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Comedy in three acts
Dedicated to Prov Mikhailovich Sadovsky.
Faces:
Gordey Karpych Tortsov, a rich merchant. Pelageya Egorovna, his wife. Lyubov Gordeevna, their daughter. We love Karpych Tortsov, his brother, wasted. African Savich Korshunov, manufacturer. Mitya, Tortsov's clerk. Yasha Guslin, Tortsov's nephew. Grisha Razlyulyaev, a young merchant, the son of a rich father. Anna Ivanovna, young widow.
Masha Lisa
friends of Lyubov Gordeevna.
Egorushka, a boy, a distant relative of Tortsov. Arina, Lyubov Gordeevna's nanny. Guests, guests, servants, mummers and others.The action takes place in county town, in the house of the merchant Tortsov, during Christmas time.
Act one
Small clerk's room; there is a door on the back wall, a bed in the corner to the left, a wardrobe to the right; there is a window on the left wall, a table near the window, a chair near the table; near the right wall there is a desk and a wooden stool; there is a guitar next to the bed; There are books and papers on the table and desk.
First appearance
Mitya walks back and forth around the room; Yegorushka sits on a stool and reads “Bova Korolevich.”
Yegorushka (reads). “My lord, father, glorious and brave king, Kiribit Verzulovich, now I don’t have the courage to marry him, because when I was in my youth, King Guidon wooed me.” Mitya. What, Yegorushka, are our houses? Yegorushka (presses his finger on the place where he reads, so as not to make a mistake). There is no one; went for a ride. Gordey Karpych is alone at home. (Reads.) “That’s what Kiribit Verzulovich told his daughter”... (Pinches with his finger.) Only so angry that it’s a disaster! I’ve already left - everyone is arguing. (Reads.) “Then the beautiful Militrisa Kirbitevna, calling her servant Licharda to her...” Mitya. Who is he angry with? Yegorushka (clamps again). To my uncle, to Lyubim Karpych. On the second holiday, Uncle Lyubim Karpych dined with us, during dinner he got drunk, and began to throw out different knees, but it’s funny like that. I’m funny, it’s painful, I couldn’t stand it, I burst into laughter, and just looking at me, that’s all. Uncle Gordey Karpych took this as an insult and ignorance, became angry with him, and drove him away. Uncle Lyubim Karpych took it and, in retaliation against him, disobeyed him, went with the beggars and stood at the cathedral. Uncle Gordey Karpych says: he put the whole city to shame, he says. Yes, now he is angry with everyone indiscriminately who comes to hand. (Reads.) “With the intention of coming under our city.” Mitya (looking out the window). It seems that ours have arrived... That's right! Pelageya Egorovna, Lyubov Gordeevna, and the guests with them. Yegorushka (hides the fairy tale in his pocket). Run upstairs. (Leaves.)Second phenomenon
Mitya (one). What a melancholy, Lord!.. It’s a holiday on the street, everyone has a holiday in the house, and you sit within four walls!.. I’m a stranger to everyone, no family, no friends!.. And then there’s... Oh, come on ! It’s better to get down to business, maybe the melancholy will pass. (Sits down at the desk and thinks, then starts singing.)Her beauty cannot be described!..
Black eyebrows, cloudy eyes.
Yes, with drag. And just like yesterday, in a sable coat, covered with a handkerchief, he walks away from mass, so... ah!.. I think so, such beauty has never been imagined! (Thinks, then sings.)
So where was this beauty born...
Well, work will come to mind here! I wish I could still think about her!.. My soul was tormented by melancholy. Oh you, woe-sorrower!.. (She covers her face with her hands and sits silently.)
Included Pelageya Egorovna, dressed for winter, and stops at the door.
The third phenomenon
Mitya and Pelageya Egorovna. Pelageya Egorovna. Mitya, Mityenka! Mitya. What do you want? Pelageya Egorovna. Come and see us this evening, my dear. Play with the girls and sing songs. Mitya. Very grateful. I will consider it my first duty, sir. Pelageya Egorovna. Why should you sit in the office all alone? Not much fun! Will you come in, or what? Gordey Karpych will not be at home. Mitya. Okay, sir, I'll definitely come in. Pelageya Egorovna. He'll leave again... yes, he'll go there, to this, to his... what's his name?.. Mitya. To Afrikan Savich, sir? Pelageya Egorovna. Yes, yes! I imposed myself, God forgive me! Mitya (giving a chair). Sit down, Pelageya Egorovna. Pelageya Egorovna. Oh, no time. Well, I’ll sit down a little. (Sits down.) So here you go... such a misfortune! Really!.. We became friends, so what? Yes! What a deal! Why? What's the point? Please tell me! He is a violent and drunk man, African Savich... yes! Mitya. Maybe Gordey Karpych has something to do with Afrikan Savich. Pelageya Egorovna. What's going on! There is no business. After all, he, Afrikan Savich, drinks everything with aglicin. There he has aglichin at the dilekhtor factory - and they drink it... yes! But ours has no trace with them. How can you talk to him? His pride alone is worth something. I, he says, have no one to keep company with here, everyone, he says, is a bastard, that’s all, you see, men, and they live like peasants; and that one, you see, is from Moscow, more everything is in Moscow... and rich. And what happened to him? But suddenly, my dear, suddenly! Still, he had some sense. Well, we didn’t live luxuriously, of course, but still in such a way that God forbid everyone; But last year I went on vacation and took it over from someone. I adopted it, I adopted it, they told me... I adopted all these things. Now everything Russian is not nice to him; I get along with one thing - I want to live in the present way, to be involved in fashion. Yes, yes! .. Put on a cap, he says! Ugh! Well, here you go with him! Yes! I haven’t drunk before... really... never, but now they’re drinking with African! He must be drunk (pointing to his head) and got confused. (Silence.) I really think it’s the enemy who’s confusing him! How can you not have any sense!.. Well, if only he was still young: for a young man it’s all about dressing up, and all this is flattering; and then he’s nearly sixty! Darling, nearly sixty! Right! What’s fashionable is yours and the current one, I tell him, it changes every day, but our Russian custom has lived on from time immemorial! The old people were no more stupid than us. But how can you even talk to him, given his cool character, my dear! Mitya. What can I say! A strict man, sir. Pelageya Egorovna. Lyubochka is now in a real time, she needs to be settled, but he gets along with one thing: she has no equal... no, no! Mitya. Maybe Gordey Karpych wants to extradite Lyubov Gordeevna to Moscow. Pelageya Egorovna. Who knows what's on his mind. He looks like a beast, he won’t say a word, as if I’m not his mother... yes, really... I don’t dare say anything to him; unless you talk to a stranger about your grief, cry, vent your soul, that’s all. (Gets up.) Come in, Mitenka. Mitya. I'll come, sir.Guslin enters.
The fourth phenomenon
The same goes for Guslin.
Pelageya Egorovna. Well done again! Come, Yashenka, and sing songs with us upstairs with the girls, you’re a master, and grab a guitar. Guslin. Well, sir, this is not difficult for us, but also, one might say, a pleasure, sir. Pelageya Egorovna. Well, goodbye. Go take a nap for half an hour. Guslin and Mitya. Farewell, sir.Pelageya Egorovna leaves; Mitya sits down at the table, looking sad. Guslin sits on the bed and takes the guitar.
Fifth appearance
Mitya and Yasha Guslin.
