, independent, rich, but “it looked like she didn’t need anything: no books, no dinners, no theaters, no dinners outside the city...” In this world she is only painfully searching for herself. The ending of the story, in my opinion, is quite predictable: the girl gives herself to the hero on their last night, and leaves the next day. From the letter, the narrator learns that she is in the monastery on obedience, preparing to take monastic vows.
The hero takes this separation very hard. He walks through the dirtiest taverns, gets drunk, and gets depressed. At one point, a certain hopeless humility nevertheless overtakes him. It was at this moment that he last time meets his lover in the church among other nuns.
Is it possible to imagine the heroine in a situation of worldly happiness? I think this is impossible. In her soul lives an eternal need for spiritual purity, thirst for faith. And the decision to change her life comes to her precisely on Clean Monday, on the first day of Lent. It seems to me that in this work Bunin expressed his hope that soon such a clean Monday will come for all of Russia, it will be cleansed of its sins and spiritually reborn for a new, better life.
“Clean Monday” by I.A. Bunin
The story included in the collection “Dark Alleys” by I.A. Bunin's "Clean Monday" was written in 1944. It combines tragic and lyrical principles. At the center of the plot of the work - love story. At the same time, for I.A. For Bunin, it is not so much the events themselves that are important, but rather the feelings and emotions of the characters in the story. This is the main feature of most of his works. They are distinguished by the presence of a lyrical plot, organized according to the associative principle.
Love for I.A. Bunin is a short-term happy period of life, which, unfortunately, always ends quickly, but for many years leaves an indelible mark on the heroes’ souls.
The plot of the story is dynamic. The actions of the heroes are not fully explained, and are unlikely to be interpreted logically. It is no coincidence that the author often uses the epithet “strange” in this work.
The hero of the story is a nobleman. The heroine belongs to the merchant class. The hero dreams of marriage, but his chosen one deliberately leaves serious conversations on this topic.
A poetic portrait of the heroine is created using a number of exquisite details. This is the garnet velvet of the dress, the black velvet of the hair and eyelashes, the gold of the skin of the face. It is symbolic that the heroine consistently appears in clothes of three colors: in a garnet velvet dress and the same shoes, in a black fur coat, hat and boots on Forgiveness Sunday and in a black velvet dress on the night from Monday to Tuesday. Finally, in final scene In the story, an image of a female figure in a white robe appears.
Of particular importance for the creation artistic space The work contains a play of light and darkness (“It had long since gotten dark, the frost-lit windows behind the trees were turning pink,” “The Moscow gray winter day was getting dark, the gas in the lanterns was coldly lit, the shop windows were warmly illuminated”). Such light contrasts enhance the atmosphere of mystery and mystery.
There is a lot in the story symbolic details: view of the Kremlin and the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the gate as a symbol of purification, finding the righteous path. Every evening the hero moves from the Red Gate to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and back. At the end of the story, he finds himself at the gates of the Marfo-Mariinsky monastery. On the last evening of the heroes' intimacy, he sees her naked in swan slippers in the doorway. This scene is also symbolic: the heroine has already decided her fate, she is ready to go to a monastery and from sinful life. social life turn to a righteous life.
The story consists of four parts. At the same time artistic time as if completing a certain circle: from December 1912 to the end of 1914.
I.A. Bunin considered this story the best he had ever written. The fate of the heroine in it to some extent symbolizes the fate of Russia: the writer saw the path of his native power in purification, and not in the bloody cataclysms of the revolutionary era.
Class- 11
Lesson objectives:
- introduce students to the life and work of I.A. Bunin, the book “Dark Alleys”;
- analyze the story “Clean Monday”: reveal the problem of love, find out the reasons tragic fate heroes;
- introduce the spiritual heritage of Russia;
- develop analytical reading skills epic work, the ability to make micro-conclusions and, with their help, a general conclusion; develop critical thinking, stage skills;
- cultivate spiritual culture, responsibility for one’s actions and the fate of the country;
- make interdisciplinary connections - draw parallels: literature, painting, music, religion.
