Caterpillar by Alexandr Kuprin. Short summary

5 seconds

Irina Platonovna, nicknamed Caterpillar, selflessly tries to save the sailors from the cruiser «Ochakov». A mutiny breaks out on the cruiser, and the author himself takes part in the rescue operation.

1 minute

The southern coast of Crimea, 1905. A popular uprising against the tsarist regime erupts in the fleet. The crew of the cruiser «Ochakov» joins in the righteous struggle. The narrator shares memories of the glorious deeds of the Russian people. Among them, the wife of the zoologist Boris Muruzov — Irina Platonovna is particularly noteworthy.

A peculiarly affectionate nickname Caterpillar was invented by her husband. The courageous Caterpillar does her best to save the four sailors from the cruiser. The dedication of a simple Russian woman is admired by the author. It seems incredible that a man in an emergency situation is capable of such feats, displays of wit, quick decision-making. All the more so a woman who led a measured way of life before.

Many people are involved in the rescue operation, and the finale is happy — the men got out of the mess alive. None of the sailors involved in the rescue gave the gendarmes the names of the mutineers. Everyone believed that the rebellion in the navy was intended to change the political regime for the better for the people.