To The Last Page

Tolstoy’s 1886 drama is true to the nature of his later works that were inspired by Christian teachings and his interest in educational reform, but, typically for Tolstoy, that doesn’t mean that there is anything at all comforting or idealised about the events that take place in The Power of Darkness , a drama that recounts the corrupt and depraved activities of one godless family. The wife of the family, Anisya, has been carrying on with one of the servants, Nikita, who is a bit of a ladies man. Nikita’s father knows however that his son has been seeing a girl who works as a cook at an inn, and wants to marry him off to do the decent thing and “cover the sin”. Nikita’s mother however knows of his dealings with Anisya and knowing that there is money and a rise in position if her son can take the place of her husband. Knowing Anisya’s weakness for Nikita, she provides her with some powders to add to his tea to clear the way towards this end. There are however worse horrors to be enacted...