Main characters
Mrs. Prostakova is Prostakov's wife. An active, rude, uneducated woman who thinks more about her own profit than about the people around her and virtue, tries to solve everything by force or cunning.
Prostakov Mitrofan is the son of the Prostakovs, a minor, a young man of 16 years old, as stupid as his parents, completely weak-willed, agrees to everything his mother or others say (in the end he immediately agrees to join the army).
Pravdin is a guest of the Prostakovs, a government official who came to sort out the problems on their estate and resolve the issue of Prostakova’s cruelty towards the servants. A highly moral man, a representative of the “new” educated nobility, personifies the truth and the word of the law in the work “The Minor.”
Starodum is a person with high moral principles who achieved everything in life on his own, without resorting to deception or cunning. Sophia's uncle and guardian.
Sophia is an honest, educated, kind girl. After losing her parents, she lives with the Prostakovs and is in love with Milon.
Milon is Sophia's fiancé, whom they have not seen for several years. An officer who was distinguished in his service by bravery and boldness, has high concepts of human virtue and honor.
Skotinin is the brother of Mrs. Prostakova. A stupid, uneducated man, looking for profit in everything, easily lies and flatters for profit.
DI. Fonvizin. "Undergrown." Retelling the actions with quotes from the text. ACTION 5.
Pravdin tells Starodum that he can take custody of Prostakova’s house and estate at “the first rage, from which the people under her control could suffer. Starodum replies: “... it is unlawful to oppress one’s own kind through slavery .” He speaks positively about the reign of the sovereign, who “seeks to elevate the souls of his subjects ,” and calls him “wise.” “What a great soul must be in a sovereign in order to take the path of truth and never stray from it!”, because how many flatterers surround him.
Starodum speaks sharply about the flatterer, calling him a “creature,” “a thief at night,” “who will first put out the candle and then begin to steal.”
“...people are chosen for places, not places are stolen by people.” He says about the sovereign that he “shows mercy and friendship to those whom he pleases; places and ranks for those who are worthy.”
Next, Starodum talks about the great role of education, that there will be no use from people like Mitrofan: “Well, what can come of Mitrofanushka for the fatherland, for whom ignorant parents also pay money to ignorant teachers?”
We must not forget about the main thing when teaching – good behavior. “...science in a depraved person is a fierce weapon to do evil. Enlightenment elevates one virtuous soul."
Suddenly they hear a noise. It was Sophia, with the help of Milon, who barely escaped from the hands of Eremeevna, who was leading her to the carriage. They secretly wanted to marry Sophia to Mitrofan.
Pravdin indignantly says that he will submit to the court a demand to punish Prostakova as a violator of civil peace. Mitrofan, Prostakov, Prostakov - everyone throws themselves on their knees and asks for forgiveness.
Skotinin enters and looks in surprise as all his relatives are on their knees.
Prostakova says : “...the sword does not cut off a guilty head. My sin! Don't destroy me."
Sophia forgives everyone: “I forget my insult. "
Prostakova apologizes to Starodum, saying that she is not an angel. To which he replies: “I know, I know that a person cannot be an angel. And you don’t even have to be a devil.” He also forgives.
Realizing that she has been forgiven, Prostakova, in a rage, wants to punish all her people for disrupting the wedding: “Now I’ll go through everyone one by one. Now I’ll find out who let her go. No, scammers! No, thieves! I won’t forgive a century, I won’t forgive this ridicule.”
To Pravdin’s question about why Prostakova wants to punish people, she replies: “Am I not powerful in my people too?” Skotinin supports her: “Isn’t a nobleman free to beat a servant whenever he wants?”
Pravdin says: “...no one is free to tyranny.” He reports that he was ordered to take Prostakova’s house and villages under state guardianship.
Skotinin decided to quietly clean up “as soon as possible.”
Prostakova asks to give her time to sort things out. So she didn’t settle accounts with the teachers. Pravdin orders to call all the teachers. Starodum recognizes Vralman, who once served as his father’s coachman. Everyone is surprised. Vralman said that he could not find work in Moscow. I had to get a job as a teacher.
Kuteikin asks to pay him for six months; he was not paid that much.