Guslin. What a crowd there was for skating!.. And there were yours. Why weren't you there? Mitya. Why, Yasha, I was overcome with sadness and sadness. Guslin. What kind of melancholy? What do you have to worry about? Mitya. How can you not bother? Suddenly the following thoughts come to mind: what kind of person am I in the world? Now my parent is old and poor, I have to support her, but with what? The salary is small, from Gordey Karpych all the insults and abuse, and he reproaches everyone with poverty, as if it were my fault... but he does not increase the salary. You should look for another place, but where will you find him without meeting him? Yes, I must admit, I won’t go to any other place. Guslin. Why don't you go? Life is good with the Razlyulyaevs - they are rich and kind people. Mitya. No, Yasha, not a hand! I’ll endure everything from Gordey Karpych, I’ll be in poverty, but I won’t go. This is my plan! Guslin. Why is this so? Mitya (gets up). Well, there is a reason for this. Yes, Yasha, I still have grief, but no one knows that grief. I didn’t tell anyone about my grief. Guslin. Tell me. Mitya (waving his hand). For what! Guslin. Yes, tell me what is the importance! Mitya. Talk, don’t talk, you won’t help! Guslin. Why should we know? Mitya (approaches Guslin). Nobody will help me. My head is gone! I fell in love with Lyubov Gordeevna painfully. Guslin. What are you doing, Mitya?! How can this be? Mitya. Well, no matter what, it’s already happened. Guslin. Better, Mitya, get it out of your head. This thing will never happen, and it will never be a joy. Mitya. Knowing all this, I can’t figure out my heart. “You can love a friend, you cannot forget!..” (Speaks with strong gestures.)“I fell in love with the red maiden more than my family, more than my tribe!.. Evil people They don’t tell me, they tell me to quit, stop!” Guslin. And even then you have to quit. Anna Ivanovna is my equal: she has nothing, I have nothing, and even then my uncle doesn’t tell me to get married. And you have nothing to think about. Otherwise you’ll get it in your head, and then it’ll be even harder. Mitya (recites).What in the world is most cruel? —
Love is beyond cruelty!
(Walks around the room.) Yasha, have you read Koltsov? (Stops.) Guslin. I read it, but what? Mitya. How he described all these feelings! Guslin. Described it exactly. Mitya. That's exactly what it is. (Walks around the room.) Yasha! Guslin. What? Mitya. I composed the song myself. Guslin. You? Mitya. Yes. Guslin. Let's find a voice and let's sing. Mitya. Fine. Here you go. (Gives him the paper.) And I’ll write a little - there’s something to do: Gordey Karpych will ask. (Sits down and writes.)
Guslin takes the guitar and begins to pick out his voice; Razlyulyaev enters in harmony.
Appearance Six
Same with Razlyulyaev.
Razlyulyaev. Hello, brothers! (Plays harmony and dances.) Guslin. Eko, fool! What did you use to buy this harmony? Razlyulyaev. We know what to play for. Like this... (Plays.) Guslin. Well, important music... nothing to say! Stop it, they tell you. Razlyulyaev. Well, I won’t give it up!.. If I want to, I’ll give it up... That’s the importance! Don't we have any money? (He hits himself in the pocket.) They're ringing! Here we go for a walk - so go for a walk! (Throws out the harmony.)One mountain is high
And the other is low;
One darling is far away
And the other one is close.
Mitya (hits Mitya on the shoulder), and Mitya! Why are you sitting?
Mitya. There is a case. (Continues to study.) Razlyulyaev. Mitya, and Mitya, and I’m walking, brother... really, I’m walking. Wow, go!.. (Sings: “One mountain is high,” etc.) Mitya, oh Mitya! I’ll be walking throughout the holiday, and then I’ll get down to business... My word! Well, don’t we have any money? Here they are... And I’m not drunk... No, I’m just walking... having fun... Mitya. Well, have fun. Razlyulyaev. And after the holiday I’ll get married!.. Truly, I’ll get married! I'll take the rich one. Guslin (Mitya). Well, listen, will it be okay? Razlyulyaev. Sing, sing, I’ll listen. Guslin (sings).No, angrier, more hateful
Evil orphan's share,
More evil than fierce grief,
Harder than bondage!
Happy holiday to everyone in the world,
It's no fun for you!..
Is it a wild little head?
No wine hangover!
Youth is not happy
Beauty does not amuse;
Not a sweetheart girl -
Grief scratches his curls.
During all this time, Razlyulyaev stands rooted to the spot and listens with feeling; At the end of the singing, everyone is silent.
Razlyulyaev. Okay, it hurts good! It's such a pity... It grabs your heart. (Sighs.) Eh, Yasha! Play a funny one, it’s too much of a hassle to drag it out - it’s a holiday today. (Sings.) Play along, Yasha.Guslin plays along.
Mitya. Stop fooling around. Let's sit down in a small group and sing a little song. Razlyulyaev. OK! (They sit down.) Guslin (sings; Mitya and Razlyulyaev join in).You guys are young,
You are my friends...
Gordey Karpych enters; everyone gets up and stops singing.
Seventh Appearance
The same goes for Gordey Karpych.
Gordey Karpych. Why are you singing! They bawler like men! (Mitya.) And you go there! It seems that you don’t live in such a house, not with men. What a half-beer house! So that I don’t have this in the future. (He comes to the table and looks at the papers.) He scattered some papers!.. Mitya. I checked the accounts, sir. Gordey Karpych (takes Koltsov’s book and a notebook with poems). What kind of nonsense is this? Mitya. It’s me, out of boredom, on holidays, sir, who rewrite Mr. Koltsov’s poems. Gordey Karpych. What tenderness in our poverty! Mitya. Actually, I study for my own education, so that I can have a concept. Gordey Karpych. Education! Do you know what education is?.. And he also talks there! If only you could sew a new fur coat! After all, when you come upstairs to us, there are guests... shame! Where do you put the money? Mitya. I am sending it to my mother, because she is old and has nowhere to take it. Gordey Karpych. You send it to your mother! You should have imagined yourself first; The mother doesn’t know what she needs, she wasn’t brought up in luxury, tea, she closed the barns herself. Mitya. It’s better if I endure it, but at least my mother doesn’t need anything. Gordey Karpych. Yes, it's ugly! If you don’t know how to watch yourself with decency, then sit in your kennel; If there's a goal all around, then there's no point in dreaming about yourself! He writes poetry, wants to educate himself, but he walks around like a factory worker! Is this what education consists of, singing stupid songs? That's stupid! (Through clenched teeth and looking sideways at Mitya.) Fool! (After a pause.) Don’t you dare show yourself upstairs in that little fur coat. Do you hear me telling you! (To Razlyulyaev.) And you too! Your father, hey, is raking in money with a shovel, and he’s driving you around in this zip-up bag. Razlyulyaev. What is this! It’s new!.. the cloth is French, they ordered it from Moscow, through an acquaintance... twenty rubles arshin. Well, I don’t need to put on something like that, like Franz Fedorych’s, at the pharmacist’s... short-haired; That's how everyone teases him: stram coat! So what? good people make you laugh! Gordey Karpych. You know a lot! Well, there’s nothing to collect from you! You yourself are stupid, and your father isn’t very smart... he’s been walking around with a greasy belly for a whole century; You live as unenlightened fools, and you will die as fools. Razlyulyaev. Okay. Gordey Karpych (sternly). What? Razlyulyaev. Okay, please. Gordey Karpych. You're ignorant and don't know how to say anything worthwhile! Talking to you is just a waste of words; It’s all the same to the wall, so it is to you, fools. (Leaves.)The eighth phenomenon
The same, without Tortsov.
