The Seven Who Were Hanged: Analysis of Setting
"The Seven Who Were Hanged" explores the setting of early 20th-century St. Petersburg, a city emblematic of the turbulent socio-political climate in Russia during this period. Although the city is never explicitly named, its identity is evident as the capital and center of governmental authority. The narrative focuses on the unjust treatment of individuals, particularly revolutionaries, by the state. This is illustrated through the experiences of seven condemned individuals—five revolutionaries and two common criminals—who face execution without clear evidence of their crimes. The setting emphasizes the oppressive atmosphere of a prison where the accused await their fate, juxtaposed with the changing seasons that signify life outside their cells, symbolizing the loss of their own lives. Additionally, the courtroom serves as a stark reminder of the system designed to convict rather than seek justice, highlighting the oppressive nature of the authorities. Through these settings, the text evokes a sense of sympathy for the condemned, inviting readers to reflect on themes of injustice and the human experience in the face of death.
The Seven Who Were Hanged: Analysis of Setting
First published:Rasskaz o semi poveshannykh, 1908 (English translation, 1909)
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Social realism
Time of work: Early twentieth century
Asterisk denotes entries on real places.
Places Discussed
*St. Petersburg
*St. Petersburg. Capital of Russia at the time this novel is set. The entire story takes place in this city; Leonid Andreyev never mentions it by name, but its identity is obvious. There are no glimpses of the city itself. Andreyev uses it simply because it was the capital and nerve center of the country. He also implies that the Russian government was unjust in its treatment of those who disagreed with it. Andreyev does not take political sides; as a matter of fact, political issues are hardly mentioned. It is clear, however, that he portrays the revolutionaries with sympathy. Other locations are mentioned in passing, such as the unnamed villages where two of the condemned men committed their crimes.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, Russia was troubled by the unrest of workers who demanded better living conditions. This was manifested in the revolutions of 1905 and 1917. The Seven Who Were Hanged depicts the death sentences and hangings of five revolutionaries and two common criminals in St. Petersburg. The revolutionaries are branded terrorists by the authorities, though there is no proof of their crime.
Prison
Prison. Fortress building in which the accused prisoners are held. Their alleged crime was not Andreyev’s main concern. Rather, he wanted to show the behavior of the unjustly condemned facing death. The prisoners languish in their cells in a fortress, where they can only sense that spring is coming and everything is ready to burst to life except for them. The only external sound they hear is the striking of a steeple clock, especially at night. The ticking is symbolical of their lives literally eroding by the minute. The final scene is placed in a forest, where the hanging takes place. Amid the soft snow and the balmy forest the lives of seven young people are snuffed away.
Courtroom
Courtroom. Nondescript government building in St. Petersburg which seems to have one purpose only—to convict people and sentence them to death. The novel’s action takes place mainly in this room.
Bibliography
Connolly, Julian W. “The Russian Short Story 1890-1917.” In The Russian Short Story: A Critical History, edited by Charles Moser. Boston: Twayne, 1986. Places The Seven Who Were Hanged in a historical framework of Andreyev’s development. Emphasizes Andreyev’s attention to the emotions of the convicted and terms The Seven Who Were Hanged his most famous political story.
Hutchings, Stephen. A Semiotic Analysis of the Short Stories of Leonid Andreev 1900-1909. London: Modern Humanities Research Association, 1990. A fashionable semiotic study of Andreyev’s short stories, placing them within the context of early twentieth century Russian literature and culture.
Kaun, Alexander. Leonid Andreyev: A Critical Study. New York: B. W. Huebsch, 1924. Stan-dard critical biography of Andreyev, covering all aspects of his works. Labels The Seven Who Were Hanged a masterpiece in both technique and emotional power, because of its simplicity of style, keen psychological analysis, humane sympathy, and lasting effect.
Mihajlov, Mihajlo. Russian Themes. Translated by Marija Mihajlov. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1968. Far-reaching treatment of Russian writers. Discusses the political aspect of The Seven Who Were Hanged, pointing out Andreyev’s sympathies for the revolutionaries in their struggle with the czarist regime.
Newcombe, Josephine M. Leonid Andreyev. Letchworth, England: Bradda Books, 1972. Brief but pithy introduction to Andreyev, with a pertinent discussion of The Seven Who Were Hanged on pages 85-90.