Alexander Griboedov is an outstanding playwright of the first half of the nineteenth century, whose work discussed below was included in the classics of Russian literature. Griboedov served in the diplomatic service, but remained in history as the author of a brilliant masterpiece - the comedy "Woe from Wit", the characteristics of the heroes of which are studied within the framework school curriculum. All the events of the play take place in Moscow during one day, in the house of Pavel Afanasyevich Famusov.
The characterization of the heroes of “Woe from Wit” - a comedy in verse and in four acts - can be carried out according to a certain plan. List characters with the author's explanations is given, as a rule, at the beginning of the play.
According to what plan is the characterization of the heroes of “Woe from Wit” carried out? Firstly, it is necessary to talk about social status the hero, secondly, about his character traits, thirdly, about his system of views and values.
Pavel Afanasyevich Famusov is a well-born nobleman and landowner holding a high bureaucratic post. The character is arrogant, domineering. With subordinates and servants he is rude and strict, but flattering and servilely submissive with those who are higher than him in rank and title. Famusov is a cordial and hospitable host; guests are often received in his house. A caring father, loves his daughter, wants to marry her off successfully. Pavel Afanasyevich does not accept any changes in society, he is an opponent of progress. He considers the customs and way of life of the old Moscow nobles to be an ideal.
What characterization of the heroes of “Woe from Wit” can be done without describing the main thing? female image? Famusov's daughter received a traditional noble upbringing: from infancy she was prepared to be a bride. Thanks to a lively mind, strong character and healthy instincts, she has a good understanding of people, judging by the precise and apt statements addressed to her father’s guests. Sofia is not only mocking, but also vengeful: she does not forgive Chatsky for his contemptuous attitude towards Molchalin, with whom she is in love. It is she who starts an unseemly rumor, which grows into a huge gossip about Alexander’s madness.
But she herself cannot avoid personal tragedy. The reason was that Sofia Famusova mistakes a pathetic flatterer and a silent saint for the hero in love. The young lady, who had read many novels, imagined nobility, modesty and chivalry behind his silence.
Molchalin fully justifies his famous surname. He comes from Tver, is not a nobleman, but makes big plans, because he does not consider the rank of assessor and the service of a home secretary to be the peak of his career. Thanks to hypocrisy and the ability to serve, this friend of the “sofa dogs” “on tiptoes” hopes to rise high in the world. career ladder. Sofia's falling in love gives the pathetic "wordless" hope for a successful and profitable marriage, which did not take place. From now on he will be even meaner, but more careful.
What are the characteristics of the heroes of “Woe from Wit” without the main character? Without Alexander Andreevich Chatsky? He is a young, wealthy nobleman. The fact that Chatsky hurried to Sofia, returning after a three-year absence, suggests that he considered the Famusovs close people: he grew up in their house after the death of his father. Sofia initially gives him flattering characteristics, noting his sharp mind and eloquence. But the merciless criticism he undertook of the morals and way of life of the Moscow nobility was unpleasant to her.
Apparently, Alexander had the opportunity to compare and rethink a lot, which is why he speaks so negatively about the existence of slavery and the lack of freedom in the country. Chatsky is the bearer of a new worldview, inherent in few others in his contemporary Russia.
Sofia was not happy with the passionate feeling that Chatsky had for her. She herself said that she “reluctantly” drove him crazy. It seems that this thought became the impetus for her stupid prank, which threw the ardent Chatsky into the abyss of “a million torments” and made him become disappointed and leave Moscow.
The comedy was written in 1823, but every generation of readers, schoolchildren and critics who describe the characters, “Woe from Wit” is viewed through the prism of contemporary realities. And it seems that the characters created by Griboyedov will never lose their relevance.
Characteristics The present century The past century Attitude to wealth, to ranks “We found protection from court in friends, in kinship, building magnificent chambers where they indulge in feasts and extravagance, and where the most vile traits of the foreign clients of their past life will not be resurrected,” “And those whoever is higher, flattery, like weaving lace...” “Be inferior, but if you have enough, two thousand family souls, he is the groom” Attitude to service “I would be glad to serve, it’s sickening to be served”, “Uniform! one uniform! He is in their former life [...]
The main character of this comedy by Griboyedov is Alexander Chatsky, who ultimately suffered from his mind, which gave rise to the name of the comedy. Chatsky is the only comedy hero who represents the “present century.”
One of the main features of the comedy “Woe from Wit” by A.S. Griboyedov is the presence in the play of two conflicts that are closely related to each other. One of them is love, the other is social.
