Introduction
"Garnet Bracelet" is one of the most famous stories of the Russian prose writer Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin. She was published in 1910, but for the domestic reader she still remains a symbol of selfless sincere love, the kind that girls dream about, and the one that we so often miss. Earlier we published this wonderful work. In the 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. Celebrate at the dacha in the circle of the closest people. In the midst of fun, the hero of the occasion receives a gift - a garnet bracelet. The sender decided to remain unrecognized and signed a short note with only the initials of the GSG. However, everyone immediately guesses that this is a longtime admirer of Vera, some petty official who has been flooding her with love letters for many years now. The husband and brother of the princess quickly figure out the identity of the annoying boyfriend and the next day they go to his house.

In a miserable apartment they are met by a timid official named Zheltkov, he meekly agrees to take the gift and promises never to appear before the eyes of the respectable family, provided that he makes the last 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 has committed suicide. In a farewell note, he wrote that he had squandered state property.

Main characters: characteristics of key images

Kuprin is a master of the portrait, moreover, through appearance, he draws the character of the characters. The author pays a lot of attention to each hero, devoting a good half of the story to portrait characteristics and memories that also reveal characters. The main characters of the story are:

• - princess, central female image;
• - her husband, prince, provincial marshal of the nobility;
• - a petty 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 families.

Faith is the ideal representative high society and in appearance, and in manners, and in character.

“Vera took after her mother, a beautiful Englishwoman, with her tall, flexible figure, gentle, but cold and proud face, beautiful, albeit rather big hands and that charming sloping of the shoulders, which can be seen in old miniatures”

Princess Vera was married to Vasily Nikolaevich Shein. Their love has long ceased to be passionate and passed 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 she gave all her unspent feeling to her children. 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 inherent in such feminine tricks as affectation and coquetry. Despite his high status Vera was very prudent, and knowing how unsuccessfully things were going with her husband, she sometimes tried to deprive herself so as not to put him in an uncomfortable position.

The husband of Vera Nikolaevna is talented, pleasant, gallant, noble man. He has an amazing sense of humor and is a brilliant storyteller. Shein keeps a home journal in which non-fictional stories with pictures about the life of the family and its entourage.

Vasily Lvovich loves his wife, perhaps not as passionately as in the first years of marriage, but who knows how long passion really lives? The husband deeply respects her opinion, feelings, personality. He is compassionate and merciful to others, even those who are much lower than him in status (his meeting with Zheltkov testifies to this). Shein is noble and endowed with the courage to admit mistakes and his own wrong.

We first meet Official Zheltkov near the end of the story. Up to this point, he is present in the work invisibly in the grotesque image of a klutz, an eccentric, a fool in love. When the long-awaited meeting finally takes place, we see a meek and shy person in front of us, it is customary to ignore such people and call them “little ones”:

“He was tall, thin, with long, fluffy, soft hair.”

His speeches, however, are devoid of the chaotic whim of a madman. He is fully accountable for his words and deeds. Despite the seeming cowardice, this man is very brave, he boldly tells the prince, the lawful spouse of Vera Nikolaevna, 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 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 is only in you. I now feel that some uncomfortable wedge crashed into your life. If you can, forgive me for this.”

Analysis of the work

Kuprin got the idea for his story from real life. In fact, the story was more of an anecdotal character. A certain poor telegraph operator named Zheltikov was in love with the wife of one of Russian generals. Once this eccentric was so brave that he sent his beloved a simple gold chain with a pendant in the form of easter egg. Scream and only! Everyone laughed at the stupid telegraph operator, but the inquisitive writer's mind decided to look beyond the anecdote, because real drama can always lurk behind a visible curiosity.