Razlyulyaev. Look, how formidable! Look, you've lost yourselves! So they were scared of you... Well, keep your pocket! Mitya (to Guslin). This is what my life is like! This is how sweet it feels for me to live in the world! Razlyulyaev. Yes, from such a life - you’ll drink, really, you’ll drink! Come on, don’t think about it. (Sings.)One mountain is high
And the other is low;
One darling is far away
And the other one is close.
Includes: Lyubov Gordeevna
Appearance Ninth
The same ones Lyubov Gordeevna, Anna Ivanovna, Masha and Lisa.
Anna Ivanovna. The world of honest company! Razlyulyaev. You are welcome to our hut. Mitya. Our respect, sir! You are welcome!.. By what fate?.. Anna Ivanovna. But no, they just took it and came. Gordey Karpych left, and Pelageya Egorovna lay down to rest, so now it’s our will... Walk - I don’t want to!.. Mitya. Please sit down obediently.Sit down; Mitya sits opposite Lyubov Gordeevna; Razlyulyaev is walking.
Anna Ivanovna. I'm tired of sitting silently, cracking nuts; Let's go, I say, girls, to the guys, and the girls will love it. Lyubov Gordeevna. What are you making up? We didn’t imagine coming here, you made it up. Anna Ivanovna. How could it not be! Yes, you are the first... It’s a well-known fact that whoever needs what thinks about it: guys about girls, and girls about guys. Razlyulyaev. Ha, ha, ha!.. That's what you, Anna Ivanovna, say exactly. Lyubov Gordeevna. Never again! Masha (to Liza). Oh, what a shame! Lisa. This, Anna Ivanovna, you say is completely opposite. Anna Ivanovna. Oh, modesty! I would have said a word, but it’s not good in front of guys... I was in girls myself, I know everything. Lyubov Gordeevna. There's a difference between girl and girl. Masha. Oh, what a shame! Lisa. What you are saying is very strange even for us and, one might say, embarrassing. Razlyulyaev. Ha, ha, ha!.. Anna Ivanovna. What was the conversation upstairs now? If you want, I’ll tell you!.. Well, talk, or what? What, calm down! Razlyulyaev. Ha, ha, ha!.. Anna Ivanovna. You've got your mouth open! Not about you, I suppose. Razlyulyaev. Hosha is not talking about me, however, maybe there are someone who is thinking about us. We know what we know! (Dances.) Anna Ivanovna (approaches Guslin). What are you doing, bandura player, when you marry me? Guslin (playing guitar). But when permission will be issued from Gordey Karpych. Where should we rush, it doesn’t rain on us. (Nods her head.) Come here, Anna Ivanovna, I need to tell you something.She comes up to him and sits down next to him; he whispers in her ear, pointing to Lyubov Gordeevna and Mitya.
Anna Ivanovna. What are you saying?.. Really! Guslin. This is true. Anna Ivanovna. Well, okay, shut up! (They speak in a whisper.) Lyubov Gordeevna. Will you, Mitya, come to me in the evening? Mitya. I'll come, sir. Razlyulyaev. And I will come. It hurts me to dance. (Becomes a freak.) Girls, someone love me. Masha. Shame on you! What are you saying? Razlyulyaev. What is this importance! I say: love me... yes... for my simplicity. Lisa. They don't tell girls this. And you had to wait for them to love you. Razlyulyaev. Yes, I’ll wait from you, of course! (Dances.)How can you not love a hussar?
And as you can see,
When someone loves someone -
He sits opposite the dear one,
Sighs heavily.
Mitya. On whose account should this be accepted? Anna Ivanovna. We already know whose. Razlyulyaev. Stop, girls, I’ll sing you a song. Anna Ivanovna. Sing, sing! Razlyulyaev (sings drawlingly).
A bear flew across the sky...
Ah, hit the board,
Remember Moscow!
Moscow wants to get married -
Take Kolomna.
And Tula laughs
He doesn’t want it as a dowry!
And buckwheat, four each,
Grain for forty,
Here is our millet hryvnia,
And barley is three altyns.
(Addressing the girls.)
Oats would also become cheaper -
Freight is too expensive!
See what the weather is like!
Masha. This does not apply to us. Lisa. We don't sell flour. Anna Ivanovna. Why are you here? Now guess the riddle. What is it: round - but not a girl; with a tail - isn't it a mouse? Razlyulyaev. This thing is tricky. Anna Ivanovna. What a tricky one!.. Just think about it! Well, girls, let's go.The girls get up and get ready to go.
Guys, let's go.
Guslin and Razlyulyaev are getting ready.
Mitya. And I'll come later. I'll clean something up here. Anna Ivanovna (while they are getting ready).Girls' night
The evening is red,
In the evening the girls brewed beer.
Went to see the girls
I went to the Reds
An uninvited guest came to see the girls.
Anna Ivanovna lets everyone through the door, except for Lyubov Gordeevna, closes it and does not let her in.
The tenth phenomenon
Mitya And Lyubov Gordeevna.
Lyubov Gordeevna (at the door). Stop it, don't be a fool.There is girlish laughter outside the door.
They don't let me in!.. Oh, what! (Moves away from the door.) Pampered girls, really!..
Mitya (giving a chair). Sit down, Lyubov Gordeevna, talk for a minute. I am very glad to see you here. Lyubov Gordeevna (sits down). I don’t understand what there is to be happy about. Mitya. Yes, sir!.. I am very pleased to see such attention on your part, beyond my merits for you. This is another time I have the happiness... Lyubov Gordeevna. Well then! She came, sat and left, that’s not important. I'll probably leave now. Mitya. Oh, no, don’t go, sir!.. For what, sir! (Takes paper out of his pocket.) Let me present you my work... as best I can, from the heart. Lyubov Gordeevna. What is this? Mitya. Actually, I composed poems for you. Lyubov Gordeevna (trying to hide joy). It might also be some kind of nonsense... not worth reading. Mitya. I cannot judge this, because I wrote it myself and, moreover, without studying. Lyubov Gordeevna. Read it! Mitya. Now, sir. (Sits down near the table and takes the paper; Lyubov Gordeevna moves very close to him.)Not a flower withers in a field, not a blade of grass -
The good fellow is withering and withering.
He fell in love with the beautiful maiden on the mountain,
To your misfortune and to your great advantage.
The guy is ruining his heart in vain,
That a guy loves an uneven girl:
In the dark night the red sun does not rise,
What kind of guy would a red girl not be?
Lyubov Gordeevna goes to the door; comes out of the door We love Karpych.
Appearance eleventh
The same And We love Karpych.
Lyubov Gordeevna. Oh! We love Karpych (pointing to Lyubov Gordeevna). Stop! What kind of person? By what type? For what purpose? Take her into doubt. Lyubov Gordeevna. It's you, uncle! We love Karpych. Me, niece! What, I was scared! Go ahead, don't worry! I’m not a prover, I put everything in a box, I’ll sort it out later, at my leisure. Lyubov Gordeevna. Farewell! (Leaves.)Appearance Twelfth
Mitya And We love Karpych.
