Remember the summary. "Masquerade" of Lermontov - a picture of manners of the XVIII century

When the arrested Lermontov was interrogated in the gendarmerie's office about the "seditious lines" that had shaken Russia - the response to the death of the great Pushkin - then the "Masquerade" written in 1836 was also recalled to him. In the third department there were, of course, obscurantists, but not stupid people, Lermontov's drama "Masquerade" was very carefully read by them. Sharp Lermontov criticism of secular mores of the XVIII century "guardians of morality" compared with the disgraced Griboedov's "Woe from Wit".

"Serving him right is a joke," the Derzhimordas thought, "what this" scribbler "M. Lermontov dared to do! Masquerade in the house of Engelhardt! Even the faces of the royal family visit him! "The classic was forced to edit the drama many times, and on the stage of theater it was published only in 1846, five years after the fateful Pyatigorsk bullet.

After mentioning the drama, let us recall its brief content. "Masquerade" Lermontov immediately, in the first scene introduces us to Eugene Arbenin. Let's characterize this image: a middle-aged man, in the past - a lucky card player (he won a fortune). Went to follow the mind, because "the time has come," but the former player suddenly falls in love with his young wife Nina. His further plans - "tie" with the cards and start a measured, virtuous life of the Russian master. The character of Arbenin is closed, quick-tempered, "ebullient." His wife - Nastasya Pavlovna (in a family way, Nina) - young, beautiful, she is sincerely in love with her husband. By education - a socialite. She adores tinsel balls, like all her peers of the nobility. Nina, like a child, simply can not stay at home on holidays, when all the court Petersburg is having fun.

The plot of the drama is developing dynamically. Arbenin crouched against his will at the card table, yielding to the persuasions of "card" comrades. Not chasing after self-interest, he cold-bloodedly helped to recoup a friend, Prince Zvezdich. With relief, stopping the disgusted game, the prince invites his savior to go to the masquerade to Engelhardt.

Among the general mocking fun, Arbenin remains calm and unperturbed. Suddenly, at the ball, a stranger comes to him, portending a misfortune to him. Prince Zvezdich with his head plunged into the general merriment. This - a typical representative of the "golden" noble youth of the XIX century, living by the principle of "after us though the flood." Just that Arbenin saved him from financial problems, and he is already "torn into battle" - he strives to establish an accidental connection. Arriving at the ball at the Engelhardt Palace, Zvezdich tries to attract the attention of ladies of easy conduct, primitively pretending to be a "romantic hero". His words that "love does not touch his heart" are banal and "worn out".

We recommend the reader this scene in the original, as the Lermontov lines are brighter, more succinct than any short content. "Masquerade" Lermontov plunges us into the true atmosphere of the ball. One of the ladies, hearing the words of the prince, immediately gets acquainted with him. However, even she can not keep herself from the ironical characteristics of Zvezdich, as "godless", "spineless", "immoral". Lermontov puts into her mouth a caustic description: "puppet" passions, hypocrisy of the whole "century". It seems he means: "Nobles, look at yourself from the outside. Keep yourself dignified, like decent people! ". Do not these lines from the "Masquerade" remember Mikhail Yurievich gendarmes?

Dear readers, we are somewhat distracted, leaving at the ball Zvezdich, looking for adventure on his sirloin places and finding them, but "on the head" of his friend. Judging by the plot, in the same place, at the ball, there is a "quite ordinary" for the prince casual connection. It is fundamentally important irony, which is unlikely to be able to convey a summary. "Masquerade" Lermontov consistently develops a pejorative description of the prince, whose "romanticism" was previously laughed at. He, while continuing to portray the Shakespearean hero, asks a "beautiful stranger" for any gift "for memory". She is already glad to get rid of the idiot, accidentally her eyes fall on someone's unattractive lost bracelet. The "Mask" raises the find and gives it to Zverzdich.

The delighted prince demonstrates his "trophy" to Yevgeny Arbenin. He recalls that somewhere he saw the same, but does not go into memories. He is already fed up with everything here, and he wants to come home quicker, missing Nina.

However, after returning at midnight, Eugene is waiting for his wife from the ball for a couple of hours. Arriving, she, bored, rushed to embrace Arbenin. Suddenly, the husband notices the absence on the right hand of his favorite pair bracelet, the same ... "Treason!" - flashes in his brain. Ambition, selfishness overshadow his love. He, not wanting to hear anything, drives his wife away.

Nina naively believes that by buying a bauble similar to that lost, she will reconcile with Arbenin. She goes to the jewelry store. Then, in his misfortune, Baroness Shtral calls on his way home. This young widow is courted by Zvezdich. After learning about the lost bracelet Nina, he remembers Mask and begins to flirt with Nina. She, having showered him with "baptismal cold", leaves the house. According to her departure, Zvezdich, who can not keep quiet, puts his story with the Baroness Mask, introducing his acquaintance as Nina. The Baroness is shocked, because she was a frivolous mask herself! Further, the high-society idiot reports his "feat" to half of Petersburg, and also sends a "love" letter to Nina in the Arbeniny's house.

The letter was read by Yevgeny Arbenin. He begins to take revenge. Being an experienced player, starts a game with Prince Zvezdich, where he initiates a delicate situation, in which he publicly accuses the nobleman of cheating. Nina, he, blinded by resentment, decides to kill by poisoning. Arriving at the ball, he is outwardly meek and calm. Nina is happy, thinking that reconciliation is close. She asks Eugene to bring ice cream. The poison is true and fast. That same night a young beauty dies.

In the house of Arbenin appears Zvezdich with an unfamiliar man, a harbinger of unhappiness. The newcomers are eager for a duel. From them Evgeni Arbenin learns that the "mask" was the baroness, and his wife - is innocent. The proof is the letter of the Baroness. He's going crazy.

Let's ask the question: "How is it possible to express this concise summary in a concise manner?". Lermontov's "Masquerade" is a classic drama about jealousy, with truly Shakespearean passions, transferred to the 19th century. Perhaps that's why many critics compare it to Othello?