English Prose (02) : The Story of a Painter

 Short Story Analysis

            The author of this short story is Ludmilla Petrushevskaya who is the Russian author who has several literary works such as she has already written more than fifteen books. Then, she is known as the novelist and playwright also. She is famous writer because since the late 1980s her plays, stories and novels have been published in more than 30 languages.

            This short story is used the type Dramatic or Progressive Plot because it uses chronological structure which first establishes the setting and conflict. The exposition happens in the beginning part of this story by introducing the main character, namely Igor as a Painter. He stayed in the dark corner under the stairs in the apartment building.  He has big problem in his life because his apartment was taken by Adik. The chronology is Adik lied to the Painter by offering to sell his apartment with high prise but it was his plan to have the apartment. Then, the author shows this part of plot by using detail way when describing about the suffering of painter’s life after being laid by Adik. The rising action happens when the painter got new problem with the fat man. The fat man lied to the Painter and took his small place that is the dark corner under the stairs in the apartment building where the painter stayed after losing his apartment. In this part, we can know that the painter was like gullible man because he could be lied twice in the continue time. The climax happens when the painter was in really suffer, difficult and hard condition. He did not have any money to buy bread and he was always in hungry. He just did painting and walking in the street around the city because he was homeless. In addition, the painter always did his skill in painting although he did not have painting equipments. He painted with limestone, brick and coal then he did painting on the pavement. Furthermore, he knew that Adik was reselling his apartment to another family because he saw a family was in his apartment. By these conflicts, we can know that the author shows us the sadness and suffering of the Painter’s life by giving the conflict in the continue time. The falling action happens when the painter got the painting equipment that was suggested by an old woman. Actually, these equipments were Izvosia’s but he died when he did a contract project and it was not done yet. Fortunately, these equipments have magic and miracle sides which could change the painter’s life because many people appreciate his painting. Furthermore, he got information that he was the win of the lawsuit to Adik in apartment case. The painter could stay in his apartment and Adik would be kicked from the apartment. Here, we know that the painter’s conflict gets running down and we can guess the end of this short story. Although, he got new problem again like his lawyer asked ten percent of value and if he did not pay on time, it would grow each day. Besides, he could cover it because of the magic and miracle of the painting equipment. The denouement happens when the painter could come back to his apartment and the painter married with Vera. This ending shows the reader that the painter’s entire journeys is ending in the happiness although it is very hard, difficult and suffer to be passed. Besides, it is the kind of colourful journey because from the beginning until the end are having the continuing conflict in every part of this story. Furthermore, we can find the happiness in the end of this story. The conflict of this short story is external conflict that the character should struggle between a character and an outside forceman versus man. The specific type of this conflict is man versus man. The reason is from the beginning the story, we know that the Painter has a conflict with Adik. This conflict is running until the end of this story. Moreover, the painter got any new conflict with someone else because of Adik. That conflict is when the painter got lying from a fat man also. It is growing as the larger conflict in the painter life because he was homeless and not having any money to buy bread. It is clear that the conflict of this story happens between man versus man.   

