Ostrovsky "Profitable Place" - a characteristic of the heroes. "A profitable place": analysis of comedy, staging The play of Ostrovsky profitable place read

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- "PROFITABLE PLACE", USSR, MAIN EDITORIAL OFFICE OF LITERARY DRAMA PROGRAMS Central Television, 1977, color, 142 min. Teleplay. Based on the play of the same name by A.N. Ostrovsky. Cast: Andrey Popov (see POPOV Andrey Alekseevich), Peter Shcherbakov (see Shcherbakov Peter ... ... Encyclopedia of Cinema

Profitable place (values)- Profitable place Profitable place play by Alexander Ostrovsky Profitable place (TV show, 1977) TV show 1977, directors Leonid Kheifits and Lidiya Ishimbaeva Profitable place (TV show, 1981) TV show 1981 ... Wikipedia

Profitable place (play)- This term has other meanings, see Profitable place (meanings). Profitable place Genre: Comedy

A PLACE- cf. the space occupied by any body or object; a known space in general, occupied or empty; breadth, space, emptiness. | In the womb of a pregnant woman: placenta, afterbirth, vascular cake, from which, through the umbilical cord, the fetus communicates ... ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

a place- 1. Terrain, space, territory. Deserted, joyless, blessed, lively, cheerful, free, disastrous, disastrous (vernacular), deaf, naked, wild, alive (obsolete), picturesque, beloved, familiar, convict (colloquial), beautiful, beloved ... Dictionary of epithets

warm place- Cm … Synonym dictionary

bread place- noun, number of synonyms: 8 mining industry (6) profitable place (4) gold mine ... Synonym dictionary

bread business (, place)- (footnote) profitable, profitable Grain living profitably Cf. Every little business ... is judged by its dignity, what it is worth. Good deed, grain, the investigator leaves behind and carries out it under his supervision ... Dahl. Bread business. ... ... Michelson's Big Explanatory Phraseological Dictionary

Bread business, place- A lousy thing, a place (wording) profitable, profitable. It’s lousy to live, profitable. Wed Every little thing ... is judged by its dignity, what it is worth. A good bitch, lousy, obscure leaves behind and produces it under his observation ... Michelson's Big Explanatory Phraseological Dictionary (original spelling)

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Plum. Our people - numbered! Poverty is not a vice. Les, Alexander Ostrovsky, Ostrovsky-playwright by nature was not a satirist, and not a humorist. With epic objectivity, caring only about the truth and vitality of the image, he “calmly matured on the right and the guilty, not ... Category: Drama Publisher: ARDIS, Buy audiobook for 189 rubles
Profitable place, Ostrovsky A.N. , The brilliant staging of the play "Profitable Place" on the stage of the Satyricon Theater confirms the incredible skill of Ostrovsky the playwright and the timeless context ... Category:

One of the most prominent Russian playwrights is Alexander Ostrovsky. "Profitable Place" (a summary of the work will be the subject of this review) is a play that occupies a prominent place in his work. It was published in 1856, but was admitted to the theater only seven years later. There are several famous stage performances of the work. One of the most popular is working with A. Mironov in one of the main roles.

Time and place

Old Moscow was chosen by the playwright Ostrovsky by the action of some of his famous works. "A profitable place" (a summary of the play should begin with a description of the morning of the main characters, since it is in this scene that the reader gets to know them and learns about their characters and social status) - a work that was no exception.

You should also pay attention to the time of events - the first years of the reign of Emperor Alexander II. It was a time when serious changes in the economic, political and cultural spheres were brewing in society. This circumstance should always be remembered when analyzing this work, since the author reflected this spirit of change in the narrative.

Introduction

Ostrovsky is a true master of describing and depicting the life and life of the middle class. "A profitable place" (a summary of this new work of the writer must be divided into several semantic parts for the convenience of understanding the composition) is a play that reflects the main creative principles of the playwright.

In the beginning, the reader gets acquainted with the main characters of this story: Vyshnevsky, an old sickly man, and his young attractive wife Anna Pavlovna, who is somewhat flirtatious. From their conversation it becomes clear that the relationship of the spouses leaves much to be desired: Anna Pavlovna is cold and indifferent towards her husband, who is very unhappy with this. He convinces her of his love and devotion, but his wife still pays no attention to him.

