Classes in the sixth company are coming to an end. Junior officers begin to compete - who can better cut down a clay effigy with a saber. It’s the turn of the young second lieutenant Grigory Romashov.
He was of average height, thin, and although quite strong for his build, he was awkward due to his great shyness.
Romashov didn’t know how to fence even in school, and now he can’t do anything.
Second Lieutenant Romashov spends all evenings until midnight with the Nikolaevs. During the day he promises himself not to go around, not to bother people, but in the evening of the next day he returns to this cozy house.
At home, the Romashovs find a letter from Raisa Alexandrovna Peterson, with whom they are dirty, boring and have been deceiving her husband for quite some time. The cloying smell of Raisa's perfume and the vulgarly playful tone of the letter evoke unbearable disgust in Romashov.
Half an hour later, embarrassed and annoyed with himself, Romashov knocks on the Nikolaevs’ door. Vladimir Efimych Nikolaev is busy. For two years in a row he has been failing his academy exams. You can only apply three times, and his wife Alexandra Petrovna, Shurochka, is doing everything to ensure that the last chance is not missed. Helping her husband prepare, Shurochka has already mastered the entire program; she is only struggling with ballistics, while Volodya is progressing very slowly. Shurochka wants her husband to pass the exams and take her away from this wilderness.
Am I really so uninteresting as a person and ugly as a woman that I should spend my whole life in this slum, in this disgusting place that is not on any geographical map!
With Romochka (that’s what she calls Romashov), Shurochka discusses a newspaper article about fights recently allowed in the army. She considers them necessary, otherwise the officer environment will not produce a cheater or a drunkard like Nazansky. Romashov does not want to enroll Nazansky in this company, who believes that the ability to love, like talent, is not given to everyone. Shurochka once rejected this man, and her husband hates the lieutenant. This time Romashov sits with the Nikolaevs until it’s time to sleep.
At home, another note from Peterson awaits him, in which she threatens Romashov with cruel revenge for his neglect of her. The woman knows where Romashov goes every day and who he is interested in.
At the next regimental ball, Romashov tells his mistress that it’s all over. Peterson's wife swears revenge. Soon Nikolaev begins to receive anonymous letters with hints about the special relationship between the second lieutenant and his wife. Romashov is not sure that Raisa writes anonymous letters. Grigory has plenty of ill-wishers - he does not allow officers to fight, he forbids beating soldiers.
The authorities are also dissatisfied with Romashov. The second lieutenant’s money is getting worse and worse; the bartender no longer even lets him borrow cigarettes. Romashov’s soul is bad due to the feeling of boredom, the meaninglessness of service and loneliness.
At the end of April, Romashov receives a note from Alexandra Petrovna reminding him of their common name day. Having borrowed money from Lieutenant Colonel Rafalsky, Romashov buys perfume and goes to the Nikolaevs. At a noisy picnic, Romashov sits next to Shurochka and experiences a strange state, similar to a dream. His hand sometimes touches Shurochka’s hand, but they don’t look at each other.
He saw that some great, new, feverish feeling was flowing, trembling and asking to come out.
After the feast, Romashov wanders into the grove. Shurochka follows and says that today she is in love with him, and the day before she saw him in a dream. Romashov begins to talk about love. She admits that she is worried about his closeness, they have common thoughts and desires, but she must abandon him. Shurochka doesn’t want them to be missed and goes back. On the way, she asks Romashov not to visit them anymore: her husband is besieged by anonymous letters.
In mid-May, the corps commander tours the companies lined up on the parade ground, looks at their training and remains dissatisfied. Only the fifth company, where soldiers are not tortured with shagistics and are not stolen from the common cauldron, deserves praise.
During the ceremonial march, Romashov feels himself the subject of general admiration. Lost in his daydreaming, he breaks down the formation.
His entire half-company, instead of two straight, slender lines, was an ugly crowd, broken in all directions, crowded together like a flock of sheep.
Instead of delight, he suffers public shame. To this is added an explanation with Nikolaev, demanding to stop the flow of anonymous letters and not to visit their house. Romashov admits that he knows the author of the anonymous letters and promises to preserve Shurochka’s reputation.
