Marriage by Nikolai Gogol. Short summary

5 seconds

Kochkaryov decides to arrange the marriage of his indecisive mate to a merchant’s daughter. He drives out all her suitors and arranges for a wedding. But the unsuccessful groom escapes.

1 minute

Privy Councillor, nobleman Ivan Kuzmich Podkolenosin wants to get married. For this he invites a matchmaker. The woman matches him up with a merchant’s daughter, who dreams of marrying a nobleman. But Podkoleosin is an indecisive man and he does not go beyond talk.

On hearing about Ivan Kuzmich’s wish to marry, his friend Kochkaryov decides to take matters into his own hands. He deftly sends off all the suitors for the merchant’s daughter, and he tells the matchmaking men of the bride’s disadvantages.

Having put all the rivals out of his friend’s way, he arranges with the priest to get married. After which the mate brings Podkoleosin to the bride.

Kochkarev himself proposes to the merchant’s daughter, not having waited for it from his indecisive friend. The girl agrees to become Ivan Kuzmich’s wife. But when Kochkaryov briefly leaves, Podkoleosin escapes from the merchant’s house through the window.