Bunin’s story “Mr. from San Francisco” tells the story of how everything is devalued before the fact of death. Human life is subject to decay, it is too short to be wasted in vain, and the main idea of this cautionary tale, is an understanding of the essence of human existence. The meaning of life for the hero of this story lies in his confidence that he can buy everything with his existing wealth, but fate decided otherwise. We offer an analysis of the work “Mr. from San Francisco” according to plan; the material will be useful in preparing for the Unified State Exam in literature in 11th grade.
Brief Analysis
Year of writing– 1915
History of creation– In a store window, Bunin accidentally noticed the cover of Thomas Mann’s book “Death in Venice”, this was the impetus for writing the story.
Subject– The opposites that surround man everywhere are main theme works are life and death, wealth and poverty, power and insignificance. All this reflects the philosophy of the author himself.
Composition– The problems of “Mr. from San Francisco” contain both a philosophical and socio-political character. The author reflects on the frailty of existence, on man’s attitude to spiritual and material values, from the point of view of various strata of society. The plot of the story begins with the master's journey, the climax is his unexpected death, and in the denouement of the story the author reflects on the future of humanity.
Genre– A story that is a meaningful parable.
Direction– Realism. Bunin's story takes on a deep philosophical meaning.
History of creation
The history of the creation of Bunin's story dates back to 1915, when he saw the cover of a book by Thomas Mann. After that, he was visiting his sister, he remembered the cover, for some reason it evoked an association in him with the death of one of the American vacationers, which happened during a vacation in Capri. Immediately a sudden decision came to him to describe this incident, which he did as quickly as possible. short term– the story was written in just four days. With the exception of the deceased American, all other facts in the story are completely fictitious.
Subject
In “The Gentleman from San Francisco,” an analysis of the work allows us to highlight the main idea of the story, which consists of the author’s philosophical reflections on the meaning of life, on the essence of being.
Critics were enthusiastic about the creation of the Russian writer, interpreting the essence in their own way. philosophical story. Theme of the story- life and death, poverty and luxury, in the description of this hero, who lived his life in vain, reflects the worldview of the entire society, divided into classes. High society, possessing all material values, having the opportunity to buy everything that is on sale, does not have the most important thing - spiritual values.
On the ship, the dancing couple, depicting sincere happiness, is also fake. These are actors who were bought to play love. There is nothing real, everything is artificial and feigned, everything is purchased. And the people themselves are false and hypocritical, they are faceless, which is what meaning of the name this story.
And the master has no name, his life is aimless and empty, he does not bring any benefit, he only uses the benefits created by representatives of another, lower class. He dreamed of buying everything he could, but he didn’t have time; fate had its own way and took his life. When he dies, no one remembers him; he only causes inconvenience to those around him, including his family.
The point is that he died - and that’s it, he doesn’t need any wealth, luxury, power or honor. He doesn't care where he lies - in a luxurious inlaid coffin, or in a simple soda box. His life was in vain, he did not experience real, sincere human feelings, did not know love and happiness in the worship of the golden calf.
Composition
The narrative of the story is divided into two parts: how a gentleman sails on a ship to the coast of Italy, and the journey of the same gentleman back, on the same ship, only in a coffin.
In the first part, the hero enjoys all the possible benefits that money can buy, he has all the best: a hotel room, gourmet dishes, and all the other delights of life. The gentleman has so much money that he planned a trip for two years, together with his family, his wife and daughter, who also do not deny themselves anything.
But after climax When the hero suffers sudden death, everything changes dramatically. The hotel owner does not even allow the gentleman’s corpse to be placed in his room, having allocated the cheapest and most inconspicuous one for this purpose. There is not even a decent coffin in which to place the gentleman, and he is placed in an ordinary box, which is a container for some kind of food. On the ship, where the gentleman was blissfully on deck among high society, his place is only in the dark hold.
Genre
“Mr. from San Francisco” can be briefly described as genre story ah, but this story is filled with deep philosophical content, and differs from other Bunin works. Usually, Bunin's stories contain descriptions of nature and natural phenomena that are striking in their liveliness and realism.
In the same work there is main character, around which the conflict of this story is tied. Its content makes you think about the problems of society, about its degradation, which has turned into a soulless, mercantile being who worships only one idol - money, and has renounced everything spiritual.
The whole story is subordinated philosophical direction, and in plot-wise- This is an instructive parable that gives a lesson to the reader. The injustice of a class society, where the lower part of the population languishes in poverty, and the cream of high society waste their lives senselessly, all this, in the end, leads to a single ending, and in the face of death everyone is equal, both poor and rich, it cannot be bought off by any money.
