About “Mumu” by Ivan Turgenev

Lire en Francais

Mumu is a short story written by Ivan Turgenev in 1852 and first published in 1854 which brought a greater attention to the cruelties of serdom.

Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev was born on November 9, (October 28), 1818 in Oryol in the Russian Empire. He was a Russian novelist, short story writer, poet, playwright, translator fluent in German, French and English. He also was a popularizer of Russian literature in the West but his primary concern was Russia and he wrote mostly about it and only in Russian. He died on September 3 (August 22) 1883, in Bougival, France.

Ivan Turgenev wrote the story “Mumu” while he was exiled to his estate of Spasskoye-Lutovinovo after having spend a month in custody for writing an obituary on the death of Nicholai Gogol contrary to the prohibitions of censorship

Mumu is an exploration and a critic of serfdom showing the terror of absolute power of one human being over another and, is based on a real story with a dog that happened at Turgenev’s house in Moscow. His mother is represented by the landlady while the Serf was Andrey who unlike the serf in the story stayed with his mistress.

One of the theme discussed in the story is the role of chance as there are several incidents which are based entirely upon coincidence. Another important theme is the presence and absence of love. Muteness, another theme, the inability to communicate. Scholars suggest that by naming the dog Mumu, our mute and deaf hero acquires speech which he loses with the dog’s death. The last theme, Rebellion as after our hero kills his dog as an act of complete submission, he finally finds the strength to break free and leaves.

Short summary:

Gerasim, a very strong but deaf and mute man from the countryside is one of the porter of a wealthy and elderly widow in Moscow. He communicates with the other servants via hands signs and is on cordial terms with them even though his presence inspires fear in them.

While working for this wealthy widow, Gerasim becomes infatuated with Tatiana and is very protective of her. But the mistress chose Kapiton, a drunkard to marry her. Being afraid of Gerasim reaction, the head steward, Gavrila comes up with the idea and convinces Tatiana to pretend to be drunk in Gerasim presence. The plot works and Tatiana and Kapiton get married. But as Kapiton’s drinking worsen, they are sent away. Gerasim who follows them as they depart encounters a drowning dog on his way back and saves him. He names him Mumu, takes care of him and loves him very much.

Sadly after a year the mistress sees Mumu in the yard and has the dog brought to her. Mumu get scared and barred his teeth. The following day, Gavrila is asked to get rid of the dog. Gerasim not finding his dog searches for him a whole day but does not find him.

After Mumu returns and Gerasim learned that his mistress had ordered to get rid of him, he hides him in his room. However, the dog is discovered and he promises to get rid of Mumu himself.

He drowns him in the river where he found him, and Eroshka, another servant who had followed him reports back to the others. However Gerasim does not return until night, when he packs and leaves.

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As Mumu is an extremely influential work several films and media adaptations have been created and many songs have also been written referencing to this story. There are also several monuments to Mumu in Russia.

A monument to Mumu was also erected in Honfleur, France

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You can read this story, in English, Russian or in the bilingual format:

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