Description of Russia in the story Bunin's village. Tale by I.A
"Shulamith." good summary will help you cover the plot in a matter of minutes. Sometimes, due to lack of time, there is no other way to get acquainted with the work.
Biblical basis for the story
Kuprin decided to re-sing the majestic Song of Songs in his own way.
But this one bible book served only Starting point for his artistic delights, because he came up with his own development storylines, added some acting characters(Queen Astiz), removed the shepherd present in the biblical narrative, whom Shulamith actually loved, and the relationship with whom she put above the courtship of the king and the possibility of becoming one of his concubines. Kuprin combined the image of Solomon and his rival from the Song of Songs into a single whole and directed all the girl’s romantic attraction only to the king. But you can't in this case the author to count this as a flaw, since "Shulamith", a summary of which is given below, is piece of art, which does not claim to be historically accurate or a detailed retelling of the greatest Song of Songs. Therefore, it is necessary to differentiate biblical heroes and the characters of the story.
Alexander Kuprin: "Sulamith" (summary and plot structure)
The first, second and third chapters are written to provide the reader with the historical and social background of what is happening, that is, they describe the wealth, power and wisdom of Solomon. The plot begins in Chapter IV, where the king meets Shulamith. The summary in a nutshell of Chapter V is this: the king, under the influence of love, does many powerful and good deeds. Chapters VI to IX are the development of the plot. Here Solomon spends the night with his beloved, brings her into the palace and gives her generous gifts. Chapters X and XI describe a mystery involving Queen Astis, after which she orders Eliab, the royal guard, to kill his rival, which he does in Chapter XII. This is the denouement of the plot of the story "Shulamith". A summary of the chapters is given below.
Chapter I
King Solomon reached the peak of his glory.
He has no equal in power and wealth. His fame reached the ends of the earth. Of course, the summary of the work “Shulamith” by A. Kuprin does not give a complete impression of Solomon’s well-being, but it can be mentioned that people live so well under his rule that silver is valued no more than an ordinary stone, and the king has simply a countless amount of gold: from They even make shields for guards.
Trade is well developed: merchants from different countries, and Solomon’s naval flotilla plows the expanses of the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
Naturally, the king’s palace amazes with its splendor. No less majestic are the mansions of the king’s wife, the Egyptian princess Astiz.
Chapters II-III
Solomon bathes in female attention. He has 700 wives, in addition to Astiz, 300 concubines and countless slaves. Even the wisest among women could not resist his charms. He can marry any girl he wants.
Solomon himself is in the prime of his life. Although he is 45 years old, he is extremely handsome and fresh. He has black ones curly hair, snow-white skin and scarlet lips. The king also has superhuman abilities: with just his touch he heals diseases and understands the language of animals and birds. That's why everyone turns to him for wise advice. In addition, he composed many parables that became known to all residents of the East.
Chapters IV-V
One day Solomon goes to his vineyard, which is located near Jerusalem, on Mount Baal-Hamon. This is his favorite place to retire. There he thinks about great things. As usual, he asks the servants to leave him alone and sits down on the bench.
Suddenly his thoughts are interrupted by melodious singing. He looks up and sees a beautiful young girl working in the vineyard. The Tsar is amazed by her young beauty: she is slim, she has dark red hair. long hair, dark skin. He meets her and learns that her name is Shulamith, she helps her brothers take care of the royal vineyards.
Solomon was immediately captivated by the young dark-skinned woman, and she also reciprocated his feelings. There, on the bench, Shulamith gave him her first kiss. Solomon hid who he really was, saying that he was the king's cook, and made an appointment with the girl the next day.
Inspired by new feelings, the king does many good deeds, makes fair judicial decisions and looks forward to the coming day.
Chapter VI
Shulamith sells her earrings and buys aromatic oil to rub on her body. She waits all night for Solomon. He comes and knocks on her door, but when she dares to open, there is no one there. The girl runs through the city at night in search of her lover, and finds him at the place of their first meeting, near the vineyards. There she shares a bed with Solomon, after which he reveals to her who he really is.