The plot of intrigue

Ostrovsky masterfully combined witty social criticism with subtle humor in his plays. "A profitable place", a summary of which must be supplemented with an indication of what was the impetus for the development of the plot, is a work that is considered one of the best in the work of the author. The beginning of the development of the action can be considered the receipt by Anna Pavlovna of a love letter from an elderly man, who, however, was already married. A cunning woman decides to teach a hapless admirer a lesson.

The appearance of other characters

Ostrovsky's plays are distinguished by the dynamic development of the plot, with an emphasis on ridiculing the social vices of the middle class. In the work under consideration, the reader gets acquainted with typical representatives of the city bureaucracy, who are represented by Vyshnevsky's subordinates, Yusov and Belogubov.

The former is already old for years, so he is experienced in clerical work, although his occupation is obviously not something outstanding. However, he enjoys the confidence of his boss, which he is very proud of. The second is directly subordinate to him. He is young and somewhat inexperienced: for example, Belogubov himself admits that he is not very well versed in literacy. Nevertheless, the young man intends to arrange his life well: he is aiming for a clerk and wants to get married.

In the scene in question, an official asks Yusov to petition for his promotion, and he promises him his patronage.

Zhadov's characteristic

Ostrovsky's plays are known in Russian literature for the fact that they present a whole gallery of portraits of the contemporary playwright of the era. The author's image of Vyshnevsky's nephew turned out to be especially colorful.

This young man lives in his uncle's house, serves with him, but intends to achieve independence, since he despises the lifestyle of his family and those around him. In addition, from the very first appearance, he scoffs at Belogubov for his poor knowledge of literacy. Also, the reader learns that the young man does not want to do the dirty clerical work under the command of Yusov.

For such an independent position, the uncle wants to drive his nephew out of the house, so that he himself tries to live for a small salary. The reason for this behavior soon becomes clear: Zhadov informs his aunt that he intends to marry and live by his own labor.

Quarrel between uncle and nephew

"Profitable Place" is a play based on the idea of opposition between the younger and older generations. The author outlined this idea already in the first part of the work, when he outlined the fundamental difference in the life positions of Zhadov and his uncle's employees.

So, Yusov expresses dissatisfaction with his work and expresses the hope that Vyshnevky will dismiss him for his disdain for the service. This incipient confrontation reaches its final point in the scene of an open conflict between the uncle and the nephew. The first does not want Zhadov to marry a poor girl, but the young man, of course, does not want to give in. There is a violent quarrel between them, after which Vyshnevsky threatens his nephew to break off family relations with him. He learns from Yusov that Zhadov's bride is the daughter of a poor widow, and convinces the latter not to marry her daughter to him.

New heroes

Ostrovsky masterfully portrayed the clash of old orders and new trends in his works. "A profitable place" (the analysis of the play can be offered to schoolchildren as an additional assignment for the work of the playwright, since it is significant in his creative career) is a work in which this thought runs like a red thread through the narrative. Before the second act, it is directly voiced by Yusov, who expresses fear of the courage and audacity of modern youth and praises the way of life and actions of Vyshnevsky.

In the second act, the author introduces the reader to new characters - the widow Kukushkina and her daughters: Yulenka, who was engaged to Belogubov, and Polina, Zhadov's beloved. Both girls are ignorant, too naive, and their mother thinks only about the financial situation of the future spouses.

In this scene, the author brings the characters together for the first time, and from their conversation we learn that Polina sincerely loves Zhadov, but this does not prevent her from thinking about money. Zhadov, on the other hand, dreams of an independent life and prepares for material difficulties, which he is trying to accustom his bride to.

Description of the Kukushkins

The author portrayed Kukushkina as a practical woman: she is not afraid of the freethinking of the protagonist. She wants to accommodate her homeless women and assures Yusov, who warned her against the wedding, that Zhadov is behaving insolently due to the fact that he is single, but marriage, they say, will fix him.

The venerable widow thinks in this respect in a very worldly way, evidently from her own experience. Here, one should immediately note the fundamental difference between the two sisters: if Yulia does not love Belogubov and deceives him, then Polina is sincerely attached to her fiancé.

The fate of the heroes in a year

The main character of Ostrovsky's comedy "A Profitable Place" Zhadov married for love a woman whom he adored, but who was inferior in her development to him. Polina wanted to live in satiety and contentment, but in marriage she knew poverty and poverty. She turned out to be unprepared for such a life, which, in turn, disappointed Zhadov.

We learn about this from the scene in the tavern, where the main characters of the play converge a year later. Belogubov and Yusov also come here, and from their conversation the reader learns that the first is doing excellently, since he does not hesitate to take bribes for his services. Yusov praises his ward, and Zhadov is ridiculed for the fact that he did not break out into the people.

