Purpose of the lesson: show Kuprin’s skill in depicting the world of human feelings; the role of detail in the story.

Lesson equipment: recording of Beethoven's Second Sonata.

Methodical techniques : commented reading, analytical conversation.

Progress of the lesson.

I. The teacher's word

The story “The Garnet Bracelet,” written by Kuprin in 1910, is dedicated to one of the main themes of his work - love. The epigraph contained the first line of music from Beethoven's Second Sonata. Let us remember the statement of Nazansky, the hero of “The Duel,” that love is a talent akin to music. (It is possible to listen to a musical excerpt.) The work is based on real fact- the love story of a modest official for a socialite, the mother of the writer L. Lyubimov.

II. Story prototypes

The teacher reads the following excerpt from the memoirs of L. Lyubimov:
“In the period between her first and second marriages, my mother began to receive letters, the author of which, without identifying himself, emphasized that the difference in social status did not allow him to count on reciprocity, and expressed his love for her. These letters were preserved in my family for a long time, and I read them in my youth. An anonymous lover, as it turned out later - Zhelty (in Zheltkov's story), wrote that he served at the telegraph (in Kuprin, Prince Shein jokingly decides that only some telegraph operator can write like that), in one letter he reported that under the guise the floor polisher entered my mother’s apartment and described the situation (in Kuprin, Shein again jokingly tells how Zheltkov, disguised as a chimney sweep and smeared with soot, enters Princess Vera’s boudoir). The tone of the messages was sometimes pompous, sometimes grumpy. He was either angry with my mother or thanking her, although she did not react to his explanations...
At first, these letters amused everyone, but then (they arrived almost every day for two or three years) my mother even stopped reading them, and only my grandmother laughed for a long time, opening the next message from the loving telegraph operator in the morning.
And then came the denouement: an anonymous correspondent sent my mother a garnet bracelet. My uncle<...>and my father, who was then my mother’s fiancé, went to see Yellow. All this happened not in the Black Sea city, like Kuprin, but in St. Petersburg. But Zhelty, like Zheltkov, actually lived on the sixth floor. “The spit-stained staircase,” writes Kuprin, “smelled of mice, cats, kerosene and laundry” - all this corresponds to what I heard from my father. Yellow lived in a squalid attic. He was caught composing another message. Like Kuprin’s Shein, the father was more silent during the explanation, looking “with bewilderment and greedy, serious curiosity in the face of this strange man" My father told me that he felt some kind of secret in Yellow, a flame of genuine selfless passion. My uncle, again like Kuprin’s Nikolai Nikolaevich, got excited and was needlessly harsh. Yellow accepted the bracelet and gloomily promised not to write to my mother again. That was the end of it. Anyway, oh future fate We don’t know anything about him.”
L. Lyubimov. In a foreign land, 1963

III. Analytical conversation of a comparative nature

How Kuprin artistically transformed real story, heard by him in the family of a high-ranking official Lyubimov?
- What social barriers (and are they the only ones?) push the hero’s love into the realm of an unattainable dream?
- Can we say that “The Garnet Bracelet” expressed Kuprin’s own dream of an ideal, unearthly feeling?
- Is there a connection between the garnet bracelet that the hero of the story gives to Vera Sheina and the “ruby bracelet” from Kuprin’s late poem “Forever”?
- Compare the understanding of love in the works of Kuprin and Bunin (based on Kuprin’s “Olesya “Duel”, “Garnet Bracelet” and Bunin’s stories “ Sunstroke" And " Clean Monday"). What brings these two writers of the same age together and how do they sharply differ in other components of creativity - the processing of life material, the degree of metaphorical prose, “plot construction,” the nature of conflicts?