We love Karpych. Mitya, welcome to you the merchant brother Lyubim Karpov, son of Tortsov. Mitya. You are welcome. We love Karpych (sits down). My brother kicked me out! And on the street, in this burnous, you’ll dance a little! Frosts... Epiphany time - brrr!.. And my hands were cold, and my legs were chilled - brrr! Mitya. Warm yourself up, Love Karpych. We love Karpych. Won't you send me away, Mitya? Otherwise I’ll freeze in the yard... I’ll freeze like a dog. Mitya. How is it possible what you say!.. We love Karpych. After all, my brother kicked me out. Well, while I had the money, I wandered around here and there in warm places; but there is no money - they don’t let me in anywhere. And the money was two francs and a few centimes! Not much capital! You can’t build a stone house!.. You can’t buy a village!.. What should you do with this capital? Where should I put it? Don't take it to the pawn shop! So I took this capital and drank it away, squandered it. That's where he belongs! Mitya. Why are you drinking, Love Karpych? Through this you are your own enemy! We love Karpych. Why do I drink?.. Out of stupidity! Yes, from my stupidity. Why did you think? Mitya. So you better stop. We love Karpych. You can’t stop: you’ve fallen into this line. Mitya. What line is this? We love Karpych. But listen, living soul what a line this is! Just listen and keep your head up. I was left behind after my father, you see, little one, with Kolomna verst, about twenty years old, stupid little girls. In my head, like in an empty attic, the wind is still moving! My brother and I split up: he took the establishment for himself, and gave it to me in money, tickets, and bills. Well, how he divided it is none of our business, God will be his judge. So I went to Moscow to receive money on tickets. You can't help but go! You need to see people, show yourself, gain a high tone. Again, I’m such a wonderful young man, but I’ve never seen the world, I haven’t spent the night in a private house. We need to get to everything! The first thing is to dress like a dandy, you know, they say, ours! That is, I’m playing such and such a fool, which is rare! Now, of course, to the taverns... Shpilen zi polka, give me another colder bottle. I made friends, a dime a dozen! I went to the theaters... Mitya. But this must be Lyubim Karpych, they present it very well in the theater. We love Karpych. I kept going to watch the tragedy: I loved it very much, but I didn’t see anything and I don’t remember anything, because I was mostly drunk. (Gets up.)“Drink under Prokop Lyapunov’s knife!” (Sits down.) With this kind of life I lost all my money; what was left, he trusted his friend Afrikan Korshunov to God and his word of honor; I drank and walked with him, he’s the breeder of all the dissipation, the main brewer of the brewery, he’s the one who tricked me and brought me to fresh water. And I sat down like a broke lob: I had nothing to drink, but I wanted to drink. How can we be here? Where to run, to put the melancholy to rest? I sold my dress, all my fashionable things, took them in paper, exchanged them for silver, silver for copper, and there was only zilch, and that’s all! Mitya. How did you live, Love Karpych? We love Karpych. How did you live? God forbid the dashing Tatar. I lived in a spacious apartment, there was nothing between heaven and earth, neither from the sides nor from above. People are ashamed, you are hidden from the light, but you need to go out into the light of God: there is nothing to eat. You walk down the street, everyone is looking at you... Everyone saw what kind of tricks I did, driving reckless cars with hail, and now I’m walking in tatters, rags, unshaven... They shake their heads and walk away. Stramota, zamota, zamota! (Sits with his head hanging.) There is a good craft, a profitable trade - stealing. Yes, I’m not fit for this job - I have a conscience, and again, it’s scary: no one approves of this industry. Mitya. Last thing! We love Karpych. They say that in other lands they pay a thaler for this, but here good people they beat on the necks. No, brother, stealing is bad! This thing is old, it’s time to give it up... But hunger is no big deal, something needs to be done! He began to walk around the city as a buffoon, collecting pennies, playing the jester, telling jokes, throwing out various articles. It used to be that you were trembling early in the morning in the city, hiding somewhere around the corner from people and waiting for the merchants. As soon as he arrives, especially those who are richer, you will jump out, make a knee, and some will give you a penny, some a hryvnia. What you collect is how you breathe every day, and how you exist. Mitya. It would be better for you, Lyubim Karpych, to go to your brother than to live like this. We love Karpych. No, I got involved. Eh, Mitya, if you get into this notch, you won’t get off soon. Don't interrupt, your speech is ahead. Well, listen! I caught a cold in the city - it was a cold winter, but I was sporting this coat, blowing my fists, jumping from foot to foot. Kind people took me to the hospital. How did I begin to recover and come to my senses, I was not drunk in my head - fear attacked me, horror came over me!.. How did I live? What kind of business was I doing? I began to feel sad, so sad that it seemed better to die. So I decided, as soon as I was completely recovered, to go and pray to God and go to my brother, let him at least hire me as a janitor. So I did. Bang at his feet!.. Be, I say, instead of your father! I lived this way and that way, now I want to come to my senses. Do you know how my brother received me! You see, he is ashamed that his brother is like this. And you support me, I tell him, straighten me out, caress me, I will be a man. No, he says, where am I going to take you? Good guests come to me, rich merchants, nobles; You, he says, will take my head off. According to my feelings and concepts, he says, I would not be born into this family at all. You see, he says how I live: who can notice that we had a little man? I’ve had enough of this shame, he says, otherwise I’ll have to tie it around your neck. He struck me like thunder! With these words I began to feel a little uneasy again. Well, yes, I think, God bless him, this bone of his is very thick. (Points to forehead.) He, the fool, needs science. Wealth has no use for us fools, it spoils us. You need to handle money skillfully... (Dozes.) Mitya, I’ll lie down with you, I want to sleep. Mitya. Lie down, Love Karpych. We love Karpych (gets up). Mitya, don’t give me money... that is, don’t give me a lot, just give me a little. I’m taking a nap, but I’ll go and warm up a little, you know!.. Only I’m a little... no, no!.. He’ll be fooling around. Mitya (takes out money). Here, if you please, is as much as you need. We love Karpych (beret). I need a dime. Everything here is silver, I don’t need silver. Give me another seven-note, and it will be in real rhythm. (Mitya gives.) That's enough. You are a kind soul, Mitya! (Lies down.) Brother doesn't know how to appreciate you. Well, yes, I'll do something with him. Wealth is evil for fools! Give me smart person money, he'll do the job. I walked around Moscow, I saw everything, everything... Great science has happened! And to the fool better than money don’t give in, otherwise he’ll break... fu, fu, fu, thrr!.. just like my brother, and like me, a brute...County town. Christmas time. Day. A small clerk's room in the house of the merchant Tortsov.
Mitya walks around the room; Yegorushka sits on a stool and reads “Bova Korolevich,” then stops and tells Mitya that everyone at home has gone for a ride. Only Gordey Karpych remains, he is terribly angry with his brother, Lyubim Karpych. The day before, at a festive dinner, Lyubim Karpych got drunk, started throwing out different knees and made all the guests laugh. Gordey Karpych considered this an insult, got angry and drove his brother away. In retaliation, Lyubim Karpych committed mischief: he stood with the beggars near the cathedral. Gordey Karpych has gone wilder than ever and is now angry with everyone indiscriminately.
There is a noise outside the windows - Pelageya Egorovna, Lyubov Gordeevna and guests have arrived. Yegorushka grabs the book and runs away. Mitya is left alone, he complains about life (“I’m a stranger to everyone here, I have no relatives or friends!”), sits down at the desk and tries to work. But the work is not going well, all Mitya’s thoughts are occupied with her beloved.
