Brief summary of the landowner in the nobility. "The tradesman in the nobility

It would seem, what else does the venerable bourgeois Mr. Jourdain need? Money, family, health - he has everything you could want. But no, Jourdain decided to become an aristocrat, to become like noble gentlemen. His mania caused a lot of inconvenience and unrest for the household, but it was beneficial to a host of tailors, hairdressers and teachers, who promised to use their art to make a brilliant noble gentleman out of Jourdain. So now two teachers - dance and music - together with their students were waiting for the owner of the house to appear. Jourdain invited them to decorate the dinner he was throwing in honor of a titled person with a cheerful and elegant performance.

The robe, however, caused some hesitation, since Jourdain could not decide for a long time how it would be more convenient for him to listen to music - with or without it. Having listened to the serenade, he found it a bit bland and, in turn, performed a lively street song, for which he again received praise and an invitation, in addition to other sciences, to also study music and dancing. Jourdain was convinced to accept this invitation by the teachers’ assurances that every noble gentleman would certainly learn both music and dancing.

A pastoral dialogue was prepared for the upcoming reception by the music teacher. Jourdain, in general, liked it: since you can’t do without these eternal shepherdesses and shepherdesses, okay, let them sing to themselves. Jourdain really liked the ballet presented by the dance teacher and his students.

Inspired by the success of the employer, the teachers decided to strike while the iron was hot: the musician advised Jourdain to organize weekly home concerts, as is done, according to him, in all aristocratic houses; the dance teacher immediately began to teach him the most exquisite of dances - the minuet.

Exercises in graceful body movements were interrupted by a fencing teacher, a teacher of science - the ability to deliver blows, but not receive them himself. The dance teacher and his fellow musician unanimously disagreed with the fencer's statement about the absolute priority of the ability to fight over their time-honored arts. The people got carried away, word for word - and a couple of minutes later a fight broke out between three teachers.

When the philosophy teacher arrived, Jourdain was delighted - who else but the philosopher should admonish the fighting. He willingly took up the task of reconciliation: he remembered Seneca, warned his opponents against anger that demeans human dignity, advised him to take up philosophy, this first of the sciences... Here he went too far. They began to beat him like the others.

The battered, but still uninjured philosophy teacher was finally able to begin his lesson. Since Jourdain refused to study both logic - the words there are too tricky - and ethics - why does he need the science to moderate passions, if it doesn’t matter, once he breaks up, nothing will stop him - the learned man began to initiate him into the secrets of spelling.

Practicing the pronunciation of vowel sounds, Jourdain rejoiced like a child, but when the first delight passed, he revealed a big secret to the philosophy teacher: he, Jourdain, is in love with a certain high-society lady, and he needs to write a note to this lady. For a philosopher this was a piece of cake - in prose or poetry. However, Jourdain asked him to do without this very prose and poetry. Did the respectable bourgeois know that here one of the most stunning discoveries in his life awaited him - it turns out that when he shouted to the maid: “Nicole, give me your shoes and nightcap,” the purest prose came from his lips, just think!

However, in the field of literature, Jourdain was still no stranger - no matter how hard the philosophy teacher tried, he was unable to improve the text composed by Jourdain: “Beautiful Marquise! Your beautiful eyes promise me death from love.”

The philosopher had to leave when Jourdain was informed about the tailor. He brought a new suit, made, naturally, according to the latest court fashion. The tailor's apprentices, while dancing, made a new one and, without interrupting the dance, dressed Jourdain in it. At the same time, his wallet suffered greatly: the apprentices did not skimp on flattering “Your Grace,” “Your Excellency,” and even “Your Lordship,” and the extremely touched Jourdain did not skimp on tips.

In a new suit, Jourdain intended to stroll through the streets of Paris, but his wife resolutely opposed his intention - half the city was already laughing at Jourdain. In general, in her opinion, it was time for him to come to his senses and leave his stupid quirks: why, one might ask, does Jourdain fencing if he does not intend to kill anyone? Why learn to dance when your legs are about to give out anyway?

Objecting to the woman’s senseless arguments, Jourdain tried to impress her and the maid with the fruits of his learning, but without much success: Nicole calmly pronounced the sound “u”, not even suspecting that at the same time she was stretching her lips and bringing the upper jaw closer to the lower one, and with a rapier she easily struck Jourdain received several injections, which he did not deflect, since the unenlightened maid did not inject according to the rules.