IV. Conversation on the story " Garnet bracelet»

- How Kuprin draws main character story, Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina?
(The outward inaccessibility and inaccessibility of the heroine is stated at the beginning of the story by her title and position in society - she is the wife of the leader of the nobility. But Kuprin shows the heroine against the backdrop of clear, sunny, warm days, in silence and solitude, which Vera rejoices in, perhaps reminiscent of love for the solitude and beauty of nature of Tatyana Larina (also, by the way, a married princess). , chapter eight, stanza XX “But an indifferent princess, / But an unapproachable goddess / Of the luxurious, royal Neva”) - a sensitive, delicate, selfless person: she tries to quietly help her husband “make ends meet”, observing decency, still saving , since “I had to live above my means.” She dearly loves her younger sister (their obvious dissimilarity in both appearance and character is emphasized by the author himself, Chapter II), with “a feeling of lasting, faithful, true friendship” she treats her husband, childishly affectionate with “grandfather General Anosov, a friend of their father.)

- What technique does the author use to more clearly highlight the appearance of Zheltkov in the story?
(Kuprin “gathers everyone characters story, with the exception of Zheltkov, on the name day of Princess Vera. A small company of people who are pleasant to each other are cheerfully celebrating their name day, but Vera suddenly notes that there are thirteen guests, and this alarms her: “she was superstitious.”)

- What gifts did Vera receive? What is their significance?
(The princess receives not just expensive, but lovingly chosen gifts: “beautiful earrings made of pear-shaped pearls” from her husband, “a small notebook in an amazing binding... a labor of love from the hands of a skillful and patient artist" from my sister.)

- How does Zheltkov’s gift look against this background? What is its value?
(Zheltkov’s gift - “a gold, low-grade, very thick, but exaggerated and on the outside completely covered with small old, poorly polished garnets” bracelet looks like a tasteless trinket. But its meaning and value lie elsewhere. Deep red garnets light up alive under electric light lights, and it occurs to Vera: “It’s like blood! - this is another alarming omen. Zheltkov gives the most valuable thing he has - a family jewel.)

- What is the symbolic meaning of this detail?
(This is a symbol of his hopeless, enthusiastic, selfless, reverent love. Let us remember the gift Olesya left for Ivan Timofeevich - a string of red beads.)

- How does the theme of love develop in the story?
(At the beginning of the story, the feeling of love is parodied. Vera’s husband, Prince Vasily Lvovich, a cheerful and witty man, makes fun of Zheltkov, who is still unfamiliar to him, showing the guests a humorous album with the “love story” of a telegraph operator for the princess. However, the end of this funny story turns out to be almost prophetic: “Finally he dies, but before his death he bequeaths to give Vera two telegraph buttons and a perfume bottle filled with his tears.”
Further, the theme of love is revealed in inserted episodes and acquires a tragic connotation. General Anosov tells his love story, which he will remember forever - short and simple, which in the retelling seems simple vulgar adventure army officer "I don't see true love. I haven’t seen it in my time either!” - says the general and gives examples of ordinary, vulgar unions of people concluded for one reason or another. “Where is the love? Is love unselfish, selfless, not waiting for reward? The one about which it is said “strong as death”?.. Love should be a tragedy. The greatest secret in the world! Anosov talks about tragic cases similar to such love. The conversation about love brought the telegraph operator to the story, and the general felt its truth: “maybe your life path, Verochka, crossed exactly the kind of love that women dream about and that men are no longer capable of.”)

- How is Zheltkov and his love portrayed by the author? What traditional theme for Russian literature does Kuprin develop?
(Kuprin develops the traditional theme for Russian literature “ little man" Official with funny last name Yolks, quiet and inconspicuous, not only grows into tragic hero, he, by the power of his love, rises above the petty vanity, life’s conveniences, and decency. He turns out to be a man in no way inferior in nobility to aristocrats. Love elevated him. Love has become suffering, the only meaning of life. “It so happened that I am not interested in anything in life: neither politics, nor science, nor philosophy, nor concern for the future happiness of people - for me, my whole life lies only in you,” he writes in a farewell letter to Princess Vera. Leaving this life, Zheltkov blesses his beloved: “Hallowed your name" Here one can see blasphemy - after all, these are the words of a prayer. For the hero, love is above everything earthly; it is of divine origin. No amount of “decisive measures” or “appeals to the authorities” can make you stop loving. There is not a shadow of resentment or complaint in the hero’s words, only gratitude for the “tremendous happiness” - love.)

