Ivan Bunin, "Dark Alleys": analysis. Analysis of the story "Dark alleys" by Bunina I.A. Analysis of the work dark alleys according to plan

Genre focus The work is a short novel in the style of realism, the main theme of which is reflections on love, lost, forgotten in the past, as well as broken destinies, choices and their consequences.

Composition structure The story is traditional for a short story, consisting of three parts, the first of which tells about the arrival of the protagonist in combination with descriptions of nature and the surrounding area, the second describes his meeting with his former beloved woman, and the third part depicts a hasty departure.

main character of the story is Nikolai Alexandrovich, presented in the form of a sixty-year-old man, relying in life on common sense in the form of his own ego and public opinion.

minor character The work presents Nadezhda, the former beloved of Nikolai, left by him sometime in the past, who met the hero at the end of his life path. Hope personifies a girl who was able to overcome the shame of being associated with a rich man and learned to live an independent, honest life.

Distinctive feature The story is an image of the theme of love, which is presented by the author as a tragic and fatal event that has gone forever along with a dear, bright and wonderful feeling. Love in the story is presented in the form of a litmus test, which helps to test the human personality in terms of fortitude and moral purity.

By means of artistic expression in the story are the author's use of precise epithets, vivid metaphors, comparisons and personifications, as well as the use of parallelism, emphasizing the state of mind of the characters.

The originality of the work consists in the inclusion by the writer in the narrative of unexpected abrupt endings, the tragedy and drama of the plot, combined with lyricism in the form of emotions, experiences and mental anguish.

Option 2

Bunin worked in the 19th and 20th centuries. His attitude to love was special: in the beginning, people loved each other very much, but in the end, either one of the heroes dies or they part. For Bunin, love is a passionate feeling, but similar to a flash.

To analyze Bunin's work "Dark Alleys", you need to touch on the plot.

General Nikolai Alekseevich is the main character, he comes to his hometown and meets a woman whom he loved many years ago. Nadezhda is the mistress of the yard, he does not recognize her immediately. But Nadezhda did not forget him and loved Nikolai, even tried to lay hands on herself. The protagonist seems to feel guilty for leaving her. Therefore, he tries to apologize, saying that any feelings pass.

It turns out that Nikolai's life was not so easy, he loved his wife, but she cheated on him, and his son grew up a scoundrel and insolent. He is forced to blame himself for what he did in the past, because Nadezhda could not forgive him.

Bunin's work shows that after 35 years, the love between the characters has not faded away. When the general leaves the city, he realizes that Hope is the best thing in his life. He reflects on the life that could have been if the connection between them had not been interrupted.

Bunin put tragedy into his work, because the lovers did not get along.

Hope was able to keep love, but this did not help create an alliance - she was left alone. I didn’t forgive Nikolai either, because the pain was very strong. And Nikolai himself turned out to be weak, did not leave his wife, was afraid of contempt and could not resist society. They could only be submissive to fate.

Bunin shows the sad story of the fate of two people. Love in the world could not resist the foundations of the old society, therefore it became fragile and hopeless. But there is also a positive feature - love brought a lot of good things to the lives of the heroes, it left its mark, which they will always remember.

Almost all of Bunin's work touches on the problem of love, and "Dark Alleys" show how important love is in a person's life. For Blok, love comes first, because it helps a person to improve, change life for the better, gain experience, and also teaches to be kind and sensual.

Sample 3

Dark alleys is both a cycle of stories by Ivan Bunin written in exile, and a separate story included in this cycle, and a metaphor borrowed from the poet Nikolai Ogaryov and rethought by the author. Under the dark alleys, Bunin meant the mysterious soul of a person, carefully keeping all the feelings, memories, emotions, meetings once experienced. The author claimed that everyone has such memories that he refers to again and again, and there are the most precious ones that are rarely disturbed, they are securely stored in the remote corners of the soul - dark alleys.

