N. M. Karamzin wrote his story āThe Island of Borgolmā in 1793. This work revealed pre-romantic tendencies in the writer's work. At the same time, the story "The Island of Borgolm", which is symbolic in nature, is, admittedly, one of the most complete works of Karamzin. The work reflected the turning points of the creative and ideological evolution of the author, and is a kind of historical and literary mystery.
The plot of Karamzinās novel āThe Island of Borgolmā is so unusual that it does not completely fit into the framework of the literature of that time. That is why in the era of the formation and triumph of romanticism, the work was completely ignored by the public. The reader's success of the story was brilliant, but at the same time short-lived.
Writing period
The story "The Island of Borgolm" was created at a time when Karamzin's worldview, as a writer and philosopher, was in crisis under the influence of the French Revolution, as well as the liberation wars that swept across Europe.
The plot of āBorngolm Islandā, quite possibly, was based on the authorās real impressions of his sea voyage undertaken in 1790. Somewhat later, Karamzin saturated them with a new, special meaning, having laid them within the framework of a certain literary tradition. Moreover, all the events described, turning into an artistic factor, began to carry certain philosophical generalizations, which was very characteristic of the writer in the 1790s.
In the novella āBorngolm Islandā, themes and artistic motifs are highlighted, analogues of which can be found in various literatures, including Old Russian. However, the analysis of the novella āBorngolm Islandā clearly indicates that the prevailing style is Gothic. This literary trend was widespread at the end of the 18th century in Germany, France and England and bore the stamp of an aesthetic turning point.
We will take a look at the summary of the chapters of the āBorgolm Islandā.
To Russia from England
From the summary of āBorgolm Islandsā we learn about the heroās travels through foreign lands. This is a young man whose age and name are unknown to the reader.
The author tells us only that the last point on his journey was England. In this country, he decided that he should already return home, and in London boarded a ship leaving for Russia. The author describes how the ship quickly sailed through the Thames, but suddenly the wind changed. The ship had to stop in Grevsend to wait for favorable weather.
Song of a Stranger
What will the reader learn from Karamzinās novel āBorngolm Islandā? The summary of the work tells us about how the hero went ashore with the ship's captain and, strolling, admired the sea. At first, the sight of the water element euthanized the young man. However, suddenly branches of a tree began to shake over his head. Raising his head, the hero saw a young man. He was pale, thin and languid. There was a guitar in one of his hands, and with the other he tore the sheets from a tree. The young man's fixed gaze was turned to the sea. In his eyes, one could see the last ray, indicating a fading life. Despite the fact that our hero was just a stone's throw from the tree, the young man did not hear or see anything. His appearance clearly indicated that he was in the mountain.
From the summary of the āBorngolm Islandā we can find out how events developed further. The young man, whom the hero of the story saw, sighed heavily. Moving away from the tree, he sat on the grass and began to play the guitar, while performing a sad Danish song. Her words spoke of nature, which blessed love, the laws of human society, condemning it, and the fidelity of those feelings that were bestowed upon man from above. The song was so sad that our hero, in a fit of noble feelings, already wanted to rush to the young man to console him. However, he was stopped by the captain. He took the young man by the hand and said that a favorable wind blew, and it was time to go aboard. They left. At this time, the young man threw his guitar and looked after them for a long time.
Landing on the island of Borngolm
How did events develop further? From the summary of Karamzinās novel āThe Island of Borgolmā we learn that the ship with our hero set off for the open sea. The coast of England was hidden from view. And here the young man felt a cruel rush of seasickness. The seizure deprived the hero of feelings, and he had to lie unconscious for six days. And only after he woke up and was able to go on deck. It was sunset time. The ship was fast sailing on the sea, flying in full sail. Around the young man saw waving multi-colored flags. On the right, something blackened. The hero asked the captain to clarify what he saw. He replied that the ship passed the coast of Sweden. On the right was the island of Borngolm, which belongs to Denmark. The captain added that this place is very dangerous for advancing ships, and when night falls, he will anchor here.
