A summary of "The Poor Bride" by Alexander Ostrovsky

This book is an early play by the playwright, created in 1851. The text focuses on the internal tragedy of a dowryless girl who is forced to sacrifice her personal feelings to save her mother from financial ruin.

History of creation and assessment by contemporaries

Alexander Ostrovsky began work on the comedy in the summer of 1850. The playwright found the text extremely challenging. He created several different plans and constantly rewrote completed scenes. Initially, the plot omitted many familiar characters: the Khorkov mother and son, the colorful matchmakers. Marya Andreyevna herself appeared as a flighty coquette, with two suitors vying for her hand. Later, the playwright completely altered the concept, adding a plot involving a lawsuit and retaining the only suitor, Benevolensky. The eighteen-month work exhausted the author so much that he abandoned writing long plays for a long time. The work was completed only in late 1851.

The publication of the finished text sparked heated debate among literary figures. Critics were radically divided. Writer Alexei Pisemsky was delighted, comparing the ending to "Shakespearean flourishes." Apollon Grigoriev called the play the main hope of Russian art. However, other renowned authors were lukewarm about the work. Ivan Turgenev and Vasily Botkin considered the characters dry and artificial, and the abundance of petty domestic details excessive and tedious. Later, critic Nikolai Dobrolyubov analyzed the comedy through the prism of despotism. He saw in Anna Petrovna’s behavior classic traits of tyranny, born of years of oppression.

The story’s theatrical fate was complicated. Theatrical censors banned the production for a long time. Permission was only granted in the fall of 1852, although officials forced the scenes featuring Dunya and Pasha to be completely removed for the sake of preserving public morality. These scenes were not returned until eight years later. The premiere of the revised production took place at Moscow’s Maly Theater in August 1853. The audience received the production enthusiastically. Actor Prov Sadovsky brilliantly embodied the arrogant Benevolensky. Ekaterina Vasilyeva played Marya Andreyevna with such depth that Ostrovsky himself admitted that the actress exceeded all his expectations.

The beginning of a courtroom drama and the search for a groom

Anna Petrovna Nezabudkina, the widow of a poor official, is on the brink of complete ruin. A lawsuit over their only home threatens to deprive the family of their last means of subsistence. She sees salvation solely in a profitable marriage for her daughter, Marya Andreyevna. Local matchmakers regularly visit the Nezabudkin household. Karpovna and Pankratyevna compete with each other to propose various candidates, extolling the wealth of potential husbands. The maid, Darya, constantly complains about her poverty and difficult personality.

The old lawyer, Platon Markovich Dobrotvorsky, also promises to help. He undertakes to find a suitor who can handle the legal defense of the widow’s property. Dobrotvorsky even sends a note describing the tall, pockmarked official, assuring him that he doesn’t drink at all.

Marya Andreyevna herself rejects a materialistic approach to marriage. Various suitors gather around her, but she trusts none of them. Ivan Ivanovich Milashin constantly torments her with baseless jealousy and complaints about his poverty. Vladimir Vasilyevich Merich behaves completely differently. This young man uses sophisticated psychological manipulation. He skillfully portrays a disillusioned romantic, casting meaningful glances and speaking in riddles. Marya Andreyevna believes his image and secretly falls in love with Merich. She naively hopes that his words are sincere.

False hopes and new faces

Mikhail Ivanovich Khorkov has long been hopelessly in love with Marya Andreyevna. He graduated three years ago, but lives a life of idleness and utter inactivity. The young man is afraid to openly confess his profound feelings to the girl. His uneducated mother, Arina Yegorovna Khorkova, tries to propose marriage to her son herself, but fails. In a private conversation, Marya Andreyevna frankly tells Khorkov that her heart is already taken by another man. Khorkov retreats, bitterly suffering from unrequited love.

During a secret rendezvous in the garden, Meric confesses his passionate affection to Marya Andreyevna. He utters sweeping words of eternal love, embraces her, and kisses her. She unconditionally believes his vows and considers herself Meric’s fiancée.

