“The Minor” of Fonvizin in brief summary
The village of the landowners Prostakov. Mistress Prostakova in anger: the fortress tailor Trishka, she believes, sewed too narrow a caftan to her beloved son, a sixteen-year-old underbog Mitrofanushka. Trishka is justified by the fact that he did not study tailoring, but the lady does not want to listen. Her husband, Prostakov, a narrow-minded and obedient wife, expresses the opinion that the caftan is baggy. And Taras Skotinin, brother of Prostakov, it seems that the caftan is “sewn quite a bit”.
The caftan itself is a new thing for Mitrofanushka to conspiracy Skotinin with Sofya, 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 already six months had passed since she was left an orphan. The prostitutes took her to him to “oversee her estate, as her own.” Uncle Sophia, Starodum, went to Siberia. For a long time there had been no news about him, and Prostakov thought
Skotinin wants to marry Sophia – not because he likes the girl, not because he wants to take possession of her villages, but because in these villages there are many… pigs, and before them he is a great hunter. But Sophia does not yet know who she was supposed to be her husband.
Sophia receives a letter from Starodom. Ms. Prostakova, hearing about this, is extremely irritated: her hopes have not come true, the uncle was alive. Prostakov accuses Sophia of lying: a letter, they say, amorous. But she can not verify the assertion, for she is illiterate. Her husband and brother, too, do not read much. They are rescued by the guest Pravdin. He reads a letter in which Starodomus informs his niece what makes her the heiress of her fortune, acquired by him in Siberia, which gives ten thousand a year’s income. Ms. Prostakova is struck by this news. She has a new idea: to give Sophia for her son, ignoramus Mitrofan.
Soldiers are passing through the village of Prostakov. They are led by the officer Milo. He meets his old friend here, Pravdin. He says that he is
Milo also says that he is in love and more than half a year is in separation from his beloved. Recently, he learned that his lover was an orphan and some distant relatives took her to their villages… At the moment when Milo says this, he suddenly sees his beloved – this is Sophia.
Lovers are happy to meet. But Sophia says that Mrs. Prostakova wants to marry her to Mitrofanushka. Milo is tormented with jealousy. True, it weakens when he learns more about his “rival”.
Passing by Skotinin unceremoniously declares his views on Sophia. Pravdin tells him about Mrs. Prostakova’s plans. Skotinin is furious. Mitrofan, who is being taught by nurse Eremeevna, comes to his eyes. Uncle wants to explain his nephew and was already pounced on him with his fists. But Eremeevna shields Mitrofanushka and drives Skotinin away.
Mitrofanushki teachers come: Sidorych-Kuteykin and Pafnutich-Tsyfirkin. Kuteikin, the deacon from the Protection, who has not studied at the seminary, teaches Mitrofan a reading and writing on Chasoslov and the Psalter. And Tsyfirkin, a retired sergeant, is a teacher of arithmetic.
Mitrofan refuses to study. He complains to his mother that after the uncle’s “gripe” he does not go to mind training. Eremeevna talks about a clash with Skotinin. Prostakov comforts his son, promises to soon marry him. She instructs the teachers to eat lunch and send again. The lady is unhappy with Eremeevna: she “did not bite into a grudge” Skotinin and “did not pull his snout to the ears.” Prostakova is going to “redirect” her brother in her own way. Diligent Eremeevna cries from insult. Teachers comfort her.
Starodum comes. Before appearing to the owners, he talks with an old acquaintance, Pravdin. Starodum recalls his father, who served Peter the Great, praising those times. Starodum came to free his niece from “ignoramuses without a soul.” He was forced to leave the civil service. When Starodum still served in the military, he made friends with the young count. On the declaration of war, Starodomus hurried to the army, and the Count avoided this. And soon after that the Count was made 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 life at home than in someone else’s front.”
Starodum meets with Sofya and promises to take his niece away from the Prostakovs. The conversation was interrupted by the appearance of Prostakov and Skotinin. Sister and brother are fighting, and Milon separates them. Starodum this scene amuses. Ms. Prostakova is annoyed by the fun of the stranger, but upon learning that this is Starodum, she changes her tone to the most servile and obsequious. She wants to be seduced by a rich relative and contribute to this marriage of Mitrofanushka to Sofya.
But Starodum promises to take Sofia the next morning to Moscow to marry her to a certain “young man of great merit.” This news plunges everyone into despair, and Sophia “seems overwhelmed.” Then Starodomus tells her that the choice of a worthy groom is entirely in her will. This brings hope back to all. Ms. Prostakova boasts of the formation of Mitrofanushka before Starodum. She is particularly pleased with the German Adam Adamich Vralman, who was hired for five years. She pays him three hundred rubles a year. Vralman teaches Mitrofan “in French and all sciences.” But the main thing is that he “does not force a child”.