Equipment: exhibition “Who wants to know Russia, visit Moscow”, portrait of I.A. Bunin, music by L.-V. Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”, D. Verdi’s opera “Aida”, “Red Ringing” of bells, candles, texts of the work and prayers of E. Sirin, Kustodiev’s painting “Maslenitsa”, magazine “LSh” - No. 2, 3, 1996, No. 3 , 1997, projector.
Lesson progress
I. Org. moment.
II. Preparation for the main stage.
Teacher's word.
Today we will get acquainted with the work of I.A. Bunin; Let's find out what problems the author touches on in the story “Clean Monday” and how the characters solve them.
III. Assimilation of new knowledge and methods of action.
1. Presentation about I.A. Bunin. Student’s speech.
2. Reading the epigraph.
Is there such a thing as unhappy love?
Doesn't the world's sad music give happiness?
All love is great happiness,
even if it is not divided.
I. Bunin
3. Analysis of the epigraph. Teacher's word.
These words are the meaning of the entire book “Dark Alleys”. You can call it an encyclopedia of love dramas, a book of 38 love stories created during World War II (1937-1944). I. Bunin in 1947 This is how he assessed his work: “She talks about the tragic and about many tender and beautiful things - I think that this is the best and most original thing that I have written in my life...”
Bunin's love amazes not only with the power of artistic depiction, but also with its subordination to some internal, unknown laws. It's a secret. And not everyone, in his opinion, is given the opportunity to touch her. The state of love is not fruitless for the writer’s heroes; it elevates their souls. However, love is not only happiness, but also tragedy. It cannot end in marriage. Bunin's heroes part forever.
4. The history of writing the story “Clean Monday”.
The story “Clean Monday” was written on May 12, 1944.
Why is the date of writing specific, and the events described in the work refer to 1914? 1944 During the years of difficult trials for the country, I. Bunin reminded people of love as the most wonderful feeling in life. Thus, Bunin rejected fascism and exalted Russia.
5. The meaning of the story's title.
1) Historical background holiday. Reading a textbook article.
Maslenitsa – Forgiveness Sunday – Lent – Clean Monday – Easter
2) Description of Clean Monday by I. Shmelev in the novel “The Summer of the Lord.”
(Against the background of Beethoven's music)
“Today is Clean Monday, and everything in our house is being cleaned... It’s dripping outside the window - when it starts crying. So she began to cry - drip... drip... drip... And something joyful is stirring in her heart: everything is new now, different. Now the soul will begin...”, “the soul must be prepared.” Fast, fast, prepare for the Bright Day... Today is a special day, strict... Yesterday was a forgiven day... Read - “Lord is the Lord of my life...”. The rooms are quiet and deserted, smelling of a sacred smell. In the hallway, in front of the reddish icon of the Crucifixion... they lit a Lenten... lamp, and now it will burn unquenchably until Easter. When my father lights the lamps - on Saturdays he lights the lamps himself - he always hums pleasantly and sadly: “Let us bow to Your Cross, Master,” and I sing after him, wonderful:
And holy... Your Resurrection
Sla-a-vim!..
Joyful prayer! She shines with a gentle light in these sad days of Lent!”
6. Introduction to the Lenten prayer of Ephraim the Syrian.
Ephraim the Syrian - outstanding figure Christian Church of the 4th century, famous author of many theological works.
“Lord and Master of my life, do not give me the spirit of idleness, covetousness and idle talk. Grant me the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to your servant! To her, Lord the King, grant me to see my sins and not condemn my brother, for blessed are you forever and ever. Amen".
7. Story composition.
The composition is consistent.
Winter at the beginning and end of the story is syntactic parallelism.
8. Conversation based on content.
Why is the plot interesting?
What emotions did the story evoke in you?
What kind of ending were you expecting?
Why didn't your hopes come true?
How would you end the story of this undying love?
Where does the action take place?
Name the holy places of Moscow mentioned in the story. (Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Novodevichy Convent, Conception Monastery, Archangel Cathedral, Marfo-Mariinsky Convent) (Excerpts from a poem about Moscow are heard while the bells are ringing)
Here, as it was, so now -
The heart of all Rus' is holy.
