The story “The Duel” by A. Kuprin is considered his best work, since it touches on the important problem of the army’s troubles. The author himself was once a cadet, he was initially inspired by this idea - to join the army, but in the future he will remember these years with horror. Therefore, the theme of the army, its ugliness, is very well depicted by him in such works as “At the Turning Point” and “The Duel.”

The heroes are army officers, here the author did not skimp and created several portraits: Colonel Shulgovich, Captain Osadchiy, Officer Nazansky and others. All these characters are not shown in the best light: the army turned them into monsters who recognize only inhumanity and education with sticks.

The main character is Yuri Romashkov, a second lieutenant, whom the author himself literally called his double. In him we see completely different traits that distinguish him from the above-mentioned persons: sincerity, decency, the desire to make this world better than it is. Also, the hero is sometimes dreamy and very intelligent.

Every day Romashkov became convinced that the soldiers had no rights; he saw cruel treatment and indifference on the part of the officers. He tried to protest, but the gesture was sometimes difficult to notice. He had many plans in his head that he dreamed of implementing for the sake of justice. But the further he goes, the more his eyes begin to open. Thus, Khlebnikov’s suffering and his impulse to end his own life amaze the hero so much that he finally understands that his fantasies and plans for justice are too stupid and naive.

Romashkov is a person with a bright soul, with a desire to help others. However, love destroyed the hero: he believed the married Shurochka, for whose sake he went to the duel. Romashkov's quarrel with her husband led to a duel, which ended sadly. It was a betrayal - the girl knew that this was how the duel would end, but she tricked the hero, who was in love with herself, into believing that it would be a draw. Moreover, she deliberately used his feelings for her just to help her husband.

Romashkov, who was looking for justice all this time, ultimately was unable to fight the merciless reality; he lost to it. But the author saw no other way out other than the death of the hero - otherwise another death, a moral one, would have awaited him.

Analysis of Kuprin's story The Duel

The duel is perhaps one of the most famous works of Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin.

In this work we found reflections of the author’s thoughts. He describes the Russian army of the early 20th century, how its life is structured, and how it actually lives. Using the example of the army, Kuprin shows the social disadvantage in which it finds itself. He not only describes and reflects, but also looks for possible solutions to the situation.

The appearance of the army is diverse: it consists of different people who differ from each other in certain character traits, appearance, and attitude to life. In the described garrison everything is the same as everywhere else: constant drills in the morning, debauchery and drinking in the evenings - and so on day after day.

The main character, Second Lieutenant Yuri Alekseevich Romashov, is generally believed to be based on the author himself, Alexander Ivanovich. Romashov has a dreamy personality, somewhat naive, but honest. He sincerely believes that the world can be changed. As a young man, he is prone to romanticism, he wants to achieve feats and show himself. But over time, he realizes that it is all empty. He fails to find like-minded people or interlocutors among other officers. The only one with whom he manages to find a common language is Nazansky. Perhaps it was the absence of a person with whom he could speak as himself that ultimately led to the tragic outcome.

Fate brings Romashov together with the officer’s wife, Alexandra Petrovna Nikolaeva, or otherwise Shurochka. This woman is beautiful, smart, incredibly pretty, but at the same time she is pragmatic and calculating. She is both beautiful and cunning. She is driven by one desire: to leave this city, get to the capital, live a “real” life, and she is ready to do a lot for this. At one time, she was in love with someone else, but he was not suitable for the role of someone who could fulfill her ambitious plans. And she chose marriage with someone who could help her dreams come true. But the years go by, and the husband still fails to get a promotion with a transfer to the capital. He had already had two chances, and the third was the last one. Shurochka is languishing in her soul and it is not surprising that she gets along with Romashov. They understand each other like no one else. But unfortunately, Romashov cannot help Shurochka get out of this outback.

Everything becomes clear over time, and Alexandra Petrovna’s husband finds out about the affair. Officers of that time were allowed duels as the only way to protect their dignity.

This is the first and last duel in Romashov’s life. He will trust Shurochka’s words that her husband will shoot past, and let him shoot past: his honor is preserved and so is his life. As an honest person, it doesn’t even occur to Romashov that he could be deceived. So Romashov was killed as a result of the betrayal of the one he loved.

Using the example of Romashov, we can see how the romantic world collapses when it collides with reality. So Romashov, when he entered the duel, lost to harsh reality.

Story for 11th grade

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The story “The Duel” was first published in 1905. The work belongs to the tradition of neorealist prose in Russian literature. We recommend reading the summary of “The Duel” chapter by chapter. In the work, the author touches on the problem of the relationship between the individual and society, reveals the theme of cruelty in the army, the humiliation of ordinary soldiers by command staff, and exposes the horror and vulgarity of officer society.

The central plot line of the story, associated with its title, is the conflict between two officers, Romashov and Nikolaev, over the wife of the second. Their quarrel led to a duel and the death of the main character. The presented retelling is suitable for preparing for a literature lesson, for a reader's diary.

Main characters of the story

Main characters:

• Georgy Alekseich Romashov – 22 years old, second lieutenant, “ served only the second year in the regiment»; « was of average height, thin», « awkward from great shyness"; dreamy young man.
• Alexandra Petrovna Nikolaeva (Shurochka) - the woman with whom Romashov was in love; Nikolaev's wife.
• Vladimir Efimych Nikolaev is a lieutenant, Shurochka’s husband, with whom Romashov fought.

Other characters:

• Vasily Nilovich Nazansky - an officer, a drunkard, was in love with Alexandra Petrovna.
• Raisa Aleksandrovna Peterson - “regimental lady”, Romashov’s mistress, wife of Captain Peterson.
• Shulgovich - regiment commander.

Kuprin "Duel" in abbreviation

Kuprin's fight summary for the reader's diary:

The story takes place at the end of the 19th century. The main character of the story is 21-year-old officer Romashov, who serves in an infantry regiment in a provincial town. Kind and timid Romashov feels like a stranger in the army environment, where rudeness and cruelty reign. Every day he hates the service more and more and feels lonely among his colleagues.

Romashov is in love with the wife of his colleague, officer Nikolaev, Shurochka. Shurochka likes Romashov, but she considers him weak and sees him only as a friend. Shurochka’s husband notices Romashov’s love for his wife and becomes increasingly jealous and angry. One day, at a drunken party, a fight breaks out between Romashov and Nikolaev. The court of officers appoints an official duel between them.

Romashov decides to refuse the fight, but Shurochka persuades him to participate: she dreams that her husband (Nikolav) will enter the academy and take her from the remote province to the capital. If the duel is cancelled, Nikolaev will not be accepted into the academy. Shurochka agrees with her husband and Romashov that they both will not shoot at each other - then the duel will take place without casualties.

However, the jealous Nikolaev does not keep his word and shoots Romashov during the duel. Romashov dies from his wound.