Belogubov offers him money and protection, but Zhadov wants to live by honest labor, and therefore rejects this offer with contempt and indignation. However, he himself is very bad from an unsettled life, he drinks, after which the sex worker kicks him out of the tavern.

Family life

A truthful description of the philistine life is present in the play "Profitable Place". Ostrovsky, whose plot of works is distinguished by the reliability of the depiction of characteristic phenomena of social reality of the middle of the nineteenth century, very expressively conveyed the spirit of his era.

The fourth act of the play is mainly devoted to the family life of the Zhadovs. Polina feels unhappy in a wretched environment. She feels her poverty all the more sharply due to the fact that her sister lives in full prosperity, and her husband pampers her in every possible way. Kukushkina advises her daughter to demand money from her husband. There is a quarrel between her and the returning Zhadov. Then Polina, following the example of her mother, begins to demand money from her husband. He encourages her to endure poverty, but live honestly, after which Polina runs away, but Zhadov brings her back and decides to go to her uncle to ask for a place.

The final

The play "Profitable Place" ends with an unexpectedly happy ending. Ostrovsky, whose genre is mainly a comedy, was able to show the social vices of our time even in humorous sketches. In the last, fifth, action, Zhadov humbly asks for a job from his uncle, but in response the latter, together with Yusov, begin to ridicule him for the fact that he betrayed his principles to live independently and honestly, without stealing or taking bribes. Furious, the young man declares that there are honest people among his generation, abandons his intention and declares that he will no longer show weakness.

Polina reconciles with him, and the couple leave Vyshevsky's house. The latter, meanwhile, is going through a family drama: Anna Pavlovna's affair is revealed, and the offended husband makes a scene for her. In addition, he goes bankrupt, and Yusov faces dismissal. The work ends with a blow to Vyshnevsky from the misfortunes that befell him.

So, Alexander Ostrovsky ("Profitable Place" is a vivid example) in his works skillfully combined historical realities and sharp satire. The play we have retold can be offered to schoolchildren for a more in-depth study of the writer's work.

Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky

Plum

(Comedy in five acts)

Action one

Characters

Aristarkh Vladimir Vyshnevsky, decrepit old man, with signs of gout.

Anna Pavlovna, his wife, a young woman.

Vasily Nikolaich Zhadov, a young man, his nephew.

Akim Akimich Yusov, an old official serving under the command of Vyshnevsky.

Onisim Panfilich Belogubov, a young official subordinate to Yusov.

Anton, a man in Vyshnevsky's house.

Boy.

Large hall in Vyshnevsky's house, richly furnished. To the left is the door to Vyshnevsky’s office, to the right — to Anna Pavlovna’s rooms; on both sides on the walls on the mirror and tables under them; right outside the front door.

The first phenomenon

Vyshnevsky in a biker coat and without a wig and Vyshnevskaya in the morning dress. They leave the half of Vyshnevskaya.

Vyshnevsky... What ingratitude! What anger! (Sits down.) You have been married to me for five years, and at five years old I cannot earn your favor in any way. Weird! Maybe you are unhappy with something?

Vyshnevskaya... Not at all.

Vyshnevsky... I think. Was it not for you that I bought and decorated this house splendidly? Did I build a dacha for you last year? What is not enough for you? I think not a single merchant has as many diamonds as you do.

Vyshnevskaya... Thank you. However, I did not demand anything from you.

Vyshnevsky... You didn't demand; but I had to reward you with something for the difference in years. I thought to find in you a woman capable of appreciating the sacrifices I have made to you. I am not a magician, I cannot build marble chambers with one gesture. You need money for silk, gold, sable, velvet, in which you are wrapped from head to toe. You need to get them. And they are not always easy to get.

Vyshnevskaya... I do not need anything. I have already told you about this more than once.

Vyshnevsky... But I need to finally win your heart. Your coldness drives me crazy. I am a passionate person: out of love for a woman I am capable of anything! I bought you this one near Moscow. Do you know that the money with which I bought it ... how can I tell you? .. well, in a word, I risked more than prudence allowed. I can be held accountable.

Vyshnevskaya... For God's sake, do not make me a participant in your actions if they are not entirely honest. Don't justify them by loving me. I ask you. This is unbearable for me. However, I do not believe you. Until you knew me, you lived and acted the same way. I don't even want to answer for your behavior before my conscience.

