Summary of “Grimacing – Menander”
This comedy in translation has another name – “The misanthrope.” Her main character, the peasant Kemmon, at the end of his life, became a fan of people and hated the whole world. However, he was probably obese after birth. Because his wife abandoned him for his bad temper.
Kemon lives in the village, in Attica, near Athens. He cultivates a meager field and grows a daughter whom he loves without a memory. His stepchild Gorgias lives next to him, who, despite the bad temper of his stepfather, treats him well.
Sostratus, a rich young man who accidentally saw Kneemon’s daughter, falls in love with her and makes every effort to get acquainted with the beautiful modest girl, and at the same time – with her unsociable father.
At the beginning of the first action, the forest god Pan (his sanctuary cave is right there, not far from the house and Kneemon field) informs viewers a brief background of future events. By the way, this is exactly what
Kharya, a friend and lived Sostrata, advises a lover to act decisively. However, it turns out that Sostrat had already sent a slave Pirriya to reconnoitre to Kneemon’s manor, which by the time of our action comes back in panic – Kemmon drove him out in the most unambiguous way, throwing earth and stones…
Kneemon appears on the stage, not noticing those present, and says to himself: “Well, was not he happy, and doubly, moreover, / Perseus? First, having wings, / He could hide from everyone who tramples on the ground. secondly, anyone who was in daze could / I could turn into a stone, if only I now had the same gift! Only stone statues / stood around silently, wherever you look. “
Seeing Sostratus, timidly standing nearby, the old man pronounces an angry-ironic tirade and leaves the house. Meanwhile, the daughter of Hnemon appears on the stage with a jug. Her nurse, drawing water, dropped the bucket into the well. And to return the father from the field the water must be heated.
Standing
The presence of Sostratus is revealed by Dove, the slave of Gorgias. He warns the owner: a certain young man is grazing nearby, obviously “putting an eye” on Gorgia’s sister. But are his intentions fair? – Unknown…
Sostrat enters. Gorgias, not only a decent and hardworking, but also a determined youth, at first wrongly assessing him (“Immediately visible in the eyes – a scoundrel”), decides to still talk with the stranger. And after the conversation, as an intelligent man, he understands his original error. Soon, both are imbued with mutual sympathy.
Gorgias honestly warns the lover, how difficult it will be to agree with his stepfather – the girl’s father. But, after reflection, he decides to help Sostratus and gives him a number of tips.
To begin with, in order to “enter the image,” the rich young man devotedly devoted himself to the field works unusually for him, so that the suspicious Kemmon decided: Sostratus is a poor man who lives by his own labor. This, both boys hope, will at least reconcile the old man with the thought of the possible marriage of his beloved daughter. And in the sanctuary of Pan, the relatives of Sostratus and he himself prepare for solemn sacrifices. The noise of sacred preparations (near his house!) Leads Kneemon out of himself. And when first the slave Geta, and then the cook Sikon knock on his door with a request to lend some dishes, the old man finally comes to frenzy.
Returned from the field, Sostratus has changed so much during the day (tanned, from unaccustomed labor hunched and barely moves his legs) that even slaves do not recognize their master. But, as they say, there is no thin without good.
Returns from the field and Kneemon. He is looking for a bucket and a hoe (and both old servant Simiha dropped into the well). Meanwhile, Sostratus and Gorgias go to the sanctuary of Pan. They are already almost friends.
Knemon in his anger himself tries to descend into the well, but the rotten rope breaks, and the evil old man falls into the water. This cry is announced by Simiha, who ran out of the house. Gorgias understands: the “star hour” of Sostratus has come! Together they pull out the crouching and swearing Kneemon from the well.
But it is to Sostratus that the clever and noble Gorgius ascribes the leading role in saving the grumpy old man. Kneemon begins to soften and asks Gorgia to take on the worries about the sister’s marriage in the future.
Sostrat in return offers Gorgia to marry his sister. First, an honest young man tries to refuse: “It is inadmissible, / Having married you
To
your sister, your wife. “A good-tempered young man is also embarrassed by the fact that he is poor, and the family of Sostratus are rich people:” It is not enough for me / Alien to feed undeservedly. I want to make my own. “
Dissatisfied first with the prospect of a second “unequal marriage” and Kallipid – the father of Sostratus. But in the end he gives his consent to both weddings.
Finally, Kennon finally surrenders: the grumbler even agrees that the slaves take him to the sanctuary of Pan. Comedy ends with the words of one of the slaves, addressed to the audience: “Rejoice that the old man is unbearable / We prevailed, generously clap to us, / And let the victory, the noble maiden, / Girlfriend of laughter, will always be good to us.” gives the opportunity to present the following: Gabrotonon recognizes Pamphilus (they met on that ill-fated holiday of the Tavropolians), and Harisia’s offended and dishonored wife finds out his ring and understands: the culprit of her misfortune is her own husband!
And Harisius still only knows that his wife is the mother of an illegitimate child. At the same time, he understands that he himself is far from irreproachable and does not have the right to judge Pamfil so severely. But then a good Gabrotonon appears and tells Charisia everything he knows. The bastard young man is happy: he and Pamfila have a son!
Smikrin’s dissatisfaction also gives way to joy: he became the happy grandfather of his five-month-old grandson! Everyone is happy and even happy. So well, as expected, comedy ends.
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