Description of Anna's garnet bracelet. Kuprin garnet bracelet

Anna Nikolaevna is one of the minor characters in the work, the sister of the main character of the novel, Vera Nikolaevna Sheina. Revealing the image of Anna Nikolaevna, the writer notes the absolute dissimilarity of the sisters, expressed not only in appearance, but also in the manifestation of characteristic features and actions.

The description of Anna's appearance emphasizes the traits she inherited from her father, who is of Tatar origin. Small narrow eyes and wide cheekbones are located on a Mongolian-shaped face; the woman is short in stature and has fairly broad shoulders, but is at the same time very feminine and charming. So her back and chest stand out in beauty in Anna’s entire appearance; she loves to expose them when dressing for parties and balls. By nature, Anna Nikolaevna is funny, frivolous and lively. The woman is nearsighted, so she constantly squints her narrow eyes.

Anna Nikolaevna's face often expresses an arrogant, mysterious charm, framed by a perky smile, but this is precisely why she attracts representatives of the opposite sex, although she does not have the same beauty as her sister.

Anna, like her sister, is the wife of an influential man for whom she has no love feelings, but endures marriage for the sake of two children, leading a righteous lifestyle, although she does not hide her true attitude towards her husband.

A woman loves flirting, enjoys incredible success with men of different ages, but adultery is unacceptable to her. Anna's hobbies are varied, but mainly she gives preference to gambling, studying information about various innovations, and vivid impressions. Her weakness is the sea with its incredible space, strong waves, and prickly wind.

By character, Anna Nikolaevna is described as a kind, sympathetic woman, moderately religious, but a little wasteful in everyday life. She tenderly adores her obedient children, and also surrounds her beloved sister and her husband, General Anosov, with love and care.

The writer contrasts the image of Anna with the cold nature of the main character of the novel, Vera, since she is portrayed as a dreamy, romantic woman, unhappy in marriage, but dreaming of bright and eternal love, conquering men with her perky laughter, lively mood, cheerful and open character. By comparing the images of the sisters, the author proves to readers that it is not the external beauty of a person that is important, but his inner state of mind, his charm, which allows him to attract others to himself, despite his unsightly appearance.

Option 2

A. I. Kuprin’s story “The Garnet Bracelet” is an ode dedicated to love. One of the characters in the story is Anna Nikolaevna Friesse. This is the sister of the main character Vera Nikolaevna Sheina.

Anna Nikolaevna is the complete opposite of Vera Nikolaevna. She is not as aristocratically beautiful as Vera, but she has perhaps greater charm. Kuprin describes it in sufficient detail. She is a short woman with Mongolian features inherited from her father. The young woman has narrow eyes, which she also constantly squints because she is nearsighted, slightly broad shoulders, and a beautiful chest and back.

Anna Nikolaevna knows how to present herself advantageously, so her outfits often have a rather daring neckline with an open back. A woman dresses with taste, does not limit herself in anything, loves luxury and is even a little wasteful.

Anna Nikolaevna is a woman with a perky character, capable of flirting with the opposite sex. She knows that she is successful with men and speculates on this immensely. However, along with this, she never cheats on her husband, although she always admits to his face and behind his back that she no longer loves him. She has two children: a boy and a girl, whom Anna Nikolaevna loves madly and strictly raises. These nice children are always polite to adults, they are adored by Aunt Vera Nikolaevna, who has no children of her own. The sisters, despite their different characters, are friendly and adore each other.

Unlike Vera, Anna Nikolaevna loves to go to balls, organizes receptions herself, and all this amuses her and makes life interesting. Her husband, Gustav Ivanovich Friesse, is fabulously rich, so his wife quite legitimately uses what life has given her. Gambling is her strong point, and it’s not for nothing that the author points out her extravagance. But this character has even more kindness and generosity than the main character, so she is more attractive. With all this, this woman is surprisingly religious. Under the deep neckline, as they say (or rather joke), she hides a hair shirt.

Anna Nikolaevna secretly converts to Catholicism. Apparently this step was made after much thought. A.I. Kuprin in the image of this woman shows that living, rejoicing, thanking the Creator for all the benefits that He bestows is the life of a grateful person.

Just like Vera Nikolaevna, Anna feels sorry for Zheltkov and his love, which he selflessly sacrifices.

Essay Anna Nikolaevna in the story Garnet Bracelet

Anna Nikolaevna is a minor character in the story by A.I. Kuprin, however, no less significant than the main characters. Thanks to the well-written image of Anna, the image of Vera is revealed more fully.