- What is the significance of the image of a hero after his death?
(The dead Zheltkov acquires deep importance... as if, before parting with life, he had learned some deep and sweet secret that resolved his entire human life." The face of the deceased reminds Vera death masks"the great sufferers - Pushkin and Napoleon." This is how Kuprin shows the great talent of love, equating it with the talents of recognized geniuses.)

- What mood will the ending of the story be filled with? What role does music play in creating this mood?
(The ending of the story is elegiac, imbued with a feeling of light sadness, and not tragedy. Zheltkov dies, but Princess Vera awakens to life, something inaccessible to her was revealed to her, that very “great love that repeats itself once every thousand years.” The heroes “loved each other only one moment, but forever.” Music plays a big role in awakening the soul of Vera.
Beethoven's second sonata is in tune with Vera's mood; through music her soul seems to connect with Zheltkov's soul.)

V. Final word teachers

A particular case is poeticized by Kuprin. The author talks about love, which is repeated “only once in a thousand years.” Love, according to Kuprin, “is always a tragedy, always a struggle and achievement, always joy and fear, resurrection and death.” The tragedy of love, the tragedy of life only emphasize their beauty.
Let’s think about Kuprin’s words from a letter to F.D. Batyushkov (1906): “Individuality is not expressed in strength, not in dexterity, not in intelligence, not in talent, not in creativity. But in love!
The melody of Beethoven's Second Sonata sounds.

VI. Homework

Prepare for an essay based on the story of A.I. Kuprin.

Essay topics:
1. My thoughts about the story I read by A. I. Kuprin “The Garnet Bracelet.”
2. “...what was it: love or madness?” (Based on the story “Garnet Bracelet”)

Zheltkov characterization and image of the hero in Kuprin’s story Garnet Bracelet

Plan

1. Introduction

2. General characteristics

3. "Holy, eternal, pure love"

4.Conclusion

The theme of love is one of the leading ones in world literature. Many poets and writers from different angles illuminated all the shades of this great feeling. Special attention deserves unrequited love. What can a person do in this case? gives his answer to this question in the story "", creating the image of the hopelessly in love G.S. Zheltkov.

Zheltkov is a poor middle-aged official with an inexpressive appearance; "pale, with a gentle girlish face." He behaves very modestly and politely. When visiting Nikolai Nikolaevich and Vasily Lvovich, Zheltkov is completely lost. It becomes clear that he rarely has to communicate with representatives of high society.

Having learned that the purpose of the visit is to pursue Vera Nikolaevna, Zheltkov comes to a very nervous condition. This is a sacred topic for him. Zheltkov never expected that it could become the subject of discussion. However, Zheltkov’s shyness and modesty instantly disappear at the hint of government intervention. A love-sick person is genuinely perplexed as to what this can do. At the same time, he continues to behave and speak very politely and decently.

Zheltkov Cross - selfless love to Vera Nikolaevna. Having met her by chance for the first time, the official fell in love with her for life. First unsuccessful attempts in the form of love letters did not in any way affect Zheltkov’s feelings. For eight years now, his admiration for his beloved woman has continued. Many will consider such love a manic idea simply because this practically never happens in life. According to the lover himself, this is a divine gift, a reward. Zheltkov understands that he has no chance of reciprocity. Yes, he doesn’t even dream about it. His only desire is to be able to at least occasionally see the object of his admiration.

For Zheltkov, Vera Nikolaevna is a deity in the literal sense. As he himself writes in his last letter: “there is nothing in the world... more beautiful and tender than you.” Everything that the beloved touches becomes sacred for Zheltkov. He keeps her scarf, note, program as the greatest relics. art exhibition. Love completely transforms the poor official and gives meaning to his life.

For insensitive people (like Tuganovsky), his selflessness is incomprehensible and ridiculous. But Prince Shein and Vera Nikolaevna are shocked by Zheltkov’s love. They feel an involuntary respect for him. Zheltkov considers sending the “stupid bracelet” his mistake. There was absolutely no need for him to remind himself. Already during the visit of Prince Shein with Tuganovsky, the lover decides to commit suicide so as not to cause trouble to anyone else.

