Ostrovsky, "Wolves and Sheep": a summary, plot, characters and the main idea of the play

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Summary of Ostrovsky's "Wolves and Sheep" should be well known to all fans of the work of this famous Russian playwright. Comedy play in five acts was created in 1875. It was first published in Otechestvennye Zapiski. A few months later, the premiere performance took place on the stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater.

Start of the play

Summary of Ostrovsky's Wolves and Sheep should be known to all connoisseurs of Russian literature. After all, this is one of the classic comedies of the 19th century, which can still be seen on the theater stage, as it does not lose its relevance.

Telling a summary of Ostrovsky's Wolves and Sheep, we should start with an episode in which craftsmen gather at the house of 65-year-old Meropia Murzavetskaya. Everyone demands that she return the money,who borrowed. An ex-member of the county court Chugunov appears, who handles the affairs of the we althy widow Kupavina, while profiting from her money.

The hostess comes to the house together with a poor relative Glafira and hangers-on. At this time, the butler Pavlin tells Chugunov that the nephew of the slanderous and hypocrite Murzavetskaya, whom I call Apollo, is an unrestrained drunkard. Although Meropia herself wants to marry him to Kupavina.

Soon, Murzavetsky is really delivered after another drinking bout from the tavern. The performance "Wolves and Sheep" by Ostrovsky was a success with the audience, as, along with moralizing, the author paid attention to he althy humor. Here, in this scene, Murzavetsky begins obsessively courting Glafira, borrows money from Pavlin, and, having taken it on his chest, begins to be rude. These hilarious episodes are remembered by everyone who is even familiar with the summary of Ostrovsky's play "Sheep and Wolves".

At the same time, Apollo does not listen to what his aunt says, as he is busy with his dog Tamerlane. Murzavetskaya sends her nephew to bed, intending to go to the bride in the evening. After that, through Chugunov, it is accepted to spread rumors throughout the province that the late husband of Kupavina owed his father Murzavetskaya, who had also already died. This is done in case the widow is more accommodating when she comes to woo Apollo.

Chugunov even agrees to forge a promissory note, does not pay attention when Kupavina claims that he cannot find a letter in which Kupavina's husband acknowledges his debt.

New characters

In the summary of Ostrovsky's Wolves and Sheep, it is important to introduce all the important characters of the play so that the reader has a complete impression of the work.

The next hero who appears on the stage is the 50-year-old gentleman Lynyaev, who is also an honorary magistrate. Aunt Kupavina Anfusa Tikhonovna is with him. He tells about an unknown slanderer who appeared in their province, he uses forgeries that have begun to be revealed. Apparently, this is Chugunov's nephew, who also helps in the case of Meropia. Murzavetskaya herself sarcastically advises that the calves should catch the wolf. This is a direct reference to the title of Ostrovsky's play Wolves and Sheep.

Kupavina reappears next, giving Murzavetskaya a thousand rubles, supposedly lent by her dead husband. With this money, the main character pays off creditors. She also admonishes Glafira to go to Kupavina and prevent her from approaching Lynyaev.

In Kupavina's house

Summary of the play "Sheep and Wolves" should ideally be well known to everyone who has gathered for this production. So you will better understand everything that will happen on the stage, understand the details. True, there are some viewers who prefer not to know spoilers even in the case of a classic work. For them, a summary of Ostrovsky's "Wolves and Sheep" can be useful only in the process of preparing for an exam or test.

The action of the play is transferred to Kupavina's house. The hostess signs another blank bill of exchange, which Chugunov gives her. And he does it with such ignorance that he even sheds a tear.

He is replaced by Lynyaev, one of the most perspicacious characters in Ostrovsky's play "Sheep and Wolves". He reads a letter from an old friend of Berkutov, who is going to come. Afterward, Lynyaev is indignant when he learns about the debt of the late Kupavin, because he knows that he hated Murzavetskaya. The widow shows him a letter, in which he immediately suspects a forgery.

But at this time, Meropia herself arrives. She brings her nephew and Glafira. At the same time, he tries to intimidate the woman, instilling fear, but without really explaining anything. The widow is ready to listen to all claims, but Apollo is satisfied with 5 rubles received from Kupavina.

Effective person

Retelling the play "Wolves and Sheep" by Ostrovsky in a summary, everyone always remembers the episode with the miraculous transformation of Glafira. She has views of Lynyaev, and when she finds out that Kupavina is indifferent to him, she immediately turns from a quiet girl into a spectacular person, ready for anything.

