Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev wrote Mumu, according to the testimony of his sister Barbara, based on the real drama that happened before their eyes. She claimed that their mother became the prototype of the lady, and Gerasima - her caretaker Andrei, also dumb, as in the work.
Summary of “Mumu” Turgenev: acquaintance with Gerasim
In one of the old houses on the very outskirts of Moscow, a lady lived once. She traveled very rarely, her sons remained in service in St. Petersburg, her daughters got married, her husband died. The lady surrounded only the numerous courtyard. The most interesting of her servants was the janitor Gerasim, deaf-mute from birth. Once he lived in a village, in a hut separate from his brothers. This tall hero possessed extraordinary power, it was nice to watch how any work is arguing in his hands. If not for his vice, any girl would marry him. But Gerasim was taken to Moscow, dressed up, shod in boots, and determined to serve as a janitor. He really did not like the new life, but, like every person, he gradually got used to it.
Summary of “Mumu” Turgenev: Tatyana’s wedding
A year after moving to the city, one incident happened to him. The lady decided to ward off her shoemaker Kapiton Klimov from wine by marriage. Choosing a bride for him, she stopped at the laundress Tatyana. She was a twenty-eight-year-old shy, slender, small woman. More than anyone else in the world, Tatiana was afraid of Gerasim, although he was affectionate with her, sometimes even presented a ribbon or a lollipop. After her wedding, he became even more gloomy and stopped paying attention to her. Marriage did not help Capiton. Exactly one year later, he drank completely. The lady ordered to send him and his wife to a remote village. Gerasim presented a red scarf to Tatyana goodbye and accompanied them a little.
Summary of "Mumu" Turgenev: rescue little dogs
When he returned to the estate along the river in the evening, he noticed something floundering near the shore. Gerasim leaned over and saw a puppy, white with black spots, in the water. The little dog could not get out on land. Gerasim pulled it out, put it in his bosom and went home. Watching the puppy eagerly, choking, drinking milk, the deaf-mute even laughed. Gerasim looked after the dog better than any other mother after her child. At first she was ugly and weak. But when she grew up, she turned into a pretty, Spanish breed dog. Gerasim called her Mumu. She became so attached to the owner that she followed him on the heels. Everyone in the house fell in love with Mumu, not to mention the janitor.
Summary of "Mumu" Turgenev: hatred mistress
Another year passed. The lady was in an excellent mood, but this frightened the servants, as it was replaced by a very bad mood. She looked out the window into the courtyard and noticed Mumu, who was lying under a rose bush. The lady was surprised and ordered a dog to be brought to her.
When she wanted to stroke her, the frightened Mumu growled. The lady, of course, drew back her hand and became angry. She called Gavrila, the butler, and said that this dog was not in the estate and spirit. When Gerasim was busy, Mumu was caught and sold for fifty dollars in the market. For a long time a deaf-mute man was looking for his favorite, but to no avail. The next day, he worked with a stone face. However, a few days later Mumu again ran home: she fled from the new owners. After this event, Gerasim began to hide her in his room during the day, and brought him out into the street only at night. Once during such a walk, Mumu barked at a drunken passerby and thereby woke up the lady who was just starting to fall asleep. She was angry and ordered to drown this dog. The janitor barely explained this order. Having examined what was the matter, he made it clear that he would do it himself.
A brief retelling of Murgu by Turgenev: execution of an order
Gerasim dressed in a festive manner and went with Mumu to the tavern. There he fed her cabbage soup with meat and headed to the river. Gerasim jumped into the first boat that came across and swam on it to the middle of the river. The janitor picked up Mumu and looked at her for the last time. She still trusted him, not afraid. Gerasim squeezed his eyes, turned away and opened his hands. It is clear that he did not hear a splash of water, or a squeal of a dog. In the evening, the janitor collected his belongings in a bag, threw it on his shoulders and strode along the road out of town. Gerasim without looking back was returning home to his village.