The Caucasian Chalk Circle Essay -- English Literature

The Caucasian Chalk Circle - Plot Notes. Scene 1 Representatives from two kolchos villages meet to decide who should have control of a valley that was taken from the Galinsk kolchos by the Rosa Luxemburg kolchos during the war. They argue it out and finally agree on a proposal from the agronomist in favour of the Rosa Luxemburg keeping the valley as they could put it to better use. A singer is invited to perform a story to help them with their problem. This is called "The Chalk Circle" and starts in scene two. Scene 2 The singer introduces the governor, Georgi Abashvili and his family and entourage. We also meet Prince Kazbeki outside the church. Everyone goes into the church. When they return Prince Kazbeki has set up an ambush to capture the governor who is killed. The governor's wife runs away leaving behind her son. In the mean time we meet Grusha Vachnadze, a kitchen maid, and Simon Chachava, a soldier of the palace guard. Simon proposes to Grusha, who accepts, and but he then has to leave with the governors wife to protect her. Grusha sees that the child, Michael Abashvili, has been left behind, and, against her better judgement, takes him away with her to protect him. Scene 3 The singer tells us that Grusha is heading to the northern mountains with the child. She tries to buy her way onto a caravansary with two rich ladies by pretending to be rich herself, but the gives herself away by making up some beds. She is forced to run away to avoid the police. The singer tells us that Grusha is being followed by the Prince's Ironshirts. The Ironshirts are loud and crude, particularly the corporal. Grusha leaves Michael on the doorstep of a peasant woman's house. The peasant woma... ...ds before he was killed. Halfway through the trial Azdak loses interest and sees an old couple who want to divorce. Before he signs their divorce papers he goes back to Grusha's trial. He uses the test of the chalk circle, which involves standing the child in the middle of a circle and each woman trying to pull him out. Grusha lets go, the trial is repeated and she lets go again crying that she doesn't want to hurt him. Azdak gives Michael to Grusha and sends Natella away, declaring that her money will go to build a park for the children. Azdak signs a divorce for Grusha and her husband instead of the old couple and then steps down from his position as judge. Simon agrees to stay with Grusha and Michael and Azdak disappears. The singer declares that the moral of the story is that everything should go to those that are good for them.Document1