⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Our people – we’ll be numbered!” in 30 seconds and detailed steps in 7 minutes.
The work of A. N. Ostrovsky is deservedly considered an integral part of classical Russian literature. The writer born in Zamoskvorechye was the first to open the merchant world of old Moscow to readers and viewers.
Many of Ostrovsky's plays have enjoyed enormous success on the theater stage for two centuries. Among them is the writer’s literary debut – the comedy “Our People – Let’s Be Numbered!”
A very brief retelling of the comedy “Our People – Let’s Be Numbered!”
The rich merchant Samson Silych Bolshov, in order to get rid of his debts, decides to declare himself bankrupt. To do this, he transfers all real estate to his clerk, Lazar Elizarych Polkhalyuzin. Bolshov even marries his only daughter, Olympiada Samsonovna, to him.
The young scoundrel swears allegiance to the owner, and he himself takes over his property. After the scam is completed, Samson Silych is sent to debtor's prison. The “children” flatly refuse to help him with money.
Meaning of the name
The title of this comedy, “We Will Be Our Own People,” is directly pronounced in the play itself and briefly characterizes the social situation with nepotism, corruption and clannishness reigning in society, which was shown in the play.
However, in combination with the plot of the play, the title also takes on an ironic meaning, because the outcome of the play directly contradicts the title. Our own people actually turned out to be more cruel and greedy than strangers. His own daughter was ready to rot his father in debt prison, and his son-in-law was sorry for his money to pay off the debt. Scores with the old merchant turned out to be not in his favor: in response to guardianship and generous gifts, his daughter and son-in-law deceived and robbed him.
Main characters and their characteristics:
- Samson Silych Bolshov is the main character, a rich merchant tyrant. He made a large fortune through dishonest means. All his life Bolshov deceived people and raised his chief assistant in the same spirit. Samson Silych keeps his family in fear and complete obedience. He makes some concessions to his only daughter, but in the end he marries her at his whim.
- Agrafena Kondratyevna is Bolshov’s wife. This is a typical merchant's wife, accustomed to obeying her husband in everything. She loves her daughter madly and spoils her in every possible way.
- Olympiada Samsonovna (Lipochka) is the daughter of the Bolshovs, a pampered and spoiled young lady. The girl “picked up” superficial knowledge at home (dancing, playing the piano, French) and therefore considers herself very “educated.” In the finale, she finds out the true level of her education and culture: expensive things and a luxurious lifestyle.
- Lazar Elizarych Podkhalyuzin is Bolshov’s clerk, a very clever rogue, a heartless and arrogant person. His betrayal of his former owner is easy to explain: Samson Silych himself constantly told the clerk that it was impossible to live without deception.
- Sysoy Psoich Rispozhensky is a lawyer who was fired from service for drunkenness. This is an absolutely unprincipled person who will commit any fraud for money.
- Ustinya Naumovna is a matchmaker who is a symbol of this dubious female “profession”. Ustinya Naumovna is ready to marry anyone for the sake of a good reward. Lies and crude flattery are her main methods of work.
ACT ONE
First appearance
Lipochka, sitting by the window with a book in her hands, reflects on the topic of dancing, which she loved so much. The girl is very pleased with herself. In just twenty lessons she managed to master the dance technique. The only disappointment is that she herself has not taken part in dance parties for a year and a half, and suddenly a brave military man will approach her, invite her to a waltz, and she will be embarrassed in front of him. You'll have to remember the movements at your leisure.
Second phenomenon
Agrafena Kondratievna, seeing her daughter dancing early in the morning, scolds her for it. He jumps around the apartment like a dragonfly, and his father can barely move his legs. They begin to bicker among themselves, apparently not for the first time. Lipochka is worried that all her friends have been married for a long time, and she is the only one left among the girls. The last groom was turned away when he came to get married. The girl threatens her mother that she will run away from home with some hussar.
The third phenomenon
Fominishna notifies Agrafena Kondratievna and Lipochka that someone has come to visit them and asks them to guess who it is. Women are at a loss, expressing various assumptions. The mysterious guest turned out to be Ustinya Naumovna, a local matchmaker.
