Garnet bracelet. Garnet bracelet (story) Garnet bracelet names of the main characters

Introduction
“Garnet bracelet” is one of the most famous stories of the Russian prose writer Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin. It was published in 1910, but for the domestic reader it still remains a symbol of unselfish, sincere love, the kind that girls dream about, and the one that we so often miss. We previously published this wonderful work. In this same publication we will tell you about the main characters, analyze the work and talk about its problems.

The events of the story begin to unfold on the birthday of Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina. They celebrate at the dacha with their closest people. At the height of the fun, the hero of the occasion receives a gift - a garnet bracelet. The sender decided to remain unrecognized and signed the short note only with the initials of the HSG. However, everyone immediately guesses that this is Vera’s long-time admirer, a certain petty official who has been inundating her with love letters for many years. The princess's husband and brother quickly figure out the identity of the annoying suitor and the next day they go to his home.

In a wretched apartment they are met by a timid official named Zheltkov, he meekly agrees to take the gift and promises never to appear in front of the respectable family again, provided that he makes a final farewell call to Vera and makes sure that she does not want to know him. Vera Nikolaevna, of course, asks Zheltkov to leave her. The next morning the newspapers will write that a certain official took his own life. In his farewell note, he wrote that he had squandered government property.

Main characters: characteristics of key images

Kuprin is a master of portraiture, and through appearance he draws the character of the characters. The author pays a lot of attention to each character, devoting a good half of the story to portrait characteristics and memories, which also reveal characters. The main characters of the story are:

– princess, central female image;
- her husband, the prince, the provincial leader of the nobility;
- a minor official of the control chamber, passionately in love with Vera Nikolaevna;
Anna Nikolaevna Friesse– Vera’s younger sister;
Nikolai Nikolaevich Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky– brother of Vera and Anna;
Yakov Mikhailovich Anosov- general, military comrade of Vera’s father, close friend of the family.

Vera is an ideal representative of high society in appearance, manners, and character.

“Vera took after her mother, a beautiful Englishwoman, with her tall, flexible figure, gentle but cold and proud face, beautiful, albeit rather large hands and that charming sloping shoulders that can be seen in ancient miniatures.”

Princess Vera was married to Vasily Nikolaevich Shein. Their love had long ceased to be passionate and moved into that calm stage of mutual respect and tender friendship. Their union was happy. The couple did not have children, although Vera Nikolaevna passionately wanted a baby, and therefore gave all her unspent feelings to the children of her younger sister.

Vera was royally calm, coldly kind to everyone, but at the same time very funny, open and sincere with close people. She was not characterized by such feminine tricks as affectation and coquetry. Despite her high status, Vera was very prudent, and knowing how poorly things were going for her husband, she sometimes tried to deprive herself so as not to put him in an uncomfortable position.

Vera Nikolaevna’s husband is 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 anecdotal in nature. A certain poor telegraph operator named Zheltikov was in love with the wife of one of 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 behind the apparent curiosity there can always be a real drama hidden.

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 simply did not believe that the love in which 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 provides different types“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.

Main character For a long time she herself cannot understand 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 that neither he, nor Vera, nor their friends could comprehend.

People are selfish by nature and even in love, they first of all think 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 in first place. 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 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: “Let him be holy.” Your 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)

"Garnet Bracelet"- The story of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin, written in 1910. The plot was based on true story, which Kuprin filled with sad poetry. In 1915 and 1964, a film of the same name was made based on this work. The main characters of the story Garnet Bracelet reside highlights life, they love, they suffer.

Garnet bracelet main characters

Vasily Lvovich Shein - prince, provincial leader of the nobility
Vera Nikolaevna Sheina - his wife, Zheltkov’s beloved
Georgy Stepanovich Zheltkov - official of the control chamber

Anna Nikolaevna Friesse - Vera's sister
Nikolai Nikolaevich Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky - Vera’s brother, comrade prosecutor
General Yakov Mikhailovich Anosov - grandfather of Vera and Anna
Lyudmila Lvovna Durasova - sister of Vasily Shein
Gustav Ivanovich Friesse - Anna Nikolaevna's husband
Jenny Reiter - pianist
Vasyuchok is a young rogue and reveler.

Garnet bracelet characteristics Zheltkov

The main character of "Garnet Bracelet"- a petty official with the funny surname Zheltkov, hopelessly and unrequitedly in love with Princess Vera, the wife of the leader of the nobility.