Bunin's story "Mr. from San Francisco" is rightfully considered one of the most outstanding works in his work.
The story "Mr. from San Francisco" was written by I.A. Bunin in 1915. The story is based on the author's general impression of his journey and seems to hint at social collapse throughout the world. Bunin specifically does not name the main character, presenting us with a generalized image. Initially, the title of the story was “Death on Capri,” but in the process of working on the work, Bunin abandoned the title containing the word “death.”
Despite this, the feeling of imminent death appears from the very first words of the epigraph.
The story tells about last days the life of a wealthy American gentleman who decided to start living at the age of 58. Just to start, because he worked all this time, trying to provide himself with a decent old age. He believed that life was about relaxation and pleasure, which he deserved. Therefore, he carefully planned the route of the trip, which in turn is already stupid to adhere to the schedule.
And everything almost immediately goes wrong as the main character intended. And besides, there was something artificial about its existence, where not only every movement of the passengers was painted, but also their emotions.
This is where the dissonance between the opinions of the main character and the author is clearly shown. Such an existence cannot be called a full life. The hero lives only for a moment, and then fighting death.
The further picture is predictable. If at the beginning the hero himself has fun, talking with people of the highest circle and watching false lovers, then even after the death of the master, this same upper circle continues to waste their lives, now without the main character, whose body rests deep under them.
"The Lord of San Francisco" is full of symbolism. The coffin in the hold is a message to those who are having fun, meaning that all people are equal before death, and their money cannot help them in their last painful minutes. Their happiness is in fact not happiness at all; their worldview cannot compare with the vision of the world of ordinary poor mountaineers.
The idea of the work is not just a story about the death of a rich man. The money he accumulated, his rank did not have greater value. That's what's important. Bunin reveals in his story his own vision of the meaning of life, and this meaning clearly does not lie in the acquisition of wealth and fame.
The hero is called a master because this is his essence. At least that’s what he thinks, and that’s why he revels in his position. He represents the society that destroys all living things in humanity, forcing us to invent a schedule for ourselves, blindly follow it and smile coyly in feigned pleasure. There is nothing spiritual in such a society; its goal is to be rich and enjoy this wealth. But this has never made anyone truly happy.
"Atlantis" is a ship carrying this society to new pleasures; The ocean on which the ship sails is an element beyond the control of even the richest people, capable of instantly destroying the plans of a “dead society” and sending it to the bottom. And at the bottom the society will be waiting for a gentleman from San Francisco. "Atlantis", in fact, is going nowhere, carrying with it a blind society of callous people.
The main problem of the story “Mr. from San Francisco” is a dead society that can only boast of its money in front of everyone and live according to a schedule drawn up by an equally insensitive, inanimate person. In his diary, Bunin wrote the following: “I cried while writing the end.”
What was he crying over? Over the sad fate of a gentleman who had just begun to live: Over his family, now left without a breadwinner? After all, now they will have to look for a groom so that the master’s daughter can continue her boring life, as the schedule dictates. I think that the author was saddened by the fate of the “dead” society, their way of life and impartiality to the grief of others; their callousness and insensitivity. That's the problem modern society, just like many years ago.
The meaning of the title and problems of the story by I.A. Bunin"Mr. from San Francisco"
(essay preparation lesson)
Stage 1. Topic analysis.
Understanding each word of the topic
meaning - meaning, essence, essence, inner content, depth.
Name - title, title, title, topic, idea.
problematic – a set of problems, a range of issues.
work - story, short story, narration.
Bunin – remarkable Russian writer of the early twentieth century, author, novelist.
Keyword highlighting
Meaning of the name
problems
I.A.Bunin
"Mr. from San Francisco"
Formulating the topic in other words
The meaning of the title and the range of questions of I. A. Bunin’s story “The Gentleman from San Francisco.”
The depth of the name and the totality of problems in I.A. Bunin’s story “Mr. from San Francisco.”
Stage 2. Search for a task contained in a topic.
What is the meaning of the title and what are the problems of I. A. Bunin’s story “The Gentleman from San Francisco”?
Why did I.A. Bunin call his story “Mr. from San Francisco”?
Is I. A. Bunin’s story “The Gentleman from San Francisco” instructive?
Is man's claim to dominance tenable?
Stage 3. Formulating a thesis.