For all the nonsense that her husband indulged in, Madame Jourdain blamed the noble gentlemen who had recently begun to make friends with him. For the court dandies, Jourdain was an ordinary cash cow, and he, in turn, was confident that friendship with them would give him significant—what’s their name—pre-ro-ga-tives.

One of these high-society friends of Jourdain was Count Dorant. As soon as he entered the drawing room, this aristocrat paid several exquisite compliments to the new suit, and then briefly mentioned that this morning he had spoken about Jourdain in the royal bedchamber. Having prepared the ground in this manner, the count reminded him that he owed his friend fifteen thousand eight hundred livres, so there was a direct reason for him to lend him another two thousand two hundred - for good measure. In gratitude for this and subsequent loans, Dorant took on the role of intermediary in matters of the heart between Jourdain and the object of his worship - the Marchioness Dorimena, for whose sake the dinner with the performance was started.

Madame Jourdain, so as not to be disturbed, was sent to her sister for lunch that day. She knew nothing about her husband’s plan, but she herself was concerned about the fate of her daughter: Lucille seemed to reciprocate the tender feelings of a young man named Cleont, who, as a son-in-law, was very suitable for Madame Jourdain. At her request, Nicole, interested in the young lady’s marriage, since she herself was going to marry Cleont’s servant, Koviel, brought the young man. Madame Jourdain immediately sent him to her husband to ask for her daughter's hand in marriage.

However, Cleont did not meet Jourdain’s first and, in fact, only requirement for the applicant for Lucille’s hand - he was not a nobleman, while the father wanted to make his daughter, at worst, a marquise, or even a duchess. Having received a decisive refusal, Cleont became despondent, but Koviel believed that all was not lost. The faithful servant decided to play a joke with Jourdain, since he had actor friends and the appropriate costumes were at hand.

Meanwhile, the arrival of Count Dorant and Marchioness Dorimena was reported. The count brought the lady to dinner not at all out of a desire to please the owner of the house: he himself had been courting the widow marquise for a long time, but did not have the opportunity to see her either at her place or at his place - this could compromise Dorimena. In addition, he cleverly attributed all of Jourdain’s crazy spending on gifts and various entertainments for her to himself, which ultimately won a woman’s heart.

Having greatly amused the noble guests with an elaborate, awkward bow and the same welcoming speech, Jourdain invited them to a luxurious table.

The Marquise, not without pleasure, devoured exquisite dishes to the accompaniment of the exotic compliments of the eccentric bourgeois, when all the splendor was unexpectedly disrupted by the appearance of the angry Madame Jourdain. Now she understood why they wanted to send her to dinner with her sister - so that her hubby could calmly waste money with strangers. Jourdain and Dorant began to assure her that the dinner in honor of the Marquise was being given by the count, and he was paying for everything, but their assurances in no way moderated the ardor of the offended wife. After her husband, Madame Jourdain took on the guest, who should have been ashamed to bring discord into an honest family. The embarrassed and offended marquise got up from the table and left the hosts; Dorant followed her away.

Only the noble gentlemen had left when a new visitor was reported. It turned out to be Koviel in disguise, introducing himself as a friend of Mr. Jourdain’s father. The late father of the owner of the house was, according to him, not a merchant, as everyone around him said, but a real nobleman. Coviel’s calculation was justified: after such a statement, he could say anything without fear that Jourdain would doubt the veracity of his speeches.

Koviel told Jourdain that his good friend, the son of the Turkish Sultan, had arrived in Paris, madly in love with his, Jourdain’s, daughter. The Sultan's son wants to ask for Lucille's hand in marriage, and in order for his father-in-law to be worthy of his new relatives, he decided to initiate him into mamamushi, in our opinion - paladins. Jourdain was delighted.

The son of the Turkish Sultan was represented by Cleont in disguise. He spoke in terrible gibberish, which Koviel allegedly translated into French. The appointed muftis and dervishes arrived with the main Turk, who had a lot of fun during the initiation ceremony: it turned out to be very colorful, with Turkish music, songs and dances, as well as with the ritual beating of the initiate with sticks.

