Summary of Kuprin Moloch for a reader's diary

Kuprin. Brief summaries of works

• Allez
• Anathema
• Barbos and Zhulka
• White poodle
• In the bowels of the earth
• At the circus
• In the dark
• Gambrinus
• Garnet bracelet
• Garnet bracelet by chapters
• Zawiraika
• Star of Solomon
• Golden Rooster
• Emerald
• Wheel of Time
• Lilac bush
• Listrigons
• My flight
• Moloch
• At the turning point (cadets)
• Olesya
• Olesya by chapters
• Pirate
• Duel
• Peregrine Falcon
• Holy lie
• Blue Star
• Starlings
• Elephant
• Dog happiness
• Shulamith
• Ballroom pianist
• Brave fugitives
• Four beggars
• Wonderful doctor
• Staff Captain Rybnikov
• Yu-yu
• Juncker
• Pit

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Kuprin A.I. Moloch read summary, retelling

Moloch The story takes place in a steel mill in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The factory whistle blared protractedly, announcing the start of the working day. The cloudy dawn of a rainy August day gave it a tinge of melancholy and menace. The whistle found engineer Andrei Ilyich Bobrov having tea. Recently, Andrei Ilyich suffered greatly from insomnia. The reason for this was a long-standing habit of morphine, with which Bobrov had recently begun a stubborn struggle. From Andrei Ilyich’s window he could see a small square lake surrounded by shaggy willows. Everything was gray and faded. At seven o'clock, putting on an oilskin raincoat with a hood, Bobrov left the house. As always, he felt unwell in the morning, but the worst effect on him was the mental discord that he had recently noticed in himself. Bobrov could not look at life from a practical point of view, like his fellow engineers. Every day, disgust, almost horror, for serving at the factory grew in him. Engineering did not satisfy him, and if not for his mother’s wishes, he would have left the institute in his third year. Bobrov compared himself to a man who had been flayed alive. Bobrov's appearance was dull. He was short and rather thin. The first thing that caught your eye was the large white forehead. Thick, uneven eyebrows met at the bridge of his nose, giving his dark eyes a stern expression. Andrei Ilyich's lips were thin, but not evil, and slightly asymmetrical; the mustache and beard are small, thin, and whitish. The beauty of his ugly face was his smile. When Bobrov laughed, his face became attractive. Bobrov climbed a hillock, and a panorama of the plant opened up to him. It was a real city, all saturated with the smell of sulfur and iron fumes, deafened by the ever-incessant roar. Thousands of people scurried around here, like ants on an anthill. It was a scary and exciting picture. Looking at the hard work of the workers, Bobrov himself seemed to experience some of their physical suffering, and he felt ashamed of his well-being. Andrei Ilyich was standing near the welding furnace when one of his colleagues, Stanislav Ksaverevich Svezhevsky, approached him. Bobrov really did not like this man, with a slightly bent figure, always currying favor with someone and spreading gossip. Svezhevsky said that one of the board members, millionaire Vasily Terentyevich Kvashin, would come to their plant to lay the foundation of a new blast furnace. Kvashin was a huge, fat man with red hair, a famous lover of delicious food and beautiful women. Piquant stories circulated about him in St. Petersburg. Returning from the factory and having a quick lunch, Bobrov ordered his coachman Mitrofan to saddle Farvater, and went on a visit to the Zinenki. The Zinenok family, living in the Shepetovskaya economy, consisted of a father, mother and five daughters. The father was in charge of the warehouse at the plant and was under the thumb of his wife Anna Afanasyevna. Each of the daughters in the family was assigned their own role. The eldest, Maka, a girl with a fish profile, enjoyed the reputation of an angel. Beta was considered smart, wore pince-nez, and even once wanted to enroll in a course. The third daughter, Shurochka, chose to specialize in playing fools with all the single engineers in turn. Nina was considered a common favorite in the family, a spoiled but lovely child. She was completely different from her sisters with their massive figures and rough, vulgar faces. It is not known where Nina got this delicate, fragile figure, almost aristocratic hands, pretty dark face, small ears and thin lush hair. Her parents had high hopes for her, and therefore she was allowed much more than her sisters. The youngest, Kassa, was only fourteen years old, but she far surpassed her sisters in her splendor, and her figure aroused the gaze of the factory youth. This division of family delights was known to everyone. From morning to evening, the Zinenok house was crowded with engineers and student interns, but Bobrov was not liked there. Madame Zinenko's bourgeois tastes were offended by Andrei Ilyich's behavior. Bobrov felt this mute enmity, but still continued to visit Zinenki. The reason for this was Nina. Andrei Ilyich did not know whether he loved