In this article we will talk about a small one-act play by A.P. Chekhov called "The Bear." The author himself defined her genre as a joke. It was written in 1988 and dedicated to the actor N.N. Solovtsov. The play can still be seen in theaters throughout the country.
A. P. Chekhov, “The Bear”: summary
The action takes place in the living room of the estate of Elena Ivanovna Popova, landowner, "widows with dimples on her cheeks." She sits dressed in deep mourning and does not take her eyes off the photograph. Luke, the faithful servant of the landowner, persuades his mistress to stop grieving over the death of her husband, who left this world 7 months ago.
Describes the grief of the inconsolable widow summary. Chekhov's “Bear”, however, is a humorous play, and further it becomes clear why. So, Elena Ivanovna firmly decided that now she would never leave the house and would not even communicate with her neighbors. The author’s irony is immediately traced over the widow’s excessive and ostentatious grief. Elena Ivanovna stares at the photograph of her husband and wipes her tears with a handkerchief.
Luke notes her suffering that youth will pass with grief, and when she comes to her senses, it will be too late. And beauty and youth can deliver the lady a lot of joys.
Smirnov
We continue to set out a summary (Chekhov's “Bear”). Suddenly, a loud bell rings and Luke goes to open it. Left alone, Popova speaks with a photograph of her husband, promises to always be faithful to him and blames him for treason.
Luke returns and informs that they have come to the lady and insist on a meeting. Popova reluctantly agrees to receive a guest. A man comes in who appears to be the landowner and artillery lieutenant Grigory Stepanovich Smirnov. He came for the money that the late husband Popova borrowed from him. Today, Smirnov needs to return this amount to the bank, and without money he will not go anywhere. Elena Ivanovna is ready to pay, but only when the clerk returns, it will be the day after tomorrow, and now she does not have such an amount. Smirnov begins to get angry and arranges a skirmish. He says that he traveled all the debtors and no one had the money, so Popov is his last chance, and so simply he will not leave her estate.
And the fact that today is exactly 7 months from the date of the death of her husband, Smirnov does not care, he needs to pay interest to the bank. He was already too soft, and now he suffers because of his kindness.
Smirnov is located in the house of Popova. He ordered the coachman to straighten the horse and give that oats, and then first orders to supply water or kvass to himself, and then orders to bring vodka.
About female essence
Excellent discloses the nature of Smirnov summary. Chekhov's “Bear” is primarily a revealing work whose purpose is to expose human vices.
Smirnov settled down in the living room and began to shout at the servant at Luke’s remarks that one could behave more modestly. Elena Ivanovna came to the noise. Scandal flares up. The widow asks the guest to behave decently, because he is not in the stable. To this remark, Smirnov unleashes a long tirade on her about how deceitful and hypocritical women are. The former military has seen them in his lifetime more than Sparrow Popov - 12 women left him, 9 he left. In those days, he was a fool, suffered, loved, supported emancipation. But the days have passed when he trusted women, now Smirnov can not be held. All the representatives of the weaker sex are “gnats, crowns, gossips, liars to the marrow of bones, haters, vain, ruthless, petty”.
Popova is outraged by such accusations, because she sincerely mournes her husband and has always been devoted to him. The widow is trying to expel Smirny from her home, insulting him, but nothing comes of it.
Denouement
Our summary is coming to an end. Chekhov's “bear” at the end of his own comes to an absurd scene - enraged by the insult, Smirnov demands a duel from Popova. If women want emancipation so much, then let them now be responsible for their words according to men's laws. Elena Ivanovna immediately agrees to shoot. However, there is a hitch - the widow does not know how to shoot. Smirnov undertakes to train her. But in the process, the former military realizes that he has fallen in love. He admits Popova in his feelings. The woman reciprocates him. Lovers kiss, Luke enters and exclaims "Father!" A curtain.
Chekhov, "Bear": a brief summary for the reader's diary
The play can be stated even more briefly, then the retelling will sound as follows.
To the grieving widow, Elena Ivanovna Popova, comes Smirnov Grigory Stepanovich, a neighboring landowner. He really needs money and demands to return to him what the deceased husband of Popova borrowed. The widow asks to wait a couple of days - because of the departure of the clerk, she has no money. The landowner refuses to leave Popova's estate until he receives the money. Having been refused, he starts a quarrel with a woman and challenges her to a duel. Elena Ivanovna brings pistols and asks the guest to teach them how to shoot them. Smirnov is fascinated by the actions of the widow and falls in love with her. He confesses to her. Popova reciprocates.
So you can expose the work that wrote Chekhov ("The Bear"). A very short content is also suitable for composing, since usually in such a work it is necessary to give a retelling of the analyzed text.