A sad love story forms the basis of the story “The Garnet Bracelet”. Real, selfless, true love- it's deep and sincere feeling the main theme of the story of the great writer.
The history of the creation of the story “Garnet Bracelet”
Mine new story, which famous writer Kuprin conceived it as a story, Alexander Ivanovich began writing in the autumn of 1910 in the Ukrainian city of Odessa. He thought that he could write it in a few days, and even reports this in one of his letters to a friend, literary critic Klestov. He wrote to him that very soon he would send his new manuscript to a familiar book publisher. But the writer was wrong.
The story went beyond the required plot, and therefore took the writer not several days, as he planned, but several months. It is also known that the work is based on a story that actually happened. Alexander Ivanovich reports this in a letter to the philologist and friend Fyodor Batyushkov, when, describing to him how the work on the manuscript is going, they remind him of the history itself, which formed the basis of the work:
“This - remember? - the sad story of a small telegraph official P.P. Zheltikov, who was so hopelessly, touchingly and selflessly in love with Lyubimov’s wife (D.N. is now the governor in Vilna).”
He admitted in a letter to his friend Batyushkov, dated November 21, 1910, that work on a new work was going hard. He wrote:
“Now I’m writing “Bracelet,” but it’s not going well. main reason- my ignorance of music... And the secular tone!
It is known that in December the manuscript was not yet ready, but work was intensively going on on it, and in one of the letters Kuprin himself gives an assessment of his manuscript, saying that the result is a rather “cute” thing that you don’t even want to crumple up .
The manuscript was published in 1911, when it was published in the magazine “Earth”. At that time, it also contained a dedication to Kuprin’s friend, the writer Klestov, who hosted live participation in its creation. The story “The Garnet Bracelet” also had an epigraph - the first line of music from one of Beethoven’s sonnets.
Plot of the story
The composition of the story consists of thirteen chapters. At the beginning of the story it is told how difficult it was for Princess Vera Nikolaevna Shein. After all, at the beginning of autumn she was still living at the dacha, when all the neighbors had long since moved to the city due to bad weather. The young woman could not do this, since her city house was being renovated. But soon the weather calmed down, and the sun even came out. With the warmth, my mood also improved main character.
In the second chapter, the reader learns that the princess’s birthday had to be celebrated with pomp, because this was required by her husband’s position. A celebration was scheduled for September 17, which was clearly beyond the family’s means. The thing is that her husband had been bankrupt for a long time, but still did not show it to others, although this affected the family: Vera Nikolaevna not only could not afford anything extra, she even saved on everything. On this day, her sister, with whom the princess was in good relations. Anna Nikolaevna Friesse was not at all like her sister, but her relatives were very attached to each other.
In the third chapter, the writer talks about the meeting of the sisters and a walk by the sea, where Anna gave her valuable gift to her sister - Notebook, which had a vintage cover. The fourth chapter takes the reader to that evening when guests began to arrive for the celebration. Among the other invitees was General Anosov, who was a friend of the girls’ father and had known the sisters since childhood. The girls called him grandfather, but they did it sweetly and with great respect and love.
The fifth chapter talks about how fun the evening was in the Sheins’ house. Prince Vasily Shein, Vera’s husband, constantly told stories that happened to his relatives and friends, but he did it so cleverly that the guests no longer even understood where the truth was and where it was fiction. Vera Nikolaevna was about to give the order to serve tea, but after counting the guests, she became very frightened. The princess was a superstitious woman, and there were thirteen guests at the table.
Going out to the maid, she learned that the messenger had brought a gift and a note. Vera Nikolaevna started with a note and immediately, from the first lines, realized that it was from her secret admirer. But she felt a little uneasy. The woman also looked at the bracelet, it was beautiful! But in front of the princess he stood important question about whether it is worth showing this gift to your husband.
The sixth chapter is the story of the princess and the telegraph operator. Vera’s husband showed his album with funny pictures and one of them was the story of his wife and a minor official. But it was not finished yet, so Prince Vasily began to simply tell it, not paying attention to the fact that his wife was against it.
In the seventh chapter, the princess says goodbye to the guests: some of them went home, while others settled on the summer terrace. Taking a moment, the young woman shows the letter from her secret admirer to her husband.