Zheltkov’s unearthly love seems fantastic, especially in our time. Nevertheless, it is an ideal to strive for. Few people can boast of complete selflessness in the name of a loved one. The image of Zheltkov reminds us that “love is born in heaven,” and the best recognition is: “Hallowed be your name.”

“Garnet bracelet” Kuprin A.I.

Zheltkov G. S.- appears in the story only towards the end: “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.” Along with Princess Vera, he can be called the main character of the story. The beginning of the conflict is when Princess Vera received on September 17, her name day, a letter signed with the initials “G. S. Zh.”, and a garnet bracelet in a red case.

It was a gift from a then stranger to Vera Zh., who fell in love with her seven years ago, wrote letters, then, at her request, stopped bothering her, but now confessed his love again. In the letter, Zh. explained that the old silver bracelet once belonged to his grandmother, then all the stones were transferred to a new, gold bracelet. J. repents that he previously “dared to write stupid and impudent letters” and adds: “Now only reverence, eternal admiration and slavish devotion remain in me.” One of the guests at the name day, for the sake of entertainment, presents the love story of the telegraph operator, P.P.Zh. (distorted G.S.Zh.), to Vera in a comic form, stylized as a pulp novel. Another guest, a person close to the family, old general Anosov suggests: “Maybe he’s just an abnormal fellow, a maniac.”<...>Maybe your path in life, Verochka, has been crossed by exactly the kind of love that women dream about and that men are no longer capable of.”

Under the influence of his brother-in-law, Vera’s husband, Prince Vasily Lvovich Shein, decides to return the bracelet and stop the correspondence. J. amazed Shein at the meeting with his sincerity. Zh., having asked Shein for permission, speaks on the phone with Vera, but she also asks to stop “this story.” Shein felt that he was present “at some enormous tragedy of the soul.” When he reports this to Vera, she predicts that J. will kill himself. Later, from the newspaper, she accidentally learned about the suicide of Zh., who referred in his suicide note for embezzlement of government money. In the evening of the same day, she receives a farewell letter from J. He calls his love for Vera “an enormous happiness” sent to him by God. He admits that he “is not interested in anything in life: neither politics, nor science, nor philosophy, nor concern for the future happiness of people.” All life lies in love for Vera: “Even though I was ridiculous in your eyes and in the eyes of your brother<...>As I leave, I say in delight: Hallowed be Thy name.” Prince Shein admits: J. was not crazy and loved Vera very much and therefore was doomed to death. He allows Vera to say goodbye to J. Looking at the deceased, she “realized that the love that every woman dreams of has passed her by.” In the face of the dead ^K. she noticed the “deep importance”, the “deep and sweet mystery”, the “peaceful expression” that “she saw on the masks of the great sufferers - Pushkin and Napoleon.”

At home, Vera found a familiar pianist, Jenny Reiter, who played her exactly that passage from Beethoven’s second sonata that seemed to J. the most perfect - “Largo Appassionato”. And this music became an afterlife declaration of love addressed to Vera. Vera’s thoughts that “great love passed by” coincided with the music, each “verse” of which ended with the words: “Hallowed be Thy name.” At the very end of the story, Vera utters words that only she understands: “...he has forgiven me now. Everything is fine".

All the heroes of the story, not excluding J., had real prototypes. Criticism pointed out, however, the connection between “The Garnet Bracelet” and the prose of the Norwegian writer Knut Hamsun.

