Denis Fonvizin

Minor

Comedy in five acts

CHARACTERS

Prostakov.

Mrs. Prostakova, his wife.

Prostakov, their son, is an undergrowth.

Eremeevna, Mitrofanov’s mother.

Starodum.

Sophia, Starodum's niece.

Skotinin, brother of Mrs. Prostakova.

Kuteikin, seminarian.

Tsyfirkin, retired sergeant.

Vralman, teacher.

Trishka, tailor.

Prostakov's servant.

Starodum's valet.

Action in the village of Prostakovs.

ACT ONE

APPEARANCE I Mrs. Prostakova, Mitrofan, Eremeevna.

Ms. Prostakova (examining the caftan on Mitrofan). The caftan is all ruined. Eremeevna, bring the swindler Trishka here. (Eremeevna leaves.) He, the thief, burdened him everywhere. Mitrofanushka, my friend! I'm guessing you're dying. Call your father here.

Mitrofan leaves.

SCENE II Mrs. Prostakova, Eremeevna, Trishka.

Ms. Prostakova (Trishka). And you, brute, come closer. Didn’t I tell you, you thieving mug, that you should make your caftan wider? The first child grows; another, a child and without a narrow caftan of delicate build. Tell me, idiot, what is your excuse?

Trishka. But, madam, I was self-taught. I reported to you at the same time: well, if you please, give it to the tailor.

Mrs. Prostakova. So is it really necessary to be a tailor to be able to sew a caftan well? What bestial reasoning!

Trishka. Yes, I studied to be a tailor, madam, but I didn’t.

Mrs. Prostakova. While searching, he argues. A tailor learned from another, another from a third, but who did the first tailor learn from? Speak up, beast.

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

Mitrofan(runs in). I called my father. I deigned to say: immediately.

Mrs. Prostakova. So go and get him out if you don’t get the good stuff.

Mitrofan. Yes, here comes the father.

SCENE III The same and Prostakov.

Mrs. Prostakova. What, why do you want to hide from me? This, sir, is how far I have lived with your indulgence. What's a new thing for a son to do with his uncle's agreement? What kind of caftan did Trishka deign to sew?

Prostakov(stammering out of timidity). Me... a little baggy.

Mrs. Prostakova. You yourself are baggy, smart head.

Prostakov. Yes, I thought, mother, that it seemed so to you.

Mrs. Prostakova. Are you blind yourself?

Prostakov. With your eyes, mine see nothing.

Mrs. Prostakova. This is the kind of hubby God blessed me with: he doesn’t know how to figure out what’s wide and what’s narrow.

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

Mrs. Prostakova. So believe also that I do not intend to indulge the slaves. Go, sir, and punish now...

SCENE IV Same with Skotinin.

Skotinin. Whom? For what? On the day of my conspiracy! I ask you, sister, for such a holiday to postpone the punishment until tomorrow; and tomorrow, if you please, I myself will willingly help. If I weren’t Taras Skotinin, if not every fault is my fault. In this, sister, I have the same custom as you. Why are you so angry?

Mrs. Prostakova. Well, brother, I’ll go crazy on your eyes. Mitrofanushka, come here. Is this caftan baggy?

Skotinin. No.

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

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

Ms. Prostakova(Trishka). Get out, you bastard. (Eremeevna.) Go ahead, Eremeevna, give the child breakfast. Vit, I’m having tea, the teachers will come soon.

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

Mrs. Prostakova. So you feel sorry for the sixth one, beast? What zeal! Please take a look.

Eremeevna. Cheers, mother. I said this for Mitrofan Terentyevich. I grieved until the morning.

Mrs. Prostakova. Oh, mother of God! What happened to you, Mitrofanushka?

Mitrofan. Yes, mother. Yesterday after dinner it hit me.

Skotinin. Yes, it’s clear, brother, you had a hearty dinner.

Mitrofan. And I, uncle, almost didn’t have dinner at all.

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

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

Eremeevna. Every now and then he asked for a drink at night. I deigned to eat a whole jug of kvass.

Mitrofan. And now I’m walking around like crazy. All night such rubbish was in my eyes.

Mrs. Prostakova. What rubbish, Mitrofanushka?

Mitrofan. Yes, either you, mother, or father.

Mrs. Prostakova. How is this possible?

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

Prostakov(to the side). Well, my bad! Sleep in hand!

Mitrofan (softening up). So I felt sorry.

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

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

Mrs. Prostakova. Surround me, my dear friend! Here, son, is my only consolation.

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

Prostakov. At least I love him, as a parent should, he’s a smart child, he’s a sensible child, he’s funny, he’s an entertainer; sometimes I am beside myself with him and with joy I truly do not believe that he is my son.

Skotinin. Only now our funny man is standing there, frowning.

Mrs. Prostakova. Shouldn't we send for a doctor to the city?

