Collection of stories “Dark Alleys” by I.A. Bunin wrote far 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 his native land. The central theme of the collection of stories “Dark Alleys” is love, which turns out to be closely connected with suffering and 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. Ogarev’s “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 only catches its “lightnings” that need to be appreciated.
Analysis of the work by 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 talks about 35 years since the last breakup. Nikolai Alekseevich arrives at the inn, where the owner Nadezhda meets him. 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 whole point is that Nikolai Alekseevich in his youth left a beautiful maid, who then received her freedom from the landowner and became the mistress of the inn. The meeting of two heroes raises a whole storm of feelings, thoughts and experiences inside them. However, the past cannot be returned and Nikolai Alekseevich leaves, imagining how life could have turned out differently if he had not neglected Nadezhda’s feelings. He is sure that he would be happy, he thinks about how she would become his wife, mother of children and mistress of the house in St. Petersburg. True, all this will remain the hero’s pipe dreams.
Thus, in the story “Dark Alleys” there are three main plot points:
- The hero's stop at the inn
- Meeting of former lovers
- Reflections on the way after the incident
The first part of the work is an episode before the characters recognize each other. Here the portrait characteristics of the characters predominate. 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’s there.”
The pivotal moment is the meeting that 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 better know the characters and contrast their thoughts. For the hero, a meeting with Nadezhda 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 ordinariness and vulgarity.
The third part of the story is the actual departure and conversation with the coachman. Social boundaries are important for the hero, which he cannot neglect even for the sake of high feelings. Nikolai Alekseevich is ashamed of his words and revelations, and regrets that he kissed the hand of the owner of the inn and his former lover.
This structure of the plot makes it possible to imagine love and past feelings as a flash that unexpectedly illuminated the ordinary life of Nikolai Alekseevich, who was bored with himself. A story built on the hero’s memories is an artistic device 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 narration is based on a description of the feelings and emotions of the characters, which are revealed to the reader and it is he who has to evaluate what happened.
Characteristics of the main characters of the story “Dark Alleys”
The image of Nadezhda appears in a positive light. We don't learn much about her from the story, but it's enough to draw certain conclusions. The heroine is a former serf, who is now the mistress of a state-owned postal station. Having grown old, she continues to look beautiful, feel light and “beyond her 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 is “getting rich, giving money on interest,” i.e. on loan. The heroine is characterized by practicality and enterprise.
She had to go through a lot. The feelings from Nikolai Alekseevich’s act were so strong that Nadezhda admits that she wanted to commit suicide. However, she was able to overcome difficulties and become stronger.
The woman continues to love, but she was unable to forgive the betrayal of her beloved. She boldly declares this to Nikolai Alekseevich. The wisdom of Nadezhda evokes the reader’s sympathy. For example, to the general’s attempts to justify his past actions, she replies that youth passes for everyone, but love never does. These words of the heroine also say that she knows how and can truly love, but this does not bring her happiness.
The image of Nikolai Alekseevich is in many ways contrasted with 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 dishonest man. The hero looks tired, while his former lover is full of strength and desire to act. He once gave up love a long time ago and never got to know it, spending his whole life without happiness and pursuing false goals. "Everything passes. Everything is forgotten” - this is the hero’s position 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 soldier remembers with shame that he abandoned his beloved, but does he have the strength to correct what happened? No. The hero again chooses the easiest path and leaves.
The character’s spiritual weakness, the inability to distinguish true feelings from “a vulgar, ordinary story” dooms him and Nadezhda to suffering. Nikolai Alekseevich can only remember the past, his love, which “gave him the best minutes 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 everything happen like this? 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 also the role of prejudices in society, which exclude the possibility of a relationship, and especially a marriage, between a nobleman and an ordinary maid.
The difference in views on love also predetermined the dramatic destinies of the heroes. If for Nadezhda, feelings for a loved one are loyalty to herself, 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 it was this moment, this part of my life associated with my ex-lover, that became the best moment in all my years.