Dorant, privy to Koviel's plan, finally managed to persuade Dorimena to return, tempting her with the opportunity to enjoy a funny spectacle, and then also an excellent ballet. The count and marquise, with the most serious air, congratulated Jourdain on conferring a high title on him, and they were also impatient to hand over their daughter to the son of the Turkish Sultan as soon as possible. At first, Lucille did not want to marry the Turkish jester, but as soon as she recognized him as Cleonte in disguise, she immediately agreed, pretending that she was dutifully fulfilling her daughter’s duty. Madame Jourdain, in turn, sternly declared that the Turkish scarecrow could not see her daughter like his own ears. But as soon as Koviel whispered a few words in her ear, the mother changed her anger to mercy.

Jourdain solemnly joined the hands of the young man and the girl, giving a parental blessing for their marriage, and then they sent for a notary. Another couple, Dorant and Dorimena, decided to use the services of the same notary. While waiting for the representative of the law, everyone present had a wonderful time enjoying the ballet choreographed by the dance teacher.

Retold

ACT I

It would seem, what else does the venerable bourgeois Mr. Jourdain need? Money, family, health - he has everything you could want. But no, Jourdain decided to become an aristocrat, to become like noble gentlemen. His mania caused a lot of inconvenience and unrest for his household, but it played into the hands of a host of tailors, hairdressers and teachers, who promised him, through their art, to turn a simpleton into a brilliant noble gentleman. So now two teachers - dance and music - together with their students were waiting for the owner of the house to appear. Jourdain invited them to decorate the dinner he was throwing in honor of a titled person with a cheerful and elegant performance.

Presenting himself before the musician and dancer, Jourdain first of all invited them to evaluate his exotic robe - the kind, according to his tailor, all the nobility wear in the morning - and the new liveries of his lackeys. Apparently, the size of the connoisseurs' future fees directly depended on the assessment of Jourdain's taste, which is why the reviews were enthusiastic. The robe, however, caused some hesitation, since Jourdain could not decide for a long time how it would be more convenient for him to listen to music - with or without it. Having listened to the serenade, he found it a bit bland and, in turn, performed a lively street song, for which he again received praise and an invitation, in addition to other sciences, to also take up music and dancing. Jourdain was convinced to accept this invitation by the teachers’ assurances that every noble gentleman would certainly learn both music and dance.

A pastoral dialogue was prepared for the upcoming reception by the music teacher. Jourdain generally liked it: since you can’t do without these eternal shepherdesses and shepherdesses, fine, let them sing to themselves. Jourdain really liked the ballet presented by the dance teacher and his students.

ACT II

Exercises in graceful body movements were interrupted by a fencing teacher, a science teacher - the ability to deliver blows, but not receive them himself. The dance teacher and his musician colleague unanimously disagreed with the fencer’s statement about the absolute priority of the ability to fight over their time-honored arts. The people got carried away, word for word - and a couple of minutes later a fight broke out between three teachers.

When the philosophy teacher arrived, Jourdain was delighted - who, if not the philosopher, should admonish the fighting. He willingly took up the task of reconciliation: he remembered Seneca, warned his opponents against anger that demeans human dignity, advised them to take up philosophy, this first of the sciences... Here he went too far. They began to beat him like the others.

The battered, but still uninjured, philosophy teacher was finally able to begin his lesson. Since Jourdain refused to study both logic - the words there are too tricky - and ethics - why does he need the science to moderate his passions, if, anyway, once he breaks up, nothing will stop him - the learned man began to initiate him into the secrets of spelling.

Practicing the pronunciation of vowel sounds, Jourdain rejoiced like a child, but when the first delights passed, he revealed a big secret to the philosophy teacher: he, Jourdain, is in love with a certain high-society lady, and he needs to write a note to this lady. For the philosopher it was a piece of cake - in prose or poetry... However, Jourdain asked him to do without this very prose and poetry. Did the respectable bourgeois know that here one of the most stunning discoveries in his life awaited him - it turns out that when he shouted to the maid: “Nicole, give me your shoes and nightcap,” the purest prose came from his lips, just think!