her. When he didn’t see Nina for several days, he began to miss her, but as soon as he visited the Zinenoks for three evenings in a row, their company, their constant stereotyped conversations began to torment him. In Bobrov’s soul, longing for Nina alternated with disgust for the boredom and mannerisms of her family. That evening Bobrov managed to be alone with Nina on the balcony. The warm evening, the moon and Nina’s presence had an effect on him, he was more and more inclined to think about marriage and was sure that Nina shared his feelings. In the living room the conversation was about Kvashin. Anna Afanastevna said that tomorrow she would take her girls to the station, where a ceremonial meeting would take place. They said that Kvashin had an annual income of three hundred thousand, and this figure certainly electrified the entire society. Bobrov's heart grew cold and sank. He quietly found his hat and went out onto the porch. No one noticed his departure. At his home, Bobrov found his good friend, Doctor Goldberg. He sincerely loved this meek Jew for his versatile mind and passion for abstract disputes. Such a dispute has begun now. Bobrov considered his work useless and aimless. Goldberg, objecting, said that through his work an engineer moves progress forward. - Don't tell me about the benefits! - Bobrov shouted. — Each worker gives the entrepreneur three months of his life per year, a week per month, or six hours per day. Two days of work for the entire plant devours a whole person! The copper gentlemen, Moloch and Dagon, would blush with shame and resentment in front of the figures that I have just given. This peculiar mathematics amazed not only Goldberg, but also Bobrov himself. Andrei Ilyich opened the window, and Goldberg saw a factory, over which stood a huge red fluctuating glow. The electric lights mixed their bluish, deathly glow with the purple light of the red-hot iron. An incessant clang and roar rushed from there. - Here he is - Moloch, demanding warm human blood! - Bobrov shouted, extending his thin hand out the window. Overcome by pity and fear, Dr. Goldberg put Bobrov to bed and sat next to him for a long time, stroking his head and speaking kind, soothing words. The next day, a solemn meeting of Vasily Terentyevich Kvashin took place at the Ivankovo ​​station. By eleven o'clock the entire factory board, headed by the director, Sergei Valeryanovich Shelkovnikov, had gathered there. Few knew that Shelkovnikov was a director only on paper. In reality, all the affairs were handled by the Belgian engineer Andrea, half-Pole, half-Swedish by nationality. The Zinenok family was also present here. When Andrei Ilyich saw them, he experienced two vague feelings at the same time. On the one hand, he felt ashamed of the tactless arrival of this family; on the other hand, he was happy to see Nina. In his sick, tormented soul, an unbearable desire for tender girlish love, a thirst for soothing female affection suddenly ignited. Bobrov looked for an opportunity to approach Nina, but she was busy all the time. This opportunity presented itself when everyone came out onto the platform. For several minutes, Andrei Ilyich was left alone with Nina, but again he could not confess his feelings to her. He was embarrassed by the duality in Nina’s character, when from a gentle, sophisticated girl she suddenly turned into a provincial young lady with a stereotyped set of phrases. Nina said that she is a product of the environment in which she grew up and is aware of her ordinariness, but cannot fight it and realizes its severity only when communicating with Bobrov, because she has never met a person like him. It seemed to her that she was speaking sincerely. On the spur of the moment, Nina felt the need to say something nice to Bobrov. Andrei Ilyich had barely mustered up the courage to confess when a courier train jumped out from around a bend in the railroad. Kvashin was one of the shareholders of the N railway and traveled in his own carriage. From the carriage window, Kvashin noticed Nina and immediately became interested in her. After listening to a short report, Kvashin left the carriage onto the glassed-in platform. He stood behind a glass wall, looking like a crude Japanese idol. Those greeting him looked at Kvashin with servility, almost with fear. Looking into Nina's face, Bobrov bitterly noticed on it the same smile and the same anxious fear of a savage looking at his idol. The laying of a new blast furnace and a prayer service took place four days after Kvashin’s arrival. Almost three thousand workers attended the prayer service. Something elemental, powerful and at the same time childish and touching seemed to Bobrov in this common prayer of the gray huge mass. Tomorrow the workers will begin their hard work. Some of them are already destined to pay with their lives in this work. And is this not what they are thinking about now, making low bows? These thoughts sent a cold wave of nervous excitement running down Andrei Ilyich’s back and head. After