"What you seek is what you find" by Alexander Ostrovsky, summary

This comedy is the third part of the original story about the minor official Mikhail Dmitrievich Balzaminov, created in 1861. The work vividly depicts the life of Moscow merchants in the mid-nineteenth century. The protagonist is obsessed with the idea of an advantageous marriage for the sake of acquiring wealth, completely unfazed by his own impracticality. The play is filled with folk proverbs that reflect the characters’ worldviews.

The play gained widespread recognition thanks to the successful 1964 film adaptation directed by Konstantin Voinov. The film, titled "The Marriage of Balzaminov," became a classic of Soviet cinema. The film combined the plots of all three parts of the play into a single, coherent story.

Morning conversations and grand plans

The action begins in a sparsely furnished room in the Balzaminovs’ house. Pavel Petrovna, the widow, is leisurely drinking tea and discussing the fate of her son, Mikhail Dmitrievich, with her faithful cook, Matryona. The women discuss prophetic dreams and omens, trying to predict the future. Matryona breaks unpleasant news to her mistress about Misha’s recent escapades. It turns out the young man has taken to visiting the home of the wealthy Pezhenov sisters. The girls’ stern brothers keep a close eye on them, so the poor official’s visits provoke open discontent among their hosts.

Soon, Balzaminov himself awakens. He eagerly shares with his mother his vivid fantasies of a future life of luxury. The young man vividly dreams of a blue coat with an expensive lining, gray trotters, and universal respect in society. His mother tries unsuccessfully to bring him back to reality, reminding him of his completely empty wallet. Balzaminov remains unshakably confident in his own rightness. Poverty seems too boring to him, and his constant search for a bride leaves him hoping for incredible luck.

A visit from the matchmaker and a family quarrel

The renowned matchmaker Akulina Gavrilovna Krasavina arrives at the house. Pavla Petrovna had long asked her to find a good match for her beloved son. From the very beginning, the guest announces an excellent and highly profitable option. She describes in detail the wealthy widow Domna Yevstigneyevna Belotelova. This wealthy thirty-six-year-old woman suffers immensely from laziness and daily melancholy. On the direct advice of Dr. Belotelova, she has decided to marry purely for pleasure. The widow possesses an enormous fortune and does not demand a brilliant mind or high rank from her future husband.

Balzaminov listens to the matchmaker’s story without the slightest enthusiasm. He remembers Krasavina’s previous failure well and refuses to trust her sweet words. Misha stubbornly insists on his own personal plans for the wealthy Pezhenov sisters. The matchmaker is instantly enraged by such ingratitude. She loudly reproaches Balzaminov for his utter stupidity and complete inability to arrange his own destiny. A heated family quarrel erupts. Insulted, Akulina Gavrilovna promises never to set foot in this inhospitable house again and angrily storms out.

Neighboring gardens and maiden secrets

The second scene transports the viewer to the verdant gardens of two wealthy merchant houses. In one garden, Domna Yevstigneevna Belotelova languishes in incredible melancholy. She sits languidly in the gazebo with the returned Krasavina. The widow laments her dull life without the attention of a man. The matchmaker consoles her in every way and firmly promises to soon bring her a suitable young man. The women chat lazily and measuredly about the plight of women.

Behind a high fence, in the neighboring garden, the Pezhenov sisters, Anfisa and Raisa, are strolling. Dressed in simple cotton blouses with enormous crinolines, they bitterly complain about their strict brothers, who mercilessly keep them locked up. Soon, the nimble maid, Khimka, appears. She secretly brings a note for Anfisa from retired officer Lukyan Lukyanych Chebakov. The officer boldly proposes that the girl elope with him and marry immediately. Anfisa happily agrees to this daring and dangerous plan.

The insidious plan of a retired officer

Chebakov cautiously approaches the Pezhenovs’ fence, but quickly realizes the technical complexity of the planned kidnapping. He urgently needs a naive assistant to distract him. The officer spots Balzaminov lounging nearby. Chebakov instantly assesses the situation and decides to cunningly exploit the young man for his own ends. He begins openly flattering Misha, calling him an unusually clever and courageous man.

A retired military man convinces Balzaminov to actively assist in Anfisa’s nighttime abduction. In exchange, Chebakov promises to arrange a profitable marriage for Misha with the second sister, Raisa. Balzaminov believes every word spoken and eagerly agrees to participate. He is tasked with climbing over the fence, personally delivering the letter, and negotiating the precise details of the escape with the girls. Inspired by the hope of a quick, wealthy marriage, Misha bravely climbs the high fence.