The philosopher had to leave when Jourdain was informed about the tailor. He brought a new suit, made, naturally, according to the latest court fashion. The tailor's apprentices, while dancing, made a new addition and, without interrupting the dance, dressed Jourdain in it. At the same time, his wallet suffered greatly: the apprentices did not skimp on flattering “Your Grace,” “Your Excellency,” and even “Your Lordship,” and the extremely touched Jourdain did not skimp on tips.

ACT III

In a new suit, Jourdain intended to stroll through the streets of Paris, but his wife resolutely opposed his intention - half the city was already laughing at Jourdain. In general, in her opinion, it was time for him to come to his senses and leave his stupid quirks: why, one might ask, does Jourdain need fencing if he does not intend to kill anyone? Why learn to dance when your legs are already about to give out?

Meanwhile, the arrival of Count Dorant and Marchioness Dorimena was reported. The count brought the lady to dinner not out of a desire to please the owner of the house: he himself had been courting the widow marquise for a long time, but did not have the opportunity to see her either at her place or at his place - this could compromise Dorimena. In addition, he cleverly attributed all of Jourdain’s crazy spending on gifts and various entertainments for her to himself, which ultimately won a woman’s heart.

Having greatly amused the noble guests with an elaborate, awkward bow and the same welcoming speech, Jourdain invited them to a luxurious table.

ACT IV

The Marquise, not without pleasure, devoured exquisite dishes to the accompaniment of the exotic compliments of the eccentric bourgeois, when all the splendor was unexpectedly disrupted by the appearance of the angry Madame Jourdain. Now she understood why they wanted to send her to dinner with her sister - so that her hubby could calmly waste money with strangers. Jourdain and Dorant began to assure her that the count was giving the dinner in honor of the marquise and that he was paying for everything, but their assurances in no way moderated the ardor of the offended wife. After her husband, Madame Jourdain took on the guest, who should have been ashamed to bring discord into an honest family. The embarrassed and offended marquise got up from the table and left the hosts; Dorant followed her away.

Only the noble gentlemen had left when a new visitor was reported. It turned out to be Koviel in disguise, introducing himself as a friend of Mr. Jourdain’s father. The late father of the owner of the house was, according to him, not a merchant, as everyone around him said, but a real nobleman. Coviel's calculation was justified: after such a statement, he could say anything without fear that Jourdain would doubt the veracity of his speeches.

Koviel told Jourdain that his good friend, the son of the Turkish Sultan, had arrived in Paris, madly in love with his, Jourdain’s, daughter. The Sultan’s son wants to ask for Lucille’s hand in marriage, and in order for his father-in-law to be worthy of his new family, he decided to initiate him into a mamamushi, or in our opinion, a paladin. Jourdain was delighted.

The son of the Turkish Sultan was represented by Cleont in disguise. He spoke in terrible gibberish, which Koviel allegedly translated into French. The appointed muftis and dervishes arrived with the main Turk, who had a lot of fun during the initiation ceremony - it turned out to be very colorful, with Turkish music, songs and dances, as well as the ritual beating of the new convert with sticks.

ACT V

Dorant, privy to Coviel's plan, finally managed to persuade Dorimena to return, tempting her with the opportunity to enjoy a funny spectacle, and then also an excellent ballet. The count and marquise, with the most serious looks, congratulated Jourdain on conferring a high title on him, and they were also impatient to hand over their daughter to the son of the Turkish Sultan as soon as possible.

At first, Lucille was reluctant to marry the Turkish jester, but as soon as she recognized him as Cleonte in disguise, she immediately agreed, pretending that she was dutifully fulfilling her daughter’s duty. Madame Jourdain, in turn, sternly declared that the Turkish scarecrow would not see her daughter like his own ears. But as soon as Koviel whispered a few words in her ear, the mother changed her anger to mercy.

Molière's comedy "The Tradesman among the Nobility" was written in 1670. The work was created within the framework literary direction realism. If you need to quickly understand what we are talking about, we recommend reading the summary of “The Bourgeois in the Nobility” according to the actions on our website. The play “The Tradesman in the Nobility” is included in the 8th grade school curriculum.

In the comedy “The Bourgeois in the Nobility” the author ridicules the typical bourgeois - the ignorant Mr. Jourdain, who tried to join the “upper class”, but he could only clumsily imitate the life of the nobility. This material will also allow you to quickly prepare for a world literature lesson.

