Comparing Suicide In Bunin And A Gentle Creature

Suicide in Bunin and Dostoevsky In the works of “Gentle Breathing” and “The Caucasus” by Ivan Bunin and “A Gentle Creature” by Fyodor Dostoevsky, both authors imbue their characters with attitudes of despair or perceived hopelessness towards their circumstances, which leads them to commit suicide as a means to reclaim power. In “Gentle Breathing,” Bunin introduces the story by crafting a narrative that weaves together Olga Meschersky’s physical death and her impending metaphysical death. Although the majority of the story is devoted to events concerning her metaphysical death, the opening is dedicated to the depiction of the her freshly erected grave. The early revelation of her death forces the reader to experience the course of her life

After he takes sexual advantage of her youth, she both literally and figuratively loses her innocence and find herself thrust into adulthood in terms of her physical attributes as well as her emotional experiences. Thus, when she is summoned to the headmistress for a confrontation about her behavior and appearance, the extent of her metaphysical death is revealed. “[Olga] stopped short, took one deep breath, with a quick movement, already a habit, arranged her hair, gave a pull to the corners of her apron to bring it up on her shoulders, and with shining eyes ran upstairs” (par. 4). Her actions here stand in distinct contrast between the lighthearted schoolgirl she used to be, who demonstrated no concern for her appearance, and instead reinforces the innocence and authenticity that has been stripped from her. Moreover, in the face of the headmistress’s scorn and irritation, Olga looks at her “brightly and happily, but with an expressionless face” (par. 6), remaining outwardly calm despite the fact that she is confronting an expectedly emotionally charged situation and maintaining a demeanor rather devoid of