Here are her shrines
Behind the Kremlin wall!
(V.Bryusov)
Wonderful city ancient city,
You fit into your ends
And towns and villages,
And chambers and palaces!
Belted with a ribbon of arable land,
You are all colorful in the gardens:
How many temples, how many towers
On your seven hills!
May you flourish with eternal glory,
City of temples and chambers!
Middle city, heartfelt city,
The city of indigenous Russia!
(F. Glinka)
“This is the Russia we lost,” I. Shmelev laments. And I. Bunin echoes him.
The story is built on contrasts.
Artistic detail plays a huge role. This is the color.
| black | yellow | red |
| Black hair | Shoes with gold buckles | Garnet shoes |
| Eyes as black as coal | Golden Dome | Garnet velvet dress |
| Tar bangs | Gold brocade | Brick and bloody walls of the monastery |
| Dark eyes | Sunset Gold Enamel | Red Gate |
| Charcoal velvet eye | Amber of bare hands | |
| Black board icons | Golden cross on the forehead | |
| Black kid glove | Amber face | |
| Black felt boots | Book “Fire Angel” | |
| Black velvet dress | Yellow-haired Rus' | |
| Black shiny braids | Amber cheeks | |
| Smolny hair | Fire pancakes | |
| Indian Persian beauty | Gold iconostasis | |
| Eyebrows like black sable fur | ||
| Black leather sofa |
What is their function?
Yellow and red are traditional colors of icon painting.
Yellow symbolizes the Kingdom of Heaven.
Red – fire, i.e. life.
Black – humility, submission.
What does SHE do?
(Listening to Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”)
Topic “ Moonlight Sonata” - this is SHE.
He is the theme of the march from Aida. Prove it.
(Listen to Verdi's music)
“... human life is entirely under the power of a woman,” noted Maupassant.
Let's listen to their dialogue.
(There are two chairs nearby. She reads silently.)
She: - You are terribly talkative and restless, let me finish reading the chapter.
He: - If I hadn't been talkative and restless, I might never have recognized you
She: - That's all true, but still be silent for a while, read something, smoke...
He: - I can’t remain silent! You can't imagine the power of my love for you! You don't love me!
She: - I can imagine. As for my love, you know well, except for my father and you, I have no one in the world. In any case, you are my first and last. Is this not enough for you? But enough about that.
He (to himself): -Strange love.
She : - I’m not fit to be a wife. I'm not good, I'm not good.
He (to himself): -We’ll see there!
(out loud) No, this is beyond my strength! And why, why do you torture me and yourself so cruelly! “Yes, after all, this is not love, not love...”
She: - May be. Who knows what love is?
He : - I, I know! (exclaimed) And I will wait for you to find out what love and happiness are!
What do his internal remarks say?
Do you think they loved each other? Prove it.
Did he recognize her? Why?
And again the whole evening they talked about strangers.
So January, February passed... Maslenitsa.
On Forgiveness Sunday, she ordered him to come in the evening.
What day is this?
He has arrived. She met him, all in black.
Read their dialogue. (Reading dialogue)
Why does she want to go to a monastery?
Why didn't he know about her religiosity? What were you blinded by?
(Sounds “Moonlight Sonata”)
At 10 o'clock evening the next day (it was Clean Monday) he opened the door with his key. Everything was lit: chandeliers, candelabra, a lamp... and the “Moonlight Sonata” was playing. She stood near the piano in a black velvet dress.
They went to the cabbage party.
What kind of entertainment is this?
How did she behave? Why cheeky? What is strange about her character?
What was the weather like that evening? (Blizzard)
What role does a snowstorm play?
Why did she keep him after the “cabbage party”, which she had not done before?
Why did she take off all her black clothes and wear only swan slippers?
What role does white play?
Why was there no more snowstorm when he left her?
Why is she leaving for Tver?
What letter did she write? Read it.
Why did she go to the monastery?
Why wasn’t he surprised by this ending to their meetings? (Didn't look into the soul)
Re-read the ending of the story.