Tsyfirkin does not ask for anything, since he could not teach Mitrofan anything : “... I didn’t take it in vain and I won’t take it.” Starodum, Milon and Pravdin give money to Tsyfirkin from their wallets. Starodum calls him “kind man.” When asked by Tsyfirkin why they give him money, Pravdin replies : “Because you are not like Kuteikin.”
Kuteikin is asked to come to Prostakova for money the next day. And Starodum took Vralman as his coachman.
Sophia, Milon, Starodum say goodbye.
Prostakova tells the dream that he is the only one left with her. Mitrofan answers her rudely: “Go away, mother, how you imposed yourself...” The mother faints from her son’s ingratitude.
Pravdin condemningly says to Mitrofan: “Should you be rude to your mother? It was her crazy love for you that brought her the most misfortune.”
Starodum says that Mitrofan needs to serve. He replies: “For me, wherever they tell you to.”
Having woken up, Prostkova says in despair: “I’m completely lost! My power has been taken away! You can’t show your eyes anywhere out of shame! I don't have a son! »
The play ends with the words of Starodum: “These are the fruits worthy of evil! »
End.
Retold by: Melnikova Vera Aleksandrovna.
Other characters
Prostakov is Prostakova’s husband. He solves practically nothing in the house, essentially a shadow and henpecked wife, uneducated, weak-willed.
Eremeevna is Mitrofan’s nanny.
Kuteikin (a seminarian who himself quit studying halfway through because he couldn’t master science, a cunning and greedy grammar teacher), Vralman (a former groom of Starodum, simple, but able to skillfully deceive - called himself a German teacher of social life), Tsyfirkin (retired sergeant, honest man, arithmetic teacher) - Mitrofan's teacher.
Trishka is a tailor, Prostakov’s servant.
Summary
Action 1
The play begins with Mrs. Prostakova scolding Trishka for sewing a bad caftan for Mitrofan, although he warned about his inability to sew. Prostakov agrees with his wife. The woman decides to punish the tailor. Skotinin claims that the caftan is well made and Trishka is kicked out.
The conversation turns to Mitrofan - he must have gotten sick, since he didn’t sleep well all night. During the discussion, the son claims that he did not eat at all, but in fact he had a hearty dinner, drank kvass all night, and at night he saw his mother beating his father. To this, Prostakova hugs her son, saying that he is her only consolation, and Mitrofan runs away to the dovecote.
Skotinin, Prostakova and Prostakov discuss that they want to give the orphan Sophia for Skotinin. The girl’s only relative, Starodum, left for Siberia a long time ago and did not remind him of himself. The conversation reveals the selfish, evil personality of Skotinin, who likes not Sophia, but the many pigs in her villages.
Sophia brings a letter from Starodum who suddenly appeared. The Prostakovs do not believe that he is alive, they try to convince the girl that this is actually a letter from a fan. When Sophia invites them to read it themselves, it turns out that everyone is illiterate.
Pravdin enters and is instructed to read the letter. Those present learn that Starodum made Sophia the heiress of 10 thousand rubles. Now not only Skotinin wants to woo the girl, but Prostakova also begins to flatter the girl, wanting to marry her to Mitrofan. While the women are leaving, a servant runs in and tells the men that soldiers passing by have stopped in their village.
Act 2
Milon and Pravdin turn out to be old friends. Pravdin says that he came to the village to put the “despicable fury” Prostakova in her place. Milon shares that he is going to Moscow to meet his beloved, whom he has not seen for a long time, since after the death of her parents she was taken into the care of distant relatives.
By chance, Sophia passes by. The lovers are happy with each other. Sophia tells Milon that Prostakova wants to marry her to her stupid 16-year-old son. Immediately they meet Skotinin, who is worried that he might go home without his wife and money. Pravdin and Milon urge him to quarrel with his sister, saying that she is playing with him like a ball. Skotinin loses his temper.
Mitrofan and Eremeevna pass by. The nanny tries to force the young man to study, but he does not want to. Skotinin quarrels with Mitrofan about their upcoming marriage, since both are not against taking Sophia as their wife. However, Eremeevna and Pravdin do not allow them to fight. Skotinin leaves angry.
The Prostakovs appear. Prostakova flatters Milon and apologizes for not coming out to meet him on time. She praises Sophia and tells how she has already arranged everything for her uncle. The girl and Prostakov leave to look at the room. They are replaced by Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin. The teachers tell Pravdin about themselves, how they learned to read and write and how they ended up in the Prostakovs’ house.