Also in the “Garnet Bracelet”, the Sheins and the guests first make fun of Zheltkov. Vasily Lvovich even has funny story V home magazine titled "Princess Vera and the Telegraph Operator in Love". People tend not to think about other people's feelings. Sheins were not bad, callous, soulless (this is proved by a metamorphosis in them after meeting Zheltkov), they simply did not believe that the love that the official confessed to 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 person in a fever takes it in his hand (a parallel with the expression “love fever”), then the stone will take on a more saturated shade. According to Zheltkov himself, this special kind pomegranate (green pomegranate) endows women with the gift of foresight, and protects men from violent death. Zheltkov, having parted with the charm 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.
Something bad also tried to predict the weather. 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 peal 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 cites different types"love". This is the tender love-friendship of the Sheins, and the prudent, convenient love of Anna Friesse for her indecently rich old husband, who blindly adores his soul mate, and long forgotten ancient love General Amosov, and Zheltkov's all-consuming love-worship for Vera.

The main character herself for a long time cannot understand - this is love or madness, but looking into his face, even if hidden by the mask of death, she is convinced that it was love. Vasily Lvovich draws the same conclusions when he meets his wife's admirer. And if at first he was somewhat belligerent, then later he could not be angry with the unfortunate one, because, it seems, a secret was revealed to him, which neither he, nor Vera, nor their friends could comprehend.

People are inherently selfish and even in love, they first of all think about their feelings, masking their own egocentrism from the other half and even themselves. True love, which occurs between a man and a woman once in a hundred years, puts the beloved in the first place. So Zheltkov calmly lets Vera go, because only in this way will she be happy. The only problem is that without it, he does not need life. In his world, suicide is a perfectly natural step.

"Garnet bracelet"- The story of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin, written in 1910. The plot was based real story, which Kuprin filled with sad poetry. In 1915 and 1964, a film of the same name was made based on this work. The main characters of the story Garnet Bracelet reside bright moments life, they love, suffer.

Garnet bracelet main characters

• Vasily Lvovich Shein - prince, provincial marshal of the nobility
• Vera Nikolaevna Sheina - his wife, beloved Zheltkov
• Georgy Stepanovich Zheltkov - official of the control chamber

• Anna Nikolaevna Friesse - Vera's sister
• Nikolai Nikolaevich Mirza-Bulat-Tuganovsky - Vera's brother, assistant prosecutor
• General Yakov Mikhailovich Anosov - grandfather of Vera and Anna
• Lyudmila Lvovna Durasova - sister of Vasily Shein
• Gustav Ivanovich Friesse - husband of Anna Nikolaevna
• Jenny Reiter - pianist
• Vasyuchok is a young varmint and a reveler.

Garnet bracelet characteristics Zheltkov

Main character « Garnet bracelet» - petty official funny last name Zheltkov, hopelessly and unrequitedly in love with Princess Vera, the wife of the marshal of the nobility.

Zheltkov G.S. The hero is “very pale, with a tender girlish face, blue eyes and a stubborn childish chin with a dimple in the middle; he was about 30, 35 years old...
7 years ago, Zh. fell in love with Princess Vera Nikolaevna Sheina, wrote letters to her. Then, at the request of the princess, he stopped bothering her. But now he again confessed his love to the princess. Zh. sent Vera Nikolaevna a garnet bracelet. In the letter, he explained that garnet stones used to be in his grandmother's bracelet, later they were transferred to a gold bracelet. In his letter, J. repented that he had previously written "stupid and impudent letters." Now only reverence, eternal admiration and slavish devotion remained in him. This letter was read not only by Vera Nikolaevna, but also by her brother and husband. They decide to return the bracelet and stop the correspondence between the princess and Zh. Zh. is experiencing "an enormous tragedy of the soul." Later, from the newspaper, the princess learns about the suicide of Zh., who explained his act as state embezzlement. Before his death, Zh. wrote to Vera Nikolaevna Farewell letter. In it, he called his feeling "tremendous happiness" sent to him by God. Zh. admitted that, apart from love for Vera Nikolaevna, “nothing interests him in life: neither politics, nor science, nor philosophy, nor concern for the future happiness of people ... Leaving, I say in delight: Hallowed be thy name.” Arriving to say goodbye to Zh., Vera Nikolaevna notices that after his death, his face shone with “deep importance”, “deep and sweet mystery”, as well as a “pacified expression”, which was “on the masks of the great sufferers - Pushkin and Napoleon”.