It is about such memories that the story of Ivan Bunin, which was written in 1938 in exile. In a terrible wartime in the city of Grasse in France, a Russian classic wrote about love. Trying to drown out the longing for the Motherland and escape from the horrors of war, Ivan Alekseevich returns to the bright memories of his youth, first feelings and creative endeavors. During this period, the author wrote his best works, including the story "Dark Alleys".

Bunin's hero Ivan Alekseevich, a sixty-year-old man, a high-ranking military man, finds himself in the places of his youth. In the hostess of the inn, he recognizes the former serf girl Nadezhda, whom he, a young landowner, once seduced, and later left. Their chance meeting makes us turn to the memories that have been kept in those very “dark alleys” all this time. From the conversation of the main characters, it becomes known that Nadezhda never forgave her treacherous master, but she could not stop loving either. And Ivan Alekseevich only thanks to this meeting realized that then, many years ago, he left not just a serf girl, but the best that fate had given him. But he didn’t gain anything else: the son is a spendthrift and a spender, his wife cheated and left.

You might get the impression that the story "Dark Alleys" is about retribution, but in fact it is about love. Ivan Bunin put this feeling above all else. Nadezhda, an aged single woman, is happy because she has had love all these years. And the life of Ivan Alekseevich did not work out precisely because he once underestimated this feeling and followed the path of reason.

In a short story, in addition to betrayal, themes of social inequality, and choice, and responsibility for someone else's fate, and the theme of duty are raised. But there is only one conclusion: if you live with your heart and put love as a gift above all else, then all these problems can be solved.

Analysis of the work Dark Alleys

In one of Ogarev's poems, Bunin was "hooked" by the phrase "... there was an alley of dark lindens ..." Further, the imagination painted autumn, rain, a road, and an old campaigner in a tarantass. This formed the basis of the story.

The idea was this. The hero of the story in his youth seduced a peasant girl. He had already forgotten about her. But life tends to bring surprises. By chance, after many years, passing through familiar places, he stopped in a passing hut. And in a beautiful woman, the mistress of the hut, I recognized the same girl.

The old military man felt ashamed, he blushes, turns pale, mumbles something like a delinquent schoolboy. Life punished him for his deed. He married for love, but never knew the warmth of the family hearth. His wife didn't love him, she cheated on him. And, in the end, she left him. The son grew up a scoundrel and a loafer. Everything in life comes back like a boomerang.

What about Hope? She still loves the former master. She didn't have a personal life. No family, no beloved husband. But at the same time she could not forgive the master. These are the women who both love and hate at the same time.

The military is immersed in memories. Mentally re-lives their relationship. They warm the soul like the sun a minute before sunset. But he does not for a second admit the thought that things could have turned out differently. The then society would have condemned their relationship. He wasn't ready for this. He didn't need them, these relationships. Then it was possible to put an end to the military career.

He lives as social rules and principles dictate. He is a coward by nature. You have to fight for love.

Bunin does not allow love to flow along the family channel, to take shape in a happy marriage. Why does he deprive his heroes of human happiness? Perhaps he thinks that fleeting passion is better? Better this eternal unfinished love? She did not bring happiness to Nadezhda, but she still loves. What does she hope for? Personally, I do not understand this, I do not share the views of the author.

The old campaigner finally begins to see clearly and realizes what he has lost. This is what he says with such bitterness to Nadezhda. He realized that she was the dearest, brightest person for him. But he never understood what cards he had up his sleeve. Life gave him a second chance at happiness, but he did not take advantage of it.

What meaning does Bunin put into the title of the story "Dark Alleys"? What does he mean? Dark corners of the human soul and human memory. Every person has their own secrets. And they sometimes pop up for him in the most unexpected way. There is nothing accidental in life. Chance is a pattern well planned by God, fate or the cosmos.

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"often called the" encyclopedia of love ". The thirty-eight stories included in the cycle are united by this great feeling. "Dark Alleys" became the most significant event in the late work of the famous Russian writer.

