Alexander Kuprin, "Sulamith": summary, description and description

It takes about two hours to read Kuprin's work "Sulamith". A good summary will help to cover the plot in minutes. Sometimes due to lack of time there is no other way to get acquainted with the work.

Of course, it is better to read the whole story "Sulamith" independently. The summary will only help you to learn the outset, development, culmination and denouement, but in order to feel the beauty of the presentation, you must, of course, turn to the original.

The Biblical basis for the story

Kuprin decided in his own way to sing the majestic Song of Songs.

But this biblical book served as just the starting point for his artistic delights, because he came up with his own storyline development, added some characters (Queen Astis), removed the shepherd present in the biblical narrative, whom Sulamith really loved, and the relationship with which She placed above the courtship of the king and the opportunity to become one of his concubines. Kuprin combined the image of Solomon and his rival from the Song of Songs into a single whole and directed all the romantic attraction of the girl only to the king. But in this case the author can not be counted as a flaw, since "Sulamith," which is briefly described below, is a work of art that does not claim historical accuracy or a detailed retelling of the greatest Song of Songs. Therefore, it is necessary to differentiate between the biblical heroes and the characters of the story.

Alexander Kuprin: "Sulamith" (summary and structure of the plot)

The first, second and third chapters are written in order to present the reader a historical and social background of what is happening, that is, they describe the wealth, power and wisdom of Solomon. The plot is plotted in the fourth chapter, where the king meets Sulamith. Summary in a few words V chapter is: the king, being under the influence of love, does many powerful and good deeds. Chapters VI through IX are the development of the plot. Here Solomon spends the night with his beloved, takes her into the palace and gives generous gifts. In X and XI chapters, a mystery with the participation of Queen Astis is described, after which she orders Eliab, the royal guard, to kill her rival, which he does in chapter XII. This is the denouement of the plot of the story "Sulamith". A summary of the chapters is provided below.

Chapter I

King Solomon reached the peak of his glory.
Due to his power and wealth, he has no equal. The glory of him has reached the ends of the earth. Of course, the brief summary of the work of A. Kuprin's "Sulamith" does not give a full impression of the welfare of Solomon, but it can be mentioned that people so well live under his rule that silver is valued not higher than ordinary stone, but the gold from the king is simply an infinite quantity: from He even makes shields for guards.

Trade is well developed: merchants from different countries come to Palestine, and the sea fleet of Solomon plows the expanses of the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

Naturally, the palace of the king is amazing with its splendor. Equally majestic and groomed are the wives of the king, the Egyptian princess Astis.

Chapters II-III

Solomon is bathed in female attention. He has 700 wives, in addition to Astis, 300 concubines and countless slaves. Even the queen of Sheba, the wisest among women, could not resist his charms. He can marry any girl he wants.

Solomon himself is in the prime of life. Although he is 45 years old, he is extremely beautiful and fresh. He has black curly hair, snow-white skin and scarlet lips. Also, the king has superhuman abilities: by his touch alone he heals illnesses, understands the language of beasts and birds. Therefore, everyone turns to him for wise advice. To all else he composed many parables, which became known to all the inhabitants of the East.

Chapters IV-V

Once Solomon goes to his vineyard, which is located near Jerusalem, on the Baal Gamon mountain. This is his favorite place for solitude. There he reflects on great things. As usual, he asks the servants to leave him alone and sit down on the bench.

Suddenly his thoughts are interrupted by melodic singing. He looks up and sees a beautiful young girl working in a vineyard. The king is struck by her youthful beauty: she is slender, she has dark reddish long hair, swarthy skin. He gets to know her and learns that her name is Sulamith, she helps her brothers take care of the royal vineyards.

Solomon was immediately captivated by the young dark-skinned woman, she also reciprocated him. There, on the bench, Sulamith gave him her first kiss. Solomon concealed who he really was, saying that he was the king's cook, and appointed a date for the girl next day.

Inspired by new feelings, the king performs many good deeds, makes fair judgments and looks forward to the coming day.

Chapter VI

Sulamith sells her earrings and buys aromatic oil to rub her body. She waits all night for Solomon. He comes and knocks on her door, but when she dares to open, there's already nobody there. The girl runs through the night city looking for her lover, but finds him at the place of their first meeting, near the vineyards. There she shares the bed with Solomon, after which he discovers to her who he really is.

Chapters VII-IX

Sulamith is brought to the royal palace, dresses in thin clothes, rubs her body with the best oils, braids pearls in her hair. Seven days Solomon and Sulamith are enjoying each other. The summary can not convey the depth of their conversations and mutual tenderness. Solomon generously gives her his love, she answers him the same. The face of the Tsar in these days shines with happiness, he gives his beloved generous gifts.

Chapters X-XI

At this time Queen Astis is given to orgies, where blood sacrifices are made to the goddess Isis. Her zeal zeal for her rival, and she plans to kill her and the king. The fact is that Solomon cooled to Astis and for a long time did not share a bed with her. Therefore, she rebukes Eliab, who is in love with her, to take revenge on both beloved.

CHAPTER XII.

On the seventh night, Sulamith is worried and says that he feels his own near death, and, unfortunately, he is not mistaken. Eliab kills her with a sword, but runs away. Solomon executes the murderer, and Queen Astis expels from the country to not see her again. The king mourns for Sulamith, because she was the first and only love of his life.

Characteristics of the main characters

Solomon is a wise, balanced, discerning man. In his decisions, he is just, always open and does not hide his feelings. In addition, he is a very attractive man, able to conquer the heart of any woman, not only by external beauty, but also by her sharpness of mind. On the other hand, having a cold mind, he is inclined to get carried away, to yield to the heart's impulse. The author sympathizes with the protagonist, because it creates his image without a single flaw.

Astis is clearly a negative character. Although it is beautiful, but there is not a drop of purity and sincerity in it. She's vindictive, cruel. Astis does not have any moral norms, because she participates in wild orgies, which cause injury to people. She is insatiable in her lust and is ready to do anything to achieve her own. For example, she promises herself Eliab, if he commits a murder, knowing that the king will not leave him alive.

Sulamith captivated the king not only with its beauty, although it is on this that the author constantly puts a great accent, describing her appearance. She is still a child, because she is only thirteen, but she commits an adult act when she dares to sell earrings - her only riches. Sulamith is ready for much for her beloved, she gives herself completely and unconditionally to her feelings. But the seven days spent together with the king gave the naive girl a deep insight, because she was able to feel the approaching danger. Her image is the only one that is slightly transformed to the climax of the plot.

The story "Sulamith", the brief content of which is set out above, is an ode to eternal love, timeless.