The history of the creation of Fonvizin's work "Undergrowth"

DI. Fonvizin is one of the most bright figures enlightenment movement in Russia XVIII V. He perceived the ideas of enlightenment humanism especially sharply, he lived in the power of ideas about the high moral duties of a nobleman. Therefore, the writer was especially upset by the failure of the nobles to fulfill their duty to society: “I happened to travel around my land. I saw in what most of those bearing the name of a nobleman believe their piety. I have seen many such who serve, or, moreover, take places in the service for the sole reason that they go by steam. I saw many others who immediately retired as soon as they won the right to harness quadruplets. I have seen from the most respectable ancestors contemptuous descendants. In a word, I saw noblemen servile. I am a nobleman, and this is what tore my heart to pieces.” So Fonvizin wrote in 1783 in a letter to the writer of "Tales and Fables", the authorship of which belonged to Empress Catherine II herself.
Fonvizin's name became known to the general public after he created the comedy Brigadier. Then for more than ten years the writer was engaged in state affairs. And only in 1781 he completed new comedy- "Undergrowth." Fonvizin left no evidence of the creation of the "Undergrowth". The only story dedicated to the creation of the comedy was written down much later by Vyazemsky. It's about about the scene in which Eremeevna protects Mitrofanushka from Skotinin. “They retell from the words of the author himself that, embarking on the mentioned phenomenon, he went for a walk in order to think over it during a walk. At the Butcher's Gate he came across a fight between two women. He stopped and began to guard nature. Returning home with the prey of observations, he outlined his appearance and included in it the word of the hook, overheard by him on the battlefield ”(Vyazemsky, 1848).
Catherine's government, frightened by Fonvizin's first comedy, for a long time opposed the production of the writer's new comedy. Only in 1782, Fonvizin's friend and patron N.I. Panin, through the heir to the throne, the future Paul I, with great difficulty nevertheless managed to achieve the production of "Undergrowth". The comedy was performed in a wooden theater on the Tsaritsyn meadow by the actors of the court theater. Fonvizin himself took part in learning the roles of the actors, he entered into all the details of the production. The role of Starodum was created by Fonvizin based on the best actor of the Russian theater I.A. Dmitrevsky. Possessing a noble, refined appearance, the actor constantly occupied the role of the first hero-lover in the theater. And although the performance was a complete success, shortly after the premiere, the theater, on the stage of which The Undergrowth was first staged, was closed and disbanded. The attitude of the empress and the ruling circles towards Fonvizin changed dramatically: until the end of his life, the author of The Undergrowth felt from that time on that he was a disgraced, persecuted writer.
As for the name of the comedy, the very word "undergrowth" is perceived today not as intended by the author of the comedy. At the time of Fonvizin, this was a completely definite concept: this was the name of the nobles who did not receive proper education, who were therefore forbidden to enter the service and marry. So the undersized could be more than twenty years old, while Mitrofanushka in Fonvizin's comedy is sixteen years old. With the advent of this character, the term "undergrowth" acquired a new meaning - "stupid, dumbass, teenager with limited vicious inclinations."

Genus, genre, creative method in the work of Fonvizin "Undergrowth"

Second half of the 18th century - the heyday of theatrical classicism in Russia. It is the comedy genre that becomes the most important and widespread in the stage and dramatic arts. The best comedies of this time are part of the social and literary life, are associated with satire and often have a political focus. The popularity of comedy was in direct connection with life. "Undergrowth" was created within the framework of the rules of classicism: the division of characters into positive and negative, schematism in their depiction, the rule of three unities in the composition, " talking names". However, in comedy, one can also see realistic features: the authenticity of images, the image of noble life and social relations.
The famous researcher of creativity D.I. Fonvizina G.A. Gukovsky believed that “two literary styles are fighting among themselves in The Undergrowth, and classicism is defeated. Classic Rules forbade the mixing of sad, cheerful and serious motives. “In Fonvizin's comedy there are elements of drama, there are motives that were supposed to touch, touch the viewer. In The Undergrowth, Fonvizin not only laughs at vices, but also glorifies virtue. "Undergrowth" is a semi-comedy, a semi-drama. In this regard, Fonvizin, breaking the tradition of classicism, took advantage of the lessons of the new bourgeois dramaturgy of the West. (G.A. Gukovsky. Russian literature XVIII century. M., 1939).
Having made both negative and positive characters life-like, Fonvizin managed to create new type realistic comedy. Gogol wrote that the plot of "Undergrowth" helped the playwright deeply and penetratingly reveal key aspects the social life of Russia, “the wounds and illnesses of our society, severe internal abuses, which are exposed by the merciless power of irony in stunning evidence” (N.V. Gogol, complete collection of works, vol. VIII).
The accusatory pathos of the content of the "Undergrowth" is fed by two powerful sources, equally dissolved in the structure dramatic action. These are satire and journalism. Destructive and merciless satire fills all the scenes depicting lifestyle the Prostakova family. The final remark of the Starodum, which ends the "Undergrowth": "Here are worthy fruits of malevolence!" - Gives the whole piece a special sound.

Subject

At the heart of the comedy "Undergrowth" are two problems that particularly worried the writer. This is the problem of the moral decay of the nobility and the problem of education. Understood quite broadly, education in the minds of the thinkers of the XVIII century. considered as the primary factor that determines the moral character of a person. In the views of Fonvizin, the problem of education acquired state significance, since proper education could save noble society from degradation.
The comedy "Undergrowth" (1782) became a landmark event in the development of Russian comedy. It is a complex, well-thought-out system in which every line, every character, every word is subject to the identification of the author's intention. Having started the play as an everyday comedy of manners, Fonvizin does not stop there, but boldly goes further, to the root cause of "malice", the fruits of which are known and severely condemned by the author. The reason for the vicious education of the nobility in feudal and autocratic Russia is the established state system, which gives rise to arbitrariness and lawlessness. Thus, the problem of education turns out to be inextricably linked with the entire life and political structure of the state in which people live and act from top to bottom. Skotinins and Prostakovs, ignorant, limited in mind, but not limited in their power, can only educate their own kind. Their characters are drawn by the author especially carefully and full-bloodedly, with all life authenticity. The scope of the requirements of classicism to the comedy genre by Fonvizin was significantly expanded here. The author completely overcomes the schematism inherent in his earlier heroes, and the characters of "Undergrowth" become not only real persons, but also common nouns.

The idea of ​​the analyzed work

Defending her cruelty, crimes and tyranny, Prostakova says: “Am I not powerful even in my people?” The noble but naive Pravdin objects to her: “No, madam, no one is free to tyrannize.” And then she suddenly refers to the law: “Not free! The nobleman, when he wants, and the servants are not free to flog; but why have we been given a decree on the freedom of the nobility? The astonished Starodum and, together with him, the author exclaim only: “The master of interpreting decrees!”
Subsequently, the historian V.O. Klyuchevsky rightly said: “It's all about the last words of Mrs. Prostakova; they have the whole meaning of the drama and the whole drama in them ... She wanted to say that the law justifies her lawlessness. Prostakova does not want to recognize any obligations of the nobility, she calmly violates the law of Peter the Great on the compulsory education of the nobles, she knows only her rights. In her person, a certain part of the nobles refuses to fulfill the laws of their country, their duty and duties. There is no need to talk about some kind of noble honor, personal dignity, faith and loyalty, mutual respect, serving the state interests. Fonvizin saw what this led to in practice: to state collapse, immorality, lies and venality, ruthless oppression of serfs, general theft and the Pugachev uprising. Therefore, he wrote about Catherine’s Russia: “A state in which the most respectable of all states, which is supposed to defend the fatherland, together with the sovereign and its corps to represent the nation, guided by honor alone, the nobility, already exists in name and is sold to every scoundrel who robbed the fatherland.
So, the idea of ​​a comedy: the condemnation of ignorant and cruel landowners who consider themselves full-fledged masters of life, do not comply with state and moral laws, the affirmation of the ideals of humanity and education.

The nature of the conflict

The conflict of the comedy lies in the clash of two opposing views on the role of the nobility in the public life of the country. Mrs. Prostakova declares that the decree "on the liberty of the noble" (which freed the nobleman from compulsory service to the state, established by Peter I) made him "free", primarily in relation to the serfs, freeing him from all burdensome human and moral obligations to society. Fonvizin puts a different look at the role and duties of a nobleman into the mouth of Starodum, the person closest to the author. Starodum on political and moral ideals- a man of the Petrine era, which is opposed in comedy to the era of Catherine.
All the heroes of the comedy are drawn into the conflict, the action, as it were, is taken out of the landowner's house, family and acquires a socio-political character: the arbitrariness of the landlords, supported by the authorities, and the lack of rights of the peasants.

Main heroes

The audience in the comedy "Undergrowth" was attracted primarily by positive characters. Serious scenes in which Starodum and Pravdin performed were received with great enthusiasm. Performances thanks to Starodum turned into a kind of public demonstration. “At the end of the play,” recalls one of his contemporaries, “the audience threw a purse filled with gold and silver onto the stage to G. Dmitrevsky ... G. Dmitrevsky, raising it, spoke to the audience and said goodbye to her” (“Art newspaper”, 1840, No. 5.) -
One of the main characters of Fonvizin's play is Starodum. In his worldview, he is the bearer of the ideas of the Russian noble Enlightenment. Starodum served in the army, fought bravely, was wounded, but bypassed with a reward. Its got it former buddy, a count who refused to go to the army in the field. After retiring, Starodum tries to serve at court. Disappointed, he leaves for Siberia, but remains true to his ideals. He is the ideological inspirer of the fight against Prostakova. In reality, the associate of Starodum, official Pravdin, acts on the Prostakov estate not on behalf of the government, but “from his own feat of the heart”. The success of Starodum determined Fonvizin's decision to publish in 1788 the satirical magazine Friend of Honest People, or Starodum.
Positive characters are depicted by the playwright somewhat pale and schematically. Starodum and his associates teach from the stage throughout the play. But such were the laws of the then dramaturgy: classicism assumed the image of heroes uttering monologues-teachings "from the author." Behind Starodum, Pravdin, Sophia and Milon stands, of course, Fonvizin himself with his rich experience in state and court service and unsuccessful struggle for his noble educational ideas.
With amazing realism, Fonvizin presents negative characters: Mrs. Prostakova, her husband and son Mitrofan, the evil and greedy brother of Prostakova Taras Skotinin. All of them are enemies of enlightenment and the law, they bow only to power and wealth, they are afraid only of material strength and they are cunning all the time, they achieve their benefits by all means, guided only by their practical mind and their own interest. They simply do not have morality, ideas, ideals, any moral principles, not to mention the knowledge and respect for laws.
The central figure of this group, one of significant characters Fonvizin's play is Mrs. Prostakova. It immediately becomes the mainspring driving stage action, because in this provincial noblewoman there is some kind of powerful vitality, which is not enough not only for positive characters, but also for her lazy egoistic son and pig-like brother. “This face in the comedy is unusually well conceived psychologically and excellently sustained dramatically,” said historian V.O., an expert on the era, about Prostakova. Klyuchevsky. Yes, it is a character in the full sense of the negative. But the whole point of Fonvizin's comedy is that his lady Prostakova is a lively person, a purely Russian type, and that all the spectators knew this type personally and understood that, leaving the theater, they would inevitably meet with the prostakov ladies in real life and will be defenseless.
From morning to evening, this woman fights, puts pressure on everyone, oppresses, orders, monitors, cunning, lies, swears, robs, beats, even the rich and influential Starodum, state official Pravdin and officer Milon with a military team cannot appease her. At the heart of this living, strong, quite folk character- monstrous tyranny, fearless arrogance, greed for the material goods of life, the desire that everything be according to her liking and will. But this evil cunning creature is a mother, she selflessly loves her Mitrofanushka and does all this for the sake of her son, causing him terrible moral harm. This insane love for her offspring is our strong Russian love, which in a man who has lost his dignity is expressed in such a perverted form, in such a wonderful combination with tyranny, so that the more she loves her child, the more she hates everything that do not eat her child, ”wrote N.V. about Prostakova. Gogol. For the sake of the material well-being of her son, she rushes with her fists at her brother, is ready to grapple with Milon armed with a sword, and even in hopeless situation wants to buy time to change the official court verdict on the guardianship of her estate, announced by Pravdin, by bribery, threats and appeal to influential patrons. Prostakova wants her, her family, her peasants to live according to her practical reason and will, and not according to some kind of laws and rules of education: “What I want, I will put on my own.”

Place of secondary characters

Other characters also act on the stage: the downtrodden and intimidated husband of Prostakov and her brother Taras Skotinin, who loves his pigs more than anything in the world, and the noble "undergrowth" - the mother's favorite, the Prostakov's son Mitrofan, who does not want to learn anything, spoiled and corrupted by maternal upbringing. Next to them are taken out: the yard Prostakovs - the tailor Trishka, the serf nanny, the former breadwinner Mitrofan Eremeevna, his teacher - the village deacon Kuteikin, the retired soldier Tsifirkin, the cunning rogue German coachman Vralman. In addition, the remarks and speeches of Prostakova, Skotinin and other characters - positive and negative - all the time remind the viewer of the invisibly present behind the scenes, given by Catherine II to the full and uncontrolled power of Skotinin and Prostakov, the peasants of the Russian serf village. It is they who, remaining behind the scenes, actually become the main suffering face of the comedy, their fate casts a formidable, tragic reflection on the fate of its noble characters. The names of Prostakova, Mitrofan, Skotinin, Ku-teikin, Vralman became household names.

Plot and composition

An analysis of the work shows that the plot of Fonvizin's comedy is simple. In the family of provincial landowners Prostakov lives their distant relative - the orphaned Sophia. Sophia would like to marry the brother of Mrs. Prostakova - Taras Skotinin and the son of the Prostakovs - Mitrofan. At a critical moment for the girl, when her uncle and nephew are desperately dividing her, another uncle appears - Starodum. He is convinced of the evil nature of the Prostakov family with the help of the progressive official Pravdin. Sophia marries the man she loves - officer Milon. The Prostakovs' estate is taken into state custody for cruel treatment with the fortresses. Mitrofan is given to military service.
Fonvizin based the plot of the comedy on the conflict of the era, the socio-political life of the 70s - early 80s. 18th century This is a struggle with the serf-owner Prostakova, depriving her of the right to own her estate. At the same time, other storylines can be traced in the comedy: the struggle for Sofya Prostakova, Skotinin and Milon, the history of the connection loving friend friend of Sophia and Milon. Although they do not form the main plot.
"Undergrowth" is a comedy in five acts. Events unfold in the estate of the Prostakovs. A significant part of the dramatic action in The Undergrowth is devoted to solving the problem of education. These are the scenes of Mitrofan's teachings, the vast majority of Starodum's moralizing. The culminating point in the development of this theme, no doubt, is the scene of Mitrofan's exam in the 4th act of the comedy. This satirical picture, deadly in terms of the strength of the accusatory sarcasm contained in it, serves as a verdict on the education system of the Prostakovs and Skotinins.

Artistic originality

A fascinating, rapidly developing plot, sharp retorts, bold comic positions, individualized colloquial speech of characters, an evil satire on the Russian nobility, mockery of the fruits of the French enlightenment - all this was new and attractive. The young Fonvizin attacked the nobility and its vices, the fruits of semi-enlightenment, the plague of ignorance and serfdom that struck people's minds and souls. He showed it dark kingdom as a stronghold of severe tyranny, everyday domestic cruelty, immorality and lack of culture. The theater as a means of social public satire required characters and language understandable to the audience, acute topical problems, recognizable conflicts. All this is in the famous comedy Fonvizin "Undergrowth", which is staged today.
Fonvizin created the language of Russian drama, correctly understanding it as the art of the word and a mirror of society and man. He did not at all consider this language ideal and final, but his heroes as positive characters. As a member Russian Academy, the writer was seriously engaged in the study and improvement of his modern language. Fonvizin skillfully builds the linguistic characteristics of his characters: these are rude, insulting words in Prostakova's uncouth speeches; the words of the soldier Tsyfirkin, characteristic of military life; Church Slavonic words and quotations from the spiritual books of seminarian Kuteikin; the broken Russian speech of Vralman and the speech of the noble heroes of the play - Starodum, Sofya and Pravdin. Separate words and phrases from Fonvizin's comedy became winged. So, already during the life of the playwright, the name Mitrofan became a household name and meant lazy and ignorant. Phraseological units have gained wide popularity: “Trishkin’s caftan”, “I don’t want to study, but I want to get married”, etc.

The meaning of the work

"Folk" (according to Pushkin) comedy "Undergrowth" reflected the acute problems of Russian life. The audience, seeing her in the theater, at first laughed heartily, but then they were horrified, experienced deep sadness and called Fonvizin's cheerful play a modern Russian tragedy. Pushkin left for us the most valuable testimony about the then spectators: “My grandmother told me that in the performance of Undergrowth there was a crush in the theater - the sons of the Prostakovs and Skotinins, who came to serve from the steppe villages, were present here - and, consequently, they saw relatives and friends in front of them , your family." Fonvizin's comedy was a faithful satirical mirror, for which there is nothing to blame. “The strength of the impression is that it is made up of two opposite elements: laughter in the theater is replaced by heavy reflection upon leaving it,” wrote the historian V.O. Klyuchevsky.
Gogol, a student and heir of Fonvizin, aptly called "Undergrowth" truly public comedy: “Fonvizin’s comedy strikes the coarsened brutality of man, which came from a long, insensitive, unshakable stagnation in the remote corners and backwoods of Russia ... There is nothing caricature in it: everything is taken alive from nature and tested by the knowledge of the soul.” Realism and satire help the author of the comedy to talk about the fate of education in Russia. Fonvizin, through the mouth of Starodum, called education "the key to the welfare of the state." And all the comic and tragic circumstances described by him and the very characters of negative characters can be safely called the fruits of ignorance and malevolence.
In Fonvizin's comedy there is a grotesque, a satirical comedy, a farcical beginning, and a lot of serious things that make the viewer think. All this "Nedorosl" had a strong impact on the development of Russian national dramaturgy, as well as the whole "magnificent and, perhaps, the most socially fruitful line of Russian literature - the line of accusatory-realistic" (M. Gorky).

This is interesting

The actors can be divided into three groups: negative (Prostakovs, Mitrofan, Skotinin), positive (Pravdin, Mil on, Sofya, Starodum), the third group includes all other characters - these are mainly servants and teachers. Negative characters and their servants are characterized by a common colloquial language. The vocabulary of the Skotinins consists mainly of words used in the barnyard. This is well illustrated by the speech of Skotinin, Uncle Mitrofan. It is full of words: a pig, pigs, a barn. The idea of ​​​​life begins and ends with the barnyard. He compares his life with the life of his pigs. For example: “I want to have my own piglets”, “if I have ... a special barn for each pig, then I will find a litterbox for my wife.” And he is proud of it: "Well, be I a pig's son, if ..." Lexicon his sister, Mrs. Prostakova, is a little more diverse due to the fact that her husband is “an innumerable fool” and she has to do everything herself. But the roots of Skotininsky are also manifested in her speech. Favorite curse word is "cattle". To show that Prostakova is not far behind her brother in development, Fonvizin sometimes denies her elementary logic. For example, such phrases: “Since we took away everything that the peasants had, we can’t tear anything off,” “So is it really necessary to be like a tailor in order to be able to sew a caftan well?”
Concerning her husband, one can only say that he is laconic and does not open his mouth without instructions from his wife. But this is what characterizes him as a "countless fool", a weak-willed husband who fell under the heel of his wife. Mitrofanushka is also laconic, however, unlike his father, he has freedom of speech. Skotinin's roots are manifested in his ingenuity of curses: "old grunt", "garrison rat". Servants and teachers have in their speech characteristics estates and parts of the society to which they belong. Eremeevna's speech is constant excuses and a desire to please. Teachers: Tsyfirkin is a retired sergeant, Kuteikin is a deacon from Pokrov. And by their speech they show belonging to the occupation.
All the characters, except for the positive ones, have a very colorful, emotionally colored speech. You may not understand the meaning of the words, but the meaning of what is said is always clear.
The speech of positive characters does not differ in such brightness. All four have no colloquial, colloquial phrases in their speech. This is book speech, speech educated people that time, which practically does not express emotions. You understand the meaning of what has been said from the immediate meaning of the words. It is almost impossible to distinguish Milon's speech from Pravdin's speech. It is also very difficult to say anything about Sophia from her speech. An educated, well-behaved young lady, as Starodum would call her, sensitive to the advice and instructions of her beloved uncle. Starodum's speech is completely determined by the fact that the author put his moral program into the mouth of this hero: rules, principles, moral laws by which a "pious person" must live. Starodum's monologues are structured in this way: Starodum first tells a story from his life, and then deduces a moral.
As a result, it turns out that the speech of the negative hero characterizes him, and the speech goodie used by the author to express his thoughts. The person is depicted in volume, the ideal is in the plane.

