The lantern at the lighthouse (short story)

The work was created in the United States during the travels of Senkevich in this country. The writer went there in 1876. He sent correspondence to Poland , which was published in the Polish Newspaper . Senkevich reported on the origin of the short story in footnotes: This story is based on real events, which Julian Horane wrote about in his time in one of his letters from America . The prototype of the image of the caretaker of the lighthouse Skavinsky was a Pole named Siellawa. The reason for his dismissal from office was the failure to perform duties in the form of reading Murdelio Sigmund Kaczkowski .

The action takes place in the 70s. XIX century in Aspinwall and on a lonely islet, located near Panama . The text, in which the author used flashback , tells about events that have been happening since 1830, that is, from the November uprising in which Skavinsky took part.

Skavinsky

The main character is an old Pole , a wanderer, looking for a quiet position in a place where he could live permanently. Born in Poland. He led a hectic life, fought in many wars and uprisings (November uprising, civil war , etc.). The next step in his life was “finding his place” - he took many professions then - was, in particular, a whaler, a diamond seeker and the owner of a cigar factory. He lost all these posts under mysterious circumstances, and he explained it to himself as bad luck pursuing him. The turning point in his life was the beginning of work at the lighthouse in Aspinwall. There he found his coveted peace, and he led an ascetic life, practically without leaving the lighthouse. His real name is not known.

Other heroes

• Isaac Falconbridge - Consul of the United States of America in Panama. Takes Skavinsky for work.
• Jones is a security guard, a loader, who brought food to the ranger every day on a boat.

The hero of the story is Pole - Skavinsky, who arrives at Aspinwall to occupy the post of lighthouse keeper here. He was tired of a life full of adventures, which, unfortunately, usually ends in a disaster for Skavinsky. Taking part in the uprising, he was forced to leave the country, he wandered around the world, risking his life many times. In the end, he began to look for a place to live in. I chose Aspinwall and the lighthouse , where a quiet, calm life began. I thought and remembered a lot, never forgetting my duties. He admired the tropical nature, made friends with the seagulls visiting his lighthouse.

Once, in addition to food supplies, Skavinsky received a parcel with books. Among them I found Pan Tadeusz Mickiewicz. During the reading, I forgot about where he is. I felt myself again in my own country, which I missed so much. In the end, he fell into a deep sleep about Poland. The next morning I received a message that a boat had crashed due to his carelessness. Only then did he realize that he had not lit the lighthouse. He was dismissed from his post, and he had to go on new wandering trails. This time, however, he had with him a particle of his homeland - Pan Tadeusz .

• "The Lantern" is a 1976 film.