Kuprin Alexander Ivanovich began writing at the turn of the century. It was a rather difficult time for both Russia and Europe. Therefore, one of the leading topics in his work is the proclamation of humanistic ideals, unshakable and fundamental for all times. In this regard, it becomes relevant to study the soul of a person who finds himself in the center of an imperfect world, exposing both its light and dark sides.
In 1990, the writer publishes the story "Ingolstadt executioner" in "Don speech". People’s reviews of people in this profession have always been negative, but it is precisely such a person who becomes Kuprin’s personification of kindness and responsiveness. And the concretization of time and place of action made it possible to recreate a completely natural life situation that fits into a certain historical space and attracts the attention of readers to unshakable values.
At the turn of the century
The story “The Executioner” - the name has subsequently been simplified - begins with a description of the difficult political situation in a small town in Bavaria - Ingolstadt. Towards the end of 1199, an irreconcilable struggle was waged across Germany between two powerful groups: the Guelphs, supporters of the Pope, and their opponents, the Gibellins. The inhabitants of the country were involved in it, from dukes to simple peasants. Often the enemies were members of the same family, and intrigue, treason, mercenaries became quite commonplace. It seemed that nature itself was related to this confrontation between people. Even the old-timers did not remember such a harsh winter and the cold that bound all living things, and in the sky many saw either a huge fiery cross or two moons. All this, according to astronomers and charlatans, foreshadowed the end of the world, and such conversations always excited society. So begins the story of A. Kuprin (you read its summary).
The Executioner: The Mysterious Stranger
The date of what is happening is clearly indicated. On Christmas night, a weary traveler approached the walls of Ingolstadt. Dressed in a furry but tattered cloak and felt hat, he often turned his back to the wind and tried to catch his breath. The situation was complicated by snowdrifts, in which people sometimes stuck to the knee. At first glance, the clothes gave a complete picture of his personality. However, the poor appearance of the stranger was not very consistent with heavy treads and a sword hidden under the suit, indicating that this was not just a burgher or a small tenant.
Many of Kuprin's stories are dramatic and excited about the plot. These features can be traced in the "Executioner". The traveler, who stopped at the moat that surrounded the city on all sides, noted with displeasure that the bridge had already been raised. But he, apparently, knew the area well, as he immediately went on. Having walked two hundred paces along the moat, the stranger began to confidently go down, trampling the snow in front of him. At least an hour passed before he was on the other side. Having got out of the moat, the traveler found a rope in his pocket, built a strong loop from it, which he threw onto the prong of the palisade. After a couple of minutes, he deftly crossed the fence and ended up in Ingolstadt.
Inhospitable hosts
The city seemed extinct. There were no people on the street, and all the gates and doors were locked. Only here and there through the cracks in the doors and shutters did the light of fire break through.
The story “The Executioner” Kuprin continues the description of the hero’s unsuccessful attempts to find a place to sleep. First, the stranger went to the big house and knocked on the door. I had to wait a long time. Finally, the owner displeasedly inquired from behind the door whom the devil had brought. At the guest’s request to let him into the house, he replied with a categorical refusal and abuse. To heighten the fear, he threatened to lower the dogs. To this the traveler answered with abuse and said: “We will see, Mr. Burgermeister, that you will sing tomorrow.” The protagonist of the story turned out to be not such a simple tramp - the described conversation and its brief content lead to this conclusion.
The “executioner” continues with the dialogue of the guards, who accidentally overheard the traveler lurking in the door niche. They reasoned that life in the city had become very bad after the exile of the Duke Heinrich by the Gibellins, and that they were ready for anything for his return. These words gave the stranger a contented smile that looked strange on his feverish face.
Ancient custom
The traveler went around the whole city, but everywhere: both near the rich house and at the poor shack - he heard only curses when asked to let him spend the night. Such behavior of local residents was explained by the words of one old woman. She told the unexpected guest that she was ready to receive him tomorrow and feed him with the most delicious dishes. But today is Christmas Eve, which means that together with the guest she will let all his troubles into her house. Not a single living soul in the whole of Ingolstadt took pity on the frozen, hungry traveler - this is the conclusion to which the plot of the work and its brief content lead. The Executioner shows how popular superstition could cause unhappiness. The traveler was completely exhausted: his legs did not obey, and his eyes closed on the go. A little more - and he could fall on the snow, never to rise again.
Lonely-standing house and its inhabitants
In search of shelter, the hero of the story approached the Danube itself. And suddenly, far from the buildings, he saw a rather large and solid house, which stood out from the poor shacks built on the outskirts. There was no hedge around him, so the stranger could go to the window itself, not closed by shutters, and look inside. In the room he saw the following picture. At the table sat a man, tall, with broad shoulders and a neck, huge arms. Everything in his appearance betrayed “terrible physical strength” - said Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin. But the main thing that caught the eye of the traveler was a very gloomy face, streaked with wrinkles. It seemed to the stranger as if he had never been touched by a smile. A teenage girl stood next to the table and served the host.
Strange reception
The traveler knocked on the door and received permission to enter. He found himself in a hotly heated room and smelled fried meat. Suddenly, the owner broke into abuse, from which it followed that today and tomorrow he did not intend to work. But when he saw that he was mistaken, he hesitated. He did not refuse the guest, in which he recognized the master, in the shelter, but expressed concern about the reasonableness of his presence here. This meant that the guest will leave the house as soon as he finds out who lives in it. However, the tired and hungry traveler did not begin to ask questions, but only replied that he did not care about the master's activities. Sitting at the table, the guest began to eat.
Acquaintance
The stranger eating the meat did not immediately notice that the owner was standing in the middle of the room and did not sit down at the table. He began to say that he was feeling awkward, as he had interrupted someone else's meal. But the man categorically refused to keep him company, and for some time the guest left him alone. Only after some time, when the traveler was full, drank fragrant wine and felt bliss after several days of wandering, he again looked at the owner. He aroused a sense of gratitude and some strange pity. Suddenly the stranger got up from the table, introduced himself: “Henry II, Leo-Anna ...” and in an imperious tone ordered the owner to give his name. The latter fell to the floor in front of him and exclaimed bewilderedly that he was Karl Eisenman, the local executioner. Reviews of his occupation could not be called good. This explains why he was afraid to introduce himself immediately.
Unexpected denouement
At first, the Duke frowned, but immediately pulled out his sword and flatly hit her master on the shoulder. It was a knighting procedure. So the story ends - you read its summary - “The Executioner”. It remains only to add that Karl von Eisenman died as a hero, defending his duke. After the death of the former executioner of the city of Ingolstadt, his family also ceased, since he did not have sons.
Distinctive features of the novel
Kuprin's stories often narrate about a person endowed with the best moral qualities. Moreover, their carriers are unremarkable outwardly people. A similar situation can be seen in this work.
In a troubled world filled with cruelty and human indifference, a despised and rejected executioner comes to the aid of an unknown traveler. By nature of activity and obeying the will of others, he is forced to take the life of the condemned, therefore he seems heartless. But in Ingolstadt, encompassed by hostility and hatred, when the concepts of honor and duty were forgotten, only Eisenman was able to compassion and humanity. He does not allow a complete stranger to die, and in response the ruler of Saxony shows him respect, recognizing the right to forgiveness and dignified death - an important moment for the Middle Ages.
So the heroes of Kuprin's stories proclaim love and trust in people, the greatness of their thoughts and deeds.