Act 3
Pravdin, seeing Starodum’s carriage from the window, went out to meet him first. The official talks about the Prostakovs’ outrages towards Sonya. Starodum says that one cannot act on the first impulse, since experience has shown him that ardor is not always good, he tells Pravdin about his life, how he saw that people are different.
Sophia comes up here. Starodum recognizes his niece, they are glad to meet. The uncle says that he abandoned everything and left, because he could not otherwise earn money without “trading it for his conscience.” At this time, Prostakova and Skotinin managed to fight. After Milon pacified them, Prostakova notices Starodum and orders Eremeevna to call her son and husband. The entire Prostakov family and Skotinin greet Starodum with excessive joy, hugging him and flattering him in every possible way. Mitrofan repeats after his mother that Starodum is his second father. This surprises Uncle Sophia very much.
Starodum says that he is taking the girl to Moscow to marry. Sophia, not knowing that her uncle chose Milon as her husband, still agrees with his will. Prostakova and Skotinin are trying to convince him. The woman says that in their family, studying was not held in high esteem, but Mitrofan allegedly does not get up because of the book and studies diligently. Pravdin interrupts the woman, saying that the guest is tired from the road and everyone leaves.
Tsyfirkin and Kuteikin remain, who complain to each other that Mitrofan cannot study arithmetic for three years and literacy for four. They blame the German Vralman for interfering with the teaching and both are not against beating the unfortunate student, if only he would start doing something.
Mitrofan and Prostakova enter. The woman persuades her son to study, at least for show. Tsifirkin sets two problems, but in both cases, before Mitrofan calculates, Prostakova solves them based on her personal experience: “I found the money, don’t share it with anyone. Take it all for yourself, Mitrofanushka. Don’t learn this stupid science.” As soon as Kuteikin begins to teach the young man to read and write, Vralman appears and says that Mitrofan does not need to learn to read and write and that in general it is better to make friends with “our own” illiterate people, in which Prostakova supports him. Vralman makes a reservation that he saw the light while sitting on the cab's box, but he comes to his senses in time and the woman does not notice that he is lying to her.
Prostakova and Mitrofan leave. Teachers quarrel. Tsyfirkin and Kuteikin want to beat Vralman, but he runs away.
Act 4
Starodum and Sophia talk about virtue, about how people stray from the righteous path. The uncle explains to his niece that nobility and wealth should not be calculated by deeds for one’s own benefit, but by deeds for the fatherland and other people. The man explains that the position should correspond to the deeds, and not just one title. He also says about family life that husband and wife must understand each other, support each other, that the origin of the spouses does not matter if they love each other, but this love must be friendly.
Then they bring Starodum a letter from which he learns that the young man to whom he was going to marry Sophia is Milo. Starodum, talking with Milon, learns that he is a man with high concepts of duty and honor. The uncle blesses the niece and the young man.
Skotinin interrupts them from the conversation, trying to show himself in a favorable light, but only makes them laugh with his absurdity. Pravdin, Prostakova and Mitrofan arrive. The woman again praises her son's literacy. Pravdin decides to check. Mitrofan does not give a single correct answer, while his mother tries in every possible way to justify his stupidity.
Prostakova and Skotinin continue to ask Starodum who he will choose for his niece, to which they receive the answer that she already has a fiancé and they are leaving tomorrow morning. Skotinin and Mitrofan with Prostakova separately plan to intercept the girl on the road.
Action 5
Pravdin and Starodum are discussing what everyone will soon know, that without truth and good morals it is impossible to achieve anything worthwhile, that the key to the well-being of the state is worthy, honest, educated, well-mannered people.
They are interrupted when they hear a noise. As it turns out, Eremeevna wanted to take Sophia away by force on Prostakova’s orders, but Milon prevented her. Pravdin says this is an illegal action. He points out that the girl’s uncle and fiance can accuse the Prostakovs of crime and demand immediate punishment. The woman tries to beg forgiveness from Sophia, who forgives her. Prostakova, only she is freed from guilt, is going to punish the servants who prevented the crime from happening and let the girl go. However, Pravdin stops her - he reads out a paper that came from the government that from now on the Prostakovs’ house and villages will come under his care. Prostakova is indignant and asks for at least three days, but Pravdin refuses. Then the woman remembers the debts to the teachers and Pravdin agrees to pay them off himself.
