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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AnĂsya and Nan.
MĂtritch
Comes in at the gate and begins collecting the scattered hay. Oh Lord! Merciful Nicholas! What a lot of liquor theyâve been and swilled, and the smell theyâve made! It smells even out here! But no, I donât want any, drat it! See how theyâve scattered the hay about. They donât eat it, but only trample it under foot. A truss gone before you know it. Oh, that smell, it seems to be just under my nose! Drat it! Yawns. Itâs time to go to sleep! But I donât care to go into the hut. It seems to float just round my nose! It has a strong scent, the damned stuff! The guests are heard driving off. Theyâre off at last. Oh Lord! Merciful Nicholas! There they go, binding themselves and gulling one another. And itâs all gammon!
Enter NikĂta.
NikĂta
MĂtritch, you get off to sleep and Iâll put this straight.
MĂtritch
All right, you throw it to the sheep. Well, have you seen âem all off?
NikĂta
Yes, theyâre off! But things are not right! I donât know what to do!
MĂtritch
Itâs a fine mess. But thereâs the Foundlingsâ6 for that sort of thing. Whoever likes may drop one there; theyâll take âem all. Give âem as many as you like, they ask no questions, and even payâ âif the mother goes in as a wet-nurse. Itâs easy enough nowadays.
NikĂta
But mind, MĂtritch, donât go blabbing.
MĂtritch
Itâs no concern of mine. Cover the tracks as you think best. Dear me, how you smell of liquor! Iâll go in. Oh Lord! Exit, yawning.
NikĂta is long silent. Sits down on a sledge.
NikĂta
Hereâs a go!
Enter AnĂsya.
AnĂsya
Where are you?
NikĂta
Here.
AnĂsya
What are you doing there? Thereâs no time to be lost! We must take it out directly!
NikĂta
What are we to do?
AnĂsya
Iâll tell you what you are to do. And youâll have to do it!
NikĂta
Youâd better take it to the Foundlingsââ âif anything.
AnĂsya
Then youâd better take it there yourself if you like! Youâve a hankering for smut, but youâre weak when it comes to settling up, I see!
NikĂta
Whatâs to be done?
AnĂsya
Go down into the cellar, I tell you, and dig a hole!
NikĂta
Couldnât you manage, somehow, some other way?
AnĂsya
Imitating him. âSome other way?â Seems we canât âsome other way!â You should have thought about it a year ago. Do what youâre told to!
NikĂta
Oh dear, what a go!
Enter Nan.
Nan
Mother! Grandmotherâs calling! I think sisterâs got a baby! Iâm blest if it didnât scream!
AnĂsya
What are you babbling about? Plague take you! Itâs kittens whining there. Go into the hut and sleep, or Iâll give it you!
Nan
Mammy dear, truly, I swearâ ââ âŠ
AnĂsya
Raising her arm as if to strike. Iâll give it you! You be off and donât let me catch sight of you! Nan runs into hut. To NikĂta. Do as youâre told, or else mind! Exit.
NikĂta
Alone. After a long silence. Hereâs a go! Oh these women! What a fix! Says you should have thought of it a year ago. Whenâs one to think beforehand? Whenâs one to think? Why, last year this AnĂsya dangled after me. What was I to do? Am I a monk? The master died; and I covered my sin as was proper, so I was not to blame there. Arenât there lots of such cases? And then those powders. Did I put her up to that? Why, had I known what the bitch was up to, Iâd have killed her! Iâm sure I should have killed her! Sheâs made me her partner in these horrorsâ âthat jade! And she became loathsome to me from that day! She became loathsome, loathsome to me as soon as mother told me about it. I canât bear the sight of her! Well then, how could I live with her? And then it begun.â ââ ⊠That wench began hanging round. Well, what was I to do! If I had not done it, someone else would. And this is what comes of it! Still Iâm not to blame in this either. Oh, what a go! Sits thinking. They are bold, these women! What a plan to think of! But I wonât have a hand in it!
Enter MatryĂłna with a lantern and spade, panting.
MatryĂłna
Why are you sitting there like a hen on a perch? What did your wife tell you to do? You just get things ready!
NikĂta
What do you mean to do?
MatryĂłna
We know what to do. You do your share!
NikĂta
Youâll be getting me into a mess!
MatryĂłna
What? Youâre not thinking of backing out, are you? Now itâs come to this, and you back out!
NikĂta
Think what a thing it would be! Itâs a living soul.
MatryĂłna
A living soul indeed! Why, itâs more dead than alive. And whatâs one to do with it? Go and take it to the Foundlingsââ âit will die just the same, and the rumour will get about, and people will talk, and the girl be left on our hands.
NikĂta
And supposing itâs found out?
MatryĂłna
Not manage to do it in oneâs own house? Weâll manage it so that no one will have an inkling. Only do as I tell you. We women canât do it without a man. There, take the spade, and get it done thereâ âIâll hold the light.
NikĂta
What am I to get done?
MatryĂłna
In a low voice. Dig a hole; then weâll bring it out and get it out of the way in a trice! There, sheâs calling again. Now then, get in, and Iâll go.
NikĂta
Is it dead then?
MatryĂłna
Of course it is. Only you must be quick, or else people will notice! Theyâll see or theyâll hear! The rascals must needs know everything. And the policeman went by this evening. Well then, you see gives him the spade, you get down into the cellar and dig a hole
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