Soon, Dobrotvorsky brings the promised savior. Maxim Dorofeevich Benevolensky is a minor official. He is rude, overly self-assured, boasts about his horses, and asks her to find him a pipe organ to train his canaries. The guest immediately tells Anna Petrovna that he is looking for a beautiful and educated mistress for his home. He wants a submissive wife, someone he won’t be ashamed to show off in public with; beauty in a man is of no importance to him. Benevolensky drinks, behaves cavalierly, and sings out of tune while Marya Andreyevna, under duress from her mother, plays the piano. The official decides to marry her, perceiving her as an extremely successful acquisition.

The collapse of illusions

The court renders a final decision against the Nezabudkins. The family loses their home. Anna Petrovna, desperate, begs her daughter to immediately agree to marry Benevolensky. The mother appeals to her pity, cries incessantly, and demands that she fulfill her filial duty, reminding her of her approaching old age. Marya Andreyevna asks for a month to consider her options. She still hopes for Merich’s swift help and protection.

The situation is dramatically complicated by a visit from the insulted Khorkova. The townswoman vindictively informs Anna Petrovna of her daughter’s secret meetings with Meric. Khorkova threatens to spread dirty gossip throughout the city. An angry Anna Petrovna issues a harsh ultimatum: either immediately agree to marry Benevolensky or completely break with Meric. The mother flatly refuses to listen to any of her daughter’s excuses.

Marya Andreyevna secretly summons Merich. The girl weeps and begs her lover to save her from the hateful marriage. She is ready to follow him anywhere. Merich is frankly terrified of the responsibility. He is irritated by the tears and serious conversations. The young man declares, "I must submit to my fate." He cites his father’s strict will and categorically refuses to marry. The girl realizes the depth of his deception.

Milashin brings Marya Andreyevna love notes written by Meric, someone else. These vulgar documents definitively prove her chosen one’s duplicity. Milashin proposes marriage, but she abruptly rejects his offer. Broken by betrayal, Marya Andreyevna decides to sacrifice herself for her mother’s financial security. She forces Milashin to play cards with her, hiding her looming tears behind feigned mirth.

Anna Petrovna enters the room. Marya Andreyevna asks her mother to immediately write Maxim Dorofeevich her consent to the marriage. The overjoyed widow quickly dictates a short letter and sends her maid with it. The nervous tension reaches its limit. Suddenly, a drunk Mikhail Ivanovich appears. Khorkov apologizes for his mother’s behavior, kneels, and swears his love to his bride. Upon hearing of his impending marriage to Benevolensky, the young man calls this act a sacrifice. Marya Andreyevna faints.

Wedding and farewell to the past

The wedding day arrives. Onlookers gather at the house, eager to catch a glimpse of the bride. Benevolensky boasts to Dobrotvorsky of his new status. The official takes the solicitor aside and asks him not to let anyone in. He fears a major scandal, as his former mistress is extremely jealous. His fears are confirmed by the arrival of Dunya and her friend Pasha. The woman accuses her fiancé of heartlessness, recalls their five years of difficult marriage, and weeps. Convinced of Marya Andreyevna’s meekness, Dunya asks Maxim Dorofeevich to settle down and not ruin the girl.

Marya Andreyevna is determined to become an exemplary wife and correct her husband’s shortcomings. She asks Benevolensky to give up his bad habits, and he flatteringly promises complete obedience. Shortly before her departure, Merich secretly appears. He asks permission to see her one last time and attempts a hypocritical justification. Marya Andreyevna calmly bids farewell to her former lover. She bluntly admits that she was seeking genuine affection, while Vladimir Vasilyevich sought empty intrigues. The girl believes in her feminine powers and plans to devote her years to her family.

Meric leaves, cynically relieved at having so easily avoided accusations. Milashin watches the celebration from afar. He is deeply hurt by his bride’s indifference and angered by those around him. Anna Petrovna joyfully celebrates the successful conclusion of her errands and drinks punch with Dobrotvorsky. The mother admonishes her daughter before leaving and wishes her peace in the family. Marya Andreyevna, with tears in her eyes, takes Benevolensky’s hand, and to the sound of music, they walk out to the guests.