Summary “Non-Marine”
The comedy “Nedorosl” was written by D. I. Fonvizin in 1781. The main problem of the work is the condemnation of the traditional education of the nobles, in particular the provincial, their stupidity and maliciousness. The play “The Minor” is written in the classic style, which is reflected in the “talking” names of heroes, a clear division into positive and negative characters, as well as in the unity of time, place and action: events take place within 2 days in the village of Prostakov. The name “Nedorosl” is associated with the decree of Peter I, which forbade the unlearned nobles to serve and marry, calling such young people “inexperienced.”
For general acquaintance with the subject of the work, we offer a brief summary of “The Minor”.
Main characters
Mrs. Prostakova is Prostakov’s wife. An active, rough, uneducated woman who thinks more about her own gain than about people around
Prostakov Mitrofan is the son of the Prostakovs, an inexperienced young man of 16 years, as stupid as his parents, totally weak-willed, agrees with everything that the mother or others will say.
Pravdin – guest Prostakov, a government official who came to deal with the disorders in their property, to resolve the cruelty of Prostakov in relation to servants. A highly moral person, a representative of the “new” educated nobility, personifies in the work “The Minor” the truth and the word of law.
Starodum is a person with high moral principles, which he himself achieved in life without resorting to deceit or cunning. Uncle and guardian of Sophia.
Sophia is an honest, educated, kind girl. After she lost her parents, she lives with Prestakovs, in love with Milo.
Milo is the fiance of Sophia, whom they have not seen for years. The officer, distinguished in the service of courage and boldness, has high concepts of human virtue, honor.
Skotinin is Miss Prostakova’s brother. A stupid, uneducated
Other characters
Prostakov is the husband of Prostakova. Virtually nothing decides in the house, in fact the shadow and henpecked wife, uneducated, weak-willed.
Eremeevna – nurse Mitrofan.
Kuteykin, Vralman, Tsyfirkin – teachers Mitrofan.
Trishka is a tailor, a servant of Prostakov.
Summary
Step 1
The play begins with the fact that Ms. Prostakova scolds Trishka that he sewed 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 asserts that the caftan is sewn well and Trishka is expelled.
There comes a conversation about Mitrofan – probably he fell ill, because he did not sleep well all night. During the discussion, the son claims that he did not eat at all, but in fact he had a dense supper all night drinking kvass, and at night he saw that his mother was beating his father. To this Prostakov hugs his son, saying that he is his only consolation and Mitrofan runs off to the pigeon.
Skotinin, Prostakov and Prostakov discuss what they want to give to Skotinin orphan Sophia. The only relative of the girl Starodum long gone to Siberia and did not remind of himself. The conversation reveals Skotinin’s selfish, evil personality, who likes not Sophia, but many pigs in her villages.
Sophia brings a letter from suddenly appeared Starodum. The prostitutes do not believe that he is alive, they try to tell the girl that in fact this letter is from the admirer. When Sophia suggests that they read it themselves, it turns out that everyone is illiterate.
Pravdin comes in and is instructed to read the letter. The audience will learn that Starodum has made Sophia an heiress of 10,000 rubles. Now not only Skotinin wants to woo a girl, but also Prostakova starts flattering the girl, wanting to extradite her for Mitrofan. While the women are leaving, a servant runs in and informs the men that the passing soldiers have stopped by in their village.
Step 2
Milon and Pravdin are old friends. Pravdin says that he came to the village to put in place the “furious fury” of Prostakov. Milon shares that he goes to Moscow to meet with his beloved, which he has not seen for a long time, since after the death of her parents she was taken into custody by distant relatives.
By chance, Sofia passes by. Beloved are glad to each other. Sophia tells Milo that Prostakova wants to marry her to her stupid 16-year-old son.
Immediately they meet Skotinin, who worries that he can go home without his wife and money. Pravdin and Milon urge him to quarrel with his sister, saying that she plays them like a ball. Skotinin is losing his temper.
Mitrofan passes with Eremeevna. The nurse tries to force the young man to study, but he does not want to. Skotinin quarrels with Mitrofan about the upcoming marriage, since both do not mind taking Sophia as a wife. However, Eremeevna and Pravdin do not let them fight. Skotinin angrily leaves.
Appear spouses Prostakov. Prostakov flattered Milo and apologizes that he did not come to meet him on time. Praises Sophia and tells how she arranged everything for her uncle. The girl with Prestakov goes to look at the room. They are replaced by Kuteykin and Tsyfirkin. Teachers tell Pravdin about themselves, how they learned to read and how they got into the house of the Prostakovs.
Step 3
Pravdin, seeing from the window the carriage of Starodum, came out to meet him first. The official tells of the excesses of the Prostakovs towards Sonia. Starodum says that you can not act on the first impulse, as experience has shown him that fervor is not always good, tells Pravdin about his life, as he saw that people are different.
Sophia approaches. Starodum recognizes the niece, they are happy to meet. My uncle tells me that he left everything and went away because otherwise he could not earn money by “exchanging them for conscience”, he could not.
