Beloved Boles – Maxim Gorky

Summary

The story is about Teresa, a lonely Polish woman living in Moscow. She asks a student to write letters to her lover, Boles. At first, the student believes Boles is real, but later he discovers that Boles does not exist. Teresa has invented him because she has no one to love her or care for her. Listening to the letters makes her feel happy and less lonely. The student begins to understand her pain and writes letters regularly for her. Teresa thanks him by mending his clothes. The story shows the deep human need for love and kindness, and teaches that indifference to others’ suffering is cruel.

Summary in Malayalam

മോസ്കോയിൽ താമസിക്കുന്ന പോളിഷ് സ്ത്രീയായ തെരേസയാണ് കഥയിലെ പ്രധാന കഥാപാത്രം. അവളുടെ അയൽവാസിയാണ് വിദ്യാർത്ഥിയായ കഥാകൃത്ത്. തെരേസക്ക് കുടുംബമോ സുഹൃത്തുക്കളോ ഇല്ലാത്തതിനാൽ അവൾ വളരെ ഏകാകിയായി (lonely) ജീവിക്കുന്നു. സ്നേഹത്തിനും കരുതലിനും വേണ്ടി അവൾ “ബോൾസ്” എന്നൊരു സാങ്കല്പിക (imaginary) ബോയ്ഫ്രണ്ടിനെ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്നു. വിദ്യാർത്ഥിയോട് അവൾ ബോൾസിന് കത്തുകൾ എഴുതാൻ അപേക്ഷിക്കുന്നു. വിദ്യാർത്ഥി ആദ്യം ആശ്ചര്യപ്പെടുകയും അവളെ പരിഹസിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു. പിന്നീട് ബോൾസ് യാഥാർത്ഥ്യത്തിൽ ഇല്ലെന്ന് മനസ്സിലാക്കി അവളുടെ ഏകാന്തത തിരിച്ചറിയുന്നു. അവൾക്ക് ആശ്വാസം നൽകാൻ വിദ്യാർത്ഥി പതിവായി കത്തുകൾ എഴുതിത്തരുന്നു. ഈ കഥ, മനുഷ്യർക്ക് സ്നേഹവും കരുതലും എത്രത്തോളം ആവശ്യമാണെന്ന്, അവരെ അവഗണിക്കുന്നത് എത്ര ക്രൂരമാണെന്ന് നമ്മെ പഠിപ്പിക്കുന്നു.

Character Sketches

Teresa

Teresa is a tall, strong Polish woman with dark hair, bushy eyebrows, and a coarse face. Her loud bass voice and rough appearance make others fear or avoid her. Yet inside, she is lonely and tender. She invents an imaginary lover named Boles to comfort herself, showing her deep hunger for affection. Teresa’s actions may seem foolish, but they reveal her human need for love and kindness. She asks the student to write letters to and from Boles, and listens to them as if he were real. This illusion gives her hope and joy. Teresa represents the pain of neglected people who create dreams to survive. She is tragic, but also touching and very human.

The Student (Narrator)

The student is a young man living opposite Teresa in Moscow. At first, he dislikes her rough looks, loud voice, and drunken behavior. He avoids her and even mocks her idea of having a “young man.” But when he discovers that Boles is imaginary, he begins to understand her loneliness. His attitude changes from irritation to pity and compassion. He writes letters for her twice a week, pretending to be Boles, so she can feel loved. The student learns a lesson about human suffering and the cruelty of indifference. His character shows the importance of empathy. Though he starts with pride and self‑sufficiency, he ends by realizing that kindness can ease another person’s pain.

Boles (Imaginary Character)

Boles is not a real person but Teresa’s invention. She imagines him as her faithful lover who writes tender letters to her. Through Boles, Teresa creates a world where she is loved and cared for. He becomes a symbol of her longing for affection and companionship. Though he never truly exists, Boles plays a powerful role in Teresa’s life. He gives her comfort, makes her cry with joy, and helps her forget her loneliness. For the student, Boles is a lesson in compassion: he sees how an imaginary figure can bring real happiness to someone in pain. Boles represents hope, illusion, and the human need to dream when reality is too harsh.