General Anosov, leaving in the eighth chapter, listens to the story of Vera Nikolaevna about the letters that the secret sender has been writing for a long time, and then tells the woman that true love is quite rare, but she was lucky. After all, this “madman” loves her selfless love, which every woman can dream of.
In the ninth chapter, the princess's husband and her brother discuss the bracelet case and come to the conclusion that this story has not only dragged on, but can also negatively affect the family's reputation. Before going to bed, they decide tomorrow to find this secret admirer of Vera Nikolaevna, return the bracelet to him and put an end to this story forever.
In the tenth chapter, Prince Vasily and the girl’s brother Nikolai find Zheltkov and ask to end this story forever. Vera Nikolaevna's husband felt the tragedy of his soul in this man, so he allows him to write a last letter to his wife. After reading this message, the princess immediately realized that this man would definitely do something to himself, for example, kill himself.
In the eleventh chapter, the princess learns about Zheltkov’s death and reads his last letter, where she remembers the following lines: “I tested myself - this is not a disease, not a manic idea - this is love with which God wanted to reward me for something. Leaving, I say in delight: “Hallowed be your name" The princess decides to go to his funeral and look at this man. My husband doesn't mind.
The twelfth and thirteenth chapters are a visit to the deceased Zheltkov, reading his last message and the woman’s disappointment that true love has passed her by.
Characteristics of the characters
There are few characters in the work. But it’s worth dwelling in more detail on the main characters:
Vera Nikolaevna Sheina.
Mr. Zheltkov.
The main character of the story is Vera Nikolaevna Sheina. It comes from ancient noble family. Vera is liked by everyone around her, as she is very beautiful and sweet: a gentle face, an aristocratic figure. She has been married for six years. The husband occupies an important place in secular society, although he has financial problems. At Vera Nikolaevna's a good education. She also has a brother Nikolai and a sister Anna. She lives with her husband somewhere on the Black Sea coast. Despite the fact that Vera is a superstitious woman and does not read newspapers at all, gambling she loves.
Another main and important character of the story is Mr. Zheltkov. The thin and tall man with nervous fingers was not a rich man. He looked about thirty-five years old. He serves in the control chamber, but holds a low position - a minor official. Kuprin characterizes him as a modest, well-mannered and noble person. Kuprin copied this image from real person. The prototype of the main character was the petty telegraph official P.P. Zheltikov.
There are other characters in this story:
✔ Anna.
✔ Nikolay
✔ The husband of the main character, Vasily Shein.
✔ General Anosov.
✔ Others.
Each of the characters played a role in the content of the story.
Details in the novel
The story “The Garnet Bracelet” contains many important details that allow us to more deeply reveal the content of the work. But especially among all these details, the garnet bracelet stands out. According to the plot, the main character Vera receives it as a gift from a secret admirer. But first Zheltkov, who is a secret admirer, puts it in a bright red case.
Kuprin gives detailed description bracelet, making one admire its beauty and sophistication: “It was gold, low-grade, very thick, but blown and on the outside completely covered with small old, poorly polished garnets.” But Special attention attracts further description precious bracelet: “In the middle of the bracelet rose, surrounding a strange little green stone, five beautiful cabochon garnets, each the size of a pea.”
The writer also talks about the history of this bracelet, thus emphasizing how important it was for the petty official Zheltkov. The writer writes that this expensive jewelry belonged to the great-grandmother of the protagonist, and the last person to wear it was his late mother, whom he loved very much and kept the warmest memories of her. The green garnet in the middle of the bracelet, according to the minor official, had its own old legend, which was passed down in the Zheltkov family from generation to generation. According to this legend, a person is freed from heavy thoughts, a woman also receives the gift of providence as a reward, and a man will be protected from any violent death.
Criticism of the story “The Garnet Bracelet”
Writers highly appreciated Kuprin's skill.
The first review of the work was given by Maxim Gorky in one of his letters in 1911. He was delighted with this story and constantly repeated that it was written wonderfully and that it was finally beginning good literature. Reading “The Garnet Bracelet” for the famous revolutionary writer Maxim Gorky became a real holiday. He wrote:
“And what an excellent thing “Garnet Bracelet” by Kuprin... Wonderful!”