Makogonenko G.I. Denis Fonvizin. creative way M.-L., 1961.
Makogonezho G.I. From Fonvizin to Pushkin (From the history of Russian realism). M., 1969.
Nazarenko M.I. "The incomparable mirror" (Types and prototypes in the comedy "Undergrowth" by D.I. Fonvizin) // Russian language, literature, culture at school and university. K., 2005.
StrichekA. Denis Fonvizin. Russia of the Age of Enlightenment. M., 1994.

Denis Fonvizin

undergrowth

Comedy in five acts

CHARACTERS

Prostakov.

Mrs. Prostakova, his wife.

Prostakov, their son, is undersized.

Eremeevna, Mitrofanov's mother.

Starodum.

Sophia, niece of Starodum.

Skotinin, brother of Mrs. Prostakova.

Kuteikin, seminarian.

Tsyfirkin, retired sergeant.

Vralman, teacher.

Trishka, tailor.

Servant of Prostakov.

Starodum's valet.

Action in the village of Prostakov.

STEP ONE

PHENOMENON I

Ms. Prostakova, Mitrofan, Eremeevna.

Ms. Prostakova(examining the caftan on Mitrofan). The coat is all ruined. Eremeevna, bring in the swindler Trishka here. (Yeremeevna leaves.) He, the thief, has restrained him everywhere. Mitrofanushka, my friend! I have tea, you are pressed to death. Call your father here.

Mitrofan leaves.

PHENOMENON II

Mrs. Prostakova, Eremeevna, Trishka.

Ms. Prostakova(Trishka). And you, cattle, come closer. Didn't I tell you, thieves' mug, that you let your caftan go wider. The child, the first, grows; another, a child and without a narrow caftan of delicate build. Tell me, idiot, what's your excuse?

Trishka. Why, madame, I was self-taught. I then reported to you: well, if you please, give it to the tailor.

Ms Prostakova. So is it really necessary to be a tailor in order to be able to sew a caftan well. What a beastly argument!

Trishka. Yes, a tailor learned to knit, madam, but I didn’t.

Ms Prostakova. He is also seeking and arguing. A tailor learned from another, another from a third, but who did the first tailor learn from? Speak, cattle.

Trishka. Yes, the first tailor, perhaps, sewed worse than mine.

Mitrofan(runs in). Called my father. I dared to say: immediately.

Ms Prostakova. So go and get him out, if you don’t call for good.

Mitrofan. Yes, here is the father.

PHENOMENON III

The same and Prostakov.

Ms Prostakova. What, what are you trying to hide from me? Here, sir, what I have lived with your indulgence. What is the son's new thing to his uncle's conspiracy? What caftan Trishka deigned to sew?

Prostakov(stammering from timidity). Me… a little baggy.

Ms Prostakova. You yourself are baggy, smart head.

Prostakov. Yes, I thought, mother, that you think so.

Ms Prostakova. Are you blind yourself?

Prostakov. With your eyes mine see nothing.

Ms Prostakova. That's the kind of hubby the Lord has given me: he doesn't know how to make out what is wide and what is narrow.

Prostakov. In this I believe in you, mother, and believe.

Ms Prostakova. So believe the same and the fact that I do not intend to indulge the lackeys. Go, sir, and now punish ...

EVENT IV

The same and Skotinin.

Skotinin. Whom? For what? On the day of my collusion! I ask you, sister, for such a holiday to postpone the punishment until tomorrow; and tomorrow, if you please, I myself will gladly help. If it wasn't for me Taras Skotinin, if I don't have any fault to blame. In this, sister, I have the same custom with you. Why are you so angry?

Ms Prostakova. Yes, brother, I will send to your eyes. Mitrofanushka, come here. Is this coat baggy?

Skotinin. No.

Prostakov. Yes, I myself can already see, mother, that it is narrow.

Skotinin. I don't see that either. The caftan, brother, is quite well made.

Ms. Prostakova(Trishka). Get out, cattle. (Eremeevna.) Come on, Eremeevna, let the child have breakfast. Vit, I have tea, soon the teachers will come.

Eremeevna. He already, mother, deigned to eat five buns.

Ms Prostakova. So you're sorry for the sixth, you bastard? What zeal! Feel free to watch.

Eremeevna. Hello, mother. I said this for Mitrofan Terentyevich. Protoskoval until morning.

Ms Prostakova. Ah, mother of God! What happened to you, Mitrofanushka?

Mitrofan. Yes, mother. Yesterday, after dinner, I had a seizure.

Skotinin. Yes, it can be seen, brother, you dined tightly.

Mitrofan. And I, uncle, hardly ate supper at all.

Prostakov. I remember, my friend, you deigned to eat something.

Mitrofan. What! Three slices of corned beef, yes hearth, I don’t remember, five, I don’t remember, six.

Eremeevna. At night every now and then he asked for a drink. The whole jug deigned to eat kvass.

Mitrofan. And now I'm walking like crazy. All night long such rubbish climbed into the eyes.

Ms Prostakova. What kind of rubbish, Mitrofanushka?

Mitrofan. Yes, then you, mother, then father.

Ms Prostakova. How is it?

Mitrofan. As soon as I begin to fall asleep, then I see that you, mother, deign to beat the father.

Prostakov(to the side). Well, my trouble! Dream in hand!

Mitrofan(spreading out). So I felt sorry.

Ms. Prostakova(with annoyance). Who, Mitrofanushka?

Mitrofan. You, mother: you are so tired, beating the father.

Ms Prostakova. Embrace me, my friend of the heart! Here, son, is one of my consolations.

Skotinin. Well, Mitrofanushka, I see you are a mother's son, not a father!

Prostakov. At least I love him as a parent should, this is a clever child, this is a reasonable child, an amusing, entertainer; sometimes I am beside myself with him and with joy I myself truly do not believe that he is my son.

Skotinin. Only now our amusing fellow is frowning at something.

Ms Prostakova. Why not send for a doctor to the city?

Mitrofan. No, no, mother. I'd rather get better on my own. I’ll run to the dovecote now, so maybe ...

Ms Prostakova. So maybe the Lord is merciful. Come, frolic, Mitrofanushka.

Mitrofan and Yeremeevna enter.

EVENT V

Ms. Prostakova, Prostakov, Skotinin.

Skotinin. Why can't I see my bride? Where is she? In the evening there will be already an agreement, so isn't it time for her to say that she is being married off?

Ms Prostakova. We'll make it, brother. If she is told this ahead of time, then she may still think that we are reporting to her. Although by my husband, however, I am a relative of hers; And I love that strangers listen to me.

Prostakov(Skotinin). To tell the truth, we treated Sofyushka like a real orphan. After her father, she remained a baby. Tom, with six months, as her mother, and my fiancé, had a stroke ...

Ms. Prostakova(showing that he baptizes his heart). The power of the cross is with us.

Prostakov. From which she went into the next world. Her uncle, Mr. Starodum, went to Siberia; and since for several years now there has been neither a rumor nor news about him, we consider him dead. We, seeing that she was left alone, took her to our village and oversee her estate as if it were our own.

Ms Prostakova. What, why are you so pissed off today, my father? Looking for a brother, he might think that we took her to us for the sake of interest.

Prostakov. Well, mother, how can he think it? After all, Sofyushkino's real estate cannot be moved to us.

Skotinin. And although the movable has been put forward, I am not a petitioner. I don't like to bother, and I'm afraid. No matter how much the neighbors offended me, no matter how much damage they did, I didn’t hit anyone with my forehead, and any loss, than to go after him, I’ll tear off my own peasants, and the ends are in the water.

Prostakov. That's true, brother: the whole neighborhood says that you are a masterful collector of dues.

Ms Prostakova. At least you taught us, brother father; and we can't. Since we took away everything that the peasants had, we can no longer tear anything off. Such trouble!

Skotinin. If you please, sister, I will teach you, I will teach you, just marry me to Sofyushka.

Ms Prostakova. Do you really like this girl?

Skotinin. No, I don't like a girl.

Prostakov. So in the neighborhood of her village?

Skotinin. And not villages, but the fact that in the villages it is found and what my mortal hunt is.

Ms Prostakova. To what, brother?

Skotinin. I love pigs, sister, and we have such large pigs in our neighborhood that there is not a single one of them that, standing on its hind legs, would not be taller than each of us with a whole head.

Prostakov. It's strange, brother, how relatives can resemble relatives. Our Mitrofanushka looks like an uncle. And he is a pig hunter from childhood, just like you. As he was still three years old, it happened, when he saw a pig, he would tremble with joy.

Skotinin. This is truly a curiosity! Well, brother, Mitrofan loves pigs because he is my nephew. There is some resemblance here; why am I so fond of pigs?

Prostakov. And there is some similarity, I think.

EVENT VI

The same and Sophia.

Sophia entered, holding a letter in her hand and looking cheerful.

Ms. Prostakova(Sophia). What's so funny, mother? What were you happy about?

Sophia. I have now received joyful knowledge. Uncle, about whom we have known nothing for so long, whom I love and revere as my father, has recently arrived in Moscow. Here is the letter I received from him.

Ms. Prostakova(frightened, angrily). How! Starodum, your uncle, is alive! And you deign to conceive that he is risen! Here's some fancy stuff!

Sophia. Yes, he never died.

Ms Prostakova. Didn't die! And why can't he die? No, madame, these are your inventions, in order to intimidate us with your uncles, so that we would give you free will. Uncle is a smart man; he, seeing me in the hands of others, will find a way to help me out. That's what you're glad about, ma'am; however, perhaps, do not be very cheerful: your uncle, of course, did not resurrect.

Skotinin. Sister, well, if he did not die?

Prostakov. God forbid he didn't die!

Ms. Prostakova(to husband). How did he not die! What are you confusing grandma? Don't you know that for several years from me he has been remembered in memorials for his repose? Surely my sinful prayers did not reach! (To Sophia.) Perhaps a letter to me. (Almost throws up.) I bet it's some kind of amorous. And guess who. This is from the officer who was looking for you to marry and for whom you yourself wanted to marry. Yes, that beast without my asking gives you letters! I'll get there. Here's what we've come up with. They write letters to the girls! girls can read and write!)

Sophia. Read it for yourself, sir. You will see that nothing could be more innocent.

Ms Prostakova. Read it yourself! No, madame, I am, thank God, not brought up like that. I can receive letters, but I always order someone else to read them. (To her husband.) Read.

Prostakov(long looking). Tricky.

Ms Prostakova. And you, my father, apparently, were brought up as a red maiden. Brother, please read.

Skotinin. I? I never read anything in my life, sister! God delivered me from this boredom.

Sophia. Let me read.

Ms Prostakova. O mother! I know that you are a craftswoman, but I do not really believe you. Here, I have tea, teacher Mitrofanushkin will come soon. I tell him...

Skotinin. Have you already begun to teach the young man to read and write?

Ms Prostakova. Ah, father brother! She has been studying for four years now. Nothing, it’s a sin to say that we don’t try to educate Mitrofanushka. We pay money to three teachers. For the diploma, the deacon from the Intercession, Kuteikin, goes to him. He is taught arithmetic, father, by a retired sergeant, Tsyfirkits. Both of them come here from the city. The city is three miles away from us, father. He is taught in French and all sciences by the German Adam Adamych Vralman. This is three hundred rubles a year. We sit at the table with us. Our women wash his linen. Where necessary - a horse. A glass of wine at the table. At night, a tallow candle, and our Fomka directs the wig for nothing. To tell the truth, and we are pleased with him, father, brother. He is not a slave. Vity, my father, while Mitrofanushka is still undergrowth, sweat him and pamper him; and there, in a dozen years, when he enters, God forbid, into the service, he will endure everything. How is happiness written in the family, brother. From our own family of Prostakovs, look, lying on your side, ranks fly to themselves. Why is their Mitrofanushka worse? Ba! yes, by the way, our dear guest came by the way.

PHENOMENON VII

The same and Pravdin.

Ms Prostakova. Brother, my friend! I recommend you our dear guest, Mr. Pravdin; and to you, my lord, I recommend my brother.

Pravdin. I am glad to have made your acquaintance.

Skotinin. All right, my lord! As for the last name, I didn't hear it.

Pravdin. I am called Pravdin, so you can hear.

Skotinin. What native, my lord? Where are the villages?

Pravdin. I was born in Moscow, if you need to know, and my villages are in the local governorship.

Skotinin. But do I dare to ask, my lord, - I don’t know my name and patronymic, - are there pigs in your villages?

Ms Prostakova. Enough, brother, let's start about pigs. Let's talk about our grief. (To Pravdin.) Here, father! God told us to take the girl in our arms. She deigns to receive letters from her uncles. Uncles write to her from the other world. Do me a favor, my father, take the trouble to read it aloud to all of us.

Pravdin. Excuse me, ma'am. I never read letters without the permission of those to whom they are written.

Sophia. I ask you about it. You are doing me a great favor.

Pravdin. If you order. (Is reading.)"Dear niece! My deeds forced me to live for several years in separation from my neighbors; and the distance has deprived me of the pleasure of having news of you. I am now in Moscow, having lived for several years in Siberia. I can serve as an example that one can make one's fortune through labor and honesty. By these means, with the help of happiness, I made ten thousand rubles an income ... "

Skotinin and both Prostakovs. Ten thousand!

Pravdin(is reading).“... of which you, my dear niece, I make you an heiress ...”

Mrs. Prostakova, Prostakov, Skotinin(together):

- Your heiress!

- Sophia the heiress!

- Her heiress!

Ms. Prostakova(rushing to hug Sophia). Congratulations, Sofyushka! Congratulations, my soul! I'm overjoyed! Now you need a groom. I, I do not want the best bride and Mitrofanushka. That's uncle! That's a father! I myself still thought that God would protect him, that he was still alive.

Skotinin(holding out his hand). Well, sister, hurry up on your hands.

Ms. Prostakova(quietly to Skotinin). Hold on, brother. First you need to ask her if she still wants to marry you?

Skotinin. How! What a question! Are you going to report to her?

Skotinin. And for what? Yes, even if you read for five years, you will never read better than ten thousand.

Ms. Prostakova(to Sophia). Sofyushka my soul! let's go to my bedroom. I desperately need to talk to you. (Takes Sophia away.)

Skotinin. Ba! so I see that today collusion is unlikely to be.

SCENE VIII

Pravdin, Prostakov, Skotinin, servant.

Servant(to Prostakov, out of breath). Barin! master! the soldiers came and stopped in our village.

Prostakov. What trouble! Well, they will ruin us to the end!

Pravdin. What are you afraid of?

Prostakov. Oh, you dear father! We've already seen the views. I don't dare to go to them.

Pravdin. Do not be afraid. Of course, they are led by an officer who will not allow any impudence. Come to him with me. I am sure that you are shy in vain.

Pravdin, Prostakov and the servant depart.

Skotinin. Everyone left me alone. Go for a walk in the barnyard.

End of the first act.

ACT TWO

PHENOMENON I

Pravdin, Milon.

Milo. How glad I am, my dear friend, that I accidentally saw you! Tell me in what way...

Pravdin. As a friend, I will tell you the reason for my being here. I have been designated as a member of the governorship here. I have a command to go around the local district; and besides, from my own feat of my heart, I do not leave to notice those evil-minded ignoramuses who, having full power over their people, use it for evil inhumanely. You know the mindset of our viceroy. With what zeal he helps suffering mankind! With what zeal does he thereby fulfill the philanthropic forms of the higher authority! In our region, we ourselves have experienced that where the governor is such as the governor is depicted in the Institution, there the well-being of the inhabitants is true and reliable. I have been living here for three days now. I found the landowner an innumerable fool, and his wife a wicked fury, whose infernal temper makes misfortune to their whole house. What are you thinking, my friend, tell me, how long have you stayed here?

Milo. I'm leaving here in a few hours.

Pravdin. What's so soon? Have a rest.

Milo. I can not. I was ordered to lead the soldiers without delay ... yes, moreover, I myself am burning with impatience to be in Moscow.

Pravdin. What's the reason?

Milo. I will reveal to you the secret of my heart, dear friend! I am in love and have the happiness of being loved. For more than half a year, I have been separated from the one who is dearest to me in the world, and, what is even sadder, I have not heard anything about her all this time. Often, attributing the silence to her coldness, I was tormented by grief; but suddenly I received news that struck me. They write to me that, after the death of her mother, some distant relatives took her to their villages. I don't know who or where. Perhaps she is now in the hands of some greedy people who, taking advantage of her orphanhood, keep her in tyranny. That thought alone makes me beside myself.

Pravdin. I see similar inhumanity in the local house. I caress, however, to soon put limits on the wickedness of the wife and the stupidity of the husband. I have already informed our chief of all the local barbarisms, and I have no doubt that measures will be taken to appease them.

Milo. Happy are you, my friend, being able to alleviate the fate of the unfortunate. I do not know what to do in my sad situation.

Pravdin. Let me ask about her name.

Milon(excited). A! here she is.

PHENOMENON II

The same and Sophia.

Sofia(in admiration). Milo! do I see you?

Pravdin. What happiness!

Milo. Here is the one that owns my heart. Dear Sophia! Tell me, how do I find you here?

Sophia. How many sorrows have I endured since the day of our separation! My unscrupulous cousins...

Pravdin. My friend! do not ask about what is so sad for her ... You will learn from me what rudeness ...

Milo. Unworthy people!

Sophia. Today, however, for the first time the hostess here changed her behavior with me. Hearing that my uncle was making me an heiress, she suddenly turned from being rude and quarrelsome to the very base, and I can see from all her innuendo that she will read me as a bride to her son.

Milon(eagerly). And you did not show her the same hour of perfect contempt? ...

Sophia. No…

Milo. And didn't tell her that you had a heartfelt obligation, that...

Sophia. No…

Milo. A! now I see my doom. My opponent is happy! I do not deny all the merits in it. He may be reasonable, enlightened, kind; but so that he could compare with me in my love for you, so that ...

Sofia(grinning). My God! If you saw him, your jealousy would drive you to the extreme!

Milon(indignantly). I imagine all its virtues.

Sophia. You can't imagine everyone. Although he is sixteen years old, he has already reached the last degree of his perfection and will not go far.

Pravdin. How far will it not go, madam? He finishes teaching hours; and there, one must think, they will also take to the psalter.

Milo. How! This is my rival! And, dear Sophia, why are you tormenting me with a joke? You know how easily a passionate person is upset by the slightest suspicion.

Sophia. Think how unfortunate my condition is! I could not answer this stupid proposal decisively. In order to get rid of their rudeness, in order to have some freedom, I was forced to hide my feelings.

Milo. What did you answer her?

Here Skotinin walks through the theater, lost in thought, and no one sees him.

