Anna Nikolaevna was the sister of Vera Nikolaevna, but she was completely different from her, from her appearance to her character and behavior. Despite this, the sisters cared for each other and loved each other. Anna inherited the blood of her father, who was a descendant of the Tatar prince. Her face was of the Mongolian type, with small narrow eyes, wide cheekbones. She was short, broad in the shoulders, very funny, frivolous and active. She squinted her already narrow eyes very often, as she was nearsighted. An arrogant expression could often be seen on her face, but men always liked it, even more than the cold beauty of her sister’s face. One could notice an incomprehensible mysterious charm on her face, which drove her crazy. She had very perky facial expressions, an extraordinary smile, and all her features were full of femininity and charm. Anna was married, but did not love her husband, but had two children from him - a boy and a girl, who were very obedient.

Anna had many cute habits and contradictions. She loved to flirt, but never cheated on her husband, although she enjoyed incredible success at all the resorts wherever she went. She loved very much gambling and vivid impressions, loved everything new and always eagerly absorbed information about everything. She was a little extravagant, but she was also kind and pious. Her contradictions did not end there. She had very beautiful shoulders, chest and back, and always exposed more than necessary at balls, but everyone said that under her dress she had a hair shirt. She adored her sister and

"Garnet bracelet"- The story of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin, written in 1910. The plot was based on real 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 bright moments 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"- minor official funny last name 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, with 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 princess’s request, 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 were there before in his grandmother's bracelet, 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 his face after death shone with “deep importance”, “deep and sweet secret”, as well as a “peaceful expression”, which 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 of the 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, 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. there is 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.

Tatiana Shekhanova

Tatyana Sergeevna SHEKHANOVA is a teacher at Moscow Lyceum No. 1536, a member of the Union of Writers of Russia, the Union of Journalists of Russia.

“Garnet bracelet” in questions and answers

Due to the reduction in hours for literature, many teachers complain about a lack of time, especially in high school. Scissors arise between the requirements of the standard and the real situation, in which one often has to not even pass, but “run through” the work.

One way to neutralize these scissors is to unload the high school program (especially graduation) by redistributing the material. Some of the works can easily be transferred to the 8th–9th grades: they are accessible to teenagers by age and can be combined into semantic blocks with the works traditionally studied in these classes.

This can be done, for example, with the “Garnet Bracelet” by A.I. Kuprin, which successfully fits in with “Romeo and Juliet”, knightly ballads, Turgenev’s stories, Bunin’s stories, love lyrics different times.

To help language learners who decide to take this step, we are printing ten questions and answers about the story “The Garnet Bracelet,” which will help them take an “inventory” of information before planning a lesson, and will also serve as reference lines for the lesson.

1. Compare Vera and Anna. Are they happy? Why did you decide so?

2. Tell us about Prince Shein, Nikolai Nikolaevich, General Anosov. They have a successful career and a strong position in society. Are these heroes happy?

3. What is the meaning of the love stories told by General Anosov? What are the causes of unhappiness in all three stories?

4. Why is it that General Anosov feels, first of all, the different scale of Zheltkov’s experiences and spiritual life?

5. What are Nikolai Nikolaevich, Vasily Lvovich and she herself doing “wrong”, in Vera’s words? What does one Zheltkov do “so”?

6. How does Zheltkov change over “seven years of hopeless and polite love”? Tell us about Zheltkov’s “three steps” in his last attempt to explain himself - with Shein, with Vera and, finally, with everyone (with his departure).

7. How do the images of General Anosov and the petty official Zheltkov, who have never met, compare? Images of Pushkin and Napoleon - “great sufferers”?

8. What do you think is the role of the epigraph and ring composition in the Largo Appassionato theme from Beethoven’s Second Sonata (Op. 2), associated with the theme of true love and true life?

9. Analyze the motifs of the rose, the letter, the symbolism of the detail (the bracelet is a gift from Zheltkov, the earrings are a gift from Shein), gesture, and numbers. What is their role in the story?

