The Queen of Spades

Alexander Pushkin

1799-1837

Elements of Romantic Fiction

Penniless young woman (Lisaveta) Ambitious, passionate young man (Hermann) Decayed beauty (Countess) The ghost Intense irony (narrative distance)

Literature as Social Criticism

Social structure corrupted by universal concentration on money above redeeming values.

Everyone is out for what they can get, at all costs.

Critique of Values

Gambling obsession Opportunism Moral compromise Classism Nationalism

Chapter 1: Establishing the Theme

Exordium that lays out the background tale Search for the “…elixer of life, the

philosopher’s stone, and so forth.” Layout of the problem of luck (“I have no luck,”

says Hermann. Introduction of key element: “…the secret for

which any one of us here would give a very great deal…”

To “…guess three cards in succession….”

Chapter 2: Character Development

Lisaveta Ivanovna’s quest for rescue (“And this is my life…”)

The Countess’s corruption (“…a woman who has been spoiled by the world….”)

Hermann’s moral bankruptcy and greed (“…That moment decided his fate.”)

Chapter 3: The Moral Turn

Hermann’s obsessive persistence without conscience.(“Hermann saw that she was dead.”)

Lisaveta’s gradual moral compromise (“…she revelled in them [the letters], began to answer them, and with each day her replies became longer and more tender.”)

Chapter 4: The Murder

Tomsky outlines Hermann’s profligacy to Lisaveta (“…a truly Romantic figure, with the profile of a Napoleon and the soul of Mephistopheles.”)

Hermann coldly confesses to Lisaveta (“He felt no remorse.”)

Lisaveta sees the truth. (“You are a monster!”)

Chapter 5: The Funeral

Introduction of the supernatural element. “At that very moment it seemed to him that the

dead woman gave him a mocking glance, and winked at him.”

“I’ll forgive you my death if you marry my ward, Lisaveta Ivanovna.”

Chapter 6: The Denouement

“At that moment it seemed to him that the queen of spades winked at him and smiled. He was struck by an unusual likeness.”

Conclusion: Matters of Fact

Hermann went mad. Lisaveta Ivanovna has married a very

agreeable young man, who has a good position in the service somewhere….

Tomsky has been promoted to the rank of Captain and is going to marry the Princess Polina.