Phrasal Verbs

• Happened to live – to live somewhere by chance, not by plan.
• Leave open – to keep the door not closed.
• Burst out laughing – to suddenly start laughing loudly.
• Fire away – to begin speaking or dictating without hesitation.
• Thank you all the same – to express thanks even if the offer is refused.
• Flung open – to open something suddenly and forcefully.
• Slammed shut – to close something violently with noise.
• Turned abruptly – to change direction suddenly.
• Came back – to return to a place.
• Take it – to accept or receive something.
• Made it out – to understand or figure out something.
• Looked up – to raise one’s eyes.
• Shake off – to remove or get rid of something (here, ash from a cigarette).
• Turns out – to result in or end up as.

Conversations

Conversation 1: Teresa Offers Help

• Teresa: Mr Student, may I help you today?
• Student: Help me? With what?
• Teresa: Your socks have holes. I can mend them.
• Student: That is kind, but why do you care?
• Teresa: Because you write letters for me.
• Student: Letters to someone who does not exist.
• Teresa: Still, they make me happy.
• Student: And mending clothes makes you happy?
• Teresa: Yes, it feels like I am useful.
• Student: Then I will gladly accept your help.

Conversation 2: Teresa Speaks of Dreams

• Teresa: Mr Student, do you dream at night?
• Student: Sometimes, yes. Why do you ask?
• Teresa: I dream of Boles often.
• Student: But Boles is not real.
• Teresa: Dreams make him real for me.
• Student: Do they give you peace?
• Teresa: Yes, I wake up smiling.
• Student: And when you wake, is it painful?
• Teresa: A little, but I keep the dream alive.
• Student: I see, dreams are your comfort.

Conversation 3: Teresa Faces Loneliness

• Teresa: Mr Student, the nights are very long.
• Student: Do you feel lonely then?
• Teresa: Yes, the silence hurts me.
• Student: And Boles helps you forget?
• Teresa: Yes, his letters make me feel loved.
• Student: But you know he is not real.
• Teresa: I know, but I pretend.
• Student: Pretending makes life easier?
• Teresa: Easier, yes, but never full.
• Student: I wish I could ease your pain.

Conversation 4: Teresa Talks About Kindness

• Teresa: Mr Student, why are people so cruel?
• Student: Perhaps they do not understand others.
• Teresa: They laugh at me when I am drunk.
• Student: That is unkind.
• Teresa: I only wanted someone to smile at me.
• Student: And instead they mocked you.
• Teresa: Yes, but you did not mock me now.
• Student: I learned to be kinder.
• Teresa: Kindness is sweeter than wine.
• Student: And it costs nothing to give.

Conversation 5: The Student Reflects

• Student: Teresa, you have taught me something.
• Teresa: What have I taught you, sir?
• Student: That loneliness is heavier than poverty.
• Teresa: Yes, hunger is easier than emptiness.
• Student: Your letters showed me this truth.
• Teresa: And your pen gave me hope.
• Student: I once thought you foolish.
• Teresa: But now you see my heart.
• Student: Yes, I see your need for love.
• Teresa: Then you understand me at last.

Alternative Endings

Teresa Finds Real Friendship

I continued to write letters for Teresa. Twice a week she came, her coarse face softened, her eyes shining with strange joy. She listened to the words as if they were music, and afterwards she would mend my socks or patch my shirts with clumsy but careful hands. Slowly, I began to see her not as a nuisance, but as a companion. We spoke of small things—the weather, the street below, the silence of the nights. And in those talks, I felt her loneliness less heavy. She no longer needed Boles so much, for she had found someone real to share her days. And I, too, learned that kindness is not wasted, even on the roughest soul.

Teresa Meets a Real Boles

One evening, as I sat at my window, Teresa knocked timidly. Her face was glowing. “Mr Student,” she said, “there is a new worker in the yard. His name is Boleslav.” I stared at her. She laughed, a deep, trembling laugh. “Do you see? He is real. My dream has walked into life.” I watched her run down the stairs, her heavy steps echoing with strange lightness. Days passed, and I saw her often with the man—talking, smiling, even singing in her bass voice. The letters were no longer needed. Teresa had found her Boles, not in paper, but in flesh. And I thought: sometimes life, cruel as it is, surprises us with mercy.