Vralman, Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin arrive. Vralman's deception is revealed - that he is in fact Starodum's retired groom, and not a German teacher and expert on high society. Vralman agrees to serve Starodum again. Tsyfirkin does not want to take extra money from Prostakova, since for all this time he has not been able to teach Mitrofan anything. Pravdin, Starodum and Milon reward Tsyfirkin for his honesty. Kuteikin is not against receiving money even for fruitless science, but he is left with nothing.
Starodum, Milon and Sophia are getting ready to leave. Mitrofan tells his mother to get rid of him, his father reproaches him for this. Pravdin invites the young man to go serve and he agrees. Prostakova is in despair because she has lost everything. Starodum sums up what happened: “These are the worthy fruits of evil!”
Brief summary of the comedy “Minor” Fonvizin
Act I
Phenomenon 1
Mrs. Prostakova's son, Mitrofan, tries on a tailored caftan. It turns out that it is too small for him, for which they scold the tailor Tryphon.
Phenomenon 2
The mother is indignant that Tryfon did not take into account Mitrofan’s large build. Trishka makes the excuse that he is self-taught and doesn’t know much about tailoring. Prostakova is sure that it is possible to sew a caftan without training.
Phenomenon 3
The head of the family arrives. The wife asks her husband's opinion about the sewn caftan, he timidly claims that the size is too large. Prostakova blames her husband for seeing everything the other way around and not having his own opinion. The husband obediently agrees: “With your eyes, mine don’t see anything.” Prostakova demands that the tailor be punished for poor work.
Phenomenon 4
Prostakova's brother, Skotinin, postpones the punishment so as not to spoil today's matchmaking holiday. Nurse Eremeevna is worried about the health of Mitrofan, who did not feel well after dinner and throughout the night. The son complains to his mother that he dreamed of “all sorts of rubbish”: the mother beat his father so hard that she got tired.
And since the child is not well, he is allowed to take a walk instead of studying.
Phenomenon 5
Everyone is waiting for the appearance of Sophia, who is under the care of the Prostakovs. Since she is an orphan, and there has been no news from her uncle for a long time, it is decided to marry the girl to Skotinin.
Taras Skotinin boasts that he is not afraid of losses and easily compensates for them at the expense of his peasants, ripping off a gigantic rent from them.
He also talks about the reason for his interest in marriage: he doesn’t like Sophia or her property, but a large number of pigs. It turns out that Mitrofan, following the example of his uncle, is a great admirer of pigs.
Phenomenon 6
Sophia brings good news for her: her uncle Starodum is in good health and has sent a letter. Prostakova is outraged to the core: she is sure that her uncle has died, and the letter was sent from the officer who proposed to Sophia.
Sophia invites Prostakova to read the letter herself, but she is illiterate, and her husband is not used to reading her. His name is Mitrofan, who has been teaching something for 4 years now.
Phenomenon 7
The official Pravdin comes for a visit. Prostakova asks him to read the letter out loud. Having learned that her uncle is alive and is going to make Sophia the heiress of a decent fortune, Prostakova immediately changes her tone. Now she dreams of marrying her son, not her brother, to a girl. With feigned affection, she takes Sophia away to talk.
Phenomenon 8
The servant brings alarming news to Prostakov: the military is stationed in the village, they can ruin it. Prostakov leaves to settle matters, Skotinin goes to the pigs.
Act II
Phenomenon 1
The soldiers were stationed in the village under the leadership of officer Milo. His old friend Pravdin, appointed inspector from the governorship, talks to him. It turns out that Milon is in a hurry to Moscow to find out about his beloved. The officer is worried that the girl was taken in by unworthy people who are tyrannizing and robbing her. Pravdin reports that he saw this in one of the families.
Phenomenon 2
Suddenly Sophia appears, this is Milo’s beloved. The young people are happy to meet, but the girl complains about her guardians. Previously, they were simply rude to her, but now Prostakova has changed her attitude:
“Hearing that my uncle was making me an heiress, she suddenly turned from being rude and scolding to the point of being affectionate to the very base, and I see from all her innuendos that she intends me to be his son’s bride.”
It seems to Milon that he has a rival, but Sophia reassures him: Mitrofan is not suitable as a groom at all.
