Bunin "Easy breathing": analysis of the work. The story of Ivan Bunin's story "Easy breathing"

In 1916 Ivan Bunin wrote "Easy breathing". An analysis of this story allows us to conclude that it belongs to the genre of the novel. The author managed to convey in a short form the life story of the schoolgirl Olya Meshcherskaya, but not only her. According to the definition of the genre, the novel in a unique, small, concrete event should recreate the hero's entire life, and through it - the life of society. Ivan Alekseevich through modernism creates a unique image of a girl who is still only dreaming about true love.

This feeling was written not only by Bunin ("Easy breathing"). The analysis of love was conducted, perhaps, by all the great poets and writers, very different in character and outlook, that is why 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 are often tragic finals, ending with the death of one of the heroes, but she is rather light than deeply tragic. With this ending we come across, after reading Bunin's story "Easy breathing".

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 "evidence from the returnee" method, because even with such vulgar external events, love remains something untouched and bright, does not concern everyday dirt. Having come to Olya's grave, the class teacher asks herself how to combine all this with a pure gaze at the "something terrible" that is now associated with the name of the schoolgirl. This question does not require an answer, which is present throughout the text of the work. Bunin's short story "Light Breath" is permeated through them.

Character of the protagonist

Olya Meshcherskaya appears to be the embodiment of youth, longing for love, a lively and dreamy heroine. Her image, contrary to the laws of public morality, carries away almost everyone, even the younger classes. And even the mistress of customs, the teacher of Oli, who condemned her for her early maturity, after the heroine's death, comes to the grave to her grave every week, constantly thinks about her and at the same time feels "like all dream-loyal people", happy.

A feature of the character of the main heroine of the story is that she craves happiness and can find it even in such an ugly reality in which she had to turn up. Bunin uses "light breathing" as a metaphor for naturalness, vital energy. This sensation of the so-called "lightness of breathing" is invariably present in Olya, surrounding it with a special halo. People feel this and therefore they are drawn to the girl, without even knowing how to explain why. She infects everyone with her joy.

Contrasts

Bunin's work "Easy breathing" is built on contrasts. From the first lines there is a double sensation: 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. Olly's whole life is also built on contrast. Cloudless childhood contrasted with the tragic events that occurred in the last year of the life of the heroine of the story "Easy breathing." Ivan Bunin often emphasizes the contrast, the gap between the real and apparent, internal state and the outside world.

Story story

The plot of the work is quite simple. A happy young schoolgirl Olya Meshcherskaya first becomes a prey to her father's friend, an elderly sweetheart, after which she is a live target for the aforementioned officer. Her death pushes to the "service" of her memory a classy lady - a lonely woman. However, the apparent simplicity of this plot violates a vivid opposition: a heavy cross and lively, joyful eyes, involuntarily compelling the reader's heart to clench. The simplicity of the plot turned out to be deceptive, since the story "Easy Breath" (Ivan Bunin) not only about the fate of the girl, but also about the unfortunate share of the cool lady who is accustomed to living someone else's life. Olya's relationship with the officer is also interesting.

Relationship with the officer

Already the aforementioned officer on the plot of the story kills Olya Meshcherskaya, who was willy-nilly led by her play. He did this because he was close to her, believed that she loved him, and could not survive the destruction of this illusion. Far not any person can cause in another such a strong passion. It speaks about the bright personality of Olya, Bunin ("Easy breathing") thinks. The act of the protagonist was cruel, but in fact, as it is not difficult to guess, possessing a special character, she stupefied the officer unintentionally. Olya Meshcherskaya in a relationship with him was looking for a dream, but she could not find her.

Is Olga guilty?

Ivan Alekseevich believed that birth is not the beginning, and consequently, death is not the end of the existence of the soul, the symbol of which is the definition Bunin used - "light breathing." An analysis of it in the text of the work allows us to conclude that this concept is synonymous with life, soul. It does not disappear without a trace after death, but returns to the source. About this, and not only about the fate of Oli, the work "Easy breathing."

Ivan Bunin does not accidentally delay the explanation of the causes of the death of the heroine. The question arises: "Maybe she is to blame for what happened?" After all, she is frivolous, flirting with the schoolgirl Shenshin, then, albeit unconsciously, with a friend of his father Alexei Mikhailovich Malyutin, who seduced her, and then for some reason promises the officer to marry him. Why did she need all this? Bunin ("Easy breathing") analyzes the motives of the heroine's actions. Gradually it becomes clear that Olya is beautiful, like the elements. And just as immoral. She aspires in everything to reach the depth, to the limit, to the innermost essence, and the opinion of others is not interested in the heroine of the work "Easy breathing." Ivan Bunin wanted to tell us that in the actions of the schoolgirl there is no sense of revenge, no meaningful vice, no firmness of decisions, no pain of remorse. It turns out that the feeling of completeness of life can be disastrous. Tragic (like a classy lady), even an unconscious longing for her. Therefore, every step, every detail of Oli's life threatens with disaster: prank and curiosity can lead to serious consequences, to violence, and frivolous play with the feelings of other people - to murder. Bunin brings us to such a philosophical thought.

"Easy breathing" of life

The essence of the heroine is that she lives, and not just performs a role in the play. In the same and her fault. To be alive without respecting the rules of the game is to be doomed. The environment in which Meshcherskaya exists, is completely devoid of a holistic, organic sense of beauty. Life is subject to strict rules, the violation of which leads to unavoidable retribution. Therefore, the fate of Olya is tragic. Her death is natural, Bunin said. "Easy breathing," however, did not die with the heroine, but dissolved in the air, filling it with himself. In the finale, this sounds like a thought about the immortality of the soul.