The creation of the story “Dark Alleys” dates back to the 38th year of the last century. Ivan Alekseevich Bunin later decided to name a whole collection of stories by the name of this story, although initially the author preferred a different name.All the stories included in this collection were united by one theme - love! And although each story is a separate work, they are all connected by invisible threads of the relationship between a man and a woman.
It should be noted that the collection was able to be published only five years later, and the then-famous New York publishing house “Novaya Zemlya” took on this work. It completed the task and printed a huge number of copies.
The main style used in the story “Dark Alleys” is neorealism. Ivan Alekseevich was able to convey it in the most interesting way. The story is full of intriguing moments that attract you from the first lines. And although the simplest plot was taken as the basis - a meeting of former lovers from different social strata - the author was able to present it in the most interesting way.
Who is the main character in the story?
It is easy to identify the most key characters, whose lives will be described in the work:★ Nikolai Alekseevich. This image is represented by a tall and thin man who is sixty years old. He is a military man. In ancient times, when he was still young, he loved Nadezhda very much, but due to circumstances, he had to leave the woman. After this he was married and has one son.
★ Hope. A tall woman, forty-eight years old. She is the mistress of the inn. Nadezhda loved Nikolai all her hard life, which is why she never got married. Currently single.
★
Klim. This is the coachman of the main character - Nikolai Alekseevich. This character also contributes to fully develop the images of the main characters.
What is interesting about the content of the story “Dark Alleys”?
The action begins in the cold autumn, when nature is gradually preparing for a long winter. The reader is described a long hut, which is located near one of the central roads in the direction of Tula. A tarantass arrives here, covered in mud on all sides. It was immediately noticeable that he had come from afar.The hut is given special attention. It consists of two completely different halves. In the first part there is a postal station, and in the second there is an inn in the form of a private upper room. It is here that travelers can stop for the night, have a snack, and also relax after a difficult journey.
The transport that arrived at the hut is driven by a simple and stocky man with a serious expression on his face. In a certain way he looks like an old robber.
Inside the tarantass sits a tall and neat man in military uniform, who somewhat resembles the ruler Alexander II. He has a stern, particularly road-weary look on his face.
The Tarantas stops almost at the very entrance. The coachman remains in the transport, and a tall and prominent man enters the room. Here, special attention is paid to the interior decoration. The author notes warmth and dryness, which are very pleasant for a tired traveler. In the left corner of the room there is some kind of golden image, and in the right there is a snow-white stove, which is covered with chalk. There is a pleasant smell of cooked cabbage soup permeating the room. A visiting traveler takes off his outer clothing and begins to call the owners of the house.
Next, the image of the hostess appears before the reader. She is represented by a woman with dark hair, black eyebrows, who is quite beautiful and somewhat resembles a gypsy. The hostess first of all invites the traveler to try the treats.
The man, in turn, agrees only to tea and asks to put the samovar on to warm up. While heating the water, the man begins to question the hostess and learns that the woman is not married and is in charge of the entire household.
And after non-binding speeches, the woman pronounces his name - Nikolai Alekseevich. The man straightens up in amazement and begins to blush. He only now recognized in this woman his old beloved named Nadezhda, whom he remembered all his life.
This situation begins to greatly worry the main character. Almost with a trembling voice, he begins to remember how much time has passed since their last meeting and asks the woman a question: “Hasn’t it been 35 years?” Nadezhda corrects him and says that it’s a little less—thirty.
Throughout his life, Nikolai very often remembered Nadezhda and did not know how her fate turned out. He learns that after they parted, the gentlemen freed her and gave her “freedom.” After this, the woman was never married, she has no children, and she still loves Nikolai very much and thinks about him every day.
After hearing this, the man blushes even more and begins to mutter that over time everything passes and is forgotten. The woman disagrees with the main character’s thoughts and says that youth can leave, but true and sincere love remains forever in the heart.
