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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fence.
AkoulĂna
The shirts? But maybe youâll not go. Heâs given the order.
AnĂsya
Didnât I say Iâd go? Whereâs Nan?
AkoulĂna
Nan? Minding the calves.
AnĂsya
Send her here. I dare say theyâll not run away. AkoulĂna collects the clothes, and exit.
AnĂsya
If one doesnât go heâll scold. If one goes heâll give the money to his sister. All my trouble will be wasted. I donât myself know what Iâm to do. My poor headâs splitting. Continues to work.
Enter MatryĂłna, with a stick and a bundle, in outdoor clothes.
MatryĂłna
May the Lord help you, honey.
AnĂsya
Looks round, stops working, and claps her hands with joy. Well, I never expected this! Mother MatryĂłna, God has sent the right guest at the right time.
MatryĂłna
Well, how are things?
AnĂsya
Ah, Iâm driven well-nigh crazy. Itâs awful!
MatryĂłna
Well, still alive, I hear?
AnĂsya
Oh, donât talk about it. He doesnât live and doesnât die!
MatryĂłna
But the moneyâ âhas he given it to anybody?
AnĂsya
Heâs just sending for his sister Marthaâ âprobably about the money.
MatryĂłna
Well, naturally! But hasnât he given it to anyone else?
AnĂsya
To no one. I watch like a hawk.
MatryĂłna
And where is it?
AnĂsya
He doesnât let out. And I canât find out in any way. He hides it now here, now there, and I canât do anything because of AkoulĂna. Idiot though she is, she keeps watch, and is always about. Oh my poor head! Iâm bothered to death.
MatryĂłna
Oh, my jewel, if he gives the money to anyone but you, youâll never cease regretting it as long as you live! Theyâll turn you out of house and home without anything. Youâve been worriting, and worriting all your life with one you donât love, and will have to go a-begging when you are a widow.
AnĂsya
No need to tell me, mother. My heartâs that weary, and I donât know what to do. No one to get a bit of advice from. I told NikĂta, but heâs frightened of the job. The only thing he did was to tell me yesterday it was hidden under the floor.
MatryĂłna
Well, and did you look there?
AnĂsya
I couldnât. The old man himself was in the room. I notice that sometimes he carries it about on him, and sometimes he hides it.
MatryĂłna
But you, my lass, must remember that if once he gives you the slip thereâs no getting it right again! Whispering. Well, and did you give him the strong tea?
AnĂsya
Oh! oh!â ââ ⊠About to answer, but sees neighbour and stops.
The neighbour (a woman) passes the hut, and listens to a call from within.
Neighbour
To AnĂsya. I say, AnĂsya! Eh, AnĂsya! Thereâs your old man calling, I think.
AnĂsya
Thatâs the way he always coughsâ âjust as if he were screaming. Heâs getting very bad.
Neighbour
Approaches MatryĂłna. How do you do, granny? Have you come far?
MatryĂłna
Straight from home, dear. Come to see my son. Brought him some shirtsâ âcanât help thinking of these things, you see, when itâs oneâs own child.
Neighbour
Yes, thatâs always so. To AnĂsya. And I was thinking of beginning to bleach the linen, but it is a bit early, no one has begun yet.
AnĂsya
Whereâs the hurry?
MatryĂłna
Well, and has he had communion?
AnĂsya
Oh dear yes, the priest was here yesterday.
Neighbour
I had a look at him yesterday. Dearie me! one wonders his body and soul keep together. And, O Lord, the other day he seemed just at his last gasp, so that they laid him under the holy icons.1 They started lamenting and got ready to lay him out.
AnĂsya
He came to, and creeps about again.
MatryĂłna
Well, and is he to have extreme unction?
AnĂsya
The neighbours advise it. If he lives till tomorrow weâll send for the priest.
Neighbour
Oh, AnĂsya dear, I should think your heart must be heavy. As the saying goes, âNot he is sick thatâs ill in bed, but he that sits and waits in dread.â
AnĂsya
Yes, if it were only over one way or other!
Neighbour
Yes, thatâs true, dying for a year, itâs no joke. Youâre bound hand and foot like that.
MatryĂłna
Ah, but a widowâs lot is also bitter. Itâs all right as long as oneâs young, but whoâll care for you when youâre old? Oh yes, old age is not pleasure. Just look at me. Iâve not walked very far, and yet am so footsore I donât know how to stand. Whereâs my son?
AnĂsya
Ploughing. But you come in and weâll get the samovar ready; the teaâll set you up again.
MatryĂłna
Sitting down. Yes, itâs true, Iâm quite done up, my dears. As to extreme unction, thatâs absolutely necessary. Besides, they say itâs good for the soul.
AnĂsya
Yes, weâll send tomorrow.
MatryĂłna
Yes, you had better. And weâve had a wedding down in our parts.
Neighbour
What, in spring?2
MatryĂłna
Ah, now if it were a poor man, then, as the saying is, itâs always unseasonable for a poor man to marry. But itâs Simon MatvĂ©yitch, heâs married that MarĂna.
AnĂsya
What luck for her!
Neighbour
Heâs a widower. I suppose there are children?
MatryĂłna
Four of âem. What decent girl would have him! Well, so heâs taken her, and sheâs glad. You see, the vessel was not sound, so the wine trickled out.
Neighbour
Oh my! And what do people say to it? And he, a rich peasant!
MatryĂłna
They are living well enough so far.
Neighbour
Yes, itâs true enough. Who wants to marry where there are children? There now, thereâs our Michael. Heâs such a fellow, dear meâ ââ âŠ
Peasantâs Voice
Hullo, MĂĄvra. Where the devil are you? Go and drive the cow in.
Exit Neighbour.
MatryĂłna
While the Neighbour is within hearing speaks in her ordinary voice. Yes, lass, thank goodness, sheâs married. At any rate my old fool wonât go bothering about NikĂta. Now suddenly changing her tone, sheâs gone! Whispers. I say, did you give him the tea?
AnĂsya
Donât speak about it. Heâd better die of himself. Itâs no useâ âhe doesnât
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