"Poverty is not a vice". Summary of the play by A.N. Ostrovsky

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The action of Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky's comedy "Poverty is not a vice" takes place in a county town, in the house of the merchant Tortsov, during Christmas time.

Act one

The reader finds himself in a small, modestly furnished clerk's room. The clerk named Mitya is pacing the room. The boy Yegorushka, a distant relative of the merchant, the owner of the house, is sitting on a stool. Mitya asks the boy if the gentlemen are at home. To which Egorushka, looking up from the book, reports that everyone has left for a ride, and only Gordey Karpych is at home - the merchant himself, who arrives in a bad mood. It turns out that the reason for his anger is his brother, Lyubim Karpych, who dishonored him in front of guests with his drunken speeches, and then also stood under the church with beggars. The merchant accuses his brother that he has shamed him throughout the city, and takes out his anger on everyone around him. At this moment, a carriage pulls up. In it is the merchant's wife, Pelageya Yegorovna, daughter, Lyubov Gordeevna, and guests. Yegorushka runs to inform his uncle of the family's arrival.

Left alone, Mitya complains about his miserable lonely life without relatives and friends. To dispel sadness, the young man decides to get to work. But his thoughts are still far away. He sighs dreamily, remembering a certain beautiful girl whose eyes make him sing songs and recite poems.

At this time, the mistress of the house, Pelageya Yegorovna, enters his room. She invites Mitya to visit in the evening, says that it is not worth it for him to sit alone all the time. The woman also bitterly reports that Gordey Karpych will be away that evening. She really doesn't like her husband's new comrade African Savic. According to the merchant's wife, friendship with this manufacturer completely clouded her husband's mind. Firstly, he began to drink a lot, and secondly, he began to impose new fashion trends from Moscow on his wife and even demanded that she wear a cap. The merchant came to the conclusion that no one was a match for his family in this provincial town, and he could not find a match for his daughter at all. Mitya assumes that Gordey Karpych wants to marry his daughter to Moscow.

Their conversation is interrupted by the appearance of Yasha Guslin, the nephew of the merchant Tortsov. Pelageya Yegorovna invites him upstairs to sing songs with the girls in the evening and asks him to take a guitar with him. After that, the merchant retires to rest.

Mitya, in a fit of melancholy, confesses to Yasha that he has fallen seriously in love with Lyubov Gordeevna and therefore does not leave the service of the greedy and quarrelsome merchant. Yasha replies to his friend that it is better for him to completely forget about this love of his. Because he is in no way equal to a merchant's daughter in terms of his wealth. Mitya sighs and gets to work.

A carefree and cheerful guy Grisha Razlyulyaev, a young merchant from a wealthy family, enters the young people's room. Grisha boasts to his comrades about how much money he has jingling in his pockets, and also demonstrates a brand new accordion. Mitya is in a bad mood, but the young merchant pushes him on the shoulder, urging him not to be sad. As a result, all three with a guitar and an accordion sit down to sing some song.

Suddenly, the angry merchant Tortsov bursts into the room. He yells at young people for having made a semblance of a beer house out of the room, in which songs are bawling. Further, his anger turns to Mitya, who is badly dressed. The merchant reproaches him that he dishonors him in front of the guests, declaring upstairs in this form. Mitya makes excuses that he sends his salary to his sick old mother. But this does not touch Gordey Karpych. He accuses all three young people of being unenlightened, looking disgusting and speaking the same way. Having measured the guys with a contemptuous glance, the merchant leaves.

After the owner of the house leaves, the girls descend into the room: Lyubov Gordeevna, her friends Liza and Masha, as well as the young widow Anna Ivanovna, whom Guslin dreams of marrying. The youth exchange jokes and barbs, and Guslin manages to whisper in the ear of the young widow about Mitya's feelings for the merchant's daughter. After a short conversation, all the young people, except for Mitya, are going to go upstairs to sing and dance. Mitya says that she will come later. Letting everyone out of the room, Anna Ivanovna deftly closes the door in the face of Lyubov Gordeevna, leaving them alone with Mitya.

Mitya offers the girl a chair and asks permission to read her his poems, which he wrote for her. These poems are full of love and sadness. Lyubov Gordeevna listens to them thoughtfully, after which she says that she will also write him a message, but not in verse. She takes paper, a pen and writes something. Then she gives the paper to Mitya, taking a promise that he will not read the note in front of her. The girl gets up and calls the young man to the whole company upstairs. He readily agrees. Leaving, Lyubov Gordeevna runs into her uncle Lyubim Karpych.

