In 1916, Ivan Alekseevich Bunin wrote "Easy Breathing". An analysis of this story allows us to conclude that it belongs to the novella genre. The author managed to convey in 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, specific event should recreate the whole life of the hero, and through it - the life of society. Through modernism, Ivan Alekseevich creates a unique image of a girl who is still dreaming of true love.
It was not only Bunin who wrote about this feeling ("Easy Breath"). The analysis of love was carried out, perhaps, by all the great poets and writers, very different in character and worldview, therefore, in Russian literature there are many shades of this feeling. Opening the work of the next author, we always find something new. Bunin also has his own "philosophy of love." In his works, tragic finals are frequent, ending with the death of one of the heroes, but she is rather light than deeply tragic. We come across a similar ending after reading Bunin's short story, “Easy Breath.”
First impression
At first glance, the events seem dirty. The girl plays in love with an ugly officer, far from the circle to which the heroine belonged. In the story, the author uses the so-called "proof of return" method, because even with such vulgar external events, love remains something untouched and bright, does not apply to everyday dirt. Arriving at Olya’s grave, the class teacher asks herself how to combine all this with a clean look at “the terrible” 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 penetrated through the story of Bunin's "Easy breathing."
The character of the main character
Olya Meshcherskaya seems to be the embodiment of youth, longing for love, a lively and dreamy heroine. Her image, contrary to the laws of public morality, captivates almost everyone, even the younger classes. And even the guardian of morals, the teacher Olya, who condemned her for growing up early, after the heroine’s death, comes to the grave to her grave every week, constantly thinks about her and even feels “like all the people devoted to the dream,” happy.
The peculiarity of the character of the main character of the story is that she longs for happiness and can find it even in the ugly reality in which she had to end up. Bunin uses "easy breathing" as a metaphor for naturalness, vital energy. This feeling of the so-called “ease of breathing” 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 "Easy Breathing" is built on contrasts. From the very first lines a double sensation 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 is opposed to the tragic events that occurred in the last year of the heroine of the story "Easy Breath". Ivan Bunin often emphasizes the contrast, the gap between the real and the apparent, inner state and the outside world.
Story plot
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, and then becomes a living target for the above-mentioned officer. Her death encourages a classy lady, a single woman, to “serve” her memory. However, the apparent simplicity of this plot is violated by a vivid contrast: a heavy cross and lively, joyful eyes, which involuntarily force the reader's heart to contract. The simplicity of the plot turned out to be deceptive, because the story "Easy Breath" (Ivan Bunin) is not only about the fate of the girl, but also about the unfortunate share of a classy lady who is used to living someone else's life. Interesting is the relationship between Olya and the officer.
Relations with the officer
The already mentioned officer on 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. Not every person can cause such a strong passion in another. This indicates a bright personality of Olya, says Bunin ("Easy breathing"). The main character’s act was cruel, but she, as you might guess, having a special character, stupefied the officer unintentionally. Olya Meshcherskaya in a relationship with him was looking for a dream, but she could not find her.
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 - "easy breathing". An analysis of it in the text of the work allows us to conclude that this concept is a synonym for life, soul. She does not disappear without a trace after death, but returns to the source. About this, and not just about the fate of Olya, the work "Easy breathing".
Ivan Bunin does not accidentally delay the explanation of the causes of the heroine's death. The question arises: "Maybe she is to blame for what happened?" After all, she is frivolous, flirting now with the schoolboy Shenshin, then, albeit unconsciously, with her father’s friend Alexei Mikhailovich Malyutin, who seduced her, then for some reason he promises the officer to marry him. Why did she need all this? Bunin ("Easy Breath") analyzes the motives of the heroine's actions. Gradually, it becomes clear that Olya is beautiful, like an element. And just as immoral. She seeks in everything to go to the depths, 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 pain of remorse. It turns out that the feeling of fullness of life can be destructive. Tragic (like a classy lady) even the unconscious longing for her. Therefore, every step, every detail of Olya’s life threatens with catastrophe: prank and curiosity can lead to serious consequences, to violence, and a frivolous game with the feelings of other people can lead to murder. Bunin brings us to such philosophical thought.
"Easy breathing" 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 is to be doomed. The environment in which the Meshcherskaya exists is completely devoid of a holistic, organic sense of beauty. Life is subject to strict rules, the violation of which leads to an inevitable retribution. Therefore, the fate of Olya is tragic. Her death is natural, says Bunin. “Easy breathing”, however, did not die with the heroine, but disappeared into the air, filling it with itself. In the finale, the thought of the immortality of the soul sounds in this way.