Before Tchaikovsky could produce “The Queen Of Spades” into an engaging opera, several modifications had to be made to Pushkin’s short story. Pushkin’s story depicted a cold, callous, manipulative and greedy main character, Gherman. Tchaikovsky transformed Gherman into a likable lover whose cause is no longer greed. In Pushkin’s short story Lisa is simply Gherman’s gambling instrument unlike the opera where she is Gherman’s love interest. Tchaikovsky has also promoted Lisa to the Countess’s granddaughter, which, although sometimes overlooked, is crucial to the opera. Whether or not these changes are beneficial to the story is debatable.

One of the most notable changes that Tchaikovsky made is the addition of a tragic conclusion to the story. The two leading characters take their own lives. When Lisa and Gherman’s meeting at the bridge is prematurely ended because of Gherman’s untimely departure, Lisa drowns herself in the icy waters below. Lisa killed herself because she perceived Gherman’s early departure as an indication

In Pushkin’s story Gherman is an extremely calculating man who uses Lisa as a tool solely to get to the Countess. He manipulates Lisa into trusting and ultimately loving him. Gherman’s voraciousness controls many of his actions. When the Countess dies “One thing only grieved him: the irreparable loss of the secret from which he had expected to gain great wealth.” Gherman’s coldhearted attitude did not allow for a love story. Tchaikovsky changed Gherman into a shameful lover, changing the theme of the story from greed to love. It also causes the viewer to pity Gherman and feel bad for him even though he kills the Countess. The obvious explanation for the change in Gherman’s character was to make the tale more appealing to the audience. Tchaikovsky’s ulterior motive however could have been to depict a character that he could identify with. Tchaikovsky, being a homosexual, could easily relate to Ghermans character. Both Tchaikovsky and Gherman had to overcome obstacles and social customs of the times in order to be with someone who they loved. Tchaikovsky, like Gherman, knew that he was

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