A Profitable Position

Summary

The play «A Profitable Position» by Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky explores corruption and moral decay in 19th-century Russian society. The main character, a young official named Zhadov, faces a choice between honesty and material well-being. Zhadov refuses to take bribes and strives to live by his conscience, despite pressure from those around him, including his fiancée Polina and her father Vyshnevsky, who believe that success is impossible without bribery. Ultimately, Zhadov remains true to his principles but finds himself isolated and impoverished, highlighting the tragedy of his situation and critiquing societal norms.