Sophia. I said that my fate depended on the will of my uncle, that he himself promised to come here in his letter, which (to Pravdin) did not allow you to finish reading Mr. Skotinin.

Milo. Skotinin!

Skotinin. I!

PHENOMENON III

The same and Skotinin.

Pravdin. How did you sneak up, Mr. Skotinin! I wouldn't expect this from you.

Skotinin. I passed by you. Heard that they called me, I answered. I have such a custom: whoever screams - Skotinin! And I told him: me! What are you, brothers, and for real? I myself served in the guards and retired as a corporal. It used to happen that at the exit they would shout at the roll call: Taras Skotinin! And I wholeheartedly: I!

Pravdin. We have not called you now, and you can go where you went.

Skotinin. I didn’t go anywhere, but I wander, thinking. I have such a custom, as if I take something into my head, then I can’t knock it out with a nail. With me, you hear, what entered the mind, it settled here. All I think about is that I only see in a dream, as in reality, and in reality, as in a dream.

Pravdin. What would interest you so much now?

Skotinin. Oh, brother, you are my dearest friend! Miracles are happening to me. My sister quickly took me out of my village to hers, and if she takes me out of her village to mine just as quickly, I can honestly say before the whole world: I went for nothing, brought nothing.

Pravdin. What a pity, Mr. Skotinin! Your sister plays with you like a ball.

Skotinin(embittered). How about a ball? Protect God! Yes, I myself will throw it so that they won’t find a whole village in a week.

Sophia. Oh, how angry you are!

Milo. What happened to you?

Skotinin. You yourself, a smart person, think about it. My sister brought me here to get married. Now she herself drove up with a challenge: “What is it to you, brother, in your wife; you would have, brother, a good pig. No sister! I want to have my own pigs. It's not easy to fool me.

Pravdin. It seems to me, Mr. Skotinin, that your sister is thinking about a wedding, but not about yours.

Skotinin. What a parable! I am not a hindrance to others. Everyone marry his bride. I will not touch a stranger, and do not touch my stranger. (Sophia.) Don't worry, darling. No one will beat you from me.

Sophia. What does it mean? Here's another new one!

Milon(shouted). What audacity!

Skotinin(to Sophia). What are you afraid of?

Pravdin(to Milan). How can you be angry with Skotinin!

Sofia(Skotinin). Am I destined to be your wife?

Milo. I can hardly resist!

Skotinin. You can’t drive around your betrothed, darling! You blame it on your happiness. You will live happily ever after with me. Ten thousand of your income! Eco happiness rolled; yes, I was born so much and did not see; yes, I will redeem all the pigs from the world for them; Yes, I, you hear, I will make everyone blow their trumpet: in the local neighborhood, and only pigs live.

Pravdin. When only cattle can be happy with us, then your wife will have poor peace from them and from us.

Skotinin. Bad peace! bah! bah! bah! do I have enough lights? For her, I’ll give you a coal stove with a stove bench. You are my dearest friend! if I now, without seeing anything, have a special pecking for each pig, then I will find a room for my wife.

Milo. What a beastly comparison!

Pravdin(Skotinin). Nothing will happen, Mr. Skotinin! I will tell you that your sister will read it for her son.

Skotinin. How! Nephew to interrupt from his uncle! Yes, I'll break him like hell at the first meeting. Well, if I'm a pig's son, if I'm not her husband, or if Mitrofan is a freak.

EVENT IV

The same, Eremeevna and Mitrofan.

Eremeevna. Yes, learn a little.

Mitrofan. Well, say another word, you old bastard! I'll finish them off; I will again complain to my mother, so she will deign to give you a task in yesterday's way.

Skotinin. Come here, buddy.

Eremeevna. Feel free to go to your uncle.

Mitrofan. Hello, uncle! What are you so bristling deigned?

Skotinin. Mitrofan! Look straight at me.

Eremeevna. Look, father.

Mitrofan(Eremeevna). Yes, uncle, what kind of unseen? What will you see on it?

Skotinin. Once again: look at me straighter.

Eremeevna. Don't make uncle angry. There, if you please look, father, how he goggled his eyes, and you, if you please, also goggle yours.

Skotinin and Mitrofan, bulging eyes, look at each other.

Milo. Here's a good explanation!

Pravdin. Will it end somehow?

Skotinin. Mitrofan! You are now within a hair's breadth of death. Tell the whole truth; if I had not been afraid of sin, I would have those, without saying a word, by the legs and about the corner. Yes, I do not want to destroy souls without finding the guilty one.

Eremeevna(trembled). Oh, he's leaving! Where should my head go?

Mitrofan. What are you, uncle, ate henbane? Yes, I don’t know why you deigned to jump on me.

Skotinin. Look, don’t deny it, so that I don’t knock the spirit out of you at once in my hearts. You can't put your hands up here. My sin. Blame God and the sovereign. Look, do not riveted on yourself, so as not to accept a needless beating.

Eremeevna. God forbid the slander!

Skotinin. Do you want to get married?

Mitrofan(spreading out). For a long time, uncle, hunting takes ...

Skotinin(rushing at Mitrofan). Oh you damned bastard!…

Pravdin(excluding Skotinin). Mr Skotinin! Do not let your hands go.

Mitrofan. Mommy, cover me!

Epemeevna(shielding Mitrofan, frenzied and raising his fists). I will die on the spot, but I will not give the child away. Sunsya, sir, just show yourself if you please. I'll scratch those walleyes.

Skotinin(trembling and threatening, departs). I'll get you!

Eremeevna(trembling, following). I have my own hooks too!

Mitrofan(following Skotinin). Get out, uncle, get out.

EVENT V

The same and both Prostakovs.

Ms. Prostakova(husband, go). There is nothing to override here. All your life, sir, you've been walking with your ears open.

Prostakov. Yes, he himself and Pravdin have disappeared from my eyes. What am I to blame?

Ms. Prostakova(to Milan). Ah, my father! Mister officer! I have now been looking for you all over the village; she knocked her husband down to bring you, father, the lowest thanksgiving for a good command.

Milo. For what, ma'am?

Ms Prostakova. Why, my father! The soldiers are so kind. So far, no one has touched the hair. Do not be angry, my father, that my freak missed you. Otrodu does not make sense to treat anyone. I was born so rotten, my father

Milo. I don't blame you at all, ma'am.

Ms Prostakova. On him, my father, he finds such, in a local way, tetanus. Sometimes, bulging eyes, stands dead hour like dug in. I didn't do anything with him; What could he not stand for me! You won't get through anything. If the tetanus goes away, then, my father, it will bring such game that you ask God for tetanus again.

Pravdin. At least, ma'am, you can't complain about his wicked temper. He is humble...

Ms Prostakova. Like a calf, my father; that's why everything in our house is spoiled. It doesn’t make sense for him to have strictness in the house in order to punish the guilty by way. I manage everything myself, father. From morning to evening, as if hanged by the tongue, I don’t lay my hands on it: either I scold, or I fight; That's how the house holds up, my father.

Pravdin(to the side). Soon it will be different.

Mitrofan. And today, mother deigned to be busy with the servants all morning.

Ms. Prostakova(to Sophia). Cleaned up the rooms for your kind uncle. I'm dying, I want to see this respectable old man. I heard a lot about him. And his villains only say that he is a little gloomy, but such a deceitful one, but if he already loves someone, he will love him directly.

Pravdin. And whom he dislikes, that bad man. (To Sophia.) I myself have the honor of knowing your uncle. And, moreover, I heard from many things about him that instilled in my soul a true reverence for him. What is called in him sullenness, rudeness, that is, one action of his straightforwardness. From birth, his tongue did not speak Yes, when his soul felt No.

Sophia. But he had to get his happiness by labor.

Ms Prostakova. God's grace to us, we succeeded. I want nothing so much as his paternal mercy to Mitrofanushka. Sofyushka, my soul! Would you like to see Uncle's room?

Sophia leaves.

Ms. Prostakova(to Prostakov). I gaped again, my father; Yes, if you please, sir, to see her off. The legs didn't come off.

Prostakov(departing). They didn’t withdraw, but they buckled.

Ms. Prostakova(to guests). My only concern, my only joy is Mitrofanushka. My age is passing. I cook it for people.

Here appear Kuteikin with a book of hours, and Tsyfirkin with a slate and slate. Both of them ask Eremeevna with signs: should I enter? She beckons them, but Mitrofan waves them off.

Ms. Prostakova(not seeing them, continues). Perhaps the Lord is merciful, and happiness is written for his family.

Pravdin. Look around, ma'am, what's going on behind you?

Ms Prostakova. A! This, father, is Mitrofanushka's teachers, Sidorych Kuteikin...

Eremeevna. And Pafnutich Tsyfirkin.

Mitrofan(to the side). Shoot them and take them with Eremeevna.

Kuteikin. Peace to the master's house and many years from children and households.

Tsyfirkin. We wish your honor a hundred years, yes twenty, and even fifteen. Uncountable years.

Milo. Ba! This is our soldier brother! Where did it come from, my friend?

Tsyfirkin. There was a garrison, your honor! And now he's gone clean.

Milo. What are you eating?

Tsyfirkin. Somehow, your honor! A little bit of passion fruit arithmetic, so I eat in the city near the clerks at the accounting department. The Lord has not revealed science to everyone: so whoever does not understand himself hires me either to believe the account, or to sum up the results. That's what I eat; I do not like to live idly. In my spare time, I teach children. Here, for the third year, their nobility and the guy have been fighting over broken lines, but something is not glued well; Well, it's true, man does not come to man.

Ms Prostakova. What? What are you, Pafnutich, lying? I didn't listen.

Tsyfirkin. So. I reported to his nobility that in ten years you cannot hammer into another stump what another catches in flight.

Pravdin(to Kuteikin). And you, Mr. Kuteikin, aren't you one of the scientists?

Kuteikin. From scientists, your highness! Seminaries of the local diocese. I went to rhetoric, but God willing, I turned back. He submitted a petition to the consistory, in which he wrote: “Such and such a seminarian, from church children, fearing the abyss of wisdom, asks her to dismiss her.” To which a gracious resolution soon followed, with the note: "Such and such a seminarian should be fired from any teaching: it is written for there is, do not cast pearls before pigs, but they will not trample him underfoot."

Ms Prostakova. Where is our Adam Adamych?

Eremeevna. I was pushed towards him, but by force I carried my legs away. Smoke pillar, my mother! Strangled, damned, with tobacco. Such a sinner.

Kuteikin. Empty, Eremeevna! There is no sin in smoking tobacco.

Pravdin(to the side). Kuteikin is also smart!

Kuteikin. In many books it is allowed: in the psalter it is printed: "And cereal for the service of man."

Pravdin. Well, where else?

Kuteikin. And the same thing is printed in another psalter. Our archpriest has a small one in an octagon, and in the same one.

Pravdin(to Mrs. Prostakova). I don't want to interfere with your son's exercises; obedient servant.

Milo. Not me, sir.

Ms Prostakova. Where are you, my lords? ...

Pravdin. I will take him to my room. Friends, having not seen each other for a long time, have a lot to talk about.

Ms Prostakova. And where would you like to eat, with us or in your room? We just have our own family at the table, with Sofyushka ...

Milo. With you, with you, ma'am.

Pravdin. We will both have this honor.

EVENT VI

Mrs. Prostakova, Eremeevna, Mitrofan, Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin.

Ms Prostakova. Well, now at least read the rears in Russian, Mitrofanushka.

Mitrofan. Yes, asses, how not.

Ms Prostakova. Live and learn, my dear friend! Such a thing.

Mitrofan. How not like that! Learning comes to mind. You should bring your uncles here!

Ms Prostakova. What? What's happened?

Mitrofan. Yes! that and see that from uncle melancholy; and there from his fists and for the watch book. No, so I, thank you, already have one end with me!

Ms. Prostakova(frightened). What, what do you want to do? Remember, sweetie!

Mitrofan. Vite here and the river is close. Dive, so remember your name.

Ms. Prostakova(beyond himself). Dead! Dead! God be with you!

Eremeevna. All uncle scared. Almost grabbed his hair. And for nothing... for nothing...

Ms. Prostakova(in anger). Well…

Eremeevna. I pestered him: do you want to marry? ...

Ms Prostakova. Well…

Eremeevna. The child did not hide, for a long time, de, uncle, the hunt takes. How he will freak out, my mother, how he will throw himself up! ...

Ms. Prostakova(trembling). Well… and you, the beast, were dumbfounded, but you didn’t bite into your brother’s mug, and you didn’t pull his snout up to his ears…

Eremeevna. It was accepted! Oh yes, yes...

Ms Prostakova. Yes ... yes ... not your child, you beast! For you, even kill a roben to death.

Eremeevna. Oh, creator, save and have mercy! Yes, if my brother didn’t deign to leave at that very moment, then I would have broken with him. That's what God would not put. These would be dull (pointing to nails) I would not save fangs.

Ms Prostakova. All you bastards are zealous in words alone, and not in deeds...

Eremeevna(crying). I'm not zealous for you, mother! You don’t know how to serve more ... I would be glad not only that ... you don’t feel sorry for your stomach ... but you don’t want to.

Kuteikin, Tsyfirkin(together):

- Will you order us back?

“Where are we going, your honor?”

Ms Prostakova. You are still, the old witch, and burst into tears. Go, feed them with you, and after dinner immediately come back here. (To Mitrofap.) Come with me, Mitrofanushka. I won't let you out of my eyes now. As I tell you a little, so live in the world will fall in love. Not a century for you, my friend, not a century for you to learn. Thanks to God, you already understand so much that you yourself will cock the children. (To Eremeevna.) I’ll be translating with my brother, not your way. Let all good people see that mother and mother are dear. (Leaves with Mitrofan.)

Kuteikin. Your life, Eremeevna, is like total darkness. Let's go to a meal, but with grief, first drink a glass ...

Tsyfirkin. And there is another, here are those and multiplication.

Eremeevna(in tears). Not easy will not take me away! I have been serving for forty years, but the mercy is still the same ...

Kuteikin. How great is the blessing?

Eremeevna. Five rubles a year, and five slaps a day.

Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin take her by the arms.

Tsyfirkin. Let's see at the table what you earn all year round.

End of the second act.

ACT THREE

PHENOMENON I

Starodum and Pravdin.

Pravdin. As soon as they got up from the table, and I, going to the window, saw your carriage, then, without telling anyone, I ran out to meet you to hug you from the bottom of my heart. My heartfelt respect to you...

Starodum. It is precious to me. Trust me.

Pravdin. Your friendship with me is all the more flattering because you cannot have it for others, except for such ...

Starodum. What are you. I speak without ranks. The ranks begin - sincerity ceases.

Pravdin. Write an outline...

Starodum. Many people laugh at him. I know it. Be so. My father raised me in the way of that time, but I did not find the need to re-educate myself. He served Peter the Great. Then one person was called You, but not You. Then they did not yet know how to infect people so much that everyone considered himself to be many. But now many are not worth one. My father is at the court of Peter the Great...

Pravdin. I heard that he is in the military...

Starodum. In that century, courtiers were warriors, but warriors were not courtiers. The education given to me by my father was the best in that age. At that time, there were few ways to learn, and they still did not know how to fill an empty head with someone else's mind.

Pravdin. The upbringing of that time really consisted of several rules ...

Starodum. In one. My father constantly told me the same thing: have a heart, have a soul, and you will be a man at all times. Everything else is in fashion: in the minds of the fashion, in the knowledge of the fashion, no matter how the buckles, on the buttons.

Pravdin. You are speaking the truth. The direct dignity of a person is the soul ...

Starodum. Without her, the most enlightened smart girl is a miserable creature. (With feeling.) An ignoramus without a soul is a beast. The smallest feat leads him to every crime. Between what he does and what he does for, he has no weights. From such and such animals I came to free...

Pravdin. Your niece. I know it. She is here. Let's go to…

Starodum. Wait. My heart still boils with indignation at the unworthy act of the local hosts. Let's stay here for a few minutes. I have a rule: in the first movement, do not start anything.

Pravdin. They know how to observe your rare rule.

Starodum. The experiences of my life have taught me that. Oh, if I had previously been able to control myself, I would have had the pleasure of serving the fatherland longer.

Pravdin. In what way? An incident with a person of your qualities cannot be indifferent to anyone. You'll be doing me a favor if you tell me...

Starodum. I do not hide them from anyone so that others in a similar position will be smarter than me. Entering the military service, I met a young count, whose name I don’t even want to remember. He was younger than me in the service, the son of an accidental father, brought up in a big society and had a special opportunity to learn something that was not yet part of our upbringing. I used all my strength to gain his friendship, in order to reward the shortcomings of my upbringing with my usual treatment of him. At the very time when our mutual friendship was being established, we accidentally heard that war had been declared. I rushed to hug him with joy. "Dear Count! Here is an opportunity for us to distinguish ourselves. Let's go immediately to the army and make ourselves worthy of the title of nobleman, which the breed has given us. Suddenly, my count frowned heavily and, embracing me, dryly: “Happy journey to you,” he said to me, “and I caress that the father does not want to part with me.” Nothing compares to the contempt I felt for him at that very moment. Then I saw that there is sometimes an immeasurable difference between casual people and respectable people, that in the big world there are very small souls, and that with great enlightenment one can be a great stinger.

Pravdin. Sheer truth.

Starodum. Leaving him, I immediately went to where my position called me. Many occasions had I distinguished myself. My wounds prove that I did not miss them. The good opinion of my commanders and troops was a flattering reward of my service, when suddenly I received the news that the count, my former acquaintance, whom I disdained to remember, had been promoted, and I, who was then lying from wounds in a serious illness, was bypassed. Such injustice tore my heart to pieces, and I immediately resigned.

Pravdin. What else should have been done?

Starodum. It had to come to its senses. I did not know how to guard against the first movements of my irritated piety. Fervor did not allow me then to judge that a downright pious person is jealous of deeds, and not of ranks; that ranks are often solicited, and true respect must be deserved; that it is much more honest to be bypassed without guilt than to be granted without merit.

Pravdin. But isn't a nobleman allowed to take resignations in any case?

Starodum. Only in one thing: when he is internally convinced that the service to his fatherland does not bring direct benefit. A! then go.

Pravdin. You give to feel the true essence of the position of a nobleman.

Starodum. Having taken my resignation, I came to Petersburg. Then blind chance led me in a direction that I had never even thought of in my life.

Pravdin. Where to?

Starodum. To the yard. They took me to the court. A? How do you think about it?

Pravdin. How did you see this side?

Starodum. Curious. At first it seemed strange to me that in this direction almost no one drives along the big straight road, and everyone goes around by a detour, hoping to get there as soon as possible.

Pravdin. Though a detour, is the road spacious?

Starodum. And it is so spacious that two, having met, cannot disperse. One knocks down the other, and the one who is on his feet never lifts the one who is on the ground.

Pravdin. So that's why there's selfishness...

Starodum. This is not self-love, but, so to speak, self-love. Here they love themselves perfectly; they care about themselves alone; fuss about one real hour. You will not believe. I saw here a lot of people who, in all cases of their lives, neither ancestors nor descendants came to the idea of ​​a robe.

Pravdin. But those worthy people who serve the state at the court ...

Starodum. ABOUT! those do not leave the court because they are useful to the court, but the rest because the court is useful to them. I was not among the first and did not want to be among the last.

Pravdin. Of course, they didn’t recognize you at the courtyard?

Starodum. The better for me. I managed to get out without trouble, otherwise they would have survived me in one of two ways.

Pravdin. What?

Starodum. From the court, my friend, survive in two ways. Either they get angry at you, or they get angry at you. I did not wait for either one or the other. He reasoned that it was better to lead a life at home than in someone else's antechamber.

Pravdin. So, you walked away from the court with nothing? (Opens his snuffbox.)

