Vlastʹ tʹmy

About “Vlastʹ tʹmy”

The Power of Darkness is a five-act play by Lev Tolstoy that follows the downfall of the peasants Anísya and Nikíta as they give in to temptations such as adultery, drunkenness, and murder. Written in 1886, the play was suppressed by censors until 1902. It offers a realistic depiction of the harsh and often corrupt aspects of Russian peasant life. Like other late works by Tolstoy, such as Resurrection, the play explores human depravity and includes a critical view of the Russian Empire's role in maintaining poverty and ignorance among the lower classes.