Nadezhda continues to say that she could not forget Nikolai and thought about him constantly. She began to remember the incident when he cruelly and heartlessly abandoned her, after which she even wanted to commit suicide, but could not. The woman remembers how the man looked after her and read her beautiful poems about “Dark Alleys.”
This situation brought tears to the military man’s face and his face changed greatly. Nikolai asks for horses and thanks Nadezhda for forgiving him. But in fact, the woman did not forgive Nikolai and will never be able to forgive him for his actions. She replies that nothing in the world is more dear to her than he himself - both in ancient times and now.
After such a confession, Nikolai Alekseevich himself tells the story of his own life and how unhappy he was.
He married, being madly in love with his wife, who subsequently began to cheat on him with another person and left Nikolai, but did it much harsher than he once did with Nadezhda.
Nikolai said that he has a son whom he adored as a child. As a result, he grew up to be an insolent and scoundrel with neither conscience nor honor. He notes that just like Nadezhda once did, he too has lost everything that is most precious to him in life.
The main characters of the plot say goodbye and Nadezhda kisses Nikolai’s hand, and he kisses her hand. The traveler sets off on his further journey, and the coachman notes that the woman looked after them from the window of her house for a very long time.
Along the way, Nikolai Alekseevich realizes how ashamed he really is of his actions that he has committed in life. He becomes ashamed of the behavior that he allowed himself during communication with the woman, he is even ashamed that he kissed her hand goodbye and ashamed that he is now ashamed.
On the road, key moments in life appear before the traveler’s eyes. He begins to think about what would have really happened if he had not abandoned her earlier, what would have been his future fate? Nikolai introduced Nadezhda not in the role of a maid, as was the case during their meetings, but in the role of his bride, and later his wife, who would raise his children. The man frowned, closed his eyes and shook his head...
In the prescription to his collection, Ivan Alekseevich Bunin writes that the story “Dark Alleys” is the most successful work that the prose writer and poet has ever created. This story reveals the issues of love relationships, describes his personal reflections and gives an answer to the question - “Is time subject to change the feelings that arose earlier in a person?” Bunin is trying to show the reader that love can be eternal and last for a long time; even decades are not able to make a loving heart forget the chosen person. The author notes that only this idea in the work is key, and everything else is vulgarity and ordinary life.
This work is about two characters who accidentally met each other after a very long separation. This is a sixty-year-old thin tall man named Nikolai and a wise woman named Nadya. Nikolai, while still young, fell in love with a young beautiful serf girl named Nadya, but still married a girl from his rich class. His whole life was miserable due to a failed marriage.
Hope
An intelligent and economical woman, Nadezhda is 48 years old. Nadya is fair and honest, she never married anyone, because she considered the meaning of her life to be the love of her youth, and she also has no children. Despite her age she continues to look very attractive. She conducts the dialogue very frankly, does not evade questions and is not ashamed of the way she lives, unlike the indecisive and cowardly Nikolai, who somehow tried to justify himself and blushed in front of her like a boy. She was never able to forgive Nikolai’s actions. And she even said that because of the experiences that the main character presented to her, she wanted to commit suicide. But still she persevered and became even stronger. With the help of her efforts, she settled down quite well in life. A wise woman confesses to her former lover that she continues to love him, but will never be able to forgive him; she remembers how Nikolai thirty years ago read her poems about dark alleys.
Nikolay
The image of the main character Nikolai looks tired, but Nadezhda, on the contrary, is full of energy and strength.
Nikolai is ashamed in front of his beloved because he abandoned her many years ago, he blushes in front of her, but nevertheless again chooses the easy road for himself and leaves. His weakness and indecision makes him and Nadezhda suffer. The hero can only keep in his head and heart those wonderful memories, those best moments in his life.
Nikolai's wife cheated on her husband and destroyed their family, despite the fact that he loved her. Nikolai also has a son, on whom he had high hopes. The son did not live up to these hopes and grew up to be an arrogant, heartless and unscrupulous wretch.