10. How can you interpret the ending of the story?

1. Sisters Vera and Anna, on the one hand, are similar: both are married, both have influential husbands, both love to be with each other, cherish these moments. On the other hand, they are antipodes: this is manifested both in their portraits (Vera’s English thoroughbred and Tatar breed, Anna’s “graceful ugliness”) and in their attitude (Vera follows secular customs, Anna is willful and daring, but to a certain limit: “ wears a hair shirt under a deep neckline”), and in them family life(Vera does not know that she does not love her husband, because she does not know love, and Anna is aware of her dislike for her husband, but, having agreed to the marriage, tolerates him). In the latter - in an unhappy married life - both are similar. Faith seems to be “lost” in everyday life, her beauty is not noticeable, her exclusivity is erased (for everyone and for herself), and Anna “despises” her foolish husband and is rewarded with children who seem to be pretty, but with “mealy” faces.

2. Prince Shein is respected in society, as evidenced by his position, he is outwardly prosperous (there are not enough funds, but he manages to hide this; he is not aware of the “lack of love” in the family). Nikolai Nikolaevich is proud of his rank, position, active and outwardly also prosperous; however, he is alone, which is remarkable. General Anosov, one of the most charming heroes of the story, is also lonely. A brave soldier, in his old age he is left without a family home. This is the main misfortune of all three heroes.

3. “Girls” in comparison with the ancient General Anosov, Vera and Anya ask him about love. The general answers this three times. Two parables are about the fact that there is “not love, but some kind of sourness” (fake, delusion), and one is a story own life- about anti-love. The meaning of all three inserted short stories: this feeling requires no less strength and spiritual boldness than achievement. A person must be worthy of love and not humiliate it.

4. Unlike Vera, Vasily Lvovich, Nikolai Nikolaevich and even Anna with her sensitivity (“the sea smells like watermelon”, “there is pink in the moonlight”), the general shares the authenticity of the “telegraph operator” feeling and the “averageness” accepted in the world, erasure, rituality of relationships between people. Love requires the same heroism and dedication as the battlefield. In the vulgarized story in the mouth of Prince Shein about the “adventures of a telegraph operator,” Anosov hears notes of spiritual valor familiar to him, an old soldier.

5. The gift from the petty official Zheltkov to Princess Sheina did not make her happy and caused concern for the entire family, including her brother Nikolai Nikolaevich, assistant prosecutor. All this leads to a tragic ending. What did they do? not this way(according to Vera’s definition) Prince Shein and Nikolai Nikolaevich? They tried to stop Zheltkov’s feeling of love for Princess Vera by putting the insignificant, in their opinion, official “in his place.” That's why they go to him. Shein is passive, he is “attracted” by Nikolai Nikolaevich as material evidence of the guilt of Zheltkov, who encroached on Vera. She Married, and my husband is proof of this. Shein is silent and weak-willed, his attempts to interrupt Nikolai Nikolaevich’s peremptory speeches are sluggish. That's what it's about not this way. Nikolai Nikolaevich threatens Zheltkov, referring to his connections and official capabilities, that is, he acts, assuming that Zheltkov can become afraid and obediently stop loving Princess Vera, not suspecting that the nature of true love is such that it is not a person who controls it, but she controls a person. In that - not this way Nikolai Nikolaevich. Faith, having failed to accept the gift of love (and, as its manifestation, the gift of a bracelet), also acts not this way, because he lives not according to his own, but according to someone else’s rules, once established by someone, without feeling himself. She will come to her senses only after the news of Zheltkov’s death and saying goodbye to him (twice - with body and with soul).

