The poor bride

Data
Title:	The poor bride
Original title:	Бедная невеста (Bednaâ nevesta)
Genus:	comedy
Original language:	Russian
Author:	Alexander Ostrowski
Publishing year:	1852
Premiere:	August 20, 1853
Place of premiere:	Maly Theater , Moscow
people
	Anna Petrovna Nesabudkina , civil servant widow; Marja Andreevna , her daughter; Vladimir Wassiljewitsch Meritsch; Ivan Ivanovich Milashin; Platon Markowitsch Dobrotworski , an old lawyer; Maxim Dorofejewitsch Benewolensky , an official; Arina Yegorovna Khorkova , widow; Mikhailo Ivanovich Khorkov , her son, former student; Karpovna , matchmaker; Pankratjewna , matchmaker; Darja , housemaid for the Nesabudkins; A boy in Dobrotworski's service; Dunja and Pascha , two young women; A servant and some people watching the wedding celebrations in Act 5;

The Poor Bride ( Russian Бедная невеста ) is a five-act comedy by Alexander Ostrowski . It was published in 1852 and premiered in Moscow the following year. A translation of the piece into German is not known.

content

first act

Anna Petrovna complains about her predicament: Her deceased husband left her and her daughter Marja (Mascha) in debt as well as legal proceedings (never described in detail). If only Mascha - the eponymous “poor bride” - could be married off quickly! The mother has u. a. the former confidante of her husband, the lawyer Dobrotworski, set to find a suitable man for Mascha. The two matchmakers Karpowna and Pankratjewna also allegedly have some applicants on the hook (but neither play a role in the further course of the play).

Mascha herself apparently has an eye on the young heartbreaker Meritsch. Milashin is already vying for Mascha's favor and makes Meritsch his main competitor. Last but not least, Chorkova also wants to marry her son to Mascha.

Second act

The former student Chorkov has so far made nothing of his life and is too insecure to test his chances with Mascha. She in turn confesses to him that she is in love with Meritsch. Khorkov and Milashin agree that Meritsch is an immoral show-off and appear to be banding against him. Mascha meanwhile confesses her love to Meritsch, and he his his. Dobrotworski has meanwhile received Benewolenski, who is looking for a wife to take care of the household. Benevolensky is a dull official with no musical disposition and is not averse to drinking. Mascha is repulsed when he is introduced to her as a possible future husband.

Third act

When the mother is out of the house, Milashin appears first, but Mascha sends him away because she is expecting Meritsch. When the latter shows up, she is overjoyed. The two get closer and exchange kisses.

The mother returns home with Dobrotworski, the court case seems to have been lost, and the house must be mortgaged. Mascha's marriage to Benevolensky appears to be the last resort, but Mascha refuses. They agree to wait some time. Meanwhile, Chorkova is angry that her son was rejected by Mascha. She also reports to Anna Petrovna about the rumors about Meritsch's daily visit to her daughter. Through Dobrotworski's mediation, the waves are smoothed out somewhat.

Fourth act

Benewolensky writes that he will take care of the hopeless court case if the marriage works. He urges a quick answer. Mascha sends Darja to Meritsch because he has not reported for days. Meanwhile Milashin shows up and warns Mascha again about Meritsch. While he is on his way to get evidence for these allegations, Meritsch shows up himself. He wanders around to Masha and explains that he cannot marry her, and says goodbye. Meanwhile, Milashin brings some love letters from Meritsch's hand, but Mascha no longer needs this evidence. Milashin wants to help her, but Mascha won't let him get close.

When her mother appears, Masha agrees to marry Benevolensky, apparently the only way to cope with poverty. Last but not least, Khorkov turns up, in a drunken state, and apologizes for his mother's behavior. The confession of his love for Mascha is ineffective, however, her marriage to Benevolensky is decided. Desperate about her hopeless situation, she bursts into tears.

Fifth act

The wedding is imminent. Some curious passers-by look in, but are chased away by Darja. Meritsch appears again to finally say goodbye. He is impressed by Masha's serene way of dealing with her quickly faded love, but above all he is happy that his meanwhile conquering of her heart ends so lightly for him.

Before the festivities, Benevolensky tells Dobrotworski that he too once conquered the heart of a young girl and then left her. He just wanted to make sure she didn't show up to disrupt the festivities. Exactly this former lover, Dunja, now appears. She tells of her pain when he left her back then, but does not make a scene. The wedding goes on as planned, Masha's mother is satisfied. Masha herself is still sad about her situation, but seems to have come to terms with it.

The last dialogue belongs to a few passers-by:

Одна из толпы. Эта, что ль, невеста-то? Старуха. Эта, матушка, эта. Женщина. Ишь ты, как плачет, бедная. Старуха. Да, матушка, бедная: за красоту берет.	One of the crowd. Is that the bride? Old woman. That's her, mother, that's her. A woman. Oh, how she cries, arms. Old woman. Yes, mother, she is poor: he takes her because she is pretty.

Full text

the comedy in the Russian original (lib.ru)