Introduction
“The Garnet Bracelet” is one of the most famous stories by Russian prose writer Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin. It was published in 1910, but for the domestic reader it still remains a symbol of unselfish, sincere love, the kind that girls dream about, and the one that we so often miss. Previously, we published a summary of this wonderful work. In this same publication we will tell you about the main characters, analyze the work and talk about its problems.
The events of the story begin to unfold on the birthday of Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina. They celebrate at the dacha with their closest people. At the height of the fun, the hero of the occasion receives a gift - a garnet bracelet. The sender decided to remain unrecognized and signed the short note only with the initials of the HSG. However, everyone immediately guesses that this is Vera’s long-time admirer, a certain petty official who has been inundating her with love letters for many years. The princess's husband and brother quickly figure out the identity of the annoying suitor and the next day they go to his home.
In a wretched apartment they are met by a timid official named Zheltkov, he meekly agrees to take the gift and promises never to appear in front of the respectable family again, provided that he makes a final farewell call to Vera and makes sure that she does not want to know him. Vera Nikolaevna, of course, asks Zheltkov to leave her. The next morning the newspapers will write that a certain official took his own life. In his farewell note, he wrote that he had squandered government property.
Main characters: characteristics of key images
Kuprin is a master of portraiture, and through appearance he draws the character of the characters. The author pays a lot of attention to each character, devoting a good half of the story to portrait characteristics and memories, which are also revealed by the characters. The main characters of the story are:
- – princess, central female image;
- - her husband, the prince, the provincial leader of the nobility;
- - a minor official of the control chamber, passionately in love with Vera Nikolaevna;
- Anna Nikolaevna Friesse– Vera’s younger sister;
- Nikolai Nikolaevich Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky– brother of Vera and Anna;
- Yakov Mikhailovich Anosov- general, military comrade of Vera’s father, close friend of the family.
Vera is 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, although rather big 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 real drama can always be hidden behind the apparent curiosity.
Also in “The Pomegranate Bracelet,” the Sheins and their guests first make fun of Zheltkov. Vasily Lvovich even has a funny story about this in his home magazine called “Princess Vera and the telegraph operator in love.” People tend not to think about other people's feelings. The Sheins were not bad, callous, soulless (this is proven by the metamorphosis in them after meeting Zheltkov), they just did not believe that the love that the official admitted could exist..
There are many symbolic elements in the work. For example, a garnet bracelet. Garnet is a stone of love, anger and blood. If a feverish person picks it up (a parallel with the expression “love fever”), the stone will take on a more saturated hue. According to Zheltkov himself, this special kind pomegranate (green garnet) 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 votesOne of the most famous creations of Alexander Kuprin is the “Garnet Bracelet”. The genre of this work is not so easy to determine. It is called both a story and a story. What is the difference between these genres? And which of them does the “Garnet Bracelet” belong to?
Plot
The work “Garnet Bracelet,” the genre of which will be defined in this article, is dedicated to extraordinary, unearthly love. Main characters - married couple Vera and Vasily Shein. The action takes place in a small provincial town on the seashore. Vasily Shein holds the honorary position of head of the nobility, which obliges him to a lot. He is present on dinner parties himself high level, has a corresponding appearance, and its family life is exemplary. Vasily has a friendly, warm relationship with his wife. Vera has not felt passionate love for her husband for a long time, but understands him perfectly, which can be said about Vasily.
The plot takes place in the fifth chapter, when the housewives celebrate their name day in the Sheins’ house. Unnoticed by the guests, Vera receives a gift and a rather lengthy letter attached to it. The message contains a declaration of love. The gift is a massive blown bracelet made of low-grade gold, decorated with garnet.
The reader later learns the backstory. The author of the letter abandoned her even before Vera’s marriage. But one day, secretly from her husband, she forbade him in writing to send such messages. From now on he limited himself only to congratulations on New Year, Easter and name days. He did not stop the correspondence, but he did not talk about love anymore in his messages.
Vera's relatives, and especially brother Nikolai, were extremely outraged by the gift. And so we decided to take action effective methods to neutralize a restless fan. One day, Vasily and Nikolai went straight to the home of a man who had unrequitedly loved Vera for more than eight years, and insistently demanded that the letters stop. The garnet bracelet was also returned to the donor.