Starodum(takes tobacco from Pravdin). How about nothing? Snuffbox price five hundred rubles. Two people came to the merchant. One, having paid money, brought home a snuffbox. Another came home without a snuffbox. And you think the other one came home with nothing? You're wrong. He brought back his five hundred rubles intact. I left the court without villages, without a ribbon, without ranks, but brought mine home intact, my soul, my honor, my rules.

Pravdin. With your rules, people should not be let go from the court, but they must be called to the court.

Starodum. Summon? What for?

Pravdin. Then, why do they call a doctor to the sick.

Starodum. My friend! You're wrong. It is in vain to know a doctor for the sick is incurable. Here the doctor will not help, unless he becomes infected.

PHENOMENON II

The same and Sophia.

Sofia(to Pravdin). My strength was gone from their noise.

Starodum(to the side). Here are the features of her mother's face. Here is my Sophia.

Sofia(looking at Starodum). My God! He called me. My heart does not deceive mine...

Starodum(embracing her). No. You are my sister's daughter, my heart's daughter!

Sofia(rushing into his arms). Uncle! I am overjoyed.

Starodum. Dear Sophia! I learned in Moscow that you live here against your will. I am sixty years old. It happened to be often irritated, sometimes to be pleased with yourself. Nothing so tormented my heart as innocence in the nets of deceit. I have never been so pleased with myself as if I happened to wrest prey from vice from my hands.

Pravdin. What a joy it is to be a witness!

Sophia. Uncle! your mercy on me...

Starodum. You know that I am bound to life by you alone. You must do the consolation of my old age, and my care is your happiness. Having retired, I laid the foundation for your upbringing, but I could not have founded your fortune otherwise than by being separated from your mother and from you.

Sophia. Your absence grieved us unspeakably.

Starodum(to Pravdin). In order to protect her life from the lack of the necessary, I decided to retire for several years and the land where money is obtained, without exchanging it for conscience, without vile length of service, without robbing the fatherland; where they demand money from the land itself, which is more just than people, knows no favoritism, but pays only labors faithfully and generously.

Pravdin. You could be enriched, as I heard, incomparably more.

Starodum. And for what?

Pravdin. To be rich like others.

Starodum. Rich! And who is rich? Do you know that all of Siberia is not enough for the whims of one person! My friend! Everything is in the imagination. Follow nature, you will never be poor. Follow people's opinions, you will never be rich.

Sophia. Uncle! What truth you speak!

Starodum. I have amassed so much that when you are married, the poverty of a worthy groom will not stop us.

Sophia. For the rest of my life, your will will be my law.

Pravdin. But, having given it out, it would not be superfluous to leave it to the children ...

Starodum. Children? Leave wealth to children? Not in the head. They will be smart - they will do without it; A stupid son wealth does not help. I saw good fellows in golden caftans, and with a lead head. No my friend! Cash is not cash value. Golden boob - everyone is a fool.

Pravdin. With all this, we see that money often leads to ranks, ranks usually lead to nobility, and respect turns out to be noble.

Starodum. Reverence! One respect should be flattering to a person - sincere; and spiritual respect is worthy only of those who are in ranks not according to money, but in the nobility not according to ranks.

Pravdin. Your conclusion is undeniable.

Starodum. Ba! What a noise!

PHENOMENON III

The same, Ms. Prostakova, Skotinin, Milon.

Milon separates Mrs. Prostakova from Skotinin.

Ms. Prostakova. Let it go! Let go, father! Give me a face, a face...

Milo. I won't, sir. Don't get angry!

Skotinin(in a temper, straightening her wig). Get off, sister! It will come to breaking, I will bend, so you will crack.

Milon(Ms. Prostakova). And you forgot that he is your brother!

Ms Prostakova. Ah, father! Heart took, let me fight!

Milon(Skotinin). Isn't she your sister?

Skotinin. What a sin to hide, one litter, but you see how squealed.

Starodum(could not help laughing, to Pravdin). I was afraid to get angry. Now the laughter takes me.

Ms Prostakova. Someone, over someone? What is this outgoing?

Starodum. Don't be angry, ma'am. I have never seen people funnier.

Skotinin(holding his neck). Who laughs, but I don’t even have half a laugh.

Milo. Didn't she hurt you?

Skotinin. He shielded the front with both, so clung to the neck ...

Pravdin. And does it hurt?...

Skotinin. The nape of the neck was slightly pierced.

In the next speech of Ms. Prostakova, Sophia tells Milon with her eyes that Starodum is in front of him. Milon understands her.

Ms Prostakova. She blew it! ... No, brother, you must exchange the image of the officer; and if not for him, then you would not shield yourself from me. I will stand up for my son. I will not let my father down. (Starodum.) This, sir, is not funny at all. Don't get angry. I have a mother's heart. Have you heard of a bitch giving out her puppies? Deigned to welcome no one knows to whom, no one knows who

Starodum(pointing to Sophia). Came to her, her uncle, Starodum.

Ms. Prostakova(bewildered and frightened). How! It's you! You, father! Our invaluable guest! Oh, I'm stupid! Yes, would it be so necessary to meet a father, on whom all hope, who we have one, like gunpowder in the eye. Father! I'm sorry. I'm a fool. I can't figure it out. Where is the husband? Where is the son? How to come to an empty house! God's punishment! Everyone went crazy. Wench! Wench! Palashka! Wench!

Skotinin(to the side). He, he, uncle!

EVENT IV

The same and Eremeevna.

Eremeevna. What do you want?

Ms Prostakova. Are you a girl, are you a dog's daughter? Are there no maids in my house besides your nasty hari? Where is the stick?

Eremeevna. She fell ill, mother, lies in the morning.

Ms Prostakova. Lies! Oh, she's a beast! Lies! As if noble!

Eremeevna. Such a heat discordant, mother, incessantly delirious ...

Ms Prostakova. Delirious, you bastard! As if noble! Call you husband, son. Tell them that, by the grace of God, we waited for our dear Uncle Sofyushka; that our second parent has now come to us, by the grace of God. Well, run, roll over!

Starodum. Why make such a fuss, ma'am? By the grace of God, I am not your parent; By the grace of God, I don't even know you.

Ms Prostakova. Your unexpected arrival, father, took my mind away; Yes, at least give me a good hug, our benefactor! ...

EVENT V

The same ones, Prostakov, Mitrofan and Eremeevna.

In the next speech of Starodum, Prostakov and his son, who came out of the middle door, stood behind Starodum. The father is ready to hug him, as soon as the turn comes, and the son to approach the hand. Eremeyevna took her place to the side and, with folded arms, stood stock still, staring at Starodum with slavish subservience.

Starodum(embracing Madame Prostakova reluctantly). Mercy is superfluous, ma'am! I could have done very easily without her. (Breaking out of her hands, he turns around to the other side, where Skotinin, already standing with outstretched arms, immediately grabs him.) Who did I fall for?

Skotinin. It's me, sister brother.

Starodum(seeing two more, impatiently). Who else is this?

Prostakov(hugging)Mitrofan(catching hand) (together):

- I'm a wife's husband.

- I'm a mother's son.

Milon(Pravdin). Now I won't introduce myself.

Pravdin(Milon). I will find an opportunity to introduce you later.

Starodum(without giving Mitrofan a hand). This one catches kissing the hand. It can be seen that they are preparing a big soul into it.

Ms Prostakova. Speak, Mitrofanushka. Why, sir, should I not kiss your hand? You are my second father.

Mitrofan. How not to kiss, uncle, your hand. You are my father... (To mother.) What do you mean?

Ms Prostakova. Second.

Mitrofan. Second? Second father, uncle.

Starodum. I, sir, am neither your father nor your uncle.

Ms Prostakova. Batiushka, a baby boy, maybe he is prophesying his happiness: maybe God will deign to be him and really be your nephew.

Skotinin. Right! Why am I not a nephew? Hey sister!

Ms Prostakova. I, brother, will not bark with you. (To Starodum.) Otrodu, father, did not quarrel with anyone. I have such a temper. At least scold me, I won’t say a word for a century. Let, in his own mind, God pay the one who offends me, the poor one.

Starodum. I noticed this, how soon you, madam, appeared from the door.

Pravdin. And I have been a witness of her good nature for three days now.

Starodum. I can't have this fun for so long. Sofyushka, my friend, tomorrow morning I will go with you to Moscow.

Ms Prostakova. Ah, father! Why such anger?

Prostakov. Why the disgrace?

Ms Prostakova. How! We have to part with Sofyushka! With our cordial friend! I will fall behind with one melancholy of bread.

Prostakov. And I'm already here, the fold is gone.

Starodum. ABOUT! When you love her so much, I must make you happy. I'm taking her to Moscow in order to make her happy. I have been introduced to her as a suitor a certain young man of great merit. I will give it to him.

Ms Prostakova. Ah, tired!

Milo. What do I hear!

Sophia seems stricken.

Skotinin. Here are those times!

Prostakov(throws up his hands). Here's to you!

Eremeevna nodded her head sadly.

Pravdin shows an air of distressed surprise.

Starodum(accepting all the confusion). What does it mean? (To Sophia.) Sofyushka, my friend, do you seem embarrassed to me? Did my intention upset you? I take the place of your father. Trust me that I know his rights. They will go no further than to avert the daughter's unfortunate inclination, and the choice of a worthy person depends entirely on her heart. Be calm, my friend! Your husband, worthy of you, whoever he may be, will have in me a true friend. Go for whoever you want.

Everyone looks cheerful.

Sophia. Uncle! Do not doubt my obedience.

Milon(to the side). Honorable man!

Ms. Prostakova(with a cheerful look). Here is the father! Here to listen! Go for whoever you want, as long as the person is worth it. Yes, my father, yes. Here, only suitors should not be missed. If there is a nobleman in the eyes, a small young ...

Skotinin. He's been out of the boys for a long time...

Ms. Prostakova, Skotinin(together):

- Who has enough, albeit a small one ...

- Yes, the pig factory is not bad ...

Ms. Prostakova, Skotinin(together):

- So in a good hour in Arkhangelsk.

- So a fun feast, dy for the wedding.

Starodum. Your advice is impartial. I see it.

Skotinin. Then you will see how you recognize me more briefly. You see, it's sodomy here. In an hour, I'll come to you alone. This is where we'll get it right. I will say without boasting: what I am, there are few such people. (Departs.)

Starodum. This is most likely.

Ms Prostakova. You, my father, do not look at your brother ...

Starodum. Is he your brother?

Ms Prostakova. Native, father. Vit and I are from the father of the Skotinins. The deceased father married the deceased mother. She was nicknamed the Priplodins. There were eighteen of us children; yes, except for me and my brother, everyone, by the power of the Lord, tried on. Others were dragged out of the bath of the dead. Three, having sipped milk from a copper pot, died. Two of the holy week fell from the bell tower; but the ones who got it did not stand on their own, father.

Starodum. I see what your parents were like.

Ms Prostakova. Old people, my father! This was not the age. We weren't taught anything. It used to happen that kind people would come to the priest, appease, appease, so that they could at least send their brother to school. By the way, the dead man is light and hands and feet, the kingdom of heaven to him! Sometimes, he deigns to shout: I’ll curse a roben who will learn something from the infidels, and if it wasn’t for that Skotinin, who would want to learn something.

Pravdin. You, however, teach your son something.

Ms. Prostakova(to Pravdin). Yes, now the age is different, father! (To Starodum.) We do not regret the last crumbs, if only to teach our son everything. My Mitrofanushka does not get up for days because of the book. Motherly my heart. It’s a pity, a pity, but you’ll think: but there will be a kid anywhere. Vite, father, he will be sixteen years old near the winter Nikola. The bridegroom to anyone, but still the teachers go, does not waste an hour, and now two people are waiting in the hallway. (She winked at Yeremeyevna to call them.) In Moscow, they accepted a foreigner for five years and, so that others would not lure, the police announced the contract. He agreed to teach what we want, but teach us what you yourself know how to teach. We fulfilled all our parental duty, we accepted the German and we pay him a third of the money in advance. I sincerely wish that you yourself, father, would admire Mitrofanushka and see what he learned.

Starodum. I am a bad judge of that, madame.

Ms. Prostakova(seeing Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin). Here come the teachers! My mitrofanushka has no rest day or night. It is bad to praise your child, and where not unhappy will be the one whom God will bring to be his wife.

Pravdin. It's all good; do not forget, however, madam, that your guest has now only arrived from Moscow and that he needs peace much more than your son's praises.

Starodum. I confess that I would be glad to have a rest both from the road and from all that I heard and saw.

Ms Prostakova. Ah, my father! All is ready. She cleaned the room for you.

Starodum. Thankful. Sofyushka, come with me.

Ms Prostakova. And what are we? Allow me, my father, to guide me, and my son, and my husband. We all promise to go to Kyiv on foot for your health, if only to manage our business.

Starodum(to Pravdin). When will we see you? After resting, I will come here.

Pravdin. So I am here and will have the honor to see you.

Starodum. Happy soul. (Seeing Milo, who bowed to him with reverence, bows and politely to him.)

Ms. Prostakova. So you are welcome.

Except for the teachers, everyone leaves. Pravdin with Milon to the side, and the others to the other.

EVENT VI

Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin.

Kuteikin. What an abomination! You won't get anywhere in the morning. Here every morning will flourish and perish.

Tsyfirkin. And our brother lives like this forever. Do not do business, do not run away from business. That’s the trouble for our brother, how badly they feed, how today the food was gone for the local dinner ...

Kuteikin. Yes, if Vladyka didn’t manage to make me, walking here, wander at the crossroads to our mallow, I would be on the run, like a dog in the evening.

Tsyfirkin. Here, gentlemen, good commanders! ...

Kuteikin. Have you heard, brother, what is life like for the local servants; for nothing that you are a serviceman, you have been to battles, fear and trembling will come upon you ...

Tsyfirkin. Here on! Have you heard? I myself saw here a quick fire a day in a row for three hours. (Sighing.) Whoop me! Sadness takes.

Kuteikin(sighing). Oh, woe to me a sinner!

Tsyfirkin. What did he sigh about, Sidorych?

Kuteikin. And is your heart troubled in you, Pafnutevich?

Tsyfirkin. For captivity, you will think about it ... God gave me a student, a boyar son. I've been fighting with him for the third year: I can't count three.

Kuteikin. So we have one twist. I've been torturing my stomach for four years. By sitting down for an hour, except for backs, he won’t understand a new line; Yes, and the backside mumbles, God forgive me, without a warehouse in warehouses, to no avail in rumors.

Tsyfirkin. And who is to blame? Only he is a stylus in his hands, and the German is at the door. He has a sabbath because of the board, and for me, in jerks. Kuteikin. Is this my sin? Only a pointer in the fingers, a basurman in the eyes. A student on the head, and me on the neck.

Tsyfirkin(with heat). I would give myself an ear to carry, if only this parasite would be scolded like a soldier.

Kuteikin. At least now with whispers, if only I could beat the sinner's neck by the way.

PHENOMENON VII

The same, Ms. Prostakova and Mitrofan.

Ms Prostakova. While he is resting, my friend, at least for the sake of appearance, study, so that it comes to his ears how you work, Mitrofanushka.

Mitrofan. Well! And then what?

Ms Prostakova. And get married there.

Mitrofan. Listen, mother. I amuse you. I will learn; just to be last time and to be in agreement today.

Ms Prostakova. The hour of the will of God will come!

Mitrofan. The hour of my will has come. I don't want to study, I want to get married. You tricked me, blame yourself. Here I sat down.

Tsyfirkin is sharpening the lead.

Ms Prostakova. And I will swear right away. I'll knit a purse for you, my friend! Sofyupshkiny money would be used where to put it.

Mitrofan. Well! Get the plank, garrison rat! Set what to write.

Tsyfirkin. Your honor, always bark around idle.

Ms. Prostakova(working). Ah, my God! Don't you dare even choose Pafnutich! Already angry!

Tsyfirkin. Why be angry, your honor? We have a Russian proverb: the dog barks, the wind carries.

Mitrofan. Set your butts, turn around.

Tsyfirkin. All backs, your honor. Vity with tasks a century ago and remained.

Ms Prostakova. None of your business, Pafnutich. I am very pleased that Mitrofanushka does not like to step forward. With his mind, fly far, and God forbid!

Tsyfirkin. Task. You deigned, on the butt, to go along the road with me. Well, at least we'll take Sidorych with us. We found three...

Mitrofan(writes). Three.

Tsyfirkin. On the road, on the butt, three hundred rubles.

Mitrofan(writes). Three hundred.

Tsyfirkin. It came to division. Smekni-tko, why on a brother?

Mitrofan(calculating, whispering). Once three is three. One zero is zero. One zero is zero.

Ms Prostakova. What, what about the division?

Mitrofan. Look, three hundred rubles that they found, three to share.

Ms Prostakova. He's lying, my dear friend! Found money, didn't share it with anyone. Take everything for yourself, Mitrofanushka. Don't study this stupid science.

Mitrofan. Hey, Pafnutich, ask another.

Tsyfirkin. Write, your honor. For learning, you give me ten rubles a year.

Mitrofan. Ten.

Tsyfirkin. Now, it’s true, it’s not for anything, but if you, sir, had adopted something from me, it wouldn’t be a sin then to add ten more.

Mitrofan(writes). Well, well, ten.

Tsyfirkin. How much for a year?

Mitrofan(calculating, whispering). Zero yes zero - zero. One yes one... (Thinking.)

Ms Prostakova. Do not work in vain, my friend! I will not add a penny; and for nothing. Science is not like that. Only you are tormented, and everything, I see, is emptiness. No money - what to count? There is money - we will consider it good even without Pafnutich.

Kuteikin. Sabbath, right, Pafnutich. Two tasks are solved. They will not lead to believe.

Mitrofan. Don't worry, brother. Mother is not mistaken here. Go now, Kuteikin, teach yesterday.

Kuteikin(opens a book of hours, Mitrofap takes a pointer). Let's start with blessings. Follow me with attention. "I am a worm..."

Mitrofan."I am a worm..."

Kuteikin. Worm, that is to say animal, cattle. In other words: "I am cattle."

Mitrofan."I am cattle."

Mitrofan(Also)."Not a man."

Kuteikin."Reviling of people".

Mitrofan."Reviling of people".

Kuteikin."And uni..."

SCENE VIII

The same and Vralman.

Vralman. Ay! ouch! ouch! ouch! ouch! Now I fizhu! The kid will die! You are my mother! Crashed nat sfay utroy, dragged the cator tefiat messesof - so to say, asmo tifa f sfete. Tai foul to those damned slaves. Is such a calaf just a palfan? Ush disposition, ush fso is.

Ms Prostakova. Is it true. Your truth, Adam Adamych! Mitrofanushka, my friend, if learning is so dangerous for your little head, stop it for me.

Mitrofan. And even more so for me.

Kuteinik(closing the clock). The end and glory to God.

Vralman. May Mother! What do you need? What? Son, kakof eats, let God give old things, or a wise son, so to speak, Aristotelis, but to the grave.

Ms Prostakova. Ah, what a passion, Adam Adamitch! He same and so carelessly dined yesterday.

Vralman. Rassuti sh, mother of May, drank too much pruho: peda. And to fit a kaloushka at the nave is a hell of a prick; drink it too much and save it later!

Ms Prostakova. Your truth, Adam Adamych; yeah what are you going to do? Robin, without learning, go to the same Petersburg; they say stupid. There are a lot of smart people now. I'm afraid of them.

Vralman. Why solder, my mother? A wise man nikakhta efo does not sateret, nikakhta does not argue with him; but he doesn’t mess with smart lyuts, so he’ll be blaspheming alive!

Ms Prostakova. This is how you should live in the world, Mitrofanushka!

Mitrofan. I myself, mother, am not a fan of smart girls. Your brother is always better.

Vralman. Sfaya campaign either the body!