The main characters of the comedy

Main characters:

Mister Jourdain is a tradesman who wanted to be a nobleman. Those around him laughed at him, but played along with him for their own benefit.
Madame Jourdain is the wife of Mr. Jourdain; did not share his desire to become a nobleman.
Cleont is a young man in love with Lucille.
Koviel is the servant of Cleont.
Dorant is a count, an acquaintance of Jourdain, who constantly borrowed money from the tradesman. In love with Dorimena.

Other characters:

Lucille is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jourdain, in love with Cleonte.
Nicole is Lucille's maid.
Dorimena – marquise; Jourdain tried to gain her favor through Dorant.
Teachers of dance, music, fencing, philosophy, who were hired by Jourdain.

“A tradesman in the nobility” very brief summary

Jean-Baptiste Moliere "The Bourgeois in the Nobility" summary for reader's diary:

Main character works - Mr. Jourdain. His most cherished dream is to become a nobleman. In order to become at least a little like a representative of the noble class, Jourdain hires teachers for himself. The main character has a role model - a certain Count Dorant, who is known in society as a scoundrel and a swindler.

Jourdain also has a wife who is incredibly smart and also well educated, but she does not have the slightest sympathy for the noble class. This beautiful woman considers her main task to marry her own daughter to a wonderful, worthy young man. The daughter of Jourdain and his wife is named Lucille.

The girl is in love with a certain Cleonte. This young man is very smart, noble and handsome, and most importantly, he loves Lucille incredibly. But, of course, Jourdain refuses Cleonte, since the young man has nothing in common with the noble class. It would seem that the young couple is not destined to be together. But the circumstances are completely different. The servant, whose name is Covelier, decides to take a very desperate, but at the same time cunning step.

In order for the young people to finally find their happiness, he disguises Cleontes, who in turn appears before Jourdain as the “son of the Sultan.” After which, Jourdain, who had dreamed of a noble title for so long, gives his consent to the wedding of Cleont and his beautiful daughter. In this incredible way, the cunning servant helps young people find true happiness, because young Lucille’s father gave his parental blessing.

And what happens to Jourdain himself? For a very long time he coveted the precious title of nobility, but at the same time he was left with nothing. But his wife has fulfilled her main task, and her daughter is marrying a worthwhile man. This is where the work comes to its logical conclusion.

this is interesting: The comedy “Tartuffe, or the Deceiver” by Moliere, written in 1664, has been one of the most popular plays in the whole world for several hundred centuries. For a reading diary and in preparation for a literature lesson, we recommend reading by actions and phenomena. In his work, the French comedian harshly criticized such human vices as meanness, hypocrisy, stupidity, selfishness, and cowardice.

A short retelling of Molière's "The Bourgeois Nobility"

So now two teachers - dance and music - together with their students were waiting for the owner of the house to appear. Jourdain invited them to decorate the dinner he was throwing in honor of a titled person with a cheerful and elegant performance.

When the philosophy teacher arrived, Jourdain was delighted - who else but the philosopher should admonish the fighting. He willingly took up the task of reconciliation: he remembered Seneca, warned his opponents against anger that demeans human dignity, advised them to take up philosophy, this first of the sciences... Here he went too far. They began to beat him like the others.

However, Jourdain asked him to do without this very prose and poetry. Did the respectable bourgeois know that here one of the most stunning discoveries in his life awaited him - it turns out that when he shouted to the maid: “Nicole, give me your shoes and nightcap,” the purest prose came from his lips, just think!

Having prepared the ground in this manner, the count reminded him that he owed his friend fifteen thousand eight hundred livres, so there was a direct reason for him to lend him another two thousand two hundred - for good measure. In gratitude for this and subsequent loans, Dorant took on the role of intermediary in matters of the heart between Jourdain and the object of his worship - the Marchioness Dorimena, for whose sake the dinner with the performance was started.