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

Mrs. Prostakova. So maybe God is merciful. Go and have some fun, Mitrofanushka.

Mitrofan and Eremeevna enter.

SCENE V Ms. Prostakova, Prostakov, Skotinin.

Skotinin. Why can't I see my bride? Where is she? There will be an agreement in the evening, so isn’t it time to tell her that they are marrying her off?

Mrs. Prostakova. We'll make it, brother. If we tell her this ahead of time, she may still think that we are reporting to her. Although by marriage, I am still related to her; and I love that strangers listen to me.

Prostakov(Skotinin). To tell the truth, we treated Sophia like an orphan. After their father, they remained a baby. About six months ago, her mother, and my in-law, had a stroke...

Ms. Prostakova (showing as if he is baptizing his heart). The power of the god is with us.

Prostakov. From which she went to the next world. Her uncle, Mr. Starodum, went to Siberia; and since there has been no rumor or news of him for several years now, we consider him dead. We, seeing that she was left alone, took her to our village and look after her estate as if it were our own.

Mrs. Prostakova. What, why have you gone so crazy today, my father? Looking for a brother, he might think that we took her to us out of interest.

Prostakov. Well, mother, how should he think about this? After all, we can’t move Sofyushkino’s real estate estate to ourselves.

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 my neighbors offended me, no matter how much loss they caused, I did not attack anyone, and any loss, rather than going after it, I would rip off from my own peasants, and the ends would go to waste.

Prostakov. It’s true, brother: the whole neighborhood says that you are a master at collecting rent.

Mrs. Prostakova. At least you taught us, brother father; but we just can’t do it. Since we took away everything the peasants had, we can’t take anything back. Such a disaster!

Skotinin. Please, sister, I will teach you, I will teach you, just marry me to Sophia.

Mrs. Prostakova. Did you really like this girl that much?

Skotinin. No, it's not the girl I like.

Prostakov. So next door to her village?

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

Mrs. Prostakova. Until what, brother?

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

Prostakov. It’s a strange thing, brother, how family can resemble family. Mitrofanushka is our uncle. And he was a hunter of pigs, just like you. When I was still three years old, when I saw a pig, I used to tremble with joy.

Skotinin. This is truly a curiosity! Well, brother, Mitrofan loves pigs because he is my nephew. There is some similarity here; Why am I so addicted to pigs?

The comedy was written by D.I. Fonvizin in 1781. The main problem of the work is the condemnation of the traditional education of nobles, in particular provincial ones, their stupidity and evil behavior. The play “The Minor” was written in a classic style, which is reflected in the “speaking” surnames of the characters, a clear division into positive and negative characters, as well as the unity of time, place and action: the events take place over 2 days, in the village of Prostakov. The name “Nedorosl” is associated with the decree of Peter I, who forbade uneducated nobles to serve and marry, calling such young people “minors.”

For a general overview of the plot of the work, we offer summary"Undergrown."

Main characters

Mrs. Prostakova- Prostakov's wife. An active, rude, uneducated woman who thinks more about her own profit than about the people around her and virtue, tries to solve everything by force or cunning.

Prostakov Mitrofan- the son of the Prostakovs, a minor, a young man of 16 years old, as stupid as his parents, completely weak-willed, agrees to everything his mother or others say (in the end he immediately agrees to go into the army).

Pravdin- a guest of the Prostakovs, a government official who came to sort out the problems in their estate and resolve the issue of Prostakova’s cruelty towards the servants. A highly moral man, a representative of the “new” educated nobility, personifies the truth and the word of the law in the work “The Minor.”

Starodum- a person with high moral principles who achieved everything in life on his own, without resorting to deception or cunning. Sophia's uncle and guardian.

Sophia- an honest, educated, kind girl. After losing her parents, she lives with the Prostakovs and is in love with Milon.

Milo- Sophia's fiance, whom they have not seen for several years. An officer who was distinguished in his service by bravery and boldness, has high concepts of human virtue and honor.

Skotinin - brother Mrs. Prostakova. A stupid, uneducated man, looking for profit in everything, easily lies and flatters for profit.

Other characters

Prostakov- Prostakova's husband. He solves practically nothing in the house, essentially a shadow and henpecked wife, uneducated, weak-willed.

Eremeevna- Mitrofan's nanny.

Kuteikin(a seminarian who himself quit studying halfway through because he couldn’t master science, a cunning and greedy grammar teacher), Vralman(former groom of Starodum, simple, but able to masterfully deceive - called himself a German teacher social life), Tsyfirkin(retired sergeant, honest man, arithmetic teacher) - Mitrofan's teacher.

Trishka- tailor, Prostakov's servant.

Action 1

The play begins with Mrs. Prostakova scolding Trishka for sewing a bad caftan for Mitrofan, although he warned about his inability to sew. Prostakov agrees with his wife. The woman decides to punish the tailor. Skotinin claims that the caftan is well made and Trishka is kicked out.

