Lermontov’s dramaturgy is not as famous as his poetry, but in the context of Russian culture is no less significant. Performances on "Masquerade" still collect full halls. Therefore, it is very important to know the plot and main events of such a relevant book. To do this, a brief retelling of the drama from the Literaguru team will do. And to appreciate the global intent of the author and understand how to apply the arguments from the book, read the analysis of the work.
Action I
The nobleman Evgeny Aleksandrovich Arbenin married and did not appear in the world for a long time. He comes during a card game in which Prince Zvezdich is played. Arbenin meets an old friend Kazarin, and also gets acquainted with Shprikh, which he does not like. Eugene is a former player, and he decides to sit at the table instead of the prince. Arbenin wins, greatly helping Zvezdich. He thanks him. Arbenin suggests going to the masquerade to the house of Engelhard, and the prince agrees. The spray follows them, wanting to get to know the lucky player closer.
At the masquerade, a certain lady comes up to Zvezdich, hiding her face under a mask, and has signs of attention. The prince swears that he will not unravel the identity of the stranger. At this time, Arbenin drags a masked stranger by the hand. He prophesies misfortune to Eugene and disappears into the crowd. The hero believes that this is most likely some kind of cowardly enemy. This episode finds Shprikh, and Arbenin insults him. The spray to himself wishes him to be “in the horns,” that is, to become the one to whom they cheat.
The stranger in the mask realizes that it is necessary to leave something to the prince as a keepsake, but giving away her jewelry is too dangerous. She randomly finds someone’s defended bracelet and gives it to him. Prince Zvezdich boasts of a trophy in front of Arbenin, and he understands that he is familiar with the jewelry, but does not remember where.
Eugene returned from the event before the wife of Nina, and this fact vaguely worries him. She arrives, and Arbenin notices the absence of one of the bracelets on her arm. A terrible picture is formed in the head of the spouse - his lady is cheating on him. He makes a scandal, but the girl does not understand what she is guilty of, and says that she will buy a new accessory tomorrow. The whole conflict ends with Nina's tears, and the man says: “Crying. Too bad it's too late! ”
Action II
Nina Arbenina visited Baroness Stral, and Prince Zvezdich came to the same place. He tells the girl that he saw her in the store, and she says that she bought a replacement for a lost bracelet. Zvezdich claims that it was she who coquetted with him on the masquerade, but Nina was offended by such conversations. She hurriedly leaves, because the baroness is interested in the prince what happened. He tells everything, and the Baroness is too scared for her reputation. If he so easily told his assumption, then what will happen to the truth? And the truth is that it was the Baroness who was hiding under the guise of a mysterious stranger. Yet she chooses the salvation of her own honor. Shprikh comes to her right here, and the Baroness tells him about the connection between Nina and Zvezdich. Shprikh understands the hint and hurries to spread this rumor.
Arbenin finds a letter for Nina from Prince Zvezdich. All his doubts about his wife’s guilt go away. Eugene decides to kill his wife's lover while he is sleeping, but does not dare to take this step. Immediately he meets with the Baroness, who wants to tell the whole truth to the hero, but does not dare. Arbenin is angry, believes that it was his interlocutor who brought his wife to the prince. Zvezdich wakes up, and the Baroness confesses everything, warns that he is in danger. He is shocked and finds a note from Arbenin that he is waiting for him tonight at a certain N. Zvezdich does not see any threat in this invitation.
But in vain. Arriving at the indicated place, the prince plays cards with Arbenin. And during the game, Eugene claims that Prince Zvezdich is a sharpie. The player does not understand what is the matter, and Arbenin throws cards in his face. From now on, every person in society considers it low to speak with the prince. The libel victim challenges the accuser to a duel, but he refuses. All this is a carefully planned revenge for flirting with Nina.
Action III
Arbenin and his wife come to the ball. There comes Prince Zvezdich, whom the rest of the guests avoid. The prince tells Nina everything and returns her bracelet. He warns that her husband is a real villain. When leaving, the disgraced hero reports that he is leaving for the Caucasus. Eugene finds this whole conversation and decides to kill his wife. He recalls that since the old days, when he was a player, he stores powder with poison, which became a kind of talisman for him. Pouring poison into the ice cream, he gives it to the girl. So that no one else gets poisoned, Arbenin allegedly accidentally breaks up poisoned dishes. At the ball is the Unknown, who predicted the misfortune of the protagonist. He knows about the intentions of Eugene, but gives the opportunity to commit a crime, although he struggled to control himself.
The couple returned home and everyone, including the servants, noticed how pale Nina was. She says she is unwell. Gradually Arbenin reveals to her his terrible act, but his wife can not believe it. She is getting worse, she asks to call a doctor, but Eugene locked the door and does not respond to the request. The unhappy woman understands that her husband thought everything through and that no one would help her. She completely denies her guilt. The husband does not believe her, but the heroine says that she is honest with God. Finally. the woman is dying.
Action IV
Nina's funeral is coming. Arbenin is very tired, looks pale. The doctor and others advise him to rest. But then to Eugene come Unknown and Prince Zvezdich. Unknown tells the hero how he once lost a huge amount of money to his cards a long time ago and turned out to be a despised society. At first, Eugene did not recognize the Unknown, but gradually began to remember. Unknown learned that Arbenin was married and happy, and therefore decided to avenge him for his shame.
The victims at the hands of Arbenin tell him the truth - Nina did not cheat on him, moreover, she rejected all flirtation from Zvezdich. This is confirmed in a letter by the Baroness, who recently left for the village. Eugene realizes what he has done, trying to go where the coffin with his wife’s body is. He is losing his mind, he is sitting on the floor, his eyes are motionless. The unknown says that he had avenged his revenge, and Prince Zvezdich does not understand whether peace and honor have returned to him.
