The wealthy and capricious Russian nobleman, Kirila Petrovich Troekurov, is known for his cruel pranks and domineering nature, which make him feared by provincial officials and revered by his neighbors.
Despite his temperamental character, Troekurov maintains a friendship with his neighbor and former comrade-in-arms, the impoverished but principled nobleman Andrey Gavrilovich Dubrovsky.
Troekurov's sadistic tendencies often manifest in dangerous jokes, such as locking guests in a room with a hungry bear without warning.
His son, Vladimir Dubrovsky, a guards officer in St. Petersburg, resigns from service and rushes to his ailing father, who soon dies.
Enraged, Vladimir sets fire to Kistenevka, destroying the estate along with the judicial officials sent to finalize the transfer of ownership.