Going over what happened in his memory, Romashov unnoticed approaches the railway track and in the darkness sees a soldier who is constantly being bullied in the company. He asks the soldier if he would like to kill himself, and he, choking with sobs, says that they beat him, laugh at him, the platoon commander extorts money, and he is unable to study: he has suffered from a hernia since childhood.
Now his own troubles seem trivial to Romashov. He understands: faceless companies and regiments consist of such soldiers, suffering from their grief and having their own destiny.
From this night, Romashov changes - he often secludes himself and avoids the company of regimental officers.
He seemed to have matured, become older and more serious in recent days, and he himself noticed this by the sad and even calm with which he now treated people and phenomena.
The forced distance from officer society allows Romashov to concentrate on his thoughts. He sees more and more clearly that there are only three worthy callings: science, art and free physical labor.
At the end of May, a soldier in Osadchy’s company hanged himself. After this incident, continuous drinking begins. Romashov finds Nikolaev at the meeting. There is a quarrel between them. Nikolaev swings at Romashov, and he throws the remains of beer in his face.
A meeting of the officers' court of honor is scheduled. Nikolaev asks Romashov not to mention his wife and anonymous letters. The court determines that the quarrel cannot be ended by reconciliation.
Romashov spends most of the day before the fight with Nazansky, who convinces him not to shoot. Life is an amazing and unique phenomenon. Is he really so committed to the military class, does he really believe in the supposed higher meaning of the army order so much that he is ready to risk his very existence?
In the evening, Romashov finds Shurochka at his home. She says she spent years building her husband's career. If Romochka refuses to fight for the sake of love for her, then there will still be something dubious about it and Volodya will probably not be allowed to take the exam. They must shoot each other, but not one of them must be wounded. The husband knows and agrees. She hugs his neck and presses her hot lips to his mouth.
And so both of them, and the whole room, and the whole world were immediately filled with some kind of unbearably blissful, sultry delirium.
Some time later, Shurochka leaves forever.
The details of the duel between Lieutenant Nikolaev and Second Lieutenant Romashov are described in the report to the colonel. When, on command, the opponents went to meet each other halfway, Lieutenant Nikolaev wounded the second lieutenant in the upper right abdomen with a shot, and he died seven minutes later from internal hemorrhage. The report is accompanied by the testimony of the junior doctor.
The story “The Duel” was published in 1905. This is a story about the conflict between the humanistic worldview and the violence that flourished in the army of that time. The story reflects Kuprin’s own vision of army order. Many of the heroes of the work are characters from the writer’s real life, whom he encountered during his service.
Yuri Romashov, a young second lieutenant, is deeply affected by the general moral decay that reigns in army circles. He often visits Vladimir Nikolaev, with whose wife Alexandra (Shurochka) he is secretly in love. Romashov also maintains a vicious relationship with Raisa Peterson, the wife of his colleague. This romance ceased to give him any joy, and one day he decided to break off the relationship. Raisa set out to take revenge. Soon after their breakup, someone began to bombard Nikolaev with anonymous letters with hints of a special connection between his wife and Romashov. Because of these notes, Shurochka asks Yuri not to visit their house anymore.
However, the young second lieutenant had plenty of other troubles. He did not allow non-commissioned officers to start fights, and constantly argued with officers who supported moral and physical violence against their charges, which displeased the command. Romashov's financial situation also left much to be desired. He is lonely, service loses its meaning for him, his soul is bitter and sad.
During the ceremonial march, the second lieutenant had to endure the worst shame of his life. Yuri was simply daydreaming and made a fatal mistake, breaking the order.
After this incident, Romashov, tormenting himself with memories of ridicule and general censure, did not notice how he found himself not far from the railway. There he met soldier Khlebnikov, who wanted to commit suicide. Khlebnikov, through tears, talked about how he was bullied in the company, about the beatings and ridicule that had no end. Then Romashov began to realize even more clearly that each faceless gray company consists of separate destinies, and each fate matters. His grief paled against the background of the grief of Khlebnikov and others like him.
A little later, a soldier hanged himself in one of the mouths. This incident led to a wave of drunkenness. During a drinking session, a conflict broke out between Romashov and Nikolaev, which led to a duel.
