Katerina Lvovna, “the woman is very pleasant in appearance”, lives in the prosperous house of the merchant Izmailov with widowed father-in-law Boris Timofeevich and middle-aged husband Zinovy Borisovich. Katerina Lvovna has no children, and “with all her contentment”, her life “for an unkind husband” is the most boring. In the sixth year of marriage
Zinovy Borisovich leaves for the mill dam, leaving Katerina Lvovna “alone”. In the courtyard of her house, she measures her strength with the impudent worker Sergey, and from the cook Aksigny learns that this fellow has been serving with the Izmailovs for a month, and was expelled from the old house for “love” with the mistress. In the evening, Sergey comes to Katerina Lvovna, complains of boredom, says that he loves, and stays until morning. But one night, Boris Timofeevich notices how Sergei’s red shirt goes down from the bride’s window. The father-in-law threatens to tell everything to Katerina Lvovna’s husband, and sends him to prison. That same night, Katerina Lvovna poisoned her father-in-law with white powder, stocked for rats, and continued the “aligoria” with Sergey.
Meanwhile, Sergei becomes dry with Katerina Lvovna, is jealous of her husband and speaks of his miserable condition, admitting that he would like to be her husband “before the saint before the eternal temple”.In response, Katerina Lvovna promises to make him a merchant. Zinovy Borisovich returns home and accuses Katerina Lvovna of “cupids”. Katerina Lvovna brings Sergei out and boldly kisses him with her husband. Lovers kill Zinovy Borisovich, and the corpse is buried in the cellar. They are looking for Zinovy Borisovich uselessly, and Katerina Lvovna "is living with Sergey, according to her widowhood in freedom."
Soon, Izmayilova’s young nephew Zinovy Borisovich Fedor Lyapin arrives to live, whose money was in circulation with the late merchant. Infused by Sergey, Katerina Lvovna conceived the lime of a God-fearing boy. On the night of the Vespers, on the feast of the Introduction, the boy remains in the house alone with his lovers and reads the Life of St. Fyodor Stratilates. Sergei grabs Fedya, and Katerina Lvovna smothers him with a feather pillow. But as soon as the boy dies, the house begins to shake from blows, Sergey panics, sees the late Zinovy Borisovich, and only Katerina Lvovna realizes that this is breaking with a roar of people who saw through the crack that what was happening in the "sinful house".
Sergei is taken to the unit, and at the first words of the priest about the Last Judgment, he confesses to the murder of Zinovy Borisovich and calls Katerina Lvovna an accomplice. Katerina Lvovna denies everything, but confesses confrontation that she killed “for Sergey”. Killers are punished with whips and sentenced to hard labor. Sergei arouses sympathy, and Katerina Lvovna behaves staunchly and even refuses to look at the born child. He, the sole heir to the merchant, is given up for education.Katerina Lvovna only thinks about how to get to the stage and see Sergey as soon as possible. But at the stage, Sergei awkward and secret dates do not please him. In Nizhny Novgorod, the Moscow party joins the prisoners, with whom Fiona, a soldier of free temperament, and the seventeen-year-old Sonetka, who say: "curls around my arms, but not in my arms," go with them.
Katerina Lvovna arranges another meeting with her lover, but finds in his arms the trouble-free Fiona and quarrels with Sergey. Having never made peace with Katerina Lvovna, Sergey begins to “fool around” and flirt with Sonnetka, who seems to be “turning black”. Katerina Lvovna decides to leave her pride and put up with Sergey, and during a date Sergey complains of leg pain, and Katerina Lvovna gives him thick woolen stockings. The next day, she notices these stockings on Sonnet and spits in Sergey’s eyes. At night, Sergei and his friend beat Katerina Lvovna with a giggle of Sonnetka. Katerina Lvovna cries out grief on Fiona’s chest, the whole party, led by Sergey, scoffs at her, but Katerina Lvovna behaves with “wooden calmness”. And when the party ferries to the other side of the river, Katerina Lvovna grabs Sonnet by her legs, throws her overboard with her, and both drown.