Read also: The fairy tale “Elephant” by Kuprin was written in 1907. For a reading diary and preparation for a literature lesson, we recommend reading. This is a wonderful story about how a big and smart elephant, Tommy, came to visit a sick girl, Nadya, and cured her, returning her interest in life.

A short retelling of “The Duel” with quotes

A. Kuprin Duel summary:

Classes in the sixth company are coming to an end. Junior officers begin to compete - who can better cut down a clay effigy with a saber. It’s the turn of the young second lieutenant Grigory Romashov.

He was of average height, thin, and although quite strong for his build, he was awkward due to his great shyness.

Romashov didn’t know how to fence even in school, and now he can’t do anything.

Second Lieutenant Romashov spends all evenings until midnight with the Nikolaevs. During the day he promises himself not to go around, not to bother people, but in the evening of the next day he returns to this cozy house.

At home, the Romashovs find a letter from Raisa Alexandrovna Peterson, with whom they are dirty, boring and have been deceiving her husband for quite some time. The cloying smell of Raisa's perfume and the vulgarly playful tone of the letter evoke unbearable disgust in Romashov.

Half an hour later, embarrassed and annoyed with himself, Romashov knocks on the Nikolaevs’ door. Vladimir Efimych Nikolaev is busy. For two years in a row he has been failing his academy exams. You can only apply three times, and his wife Alexandra Petrovna, Shurochka, is doing everything to ensure that the last chance is not missed. Helping her husband prepare, Shurochka has already mastered the entire program; she is only struggling with ballistics, while Volodya is progressing very slowly. Shurochka wants her husband to pass the exams and take her away from this wilderness.

Am I really so uninteresting as a person and ugly as a woman that I should spend my whole life in this slum, in this disgusting place that is not on any geographical map!

With Romochka (that’s what she calls Romashov), Shurochka discusses a newspaper article about fights recently allowed in the army. She considers them necessary, otherwise the officers will not breed a cheater or a drunkard like Nazansky. Romashov does not want to enroll Nazansky in this company, who believes that the ability to love, like talent, is not given to everyone. Shurochka once rejected this man, and her husband hates the lieutenant. This time Romashov sits with the Nikolaevs until it’s time to sleep.

At home, another note from Peterson awaits him, in which she threatens Romashov with cruel revenge for his neglect of her. The woman knows where Romashov goes every day and who he is interested in.

At the next regimental ball, Romashov tells his mistress that it’s all over. Peterson's wife swears revenge. Soon Nikolaev begins to receive anonymous letters with hints about the special relationship between the second lieutenant and his wife. Romashov is not sure that Raisa writes anonymous letters. Grigory has plenty of ill-wishers - he does not allow officers to fight, he forbids beating soldiers.

The authorities are also dissatisfied with Romashov. The second lieutenant’s money is getting worse; the bartender no longer even lets him borrow cigarettes. Romashov’s soul is bad due to the feeling of boredom, the meaninglessness of service and loneliness.

At the end of April, Romashov receives a note from Alexandra Petrovna reminding him of their common name day. Having borrowed money from Lieutenant Colonel Rafalsky, Romashov buys perfume and goes to the Nikolaevs. At a noisy picnic, Romashov sits next to Shurochka and experiences a strange state, similar to a dream. His hand sometimes touches Shurochka’s hand, but they don’t look at each other.

He saw that some great, new, feverish feeling was flowing, trembling and asking to come out.

After the feast, Romashov wanders into the grove. Shurochka follows and says that today she is in love with him, and the day before she saw him in a dream. Romashov begins to talk about love. She admits that she is worried about his closeness, they have common thoughts and desires, but she must abandon him. Shurochka doesn’t want them to be missed and goes back. On the way, she asks Romashov not to visit them anymore: her husband is besieged by anonymous letters.

In mid-May, the corps commander tours the companies lined up on the parade ground, looks at their training and remains dissatisfied. Only the fifth company, where soldiers are not tortured with shagistics and are not stolen from the common cauldron, deserves praise.

During the ceremonial march, Romashov feels himself the subject of general admiration. Lost in his daydreaming, he breaks down the formation.

His entire half-company, instead of two straight, slender lines, was an ugly crowd, broken in all directions, crowded together like a flock of sheep.

Instead of delight, he suffers public shame. To this is added an explanation with Nikolaev, demanding to stop the flow of anonymous letters and not to visit their house. Romashov admits that he knows the author of the anonymous letters and promises to preserve Shurochka’s reputation.

Going over what happened in his memory, Romashov unnoticed approaches the railway track and in the darkness sees a soldier who is constantly being bullied in the company. He asks the soldier if he would like to kill himself, and he, choking with sobs, says that they beat him, laugh at him, the platoon commander extorts money, and he is unable to study: he has suffered from a hernia since childhood.

Now his own troubles seem trivial to Romashov. He understands: faceless companies and regiments consist of such soldiers, suffering from their grief and having their own destiny.

From this night, Romashov changes - he often secludes himself and avoids the company of regimental officers.

He seemed to have matured, become older and more serious in recent days, and he himself noticed this by the sad and even calm with which he now treated people and phenomena.

The forced distance from officer society allows Romashov to concentrate on his thoughts. He sees more and more clearly that there are only three worthy callings: science, art and free physical labor.

At the end of May, a soldier in Osadchy’s company hanged himself. After this incident, continuous drinking begins. Romashov finds Nikolaev at the meeting. There is a quarrel between them. Nikolaev swings at Romashov, and he throws the remains of beer in his face.

A meeting of the officer's court of honor is scheduled. Nikolaev asks Romashov not to mention his wife and anonymous letters. The court determines that the quarrel cannot be ended by reconciliation.

Romashov spends most of the day before the fight with Nazansky, who convinces him not to shoot. Life is an amazing and unique phenomenon. Is he really so committed to the military class, does he really believe in the supposed higher meaning of the army order so much that he is ready to risk his very existence?

In the evening, Romashov finds Shurochka at his home. She says she spent years building her husband's career. If Romochka refuses to fight for the sake of love for her, then there will still be something dubious about it and Volodya will probably not be allowed to take the exam. They must shoot each other, but not one of them must be wounded. The husband knows and agrees. She hugs his neck and presses her hot lips to his mouth.

And so both of them, and the whole room, and the whole world were immediately filled with some unbearably blissful, sultry delirium.

Some time later, Shurochka leaves forever.

The details of the duel between Lieutenant Nikolaev and Second Lieutenant Romashov are described in the report to the colonel. When, on command, the opponents went to meet each other halfway, Lieutenant Nikolaev wounded the second lieutenant in the upper right abdomen with a shot, and he died seven minutes later from internal hemorrhage. The report is accompanied by the testimony of the junior doctor.

Read also: The story “The Garnet Bracelet,” written in 1910, occupies a significant place in the writer’s work and in Russian literature. To get acquainted with the plot and characters, we suggest reading a summary of Kuprin’s chapter by chapter. It will provide an opportunity to comprehend the work, comprehend the charm and ease of the writer’s language and penetrate into the idea.