Pelageya Egorovna enters the room, stops at the door and affectionately invites Mitya to come and visit them in the evening. She notices that Gordey Karpych will not be at home, he will go to his new friend - manufacturer Afrikan Savich Korshunov. Pelageya Egorovna complains about Korshunov, a violent man who often drinks in the company of his English director. Tortsov used to be distinguished by his prudence, but when he went to Moscow last year, everything Russian became distasteful to him. Now he wants to live like a foreigner, he became proud: “I have no one to keep company with here, everyone is a bastard, men, and they live like a peasant,” and he made an acquaintance with the “Moscow” rich man Korshunov, who is simply getting his new friend drunk. The imperious Tortsov does not react to his wife’s reproaches; and her daughter, Lyubov Gordeevna, wants to get married exclusively in Moscow: in this city she has no equal.
At the end of Pelageya Egorovna’s monologue, Yasha Guslin, Tortsov’s nephew, enters. He is also invited to visit in the evening, and Yasha happily agrees. When Pelageya Egorovna comes out, Mitya shares her concerns with Yasha: Mitya, the only son of an old and poor mother, must support her on his small salary; from Gordey Karpych he sees only insult, abuse and reproaches of poverty; Mitya could go to the Razlyulyaevs, but Tortsov has the sweetheart of his heart - Lyubov Gordeevna. Yasha advises Mitya to get this love out of her head, because Gordey Karpych will never bless them unequal marriage: “Anna Ivanovna is my equal: she has nothing, I have nothing, and even then the uncle does not order me to get married. And you have nothing to think about.”
Razlyulyaev enters the room with a harmonica, he is cheerful and carefree, plays and sings, declares that he will party throughout the holiday, and then marry a rich woman. He sits next to Guslin and listens to the song he wrote. Mitya offers to sing, and everyone sings. In the middle of the song Gordey Karpych Tortsov enters; everyone immediately becomes silent and stands up. Tortsov attacks Mitya with angry reproaches: “It seems that you don’t live in such a house, not with men. What a half-beer house! What a scattering of papers!...” He notices a book of Koltsov’s poems, which Mitya is reading, and a new portion of reproaches follows: “What tenderness in our poverty! Do you know what education is?... You should sew a brand new frock coat! After all, you come upstairs to us... It’s a disgrace!” In response, Mitya makes excuses and says that he sends all the money to his elderly mother. Gordey Karpych notes: “God doesn’t know what a mother needs, she wasn’t brought up in luxury, she kept the tea sheds herself. Is this what education consists of, singing stupid songs? Don’t you dare show yourself upstairs in that frock coat!” Then Razlyulyaev gets it too: “And you too! Your father, hey, is raking in money with a shovel, and he’s driving you around in this zip-up bag. Well, there’s nothing to collect from you! You yourself are stupid, and your father isn’t very smart... he’s been walking around with a greasy belly for a whole century; You live as unenlightened fools, and you will die as fools.” And after this angry tirade, Gordey Karpych leaves.
After Gordey Kapych leaves for Korshunov, Lyubov Gordeevna, Anna Ivanovna, Masha and Lisa come into Mitya’s room. They were bored sitting upstairs, and they began to look interesting company. Anna Ivanovna behaves very freely; Mitya, Lyubov Gordeevna and her friends opposite are constrained and awkward. Anna Ivanovna openly asks Guslin when he will marry her. Guslin replies that he will get married as soon as he receives permission from Gordey Karpych; then he motions to Anna Ivanovna and whispers in her ear, pointing to Lyubov Gordeevna and Mitya. At this time, Razlyulyaev amuses the girls: “I love to dance. Girls, someone will love me... for my simplicity.” The girls answer that they don’t say such words to girls, and Lyubov Gordeevna adds, looking at Mitya: “Maybe someone loves someone, but won’t say: you have to guess for yourself.” Anna Ivanovna, having finished her meeting with Guslin and looking ambiguously first at Lyubov Gordeevna and then at Mitya, invites everyone to go upstairs. She opens the door and lets everyone in, but slams it in front of Lyubov Gordeevna. Lyubov Gordeevna knocks and asks to be let out; the girls outside the door are having fun.
Mitya and Lyubov Gordeevna are left alone, and Mitya timidly says that he composed poems for her. Lyubov Gordeevna, trying to hide her joy, asks Mitya to read them. Mitya sits down near the table, Lyubov Gordeevna moves very close to him. Mitya reads: “...The guy is ruining his heart in vain, Because the guy loves an uneven girl...” Lyubov Gordeevna sits for a while, thinking, then writes the answer (“Only I can’t write poetry, otherwise it’s simple”) and gives it to Mitya with the condition that Mitya will read it later, when Lyubov Gordeevna leaves. She is about to leave and runs into her uncle, Lyubim Karpych, at the door. He is amused, seeing his niece’s fright, then assures that he will not tell his brother anything. Lyubov Gordeevna runs away.
Lyubim Karpych goes into the room and asks Mitya to shelter him for a while: after that dinner party, his brother does not allow him on the threshold. Lyubim Karpych tells Mitya the story of his life: when his father died, Lyubim Karpych was twenty years old. The brothers divided the inheritance: Gordey took the establishment for himself, and gave it to his brother in money and bills. Lyubim Gordeich went to Moscow to receive money for tickets and plunged headlong into the Moscow beautiful life: dressed like a dandy, dined in taverns, went to theaters; He made a lot of friends. And after some time, almost the entire inheritance was spent. Lyubim Gordeich entrusted what was left to his friend, Afrikan Korshunov, who deceived him. Lyubim Gordeich was left with nothing. He figured out how to live further and, since the way to his father’s house was blocked, he stayed in Moscow, began to go around as a buffoon: when a merchant arrives, Lyubim jumps out, makes fun, tells jokes, and then who will serve what. That winter Lyubim Gordeich caught a bad cold, they took him to the hospital; It was there that enlightenment of mind came to Lyubim. When he recovered, he decided to go and pray to God and go back to his brother. Only his brother received him unkindly, began to feel ashamed, and blamed him: “You see how I live: who can notice that we had a little man? I’ve had enough of this shame, otherwise I’ll tie it around your neck.” And after the notorious dinner, Lyubim Gordeich became offended, he decided to teach his arrogant brother a lesson (“...He has this very thick bone. [Points to his forehead.] He, a fool, needs science”).
Lyubim Gordeich settles down on Mitya’s bed to take a little nap; asks him for money. Mitya does not refuse Lyubim Gordeich anything, and he thanks Mitya and threatens his brother: “Brother does not know how to appreciate you. Well, I’ll do something with him.” Mitya is about to go upstairs, he goes to the door and remembers the letter. With trembling hands, he takes it out and reads: “And I love you. Lyubov Tortsova. Mitya grabs his head and runs away.
Act two
Evening. Living room in Tortsov's house. There is a sofa at the back wall, in front of the sofa round table and six chairs. There are several doors leading into the living room. There are mirrors on the walls, with small tables underneath. The living room is dark; There is only light from the door on the left. Lyubov Gordeevna and Anna Ivanovna enter this door. Lyubov Gordeevna tells how much she loves Mitya. Anna Ivanovna warns her against rash actions, then leaves.
Mitya enters. He asks Lyubov Gordeevna if her confession is a joke. Lyubov Gordeevna replies that everything written in the note is true, and requires reciprocal assurances of love. At first she pretends that she doesn’t believe Mitya (“And I thought that you loved Anna Ivanovna”), but then she admits that she just wanted to joke. But Mitya has no time for jokes, he is too worried about the fate of their love. Mitya and Lyubov Gordeevna decide the next day to throw themselves at the feet of Gordey Karpych and declare their love, and then whatever happens. They hug. When someone's footsteps are heard, Mitya quietly leaves.
