"Executioner": a summary. "The Executioner" - Kuprin's story

Kuprin Alexander Ivanovich began to write at the turn of the century. This was a rather difficult time for Russia and for Europe. Therefore, one of the leading themes in his work is the proclamation of humanistic ideals, unshakable and fundamental for all times. In this regard, the study of the soul of a person who finds himself in the center of an imperfect world, revealing both bright and dark sides, becomes topical.

In 1990, the writer published in the "Don speech" story "Ingolstadt hangman." The people's comments about the people of this profession have always been negative, but it is precisely this person who becomes Kuprin's personification of kindness and responsiveness. A concretization of time and place of action allowed us to recreate a completely natural life situation that fits into a certain historical space and draws readers' attention to unshakable values.

At the turn of the century

The story "The Executioner" - the name was subsequently simplified - begins with a description of the complex political situation in a small town in Bavaria - Ingolstadt. By the end of 1199, an irreconcilable struggle was fought throughout Germany between two powerful groups: the Guelphs, supporters of the Pope, and their opponents, the Ghibellines. It involved residents of the country, from dukes to simple peasants. Often, the enemies were members of the same family, and intrigues, betrayal, mercenaries became quite common. It seemed that nature itself had to do with this confrontation between people. Such a severe winter and frozen all living frost did not remember even the old-timers, and in the sky many saw that huge fire cross, then two moons. All this, according to the conviction of astronomers and charlatans, foreshadowed the end of the world, and such talk always excited society. So begins the story of A. Kuprin (you read his summary).

"Executioner": mysterious stranger

The date of the event is clearly marked. On the night of Christmas, a weary traveler approached the walls of Ingolstadt. Dressed in a fur, but a ragged cloak and felt hat, he often turned his back to the wind and tried to catch his breath. The situation was complicated by snowdrifts, in which people sometimes knelt to the knee. At first glance, the clothes gave a complete picture of his personality. However, the poor appearance of the stranger was not matched by heavy boots and a sword hidden under the suit, indicating that it was not just a burgher or a small tenant.

Many of Kuprin's stories differ dramatically and the emotion of the plot. These traits can be traced in the Executioner. The traveler, who stopped at the moat, surrounded the city from all sides, noted with displeasure that the bridge had already been raised. But he, apparently, knew the area well, because he immediately went on. Passing two hundred feet along the moat, the stranger began to descend confidently down, trampling the snow before him. It took at least an hour before he was on the other side. Having got out of the ditch, the traveler found a rope in his pocket, built a strong loop from it, which he threw on the palisade's teeth. A few minutes later he cleverly moved over the fence and ended up in Ingolstadt.

The hostile hosts

The city seemed extinct. There were no people on the street, and all the gates and doors were locked. Only here and there, through the cracks in the doors and shutters, the light of fire broke through.

The story "The Executioner" Kuprin continues the description of the hero's unsuccessful attempts to find a place to sleep. At first the stranger went to the big house and knocked on the door. I had to wait a long time. Finally, the owner discontentedly inquired from behind the door who this devil brought. At the request of the guest to let him into the house, he responded with a categorical refusal and cursing. For fear, he threatened to release the dogs. To this the traveler replied with curses and said: "Let's see, mister burgomaster, that you will sing tomorrow." Not such a simple tramp was the hero of the story - this conversation is summed up by the described conversation and its brief content.

"The Executioner" continues with a dialogue of security guards who accidentally overheard a traveler hiding in the doorway. They argued that life in the city had become very bad after the Gibellines had driven the Duke of Henry, and that they were ready for anything, for the sake of his return. These words caused the stranger a happy smile that looked strange on the fever-ridden face.

Ancient custom

The traveler went around the whole city, but everywhere: near the rich house, and at the poor hut - I heard in response to the request to let me sleep only swearing. This behavior of local residents explained the words of one old woman. She told the unexpected guest that tomorrow she was ready to receive it and feed it with the most delicious dishes. But today, Christmas Eve, and therefore, along with the guest, she will let all his troubles into his house. No living soul in all of Ingolstadt took pity on the frozen, hungry traveler - this is the conclusion to which the plot of the work and its brief content sum up. "The Executioner" shows how popular superstition could cause misfortune. The traveler was already exhausted: his legs did not obey, and his eyes closed on the move. A little more - and he could fall on the snow to never rise again.

Lonely standing house and its inhabitants

In search of a shelter, the hero of the story approached the Danube itself. And suddenly, far from the buildings, he saw a rather large and sound house, prominently distinguished against the backdrop of poor shacks built on the outskirts. Around him there was no hedge, so the stranger could go to the window itself, not shuttered, and look inside. In the room he saw the following picture. At the table sat a man, tall, with broad shoulders and neck, huge hands. Everything in his appearance betrayed "terrible physical strength" - said Kuprin Alexander Ivanovich. But the main thing that struck the traveler, - a very gloomy, wrinkled face. It seemed to the stranger that he had never been touched by a smile. Next to the table stood a teenage girl and served the owner.

Strange reception

The traveler knocked on the door and got permission to enter. He was in a hotly heated room and smelled roasted meat. Suddenly, the host burst out a scolding, from which it followed that today and tomorrow he does not intend to work. But when he saw that he had indicated himself, he hesitated. He did not deny the guest, in which he acknowledged the master, at the orphanage, but expressed his fears about the reasonableness of his being here. This meant that the guest would leave the house as soon as he knew who was living in it. However, a tired and hungry traveler did not ask questions, but only replied that he did not care about the master's classes. Sitting at the table, the guest began to eat.

Introduction

The stranger who ate the meat did not immediately notice that the owner stood in the middle of the room and did not sit down at the table. He began to say that he felt uneasy, as he interrupted someone else's meal. But the man categorically refused to keep him company, and for some time the guest left him alone. Only after some time, when the traveler was full, drank fragrant wine and felt bliss after several days of wanderings, he again looked at the master. He aroused in him a feeling of gratitude and some strange pity. Suddenly the stranger stood up from the table, introduced himself: "Henry II, Lev-Anna ..." and in an imperative tone ordered the owner to give his name. The latter fell in front of him to the floor and exclaimed in confusion that he was Karl Eisenman, the local executioner. Reviews about his occupation could not be called good. This explains why he was afraid to introduce himself immediately.

Unexpected outcome

The Duke frowned at first, but immediately took out his sword and flatly hit her master on the shoulder. This was the procedure of erection in knights. So ends the story - you read his brief content - "The Executioner". It remains only to add that Carl von Eisenman died as a hero, defending his duke. After the death of the former executioner of Ingolstadt, his family also ceased, as he had no sons.

Distinctive features of the novel

Kuprin's stories often tell of a person endowed with the best moral qualities. And their carriers are nothing remarkable people outwardly. A similar situation can be seen in this work.

In a troubled world filled with cruelty and human indifference, a desperate and rejected hangman comes to the aid of an unfamiliar traveler. By the nature of his activities and obeying the will of others, he is forced to deprive the lives of the condemned, therefore it seems heartless. But in Ingolstadt, encompassed by hatred and enmity, when the concepts of honor and duty were forgotten, only Eisenman is capable of compassion and humanity. He does not allow a complete stranger to perish, and in return the ruler of Saxony shows him respect, recognizing the right to forgive and dignified death - an important moment for the Middle Ages.

So the heroes of Kuprin's stories proclaim love and trust in people, the greatness of their thoughts and actions.