The conversation turns to Mitrofan - he must have gotten sick, since he didn’t sleep well all night. During the discussion, the son claims that he did not eat at all, but in fact he had a hearty dinner, drank kvass all night, and at night he saw his mother beating his father. To this, Prostakova hugs her son, saying that he is her only consolation, and Mitrofan runs away to the dovecote.

Skotinin, Prostakova and Prostakov discuss that they want to give the orphan Sophia for Skotinin. The girl’s only relative, Starodum, left for Siberia a long time ago and did not remind him of himself. The conversation reveals the selfish, evil personality of Skotinin, who likes not Sophia, but the many pigs in her villages.

Sophia brings a letter from Starodum who suddenly appeared. The Prostakovs do not believe that he is alive, they try to convince the girl that this is actually a letter from a fan. When Sophia invites them to read it themselves, it turns out that everyone is illiterate.

Pravdin enters and is instructed to read the letter. Those present learn that Starodum made Sophia the heiress of 10 thousand rubles. Now not only Skotinin wants to woo the girl, but Prostakova also begins to flatter the girl, wanting to marry her to Mitrofan. While the women are leaving, a servant runs in and tells the men that soldiers passing by have stopped in their village.

Act 2

Milon and Pravdin turn out to be old friends. Pravdin says that he came to the village to put the “despicable fury” Prostakova in her place. Milon shares that he is going to Moscow to meet his beloved, whom he has not seen for a long time, since after the death of her parents she was taken into the care of distant relatives.

By chance, Sophia passes by. The lovers are happy with each other. Sophia tells Milon that Prostakova wants to marry her to her stupid 16-year-old son.
Immediately they meet Skotinin, who is worried that he might go home without his wife and money. Pravdin and Milon urge him to quarrel with his sister, saying that she is playing with him like a ball. Skotinin loses his temper.

Mitrofan and Eremeevna pass by. The nanny tries to force the young man to study, but he does not want to. Skotinin quarrels with Mitrofan about their upcoming marriage, since both are not against taking Sophia as their wife. However, Eremeevna and Pravdin do not allow them to fight. Skotinin leaves angry.

The Prostakovs appear. Prostakova flatters Milon and apologizes for not coming out to meet him on time. She praises Sophia and tells how she has already arranged everything for her uncle. The girl and Prostakov leave to look at the room. They are replaced by Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin. The teachers tell Pravdin about themselves, how they learned to read and write and how they ended up in the Prostakovs’ house.

Act 3

Pravdin, seeing Starodum’s carriage from the window, went out to meet him first. The official talks about the Prostakovs’ outrages towards Sonya. Starodum says that one cannot act on the first impulse, since experience has shown him that ardor is not always good, he tells Pravdin about his life, how he saw that people are different.

Sophia comes up here. Starodum recognizes his niece, they are glad to meet. The uncle says that he abandoned everything and left, because he could not otherwise earn money without “trading it for his conscience.”
At this time, Prostakova and Skotinin managed to fight. After Milon pacified them, Prostakova notices Starodum and orders Eremeevna to call her son and husband. The entire Prostakov family and Skotinin greet Starodum with excessive joy, hugging him and flattering him in every possible way. Mitrofan repeats after his mother that Starodum is his second father. This surprises Uncle Sophia very much.

Starodum says that he is taking the girl to Moscow to marry. Sophia, not knowing that her uncle chose Milon as her husband, still agrees with his will. Prostakova and Skotinin are trying to convince him. The woman says that in their family, studying was not held in high esteem, but Mitrofan allegedly does not get up because of the book and studies diligently. Pravdin interrupts the woman, saying that the guest is tired from the road and everyone leaves.

Tsyfirkin and Kuteikin remain, who complain to each other that Mitrofan cannot study arithmetic for three years and literacy for four. They blame the German Vralman for interfering with the teaching and both are not against beating the unfortunate student, if only he would start doing something.

Mitrofan and Prostakova enter. The woman persuades her son to study, at least for show. Tsifirkin sets two problems, but in both cases, before Mitrofan calculates, Prostakova solves them based on her personal experience: “I found the money, didn’t share it with anyone. Take it all for yourself, Mitrofanushka. Don’t learn this stupid science.” As soon as Kuteikin begins to teach the young man to read and write, Vralman appears and says that Mitrofan does not need to learn to read and write and that in general it is better to make friends with “our own” illiterate people, in which Prostakova supports him. Vralman makes a reservation that he saw the light while sitting on the cab's box, but he catches himself in time and the woman does not notice that he is lying to her.

Prostakova and Mitrofan leave. Teachers quarrel. Tsyfirkin and Kuteikin want to beat Vralman, but he runs away.