Nanny Arina enters the living room with a candle and sends Lyubov Gordeevna to her mother. Egorushka runs into the room, and Arina asks him to call the neighboring maidservants to sing Christmas songs. Yegorushka rejoices at the upcoming fun and the fact that there may be mummers, and runs away.
Pelageya Egorovna enters the living room, she gives Arina instructions, then invites everyone else to come in: Lyubov Gordeevna, Masha, Lisa, Anna Ivanovna, Razlyulyaeva, Mitya, Guslin and her two elderly friends. The old women and Pelageya Egorovna sit down on the sofa; Anna Ivanovna and Guslin sit on chairs and talk quietly, Mitya stands next to them; Masha, Lyubov Gordeevna and Lisa walk around the room, hugging each other; Razlyulyaev follows them. The girls cheerfully pick each other with Razlyulyaev, the old women talk to each other, looking at them, and then offer Guslin to sing some song. While Guslin is singing, Arina enters with drinks and treats, treats the young ladies with sweets, and serves Madeira to the old women. Anna Ivanovna talks quietly with Pelageya Egorovna, Razlyulyaev picks up Arina and starts dancing, Arina fights back. Anna Ivanovna stands up for Arina and herself volunteers to dance with Razlyulyaev.
Neighborhood girls come in, are warmly greeted and seated. Arina brings a dish covered with a towel - the girls will sing dishes and tell fortunes. The young ladies remove the rings and place them on a plate; the girls start singing. Razlyulyaev, in the words “There will be guests to you, suitors to me... Whoever gets it will come true,” takes out the ring and gives it to Lyubov Gordeevna.
Then the mummers come (an old man with a balalaika, a leader with a bear and a goat) and Yegorushka. The ceremonial songs are abandoned, the mummers are treated to wine, and they begin to amuse the guests: sing, dance, act out skits; Yegorushka dances with them. While the guests are looking at the mummers, Mitya quietly whispers something to Lyubov Gordeevna and kisses her. Razlyulyaev notices this, comes up and declares that he will tell everything to Pelageya Egorovna, that he himself wants to marry Lyubov Gordeevna, because his family has a lot of money, and Mitya in this case there is nothing to hope for. Guslin stands up for Mitya. Their argument is interrupted by a knock on the door - the owner has arrived.
Gordey Karpych and Korshunov enter the living room. Gordey Karpych rudely drives away the mummers (“What a bastard!”) and girls, fawns over Korshunov, and apologizes for the “lack of education” of his wife, who organized the evening “not in full shape.” But Korshunov, an old sensualist, on the contrary, likes the company of young girls. He sits down in a chair, chuckles, and favorably accepts the attention to his person. Tortsov is trying with all his might to produce an “effect”: he orders champagne to be served and candles to be lit in the living room to illuminate the new “nebel.” Pelageya Egorovna goes out to carry out her husband’s orders, followed by Arina and the old women guests.
Korshunov approaches the young ladies, Lyubov Gordeevna, giggles joyfully, hints at “Yuletide days” and offers to kiss. The young ladies are not happy and refuse. Gordey Karpych orders to obey, and Lyubov Gordeevna yields. While Korshunov is kissing the young ladies, Gordey Karpych notices Mitya and drives him away (“A crow flew into the high mansion!”), followed by Mitya in Guslin and Razlyulyaev.
Korshunov sits down next to Lyubov Gordeevna, chuckles voluptuously and presents an expensive gift - diamond earrings. Lyubov Gordeevna coldly answers Korshunov, who, without ceremony, grabs and kisses her hand, starts talking about love and his wealth. Lyubov Gordeevna is disgusted by this old man, she gets up to leave, but her father orders her to stay. She returns to her place, and Korshunov again grabs her hand, strokes it (“What a hand! Heh, heh, heh... velvet!”) and puts a diamond ring on her finger. Lyubov Gordeevna pulls out her hand, takes off the ring and gives it to Korshunov.
Pelageya Egorovna, Arina and Yegorushka enter the living room with wine and glasses. Korshunov pretends to be an important guest: “Well, Gordey Karpych, treat me, and you girls, dignify me. I love honor." Gordey Karpych brings wine to Korshunov, orders his wife to bow, and the girls to sing a song of praise. After drinking, Korshunov sits down next to Lyubov Gordeevna, calls one of the girls, pats her on the cheek, chuckles and pours change into her apron. Then he orders Gordey Karpych to get down to business. The point is that Gordey Karpych intends to move from this city, where “there is only ignorance and lack of education,” to Moscow. Moreover, there will be his own person there - son-in-law Afrikan Savich. They have already agreed and shook hands.
Pelageya Egorovna is horrified and screams “My daughter! I won’t give it back!”; Korshunov harshly remarks to Tortsov: “I promised, so keep your word.” Lyubov Gordeevna rushes to her father and begs him to change his mind: “I will not take one step out of your will. Make me whatever you want, just don’t force me against my heart to marry someone I don’t like!” Gordey Karpych is relentless: “You fool, you yourself don’t understand your happiness. In Moscow you will live like a lord, you will ride in carriages... I order so.” And Lyubov Gordeevna humbly answers: “Your will, father!”, bows and goes to her mother. Satisfied Gordey Karpych orders the girls to sing the wedding song and invites the dear guest to go to another room. Lyubov Gordeevna cries in her mother’s arms, her friends surround her.
Act three
Morning. A small room crammed with very rich furniture in Tortsov’s house. This is something like the hostess's office, from where she manages the entire house and where she receives her guests. One door leads to the hall where guests dine, the other to the interior rooms. Arina is sitting in the room, with several maids with her. Pelageya Egorovna enters and dismisses them. Pelageya Egorovna is all in pre-wedding troubles, but her soul is heavy.
Anna Ivanovna enters, followed by Mitya. Barely holding back tears, he says that he came to say goodbye to his kind hostess: tonight he is leaving for his mother and will never return. Mitya bows at the feet of Pelageya Egorovna, kisses her and Anna Ivanovna. Then he notices that he should say goodbye to Lyubov Gordeevna. Pelageya Egorovna sends for her daughter, Anna Ivanovna sadly shakes her head and leaves.
Pelageya Egorovna complains to Mitya about her grief: against her will she gives her daughter to a bad man. Mitya, almost crying, reproaches her for not resisting her husband’s willfulness. Pelageya Egorovna is distressed and asks Mitya to have pity and not to reproach her. Mitya, in a fit of emotion, decides to open up and says that yesterday he and Lyubov Gordeevna agreed to ask for a blessing; and this morning this news... Pelageya Egorovna is amazed, she sincerely sympathizes with Mitya.
Lyubov Gordeevna enters, says goodbye to Mitya, and cries. Mitya, out of despair, invites Pelageya Yegorovna to bless them, and then secretly take Lyubov Gordeevna to her old mother and get married there. Pelageya Egorovna is horrified (“What did you, dissolute, come up with? Who dares to take such a sin on his soul...”). And Lyubov Gordeevna is against such a plan. She tells Mitya that she loves him, but she won’t get out of her parents’ will, “that’s how it’s been done since ancient times.” And let her suffer for her hateful husband, but know that she lives by the law, and no one will dare to laugh to her face. Mitya humbly accepts Lyubov Gordeevna’s decision, says goodbye and leaves.
