Even the cleverest does something stupid

Data
Title:	Even the cleverest does something stupid
Original title:	На всякого мудреца довольно простоты (Na vsâkogo mudreca dovolʹno prostoty)
Genus:	comedy
Original language:	Russian
Author:	Alexander Ostrowski
Publishing year:	1868
Premiere:	November 1, 1868
Place of premiere:	Alexandrinsky Theater , Saint Petersburg
Place and time of the action:	Moscow
people
Jegór Dmítritsch Glúmow , a young man Glafíra Klímowna Glúmowa , his mother Nil Fedosséjitsch Mamájew , a wealthy man, distantly related to Glúmows Cleopatra Lwówna Mamájewa , his wife Krutízkij , an old, very important gentleman Iwán Iwánowitsch Gorodúlin , a young, very important gentleman Jegór Wassíljitsch Kurtschájew , hussar officer Golútwin , a man without employment Sófja Ignátjewna Turússina , wealthy noble widow from the merchant class Máschenka , her niece Grigórij , servant at Turússins Manéfa , a woman who deals with beings and prophecies two old women who parasitize the Turússina Servant at Mamájews Krutzkiy's servant

Even the cleverest does something stupid (also under the title Klugsein does not protect against folly , Russian На всякого мудреца довольно простоты ) is a comedy in five acts by Alexander Ostrowski . It appeared in 1868 and was premiered in the same year.

content

Stanislavski as Krutitskij in a production from 1910.

first act

The young satirist Glumow has his eye on Maschenka, the niece of the richly widowed Turussina. His rival Kurchayev pays him a visit, along with the unemployed Golutwin, who wants to publish a journal. They want to induce Glumow to participate with his mocking verses. But Glumow refuses. He just wants to fudge praise in public. From now on he only wants to secretly record his mockery in a private diary.

Glumov has a distant relative, an uncle named Mamayev. He has "about thirty nephews" and likes to teach wisdom. Glumow manages to ingratiate himself with his uncle by pretending that he finds his advice useful. At the same time he can discredit Kurchayev, also one of the many nephews, by showing him a derisive caricature that Kurchayev had made of him.

Second act

Krutitsky asks Mamayev if he knows anyone who can modernize the style of his planned memorandum. Meanwhile, Glumov's mother takes over the task of gumming Mamayev's wife. Glumov, for his part, tries to win a post with the influential Gorodulin through the Mamayeva. In fact, this will be arranged in a moment. When Gorodulin notices how eloquent Glumow is, he asks him to write a speech for him.

Mamajew, meanwhile, encourages Glumov to flatter his wife in order to tickle her vanity. Glumow agrees and confesses his love to his aunt. In return, he asked Mamayev to get in touch with Turussina in order to get closer to her niece Maschenka.

Third act

Maschenka talks to her aunt about possible marriage candidates. Both want to distance themselves from the average and penniless Kurchayev. When Krutitsky snows in briefly, he recommends that his aunt consider Glumov as a candidate. A little later the aunt receives a visit from Gorodulin, who also speaks highly of Glumow. The Turussina consults the fortune teller Manefa, who predicts that the right candidate will appear in a moment, and indeed, Mamayev comes in with Glumov in tow.

Fourth act

Glumow delivered a "Трактат о вреде реформ вообще" ("Treatise on the damage of all reforms") to Krutitskij as requested by him. He also admits that he wants to ask for Maschenka's hand and that he wants him to be the bride's father. Krutitsky agrees. However, he chatted the fact that Glumow wanted to marry the not of Turussina because of a 200,000 ruble dowry from Glumow's aunt. This feels hurt in her honor, because her nephew had flattered her himself with his confession of love shortly before.

Mamayeva then confronts Glumov. He denies everything, but she doesn't believe him. Golutwin appears to blackmail Glumow: he followed him every step of the way and wrote a diatribe about him. He threatens to publish it in his magazine if Glumov doesn't pay him 25 rubles. Ultimately, Glumow pays, but in the excitement he left his diary unattended, which is full of wickedness against his fellow men, including Mamayeva. She has taken it and now wants to take revenge on him. When Glumow notices the loss, he is beside himself. He immediately suspects Mamayeva and ponders: "Women take terrible revenge, a woman can think of a meanness that a man never thinks of".

Fifth act

When everyone gathers in the Turussin villa, the truth emerges. A newspaper article is handed in with the announced article on details from Glumow's life. The diary is also included as proof that this report is true. Krutitsky vouches that it is really Glumov's handwriting. Mamayev reads some passages out loud. For example, it is revealed that Glumow had bribed the fortune teller to predict his appearance at the end of the 3rd act. Glumov also sent anonymous letters to Turussina that slandered his rival Kurchayev. Kurchayev, on the other hand, has won back Maschenka's favor.

Some other mockery of Glumov is read out, for example at Krutitsky's endless teachings. But instead of apologizing afterwards, Glumow begins a speech: “You were outraged by my diary. I don't know how it got into your hands. Even the cleverest do something stupid. ”The hypocrisy of others was only tolerable for him by keeping his diary. The insults in it would have been well received by everyone, as long as it wasn't about you. He announces that they will have to suffer for it and says goodbye.

Full text

• the comedy in the Russian original at Lib.ru

expenditure

Alexander N. Ostrowskij: Even the cleverest can do something stupid. Comedy in five acts (six images). In: A. N. Ostrowskij: Dramatic works in 4 volumes. Volume 3, pp. 7-95. Berlin: Aufbau-Verlag 1951.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Personal names based on the translation by Johannes von Guenther published by Aufbau-Verlag .