the prayer service, the shareholders were shown around the plant, showing all the workshops in turn. At the end, everyone gathered in the steam boiler department. This was the “heart of the plant.” Shelkovnikov led the guests to a gala dinner, and Bobrov remained near the steam boilers. Standing on the edge of a deep stone pit, he looked at the hard work of the stokers. It seemed to Bobrov that they were feeding an insatiable, gluttonous monster. Dr. Goldberg approached him. Bobrov told him how easily this Moloch could be destroyed, all you need to do is heat the cauldron properly and then pour cold water into it. Bobrov was joking, but his voice was strangely serious, and his eyes looked stern and sad. Andrei Ilyich did not go to lunch - he hated “engineers’ lunches.” Evil tongues began to call. No one doubted the real reason for Kvashin’s sudden rapprochement with the Zinenok family. Kvashin spent his evenings with them every day, and in the mornings he invited the young ladies to his place for breakfast. Regarding all five girls, Kvashin behaved like a single and cheerful uncle, fulfilling all their whims and showering them with expensive gifts. Svezhevsky became a regular guest in the Zinenok house. Nobody called him, he appeared on his own and immediately managed to become necessary for all family members. His instinct told him that the circumstances were very favorable for his future career. Kvashin silently tolerated Svezhevsky in his presence. All this became known to Bobrov, but he was only worried that the gossip could touch Nina with its dirty tail. Jealousy was alien to Andrei Ilyich’s trusting nature. All these days Bobrov recalled the conversation at the station. He was irresistibly drawn to the Zinenki, but was embarrassed by Kvashin’s presence, and Andrei Ilyich was looking forward to his departure. However, chance helped him see Nina before Kvashin’s departure. This happened on Sunday, two days after the celebration, during a horseback ride. Nina rode an English mare, a gift from Kvashin, and Svezhevsky accompanied her. Nina invited Bobrov to a luxurious picnic that Kvashin was throwing for her on Wednesday in Beshenaya Balka. Bobrov did not want to go, but Nina insisted on it. Saying goodbye to her, Andrei Ilyich felt the warmth of her hand through his glove, and Nina’s dark eyes looked lovingly. Up to ninety people were invited to the picnic. They all gathered on the railway station platform. Kvashin's first surprise was an emergency train, richly decorated with flowers. He had to take the picnic participants to the 303rd verst, from where there were no more than five hundred steps to go to the Beshenaya Balka. In the morning, wives, sisters and mothers of workers began to gather at the station. When questioned by the station authorities, they answered that they needed a “red-haired and fat boss.” As soon as Vasily Terentyevich appeared, they rushed to him with a request to insulate their barracks and install stoves for cooking. Kvashin confidently promised to fulfill their request as quickly as possible, and then said in a low voice to Shelkovnikov: “You will order two bricks to be stacked near the barracks tomorrow.” This will comfort them for a long time. Let them admire. Nina's behavior embarrassed Andrei Ilyich. He waited excitedly at the station for her arrival and believed in his imminent happiness, but Nina didn’t even look at him. When Andrei Ilyich came up to help Nina get out of the carriage, she quickly and easily jumped out of the carriage on the other side. Bobrov realized from Anna Afanasyevna’s face that she did not approve of their relationship. Nevertheless, Bobrov decided to go on a picnic and get an answer from Nina. Surrounded by forest, the picnic area was strewn with fine sand. At one end there was an octagonal pavilion, decorated with flags and greenery, at the other - a covered stage for musicians. The tables were set in the pavilion. Two weeks ago this site was a slope dotted with sparse bushes. As soon as the invitees appeared on the site, the orchestra began to play a march, and then a waltz. The dancing has begun. Bobrov did not like to dance, but still decided to invite Nina to a square dance so that he could communicate with her during the dance, but it turned out that all of Nina’s dances were scheduled. A long-familiar, dull and indifferent melancholy took possession of Bobrov. The measured sounds of music caused a headache. But he hasn't lost hope yet. When it began to get dark, long chains of multi-colored Chinese lanterns were lit around the pavilion, and two electric spotlights flashed with a dazzling bluish light at both ends of the site. The ball continued on. Bobrov managed to stay alone with Nina only around nine o’clock in the evening. He decided to force her to explain himself no matter what. At first Nina tried to avoid conversation, but then she admitted that it was her mother’s will. Ann Afanasyevna immediately appeared and took her daughter by the hand, on the way ordering her to invite