Before the duel, Shurochka came to Romashov’s house. She began to appeal to the tender feelings of the second lieutenant, saying that they must definitely shoot, because refusal to duel could be misinterpreted, but none of the duelists should be wounded. Shurochka assured Romashov that her husband agreed to these conditions and their agreement would remain secret. Yuri agreed.
As a result, despite Shurochka’s assurances, Nikolaev mortally wounded the second lieutenant.
The main characters of the story
Yuri Romashov
The central character of the work. A kind, shy and romantic young man who does not like the harsh morals of the army. He dreamed of a literary career, often walked, immersed in thoughts and dreams of another life.
Alexandra Nikolaeva (Shurochka)
The object of Romashov's affection. At first glance, she is a talented, charming, energetic and intelligent woman; gossip and intrigue in which local ladies participate are alien to her. However, in reality it turns out that she is much more insidious than all of them. Shurochka dreamed of a luxurious metropolitan life; everything else did not matter to her.
Vladimir Nikolaev
Shurochka's unlucky husband. He does not shine with intelligence and fails the entrance exams to the academy. Even his wife, helping him prepare for admission, mastered almost the entire program, but Vladimir could not manage it.
Shulgovich
A demanding and stern colonel, often dissatisfied with Romashov’s behavior.
Nazansky
A philosophical officer who likes to talk about the structure of the army, about good and evil in general, is prone to alcoholism.
Raisa Peterson
Romashov's mistress, wife of Captain Peterson. She is a gossip and an intriguer, not burdened by any principles. She is busy playing at secularism, talking about luxury, but inside her there is spiritual and moral poverty.
In “The Duel,” A. Kuprin demonstrates to the reader all the inferiority of the army. The main character, Lieutenant Romashov, is becoming more and more disillusioned with his service, finding it pointless. He sees the cruelty with which officers treat their subordinates, witnesses assault that is not stopped by management.
Most of the officers resigned themselves to the existing order. Some find in it an opportunity to take out their own grievances on others through moral and physical violence, to show the cruelty inherent in their character. Others simply accept reality and, not wanting to fight, look for an outlet. Often this outlet becomes drunkenness. Even Nazansky, an intelligent and talented person, drowns in a bottle thoughts about the hopelessness and injustice of the system.
A conversation with soldier Khlebnikov, who constantly endures bullying, confirms Romashova in the opinion that this entire system is rotten through and through and has no right to exist. In his reflections, the second lieutenant comes to the conclusion that there are only three occupations worthy of an honest person: science, art and free physical labor. The army is a whole class, which in peacetime enjoys the benefits earned by other people, and in wartime it goes to kill warriors like themselves. This makes no sense. Romashov thinks about what would happen if all people unanimously said “no” to war, and the need for the army disappeared by itself.
The duel between Romashov and Nikolaev is a confrontation between honesty and deceit. Romashov was killed by betrayal. Both then and now, the life of our society is a duel between cynicism and compassion, loyalty to principles and immorality, humanity and cruelty.
You can also read, one of the most prominent and popular writers in Russia in the first half of the twentieth century.
Surely you will be interested in a brief summary of his most successful, in the opinion of Alexander Kuprin, imbued with a fabulous, or even mystical atmosphere.
The main idea of the story
The problems raised by Kuprin in “The Duel” go far beyond the army. The author points out the shortcomings of society as a whole: social inequality, the gap between the intelligentsia and the common people, spiritual decline, the problem of the relationship between society and the individual.
The story “The Duel” received a positive review from Maxim Gorky. He argued that this work should deeply touch “every honest and thinking officer.”
K. Paustovsky was deeply touched by the meeting between Romashov and soldier Khlebnikov. Paustovsky ranked this scene among the best in Russian literature.
However, “The Duel” received not only positive reviews. Lieutenant General P. Geisman accused the writer of slander and an attempt to undermine the state system.
- Kuprin dedicated the first edition of the story to M. Gorky. According to the author himself, he owes all the boldest thoughts expressed on the pages of “The Duel” to the influence of Gorky.
- The story “The Duel” has been filmed five times, the last time in 2014. “The Duel” was the last episode of a four-part film consisting of film adaptations of Kuprin’s works.