The fourth phenomenon
Everyone is happy about the arrival of Ustinya Naumovna. They fuss, trying to please the guest. Fominishna was ordered to bring a samovar. A tea party is planned.
Fifth appearance
Women ask the matchmaker for news. Lipochka is unhappy that the matchmaker keeps walking around to no avail. Ustinya makes an excuse that it is difficult to please the girl’s parents. Give the father a rich son-in-law; the mother certainly wants to see a merchant as her suitor.
Appearance Six
Lipochka against the merchant's husband. She was not given a good upbringing to become the wife of a merchant. She gives recommendations to the matchmaker about how she sees her future husband. It turns out that Ustinha has one in mind. Exactly the same as Lipochka described.
Seventh Appearance
Ustinya paints Agrafena Kondratievna in all the colors of his candidate for marriage. Lipa's mother is worried about what she will do with such a noble son-in-law. He's too good.
The eighth phenomenon
Rispozhensky came to the Bolshovs' house. While Samson Silych is busy, Sysoy Psoich tries to entertain Agrafena with conversations.
Appearance Ninth
Bolshov joins the conversation. Rispozhensky shares an old story to which he was directly related, having forgotten the court case in the wine cellar. Miraculously, he managed to escape punishment for negligence.
The tenth phenomenon
Bolshov shares his problems with Rispozhensky. He has large debts to creditors. Advice from a friend to mortgage a house and shops. It is necessary to transfer the property to a stranger. For example, for a clerk.
Appearance eleventh
Podkhalyuzin, sensing that the conversation was about him, came at a very opportune time. Lazar Elizarych shares news from the city where he has just arrived. Things there couldn't be worse. As evidence, he presents a paper in which it is written in black and white that many famous merchants have become bankrupt.
Appearance Twelfth
Lazar feels like he owes Bolshoi. After all, it was he who took him to work when he was still a boy. He agrees to fulfill any request of Samson Silych. Bolshov promises him a share of the deal.
Brief summary of the comedy “Our people - we will be numbered!” detailed steps.
Action 1.
Lipochka sits with a book in her hands and dreams out loud. The imagination of a merchant's daughter is very limited. What she likes most in life is dancing, especially with the military. A year and a half ago, she took lessons from a dance master and is now trying to remember what he taught her.
Agrafena Kondratievna enters the room and begins to reproach Lipochka for her frivolous behavior (dancing). A quarrel breaks out between mother and daughter. Lipochka passionately desires to marry a “noble man.”
Author: Alexander Nikolaevich Ostrovsky
It becomes clear that the girl is very spoiled. As soon as Lipochka begins to cry, Agrafena Kondratyevna apologizes and promises to buy her a precious gift. Both women are looking forward to the matchmaker, Ustinya Naumovna.
Housekeeper Fominishna reports that the long-awaited guest has arrived. Mother and daughter joyfully greet Ustinya Naumovna. The matchmaker complains that it is very difficult to find a suitable groom. Nevertheless, she reports that she found one “noble” person.
Agrafena Kondratyevna and Ustinya Naumovna are talking alone. The matchmaker praises the found gentleman in every possible way.
Rispozhensky appears and begins to tell some story. Throughout the conversation, the lawyer drinks glass after glass.
Bolshov enters. The merchant mocks Sysoy Psoich, who was expelled from service for losing important papers. Agrafena Kondratievna and the matchmaker go out to drink tea.
Samson Silych complains to the solicitor about his difficult financial situation: creditors are demanding urgent repayment of the debt. Sysoy Psoich offers a cunning fraud. All real estate must be mortgaged or sold to a reliable person. After this, you should file for bankruptcy and bargain with creditors to reduce the amount of debt. The solicitor proposes to involve the clerk Bolshov - Podkhalyuzin - in the scam.
At this time Lazar Elizarych himself enters. He discusses trade matters with Bolshov. At the same time, it turns out that the merchant and his clerk often act fraudulently.
Samson Silych reads a newspaper, from which he learns that many merchants (his debtors) have been declared bankrupt. Rispozhensky leaves, and the merchant complains to the clerk that the deadline to pay off his debts is approaching.