Ms Prostakova. Adam Adamych! Who will you choose from?

Vralman. Do not collapse, my mother, do not collapse; what a damned son, there are millions, millions of them on the planet. How can he not screw up sepe campaigns?

Ms Prostakova. It's a gift that my son. Small sharp, agile.

Vralman. Whether you are a body, caps did not samarily efo on the ear! Russian Kramat! Arithmetic! Oh, hospot after mine, how the carcass and the body remains! How putto you Russians Tforyanin ush and could not advance in the sphere of Russian Kramat!

Kuteikin(to the side). Under the tongue you would have labor and illness.

Vralman. Like putto py to the arithmetic of dust, the uncountable turaks are lyuti!

Tsyfirkin(to the side). I'll count those ribs. Come to me.

Vralman. It is shabby for him to sleep, how to sew on a fabric. I sleep sfet by heart. I myself terta kalash.

Ms Prostakova. How can you not know big light, Adam Adamych? I am tea, and in Petersburg alone you have seen enough.

Vralman. Tafolno, my mother, tafolno. I am a safe hunter, always eager to watch the public. Pyfalo, about the prasnik of a carriage with a hospot in Katringof. I'm looking at them fsyo. Pyfalo, I won’t get off the mower for a minute.

Ms Prostakova. What goat?

Vralman(to the side). Ay! ouch! ouch! ouch! What did I screw up! (Aloud.) You, mother, are dreaming that you should look higher. So I, pyfalo, sat down on a snak carriage, and that one looked at a Polish sfet with a scythe.

Ms Prostakova. Of course you can see. A smart person knows where to climb.

Vralman. Your worst son is also on the planet, somehow fsmastitsa, fiercely look at and touch sepya. Utalets!

Mitrofan, standing still, rolls over.

Vralman. Utalets! He will not stand still, like a teak horse of a pez usda. Go! Fort!

Mitrofan runs away.

Ms. Prostakova(smiling happily). Robin, right, though the groom. Follow him, however, so that he does not anger the guest with playfulness without intent.

Vralman. Poti, my mother! Sallet bird! With him, your voices are top notch.

Ms Prostakova. Farewell, Adam Adamitch! (Departs.)

PHENOMENON IX

Vralman, Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin.

Tsyfirkin(laughing). What an image!

Kuteikin(laughing). Byword!

Vralman. Why are you barking soups, nefezhi?

Tsyfirkin(hitting his shoulder). And why did you frown your eyebrows, Chukhon owl?

Vralman. Oh! Ouch! slick paws!

Kuteikin(hitting his shoulder). Cursed owl! What are you slapping with burkali?

Vralman(quiet). I'm gone. (Aloud.) Why are you freaking out, repyata, is it because of me?

Tsyfirkin. Eat your own bread idly and give nothing to others; Yes, you still won’t get tired of making faces.

Kuteikin. Your mouth always speaks pride, wicked one.

Vralman(recovering from timidity). How do you go about being unfashionable in front of an eared person? I screeched.

Tsyfirkin. And we will honor those. I plank...

Kuteikin. And I am a clock.

Vralman. I'll fool around on the face.

Tsyfirkin, waving his board, and Kuteikin with a book of hours.

Tsyfirkin, Kuteikin(together):

- I'll open your face five times.

I will crush the teeth of the sinner.

Vralman is running.

Tsyfirkin. Aha! He raised his cowardly legs!

Kuteikin. Direct your steps, damned one!

Vralman(in the door). What fsyali, beast? Shuta suntes.

Tsyfirkin. Gobbled up! We would give you a task!

Vralman. I don't get drunk now, I don't get drunk.

Kuteikin. The lawless one has settled! Are there many of you, basurmans? Send everyone!

Vralman. They didn’t get along with atnim! Oh, prat, fsyali!

Tsyfirkin. I'll take one ten!

Kuteikin. In the morning I will beat all the sinful earth! (All suddenly scream.)

End of the third act.

ACT FOUR

PHENOMENON I

Sofia(one looking at her watch). Uncle should be out soon. (Sitting down.) I'll wait here for him. (Pulls out a book and reads a few.) This is true. How not to be satisfied with the heart when the conscience is calm! (After reading a few more.) It is impossible not to love the rules of virtue. They are ways to happiness. (After reading a few more, she glanced and, seeing Starodum, runs up to him.)

PHENOMENON II

Sofia and Starodum.

Starodum. A! You are already here, my friend!

Sophia. I've been waiting for you, uncle. I have now read a book.

Starodum. What?

Sophia. French. Fenelon, on the education of girls.

Starodum. Fenelon? The author of Telemachus? Fine. I don't know your book, but read it, read it. Whoever wrote Telemachus will not corrupt morals with his pen. I fear for you the present sages. I happened to read from them everything that was translated into Russian. True, they strongly eradicate prejudices, but uproot virtue. Let's sit down. (Both sit down.) My heart desire is to see you as happy as possible in the light.

Sophia. Your instructions, uncle, will make up all my well-being. Give me rules that I must follow. Lead my heart. It is ready to obey you.

Starodum. I am pleased with the location of your soul. I will gladly give you my advice. Listen to me with such attention, with what sincerity I will speak. Closer.

Sophia moves her chair.

Sophia. Uncle! Every word of yours will be embedded in my heart.

Starodum(with important frankness). You are now in those years in which the soul wants to enjoy all its being, the mind wants to know, and the heart wants to feel. You now enter the light, where the first step often decides fate whole life where most often the first meeting takes place: minds corrupted in their concepts, hearts corrupted in their feelings. O my friend! Know how to distinguish, know how to stop with those whose friendship for you would be a reliable guarantee for your mind and heart.

Sophia. I will use all my efforts to earn the good opinion of worthy people. But how can I avoid that those who see how I move away from them do not become angry with me? Is it possible, uncle, to find such a means that no one in the world would wish me harm?

Starodum. The bad disposition of people who are not worthy of respect should not be distressing. Know that evil is never wished upon those who are despised; but usually wish evil on those who have the right to despise. People envy more than one wealth, more than one nobility: and virtue also has its envious people.

Sophia. Is it possible, uncle, that such pathetic people in which a bad feeling is born just because there is good in others. A virtuous person should take pity on such unfortunate ones.

Starodum. They are pitiful, it is true; however, for this, a virtuous person does not stop going his own way. Think for yourself what a misfortune it would be if the sun stopped shining so as not to dazzle weak eyes.

Sophia. Tell me, please, are they to blame? Can any person be virtuous?

Starodum. Believe me, everyone will find enough strength in himself to be virtuous. It is necessary to want it decisively, and there it will be easier not to do that for which your conscience would chafe.

Sophia. Who will warn a person, who will not allow him to do something for which his conscience torments him afterwards?

Starodum. Who will beware? The same conscience. Know that conscience always, like a friend, warns before punishing like a judge.

Sophia. So, therefore, it is necessary that every vicious person should really be worthy of contempt when he does badly, knowing what he is doing. It is necessary that his soul be very low when it is not above an evil deed.

Starodum. And it is necessary that his mind should not be a direct mind, when he believes his happiness is not in what is necessary.

Sophia. It seemed to me, uncle, that all people agreed on what to consider their happiness. Nobility, wealth ...

Starodum. Yes, my friend! And I agree to call a noble and rich happy. Let us first agree who is noble and who is rich. I have my calculation. I will calculate the degrees of nobility according to the number of deeds that the great master did for the fatherland, and not according to the number of deeds that I took upon myself out of arrogance; not by the number of people who stagger in his front, but by the number of people who are satisfied with his behavior and deeds. My noble man, of course, is happy. My rich man too. According to my calculation, not the rich one who counts out money to hide it in a chest, but the one who counts out too much from himself in order to help someone who does not have what he needs.

Sophia. How fair! How appearance blinds us! I myself happened to see many times how they envy the one who is looking for in the yard, which means ...

Starodum. And they don’t know that in the courtyard every creature means something and looks for something; they do not know that at the court all the courtiers and all the courtiers. No, there is nothing to envy here: without noble deeds, a noble state is nothing.

Sophia. Of course, uncle! And such a noble will not make anyone happy, except for himself alone.

Starodum. How! But is he happy who is happy alone? Know that, no matter how noble he may be, his soul does not partake of direct pleasure. Imagine a man who would direct all his nobility to that only, so that he alone would feel good, who would already reach the point where he himself had nothing left to desire. After all, then his whole soul would be occupied with one feeling, one fear: sooner or later it would overthrow. Tell me, my friend, is he happy who has nothing to desire, but only something to fear?

Sophia. I see the difference between being happy and actually being. Yes, this is incomprehensible to me, uncle, how can a person remember everything oneself? Do they not discuss what one owes to the other? Where is the mind that is so praised?

Starodum. How to be proud of your mind, my friend! The mind, if it is just a mind, is the most trifle. With fugitive minds we see bad husbands, bad fathers, bad citizens. Kindness gives a direct price to the mind. Without it, a smart person is a monster. It is immeasurably higher than all the fluency of the mind. This is easy to understand for anyone who thinks carefully. There are many minds, and many different ones. smart person it is easy to excuse if he does not have any quality of mind. An honest person cannot be forgiven in any way if some quality of the heart is missing in him. He needs to have everything he needs. The dignity of the heart is inseparable. An honest person must be a perfectly honest person.

Sophia. Your explanation, uncle, is similar to my inner feeling, which I could not explain. I now vividly feel both the dignity of an honest man and his position.

Starodum. Job title! Ah, my friend! How this word is in everyone's language, and how little it is understood! The hourly use of this word has familiarized us with it so much that, having pronounced it, a person no longer thinks anything, feels nothing, when, if people understood its importance, no one could utter it without spiritual reverence. Think about what a job is. This is the sacred vow that we owe to all those with whom we live and on whom we depend. If the office were performed in this way, as they say about it, every state of people would remain in their piety and would be completely happy. A nobleman, for example, would consider it a first dishonor not to do anything when he has so much to do: there are people to help; there is a fatherland to serve. Then there would be no such nobles, whose nobility, one might say, was buried with their ancestors. A nobleman, unworthy of being a nobleman! I don't know anything better than him.

Sophia. Is it possible to humiliate yourself like that?

Starodum. My friend! What I said about the nobleman, let's now extend it to a person in general. Each has their own positions. Let us see how they are fulfilled, what, for example, the husbands of the present world are for the most part, let us not forget what the wives are like. O my hearty friend! Now I need all your attention. Let us take as an example an unfortunate house, of which there are many, where the wife has no cordial friendship for her husband, nor he for the wife of power of attorney; where each for his part has turned away from the path of virtue. Instead of a sincere and condescending friend, the wife sees in her husband a rude and depraved tyrant. On the other hand, instead of meekness, sincerity, the qualities of a virtuous wife, a husband sees in his wife’s soul only wayward impudence, and impudence in a woman is a sign of vicious behavior. The two became an unbearable burden to each other. Both are already putting a good name on nothing, because both of them have lost it. Is it possible to be worse than their condition? The house is abandoned. People forget the duty of obedience, seeing in their master himself a slave of his vile passions. The estate is being squandered: it has become a nobody's property when its owner is not his own. The children, their unfortunate children, were already orphans during the life of their father and mother. The father, having no respect for his wife, hardly dares to embrace them, hardly dares to surrender to the tenderest feelings of the human heart. Innocent babies are also deprived of the ardor of their mother. She, unworthy of having children, evades their caresses, seeing in them either the causes of her anxieties, or the reproach of her own corruption. And what upbringing should children expect from a mother who has lost her virtue? How can she teach them good manners, which she does not have? At the moment when their thoughts turn to their condition, what hell must be in the souls of both husband and wife!

Sophia. Oh, how I am horrified by this example!

Starodum. And I am not surprised: it should tremble the virtuous soul. I still have that faith that a person cannot be corrupted enough to be able to calmly look at what we see.

Sophia. My God! Why such terrible misfortunes! ...

Starodum. Because, my friend, in today's marriages one rarely consults with the heart. The matter is whether the groom is noble or rich? Is the bride good or rich? There is no question of goodwill. It never enters anyone's head that in the eyes of thinking people an honest person without a great rank is a noble person; that virtue replaces everything, and nothing can replace virtue. I confess to you that my heart will only be at peace when I see you for a husband worthy of your heart, when mutual love your...

Sophia. But how can a worthy husband not be loved in a friendly way?

Starodum. So. Only, perhaps, do not have love for your husband, which resembled friendship b. Have a friendship for him that would resemble love. It will be much stronger. Then, after twenty years of marriage, you will find in your hearts the former affection for each other. Wise husband! Good wife! What could be more honorable! It is necessary, my friend, that your husband obey reason, and you obey your husband, and both will be completely prosperous.

Sophia. Everything you say touches my heart...

Starodum(with the most tender vehemence). And mine admires seeing your sensitivity. Your happiness depends on you. God has given you all the pleasures of your sex. I see in you the heart of an honest man. You, my heart friend, you combine both sexes of perfection. I caress that my vehemence does not deceive me, that virtue ...

Sophia. You filled all my senses with it. (Rushing to kiss his hands) Where is she?…

Starodum(kissing her hands). She is in your soul. I thank God that in you I find the firm foundation of your happiness. It will not depend on nobility or wealth. All this can come to you; however, for you there is the happiness of all this more. It is to feel worthy of all the blessings that you can enjoy...

Sophia. Uncle! My true happiness is that I have you. I know the price...

PHENOMENON III

The same valet.

The valet submits a letter to Starodum.

Starodum. Where?

Valet. From Moscow, by courier. (Departs.)

Starodum(printed and looking at the signature). Count Chestan. A! (Beginning to read, he shows a look that his eyes cannot make out.) Sofyushka! My glasses are on the table, in the book.

Sofia(departing). Immediately, uncle.

EVENT IV

Starodum.

Starodum(one). He, of course, writes to me about the same thing he proposed in Moscow. I don't know Milo; but when his uncle is my true friend, when the whole public considers him honest and worthy person… If her heart is free…

EVENT V

Starodum and Sophia.

Sofia(gives points). Found it, uncle.

Starodum(is reading).“... I just found out now ... he is leading his team to Moscow ... He should meet with you ... I will be cordially glad if he sees you ... Take the trouble to find out his way of thinking." (To the side.) Certainly. Without that, I won’t give her away ... “You will find ... Your true friend ...” Good. This letter belongs to you. I told you that a young man of commendable qualities is presented ... My words confuse you, my friend of the heart. I noticed it just now and now I see it. Your power of attorney to me ...

Sophia. Can I have something hidden from you in my heart? No, uncle. I can honestly tell you...

EVENT VI

The same, Pravdin and Milon.

Pravdin. Allow me to introduce you to Mr. Milon, my true friend.

Starodum(to the side). Milo!

Milo. I will post for true happiness if I get your good opinion, your favors to me ...

Starodum. Is Count Chestan your relative?

Milo. He is my uncle.

Starodum. I am very pleased to be acquainted with a person of your qualities. Your uncle told me about you. He gives you all justice. Special Benefits…

Milo. This is his mercy to me. At my age and in my position, it would be unforgivable arrogance to consider everything deserved than young man encouraged by worthy people.

Pravdin. I am sure in advance that my friend will gain your favor if you get to know him better. He often visited the house of your late sister ...

Starodum looks back at Sophia.

Sofia(quietly to Starodum and in great timidity). And his mother loved him like a son.

Starodum(Sophia). I am very pleased. (Milon.) I heard that you were in the army. Your fearlessness...

Milo. I did my job. Neither my years, nor my rank, nor my position have yet allowed me to show direct fearlessness, if I have it in me.

Starodum. How! Being in battles and exposing your life ...

Milo. I exposed her like the others. Here courage was such a quality of the heart, which the commander orders the soldier to have, and honor to the officer. I confess to you sincerely that I have not yet had any chance to show direct fearlessness, but I sincerely wish to test myself.

Starodum. I am extremely curious to know, in what do you suppose direct fearlessness?

Milo. If you allow me to say my thought, I place true fearlessness in the soul, and not in the heart. Whoever has it in his soul, without any doubt, has a brave heart. In our military craft, the warrior must be brave, the military leader must be fearless. He sees with cold blood all degrees of danger, takes the necessary measures, prefers his glory to life; but most of all, for the benefit and glory of the fatherland, he is not afraid to forget his own glory. His fearlessness, therefore, does not consist in despising his own life. He never disdains her. He knows how to sacrifice.

Starodum. Fair. You believe direct fearlessness in a military leader. Does it apply to other states as well?

Milo. She is a virtue; consequently, there is no state that could not distinguish itself by it. It seems to me that the courage of the heart is proved in the hour of battle, and the fearlessness of the soul in all trials, in all situations of life. And what is the difference between the fearlessness of a soldier who, on an attack, organizes his life along with others, and between the fearlessness of a statesman who tells the truth to the sovereign, daring to anger him. The judge, who, fearing neither vengeance nor the threats of the strong, gave justice to the helpless, is in my eyes a hero. How small is the soul of the one who calls to a duel for a trifle, before the one who intercedes for the absent, whose honor in his presence the slanderers torment! This is how I understand anxiety...

Starodum. How should one understand who has it in her soul. Wallpaper me, my friend! Excuse my innocence. I am a friend of honest people. This feeling is rooted in my upbringing. In yours I see and honor virtue, adorned with enlightened reason.

Milo. Noble soul!… No… I can no longer hide my heartfelt feeling… No. Your virtue extracts by its power all the mystery of my soul. If my heart is virtuous, if it is worth it to be happy, it depends on you to make it happy. I suppose it consists in having your dear niece as a wife. Our mutual inclination...

Starodum(to Sophia, with joy). How! Is your heart able to distinguish the one whom I myself offered you? Here's my fiancé...

Sophia. And I love him dearly.

Starodum. You both deserve each other. (Joining their hands in admiration.) With all my heart I give you my consent.

Milon, Sofia(together):

Milon(hugging Starodum). My happiness is incomparable!

Sofia(kissing Starodumov's hands). Who can be happier than me!

Pravdin. How sincerely I am glad!

Starodum. My pleasure is indescribable!

Milon(kissing Sophia's hand). Here is a moment of our well-being!

Sophia. My heart will love you forever.

PHENOMENON VII

The same and Skotinin.

Skotinin. And I'm here.

Starodum. Why did you complain?

Skotinin. For your need.

Starodum. What can I serve?

Skotinin. Two words.

Starodum. What is it?

Skotinin. Embracing me tighter, say: Sofyushka is yours.

Starodum. Do you want to start something empty? Think well.

Skotinin. I never think, and I am sure in advance that if you don’t begin to think, then my Sofyushka is mine.

Starodum. This is a strange thing! As I see, you are not a crazy person, but you want me to give my niece away, for whom I don’t know.

Skotinin. You don't know, I'll say it. I am Taras Skotinin, not the last of my kind. The Skotinins are a great and ancient family. You will not find our ancestor in any heraldry.

Pravdin(laugh). You will assure us that he is older than Adam.

Skotinin. And what do you think? At least a few...

Starodum(laughing) That is, your ancestor was created at least on the sixth day, but a little earlier than Adam?

Skotinin. No, right? So you have a good opinion of the old of my kind?

Starodum. ABOUT! so kind that I wonder how in your place you can choose a wife from a different kind, like from the Skotinins?

Skotinin. Judge how happy Sofyushka is to be behind me. She is a noble...

Starodum. What a man! Yes, for that you are not her fiancé.

Skotinin. I already went for it. Let them talk that Skotinin married a noblewoman. It doesn't matter to me.

Starodum. Yes, it doesn’t matter to her when they say that the noblewoman married Skotinin.

Milo. Such inequality would make you both unhappy.

Skotinin. Ba! Yes, what does this equal? (Quietly to Starodum.) Doesn't it repulse?

Starodum(quietly to Skotinin). It seems so to me.

Skotinin(in the same tone). Where the hell!