Zheltkov G.S. The hero is “very pale, with a gentle girlish face, blue eyes and a stubborn childish chin with a dimple in the middle; he was about 30, 35 years old.”
7 years ago J. fell in love with Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina and wrote letters to her. Then, at the request of the princess, he stopped bothering her. But now he again confessed his love to the princess. J. sent Vera Nikolaevna a garnet bracelet. In the letter, he explained that garnet stones used to be in his grandmother’s bracelet, but later they were transferred to a gold bracelet. In his letter, J. repented that he had previously written “stupid and impudent letters.” Now “only reverence, eternal admiration and slavish devotion” remained in him. This letter was read not only by Vera Nikolaevna, but also by her brother and husband. They decide to return the bracelet and stop the correspondence between the princess and J. When they meet, J., asking permission, calls the princess, but she asks to stop “this story.” J. is experiencing a “tremendous tragedy of the soul.” Later, from the newspaper, the princess learns about the suicide of J., who explained his act as government embezzlement. Before his death, Zh. wrote a farewell letter to Vera Nikolaevna. In it, he called his feeling “tremendous happiness” sent to him by God. J. admitted that, apart from his love for Vera Nikolaevna, “he is not interested in anything in life: neither politics, nor science, nor philosophy, nor concern for the future happiness of people... As I leave, I say in delight: Hallowed be Thy name.” Having come to say goodbye to J., Vera Nikolaevna notices that after his death his face shone with “deep importance”, “deep and sweet secret”, as well as a “peaceful expression” that was “on the masks of the great sufferers - Pushkin and Napoleon”.

Garnet bracelet characteristics of Vera

Vera Nikolaevna Sheina- Princess, wife of Prince Vasily Lvovich Shein, beloved of Zheltkov.
Living in a seemingly prosperous marriage, the beautiful and pure V.N. fades away. From the first lines of the story, in the description autumn landscape with the “grassy, sad smell” of the southern pre-winter, there is a feeling of withering. Like nature, the princess also fades, leading a monotonous, drowsy lifestyle. It is based on familiar and convenient connections, activities, and responsibilities. All the heroine’s emotions have long been dulled. She “was strictly simple, cold with everyone and a little patronizingly kind, independent and royally calm.” In the life of V.N. No true love. She is connected with her husband by a deep sense of friendship, respect, and habit. However, in the entire circle of the princess there is no person awarded with this feeling. The princess's sister, Anna Nikolaevna, is married to a man whom she cannot stand. V.N.’s brother, Nikolai Nikolaevich, is not married and does not intend to get married. Prince Shein's sister, Lyudmila Lvovna, is a widow. It’s not for nothing that the Sheins’ friend, the old general Anosov, who also never had true love in his life, says: “I don’t see true love.” Royal calm V.N. destroys Zheltkov. The heroine experiences the awakening of a new spiritual mood. Outwardly, nothing special happens: guests arrive for V.N.’s name day, her husband ironically talks about the princess’s strange admirer, a plan to visit Zheltkov arises and is carried out. But all this time the heroine’s internal tension is growing. The most intense moment is V.N.’s farewell. with the deceased Zheltkov, their only “date”. “At that second she realized that the love that every woman dreams of had passed her by.” Returning home, V.N. finds a familiar pianist playing her Zheltkov’s favorite excerpt from Beethoven’s second sonata.

A significant place in Russian literature is occupied by the writer Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin, who created many wonderful works. But it was “The Garnet Bracelet” that attracted and attracts the reader with its understandable, but so deep meaning and content. The controversy surrounding this story still continues, and its popularity continues unabated. Kuprin decided to endow his heroes with the rarest, but most real gift - love, and he succeeded.

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”

Mine new story, which famous writer Kuprin conceived it as a story; Alexander Ivanovich began writing it 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 a friend, 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. Main reason- 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 hosted live participation 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 at the dacha, 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 talks about 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. It comes from ancient 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, gambling she loves.

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 it attracts special attention further description precious bracelet: “In the middle of the bracelet rose, surrounding a strange little 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 written wonderfully and that it was finally beginning good literature. 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!”

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. Previously, we published a summary of this wonderful work. In this same publication we will tell you about the main characters, analyze the work and talk about its problems.

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.”

“He was tall, thin, with long, fluffy, soft hair.”

Analysis of the work

Kuprin got the idea for his story from real life. In reality, the story was more anecdotal in 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 behind the apparent curiosity there can always be a real drama hidden.

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 that neither he, nor Vera, nor their friends could comprehend.

People are selfish by nature and even in love, they first of all think 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)

Russian writer, translator.

Date and place of birth: September 7, 1870, Narovchatsky district, Penza province, Russian Empire.

Kuprin's first literary experience was poetry that remained unpublished. The first published work was the story “The Last Debut” (1889).

