Brusin by Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin. Short summary

5 seconds

Resentfulness prevents Brustn from maintaining normal relationships with those around him. Even the closest people get tired of their friend’s constant unhappiness and begin to avoid communication.

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Brusin is a cranky vulnerable young man. He demands special attention from those around him to his person, is often offended and cries sincerely. Despite his complex character, Brusin meets a girl, but behaves with her the same way he does with everyone else. One day at the ball, Brusin notices the increased attention of the young men to his bride. He is long offended, weeping, reproaching the world for promiscuous manners.

The narrator has been Brusin’s friend since childhood, but he, too, is unable to always take a positive view of his comrade’s growing infantilism. The author tries to come to terms with the caprices, to understand their cause, but he grows tired of it. Gradually, communication comes to naught.

Brusin finds in everything an insult to his person, and therefore cannot enjoy either friendship or love. Gradually, the people closest to him grow tired of Brusin’s constant unhappiness and distance themselves from him. After all, you can’t help someone who is used to being miserable and has no intention of changing anything.