Starodum(in the same tone). Hard.

Skotinin(loudly, pointing to Milo). Which one of us is funny? Ha ha ha ha!

Starodum(laughs). I see who is funny.

Sophia. Uncle! I'm glad you're funny.

Skotinin(Starodum). Ba! Yes, you are funny. Just now I thought that there was no attack on you. I didn’t say a word, and now everyone is laughing with me.

Starodum. Such is the man, my friend! Hour after hour does not come.

Skotinin. This is visible. Vit and just now I was the same Skotinin, and you were angry.

Starodum. There was a reason.

Skotinin. I know her. I myself am the same. At home, when I go into the nibble and find them out of order, annoyance will take them. And you, without saying a word, having driven here, found the sisters' house no better than nibbles, and you are annoyed.

Starodum. You are happier than me. People touch me.

Skotinin. And me so pigs.

SCENE VIII

The same, Mrs. Prostakova, Prostakov, Mitrofan and Eremeevna.

Ms. Prostakova(entering). Is everything with you, my friend?

Prostakov. Well, don't worry.

Ms. Prostakova(Starodum). Did you deign to have a good rest, father? We all tiptoed around in the fourth room so as not to disturb you; did not dare to look in the door; let's hear, you've deigned to come out here a long time ago. Do not cry, father ...

Starodum. O madam, I would be very annoyed if you came here to the wound.

Skotinin. You, sister, as if laughing, everything is on my heels. I came here for my needs.

Ms Prostakova. And I'm so for mine. (Starodum.) Allow me, my father, to work you now our common request. (Husband and son.) Bow down.

Starodum. Which one, ma'am?

Ms Prostakova. First, I beg the mercy of everyone to sit down.

Everyone sits down, except for Mitrofan and Eremeyevna.

Ms Prostakova. Here's the thing, daddy. For the prayers of our parents - we sinners, where would we beg - the Lord gave us Mitrofanushka. We did everything to make it become such as you would like to see it. Wouldn't you like, my father, to take on the work and see how we have learned it?

Starodum. O madam! It has already reached my ears that he now only deigned to unlearn. I heard about his teachers and see in advance what kind of literacy he needs to be when studying with Kuteikin, and what kind of mathematics when studying with Tsyfirkin. (To Pravdin.) I would be curious to hear what the German taught him.

Ms. Prostakova, Prostakov(together):

- All sciences, father.

Everything, my father. Mitrofan. Everything you want.

Pravdin(to Mitrofan). Why, for example?

Mitrofan(gives him a book). Here, grammar.

Pravdin(taking a book). I see. This is grammar. What do you know about it?

Mitrofan. A lot of. Noun and adjective...

Pravdin. Door, for example, what name: noun or adjective?

Mitrofan. Door, which door?

Pravdin. Which door! This one.

Mitrofan. This? Adjective.

Pravdin. Why?

Mitrofan. Because it is attached to its place. Over there, by the closet, the door has not yet been hung for six weeks: so that one is still a noun.

Starodum. So that's why you have the word fool as an adjective, because it is attached to a stupid person?

Mitrofan. And we know.

Ms Prostakova. What is it, my father?

Mitrofan. What is it, my father?

Pravdin. It can't be better. He is strong in grammar.

Milo. I think no less in history.

Ms Prostakova. Then, my father, he is still a hunter of stories.

Skotinin. Mitrofan for me. I myself will not take my eyes off that the elected one does not tell me stories. Master, son of a dog, where does everything come from!

Ms Prostakova. However, he still won't come against Adam Adamych.

Pravdin(to Mitrofan). How far are you in history?

Mitrofan. Is it far? What's the story. In another you will fly to distant lands, to thirty kingdoms.

Pravdin. A! so Vralman teaches you this story?

Starodum. Vralman? The name is familiar.

Mitrofan. No, our Adam Adamych does not tell stories; he, what am I, himself a hunter to listen.

Ms Prostakova. Both of them force themselves to tell stories to the cowgirl Khavronya.

Pravdin. Didn't you both study geography with her?

Ms. Prostakova(son). Do you hear, my dear friend? What is this science?

Prostakov(quiet mother). And how much do I know.

Ms. Prostakova(quietly to Mitrofan). Don't be stubborn, darling. Now show yourself.

Mitrofan(quiet mother). Yes, I do not understand what they are asking.

Ms. Prostakova(Pravdin). What, father, did you call science?

Pravdin. Geography.

Ms. Prostakova(to Mitrofan). Do you hear, georgaphia.

Mitrofan. Yes, what is it! Oh my God! They stuck with a knife to the throat.

Ms. Prostakova(Pravdin). And you know, father. Yes, tell him, do me a favor, what kind of science is it, he will tell it.

Pravdin. Description of the land.

Ms. Prostakova(Starodum). And what would it serve in the first case?

Starodum. In the first case, it would also fit the fact that if it happened to go, you know where you are going.

Ms Prostakova. Ah, my father! Yes, cabbies, what are they for? It's their business. This is not a noble science either. Gentleman, just say: take me there, they will take me wherever you please. Believe me, father, that, of course, that is nonsense, which Mitrofanushka does not know.

Starodum. Oh, of course, ma'am. In human ignorance, it is very comforting to consider everything as nonsense that you do not know.

Ms Prostakova. Without science people live and lived. The deceased father was a voivode for fifteen years, and with that he deigned to die, because he did not know how to read and write, but he knew how to earn and save enough. He always received petitions, sometimes sitting on an iron chest. After every chest will open and put something. That was the economy! He did not spare his life, so as not to take anything out of the chest. I won’t boast before another, I won’t hide from you: the dead light, lying on a chest with money, died, so to speak, of hunger. A! what is it like?

Starodum. commendable. You have to be a Skotinin to taste such a blissful death.

Skotinin. But if you want to prove that teaching is nonsense, then let's take Uncle Vavila Faleleitch. Nobody heard from him about the diploma, nor did he want to hear from anyone: what a goloushka!

Pravdin. What is it?

Skotinin. Yes, that's what happened to him. Riding on a greyhound pacer, he ran drunk into the stone gates. The man was tall, the gate was low, he forgot to bend down. As soon as he had enough of himself with his forehead against the lintel, the Indo bent his uncle to the top of his head, and a vigorous horse carried him out of the gate to the porch on his back. I would like to know if there is a learned forehead in the world that would not fall apart from such a cuff; and uncle, memory eternal to him, sober up, he only asked if the gate was intact?

Milo. You, Mr. Skotinin, admit yourself to be an unlearned person; however, I think in this case your forehead would be no stronger than a scientist.

Starodum(Milon). Don't worry about betting. I think that the Skotinins are all kind of strong-willed.

Ms Prostakova. My father! What is the joy of learning? We see it with our own eyes and in our region. Whoever is smarter, his brothers will immediately elect him to some other position.

Starodum. And who is smarter, he will not refuse to be useful to his fellow citizens.

Ms Prostakova. God knows how you judge today. With us, it used to be that everyone looks at peace. (Pravdin.) You yourself, father, are smarter than others, so much labor! And now, on my way here, I saw that some kind of package was being brought to you.

Pravdin. A package for me? And no one will tell me! (Getting up.) I beg your pardon for leaving you. Maybe there are some orders for me from the viceroy.

Starodum(gets up and everyone gets up). Go, my friend; however, I do not say goodbye to you.

Pravdin. I will see you again. Are you driving tomorrow morning?

Starodum. Hours at seven.

Pravdin departs.

Milo. And tomorrow, when I see you off, I will lead my team. Now I'm going to make an order for that.

Milon departs, saying goodbye to Sophia with his eyes.

PHENOMENON IX

Mrs. Prostakova, Mitrofan, Prostakov, Skotinin, Eremeevna, Starodum, Sophia.

Ms. Prostakova(Starodum). Well, my father! Have you seen enough what Mitrofanushka is like?

Skotinin. Well, my dear friend? Do you see what I am?

Starodum. Recognized both, can not be shorter.

Skotinin. Will Sofyushka be with me?

Starodum. Don't be.

Ms Prostakova. Is her fiance Mitrofanushka?

Starodum. Not the groom.

Ms. Prostakova, Skotinin(together):

- What would stop you?

- What was the matter?

Starodum(bringing both). You alone can tell a secret. She's spoken. (Goes away and signals to Sofya to follow him.)

Ms Prostakova. Ah, villain!

Skotinin. Yes, he freaked out.

Ms. Prostakova(eagerly). When will they leave?

Skotinin. Vit you heard, in the morning at seven o'clock.

Ms Prostakova. At seven o'clock.

Skotinin. Tomorrow and I will wake up with the light suddenly. If he were smart, as he pleased, and you would not be unleashed with Skotinin soon. (Departs.)

Ms. Prostakova(running around the theater in anger and in thoughts). At seven o'clock! ... We will get up early ... What I want, I will put on my own ... Everything to me.

Everyone is running.

Ms. Prostakova(to her husband). Tomorrow at six o'clock for the carriage to be brought up to the back porch. Do you hear? Don't skip.

Prostakov. Listen, my mother.

Ms. Prostakova(to Eremeevna). You don't dare to take a nap at Sophia's doors all night long. As soon as she wakes up, run to me.

Eremeevna. I won't hesitate, my mother.

Ms. Prostakova(son). You, my friend of the heart, be completely ready yourself at six o'clock and place three servants in Sophia's dressing room, and two in the hallway to help.

Mitrofan. Everything will be done.

Ms Prostakova. Go with God. (Everyone leaves.) And I already know what to do. Where there is anger, there is mercy. The old man is angry and forgives for captivity. And we'll take ours.

End of the fourth act.

ACT FIVE

PHENOMENON I

Starodum and Pravdin.

Pravdin. It was the package that the hostess here herself informed me about yesterday.

Starodum. So, do you now have a way to stop the inhumanity of the evil landowner?

Pravdin. I am instructed to take custody of the house and villages at the first rabies, from which people subject to her might suffer.

Starodum. Thanks be to God that humanity can find protection! Believe me, my friend, where the sovereign thinks, where he knows where his true glory lies, there his rights cannot but return to mankind. There, everyone will soon feel that everyone should seek their happiness and benefits in the one thing that is legal ... and that it is illegal to oppress their own kind by slavery.

Pravdin. I agree with you on this; Yes, how tricky it is to exterminate rooted prejudices in which base souls find their advantage!

Starodum. Listen, my friend! A great sovereign is a wise sovereign. His job is to show people their direct benefit. The glory of his wisdom is to rule over people, because there is no wisdom to manage idols. The peasant, who is the worst in the village, usually chooses to tend the herd, because it takes a little intelligence to tend the cattle. A sovereign worthy of the throne seeks to elevate the souls of his subjects. We see it with our own eyes.

Pravdin. The pleasure that sovereigns enjoy in possessing free souls must be so great that I do not understand what motives could distract ...

Starodum. A! How great a soul must be in a sovereign in order to take the path of truth and never deviate from it! How many nets have been set up to capture the soul of a person who has the fate of his own kind in his hands! And firstly, a crowd of stingy flatterers ...

Pravdin. Without spiritual contempt it is impossible to imagine what a flatterer is.

Starodum. A flatterer is a creature that is not only about others, but also about himself good opinion does not have. All his desire is to first blind the mind of a person, and then make of it what he needs. He is a night thief who first extinguishes the candle, and then begins to steal.

Pravdin. Human misfortunes, of course, are caused by their own corruption; but ways to make people kind...

Starodum. They are in the hands of the sovereign. How soon everyone sees that without good manners no one can emerge as a people; that neither vile service nor for any money can buy that which rewards merit; that people are chosen for places, and not places are stolen by people - then everyone finds his own advantage in being well-behaved and everyone becomes good.

Pravdin. Fair. The Great Sovereign gives...

Starodum. Mercy and friendship to those whom it pleases; places and ranks to those who are worthy.

Pravdin. So that there is no shortage in worthy people, special efforts are now being made to educate ...

Starodum. It should be the key to the well-being of the state. We see all the unfortunate consequences of bad education. Well, what can come out of Mitrofanushka for the fatherland, for whom ignorant parents also pay money to ignorant teachers? How many noble fathers who entrust the moral upbringing of their son to their serf slave! Fifteen years later, instead of one slave, two come out, an old uncle and a young master.

Pravdin. But persons supreme state enlighten their children...

Starodum. So, my friend; yes, I would like that, with all the sciences, not to be forgotten the main objective all human knowledge, good manners. Believe me that science in a depraved person is a fierce weapon to do evil. Enlightenment elevates one virtuous soul. I would like, for example, that when educating the son of a noble gentleman, his mentor every day unfolded History for him and pointed out to him and her two places: in one, how great people contributed to the good of their fatherland; in another, like an unworthy nobleman, having used his power of attorney and power for evil, from the height of his magnificent nobility he fell into the abyss of contempt and reproach.

Pravdin. It is really necessary that every state of people should have a decent upbringing; then you can be sure... What is that noise?

Starodum. What has happened?

PHENOMENON II

The same, Milon, Sofya, Eremeevna.

Milon(pushing away from Sofya Yeremeevna, who was clinging to her, shouting to the people, having a drawn sword in her hand). Don't you dare come near me!

Sofia(rushing to Starodum). Ah, uncle! Protect me!

Starodum, Pravdin, Sofia, Eremeevna(together):

- My friend! What's happened?

- What an atrocity!

- My heart flutters!

- My head is gone!

Milo. Villains! Coming here, I see a lot of people who, grabbing her by the arms, despite resistance and screaming, are already leading from the porch to the carriage.

Sophia. Here is my deliverer!

Starodum(to Milo). My friend!

Pravdin(Eremeevna). Now tell me where you wanted to take it, or how about the villain ...

Eremeevna. Get married, my father, get married!

Ms. Prostakova(behind the scenes). Rogues! The thieves! Fraudsters! I order everyone to be beaten to death!

PHENOMENON III

The same, Ms. Prostakova, Prostakov, Mitrofan.

Ms Prostakova. What a lady in the house I am! (pointing to Milo). Someone else will threaten, my order is useless.

Prostakov. Am I to blame?

Prostakov, Ms. Prostakova(together):

- To be taken for people?

- I don't want to be alive.

Pravdin. The atrocity, to which I myself am a witness, entitles you, as an uncle, and you, as a bridegroom ...

Ms. Prostakova, Prostakov, Prostakov(together):

- Groom!

- We are good!

- Everything to hell!

Pravdin. To demand from the government that the offense done to her be punished with all the severity of the laws. Now I will present her to the court as a violator of civil peace.

Ms. Prostakova(dropping to his knees). Father, I'm guilty!

Pravdin. Husband and son could not but take part in the atrocity...

Prostakov, Mitrofan(together, dropping to their knees):

- Guilty without guilt!

- Guilty, uncle!

Ms Prostakova. Ah, the daughter of a dog! What have I done!

EVENT IV

The same and Skotinin.

Skotinin. Well, sister, it was a good joke ... Bah! What is this? All of us are on our knees!

Ms. Prostakova(kneeling). Ah, my fathers, the sword does not cut a guilty head. My sin! Don't ruin me. (To Sophia.) You are my mother, forgive me. Have mercy on me (pointing to husband and son) and over the poor orphans.

Skotinin. Sister! Are you mindful?

Pravdin. Shut up, Skotinin.

Ms Prostakova. God will give you well-being and with your dear bridegroom, what is in my head for you?

Sofia(Starodum). Uncle! I forget my insult.

Ms. Prostakova(raising hands to Starodum). Father! Forgive me too, a sinner. I'm a human being, not an angel.

Starodum. I know, I know that a person cannot be an angel. And you don't even have to be the devil.

Milo. Both crime and repentance in it are worthy of contempt.

Pravdin(Starodum). Your slightest complaint, your one word before the government ... and it cannot be saved.

Starodum. I don't want anyone to die. I forgive her.

Everyone jumped up from their knees.

Ms Prostakova. I'm sorry! Ah, father! ... Well! Now I will let the canals open to my people. Now I'm going to take them all one by one. Now I'm trying to figure out who let her out of her hands. No, scammers! No, thieves! I will not forgive a century, I will not forgive this ridicule.

Pravdin. And why do you want to punish your people?

Ms Prostakova. Ah, father, what is this question? Am I not powerful in my people too?

Pravdin. Do you think you have the right to fight when you want?

Skotinin. Isn't a nobleman free to beat a servant whenever he wants?

Pravdin. When he wants! So what is hunting? You are direct Skotinin. No, madam, no one is free to tyrannize.

Ms Prostakova. Not free! The nobleman, when he wants, and the servants are not free to flog; Yes, why have we been given a decree on the freedom of the nobility?

Starodum. A master at interpreting decrees!

Ms Prostakova. If you please, mock me, but now I'm head to head... (Tries to go.)

Pravdin(stopping her). Stop, sir. (Pulling out paper and in an important voice to Prostakov.) In the name of the government, I order you to immediately gather your people and peasants to announce to them a decree that for the inhumanity of your wife, to which your extreme weak-mindedness allowed her, the government orders me to take care of your house and villages.

Prostakov. A! What have we come to!

Ms Prostakova. How! New trouble! For what? For what, father? That I am mistress in my house ...

Pravdin. An inhuman lady, who cannot be tolerated in a well-established state. (to Prostakov) Come on.

Prostakov(leaves, clasping his hands). Who is this from, mother?

Ms. Prostakova(yearning). Oh, grief has taken! Oh sad!

Skotinin. Ba! bah! bah! Yes, they will get to me. Yes, and any Skotinin can fall under guardianship ... I’ll get out of here, pick up, say hello.

Ms Prostakova. I'm losing everything! I'm completely dying!

Skotinin(Starodum). I went to see you. Groom…

Starodum(pointing to Milo). Here he is.

Skotinin. Aha! so there is nothing for me to do here. Harness the kibitka, and ...

Pravdin. Yes, and go to your pigs. Do not forget, however, to tell all the Skotinins what they are subject to.

Skotinin. How not to warn friends! I will tell them that they are people ...

Pravdin. Loved more, or at least...

Skotinin. Well?…

Pravdin. At least they didn't touch it.

Skotinin(departing). At least they didn't touch it.

EVENT V

Mrs. Prostakova, Starodum, Pravdin, Mitrofan, Sophia, Eremeevna.

Ms. Prostakova(Pravdin). Father, do not ruin me, what have you gained? Is there any way to cancel the order? Are all orders being followed?

Pravdin. I won't step down from my position.

Ms Prostakova. Give me at least three days. (To the side.) I would let myself know...

Pravdin. Not for three hours.

Starodum. Yes, my friend! She can do so much mischief even in three hours that you can’t help for a century.

Ms Prostakova. But how can you, father, enter into trifles yourself?

Pravdin. It's my business. Alien will be returned to the owners, and ...

Ms Prostakova. And to get rid of debts? ... Underpaid to teachers ...

Pravdin. Teachers? (Eremeevna.) Are they here? Enter them here.

Eremeevna. Tea that they brought. And the German, my father? ...

Pravdin. Call everyone.

Yeremeyevna leaves.

Pravdin. Do not worry about anything, madam, I will please everyone.

Starodum(seeing Madame Prostakova in anguish). Madam! You yourself will feel better, having lost the power to do bad things to others.

Ms Prostakova. Thanks for the mercy! Where am I fit when my own hands and will are not in my house!

EVENT VI

The same, Eremeevna, Vralman, Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin.

Eremeevna(introducing the teachers, to Pravdin). That's all our bastard for you, my father.

Vralman(to Pravdin). Fashé fysoko-and-plakhorotie. Did they send me to the sepa to pry? ...

Kuteikin(to Pravdin). The call was bykh and came.

Tsyfirkin(to Pravdin). What will be the order, your honor?

Starodum(with the arrival of Vralman peers at him). Ba! Is that you, Vralman?

