N. S. Leskov "Toupeian Artist": a short summary of the work

According to the story "Lefty", the writer N.S. Leskov is more known to modern readers. "Tupeyny artist", a brief summary of which is given in this article, is a work about the love of a serf actress and a hairdresser whose fate depends on the will of the wayward and cruel Count Kamensky. The story is arranged in such a way, as if this old story is told by the old nurse of the author's younger brother in the cemetery at the grave of the "dull artist" Arkady. It was she who had to endure all suffering from unhappy love and the tyranny of the owner.

NS Leskov. "Toupey artist." The main characters of the work

• Arkady - makeup and hairdresser in the theater of serfress actresses. In his honor, and called the story.
• Lyubov Onisimovna is an actress, the beloved of the protagonist.
• Count Kamensky is the owner of the theater.
• The brother of Count Kamensky.
• Drosida - a crazy drunk old woman, to which the main character was sent.

NS Leskov. "Tupeyny Artist" (summary). Chapters 1-5

Arkady is a beautiful and interesting person. He serves in the theater of Oryol Count Kamensky as a makeup artist for young actresses. The gentleman himself loves him, but at the same time he keeps in great rigor, like his other serfs. So, the actresses of this theater were forbidden any love relations with men. This right belonged only to the count. He was known for his predilection for women of this kind. In this theater is a young beautiful actress Lyubov Onisimovna, who is in love with Arcadia. He, in turn, meets her reciprocity. But to meet lovers do not have the opportunity, since it is forbidden by their master. Also Arkady, on pain of being surrendered to the soldiers, was not allowed to cut and shave anyone except the count.

NS Leskov. "Tupeyny Artist" (summary). Chapters 6-11

Once the earl in his house arranged a reception in honor of the prince passing by the Eagle. It was planned to show the play, in which the main role was to play Lyubov Onisimovna. As a gift, the count presented her with cat's earrings - a sign of a special attitude of the owner to the actress. After the performance, Lubu, in the guise of an innocent maiden, Cecilia was to be taken to Kamensky's quarters.

To brush and dress her should Arkasha. To him, too, quietly crept misfortune. On a visit to the count came his brother from the village, who asked him for a barber to bring himself into a good state. Kamensky refused him, saying that his best hairdresser Arkady was cutting only him. Then the Count's brother tricked into himself a talented master, supposedly to cut his poodle. When Arkady came, the Count's brother ordered to cut and shave it. The involuntary hairdresser had to agree to this. After the play, the make-up artist, executing the count's order, comes to his beloved to comb her hair. He promises to take her away from the capricious and lascivious master and marry her. Young lovers do not know that at the door they are already waiting for six people to immediately grab them. Realizing this, Arkady knocks out the window with his shoulder and runs with Anyone. They are being chased after them. They go to the priest who "blesses desperate weddings."

NS Leskov. "Tupeyny Artist" (summary). Chapters 12-19

Young people ask the priest to marry them and hide them from the chase. Pop takes money from them, but the Count's people still give them away. The captives are taken to the owner's estate. Lyuba was questioned for a long time about how long she had remained alone with Arkady. A young barber at the same time tormented and tormented. There are these tortures under the room of Lubov Onisimovna. She, hearing the cries of her beloved, tries to commit suicide. After rescuing her, like a madman, they take her to the farmyard yard under the supervision of the drunk old Drosida. After some time, Lyuba learns that the count has given Arkasha soldiers, equipped with a letter to send him to the war.

Three years passed. Because of the leg illness, the poor girl was not returned to the theater any more. So she lived in a cattle yard with Drosida. Soon Lyuba received a letter from her beloved, who rose to the rank of officer. He wrote that he would come and buy it from the Count. It was not destined to happen. The innkeeper at night robbed and stabbed the former barber. In the morning before Lyubasha came the news that her was killed by Arkady. He was given a magnificent funeral as an officer and almost a nobleman. And Lyuba has since become addicted to alcohol.

Leskov's story "The Toupeian Artist" arouses in readers a sense of compassion for servitude serf people, whose destiny depends entirely on their masters. The author in the words of the main character says that ordinary people should be sorry that they are all "sufferers".