When was this?
What brought him to the monastery?
What did he understand?
Why did he turn and quietly walk out of the gate?
Why is the story told in 1st person?
IV. Systematization and generalization of knowledge.
Conclusions from the lesson.
Any true love- great happiness, even if it ends in separation, death, tragedy. Bunin’s heroes, who have lost, overlooked, or destroyed their love themselves, come to this conclusion, albeit late. In this late repentance, in the late spiritual resurrection of the heroes, we see real people, their imperfection, inability to value what is nearby, and we also see the imperfection of life itself, social conditions, circumstances that often interfere with truly human relationships.
The story, which tells about tragic collisions, does not carry pessimism. He's like music, like everything great art, cleanses, elevates the soul, affirming the truly high and beautiful.
V. Summing up the lesson.
VI. Reflection.
VII. Information about homework.
How would you conclude the story? Complete the love story.
The story “Clean Monday” is amazingly beautiful and tragic at the same time. The meeting of two people leads to the emergence of a wonderful feeling - love. But love is not only joy, it is a huge torment, against the background of which many problems and troubles seem invisible. The story described exactly how the man and woman met. But the story begins from the moment at which their relationship had already been going on for quite some time. Bunin pays attention to the smallest details, to how “the Moscow gray winter day darkened,” or to where the lovers went for dinner - “to Prague, to the Hermitage, to the Metropol.”
The tragedy of separation is anticipated at the very beginning of the story. Main character doesn't know where their relationship will lead. He simply prefers not to think about this: “I didn’t know how it was going to end, and I tried not to think, not to speculate: it was useless - just like talking to her about it: she once and for all turned away conversations about our future.” Why does the heroine reject conversations about the future?
Is she not interested in continuing the relationship with her loved one? Or does she already have some idea about her future? judging by the way Bunin describes the main character, she appears as a completely special woman, unlike many around. She takes courses, not realizing, however, why she needs to study. When asked why she was studying, the girl answered: “Why is everything done in the world? Do we understand anything in our actions?”
The girl loves to surround herself with beautiful things, she is educated, sophisticated, smart. But at the same time, she seems somehow surprisingly detached from everything that surrounded her: “It looked like she didn’t need anything: no flowers, no books, no dinners, no theaters, no dinners out of town.” At the same time, she knows how to enjoy life, enjoys reading, delicious food, interesting impressions. It would seem that the lovers have everything they need for happiness: “We were both rich, healthy, young and so good-looking that in restaurants and at concerts people looked at us.” At first it may seem that the story describes a real love idyll. But in reality everything was completely different.
It is no coincidence that the main character comes up with the idea of the strangeness of their love. The girl denies in every possible way the possibility of marriage, she explains that she is not fit to be a wife. The girl cannot find herself, she is in thought. She is attracted to a luxurious, fun life. But at the same time she resists it, wants to find something different for herself. Conflicting feelings arise in the girl’s soul, which are incomprehensible to many young people who are accustomed to a simple and carefree existence.
The girl visits churches and Kremlin cathedrals. She is drawn to religion, to holiness, herself, perhaps, not realizing why she is attracted to this. Quite suddenly, without explaining anything to anyone, she decides to leave not only her lover, but also her usual way of life. After leaving, the heroine informs in a letter of her intention to decide to take monastic vows. She doesn't want to explain anything to anyone. Parting with his beloved turned out to be a difficult test for the main character. Only after a long time was he able to see her among the line of nuns.
The story is called “Clean Monday” because it was on the eve of this holy day that the first conversation about religiosity took place between the lovers. Before this, the main character had not thought or suspected about the other side of the girl’s nature. She seemed quite happy with her usual life, in which there was a place for theaters, restaurants, and fun. The renunciation of secular joys for the sake of a monastic monastery testifies to the deep internal torment that took place in the soul of the young woman. Perhaps this is precisely what explains the indifference with which she treated her usual life. She could not find a place for herself among everything that surrounded her. And even love could not help her in finding spiritual harmony.