An unexpected fall and a declaration of love

Due to his natural clumsiness, Balzaminov confuses the neighboring fences. Instead of landing in the Pezhenovs’ garden, he falls with a crash onto Belotelova’s property. The heavy fall breaks a bush and causes a terrible noise. The frightened widow quickly hides deep in the gazebo. The alert Krasavina, hearing the loud noise, runs out and firmly grabs the intruder. The matchmaker immediately recognizes her recent offender. She decides to teach Balzaminov a harsh lesson and threatens to call the janitors to turn him in to the police as a common thief.

Frightened to death, Misha tearfully begs for mercy. Krasavina sets a strict condition: he must immediately and passionately declare his love to the mistress of the garden. Balzaminov, submissive and resigned, approaches the gazebo. He timidly and haltingly declares to Belotelova his supposedly long-held tender feelings. The widow, captivated by the young man’s sudden romantic appearance, sincerely believes his confused words. She passionately kisses the completely stunned Misha and imperiously orders him to come for tea tomorrow.

Returning home and new fantasies

In the third scene, the action returns to the Balzaminovs’ cramped home. Pavla Petrovna carefully lays out old cards, attempting to accurately predict the fate of her only son. Misha suddenly returns, in a state of extreme nervous agitation. He excitedly and enthusiastically tells his mother about a chance encounter with an incredibly wealthy widow. Balzaminov describes in detail the luxurious garden and Domna Yevstigneyevna’s rather curvaceous figure. His overheated imagination already vividly conjures up images of a future, carefree, affluent life.

The young man proudly paces the cramped room, demonstrating to his mother exactly how he will strut his stuff in his new, elevated position. He plans to urgently buy the finest clothes and hire only thoroughbred horses. Pavla Petrovna listens to her son with undisguised joy but wisely urges him not to rush things. She is terrified of jinxing this unexpectedly great fortune. His mother urges Misha to behave much more modestly until the marriage is officially finalized.

The failure of the kidnapping adventure

The family idyll is rudely shattered by Chebakov’s sudden appearance. The officer sternly demands that Balzaminov immediately fulfill the second part of their secret agreement. Misha must cleverly distract the aggressive Pezhenov brothers while Chebakov hastily spirits away Anfisa. Balzaminov sincerely hopes to abduct Raisa and secretly marry her. He resolutely sets off for the wealthy Pezhenov home, brimming with courage to perform a heroic deed for the sake of great love and immense wealth.

The poorly thought-out plan predictably ends in complete and devastating failure. The cunning Chebakov manages to safely and undetected escape with Anfisa. Balzaminov, left in splendid isolation, quickly falls into the powerful hands of the enraged Pezhenov brothers. They cruelly punish their hapless savior and drive him out of the yard in utter disgrace. Beaten and morally destroyed, Misha barely returns home alive. He falls into a deep depression, believing his young life to be completely ruined.

A happy ending

The mother tries her best to calm her bitterly crying son. She solicitously reminds him of the obvious favor of the wealthy widow Belotelova. Balzaminov categorically rejects any hope of success. He is absolutely certain of his utter misfortune in life. The young man loudly complains of his complete lack of intelligence and money, sincerely believing himself to be the most miserable person in the world. At this darkest moment, the heavy door creaks, and Krasavina triumphantly appears on the threshold.

The matchmaker joyfully brings stunning news. Domna Yevstigneyevna has finally and irrevocably decided to marry Balzaminov. As a sign of the exceptional seriousness of her intentions, the wealthy widow has sent Misha an expensive, massive gold watch, left by her late husband. Krasavina dignifiedly hands over the valuable gift to the completely stunned groom. The experienced matchmaker immediately reminds him of her rightful monetary reward for such a successful matchmaking.

Balzaminov is instantly and magically transformed. Not the slightest trace of his recent black despair remains. He leaps high with overflowing joy, fervently promising to reward the matchmaker generously. Misha loudly declares that he is now a completely different, a completely new person. Pavla Petrovna philosophically and wisely remarks: with a lot of money, one can live quite happily without much intelligence. Infinitely happy, Balzaminov cheerfully invites Krasavina to dance. The matchmaker readily agrees, uttering the play’s key final line: "What you go for, that’s what you’ll find."