Samson Silych is confident that Podkhalyuzin, whom he “brought into the public eye,” will never deceive him. He initiates the clerk into the planned plan. Lazar Elizarych swears allegiance and promises to take upon himself all the troubles of selling the property.
Action 2.
The servant boy Tishka cleans Bolshov's house and talks to himself about the hard life of running errands. Podkhalyuzin creeps up to him and begins to scold him for pampering. The clerk behaves like a real owner.
Left alone, Lazar Elizarych talks about the upcoming fraud. He does not see any benefit for himself in it. The bankruptcy of Samson Silych deprives him of a good position. The clerk decides to turn the whole matter to his advantage. He has long dreamed of marrying Olympiada Samsonovna.
Podkhalyuzin is the first to meet Rispozhensky, generously treats him to vodka, gives him money and promises another two thousand rubles and a raccoon fur coat for protecting his interests. Lazar Elizarych hints that all of Samson Silych’s property should really go to him.
Podkhalyuzin and Rispozhensky leave to discuss the details of the plan. Instead, Ustinya Naumovna and Fominishna appear. The housekeeper complains about Bolshov’s difficult character.
When Fominishna goes to Lipochka, Lazar Elizarych returns. He convinces the matchmaker to abandon the groom she has found. Podkhalyuzin says that there is a more worthy candidate for Olympiada Samsonovna’s husband. For help, Podkhalyuzin also promises two thousand rubles and a sable fur coat. In addition, he hints that Bolshov has little money. The whole matchmaking could turn into a big scandal.
Drunk Samson Silych arrives, which leads to commotion throughout the house. Podkhalyuzin tells him that the only way out of the situation is to declare himself an insolvent debtor. The merchant agrees to everything.
Lazar Elizarych begins to talk about his boundless love and loyalty to his owner. At the same time, he often mentions Olympias Samsonovna, whom it would not hurt to successfully marry before bankruptcy. The unsuspecting Bolshov agrees with all the clerk’s arguments and himself invites him to take Lipochka as his wife.
Action 3.
Bolshov, who is sitting alone, is approached by his wife and dressed-up daughter. Both women carefully prepared for the meeting with the groom. Samson Silych talks to them rudely. He planned to surprise his family with his unexpected decision.
Ustinya Naumovna comes and reports that for some reason the “noble” groom did not want to come. Tishka reports that Rispozhensky and Podkhalyuzin have arrived. Samson Silych orders to call them, and tells his daughter that she will soon meet her fiancé.
When all the guests gather, Bolshov announces that he intends to marry Lipochka to Podkhalyuzin. This has a strong effect. Mother and daughter are terrified. The matchmaker and the housekeeper are also perplexed. Only Rispozhensky says that children should obey their parents. Samson Silych is adamant. He demands to leave the young people alone.
Podkhalyuzin begins to carefully persuade Lipochka. First of all, the clerk declares that all of Bolshov’s property now belongs to him. He then colorfully describes the lavish lifestyle awaiting the girl after marriage. Olympiada Samsonovna doesn’t think long and accepts Podkhalyuzin’s offer.
Lazar Elizarych solemnly announces the bride’s consent. Everyone is extremely happy, and Bolshov orders champagne to be served. Samson Silych congratulates the young people. Out of joy, he promises the clerk to give the house and shops (which no longer belong to him) as a dowry. Bolshov only asks Podkhalyuzin to pay off creditors, to which he replies: “Our people - we’ll be numbered!”
Action 4.
Podkhalyuzin and Lipochka changed the situation in the house beyond recognition. The living room is richly furnished. The couple, dressed in the latest fashion, discuss what to buy and how best to have fun. Both are delighted with each other. At this time, Tishka reports the arrival of Ustinya Naumovna.
The matchmaker intends to receive the promised reward. To her disappointment, Podkhalyuzin gives only a hundred rubles and laughs at the mention of the sable fur coat. Ustinya Naumovna leaves in anger, and the spouses see Samson Silych through the window.