Chapters VII-IX
Shulamith is brought to royal palace, they dress her in thin clothes, rub her body with the best oils, and braid pearls in her hair.
Solomon and Shulamith enjoy each other for seven days. A brief summary cannot convey the full depth of their conversations and mutual tenderness. Solomon generously gives her his love, and she responds in kind. These days the king's face glows with happiness, he gives his beloved generous gifts.
Chapters X-XI
At this time, Queen Astiz gives herself over to orgies where bloody sacrifices are carried out. She is consumed by jealousy of her rival, and she plans to kill both her and the king. The fact is that Solomon has lost interest in Astiz and has not shared a bed with her for a long time. Therefore, she persuades Eliab, who is in love with her, to take revenge on both lovers.
Chapter XII
On the seventh night, Shulamith is worried and says that she feels imminent death, and, unfortunately, he is not mistaken. Eliab kills her with a sword and runs away. Solomon executes the murderer, and sends Queen Astiz out of the country, never to see her again. The king mourns for Shulamith because she was the first and only love his life.
Characteristics of the main characters
Solomon appears as a wise, balanced, insightful man. He is fair in his decisions, always open and does not hide his feelings. In addition, he is a very attractive man, capable of winning the heart of any woman, not only external beauty, but also with his sharpness of mind. On the other hand, having a cold mind, he is inclined to get carried away and succumb to the impulse of his heart. The author sympathizes with the main character because he creates his image without a single flaw.
Astiz is clearly a negative character. Although she is beautiful, there is not even a drop of purity and sincerity in her. She is vindictive and cruel. Astiz does not have any moral standards because she participates in wild orgies that cause injury to people. She is insatiable in her lust and is ready to do anything to get her way. For example, she promises herself to Eliab if he commits murder, knowing that the king will not leave him alive.
Shulamith captivated the king not only with her beauty, although this is precisely what the author constantly places great emphasis on when describing her appearance. She is still a child, because she is only thirteen, but she commits an adult act when she dares to sell her earrings - her only wealth. Shulamith is ready to do a lot for the sake of her beloved; she surrenders completely and unconditionally to her feelings. But the seven days spent with the king endowed the naive girl with deep insight, because she was able to sense the approaching danger. Her image is the only one that is slightly transformed towards the climax of the plot.
The story "Shulamith", a summary of which is outlined above, is an ode eternal love, timeless.
"Shulamith" can be summed up in a few words. King Solomon, having lost interest in his wife Astis, passionately fell in love with the simple girl Shulamith; his wife ordered the commander of her guard to kill her rival. When the crime was completed, the king expelled Astiz from the country. But this story leaves a strange and magical impression. From the first words it is clear that the story is inspired by biblical verses. The Book of Kings of the Old Testament lists the acts of King Solomon. Kuprin seems to follow the Bible, talking about the construction of the “great temple of the Lord.” But one line of Bible verse:
“for which Hiram, king of Tire, delivered to Solomon cedar wood and cypress wood and gold, according to his desire”
unfolds into a detailed picture. Workers appear, and overseers take on names and personalities. Descriptions of the deeds, wealth, appearance and character of Solomon occupy the first three chapters of nine. The beginning dramatic plot happens in the fourth chapter. Its source is the Song of Solomon, one of the most sublime biblical tales. The author, inspired by a story full of poetry and fire, writes its continuation. And now Shulamith (in the Shulamite Bible) is in the palace, surrounded by love and wealth, tormented by terrible forebodings. For a while we are transported to the temple of Isis. Here we meet Astiz against the backdrop of a bloody ritual, as if foreshadowing a tragic outcome. It is from here that she will send the killer who is in love with her, dooming both him and her rival to death. The death of Shulamith, the grief of Solomon - this is how the story ends.
The story is more reminiscent theater play. From the scene of the construction of the temple we move to the luxurious palace of Solomon, sensual love paintings frame the court hearing. Astiz appears before us at the moment of the mystery of the fertilization of Isis.
The storyline of the bright love of Solomon and Shulamith are opposed Eliav's love-submission to Astiz.