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The Russian army has repeatedly become the object of depiction by Russian writers. At the same time, many of them experienced all the “delights” of army life. Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin in this sense can give a hundred points ahead. Having spent his early childhood in an orphanage, the boy was so inspired by the victory of the Russian army in the Russian-Turkish War that he passed the exam for the Moscow Military Academy, which was soon transformed into a cadet corps. Then he will describe all the ugliness of the system of educating future officers in the story “At the Turning Point (Cadets)”, and shortly before his death he will say: “Memories of the rods in the cadet corps remained with me for the rest of my life.”
These memories were reflected in the writer’s further work, and in 1905 the story “The Duel” was published, the features of which this analysis will be devoted to.
A. Kuprin's story is not just sketches of the life of a provincial garrison: before us is a huge social generalization. The reader sees the everyday life of the tsarist army, drill, being pushed around by subordinates, and in the evening drunkenness and debauchery among the officers, which, in fact, is a reflection of the whole picture of life in tsarist Russia.
The story centers on the lives of army officers. Kuprin managed to create a whole gallery of portraits. These are also representatives of the older generation - Colonel Shulgovich, Captain Sliva and Captain Osadchy, who are distinguished by their inhumanity towards soldiers and recognize exclusively cane discipline. There are also younger officers - Nazansky, Vetkin, Bek-Agamalov. But their life is no better: having resigned themselves to the oppressive order in the army, they try to escape from reality by drinking. A. Kuprin depicts how in the conditions of the army there is a “dehumanization of man - a soldier and an officer”, how the Russian army is dying.
The main character of the story is Second Lieutenant Yuri Alekseevich Romashov. Kuprin himself will say about him: “He is my double.” Indeed, this hero embodies the best features of Kuprin’s heroes: honesty, decency, intelligence, but at the same time a certain dreaminess, a desire to change the world for the better. It is no coincidence that Romashov is lonely among officers, which gives Nazansky the right to say: “You... have some kind of inner light. But in our den it will be extinguished".
Indeed, Nazansky’s words will become prophetic, just like the title of the story itself, “The Duel.” At that time, duels were again allowed for officers as the only opportunity to defend honor and dignity. For Romashov, such a fight will be the first and last in his life.
What will lead the hero to this tragic outcome? Of course, love. Love for a married woman, the wife of a colleague, lieutenant Nikolaev, - Shurochka. Yes, among the “boring, monotonous life,” among rude officers and their wretched wives, she seems to Romashov to be perfection itself. She has traits that the hero lacks: determination, willpower, perseverance in implementing her plans and intentions. Not wanting to vegetate in the provinces, i.e. “to descend, become a regimental lady, go to these wild evenings, gossip, intrigue and get angry about various daily allowances and running orders...”, Shurochka is making every effort to prepare her husband for entry into the General Staff Academy in St. Petersburg, because “They returned to the regiment twice in disgrace”, which means this is the last chance to get out of here to shine with intelligence and beauty in the capital.
It is for this reason that everything is at stake, and Shurochka quite prudently uses Romashov’s love for her. When, after a quarrel between Nikolaev and Romashov, a duel becomes the only possible form of preserving honor, she begs Yuri Alekseevich not to refuse the duel, but to shoot to the side (as Vladimir supposedly should do) so that no one gets hurt. Romashov agrees, and the reader learns about the outcome of the duel from the official report. Behind the dry lines of the report lies the betrayal of Shurochka, so beloved by Romashov: it becomes clear that the duel was a set-up murder.
Thus, Romashov, who seeks justice, lost in his duel with reality. Having forced his hero to see the light, the author did not find a further path for him, and the death of the officer became salvation from moral death.
Kuprin's story "The Duel" was first published in 1905. The work belongs to the tradition of neorealist prose in Russian literature. The central plot line of the story, associated with its title, is the conflict between two officers, Romashov and Nikolaev, over the wife of the second. Their quarrel led to a duel and the death of the main character. In the work, the author touches on the problem of the relationship between the individual and society, reveals the theme of cruelty in the army, the humiliation of ordinary soldiers by commanders, and exposes the horror and vulgarity of officer society.
Main characters
Georgy Alekseich Romashov– 22 years old, second lieutenant, “serving only the second year in the regiment”; “he was of average height, thin”, “awkward due to great shyness”; dreamy young man.