Madame Jourdain, so as not to interfere, was sent to her sister for lunch that day. She knew nothing about her husband’s plan, but she herself was concerned about the fate of her daughter: Lucille seemed to reciprocate the tender feelings of a young man named Cleont, who, as a son-in-law, was very suitable for Madame Jourdain. At her request, Nicole, interested in the young lady’s marriage, since she herself was going to marry Cleont’s servant, Koviel, brought the young man. Madame Jourdain immediately sent him to her husband to ask for her daughter’s hand in marriage.

Having greatly amused the noble guests with an elaborate, awkward bow and the same welcoming speech, Jourdain invited them to a luxurious table.

Jourdain and Dorant began to assure her that the dinner in honor of the Marquise was being given by the count, and he was paying for everything, but their assurances in no way moderated the ardor of the offended wife. After her husband, Madame Jourdain took on the guest, who should have been ashamed to bring discord into an honest family. The embarrassed and offended marquise got up from the table and left the hosts; Dorant followed her away.

At first, Lucille did not want to marry the Turkish jester, but as soon as she recognized him as Cleonte in disguise, she immediately agreed, pretending that she was dutifully fulfilling her daughter’s duty. Madame Jourdain, in turn, sternly declared that the Turkish scarecrow could not see her daughter like his own ears. But as soon as Koviel whispered a few words in her ear, the mother changed her anger to mercy.

Read also: “Dog in the Manger” by Lope de Vega is a comedy about a young widowed woman, Diana, who struggles with her mad love for her secretary Theodore. The obstacle to their relationship is the fact that they cannot be together due to Theodore's lack of title and origin. for a reading diary or preparation for a literature lesson

The plot of the play “The Bourgeois in the Nobility” according to the phenomena

Act one

Phenomenon 1

Paris. Mr. Jourdain's house. The music teacher and dance teacher prepare for the evening's performance and discuss how, although Jourdain has no understanding of art, "money straightens the crookedness of his judgment, his common sense is in his wallet."

Phenomenon 2

Jourdain boasts to his teachers about his new robe, and they flatter him in everything.

To the tradesman the sound of the violin seems mournful. Teachers note that Jourdain should study the arts, since “all the strife, all the wars on earth,” “all the misadventures with which history is full” come from ignorance of music and the inability to dance.

Act two

Phenomenon 1

Jourdain orders that the ballet be ready by evening, as the person for whom he is arranging all this will arrive. The music teacher, anticipating good pay, advises the tradesman to give concerts on Wednesdays and Thursdays, as all noble gentlemen do.

Events 2–3

A visiting fencing teacher teaches a tradesman, explaining that “the whole secret of fencing is to<…>inflict blows on the enemy” and “not receive them yourself.” The fencing teacher expresses the idea that dancing and music are useless sciences. An argument begins between the teachers.

Events 4–5

Jourdain asks the visiting philosophy teacher to reconcile the quarrels. Referring to Seneca's treatise on anger, the philosopher tries to calm them down, but he himself gets involved in an argument, which develops into a fight.

Phenomenon 6

Philosophy lesson. The teacher offers to teach Jourdain the wisdom of philosophy: logic, ethics and physics, but they do not arouse interest in the tradesman. Jourdain asks to teach him spelling. The teacher tells him that there are vowels and consonants.

Jourdain asks the philosopher to help him write a love note, but in the end they settle on the bourgeoisie’s original version: “Beautiful marquise, your beautiful eyes promise me death from love.” Suddenly the tradesman learns that he has expressed himself in prose all his life.

Apparitions 7–8

The tailor brings Jourdain a new suit. The tradesman notices that the suit is made from the same fabric as the clothes at the tailor, and the pattern (flowers) is located upside down. The tailor reassures him with what is so fashionable in high society.

Apparitions 9–10

Dancing around Jourdain, the apprentices put a new suit on him. They call the tradesman “Your Grace”, “Your Excellency”, “Your Grace”, for which they receive a generous payment.

Act three

Events 1–3

Seeing Jourdain's new outfit, Nicole can't help but laugh. Madame Jourdain is outraged appearance a husband who “dressed up as a jester,” and everyone laughs at him anyway. Jourdain decides to show off his knowledge to his wife and Nicole, but does not surprise the women. Moreover, while fencing with a man, the maid easily stabs him several times.

Events 4–5

Dorant praises Jourdain’s new suit and mentions that he spoke about it “in the royal bedchamber,” which pleases the tradesman’s vanity.