Garnet bracelet characteristic of Faith

Vera Nikolaevna Sheina- Princess, wife of Prince Vasily Lvovich Shein, beloved Zheltkov.
Living in a seemingly prosperous marriage, the beautiful and pure V.N. fading away. From the first lines of the story, in the description autumn landscape with the "grassy, ​​sad smell" of the southern pre-winter, there is a feeling of withering. Like nature, the princess also withers, leading a monotonous, drowsy lifestyle. It is based on habitual and convenient connections, occupations, duties. All the emotions of the heroine have long been dulled. She "was strictly simple, cold with everyone and a little condescendingly kind, independent and regally calm." In the life of V.N. No true love. She is connected with her husband by a deep sense of friendship, respect, habit. However, in the entire environment of the princess there is no person awarded with this feeling. The princess's sister, Anna Nikolaevna, is married to a man whom she cannot stand. Brother V.N., Nikolai Nikolaevich, is not married and is not going to marry. Prince Shein's sister, Lyudmila Lvovna, is a widow. It is not for nothing that the friend of the Sheins, the old general Anosov, who also did not have true love in his life, says: “I don’t see true love.” Royal calm V.N. destroys Zheltkov. The heroine is experiencing the awakening of a new mental attitude. Outwardly, nothing special happens: guests come to V.N. But all this time, the inner tension of the heroine is growing. The most tense moment is the farewell of V.N. with the deceased Zheltkov, their only "date". “At that moment, she realized that the love that every woman dreams of has passed her by.” Returning home, V.N. finds a familiar pianist who plays her favorite excerpt from Zheltkov from Beethoven's second sonata.

"Garnet bracelet" Kuprin A.I.

Zheltkov G.S.- appears in the story only towards the end: “very pale, with a gentle girlish face, blue eyes and a stubborn childish chin with a dimple in the middle; he must have been about thirty, thirty-five years old.” Along with Princess Vera can be called the main character of the story. The outset of the conflict is the receipt by Princess Vera on September 17, on the day of her name day, a letter signed with the initials “G. S. Zh. ”, and a garnet bracelet in a red case.

It was a gift from a stranger then to Vera Zh., who fell in love with her seven years ago, wrote letters, then stopped bothering her at her request, but now again confessed his love. In a letter, Zh. explained that the old silver bracelet once belonged to his grandmother, then all the stones were transferred to a new, gold bracelet. Zh. repents that before "dared to write stupid and daring letters" and adds: "Now I have only reverence, eternal admiration and slavish devotion." One of the guests at the birthday party for fun presents the love story of the telegrapher, P.P.Zh. (distorted G.S.Zh.), to Vera in a comic form, stylized as a tabloid novel. Another guest, a person close to the family, old general Anosov suggests: “Maybe it’s just a crazy guy, a maniac<...>maybe your life path, Verochka, was crossed by exactly the kind of love that women dream of and that men are no longer capable of.

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

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

All the heroes of the story, not excluding Zh., had real prototypes. Criticism pointed, however, to the connection of the "Garnet Bracelet" with prose Norwegian writer Knut Hamsun.

A. I. Kuprin wrote a beautiful and sad story about the love that everyone would like to experience. The story "Garnet Bracelet" is about such a sublime and disinterested feeling. And now readers continue to discuss whether the main character did the right thing by refusing her fan. Or perhaps an admirer would make her happy? To talk about this topic, you need to characterize Zheltkov from the "Garnet Bracelet".

Description of the appearance of a fan of the Faith

What is remarkable about this gentleman and why did the author decide to make him the main character? Maybe there is something unusual in Zheltkov's characterization in the story "Garnet Bracelet"? For example, in many romantic stories the main characters have a beautiful or memorable appearance. It should be noted right away: the name of the main character is not indicated in the story (perhaps his name is George). This can be explained by the writer's attempts to show the insignificance of a person in the eyes of society.