And then our hero remembered the words from the song of a sad young man. He mentioned the island of Borngolm in it. Can our hero solve his secret or find out the story?
And the ship, meanwhile, was carrying the wind directly to the island. High cliffs began to open. This whole piece of land seemed completely impregnable. After sunset, the wind died down. The ship stopped off the coast and dropped anchor. The young man found out that there are fisherman's huts on the island. He asked the captain for a boat to visit the island with two sailors. Yielding to persuasion, he agreed, but on condition that everyone returned to the ship early in the morning.
The boats, having overcome a short distance, safely landed on the shore. Here they were met by fishermen. According to the authorās descriptions, these were wild and rude people, but neither evil nor cunning. After the arrivals explained that they want to explore the island, the fishermen invited them to spend the night.
Travelers came to the green valley. It was here that were the fishermen's huts. The sailors remained in the valley, and the young man went for a walk around the island, taking a 13-year-old boy as a guide.
Castle
How did the plot of Karamzin's novel āIsland of Berngolmā develop further? The young man saw a castle whose towers were illuminated by the scarlet rays of the setting sun. The boy could not tell him who owned such a magnificent building. He only explained that the fishermen do not go there, and no one knows what is happening there.
The hero went closer to the castle, surrounded by a high wall and a moat. His gates were locked and the bridges raised. The boy, frightened, asked to go back. However, the young man did not hear his requests. Curiosity completely seized him.
After nightfall, a voice suddenly sounded, which echoed several times. The boy, frightened, trembled with fear. A minute later, the voice came again. He asked the question: "Who is it?" In response, the young man said that under the walls of the castle is a stranger who asks for shelter for one night. At first, there was no answer. But a little later the drawbridge began to lower. After that, the gate opened. A tall man dressed in black clothes came out to meet our hero. He invited him to go to the castle. The young man looked around to see the guide boy. However, he had already managed to escape. The hero entered the castle. The gates slammed behind him and a bridge rose.
The owner of the strange castle
The events of the story developed as follows. Our hero, together with the man who met him, passed through a yard overgrown with grass. They approached a huge building, in the window of which a light shone. Around it was neglected, empty and gloomy. The man in black was silent. After passing through several halls, they got into a small room. In one of her corners the young man saw a gray-haired old man. He looked at the young man with a sad, but affectionate look, and greeted him, holding out a weak hand. After that, the elder began to question our hero about the events that take place in the world. At the same time, he wanted to know whether love reigns on the globe, whether incense virtues smoke on the altars. In response, our hero told the elder that the light of sciences is spreading more and more in the world. However, human tears still flow and human blood flows. Upon learning that the guest is Russian, the old man told him that the ancient inhabitants of the island of Borgolm, as well as Rugen were Slavs. However, unlike the Russians who adopted Christianity, they remained pagans for a long time. The elder told the young man very interestingly about the history of the existence of the northern peoples, striking with his eloquence and intelligence. However, half an hour passed, and the owner of the castle got up, wishing the young man good night. After this, the servant led our hero into a large room, the walls of which were hung with armor and weapons. There was a bed in the corner. The servant left without uttering a word.
Our hero lay on the bed. However, he could not fall asleep for a long time. He was overcome by thoughts of an amazing castle, as well as its owner. At the same time, he recalled a sad young man with a guitar.
At night, the young man dreamed of knights angered by his presence, as well as a terrible dragon. The hero woke up and, feeling the need, went into the garden through the small door he saw near the window.
Prisoner
How did the events of Karamzin's story āThe Island of Borgolmā develop further? The young man went into the garden and went along a long alley. The night was moonlit and clear. Behind the rosemary bushes, our hero saw a sandy hill, in which there was a narrow entrance, as it turned out, into the cave. The young man came in. There was an unlocked metal door deep in the aisle. Behind it was an iron grate. A lamp was burning in the cave. In the corner, our hero noticed a bed of straw, on which lay a pale young woman in a black dress. She was sleeping, and her whole figure was a great sorrow.