IN name story I.A.Bunina"Mr. from San Francisco" complete summarized his content. AND "mister", And members his families remain nameless, while minor characters – Lorenzo, Luigi– endowed proper names . Elements living life Bunin contrasts venality bourgeoisie, hostility to natural life, lack of compassion. In the story, hard work and idleness, decency and depravity, sincerity and deceit collide in irreconcilable conflict. Problems addressed author in his story, this is « eternal themes» literature.
Stage 4. Structuring an essay.
Highlighting keywords.
Combining key concepts into semantic “nests”.
I.A.Bunin, “Mr. from San Francisco”, conflict.
The gentleman and his family, nameless, faceless; not life, but existence, business, corruption, idle life, attitude towards nature, natural life, decay human connections, lack of compassion, hostility to natural life, idleness, depravity, deceit.
Minor characters: Lorenzo, Luigi, proper names, the elements of living, natural life, individuality, unique personality, hard work, decency, sincerity.
- “Eternal themes” of literature: close attention to nature, the “inner” course human life.
Establishing internal connections between “nests” of keywords.
Determining the optimal number of parts of an essay.
I.A.Bunin I
"Mr. from San Francisco"
Mister and his family II
have no name
lifestyle reasons
Tragedy
Proper names of people living natural lives
Problems
"Eternal themes" of literature
Lining up structural elements essays in logical order.
Stage 5. Introduction to the essay.
Define keywords Topics.
Meaning– this is a subjective meaning, the attitude of a person (the author) to what he is talking about or arguing about.
Name – the main idea, put by the author in the title.
Issues- this is what worries the writer, questions that make him think about.
Bunin- a brilliant representative of twentieth-century prose.
Construct a judgment that reflects the connections between key concepts. I.A.Bunin is a brilliant representative of twentieth-century prose. In his story “Mr. from San Francisco,” the writer talks about man’s place in the world and believes that man is not the center of the Universe, but a grain of sand in a huge world, that the universe is not under the control of man. The story is based on the story of a nameless gentleman.
Construct a judgment about the topic of the essay, including its formulation in other words.
The meaning of the title and the range of questions of I. A. Bunin’s story “The Gentleman from San Francisco.”
Formulate the task that the topic poses for the writer.
Why did I.A. Bunin call his story “Mr. from San Francisco”? Why didn’t you give a name to your hero? How do the heroes of the work live? moral qualities does the writer endow them?
Construct a judgment showing the connection between the introduction and the main part of the essay.
Let's try to find the answer to this question by understanding how the heroes of the story live.
Combine these judgments.
I.A.Bunin is a brilliant representative of twentieth-century prose. His work is characterized by an interest in ordinary life and the ability to reveal the tragedy of life. In his story “Mr. from San Francisco,” the writer talks about man’s place in the world and believes that man is not the center of the Universe, but a grain of sand in a huge world, that the universe is not under the control of man. The story is based on the story of a nameless gentleman. Why did I.A. Bunin call his story “Mr. from San Francisco”? Why didn't you give your hero a name? Perhaps we will find answers to these questions by understanding how and how the characters in the story live, what moral qualities does the writer endow them with?
Stage 6. Design of the main part.
The gentleman from San Francisco is the personification of a man of bourgeois civilization.
Lack of spirituality.
Bunin's rejection of high society's hostility to nature, to natural life.
The world of natural people.
The collapse of human connections and lack of compassion are the worst things for Bunin.
I.A.Bunin is a brilliant representative of twentieth-century prose.
The problems and meaning of the title of I. A. Bunin’s story “The Gentleman from San Francisco.”
Bunin's appeal to the “eternal themes” of literature.
Stage 7. Writing an essay.
I.A.Bunin is a brilliant representative of twentieth-century prose. His work is characterized by an interest in ordinary life and the ability to reveal the tragedy of life. In his story “Mr. from San Francisco,” the writer talks about man’s place in the world and believes that man is not the center of the Universe, but a grain of sand in a huge world, that the universe is not under the control of man. The story is based on the story of a nameless gentleman. Why did I.A. Bunin call his story “Mr. from San Francisco”? Why didn't you give your hero a name? Perhaps we will find answers to these questions by understanding how and how the characters in the story live, and what moral qualities the writer endows them with.