Teresa Writes for Herself

After some weeks, Teresa came no more. I wondered, until one day I found her at her table, bent over a sheet of paper. Her thick fingers moved slowly, painfully, but she was writing. “Look, Mr Student,” she said, “I can write to Boles myself now.” Her eyes gleamed with pride. She read aloud her clumsy words, and though they were broken, they carried her heart. She no longer asked me for letters. She wrote them, kept them, and sometimes read them aloud to herself. I saw that she had found strength in her own hand. And I thought: even in misery, a human being can create a little light, if only with a pen and a dream.

Letters

Letter 1: From Teresa to a Friend

Dear Anna,

I hope you are fine. I want to share something with you today. Life in Moscow is very hard for me. I live alone in a small room, and most people laugh at me because of my rough voice and poor looks. But I have found a way to feel happy.

There is a student who lives opposite my room. I asked him to write letters for me to my lover, Boles. You may be surprised, but Boles is not real. I created him in my imagination because I was so lonely. When the student writes the letters, I listen carefully and feel as if Boles is speaking to me. I cry, but my tears are sweet.

The student has become kinder to me now. He even lets me mend his socks and shirts. I feel useful and thankful. People may laugh at me, but I know I am human and I need love. These letters give me hope to live.

With love,
Teresa.

Letter 2: From the Student to a Friend

Dear Revlon,

I want to tell you about a strange but touching experience. In my building lives a Polish woman named Teresa. At first, I disliked her because she looked rough and spoke in a loud bass voice. I avoided her and even mocked her sometimes.

One day she asked me to write a letter to her lover, Boles. I agreed, but later I discovered that Boles was not real. She had invented him because she was very lonely. When I read the letters aloud, she cried with joy. I realized that she was not foolish, but only in need of love and kindness.

Now I write letters for her regularly. She thanks me by mending my clothes. This small act has taught me a big lesson: mocking lonely people is cruel, but kindness can make their lives easier. I will never forget this.

Your friend,
Victor.

Diaries

Diary Entry 1: Teresa’s Diary

Today I asked the student to write a letter for me. I told him it was for Boles, my young man. He looked surprised, but he wrote the words I dictated. When I listened to the letter, I felt so happy, as if Boles was real. I know there is no such person, but I cannot live without love. These letters make me believe someone cares for me. People laugh at me and call me foolish, but they do not know my pain. I only want kindness and affection. The student may think I am strange, but I am thankful to him. His letters give me hope in this lonely world.

Diary Entry 2: The Student’s Diary

Teresa came again today, asking me to write another letter. At first, I thought she was lying and trying to fool me. Later, she admitted that Boles does not exist. I was shocked, but then I understood her loneliness. She has no one to love her, so she created an imaginary friend. When she listens to the letters, she cries with joy. I feel pity for her now. I realize that mocking such people is cruel. Everyone needs kindness, even those who look rough or strange. I will continue to write letters for her, because it makes her life easier. This experience has taught me the value of compassion.

Diary Entry 3: Teresa’s Final Thoughts

I know Boles is not real, but he lives in my heart. When the student writes letters, I feel as if Boles is speaking to me. I cry, but my tears are sweet. For a moment, I forget my loneliness. I mend the student’s clothes to thank him for his kindness. He may not understand me fully, but he has given me comfort. Life has been cruel to me, but these letters are my joy. People may laugh at me, but I do not care. I am a human being, and I need love like everyone else. Even if Boles is only a dream, he makes my life bearable.