Meanwhile, Kuteykin and Tsyfirkin are sad that the teaching is not very successful. Arithmetic Mitrofan studies the third year, and “can not count three”. He studied the letter for the fourth year, and still “does not understand the new line”. And the whole trouble is that Vralman indulges a lazy student and interferes with his studies.
Ms. Prostakova persuades her son to learn. He demands that a conspiracy be made as quickly as possible: “I do not want to study, I want to get married.” Tsyfirkin asks Mitrofan two tasks. But the mother interferes and does not allow to solve them. In general, arithmetic seems to her to be an empty science: “There is no money – what can be considered? There are money, and without Pafnutich it will be considered well.” Tsyfirkin has to finish his lesson. His place is taken by Kuteykin. Mitrofan senselessly repeats the lines from Chasoslov behind him. Then appears Vralman. He explains to Ms. Prostakova that unnecessarily stuffing her head is very dangerous. Vralman believes that you can do without Russian diploma, and without arithmetic. Mitrofanushke, he says, you just need to know how to live in the light. Vralman lets Mitrofan frolic.
Tsyfirkin and Kuteikin want to beat Vralman. A retired sergeant flaunts the board, and the sexton – the Chasov, but the German manages to escape.
Sophia reads Fenelon’s book about the education of girls. Starodumus talks with her about virtue. He receives a letter from the Count of Chestan. This is Uncle Milo, who wants to marry his nephew on Sofya. Talking with Sophia about her marriage, Starodum again notes that she is embarrassed… Then Pravdin and Milon appear. Pravdin represents Milona Starodumu. It turns out that Milo in Moscow often visited the house of Sophia’s mother, and she loved him as a son. Starodum, conversing with Milo, is convinced that he is dealing with a worthy person. Milo asks Sophia’s hands, mentioning her “mutual inclination” with the girl. Starodum gladly learns that Sophia has chosen the one whom he himself is reckoning to her as husbands. He gives consent to this marriage.
But the other contenders do not know anything about Sophia’s hand and do not give up their hopes. Skotinin begins to talk about the antiquity of his kind. Starodum jokingly pretends that he agrees with everything. Ms. Prostakova offers Starodum to see how Mitrofanushka is learned. Sophia uncle depicts, as if delighted with Mitrofanushkinoy scholarship. However, he refuses Skotinin and Mitrofanushka, saying that Sophia has already been agreed. He announces that he will leave with Sophia at seven in the morning. But Ms. Prostakova decides that before that time she will have time to “put on her own”. She arranges the “sentries” around the house.
Pravdin receives the package; he is ordered to take in custody the house and the village of Prostakov at the very first instance, when the disposition of Prostakov will threaten the security of the people under her control. Pravdin tells this to Starodum. Their conversation is interrupted by noise…
The people of Prostakov are being dragged by Sophia, who is resisting to the carriage, to marry Mitrofanushka. Milo, who caught this scene, frees the bride. Pravdin threatens that Prostakov will appear before the court as “a violator of civil peace.” Ms. Prostakova stormily repents of her actions. Starodum and Sofia forgive her. Prostakov is glad for forgiveness: now she will avenge her servants for the failure that has occurred! But she can not do this: Pravdin announces that under a government decree he takes care of the house and village of Prostakov.
Skotinin moves to his own room, to his favorite cribs. Ms. Prostakova asks Pravdin to give her power for at least three days. But he does not agree. He calls the teachers to settle with them. Eremeevna leads Kuteikin, Tsyfirkin and Vralman. Pravdin lets them go home. Kuteikin demands that he be paid for training, for worn out boots… But Tsyfirkin refuses to pay, because Mitrofanushka learned nothing. For such generosity Starodum, Milon and Pravdin give him money. And Kuteykinu Pravdin offers to pay off with the lady herself. He in horror exclaims: “I give up everything from everything.” In Vralmane Starodum recognizes his former coachman. It turns out that Vralman could not find a coachman’s place anywhere and had to go to the teacher. Starodum agrees again to take him to his coachman.
Starodum, Sophia and Milo are going to leave. Prostakov embraces Mitrofanushka: “You have only one left for me…” But the son is rude to her. Mother faints. Pravdin decides to send Mitrofan to the service. Waking up, Ms. Prostakova wails: “I died completely…” And Starodum, pointing to her, says: “Here is the evil worthy fruits!”
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