Act 4

Starodum and Sophia talk about virtue, about how people stray from the righteous path. The uncle explains to his niece that nobility and wealth should not be calculated by deeds for one’s own benefit, but by deeds for the fatherland and other people. The man explains that the position should correspond to the deeds, and not just one title. He also talks about family life that husband and wife must understand each other, support each other, that the origin of the spouses does not matter if they love each other, but this love must be friendly.

Then they bring Starodum a letter from which he learns that the young man to whom he was going to marry Sophia is Milon. Starodum, talking with Milon, learns that he is a man with lofty concepts about duty and honor. The uncle blesses his niece and the young man.

Skotinin interrupts them from the conversation, trying to show himself in a favorable light, but only makes them laugh with his absurdity. Pravdin, Prostakova and Mitrofan arrive. The woman again praises her son's literacy. Pravdin decides to check. Mitrofan does not give a single correct answer, while his mother tries in every possible way to justify his stupidity.

Prostakova and Skotinin continue to ask Starodum who he will choose for his niece, to which they receive the answer that she already has a fiancé and they are leaving tomorrow morning. Skotinin and Mitrofan with Prostakova separately plan to intercept the girl on the road.

Action 5

Pravdin and Starodum are discussing what everyone will soon know, that without truth and good morals it is impossible to achieve anything worthwhile, that the key to the well-being of the state is worthy, honest, educated, well-mannered people.

They are interrupted when they hear a noise. As it turns out, Eremeevna wanted to take Sophia away by force on Prostakova’s orders, but Milon prevented her. Pravdin says this is an illegal action. He points out that the girl’s uncle and fiance can accuse the Prostakovs of crime and demand immediate punishment. The woman tries to beg forgiveness from Sophia, who forgives her. Prostakova, only she is freed from guilt, is going to punish the servants who prevented the crime from happening and let the girl go. However, Pravdin stops her - he reads out a paper that came from the government that from now on the Prostakovs’ house and villages will come under his care. Prostakova is indignant and asks for at least three days, but Pravdin refuses. Then the woman remembers the debts to the teachers and Pravdin agrees to pay them off himself.

Vralman, Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin arrive. Vralman's deception is revealed - that he is actually Starodum's retired groom, and not a German teacher and expert on high society. Vralman agrees to serve Starodum again. Tsyfirkin does not want to take extra money from Prostakova, since for all this time he has not been able to teach Mitrofan anything. Pravdin, Starodum and Milon reward Tsyfirkin for his honesty. Kuteikin is not against receiving money even for fruitless science, but he is left with nothing.

Starodum, Milon and Sophia are getting ready to leave. Mitrofan tells his mother to get rid of him, his father reproaches him for this. Pravdin invites the young man to go serve and he agrees. Prostakova is in despair because she has lost everything. Starodum sums up what happened: “These are the worthy fruits of evil!”

Conclusion

The comedy “The Minor” by Fonvizin is a landmark work of the 18th century, revealing the pressing issues of that time. The play contrasts education, good manners, high moral principles with stupidity, ignorance, anger and willfulness. The writer's subtle humor, his understanding of global human problems allows you to read classic comedy even today. We advise you not only to read the retelling of “The Minor” step by step, but also to evaluate the work in its entirety.

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Retelling rating

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Let's look at the comedy "The Minor" (summary of the actions). Its author is Fonvizin Denis Ivanovich. The first production of this work took place in 1782.
Act one