Love and tragedy go hand in hand in this story, as, indeed, in many other works of Bunin. Love in itself does not seem to be happiness, but rather a difficult test that must be endured with honor. Love is sent to people who cannot, do not know how to understand and appreciate it in time.
What is the tragedy of the main characters in the story “Clean Monday”? The fact is that a man and a woman were never able to understand and appreciate each other properly. Every person is the whole world, the whole Universe. Inner world The girl, the heroine of the story, is very rich. She is in thought, in a spiritual search. She is attracted and frightened at the same time surrounding reality, she doesn't find anything to get attached to. And love appears not as salvation, but as another problem that weighs on her. That is why the heroine decides to give up love.
Refusal from worldly joys and entertainment reveals in a girl strong nature. This is how she answers her own questions about the meaning of existence. In the monastery she does not have to ask herself any questions; now the meaning of life for her becomes love for God and service to him. Everything vain, vulgar, petty and insignificant will never touch her again. Now she can be in her solitude without worrying that it will be disturbed.
The story may seem sad and even tragic. To some extent this is true. But at the same time, the story “Clean Monday” is sublimely beautiful. It makes you think about true values, that each of us sooner or later has to face a situation moral choice. And not everyone has the courage to admit that the choice was made incorrectly.
At first, the girl lives the way many of those around her live. But gradually she realizes that she is not satisfied not only with the way of life itself, but also with all the little things and details that surround her. She finds the strength to look for another option and comes to the conclusion that love for God can be her salvation. Love for God simultaneously elevates her, but at the same time makes all her actions completely incomprehensible. The main character, a man in love with her, practically ruins his life. He remains alone. But the point is not that she leaves him completely unexpectedly. She treats him cruelly, making him suffer and suffer. True, he suffers with him. He suffers and suffers of his own free will. This is evidenced by the heroine’s letter: “May God give me the strength not to answer me - it is useless to prolong and increase our torment...”.
Lovers are separated not because unfavorable circumstances arise. In fact, the reason is completely different. The reason is a sublime and at the same time deeply unhappy girl who cannot find the meaning of existence for herself. She cannot but deserve respect - this amazing girl who was not afraid to change her destiny so dramatically. But at the same time, she seems to be an incomprehensible and incomprehensible person, so unlike everyone who surrounded her.
For I. A. Bunin, the feeling of love is always a secret, great, unknowable and miracle beyond the control of human reason. In his stories, no matter what kind of love it is: strong, real, mutual, it never reaches marriage. He stops it at the highest point of pleasure and immortalizes it in prose.
From 1937 to 1945 Ivan Bunin writes an intriguing work, which will later be included in the collection “Dark Alleys”. While writing the book, the author emigrated to France. Thanks to the work on the story, the writer was to some extent distracted from the dark streak that was going on in his life.
Bunin said that “Clean Monday” is best job which was written by him:
I thank God for giving me the opportunity to write “Clean Monday.”
Genre, direction
“Clean Monday” was written in the direction of realism. But before Bunin they didn’t write about love like that. The writer finds those only words that do not trivialize feelings, but each time rediscover emotions familiar to everyone.
The work “Clean Monday” is a short story, a small everyday work, somewhat similar to a short story. The difference can only be found in the plot and compositional construction. The short story genre, unlike the short story, is characterized by the presence of a certain turn of events. In this book, such a turn is a change in the heroine’s outlook on life and a sharp change in her lifestyle.
Meaning of the name
Ivan Bunin clearly draws a parallel with the title of the work, making the main character a girl who rushes between opposites and does not yet know what she needs in life. She changes for the better on Monday, and not just the first day of the new week, but a religious celebration, that turning point, which is marked by the church itself, where the heroine goes to cleanse herself of the luxury, idleness and bustle of her former life.
Clean Monday is the first holiday of Lent in the calendar, leading to Forgiveness Sunday. The author draws the thread of the turning point in the heroine’s life: from various amusements and unnecessary fun, to the adoption of religion, and leaving for a monastery.
