Alexander Pushkin Is a Story

¶ … Alexander Pushkin is a story that takes place in Russia, with the main setting being the army. There are many elements that influence the meaning and analysis of the events in the story. The author's use of characterization provides a basis for the revenge that serves as the main theme of the story. Furthermore, the possible dual meaning of the title serves as a sound indication for the nuances and mysteries surrounding the central character, Sylvio. The title "The Shot" can refer to either a person or a concrete noun.

Throughout the story, the indication is that Sylvio is a good shot; his prowess with his gun is nothing short of legendary, and his passion for the art of shooting is evidenced by the holes in his cottage wall. Later in the story, evidence of Sylvio's shooting also feature by means of holes in a picture. These holes relate directly to the subtle revenge that he effects by means of his shooting.

The shot can also refer to the shooting itself -- a gunshot -- which provides the main theme of Sylvio's revenge. This dual concept of the shot is then also the basis upon which Sylvio's acquaintances admire him -- he is their superior on the basis of something that they can understand.

In terms of characterization, the story opens with a short description of the "life of an officer in the army." The author states that it is "well-known." In contrast, Sylvio is a perfect mystery, which is the greater part of the admiration that the military personnel have for him. The narrator, himself an army officer, relates all the contrasts between themselves and the civilian Sylvio. These contrasts serve to juxtapose the character with all that is known; he is mysterious and therefore admirable.

The most obvious point of contrast is Sylvio's status as civilian. He is a retired army officer, although it is not know why he left the service. All his frequent guests know is that he does not like to speak about the topic of dueling, which serves as an early indicator for the events that are revealed later in the story. In addition to age, Sylvio has other "advantages" over his young acquaintances: he has experience, taciturnity, and a stern disposition.

These elements of his character serve to make him both alien and exotic to those who share his table. These traits place him on a higher level than the young officers. Adding to the mystery is the apparent contrasts in his way of life; he lives poorly and serves relatively modest meals, but never refuses a meal to his guests. Champagne, known as an expensive drink, is apparently in no short supply at these meals.

This is therefore an element that correlates with the apparent contrasts in the character, and between Sylvio and his fellow characters. The same can be said of the only evident luxury in his humble cottage -- his collection of pistols. If one goes further in this analysis, one might even say that the champagne and pistol collection symbolically represent Sylvio's mysterious, exotic, and somewhat dangerous character, while the relatively mundane food represents the rest of the characters.

From the soldiers' point-of-view, the mystery surrounding Sylvio is accompanied by their respect for and fear of him. Nobody dared to ask about his circumstances or income, although it was a subject of much wonder and speculation. The first turning point in the story occurs one evening at Sylvio's home, where a new officer insults Sylvio by first disagreeing with the score that Sylvio wrote on the board, and second by hurling a candlestick at him.

The contrast between the soldiers' perception of Sylvio, and the latter's actual nature as a human being, as a soldier, and as a shot. The perception of the soldiers is that the officer's days are all but numbered, as Sylvio would surely exact revenge as soon as possible. When he does not, he is perceived as cowardly and loses most of the esteem he had in the eyes of the soldiers, and especially in the eyes of the narrator.

Interestingly, Sylvio demonstrates that he cares little about the opinion of others, but the narrator is singled out, as Sylvio is adamant to provide an explanation of his actions to the narrator. When meeting the narrator to explain himself, Sylvio clarifies this behavior by saying that he "likes" the main character. The author then uses this meeting as a platform to reveal Sylvio's true story and nature to the reader. In contrast to the soldiers, Sylvio's character demonstrates a large amount of depth and critical thinking.

His emotions do not rule his actions, which is one of the traits that make him such an excellent shot. This is a different code of valor from those of the general soldiers and officers who share his table. It is also indicative of his superior maturity, not only in years, but also in perspective. As for the narrator, Sylvio professes to "like" him, despite the fact that the narrator appears the least willing of all the soldiers to forgive the former's perceived cowardice.

Ironically, this refusal to forgive is precisely the trait that sets him apart from his fellow soldiers, and may also be the catalyst to Sylvio's urge to explain himself to the officer. When he does, Sylvio reveals the true depth of his character, not only in terms of his reactions to the opinions of others, but also in terms of how he handles his own emotions of anger and urge for revenge.

Sylvio relates the story of his initial reactions to a rich young person who at first seeks his favor. Because the young man appears to have everything in his favor, Sylvio makes a point of alienating him, but is only further angered by the young man's nonchalant reaction to these attempts. The turning point in this relationship occurs on the day of the duel. This is where Sylvio demonstrates the depth of his character, as well as the meaning that he personally attaches to the art of revenge.

Because he is able to check his emotions and his taste for immediate gratification, Sylvio is able to exact a far crueler revenge than any conventional manifestation of the art, and he uses his prowess as a shot to do this. Sylvio does not shoot the young man, although according to the rules of the duel it is his right to do so. Instead, he keeps his immediate emotion intact and critically considers the impact of shooting the young man.

It would not satisfy his urge for revenge, since the young man cares very little for his life. Instead, Sylvio then decides to bide his time until the young man has matured and cultivated some meaning in his life. The culmination of the story is revealed later, also.