Korshunov enters the room from the dining room, he asks Pelageya Egorovna to leave so that he can talk in confidence with the bride “about his affairs.” Korshunov sits down with the crying Lyubov Gordeevna and tells her about all the “benefits” of marriage with an old man (“The old man will give you a gift for love... and gold, and velvet...”, and the young husband “you look, and he’ll drag himself after someone... somewhere on the side... but your wife is drying up"), continuously kisses her hands and chuckles. Lyubov Gordeevna asks if his late wife loved Korshunov. Korshunov answers very harshly that she didn’t love her. In essence, Korshunov bought himself a wife: “You see, they needed money, they had nothing to live on: I gave, I didn’t refuse; but I need to be loved. Well, am I free to demand this or not? I paid money for that. It’s a sin to complain about me: whoever I love will live well in the world; and don’t blame anyone I don’t love!”
Gordey Karpych enters the room. He speaks obsequiously to Korshunov, boasts of his “culture”: “In another place, a fine guy in a blazer or a girl is serving at the table, but I have a waiter in thread gloves... Oh, if only I lived in Moscow or in St. Petersburg, I would, it seems, imitate any fashion.” Egorushka runs in and, laughing, says that Lyubim Karpych came and began to disperse the guests. Gordey Karpych gets angry and leaves with Yegorushka.
Razlyulyaev, Masha and Lisa enter, followed immediately by Lyubim Karpych. He makes fun of Korshunov; He seems to be joking, but at the same time he accuses Korshunov of ruining him: “You exalted me so much, elevated me to such a rank that I didn’t steal anything, but I’m ashamed to look people in the eye!” We love Karpych and demands that he pay off his old debt and for his niece, one million three hundred thousand.
Gordey Karpych enters, he drives his brother out of the house. But the determined Lyubim Karpych does not leave, he accuses Korshunov of dishonor and crimes (during a heated argument, all the household, guests and servants enter): “I am not Korshunov: I did not rob the poor, I did not eat someone else’s life, I did not torture my wife with jealousy... They chase me away, but he is the first guest, they put him in the front corner. Well, it’s okay, they’ll give him another wife...” Gordey Karpych orders his brother to be taken away, but Lyubim leaves himself. The wounded Korshunov declares: “You have started such fashions: your drunken guests are offended! Heh, heh, heh. I, he says, will go to Moscow, they don’t understand me here. There are such fools in Moscow, they laugh at them there... No, you’re naughty, I won’t allow myself to be offended for nothing. No, now come to me and bow to me so that I can take your daughter.” The offended Gordey Karpych exclaims: “...I don’t want to know you myself! I have never bowed to anyone since I was born. For that matter, I will give it for whomever I want! With the money that I give for her, every person will... [here Mitya enters] ...that's what I'll give for Mitka! Tomorrow. Yes, I’ll throw such a wedding as you’ve never seen: I’ll order musicians from Moscow, I’ll go alone in four carriages.” Everyone is surprised, the enraged Korshunov leaves.
Mitya takes Lyubov Gordeevna by the hand, they approach Gordey Karpych and admit that they have loved each other for a long time, and if Gordey Karpych decided to marry them, then let him bless them “like a parent, with love,” and not out of spite. Gordey Karpych begins to boil, again reproaches Mitya for being poor and no match for the Tortsov family. Pelageya Egorovna and Lyubov Gordeevna begin to persuade Gordey Karpych to change his anger to mercy. Lyubim Karpych enters and also asks for the young people, hinting that if it weren’t for him, Korshunov would have ruined Gordey Karpych like himself: “Look at me, here’s an example for you... And I was rich and famous, I rode in carriages. .. and then with the top end and down... Brother, give Lyubushka for Mitya - he will give me a corner... At least in my old age I can live honestly... Then I will thank God... That he is poor ! Eh, if I were poor, I would be a man. Poverty is not a vice." In response, Gordey Karpych emotionally wipes away a tear (“Well, brother, thank you for pointing me to my mind, otherwise I was completely crazy”), hugs and blesses Mitya and Lyubov Gordeevna. Immediately Yasha Guslin asks permission to marry Anna Ivanovna, Gordey Karpych blesses him too. Razlyulyaev congratulates Mitya (“I loved you, but for you... I sacrifice”), Pelageya Egorovna asks the girls to sing a cheerful wedding song. The girls start singing and everyone leaves.
Russian dramaturgy mid-19th century is characterized by the appearance of works describing the life and customs of merchants of Zamoskvorechye. A special place in this list is occupied by the plays of A.N. Ostrovsky. The most famous is the comedy “God Resists the Proud,” written in 1853. It was then renamed “Poverty is No Vice.” What Ostrovsky’s comedy “Poverty is not a vice” is written about, brief summary.
Nikolai Fedorovich Ostrovsky dreamed of a legal career for his son Alexander. However, in 1843 young man who fails the exam in Roman law is expelled from the university. A failed lawyer combines the work of a judicial clerk with the work of a writer.
A.N. Ostrovsky writes the comedy “Poverty is not a vice,” which was published as a separate book in 1854. The following year, a production of the writer’s play took place at the Maly Theater. Leading artist of the theater troupe P.M. Sadovsky, to whom the playwright dedicated the work, plays the role of Lyubim.
On the stage of St. Petersburg, Ostrovsky’s “Poverty is not a vice” was published in the fall of 1854. The production took place in honor of the benefit performance of the actor and director Alexandrinsky Theater A.A. Yablochkina.
The plot of the play “Poverty is not a vice” in brief. Of course, familiarizing yourself with this version will not replace reading the original.
We remind you! A summary of the actions reveals only the plot of the work of the great writer.
Fable
Literary scholars consider Ostrovsky’s comedy in three acts “Poverty is not a Vice” to be one of the best creations. The events take place in the merchant house of Gordey Tortsov in a provincial town during the Christmas festivities.
In the play “Poverty is not a vice” the following characters act:
- Wealthy merchant Gordey Tortsov, his wife Pelageya Egorovna, their daughter Lyubov.
- We love you, Tortsov’s brother, who squandered his inheritance.
- Capital breeder African Korshunov.
- Clerk Mitya.
- Nephew of the owner Yasha Guslin, and Grisha Razlyulyaev, a rich merchant son.
- Widow Anna Ivanovna.
- Masha and Lisa, friends of Lyubov Gordeevna.
- Nanny Arina and boy Egorushka, a distant relative of the Tortsovs.
First action
Loitering around, Mitya wonders what the household are doing. Yegorushka describes the scandal between Gordey Karpych and his brother that occurred the day before at dinner.
Pelageya Egorovna enters the room. In a conversation with the clerk, an elderly woman complains about her husband’s wayward character and does not approve of his acquaintance with Korshunov. She claims that the fashion for living abroad is a temporary phenomenon, but Russian customs will live forever. Guslin appears. When leaving, the owner’s wife invites the young people to come and visit in the evening.
Left alone, Mitya tells Yasha about his hard lot and confesses his love for the daughter of Gordey Tortsov. Then the clerk sits down to work, and Guslin selects music for the poems written by the young man in love. Razlyulyaev enters the room, boasting of his wealth and recklessness.
Tortsov's nephew offers to listen to the melody he composed. Everyone is fascinated by the song. Then the friends start fooling around. The owner of the house finds them doing this. The merchant criticizes the clothes worn by Mitya and Razlyulyaev. Before leaving, Gordey Tortsov condemns the clerk’s desire to primarily take care of his elderly mother.
Lyubov Gordeevna, her friends and Anna Ivanovna appear in the room. The girls were bored and lonely in the living room, and they wanted to join the guys. Yakov whispers to the widow about the clerk’s feelings for the owner’s daughter.
The company decides to move into the next room. Anna makes sure that the clerk and Gordey Tortsov’s daughter are left alone. Dmitry recites poems dedicated to his beloved. The girl writes a note with an answer, but demands that the message be read after she leaves.