Vyshnevsky... Behavior! Behavior! Out of love for you, I am ready even for a crime. To only buy your love, I am willing to pay with my dishonor. (Gets up and goes up to Vyshnevskaya.)

Vyshnevskaya... Aristarkh Vladimirich, I cannot pretend.

Vyshnevsky(takes her hand)... Pretend! Pretend!

Vyshnevskaya(turning away)... Never.

Vyshnevsky... But I love you! .. (Shivering, she drops to her knees.) I love you!

Vyshnevskaya... Aristarkh Vladimirich, do not be humiliated! It's time for you to get dressed. (Calls.)

Vyshnevsky rises. Enters Anton from the office.

Dress for Aristarkh Vladimirich.

Anton... Please, you're done, sir. (Goes into the office.)

Vyshnevsky is following him.

Vyshnevsky(in the door)... Snake! snake! (Leaves.)

The second phenomenon

Vyshnevskaya(one, sits for a while thinking).

Enters boy, gives the letter and leaves.

Who is it from? (Prints out and reads.) That's still cute! Love message. And from whom! An elderly man, a beautiful wife. Disgusting! Insulting! What should a woman do in this case? And what vulgarities have been written! What stupid tenderness! Send it back? No, it is better to show it to some of your acquaintances and laugh together, after all, entertainment ... phew, how disgusting! (Leaves.)

Anton leaves the office and stands at the door; enters Yusov, after Belogubov.

The third phenomenon

Anton, Yusov and Belogubov.

Yusov(with portfolio)... Report back, Antosha.

Anton leaves. Yusov is recovering in front of the mirror.

Anton(in the door)... Please, please.

Yusov leaves.

Belogubov(enters, takes a comb out of his pocket and brushes his hair)... What, Akim Akimych is here, sir?

Anton... Now they went into the office.

Belogubov... How are you today? Affectionate sir?

Anton... Do not know. (Leaves.)

Belogubov is standing at the table by the mirror.

Yusov(when leaving, she is visibly important)... Oh, you're here.

Belogubov... Here, s.

Yusov(looking through the paper)... Belogubov!

Belogubov... What will you please, sir?

Yusov... Here, my brother, take it home, rewrite it neatly. Ordered.

Belogubov... I was ordered to rewrite, sir?

Yusov(sitting down)... You. He was said to have good handwriting.

Belogubov... I am very pleased to hear, sir.

Yusov... So listen, brother: take your time. The main thing is to be cleaner. You see where to send ...

Belogubov... I understand, Akim Akimych, sir. I’ll write calligraphically, I’ll sit all night.

Yusov(sighs)... Oho-ho-ho! oho-ho-ho!

Belogubov... Me, Akim Akimych, if only they paid attention.

Yusov(strictly)... What are you kidding about with that, or what?

Belogubov... How can you, sir! ..

Yusov... Noticed ... It's easy to say! What else does an official need? What more could he want?

Belogubov... Yes, sir!

Yusov... Pay attention to you, well, you and the man, you breathe; and not turned - what are you?

Belogubov... Well, what really, sir.

Yusov... Worm!

Belogubov... I think I’m Akim Akimych, I’m trying, sir.

Yusov... You? (Looks at him.) I have you on a good note.

Belogubov... I, Akim Akimych, even deny myself food in order to be cleanly dressed. A cleanly dressed official is always in full view of his superiors, sir. If you please see how the waist ... (Turns.)

Yusov... Wait. (looks at him and sniffs the tobacco.) Thalia is good ... Moreover, Belogubov, look, be more literate.

Belogubov... Here's the spelling, I, Akim Akimych, is bad ... So, believe me, it's a shame myself.

Yusov... Eka importance, spelling! Not all of a sudden, you get used to it. Write a rough draft first, and ask to correct it, and then write from this. Do you hear what I say?

Belogubov... I’ll ask someone to fix it, otherwise Zhadov is laughing, sir.

Yusov... Who?

Belogubov... Zhadov-s.

Yusov(strictly)... What is he himself? What kind of bird? Still laughing!

Belogubov... Why, sir, you have to show that you are a scientist.

Yusov... Ugh! That's what he is.

Belogubov... I can’t even define him Akim Akimych, what kind of person he is.

