It takes about two hours to read Kuprin's work "Shulamith." A good summary will help cover the story in minutes. Sometimes, due to lack of time, there is no other way to familiarize yourself with a work.
Of course, it is better to read the whole story "Sulamith" on your own. The summary will only help to learn the plot, development, climax and denouement, but in order to feel the beauty of the presentation, you certainly need to refer to the original.
Biblical basis for the story
Kuprin decided in his own way to sing the magnificent Song of Songs.
But this biblical book served only as a starting point for his artistic delights, because he came up with his own development of storylines, added some acting characters (Queen Astiz), removed the shepherd whom Sulamith actually loved, and the relationship with which she placed above the courtship of the king and the possibility of becoming 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 it is impossible for the author to count this as a flaw, since "Shulamith", a brief summary of which is given 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 distinguish between biblical heroes and characters in the story.
Alexander Kuprin: "Sulamith" (summary and plot structure)
The first, second and third chapters are written in order to present to the reader the historical and social background of what is happening, that is, they describe the wealth, power and wisdom of Solomon. The plot is set in chapter IV, where the king meets Shulamith. The brief summary in chapter two of chapter V is this: the king, being under the influence of love, does many powerful and good deeds. Chapters VI to IX are plot development. Then Solomon spends the night with his beloved, introduces her to the palace and gives generous gifts. Chapters X and XI describe the mystery with the participation of Queen Astiz, 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 "Shulamith." A summary of the chapters is given below.
Chapter i
King Solomon reached the peak of his glory.
By power and wealth, he has no equal. His fame reached the ends of the earth. Of course, the brief summary of the work “Shulamith” by A. Kuprin does not give a complete impression of the welfare of Solomon, but it can be mentioned that people live so well under his rule that silver is valued no more than ordinary stone, and the king’s gold is simply countless: he even makes shields for the guards.
Trade is well developed: merchants from different countries come to Palestine, and Solomon's sea flotilla plows the expanses of the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
Naturally, the king’s palace is striking in its splendor. No less magnificent and mansions of the king’s wife, the Egyptian princess Astiz.
Chapters II — III
Solomon bathes in female attention. He has 700 wives, besides Astiz, 300 concubines and countless slaves. Even the Queen of Sheba, the wisest of women, could not resist his spell. He can marry any girl he wants.
Solomon himself is in his prime. Although he is 45 years old, but he is unusually beautiful and fresh. He has black curly hair, snow-white skin and red lips. The king also has superhuman abilities: with his touch, he heals diseases, understands the language of animals and birds. Therefore, everyone turns to him for wise advice. To everything else, he composed many parables that became known to all residents of the East.
Chapters IV — V
One day, Solomon goes to his vineyard, which is located near Jerusalem, on Mount Baal-Gamon. This is his favorite retreat. There he reflects on great things. As usual, he asks the servants to leave him alone and sits on the bench.
Suddenly his thoughts are interrupted by melodic singing. He raises his head and sees a beautiful young girl working in a vineyard. The king is struck by her youthful beauty: she is slim, she has dark red long hair, dark skin. He meets her and learns that her name is Shulamith, she helps her brothers take care of the royal vineyards.
Solomon was immediately captivated by a young dark-skinned girl, she, too, reciprocated. There, on the bench, Shulamith gave him her first kiss. Solomon hid who he really was, saying that he was the king’s cook, and made a date for the girl the next day.
Inspired by new feelings, the king does many good deeds, makes fair judgments and looks forward to the coming day.
Chapter vi
Sulamith sells its earrings and buys aromatic oil to grate its body. All night she waits for Solomon. He comes and knocks on her door, but when she dared to open, there was already nobody there. The girl runs around the city at night in search of her lover, and finds him at the place of their first meeting, at the vineyards. There she shares a bed with Solomon, after which he reveals to her who he really is.
Chapters VII — IX
Sulamith is brought to the royal palace, dressed in thin clothes, rubbed her body with the best oils, braided pearls in her hair.
Solomon and Shulamith enjoy each other for seven days. The summary cannot convey the full depth of their conversations and mutual affection. Solomon generously gives her his love, she answers him the same. The face of the king these days is shining with happiness, he gives his beloved generous gifts.
Chapters X — XI
At this time, Queen Astiz is given to the orgies, where bloody sacrifices are held to the goddess Isis. Jealousy for her rival gnaws at her, and she plans to kill both her and the king. The fact is that Solomon cooled to Astiz and had not shared a bed with her for a long time. Therefore, she persuades Eliab, who is in love with her, to take revenge on both lovers.
Chapter xii
On the seventh night, Shulamith worries and says that he feels his near death, and, unfortunately, is not mistaken. Eliab kills her with a sword, and he runs away. Solomon executes the murderer, and Queen Astiz expels from the country, so as not to see her again. The king mourns for Shulamith, because she was the first and only love of his life.
Characteristics of the main characters
Solomon appears as a wise, balanced, insightful person. In his decisions, he is fair, always open and does not hide his feelings. In addition, he is a very attractive man, able to win the heart of any woman, not only with external beauty, but also with his sharpness of mind. On the other hand, having a cold mind, he is inclined to get carried away, to succumb to a rush of heart. The author sympathizes with the protagonist, because he creates his image without a single flaw.
Astiz is clearly a negative character. Although she is beautiful, but she does not have a drop of purity and sincerity. She is vindictive, cruel. Astis does not have any moral standards, because she participates in wild orgies that cause injury to people. She is insatiable in her lust and is ready to do anything to achieve her. For example, she promises herself to Eliab if he commits a murder, knowing that the king will not leave him alive.
Sulamith captivated the king not only for his beauty, although it is precisely on this that the author constantly puts a great emphasis on her appearance. She is still a child, because she is only thirteen, but she does an adult act when she dares to sell earrings - her only wealth. Sulamith is ready for a lot of things for her beloved; she is completely and unconditionally surrendering to her feelings. But the seven days spent with the king gave the naive girl deep insight, because she was able to feel the impending danger. Her image is the only one that slightly transforms to the climax of the plot.
The story "Shulamith", the summary of which is set out above, is an ode to eternal love, not subject to time.