Klim
There are also minor characters in the work, for example, a coachman named Klim. He is a very straightforward person and spoke well about Nadezhda. He was also able to reveal to readers the image of the two main characters.
The meaning of the work lies in the fact that a person from high society cannot be nearby and be in love with a person of a simple class, because society will not understand and will not accept such a relationship. So the main character decides to give up his love and dooms himself to an unhappy life, and also causes pain to another person. On the way, he replays such moments in his head about what would have happened if he had not abandoned his love then and she would have been his bride, and not a servant, as he imagined her. And what would happen if they had children together. He was ashamed in front of her in everything, in his unjustified act, he also felt ashamed for talking with this woman, for the fact that, having said goodbye, he kissed her hand.
Option 2
Nikolai Alekseevich- a slender old military man, who is already about 60 years old. His appearance is similar to Alexander 2. Nikolai Alekseevich appears before the readers as a tired, unhappy man.
In his youth, the hero loved the serf girl Nadezhda. However, he left her and married a woman from a noble family. Nikolai Alekseevich loved his wife very much, but she left him. The military man has a son, on whom the hero had high hopes. But his son did not grow up to be a good person, and Nikolai Alekseevich speaks about him with bitterness.
The meeting between Nikolai Alekseevich and Nadezhda at the inn revives the happy memories of his youth. The hero confesses to the woman that she was the happiest and brightest thing that happened in his life. As if wanting to justify himself in the eyes of Nadezhda, he burns that sooner or later everything passes: love, youth. Indecision and cowardice are manifested in the behavior of even an elderly military man: citing rush, he strives to leave the inn as quickly as possible. Nikolai Alekseevich remains captive of public opinion. He cannot imagine that Nadezhda, a simple serf girl, could become his wife. The hero drives these thoughts away from himself, considering them something wrong.
Hope- the owner of a private upper room. She is 48 years old, she is a smart, hard-working, sincere and simple woman. Nadezhda has retained her former beauty and attractiveness.
Thirty years ago, Nadezhda had a short affair with a young nobleman Nikolai Alekseevich. The man left the girl. She took his betrayal seriously. Soon Nadezhda received her freedom. She became the owner of the inn. Nadezhda keeps her room clean and tidy and conducts business independently. The heroine has never been married, she has no children, she carried the love of her youth throughout her life.
The woman could not forgive Nikolai Alekseevich, but continues to love him. In a conversation with an elderly military man, Nadezhda sincerely talks about her feelings, without being ashamed of them. The woman’s words are filled with bitterness and pain, which is hidden behind external calm. The image of the owner of the inn, in contrast to the image of the main character, evokes sympathy and respect.
Nikolai Alekseevich was the most precious thing in a woman’s life. Nadezhda looks out of the window for a long time after the departing carriage. Perhaps this was the last meeting with the person for whom she kept love in her heart.
Kucher Klim- a minor character in the story “Dark Alleys”. He takes Nikolai Alekseevich to the train. From the words of the coachman, the elderly military man learns about Nadezhda as an intelligent, determined woman with a strong independent character. Klim, like many, admires Nadezhda: her hard work, “tough” but fair disposition.
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In Bunin’s story “Dark Alleys,” the characters meet by chance after thirty years of separation. In his youth, Nikolai Alekseevich loved the serf girl Nadya, who was amazingly beautiful. She carried her feeling throughout her life, despite the fact that Alexey abandoned her. The life and fate of the main character did not work out, despite his high rank, he is unhappy. The characteristics of the characters in the work are presented through their dialogue, descriptions of behavior when meeting, and internal monologues. The names of the characters also play a unique role in the work: Nikolai Alekseevich was once Nikolenka, then he was happy.