Alexandra Petrovna Nikolaeva (Shurochka)- the woman with whom Romashov was in love; Nikolaev's wife.
Vladimir Efimych Nikolaev- lieutenant, Shurochka’s husband, with whom Romashov fought.
Other characters
Vasily Nilovich Nazansky- an officer, a drunkard, was in love with Alexandra Petrovna.
Raisa Alexandrovna Peterson- “regimental lady”, Romashov’s mistress, wife of Captain Peterson.
Shulgovich- regiment commander.
Chapter 1.
The sixth company is undergoing training. Colonel Shulgovich, who arrived at the company, scolded Second Lieutenant Romashov for the fact that the soldiers greeted the commander in an inappropriate manner. Romashov began to justify one of the soldiers, and was subjected to house arrest for four days for his insolence.
Chapter 2.
Romashov increasingly experienced “the painful consciousness of his loneliness and being lost among strangers, unfriendly or indifferent people.” Instead of going to the officers' meeting, Grigory went home.
Chapter 3.
Arriving home, Romashov asked the orderly if there was anyone from Lieutenant Nikolaev, but the answer was negative. Grigory visited the Nikolaevs almost every day for the last three months.
After graduating from military school, Romashov thought that while in service he would engage in self-education. However, instead, he has a “dirty and boring relationship with the regimental lady,” “and is increasingly burdened by the service, his comrades, and his own life.”
The orderly brought a letter from Romashov's mistress Raisa. The woman invited him to visit, invited him to a square dance next Saturday. Having torn up the letter, Romashov decided to go to the Nikolaevs “for the last time.”
Chapter 4.
Alexander Petrovna’s husband, Vladimir Efimych Nikolaev, “had to take an exam at the Academy of the General Staff and spent the whole year preparing for it persistently, without rest.” This was already the third exam - he had failed the previous two years and the third was the last chance. Shurochka really wanted her husband to do this, because she hated the life they were living now.
When Romashov came to the Nikolaevs, during the conversation Shurochka remembered that officer fights had become legalized. She believed that Russian officers needed duels: “then we won’t have card sharpers among the officers” and “serious drunkards” like officer Nazansky.
Chapter 5.
Leaving the Nikolaevs, Romashov “to spite her” goes to Nazansky. While talking, the men started talking about love. Nazansky believed that love “has its peaks, accessible only to a few out of millions.” Nazansky read Romashov a letter from the woman he loved. Romashov realized that this woman was Alexandra Petrovna. Nazansky also guessed about Grigory’s feelings for Shurochka.
Arriving home, Romashov found a letter from Raisa. She knew that Grigory visited the Nikolaevs every evening and wrote that she would “repay him cruelly.”
Chapter 6.
Romashov was under house arrest. Shurochka came to him and brought him some pies. Romashov kissed the woman’s hand. In parting, Shurochka said that Grigory was her only friend.
Chapter 7.
Gregory was taken to the colonel. Shulgovich scolded Romashov because of rumors: they reported that the officer was drinking. After the conversation, the colonel invited Gregory to an officer's lunch. Romashov returned home “feeling lonely, sad, lost in some strange, dark and hostile place.”
Chapter 8.
Romashov came to the ball at the officers' meeting house. Gradually the ladies began to arrive, and Raisa also arrived. In the expression of her eyes, Romashov saw “some kind of cruel, evil and confident threat.”
The officers discussed duels in the army, their opinions differed - some considered duels stupid, others were of the opinion that an insult could only be washed away with blood.
Chapter 9.
Romashov, as promised, danced a quadrille with Raisa. During the dance, the woman angrily said that she would not allow her to be treated like this and began to loudly insult Shurochka. Raisa claimed that she sacrificed everything for Romashov: “I did not dare to look into the eyes of my husband, this ideal, wonderful man.” Grigory involuntarily smiled: her numerous novels were known to everyone.
Raisa's husband, Captain Peterson, was a “thin, consumptive man.” He loved his wife madly, so he forgave her all her affairs.
Chapter 10.
During morning classes, officers discussed punishments for soldiers. Romashov believed that in the army they deliberately “try to maintain rudeness and martinetry in relations between officers.”
Chapter 11.
During the exercises, Romashov performed techniques on a machine gun. He thought about a phrase said by one of the officers: if you think like Grigory, then you need to leave the service.