Kuprin's story "The Garnet Bracelet" was published in 1907. It is based on real events from the family chronicles of the Tugan-Baranovsky princes. This story has become one of the most famous and profound works about love in Russian literature.
At its center is a story about the feelings of a minor official Zheltkov for the cold beauty Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina. The Sheins are typical representatives of the Russian aristocracy of the early 20th century. The author notes that all members of this family bore, to one degree or another, the imprint of degeneration.
So, Vera Nikolaevna’s sister, Anna Nikolaevna, was unhappy in her marriage. Elderly and ugly husband did not attract her, and this still young woman sought solace in numerous novels, from which, however, she also did not get what she wanted. From her unloved husband, Anna Nikolaevna gave birth to weak and ugly children, who also bore the mark of degeneration.
Vera Nikolaevna's brother, Nikolai, was not married at all. He mockingly and contemptuously treated marriage and love, considering all this to be fiction and romantic fairy tales. And Vera Nikolaevna herself felt for her husband any kind of noble and sublime feelings, but not love.
Kuprin shows us that people have forgotten how to love. “..love among people has taken such vulgar forms and has simply descended to some kind of everyday convenience, to a little fun“, - with these words of General Anosov, Kuprin conveys the current state of affairs to him.
And in this wretched and essentially gray reality, a bright ray of light appears - the love of the petty official Zheltkov for Princess Vera. At first, this feeling is perceived by the heroine’s family completely negatively - frivolously, contemptuously and mockingly. Nikolai Nikolaevich is seething with indignation - how did this plebeian dare to bother his sister! Vasily Lvovich, the princess’s husband, sees in this story just a funny incident, an incident.
So what is the love story of the petty official Zheltkov? Kuprin explains it to us in sufficient detail in the story. First, we hear this story in a distorted, mocking and mocking form from Prince Shein, and Vera Nikolaevna’s husband speaks prophetically about the death of the little official. Then, gradually, as the action progresses, we learn about the real course of things.
G.S. Zheltkov served as an official of the control chamber. Once in his life (for sorrow or joy?) a fatal meeting took place - Zheltkov saw Vera Nikolaevna Sheina. He didn’t even talk to this young lady, who was still unmarried. And how dare he - they were too unequal social status. But a person is not subject to feelings of such strength, he is not able to control the life of his heart. Love captured Zheltkov so much that it became the meaning of his entire existence. From farewell letter of this man we learn that his feeling is “reverence, eternal admiration and slavish devotion.”
In addition, we learn that the official followed Vera Nikolaevna, tried to go where she was, in order to once again see the object of his adoration, breathe the same air with her, touch her things: “I mentally bow to the land of furniture, on the floor you sit on, the parquet floor you walk on, the trees you touch in passing, the servants you talk to.”
Vera Nikolaevna, and we too are following her, beginning to wonder - is this Zheltkov crazy? Perhaps his passionate and deep passion was a consequence of mental illness: “And what was it: love or madness?” But the hero himself answers this question in his last letter to the princess. He tested himself and concluded that his feeling was a gift from heaven, and not a disease. After all, Zheltkov does not claim the attention of his beloved; he felt good only from the realization that Vera Nikolaevna exists.
As a sign of his love, the official gives the princess the most valuable thing he has - a family jewel in the form of a garnet bracelet. Perhaps, financially, this bracelet was not of great value - unsightly, inflated, roughly processed. Its main decoration was five blood-red garnets, “diluted” by one green one located in the middle. “According to an old 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“- Zheltkov wrote in the accompanying letter to this gift.
The official gave Vera Nikolaevna the most expensive thing he had. I think that the princess, even forgiving herself, appreciated this gesture.
But Zheltkov’s sacrificial and sublime love ended tragically - he died of his own free will, so as not to interfere with Princess Sheina. This man even sacrificed his physical existence on the altar. high feeling. It is important that the hero did not talk to anyone about love, did not seek Vera Nikolaevna’s favor or attention. He simply lived, enjoying what fate gave him. And he passed away with a feeling of great gratitude for what he had experienced.
Kuprin shows that love of such strength and sacrifice could not but leave a mark on the souls of the people involved in this story. In Vera Nikolaevna, Zheltkov awakened longing and bright sadness for love, and helped her to reveal her true needs. It is not for nothing that at the end of the story, while listening to a Beethoven sonata, the heroine cries: “Princess Vera hugged the trunk of the acacia tree, pressed herself against it and cried.” It seems to me that these tears are the heroine’s longing for true love, which people so often forget about.
Even Vera Nikolaevna’s husband, Prince Shein, experienced involuntary respect for Zheltkov’s feelings: “I feel sorry for this man. And not only do I feel sorry, but I also feel that I am present at some enormous tragedy of the soul, and I cannot clown around here.”
Thus, the love given to the little official Zheltkov from above filled his life with meaning and became a source of light not only for this person, but also for those around him. The story of Zheltkov’s feelings for Princess Vera once again confirmed that love is the most important thing in a person’s life. Without this feeling, life turns into a meaningless and empty existence, inevitably leading to death. The death of the soul and the divine spirit in us.

