"Mad Money", Ostrovsky: summary, theme, characters, analysis of the work

The name of the playwright, Corresponding Member of the Petersburg Academy of Sciences Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky is known to everyone. He worked hard to develop the Russian national theater. His humor and satire are so sharp, capacious and unforgettable, that are still relevant, are put on the stage of scenes not only in Russia and CIS countries, but throughout the world.

"Mad Money", Ostrovsky: a short summary

At first the author wanted to call the play "Mad Money" "Spit on a Stone" or "Not all that gold that glitters", but in the end he stopped at the name we usually used. In 1969 the work was finished, published in the journal Otechestvennye zapiski, and a year later it was staged at the Alexandria Theater (in April 1970) and at the Maly Theater in Moscow. The Maly Theater premiered on October 6.

Like in many plays, AN Ostrovsky in The Mad Money reflects the mores of the nobility, develops the theme of the crisis of many of them. His characters, self-confident, you can say, to the arrogance, become cunning, hypocritical and prudent.

Characters of the comedy:

• Vasilkov Savva Gennadich, the landowner (businessman).
• Telyatev Ivan Petrovich, a nobleman.
• Kuchumov Grigory Borisovich, the master.
• Glumov Yegor Dmitrievich.
• Cheboksarova Nadezhda Antonovna, an elderly lady.
• Lydia Yurievna, her daughter.
• Andrew, Gregory, Nicholas, servants.

In the play "Mad Money" Ostrovsky (a short summary will be set out below), the image of Vasilkov did not fully reveal. On the one hand, he is a positive character, loves Lidia, strives to live correctly, but on the other hand he is too business-oriented, calculates every step he takes. Vasilkov's Ostrovsky is presented more like a stingy man, the author comically delineates the budget from which he does not want to leave.

"Mad Money" (Ostrovsky): heroes, their interactions

So, the action takes place in Moscow, in the middle of the 19th century. Middle-aged provincial Vasilkov Savva Gennadic arrives in the capital, accidentally confronted with "secular lady" Lydia Cheboksarova and wants to marry her. Vasilkov is a resolute person, once he has conceived something, he goes to this goal, even if at first glance it seems unattainable.

His occasional acquaintance Telyaev Ivan Petrovich promises to introduce the provincial to the local beauty, but in the soul together with his old friend Glumov, a well-known sneaker from the play "To Every Wise Man is quite simple," decides to play the future bride of Sawa Gennadich.

Mothers and daughters Cheboksarov they represent Vasilkov as a gold miner from Siberia. The provincial becomes a guest in the house of Nadezhda Antonovna and Lydia Yurievna, but because of the modest nature, she can not find an approach to an eccentric lady.

The desperate act of Nadezhda Antonovna

Thus ends the first action of the play "Mad Money". Ostrovsky short of the second action begins with the fact that Nadezhda Antonovna receives a letter from her husband that they are ruined, since he sold the last property and does not know how to get out of the situation. Nadezhda Antonovna Cheboksarova urgently decides to marry her daughter. As a "victim" Lydia chooses Telyaeva, but the sly Ivan Petrovich quickly understands what's what and says that "marriage is not for him."

It remains only a "reserve option" - Savva Gennadich, Lydia's mother quickly wins for his daughter and a week later Lydia Yurievna becomes the lawful wife of the happy Vasilkov.

"Mad Money" (Ostrovsky): Comedy Analysis

But then Vasilkov's troubles begin, thanks to him the Cheboksarys continue to live on a broad foot, not thinking about debts, which have accumulated already about three hundred thousand, and they should be covered by none other than Vasilkov.

Once in a difficult situation, Savva Gennadic agrees to fulfill the request of his wife, but only on the condition that she moves to another, modest apartment and begins to live within her means. At first, this angered the proud Lydia Yurievna, but she forcedly agrees to this step.

"Ostrovsky's" Mad Money "(a short summary of the work is in secondary schools), and other plays were written under the influence of the work of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. Reading the great Russian poet, as Alexander Nikolayevich said, it becomes clear that Pushkin's merit is that everything that can grow wiser through him clears up. Therefore in plays Ostrovsky is merciless toward his heroes.

The meanness of Glumov (the surname speaks for itself), Kuchumov, Telyatyev and Cheboksarovs has no limit. Having agreed to her husband's offer, Lydia Yurievna continues to flirt with her former admirers. Kuchumov, who does not have a penny for his soul, tries to put dust in Lydia's eyes and, taking advantage of her position, promises a huge amount of money in exchange for her love. Accustomed to luxury, predatory Lydia Cheboksarova agrees and becomes a victim of Kuchumov. Vasilkov, catching his wife with another man, breaks off all communication with her and her mother.

Deceived dreams

At first, women are even happy about this, but time is running out, and there is no promised money and no. Kuchumov comes to visit them every day, but he keeps silent about his promise, at last Telyatev opens his eyes to her, saying that Grigory Borisovich is ruined, as, indeed, he himself. In despair, Lydia sends her mother after Vasilkov to say that she is dying and wants to see him.

Sawa Gennadich comes, but on the offer to live together is refused. Desiring to teach her a lesson, he suggests that she become a collarbone in his mother's house in exchange for a promise to pay off debts, and then, if she can withstand the "probation period", take her to Petersburg with her. Lidia can not go to this, but after thinking, she decides to embark on the path of correction.

Conclusion

Often in schools they suggest writing an essay with the following content: "Mad Money" (Ostrovsky). The topic of the relationship is Lydia Cheboksarova and Sawa Vasilkov, "but this applies more to schoolchildren who have chosen the humanitarian profile of education. Their love, of course, is one-sided, and only Vasilkov loves as much as he can, and Lydia Yurievna enjoys it. At the end of the play, everything changes somehow, Vasilkov no longer causes sympathy, especially after his ever-repeated word "budget". The reader sympathizes with Lydia, who at last becomes rational and even ready to "cry" for her youth and prepares for work.

AN Ostrovsky himself all his life loved a married woman who rejected his feelings, hiding behind her husband, but also widowed, she did not reciprocate the playwright. Having contacted the son of a rich merchant, she wrote to Ostrovsky that he did not want to take away his love from anyone. After a while the playwright married actress Maria Vasilyevna Bakhmetieva and they had four sons and two daughters.