Lyubim Karpych asks Mitya for shelter, as his brother kicked him out of the house. He admits to the guy that all his problems come from drinking. Then he embarks on a recollection of how he squandered his part of his father's fortune in Moscow, then begged for a long time and made money on the street, portraying a buffoon. Over time, the soul of Lyubim Karpych could not stand this way of life, and he came to his brother to ask for help. Gordey Karpych received him, complaining that he would dishonor him in front of high society, in which the merchant now revolves. And then he completely kicked the poor fellow out of the house. Mitya takes pity on the drunkard, allows him to spend the night in his office and even gives him some money for a drink. Leaving the room, the young man, with trembling hands, takes out a note from Lyubov Gordeevna from his pocket. The note reads: “I love you too. Lyubov Tortsova. The young man runs away in confusion.

Action two

Events continue in the Tortsovs' living room. Lyubov Gordeevna tells Anna Ivanovna how dearly she loves Mitya for his quiet, lonely disposition. A friend warns the merchant's daughter against impulsive actions and advises her to take a good look at the young man. Suddenly they hear footsteps on the stairs. Anna Ivanovna assumes that this is Mitya and leaves Lyubov Gordeevna alone so that she can talk to him alone.

The widow was not mistaken, it really was Mitya. He inquired from Lyubov Gordeevna how he should understand her note, and whether she was joking. The girl replied that she wrote those words sincerely. The lovers embrace and think what to do next.

Mitya offers to go to Gordey Karpych, fall at his feet and ask him to bless their feelings. The girl doubts that her father will approve of this union. The young people hear footsteps and the girl tells the young man to go, promising that she will join the company later. Mitya leaves. And the nanny of the merchant's daughter Arina enters the room.

The old woman reproaches her pupil for wandering in the dark and sending her to her mother. After the girl leaves, Yegorushka enters the room.

Arina tells him to call the neighboring girls to sing songs. The boy is very happy about the upcoming fun and skips off to call the guests. Pelageya Egorovna enters Arina's room. She asks the nanny to organize a treat for the guests and calls the youth into the living room.

The fun begins, in addition to young people in the living room, there are also older women, friends of Pelageya Yegorovna, they sit on the sofa, look at the youth and remember the fun of the times of their youth. Arina sets the table. Guests drink wine and dancing with songs becomes more and more fun. The old nanny reports that the mummers have come, the hostess of the house orders them to be let in.

Everyone is happy to watch the performance, Arina treats the artists. At this time, Mitya is standing next to Lyubov Gordeevna, whispering something in her ear and kissing her. This is noticed by Razlyulyaev. He threatens to tell the merchant everything. It turns out that he himself is going to woo a girl. A rich young man taunts Mitya, saying that he has no chance of getting a merchant's daughter as his wife.

At this time, there is a knock on the door. Opening the door, Arina sees the owner on the threshold. He did not come alone, but with Afrikan Savich Korshunov. Seeing the mummers, the merchant becomes furious. He drives them out and quietly whispers to his wife that she has dishonored him in front of an important metropolitan gentleman. The merchant justifies himself to his friend for what he saw in the living room and tells his wife to drive everyone out. African Savic, on the other hand, asks the girls to stay and sing for them. Gordey Karpych agrees with the manufacturer in everything and demands that the best champagne be brought to the table and candles be lit in a room with new furniture for the best effect. Pelageya Egorovna's guests hastily leave the merchant's house.

Korshunov arrives in a cheerful mood and insists that all the girls present kiss him, he is especially obsessive towards Lyubov Gordeevna.

By order of the merchant, the girls kiss the old manufacturer. Tortsov approaches Mitya and through his teeth asks him: “Why are you? Is this where you belong? A crow flew into the high mansions!

After that, Razlyulyaev, Guslin and Mitya leave.

Korshunov informs Lyubov Godeevna that he brought her a present because he loves her very much. He shows the audience a diamond ring and earrings. African Savich hints that if she does not love him, she will definitely love him, because he is not yet old and very rich. The girl is embarrassed and gives him back the jewelry, trying to go to her mother, but her father tells her to stay. A minute later, Pelageya Yegorovna, Arina and Yegorushka enter the room with wine and glasses.

Korshunov and Tortsov announce to the audience that they have agreed on a marriage between Afrikan Savich and Lyubov Gordeevna. Among other things, the merchant is going to move to live in Moscow. The merchant's daughter is horrified by such news, she falls at the feet of her father, begging him not to marry her without love. But Tortsov is adamant. The girl submits to his will. The men go to drink wine in the next room, and Lyubov Gordeevna is crying in her mother's arms, surrounded by her friends.