Genre
In the literature there are different kinds works: from a small lyric poem to a large-scale novel in several volumes. The contents of the work “Garnet Bracelet” were briefly outlined above. Its genre needs to be defined. But first it’s worth saying a few words about this literary concept.
Genre is a set of works that have some characteristic common features. It can be a comedy, an essay, a poem, a novel, a story, or a short story. We will consider two latest options. The genre of Kuprin’s “Garnet Bracelet,” of course, cannot be a comedy, a poem, or a novel.
The difference between a short story and a novel is significant. These genres cannot be confused. main feature the story is small. Drawing a line between him and the story is much more difficult. But there is still a difference. The story describes events that are components of one integral plot. This genre originated during Ancient Rus'. His first examples were works about the exploits of Russian soldiers. Much later, Karamzin began to develop this genre. And after him - Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenev. The story is characterized by a uniform, unhurried development of events.
This genre is a small realistic work. It resembles a Western European short story, but many literary scholars distinguish the story as a separate, special type of work. The story is characterized by an unexpected ending. This genre differs from the story in the absence of backstory, limited number of characters, and concentration around the main event.
So after all - a story or a story?
At the beginning of the article, the plot of the work “Garnet Bracelet” was outlined. What genre comes to mind after reading this work or even this brief retelling? Definitely a story. "The Garnet Bracelet" depicts characters who are not directly related to the main events. Some are mentioned in passing, others in great detail. The work gives a detailed description of Anna, Vera’s younger sister. In addition, the biography of General Anosov, a friend of the Shein family, is presented in some detail. He is not only depicted by the author brightly and colorfully. His presence in the plot is symbolic meaning. Anosov discusses with Vera the topic “ true love, which men are no longer capable of.” He also utters a significant phrase about the feeling that Vera encountered on life path and which every woman in the world dreams of. But this hero does not influence the course of events in any way. Its significance in the plot is only symbolic.
It should also be recalled that there is a backstory. Vera tells the same Anosov about the events recent years, namely about a fan who gave her a compromising gift. All this allows us to say with confidence that the genre of Kuprin’s work “The Garnet Bracelet” is a story. Although it is worth adding that this concept is unique to Russian literature. It does not have an exact equivalent in other languages. In English and German, for example, Kuprin’s work is called a short story. Therefore, anyone who defines “The Garnet Bracelet” with a story will not make a grave mistake.
A.I. Kuprin often raises the topic in his works true love. In his story “The Garnet Bracelet,” written in 1911, he touches on its boundlessness and significance in human life. However, often this vivid feeling turns out to be unrequited. And the power of such love can destroy the one who experiences it.
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Direction and genre of the work
Kuprin being real literary artist, liked to reflect in his works real life . He was the one who wrote many stories and novellas based on real events. “Garnet Bracelet” was no exception. “Garnet Bracelet” genre is a story written in the spirit.
It is based on an incident that happened to the wife of one of the Russian governors. A telegraph official was unrequitedly and passionately in love with her, who once sent her a chain with a small pendant.
If for people from real world This incident was tantamount to an anecdote, then for Kuprinov’s characters a similar story turns into a strong tragedy.
The genre of the work “The Garnet Bracelet” cannot be a story, due to insufficient large quantity characters and one storyline. If we talk about the features of the composition, it is worth highlighting many small details that, as events slowly develop, hint at a catastrophe at the end of the work. To an inattentive reader, it may seem that the text is fairly filled with details. However, they are the ones help the author create a complete picture.“Garnet Bracelet,” the composition of which is also framed by inserts about love, ends with a scene explaining the meaning of the epigraph: “L. van Beethoven. 2 Son. (op. 2, no. 2). "Largo Appassionato"
The theme of love, in one form or another, runs through the entire work.
Attention! There is nothing left unsaid in this masterpiece. Thanks to the skillful artistic descriptions appear before the readers' eyes realistic images, the verisimilitude of which no one will doubt. Natural, simple people with ordinary desires and needs arouse genuine interest among readers.