Anna Nikolaevna is Vera’s sister and, although the sisters are close to each other, they are completely different in character and appearance. Anna took after her Mongol father in appearance and, although her appearance was far from the canons of beauty of that time, thanks to her charm she easily won the admiration of those around her. The owner of quite lively facial expressions and an extraordinary smile, she drives men crazy, but at the same time remains faithful to her unloved husband, for whom she does not even feel respect, ridiculing his shortcomings in public. The heroine has a beautiful figure, which she undoubtedly knows and emphasizes in every possible way, choosing quite bold styles in clothes, on the verge of decency.

The image of Anna Nikolaevna is quite contradictory; it combines arrogance and feminine charm, the desire to flirt with men and loyalty to her husband. The heroine loves gambling and strives to obtain bright emotions and thrills. She is inquisitive and loves to learn new things. The heroine can be called wasteful, but at the same time she is kind to others. The writer shows his reader Anna as a careless, but very sweet woman with a lot of energy.

Anna Nikolaevna is a very devout person, she secretly converts to Catholicism, and there is a rumor in the world that under her dress she is wearing a hair shirt, which with its pricklyness does not allow one to forget about humility, patience and obedience. She always notices the beauty of the world around her and never tires of thanking God for it.

Through the image of Anna A.I. Kuprin shows the importance of spiritual beauty, belittling the importance of external charm. Thanks to her spiritual beauty, Anna is able to make men of different ages fall in love with her, and she herself secretly dreams of love. Although it is difficult to call the heroine happy in marriage, all the love that she cannot give to her husband is spent on his children, sister and her husband.

I wouldn’t like to compare everyone, but most people nowadays are characterized by tactlessness. And only a few of us know how to behave correctly and appropriately in each situation. I agree, specifically, they don’t teach us this

Why Oblomov chose Agafya Pshenitsyn over Olga Ilyinskaya

Oblomov is a person who is used to adapting to reality in the most convenient way, he does not show efforts as such, he lives all his life, as they say, ready-made. Even when he is inspired by Ilyinskaya

Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina, the wife of the leader of the nobility, had already been living with her husband at the dacha for some time, because their city apartment was being renovated. Today was her name day, and therefore guests were supposed to arrive. The first to appear was Vera's sister, Anna Nikolaevna Friesse, who was married to a very rich and very stupid man who did nothing, but was registered with some charitable society and had the rank of chamber cadet. Grandfather, General Anosov, whom the sisters love very much, is due to arrive. The guests began to arrive after five o'clock. Among them is the famous pianist Jenny Reuter, a friend of Princess Vera from the Smolny Institute, Anna’s husband brought with him Professor Speshnikov and the local vice-governor von Seck. His widowed sister Lyudmila Lvovna comes with Prince Vasily Lvovich. Lunch is very fun, everyone has known each other well for a long time.
Vera Nikolaevna suddenly noticed that there were thirteen guests. This scared her a little. Everyone sat down to play poker. Vera did not want to play, and she was heading to the terrace, where tea was being served, when the maid beckoned her from the living room with a somewhat mysterious look. She handed her the package that the messenger had brought half an hour ago.
Vera opened the package - under the paper there was a small red plush jewelry case. It contained an oval gold bracelet, and inside it was a carefully folded note. She unfolded it. The handwriting seemed familiar to her. She put the note aside and decided to look at the bracelet first. “It was gold, low-grade, very thick, but blown and on the outside completely covered with small old, poorly polished garnets. But in the middle of the bracelet towered, surrounding some old small green stone, five beautiful cabochon garnets, each the size of a pea. When Vera, with a random movement, successfully turned the bracelet in front of the fire of an electric light bulb, then in them, deep under their smooth egg-shaped surface, lovely, rich red living lights suddenly lit up.” Then she read the lines written in small, superb calligraphic handwriting. It was a congratulation on Angel's Day. The author reported that this bracelet belonged to his great-grandmother, then his late mother wore it. The pebble in the middle is a very rare variety of garnet - green garnet. He further wrote: “According to an ancient legend that has been preserved in our family, it has the ability to impart the gift of foresight to women who wear it and drives away heavy thoughts from them, while it protects men from violent death... I beg you not to be angry with me. I blush at the memory of my insolence seven years ago, when I dared to write stupid and wild letters to you, young lady, and even expect an answer to them. Now all that remains in me is reverence, eternal admiration and slavish devotion...” “Should I show Vasya or not show it? And if shown, when? Now or after the guests? No, it’s better later - now not only this unfortunate man will be funny, but I will be funny too,” Vera thought and could not take her eyes off the five scarlet bloody lights trembling inside the five pomegranates. Meanwhile, the evening went on as usual. Prince Vasily Lvovich showed his sister, Anosov and brother-in-law a homemade humorous album with handwritten drawings. Their laughter attracted everyone else. There was a story: “Princess Vera and the telegraph operator in love.” “It’s better not to,” Vera said, quietly touching her husband’s shoulder. But he either didn’t hear or didn’t pay attention. He humorously recounts old letters from a man in love with Vera. He wrote them when she was not yet married. Prince Vasily calls the author a telegraph operator. The husband keeps talking and saying... “Gentlemen, who wants some tea?” - asked Vera Nikolaevna. General Anosov tells his goddaughters about the love he had in his youth in Bulgaria with a Bulgarian girl. When the time came for the troops to leave, they swore an oath of eternal mutual love to each other and said goodbye forever. “Is that all?” - Lyudmila Lvovna asked disappointedly. Later, when almost all the guests had left, Vera, seeing off her grandfather, quietly said to her husband: “Come and look... there in my table, in a drawer, there is a red case, and there is a letter in it. Read it.” It was so dark that we had to feel our way with our feet. The general led Vera by the arm. “This Lyudmila Lvovna is funny,” he suddenly spoke, as if he was continuing the flow of his thoughts out loud. - And I want to say that people nowadays have forgotten how to love. I don't see true love. And I haven’t seen it in my time!” Marriage, in his opinion, means nothing. “Take Vasya and me for example. Can we call our marriage unhappy?” - Vera asked. Anosov was silent for a long time. Then he said reluctantly: “Well, okay... let’s say it’s an exception.” Why do people get married? As for women, they are afraid to remain as girls, they want to be a mistress, a lady, independent... Men have different motives. Fatigue from single life, from disorder in the house, from tavern dinners... Again, the thought of children... Sometimes there are thoughts about the dowry. Where is the love? Is love unselfish, selfless, not waiting for reward? “Wait, wait, Vera, now you want me again about your Vasya? Really, I love him. He is a good guy. Who knows, maybe the future will show his love in the light of great beauty. But you understand what kind of love I'm talking about. Love must be a tragedy. The greatest secret in the world! No life conveniences, calculations or compromises should concern her.” “Have you ever seen such love, grandfather?” “No,” the old man answered decisively. - True, I know of two similar cases... In one regiment of our division... there was the wife of the regimental commander... Bony, red-haired, thin... In addition, a morphine addict. And then one day, in the fall, they send a newly minted ensign to their regiment... fresh from military school. After a month, this old horse completely mastered him. He is a page, he is a servant, he is a slave... By Christmas she was already tired of him. She returned to one of her former... passions. But he couldn't. Follows her like a ghost. He was all exhausted, emaciated, blackened... And then one spring they organized some kind of May Day or picnic for the regiment... They returned back at night on foot along the railroad bed. Suddenly a freight train comes towards them... she suddenly whispers in the ensign’s ear: “You all say that you love me. But if I order you, you probably won’t throw yourself under a train.” And he, without answering a word, ran and ran under the train. He, they say, calculated correctly... so it would have been neatly cut in half. But some idiot decided to hold him back and push him away. Yes, I didn’t master it. The ensign, as he grabbed the rails with his hands, both his hands were chopped off... And the man disappeared... in the most vile way...” The general tells another incident. When the regiment was leaving for war and the train had already started moving, the wife loudly shouted to her husband: “Remember, take care of Volodya.”