Bolshov was briefly released from the “pit” - a debt prison. Creditors demand that he repay at least a quarter of the debt (twenty-five kopecks per ruble). Samson Silych begs the former clerk to help him. Podkhalyuzin categorically refuses, declaring that he cannot give more than fifteen kopecks. He and his young wife need a lot of money. Lipochka supports her husband.
Bolshov realizes with bitterness that he won’t get help from the “children.” He says goodbye to them and Agrafena Kondratyevna and returns to prison.
After Samson Silych leaves, Podkhalyuzin plans to go to the creditors to try to pity them.
Rispozhensky comes to Lazar Elizarych and asks him to give him one and a half thousand for his “work.” Podkhalyuzin gives him five rubles and kicks him out of the house. The lawyer shouts indignantly that he is a robber who has let his father-in-law roam the world.
When Rispozhensky leaves, Podkhalyuzin addresses the audience. He assures that all this is a lie. Lazar Elizarych invites everyone to his new store, where no one will deceive even a child.
Our people - let's be numbered
A merchant's daughter of marriageable age, Olympiada Samsonovna (Lipochka) Bolshova, sits alone at the window with a book and, reasoning, “what a pleasant activity these dances are,” begins to waltz: she hasn’t danced for a year and a half and is afraid, if anything, to “be embarrassed.”
She doesn't dance well. The mother, Agrafena Kondratievna, enters: “Not the light of day, without eating the bread of God, and immediately for the dance! Mother and daughter argue, apparently habitually: “All my friends have been with their husbands for a long time, but I’m like an orphan! Listen, find me a groom, definitely find him! I’m already coughing like a fly! (Cries.)"
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Matchmaker Ustinya Naumovna arrives. Lipochka wants a “noble” groom, her father is rich, her mother is a merchant, “so that he can baptize his forehead in the old-fashioned way.” Sysoy Psoich Rispozhensky, a lawyer expelled from court for drunkenness, comes. They make fun of him. But the newly arrived owner, Bolshov, seriously needs a lawyer: he is considering whether to declare himself an insolvent debtor (the first title of the comedy was “Bankrupt”). The women leave, and the owner and the lawyer delve deeper into this topic. The solicitor advises to transfer all property to the clerk Lazar Elizarych Podkhalyuzin. He also comes in, telling how he teaches the shop assistants how to deceive customers “more naturally.”
Bolshov is reading a newspaper. In Moscow there is a chain of bankruptcies, mostly, apparently, “malicious”, intentional ones; and each, each refusal to pay debts naturally entails the following. “What, they agreed or something!.. You can’t count them here...” And the merchant makes up his mind. The main question is: can you trust the person to whom you transfer your property in order to hide it from the inventory for debts?
Podkhalyuzin sends the boy Tishka to get rowan wood for Rispozhensky, with whom he has business, and indulges in thoughts out loud. “I am a poor man! Even if I use something superfluous in this matter, there is no sin, because he himself is going against the law!” Lazar is in love with Lipochka and is already making new plans, including marrying her: “Yes, from such pleasure you can jump off Ivan the Great.”
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And, treating the lawyer, he asks how much Bolshov promised him for “all this mechanics,” and he himself promises not a thousand, but two.
The matchmaker comes, he promises her the same amount and a sable fur coat in addition - “we’ll make it from the living” - if she discourages the already planned “noble” groom: let her tell him that Bolshov is ruined. Bolshov himself comes home, the house panics by mistake: it seemed that he was “intoxicated.” Lazar starts a conversation with him about marriage - not directly, but, having heard for the third time that Lipochka is “a young lady like no other in the world,” Bolshov takes the bull by the horns. Lazarus is modest: “Where am I with a cloth snout, sir? - Nothing made of cloth. Snout like a snout.” Of course, transferring more goods not to the clerk, but to the future son-in-law is in Bolshov’s interests.
The house is getting ready for matchmaking. Samson Silych is also solemn in his own way, but Ustinya Naumovna appears with bad news: supposedly the groom is being capricious. “Oh, peck the frog, why don’t we find another one? - Well, don’t look for anything else, otherwise the same thing will happen again. “I’ll find you another one myself,” says Bolshov himself and he knows what he’s saying.
