Poverty is No Vice by Alexander Ostrovsky. Short summary

5 seconds

Gordei Tortsov wants his daughter to marry a wealthy manufacturer, the Angloman Korshunov, but the girl falls in love with the clerk. Gordey’s brother tells of the manufacturer’s machinations.

1 minute

Mitya, the clerk, learns that Gordei Tortsov is angry with his brother. Tortsov’s wife Pelageya and her daughter Lyubov arrive. She complains to Mitya that her husband is mixed up with the manufacturer, the Englishman Korshunov.

Pelageya wants to marry her daughter off, but Gordei says she has no equal. Mitya complains to Guslin about Tortsov, who does not give him a salary. The clerk tells of his love for his daughter, Lyuba.

One day Mitya and Lyuba are alone, and he admits his feelings. The girl writes him a reply and asks him to read it after he leaves. Later, Mitya asks Lyubov to confirm the words she has written. The heroine confesses her love for him. The couple decides to go to the girl’s father to ask for his blessing.

Tortsov brings Korshunov to the house. When the latter is alone with Lyuba, he confesses his love for her. Tortsov plans to marry his daughter to Korshunov, but Lyuba asks him to break off the engagement. The girl’s uncle comes to the Tortsovs and tells them about Korshunov’s machinations. Gordei quarrels with him and the factory worker breaks off the engagement.