Dorant asks Jourdain for “two hundred more pistoles” to round up the amount of his significant debt. The indignant Madame Jourdain calls her husband a “cash cow” and Dorant a “crook.”

Phenomena 6

Dorant reports that he persuaded the marquise to come to the tradesman today, giving her a diamond - a gift from Jourdain. Nicole accidentally overhears part of the men’s conversation and learns that the tradesman is sending his wife to visit his sister in the evening so that nothing “embarrasses” them.

Apparitions 7–11

Mrs. Jourdain is sure that her husband is “attacking someone.” A woman wants to marry her daughter to Cleont, who is in love with her. Nicole is delighted with her mistress's decision, since she likes the servant Cleonte.

Madame Jourdain advises Cleonte to ask Mr. Jourdain for her daughter's hand in marriage today.

Phenomenon 12

Cleontes asks Monsieur Jourdain for Lucille's hand in marriage. The tradesman is only interested in whether his future son-in-law is a nobleman. Cleont, not wanting to deceive, admits that he is not one. Jourdain refuses because he wants his daughter to be a marquise.

Apparitions 13–14

Koviel calms the upset Cleont - the servant has figured out how to “twist our simpleton around his finger.”

Apparitions 15–18

Dorimena did not want to meet Dorant at her or his home, so she agreed to dine at Jourdain’s. The count gave all the tradesman's gifts to the marquise in his own name.

Apparitions 19–20

Meeting the marquise, Jourdain bows absurdly, which greatly amuses the woman. Dorant warns the tradesman not to mention the diamond given to Doriman, as this is discourteous in secular society.

Act four

Phenomenon 1

Dorimena is surprised that a “luxurious feast” was arranged for her. Jourdain, drawing attention to the diamond on the marquise’s hand, calls it “a mere trifle,” believing that the woman knows that it is a gift from him.

Events 2–4

Suddenly Madame Jourdain appears. The woman is outraged that after sending his wife away, her husband is throwing a “feast” for another lady. Dorant tries to justify himself, explaining that he organized the dinner. Madame Jourdain does not believe this. The upset marquise leaves, and Dorant goes after her.

Apparitions 5–8

Coviel, in disguise, poses as an old friend of Jourdain's father. Koviel says that the tradesman’s father was not a merchant, but a nobleman. However, the main purpose of his visit is to report that the son of the Turkish Sultan has long been in love with Jourdain’s daughter and wants to marry her. Soon, Cleont, disguised as a Turk, joins them and, through the translator Koviel, announces his intentions.

Koviel asks Dorant to play along with them.

Apparitions 9–13

Turkish ceremony. The mufti and his retinue, the dervishes and the Turks sing and dance as they initiate Jourdain, dressed in Turkish clothes, into a Turk. The Mufti places the Koran on the tradesman's back and calls upon Mohammed.

Act five

Phenomenon 1

Jourdain explains to his wife that he has now become a mamamushi. A woman decides that her husband has gone crazy.

Events 2–3

Dorant persuades Dorimena to stay to support Cleont’s idea of a masquerade and watch the ballet arranged for her.

Apparitions 4–7

Lucille at first refuses to marry, but, recognizing the Turk as Cleonte, she agrees.

Madame Jourdain was also against the marriage, but when Koviel quietly explained to her that what was happening was only a masquerade, she ordered to send for a notary.

Dorant announces that he and the marquise have also decided to get married. Jourdain thinks that the count said this as a diversion. The joyful tradesman gives Nicole to the “interpreter” Koviel, and his “wife to anyone.” Koviel is surprised that “you won’t find another crazy person like him in the whole world!”

"The comedy ends in ballet."

Molière's comedy "The Tradesman among the Nobility" was written in 1670. The work was created within the framework of the literary movement of realism. In the comedy “The Bourgeois in the Nobility” the author ridicules the typical bourgeois - the ignorant Mr. Jourdain, who tried to join the “upper class”, but he could only clumsily imitate the life of the nobility.

If you need to quickly understand what Moliere’s story is about, we recommend reading the summary of “The Bourgeois in the Nobility” by action on our website. This material will also allow you to quickly prepare for a world literature lesson. The play “The Tradesman in the Nobility” is included in the 8th grade school curriculum.