Vralman(recognizing Starodum). Ay! ouch! ouch! ouch! ouch! It's you, my gracious master! (Kissing the floor of the Starodum.) Are you an old faggot, my father, are you going to cheat?

Pravdin. How? Is he familiar to you?

Starodum. How not familiar? He was my coachman for three years.

Everyone shows surprise.

Pravdin. Quite a teacher!

Starodum. Are you here as a teacher? Vralman! I thought, really, that you are a kind person and you won’t take on something other than your own.

Vralman. What to tell, my father? I'm not a perf, I'm not an afterlife. For three months, Moskfe staggered from place to place, Kutsher nihte not Nata. It came to me to die lipo with a hunger, lipo suture ...

Pravdin(to teachers). By the will of the government, having become the guardian of the house here, I release you.

Tsyfirkin. Better not.

Kuteikin. Would you like to let go? Let's get it right first...

Pravdin. What do you need?

Kuteikin. No, dear sir, my account is not very small. For half a year for learning, for shoes that you wore out at the age of three, for a simple one that you wander here, it happened, in an empty way, for ...

Ms Prostakova. Insatiable soul! Kuteikin! What is it for?

Pravdin. Do not interfere, madam, I beg you.

Ms Prostakova. Yes, if it’s true, what did you learn Mitrofanushka?

Kuteikin. It's his business. Not mine.

Pravdin(Kuteikin). Good good. (Tsyfirkin.) How much do you pay?

Tsyfirkin. To me? Nothing.

Ms Prostakova. He, father, was given ten rubles for one year, and not a penny was paid for another year.

Tsyfirkin. So: for those ten rubles I wore out my boots in two years. We and the tickets.

Pravdin. And for teaching?

Tsyfirkin. Nothing.

Starodum. Like nothing?

Tsyfirkin. I won't take anything. He didn't take anything.

Starodum. However, you have to pay less.

Tsyfirkin. My pleasure. I served the sovereign for more than twenty years. I took money for the service, I didn’t take it in an empty way and I won’t take it.

Starodum. Here's a good man!

Starodum and Milon take money out of their wallets.

Pravdin. Aren't you ashamed, Kuteikin?

Kuteikin(lowering his head). Shame on you, damned.

Starodum(Tsyfirkin). Here's to you, my friend, for a good soul.

Tsyfirkin. Thank you, your highness. Thankful. You are free to give me. Himself, not deserving, I will not demand a century.

Milon(giving him money). Here's to you, my friend!

Tsyfirkin. And thanks again.

Pravdin also gives him money.

Tsyfirkin. What are you complaining about, your honor?

Pravdin. Because you don't look like Kuteikin.

Tsyfirkin. AND! Your honor. I'm a soldier.

Pravdin(Tsyfirkin). Go, my friend, with God.

Tsyfirkin departs.

Pravdin. And you, Kuteikin, perhaps come here tomorrow and take the trouble to comb your mistress herself.

Kuteikin(running out). With myself! I retreat from everything.

Vralman(Starodum). Do not leave the old man of hearing, fashe fysokrotie. Take me back to the sepe.

Starodum. Yes, you, Vralman, I tea, lagged behind the horses?

Vralman. Hey no, my darling! Shiuchi with stench hospots, it concerned me that I am a fse with horses.

PHENOMENON VII

The same valet.

Valet(Starodum). Your card is ready.

Vralman. Will you give me a bite to eat now?

Starodum. Go sit on the goats.

Vralman leaves.

PHENOMENON LAST

Mrs. Prostakova, Starodum, Milon, Sophia, Pravdin, Mitrofan, Eremeevna.

Starodum(to Pravdin, holding the hands of Sophia and Milan). Well my friend! We go. Wish us...

Pravdin. All the happiness that honest hearts are entitled to.

Ms. Prostakova(rushing to hug his son). You alone remained with me, my hearty friend, Mitrofanushka!

Prostakov. Yes, get rid of, mother, as imposed ...

Ms Prostakova. And you! And you leave me! A! ungrateful! (She fainted.)

Sofia(running up to her). My God! She has no memory.

Starodum(Sophia). Help her, help her.

Sophia and Eremeevna help.

Pravdin(to Mitrofan). Scoundrel! Should you be rude to your mother? It is her mad love for you that has brought her most of all to misfortune.

Mitrofan. Yes, she seems to be unknown ...

Pravdin. Rude!

Starodum(Eremeevna). What is she now? What?

Eremeevna(looking intently at Madame Prostakova and clasping her hands). Wake up, my father, wake up.

Pravdin(to Mitrofan). WITH you, my friend, I know what to do. Went to serve...

Mitrofan(waving his hand). For me, where they say.

Ms. Prostakova(waking up in despair). I completely died! My power has been taken away! From shame, you can’t show your eyes anywhere! I don't have a son!

Starodum(pointing to Mrs. Prostakova) Here are the worthy fruits of evil-mindedness!

Comedy in five acts

CHARACTERS:
Prostakov.
Mrs. Prostakova, his wife.
Mitrofan, their son, is undersized.
Eremeevna, Mitrofan's mother.
Pravdin. Starodum.
Sophia, niece of Starodum.
Milo.
Mr. Skotinin, brother of Mrs. Prostakova.
Kuteikin, seminarian.
Tsyfirkin, retired sergeant.
Vralman, teacher.
Trishka, tailor.
Servant of Prostakov.
Starodum's valet.
Action in the village of Prostakov.

STEP ONE

PHENOMENON I
Mrs. Prostakova, examining Mitrofan's new caftan, scolds Trishka for having restrained and ruined the thing. She sends Eremeevna for a tailor, and Mitrofan for her father.

PHENOMENON II
Prostakova, calling Trishka "cattle" and "thieves' mug", scolds him for the spoiled caftan. Trishka justifies himself: he is self-taught. To this, Prostakova replies that the first tailor also did not study with anyone. To which Trishka brilliantly objects:
- Yes, the first tailor, perhaps, sewed worse than mine.

PHENOMENON III
Prostakova scolds her husband that he is hiding from her, and asks to resolve the dispute about the caftan. It seems to Prostakov that the caftan is baggy (that is, large). Prostakova scolds her husband, and he replies: “With your eyes, mine do not see anything.” Prostakova complains that God gave a foolish husband.

EVENT IV
Skotinin appears and asks whom the sister wants to punish on the day of his collusion? On another day, he himself will help punish anyone: “Don’t be Taras Skotinin, if I don’t have any fault to blame.” Looking at Mitrofan's caftan, Skotinin says that it is sewn "quite a bit." Prostakova tells Eremeevna to feed Mitrofan, for the teachers will come soon. Eremeevna replies that he has already eaten 5 rolls, and before that, he was washed out all night from gluttony. Mitrofan says that he was tormented by nightmares: the mother beat the father. Mitrofan regrets that his mother is tired of the fight. Mrs. Prostakova calls her son “my consolation” and sends him to frolic.

EVENT V
Prostakova and Skotinin are talking about Sophia. Skotinin suggests: it would not be a sin for her to find out about the conspiracy. Prostakova replies that there is nothing to report to her. And he remembers how well she treats the orphan. Prostakov, on the other hand, clarifies that, together with Sophia, we undertook to oversee her village. The wife abruptly cuts him off. Skotinin is impatient to get married in order to unite the lands and breed pigs, to which he has a “mortal hunt”. Prostakova claims that Mitrofan is all like an uncle, he also loves pigs.

EVENT VI
Sophia enters with a letter, but neither Skotinin nor Prostakova can read it and boast that there were no literate people in their family.

PHENOMENON VII
Pravdin enters, Prostakova asks him to read the letter, but Pravdin first asks Sofya for permission, explaining that he does not read other people's letters. From the letter it turns out that Sophia is "the heiress of income from ten thousand." Skotinin and Prostakova are stunned. Prostakova rushes to hug Sophia. Skotinin understands that his collusion will no longer be.

SCENE VIII
The servant announces to Prostakov that soldiers with an officer have entered the village. Prostakova is frightened, but her husband reassures her that the officer will not allow the soldiers to mess up.

ACT TWO

PHENOMENON I
Milon unexpectedly meets with an old friend Pravdin and says that he is going to Moscow in a hurry, grieves that he does not know anything about his beloved, who may be subjected to cruelty. To which Pravdin says that in this family there is a cruel wife and a stupid husband. He, Pravdin, hopes to put an end to "the malice of the wife and the stupidity of the husband." Milon is pleased that his friend has the authority to do so. Sophia enters.

PHENOMENON II
Milon is happy to meet his beloved, and Sophia complains about the harassment she had to endure in the Prostakovs' house. Sophia is surprised by today's change to her Prostakova. Milon is jealous, but Sophia describes Mitrofan's stupidity, and Milon calms down. Sophia is sure that her fate is in the hands of her uncle, who will arrive soon. Skotinin appears.

PHENOMENON III
Skotinin complains that his sister, who summoned him from the estate to collusion, has sharply changed her mind. He tells Sophia that no one will take her away from him. Milo is outraged by such audacity. Skotinin threatens to take revenge on Mitrofan, who crosses his path.

EVENT IV
Yeremeevna persuades Mitrofan to study, and he calls her "an old bastard". Enter Skotinin threatens Mitrofan with reprisals. Eremeevna rushes to protect her pet. Skotinin retreats.

EVENT V
Prostakova fawns over Milon and Sophia, says that she can’t wait for her uncle, and then begins to tell how she loves Mitrofan and takes care of him, if only to bring him to people. Teachers appear, not God knows what, but they are cheap to pay. Tsyfirkin complains that for the third year he cannot teach Mitrofan to act with fractions. Pravdin and Milon are convinced that the teachers are useless, and leave so as not to interfere with Mitrofan's studies.

EVENT VI
Prostakova asks Mitrofan to repeat what has been done with the teachers. And her son complains to her about his uncle, who almost killed him. Prostakova attacked Eremeevna, why she did not stand up for the “child”. Then she tells her mother to feed the teachers and continue teaching. As they leave, the teachers complain about their unfortunate lot.

ACT THREE

PHENOMENON I
Pravdin and Starodum, talking, recall the Petrine era, when people were valued for their intelligence, and not for their rank and wealth. They talk about the merits of traditional education, when they brought up not only the mind, but also the soul. Starodum tells the case when he met an unworthy person, but did not immediately recognize it. Starodum served the fatherland, fought and received wounds, but found out that the young man, thanks to his father's proximity to the court, went around him in the service, without showing the slightest zeal for business, then Starodum left public service, retired. Once at the court, Starodum was surprised that no one there walks along a straight road, but all by detours, just to get around each other. He did not like all this, and he preferred to retire. Having received neither ranks nor villages, he retained "soul, honor and rules." Starodum pronounces a sentence on the reigning house: “It is in vain to call a doctor to the sick is incurable. Here the doctor will not help, unless he himself becomes infected.

SCENE II Starodum and Sophia meet joyfully and cordially. Sophia says that she was very worried where he disappeared for so many years. Starodum reassures her that he has made enough money in Siberia to marry her well. Sophia expresses her respect and gratitude to him. They hear a terrible noise.

PHENOMENON III Milon separates the fighting Prostakov and Skotinin. Skotinin is pretty shabby. If not for Milo, he would have had a very bad time. Sophia shows Milon with her eyes at Starodum, Milon understands her.

PHENOMENON IV Prostakova scolds Yeremeyevna that she sees none of the servants except her. Eremeyevna says that Palashka has fallen ill and is delirious, “like a noble woman.” Prostakova is surprised. She orders to call her husband and son to introduce them to Uncle Sophia.

PHENOMENON V Starodum, barely escaping from the arms of Prostakova, immediately gets to Skotinin. Then he meets Milon. And Mitrofan and Prostakov grab him by the hand. Mitrofan intends to kiss Starodum's hand, fawning over him under his mother's dictation. Prostakova tells Starodum that she never quarrels with anyone, because. quiet disposition. Starodum sarcastically replies that he managed to notice this. Pravdin adds that he has been watching battles for three days now. Starodum says that he is not a fan of such spectacles, so tomorrow he will leave with Sophia for Moscow. Prostakova literally cries that she will not survive Sophia's departure. Starodum says that he is going to marry Sophia to a worthy person. Prostakova recalls her parents, who had 18 children, and only two survived: she and her brother. Her father always said that he would curse his son if he studied. And now another century, here she is teaching her son something. Prostakova boasts of Mitrofan and wants Starodum to appreciate his successes. Starodum refuses, saying that he is a bad judge in that.

SCENE VI Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin are indignant that they have to wait a long time for their student each time. Kuteikin sympathizes with the local servants, saying that he is a serviceman, he has been in battles, but it is more terrible here. Tsyfirkin regrets that Mitrofan cannot be properly punished for stupidity and laziness.

PHENOMENON VII Mitrofan agrees for the sake of his mother to study for the last time, but so that the conspiracy would be today: “I don’t want to study, but I want to get married.” Mitrofan repeats what he has learned with his teachers, but he cannot solve the simplest problem. The mother constantly interferes, teaches her son not to share with anyone, and there is no need to know geography, there are cabbies for that.

SCENE VIII Teacher Vralman speaks with a strong foreign accent, he can hardly be understood. He is sure that one should not stuff the child's head with sciences, if only there is health. He scolds the Russian teachers who are ruining Mitrofanushka's health. Prostakova completely agrees with him. She leaves to look after her son so that he does not anger Starodum somehow by chance. PHENOMENON IX Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin attack Vralman, he runs away so that his sides will not be beaten.

ACT FOUR

PHENOMENON I
Sophia is reading a book and waiting for her uncle.

PHENOMENON II
Starodum sees Sophia's book and says that the author of Telemachus cannot write a bad book. He believes that Sophia is reading an excellent book. They talk about good and bad people. Sophia assures that happiness is nobility and wealth. Starodum agrees with her, saying that he has his own calculation. He values ​​nobility by the number of deeds done by a person for the benefit of the Fatherland, and sees wealth not in saving money in chests, but in giving the excess to those in need. Sophia agrees with him. Starodum talks about a person in general. He talks about a family in which the husband and wife hate each other - this is a misfortune for them and those around them, the children in such a family are abandoned and the most unfortunate creatures. And all because people do not consult their hearts. Sophia is happy that she has such a wise mentor.

PHENOMENON III
The valet brings a letter to Starodum. Sophia goes to get glasses for her uncle.

EVENT IV
Starodum reflects on Milo. He wants to marry Sophia for him.

EVENT V
Sophia confesses to Starodum her love for Milon.

EVENT VI
Pravdin presents Staroduma Milon. Sophia says that her mother loved him like her own son. Milon expresses his views on the service and the person, close to the views of Starodum. Milon shows himself to be an educated and sensible young man. Starodum likes him, and he blesses Sophia and Milon for marriage.

PHENOMENON VII
Skotinin appears and asks to bless him and Sophia. He shows himself to be an absolute fool. The Old Man laughs.

SCENE VIII
Mrs. Prostakova wonders if anyone prevented Starodum from resting; she made everyone walk on tiptoe so as not to disturb such a dear guest. Prostakova again asks Starodum to examine Mitrofan. Mi-rofan shows absolute ignorance of elementary things. The mother, protecting her son, says that for a century people have lived without science, and he will live happily.

PHENOMENON IX
Prostakova wonders if Starodum recognized her son. He replies that he knew both of them as well as possible. To Mitrofan's question, he replies that Sophia will not visit him, she has already been arranged for another. Prostakova runs around the room in anger and makes plans: to steal Sophia at six in the morning, before she leaves with her uncle.

ACT FIVE

PHENOMENON I
Pravdin and Starodum are talking about how to put an end to Prostakova's wickedness. Pravdin was instructed to take custody of the estate. Pravdin and Starodum discuss the virtues of the tsar, who is entrusted with the lives of his subjects, how great his soul should be. Further, they move on to a discussion about the nobles, "who should be well-behaved."

PHENOMENON II
Milon, with a sword in his hands, repels Sofya from Eremeevna and Prostakova's people, who forcibly dragged the girl into the carriage and wanted to take her to church to marry Mitrofan.

PHENOMENON III
Pravdin is sure that this crime gives the uncle and the fiancé a reason to turn to the government to punish the criminals. Prostakova on her knees begging for mercy.

EVENT IV
But Starodum and Milon refuse to complain about the Prostakovs, who are pathetic and disgusting in their humiliation. Skotinin understands nothing of what is happening. Prostakova gets up from her knees when she realizes that she is forgiven, and is immediately going to inflict reprisals on her people, who "let Sophia out of her hands." She says that she is free to flog everyone if she wants. Here Pravdin takes out a paper on guardianship of the estate. Skotinin, fearing that they will get to him, prefers to retire.

EVENT V
Prostakova asks Pravdin to pardon or give a respite, at least for three days. He doesn't even give three hours.

EVENT VI
Starodum recognizes in Vralman his former coachman. Kuteikin demands money for his work, and Prostakova says that he did not teach Mitrofan anything. He replies that it is not his fault. Tsyfirkin refuses money, because. for three years Mitrofan learned nothing worthwhile. Pravdin shames Kuteikin and rewards Tsyfirkin for his kind soul. Milon also gives him money. Vralman asks Starodum to be a coachman.

PHENOMENON VII
Starodum's carriage has been served, and Vralman is ready to take the coachman's place: Starodum takes him into his service.

PHENOMENON LAST
Starodum, Sofya, Milon say goodbye to Pravdin. Prostakova rushes to Mitrofan, her last resort, and Mitrofan replies: “Yes, get rid of it, mother, as it was imposed ...” Prostakova was killed by “the betrayal of her son.” Even Sophia rushes to console her. Pravdin decides to give Mitrofan to the service. Starodum says, pointing to Prostakova: "Here are worthy fruits of evil-mindedness."

Option summary comedy Fonvizin "Undergrowth" 1

The village of landowners Prostakovs. Mrs. Prostakova is angry: the serf tailor Trishka, she believes, sewed a too narrow caftan for her beloved son, the sixteen-year-old underage Mitrofanushka. Trishka justifies herself by saying that she did not learn tailoring, but the lady does not want to listen to anything. Her husband, Prostakov, a narrow-minded and obedient man to his wife, expresses the opinion that the caftan is baggy. And it seems to Taras Skotinin, Prostakova's brother, that the caftan is "quite well sewn."

The caftan itself is a new thing for Mitrofanushka to collude with Skotinin and Sophia, a distant relative of the Prostakovs. Sophia's father died when she was still a baby. The girl grew up with her mother in Moscow. But six months have already passed since she remained an orphan. The Prostakovs took her in to "supervise her estate as if it were their own." Sophia's uncle, Starodum, left for Siberia. For a long time there was no news about him, and the Prostakovs believe that he died long ago.

Skotinin wants to marry Sofya - not because he likes the girl, not because he wants to take possession of her villages, but because there are a lot of ... pigs in these villages, and he is a big hunter before them. But Sophia still does not know who is predicted for her husband.

Sophia receives a letter from Starodum. Mrs. Prostakova, hearing about this, is extremely annoyed: her hopes did not come true, her uncle turned out to be alive. Prostakova accuses Sofya of lying: the letter, they say, is amorous. But she cannot verify the statement, because she is illiterate. Her husband and brother are also not much of a reader. They are rescued by the guest Pravdin. He reads a letter in which Starodum informs his niece that he makes her the heiress of his fortune, acquired by him in Siberia, which gives an income of ten thousand a year. Mrs. Prostakova is amazed by this news. She “has a new idea: to marry Sophia to her son, the ignorant Mitrofan.

Soldiers pass through the village of Prostakov. They are led by officer Milon. Here he meets his old friend, Pravdiva. He says that he is a member of the governor's board. Pravdin travels around the district and especially pays attention to the "evil-tempered ignoramuses" who mistreat their people. It was precisely such ignoramuses that he found in the person of the Prostakovs.