The hero began to examine the woman. At the same time, he talked about that barbaric hand that deprived it of daylight. He also thought about the misconduct committed by her. Maybe this is some serious crime? However, the woman's face seemed completely innocent to the young man.
Suddenly the captive of the cave woke up. Amazed by the guest, she got out of bed and, without saying a word, went to the grate. The hero asked if she needed his help. However, the woman after a pause said that no one can change her fate. At the same time, she asked that if "he" sent a young man, then "he" needs to be told that she suffers day and night, and even tears can not ease her longing "about him."
The woman moved away from the grate and, kneeling, covered her face with her hands. A minute later she looked at our hero. Their eyes met, and it seemed to the young man that the captive wanted to learn something important from him. He was waiting. However, she never asked her question. After a little standing, the young man left the cave. He deliberately left the iron door open so that, to the unfortunate prison, fresh air could enter. Dawn was already falling in the sky. Our hero, thinking of a captive, lay under a tree and fell asleep under its branches.
Two hours later, he woke up, hearing words that the door was not locked, which means that the traveler entered the cave. Opening his eyes, the young man saw an old man. He was sitting on a bench. Nearby stood a servant. The young man approached them. The old man looked sternly into his eyes. However, he got up and shook hands. After that they went down the alley. Suddenly, the elder, keenly looking at the hero, asked if he had seen the woman. The young man answered in the affirmative, explaining that he did not know why she was suffering. The old man answered him that after the young man finds out the truth, his heart will be shed with blood. At the same time, he will certainly wonder why the sky was so angry at an old man who loves virtue. And the owner of the castle told the young man a terrible story. The hero recognized the terrible secret he had met before a stranger.
Return to the ship
What happened next? Sailors were waiting at the gates of the castle of a young man. Together they returned to the ship. Raising the sails, the ship set off further. The island of Borngolm was out of sight. Our hero did not leave the deck.
He stood on her in wistful thought and looked at the sky. The wind brushed a tear from his face. He learned the secret of the island of Borngolm. However, the author never told her to his reader.
What is this secret?
Carrying out the analysis of Karamzin's āBorgolm Islandā, one can come closer to unraveling this terrible story. The mean hints that are scattered in the text of the work allow us to conclude that the secret of the story is incest. Most likely, the mysterious strangers met on the way of our hero are close relatives. Perhaps brother and sister.
When conducting an analysis of the āBorgolm Islandsā, it becomes clear that the author does not specifically specify for the reader the circumstances of the fate of these heroes. Thus, he offers our imagination to finish painting the events on their own. It is clear at the same time that there was mutual love between the boy and the girl. Moreover, this spontaneous passion is faced with the morality of society, which recognized their feelings as illegal. And if a sad young man said that nature itself was the source of this love, then the girl claimed that her heart was mistaken.
Plot feature
When reading the story, the emotions of the reader increase due to descriptions of nature. The structure of the story āBorngolm Islandā is developing in a dynamic that focuses specifically on the landscape. So, a clear and sunny day is replaced by a storm at sea. And it is no coincidence that the terrible story of love passion is not fully disclosed by the author. After all, it is identified by Karamzin with those passions that are raging in the political world. Their contemplator, the author was in France.
Each of the characters evaluates the āterrible crimeā committed by young people in their own way. The sad young man does not agree that his passion is a crime. He never reconciled with the punishment and continues to dream of meeting with his beloved. The prisoner of the cave realized the depravity of her feelings. However, this is not enough to return her to a full life.
The elder, playing the role of virtue, punishes both criminals. However, he also suffers with them. All three of these characters in the story are dead to life. Moreover, they are for the author a focused reflection of the state of the external world.
The symbolic nature of the plot is emphasized by a series of metaphorical elements that carry a symbolic meaning. This is heaven and sea, love and passion, reality and dream. At the same time, the plot unsaid by the author is a peculiar way of expanding and deepening the substantive level of the story.