The names are Hiram, Azariah, son of Nathan; Balkis, Queen of Sheba, like the names of the main characters in the story, are biblical names.
Image of Solomon, like other heroes, at first glance, is static. However, showing the legendary king as a temple builder, ruler, sage or passionate lover, drawing his appearance, the writer seems to be admiring a jewel, turning it different faces to the light.
Shulamith we also seem to see through Solomon's eyes. Her youthful charm, her extraordinary beauty is reflected in his words. The suddenly awakened feelings seem to make her wiser. This is the only character whose character changes throughout the story. The naive girl from the vineyard, listening to the wisdom of Solomon, in the end acquires the features of an almost mystical prophetess of her own death.
The author's attitude towards Astiz other. Her name is not in the Bible. Her beauty is artificial. She appears before the reader with blue hair, rouged, whitened, with glowing eyes, “like a feline animal”. A vengeful libertine consumed by jealousy, she is the source of the tragedy that is accomplished in the end. Eliav, Astiz's servant, receives a murderous characterization after committing a crime “he timidly, like a frightened jackal, began to crawl out of the room”.
As in the Bible, in the story “Shulamith” there are many enumerations, but each item, supplemented with a juicy epithet, vivid comparison comes to life, becomes tangible: “Moonstone, pale and meek, like the radiance of the moon...” In a few words, Kuprin can introduce us to the character of a person: “Azaria... a cruel and active man, about whom there was a rumor that he never sleeps, devoured by the fire of his inner incurable disease» . Describes Solomon’s appearance in extraordinary words: “The king’s eyes were dark, like the darkest agate, like the sky on a moonless summer night, and his eyelashes, opening like arrows up and down, looked like black rays around black stars.” and Shulamith: "Place me like a seal on your heart…» Direct borrowings from the Bible: “So you laughed, and your teeth were like white twin lambs emerging from the bathhouse, and there was no blemish on either of them. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate under your curls.” organically woven into the fabric of the narrative without violating stylistic unity.
If critics attribute Kuprin’s work to realistic direction , then we can say that “Shulamith” is one of the most romantic works realist writer.
idea its author put it into the mouth of Solomon: “As long as people love each other, as long as the beauty of soul and body is the best and sweetest dream in the world, so long, I swear to you, Shulamith, your name for many centuries it will be pronounced with tenderness and gratitude.”.
Shulamith
The main characters of the story are King Solomon of Persia and his beloved Shulamith. The story consists of twelve parts.
The first part outlines Persia for the reader during the reign of Solomon, talks about Solomon and his deeds. The king was about forty-five years old when the fame of him, his wisdom and beauty, and the splendor of his life spread far beyond the borders of his country. The king was very rich and generous, so much so that silver in his days was valued no more than a simple stone. And for those who surrounded the king and took care of his peace, Solomon spared nothing - the shields of his five hundred bodyguards were covered with gold plates.
The second part of the story tells the reader about what kind of women the Great Tsar loved. He had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, and besides this, countless slaves and dancers. Among them were white-faced, and black-eyed, and tall, and stocky, and round, and slender - the king charmed everyone with his love, because God gave him such an inexhaustible power of passion that ordinary people did not have. In addition, the king shared his bed with Balkis-Makeda, the Queen of Sheba, the most beautiful and wise woman in the world. But most of all Solomon loved Shulamith, poor girl from the vineyard.
But why did the women themselves love the king? They said that the king had marble skin, his lips were like a bright scarlet ribbon, his hair was black and wavy, and his hands were so tender, warm and beautiful that with one touch the king healed headaches, cramps and black sadness. God made King Solomon able to understand the languages of animals and birds, to understand the reason for human actions - good and bad, which is why a great many people came to him, asking for judgment, advice, help, and resolution of a dispute. This was King Solomon, and this is how the historians of those days described him.
