One of the works included in the cycle “Dark Alleys” by I. Bunin is “The Caucasus”. This story is a vivid example of the writer’s extraordinary artistic gift. It is amazing how in such a small volume the author was able to convey the inner world and state of mind of completely different people. You can learn the true mastery of the Russian artistic word by analyzing Bunin’s short story “The Caucasus” or any other creation from this collection.
Hero image
The narration is conducted in the first person, but the reader does not know the name of the protagonist. Generally speaking, almost nothing is known about him. Who is the hero of Bunin? There is no name or other information. It is only clear that he comes to Moscow, where he meets a woman with whom he is going to go to the Caucasus.
An analysis of Bunin’s short story “The Caucasus” is mandatory in the literature lesson. Grade 8 is a stage in the school curriculum when the student should already have certain skills and master basic concepts such as composition, plot, plot. However, the style of this writer and his manner of presentation are difficult for the student to perceive. Analysis of Bunin’s short story “The Caucasus” in the 8th grade includes characterization of characters, definition of composition and artistic means. But if it is relatively simple to do in the works of other representatives of Russian realism, then the prose of this writer creates certain difficulties in this sense.
In the foreground in Bunin's stories are the feelings, emotions of heroes, passions that drive their actions. This theme was once borrowed by a Russian writer in the work of the German author Thomas Mann, but later, worked out in an unusual artistic style, acquired unique forms. The character of Bunin is a man seized with passion. Fearing to be discovered, he stops in rooms of inconspicuous hotels. Feelings govern his actions, but he is not able to bear responsibility for his actions.
Heroine
Analysis of Bunin’s short story “The Caucasus” is, first of all, a characteristic of all his characters. Heroine is known to be pale and worried. This is what her lover sees. She visits him secretly, and fear of a cheated spouse poisons her happiness. But, mentioning in her husband’s conversation, she worries about only one thing - about the possible revenge of a man who “will stop at nothing, defending his honor”. Only in the last paragraph of the work does the meaning of these words become clear, as well as the main characteristic feature of the heroine, namely egoism. A woman does not care about her husband’s emotional feelings; for her, he is only an obstacle to her love and happiness.
Moscow
When analyzing Bunin’s short story “The Caucasus,” one should pay attention to the landscape. At first it’s Moscow. Cold rain poured on the streets of the capital; dirty, gloomy and dark from the black open umbrellas. The weather in Moscow is consonant with the internal state of the hero. He is in anticipation of the happiness that they will experience together away from the gloomy city ​​landscape, on the sunny seashore. But the lover fears that at the last minute all plans will be upset, the deceived husband will find out about everything and will not let her go. Paradise on the coast is too far away.
Sochi
The seascape is described by the author in a more artistic language. This should be taken into account when analyzing Bunin’s short story “The Caucasus”. Here, flat trees, and flowering shrubs, and fan palm trees. The writer in bright juicy colors conveys the fauna and flora of Sochi. The heroes seemed to be in paradise. They spend time together enjoying the view of the southern landscape. They are happy that they are finally together. The only thing that can upset them is the thought of an imminent return to Moscow.
Antithesis
These two landscapes create a clear contrast. In Moscow - cold and slush, in Sochi - the sun and heat. An analysis should be made of Bunin's story “The Caucasus” according to the plan:
- characterization of the hero;
- the image of the heroine;
- Moscow and Sochi;
- the death of the third character.
It is also necessary to pay attention to the artistic language. The author depicts Moscow dryly, without resorting to unnecessary descriptions. He does not spare paints on the Sochi picture. And a particularly vivid antithesis is present between the story of the protagonist and the last paragraph, in which the narration is already from a third person.
is he
The deceived husband is depicted dryly, briefly: a tall figure, an officer cap, a narrow overcoat. So sees his main character. Then only the pronoun "he." Not a word about his anguish and torment of jealousy. Only a few lines about how he looked for his wife and, not finding it, swam in the sea, had breakfast, drank champagne, and then ... shot himself at the temple with two revolvers. The restrained style in which Bunin portrayed the last minutes of this man’s life helps in creating the portrait. The cheated husband is an officer. Everything in life he does carefully and clearly. And even learning about the betrayal, he does not indulge in insanity, does not attempt to find it and crack it down. He committed suicide, but before shaving, put on clean linen and a snow-white tunic. All this gives an idea of ​​a man decisive and courageous, which is the opposite of the protagonist.