JENŮFA

Grandmother is the matriarch of the Buryja family. Her two sons are both deceased. Her elder son married the widow Klemeň who already had a son, Laca. The elder son and his wife had their own son, Števa. Laca and Števa are stepbrothers. Števa is Grandmother's real grandson and Laca is Grandmother's stepgrandson. Števa is now the owner of a mill that he inherited from his father.

Grandmother's younger son had a daughter, Jenůfa, by his first wife. After the younger son's first wife died, he married Kostelnička, a widow. Jenůfa is Kostelnička's stepdaughter and Grandmother's real granddaughter. Kostenička raised Jenůfa as her own daughter and loves her very much. Števa and Jenůfa are first cousins. Laca and Jenůfa are stepcousins and not related by blood.

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ACT I

As evening nears, Jenůfa worries that Števa might have been recruited into the army. This would postpone her wedding to Števa, by whom she is pregnant. Grandmother Buryja scolds Jenůfa for not doing her work. Laca complains that Grandmother has always neglected him, since he was not her real grandson. A shepherd boy whom Jenůfa has taught to read enters and requests more reading material.

Laca, who has been whittling, asks the Mill Foreman to sharpen his knife. The Foreman observes that Laca clearly loves Jenůfa. Laca hopes that her marriage to Števa will not take place, but the Foreman reports that Števa has not been recruited. Overhearing this, Jenůfa is ecstatic.

The recruits and some musicians arrive with Števa. Jenůfa reprimands him for once again being drunk. Števa tells the musicians to perform a song and soon all are wildly dancing. Kostelnička angrily stops the merrymaking and orders her stepdaughter not to marry Števa until he has abstained from drinking for one year.

After all have left, Jenůfa explains to Števa how frightened she is that Kostelnička will discover her pregnancy. Števa boasts that other girls find him attractive, but Jenůfa replies she would kill herself if he were to abandon her. He tells her that she is the most beautiful girl because of her apple-red cheeks. Grandmother sends the drunken Števa away.

Laca teases Jenůfa about Števa, and then tries to embrace her. In the struggle, he slashes her cheek with his knife. As Jenůfa runs off, Laca confesses that he has loved her since childhood. The servant Barena believes that he has hurt Jenůfa accidentally. However, the Mill Foreman shouts that Laca cut her face on purpose.

INTERMISSION​

ACT II

Kostenička, greatly shamed by Jenůfa's confession of pregnancy, has hidden her stepdaughter from the village. Jenůfa has now given birth to a son. Kostelnička hopes the baby will die. As the two women restlessly talk to each other, Jenůfa grows faint. Her stepmother gives her a drink to help her sleep. Alone, Kostelnička thinks about the five months she has hidden Jenůfa. She has sent for Števa, who has not visited during the entire time, to settle Jenůfa's future.

Števa arrives. Kostelnička forces him to look into the room where Jenůfa and their child sleep. He wants no one to know that the child is his. On her knees, Kostelnička begs Števa to marry Jenůfa. However, Števa says his love for Jenůfa ended when he saw the terrible cut on her cheek.

Instead he will marry Karolka, the Mayor's daughter. After Števa hurries away, Kostelnička contemplates revenge for destroying the life of her beloved stepdaughter.

Laca enters the house. Kostelnička explains that Jenůfa was not away in Vienna as he believed and has secretly delivered Števa's son. Laca wants to know if he would have to take the boy in order to marry Jenůfa. In a panic, Kostelnička tells him the baby has died and sends him away. She decides to drown the child, and rushes from the house carrying it to the river.

After awaking, Jenůfa discovers that her baby is missing and fervently prays to the Virgin Mary to protect him. Kostelnička returns and lies to her stepdaughter. She tells Jenůfa that the baby died while she was ill and asleep for two days. Jenůfa is heartbroken, and asks if Števa knows what has happened. Kostelnička commands her not to think about him again.

Laca comes back and asks Jenůfa for her hand. She cannot understand how he could still want her, but finally agrees to the marriage. Kostelnička blesses them and places a curse on Števa. A gust of wind blows the window open, and Kostelnička fears it is death looking into the house.

INTERMISSION

ACT III

Two months later, a shepherdess helps Jenůfa with her wedding preparations. The Mayor and his wife come to the festivities, and Laca welcomes them. All comment on how ill and worn-looking Kostelnička has grown. Števa and his bride-to-be, Karolka, arrive. Laca and Števa shake hands to show that there is no animosity between them. Barena and girls from the village entertain Jenůfa with a wedding song. Before the couple can leave for the church, voices from outside the house shout that a dead baby has been found. The Shepherd boy Jano comes to get the Mayor, and Jenůfa goes to see what is happening.

Jenůfa returns, exclaiming that the baby is hers and Števa's. As this news gets around, the crowd demands that Jenůfa be stoned. Laca warns the villagers he will kill anyone who touches Jenůfa. Kostelnička confesses that she is the killer of the baby: she alone is responsible. Jenůfa forgives her stepmother and the Mayor leads Kostelnička away to her judgment.

Jenůfa and Laca are alone. She tells him that he should go, but Laca refuses since he is willing to endure anything to be with her. Realizing that they have reached true love, Jenůfa accepts Laca.