Main characters

Mister Jourdain- a tradesman who wanted to be a nobleman. Those around him laughed at him, but played along with him for their own benefit.

Madame Jourdain- wife of Mr. Jourdain; did not share his desire to become a nobleman.

Cleont – a young man in love with Lucille.

Koviel- servant of Cleonte.

Dorant- a count, an acquaintance of Jourdain, who constantly borrowed money from the tradesman. In love with Dorimena.

Other characters

Lucille- daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jourdain, in love with Cleonte.

Nicole- maid Lucille.

Dorimena– marquise; Jourdain tried to gain her favor through Dorant.

Teachers of dance, music, fencing, philosophy, who were hired by Jourdain.

Act one

Phenomenon 1

Paris. Mr. Jourdain's house. The music teacher and dance teacher prepare for the evening's performance and discuss that although Jourdain has no understanding of art, "money straightens the crookedness of his judgment, his common sense is in his wallet."

Phenomenon 2

Jourdain boasts to his teachers about his new robe, and they flatter him in everything.

Act two

Phenomenon 1

Phenomena 2-3

A visiting fencing teacher teaches a tradesman, explaining that “the whole secret of fencing is to<…>inflict blows on the enemy" and "not receive them yourself." The fencing teacher expresses the idea that dancing and music are useless sciences. An argument begins between the teachers.

Phenomena 4-5

Phenomenon 6

Apparitions 7-8

Apparitions 9-10

Dancing around Jourdain, the apprentices put a new suit on him. They call the tradesman “Your Grace”, “Your Excellency”, “Your Grace”, for which they receive a generous payment.

Act three

Phenomena 1-3

Seeing Jourdain's new outfit, Nicole can't help but laugh. Madame Jourdain is outraged by the appearance of her husband, who “dressed up as a jester,” and everyone is laughing at him anyway. Jourdain decides to show off his knowledge to his wife and Nicole, but does not surprise the women. Moreover, while fencing with a man, the maid easily stabs him several times.

Phenomena 4-5

Dorant praises Jourdain’s new suit and mentions that he spoke about it “in the royal bedchamber,” which pleases the tradesman’s vanity.

Dorant asks Jourdain for “two hundred more pistoles” to round up the amount of his significant debt. The indignant Madame Jourdain calls her husband a “cash cow” and Dorant a “rogue.”

Phenomena 6

Apparitions 7-11

Mrs. Jourdain is sure that her husband is “hitting on someone.” A woman wants to marry her daughter to Cleont, who is in love with her. Nicole is delighted with her mistress's decision, since she likes the servant Cleonte.

Madame Jourdain advises Cleonte to ask Mr. Jourdain for her daughter's hand in marriage today.

Phenomenon 12

Apparitions 13-14

Koviel calms the upset Cleont - the servant has figured out how to “twist our simpleton around his finger.”

Apparitions 15-18

Dorimena did not want to meet Dorant at her or his home, so she agreed to dine at Jourdain’s. The count gave all the tradesman's gifts to the marquise in his own name.

Apparitions 19-20

Meeting the marquise, Jourdain bows absurdly, which greatly amuses the woman. Dorant warns the tradesman not to mention the diamond given to Doriman, as this is discourteous in secular society.

Act four

Phenomenon 1

Phenomena 2-4

Phenomena 5-8

Koviel asks Dorant to play along with them.

Apparitions 9-13

Act five

Phenomenon 1

Jourdain explains to his wife that he has now become a mamamushi. A woman decides that her husband has gone crazy.

Phenomena 2-3

Dorant persuades Dorimena to stay to support Cleont’s idea of a masquerade and watch the ballet arranged for her.

Apparitions 4-7

Lucille at first refuses to marry, but, recognizing the Turk as Cleonte, she agrees.

Madame Jourdain was also against the marriage, but when Koviel quietly explained to her that what was happening was only a masquerade, she ordered to send for a notary.

"The comedy ends in ballet".

Conclusion

Molière's comedy "The Bourgeois in the Nobility" is one of the most famous dramatic works. The play was staged by more than twenty leading theaters and was filmed four times. Attracting with the brightness of the characters described and subtle humor, the brilliant work remains interesting for modern readers.

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