Phenomenon 1
“The Minor” (summary of the actions) begins with Mrs. Prostakova examining the caftan on Mitrofan, scolding the tailor Trishka, who sewed it wrong, and telling Eremeevna to call him.
Phenomenon 2
Mrs. Prostakova continues to scold Trishka. He, justifying himself, says that in order to sew well, you must first learn how to do it. Prostakova is furious - she calls Trishka’s excuses “bestial reasoning.”
Phenomenon 3
Prostakov appears. Prostakova asks her husband what he thinks about the sewn caftan. Prostakov stammers from timidity, cannot really answer anything - he is afraid of his wife’s anger. Prostakova: “This is the kind of hubby God rewarded me with...”
Phenomenon 4
Skotinin appears. The conversation is again about the caftan. Skotinin believes that the caftan is “rather carefully sewn.”
Prostakova tells Eremeevna to feed Mitrofanushka, to which she replies that Mitrofanushka has already “deigned to eat five buns.” Prostakova attacks Eremeevna - does the nanny really feel sorry for the child’s sixth bun? The nanny says that in the evening Mitrofanushka ate a lot and “was sad until the morning.” Prostakova anxiously asks her son what happened to him. He replies that “all night such rubbish was in my eyes” - either my mother was imagining it, or my father was imagining it. Mitrofanushka dreamed that her mother was beating her father, and he felt sorry for Prostakova: she had beaten off all her hands while she was beating her husband. Mitrofan and Eremeevna leave.
Phenomenon 5
Skotinin asks where his bride is, says that it’s time for her to tell him that she is marrying him. We are talking about Sophia. Prostakov says that they treated this girl like an orphan. She was still young when her father died, and then her mother. Mr. Starodum, her uncle, went to Siberia, and nothing has been heard about him for several years. He is considered dead. Prostakov further says that since this girl was left alone, they decided to take her to their village, and they look after her estate as if it were their own.
Skotinin boasts about how he knows how to run a farm. This man covers any loss at the expense of his peasants. Prostakova asks to teach her this skill, since she has already taken everything she had from her peasants. Skotinin says that he will definitely teach him, but first let them marry him to Sophia, since he likes the villages that belong to her. There, in the villages of Sofia, Skotinin plans to raise pigs, since he loves them very much.
Phenomenon 6
Sophia appears with a letter in her hand. She reports that her uncle Starodum is alive and has recently arrived in Moscow. Ms. Prostakova does not believe that Starodum is alive. She takes the letter from Sophia, and is indignant that “girls can read and write.” Prostakova suspects that the letter is from some officer. Sophia invites her to read the letter, but she cannot read and says that she was “not brought up like that.” Prostakova says that Mitrofan will come and read the letter. She talks about how her son has been studying for four years. The sexton Kuteikin comes to him for literacy lessons. Tsyfirkin, a retired sergeant, teaches him arithmetic. Mitrofan is taught French and various sciences by the German Adam Adamych Vralman. All of them do not really load their student.
Phenomenon 7
Pravdin appears. Reads a letter at Prostakova’s request. From the letter it becomes known that Starodum decided to make Sophia the heir to his fortune. Prostakova immediately rushes to hug Sophia and says that Mitrofan doesn’t need a better bride than her, Sophia. He takes Sophia away to talk alone.
Phenomenon 8
The servant informs Prostakov that soldiers have come to their village. Prostakov and Pravdin leave.
Act two (“Minor”, ​​summary of actions)

Phenomenon 1
Pravdin and Milon meet. They are old friends. Pravdin says that he “has been appointed a member of the local governorship.” He admires the governor, considers him a fair man who carries out “the most philanthropic types of supreme power.” Pravdin reports that he has been living here for three days and characterizes Prostakov as a fool, and his wife as a fury with a hellish disposition. Milon says that he must leave here in a few hours. Milon says that he is in love and his feeling is mutual, but he does not know where he is. this moment his beloved, and he is looking for her. Milon sees Sophia entering and says that this is his beloved.
Phenomenon 2
Sophia and Milon are happy to meet. Sophia complains that during the separation she had to endure a lot of troubles, in particular from relatives. She talks about how sycophantic Prostakova began to behave after learning about Starodum’s decision. Sophia says that Prostakova wants to marry her to Mitrofan. The girl conveys to Milon the words that she said to Prostakova - that her fate depends on the will of Starodum, that he promised to come himself in his letter.
Phenomenon 3
Skotinin arrives. He says his sister hastily sent him back to her village. He reports that Prostakova wants to marry him. Skotinin tells Sophia that she will live happily ever after with him. He wants to buy all the pigs with the girl's money. Pravdin says that Prostakova now wants to marry Mitrofan to Sophia. Skotinin threatens to beat Mitrofanushka when they meet.
Phenomenon 4
Mitrofanushka and Eremeevna appear. She persuades Mitrofan to study “at least a little.” Skotinin calls Mitrofanushka to him. At first he threatens him, but he cannot understand what he has done wrong. Then Skotinin asks his nephew if he wants to get married. When Mitrofan answers that he wants, Skotinin rushes at him. Eremeevna stands up for Prostakova’s son.
Phenomenon 5
Both Prostakovs appear. Mitrofan's mother starts a conversation with Milon and Pravdin, complaining that her husband is a weakling and she has to run the household alone: ​​“I scold, then I fight; that’s how the house holds up.” Prostakova speaks flatteringly about Starodum. Pravdin notes that what is called rudeness and gloominess in him is a consequence of his straightforwardness. Prostakova notes that the only hope of her life is her son, whom she is preparing to become a human being.
Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin, Mitrofanushka’s teachers, appear. In Tsyfirkin, Milon recognizes a retired soldier from his garrison. Tsyfirkin tells Milon that he has been trying to teach Mitrofanushka fractions for three years now, but to no avail. Kuteikin reports that he did not study at the seminary because he “was afraid of the abyss of wisdom.”
Phenomenon 6
Mrs. Prostakova asks Mitrofan to read the assignment. He doesn’t read, complains about his uncle, says that he wanted to beat him. Prostakova scolds Eremeevna for not standing up for her son. Eremeevna makes excuses. Prostakova and Mitrofan leave. Kuteikin feels sorry for Eremeevna and asks how she is paid for her work. Eremeevna: “Five rubles a year, and five slaps a day.”
Act three