<своего любовника> ! If anything happens to him, I will leave home and never return. And I’ll take the children.” At the front, this captain, a brave soldier, looked after this coward and quitter Vishnyakov, like a nanny, like a mother. Everyone was happy when they learned that Vishnyakov died in the hospital from typhus... The general asks Vera what the story is with the telegraph operator. Vera spoke in detail about some madman who began to pursue her with his love two years before her marriage. She has never seen him and does not know his last name. He signed himself G.S.Zh. Once he mentioned that he served in some government institution as a small official - he did not mention a word about the telegraph. He must have been constantly watching her, because in his letters he indicated exactly where she was in the evenings... and how she was dressed. At first his letters were somewhat vulgar, although quite chaste. But one day Vera wrote to him so that he would not bother her anymore. Since then, he began to limit himself to congratulations on holidays. Princess Vera spoke about the bracelet and about the strange letter from her mysterious admirer. “Yes,” the general finally drawled. “Maybe he’s just an abnormal fellow... or... maybe your path in life, Verochka, was crossed by just such a love...” Vera’s brother Nikolai and Vasily Lvovich are worried that the unknown person will boast to someone that he Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina receives his gifts, then she will send him something else, then she will go to prison for embezzlement, and the Sheina princes will be called as witnesses." I feel sorry for this unfortunate man," Vera said hesitantly. Vera's husband and brother find the desired apartment on the eighth floor, having climbed the dirty, spit-stained stairs. The occupant of the Zheltkov room was a man "very pale, with a gentle girlish face, blue eyes and a stubborn childish chin with a dimple in the middle; he must have been about thirty, thirty.five years old." He silently takes back his bracelet and apologizes for his behavior. Having learned that the gentlemen were going to turn to the authorities for help, Zheltkov laughed, sat down on the sofa and lit a cigarette. “Now the most difficult moment in my life has come. And I must, prince, speak to you outside of any conventions... Will you listen to me?” “I’m listening,” Shein said. Zheltkov says that he loves Shein’s wife. It's hard for him to say, but seven years of hopeless and polite love give him this right. He knows that he can never stop loving her. They cannot end this feeling of his with anything, except perhaps by death. Zheltkov asks permission to talk on the phone with Princess Vera Nikolaevna. He will convey to them the contents of the conversation. He returned ten minutes later. His eyes sparkled and were deep, as if filled with unshed tears. “I’m ready,” he said, “and tomorrow you won’t hear anything from me. It's as if I died for you. But there is one condition - I’m telling you this, Prince Vasily Lvovich - you see, I squandered government money, and after all, I have to flee from this city. Will you allow me to write one last letter to Princess Vera Nikolaevna?” Shein allows it. In the evening at the dacha, Vasily Lvovich told his wife in detail about his date with Zheltkov. It was as if he felt obligated to do this. At night, Vera says: “I know that this man will kill himself.” Vera never read newspapers, but on this day for some reason she unfolded exactly that sheet and came across the column where it was reported about the suicide of the control chamber official G.S. Zheltkov. All day long she walked around the flower garden and the orchard and thought about a man whom she had never seen. Maybe this was the real, selfless, true love that grandfather spoke about? At six o'clock the postman brought Zheltkov's letter. He wrote this: “It’s not my fault, Vera Nikolaevna, that God was pleased to send me, as great happiness, love for you... for me, my whole life lies only in you... I am infinitely grateful to you just for the fact that you exist. I tested 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.” 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, there is no beast, no plant, no star, no person is more beautiful and gentle than you. It’s as if all the beauty of the earth was embodied in you... I cut everything off, but still I think and am even sure that you will remember me. If you remember me, then... play or order to play the Sonata in D major No. 2, op. 2... May God grant you happiness, and may nothing temporary or everyday disturb your beautiful soul. I kiss your hands. G.S.Zh.” Vera goes to where Zheltkov lived. The owner of the apartment tells what a wonderful person he was. About the bracelet, she says that before writing the letter, he came to her and asked her to hang the bracelet on the icon. Vera enters the room where Zheltkov is lying on the table: “Deep importance was in his closed eyes, and his lips smiled blissfully and serenely, as if, before parting with life, he had learned some deep and sweet secret that resolved his entire human life. .. Vera... put a flower under his neck. At that second, she realized that the love that every woman dreams of had passed her by... And, parting the hair on the dead man’s forehead in both directions, she tightly squeezed his temples with her hands and kissed his cold, damp forehead with a long, friendly kiss " Before Vera leaves, the hostess says that Zheltkov, before his death, asked that if some lady came to look at him, then tell her that Beethoven had the best work... she showed the title written on a piece of paper. Returning home late, Vera Nikolaevna was glad that neither her husband nor her brother were at home. But Jenny Reiter was waiting for her, and she asked her to play something for her. She almost did not doubt for a single second that Jenny would play the very passage from the second sonata that this dead man with the ridiculous surname Zheltkov asked for. And so it was. She recognized this piece from the very first chords. And words formed in her mind. In her thoughts they so coincided with the music that they were as if they were verses that ended with the words: “Hallowed be thy name.” “I remember your every step, smile, look, the sound of your gait. My last memories are enveloped in sweet sadness, quiet, beautiful sadness... I leave alone, silently, as God and fate willed. "Hallowed be thy name." Princess Vera hugged the trunk of the acacia tree, pressed herself against it and cried... And at this time the amazing music, as if obeying her grief, continued: “Calm down, dear, calm down, calm down. Do you remember about me? Do you remember? You are my one and only love. Calm down, I'm with you. Think of me and I will be with you, because you and I loved each other only for a moment, but forever. Do you remember about me? Remember?.. I feel your tears. Calm down. I sleep so sweetly...” Vera, all in tears, said: “No, no, he has forgiven me now. Everything is fine".

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 are also revealed by the 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 a 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 true 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)

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 gemstone 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.