Contents of the story “The Duel” by chapters

The Tale of the Duel Kuprin summary:

The sixth company is undergoing training. Colonel Shulgovich, who arrived at the company, scolded Second Lieutenant Romashov for the fact that the soldiers greeted the commander in an inappropriate manner. Romashov began to justify one of the soldiers, and was subjected to house arrest for four days for his insolence.

Romashov increasingly experienced “the painful consciousness of his loneliness and loss among strangers, unfriendly or indifferent people.” Instead of going to the officers' meeting, Grigory went home.

Arriving home, Romashov asked the orderly if there was anyone from Lieutenant Nikolaev, but the answer was negative. Grigory visited the Nikolaevs almost every day for the last three months.

After graduating from military school, Romashov thought that while in service he would engage in self-education. However, instead he has a “dirty and boring relationship with a regimental lady,” “and is increasingly burdened by the service, his comrades, and his own life.”

The orderly brought a letter from Romashov's mistress Raisa. The woman invited him to visit, invited him to a square dance next Saturday. Having torn up the letter, Romashov decided to go to the Nikolaevs “for the last time.”

Alexander Petrovna’s husband, Vladimir Efimych Nikolaev, “had to take an exam at the Academy of the General Staff and spent the whole year preparing for it persistently, without rest.” This was already the third exam - he had failed the previous two years and the third was the last chance. Shurochka really wanted her husband to do this, since she hated the life they were living now.

When Romashov came to the Nikolaevs, during the conversation Shurochka remembered that officer fights had become legalized. She believed that Russian officers needed duels: “then we won’t have card sharpers and “happy drunks” among the officers, like officer Nazansky.

Leaving the Nikolaevs, Romashov “to spite her” goes to Nazansky. While talking, the men started talking about love. Nazansky believed that love “has its peaks, accessible only to a few out of millions.” Nazansky read Romashov a letter from the woman he loved. Romashov realized that this woman was Alexandra Petrovna. Nazansky also guessed about Grigory’s feelings for Shurochka.

Arriving home, Romashov found a letter from Raisa. She knew that Grigory visited the Nikolaevs every evening and wrote that she would “repay him cruelly.”

Romashov was under house arrest. Shurochka came to him and brought him some pies. Romashov kissed the woman’s hand. In parting, Shurochka said that Grigory was her only friend.

Gregory was taken to the colonel. Shulgovich scolded Romashov because of rumors: they reported that the officer was drinking. After the conversation, the colonel invited Gregory to an officer's lunch. Romashov returned home “feeling lonely, sad, lost in some strange, dark and hostile place.”

Romashov came to the ball at the officers' meeting house. Gradually the ladies began to arrive, and Raisa also arrived. In the expression of her eyes, Romashov saw “some kind of cruel, evil and confident threat.”

The officers discussed duels in the army, their opinions differed - some considered duels stupid, others were of the opinion that an insult could only be washed away with blood.

Romashov, as promised, danced a quadrille with Raisa. During the dance, the woman angrily said that she would not allow her to be treated like this and began to loudly insult Shurochka. Raisa claimed that she sacrificed everything for Romashov: “I did not dare to look into the eyes of my husband, this ideal, wonderful man.” Grigory involuntarily smiled: her numerous novels were known to everyone.

Raisa's husband, Captain Peterson, was a “thin, consumptive man.” He loved his wife madly, so he forgave her all her affairs.

During morning classes, officers discussed punishments for soldiers. Romashov believed that in the army they deliberately “try to maintain rudeness and martinetry in relations between officers.”

During the exercises, Romashov performed techniques on a machine gun. He thought about a phrase said by one of the officers: if you think like Grigory, then you need to leave the service.

In the morning, Romashov received a letter from Shurochka. The woman invited him to a picnic on his name day.

Approaching the Nikolaevs' house, Romashov felt a strange, causeless anxiety. Shurochka joyfully greeted George.

During the picnic, Shurochka seemed especially charming to Romashov. When everyone scattered around the clearing in the evening, Grigory and Alexandra went deeper into the grove. Shurochka admitted that today she is in love with Romashov, but does not love her husband - “he is rude, he is insensitive, indelicate.” She kissed Georgy, but then asked Romashov not to come to them again - her husband was besieged by anonymous letters.

The officers were preparing for the May review “and knew no mercy, they were tired.” Romashov watched as company commanders beat their soldiers with particular cruelty.

When, during the inspection, the arriving commanders toured all the companies, Romashov felt “that these arrogant people were living some special, beautiful, higher life, inaccessible to him.” The review was a complete “failure of the regiment” - it revealed “the callous, routine and negligent attitude of the officers towards the service.”

During the final march, Romashov, intoxicated by the music and general excitement, began to daydream and headed to the right, which is why his entire half-company “represented an ugly, broken crowd.” After the incident, everyone made fun of Romashov.

Romashov left the camp and met Nikolaev. Vladimir said that he was waiting for him here on purpose and started talking about Alexandra Petrovna. Nikolaev began to receive “boorish anonymous letters” with gossip about his wife and Romashov. Vladimir demanded that Romashov do everything to stop the spread of gossip.

Romashov “began to withdraw from the company of officers.” Georgy firmly understood that he would not remain in the army and, when the mandatory three years of service were completed, would go into the reserve.

At the end of May, a soldier in the company hanged himself. That evening, the officers drank, joked, and sang songs. At night, already pretty drunk, they went to the women. There was a fight there: a drunk officer began to chop everything with a saber, but Romashov calmed him down.

The officers went to the meeting and continued drinking and having fun. Many of the officers in the regiment were “from the clergy,” unexpectedly one of them started the panakida, and they “served” the whole thing in chorus. Romashov hit the table with his fist, forbidding such singing. The drunken officers began to riot again. Nikolaev, who unexpectedly appeared next to Romashov, said that people like Georgy and Nazansky were a disgrace to the regiment. Romashov hinted at “mysterious reasons” why Nikolaev is dissatisfied with Nazansky. A fight started between them. Romashov shouted that he was challenging Nikolaev to a duel.

In the morning, Romashov was summoned to court. A few days later, the court came to a decision that the quarrel between Nikolaev and Romashov could only be resolved by a duel.

Upset, Romashov went to Nazansky. The officer tried to dissuade Georgy from the duel, believing that Romashov needed to leave the army and not be afraid of life.

When Romashov returned home, he found Shurochka visiting him. She said that although she does not love Vladimir, “she killed part of her soul for him.” She has more pride than her husband - it was she who forced him to try again and again to enter the academy. If Nikolaev refuses the fight, he will not be accepted into the academy. Therefore, they definitely need to shoot tomorrow - none of them will be wounded. Shurochka and Georgy kissed goodbye.

Report to the regiment commander. On June 1, a duel took place between Nikolaev and Romashov. Nikolaev shot first and wounded Romashov in the upper right abdomen. Romashov was no longer able to shoot back. A few minutes later, Romashov died from internal hemorrhage.