Chapter 12.
In the morning, Romashov received a letter from Shurochka. The woman invited him to a picnic on his name day.
Chapter 13.
Approaching the Nikolaevs' house, Romashov felt a strange, causeless anxiety. Shurochka joyfully greeted George.
Chapter 14.
During the picnic, Shurochka seemed especially charming to Romashov. When everyone scattered around the clearing in the evening, Grigory and Alexandra went deeper into the grove. Shurochka admitted that today she is in love with Romashov, but does not love her husband - “he is rude, he is insensitive, indelicate.” She kissed Georgy, but then asked Romashov not to come to them again - her husband was besieged by anonymous letters.
Chapter 15.
The officers were preparing for the May review “and knew no mercy, they were tired.” Romashov watched as company commanders beat their soldiers with particular cruelty.
When, during the review, the arriving commanders toured all the companies, Romashov felt “that these arrogant people were living some kind of special, beautiful, higher life inaccessible to him.” The review was a complete “failure of the regiment” - a “soulless, routine and negligent attitude of officers towards service” was revealed.
During the final march, Romashov, intoxicated by the music and general excitement, began to daydream and headed to the right, which is why his entire half-company “represented an ugly, broken crowd.” After the incident, everyone made fun of Romashov.
Chapter 16.
Romashov left the camp and met Nikolaev. Vladimir said that he was waiting for him here on purpose and started talking about Alexandra Petrovna. Nikolaev began to receive “boorish anonymous letters” with gossip about his wife and Romashov. Vladimir demanded that Romashov do everything to stop the spread of gossip.
Chapter 17.
Romashov “began to withdraw from the society of officers.” Georgy firmly understood that he would not remain in the army and, when the mandatory three years of service were completed, would go into the reserve.
Chapter 18.
At the end of May, a soldier in the company hanged himself. That evening, the officers drank, joked, and sang songs. At night, already pretty drunk, they went to the women. There was a scuffle: a drunken officer began to chop everything with a saber, but Romashov calmed him down.
Chapter 19.
The officers went to the meeting and continued drinking and having fun. Many of the officers in the regiment were “from the clergy,” unexpectedly one of them started the panakida, and they “served” the whole thing in chorus. Romashov hit the table with his fist, forbidding such singing. The drunken officers began to riot again. Nikolaev, who unexpectedly appeared next to Romashov, said that people like Georgy and Nazansky were a disgrace to the regiment. Romashov hinted at “mysterious reasons” why Nikolaev is dissatisfied with Nazansky. A fight started between them. Romashov shouted that he was challenging Nikolaev to a duel.
Chapter 20.
In the morning, Romashov was summoned to court. A few days later, the court came to a decision that the quarrel between Nikolaev and Romashov could only be resolved by a duel.
Chapter 21.
Upset, Romashov went to Nazansky. The officer tried to dissuade Georgy from the duel, believing that Romashov needed to leave the army and not be afraid of life.
Chapter 22.
When Romashov returned home, he found Shurochka visiting him. She said that although she did not love Vladimir, “she killed part of her soul for him.” She has more pride than her husband - it was she who forced him to try again and again to enter the academy. If Nikolaev refuses the fight, he will not be accepted into the academy. Therefore, they definitely need to shoot tomorrow - none of them will be wounded. Shurochka and Georgy kissed goodbye.
Chapter 23.
Report to the regiment commander. On June 1, a duel took place between Nikolaev and Romashov. Nikolaev shot first and wounded Romashov in the upper right abdomen. Romashov was no longer able to shoot back. A few minutes later, Romashov died from internal hemorrhage.
Conclusion
“The Duel” is considered the most significant work in Kuprin’s work. The main character of the story, the young second lieutenant Romashov, is portrayed as a romantic, intelligent person with a fine mental organization. It is difficult for him to come to terms with the monotonous, philistine life in a provincial infantry regiment - during his years of training, the military seemed to him to be completely different, more noble people. Realizing that he will not be able to remain in service, Romashov decides to leave the army after three mandatory years. However, an unfortunate combination of circumstances and pressure from Shurochka lead to the sudden death of Georgy. The duel becomes Romashov’s attempt to confront the world and society, but he loses in this confrontation.
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