Phenomenon 3
Skotinin, passing by, joins the conversation. Milon learns that he is vying for Sophia's hand and is ready to take care of his wife as well as he takes care of his pigs. Everyone is outraged by this “bestial comparison.”
Pravdin informs Skotinin that they plan to marry Sophia to Mitrofan.
Phenomenon 4
Skotinin, in a belligerent mood, goes to deal with his nephew.
Mitrofan directly says that he has been thinking about marriage for a long time. Skotinin rushes at his opponent, Pravdin and Eremeevna stop him.
Phenomenon 5
Mitrofan's parents arrive. Prostakova thanks Milon for the exemplary behavior of his soldiers and scolds her husband, because of whose gentleness there is no order in the household. The woman hopes to please Uncle Sophia when he comes to visit. Pravdin is confident that this straightforward man will draw the right conclusions: “When he was born, his tongue did not say “yes” when his soul felt “no.”
Teachers come to Mitrofan. It turns out that one of them is a former soldier, and the other was studying to be a priest. Everyone leaves, not wanting to disturb classes.
Phenomenon 6
Eremeevna tells Prostakova about the clash between her nephew and uncle. She scolds the nurse for not protecting the child well.
The woman cries from injustice: even after serving for forty years, she did not deserve the good attitude of the mistress.
Act III
Phenomenon 1
Starodum arrives, hurrying to help out his niece. Pravdin greets him as a friend. Starodum says that his father gave him the best education of Peter the Great’s times, when “they still didn’t know how to fill an empty head with someone else’s mind.” And the main rule was: “Have a heart, have a soul, and you will be a man at all times.”
Starodum spoke about his sad experience in military service and at court. He was forced to resign from everywhere in order to save his heart and soul. Pravdin is sad: such people could heal a sick society, but they are forced to retire.
Phenomenon 2
Sophia enters and immediately recognizes her uncle. They are happy about the family reunion. Starodum promises to protect the girl from the encroachments of her guardians. He explains to Sophia why he was absent for a long time - he needed to earn capital in an honest way.
Phenomenon 3
Prostakova fights with her brother over Sophia, and Milon tries to separate them. Starodum, seeing this, laughs, which greatly angers the mistress of the house. She is rude to Starodum, and when he introduces himself, she instantly becomes polite and calls the servants to organize a meeting.
Phenomenon 4
Eremeevna comes instead of the sick maid, which again angers Prostakova. She scolds them both, and Starodum asks them not to worry about his arrival.
Phenomenon 5
The Prostakov family meets Starodum, striking him with familiarity. Starodum announces that tomorrow he is taking Sophia to Moscow to marry her off. This news excites everyone, but the uncle promises his niece that the choice of groom will be hers.
Prostakova talks about her parents and her son’s studies, although the Skotinins have always been against the “infidel enlightenment.” Prostakova invites Starodum to evaluate Mitrofan’s education after rest.
Phenomenon 6
Left alone, the teachers discuss how difficult it is to teach a mediocre boyar’s son who does not want to study.
Phenomenon 7
Prostakova asks her son to study for show. He agrees, having received a promise that he will be married as quickly as possible. Mitrofan still cannot really count or write, but this does not upset anyone in the family.
Phenomenon 8
Vralman enters and begins to convince Prostakova in broken Russian that it is harmful for Mitrofan to study so much. It is important to find a suitable company, and it is better not to mess with smart people. Mother and son agree, so the class ends quickly.
Vralman, talking about life in St. Petersburg, lets slip that he was a coachman and sat on a box, but deftly gets out of it.
Phenomenon 9
After the gentlemen leave, the teachers scold Vralman: he teaches nothing, he only receives shelter and salary in vain. The quarrel almost ends in a fight.
Act IV
Phenomenon 1
Sophia is waiting for her uncle to talk after a long separation.
Phenomenon 2
Starodum and Sophia talk about what constitutes human happiness. Both agree that a person of any class should strive for virtue, serve the fatherland or society, maintain good morals and develop the mind, soul and heart. Both consider wealth and nobility to be the amount of benefit and help to people.
Starodum instructs his niece so that evil people do not lead her astray from the path of improvement. Sophia fully shares her uncle’s values and thanks him for his participation in her life.
Phenomenon 3
They bring a letter from Moscow for Starodum. The niece goes to get glasses.
