The famous Russian and Soviet writer Leonid Leonov left a significant mark in the literature. Many of his works are highly praised by critics and loved by readers. One of them is the play The Golden Carriage. A summary of this dramatic work is given in this article. From it you can understand what this author was and whether it is worth reading his other books.
The story of the play
Leonid Leonov’s play “The Golden Carriage,” a summary of which is in the proposed material, is one of his most dramatic works. It is noteworthy that she came to us in three editions.
The first was written in 1946, immediately after the end of World War II. Then the author rethought a lot and presented the second option to the public in 1955. Soon after, her premiere took place on the stage of the Moscow Art Theater. The production was also successful on other stages of Soviet cities, and foreign theater directors drew attention to it. In particular, in Czechoslovakia, Poland and Romania. Leonov presented the final version of his work in 1967. He is published in all modern editions of the anthology of this author.
Writer Leonid Leonov
Leonid Leonov himself was born in Moscow in 1899. He played a significant role in Soviet literature for almost 60 years. He is considered one of the main masters of socialist realism. Modern scholars have noted his great interest in moral issues in the traditions of Christianity, as well as in the continuation of the traditions of Dostoevsky in Russian literature.
The bibliography of the author consists of several novels, which he wrote at regular intervals, often quite lengthy. His most famous major works are Badgers, Thief, Sot, Skutarevsky, Road to the Ocean and Russian Forest. The latest work was one of the first in Russia, which directly touched on environmental issues that in the near future threaten the country and humanity.
He also owns a huge, one and a half thousand pages, mystical and philosophical novel "Pyramid", on which he worked for about 40 years. He managed to publish it only in the year of his death - in 1994.
Dramatic experience
Since the 30s, Leonov has been actively writing dramatic works. Success in the theaters enjoyed his plays "Untilovsk", "The Wolf, or Sandukov's Escape", "Invasion", "Mr. McKinley's Escape". The latter was even filmed in 1975 by director Mikhail Schweitzer.
And, of course, the play The Golden Carriage. The summary, of course, will not allow to understand the whole essence of this work, but this will be enough to get acquainted with the work of Leonov in general terms.
The first act of the play
The events of the play "Golden Carriage", a brief summary of the actions presented below, takes place in the front-line town, just a few months after the end of World War II. Outside 1945. The Soviet Union defeated fascism, but the joy that overwhelmed everyone in the early days had subsided. She was replaced by an awareness of the consequences and destruction that the war left.
The play begins in a hotel located in a former monastery. New guests arrive at it - academician-geologist Kareev and his own son Julius. The innkeeper, Nepryakhin, escorts them to his room, but the guests do not like him. It only remains for that to justify that after the war, almost the entire housing stock is in such a state.
Kareev realizes that the voice and look of Nepryakhin seem familiar to him. It turns out that they are old friends. Kareev many years ago left this town, having left for the Pamir. Both friends begin to remember their whole lives.
While Kareev talks about his first love, Colonel Berezkin appears in the room, who offers a drink. Starting with the first edition of the Golden Carriage play, a brief summary of the chapters of which is given in this article, this person has been one of the key characters. In this city, the family of a front-line soldier died, but he returned to him then to punish the coward-captain, who served in his subordination.
At the end of the evening, Marka, the daughter of Kareev’s first lover, comes to visit them. She captivates Julia with her beauty.
Second action
The second action of Leonov’s play “The Golden Carriage”, a brief summary of which is presented here, takes place at the house of the owner of the hotel Nepryakhin. He lives with his wife and blind son Timothy.
Tobun-Turkovskaya comes to visit them before dinner, who begins to gossip about Shchelkanov, the very captain Berezkin is looking for. He is now the director of the factory. Everyone around is trying to arrange his personal life, as they believe that his current wife, the former lover of Kareeva, has already grown old. Tired of gossip, Nepryakhin kicks her out.
Then the wife of Maria Shchelkanova appears, who is now chairing. She brings an expensive accordion. Everyone understands that this is a gift so that Timothy retreats from her daughter. Before the war they were considered a couple, and now nobody needs a blind harmonist. The family refuses the gift, and Timothy declares that he will leave the city.
The next guest is Colonel Berezkin, who gives the chairman a letter from her husband, in which he declares his love for their common neighbor and asks to pat about his transfer to the rear. This letter from him was still at the front. Then the whole essence of Shchelkanov became clear.
The chairwoman already knew that her husband was cheating on her, but now it turned out that he was also a coward. Berezkin wants the family to hate Shchelkanov. The wife was disappointed in him for a long time, but the daughter only now finds out what kind of person he really is.
Third action
The third action of L. Leonov’s play “The Golden Carriage,” a brief summary of which is in front of you, moves to the chair of the chair. Tobun-Turkovskaya comes to her and sets out her problem: her pupil Fimochka is going to get married, and the groom lives in his wife’s apartment and does not have his own apartment. Therefore, she asks to evict the Nepryahins and put young people in their place.
It dawns on the chairman that this is her husband. She calls her husband and asks to disappear from her life forever. Kareev appears, who talks about his successes, and then Marka with his son. The Kareevs call the girl at sea, she almost agrees. They part, having made a promise to come to Markin's name day.
Fourth, final action
The final action of the play "The Golden Carriage", the brief content of which is set forth here, takes place on the birthday of the chairman's daughter. All the guests came, not only her mother, who is busy in the City Council.
At this time, Nepryakhin’s wife persuades Mark not to miss her chance, her prince in a golden carriage, referring to Julia. However, Marka, in the end, refuses to travel to the sea. She decides to sacrifice herself for the love of a man like Timothy. However, Julius calls her again, and she suddenly changes her mind, believing that the time has come to see the world. She rushes after Julia, asking her mother to explain to Timothy that she is not to blame for anything.
The play ends with the chairwoman ceremoniously raising a glass of champagne after her daughter.
Idea of the play
So, we got acquainted with the summary. Leonov in the "Golden Carriage" the main idea is the problem of choice, which every person faces. And also that the actions of the past affect our present.
Most of the play is devoted to the concept of "self-sacrifice." All the main characters of the work do not live for their own sake, but for the sake of relatives and friends. In one of the versions of the play, Mark remained with her blind fiancé.