Composition
OLGA MESHHERSKAYA - the heroine of the story by I.A. Bunin "Easy breathing" (1916). The story is based on a newspaper chronicle: an officer shot a schoolgirl. In this rather unusual incident, Bunin caught the image of an absolutely natural and uninhibited young woman who entered the world of adults early and easily. O.M. - a sixteen-year-old girl, about whom the author writes that "she did not stand out in the crowd of brown gymnasium dresses." The point is not at all in beauty, but in inner freedom, unusual and unusual for a person of her age and gender. The charm of the image lies precisely in the fact that O.M. doesn't think about own life. She lives in full force, without fear and caution. Bunin himself once said: “We call it uterine, and I called it light breathing there. Such naivety and lightness in everything, both in insolence and in death, is “light breathing”, “non-thinking”. O.M. she has neither the lazy charm of an adult woman, nor human talents, she has only this freedom and lightness of being, not constrained by decency, and also - rare for her age human dignity, with which she brushes aside all the reproaches of the headmistress and all the rumors around her name. O.M. - a person is a fact of his life. Psychologist L.S. Vygotsky emphasized the heroine’s love conflicts in the story, emphasizing that it was this frivolity that “led her astray.” K. G. Paustovsky argued that “this is not a story, but an insight, life itself with its trembling and love, the writer’s sad and calm reflection is an epitaph to girlish beauty.” Kucherovsky believed that this was not just an "epitaph to girlish beauty", but an epitaph to the spiritual "aristocratism" of being, which is opposed by the brute force of the "plebeian".
Other writings on this work
Female images in the story of I. A. Bunin "Easy breathing" The motive of love "like a sunstroke" in the prose of I. A. Bunin The role of symbolism in Bunin's stories ("Light Breath", "The Gentleman from San Francisco") The Mystery of Love and Beauty in I. Bunin's story "Light Breath" The theme of love and death (according to the story of I. A. Bunin "Easy breathing")This story allows us to conclude that it belongs to the novel genre. The author managed to convey in a short form the life story of the schoolgirl Olya Meshcherskaya, but not only her. According to the definition of the genre, a short story in a unique, small, concrete event should recreate the whole life of the hero, and through it - the life of society. Ivan Alekseevich, through modernism, creates a unique image of a girl who is still dreaming of true love.
Not only Bunin wrote about this feeling ("Easy breathing"). The analysis of love was carried out, perhaps, by all the great poets and writers, very different in character and worldview, therefore, many shades of this feeling are presented in Russian literature. Opening the work of another author, we always find something new. Bunin also has his own. In his works, there are often tragic endings, ending with the death of one of the heroes, but it is rather bright than deeply tragic. We come across a similar ending after reading Easy Breath.
First impression
At first glance, the events seem messy. The girl plays love with an ugly officer, far from the circle to which the heroine belonged. In the story, the author uses the so-called method of "proof from the return", because even with such vulgar external events, love remains something untouched and bright, does not touch everyday dirt. Arriving at Olya's grave, the class teacher asks herself how to combine all this with a clear look at "that terrible thing" that is now associated with the name of the schoolgirl. This question does not require an answer, which is present in the entire text of the work. They are permeated through Bunin's story "Easy breathing".
The character of the main character
Olya Meshcherskaya seems to be the embodiment of youth, thirsty for love, a lively and dreamy heroine. Her image, contrary to the laws of public morality, captivates almost everyone, even the lower grades. And even the guardian of morals, Olya's teacher, who condemned her for early adulthood, after the death of the heroine, he comes to the cemetery to her grave every week, constantly thinks about her and at the same time even feels, "like all people devoted to a dream," happy.
character trait main character the story is that she longs for happiness and can find it even in such an ugly reality in which she had to find herself. Bunin uses "light breathing" as a metaphor for naturalness, vital energy. the so-called "lightness of breath" is invariably present in Olya, surrounding her with a special halo. People feel this and therefore are drawn to the girl, while not even being able to explain why. She infects everyone with her joy.
contrasts
Bunin's work "Light Breath" is built on contrasts. From the very first lines, a double feeling arises: a deserted, sad cemetery, a cold wind, a gray April day. And against this background - a portrait of a schoolgirl with lively, joyful eyes - a photograph on the cross. Olya's whole life is also built on contrast. cloudless childhood opposed tragic events that took place in Last year the life of the heroine of the story "Easy breathing". Ivan Bunin often emphasizes the contrast, the gap between the real and the apparent, internal state and the outside world.