6. Who is Zheltkov? It is not for nothing that at first we see a parodic reproduction of his strange behavior: it does not fit into the framework of decency. Shein parodicly interprets the letters and actions of G.Zh. There are reasons for this: Zheltkov’s early letter is very different from his later, and his passionate, awkward actions a young man in love- from deeds truly loving mature man. There is a growth of personality, and it is a high feeling that determines this growth, as evidenced by the vocabulary, structure of sentences, and the system of arguments of the “late” Zheltkov. Through parodic portraiture, we, readers, make our way, as if through an annoying obstacle, to the true appearance of Zheltkov’s personality. The hero's portrait and speech grow with him. The author teaches us to see not a place on the social ladder, but the person himself. He warns that, once we are convinced of a person’s imperfection, we do not stop seeing the prospect of his development, do not deny him the opportunity to improve, and ourselves - the opportunity to see his self-improvement. Zheltkov takes three steps to explain himself to Shein, to Vera and, finally, to the whole world. Sheinu Zheltkov talks about love that cannot be resisted. But he promises that he won’t bother him again. Vera - she refuses to listen to Zheltkov - talks about the same thing, but posthumously (in a letter). And finally, his last explanation to the world and to everyone who can hear, is Beethoven's Sonata No. 2 - about life, death and love.

7. Zheltkov was never heard during his lifetime, just as Pushkin and Napoleon, the “great sufferers,” were not fully heard during their lifetime. It is here, after Zheltkov’s death, that Kuprin openly introduces the romantic motive of rejection and misunderstanding hero, elevating him above everyday life. It was not for nothing that only General Anosov, who knew the value of life, death and love, could hear this in the mocking speeches of Shein and especially Nikolai Nikolaevich. It is very important that small talk does not confuse the general; he questions Vera - and in response to her counter questions, he gives the definition of true love, which he himself was not awarded, but about which he thought a lot. Anosov and Zheltkov do not meet, but the general recognizes in him a hero who is not comparable in scale to Prince Shein, according to rumors about him.

8. The epigraph sets us up to listen to Beethoven’s sonata - a majestic, romantically elevated reflection on the gift of life and love. The story ends with these same sounds. Enveloped by them, it teaches the same thing - not to be petty, not to fuss, but to think and feel truly, in proportion to oneself. The music clearly tells Princess Vera, What there is life and What is love. This is Zheltkov’s last gift, which only the deaf can refuse. This generosity and mercy clarify the Faith to myself. This is how she will remain. This is the main gift of Zheltkov, who once in his youth saw the authenticity and perfection of Vera, which was unclear to her. Only three things can explain everything to a person so quickly - love, music and death. Kuprin combines all three in the finale of the story. This has a special meaning theme song, giving - from the epigraph to last scene- exceptional completeness of the work.

9. The system of details and symbols in the story works intensely. The rose is a symbol not only of love, but also of the perfection of the universe. Throughout the entire story, only two heroes are awarded roses: General Anosov and Zheltkov (the latter posthumously). The gifts of Prince Shein (earrings with pearls - two disconnected objects, decorated with a symbol of sorrow and tears) and Zheltkov (garnet bracelet with a green garnet in the middle; a bracelet closed in a ring - the embodiment of harmony, a garnet, according to legend, brought joy and fun to its owner) are symbolic , and the green pomegranate communicated, as Zheltkov himself rightly warns, the gift of insight). The gestures of the heroes, especially the antipodes - Nikolai Nikolaevich and Zheltkov - when explaining to each other are symbolic.

10. All these observations allow us to conclude that Kuprin’s theme of romantic love is unusually deep and attractive. It is deceptively simple. In fact, behind its transparency there is depth and scope. It is not without reason that such powerful symbolic images as Pushkin, Napoleon, and Beethoven appear in the artistic space of the story. Another image is unnamed, subtly present here - Prince Myshkin (the portrait, the speech in the scene of Zheltkov’s explanation with Shein and Nikolai Nikolaevich remind us of him), Dostoevsky’s character. No wonder Kuprin says through the mouth of General Anosov that love is a “great tragedy.” However, despite the tragedy, love remains majestic and strong in our memory. This is the peculiarity of Kuprin’s approach to the topic.

them - the impression is created that she is one of them. Thus, the image of the heroine... having entered the time of her autumn, is embedded... in a broader landscape context, which enriches... this image with additional meanings. The story “The Garnet Bracelet,” written in 1910, occupies significant place

in the writer’s work and in Russian literature. Paustovsky called the love story of a minor official for a married princess one of the most fragrant and languid stories about love. True, eternal love, which is a rare gift, is the theme of Kuprin’s work.