Zheltkov was tall and lean. His face is more like a girl's: soft features, Blue eyes and a stubborn dimpled chin. It is the last point that indicates that despite the seeming pliability of nature, this person is actually stubborn and does not like to deviate from his decisions.

In appearance, he was 30-35 years old, that is, he was already an adult man and a fully formed personality. Nervousness was visible in all his movements: his fingers were constantly fiddling with buttons, and he himself was pale, which indicates his strong mental agitation. If you rely on external characteristic Zheltkov from "Garnet Bracelet", we can conclude that he has a soft, receptive nature, prone to feelings, but at the same time not devoid of perseverance.

The situation in the main character's room

For the first time, Kuprin "brings" his character to the reader's judgment during the visit of her husband and brother main character. Prior to that, its existence was known only through letters. A description of his living conditions can be added to Zheltkov's characterization in the Garnet Bracelet. The poor decoration of the room emphasizes his social position. After all, the reason that he could not openly communicate with Vera was social inequality.

The room was low-ceilinged, round windows barely illuminating it. From the furniture there was only a narrow bed, an old sofa and a table covered with a tablecloth. The whole situation suggests that the apartment is occupied by a person who is not rich at all and does not strive for comfort. But Zheltkov did not need this: in his life there was only one woman with whom he could be happy, but she was already married. Therefore, the man did not think about creating a family. That is, Zheltkov's characterization in the "Garnet Bracelet" complements important quality- he is single.

The fact that the house has small windows is indicative. The room is a reflection of the main character's existence. He had few joys in his life, it was full of difficulties, and Vera was the only bright ray for the unfortunate.

Zheltkov's character

Despite the insignificance of his position, the main character had an exalted nature, otherwise he would not have been capable of such disinterested love. The man served as an official in some ward. The fact that he had money is reported to the reader from a letter in which Zheltkov writes that he could not give Vera a gift worthy of her due to limited funds.

Zheltkov was educated and humble person did not consider himself endowed fine taste. For the hostess of the room he rented, Zheltkov became like own son- so courteous and kind-hearted was his manner.

Vera's husband saw in him a noble and honest nature, which is not capable of deceit. The protagonist immediately admits to him that he will not be able to stop loving Vera, because this feeling is stronger than him. But he will no longer bother her, because she asked for it, and the peace and happiness of his beloved is more important than anything in the world.

Zheltkov's love story for Vera

Despite the fact that this is an unrequited romance in letters, the writer was able to show a sublime feeling. Therefore, unusual love story has occupied the minds of readers for decades. As for Zheltkov's characterization in the "Garnet Bracelet", it is precisely the willingness to be content with little, the ability to selfless love betrays the nobility of his soul.

He first saw Vera 8 years ago and immediately realized that she was the one, simply because there is no better woman in the world.

And all this time Zhelktov continued to love her, not expecting any reciprocity. He followed her, wrote letters, but not for the purpose of persecution, but simply because he sincerely loved. Zheltkov did not want anything for himself - for him, the well-being of Vera was most important. The man did not understand what deserved such happiness - a bright feeling for her. The tragedy of Vera is that she only realized at the very end that this was the very love that women dream of. She felt that Zheltkov forgave her, because his love was disinterested and sublime. In Kuprin's Garnet Bracelet, Zheltkov's characterization is not a description of one person, but of a true, constant, precious feeling.