2. History of creation. The stories included in the Dark Alleys cycle were written by Bunin from 1937 to 1949. It was not easy to work. The 70-year-old writer lived in France when German troops occupied it. Creating his "temple of love", Bunin tried to protect himself from anger and hatred, which gradually enveloped the whole world.

3. The meaning of the name. The collection opens with a story of the same name, the title of which immediately sets the mood of the entire cycle. "Dark alleys" symbolize the deepest recesses of the human soul, in which love is born and never dies.

Night walks of lovers along the alleys are also mentioned in other stories of the cycle ("Natalie", "Swing"). Bunin recalled that the idea for the first story came to him while reading Ogarev's poem. Lines from it emerge in the memory of the protagonist: "there were dark linden alleys ..."

4. Genus and genre. A series of short stories about love.

5. Main theme collection - love, manifested in the form of a sudden flash of all-consuming passion. There is no long-term relationship between the main characters of the stories. Most often, love comes to them just for one night. This is the great tragedy of all stories. Lovers are separated in different ways: at the request of their parents ("Rusya"), because of the inevitable return to family life ("Business Cards"), because of their different social status ("Step").

Sometimes fatal passion leads to death. In the story "Kavkaz" a deceived husband commits suicide. The death of the protagonist in the story "Zoyka and Valeria" is very tragic. A number of stories are dedicated to the love between a nobleman and a simple peasant girl. On the one hand, it was very easy for a representative of the upper class to achieve favor from a peasant woman who revered him. But for some time social barriers really collapsed before a great feeling. The inevitable parting resounded with great pain in the hearts of the lovers.

6. Issues. The main problem of the cycle is the transience of true love. It resembles a bright flash that literally blinds a person in love and forever remains for him the most memorable event in life. Another problem follows from this - for a short moment of bliss, retribution will inevitably follow. It can take any form. But lovers never regret that they succumbed to the call of the heart.

Having matured and gained life experience, they still return to the past in their dreams. This problem is posed in the first story. The protagonist, thirty years later, meets with a peasant woman whom he once cruelly deceived. It amazes him that she has been faithful for many years, but still has not forgiven him for insults. Memories of past love extremely excited a person who is already approaching old age. After saying goodbye to the woman, he cannot recover for a long time, thinking about the other direction of his life path.

Bunin also touches upon the problem of violent love, as an extreme manifestation of unbridled desire. One of the most tragic stories is "Fool". The seminarian who seduced the cook and made an ugly child from her is ashamed of his act. But the defenseless woman has to pay for it. Love is rightly called the most powerful human feeling.

A large number of suicides occur under the influence of unrequited love. Moreover, not only an obvious betrayal, but some insignificant reason for others can push a person to a fatal step. In the story "Galya Ganskaya" the main character only told the woman that he would go to Italy for a short time. This was reason enough for Gali to take the poison.

7. Heroes. The main characters of the cycle are just people in love. Sometimes the story is told in the first person. Of the most striking psychological images, one can single out Marusya ("Rusya"), Natalie and Sonya ("Natalie"), Polya ("Madrid"). Bunin generally pays more attention to female characters.

8. Plot and composition. There is no common plot in the cycle of stories "Dark Alleys". The collection is divided into three parts. The stories are arranged in chronological order of their writing: Part I - 1937-1938, Part II - 1940-1941, Part III - 1943-1949.

9. What does the author teach? Bunin is often accused of excessive eroticism in the Dark Alleys cycle. Immodest descriptions - the desire to show love as it really is. This is Bunin's great life truth. He directly says that behind all the lofty words is the satisfaction of carnal desire, which is the main goal of a love relationship. To some, this may indeed seem too rough and straightforward. But there is no getting away from this. Bunin proves that only love is the main engine of human life. To love and be loved is the natural desire of any person.

The work is created during the period of emigration of the writer, who feels heavy homesickness as bright memories of leaving the hungry military reality. The work is an integral part of the writer's collection of short stories of the same name.