Conclusion

“The Duel” is considered the most significant work in Kuprin’s work. The main character of the story, the young second lieutenant Romashov, is portrayed as a romantic, intelligent person with a fine mental organization. It is difficult for him to come to terms with the monotonous, philistine life in a provincial infantry regiment - during his training years, the military seemed to him to be completely different, more noble people.

Realizing that he will not be able to remain in service, Romashov decides to leave the army after three mandatory years. However, an unfortunate combination of circumstances and pressure from Shurochka lead to the sudden death of Georgy. The duel becomes Romashov’s attempt to confront the world and society, but he loses in this confrontation.

This is interesting: The story was written in 1907. The plot was based on the Song of Songs of King Solomon and the Old Testament of the Bible, and the central character of the work was the beautiful Shulamith, the beloved of the wise King Solomon. We recommend reading the summary of “Shulamith” chapter by chapter to better prepare for the literature lesson.

Video summary of Kuprin's fight

In his work, A.I. Kuprin wanted to show the negative side of military service, focusing on the cruelty and violence that reigned in the regiment. A chapter-by-chapter summary of Kuprin’s story “The Duel” will help the reader understand the true cause of the conflict that broke out between two officers, which ultimately led to dire consequences.

Kuprin fight summary on video:

One of the most famous works included in the high school curriculum is the story “The Duel” by Kuprin. A chapter-by-chapter summary will help the reader remember information from the book, analyze the text, and understand the author’s thoughts. Familiarity with the abridged plot is indispensable when preparing for exams to compose high-quality and well-founded arguments.

Concise presentation

The story “The Duel” describes the negative aspects of the life of military men before the revolution. Yuri Romashov is a decent person, an officer in the tsarist army. When he enters the service, he realizes that the life of the military is not at all what he imagined it to be in his head. Yuri feels hostility towards his colleagues and is overcome by a feeling of loneliness. At some point, he stops reading books and starts an affair with a frivolous person.

Yuri has good relations only with the family of his colleague Nikolaev. Romashov is attracted to Alexandra, the wife of this comrade. But she dreams of only one thing - for her husband to be able to enter the academy, and then they leave the military unit together. At some point, Nikolaev asks Romashov not to come to their home, because ill-wishers started rumors about the relationship between Yuri and Alexandra. Romashov agrees to fulfill his friend’s request.

One day, Yuri and his colleagues go to a brothel. They get drunk, after which one of the comrades begins to break furniture. Someone suggests holding a funeral service for a living person. Such a thought seems blasphemous to Romashov, he expresses his indignation and quarrels with Nikolaev. Other officers act indifferently.

In the morning, Yuri learns that he will have to fight Nikolaev in a duel. In the evening, Alexandra comes to Romashov, they become intimate. The woman cordially asks not to kill her husband, because he is her only hope for a bright future. She has already agreed on everything with her husband and is now only waiting for Romashov’s consent. Yuri yields to the woman. The duel ends tragically for Romashov - the wound turns out to be fatal, and he dies the next day.

In his story, Kuprin condemns immorality, which was happening in the tsarist army, whose officers spent their free time in taverns and brothels. The author talks about the problem of a person going against society. After reading the book, readers begin to think about which decision is better for them - to agree with the opinion of the majority or to stand their ground to the end, although this will lead to negative consequences.

Meet the main character

1. First chapter. Classes are ending in the sixth company. Some soldiers laugh at the young soldiers, but the commanders are on the sidelines. The officers are in excellent spirits, joking and chatting casually. Some men expressed the opinion that civilians could be killed if they dared to insult a military man. Here the main character Romashov intervenes. He believes that in this case the offender should be challenged to a duel. The comrades objected that civilian cowards would not even fight a duel. Based on the author’s description, Romashov was a puny young man of average height. Given his physique, he was distinguished by sufficient physical strength, but, being naturally shy, he was very awkward. Colonel Shulgovich intervened in the officers' dispute. He was not in the mood and reprimanded Romashov for his inability to behave in society. The colonel also scolded a Tatar soldier who did not speak Russian at all. Yuri tried to protect the guy, for which Shulgovich punished him with house arrest for several days. The commander of Romashov Sliva also agreed with the colonel’s decision.
2. Second chapter. Romashov often felt loneliness in the company of officers. He dreamed that he would become an officer of the General Staff and serve as an example for others. Later, a picture appeared in his head of how he became a scout and, one after another, performed military feats.
3. Third chapter. Yuri comes home and asks the orderly if Lieutenant Nikolaev sent him a letter, to which he receives a negative answer. Romashov tried to avoid visits to this comrade’s house, but he constantly broke down and came to visit him. The problem was Nikolaev’s wife, Shurochka, with whom Yura fell deeply in love. His life generally did not turn out as he had planned. He wanted to become a student at the academy, purchased a lot of educational materials, but never touched them. Instead, the young man drank vodka and started an affair with a married regimental lady. The orderly delivers a letter from Romashov's mistress Raisa. In it, a woman writes that she is bored and will kill herself if the young man cheats. However, Yura is indifferent to her words, because he has long been bored with this connection. He decides to visit the Nikolaevs for the last time.
4. Chapter four. When Yuri arrives, Nikolaev is preparing for the academy exam, and Sasha is doing needlework. Alexandra’s husband did not shine with intelligence, but he was stubborn. She hoped that he would pass the exam because she dreamed of a better life. Shurochka was a beautiful and wise woman; she was going to use cunning to help her husband build a career.

After a casual conversation, Sasha advised Romashov to come visit them more often and stop drinking vodka. She also dissuaded him from communicating with the drunkard Nazansky. In her opinion, people like Nazansky should have been shot.

Persecution of Raisa

Romashov's life proceeds smoothly. However, very interesting things soon begin to happen:

1. Fifth chapter. Yuri ignores Shurochka’s warning and goes to Nazansky. A friend tells the guy that he once had a strong love for a woman, but she left him because he couldn’t change his life for her. Nazarsky shows Yura a letter from his former lover. The young man recognizes the handwriting of Nikolaev’s wife and hints to him that he also loves this woman. There is an awkward pause, and the comrades disperse. At home, Romashov receives a letter from his mistress Raisa. She guesses about Yuri's feelings for Shura and warns him about possible revenge.
2. Chapter six. Romashov spends the next day under house arrest. This upsets him; the young man wants to go for a walk, but he can’t. The Nikolaev spouses come to his windows. Alexandra hands the guy some pastries and invites them to dinner. They leave, but soon Shura returns without her husband and tells Yuri that he is only a friend to her.
3. Seventh chapter. Yura is invited to Shulgovich’s office. He scolds the young man for violating discipline. When the Colonel notices that the officer is pushed to his limit, he invites him to have lunch together. In the evening, Romashov comes to his place and writes his story until nightfall. The guy is ashamed of his work and hides from everyone that he is a writer.
4. Eighth chapter. Despite house arrest, the young man is obliged to come to a meeting of officers, where the topic of duels was discussed that day. Many comrades agreed that duels are necessary, they must certainly end in the death of one of the participants, otherwise there is no point in duels. In the evening, a young man goes to a ball and meets Raisa. He persuades his friend to invite the lady to dance and avoids communicating with her.
5. Ninth chapter. Raisa nevertheless finds Yuri and throws a fit because he did not answer her letter. She says unpleasant things about Nikolaev's wife. Romashov admits that he does not have any feelings for her and wants to end this relationship. The couple is noticed by Raisa's husband, but she says that she is simply discussing philosophical topics with the young man.
6. Chapter ten. Classes are underway in the regiment again. The company commander named Sliva is a very unpleasant person; he often humiliated Romashov. Soldier Khlebnikov was a frail young man of short stature and once failed to carry out Sliva’s instructions, for which they wanted to physically punish the guy.