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The housekeeper Fominishna, Rispozhensky, Lazar join the company, and Bolshov solemnly announces Lazar as the groom. Commotion. Lipochka is just making a scandal. “I order you to marry the janitor!” - Bolshov tuts at his daughter. “Mama, sir! You can’t find a son-in-law who would respect you and, therefore, put your old age to rest—other than me, sir. “You, mamma, remember this word that I just said,” Lazar says after the hostess and, left face to face with the enraged Lipochka, informs her that the house and shops are now his, and “your little brother is bankrupt.” With! What is this they are doing to me? They raised them, they trained them, and then they went bankrupt!” And Lipochka, after a pause, agrees, with the condition: “We will live on our own, and they will live on their own. We will run everything according to fashion, and they will do it as they want.” Immediately they are called “them” and the family celebration begins. And Bolshov announces: “You, Lazar, will have a house and shops instead of a dowry, and we’ll count it out of the cash. Just feed the old woman and me, and pay the creditors ten kopecks each. - Is it worth talking about this, darling? Our people - we will be numbered! The celebration is in full swing. The matchmaker pours wine down the lawyer's collar.
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Initial remarks of the last act: “In the Podkhalyuzin house there is a richly furnished living room. Olympiada Samsonovna is sitting by the window in a luxurious position, wearing a silk blouse and a cap of the latest style. Podkhalyuzin in a fashionable frock coat stands in front of the mirror.” The couple enjoys happiness. Lipa asks to buy the thousandth stroller. Lazarus is ready. Lipa says a French compliment. Lazarus is delighted. Ustinya Naumovna comes to get what she promised. “You never know what I promised!” - Podkhalyuzin directly says to the matchmaker, and she leaves with a hundred-dollar note instead of the promised thousands and an unimportant dress from Lipochka instead of a sable coat. “They didn’t let the baby out of the hole,” Lipochka looked out the window. “Well, no, sir, they won’t let the little one out of the pit any time soon; but it must be assumed that he asked to go home” - and Lazar calls his mother-in-law.
Bolshov had complained about his health before; “As if he came from the other world,” the wife laments. He wants to give the creditors twenty-five kopecks per ruble of debt, as he himself intended at the beginning. They agree (in the debt prison, “pit”, imprisoned debtors were kept at the expense of creditors). But Bolshov sits, and Podkhalyuzin decides: now the money is his. And he refuses with Lipochka’s full support. “I, darling, can’t, sir! God knows, I can’t, sir! - Help me out, kids, help me out! I lived with you, my dear, until I was twenty, but I never saw the world. Well, will you order me to give you the money and go back to wearing cotton dresses? - What are you, what are you! Come to your senses! After all, I’m not asking you for alms, but for my own good! “We, dear, told you that we can’t give you more than ten kopecks, so there’s no point in talking about it.” This is Lipochkina’s last word. “After all, I am malicious - deliberate... I will be sent to Siberia. God! If you don’t give me money, give it for Christ’s sake!” - Bolshov is already crying. Agrafena Kondratyevna loudly curses both her son-in-law and her daughter. The whole result: “So be it, I’ll add another five kopecks,” Lazar sighs. The desperate Bolshov gets up and leaves with Agrafena Kondratyevna.
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“It’s awkward, sir! Quiet! Give me an old frock coat, which is worse.” Podkhalyuzin decides to go and bargain with creditors himself. Rispozhensky appears, like the matchmaker, for the promised money, and he is treated the same as the matchmaker, and even worse: “They must! You should too! It's like he has a document! And for what - fraud! - No, wait! You won't get rid of me with this! - What will you do with me? - My language is not bought. - What, do you want to lick me? - No, not lick, but - I... I’ll do this: respectable audience! - What are you, what are you, wake up! “Look, you’re getting out of your drunken eyes!” Rispozhensky climbs straight into the auditorium shouting: “He robbed his father-in-law! And he’s robbing me... Wife, four children, thin boots!” But the last word here belongs to Podkhalyuzin: “Don’t believe him, what he said, sir, is all lies. None of this happened. He must have dreamed this. But we are opening a store: you are welcome! If you send a little kid, we won’t count him in an onion.”
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