The Power of Darkness

Name: The Power of Darkness
Availability: InStock
Author: Leo, graf Tolstoy

by Leo, graf Tolstoy

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Category: Plays/Films/Dramas

Language: EN
Format: EPUB
Size: 828 KB

Description

This work is a five-act play classified within the drama genre, composed in 1886 by Leo Tolstoy, who is better known for his prose fiction. The narrative presents a dark depiction of rural peasant life, focusing on the character Nikita, a farmhand whose actions lead to moral degradation. The plot traces his descent into seduction, adultery, and conspiracy culminating in murder, with the consequences affecting his family. The play examines themes of sin, conscience, and social morality through naturalistic elements characteristic of late 19th-century theatrical realism. Its unflinching portrayal of human vice and the moral consequences of immoral choices reflect Tolstoy’s interest in ethical issues and social critique during this period.

Although originally banned in Russia until 1902, the work gained recognition in Europe and America as an influential example of naturalist drama. Its structure and content exemplify the period’s concern with depicting the darker aspects of rural life and human nature in a stark, realistic manner. The play occupies a significant place within the context of late 19th-century theatrical practices and moral debates.

From the opening pages

The front matter, including the table of contents, can be found in a separate e-book ; it links to the other plays in the collection. Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as possible; changes (corrections of spelling and punctuation) made to the original text are marked like this . The original text appears when hovering the cursor over the marked text. THE POWER OF DARKNESS OR IF A CLAW IS CAUGHT THE BIRD IS LOST A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS (1886) CHARACTERS PETER IGNÁTITCH. A well-to-do peasant, 42 years old, married for the second time, and sickly. ANÍSYA. His wife, 32 years old, fond of dress. AKOULÍNA. Peter's daughter by his first marriage, 16 years old, hard of hearing, mentally undeveloped. NAN (ANNA PETRÓVNA). His daughter by his second marriage, 10 years old. NIKÍTA. Their labourer, 25 years old, fond of dress. AKÍM. Nikíta's father, 50 years old, a plain-looking, God-fearing peasant. MATRYÓNA. His wife and Nikíta's mother, 50 years old. MARÍNA. An orphan girl, 22 years old. MARTHA. Peter's sister. MÍTRITCH. An old labourer, ex-soldier. SIMON. Marína's husband. BRIDEGROOM. Engaged to Akoulína. IVÁN. His father. A NEIGHBOUR. FIRST GIRL. SECOND GIRL. POLICE OFFICER. DRIVER. BEST-MAN. MATCHMAKER. VILLAGE ELDER. VISITORS, WOMEN, GIRLS, AND PEOPLE come to see the wedding. N.B. —The ‘oven’ mentioned is the usual large, brick, Russian baking-oven. The top of it outside is flat, so that more than one person can lie on it. THE POWER OF DARKNESS The Act takes place in autumn in a large village. The Scene represents Peter's roomy hut. Peter is sitting on a wooden bench, mending a horse-collar. Anísya and Akoulína are spinning, and singing a part-song. PETER [ looking out of the window ] The horses have got loose again. If we don't look out they'll be killing the colt. Nikíta! Hey, Nikíta! Is the fellow deaf? [ Listens. To the women ] Shut up, one can't hear anything. NIKÍTA [ from outside ] What? PETER. Drive the horses in. NIKÍTA . We'll drive 'em in. All in good time. PETER [ shaking his head ] Ah, these labourers! If I were well, I'd not keep one on no account. There's nothing but bother with 'em. [ Rises and sits down again ] Nikíta!… It's no good shouting. One of you'd better go. Go, Akoúl, drive 'em in. AKOULÍNA. What? The horses? PETER. What else?

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