Genre focus the work is presented as a story, however, according to some researchers of the writer's work, it is a short story.

main theme is a love problem, which, from the point of view of the writer, is the essence, beginning and meaning of all human life, regardless of tragic or happy circumstances.

Composition structure the story is three-part, in the first part it tells about the hero's arrival at the inn with a predominance of a description of the surrounding landscape, the second describes the meeting with the former beloved woman, characterized by the inclusion of dialogues in the narrative, and the last part is the hero's escape from the surging memories and the past.

Story line the story is presented mainly as dialogues of heroes built on absolutely opposite views regarding human existence, since the heroine considers her life of love to be consolation and joy, keeping past memories, and the hero holds the opinion of meaninglessness, empty human existence, quickly passing .

Distinctive feature story is its poignancy, touching and beauty.

main character The work is Nikolai Alekseevich, presented in the form of a sixty-year-old, tall, slender man of general rank, distinguished by indecision, fatigue from life, cowardice and immature behavior. In his youth, the general falls in love with a serf girl, but he marries a woman of his class. The main character of the story is Nadezhda, presented as a simple, sincere, hardworking, economic and intelligent woman who has reached forty-eight years old, distinguished by her willpower, straightforwardness, and frankness.

As secondary characters of the story, the author presents the wife of the protagonist, who cheated on her husband, the coachman Klim, a local worker, as well as the son of the general, depicted as a spender, stupid, disrespectful young man.

main idea works is an image of the tragedy of human destiny.

Analysis 2

Bunin's attitude to the theme of love was somewhat peculiar, if at the beginning of the work we see a couple in love, then at the end they invariably part or one of them dies tragically. According to the writer, love is a candle that sooner or later will go out anyway.

The protagonist of the story "Dark Alleys", Nikolai Alekseevich, a general of the Russian army, according to the plot, comes to his hometown, where he meets his old love Nadezhda. The woman always remembered Nikolai, love is still stored in her heart, once she even wanted to commit suicide because of unrequited love. Nikolai Alekseevich feels guilty for leaving the heroine alone, so he decides to ask her for forgiveness. Any feelings, in his opinion, pass.

Nikolai's life is difficult, he had a beloved wife who cheated on him, he also has a son, who, unfortunately, grew up to be a bad person. Leaving the city, the general realizes that Nadezhda is the only bright ray in his life. And he greatly regrets that the connection between them was interrupted.

Hope kept feelings for many years, but, alas, this did not help her in creating a family, she was left alone. She does not want to forgive Nikolai, the pain of parting is strong even after many years. And Nikolai turns out to be a weak person who was afraid to leave the family. He is afraid of contempt from society.

We see the sad story of two people whose fate could not develop in the right direction. The heroes were afraid to resist the foundations and morals of society, so their life is unenviable. But do not think that love left only bad things for the characters, no, this great feeling left a deep mark in their lives that will never be erased.

Many of Bunin's works, one way or another, talk about love. "Dark Alleys" is also no exception. The author, through the story, shows the reader the importance of love. Yet Bunin does not give his characters a chance for happiness. Perhaps Nikolai Alekseevich should stop being afraid of the opinions of others, spit on society and start fighting for his love. Memories of happy days with Nadezhda warm his soul, but for some reason he does not even want to think that everything could have been arranged differently. But he was not ready for change. If the general had dared to leave his negligent wife, then one could put an end to the career of a military man. A lot of things would change, a lot would have to be abandoned.

Each of us has our secrets, and it often happens that they emerge in the most unusual way. Love is not the result of random coincidences. It requires tireless work, determination and self-confidence. For the sake of love, your happiness, you need to fight, bite your teeth, not pay attention to pitfalls, and then, perhaps, fate will smile at us.

Option 3

Bunin's "Dark Alleys" is a small collection of stories about true and sincere love. Notable in these small love stories is the tragedy of love relationships. Each story in this series has a sad ending. Blok always believed that love and disappointment are inextricably linked with each other. For him, love is a bright fiery spark that quickly ignites and quickly goes out. This is what he wrote about in many of his works.

