The Power of Darkness by Leo Tolstoy (best reads of all time .TXT) 📕
Description
The Power of Darkness is a five-act drama that follows the downfall of the peasants Anísya and Nikíta 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 play’s 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
Read book online «The Power of Darkness by Leo Tolstoy (best reads of all time .TXT) 📕». Author - Leo Tolstoy
Curtain.
VariationInstead of the end of Act IV the following variation may be read, and is the one usually acted.
Scene II
The interior of the hut as in Act I.
Nan lies on the bench, and is covered with a coat. Mítritch is sitting on the oven smoking.
Mítritch Dear me! How they’ve made the place smell! Drat ’em! They’ve been spilling the fine stuff. Even tobacco don’t get rid of the smell! It keeps tickling one’s nose so. Oh Lord! But it’s bedtime, I guess. Approaches the lamp to put it out. Nan Jumps up, and remains sitting up. Daddy dear,7 don’t put it out! Mítritch Not put it out? Why? Nan Didn’t you hear them making a row in the yard? Listens. D’you hear, there in the barn again now? Mítritch What’s that to you? I guess no one’s asked you to mind! Lie down and sleep! And I’ll turn down the light. Turns down lamp. Nan Daddy darling! Don’t put it right out; leave a little bit if only as big as a mouse’s eye, else it’s so frightening! Mítritch Laughs. All right, all right. Sits down by her. What’s there to be afraid of? Nan How can one help being frightened, daddy! Sister did go on so! She was beating her head against the box! Whispers. You know, I know … a little baby is going to be born. … It’s already born, I think. … Mítritch Eh, what a little busybody it is! May the frogs kick her! Must needs know everything. Lie down and sleep! Nan lies down. That’s right! Tucks her up. That’s right! There now, if you know too much you’ll grow old too soon. Nan And you are going to lie on the oven? Mítritch Well, of course! What a little silly you are, now I come to look at you! Must needs know everything. Tucks her up again, then stands up to go. There now, lie still and sleep! Goes up to the oven. Nan It gave just one cry, and now there’s nothing to be heard. Mítritch Oh Lord! Gracious Nicholas! What is it you can’t hear? Nan The baby. Mítritch There is none, that’s why you can’t hear it. Nan But I heard it! Blest if I didn’t hear it! Such a thin voice! Mítritch Heard indeed! Much you heard! Well, if you know—why then it was just such a little girl as you that the bogey popped into his bag and made off with. Nan What bogey? Mítritch Why, just his very self! Climbs up on to the oven. The oven is beautifully warm tonight. Quite a treat! Oh Lord! Gracious Nicholas! Nan Daddy! are you going to sleep? Mítritch What else? Do you think I’m
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