On the southern slope of Mount Baal-Hamon the king had a vineyard, where the king loved to retire in hours of great reflection. So it was this time: the king ordered at dawn to be carried to the mountain. Having left the stretcher, the king sat alone on a simple wooden bench, thinking about something that was only subject to his mind. Suddenly the king listened: somewhere nearby a sweet, pure and clear female voice was heard, humming some melody. Soon a girl in light dress, but she did not see the king, busy with work. Her voice captivates the king more and more, and while she is tying up the vines, his ears enjoy her singing. Suddenly the king comes out to her and says: Girl, show me your face! The girl looks at the king, and a strong wind suddenly begins to flutter her dress and cling tightly to it around her body. At this moment, the king sees her all naked under clothes, all her beautiful and slender body, all her roundness and depressions, hills and valleys. The girl approaches the king and sees how beautiful he is, she looks at him with delight, and adds that she did not notice him. The king tells the girl that she is beautiful, more beautiful than anyone in the world; asks to sit closer to him. He learns that her name is Shulamith, and she helps her brothers guard these royal vineyards. When the king takes her hand, a shiver of delight runs through her body, and when he imprints a sweet kiss on her lips, the girl understands that only he can be her lover, only he will give her virginity. Solomon tells her that he is the king's cook and arranges a date for the next night at the walls of the girl's house. On this day, Solomon was especially bright and joyful, and he did especially a lot of good when he sat on the throne in the courtroom. In the sixth part of the story, the author depicts to the reader the languor of Sulamith, who is waiting for her lover at night. In the evening, she sold her only jewelry to the jeweler - festive silver earrings to the jeweler, and bought myrrh from the incense seller with the proceeds. Shulamith, this beautiful thirteen-year-old girl, wanted her body to smell of the sweetness of myrrh when her lover touched it. She lay on her bed for a long time, waiting, until she heard footsteps. When Shulamith looked out, there was no one near the house. In fear and hope, the girl ran to the vineyards, where she met in the morning the one whom she had managed to love with all her heart. When she reached the vineyards, her happiness knew no bounds: the king was waiting for her and stretched out his hands to her. Their lips merge in a kiss, and after a while the king asks if she regrets? Shulamith, with a smile of embarrassment and happiness, answers him: My brothers put me in charge of the vineyard, but I did not protect my vineyard. That night Solomon confesses to the girl that he is a king. In the morning Shulamith is brought to the palace, bathed in a pool of fragrant water, beautiful body she is dressed in the lightest Egyptian fabrics, and her hair is entwined with pearls. For seven days and six nights they enjoy love with each other. For seven days the king’s face lights up with joy and he showers Shulamith with jewels from head to toe. At this time, a great mystery takes place in the temple of Isis. Once upon a time, the Mother of the gods, Isis, lost her husband, Osiris. The evil Seth stole it, hid it in a coffin, and then, when Isis found the body, he stole it again and, tearing it into fourteen pieces, scattered it throughout the world. The goddess Isis found thirteen pieces, except one - the sacred phallus. The priests whip themselves with whips, tear their skin and tear their mouths in frenzied ecstasy, until one of them, a tall and thin old man, with a cry of delight, makes some kind of movement and throws a shapeless piece of meat at the feet of the goddess. Silence instantly reigns. The sacrifice is complete. And Queen Astiz, the high priestess of the temple, is planning a dirty deed at this time. Ever since the king lost interest in her, black hatred settled in her heart, and now, when she learned that the most beautiful Solomon spends his days and nights with a certain Shulamith, she conceived evil. Astiz calls Eliav, the chief of the royal guard, to him. She knows that he has long been burning with passion for her and promises him to become king over her if he kills Shulamith. Without a word, Eliab leaves the temple. He goes to Solomon's palace and hides at the door of the king's bedroom. On this seventh night, Shulamith cannot enjoy Solomon's love with all her heart. The girl’s soul is gnawed by sadness, she tells the king that her death is somewhere nearby. Suddenly, a rustling sound is heard, and Shulamith, who jumped up from her bed, suddenly finds herself pierced by a sword. Eliav runs away, but Solomon orders him to be captured and killed. On the same day, Solomon demands that Queen Astiz be sent to Egypt so as not to see her in Persia anymore. The king himself sits until the deep evening shadows near the body of Shulamith, and no one knows what thoughts visit him...
