This is a story about the sudden, unexpected death of Peter the Great, who did not leave an heir to the throne, about the thoughts and feelings that overwhelmed the first people of the state, who had become too high for power. In the short story (the same is summarized to us) "Wax person" by Tynyanov will introduce the characters of the leaders of that era (Catherine, Menshikov, Yaguzhinsky) and recreate her gloomy atmosphere.
Chapter One - Dying Hard
“But until recently it was pitot. Yes, how pitot! ” And now he is leaving. It is difficult for the Emperor Peter Alekseevich to die. One, all alone. From dream, from half-forgetting, thoughts rush about, which, he realizes, will never be put into action. And why does he die, knows: poisoned, vile, a special drink was prepared just for him. Is among the works of unfinished have to die? And in a dream thoughts come. Works for whom were? For the country, for the Fatherland. This burden was heavy. He dragged it from one difficult place to another. Woke up already in the early twilight, alone, abandoned by all. Lying without thoughts, but it became lighter. And again thoughts appeared: it would be necessary to the Senate. I wouldn’t go to a turner, but I myself can’t, but things wander in it. And when he woke up completely, he realized: he would soon end. Farewell to the sea and the dagger with a sword belt, ropes, sails, nautical business, sea wind. Goodbye, everyone! And you, goodbye, a considerable ship. Everything that he did and conquered collapses. He cried, but there was no anger. So begins the story "Wax person." The summary of his first chapter speaks of the suffering of a person who is sick of the soul about the affairs of the state with "great care and joy."
Living things prevailed over worldly affairs. His Grace Prince Menshikov yearned that there was no work, which means that money does not run to him. But it was scary in front of that community, which is subject to him.
Rastrelli came and asked Menshikov for the opportunity to make a death mask from the emperor. The story “Wax person” (summary) also shows petty thoughts of people who are trying to somehow grab a “piece” of themselves.
Everyone, everyone knew that Peter Alekseevich would soon die.
Chapter Two - Kunstkamera
Beloved brainchild began in Moscow, then transferred to Sankpetersburk. But the people did not drop in to look at the freaks floating in alcohol. Therefore, everyone who came began to be given vodka and zuckerbrods. And the heads here were alcoholized, and babies, and stuffed animals, and minerals, and boobies dug from the ground. Throughout the country, they collected by decree both monsters and freaks. But not only alcoholic, but also living people were shown. And there were six-fingered and two-fingered freaks, they served.
Chapter Three - Death
It was neither light nor dark, it was snowing. They rang - the sovereign died.
Chapter Four - Who Should Be?
Danilych didn’t find a place for himself until he decided and the Senate did not convince him to be “an Indian kingdom”. And at this time, Mr. Rastrelli quietly entered the house with his apprentice and promised the Empress to remove the likeness of a demigod. Half an hour later it was all over. Rastrelli quickly drove to the barn, where he usually worked, melted the wax and it began ...
And Catherine slept and woke up Marta. Her whole life seemed to her: adoptive parents, and cows in a stable, a friend, dear Mons, a truly amiable gentleman. Having completed the morning toilet, she went into the front hall and sobbed. But very soon she was comforted with the young officer. The story “Wax person” (short summary) conveys which empty-headed and stupid woman he brought closer to himself and made Empress Peter the Great. She was like a village girl, so she remained.
Meanwhile, Rastrelli's work was in full swing. He mixed wax with snake blood, made, remade, and, finally, the portrait was ready in draft. At the same time, he was both similar and not similar. And a few days later, in the ward under a canopy sat a wax doll dressed in ceremonial coronation robes. Ekaterina didn’t like it so much that she ordered the Peter to be fenced off and was afraid to come close to him. So he sat, abandoned and unnecessary by everyone, until they decided to identify him in the kunshtkamera. There is a place for him. The “Wax Person” (summary) in chapters shows that people, flush with Peter, at the end of his life did not exist at all.
Chapter Five - Yaguzhinsky and Menshikov
Pavel Ivanovich Yaguzhinsky, "sovereign's eye", yearned. He survived the coup, but was unhappy. "Repair supervision so that the matter stands and that it goes, and whom should be beaten on the hands." Danilycha threw high, Osterman - a dark man, Apraksin - a thief, Golitsyns, Dolgorukovs - boyar arrogance, gentlemen of the guards - parasites. Now he is alone. Maybe from Siberia to return Shafirov, Shayushkina? The city can run to summer. They will say that the place is swampy, and they will run away.
Wax was taken to the kunshtkamera at night. In the wards, they cleared a large angle and set it down. And all that is wax, no more. Why is it done? What is sitting for? His eyes are open, he looks out the window, dressed, shod.
The story "Wax person" (summary) in chapters will describe how people were afraid and did not understand Pyotr Alekseevich, neither alive nor dead ...
Alexander Danilych ascended, but there was no joy, excitement. Catherine began to “tame” - I really wanted to rule. He became careful, stopped mocking. “Such is his authority.”
And in the Senate there was a scandal: screaming, and scolding, and a fight. This is between the first people of the state. Where to go? In the kunstkamera - to him. Having removed his hat, Pavel Ivanovich Yaguzhinsky began to approach. And the wax arose, and made good grace with his hand. The prosecutor general began to complain, said that he was expected to be arrested, and from whom? From the son of a groom! Then the wax sat on a chair, and Pavel Ivanovich, completely weakened, left.
Danilych also arrived there. Slowly went to the wax, to the likeness, and the doll’s hand pointed out. The “Wax Person” (summary) shows how Peter controlled his subjects even after death: this is how fear continues to work.
Chapter six - the city to be
Catherine, becoming empress, deigned to have fun on April 1: volleys exploded in different parts of the city. Everyone ran in - is it not a fire that will sweep away the arsenal and the city, is it a flood? Ekaterina Alekseevna had fun. What? The mourning is over. And she had fun.
Menshikov dressed richly and richly and went to see his mother.
Entered - recoiled, next to her stood Pashka Yaguzhinsky and whispered something in his ear. And Catherine laughed. And Pavel Ivanovich will go not to Siberia, but to the ambassador to Vienna. "He understood that he had won, but there was no victory."
But in the kunstkamera a little changed. Wax was still standing, pointing to the door. All around him, Petrovo, was housed: a dog, a Lisette horse that carried him in the Poltava battle, a Guinean parrot.
A language is created that reproduces the vocabulary of the Petrine era, which is used by Yuri Tynyanov. "Wax person" (summary) recreates the meaninglessness of terror, suspicion as the basis of relations and the horror of the complete destruction of human dignity.
So ends the story, which opens the narrative of the palace coups that began after the death of Peter. After him, the Romanovs remained on the throne, who did not have a single drop of Russian blood.