The gentleman from San Francisco is the personification of a man of bourgeois civilization. The hero is simply called “master” because that is his essence. He considers himself a master and revels in his position. He can afford “solely for the sake of entertainment”” to go with his family “to the Old World for two whole years”, he can enjoy all the benefits guaranteed by his status, he believes “in the care of all those who fed and watered him, from morning to evening served him, preventing his slightest desire,” can contemptuously throw at the “ragamuffins” through clenched teeth: “Get out!” The gentleman from San Francisco is valuable to others not as a person, but as a master. While he is rich and full of strength, the owner of the hotel “politely and elegantly” bows to his family, and the head waiter makes it clear that “there is and cannot be any doubt about the correctness of the master’s desires.”
Describing the gentleman’s appearance, I.A. Bunin uses epithets that emphasize his wealth and his unnaturalness: “silver mustache”, “golden fillings” of teeth, “strong bald head” is compared to “old ivory”. There is nothing spiritual about the gentleman, his goal is to become rich and reap the fruits of this wealth: “...he has almost become equal to those whom he once took as a model...” The desire came true, but this did not make him any happier. The description of the gentleman from San Francisco is constantly accompanied by the author's irony. The human element begins to appear in the master only at death: “It was no longer the gentleman from San Francisco who was wheezing - he was no longer there - but someone else.” Death makes him human: “his features began to become thinner and brighter...”. And the author now calls his hero “deceased”, “deceased”, “dead”. The attitude of those around him also changes sharply: the corpse must be removed from the hotel so as not to spoil the mood of other guests, they cannot provide a coffin - only a soda box, the servants, who were in awe of the living master, mockingly laughs at the dead, the hotel owner speaks with his wife “without any courtesy”, and places the deceased in the cheapest room, firmly stating the need for urgent removal of the body. The master's attitude towards people is transferred to himself. At the end of the story, the author says that the body of the “dead old man from San Francisco returns “home, to the grave, to the shores of the New World” in a black hold: the power of the “master” turns out to be illusory.
The writer does not give a name not only to the main character. The ship’s passengers represent the nameless “cream” of society, of which the gentleman from San Francisco so wanted to become a member: “Among this brilliant crowd there was a certain great rich man, ... there was a famous spanish writer, there was an all-world beauty, there was an elegant couple in love...” Their life is monotonous and empty: “they got up early, ... drank coffee, chocolate, cocoa, ... sat in the baths, did gymnastics, stimulating appetite and good health, performed daytime toilets and went to the first breakfast..." This is the impersonality, the lack of individuality of those who consider themselves masters of life. This is an artificial paradise, because even the “elegant couple in love” only pretended to be in love: she was “hired by Lloyd to play at love for good money.” Life on a ship is illusory. It is “huge”, but around it there is a “water desert” of the ocean and a “cloudy sky”. And in the “underwater womb of the steamer,” similar to the “gloomy and sultry depths of the underworld,” people worked naked to the waist, “crimson in the flames,” “drenched in acrid, dirty sweat.” The social gap between rich and poor is nothing compared to the abyss that separates man from nature and natural life from non-existence. And, of course, Bunin does not accept the hostility of high society towards nature, towards natural life.
In contrast to “artificial” life, Bunin shows the world of natural people. One of them is Lorenzo - “a tall old boatman, a carefree reveler and a handsome man,” probably the same age as the gentleman from San Francisco. Only a few lines are dedicated to him, but it is given sonorous name, Unlike title character. Both Lorenzo and the Abruzzese highlanders personify the naturalness and joy of being. They live in harmony, in harmony with the world, with nature: “They walked - and the whole country, joyful, beautiful, sunny, stretched under them: and the rocky humps of the island, which almost all lay at their feet, and that fabulous blue, in which he floated, and the shining morning vapors over the sea to the east, under the dazzling sun...” The goat-skin bagpipes and the wooden foregrip of the highlanders are contrasted with the “beautiful orchestra” of the steamship. With their lively, artless music, the mountaineers give praise to the sun, the morning, “the immaculate intercessor of all those who suffer in this evil and wonderful world, and to him who was born from her womb in the cave of Bethlehem..." This is true values life, in contrast to the brilliant, expensive, but artificial, imaginary values of the “masters”.
Thus, the theme of the end of the existing world order, the inevitability of the death of a soulless and spiritual civilization gradually grows in the story. The writer considers the most terrible thing to be the disintegration of human connections and the lack of compassion. And this is exactly what we see in the story “Mr. from San Francisco.” For Bunin, nature is important, however, in his opinion, the highest judge of man is human memory. The picturesque poor man, old Lorenzo, will live forever on the canvases of artists, but the rich old man from San Francisco was erased from life and forgotten before he could die. And, therefore, the title of the story was not chosen by chance. It provides an impetus for understanding the meaning and meaning of the story, which makes you think about the eternal problems of life, death, love, beauty.