Yuri prevented this from happening and expressed that he considered such actions unacceptable. The guy’s actions make it clear that he has a strong character.

Love for Shurochka

Romashov is increasingly immersed in his inner world. Kuprin describes the following events:

1. Eleventh chapter. The young man passively floats with the flow. To break out of his routine a little, he goes to a tavern with Vetkin, where they both get very drunk. Yuri complains to his comrade about unrequited love, but does not see understanding in his eyes.
2. Chapter Twelve. Yura receives an invitation to a picnic from Alexandra. He rejoices like a child and borrows 10 rubles from Colonel Rafalsky for a gift for his beloved.
3. Thirteenth chapter. A young man comes to the Nikolaevs. Suddenly he feels a strange feeling - it seems to him that Sasha’s husband knows everything. Yuri gives Alexandra a gift. Romashov and Nikolaev go on a picnic.
4. Chapter fourteen. The picnic turns out to be too noisy, Yura and Shura collide in the grove. Nikolaev’s wife admits that she likes Romashov, but he is not the man who could give her a good future. She also says that her husband began to be jealous of her for the officer, because he began to receive letters informing him about the relationship between Sasha and Yuri. The author of the letters was Raisa.
5. Chapter fifteen. Training is underway, commanders treat students with disrespect, which greatly angers Romashov. He begins to skip classes, which negatively affects his work. One day he makes a mistake, which causes the half-company to fall out of line. For this, the guy gets a week in the guardhouse. Yura is depressed, he is thinking about suicide.
6. Sixteenth chapter. On the way home, the young man meets Nikolaev. He is forced to explain himself to him. Yura tells who the author of the letters is and promises not to show up at their house. After this conversation, the guy goes for a walk to get rid of anxious thoughts. He sits in a field and sees the beaten Khlebnikov. Romashov feels that this guy can understand him. He helps the unfortunate man and returns home.
7. Chapter seventeen. Yura decides that he will serve his mandatory term in the army and choose another profession for himself. He communicates with Khlebnikov, helps him, for which his colleagues begin to mock him.

Sometimes a guy walks under Shura’s windows. He knows that she belongs to someone else, but he can’t do anything about his feelings.

Final Events

Romashov is depressed, but gradually begins to rethink his life. The following incidents are described below:

1. Eighteenth chapter. A soldier in the regiment hangs himself exactly one year after the suicide of another young man. All the guys are very shocked. To relieve stress, they go to a brothel. There, Bek-Agamalov behaves inappropriately and tries to hit the woman who reprimanded him. Romashov stops him. The Armenian is furious, but Yura tells him that he did it for his good, because the guy would have brought problems upon himself.
2. Nineteenth chapter. Yuri meets Nikolaev, who does not shake hands with him in greeting. A conflict arises between them, which turns into a fight in front of their colleagues. The men are separated, but one soldier promises to write a report about this incident.
3. Chapter Twenty. Romashov is summoned to an officer's court and asked to explain himself. The whole city already knows about the fight. The men are forced to duel. The only way to cancel the fight is for one of them to resign, but no one agrees to this condition.
4. Twenty-first chapter. Yura tells Nazansky about what happened. He persuades the guy to resign.
5. Twenty-second chapter. At his home, the officer meets Alexandra. She asks him to fight a duel, because Romashov’s refusal will ruin her husband’s reputation, which is why he will not be able to enter the academy. Shura says that she has already agreed on everything with her husband - the duel will be symbolic, Yuri and Nikolaev will simply shoot past. An intimate relationship occurs between Sasha and Romashov, after which the young man agrees to her terms.
6. Twenty-third chapter. The duel took place on June 1. Nikolaev did not fulfill his promise and shot Romashov directly in the stomach; the young man did not fire back. They couldn't save Yura.

“The Duel” is a very famous story. Before creating this book, Kuprin thought a lot about human moral qualities. The author told in detail the story of a man who fought for justice. It was difficult for Romashov to see the dirt of this world; he sought to make it better. By trusting his beloved, he doomed himself to death. Yuri lost the duel with harsh reality, but remained honest with himself to the end. Students can use a brief retelling of the story in Brifley for their reading diary.

Summary of the story by A.I. Kuprin "Duel" for a reader's diary.