Characteristics of the heroes “Dark Alleys”
Main characters
Nikolai Alekseevich |
A man over sixty, tall, slender, similar to Alexander II. In his youth he loved a serf girl, but married a woman from his own class. The author shows the main character as indecisive, tired, and unhappy. He tries to justify himself, says that everything is passing... He tries to find out whether Nadezhda has forgiven him, tells her about his failed marriage, that she is the brightest thing he had in his life. There is a share of cowardice and immaturity in the behavior of even the elderly hero; he runs away from the owner of the inn, citing being in a hurry. |
Hope |
Simple, sincere, hard-working, economical, smart. She is 48 years old. The coachman speaks of Nadezhda as a fair, honest, enterprising woman. She did not marry; the love of her youth became the meaning of life for her. Strong, strong-willed nature: she could not forgive Nikolai. This image evokes sympathy in the reader, unlike the elderly general. In conversation, she is straightforward, frank, does not evade and is not ashamed of her life. Seeing off her old love, Nadezhda looks out the window for a long time following his tarantass. Perhaps she hopes that at least now he will decide to act. |
Minor characters
Conclusion
Ivan Bunin is a sensitive connoisseur of human souls, a master of artistic expression in the sphere of feelings, relationships, and emotions. The story was written by the author during the period of emigration, which is why it is so piercing, touching, and beautiful. The main characters of “Dark Alleys” were unable to build their lives because of the norms and foundations accepted in society, which Nikolai Alekseevich did not have the courage to break. This is the whole tragedy of the situation: Nadezhda’s free, aged lover, having escaped from her, runs from himself all his life. The list of characteristics of the characters will help in compiling a reader's diary or writing an essay on the work.
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Before directly analyzing the work “Dark Alleys” by Bunin, let us recall the history of writing. The October Revolution passed, and Bunin’s attitude towards this event was clear - in his eyes, the revolution became a social drama. In 1920, after emigrating, the writer worked a lot, and at that time the series “Dark Alleys” appeared, which included various short stories. In 1946, thirty-eight stories were included in the publication of the collection; the book was published 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 its dark ones. This is not difficult to guess by reflecting on the title 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 closeness 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 it was usually covered in Soviet literature. Indeed, the writer’s view has its own difference and peculiarity. Ivan Bunin perceived love as something that suddenly arose and was 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 routine. We don’t find this in Bunin’s heroes, because that very flash occurs between them, and then parting follows, but the 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 had met 35 years ago, and with whom he had a whirlwind romance. Now Nikolai Alekseevich is elderly, and does not even immediately understand that this is Nadezhda. And the former lover became the mistress of the inn where they once met for the first time.
It turns out that Nadezhda has loved him all her life, and the general begins to make excuses to her. However, after clumsy explanations, Nadezhda expresses the wise thought that everyone was young, and youth is a thing of the past, but love remains. But she reproaches her lover, because he left her alone in the most heartless way.
All these details will help make the analysis of Bunin’s “Dark Alleys” more accurate. The general does not seem to repent, but it becomes clear that he has never forgotten his first love. But it didn’t work out with his family - his wife cheated on him, and his son grew up to be a spendthrift and an unscrupulous insolent.
What happened to your first love?
It is very important to note, especially when we analyze “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.
You can remember the moment when the general hears from the coachman a comment about the hostess: she is driven by a sense of justice, but at the same time her character is very “cool”. Having lent money to someone at interest, she demands repayment on time, and whoever did not make it in time - let him answer. Nikolai Alekseevich begins to reflect on these words and draws parallels with his 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 understand the reason - let’s think: the future general was supposed to connect his life with a simple girl. How would others view this relationship and how would it affect your reputation? But in Nikolai Alekseevich’s heart the feelings did not fade away, and he could not find happiness with another woman, nor could he give his son a proper upbringing.
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. The general was unable to go against society and class prejudices in his youth, but the girl simply resigned herself to fate.
A few conclusions in the analysis of “Dark Alleys” by Bunin
We saw how dramatic the fates of Nadezhda and Nikolai Alekseevich were. They broke up, even though they loved each other. And both turned out to be 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 remain in my memory.
As a cross-cutting motif, this idea can be traced in Bunin’s work. 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 on the soul.
We hope that you liked the brief analysis of Bunin’s “Dark Alleys” and found it useful. Read also