"GARNET BRACELET"

Another work that moved me, called “Garnet Bracelet,” also shows true love. In this work, Kuprin depicts the fragility and insecurity of high human feelings. G. S. Zheltkov is one of the employees in a government institution. He has been in love with Vera Nikolaevna Sheina for eight years now, but his feelings are unrequited. Zheltkov wrote love letters to Vera even before Vera’s marriage. But no one knew who was sending them, since Zheltkov signed with the initials “P. P.Zh.” They assumed that he was abnormal, crazy, crazy, “manic.” But this was a man who truly loved. Zheltkov’s love was unselfish, selfless, not waiting for reward, “love for which to accomplish any feat, to give one’s life, to go to torment is not work at all, but one joy.” This is exactly what Zheltkov’s love for Vera was. In his life, he loved only her and no one else. Faith for him was the only joy in life, the only consolation, “the only thought.” And since his love had no future, it was hopeless, he committed suicide.

The heroine is married, but she loves her husband, and, on the contrary, she does not feel any feelings towards Mr. Zheltkov except annoyance. And Zheltkov himself seems to us at first to be just a vulgar suitor. This is how both Vera and her family perceive him. But in the story about calm and happy life alarming notes flash: this is the fatal love of Vera’s husband’s brother; the love and adoration that her husband has for Vera’s sister; the failed love of Vera’s grandfather, it is this general who says that true love should be a tragedy, but in life it is vulgarized, everyday life and various kinds of conventions interfere. He tells two stories (one of them even somewhat resembles the plot of “The Duel”), where true love turns into a farce. Listening to this story, Vera has already received a garnet bracelet with a bloody stone, which should protect her from misfortune, and could save her former owner from violent death. It is with this gift that the reader’s attitude towards Zheltkov changes. He sacrifices everything for his love: career, money, peace of mind. And doesn't require anything in return.

But again, empty secular conventions destroy even this illusory happiness. Nikolai, Vera’s brother-in-law, who once gave up his love to these prejudices, now demands the same from Zheltkov, he threatens him with prison, the court of society, and his connections. But Zheltkov reasonably objects: what can all these threats do to his love? Unlike Nikolai (and Romashov), he is ready to fight and defend his feelings. The barriers put up by society mean nothing to him. Just for the sake of the peace of his beloved, he is ready to give up love, but along with his life: he commits suicide.

Now Vera understands what she has lost. If Shurochka gave up feeling for the sake of well-being and did it consciously, then Vera simply did not see the big feeling. But in the end, she didn’t want to see him, she preferred peace and a familiar life (although nothing was demanded of her) and by this she seemed to have betrayed the man who loved her. But true love generous - she was forgiven.

According to Kuprin himself, the “Garnet Bracelet” is his most “chaste” thing. Traditional story about a small official and a woman secular society Kuprin turned it into a poem about unrequited love, sublime, selfless, selfless.

The owner of spiritual wealth and beauty of feeling in the story is a poor man - the official Zheltkov, who sincerely loved Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina for seven years. “For him there was no life without you,” the princess’s husband, Prince Vasily, said about Zheltkov. Zheltkov loved Sheina without the slightest hope of reciprocity. It was lucky for him that she read his letters. Zheltkov loved all the little things associated with her. He kept the handkerchief she had forgotten, the program she kept, the note in which the princess forbade her to write. He worshiped these things as believers worship holy relics. “I mentally bow to the ground of the furniture on which you sit, the parquet floor on which you walk, the trees that you touch in passing, the servants with whom you speak.” Zheltkov deified the princess, even while dying: “When leaving, I say in delight: “Hallowed be Thy name.” In the boring life of a petty official, in the constant struggle for life, working for a piece of bread, this sudden feeling was, in the words of the hero himself, “... enormous happiness... love with which God was pleased to reward me for something.”