Evening classes in the sixth company are coming to an end. Young soldiers are confused and do not understand what the officers want. In the third platoon, soldiers Mukhamedzhinov, a Tatar who barely understands Russian, is confused, and responds to all orders: “I’ll kill you!” The junior officers came together to chat and smoke. There are three of them: Lieutenant Vetkin, Second Lieutenant Romashov and Lieutenant Lbov. They don’t understand why the soldiers should be exhausted before the inspection.
Lieutenant Bek-Agamalov arrives and reports the news: the commander demands that the soldiers be taught how to cut clay effigies. Officers tell each other about cases of unexpected bloody massacres on the spot and that they almost always took place with impunity. Beck says the ability to cut a person apart is a complex art. Lbov invites everyone to try it on a stuffed animal. Only Beck can cut the scarecrow.
The regiment commander, Colonel Shulgovich, is riding. He walks around the platoons, stops in front of the young soldier Sharafutdinov, a Tatar who cannot clearly answer his questions and does not know the name of his regimental commander. Romashov stands up for his soldier and receives four days of house arrest for not understanding military discipline. Captain Sliva was also reprimanded for Romashov. In the words of formulaic novels, Romashov speaks out of habit about himself in the third person: “His kind, expressive eyes were covered with a cloud of sadness...”
The soldiers went to their quarters. The parade ground was empty. Romashov wants to go to the station, he likes to go there in the evenings. But he changes his mind and simply walks along the highway, remembering the scene on the parade ground, his feeling of resentment. But he is also hurt because they shouted at him in the same way as he sometimes shouted at the soldiers: in this he sees something humiliating for himself. Romashov vindictively dreams of how he will enter the academy, make a career, brilliantly conduct maneuvers in his regiment, go as a military spy to Germany, and there they will shoot him, but he will not tell them his name or nationality, so that everything will end in prison.
For a moment he returns to reality, but again dreams, now of a bloody war with Prussia and Austria, where he is braver than Colonel Shulgovich.
Romashov catches himself already running, he has reached the house, and is surprised at what nonsense is popping into his head. At home, he lies on his bed, looking at the ceiling, not thinking about anything. Then he asks the orderly Gainan if the Nikolaevs invited him. Guinan gives a negative answer.
The Cheremis batman has a simple relationship with his master. Romashov talks with Gainan about his gods, about how in an original way, after eating a piece of bread from the tip of a saber, he took the oath. The second lieutenant decides not to go to the Nikolaevs today, but this is not the first time he makes this promise to himself. He is in love with Nikolaev's wife, Shurochka.
Having received an apartment, Romashov was full of plans, bought books, but for nine months they have been lying in the dust, and Romashov drinks vodka, has a boring relationship with a regimental lady, is burdened by service, comrades and his own life. The orderly recalls that Romashov’s mistress sent a letter. She invites him to her place, but the second lieutenant is disgusted by the cloying smell of the perfumed letter and his vulgarly playful tone. Romashov understands that today he will go to the Nikolaevs again.
Gainan asks to give him a bust of Pushkin, which Romashov was about to throw away. The second lieutenant agrees and goes to the Nikolaevs, but they didn’t expect him there. Vladimir is busy, preparing for his last attempt to enter the academy. Shurochka tells Romashov that she cannot stay here, she needs company, smart interlocutors. Volodya must go to the general headquarters, then they will break out of “this slum.” She cries, then asks the second lieutenant if she is good, laughs at him. Shurochka calls Romashov Romochka and asks if he read in the newspapers about the army duel. She believes that duels are a reasonable thing, because officers are for war, and in peacetime they can only show their main qualities in duels. But the conditions in a duel are like those of a death penalty: fifteen steps of distance, and fight until you are seriously wounded. She sees a need for them, otherwise cheaters like Archakovsky or a drunkard like Nazansky won’t come out. Romashov does not agree with her, but sits and listens until she is about to sleep. That evening, Romashov realizes that the Nikolaevs are only tolerating him.
In revenge, he goes to Nazansky. They talk for a long time. Nazansky says that he hates military service, he wants to think about sublime matters, about love. He says that he loved one girl, but she stopped loving him because he drinks. He reads her only letter, and the second lieutenant recognizes Shurochka’s handwriting.
Nazansky understands that Romashov recognized the handwriting and is also in love with Shurochka. Arriving at his place, he reads a new note from Peterson. She wrote about being deceived, about how her heart was broken and she would take revenge.
At the next ball, Romashov tells his mistress that everything is over between them. Peterson's wife gets angry and vows revenge. Soon Nikolaev began to receive anonymous messages with a hint that Romashov was flirting with his wife. The authorities are also dissatisfied with Romashov; he feels the meaninglessness of his service and loneliness more than ever.
In the morning, Romashov, who overslept, is late for class. Captain Sliwa does not miss the opportunity to insult the young officer in front of the formation. Platoon training begins. Non-commissioned officer Shapovalenko, Romashov’s subordinate, shouts and swings at Khlebnikov, a short, weak, downtrodden, stupid soldier. Romashov pulls Shapovalenko back. Sliva talks in the presence of several junior officers about military discipline, about the old order, when a commander could beat a soldier without hindrance. Romashov objects that assault is inhumane, and promises to file a report against Sliva if he continues to let his hands go.
At the end of April, Shurochka invites Romashov to a general name day for a picnic. Having borrowed money from Rafalsky, Romashov bought perfume as a gift. He sits at a picnic next to Shurochka, their hands sometimes touch. Nikolaev looks unhappy. After the feast, Romashov goes to the grove, Shurochka comes for him and says that today she is in love with him and saw him in a dream. He kisses her dress and confesses his love. She replies that she is also in love, but he is pathetic, she should give up on him because she thinks that he will not achieve anything in life. She does not love her husband, does not want a child, but assures that she will not cheat on her husband until she finally leaves him. On the way back, she asks Romashov not to come to them anymore: her husband is besieged by anonymous letters. Nikolaev takes his wife aside and angrily reprimands her. She answers him “with an indescribable expression of indignation and contempt.”
The corps commander is dissatisfied with the inspection. Only the fifth company of Captain Stelkovsky deserved praise.
During the ceremonial march, Romashov experienced public shame: he daydreamed and mixed up the formation, moving from the center of the ranks to the right flank. It seemed to him that the general would notice and praise the “handsome second lieutenant” Romashov. The second lieutenant decides that he is disgraced forever and all he can do is shoot himself. Captain Sliva demands from him a report on his transfer to another company.
On the way back to the camp, Romashov sees how the sergeant major beats Khlebnikov, who has fallen into the dust on the parade ground, and does not find the strength to stand up for the soldier. Nikolaev, whom he meets, demands that he do everything to stop the flow of anonymous letters. Romashov goes to the meeting, but from behind the door he hears officers discussing his failure today, and Captain Sliva directly states that Romashov will never make an officer. Romashov turns to God with a reproach for turning away from him. Thinking about all this, Romashov reached the railway and in the darkness saw the soldier Khlebnikov, the subject of ridicule and mockery.
Romashov understands that the soldier was also planning to take his own life. Khlebnikov cries, burying his face in Romashov’s knees, saying that they are beating him and laughing at him, the platoon commander is extorting money that he has nowhere to get. Teaching is also torture for him: he has suffered from a hernia since childhood. Compared to Khlebnikov’s grief, Romashov’s own grief seems like nothing. He hugs the soldier and says that he must endure. For the first time, Romashov thinks about the fate of thousands of such Khlebnikovs, whom he had never considered as individuals before.
Since that night, a deep spiritual breakdown occurred in Romashov. Having moved away from the society of officers, he invites Khlebnikov to his place, patronizes him, and for the first time thinks about civilian professions. Romashov sees that there are only three worthy callings - science, art and free physical labor.
At the end of May, a soldier in Osadchy’s company hanged himself, and then continuous drunkenness began. They drank in the meeting, then there was a scandal at Shleifersha’s. Bek-Agamalov rushed with a saber at those present, then at the young lady, who called him a fool. Romashov grabbed his hand, saying that he would be ashamed that he hit a woman. Beck thanks him for this.
Romashov finds Osadchy and Nikolaev at the meeting. The latter pointedly does not notice Romashov. Osadchy sings a dirge for a suicidal soldier, interspersing it with dirty curses. Romashov is overcome with rage: “I won’t allow it! Keep quiet! In response, Nikolaev shouts that Romashov and Nazansky are disgracing the regiment. “What does Nazansky have to do with it? Or do you have reasons to be unhappy with him? - asks Romashov. Nikolaev swings, Bek tries to pull him away, but Romashov throws beer in Nikolaev’s face. An officer's court of honor has been appointed. Nikolaev asks Romashov not to talk about his wife and anonymous letters. The court determines that reconciliation is impossible.
Before the fight, Nazansky convinces Romashov not to shoot himself, to retire, because life is unique and amazing. Nazansky is perplexed: does Romashov really believe in the highest meaning of army order so much that he is ready to say goodbye to his life for it? In the evening Shurochka comes to Romashov. She talks about the years spent creating her husband’s career and says: if Romashov refuses the duel, Volodya will not be allowed to take the exam. They must shoot, but not in such a way as to injure each other; the pistols will not be loaded. Her husband agrees to this. Shurochka hugs Romashov, kisses him and offers to take his happiness, because they will not see each other again. She gives herself to her beloved.
Staff Captain Dietz reports to the regimental commander the details of the fight. Nikolaev wounded Romashov in the stomach, and he died seven minutes later from internal hemorrhage. The report is accompanied by the testimony of junior doctor Znoiko. Nikolaev realized where his wife was and loaded the pistol.