At this time, Prostakov and Skotinin managed to fight. After they were pacified by Milon, Prostakova notices Starodum and orders Eremeevna to call her son and husband. The entire family of Prostakovs and Skotinin greeted Starodum with undue joy, embracing and flattering in every possible way. Mitrofan repeats for his mother that Starodum is his second father. This is very surprising to Uncle Sophia.
Starodum says that he takes the girl to Moscow to marry. Sophia, not knowing that her uncle had chosen her as the husband of Milo, still agrees with his will. Prostakov and Skotinin are trying to persuade him. The woman says that in their family studies were not in high esteem, but Mitrofan allegedly because of the book does not get up and is studying hard. Pravdin interrupts the woman, saying that the guest is tired from the road and everyone is leaving.
There remain Tsyfirkin and Kuteikin, who complain to each other that Mitrofan can not learn arithmetic for three years and four letters. They blame the German Vralman for interfering with the teaching and both do not mind breaking the grieving disciple, if only he began to do something.
Mitrofan and Prostakova enter. A woman persuades her son to learn at least for a look. Tsifirkin sets two tasks, but in both cases, before Mitrophan finds out, Prostakova solves them based on her personal experience: “I found the money, I did not share it with anyone.” Take everything yourself, Mitrofanushka. Do not study this stupid science. ” Only Kuteikin begins to teach the young man how to read, how Vralman appears and says that Mitrofan does not need to learn to read and write, and in general it is better to lead friendships with “his own”, illiterate people, in which Prostakov supports him. Vrament makes a reservation that he saw the light while sitting on the cabs of the cab, but in time he remembers and the woman does not notice that he is lying to her.
Prostakov and Mitrofan leave. Teachers quarrel. Tsyfirkin and Kuteikin want to beat Vralman, but he runs away.
Step 4
Starodum and Sophia talk about virtue, about how people get off the right road. Uncle explains to the niece that the nobility and wealth should not be calculated on business for their own benefit, but for business for the fatherland and other people. The man explains that the post should correspond to the cases, and not just one name. He also speaks about family life, that the husband and wife should understand each other, support that it does not matter the origin of the spouses, if they love each other, but this love should be friendly.
Then Starodum is brought a letter from which he learns that the young man for whom he was going to extradite Sophia is Milo. Starodum, conversing with Milo, learns that he is a man with high concepts of duty and honor. Uncle blesses his niece and boy.
Skotinin tears them away from the conversation, trying to prove himself in a favorable light, but only laughs with his absurdity. Pravdin, Prostakov and Mitrofan come. The woman again praises the literacy of her son. Pravdin decides to check. Mitrofan does not give a single correct answer, while the mother tries in every possible way to justify his stupidity.
Prostakov and Skotinin continue to question Starodum, whom he will choose for his niece, for which they receive an answer that she already has a fiance and they leave tomorrow morning. Skotinin and Mitrofan with Prostakova separately plan to intercept the girl on the road.
Step 5
Pravdin and Starodum discuss that soon everyone will know that without truth and goodwill one can not achieve something worthwhile, that the guarantee of the welfare of the state is worthy, honest educated, educated people.
They break off when they hear the noise. As it turns out, Eremeevna wanted by order of Prostakov to take Sophia away by force, but Milo prevented her. Pravdin says that this is an illegal act. He points out that the girl’s uncle and fiancé can accuse the Prostakovs of committing a crime and demand immediate punishment. A woman tries to solicit forgiveness from Sophia, who forgives her. Prostakov, only it is released from guilt, is going to punish the servants who did not give the crime to commit and missed the girl. However, Pravdin stops her – reads the paper that came from the government, that from that moment the house and the village of Prostakov go under his guardianship. Prostakov is indignant and asks for at least three days, but Pravdin refuses. Then the woman remembers the debts of teachers and Pravdin agrees himself to pay off with them.
Come Vralman, Kuteykin and Tsyfirkin. It is found out fraud Vralman – that he is actually a retired groom Starodum, and not a German teacher and connoisseur of the higher world. Vralman agrees to go back to the service of Starodum. Tsyfirkin does not want to take extra money from Prostakova, because for all the time he could not teach Mitrofan anything. Pravdin, Starodum and Milon reward Tsyfirkin for honesty. Kuteykin is not against even for an ineffectual science to get money, but it remains with nothing.
Starodum, Milo and Sophia are going to leave. Mitrofan says that his mother gets rid of him, his father reproaches him for this. Pravdin suggests that the young man go to serve and he agrees. Prostakov in despair, because she lost everything. Starodum sums up what happened: “Here is the evil worthy fruits!”.
Conclusion
The comedy “The Minor” of Fonvizin is a landmark work of the 18th century, revealing the sharp questions of that time. In the play, education, upbringing, high moral principles are contrasted with stupidity, ignorance, anger and willfulness. The writer’s subtle humor, his understanding of global human problems, allows today to be considered a classic comedy. We advise not only to read the retelling of “Inexperienced” by actions, but also to evaluate the work completely.
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