In order to familiarize yourself with the plot and characters of the story, we suggest reading a summary of “The Garnet Bracelet” chapter by chapter. It will provide an opportunity to comprehend the work, comprehend the charm and ease of the writer’s language and penetrate into the idea.

Main characters Vera Sheina

- Princess, wife of the leader of the nobility Shein. She married for love, and over time, love grew into friendship and respect. She began to receive letters from the official Zheltkov, who loved her, even before her marriage. Zheltkov

- official. Unrequitedly in love with Vera for many years. Vasily Shein

- prince, provincial leader of the nobility. Loves his wife.

Other characters Yakov Mikhailovich Anosov

- general, friend of the late Prince Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky, father of Vera, Anna and Nikolai. Anna Friesse

- sister of Vera and Nikolai. Nikolay Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky

- assistant prosecutor, brother of Vera and Anna. Jenny Reiter

- friend of Princess Vera, famous pianist.

Chapter 1

In mid-August, bad weather arrived on the Black Sea coast. Most of the inhabitants of coastal resorts began to hastily move to the city, leaving their dachas. Princess Vera Sheina was forced to stay at the dacha because renovations were underway in her town house. Along with the first days of September, it became warm, it became sunny and clear, and Vera was very happy wonderful days

early autumn.

On her name day, September 17, Vera Nikolaevna was expecting guests. My husband left on business in the morning and had to bring guests for dinner.

Vera was glad that the name day fell during the summer season and there was no need to have a grand reception. The Shein family was on the verge of ruin, and the prince’s position required a lot, so the spouses had to live beyond their means. Vera Nikolaevna, whose love for her husband had long been reborn into “a feeling of lasting, faithful, true friendship,” supported him as best she could, saved, and denied herself many things.

Her sister Anna Nikolaevna Friesse came to help Vera with the housework and receive guests. Dissimilar either in appearance or in character, the sisters were very attached to each other from childhood.

Chapter 3

Anna had not seen the sea for a long time, and the sisters briefly sat down on a bench above the cliff, “a sheer wall falling deep into the sea,” to admire the lovely landscape.

Remembering the gift she had prepared, Anna gave it to her sister notebook in an antique binding.

Chapter 4

By evening, guests began to arrive. Among them was General Anosov, a friend of Prince Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky, the late father of Anna and Vera. He was very attached to his sisters, they, in turn, adored him and called him grandfather.

Chapter 5

Those gathered in the Sheins' house were entertained at the table by the owner, Prince Vasily Lvovich. He had a special gift as a storyteller: his humorous stories were always based on an event that happened to someone he knew. But in his stories he “exaggerated the colors” so fancifully, he combined truth and fiction and spoke with such a serious and business-like air that all the listeners laughed non-stop. This time his story concerned the failed marriage of his brother, Nikolai Nikolaevich.

Rising from the table, Vera involuntarily counted the guests - there were thirteen of them. And, since the princess was superstitious, she became restless.

After dinner, everyone except Vera sat down to play poker. She was about to go out onto the terrace when the maid called her. On the table in the office where both women entered, the servant laid out a small package tied with a ribbon and explained that a messenger had brought it with a request to hand it over personally to Vera Nikolaevna.