The essence
The story is told in the first person. The main events are as follows: every evening the narrator visits a girl who lives opposite the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, for whom he has feelings strong feelings. He is extremely talkative, she is very silent. There was no intimacy between them, and this keeps him in bewilderment and some kind of expectation.
For some time they continue to go to theaters and spend evenings together. Forgiveness Sunday is approaching, and they go to the Novodevichy Convent. Along the way, the heroine talks about how yesterday she was at the schismatic cemetery, and with admiration describes the burial ceremony of the archbishop. The narrator had not previously noticed any religiosity in her, and therefore listened attentively, with glowing, loving eyes. The heroine notices this and is amazed at how much he loves her.
In the evening they go to a skit party, after which the narrator accompanies her home. The girl asks to let the coachmen go, which she hasn’t done before, and come up to her. It was just their evening.
In the morning, the heroine says that she is leaving for Tver, to the monastery - there is no need to wait or look for her.
The main characters and their characteristics
The image of the main character can be viewed from several angles of the narrator: a young man in love evaluates his chosen one as a participant in the events, and he also sees her in the role of a person who only remembers the past. His views on life after falling in love, after passion, change. By the end of the story, the reader now sees his maturity and depth of thoughts, but at the beginning the hero was blinded by his passion and did not see the character of his beloved behind it, did not feel her soul. This is the reason for his loss and the despair into which he plunged after the disappearance of the lady of his heart.
The girl's name cannot be found in the work. For the storyteller, this is simply the same one - unique. The heroine is an ambiguous nature. She has education, sophistication, intelligence, but at the same time she is withdrawn from the world. She is attracted by an unattainable ideal, to which she can only strive within the walls of the monastery. But at the same time, she fell in love with a man and cannot just leave him. Contrast of feelings leads to internal conflict, which we can glimpse in her tense silence, in her desire for quiet and secluded corners, for reflection and solitude. The girl still cannot understand what she needs. She is seduced by a luxurious life, but at the same time, she resists it and tries to find something else that will illuminate her path with meaning. And in this honest choice, in this loyalty to oneself lies great power, there is great happiness, which Bunin described with such pleasure.
Topics and issues
- The main theme is love. It is she who gives a person meaning in life. For a girl guiding star became divine revelation, she found herself, but her chosen one, having lost the woman of his dreams, lost his way.
- The problem of misunderstanding. The whole essence of the tragedy of heroes lies in misunderstanding each other. The girl, feeling love for the narrator, does not see anything good in this - for her this is a problem, and not a way out of a confusing situation. She is looking for herself not in the family, but in service and spiritual calling. He sincerely does not see this and tries to impose on her his vision of the future - the creation of marriage bonds.
- Theme of choice also appears in the novella. Every person has a choice, and everyone decides for themselves what to do right. Main character I chose my path - entering a monastery. The hero continued to love her, and could not come to terms with her choice, because of this he could not find inner harmony, find himself.
- Also I. A. Bunin can be traced theme of human purpose in life. The main character does not know what she wants, but she feels her calling. It is very difficult for her to understand herself, and because of this, the narrator also cannot fully understand her. However, she follows the call of her soul, vaguely guessing her destiny - destiny higher powers. And this is very good for both of them. If a woman made a mistake and got married, she would remain unhappy forever and blame the one who led her astray. And the man would suffer from unrequited happiness.
- The problem of happiness. The hero sees him in love with the lady, but the lady moves along a different coordinate system. She will find harmony only alone with God.
Main idea
The writer writes about true love, which ultimately ends in breakup. The heroes make such decisions themselves; they have complete freedom of choice. And the meaning of their actions is the idea of the entire book. Each of us must choose exactly that love that we can worship without complaint throughout our lives. A person must be true to himself and the passion that lives in his heart. The heroine found the strength to go to the end and, despite all doubts and temptations, to reach her cherished goal.
The main idea of the novel is an ardent call for honest self-determination. There is no need to be afraid that someone will not understand or judge your decision, if you are sure that this is your calling. In addition, a person must be able to resist those obstacles and temptations that prevent him from hearing his own voice. Fate depends on whether we are able to hear it, both our own fate and the position of those to whom we are dear.
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