The action of the comedy takes place in Moscow, in the first years of the reign of Alexander II. An old important official, Aristarkh Vladi-mirovich Vyshnevsky, who goes out into a large "richly furnished bathroom" with his young wife Anna Pavlovna (both in the morning negligee) from her rooms, rebukes her in the cold -nost, complains that nothing can overcome her equal-mindedness. Vyshnevsky leaves for the study, and Vyshnevsky boy brings a letter, which turns out to be a love message from a dumb man who has a beautiful wife. The indignant Vyshnevskaya gathers together with her acquaintances to laugh at the disagreeable admirer and leaves.

An old experienced official Yusov, an employee in his department, who came to Vyshnevsky with business, appears and goes into his office. Belo-lipov, Yusov's young subordinate, enters. Visibly self-important, he leaves the boss Yusov and orders Belo-gubov to re-write the paper cleaner, informing him that Vyshnevsky himself chose him for the census, satisfied with his handwriting. This delights Belo-gu-bov. He only complains that he is not strong in literacy and for this Zhadov, Vyshnevsky's nephew, who lives in his house with everything ready and also serves under the command of Yusov, laughs at him. Belo-gubov asks for a place as a table-head, which will be for him “for the rest of his life,” and explains the request with a desire to marry. Yusov graciously promises and also informs that Vyshnevsky, dissatisfied with his nephew, intends to offer him to leave the house and try to live independently for ten - ruble sting-vanier. Zhadov appears to talk to his uncle, but he has to wait in society for Belo-gu-bov and Yusov, who grumbles at him and reproaches him with excessive ambitions and unwillingness to do black office work. Appearing to his aunt, with whom he is friends, Zhadov informs that he decided to marry a poor girl and live with her by his own labor. Auntie expresses doubt that the young wife will want to live in poverty, but Zhadov thinks to raise her in his own way, assures that, no matter how hard it is for him, he will not yield even “a millionth share of those convictions that<...>obliged to education. " However, he says that he wants to ask his uncle for an increase in his sting. Vyshnevsky and Yusov, who appeared, began to scold Zhadov for his inaccurate use of office, for the "stupid speeches" he made in front of the exiles, laughing over him behind the eyes. Vyshnevsky sharply condemns the intention of a nephew who does not have the means to marry a lawless woman, they quarrel, and Vyshnevsky, declaring that he is ending his kinship with Zhadov, leaves.

Vyshnevsky asks Yusov whom his nephew is going to marry, learns that one of the daughters is the heavenly widow of an official, Kukush-kina. Vyshnevsky also instructs to warn the widow so that she does not ruin her daughter, does not give up "for this fool." Left alone, Yusov scolds the new times, when "the boys began to talk," and admires the "genius" and scope of Vyshnevsky. However, he expresses fear that he "is not entirely firm in the law, from another department."

The second action takes place in the heavenly living room in the house of the widow Kukushkin. Sisters Yulenka and Polina talk about their suitors. It turns out that Yulenka does not like Belo-Lubov ("terrible rubbish"), but she is glad-glad-honk at least marry him in order to get rid of her mother's grumbling and reproaches. Polina says that she is in love with Zhadov. Having appeared-la-yu-shchaya Kukush-kina begins to nag Julia for the fact that Belo-Gubov has not made an offer for a long time. It turns out that Belo-Lubov intends to marry as soon as he gets a place as a table-cheer. Kukush-kina is satisfied, but at the end of the conversation she says to her daughters: "Here is my advice to you: don't give your husbands a hand, so remember them and sharpen them so that you can get money."

Belo-Lubov and Yusov arrive. Kukush-kina, left alone with Yusov, asks for a place for Belo-gubov, he promises. Yusov warns Kukush-kin about the "unfavorable-reliability" and "free-thinking" of the groom Polina Zhadov. But Kukush-kina is sure that all the "vices" of Zhadov "from a cold life", if he marries, will change. When Zhadov appears, the elders leave the young people alone with the girls. Belo-lipov raves with Yulenka and promises that the wedding is not far off. From the conversation between Polina and Zhadov, it is clear that, unlike her sister, she sincerely loves Zhadov, honestly talks about her poverty, that at home they have "all deception." However, Zhadov asks if he has acquaintances of merchants who, according to Belo-gubov, will give them gifts. Zhadov explains that this will not happen and that he will reveal to her "the high bliss of living by her labor." Zhadov declares his love and asks Polina's hand from Kukush-kin.