Phenomenon 1
Pravdin and Starodum warmly greet each other. Starodum says that he received a good upbringing, which his father gave him. His father constantly repeated that you need to have a soul, a heart, and then you will be a man at any time. Starodum tells how he served and fought. He notes that ranks are often begged for, but real respect must be earned. After Starodum's resignation, he is invited to the court. But court life does not suit him. He decided that it was better to live at home than “in someone else’s hallway.”
Phenomenon 2
Sophia appears. Starodum explains the reason for his arrival: he learned that Sophia lives here against her will. Starodum admits that only this girl is a consolation in his old age, and he must take care of her. He says that he made a big fortune in Siberia and Sophia can now choose a groom, even a poor one. The girl replies that Starodum’s will is law for her. He tells Pravdin that it is not the presence of money that determines whether a person is good. There is a noise.
Phenomenon 3
Prostakova and Skotinin fight and Milon appears, who separates them. Starodum laughs, looking at the fighting, and says that he has never seen anything funnier. Prostakova attacks Starodum. She says that she is fighting because Skotinin offended her son.
She finds out that Sophia’s uncle is in front of her, and immediately changes her tone, calling Starodum “her own father,” that all hope lies in him.
Phenomenon 4
At Prostakova’s call, Eremeevna appears. Prostakova says that she called Palashka. Eremeevna replies that she is sick and has a fever. Prostakova is furious: “He’s delusional, you beast! As if noble.” She is fussing about the arrival of an important guest.
Phenomenon 5
Prostakova, Prostakov and Mitrofan rush to hug Starodum. Introducing themselves. They behave servilely. Starodum tells Sophia that tomorrow he is leaving with her for Moscow. Prostakova is discouraged by the news. Starodum says that he has a groom in mind for Sophia. Milon and Sophia are amazed. Starodum tells Sophia that she herself is free in her choice. Skotinin begins to praise himself in the hope that the girl will choose him. Prostakova describes the merits of her son. She says that they spare no money to teach him, that he doesn’t get up for days because of the book. Represents Mitrofanushka's teachers. Starodum says that he is not able to appreciate the merits of her son, and leaves to rest after the journey.
Phenomenon 6
Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin discuss their lives. They complain about Mitrofan, to whom teaching is not given. They come to the conclusion that Vralman is preventing them from working with the undergrowth. They decide to teach the German a lesson.
Phenomenon 7
Prostakova asks Mitrofan to study, at least “for show.” Mitrofan says famous phrase: “I don’t want to study, I want to get married.” Tsyfirkin tries to teach a lesson, but Mitrofan is rude, and Prostakova stands up for her son. Solving the problems was never successful. The lesson with Kuteikin is also fruitless.
Phenomenon 8
Vralman appears and begins to say that these teachers want to kill the child. Prostakova agrees with him and releases Tsyfirkin and Kuteikin. Vralman tries his best to convince Prostakova that Mitrofanushka is doing well even without this study. The lady favors Vralman: he knows how to say what she will be pleased to hear. He says that Mitrofan will be able to see the world and show himself, and so on.
Phenomenon 9
Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin lie in wait for Vralman. They quarrel with him, and then attack him with beatings.
Act four

Phenomenon 1
Sophia is waiting for Starodum, reading a book, thinking.
Phenomenon 2
Starodum appears. He gives Sophia advice that she needs to be able to distinguish between people. Starodum says that people envy not only nobility and wealth, but also virtue. He calls on Sophia to listen to her conscience, which warns a person before the judge punishes. Good character gives value to the mind. Clever man without it he is a monster.
Phenomenon 3
The valet arrives and presents a letter from Moscow to Starodum.
Phenomenon 4
Starodum reflects that he does not know Milo, but if his uncle says that he is an honest man, then he can become Sophia’s fiancé.
Phenomenon 5
Starodum tells Sophia that the letter is mostly for her - we're talking about, perhaps about her future husband.
Phenomenon 6
Milon and Pravdin appear. Pravdin introduces Milon to the Starodum. It turns out that this is the same young man mentioned in the letter addressed to Starodum. Starodum likes Milon, and he is glad that Sophia chose him.
Phenomenon 7
Skotinin appears. He insists that Sophia marry him. Starodum laughs at him.
Phenomenon 8
Prostakova, Prostakov, Mitrofan and Eremeevna appear. Mitrofan demonstrates his “successes” in his studies. He says that "door" is an adjective because it is attached to its place. And that door that stands by the closet has not yet been hung is still a noun.
Prostakova herself considers science to be an empty and useless activity - “people live and have lived without science.”
Phenomenon 9
Mrs. Prostakova asks Starodum if Mitrofan is Sofya’s fiancé. He replies that no and that she has already agreed. Prostakova decides to forcibly marry Sophia to Mitrofan.
Act five