Vera found a gold bracelet and a note in the package. First she began to look at the decoration. At the center of the low-grade gold bracelet were several magnificent garnets, each about the size of a pea. Examining the stones, the birthday girl turned the bracelet, and the stones flashed like “lovely thick red living lights.” With alarm, Vera realized that these lights looked like blood.

He congratulated Vera on Angel Day and asked her not to hold a grudge against him for having dared to write letters to her and expect an answer several years ago. He asked to accept a bracelet as a gift, the stones of which belonged to his great-grandmother. From her silver bracelet, he exactly repeated the arrangement, transferred the stones to the gold one and drew Vera’s attention to the fact that no one had ever worn the bracelet. He wrote: “however, I believe that in the whole world there is not a treasure worthy of decorating you” and admitted that all that now remains in him is “only reverence, eternal admiration and slavish devotion”, the every minute desire for happiness to Faith and joy if she's happy.

Vera was wondering whether she should show the gift to her husband.

Chapter 6

The evening proceeded smoothly and lively: they played cards, talked, and listened to the singing of one of the guests. Prince Shein showed several guests a home album with his own drawings. This album was a complement to the humorous stories of Vasily Lvovich. Those looking at the album laughed so loudly and contagiously that the guests gradually moved towards them.

The last story in the drawings was called “Princess Vera and the telegraph operator in love,” and the text of the story itself, according to the prince, was still “being prepared.” Vera asked her husband: “It’s better not to,” but he either did not hear or did not pay attention to her request and began his cheerful story about how Princess Vera received passionate messages from a telegraph operator in love.

Chapter 7

After tea, several guests left, the rest sat on the terrace. General Anosov told stories from his army life, Anna and Vera listened to him with pleasure, as in childhood.

Before going to see off the old general, Vera invited her husband to read the letter she had received.

Chapter 8

On the way to the carriage waiting for the general, Anosov talked with Vera and Anna about how he had never met true love in his life. According to him, “love must be a tragedy. The greatest secret in the world."

The general asked Vera what was true in the story told by her husband. And she gladly shared with him: “some madman” pursued her with his love and sent letters even before marriage. The princess also told about the parcel with the letter. In thought, the general noted that it was quite possible that Vera’s life was crossed by the “single, all-forgiving, ready for anything, modest and selfless” love that any woman dreams of.

Chapter 9

Having seen off the guests and returned to the house, Sheina joined the conversation between her brother Nikolai and Vasily Lvovich. The brother believed that the fan’s “stupidity” should be stopped immediately - the story with the bracelet and letters could ruin the family’s reputation.

After discussing what to do, it was decided that the next day Vasily Lvovich and Nikolai would find Vera’s secret admirer and, demanding to leave her alone, would return the bracelet.

Chapter 10

Shein and Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky, Vera’s husband and brother, paid a visit to her admirer. He turned out to be the official Zheltkov, a man of about thirty to thirty-five.

Nikolai immediately explained to him the reason for coming - with his gift he had crossed the line of patience of Vera’s loved ones. Zheltkov immediately agreed that he was to blame for the persecution of the princess.

Turning to the prince, Zheltkov started talking about the fact that he loves his wife and feels that he can never stop loving her, and all that remains for him is death, which he will accept “in any form.” Before speaking further, Zheltkov asked permission to leave for a few minutes to call Vera.

During the official’s absence, in response to Nikolai’s reproaches that the prince had “gone limp” and felt sorry for his wife’s admirer, Vasily Lvovich explained to his brother-in-law how he felt. “This person is not capable of deceiving and knowingly lying. Is he to blame for love and is it really possible to control such a feeling as love - a feeling that has not yet found an interpreter.” The prince not only felt sorry for this man, he realized that he had witnessed “some kind of enormous tragedy of the soul.”

Returning, Zheltkov asked permission to write his last letter to Vera and promised that visitors would not hear or see him again. At Vera Nikolaevna’s request, he stops “this story” “as soon as possible.”