The main plot of the story "Dark Alleys" revolves around the meeting of elderly people who were once in love with each other. Many years ago, when they were young, they passionately loved each other. The story is divided into three main parts - the arrival of General Nikolai Alekseevich, his meeting with his past love, and the sad memories and thoughts of an elderly man after he left the inn.

The first part of the love story reveals to the reader the beauty of nature, the environment, the external characteristics of the characters, their moral and social image. In the second part, which is the main one, the author describes the meeting of a man and a woman, betrays how strong the emotions and feelings were when the two former lovers met. At this moment, at the moment of meeting their views and communication, it is no longer important which of them is higher in social status. Hope, although she could not forgive her beloved betrayal, remained faithful and devoted to him until the end of her days. Nikolai Alekseevich, although he has become an adult and accomplished man, at a meeting with Nadezhda is lost, begins to make excuses like a boy and at the same time suppress the pangs of conscience in himself. As soon as he looked at the woman he once loved, he immediately realized how empty and monotonous his real life was.

The third, final part describes the events that took place after the general's departure from the inn. He is completely immersed in his thoughts and constantly talks about how his life would turn if he married Nadezhda? What kind of hostess would she be in his house? But at the same time, the difference in social status affects him more than love, he becomes ashamed of falling in love and passionate feelings for a woman who does not suit him in status.

In the love cycle "Dark Alleys" Bunin reveals to the reader the moral and social side of a person. It also shows that a man and a woman love differently. Hope was and will remain true to him, no matter what, she sincerely loved and loves this man. And he, in turn, acts like a traitor, the opinion of society and social principles are more important to him than a happy life next to his loved one. Everyone understands and experiences this feeling in their own way, but not everyone can keep it.

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What does this work of Pushkin teach the reader, why is it important

Before making a direct analysis of the work "Dark Alleys" by Bunin, let's recall the history of writing. The October Revolution passed, and Bunin's attitude to this event was unequivocal - in his eyes the revolution became a social drama. In 1920, after emigrating, the writer worked a lot, at that time the Dark Alleys cycle appeared, which included various short stories. In 1946, thirty-eight stories were included in the publication of the collection, the book was printed in Paris.

Although the main theme of these short stories was the theme of love, the reader learns not only about its bright sides, but also the dark ones. This is not difficult to guess, reflecting on the name of the collection. It is important to note in the analysis of "Dark Alleys" that Ivan Bunin lived abroad for about thirty years, far from his home. He yearned for the Russian land, but his spiritual intimacy with his homeland remained. All this is reflected in the work we are discussing.

How Bunin introduced love

It is no secret that Bunin presented the theme of love in a somewhat unusual way, not in the way that Soviet literature usually covered it. Indeed, the view of the writer has a difference and its own peculiarity. Ivan Bunin perceived love as something that suddenly arose and very bright, as if it were a flash. But that's why love is beautiful. After all, when love flows into simple affection, feelings turn into a routine. We do not find this in Bunin's heroes, since that very flash occurs between them, and then parting follows, but a bright trace of the experienced feelings overshadows everything. The above is the most important thought in the analysis of the work "Dark Alleys".

Briefly about the plot

General Nikolai Alekseevich once had a chance to visit a postal station, where he met a woman whom he saw 35 years ago, and with whom he had a stormy romance. Now Nikolai Alekseevich is elderly, and does not even immediately understand that this is Nadezhda. And the former lover became the hostess at the inn, where they once met for the first time.

It turns out that Nadezhda loved him all her life, and the general begins to justify himself to her. However, after clumsy explanations, Nadezhda expresses the wise idea that everyone was young, and youth is a thing of the past, but love remains. But she makes a reproach to her lover, because he left her alone in the most heartless way.

All these details will help to make the analysis of Bunin's "Dark Alleys" more accurate. The General does not seem to repent, but it becomes clear that he never forgot his first love. But he didn’t succeed with his family - his wife cheated on him, and his son grew up as a spendthrift and an unscrupulous insolent.