Phenomenon 1
Pravdin shows Starodum the package that arrived the day before. Starodum replies that he now has a way to stop Prostakova’s inhumanity. Pravdin and Starodum say that a sovereign worthy of the throne must elevate the souls of his subjects. There is a noise.
Phenomenon 2
Sophia rushes to Starodum asking for protection - they tried to forcibly take her away. Eremeevna admits that they were going to marry Sophia and Mitrofanushka.
Phenomenon 3
Prostakova and Mitrofan ask Starodum for forgiveness.
Phenomenon 4
Starodum says that he forgives the landowner. Prostakova threatens all her servants with reprisals - they were sluggish in the kidnapping matter. Pravdin says that in the name of the government he orders a gathering of peasants and people to announce an order that for the inhumanity of the landowner Prostakova, the government orders him to take custody of the village and her house. Prostakova believes that this is death for her.
Phenomenon 5
Mrs. Prostakova cannot come to her senses - she is no longer the mistress of her own house. She says that she has a lot of debts - she has not yet paid the teachers. The teachers are called.
Phenomenon 6
Starodum recognizes his former coachman in the geography teacher Vralman. They pay off debts to teachers. Vralman is again hired as a coachman for Starodum.
Phenomenon 7
The valet reports that the carriage is ready.
The last phenomenon
Starodum says goodbye to Pravdin. They are about to leave. Mrs. Prostakova tells her son that he is the only one left with her. Mitrofan replies: “Go away, mother.” Then Prostakova faints.
This concludes “The Minor” (a summary of the actions).

Book materials used: Zubova E.N., Moshenskaya O.V. and other works school curriculum V summary. LLC "House of Slavic Books", 2015

Who is sixteen years old and scolds the tailor Trishka for ruining the thing. In her opinion, the caftan is too narrow. She calls Trishka names hurtful words, but that he justifies himself and admits that he is just a self-taught person. Prostakova sends nanny Eremeevna to bring another tailor, and Mitrofan sends for his father.

The landowner's husband, stammering from timidity, says that the caftan seems baggy. For this she showers him with abusive words. The lady's brother, Taras Skotinin, intervenes in the conversation. In his opinion, the caftan is sewn “pretty well.” It was assumed that Mitrofan would be able to wear this caftan for his uncle’s agreement with Sophia, who is a distant relative of the Prostakovs.

Sophia is an orphan, since her father died when she was little, and her mother died quite recently. Nothing has been heard about her maternal uncle Starodum for several years. Since he left for Siberia, there has been no news from him. Thus, the Prostakov-Skotinins took the girl under guardianship in order to take possession of her estate. Having married her, Taras Skotinin hopes to take possession of all the pigs on the estate, as he loves to breed them.

Suddenly Sophia appears with a letter in her hands. She states that she received news from her uncle, and that he is already in Moscow. Prostakova is frightened by this news. She snatches the letter from the girl’s hands and asks to call their guest Pravdin, since neither she nor the other members of her family are taught to read and write, which they like to brag about. Prostakova herself often thanks God out loud that she was not brought up to be able to read.

Pravdin appears and reads out the letter. It says that Starodum, through his labors in Siberia, earned a fortune giving ten thousand in income a year. He also says that he wants to make his niece his heir. Hearing this, Prostakova decides to marry her son Mitrofan to Sophia.

Act two

Soldiers under the leadership of officer Milo are walking through the village. On the way, they meet Pravdin, who tells Milon about the purpose of his visit to the village. The fact is that the governor sent him to find out whether anyone in the district was exceeding the power given to him and whether there were any rude ignoramuses there. After three days of his stay, he already noticed that the Prostakovs were such ignoramuses and despots in relation to their servants.

At the same time, Milon told Pravdin about a girl with whom he had been in love for a long time, but for six months now they had been separated. He heard rumors that after the death of his mother, some distant relatives took custody of her. They took her to their village. While talking about this, he stopped mid-sentence and saw his beloved Sophia.

She tells Milon that Prostakova, having learned about her inheritance, decided to marry her to her son Mitrofanushka. While Milon thinks about the imaginary merits of his opponent, imagines how smart and kind he is, Sophia tells the whole truth about the so-called groom.

At this time Skotinin passes by. He unceremoniously intervenes in the conversation and speaks of his intention to marry Sophia. He also adds that with such an inheritance he could buy all the pigs in the world. After Pravdin says that the lady has decided to marry her son to Sophia, Skotinin becomes furious and attacks Mitrofan with his fists. His nanny and nurse Eremeevna stands up for him, who later, instead of gratitude, hears from Prostakova only accusations in response.

© AST Publishing House LLC, 2017

Minor
Comedy in five acts

Characters

Prostakov.

Ms. Prostakova, his wife.