Famusov in his comedy represents the “past century.” In the noble society, at which Griboyedov’s satire is directed, only rank and money are valued. Its main advantages are “moderation and accuracy.” Chatsky is sharply opposed to these heroes. When characterizing the characters in “Woe from Wit,” it is most difficult to interpret the image of Sofia Famusova.
Unlike her father and Molchalin, Sophia is not afraid of the opinions of society. The list of characters in “Woe from Wit” is not limited to the main characters. They do not participate in the actions of the comedy, but other characters talk about them, which allows them to more fully present morals noble society of that time. Woe from Wit" is one of the most quoted texts in Russian culture. Moliere looks at his hero from above and exposes all his weaknesses and shortcomings.
Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit” is, first of all, a dispute with the very idea of Moliere’s comedy “The Misanthrope”. A young man who is at odds with society is in love with a girl who belongs to this society and does not respond to his feelings. The conflict between man and society is the main problem of both comedies. In order to understand what this conflict is for Alceste and for Chatsky, you need to understand a lot about their characters.
Heroes of the comedy "Woe from Wit". Sofia, Famusov, Molchalin
His ideas and caustic, mocking words cause mistrust and push people away from him. This is partly the meaning of the title of the entire comedy. The mind makes itself hostile. The reason for Moliere's dislike for his hero was that the latter's actions and actions contradicted the tenets of the classicist consciousness. In order to reduce the pathos of Alceste’s words, hostile to the rules of classicism, Moliere forces the characters surrounding the protagonist to respond with a smile to his rantings.
On this occasion, Griboedov wrote in the same letter to Katenin: “I’ll add one thing about Moliere’s characters: “The Bourgeois in the Nobility”, “The Imaginary Ill” are portraits, and excellent ones. In connection with the above words of Acast, another important topic arises for understanding Moliere and Griboyedov. This is a relation to modern society and predecessors.
However, after all the discussions about author's respect We should return to the heroes and their ancestors in the comedy “The Misanthrope” itself. This is evidenced by the very location of the heroes. Pavel Famusov is Sophia's father, the owner of the mansion in which the comedy takes place, the gentleman and Molchalin's employer. A. S. Griboyedov was close to the Decembrists, and there was hostility in him towards the serfdom.
Analysis of the characters of Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit”
Woe from Wit” he completed in 1824, and it was immediately banned by censorship. The roles of the characters are not expressed as clearly as in the classical play. Even the typical image of Griboyedov has individual traits, it is multifaceted and interesting.
Comedy by A. S. Griboyedov “Woe from Wit”: plot, characters, innovation in the work
It combines “situation comedy” and “character comedy.” Previously, comedy and sublime ideas were considered incompatible, but it was social conflict becomes the main thing in “Woe from Wit”. A. S. Pushkin called Griboedov a “comic genius,” quite rightly predicting that half of his comedy poems would go down in history. Woe from Wit" was the first work with such an accurate and quick reaction to current events. Chatsky, the main character of the comedy, which appeared “on the eve of the disturbance on St. Isaac’s Square,” immediately began to be perceived by readers as a reflection of the Decembrist type in literature.
A lot of controversy has accumulated controversial opinions about this comedy, and even more about its main character. The purpose of my essay is to consider and compare all the characteristics of Chatsky. This work provides an overview of all interpretations of the image of the main character, the attitude of contemporaries, critics and friends of Griboyedov towards him.
This determines the arrangement of the heroes of the comedy “Woe from Wit”. Love line represented by Chatsky, Sophia and Molchalin. But Sophia greets him with extreme restraint, because she is in love with Molchalin. Main feature worldview conservative nobility is that it does not want any change because change threatens their well-being.
The main characters of Griboyedov’s comedies “Woe from Wit” and Moliere’s “The Misanthrope”
And Famusov is no exception. He speaks with pride of his uncle, Maxim Petrovich, who knew how to “curry favor” and therefore “knew honor before everyone.” Molchalin also speaks on behalf of the “past century”. Chatsky is the owner of an active, creative mind. He wants to serve “the cause, not individuals,” because he highly values individual freedom, honor and dignity. It cannot be attributed either to the “present century” or “to the past century.”
V. Belinsky. "Woe from Wit." Comedy in 4 acts, in verse. Essay by A.S. Griboyedov.Second edition of St. Petersburg. 1839
She tells Molchalin as much when he asks her to be careful and not show her feelings in public. She plays music and reads books, which Famusov considers unnecessary and even harmful. But Sophia is not on Chatsky’s side, since his accusatory monologues threaten not only the comfortable life of the nobles, but also her personal happiness. That is why Sophia starts a rumor that Chatsky is crazy, and society is so actively spreading this gossip.