What happened to your first love?

It is very important to note, especially when we are analyzing "Dark Alleys", that the feelings of Nikolai Alekseevich and Nadezhda managed to survive - they still love. When the main character leaves, he realizes that it was thanks to this woman that he felt the depth of love and saw all the colors of feelings. But he abandoned his first love, and now he is reaping the bitter fruits of this betrayal.

One can recall the moment when the general hears from the coachman a review about the hostess: she is driven by a sense of justice, but at the same time her temper is very "cool". Having lent money to someone at interest, she demands a return on time, and whoever did not have time, let him answer. Nikolai Alekseevich begins to reflect on these words and draws parallels with his own life. If he had not abandoned his first love, everything would have turned out differently.

What got in the way of the relationship? An analysis of the work "Dark Alleys" will help us to understand the reason - let's think: the future general had to connect his life with a simple girl. How would others look at this relationship and how would it affect the reputation? But in the heart of Nikolai Alekseevich, feelings did not fade away, and he could not find happiness with another woman, nor could he give a proper upbringing to his son.

The main character Nadezhda did not forgive her lover, who made her suffer a lot and in the end she was left alone. Although we emphasize that love did not pass in her heart either. The general could not go against society and class prejudices in his youth, and the girl simply resigned herself to fate.

A few conclusions in the analysis of "Dark Alleys" by Bunin

We saw how dramatic the fate of Nadezhda and Nikolai Alekseevich was. They broke up even though they loved each other. Both were unhappy. But let us emphasize an important point: thanks to love, they learned the power of feelings and what real experiences are. These best moments of life remained in the memory.

As a through motif, this idea can be traced in the work of Bunin. Although everyone may have their own idea of ​​​​love, thanks to this story, you can think about how it moves a person, what it encourages, what mark it leaves in the soul.

We hope that you liked the brief analysis of Bunin's "Dark Alleys" and found it useful. Read also

Collection of short stories "Dark Alleys" by I.A. Bunin wrote away from his homeland, while in France and worrying about the consequences of the October Revolution and the difficult years of the First World War. The works included in this cycle are filled with motifs of the tragic fate of man, the inevitability of events and longing for the native land. The central theme of the collection of short stories "Dark Alleys" is love, which turns out to be closely associated with suffering and a fatal outcome.

Central to understanding the writer's intention is the story of the same name in the collection "Dark Alleys". It was written in 1938 under the influence of a poem by N.P. Ogaryov “An Ordinary Tale”, where the image of dark alleys is used, as well as the philosophical thoughts of L.N. Tolstoy that happiness in life is unattainable, and a person catches only his "lightning" that needs to be appreciated.

Analysis of the work of I.A. Bunin "Dark alleys"

The plot of the work is based on the meeting of two already elderly people after many years of separation. To be precise, the story refers to 35 years since the last parting. Nikolai Alekseevich arrives at the inn, where he is met by the hostess Nadezhda. The woman calls the hero by name, and he recognizes his former lover in her.

Since then, a whole life has passed, which the loved ones were destined to spend separately. The thing is that Nikolai Alekseevich left a beautiful maid in his youth, who then received a free from the landowner and became the mistress of the inn. The meeting of two heroes raises inside them a whole storm of feelings, thoughts and experiences. However, the past cannot be returned and Nikolai Alekseevich leaves, imagining how life could have turned out differently if he had not neglected the feelings of Nadezhda. He is sure that he would be happy, reflects on how she would become his wife, mother of children and mistress of the house in St. Petersburg. True, all this will remain the unrealizable dream of the hero.

Thus, in the story "Dark Alleys" there are three main plot points:

• The hero's stop at the inn
• Meeting former lovers
• Reflections on the road after what happened

The first part of the work is an episode before the characters recognize each other. The portrait characterization of the characters prevails here. It is the social difference between people that is significant. For example, Nadezhda addresses the visitor “your excellency”, but the hero allows himself “Hey, who is there”.