Image system
There are not many heroes in Kuprin's work. Each of them the author gives a detailed portrait. The appearance of the characters reveals what is going on in the soul of each of them. Descriptions of the characters in “The Garnet Bracelet” and their memories occupy a large part of the text.
Vera Sheina
This woman of royal calm is the central figure story. It was on her name day that an event occurred that changed her life forever - she received a garnet bracelet as a gift, which gives its owner the gift of foresight.
Important! A revolution in the heroine’s consciousness occurs when she listens to a Beethoven sonata, bequeathed to her by Zheltkov. Dissolving in music, she awakens to life, to passions. However, her feelings are difficult, and even impossible, for others to understand.
Georgy Zheltkov
The only joy in the life of a petty official is opportunity to love in the distance Vera Nikolaevna. However, the hero of “The Garnet Bracelet” cannot stand his all-consuming love. It is she who elevates the character above other people with their base, and even insignificant, feelings and desires.
Thanks to my gift high love Georgy Stepanovich was able to experience tremendous happiness. He bequeathed his life to Vera alone. Dying, he did not hold a grudge against her, but continued to love, cherishing her image in his heart, as evidenced by the words spoken towards her: “Hallowed be thy name!”
Main thought
If you look closely at Kuprin's work, you can see whole line short stories reflecting it search for the ideal of love. These include:
- "Shulamith";
- "On the road";
- "Helenochka."
The final piece of this love cycle, “Pomegranate Bracelet,” showed, alas, not the deep feeling that the writer was looking for and would like to fully reflect. However, in terms of its strength, Zheltkov’s painful unrequited love is not inferior at all, but on the contrary, surpasses the attitudes and feelings of other characters. His hot and passionate emotions in the story are contrasted with the calm that reigns between the Sheins. The author emphasizes that only good friendship remains between them, and the spiritual flame has long died out.
Zheltkov is supposed to stir up Vera’s calm state. He does not evoke reciprocal feelings in a woman, but awakens excitement in her. If throughout the book they were expressed as premonitions, then at the end obvious contradictions rage in her soul.
Sheina feels a sense of danger already when she first sees a gift sent to her and a letter from a secret admirer. She involuntarily compares the modest gold bracelet, decorated with five bright red garnets, to blood. This is one of the key symbols, marking the future suicide of the unhappy lover.
The author admitted that he had never written anything more sensitive and subtle. And the analysis of the work “Garnet Bracelet” confirms this. The bitterness of the story intensifies autumn landscape, the atmosphere of farewell to summer dachas, cold and clear days. Even Vera’s husband appreciated the nobility of Zheltkov’s soul; he allowed the telegraph operator to write her the last letter. Every line in it is a poem about love, a real ode.
The novel “The Garnet Bracelet” by A. Kuprin is rightfully considered one of the best, revealing the theme of love. The storyline is based on real events. The situation in which the main character of the novel found herself was actually experienced by the mother of the writer’s friend, Lyubimov. This work It's called that for a reason. Indeed, for the author, “pomegranate” is a symbol of passionate, but very dangerous love.
The history of the novel
Most of A. Kuprin’s stories are permeated with the eternal theme of love, and the novel “The Garnet Bracelet” most vividly reproduces it. A. Kuprin began work on his masterpiece in the fall of 1910 in Odessa. The idea for this work was the writer’s visit to the Lyubimov family in St. Petersburg.
One day Lyubimova’s son told one entertaining story about his mother's secret admirer, who for a long time for long years wrote her letters with frank declarations of unrequited love. The mother was not delighted with this manifestation of feelings, because she had been married for a long time. At the same time, she had a higher social status in society, rather than her admirer - a simple official P.P. Zheltikov. The situation was aggravated by a gift in the form of a red bracelet, given for the princess’s name day. At that time it was a daring act and could put a bad shadow on the lady’s reputation.
Lyubimova’s husband and brother paid a visit to the fan’s home, he was just writing another letter to his beloved. They returned the gift to the owner, asking not to disturb Lyubimova in the future. ABOUT future fate None of the family members knew the official.
The story that was told at the tea party hooked the writer. A. Kuprin decided to use it as the basis for his novel, which was somewhat modified and supplemented. It should be noted that work on the novel was difficult, about which the author wrote to his friend Batyushkov in a letter on November 21, 1910. The work was published only in 1911, first published in the magazine “Earth”.