Together with Lynyaev, Kupavina and Anfusa, she goes for a walk. But at the last moment, the only man in this company is too lazy to go far and stays. Finds a reason then not to go anywhere and Glafira. When everyone finally leaves them, Glafira immediately begins courting Lynyaev.

Return

The heroes return from the walk in a hurry, getting rid of Murzavetsky's harassment. It only drives him awayLynyaev. Then he meets with Goretsky, outbids him so that he confesses to the forgery of the letter.

The next day, Glafira is concerned that Lynyaev is in no hurry to explain to her. At this time, a letter arrives from Murzavetskaya, in which she threatens Kupavina to recover a large amount of debt from her, since she did not receive her nephew the day before, the insidious Meropia threatens the widow with ruin.

Lynyaev and Berkutov arrive. The latter admits that he has arrived to marry, and asks his comrade not to interfere in the affairs of the widow. When meeting, he assesses her position as unenviable. He ends his conversation with the widow with the advice to marry Murzavetsky in order to avoid complete ruin.

Passionate Love Scene

At this time, a tired Lynyaev returns from a walk, who is left lying on the sofa, while they themselves go to write a letter to Meropia Davydovna.

At this time, Glafira appears, who plays a scene of passionate love with the master. Lynyaev is helpless. When Kupavina returns with Berkutov, Lynyaev agrees with Glafira, promising that he will marry her.

At the same time, in Murzavetskaya's house, Chugunov convinces the woman of the need to take revenge, even though the hostess is already so angry. Chugunov wants to incite Meropia so that his fakes will be used. Another plan that he decided to implement was a non-existent letter from Kupavin to Apollo, in which he supposedly acknowledges his debt. This should be a weighty addition to the bill. Chugunov even demonstrates the technique by which he draws up fakes. Heuses an old book in which the document fades immediately.

Berkutov and Murzavetskaya

Berkutov appears, who brings the Murzavets book of spiritual content, he is emphatically kind to her. Berkutov decided to run, so he is counting on the support and advice of others.

At the very end, he recalls the order from his neighbor Evlampia Nikolaevna. After that, the conversation immediately abruptly changes its character. He directly calls Apollo and his henchmen scoundrels, outraged by their actions. He says that the main culprit in the appearance of fakes, Goretsky, has already confessed to everything, while Berkutov tells Murzavetskaya that he seriously suspects her nephew, who may be involved in this case.

Meeting with Chugunov

Then he asks to invite Chugunov. Allegorically, he warns him about everything. He thanks him for this and goes to destroy all the evidence, if possible.

However, Berkutov delays him, urging him to pay him something for his work, so that Kupavina could have a lesson on how to behave in the future. Chugunov leaves, obligated to everyone around.

At the end of the play, Kupavina's matchmaking is played out, and then the triumph of Glafira, who comes to demonstrate that Michelle is under her heel. At this point, it is worth recognizing that the scene is written so vividly and successfully that it defies retelling, which can only make it worse. Even if you do not have time and opportunity to read the entire work,take a few minutes to get to know this scene, which will give you sincere pleasure.

In conclusion, Lynyaev sums up that everything in the world is sheep and wolves. The future Lynyaevs go to Paris, and the Berkutovs leave for St. Petersburg for the winter. When they all leave, Chugunov is surprised in a conversation with Murzavetskaya, for which Lynyaev called them wolves, believing that they are actually pigeons or chickens.

In the finale, the cries of Murzavetsky, whose wolves ate Tamerlane, are heard. Chugunov tries to comfort him, noting that the real "wolves" "ate" his bride with all the dowry. As a result, even he and his aunt miraculously survived.

The main idea of the play

Ostrovsky tells us a story as old as the world that some people are destined to be simple-hearted and meek, like sheep, while others are destined to be predatory and dangerous, like wolves. Sometimes, however, even a seasoned predator gets into a mess.

"Wolves and sheep live in the world, wolves and sheep… Wolves eat sheep, sheep humbly allow themselves to be eaten…" - this is the simple idea underlying the comedy.

Prototypes

It is interesting that the daughter of General Rosen, Abbess Mitrofania, became the prototype of one of the main characters of Murzavetskaya.

Ostrovsky was familiar with her case, which was investigated a year before the play was written. She was accused of fraud, forgery, embezzlement and embezzlement. She pulled frauds in the Serpukhov Monastery and the Vladychno-Pokrovskaya community.