According to the story "Left-handed" writer N. S. Leskov is better known to modern readers. The “Dumb Artist”, a brief summary of which is given in this article, is a work about the love of a serf actress and hairdresser, whose fate depends on the will of the wayward and cruel Count Kamensky. The story is structured in such a way as if the old nanny of the author’s younger brother tells the story in the cemetery at the grave of the "stupid artist" Arkady. It was she who had to endure all the suffering from
unhappy love and the arbitrariness of the owner.
N. S. Leskov. "A nonsense artist." The main characters of the work
- Arkady - make-up artist and hairdresser in the theater of serf actresses. The story is named in his honor.
- Lyubov Onisimovna - artist, beloved of the protagonist.
- Count Kamensky is the owner of the theater.
- Brother of Count Kamensky.
- Drosida is a crazy, drunken old woman, to whom the main character was sent.
N. S. Leskov. “Dumb artist” (summary). Chapters 1-5
Arkady is a beautiful and interesting person. He serves in the theater of Orel Count Kamensky as a make-up artist for young actresses. The master himself loves him, but at the same time holds in great severity, like his other serfs. So, the actresses of this theater were forbidden any love relationships with men. This right belonged only to the count. He was known for his addiction to women of this kind. The young beautiful actress Lyubov Onisimovna, who is in love with Arkady, serves in this theater. He, in turn, reciprocates her. But lovers do not have the opportunity to meet, as this is forbidden by their owner. Also, Arkady, under pain of being sent to the soldiers, was not allowed to cut and shave anyone other than the count.
N. S. Leskov. “Dumb artist” (summary). Chapters 6-11
Once the count in his house arranged a reception in honor of the sovereign passing by the Eagle. A show was planned, in which the main role was to play Lyubov Onisimovna. As a gift for this, the count gave her kamarin earrings - a sign of the owner’s special location for the actress. After the performance, Luba in the image of the innocent virgin Cecilia was supposed to be taken to Kamensky's chambers.
Arkasha should comb and dress her. To him, too, trouble crept quietly. His brother from the village came to visit the count, who asked him for a barber to bring himself to a noble state. Kamensky refused him, saying that his best hairdresser, Arkady, only cuts his hair. Then the count’s brother tricked a talented master into allegedly cutting his poodle. When Arkady arrived, the count's brother ordered to cut and shave him. A forced hairdresser was forced to agree to this. After the performance, the make-up artist, following the count’s order, comes to his beloved to comb her hair. He promises to take her away from the wayward and lustful owner and marry her. Young lovers do not know that six people are waiting for them at the door to grab them right away. Realizing this, Arkady kicks out the window with his shoulder and runs with Any. They are being chased after. They go to a priest who blesses desperate weddings.
N. S. Leskov. “Dumb artist” (summary). Chapters 12-19
Young people ask the priest to marry them and hide them from the chase. Pop takes money from them, but the people of the count give them all the same. Prisoners are taken to the owner’s estate. Luba was interrogated for a long time how long she was left alone with Arkady. And at the same time, the young hairdresser is tormented and tormented. These tortures take place under the room of Lyubov Onisimovna. She, hearing the cries of her beloved, is trying to commit suicide. After her rescue, she was taken as a madman to the barnyard under the supervision of the drunken old woman Drosida. After some time, Lyuba learns that the Count gave Arkash to the soldiers, equipping him with a letter to send him to war.
Three years have passed. Due to leg illness, the poor girl was no longer returned to the theater. So she lived in the farmyard with Drosida. Soon Lyuba received a letter from her beloved, who rose to the rank of officer. He wrote that he would come and redeem her from the count. Only it was not destined to happen. The innkeeper robbed and stabbed the former hairdresser at night. In the morning, the news came to Lyubasha that Arkady had been killed. He was given a magnificent funeral as an officer and almost a nobleman. And Lyuba has since become addicted to alcohol.
Leskov’s story “Dumb Artist” evokes a feeling of compassion for the serf-bonded serf people, whose fate depends entirely on their masters. The author in the work, using the words of the main character, says that ordinary people should be sorry that they are all “sufferers”.