In 1910, Kuprin wrote the story “The Garnet Bracelet”. which was based on real events.

"Garnet Bracelet"

Heroes

Prince Vasily Lvovich Shein

He is one of the main characters, the husband of Vera Nikolaevna Sheina, and the brother of Lyudmila Lvovna Durasova; prince and provincial leader of the nobility. Vasily Lvovich is highly respected in society. He has a well-established life and an outwardly prosperous family in all respects. In fact, his wife feels nothing but friendly feelings and respect for him. The prince's financial situation also leaves much to be desired. Princess Vera tried with all her might to help Vasily Lvovich avoid complete ruin.

Vera Nikolaevna Sheina

Georgy Stepanovich Zheltkov

Anna Nikolaevna Friesse

Nikolai Nikolaevich Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky

General Yakov Mikhailovich Anosov

Lyudmila Lvovna Durasova

Gustav Ivanovich Friesse

Ponamarev

Bakhtinsky

“Garnet Bracelet” summary

Source – I

In September, a small festive dinner was being prepared at the dacha in honor of the hostess’s name day. Vera Nikolaevna Sheina received earrings as a gift from her husband this morning. She was glad that the holiday was to be held at the dacha, since her husband’s financial affairs were not going well. in the best possible way. Sister Anna came to help Vera Nikolaevna prepare dinner. Guests were arriving. The weather turned out to be good, and the evening passed with warm, sincere conversations. The guests sat down to play poker. At this time the messenger brought a package. It contained a gold bracelet with garnets and a small green stone in the middle. There was a note attached to the gift. It said that the bracelet was a family heirloom of the donor, and the green stone was a rare garnet that has the properties of a talisman.

The holiday was in full swing. The guests played cards, sang, joked, and looked at an album with satirical pictures and stories made by the owner. Among the stories was a story about a telegraph operator in love with Princess Vera, who pursued his beloved, despite her refusal. An unrequited feeling drove him to a madhouse.

Almost all the guests have left. Those who remained talked with General Anosov, whom the sisters called grandfather, about his military life and love adventures. Walking through the garden, the general tells Vera about the story of his unsuccessful marriage. The conversation turns to understanding true love. Anosov tells stories about men who valued love more than own life. He asks Vera about the story about the telegraph operator. It turned out that the princess had never seen him and did not know who he really was.

When Vera returned, she found her husband and brother Nikolai having an unpleasant conversation. All together they decided that these letters and gifts discredit the name of the princess and her husband, so this story must be put to an end. Not knowing anything about the princess’s admirer, Nikolai and Vasily Lvovich Shein found him. Vera’s brother attacked this pitiable man with threats. Vasily Lvovich showed generosity and listened to him. Zheltkov admitted that he loved Vera Nikolaevna hopelessly, but too much to be able to overcome this feeling. In addition, he said that he would no longer bother the princess, since he had squandered government money and was forced to leave. The next day, a newspaper article revealed the official's suicide. The postman brought a letter, from which Vera learned that love for her was Zheltkov’s greatest joy and grace. Standing at the coffin, Vera Nikolaevna understands that the wonderful deep feeling that Anosov spoke about has passed her by.

Source – II

en.wikipedia.org

On her name day, Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina received from her longtime anonymous admirer as a gift a gold bracelet with five large deep red cabochon garnets surrounding a green stone - a rare variety of garnet. Being married woman, she considered herself not entitled to receive any gifts from strangers.

Her brother, Nikolai Nikolaevich, assistant prosecutor, together with her husband, Prince Vasily Lvovich, found the sender. It turned out to be a modest official Georgy Zheltkov. Many years ago, he accidentally saw Princess Vera in a box at a circus performance and fell in love with her with pure and unrequited love. Several times a year, on major holidays, he allowed himself to write letters to her.

When brother Nikolai Nikolaevich, having appeared at Zheltkov’s home with his husband, returned his garnet bracelet and in a conversation mentioned the possibility of turning to the authorities to stop the persecution, according to him, of Princess Vera Nikolaevna, Zheltkov asked permission from the princess’s husband and brother to call her. She told him that if he were not there, she would be calmer. Zheltkov asked to listen to Beethoven’s Sonata No. 2. Then he took the bracelet returned to him to the landlady with a request to hang the decoration on the icon. Mother of God(according to Catholic custom), locked himself in his room and shot himself so that Princess Vera could live in peace. He did all this out of love for Vera and for her good. Zheltkov left a suicide note in which he explained that he shot himself because of embezzlement of government money.