There are eleven characters in this story. They are Painter / Igor, Adik, Izvosia, Lawyer, Old woman, Vera, Vera’s parents, the janitor, the fat man who rent painter’s place, children and grand mother. When the author introduced them, the author used Telling and Showing. The first character is Painter/Igor who is the main character and the protagonist character in this story because he is a man that the story concern to have many conflicts with someone else in his life. Igor is also the major character because he is the person who is the key character in this story and every part of this story is telling about his life. In this story, the author shows that Igor is a poor man which has a hobby to paint whatever his condition. Although, he doesn’t have any painting’s equipments and cannot buy any bread to eat, he always tries to do his hobby as in this part in this story “From there, he searched for an empty spot of pavement, usually finding one in the remotest corner of the park, and crawled on his hands and knees until dark”. He is described as the patient, strong, always accept his destiny whatever his condition because in the plot of this story is described that he is a man that is lied by 2 people in the step of time but he always tries to continue his life although it is in difficult and hard condition. Accordingly, the Painter is the static character also because of these his attitudes that are not changed from the beginning until the end of story. Besides, we can imagine how The Painter surrendered and did hopeless because he was always in his hobby and difficulty without any struggle to change his life with looking for job or other. Then, we can conclude that he did not have good education also because he was the art man that just believed with his hobby and skill in painting. The second character is Adik who is the antagonist character because he is a man who builds suffering and difficulty in Painter’s life. The author shows that he is a deceiver, crook, evil and dangerous man because his attitude. He was lying not only to Painter but also to his wife and other people. Then, Adik is static character also because he was not changed his negative purpose to other people from the beginning until the end of the story. As we know when he persuaded to sell Painter’s apartment and said to Vera’s family by using polite and soft language as well as he is kind person and helpful. Furthermore, one time he did not admit his wife Vera and he said that his wife is Limping Vera. We can know that he has bad thinking, attitude and always doing everything to have safe condition in his life although he should hurt other people. The third character is Izvosia who is the subordinate character in this story because he contributed the big change on the main character’s life although he was just shown a few part in this story. The author explained that he was Painter’s old friend from Art College that used to take his lunch money at school. Then, one day, the Painter met Izvosia expressly in the night. Then, the Painter got the painting equipments from the painter who had a contract to paint his old classmate’s portrait and was almost done, but suddenly died. This painter was Izvosia that was changed the painter’s life because of these equipments were having magic and miracle sides. The fourth character is lawyer who is the flat character because he just gave shallow part in this story. He helped Painter to defeat Adik in law way because of Adik’s crime that has already lied to Painter to get his apartment. In the first time, we know that he is professional lawyer because he helped his client although at that time the Painter was a poor man. Besides, when he has been already the win to against Adik in the law for the Painter’s case, he asked ten percent of its value and it will grow each day if the Painter did not pay on time. In this case, we can know that the lawyer has dynamic character because the first time he can help the Painter professionally but in the end he gave more difficulty to his client’s life. The fifth character is old woman who is flat character in this story because the author shows just in one part of this story. That is when the Painter saw the Bulldozer would destroy a building which there was the painting equipments near with the building. The old woman suggested the Painter to take these equipments because the owner died when he had a contract to paint his old classmate’s portrait and was almost done, but suddenly died. Fortunately, the Painter got the miracle from these painting equipments. Then, we can know that the old woman knew well about the owner of these equipments and about the miracle also. The sixth character is Vera who is the subordinate character in this story because she has a contribution in the end of this story. She is Adik’s wife that is lied by him also. In the end, the Painter asked Vera and her family to stay in his apartment and the Painter married Vera. The author shows that Vera is loyal and kind woman because she always believed with what Adik said and to be loyal with him. She was shown as the woman that loved her family so much although in outer appearance, Vera’s leg was hurt and limping also. The seventh character is Vera’s parents who are the flat characters because they just gave a few contribution as Vera’s parents. In this story, they show that they always joined and supported Vera. We can know from their attitude and always followed Vera when they should move to apartment. The eighth character is the janitor in the apartment building where his painter had once owned a unit partitioned off the dark corner under the stairs. The janitor is the flat character in this story because he just shows in one situation when the painter stayed in under the stairs. The janitor is like kind person because he hoped that the Painter would win the lawsuit to against Adik because his apartment. Besides, the janitor in that building is doing distinct, sometimes hard and impolite also. It shows us that the janitor is seeing the level of person to give their attitude to someone else. In the following, we know that the Painter is a poor man that just could stay in under stair of a building. The ninth character is the fat man who rent painter’s place (under the stairs). He is the flat character because he just takes one part in this story. The author shows that the man has two characters with him. In the beginning, he shows like a commonly man and ask to the Painter and looks for the place to stay one night. In the following time, he was like mysterious by entering some people to the under stair such as the woman and the painter heard the baby inside the room also. Then, the painter tried to enter the room but he got hits from some people from the room and it is like for about five people inside. Accordingly, we can know that the fat man has a big secret and it is like a community that is mysterious. The tenth character is the children with ice cream. The children are minor character because they just support the main character in one part of this story. We can find when they want to appreciate the painting of the painter and disturb the painter. The eleventh character is the grandmother. She is the minor character because she was just shown in one part of this story when she was with the children in the place of painter. 