Mitrofan, their son, a minor.

Eremeevna, Mitrofanova’s mother.

Pravdin.

Starodum.

Sophia, Starodum's niece.

Milo.

Skotinin, brother of Mrs. Prostakova.

Kuteikin, seminarian.

Tsyfirkin, retired sergeant.

Vralman, teacher.

Trishka, tailor.

Servant Prostakova.

Valet Starodum.

Action in the village of Prostakovs.

Act one

Phenomenon I

Mrs. Prostakova, Mitrofan, Eremeevna.

Ms. Prostakova(examining the caftan on Mitrofan). The caftan is all ruined. Eremeevna, bring the swindler Trishka here. (Eremeevna leaves.) He, the thief, burdened him everywhere. Mitrofanushka, my friend! I'm guessing you're dying. Call your father here.

Mitrofan leaves.

Phenomenon II

Mrs. Prostakova, Eremeevna, Trishka.

Mrs. Prostakova (Trishke). And you, brute, come closer. Didn’t I tell you, you thieving mug, that you should make your caftan wider? The first child grows; another, a child and without a narrow caftan of delicate build. Tell me, idiot, what is your excuse?

Trishka. But, madam, I was self-taught. I reported to you at the same time: well, if you please, give it to the tailor.

Mrs. Prostakova. So is it really necessary to be a tailor to be able to sew a caftan well? What bestial reasoning!

Trishka. Yes, I studied to be a tailor, madam, but I didn’t.

Mrs. Prostakova. While searching, he argues. A tailor learned from another, another from a third, but who did the first tailor learn from? Speak up, beast.

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

Mitrofan (runs in). I called my father. I deigned to say: immediately.

Mrs. Prostakova. So go and get him out if you don’t get the good stuff.

Mitrofan. Yes, here comes the father.

Scene III

Same with Prostakov.

Mrs. Prostakova. What, why do you want to hide from me? This, sir, is how far I have lived with your indulgence. What's a new thing for a son to do with his uncle's agreement? What kind of caftan did Trishka deign to sew?

Prostakov (stammering out of timidity). Me... a little baggy.

Mrs. Prostakova. You yourself are baggy, smart head.

Prostakov. Yes, I thought, mother, that it seemed so to you.

Mrs. Prostakova. Are you blind yourself?

Prostakov. With your eyes, mine see nothing.

Mrs. Prostakova. This is the kind of hubby the Lord gave me: he doesn’t know how to figure out what’s wide and what’s narrow.

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

Mrs. Prostakova. So believe also that I do not intend to indulge the slaves. Go, sir, and punish now...

Phenomenon IV

Same with Skotinin.

Skotinin. Whom? For what? On the day of my conspiracy! I ask you, sister, for such a holiday to postpone the punishment until tomorrow; and tomorrow, if you please, I myself will willingly help. If I weren’t Taras Skotinin, if not every fault is my fault. In this, sister, I have the same custom as you. Why are you so angry?

Mrs. Prostakova. Well, brother, I’ll go crazy on your eyes. Mitrofanushka, come here. Is this caftan baggy?

Skotinin. No.

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

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

Mrs. Prostakova (Trishke). Get out, you bastard. (Eremeevna.) Go ahead, Eremeevna, give the child breakfast. Vit, I’m having tea, the teachers will come soon.

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

Mrs. Prostakova. So you feel sorry for the sixth one, beast? What zeal! Please take a look.

Eremeevna. Cheers, mother. I said this for Mitrofan Terentyevich. I grieved until the morning.

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

Mitrofan. Yes, mother. Yesterday after dinner it hit me.

Skotinin. Yes, it’s clear, brother, you had a hearty dinner.

Mitrofan. And I, uncle, almost didn’t have dinner at all.

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

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

Eremeevna. Every now and then he asked for a drink at night. I deigned to eat a whole jug of kvass.

Mitrofan. And now I’m walking around like crazy. All night such rubbish was in my eyes.

Mrs. Prostakova. What rubbish, Mitrofanushka?

Mitrofan. Yes, either you, mother, or father.

Mrs. Prostakova. How is this possible?

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

Prostakov (aside). Well, my bad! Sleep in hand!

Mitrofan (relaxed). So I felt sorry.

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

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

Mrs. Prostakova. Surround me, my dear friend! Here, son, is my only consolation.

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

Prostakov. At least I love him, as a parent should, he’s a smart child, he’s a sensible child, he’s funny, he’s an entertainer; sometimes I am beside myself with him and with joy I truly do not believe that he is my son.

Skotinin. Only now our funny man is standing there, frowning.

Mrs. Prostakova. Shouldn't we send for a doctor to the city?

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

Mrs. Prostakova. So maybe the Lord is merciful. Go and have some fun, Mitrofanushka.

Mitrofan and Eremeevna leave.