Analysis of the work
Description of the work
On her birthday, Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina receives an anonymous gift in the form of a bracelet, which is decorated with green stones - “garnets”. The gift was accompanied by a note, from which it became known that the bracelet belonged to the great-grandmother of the princess's secret admirer. The unknown person signed with the initials “G.S.” AND.". The princess is embarrassed by this present and remembers that for many years a stranger has been writing to her about his feelings.
The princess's husband, Vasily Lvovich Shein, and brother, Nikolai Nikolaevich, who worked as an assistant prosecutor, are looking for a secret writer. He turns out to be a simple official under the name Georgy Zheltkov. They return the bracelet to him and ask him to leave the woman alone. Zheltkov feels ashamed that Vera Nikolaevna could lose her reputation because of his actions. It turns out that he fell in love with her a long time ago, having accidentally seen her at the circus. Since then, he writes letters to her about unrequited love until his death several times a year.
The next day, the Shein family learns that official Georgy Zheltkov shot himself. He managed to write his last letter to Vera Nikolaevna, in which he asks for her forgiveness. He writes that his life no longer has meaning, but he still loves her. The only thing Zheltkov asks is that the princess not blame herself for his death. If this fact will torment her, then let her listen to Beethoven’s Sonata No. 2 in his honor. The bracelet, which was returned to the official the day before, he ordered the maid to hang on the icon of the Mother of God before his death.
Vera Nikolaevna, having read the note, asks her husband for permission to look at the deceased. She arrives at the official's apartment, where she sees him dead. The lady kisses his forehead and places a bouquet of flowers on the deceased. When she returns home, she asks to play Beethoven’s work, after which Vera Nikolaevna burst into tears. She realizes that “he” has forgiven her. At the end of the novel, Sheina realizes the loss of the great love that a woman can only dream of. Here she recalls the words of General Anosov: “Love should be a tragedy, the greatest secret in the world.”
Main characters
Princess, middle-aged woman. She is married, but her relationship with her husband has long grown into friendly feelings. She has no children, but she is always attentive to her husband and takes care of him. She has a bright appearance, is well educated, and is interested in music. But for more than 8 years she has been receiving strange letters from a fan of “G.S.Z.” This fact confuses her; she told her husband and family about it and does not reciprocate the writer’s feelings. At the end of the work, after the death of the official, she bitterly understands the severity of lost love, which happens only once in a life.
Official Georgy Zheltkov
A young man about 30-35 years old. Modest, not rich, well-mannered. He is secretly in love with Vera Nikolaevna and writes about his feelings to her in letters. When the bracelet he had been given was returned to him and asked to stop writing to the princess, he commits an act of suicide, leaving a farewell note to the woman.
Vera Nikolaevna's husband. A good, cheerful man who truly loves his wife. But because of his love for constant social life, he is on the verge of ruin, which drags his family down.
The main character's younger sister. She is married to an influential young man, with whom she has 2 children. In marriage, she does not lose her feminine nature, loves to flirt, gambles, but is very pious. Anna is very attached to her older sister.
Nikolai Nikolaevich Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky
Brother of Vera and Anna Nikolaevna. He works as an assistant prosecutor, a very serious guy by nature, with strict rules. Nikolai is not wasteful, far from feelings of sincere love. It is he who asks Zheltkov to stop writing to Vera Nikolaevna.
General Anosov
Old military general ex-friend late father of Vera, Anna and Nikolai. Participant Russian-Turkish war, was injured. Has no family or children, but is close to Vera and Anna biological father. He is even called “grandfather” in the Sheins’ house.
This work is full of different symbols and mysticism. It is based on the story of one man's tragic and unrequited love. At the end of the novel, the tragedy of the story takes on even greater proportions, because the heroine realizes the severity of loss and unconscious love.
Today the novel “The Garnet Bracelet” is very popular. It describes great feelings of love, sometimes even dangerous, lyrical, with a tragic ending. This has always been relevant among the population, because love is immortal. In addition, the main characters of the work are described very realistically. After the publication of the story, A. Kuprin gained high popularity.