Storyline
The plot of the work is quite simple. The happy young schoolgirl Olya Meshcherskaya first becomes the prey of her father's friend, an elderly voluptuary, after which she becomes a living target for the aforementioned officer. Her death inspires her to "serve" her memory cool lady- a single woman. However, the apparent simplicity of this plot is violated by a striking contrast: a heavy cross and lively, joyful eyes, which involuntarily makes the reader's heart shrink. The simplicity of the plot turned out to be deceptive, since the story "Light Breath" (Ivan Bunin) is not only about the fate of a girl, but also about the unfortunate fate of a classy lady who is used to living someone else's life. Olya's relationship with the officer is also interesting.
Relationship with an officer
The already mentioned officer, according to the plot of the story, kills Olya Meshcherskaya, involuntarily misled by her game. He did this because he was close to her, believed that she loved him, and could not survive the destruction of this illusion. Far from any person can evoke such strong passion. This speaks of Olya's bright personality, says Bunin ("Easy Breath"). The act of the main character was cruel, but, as you might guess, having a special character, she intoxicated the officer unintentionally. Olya Meshcherskaya was looking for a dream in a relationship with him, but she could not find it.
Is Olya to blame?
Ivan Alekseevich believed that birth is not the beginning, and therefore death is not the end of the existence of the soul, the symbol of which is the definition used by Bunin - "light breathing". Its analysis in the text of the work allows us to conclude that this concept is souls. She does not disappear without a trace after death, but returns to the source. About this, and not only about the fate of Olya, the work "Light Breath".
It is not by chance that Ivan Bunin drags out the explanation of the causes of the death of the heroine. The question arises: "Maybe she is to blame for what happened?" After all, she is frivolous, flirting now with the high school student Shenshin, then, albeit unconsciously, with her father's friend Alexei Mikhailovich Malyutin, who seduced her, then for some reason promises the officer to marry him. Why did she need all this? Bunin ("Easy breathing") analyzes the motives of the heroine's actions. Gradually it becomes clear that Olya is beautiful, like an element. And just as immoral. She strives in everything to reach the depth, to the limit, to the innermost essence, and the opinion of others is not interested in the heroine of the work "Easy Breath". Ivan Bunin wanted to tell us that in the actions of the schoolgirl there is neither a sense of revenge, nor a meaningful vice, nor firmness of decisions, nor the pain of repentance. It turns out that the feeling of fullness of life can be fatal. Tragic (like a classy lady) even unconscious longing for her. Therefore, every step, every detail of Olya's life threatens with disaster: prank and curiosity can lead to serious consequences, to violence, and a frivolous game with other people's feelings can lead to murder. To such philosophical thought Bunin brings us down.
"Light breath" of life
The essence of the heroine is that she lives, and not just plays a role in the play. This is also her fault. To be alive without observing the rules of the game means to be doomed. The environment in which Meshcherskaya exists is completely devoid of a holistic, organic sense of beauty. Life here is subject to strict rules, the violation of which leads to inevitable retribution. Therefore, the fate of Olya turns out to be tragic. Her death is natural, Bunin believes. "Easy breathing", however, did not die with the heroine, but dissolved in the air, filling it with itself. In the finale, the thought of the immortality of the soul sounds like this.
Ivan Alekseevich Bunin
"Easy breath"
The exposition of the story is a description of the grave of the main character. What follows is a summary of her history. Olya Meshcherskaya is a prosperous, capable and playful schoolgirl, indifferent to the instructions of the class lady. At the age of fifteen, she was a recognized beauty, had the most admirers, danced the best at balls and ran on skates. There were rumors that one of the high school students in love with her attempted suicide because of her windiness.