Questions with Short Answers

1. Who is the main character in the story?
   The main character is Teresa, a Polish woman. She is tall, strong, and has a loud bass voice. She feels very lonely and invents an imaginary lover called Boles.
2. Where does the student live?
   The student lives in Moscow. His room is opposite Teresa’s room on the top floor. He often avoids her because of her rough looks and loud voice.
3. What favour does Teresa ask first?
   Teresa asks the student to write a letter. She wants the letter to be sent to her lover Boles. She believes this will make her feel happy and loved.
4. To whom is the letter written?
   The letter is written to Boles. Teresa calls him her “young man” and faithful lover. She imagines him as someone who truly cares for her.
5. How long has Teresa known Boles, according to her?
   Teresa says she has known Boles for six years. She speaks of him as if he were real. But in truth, he is only a creation of her imagination.
6. Is Boles a real person?
   No, Boles is not real. He exists only in Teresa’s mind. She invents him to escape her loneliness.
7. Why does Teresa invent Boles?
   Teresa invents Boles because she feels unloved. She has no one to care for her in real life. The letters make her believe someone loves her.
8. How does Teresa feel when she hears the letters?
   Teresa feels very happy when the letters are read aloud. She cries with joy, even though Boles is not real. The letters give her comfort and hope.
9. What does Teresa do in return for the student’s help?
   Teresa mends the student’s socks and shirts. She does this as a way of thanking him. It shows her gratitude and kindness.
10. What lesson does the student learn?
    The student learns that lonely people need kindness. He understands that mocking them is cruel. Compassion can make life easier for those who suffer.

Questions with Long Answers

1. Why did Teresa ask the student to write a letter?
   Teresa was a lonely Polish woman living in Moscow. She had no family or friends to care for her. To escape her sadness, she invented an imaginary lover named Boles. She asked the student to write letters to Boles. Listening to the letters made her feel loved. She imagined that Boles was real and cared for her. The letters gave her comfort and hope. They helped her forget her loneliness for a short time.
2. How did the student feel about Teresa in the beginning?
   At first, the student disliked Teresa very much. He thought she was rough and frightening. Her loud bass voice and drunken behaviour made him avoid her. He never left his door open when she was at home. He even mocked her when she called herself a “girl.” He saw her only as a nuisance. He did not understand her pain. His attitude was full of pride and indifference.
3. What was Teresa’s secret about Boles?
   Teresa’s secret was that Boles did not exist. She had created him in her imagination. She wanted to escape her sadness and feel loved. By asking the student to write letters, she made her dream stronger. She listened to the letters as if they were real. She cried with joy when she heard them. The letters gave her hope and happiness. They helped her survive her loneliness.
4. How did the student react when he discovered the truth?
   The student was shocked when Teresa admitted the truth. At first, he laughed at her foolishness. Later, he realized she was only trying to ease her loneliness. He began to feel pity for her. He understood that she was a human being in need of kindness. His attitude changed to compassion. He started writing letters regularly for her. He learned to respect her feelings.
5. Why did Teresa cry when she heard the letters?
   Teresa cried because the letters touched her heart. She imagined Boles speaking to her with love. The words gave her joy and comfort. Her tears were not of sorrow but of relief. She felt less lonely when she listened. She believed someone cared for her. The letters made her life easier. They gave her strength to face her sadness.
6. What did Teresa do in return for the student’s help?
   Teresa wanted to thank the student for his kindness. She mended his socks and shirts. Her work was clumsy but done with care. It showed her gratitude and affection. She valued the student’s help very much. She wanted to repay him in the only way she could. Her small acts of service showed her good heart. They proved she was thankful for his support.
7. What lesson did the student learn from Teresa?
   The student learned that lonely people hunger for love. He realized that mocking them is cruel. Compassion can make life easier for those who suffer. He saw that kindness is more powerful than pride. Teresa’s story opened his eyes. He began to respect the feelings of others. He understood that every person needs affection. He learned the value of empathy and humanity.
8. How does the story show the cruelty of indifference?
   The story shows how society ignores people like Teresa. She was poor and rough, so others avoided her. Yet she longed for affection like anyone else. The student’s indifference hurt her at first. Later, he saw that ignoring such people is cruel. Indifference adds to their suffering. It makes their loneliness heavier. The story teaches us to be kind instead of indifferent.
9. What is the central theme of the story?
   The central theme is the human need for love. Teresa invents Boles because she cannot bear her loneliness. The student learns that kindness can ease suffering. Indifference only makes life cruel. The story teaches compassion and empathy. It shows that every human being deserves affection. Even rough or poor people need care. Love and kindness are the true lessons of the story.
10. Why is the story titled “Her Lover” or “Beloved Boles”?
    The title refers to Teresa’s imaginary lover, Boles. Though he does not exist, he is important to her. Through him, she experiences love and hope. The letters make her believe she is cared for. Boles becomes her comfort in a harsh world. He represents her longing for affection. The title highlights her deep need for love. It shows how dreams can ease loneliness.