In the evening, the prince conveyed to his wife the details of his visit to Zheltkov. She was not surprised by what she heard, but was slightly worried: the princess felt that “this man would kill himself.”

Chapter 11

The next morning, Vera learned from the newspapers that due to the waste of public money, the official Zheltkov committed suicide. All day Sheina thought about the “unknown man” whom she never had to see, not understanding why she foresaw the tragic outcome of his life. She also remembered Anosov’s words about true love, perhaps meeting her on the way.

The postman brought Zheltkov’s farewell letter. He admitted that he regards his love for Vera as a great happiness, that his whole life lies only in the princess. He asked to forgive him for having “cut into Vera’s life like an uncomfortable wedge,” thanked her simply for the fact that she lived in the world, and said goodbye forever. “I tested myself - this is not a disease, not a manic idea - this is love with which God wanted to reward me for something. Leaving, I say in delight: “Hallowed be Thy name,” he wrote.

After reading the message, Vera told her husband that she would like to go and see the man who loved her. The prince supported this decision.

Chapter 12

Vera found an apartment that Zheltkov was renting. The landlady came out to meet her, and they started talking. At the request of the princess, the woman told about last days Zheltkova, then Vera went into the room where he was lying. The expression on the face of the deceased was so peaceful, as if this man “before parting with life had learned some deep and sweet secret that resolved his entire human life.”

At parting, the owner of the apartment told Vera that if he suddenly died and a woman came to say goodbye to him, Zheltkov asked him to tell her that best work Beethoven - he wrote down its title - “L. van Beethoven. Son. No. 2, op. 2. Largo Appassionato.”

Vera began to cry, explaining her tears with the painful “impression of death.”

Chapter 13

Vera Nikolaevna returned home late in the evening. Only Jenny Reiter was waiting for her at home, and the princess rushed to her friend asking her to play something. Having no doubt that the pianist would perform “the very passage from the Second Sonata that this dead man with the funny name Zheltkov asked for,” the princess recognized the music from the first chords. Vera’s soul seemed to be divided into two parts: at the same time she was thinking about the love that was repeated once every thousand years, which passed by, and about why she should listen to this particular work.

“Words were forming in her mind. In her thoughts they coincided so much with the music that it was as if they were verses that ended with the words: “Hallowed be Thy name.” These words were about great love. Vera cried about the feeling that had passed by, and the music excited and calmed her at the same time. When the sounds of the sonata died down, the princess calmed down.

To Jenny’s question why she was crying, Vera Nikolaevna answered only with a phrase that she could understand: “He has forgiven me now. Everything is fine" .

Conclusion

Telling the story of the hero’s sincere and pure, but unrequited love for a married woman, Kuprin pushes the reader to think about what place a feeling occupies in a person’s life, what it gives the right to, how it changes inner world someone who has the gift of love.

You can start getting acquainted with Kuprin’s work with brief retelling"Garnet bracelet" And then, already knowing storyline, having an idea about the heroes, with pleasure immerse yourself in the rest of the writer’s story about amazing world true love.

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Retelling rating

Average rating: 4.6. Total ratings received: 9043.

“Garnet bracelet” Kuprin A.I.

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 of the 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. there is 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. This music became another declaration of love for V.N. At the very end of the story, the princess understands that “... 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. 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.

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;
• Other characters- general, military comrade of Vera’s father, close friend of the family.

Vera is the ideal representative high society both in appearance, and in manners, and in 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 person. 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 long-awaited meeting finally it happens, 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 form 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.

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.

4.1 (82.22%) 9 votes

The story “The Garnet Bracelet” - famous work O tragic love. Kuprin shows the origins and role of love in human life. The author skillfully creates a socio-psychological tone that determines the behavior of the characters. But he does not fully reveal and cannot explain this feeling, which, in his opinion, is beyond reason and depends on some higher will.