"GARNET BRACELET"

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

The heroine is married, but she loves her husband, and on the contrary, she does not feel any feelings towards Mr. Zheltkov, except for annoyance. And Zheltkov himself seems to us at first just a vulgar boyfriend. This is how Vera and her family perceive him. But in the story of the calm and happy life disturbing notes flicker: this fatal love brother of Vera's husband; the love-adoration that the husband has for Vera's sister; the failed love of grandfather Vera, it is this general who says that true love should be a tragedy, but in life it is trivialized, everyday life and all sorts of conventions interfere. He tells two stories (one of them even somewhat resembles the plot of the “Duel”), where true love turns into a farce. Listening to this story, Vera has already received a garnet bracelet with a bloody stone, which should save her from misfortune, and could save her former owner from a violent death. It is from this gift that the reader's attitude towards Zheltkov changes. He sacrifices everything for his love: career, money, peace of mind. And asks for nothing in return.

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

Now Vera understands what she has lost. If Shurochka gave up feelings for the sake of well-being and did it consciously, then Vera simply did not see a great feeling. But after all, in the end, she did not want to see him, she preferred peace and habitual life(although they didn’t demand anything from her), and by this, as it were, she betrayed the person who loved her. But true love generous - she was forgiven.

By definition of Kuprin himself, “Garnet Bracelet” is his most “chaste” thing. Traditional story about a small official and a woman secular society Kuprin unfolded into a poem about unrequited love, sublime, disinterested, selfless.

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

Zheltkov was not able to understand the brother of Princess Vera, but her husband, Prince Vasily Lvovich, appreciated the feeling of this person, although he was forced by the laws of decency to stop this story. He foresaw tragic end: “It seemed to me that I was present at the enormous suffering from which people die,” he admits to Vera.

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

After the death of Zheltkov, Vera came to agreement with herself only after she listened to “ best work Beethoven" - Second sonata. The music, as it were, was telling her on behalf of Zheltkov’s soul: “You and I love each other for only one moment, but forever.” And Vera feels that neither malice, nor hatred, nor even resentment really stirred in the soul of a poor person at the hour of death. to her, the culprit of great happiness and great tragedy life of Zheltkov, and that he died loving and blessing his beloved.

Kuprin showed in his story "Garnet Bracelet" light human feelings, opposed to the callousness of the surrounding world.

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

I still cannot forget the impression Zheltkov's feelings made on me. How much he loved Vera Nikolaevna that he could commit suicide! This is madness! Loving Princess Sheina "seven years of hopeless and polite love," he, never meeting her, talking about his love only in letters, suddenly commits suicide! Not because the brother of Vera Nikolaevna is going to turn to power, and not because they returned his gift - a garnet bracelet. (He is a symbol of deep fiery love and at the same time a terrible bloody sign of death.) And, probably, not because of the fact that he squandered government money. For Zheltkov, there was simply no other way out. He loved married woman so that he could not stop thinking about her even for a minute, to exist without remembering her smile, look, the sound of her gait. He himself says to Vera's husband: "There is only one thing left - death ... You want, I will accept it in any form." The terrible thing is that Vera Nikolaevna's brother and husband, who came to demand that their family be left alone, pushed him to this decision. They turned out to be, as it were, indirect culprits of his death. They had the right to demand peace, but on the part of Nikolai Nikolaevich it was unacceptable, even a ridiculous threat to appeal to the authorities. How can power forbid a person to love!

Kuprin's ideal is “love is disinterested, selfless, not waiting for a reward”, one for which you can give your life and endure anything. It was this kind of love, which happens once in a thousand years, that Zheltkov loved. This was his need, the meaning of life, and he proved this: your name". These words, with which his soul was filled, are felt by Princess Vera in the sounds of Beethoven's immortal sonata. They cannot leave us indifferent and instill in us an unbridled desire to strive for the same incomparably pure feeling. Its roots go back to morality and spiritual harmony in a person ... Princess Vera did not regret that this love, "of which every woman dreams, passed her by." She cries because her soul is overwhelmed with admiration for sublime, almost unearthly feelings.

A person who could love so much must have some kind of special worldview. Although Zheltkov was only a small official, he turned out to be above social norms and standards. Such people as they are elevated by human rumor to the rank of saints, and a bright memory lives about them for a long time.