The Power of Darkness by Leo Tolstoy (best reads of all time .TXT) đ
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The Power of Darkness is a five-act drama that follows the downfall of the peasants AnĂsya and NikĂta as they succumb to a series of sordid temptations, from adultery and drunkenness to outright murder. Written in 1886 but suppressed by censors until 1902, the play is a realist portrayal of some of the darkest elements of Russian peasant life. Similar to some other late Tolstoy works, like Resurrection, the playâs psychological exploration of human depravity is accompanied by a sharp social critique of the Russian Empire and its role in perpetuating poverty and ignorance among its lowest and most marginalized classes.
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- Author: Leo Tolstoy
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down the steps of the porch to AnĂsya and NikĂta. Donât go anywhere. Heâs got the money on him. I felt it on a string round his neck.
AnĂsya
Oh my head, my head!
MatryĂłna
If you donât keep wide awake now, then you may whistle for it. If his sister comesâ âthen goodbye to it!
AnĂsya
Thatâs true. Sheâll come and heâll give it her. Whatâs to be done? Oh my poor head!
MatryĂłna
What is to be done? Why, look here; the samovar is boiling, go and make the tea and pour him out a cup, and then whispers put in all thatâs left in the paper. When heâs drunk the cup, then just take it. Heâll not tell, no fear.
AnĂsya
Oh! Iâm afeared!
MatryĂłna
Donât be talking now, but look alive, and Iâll keep his sister off if need be. Mind, donât make a blunder! Get hold of the money and bring it here, and NikĂta will hide it.
AnĂsya
Oh my head, my head! I donât know how Iâm going toâ ââ âŠ
MatryĂłna
Donât talk about it I tell you, do as I bid you. NikĂta!
NikĂta
What is it?
MatryĂłna
You stay hereâ âsit downâ âin case something is wanted.
NikĂta
Waves his hand. Oh these women, what wonât they be up to? Muddle one up completely. Bother them! Iâll really go and fetch out the potatoes.
MatryĂłna
Catches him by the arm. Stay here, I tell you.
Nan enters.
AnĂsya
Well?
Nan
She was down in her daughterâs vegetable plotâ âsheâs coming.
AnĂsya
Coming! What shall we do?
MatryĂłna
Thereâs plenty of time if you do as I tell you.
AnĂsya
I donât know what to do; I know nothing, my brainâs all in a whirl. Nan! Go, daughter, and see to the calves, theyâll have run away, Iâm afraid.â ââ ⊠Oh dear, I havenât the courage.
MatryĂłna
Go on! I should think the samovarâs boiling over.
AnĂsya
Oh my head, my poor head! Exit.
MatryĂłna
Approaches NikĂta. Now then, sonnie. Sits down beside him. Your affairs must also be thought about, and not left anyhow.
NikĂta
What affairs?
MatryĂłna
Why, this affairâ âhow youâre to live your life.
NikĂta
How to live my life? Others live, and I shall live!
MatryĂłna
The old man will probably die today.
NikĂta
Well, if he dies, God give him rest! Whatâs that to me?
MatryĂłna
Keeps looking towards the porch while she speaks. Eh, sonnie! Those that are alive have to think about living. One needs plenty of sense in these matters, honey. What do you think? Iâve tramped all over the place after your affairs, Iâve got quite footsore bothering about matters. And you must not forget me when the time comes.
NikĂta
And whatâs it youâve been bothering about?
MatryĂłna
About your affairs, about your future. If you donât take trouble in good time youâll get nothing. You know IvĂĄn MosĂ©itch? Well, Iâve been to him too. I went there the other day. I had something else to settle, you know. Well, so I sat and chatted awhile and then came to the point. âTell me, IvĂĄn MosĂ©itch,â says I, âhowâs one to manage an affair of this kind? Supposing,â says I, âa peasant as is a widower married a second wife, and supposing all the children he has is a daughter by the first wife, and a daughter by the second. Then,â says I, âwhen that peasant dies, could an outsider get hold of the homestead by marrying the widow? Could he,â says I, âgive both the daughters in marriage and remain master of the house himself?â âYes, he could,â says he, âbut,â says he, âit would mean a deal of trouble; still the thing could be managed by means of money, but if thereâs no money itâs no good trying.â
NikĂta
Laughs. That goes without saying, only fork out the money. Who does not want money?
MatryĂłna
Well then, honey, so I spoke out plainly about the affair. And he says, âFirst and foremost, your son will have to get himself on the register of that villageâ âthat will cost something. The elders will have to be treated. And they, you see, theyâll sign. Everything,â says he, âmust be done sensibly.â Look, unwraps her kerchief and takes out a paper heâs written out this paper; just read it, youâre a scholar, you know. NikĂta reads.
NikĂta
This paperâs only a decision for the elders to sign. Thereâs no great wisdom needed for that.
MatryĂłna
But you just hear what IvĂĄn MosĂ©itch bids us do. âAbove all,â he says, âmind and donât let the money slip away, dame. If she donât get hold of the money,â he says, âtheyâll not let her do it. Moneyâs the great thing!â So look out, sonnie, things are coming to a head.
NikĂta
Whatâs that to me? The moneyâs hersâ âso let her look out.
MatryĂłna
Ah, sonnie, how you look at it! How can a woman manage such affairs? Even if she does get the money, is she capable of arranging it all? One knows what a woman is! Youâre a man anyhow. You can hide it, and all that. You see, youâve after all got more sense, in case of anything happening.
NikĂta
Oh, your womanâs notions are all so inexpedient!
MatryĂłna
Why inexpedient? You just collar the money, and the womanâs in your hands. And then should she ever turn snappish youâd be able to tighten the reins!
NikĂta
Bother you allâ âIâm going.
AnĂsya
Quite pale, runs out of the hut and round the corner to MatryĂłna. So it was, it was on him! Here it is! Shows that she has something under her apron.
MatryĂłna
Give it to NikĂta, heâll hide it. NikĂta, take it and hide it somewhere.
NikĂta
All right, give here!
AnĂsya
O-oh, my poor head! No, Iâd better do it myself. Goes towards the gate.
MatryĂłna
Seizing her by the arm. Where are you going to? Youâll be missed. Thereâs the sister coming; give it him; he knows what to do. Eh, you blockhead!
AnĂsya
Stops irresolutely. Oh, my head, my head!
NikĂta
Well, give it here. Iâll shove it
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