The main character of this comedy, Alceste, is disappointed in people and is obsessed with hatred of the secular and everyone else. human society. Sophia, whom he loves, does not understand him and does not respond to his love, preferring the quiet, mean Molchalin. But the main characters of the comedy are Famusov and Chatsky.
"Woe from Wit" (1824) became the first Russian realistic comedy; this work became a landmark for the establishment of realism in Russian drama. However, precisely because it was the first realistic work, in it one can highlight the influence of the aesthetics of romanticism (even the image of Chatsky, generally realistic, is very similar to the images of romantic heroes, contrasted with circumstances and other heroes), and even the influence of classicism - here both compliance with the requirement of “three unities” and “speaking” surnames of the heroes. However, it can be said that Griboedov, in the comedy “Woe from Wit,” creatively reworked all the best that had been created in Russian literature before him, managing on the basis of this to create a qualitatively new work, and this novelty is determined primarily by new principles of creating characters, new approach to understanding the essence of images-characters.
Griboedov's heroes are heroes whose images are socially motivated; they are such because they belong to a certain time and certain strata of society, although this does not mean that they are schematic heroes. It’s just that in each of them the main character traits are formed by the environment, each of them expresses this environment, while remaining an individual.
The language of the comedy "Woe from Wit"
Also, the language of the comedy “Woe from Wit” has become fundamentally new for Russian literature; the linguistic characteristics of the characters are presented to the reader in such a way that, for example, Sophia’s speech cannot be confused with the speech of Princess Tugoukhovskaya, and Molchalin and Skalozub differ in both their characters and their speech . The extreme individualization of the speech characteristics of the characters, the brilliant command of the Russian language, the aphorism of the characters’ remarks, the sharpness of polemics in dialogues and monologues - all this makes the language of Griboedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit” a unique phenomenon in Russian literature of the 20s of the 19th century, and the fact that many phrases from it became “catchphrases”, confirming that it belonged not only to its time.
Comedy conflicts
The conflicts of comedy are very interesting. The external conflict is obvious: this is a confrontation between a leading man of his time (Chatsky) and a society living in the past and striving to keep this life unchanged. In other words, the conflict between old and new is, in general, a banal conflict. However, it is most closely connected with the internal conflict of comedy, with the contradiction of Chatsky’s image. How could he, the smartest man, not understand that Sophia loves another after she herself told him about it and named this person’s name? Why does he so passionately prove his point of view to people whose value he knows very well, just as he knows that they will not only disagree with him, but will not even be able to understand him? Here he is internal conflict comedy "Woe from Wit" by Griboyedov. Chatsky deeply and sincerely loves Sophia, and this feeling makes him so incomprehensible and even funny - although can someone who loves be funny, no matter how funny he may seem?.. In some ways, internal and external conflicts the comedies coincide, although Sophia’s love for Molchalin is not socially conditioned in terms of motivation, rather, on the contrary, but the romantic view of Famusov’s daughter on the latter is also characteristic of the society in which they live.
Famusov's image
Famusov’s world is the world of the Moscow nobility, who live according to the norms of the “Times of Ochakov and the conquest of the Crimea” and do not want to change anything in their lives. “A manager in a government place” Famusov deals with things carelessly (“It’s signed, off your shoulders”...), but he succeeds in organizing his life with all sorts of conveniences, not excluding “monastic behavior”... He knows for sure that for his daughter, “Whoever is poor is not a match for you,” he is well versed in secular gossip and everything that concerns other people’s estates, he can, on occasion, remind Molchalin to whom he owes his current position, and he is undisguisedly servile with Skalozub, seeing in him an advantageous suitor for his daughter... In a conversation with Chatsky, not understanding half of what the interlocutor is saying, he is mortally frightened, believing that he is talking with a “carbonari” (that is, a rebel) who “wants to preach freedom” and “does not recognize the authorities,” demands: “I would strictly forbid these gentlemen to approach the capitals for a shot.” He is not at all that stupid, Famusov, so he is ready to fight by any means to preserve his position and his way of life, he defends his right to see life this way and live exactly this way. His danger lies in the fact that he is ready for just about anything, or maybe he is still very much, for now he and others like him are the true masters of life, and only one person opposes them - Chatsky, who is very lonely in this society, that no matter what they talk about “nephews” and others who supposedly profess other ideals, in Famusov’s house Chatsky is truly alone.
The image of Chatsky in the comedy "Woe from Wit"
The image of Chatsky was perceived by contemporaries as the image of an advanced person defending the ideals of a new life, which was supposed to replace the dominance of “Famusism”. He was seen as a representative younger generation, an intelligent, educated, decent person who ardently defends the need to change life and, it seems, is taking some steps in this direction, although the author talks about this in passing. What is indisputable is that Chatsky is a thinking and gifted person, his judgments about public service, about duty it is not for nothing that Famusov is so frightened, they express ideas of government that undermine the foundations of the existence of Famusov and others like him: “To serve the cause, and not to persons ...”, “I would be glad to serve, it’s sickening to be served”, “And exactly, the world began become stupid."