            The setting of this story consists of physical environment and social environment. As the physical environment, this story uses place and time. Some places were the dark corner under the stairs, City Street, central town, apartment, around building that will be destroyed, lawyer office and around bakery store. The proofs of these settings of place are: “...where the painter had once owned a unit partitioned off the dark corner under the stairs”, “....began his daily journey through the city streets”, “He lay down outside his former apartment door and dozed off”, “In the morning, his slumber was disrupted by a tremendous noise. Bulldozers were roaring outside, preparing to crush the building”, “....the painter raced to his favourite spot, across from the bakery”, “The painter raced back to the lawyer’s office....”.  According to these proofs, we can know that all of the settings in this story are in around of city. Furthermore, the settings of times are in the morning and at nightfall. The proofs are “At nightfall, the door opened once...”, “In the morning, three more female relatives loaded with sacks moved in—they simply stepped over the poor painter and disappeared inside....”. Therefore, the time that most be used in this story are in the morning and at nightfall. The following is social environment. We can know that the main character in this story is told as the painter and a poor man. We can analyse that he did not care about his environment at that time because he was confident and brave to continue his life by not having money and homeless also. The people around of them did not care about his condition also. He just walked in his way with his skill in painting without any struggle to grow and improve his life with other side. In the following, we find setting of time is at nightfall. It shows that at that time the condition of the painter was as dark as the night. Then, we can find in the morning parts also. We think that actually the painter always has the hope and dream in his life but how the way of the painter is different with other people. That is always walking in the painting way without looking for other. The next is atmosphere. The atmosphere of this story is always in sadness situation. There are many parts of this story that show us about the sadness. The author shows the truly sadness of the Painter’s life. She gives some parts that are the sensitive side such as how the painter ate and stay in poor condition. Here are the proofs: “At least the painter had a roof over his head—sort of. The janitor in the apartment building where the painter had once owned a unit partitioned off the dark corner under the stairs...” , “...where he kept shards of limestone, brick, and coal. From there, he searched for an empty spot of pavement, usually finding one in the remotest corner of the park, and crawled on his hands and knees until dark...” , “Here we go, the painter thought. I must be losing my mind from hunger.

            The point of view of this story is third person omniscient. The reason is this story uses the view of the author to describe and explain about all of the character and to support the plot. The author knows well about what the characters feel and think. The author isn't limited knowing this story. The author can know things that others don't, can make comments about what's happening, and can see inside the minds of other characters. Besides, we can find several conversations in this story by using he, she, it, I, you and they also. The proofs are “I don’t know, really. I’m in a bit of a hurry.”, “Adik is my husband...” , “You mean Limping Vera?”, “Your wife told me that you sold her apartment. Is it true?”, “Wait a minute. These new Russians, did they already pay you?”, “The fire escape leads to the attic. From there, you get onto the roof.”Therefore, we can analyse that the author wants to convince the reader about the characterization in this story based on her explanation in every part of this story. Moreover, we just find several conversations that support the author’s explanation. By these ways, the reader will know if the focus side of the author is showing the real condition of the Painter’s life as the main character.

            The style of this short story consists of formal style. The reason is the author uses the vocabulary in high level and for example is in this sentence “There once lived a painter so destitute that he couldn’t afford a single crayon...”. The next is the structure of this story is structured because this story has the dramatic plot type and it shows that the elements structure of this story is systematic and chronological from the beginning to the end. As we know in the structure of this plot is the proof of this reason. Furthermore, this short story uses 3^rd person omniscience as the point of view to give more understanding to the audience. As we know that the author uses all of pronoun like he, she, it, I, you and they but the author know well about the character and the plot of the story. In addition, the author can know things that others don't, can make comments about what's happening, and can see inside the minds of other characters. Then, the author uses dialog in this short story to support the point of view that is used. The following is the level of complexity. We can know that this story has high complexity because using complex sentences most of the hold text. Besides, the author uses simple sentence also to support this short story. The example is “As the painter’s back rent accumulated, however, the janitor felt more and more aggravated at the sight of his prone body when he came in early in the morning to get his shovel or his broom”. In the following, the author chooses to use flashback in one part of this story when the Painter remembered about the Izvosia who was his old friend in Art College as in this sample “Don’t you remember me? I’m Izvosia! I used to take your lunch money at school!” The painter immediately remembered this Izvosia, a rare scoundrel, who was two years older than him and had always taken his money, his erasers, and his crayons.”  Furthermore, the short story is in detail of writing because this short story shows us the detail explanation about the characters in every part of this short story. Moreover, the author knows well about every part and side of characters and characters’ feeling in this short story. The setting of this story is shown just in the morning and at nightfall but the author doesn’t describe the setting usage. She just uses it to support this story by using high vocabulary and support this story. The following is about the event in this short story. The author describes convoluted conflict in this story because the main character got conflict easily because of his gullible.