Before getting acquainted with the characteristics of the characters in “Garnet Bracelet,” I would like to briefly outline the plot. At first glance, it is quite simple, but the psychological component emphasizes the tragedy: the main character, on her name day, receives a bracelet as a gift, sent by her longtime admirer, and informs her husband about it. He, under the influence of his brother, goes to her admirer and asks to stop the persecution married woman. The admirer promises to leave her alone, but asks permission to call her. The next day, Vera finds out that he shot himself.

Vera Nikolaevna

The main character of the story “Garnet Bracelet” is a young woman, beautiful woman with a flexible figure - Sheina Vera Nikolaevna. Refined facial features and a certain coldness, inherited from her English mother, emphasized the grace and beauty of the young woman. Vera Nikolaevna had known her husband, Prince Shein, since childhood. During this time, passionate love for him grew into deep, sincere friendship. The princess helped Vasily Lvovich cope with his affairs and, in order to somehow alleviate their unenviable situation, she could deny herself something.

The Sheins had no children, and Vera Nikolaevna transferred her unspent maternal feelings to her sister Anna’s husband and children. The princess was compassionate and pitied the man who loved her. Although he caused her troubles by sometimes appearing in her life, Vera behaves with dignity in this situation. The very embodiment of calm, she doesn't make a problem out of it. But as a subtle and noble nature, Vera feels what tragedy is happening in the soul of this person. Treats his fan with understanding and compassion.

Prince Vasily Lvovich

Vasily Shein is one of the main characters. In “The Garnet Bracelet” Kuprin presents him as a prince and leader of the nobility. Vera Nikolaevna's husband, Vasily Lvovich, is revered in society. The Shein family is outwardly prosperous: they live in a large estate built by the prince’s influential ancestors. They often host social gatherings, run an extensive household and engage in charity work, as required by their position in society. In fact, the prince’s financial affairs leave much to be desired and he makes considerable efforts to stay afloat.

A fair and empathetic man, Shein earned the respect of friends and relatives. “Really, I love him. He’s a good guy,” General Anosov, a family friend, says about him. Vera's brother, Nikolai, believes that Vasily Lvovich is too soft for a man whose wife is sent a gift by a secret admirer. The prince has a different opinion on this matter. After a conversation with Zheltkov, the prince understands that this man loves his wife immensely. And he admits that the “telegraph operator” is not to blame for his love, so he sincerely feels sorry for the man who has been recklessly in love for eight years.

Friend of the Anosov family

Anosov, a military general, became friends with the father of Vera and Anna when he was appointed commandant of the fortress. Many years later. During this time, the general became a friend of the family and became attached to the girls, like a father. Honest, noble and brave, the general was a soldier to the core. He was always guided by his conscience and respected both soldiers and officers equally.

Anosov always acted fairly. Even with his dishonest wife, who ran away from him. His pride and self-esteem did not allow him to let this woman back into his life. But how a real man, he did not leave her to the mercy of fate and paid benefits. They had no children, and the general transferred his fatherly feelings to the offspring of his friend Tuganovsky. He played with the girls and told stories from his camping life. However, he treated everyone who was younger than him or needed help in a fatherly manner.

Kuprin, in characterizing the heroes of “The Garnet Bracelet,” emphasized very important points. In the words of General Anosov: “Love must be a tragedy. The greatest secret in the world! the author expresses his understanding of what love is. He explores why deep feelings are doomed.

Mysterious admirer

Zheltkov fell in love with Vera Nikolaevna a long time ago. She was for him the ideal and perfection of beauty. I wrote letters to her and dreamed of meeting her. He continued to love the princess even when he realized that nothing would work out for him. The peace and happiness of the woman he loved came first for him. He understood perfectly well what was happening. The man wanted to see her, but had no right to do so. Love for him was higher than desire. But Zheltkov sent the bracelet in the hope that she would at least look at the gift and take it in her hands for a second.