The third action takes place in the truck-dash, about a year later. Zhadov and his university comrade Mykin enter, drink tea and ask each other about life. Mykin is a teacher, he lives, “in accordance with the means,” this is enough for the hollow. “Our brother is not going to marry,” he teaches Zhadova. Zhadov excuses himself by the fact that he fell in love with Polina very much and “married for love. He took a girl who was not twisted, brought up in public pre-judgments, "and the wife suffers from poverty," sulks a little, and sometimes she cries. " Yusov, Belo-gubov and two young officials appear, who have come to go shopping on the occasion of a successful business, which brought “kush” to Belo-gu-bov, who treats the company. He kindly tries to invite "brother" Zhadov (now they are related by their wives), but he rather sharply refuses. Yusov formulates his own-different ethics of the bribe: "Live according to the law, live so that the wolves are fed and the sheep are safe." Satisfied with his youth, Yusov starts dancing and makes a speech about his good deeds: the father of the family, the mentor of the youth, the blessing, don’t forget and the poor. Before leaving, Belo-Lubov offers money to Zhadov "in a relative way," but he indignantly refuses. Officials-nicknames leave. The solicitor Dosuzhev comes to Zhadov and ironically comments on the scene he saw. They are drinking. Remaining alone, the drunken Zhadov sings "Rays-Nushka", sexual cleansing out of him with the words: "Charm, sir! Neho-rosho-s! No way, sir! "

The fourth action unfolds in Zhadov's "very poor room", where Polina sits alone by the window, complains of boredom and sings. A sister comes, tells how well her husband's business is, how Belo-Lubov pampers her, Yulia regrets Polina, scolds Zhadov, indignant that he “does not know his current tone. He must know that man was created for society. " Yulia gives her sister a hat and tells her to tell Zhadov that his wife "will not love him for nothing." Leave alone, Polina admires her sister's mind, rejoices in her hat. Here comes Kukush-kina. She scolds Polina that she does not demand money from Zhadov, considers her daughter "shameless" because she has "all the tenderness in her mind", praises Yulia, discusses the dangers of clever people who ask what to take bribes are dishonorable. “What is the word bribe? Themselves invented him to offend good people. Not bribes, but gratitude! "

Zhadov appears, Kukush-kina begins to scold him, and Polina gives in to her. There is a quarrel, Zhadov asks his mother-in-law to leave. He sits down to work, but Polina, remembering the lessons of her relatives, starts nagging him for the lack of money for pleasures and outfits, repeating the words of Yulia. They quarrel and Polina leaves. Zhadov feels that he is unable to part with his wife, and sends a servant to catch up with Polina. Returning Polina demands that he go to his uncle to ask for a lucrative job. Zhadov surrenders, sobbing, he sings the song of the bribes from the comedy Kapnist "Yabeda". Frightened Polina is ready to back off, but Zhadov calls her to go to Vyshnevsky together.

The last action takes us back to Vyshnevsky's house. Vyshnevskaya alone reads a letter from her ridiculed admirer, who informs her that, in revenge for her act with him, he will send her husband Vyshnevskaya's letters to to the young house official Lyubimov. She is not even frightened, she is going to reproach her husband for buying her from her family and ruining her life. At this time, Yusov appears, muttering vague phrases about the vicissitudes of fate and the destructiveness of pride. Finally it turns out that Vyshnevsky "for omissions" and "discovered shortcomings of the sums" is being brought to justice, and the cautious Yusov says that he himself "is not subject to great responsibility. ”, Although under the current string-sts he will probably be dismissed. Vyshnevsky appears. Angrily repulsing his wife expressing compassion, he turns to Yusov: “Yusov! Why did I die? " “Vicissitude ... fate, sir,” he answers. "Nonsense! What is the fate? Strong enemies are the reason! " - objected Vyshnevsky. Then he gives Vyshnevskaya the letters sent to him to Lyubimov and calls her "a depraved woman." In an extensive monologue, Vyshnevskaya denies the accusations.

Here the Zhadovs appear. Reluctantly, Zhadov humbly asks for a lucrative job for his wife. The amazed Vyshnevsky displays a gloating delight at such a turn of events. He and Yusov mock Zhadov and see the essence of the new generation in his fall. Zhadov came to his senses, talks about his personal weakness and that there are honest people in any generation, promises that he will never leave the straight path, and, turning to his wife, he lets her free , if it is difficult for her to live in poverty, but Polina assures that she was not going to leave him, but only followed the advice of her relatives. The Zhadovs kiss and leave, Vyshnevskaya will help them wishing for happiness. Yusov runs in with the message that Vyshnevsky has a blow.