            The tones of this short story are sadness and suffer. These tones are supported by showing the several words in this short story. There are hopeless, crawled, hungry, hurt, shuffling, twitching, trembling, stumbled, homeless and gullible. The author is really showing the strong word to convince the reader how they feel the tone this short story. Therefore, the author uses these kinds of words to support the message of this story to the reader. 

The mood of this short story is sadness. If the reader reads the all of this short story, they will get this feeling because this story describes how the painter’s life is difficult in every time and everywhere. Moreover, he always tries to continue his life although it is in hard condition. Then, the journey life of the painter is so colourful also because he got any problem and lied by someone else twice that makes his life sorrow without having any money and homeless. Besides, he is always in his intention to paint whatever his condition although sometimes he felt hopeless also. In addition, the reader can feel angry, disappointed and dejected when knowing about the painter because he did not struggle to change his life with looking for job or other way. He always showed about his painting skill until he painted on the pavement with limestone, brick and coal. In the other hand, the reader can be happy because this short story has a happy ending with unknown ending before. The painter married with Vera and he got his apartment again because all of Adik’s crime was known. This ending is supported when the Painter got the painting equipments that have magic sides. It could change the painter’s life because there were many people appreciated his painting and gave benefits to him. Accordingly, the reader can feel the mood such as sadness, angry, disappointed, dejected and happy in the end of this story that is shown by the author.

The theme of this short story is about a poor painter that always tricked by evil person until he gets magic painting equipments from mysterious grandmother’s suggestion that actually it is Izvosia’s and it can make painting from it until to be a famous painter. The theme is implied theme because revealed gradually through of the elements such as plot, character, point of view, etc.

The symbol of this story is a canvas of a painter, with a canvas he can interpret his world through colour, texture and subject. With canvas also, a painter can utter his idea and his feeling through painting and the result of his painting is literature creation. This symbol include in personal symbol because this symbol based on the painter that have feeling of the painting and associate with painter’s experience. Then, based on these symbols the painter can change his life and his to be happiness and covering all of his conflicts.

The motif of this short story is painter. The reason is because this short story tells about the painter’s life that has colourful journey. Starting from sadness in every part of his life and in the end he got the happiness.

The imagery of this short story is about the smell of the bread a bakery store. As we know that the bakery store is the place that is the commonly visited by the Painter when he is in suffer condition and hungry condition. In this part of this story, the painter often passed around of the bakery store and smelled the bread. It shows us about the language that told us about the bad condition of a man that is in the difficult condition.

In conclusion, the strongest element of this short story is in point of view. The reason is it can support every part of these elements in this story. This story uses 3^rd person omniscient point of view which the author knows well about every part in this short story and it is supported by using several conversations that uses he, she, it, I, you and they. It really supports the explanation and description of other parts such as the characters. In characterization, the author shows the detail point of the character by telling and showing. Then, in every part of this story is told and described the main character’s conflict in the good way. Accordingly, POV has an important relation in explaining and describing the real purpose of the characters. Furthermore, this story uses the Dramatic or Progressive Plot that has structural event and chronological structure which first establishes the setting and conflict. In this part we can know that POV in this short story is really influencing the plot. The reason is POV can deliver and show the real message of the plot to the reader. As we know that the POV of this short story is supporting in describing and explaining in the author’s way. The following is about the setting that is shown in several places in a city but just in two times in the morning and at nightfall. It becomes the weakness element in this story because the limited of reaching the setting. Then, we can find the sad atmosphere that is always drawn in every part of this story and in every time when the painter got new problem in his life with continuing time. Although, there are a few part that tells about the gladness of the painter but the dominant atmosphere is in sadness condition. Furthermore, the POV is supporting the setting in a limited side. It is not as large as the other elements that have been supported by POV. Therefore, we can know that every element in this story is always supporting each other although it is in the limited side.