A brief summary of the comedy "Undergrowth" can convey only the main storyline, but not the unique dialogs that clearly characterize each character in the play. All the names of the characters in the comedy are "talking" - they contain the main features of the characters.
Summary. Undergrowth. First action.
Mr. Starodum has gone to Siberia on his business and has not been giving news for several years. The Prostakov family, considering him dead, takes his niece, and his distant cousin Sofya, to his house.
Knowing that there are a lot of pigs in the estate that Sophia should get from Starodum, the brother of Prostakova Taras Skotinin, a big lover of this living creature, decides to marry her.
The first action begins with a scene in which Prostakova violently scolds the yard Trishka for a too narrow caftan, which he sewed to her son Mitrofanushka. The husband who came to the question of Prostakova about how the caftan sits, notes that he is baggy, for which he receives a flurry of insults from his wife. Only appeared Skotinin notes that the suit is sewn "pretty". Sophia enters with a letter in her hands. The whole family is afraid that the letter is uncomfortable: none of the Prostakov-Skotinins can read. The letter is read by the guest who entered Pravdin. From the text it becomes clear that Starodum not only did not die, but also became rich.
Prostakova, fearing to lose the wealth that Sophia will inherit from Starodum, decides to upset the wedding with Skotinin and give the girl for her son Mitrofanushka.
Summary. Undergrowth. Second action.
Pravdin, appointed to “reveal ignoramuses”, meets with his friend Milon, who leads a military detachment passing through the village. Milon complains that his relatives took the girl he loved from his city. Sophia appears: it was precisely about her that Milon spoke.
Sophia complains to her beloved that they want to force her to marry the ignorant Mitrofanushka and at the same time dispels jealous ideas about the “virtues” of her future groom.
Skotinin passing by hears a conversation and pounds at Mitrofanushka with his fists, whom the nanny, a devoted Yeremeyevna, is covering her body with uncle cuffs.
Mitrofanushka complains to her mother about the arbitrariness of her uncle. She promises to deal with Skotinin and marry Mitrofanushka.
Summary. Undergrowth. Third action.
Nobody, except Pravdin, not noticed, comes Starodum. He tells the guest about his successful career and about the decision to leave the royal court and live at home: he was outraged by the hypocrisy and injustice of the royal cronies.
Sophia enters. Starodum is trying to inform her that they are leaving tomorrow, but they are interrupted by the noise of a fight: Prostakova is fighting with Skotinin. Those present separate their brother and sister, and Starodum announces that tomorrow he will take away Sophia in order to marry her to a worthy man. Noticing the gloom that arose on the girl's face, the uncle promises to give her a choice and agrees to accept any groom. Sophia and Milon sigh in relief. Prostakova begins to praise the merits of Mitrofanushka.
Summary. Undergrowth. The fourth action.
Starodum finds out that Milon is the chosen one to whom he read Sophia as his wife. Along the way, he is convinced of the complete ignorance of Mitrofanushka and his teacher Vralman.
Summary of the story "Undergrowth." The fifth action.
The people of Prostakova are trying to kidnap Sophia, but Milon saves her. Pravdin announces that he is authorized to take the Prostakovs estate under state guardianship. Mitrofan teachers demand a salary. Pravdin decides to give Mitrofan to the soldiers. The son roughly repels the mother who rushed to him, and Skotinin slowly leaves.
Justice has triumphed!