Gordey Tortsov’s brother comes in and deprives Mitya of the opportunity to familiarize himself with the contents of the note. Lyubim Karpych tells the young man how he drank away his half of his inheritance in Moscow and became homeless. African Korshunov helped squander the money. Dirty and sick, Lyubim came to his brother asking for help in need. Proud was ashamed of his poor relative in front of the polished guests.
The old man says that wealth is evil, and big money spoils a person’s character. Retelling his life, the unhappy man falls asleep. Mitya reads the girl’s note with a confession of reciprocity.
Second act
In the living room of the play's heroine, Lyuba and Anna talk about the fleeting nature of love. When Dmitry arrives, the widow leaves the room. The lovers admit that they cannot live without each other. It was decided to go to Gordey Karpych so that he would decide their fate. Arina's approach forces the clerk and the merchant's daughter to leave.
The nanny is preparing the living room for the meeting of the mummers, who are invited to entertain the guests. The room is filled with family members, invited neighbors and artists who have brought a bear and a goat.
While the mummers are making fun of themselves and singing songs, Mitya and Lyuba whisper to each other and secretly kiss. Noticing this, Razlyulyaev complains to the clerk. Yasha stands up for the lover.
Gordey Karpych and Korshunov arrive. The owner of the house throws out the guests with the artists and orders them to bring champagne and snacks. The manufacturer kisses the girls, the guys leave.
African presents Lyubov Gordeevna with a diamond ring and hints at his desire to marry the girl. Tortsov’s daughter wants to leave the room, but her father orders her to stay. The merchant announces his intention to marry Lyuba to Korshunov.
Third act
The nanny is saddened by Lyubov Gordeevna's future marriage to an unloved person. Upset, Pelageya Egorovna orders a large samovar to be served to the guests in the next room. The merchant's wife asks Anna Ivanovna to help with the housework. Mitya, who is about to leave for his mother, comes in to say goodbye. The widow goes for Lyubov Gordeevna.
The clerk tells Tortsova how unhappy he is and invites his beloved, who came into the room, to secretly escape from her parents’ house and get married. The girl refuses to get married without her father's blessing. Dmitry says goodbye to the women and leaves.
Korshunov, who entered, asks Pelageya Egorovna to leave him and his daughter alone. He expounds on the benefits of marrying an older man to the bride. When the girl asked about the manufacturer's previous wife, he remembers the deceased with anger. Then Africanus again takes the form of a good-natured old man.
Gordey, who comes in, boasts about how he treated the guest in a foreign style. Yegorushka reports that Lyubim Karpych has arrived. Household members and guests gathered in the hall when the owner’s brother appeared and began accusing Korshunov of dishonorable act, recalling an old debt.
The exposed African refuses to marry the daughter of Gordey Tortsov. From now on, he wants Gordey to beg the Moscow rich man to become his son-in-law. In response to this, the humiliated merchant promises to give his daughter to any poor man.
At first the choice fell on the returning Mitya. The young man takes Lyubov Gordeevna by the hand and brings her to her parent for a blessing. The merchant was dumbfounded and wants to retract the words he said, but everyone present persuades Gordey Tortsov to agree to the lovers’ marriage.
Pay attention! The brief content does not allow the reader of the comedy “Poverty is Not a Vice” to fully experience the richness of the Russian language.
Useful video: play “Poverty is not a vice” in 17 minutes
Critical controversy
Critics and literary scholars expressed their views on the play:
- N.G. Chernyshevsky,
- P.N. Kudryavtsev,
- A.V. Druzhinin,
- A.A. Grigoriev.
The subject of controversy was the opposition in the play “Poverty is not a vice” between the imaginary aristocracy and the spirituality of the lower classes. Supporters of Westernism reproached the writer for inertia and defense of patriarchal social foundations. The playwright's sympathies for folk culture advocated by representatives of objective criticism.
N.G. Chernyshevsky considered the comedy “Poverty is not a vice” by Ostrovsky to be false and weak. According to the critic, only the name of the author of the famous play “We Will Be Numbered Our Own People” provides favorable reviews. Literary critic who is annoyed by embellishment of characters positive characters, believes that the main characters of the play “Poverty is not a vice” cannot have prototypes in real life.
Review of the play “Poverty is not a vice”, in which P.N. Kudryavtsev gives characteristics of the heroes, accuses Ostrovsky of exalting the dirty sides of reality in the image of his brother Gordey Tortsov. The playwright was accused of being a Slavophile. Critics did not like the transformation of the stage into a “booth”, when the Yuletide festivities of a merchant family were presented.
Speaking in defense of Ostrovsky's play, A.V. Druzhinin rejects Chernyshevsky’s unfair reproaches for the playwright’s idealization of patriarchal foundations. The critic points out the only drawback of the play “Poverty is not a vice” - the far-fetched plot outcome. The undeniable advantages are the poetry and beauty of the language of the work.
The writer’s comedies, which were accepted for production on the imperial stages, including the play “Poverty is not a vice,” created folk theater. Having made a deep analysis of the playwright’s works, Apollon Grigoriev writes that the key to understanding Ostrovsky’s work is the word “nationality”.
Contemporaries believed that Ostrovsky, with the help of the play “Poverty is not a vice,” released the truth of life onto the theatrical stage, putting an end to the era of landscape performances by the romantic playwright Puppeteer.
Useful video: analysis of A. N. Ostrovsky’s play “Poverty is not a vice”
Conclusion
Unfortunately, the Russian language has become extremely impoverished in the modern world and is overly polluted in foreign words, easily replaceable lexical units of native speech.
Classical literature differs from pulp fiction in that the works of great authors written in past centuries touch on problems relevant to modern world. It is enough to recall the remarks of the main characters of the play “Poverty is not a vice” to understand how consonant Ostrovsky’s ideas are with the present time.
In the person of Gordey Tortsov’s wife, Pelageya Egorovna, Ostrovsky brought out the play “Poverty is not a vice” (see its full text, summary and more detailed contents individual actions: 1st, 2nd and 3rd) a simple, kind Russian woman, sensible, living in the old days. Her husband can’t even force her to wear fashionable caps - she loves Russian life, Russian orders, customs with all her heart and will not change them: “I, mother,” she says, “love the old way, the old way... yes, the old way.” ours, in Russian... Yes, so that I can treat them, and so that they sing songs to me.” “Your fashionable and current ones,” she says to her husband, “change every day, but our Russian custom has lived on from time immemorial! The old people were no more stupid than us.”
Ostrovsky. Poverty is not a vice. Performance, 1969
Her relationship with people, her daughter and servants reveals that patriarchal complacency, which is the bright legacy of Domostroevskaya antiquity.
She is afraid of her husband and cannot fight him, since she has no “will”, not only due to the lack of this quality, but also because she is faithful to old traditions. “Oh, not my will!” - she complains, seeing that her daughter is betrothed against her wishes. “If it were my will, I wouldn’t give it up for anything!.. My eyes overlooked everything, looking at her! At least now I could take a good look at her, in reserve. That’s right, I’m going to bury her!.. Well, I am!.. It’s our business to cry!”
Gordey Tortsov’s daughter, Lyubov, and the clerk Mitya, who grew up in their house, were raised in the same spirit of humility. Both of them love each other dearly, but weakly fight for their rights to personal happiness. Gordey’s shout is enough for the daughter to give in to him without further struggle, saying: “Your will, father!..”