As an honest and noble man, Gregory did not pursue Vera after her marriage. After she sent a note asking him not to write to her, he did not send any more letters. Only sometimes congratulations on major holidays. Zheltkov could not even imagine upsetting the marriage of the woman he loved, and when he realized that he had gone too far, he decided to get out of the way. The only way to stop wanting to see her is to take your own life. Zheltkov was strong enough to draw this conclusion, but too weak to live without his love.

This is the characteristics of the heroes of “The Pomegranate Bracelet”, to whom the author assigns a key place in his story. But we cannot ignore the other participants in this drama: Vera Nikolaevna’s brother and sister.

Minor characters

Nikolai Nikolaevich witnessed a gift addressed to his married sister. As Vera's brother, he was deeply outraged. Nikolai Nikolaevich is self-confident and single, he does not like to talk about feelings, he is always rude and deliberately serious. He and the prince decide to pay a visit to the mysterious admirer. At the sight of the distinguished guests, Zheltkov becomes lost. But after Nikolai Nikolaevich’s threats, he calms down and understands that love is a feeling that cannot be taken away and it will remain with him until the end of his days. After the conversation, Zheltkov finally became stronger in his decision to die so as not to interfere with Vera’s life.

Vera's sister, Anna Nikolaevna, was completely different from her. She is married to a man she cannot stand, but has two children with him. Her character consists of many cute habits and contradictions. She enjoyed incredible success with men and loved to flirt, but she never cheated on her husband. She loved vivid impressions and gambling, but she was pious and kind. Why is its characterization important?

The heroes of “The Pomegranate Bracelet,” sisters Anna and Vera, on the one hand, are somewhat similar, both are married to influential people. But Anna is the complete opposite of Vera. This is manifested externally: the “graceful ugliness” of one sister and the English thoroughbred of the other. By paying more attention to the description of Anna, the author makes it possible to understand the internal state of the characters. Anna does not hide her dislike for her husband, but tolerates this marriage. Vera does not know about her lack of love, because she did not know true love. Kuprin seems to emphasize that Vera is “lost” in ordinary life, which is why beauty is invisible main character, and its exclusivity is erased.

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 eternal oath to each other. mutual love 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... ah... maybe yours life path“Verochka, this is exactly the kind of love that crossed me...” Vera’s brother Nikolai and Vasily Lvovich are worried that the unknown person will boast to someone that Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina is accepting gifts from him, then send something else, then go to jail for embezzlement, and the princes of Shein will be called as witnesses." They decided that they needed to find him, return the bracelet and read the lecture. “For some reason I felt sorry for this unfortunate man,” Vera said hesitantly. Vera’s husband and brother find the right apartment on the eighth floor, ascending the dirty, spit-stained stairs. The occupant of Zheltkov’s room was “a very pale man, 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 accepts.” back his bracelet, 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 without any conventions. ...Will you listen to me?” “I’m listening,” said Shein. Zheltkov says that he loves Shein’s wife. It’s difficult for him to say this, but seven years of hopeless and polite love give him this right. He knows that he can never stop loving her. can do anything, except by death. Zheltkov asks permission to talk on the phone with Princess Vera Nikolaevna. He will tell them the content of the conversation. He returned after ten minutes. His eyes were shining, as if filled with unshed tears. , - and tomorrow you will not hear anything about me. It’s as if I died for you. But I’m telling you one condition, Prince Vasily Lvovich, - you see, I squandered government money, and after all, I have to leave this city. run away. 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 the meeting with Zheltkov. At night, Vera says: “I know that this man will kill himself, but on this day.” For some reason, she unfolded just that sheet and came across the column where it was reported about the suicide of the official of the control chamber G.S. Zheltkov. The whole day she walked around the flower garden and the orchard and thought about a man whom she had never seen. , this was the real, selfless, true love, which 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: “Let him be holy.” your 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 before his death Zheltkov asked that if any 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 coincided so much with the music that it was 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 only one and last 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 one 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".