Milon says that he is in love and has been separated from his beloved for more than six months. Recently, he learned that his beloved was left an orphan and some distant relatives took her to their villages ... At the moment when Milon talks about this, he suddenly sees his beloved - this is Sophia.

The lovers are happy to meet. But Sofya says that Mrs. Prostakova wants to marry her to Mitrofanushka. Milon is tormented by jealousy. True, she weakens when he learns more about his "rival".

Skotinin, passing by, unceremoniously declares his views on Sophia. Pravdin tells him about Mrs. Prostakova's plans. Skotinin is furious. Mitrofan catches his eye, being led to study by his nanny Eremeevna. The uncle wants to explain himself to his nephew and was already attacking him with his fists. But Yeremeyevna shields Mitrofanushka with her body and drives Skotinin away.

Mitrofanushka's teachers come: Sidorych - Kuteikin and Pafnutich - Tsyfirkin. Kuteikin, a deacon from Pokrov, who did not finish his studies at the seminary, teaches Mitrofan to read and write according to the Book of Hours and the Psalter. And Tsyfirkin, a retired sergeant, is a teacher of arithmetic.

Mitrofan refuses to study. He complains to his mother that after his uncle's "task" learning does not come to his mind. Eremeevna tells about the collision with Skotinin. Prostakova comforts her son, promises to marry him soon. She orders the teachers to be fed dinner and sent again. The lady is dissatisfied with Eremeevna: she “did not bite into Skotinin’s mug” and “did not tear his snout up to his ears.” Prostakova is going to “transfer” with her brother in her own way. Zealous Eremeyevna cries out of resentment. The teachers console her.

Starodum arrives. Before showing himself to the owners, he talks with an old acquaintance, Truthful. Starodum recalls his father, who served Peter the Great, praises those times. Starodum came to free his niece from "ignoramuses without a soul." He was forced to leave the public service. When Starodum was still serving in the military, he became friends with the young count. Upon the declaration of war, Starodum hurried to the army, and the count evaded this. And soon after that, the count was promoted to the rank, and Starodum, wounded in the war, was bypassed. After retiring, Starodum came to St. Petersburg to the court. But later he decided that "it is better to lead a life at home than in someone else's front."

Starodum meets Sofya and promises to take his niece away from the Prostakovs. The conversation was interrupted by the appearance of Prostakova and Skotinin. Sister and brother fight, and Milon separates them. This scene amuses the old-timer. Mrs. Prostakova is annoyed by the stranger's fun, but, having learned that this is Starodum, she changes her tone to the most servile and obsequious. She wants to seduce herself to a rich relative and help Mitrofanushka marry Sofya.

But Starodum promises to take Sophia to Moscow the very next morning in order to marry her there to some "young man of great merit." This news plunges everyone into despondency, and Sophia "seems amazed." Then Starodum tells her that the choice of a worthy groom is entirely in her will. It brings hope back to everyone. Mrs. Prostakova boasts before Starodum about the formation of Mitrofanushka. She is especially pleased with the German Adam Adamych Vralman, whom she hired for five years. She pays him three hundred rubles a year (other teachers - ten). Vralman teaches Mitrofan "in French and all sciences." But most importantly, he "does not captivate the child."

Meanwhile, Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin are sad that the exercise is not going very well. Mitrofan has been studying arithmetic for three years, but "he can't count three." He has been studying the diploma for the fourth year, and until now he “does not understand the new line.” And the whole trouble is that Vralman indulges a lazy student and interferes with his studies.

Mrs. Prostakova persuades her son to learn. He demands that there be an agreement as soon as possible: “I don’t want to study, I want to get married.” Tsyfirkin sets Mitrofan two tasks. But the mother intervenes and does not allow them to be solved. In general, arithmetic seems to her an empty science: “There is no money - what to count? There is money - we will consider it good even without Pafnutich. Tsyfirkin has to finish the lesson. His place is taken by Kuteikin. Mitrofan senselessly repeats after him lines from the Book of Hours. Here comes Vralman. He explains to Mrs. Prostakova that it is very dangerous to stuff your head too much. Vralman believes that one can do without Russian literacy and arithmetic. Mitrofanushka, he says, only needs to know how to live in the world. Vralman lets Mitrofan frolic.

Tsyfirkin and Kuteikin want to beat Vralman. The retired sergeant brandishes the board, and the sexton - the Book of Hours, but the German manages to escape.

Sophia is reading Fenelon's book on the upbringing of girls. Starodum talks with her about virtue. He receives a letter from the Count of Chestan. This is Uncle Milon, who wants to marry his nephew to Sophia. Talking to Sophia about her marriage, Starodum again notices that she is embarrassed ... Then Pravdin and Milon appear. Prav-din introduces Milon to Starodum. It turns out that Milon in Moscow often visited the house of Sophia's mother, and she loved him like a son. Starodum, talking with Milon, is convinced that he is dealing with a worthy person. Milon asks for Sophia's hand in marriage, mentioning his "mutual inclination" with the girl. Starodum is happy to learn that Sophia has chosen exactly the one whom he himself reads to her as her husband. He agrees to this marriage.

But other contenders for Sophia's hand know nothing and do not leave their hopes. Skotinin begins to talk about the antiquity of his kind. Starodum jokingly pretends to agree with him on everything. Mrs. Prostakova invites Starodum to see how Mitrofanushka is learned. Sofya's uncle pretends to be delighted with Mitrofanushka's learning. However, he refuses both Skotinin and Mitrofanushka, saying that Sophia has already been agreed. He announces that he will leave with Sophia at seven in the morning. But Mrs. Prostakova decides that before that time she will have time to "put on her own." She places sentries around the house.

Pravdin receives a package; he is ordered to take custody of the house and villages of the Prostakovs at the first occasion when Prostakov's temper threatens the safety of the people subject to her. Pravdin tells Starodum about this. Their conversation is interrupted by noise...

Prostakova's people are dragging the resisting Sophia to the carriage - to marry Mitrofanushka. Milon, who caught this scene, frees the bride. Pravdin threatens that Prostakova will be brought to trial as a "violator of civil peace." Mrs. Prostakova violently repents of her act. Starodum and Sophia forgive her. Prostakova is glad for forgiveness: now she will take revenge on her servants for the failure that has occurred! But she fails to do this: Pravdin announces that, by government decree, he takes custody of the house and villages of the Prostakovs.

Skotinin goes back to his place, to his favorite stables. Mrs. Prostakova asks Pravdiv to give her power for at least three days. But he does not agree. He calls teachers to pay them off. Eremeevna brings Kuteikin, Tsyfirkin and Vralman. Pravdin lets them go. Kuteikin demands to be paid for his studies, for worn out boots... But Tsyfirkin refuses to pay, because Mitrofanushka hasn't learned anything. For such generosity Starodum, Milon and Pravdin give him money. And Pravdin offers Kuteikin to settle accounts with the mistress herself. He exclaims in horror: "I retreat from everything." In Vralman, Starodum recognizes his former coachman. It turns out that Vralman could not find a job as a coachman anywhere and he had to become a teacher. Starodum agrees to take him back as a coachman.

Starodum, Sofya and Milon are going to leave. Prostakova hugs Mitrofanushka: “You are the only one left with me ...” But her son is rude to her. The mother faints. Pravdin decides to send Mitrofan to serve. Waking up, Mrs. Prostakova wails: “I died completely ...” And Starodum, pointing to her, says: “Here are worthy fruits of malevolence!”

Composition

After getting acquainted with the comedy, the head of the foreign policy of the Russian state, a supporter of limiting autocracy, a man of high intelligence, a subtle diplomat, N.I. Panin became interested in its author, finding out his "knowledge" and "moral rules". Fonvizin withstood these tests and at the end of 1769 was admitted as a secretary to the Foreign Collegium, finally parting with his boss Elagin, whom by this time he had begun to call in his letters "a freak". Serving with Panin required a lot of time and effort.

And Fonvizin’s involvement in Panin’s plan to make a “bloodless” coup in favor of Paul, the son of Catherine II, whose majority (and with it the right to the throne) was fulfilled in the fall of 1772, gave the writer a lot of anxiety and fear (“A terrible state. I have nothing I don’t ask God how to take me out of this hell with honor, ”Fonvizin wrote to his sister). In this struggle, the writer behaved courageously. He was not afraid to glorify Panin, a “venerable husband” who stood “above the morals of this century”, in the “Sermon for the recovery of his Imperial Highness ... and Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich in 1771”, and ended the “Word” with an appeal-admonition to Pavel, as if in anticipation of his imminent resurrection.

During these years, Fonvizin's participation in Novikov's journal is not ruled out (a number of researchers consider Fonvizin to be the author of the Letters to Falaley). In any case, Novikov published Fonvizin's Message to the Servants in the Pustomel magazine, and in the Painter of 1772 he reprinted Pavel Petrovich's Word for Recovery.

In 1774, Fonvizin married Ekaterina Ivanovna Khlopova, who became him. loyal and patient friend.

In 1774, the Fonvizins went to France, where they stayed for more than a year. In letters from France, Fonvizin recreates a true picture of the moral decline of the nobility and clergy, social contrasts: “The nobility, especially, does not know an ear or a snout,” the Russian traveler well recognized that the rights of the French are a fiction: “The first right of every Frenchman is liberty, but his true present condition is slavery; for a poor man cannot earn his livelihood otherwise than by slave labor ... In a word: liberty is an empty name, and the right of the strong remains the right above all laws. Fonvizin comes to the profound conclusion that in absolutist France "it seems as if all people were created for this, so that everyone was either a tyrant or a victim." These words were preceded by a significant remark of the writer: "What I saw in other places, I saw in France." So his conclusion is fully applicable to autocratic Russia. But Fonvizin, of course, saw in France not only a lot of "completely bad and barbaric." He found that in France "ways to enlightenment.,. enough,” he noted the “flourishing state” of factories and manufactories, highly appreciated the French comedy: “Comedy is elevated here to a possible level of perfection. It is impossible, looking at her, not to forget herself to the point of not honoring her true history, at that moment taking place ... I'm not saying that we or in other places did not have actors worthy of being in the local troupe; but nowhere is there such an ensemble as here, when everyone plays in the play best actors". Fonvizin's letters from France were highly appreciated by Belinsky: "Reading them, you already feel the beginning of the French Revolution in this terrible picture of French society, so masterfully drawn by our traveler."

After returning from abroad and serving for another three years, Fonvizin retired in 1782. In the same year, he completed his comedy "Undergrowth", which became the pinnacle of Russian dramaturgy of the 18th century.

Fonvizin wrote "Undergrowth" (the so-called "classic" version) for about three years (in 1779, the outstanding Russian actor I. A. Dmitrievsky reported that "Denis Ivanovich writes a comedy with great success") and created, according to Gogol, "truly -public comedy", where he revealed "the wounds and diseases of our society, severe internal abuses, which are exposed by the merciless power of irony in stunning evidence."

"Undergrowth" is rightly considered the pinnacle of Fonvizin's work and all domestic dramaturgy of the 18th century. Keeping in some cases the connection with the previous tradition, the comedy "Undergrowth" is a deeply innovative work. First of all, its genre was new. This is the first socio-political comedy on the Russian stage. Combining the reproduction of bright truthful scenes from the life of the local nobility with a passionate preaching of educational ideas, about the duties of the government, a “straight up honest” citizen, the playwright managed to turn the estate corner of the local nobility into a public tribune and condemn with irony, laughter, sarcasm “evil-worthy fruits”.

“Undergrowth” by Fonvizin is a multi-dark and multi-problem work. From the very first appearances of the first act, the playwright introduces the viewer into the atmosphere of landowner arbitrariness: the craftsman serf Trishka, who never studied tailoring anywhere, “smartly” sewed the caftan of the “child” of “delicate build” to Mitrofan, but this will not save him from scolding (“swindler ”, “cattle”, “thieves’ mug,” Prostakov pours on his head), or from a spanking. Perhaps on the day of Skotinin's "conspiracy" (matchmaking) he will avoid her, but this does not change things, there will always be a reason for punishment: after all, Prostakova "does not intend to indulge the lackeys." Even more vile is the attitude in the Prostakovs' house towards their faithful, infinitely devoted servant and nanny Mitrofan - Eremeevna. The entire reward for hard work is "five rubles a year and five slaps a day." She is generously showered with only insults and threats (“a beast”, “a scoundrel”, “a dog’s daughter”, “an old bastard”, “I’ll finish them off”). Prostakova's cruelty and heartlessness fills her "indignation" that the girl Palashka, having fallen ill, lies and raves, "as if noble." The unrestrained arbitrariness of the landlords leads to the complete impoverishment of the serfs. Skotinin, who “masterfully” collects dues, and all his losses from neighbors (knowing that it is expensive to beat with a forehead) rips off from his own peasants. And the Prostakovs robbed them so much that there is nothing more to take. “Since everything that we took away from the peasants, we can’t tear anything off. Such a disaster! - "complains" Prostakova. The Prostakovs-Skotinins know that they are protected by autocratic legislation, and therefore do not consider their treatment of serfs to be criminal. Therefore, there is nothing surprising in the “interpretation” of the Decree on the Liberty of the Nobility, which is given by Prostakova: “A nobleman, when he wants, and a servant is not free to flog: but why was the decree given to us from the liberties of the nobility?” Thus, the conditions were created that turned Prostakova into a "despicable fury."

The culminating moment in the comedy is Prostakova's "fury", when she, furious with the failed kidnapping of Sophia, is obsessed with the desire to "beat to death" all her servants. And she would have beaten her, if at that moment she had not been deprived of such an opportunity (her estate had already been taken under guardianship).

Throughout the comedy, Fonvizin reveals their bestial essence: positive characters sometimes they directly denounce their actions, sometimes they subtly sneer at them, sometimes the author himself, with sly humor, makes them expose themselves.

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Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin

undergrowth

Comedy in five acts

Characters

Prostakov.

Ms. Prostakova, his wife.

Mitrofan, their son, undersized.

Eremeevna, Mitrofanov's mother.

Pravdin.

Starodum.

Sofia, niece of Starodum.

Milon.

Skotinin, brother of Ms. Prostakova.

Kuteikin, seminarian.

Tsyfirkin, retired sergeant.

Vralman, teacher.

Trishka, tailor.

Servant Prostakov.

Valet Starodum.

Action in the village of Prostakov.

Act one

Phenomenon I

Ms. Prostakova, Mitrofan, Eremeevna.

Ms. Prostakova (examining the caftan on Mitrofan). The coat is all ruined. Eremeevna, bring in the swindler Trishka here. (Yeremeevna leaves.) He, the thief, has restrained him everywhere. Mitrofanushka, my friend! I have tea, you are pressed to death. Call your father here.

Mitrofan leaves.

Phenomenon II

Mrs. Prostakova, Eremeevna, Trishka.

Ms. Prostakova (Trishka). And you, cattle, come closer. Didn't I tell you, thieves' mug, that you let your caftan go wider. The child, the first, grows; another, a child and without a narrow caftan of delicate build. Tell me, idiot, what's your excuse?

Trishka. Why, madame, I was self-taught. I then reported to you: well, if you please, give it to the tailor.

Ms Prostakova. So is it really necessary to be a tailor in order to be able to sew a caftan well. What a beastly argument!

Trishka. Yes, a tailor learned to knit, madam, but I didn’t.

Ms Prostakova. He is also seeking and arguing. A tailor learned from another, another from a third, but who did the first tailor learn from? Speak, cattle.

Trishka. Yes, the first tailor, perhaps, sewed worse than mine.

Mitrofan (runs in). Called my father. I dared to say: immediately.

Ms Prostakova. So go and get him out, if you don’t call for good.

Mitrofan. Yes, here is the father.

Phenomenon III

The same and Prostakov.

Ms Prostakova. What, what are you trying to hide from me? Here, sir, what I have lived with your indulgence. What is the son's new thing to his uncle's conspiracy? What caftan Trishka deigned to sew?

Prostakov (stammering from timidity). Me ... a little baggy.

Ms Prostakova. You yourself are baggy, smart head.

Prostakov. Yes, I thought, mother, that you think so.

Ms Prostakova. Are you blind yourself?

Prostakov. With your eyes mine see nothing.

Ms Prostakova. This is the kind of hubby the Lord has rewarded me with: he doesn’t know how to make out what is wide and what is narrow.

Prostakov. In this I believe in you, mother, and believe.

Ms Prostakova. So believe the same and the fact that I do not intend to indulge the lackeys. Go, sir, and now punish ...

Event IV

The same and Skotinin.

Skotinin. Whom? For what? On the day of my collusion! I ask you, sister, for such a holiday to postpone the punishment until tomorrow; and tomorrow, if you please, I myself will gladly help. If it wasn't for me Taras Skotinin, if I don't have any fault to blame. In this, sister, I have the same custom with you. Why are you so angry?

Ms Prostakova. Yes, brother, I will send to your eyes. Mitrofanushka, come here. Is this coat baggy?

Skotinin. No.

Prostakov. Yes, I myself can already see, mother, that it is narrow.

Skotinin. I don't see that either. The caftan, brother, is quite well made.

Ms. Prostakova (Trishka). Get out, cattle. (Eremeevna.) Come on, Eremeevna, let the child have breakfast. Vit, I have tea, soon the teachers will come.

Eremeevna. He already, mother, deigned to eat five buns.

Ms Prostakova. So you're sorry for the sixth, you bastard? What zeal! Feel free to watch.

Eremeevna. Hello, mother. I said this for Mitrofan Terentyevich. Protoskoval until morning.

Ms Prostakova. Ah, Mother of God! What happened to you, Mitrofanushka?

Mitrofan. Yes, mother. Yesterday, after dinner, I had a seizure.

Skotinin. Yes, it can be seen, brother, you dined tightly.

Mitrofan. And I, uncle, hardly ate supper at all.

Prostakov. I remember, my friend, you deigned to eat something.

Mitrofan. What! Three slices of corned beef, yes hearth, I don’t remember, five, I don’t remember, six.

Eremeevna. At night every now and then he asked for a drink. The whole jug deigned to eat kvass.

Mitrofan. And now I'm walking like crazy. All night long such rubbish climbed into the eyes.

Ms Prostakova. What rubbish, Mitrofanushka?

Mitrofan. Yes, then you, mother, then father.

Ms Prostakova. How is it?

Mitrofan. As soon as I begin to fall asleep, then I see that you, mother, deign to beat the father.

Prostakov (to the side). Well, my trouble! Dream in hand!

Mitrofan (spread out). So I felt sorry.

Ms. Prostakova (with annoyance). Who, Mitrofanushka?

Mitrofan. You, mother: you are so tired, beating the father.

Ms Prostakova. Embrace me, my friend of the heart! Here, son, is one of my consolations.

Skotinin. Well, Mitrofanushka, I see you are a mother's son, not a father!

Prostakov. At least I love him as a parent should, this is a clever child, this is a reasonable child, an amusing, entertainer; sometimes I am beside myself with him and with joy I myself truly do not believe that he is my son.

Skotinin. Only now our amusing fellow is frowning at something.

Ms Prostakova. Why not send for a doctor to the city?

Mitrofan. No, no, mother. I'd rather get better on my own. I’ll run to the dovecote now, so maybe ...

Ms Prostakova. So maybe the Lord is merciful. Come, frolic, Mitrofanushka.

Mitrofan and Yeremeevna depart.

Phenomenon V

Ms. Prostakova, Prostakov, Skotinin.

Skotinin. Why can't I see my bride? Where is she? In the evening there will be an agreement, so isn't it time for her to say that she is being married off?

Ms Prostakova. We'll make it, brother. If she is told this ahead of time, then she may still think that we are reporting to her. Although by my husband, however, I am a relative of hers; And I love that strangers listen to me.

Prostakov (Skotinin). To tell the truth, we treated Sofyushka like a real orphan. After her father, she remained a baby. Tom, with six months, as her mother, and my fiancé, had a stroke ...