The title of I. A. Bunin’s story “Mr. from San Francisco” fully summarizes its content. Both the "master" and his family members remain nameless, while minor characters– Lorenzo, Luigi – endowed with their own names. Bunin contrasts the elements of living life with the corruption of the bourgeoisie, hostility to natural life, and lack of compassion. In the story, hard work and idleness, decency and depravity, sincerity and deceit collide in irreconcilable conflict. The problems that the author addresses in his story are “eternal themes” of literature.
Ivan Alekseevich Bunin is a world-famous writer and Nobel laureate. In his works he touches on eternal themes: love, nature and death. The theme of death, as is known, touches on the philosophical problems of human existence.
| Philosophical problems, which Bunin raises in his works, were most fully revealed in the story “The Gentleman from San Francisco.” In this story, death is presented as one of the important events, defining true price personality. Philosophical problems of the meaning of life, true and imaginary values are the main ones in this work. The writer reflects not only on the fate of an individual person, but also on the fate of humanity, which, in his opinion, stands on the brink of destruction. The story was written in 1915, when the First World War and there was a crisis of civilization. It is symbolic in the story that the ship on which the main character travels is called “Atlantis”. Atlantis is a legendary sunken island that could not withstand the raging elements and became a symbol of a lost civilization.
Associations also arise with the Titanic, which perished in 1912. “The ocean that walked behind the walls” of the steamship is a symbol of the elements, nature, opposing civilization. But the people sailing on the ship do not notice the hidden threat posed by the elements, they do not hear the howl of the wind, which is drowned out by the music. They firmly believe in their idol - the captain. The ship is a model of Western bourgeois civilization. Its holds and decks are the layers of this society. The upper floors resemble “a huge hotel with all the amenities”; here are people at the top of the social ladder, people who have achieved complete well-being. Bunin draws attention to the regularity of this life, where everything is subject to a strict routine. The author emphasizes that these people, the masters of life, have already lost their individuality. All they do while traveling is have fun and wait for lunch or dinner. From the outside it looks unnatural and unnatural. There's no room here sincere feelings. Even a couple in love ends up being hired by Lloyd to “play love for good money.” It is an artificial paradise filled with light, warmth and music. But there is also hell. This hell is the “underwater womb” of the ship, which Bunin compares to the underworld. They work there simple people, on which depends the well-being of those at the top who lead a carefree and serene life.
A prominent representative of bourgeois civilization in the story is the gentleman from San Francisco. The hero is simply called a master, because his essence is in his mouth. At least he considers himself a master and revels in his position. He achieved everything he strived for: wealth, power. Now he can afford to go to the Old World “just for fun” and can enjoy all the benefits of life. Describing the gentleman’s appearance, Bunin uses epithets that emphasize his wealth and unnaturalness: “silver mustache”, “golden fillings” of teeth, a strong bald head is compared to “old ivory”. There is nothing spiritual about the gentleman, his goal - to become rich and reap the fruits of this wealth - was realized, but he did not become happier because of it. ) But then comes the climax of the story, the gentleman from San Francisco dies. It is unlikely that this master of life expected to leave the sinful earth so soon. His death looks “illogical”, out of step with the general orderly order of things, but for it there are no social or material differences.
And the worst thing is that humanity begins to manifest itself in him only before death. “It was no longer the gentleman from San Francisco who was wheezing,” he was no longer there, “but someone else.” Death makes him human: “his features began to become thinner and brighter.” Death dramatically changes the attitude of those around him: the corpse must be urgently removed from the hotel so as not to spoil the mood of other guests, they cannot even provide a coffin - only a soda box, and the servants, who were in awe of the living, laugh at the dead. Thus, the master’s power turned out to be imaginary, illusory. In pursuit of material values, he forgot about true, spiritual values, and therefore he was forgotten immediately after death. This is what is called retribution according to deserts. The gentleman from San Francisco deserved only oblivion.