Phenomenon 4
A letter from an old friend of Starodum, who talks about the contender for Sophia’s hand - Milo. The young man has excellent recommendations from respected people.
Phenomenon 5
Sophia brings glasses to her uncle, and he immediately tells her about the subject of the letter. The discussion of marriage confuses the girl, but she is ready to openly tell her uncle about her heartfelt choice.
Phenomenon 6
Pravdin introduces Starodum to the officer about whom he had just read a letter. Starodum asks Milo about his service and what he sees as his duty. Milo argues as a worthy, fair, honest person:
“And what is the difference between the fearlessness of a soldier who, in an attack, risks his life along with others, and between the fearlessness of a statesman who speaks the truth to the sovereign, daring to anger him. The judge who, fearing neither vengeance nor the threats of the strong, gave justice to the helpless, is a hero in my eyes.”
The officer asks for Sophia's hand, the girl also confesses her feelings for Milon. The uncle happily blesses the young couple for marriage, seeing that they are worthy of each other.
Phenomenon 7
Skotinin asks Sophia's hand from his uncle. He is sure that he will easily agree to give his niece for him. Starodum plays along with Skotinin a little, although he is amused by this turn of events. Skotinin shows himself as a limited and rude person, but in the end he thinks that the matter is almost decided.
Phenomenon 8
The Prostakovs also have a groom for Sophia, they are in a hurry to introduce their son to Starodum. He is ready to check what heights Mitrofan has reached in the sciences. It turns out that the groom does not even have the simplest knowledge of mathematics, grammar, and has never even heard of geography. Starodum ironically “praises” the young man. Skotinin and Prostakovs assure that there is no need for training: in their family they already know how to see the benefit and snatch what is theirs.
And if Mitrofan is too smart, he will be appointed to an important responsible position, and he will have to work until the end of his days, but peace is most important.
Pravdin and Milon say goodbye until tomorrow.
Phenomenon 9
Everyone is waiting for a decision on Sophia's marriage, but Starodum refuses both suitors. He explains that the girl is already engaged.
Prostakova wants to get up early, before Sophia leaves, and insist on marrying her son.
Act V
Phenomenon 1
Morning of departure. Pravdin tells Starodum about the decree given to him by the governorship. He must take custody of the Prostakov villages in case they exceed the powers of power.
Friends talk about the importance of the sovereign’s influence on his subjects and the magnitude of his responsibility. Starodum expresses the wish that the nobility receive an education with good and bad instructive examples, so that people become morally tempered. The current level of ignorance appalls him.
Phenomenon 2
A strange noise is heard, Starodum rushes there. It turned out that Milon managed to prevent the kidnapping of Sophia, who they wanted to forcefully marry Mitrofan. Prostakova scolds the servants who could not complete the job.
Phenomenon 3
Pravdin, having witnessed a crime, must take measures against Prostakova’s arbitrariness. He is ready to “demand from the government that the insult done to her be punished to the fullest extent of the laws. Now I will bring her before the court as a disturber of civil peace.”
All the Prostakovs throw themselves at Pravdin’s feet and beg for their life.
Phenomenon 4
Starodum and Sophia show mercy and forgive Prostakova. Feeling that the danger had receded, she immediately began to threaten her servants with violence. In response to this, Pravdin reads to the villainess a decree transferring guardianship over her people and villages. Skotinin immediately runs away so that the punishment does not affect him.
Phenomenon 5
Prostakova asks for a delay or cancellation of the decree, but Pravdin is inexorable. Now the power in the house is in his hands, and he is ready to restore order. First of all -
pay extra salaries to teachers. Starodum is confident that Prostakova will soon appreciate the advantages of her position.
Phenomenon 6
It was decided to dismiss the servants.
Starodum is surprised to learn that his former coachman served as a teacher for the Prostakovs. Kuteikin demands payment, but Tsifirkin does not want to take it, since the student has not learned anything. Pravdin generously rewards him for his honesty. Vralman asks Starodum to take him into service again.
Phenomenon 7
Starodum and his niece are ready to leave. Vralman on the carriage box.
The last phenomenon
Everyone says goodbye before leaving. The disgraced Prostakova reaches out to her son, but he rudely moves away from her. The woman faints from shock. Pravdin sternly reprimands Mitrofan and decides to send him to military service, he does not object.
Having woken up, Prostakova sobs: she has lost her son, power, and respect.