The foundational moment is the meeting, which marks the second part of the plot. Here we see a description of feelings, emotions and experiences. Social boundaries are discarded, which allows you to get to know the characters better, to oppose their thoughts. Meeting with Hope for the hero is a rendezvous with his conscience. The reader understands that she has retained her inner integrity. Nikolai Alekseevich, on the contrary, feels his life is useless, aimless, he sees only its commonness and vulgarity.

The third part of the story is the actual departure and conversation with the coachman. For the hero, social boundaries are important, which he cannot neglect even for the sake of high feelings. Nikolai Alekseevich is ashamed of his words and revelations, regrets that he kissed the hand of the innkeeper and former lover.

Such a structure of the plot makes it possible to present love and past feelings as a flash that unexpectedly illuminated the ordinary and bored life of Nikolai Alekseevich. The story, built on the memories of the hero, is an artistic technique that allows the author to tell about familiar things in a more exciting way and make an additional impression on the reader.

In the text of the work there are no instructive intonations, condemnation of the actions of the heroes or, conversely, manifestations of pity for them. The narrative is based on the description of the feelings and emotions of the characters, which are revealed to the reader and it is he who will have to evaluate what happened.

Characteristics of the main characters of the story "Dark Alleys"

In a positive light, the image of Hope appears. From the story we learn about her not so much, but this is enough to draw certain conclusions. The heroine is a former serf who is now the owner of a state-owned postal station. Having grown old, she continues to look beautiful, feel light and “out of age”. Nadezhda was able to get a good job in life thanks to her intelligence and honesty. The coachman, in a conversation with Nikolai Alekseevich, notes that she “gets richer, gives money in interest”, i.e. on loan. The heroine is characterized by practicality and enterprise.

She had to go through a lot. The feelings from the act of Nikolai Alekseevich were so strong that Nadezhda admits that she wanted to lay hands on herself. However, she was able to survive the difficulties and become stronger.

The woman continues to love, but she failed to forgive the betrayal of her beloved. She boldly declares this to Nikolai Alekseevich. The wisdom of Nadezhda arouses the reader's sympathy. For example, to the general's attempts to justify his act of the past, she replies that youth passes for everyone, but love never. These words of the heroine also speak of the fact that she knows how and can truly love, but this does not bring her happiness.

The image of Nikolai Alekseevich is in many ways opposed to Nadezhda. He is a nobleman and a general, a representative of high society. He made a good career, but in his personal life the hero is unhappy. His wife left him, and his son grew up to be an insolent and dishonorable person. The hero looks tired, while his former lover is full of strength and desire to act. He once long ago abandoned love and did not know it, having spent his whole life without happiness and pursuing false goals. "Everything passes. Everything is forgotten” – such is the position of the hero in relation to happiness and love.

Nikolai Alekseevich is already about 60 years old, but when he meets Nadezhda, he blushes like a young man. The military man recalls with shame that he left his beloved, but does he have the strength to fix what happened? No. The hero again chooses the easiest way and leaves.

The spiritual weakness of the character, the inability to distinguish true feelings from the "vulgar, ordinary story" doom him and Nadezhda to suffering. Nikolai Alekseevich can only remember the past, his love, which "gave him the best moments of his life."

The love between Nadezhda and Nikolai Alekseevich turns out to be doomed, and the history of their relationship is full of drama. Why did it all happen? There are several reasons. This is also the weakness of the hero, who pushed away his loved one and did not see the future in his feelings for her. This is the role of prejudices in society, excluding the possibility of a relationship, and even more so marriage, between a nobleman and an ordinary maid.

The difference in views on love also predetermined the dramatic fate of the characters. If for Nadezhda feelings for a loved one are loyalty to oneself, a driving force that inspires and helps her in life, then for Nikolai Alekseevich love is a moment, a past story. The irony is that this particular moment, this part of life associated with an ex-lover, was the best moment in all years.