Act Three

The author takes us to the office of the mistress of the house, densely packed with expensive furniture and utensils. The old nanny Arina laments how quickly Lyubov Godeevna was taken away from them all. The woman admits that she didn’t want such a fate for her pupil at all, but dreamed for her of an overseas prince. Pelageya Egorovna sends the nanny to take care of the housework, she herself sinks exhaustedly on the sofa.

Anna Ivanovna enters to her. The merchant asks her to serve the men when serving tea. At this time, Mitya joins them. The young man is very sad. With tears in his eyes, he thanks the hostess for her warm attitude towards him and reports that he is leaving for his mother and, most likely, forever. The woman is surprised by his decision, but accepts it calmly. Mitya asks for the opportunity to say goodbye to Lyubov Gordeevna. Anna Ivanovna goes to call the girl. Pelageya Yegorovna complains to Mitya about the grief that has fallen on her head. Mitya warmly supports the woman's fears about the future happiness of her daughter. The young man, unable to hold back his tears, confesses to the merchant's wife his feelings for Lyubov Gordeevna. At this moment, the girl herself appears. Mitya says goodbye to her. The mother lets them kiss goodbye, after which they both cry. Mitya invites the girl to run with him to his mother and secretly get married. Neither Pelageya Yegorovna nor Lyubov Gordeevna agree to this. The girl says that she will not marry without her father's blessing and must submit to his will. After that, the unfortunate lover bows and leaves.

The merchant's wife takes pity on her daughter, lamenting the fate prepared for her. Their conversation is interrupted by Korshunov. He asks the woman to leave him alone with his bride. After the mother leaves, Afrikan Savich describes for a long time to the girl the prospects for living together, how many gifts she will receive in Moscow. Argues why it is more profitable to love an old husband than a young one.

Gordey Karpych joins them. The merchant sits down and begins to dream aloud about what a fashionable and refined life he will lead in the capital, now and then demanding confirmation from Korshunov that he was created for such a life. The manufacturer readily agrees with him. At this time, Yegorushka enters and, barely holding back his laughter, reports that Lyubim Karpych is rowdy in the house. Tortsov hurriedly leaves to pacify his brother.

Liza, Masha and Razlyulyaev join the bride and groom. All of them are horrified by the antics of Lyubim Karpych. Soon Lubim himself appears. He begins to accuse Korshunov of contributing to his ruin during his life in Moscow and demands a ransom for his niece of one million three hundred thousand rubles. African Savic is greatly amused by the whole situation. Gordey Karpych appears in the living room and tries to drive his brother out. Korshunov asks not to drive him away, hoping to still laugh at the drunkard. But Lyubim begins to accuse him of dishonor and dirty deeds, as well as the fact that the manufacturer killed his former wife to death with his jealousy. He begs his brother not to give his daughter to Afrikan Savich. These speeches get on Korshunov's nerves, he demands to expel Lyubim Karpych. Before leaving, the drunkard throws a few more barbs at Korshunov.

African Savich is furious at such treatment and declares in front of all the guests that now the merchant will have to bow to him so that he takes Lyubov Gordeevna as his wife. The merchant replies that he is not going to bow to anyone and will give his daughter to anyone he wants. Korshunov chuckles and assures that Tortsov will come running tomorrow to ask for his forgiveness. The merchant goes berserk. At this moment Mitya enters. Tortsov looks at the young man and says that he will marry his daughter to him. Korshunov still does not believe Gordey Karpych and leaves with an arrogant air.

Pelageya Yegorovna asks her husband what he meant. The man, still furious at the behavior of the manufacturer, shouts out that she heard everything correctly, and, to spite Korshunov, he will marry his daughter to Mitya tomorrow. Everyone in the audience is surprised. The young man takes Lyubov Gordeevna by the hand and leads her to her father. He asks to give her in marriage to him not out of anger, but out of mutual love. This behavior of the guy also outrages the quick-tempered merchant. He shouts that Mitya has completely forgotten who he is talking to, and that the merchant's daughter is no match for him. At this time, Lyubim Karpych squeezes into the crowd of guests who are watching this whole scene.
The merchant does not want to hear Mitya's arguments, then his daughter and wife are taken to persuade him to marry. Lyubim Karpych joins them from the crowd. The merchant is outraged that his brother is still in the house. Lyubim declares that it was his behavior that brought Korshunov to clean water and saved Lyubasha from unhappiness in marriage. In continuation of his fiery speech, the drunkard kneels down and begs his brother to give his daughter to Mitya. He hopes that the kind young man will not let him, the dissolute one, freeze in the cold: “Brother! And my tears will reach the sky! How poor he is! Oh, if I were poor, I would be a man. Poverty is not a vice".

"Poverty is not a vice". Summary of the play by A.N. Ostrovsky