Princess Vera’s brother was unable to understand Zheltkov, but her husband, Prince Vasily Lvovich, appreciated this man’s feelings, although he was forced by the laws of decency to stop this story. He foresaw a tragic end: “It seemed to me that I was present at enormous suffering from which people were dying,” he confesses to Vera.

Princess Vera at first treated G.S.Zh.’s letters and gifts with some contempt, then pity for the unfortunate lover stirred in her soul. After Zheltkov’s death, “...she realized that the love that every woman dreams of had passed her by.”

Vera came to terms with herself after Zheltkov’s death only after, at the request of the man who committed suicide for her, she listened to “ best work Beethoven” - Second Sonata. The music seemed to speak to her on behalf of Zheltkov’s soul: “You and I love each other only for one moment, but forever.” And Vera feels that in the soul of the poor man at the hour of death, neither anger, nor hatred, nor even resentment really stirred to her, the culprit of great happiness and great tragedy in Zheltkov’s life, and that he died loving and blessing his beloved.

Kuprin showed in his story “The Garnet Bracelet” bright human feelings, contrasted with the callousness of the surrounding world.

In the story “The Garnet Bracelet,” Kuprin, with all the power of his skill, develops the idea of ​​true love. He does not want to come to terms with vulgar, practical views on love and marriage, drawing our attention to these problems quite in an unusual way, equaling the ideal feeling. Through the mouth of General Anosov, he says: “...People in our time have forgotten how to love! I don't see true love. I didn’t even see it in my time.” What is this? Call? Isn't what we feel the truth? We have calm, moderate happiness with the person we need. What more? According to Kuprin, “Love must be a tragedy. The greatest secret in the world! No life’s conveniences, calculations and compromises should concern her.” Only then can love be called a real feeling, completely true and moral.

I still cannot forget the impression Zheltkov’s feelings made on me. How much he loved Vera Nikolaevna that he could commit suicide! This is crazy! Loving Princess Sheina “for seven years with a hopeless and polite love,” he, without ever meeting her, talking about his love only in letters, suddenly commits suicide! Not because Vera Nikolaevna’s brother is going to turn to the authorities, and not because his gift - a garnet bracelet - was returned. (He is a symbol of deep fiery love and at the same time a terrible bloody sign of death.) And, probably, not because he wasted government money. For Zheltkov there was simply no other choice. He loved married woman so much so that I couldn’t help but think about her for a minute, exist without remembering her smile, her look, the sound of her walk. He himself tells Vera’s husband: “Only one thing remains - death... You want me to accept it in any form.” The terrible thing is that he was pushed to this decision by Vera Nikolaevna’s brother and husband, who came to demand that their family be left alone. They turned out to be indirectly responsible for his death. They had the right to demand peace, but Nikolai Nikolaevich’s threat to turn to the authorities was unacceptable, even ridiculous. How can the government prohibit a person from loving?

Kuprin’s ideal is “selfless, selfless love, not expecting a reward,” one for which you can give your life and endure anything. It was with this kind of love that happens once every thousand years that Zheltkov loved. This was his need, the meaning of life, and he proved this: “I knew neither complaint, nor reproach, nor the pain of pride, I have only one prayer before you: “Hallowed be your name.” These words, with which his soul was filled, are felt by Princess Vera in the sounds of Beethoven’s immortal sonata. They cannot leave us indifferent and instill in us an unbridled desire to strive for the same incomparably pure feeling. Its roots go back to morality and spiritual harmony in a person... Princess Vera did not regret that this love, “which every woman dreams of, passed her by.” She cries because her soul is filled with admiration for sublime, almost unearthly feelings.

A person who could love so much must have some special worldview. Although Zheltkov was just a small official, he turned out to be above social norms and standards. People like them are elevated by people's rumors to the rank of saints, and the bright memory of them lives on for a long time.