Kvashin to the dance. As if in a distant gray fog, Bobrov saw how Nina carried out her mother’s orders. With chairs rattling, the company sat down at the tables, but Bobrov continued to stand where Nina had left him. There were no tears, but something burning stung my eyes, and there was a dry, prickly ball in my throat. Bobrov was found by Dr. Goldberg and taken to the table. Bobrov's neighbor on the other side turned out to be Andrea. He was drunk. Only six months later it became known that this hardworking, talented man, erudite and speaking all European languages, drank alone every evening until he lost consciousness. Bobrov also decided to drink cognac, hoping that this would make him feel better. But the wine had no effect on him. On the contrary, he became even more sad. Meanwhile, Kvashin rose from the table with a glass of champagne in his hand and made a pompous speech, after which everyone shouted “Hurray!” to him. Then some kind of orgy of eloquence began. Some toasts were ambiguous and playfully indecent. Suddenly Kvashin stood up again and announced the engagement of Nina and Svezhevsky. Andrea, who heard a painful groan next to him, turned around and saw Bobrov’s pale face, distorted by internal suffering. Andre stood up confidently and made an ironic toast, in which he congratulated Svezhevsky on his appointment to the post of managing director of the company's board of directors. This appointment was a wedding gift for the newlyweds from Kvashin. Andre wished the groom good luck in his new career in St. Petersburg. His speech was interrupted by a loud horse's stomping. A man emerged from the thicket with his face twisted in horror. It was the foreman, he reported that there was unrest at the plant. Panic and stampede began. Someone turned off the electric lights, and this further increased the general confusion. The pale half-light of the dawning day gave this picture a terrible, almost fantastic character. Bobrov could not find Mitrofan. Suddenly a bright torch lit up above the crowd, people quickly parted, and Kvashin rode along the resulting road on his three gray horses. For a moment it seemed to Bobrov that it was not Kvashin who was coming at all, but some bloodied, ugly and menacing deity, similar to an idol of Eastern cults. Bobrov trembled with impotent rage. Turning around, Andrei Ilyich discovered that he was standing near his cab. He got into it and told Mitrofan to drive to the factory. On the horizon, a huge glow was reflected in the clouds crawling across the sky. Bobrov looked at him, and triumphant gloating stirred in him. Andre’s daring toast opened his eyes to everything: Nina’s cold restraint, her mother’s indignation, Svezhevsky’s closeness to Vasily Terentyevich, and Kvashin’s own gossip about Nina’s courtship. The wine he drank did not intoxicate Andrei Ilyich. His thoughts worked quickly, brightly and randomly, as if in a fever. Soon the plant became visible, shrouded in milky pink smoke. Behind, like a gigantic fire, a lumber yard was burning. The red glow of the fire was reflected in the brown water of the quadrangular pond. The dam of this pond was covered with a huge black crowd that seemed to be boiling. Stones were thrown at Bobrov, one blow landed slightly above his temple. Warm, sticky blood flowed. Suddenly the horses stopped. Ahead, Bobro saw a black, uneven wall, which turned out to be a crowded crowd of workers. Having walked a few steps forward, Bobrov got lost. Weakened by everything that had happened, he lost consciousness. Having woken up from fainting, Bobrov discovered that he was near the plant. He rose to his feet with difficulty and walked towards the blast furnaces. Bobrov wandered between the empty factory buildings and spoke with him by himself. He wanted to keep, put in order scattering thoughts. Bobrov felt that he needed to do something big and important, but what exactly-he forgot and could not remember in any way. In one of the bright gaps of consciousness, he saw himself standing above the stoker pit. With extraordinary brightness, he remembered a recent conversation with the doctor in this very place. There were no Kochegarov on the spot. Andrei Ilyich jumped down, grabbed a shovel and began to poke coal into both furnace holes, smiling slyly and publishing meaningless exclamations. The painful and vengeful thought took possession of them more and more. Finally, everything was ready, it remains only to turn a small valve, but the unusual work was tired of Bobrov, and he did not do this last movement. The sun has already risen over the horizon when Andrei Ilyich came to the factory hospital. Bobrov’s view was terrible. He began to beg Goldberg to inject his morphine. The doctor took his hand and took him to another room, where he tried to dissuade him from this fatal step. He did not succeed. The doctor sighed and took out a syringe from the pharmacy cabinet. Soon Bobrov was already lying on the couch in a deep dream. A sweet smile played his pale face. The doctor carefully washed his head.