In the last winter of her life, Olya Meshcherskaya "went completely crazy with fun." Her behavior makes the boss make another remark, reproaching her, among other things, for dressing and behaving not like a girl, but like a woman. At this point, Meshcherskaya interrupts her with a calm message that she is a woman and the friend and neighbor of her father, brother of the boss, Alexei Mikhailovich Malyutin, is to blame for this.
A month after this conversation, an ugly Cossack officer shot Meshcherskaya on the station platform among a large crowd of people. He announced to the bailiff that Meshcherskaya was close to him and swore to be his wife. On this day, escorting him to the station, she said that she had never loved him, and offered to read a page from her diary, which described how Malyutin had seduced her.
It followed from the diary that this happened when Malyutin came to visit the Meshcherskys and found Olya alone at home. Describes her attempts to occupy the guest, their walk in the garden; Malyutin's comparison of them with Faust and Margarita. After tea, she pretended to be unwell, and lay down on the couch, and Malyutin moved to her, first kissed her hand, then kissed her on the lips. Further, Meshcherskaya wrote that after what happened next, she feels such disgust for Malyutin that she is unable to survive it.
The action ends at the cemetery, where every Sunday her classy lady, who lives in illusory world replacing reality. The subject of her previous fantasies was her brother, a poor and unremarkable ensign, whose future seemed to her brilliant. After the death of her brother, Olya Meshcherskaya takes his place in her mind. She goes to her grave every holiday, does not take her eyes off the oak cross for hours, recalls her pale face in the coffin among the flowers and once overheard words that Olya spoke to her beloved friend. She read in one book what beauty a woman should have - black eyes, black eyelashes, longer ordinary hand, but the main thing is light breathing, and she (Oli) has it: “... listen to me sigh, is there really?”
Meshcherskaya Olga was a noisy and cheerful high school student from a wealthy family. Very playful and careless. By the age of 15, she began to get prettier. Gorgeous hair, slender legs, a thin waist and the figure of a mature woman made her a beauty. Everything was easy and playful for her. Olenka danced best of all at balls, was a favorite of little first-year girls, skated superbly and was a real headache for the cool lady and boss.
One frosty winter morning she was recalled to the head of the gymnasium, and she began to reprimand her for pranks. For the fact that she already wears an adult female hairstyle, very expensive shoes, although she herself is still a girl. Olga Meshcherskaya objects to her, saying that she is no longer a girl and accuses a friend of her father, 56-year-old Malyutin Alexei Mikhailovich, of this.
In the summer, when Olga's parents and brother left and left her alone, the Cossack officer Malyutin came to visit her father. He was very annoyed that he did not find his friend, but Olga received him and entertained him. He joked with her a lot and said that he had been in love with her for a long time. After tea, when a little tired Olga lay down on the couch, he sat down beside her and began to shower compliments and kiss her hand. Olga covered her face with a handkerchief, and Malyutin kissed her on the lips through this handkerchief. Olga did not understand how what happened could happen, that she could be like that and that she now feels disgust for him.
A month after Olga was recognized as her head of the gymnasium, the brave Cossack officer Aleksey Mikhailovich Malyutin shoots Olga on the station platform. During judicial trial Malyutin said that Meshcherskaya lured him that she was with him intimate relationships and promised to marry him, and at the station she said that she had never loved him and all the talk about marriage was just a mockery of him.
In the cemetery, on a clay embankment, there is a cross with a convex medallion pressed into it with a photograph of Olga Meshcherskaya. Every Sunday and on holidays, Olga's classy lady comes. He remembers her and that conversation between Olya and her friend, which she once overheard. Olga shares her impressions of the book she read, taken from her father. It describes what should be beautiful woman. In addition to describing external qualities, it was written there that a beauty should have easy breathing, and she had it.