Evening classes in the sixth company are coming to an end. Young soldiers are confused and do not understand what the officers want. In the third platoon, soldiers Mukhamedzhinov, a Tatar who barely understands Russian, is confused, and responds to all orders: “I’ll kill you!” The junior officers came together to chat and smoke. There are three of them: Lieutenant Vetkin, Second Lieutenant Romashov and Lieutenant Lbov. They don’t understand why the soldiers should be exhausted before the inspection.

Lieutenant Bek-Agamalov arrives and reports the news: the commander demands that the soldiers be taught how to cut clay effigies. Officers tell each other about cases of unexpected bloody massacres on the spot and that they almost always took place with impunity. Beck says the ability to cut a person apart is a complex art. Lbov invites everyone to try it on a stuffed animal. Only Beck can cut the scarecrow.

The regiment commander, Colonel Shulgovich, is riding. He walks around the platoons, stops in front of the young soldier Sharafutdinov, a Tatar who cannot clearly answer his questions and does not know the name of his regimental commander. Romashov stands up for his soldier and receives four days of house arrest for not understanding military discipline. Captain Sliva was also reprimanded for Romashov. In the words of formulaic novels, Romashov speaks out of habit about himself in the third person: “His kind, expressive eyes were covered with a cloud of sadness...”

The soldiers went to their quarters. The parade ground was empty. Romashov wants to go to the station, he likes to go there in the evenings. But he changes his mind and simply walks along the highway, remembering the scene on the parade ground, his feeling of resentment. But he is also hurt because they shouted at him in the same way as he sometimes shouted at the soldiers: in this he sees something humiliating for himself. Romashov vindictively dreams of how he will enter the academy, make a career, brilliantly conduct maneuvers in his regiment, go as a military spy to Germany, and there they will shoot him, but he will not tell them his name or nationality, so that everything will end in prison.

For a moment he returns to reality, but again dreams, now of a bloody war with Prussia and Austria, where he is braver than Colonel Shulgovich.

Romashov catches himself already running, he has reached the house, and is surprised at what nonsense is popping into his head. At home, he lies on his bed, looking at the ceiling, not thinking about anything. Then he asks the orderly Gainan if the Nikolaevs invited him. Guinan gives a negative answer.

The Cheremis batman has a simple relationship with his master. Romashov talks with Gainan about his gods, about how in an original way, after eating a piece of bread from the tip of a saber, he took the oath. The second lieutenant decides not to go to the Nikolaevs today, but this is not the first time he makes this promise to himself. He is in love with Nikolaev's wife, Shurochka.

Having received an apartment, Romashov was full of plans, bought books, but for nine months they have been lying in the dust, and Romashov drinks vodka, has a boring relationship with a regimental lady, is burdened by service, comrades and his own life. The orderly recalls that Romashov’s mistress sent a letter. She invites him to her place, but the second lieutenant is disgusted by the cloying smell of the perfumed letter and his vulgarly playful tone. Romashov understands that today he will go to the Nikolaevs again.

Gainan asks to give him a bust of Pushkin, which Romashov was about to throw away. The second lieutenant agrees and goes to the Nikolaevs, but they didn’t expect him there. Vladimir is busy, preparing for his last attempt to enter the academy. Shurochka tells Romashov that she cannot stay here, she needs company, smart interlocutors. Volodya must go to the general headquarters, then they will break out of “this slum.” She cries, then asks the second lieutenant if she is good, laughs at him. Shurochka calls Romashov Romochka and asks if he read in the newspapers about the army duel. She believes that duels are a reasonable thing, because officers are for war, and in peacetime they can only show their main qualities in duels. But the conditions in a duel are like those of a death penalty: fifteen steps of distance, and fight until you are seriously wounded. She sees a need for them, otherwise cheaters like Archakovsky or a drunkard like Nazansky won’t come out. Romashov does not agree with her, but sits and listens until she is about to sleep. That evening, Romashov realizes that the Nikolaevs are only tolerating him.

In revenge, he goes to Nazansky. They talk for a long time. Nazansky says that he hates military service, he wants to think about sublime matters, about love. He says that he loved one girl, but she stopped loving him because he drinks. He reads her only letter, and the second lieutenant recognizes Shurochka’s handwriting.

Nazansky understands that Romashov recognized the handwriting and is also in love with Shurochka. Arriving at his place, he reads a new note from Peterson. She wrote about being deceived, about how her heart was broken and she would take revenge.

At the next ball, Romashov tells his mistress that everything is over between them. Peterson's wife gets angry and vows revenge. Soon Nikolaev began to receive anonymous messages with a hint that Romashov was flirting with his wife. The authorities are also dissatisfied with Romashov; he feels the meaninglessness of his service and loneliness more than ever.

In the morning, Romashov, who overslept, is late for class. Captain Sliwa does not miss the opportunity to insult the young officer in front of the formation. Platoon training begins. Non-commissioned officer Shapovalenko, Romashov’s subordinate, shouts and swings at Khlebnikov, a short, weak, downtrodden, stupid soldier. Romashov pulls Shapovalenko back. Sliva talks in the presence of several junior officers about military discipline, about the old order, when a commander could beat a soldier without hindrance. Romashov objects that assault is inhumane, and promises to file a report against Sliva if he continues to let his hands go.

At the end of April, Shurochka invites Romashov to a general name day for a picnic. Having borrowed money from Rafalsky, Romashov bought perfume as a gift. He sits at a picnic next to Shurochka, their hands sometimes touch. Nikolaev looks unhappy. After the feast, Romashov goes to the grove, Shurochka comes for him and says that today she is in love with him and saw him in a dream. He kisses her dress and confesses his love. She replies that she is also in love, but he is pathetic, she should give up on him because she thinks that he will not achieve anything in life. She does not love her husband, does not want a child, but assures that she will not cheat on her husband until she finally leaves him. On the way back, she asks Romashov not to come to them anymore: her husband is besieged by anonymous letters. Nikolaev takes his wife aside and angrily reprimands her. She answers him “with an indescribable expression of indignation and contempt.”