Vera Nikolaevna, having learned about Zheltkov’s death, asked her husband’s permission and went to the suicide’s apartment to look at least once at the man who had unrequitedly loved her for so many years. Returning home, she asked Jenny Reiter to play something, without doubting that she would play exactly the part of the sonata that Zheltkov wrote about. Sitting in a flower garden to the sounds of beautiful music, Vera Nikolaevna pressed herself against the trunk of an acacia tree and cried. She realized that the love that General Anosov spoke about, which every woman dreams of, passed her by. When the pianist finished playing and came out to the princess, she began to kiss her and said: “No, no,” he has forgiven me now. Everything is fine".

Source – III

The messenger handed over a package with a small jewelry case addressed to Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina through the maid. The princess reprimanded her, but Dasha said that the messenger immediately ran away, and she did not dare to tear the birthday girl away from the guests.

Inside the case was a gold, low-grade blown bracelet covered with garnets, among which was a small green stone. The letter enclosed in the case contained congratulations on Angel's Day and a request to accept the bracelet that belonged to his great-grandmother. The green pebble is a very rare green garnet that imparts the gift of providence and protects men from violent death. The letter ended with the words: “Your humble servant G.S.Zh. before death and after death.”

Vera took the bracelet in her hands - alarming, thick red living lights lit up inside the stones. “Definitely blood!” - she thought and returned to the living room.

Prince Vasily Lvovich was at that moment demonstrating his humorous home album, which had just been opened on the “story” “Princess Vera and the Telegraph Operator in Love.” “It’s better not to,” she asked. But the husband had already begun a commentary on his own drawings, full of brilliant humor. Here a girl named Vera receives a letter with kissing doves, signed by telegraph operator P.P.Zh. Here young Vasya Shein returns Vera’s wedding ring: “I don’t dare interfere with your happiness, and yet it’s my duty to warn you: telegraph operators are seductive, but treacherous." But Vera marries the handsome Vasya Shein, but the telegraph operator continues to persecute him. Here he is, disguised as a chimney sweep, entering Princess Vera’s boudoir. So, having changed clothes, he enters their kitchen as a dishwasher. Finally, he is in a madhouse, etc.

“Gentlemen, who wants some tea?” - Vera asked. After tea the guests began to leave. The old general Anosov, whom Vera and her sister Anna called grandfather, asked the princess to explain what was true in the prince’s story.

G.S.Zh. (and not P.P.Zh.) began to pursue her with letters two years before her marriage. Obviously, he constantly watched her, knew where she went at the evenings, how she was dressed. When Vera, also in writing, asked not to bother her with his persecutions, he fell silent about love and limited himself to congratulations on holidays, like today, on her name day.

The old man was silent. “Maybe this is a maniac? Or maybe, Verochka, yours life path crossed precisely the kind of love that women dream of and that men are no longer capable of.”

After the guests left, Vera’s husband and her brother Nikolai decided to find the admirer and return the bracelet. The next day they already knew the address of G.S.Zh. It turned out to be a man of about thirty to thirty-five. He did not deny anything and admitted the indecency of his behavior. Having discovered some understanding and even sympathy in the prince, he explained to him that, alas, he loved his wife and neither deportation nor prison would kill this feeling. Except death. He must admit that he has squandered government money and will be forced to flee the city, so that they will not hear from him again.

The next day, Vera read in the newspaper about the suicide of the control chamber official G.S. Zheltkov, and in the evening the postman brought his letter.

Zheltkov wrote that for him his whole life lies only in her, in Vera Nikolaevna. This is the love with which God rewarded him for something. As he leaves, he repeats in delight: “Hallowed be Thy name.” If she remembers him, then let her play the D major part of Beethoven’s “Appassionata”; he thanks her from the bottom of his heart for being his only joy in life.

Vera could not help but go to say goodbye to this man. Her husband completely understood her impulse.

The face of the man lying in the coffin was serene, as if he had learned a deep secret. Vera raised his head, placed a large red rose under his neck and kissed his forehead. She understood that the love that every woman dreams of passed her by.

Returning home, she found only her institute friend, the famous pianist Jenny Reiter. “Play something for me,” she asked.

And Jenny (lo and behold!) began to play the part of “Appassionata” that Zheltkov indicated in the letter. She listened, and words formed in her mind, like couplets, ending with the prayer: “Hallowed be Thy name.” "What's wrong with you?" - Jenny asked, seeing her tears. “...He has forgiven me now. “Everything is fine,” Vera answered.

Kuprin Alexander Ivanovich – “Garnet Bracelet” summary stories updated: May 31, 2018 by: website