The story "Light Breath" Bunin wrote in 1916. In the work, the author touches upon the themes of love and death, characteristic of the literature of this period. Despite the fact that the story is not written in chapters, the narrative is fragmentary and consists of several parts arranged in non-chronological order.
Main characters
Olya Meshcherskaya- a young schoolgirl, was killed by a Cossack officer, because she said that she did not love him.
Head of the gymnasium
Other characters
Cossack officer- shot Olya because of unhappy love, "ugly and plebeian appearance."
Cool lady Olya Meshcherskaya
“In the cemetery, over a fresh earthen mound, there is a new cross made of oak.” A convex porcelain medallion with a photographic portrait of the schoolgirl Olya Meshcherskaya "with joyful, amazingly lively eyes" is embedded in the cross.
As a girl, Olya did not stand out among other gymnasium students, she was "capable, but playful and very careless to the instructions" of the class lady. But then the girl began to develop, "bloom". At the age of 14, “with her thin waist and slender legs, her breasts and forms were already well outlined. "At fifteen, she was already known as a beauty." Unlike her stiff girlfriends, Olya "was not afraid - no ink stains on her fingers, no flushed face, no disheveled hair." Without any effort, "grace, elegance, dexterity, a clear gleam of eyes" came to her.
Olya was the best dancer at balls, she ran on skates, she was looked after the most at balls, and she was most loved by the younger classes. “Imperceptibly she became a girl,” and there was even talk about her windiness.
“Olya Meshcherskaya went completely crazy with fun during her last winter, as they said in the gymnasium.” Once, at a big break, the boss called the girl to her and reprimanded her. The woman noted that Olya is no longer a girl, but not yet a woman, so she should not wear a “female hairstyle”, expensive combs and shoes. “Without losing simplicity and calmness,” Meshcherskaya replied that madame was mistaken: she was already a woman, and the father’s friend and neighbor, brother of the boss, Alexei Mikhailovich Malyutin, was to blame for this - “it happened last summer in the village.”
"And a month after this conversation," a Cossack officer shot Olya "on the platform of the station, among a large crowd of people." And Olya's confession, which stunned the boss, was confirmed. “The officer told the judicial investigator that Meshcherskaya lured him, was close to him, swore to be his wife,” and at the station she said that she did not love him and “gave him to read that page of the diary that spoke about Malyutin.”
“On the tenth of July last year,” Olya wrote in her diary: “Everyone left for the city, I was left alone.<…>Alexey Mikhailovich arrived.<…>He stayed because it was raining.<…>He regretted that he did not find dad, was very animated and behaved like a gentleman with me, he joked a lot that he had been in love with me for a long time.<…>He is fifty-six years old, but he is still very handsome and always well dressed.<…>We sat at tea on the glass veranda, he smoked, then moved over to me, again began to say some courtesies, then looked at and kissed my hand. I covered my face with a silk handkerchief, and he kissed me several times on the lips through the handkerchief ... I don’t understand how this could happen, I went crazy, I never thought that I was like that! Now there is only one way out for me ... I feel such disgust for him that I can’t survive this! .. ”
Every Sunday, after mass, a little woman in mourning comes to the grave of Olya Meshcherskaya - the cool lady of the girl. Olya became the subject of "her relentless thoughts and feelings". Sitting at the grave, the woman recalls the pale face of the girl in the coffin and the conversation she accidentally overheard: Meshcherskaya told her friend about what she had read in her father's book, that supposedly the main thing in a woman is “light breathing” and that she, Olya, has it.
“Now that light breath has been scattered again in the world, in this cloudy sky, in this cold spring wind.”
Conclusion
In the story, Bunin contrasts the main character Olya Meshcherskaya with the head of the gymnasium - as the personification of rules, social norms, and the cool lady - as the personification of dreams that replace reality. Olya Meshcherskaya is a completely different female image- a girl who has tried on the role of an adult lady, a seductress, who has neither fear of the rules nor excessive daydreaming.
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