The corps commander is dissatisfied with the inspection. Only the fifth company of Captain Stelkovsky deserved praise.

During the ceremonial march, Romashov experienced public shame: he daydreamed and mixed up the formation, moving from the center of the ranks to the right flank. It seemed to him that the general would notice and praise the “handsome second lieutenant” Romashov. The second lieutenant decides that he is disgraced forever and all he can do is shoot himself. Captain Sliva demands from him a report on his transfer to another company.

On the way back to the camp, Romashov sees how the sergeant major beats Khlebnikov, who has fallen into the dust on the parade ground, and does not find the strength to stand up for the soldier. Nikolaev, whom he meets, demands that he do everything to stop the flow of anonymous letters. Romashov goes to the meeting, but from behind the door he hears officers discussing his failure today, and Captain Sliva directly states that Romashov will never make an officer. Romashov turns to God with a reproach for turning away from him. Thinking about all this, Romashov reached the railway and in the darkness saw the soldier Khlebnikov, the subject of ridicule and mockery.

Romashov understands that the soldier was also planning to take his own life. Khlebnikov cries, burying his face in Romashov’s knees, saying that they are beating him and laughing at him, the platoon commander is extorting money that he has nowhere to get. Teaching is also torture for him: he has suffered from a hernia since childhood. Compared to Khlebnikov’s grief, Romashov’s own grief seems like nothing. He hugs the soldier and says that he must endure. For the first time, Romashov thinks about the fate of thousands of such Khlebnikovs, whom he had never considered as individuals before.

Since that night, a deep spiritual breakdown occurred in Romashov. Having moved away from the society of officers, he invites Khlebnikov to his place, patronizes him, and for the first time thinks about civilian professions. Romashov sees that there are only three worthy callings - science, art and free physical labor.

At the end of May, a soldier in Osadchy’s company hanged himself, and then continuous drunkenness began. They drank in the meeting, then there was a scandal at Shleifersha’s. Bek-Agamalov rushed with a saber at those present, then at the young lady, who called him a fool. Romashov grabbed his hand, saying that he would be ashamed that he hit a woman. Beck thanks him for this.

Romashov finds Osadchy and Nikolaev at the meeting. The latter pointedly does not notice Romashov. Osadchy sings a dirge for a suicidal soldier, interspersing it with dirty curses. Romashov is overcome with rage: “I won’t allow it! Keep quiet! In response, Nikolaev shouts that Romashov and Nazansky are disgracing the regiment. “What does Nazansky have to do with it? Or do you have reasons to be unhappy with him? - asks Romashov. Nikolaev swings, Bek tries to pull him away, but Romashov throws beer in Nikolaev’s face. An officer's court of honor has been appointed. Nikolaev asks Romashov not to talk about his wife and anonymous letters. The court determines that reconciliation is impossible.

Before the fight, Nazansky convinces Romashov not to shoot himself, to retire, because life is unique and amazing. Nazansky is perplexed: does Romashov really believe in the highest meaning of army order so much that he is ready to say goodbye to his life for it? In the evening Shurochka comes to Romashov. She talks about the years spent creating her husband’s career and says: if Romashov refuses the duel, Volodya will not be allowed to take the exam. They must shoot, but not in such a way as to injure each other; the pistols will not be loaded. Her husband agrees to this. Shurochka hugs Romashov, kisses him and offers to take his happiness, because they will not see each other again. She gives herself to her beloved.

Staff Captain Dietz reports to the regimental commander the details of the fight. Nikolaev wounded Romashov in the stomach, and he died seven minutes later from internal hemorrhage. The report is accompanied by the testimony of junior doctor Znoiko. Nikolaev realized where his wife was and loaded the pistol.

The motive of individual self-awareness in the story

In “The Duel” A.I. Kuprin showed the disintegration of the tsarist army. But the story's problems are broader: the relationship between the individual and society, the reasons for people's inequality and possible ways to free themselves from it.

The hero of the story, young lieutenant Romashov, thinks about the wrong relationships between people. His illusions gradually dissipate, Romashov begins to see clearly. At first he divides everyone into “people of black and white bones,” but as he grows spiritually, he begins to think about the depravity of the army and the structure of social relations in general. Romashov is tormented by the depravity of the officers and the downtroddenness of the soldiers. Understanding the rules of the army changes his outlook on life. The hero's spiritual awakening begins. The fate of the soldiers worries the truth-seeker Romashov. Ambitious aspirations to occupy a high position in society are replaced by disappointment and depression, but this depressed feeling forces the hero to know himself. Analyzing what is happening, he does not see the point in the existence of an army: an army without war is absurd, people need to understand the uselessness of war, and then the army will not be needed. Romashov realizes that he has become part of this “machine” and tries to isolate himself from the officers and seclude himself. He “seemed to have matured, become older and more serious.”

This “growing up” was not easy for him: he went through a social conflict, a struggle with himself. In the scene of a night conversation with soldier Khlebnikov on the slope of the railway, Romashov shows compassion, but in the next lines “the feeling of absurdity, confusion, incomprehensibility of life” again haunts the lieutenant. The feeling of spiritual decline also haunts Shurochka, but she adapts to the bourgeois well-being. This is her highest ideal, and she is not at all akin to Romashov. She sacrifices Romashov's love and life for the sake of her selfishness. Romashov is a “natural man”; he instinctively resists injustice, but his protest is weak and naive. The need for immediate action forces him to actively resist.

After meeting with Khlebnikov, a turning point occurs in Romashov’s consciousness; he is shocked by a person’s readiness to commit suicide, since in it he sees deliverance from a martyr’s life. Romashov himself had just thought about suicide only as a way to prove something to others. For the first time, Romashov thinks about the fate of the common people.

In “The Duel” the author’s accusatory voice is also heard (Nazansky’s monologues). The romantic premonition of a “radiant life”, the anticipation of future social upheavals, hatred of the way of life of the military caste, Nazansky’s ability to appreciate love contradict his way of life. But those who try to go against this system will face a difficult fate. Even characters from a military environment like Romashov have a very high pain threshold and a small reserve of mental strength to withstand the vulgarity and cynicism of their environment. The duel with Nikolaev is a consequence of the growing conflict between the hero and the military officer caste.

“The Duel” appeared during the Russo-Japanese War, in the days of the defeat of the Russian fleet at Tsushima, causing a huge public outcry, since the work undermined one of the main pillars of the autocratic state - the inviolability of the military. The problems of “The Duel” go beyond the traditional war story. The shameful reality of the Russian-Japanese War confirmed the pathos of Kuprin's story. “The Duel” was highly appreciated by M. Gorky, V. V. Stasov, I. E. Repin, K. I. Chukovsky, F. D. Batyushkov.