Summary “The Undertaker” by Pushkin


Undertaker Adrian Prokhorov moved from Basmannaya Street to Nikitskaya Street in a long-liked cottage, but does not feel joy, as the novelty frightens him a little. But soon the order in the new dwelling is established, a sign is attached above the gate, Adrian sits at the window and orders to serve the samovar.

Drinking tea, he plunged into a sad thought, because of nature was a grim character. The everyday worries troubled him. The main concern was that the heirs of the rich merchant-woman Tryukhina, who was dying at Razguliai, would remember at the last minute about him, and did not conspire with the nearest contractor. While Adrian was indulging in these reflections, a neighbor, a German artisan, paid a visit to him. He called himself shoemaker Gottlieb Schultz, announced that he lives across the street, and invited Adrian the next day to himself on the occasion of his silver wedding. Accepting the invitation, Adrian offered Schulz tea. Neighbors chatted and quickly became

friends.

At noon the next day, Adrian and his two daughters went to visit the shoemaker. Gottlieb Schultz’s friends gathered in the house, German artisans with their wives. The feast began, the owner proclaimed the health of his wife Louise, and then the health of her guests. All drank very much, the fun became noisier, when suddenly one of the guests, a fat baker, offered to drink to the health of those for whom they work. And all the guests began to bow to each other, for everyone was a friend of each other: tailor, shoemaker, baker… The baker Yurko suggested Adrian to drink for the health of his dead. General laughter arose, which offended the undertaker.

Separated late. Adrian returned home drunk and angry. It seemed to him that the incident was a deliberate mockery of the Germans over his craft, which he revered no worse than others, for the undertaker was not the brother of the executioner. Adrian even decided that he would not invite his new acquaintances to a housewarming party, but those whom he worked for. In response, his worker suggested that he cross himself. But Adrian liked this

thought.

We woke Adrian still dark, as the shop assistant of the merchant, Tryukhina, came running with the message that she had died that night. Adrian went to Razguliay, started troubles and negotiations with relatives of the deceased. When he was done he went home on foot in the evening. Approaching the house, he noticed that someone opened his wicket and entered it. While Adrian was figuring out who it could be, another man approached. His face seemed familiar to Adrian. Entering the house, the undertaker saw that the room was full of dead people, illuminated by the moon, shining through the window. With horror, he recognized in them the undertaker of his former clients. They greeted him, and one of them even tried to hug Adrian, but Prokhorov pushed him away, he fell and fell apart. Threatened by his other guests, Adrian fell and lost his senses.

Opening his eyes in the morning, Adrian remembered yesterday’s events. The employee said that the neighbors came to inquire about his health, but she did not wake him up. Adrian asked whether the deceased did not come from Tryukhina, but the worker was surprised at the words about the death of the merchant and told that the undertaker, as he had returned from the shoemaker, was drunk and had fallen asleep, and drifted up to this very minute. Only the undertaker understood that all the terrible events that had frightened him so much had occurred in a dream, and ordered the samovar to be set up and call daughters.

Undertaker Adrian Prokhorov drives from Basmannaya Street to Nikitskaya Street in a small house, but does not feel any joy. Novelty frightens him a little. A sign is attached above the gate. Adrian sits at the window and orders to serve the samovar. Drinking tea, he sinks into a sad thought. The everyday worries confuse him. His main concern was that the heirs of the wealthy merchant Tryukhina, who had died at Razgulya, remembered about him at the last minute, and did not conspire with the nearest contractor.

A German craftsman came to visit Adriaan. He called himself shoemaker Gottlieb Schultz, who lives across the street, and invited Adrian to his place on the occasion of a silver wedding. Neighbors chatted and quickly became friends.

At noon the next day, Adrian and his two daughters go to visit the shoemaker. The cobbler’s friends gathered in the house, the Germans were artisans with their wives. The feast began, the owner proclaimed for the health of his wife Louise, and then for the health of her guests. Drank a lot and the fun became noisy. A fat baker suggested that they drink to the health of those they work for. The baker Yurko offered Adrian a drink for his dead. General laughter arose. The undertaker was very offended. Adrian returned home drunk and angry. He thought he was being mocked at his craft, which he respected no worse than the other, for the undertaker was not the brother of the executioner. We woke Adrian still dark, as the salesman of the merchant, Tryukhina, came running with the message that she had died that night. Beginning of trouble and negotiations with relatives of the deceased. Having completed the case,

Approaching the house, he noticed that someone opened his gate and entered it. While he was remembering who it could be, another person approached. Entering the house, the undertaker saw that the room was full of dead people, illuminated by the moon. He was horrified to find out his former clients in them. They greeted him, and one even with a smile tried to embrace him tenderly. Prokhorov pushed him away, and he crumbled. With threats, his other guests surrounded him, and he fell and lost his senses.

Opening his eyes in the morning, Prokhorov recalled yesterday’s events. Then he realized that all the events that had frightened him so much had occurred in a dream. He shook himself and ordered to put the samovar.


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Summary “The Undertaker” by Pushkin