An unexpected departure into oblivion is perceived as supreme moment, when everything falls into place, when illusions disappear, and the truth remains, when nature “roughly” proves its omnipotence. But people continue their carefree, thoughtless existence, quickly returning to “peace and quiet.” Their souls cannot be awakened to life by the example of one of them. The problem of the story goes beyond the individual case. Its ending is connected with reflections on the fate of not just one hero, but all people, past and future passengers of the ship under the mythical and tragic name “Atlantis”. People are forced to overcome the “hard” path of “darkness, ocean, blizzard.” Only to the naive, simple, how accessible is the joy of joining “the eternal and blissful abodes”, to the highest spiritual values. The bearers of true values are the Abruzzese highlanders and old Lorenzo. Lorenzo is a boatman, "a carefree reveler and a handsome man." He is probably the same age as the gentleman from San Francisco, only a few lines are dedicated to him, but unlike the gentleman, he has a sonorous name. Lorenzo is famous throughout Italy; he has served as a model for many painters more than once. He looks around with a regal air, rejoicing in life, showing off with his rags. The picturesque poor man Lorenzo remains to live forever on the canvases of artists, but the rich old man from San Francisco was erased from life as soon as he died.
The Abruzzese highlanders, like Lorenzo, personify the naturalness and joy of being. They live in harmony, in harmony with the world, with nature. The mountaineers give praise to the sun, morning, Our Lady and Christ. According to Bunin, these are the true values of life.
Those who have them own everything. They can buy love, loyalty, devotion and friendship. They have the right to enjoy the beauty of Italian nature, ancient monuments, and listen to the serenades of wandering singers. They can do anything. A certain gentleman from San Francisco believed in this for so long, whose problem began in his youth, when the love of money took over his entire being so much that his life was interrupted before it even began. He never knew in what naive delusion he lived for fifty-eight years.
Faceless Mr.
He has neither a name nor appearance. The author does not endow him with any characteristic features in behavior and does not put words into his mouth. The story “Mr. from San Francisco” is a symbolic parable about the frailty of life. It even serves as a symbol main character. This gentleman is nothing more than the personification of money-grubbing and greed.
Little has been said about him. But it is known that he is rich. For many years he worked, earned and saved so that one day he could start living. A gentleman from San Francisco owns everything you need for entertainment, relaxation and long trips. The only problem is that while he was striving for the heights of prosperity, he forgot how to relax and have fun.
The hero of Bunin's novel goes on a long voyage. His plans include visiting Italian cities, all kinds of entertainment and the services of corrupt women. He is not aware of why he needs all this, but he knows exactly how it needs to be done. A rich American will drink expensive wine, dance, eat delicacies, and then enjoy the beauty of the Capriana landscape. All rich Americans do this. And also Germans, French, Italians. In short, everyone who has money.
"Atlantis"
A gentleman from San Francisco sets off on a fabulous journey on a famous comfortable ship. The problem with Atlantis, and the mentioned steamship is named after it, is that it sank. This mythical state was swallowed up by the sea in a matter of hours. And, descending into the hold of the ship, Bunin’s character seems to be descending into the underworld. The name of the ship was not chosen by chance by the author. It symbolizes imminent and sudden death.
Hired actors
There is pretense and hypocrisy all around. The rich gentleman has lived in a world of lies for so long that he has forgotten what the truth looks like. He sincerely believes in the kindness towards him on the part of all those faceless characters who feed him, carry his numerous suitcases and try in every possible way to please. The gentleman from San Francisco cannot help but admire the sight of a happy couple in love on the deck of a ship. The problem with these people is that they are just hired actors trying their best to earn their money and create the right mood. Hardly any of the passengers know how long they have been sailing on this ship, and how tired they are of playing this role. In the story “Mr. from San Francisco,” these characters are included as a symbol of feigned insincere joy, pretense, and props.
Island of Capri
Ivan Bunin puts the emotions of the main character and his thoughts into such a dry and laconic form that the reader has doubts as to whether this American gentleman is a living person. His plans for the upcoming vacation are presented somehow detachedly and more like a clear scheme of actions. So literary device the writer conveys the poor spiritual world of the main character, for whom life has become something unknown, and simple human joys are inaccessible. The landscape is described in a completely different style. It is colorful and bright. The author spares no comparisons and metaphors. After all, the landscape in Bunin’s story is life in all its colors and diversity.
The system of artistic and philosophical symbols is represented by the short story “Mr. from San Francisco”. Its content is a contrast between greed, love of money and the beauty of the world around us, everything that a person can see if he so desires. But none of the characters are associated with beautiful sides human existence. This is evidenced by the events that follow the death of the main character.
Death
It overtakes the hero suddenly. And everything that surrounded him during his life - respect, honor, ingratiation - disappears. In return, irritation, annoyance and even rudeness appear.
Bunin's story "Mr. from San Francisco" is a work of philosophical and symbolic prose. The idea that underlies it was, is and will always be relevant.