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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stack-stand, to the left a thrashing ground, to the right a barn. The barn doors are open. Straw is strewn about in the doorway. The hut with yard and outbuildings is seen in the background, whence proceed sounds of singing and of a tambourine. Two Girls are walking past the barn towards the hut.
First Girl
There, you see weâve managed to pass without so much as getting our boots dirty! But to come by the street is terribly muddy! Stop and wipe their boots on the straw. First Girl looks at the straw and sees something. Whatâs that?
Second Girl
Looks where the straw lies and sees someone. Itâs MĂtritch, their labourer. Just look how drunk he is!
First Girl
Why, I thought he didnât drink.
Second Girl
It seems he didnât, until it was going around.
First Girl
Just see! He must have come to fetch some straw. Look! heâs got a rope in his hand, and heâs fallen asleep.
Second Girl
Listening. Theyâre still singing the praises.9 So I sâpose the bride and bridegroom have not yet been blessed! They say AkoulĂna didnât even lament!10
First Girl
Mammie says she is marrying against her will. Her stepfather threatened her, or else sheâd not have done it for the world! Why, you know what theyâve been saying about her?
MarĂna
Catching up the Girls. How dâyou do, lassies?
Girls
How dâyou do?
MarĂna
Going to the wedding, my dears?
First Girl
Itâs nearly over! Weâve come just to have a look.
MarĂna
Would you call my old man for me? Simon, from ZoĂșevo; but surely you know him?
First Girl
To be sure we do; heâs a relative of the bridegroomâs, I think?
MarĂna
Of course; heâs my old manâs nephew, the bridegroom is.
Second Girl
Why donât you go yourself? Fancy not going to a wedding!
MarĂna
I have no mind for it, and no time either. Itâs time for us to be going home. We didnât mean to come to the wedding. We were taking oats to town. We only stopped to feed the horse, and they made my old man go in.
First Girl
Where did you put up then? At FyĂłdoritchâs?
MarĂna
Yes. Well then, Iâll stay here and you go and call him, my dearâ âmy old man. Call him, my pet, and say âYour missis, MarĂna, says you must go now!â His mates are harnessing.
First Girl
Well, all rightâ âif you wonât go in yourself.
The Girls go away towards the house along a footpath. Sounds of songs and tambourine.
MarĂna
Alone, stands thinking. I might go in, but I donât like to, because I have not met him since that day he threw me over. Itâs more than a year now. But Iâd have liked to have a peep and see how he lives with his AnĂsya. People say they donât get on. Sheâs a coarse woman, and with a character of her own. I should think heâs remembered me more than once. Heâs been caught by the idea of a comfortable life and has changed me for it. But, God help him, I donât cherish ill-will! Then it hurt! Oh dear, it was pain! But now itâs worn away and been forgotten. But Iâd like to have seen him. Looks towards hut and sees NikĂta. Look there! Why, he is coming here! Have the girls told him? Howâs it he has left his guests? Iâll go away! NikĂta approaches, hanging his head down, swinging his arms, and muttering. And how sullen he looks!
NikĂta
Sees and recognises MarĂna. MarĂna, dearest friend, little MarĂna, what do you want?
MarĂna
I have come for my old man.
NikĂta
Why didnât you come to the wedding? You might have had a look round, and a laugh at my expense!
MarĂna
What have I to laugh at? Iâve come for my husband.
NikĂta
Ah, MarĂna dear! Tries to embrace her.
MarĂna
Steps angrily aside. Youâd better drop that sort of thing, NikĂta! What has been, is past! Iâve come for my husband. Is he in your house?
NikĂta
So I must not remember the past? You wonât let me?
MarĂna
Itâs no use recalling the past! What used to be is over now!
NikĂta
And can never come back, you mean?
MarĂna
And will never come back! But why have you gone away? You, the masterâ âand to go away from the feast!
NikĂta
Sits down on the straw. Why have I gone away? Eh, if you knew, if you had any ideaâ ââ ⊠Iâm dull, MarĂna, so dull that I wish my eyes would not see! I rose from the table and left them, to get away from the people. If I could only avoid seeing anyone!
MarĂna
Coming nearer to him. Howâs that?
NikĂta
This is how it is: when I eat, itâs there! When I drink, itâs there! When I sleep, itâs there! Iâm so sick of itâ âso sick! But itâs chiefly because Iâm all alone that Iâm so sick, little MarĂna. I have no one to share my trouble.
MarĂna
You canât live your life without trouble, NikĂta. However, Iâve wept over mine and wept it away.
NikĂta
The former, the old trouble! Ah, dear friend, youâve wept yours away, and Iâve got mine up to there! Puts his hand to his throat.
MarĂna
But why?
NikĂta
Why, Iâm sick of my whole life! I am sick of myself! Ah, MarĂna, why did you not know how to keep me? Youâve ruined me, and yourself too! Is this life?
MarĂna
Stands by the barn crying, but restrains herself. I do not complain of my life, NikĂta! God grant everyone a life like mine. I do not complain. I confessed to my old man at the time, and he forgave me. And he does not reproach me. Iâm not discontented with my life. The old man is quiet, and is fond of me, and I keep his children clothed and washed! He is really kind to me. Why should I complain? It seems
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