The story of Leo Tolstoy “After the Ball” was written by him in 1903, almost 50 years after the events that occurred with his brother Sergei Nikolaevich, which served as the basis for the plot of this work. The story of the creation of the story “After the Ball” implies an absolutely real case, which, of course, is not mentioned in the story itself. During the events mentioned, young Lev Nikolayevich studied Oriental literature at the Imperial Kazan University and rented an apartment with one of his landlords from one homeowner. The brother of the future writer was passionately in love with one young lady, the daughter of a local colonel L.P. Koreyshe. In a dream and in reality, a young man dreamed of a wedding with his beloved, but only one dramatic event turned his life upside down and made him abandon his plan. Sergei Nikolaevich saw how the girl’s father severely punished his subordinate, as a result of which he was shocked and discouraged by what he saw and lost all desire to become the son-in-law of this cruel man.
This dramatic incident in the life of his brother made a huge impression on Leo Tolstoy himself, who could not erase it from his memory and after so many years wrote his story “After the Ball”, changing only the names of the characters and the scene in it. Retelling the summary “After the ball”, we can say that its plot completely coincides with the described case. The main character is Ivan Vasilievich - a young man from a good family, to whom everyone is predicting a military career. This young man falls in love with a beautiful girl, Varenka, and dances with her at the ball all evening. He admires her at a time when she is dancing with his father, a military colonel, who, like her, moves perfectly, smiles and lavishes courtesies to everyone around. Further, a brief summary of “After the Ball" tells how Ivan Vasilievich goes home and tries to sleep, but the happiness and dreams of the upcoming marriage to the beautiful Varenka overwhelm him, and he lay down so early in the morning and goes on an early walk in order to unwind and distract himself. However, the young man does not know that this morning will be fatal for him.
Further, a brief summary of “After the Ball” tells us about how, during a walk, Ivan Vasilyevich accidentally meets a colonel on his way, commander of the execution of a fugitive soldier, who is brutally beaten with clubs with a whole system. The colonel is very passionate about his occupation and commands the beating of the unfortunate man with genuine cruelty, while the poor young man is already bleeding all over and praying for mercy. Seen to the depths of his soul, he strikes Ivan Vasilievich, shortly after that he ceases to see Varenka and leaves all sorts of thoughts about military service.
Summary “After the ball” by Leo Tolstoy allows us to understand the main idea of this story, embedded in it by the author. The main focus is on the experiences of the protagonist: that is why the narration is conducted in the first person. The contrasting contrasts of two different situations, between which only a few hours pass in the story, is very characteristic. Further analysis of “After the Ball” shows that, playing in contrasts, the author of the work seeks to show the reader the true face of secular society and the character of the mores of the era of the reign of Tsar Nicholas I, characterized by a military drill and exiled Decembrists to Siberia.