There was a lot of debate about whether the image of Chatsky in “Woe from Wit” can be considered the image of the Decembrist in literature, but there is no doubt that the hero’s ideas are close to the ideas of the Decembrists, to whom the author of the comedy treated with great sympathy. However, Chatsky is not just an exponent of the advanced ideas of his time, in the opinion of the comedy author. This is a living person, he is sincere and deep in his experiences, his actions are determined by his feelings great love which he feels for Sophia. He is in love, he remembers Sophia as a young girl who, judging by the fact that she makes excuses to Lisa, showed him unambiguous signs of attention, and now he wants to see the same Sophia in her, not wanting to see that dramatic changes have happened to her. Chatsky’s irritation and even some embitterment are caused by the fact that Sophia has changed her attitude towards him, and this prevents the hero from really perceiving circumstances, from seeing them as they are. The hero’s mind and feelings are too busy with love for him to control himself, for him now the whole world is concentrated in Sophia, so everything else and everyone else simply irritates him: Famusov irritates, to whom he still shows a certain respect as Sophia’s father; irritates Skalozub, in which he is ready to see possible groom Sophia; Molchalin is annoyed, who, “with such a soul,” cannot (as he believes!) be loved by the same Sophia.
Chatsky's persistent attempts to find out the truth about Sophia's attitude towards himself border on pathology, and his stubborn reluctance to accept this truth could seem like blindness if it were not for love... However, the scene that he witnesses in the last act gives him the final answer to the best one for him now main question- he receives irrefutable evidence that Sophia not only does not love, but also betrays him, therefore Chatsky’s last monologue is the cry and pain of an insulted soul and an insulted feeling, but here it is also murderously accurately characterized Famusov society, which took away from the hero the most precious thing in his life - love. Chatsky leaves Moscow, and his departure seems to indicate that he is defeated. True, there is a well-known idea by I.A. Goncharov that “Chatsky is broken by the amount of old power, causing it in turn death blow quality of fresh strength,” but how can this undoubted victory of the hero help him when his heart is torn from pain?.. Therefore, we can say that the ending of the comedy is close to tragic - for him, the “eternal accuser”, who has no brilliant mind , nor the ability to “make everyone laugh” could not help to find ordinary human happiness...
Molchalin
The comedy’s image system is constructed in such a way that the author gives us the opportunity to see Chatsky’s “anti-doubles”: these are the images of Molchalin and Repetilov. Molchalin is Chatsky’s happy rival in love, in his own way he is very strong personality who manages to achieve a lot in life. But - at what cost? He sacredly observes his father’s behest: “My father bequeathed to me: First, to please all people without exception...”. He pleases, even with “our deplorable krala” (he calls Sophia) his nights “respectfully”, because she is “the daughter of such a person”! Of course, we can say that for Molchalin such behavior is the only possible one from the point of view of achieving “known degrees,” but surely it’s not possible to achieve them at the cost of losing self-esteem?
Repetilov
The image of Repetilov was perceived by contemporaries as an obvious parody of the Decembrists, which may seem strange if we remember the attitude of the comedy author towards them and their ideas. However, Repetilov is very similar to... Chatsky, only to Chatsky, deprived of his intelligence, his self-esteem, his ability to behave as his honor requires. The comic double of the main character helps to better understand the image of Chatsky in the comedy "Woe from Wit", to see his strengths and appreciate them, while remaining original and original artistically, ridiculing those supporters of the Decembrists who preferred “words, words, words...” to action.
Sophia
The image of Sophia in the comedy turned out to be complex and contradictory. She created for herself a romantic image of Molchalin and fell in love with her “creation”, ready to defend her loved one from the unfair, as she is convinced, attacks of Chatsky and succeeded a lot in this (remember, it was with her “suggestion” that gossip began to spread from Chatsky’s madness!), who became an unwitting witness to how the man she loves mocks her and her love - this is what the heroine of the comedy has to go through, and at the end of the work she cannot but evoke sympathy in the viewer. Sophia is both smart and knows people well - how brilliantly she gives a hint about Chatsky’s imaginary madness to the social gossip G.N., there is nothing to reproach her for on occasion! However, like Chatsky, she was blinded by love, and, bringing suffering to Chatsky, she herself suffers no less from the betrayal of a person whom she believed and for whose love she made certain sacrifices.
"Theme of the Mind"
The “theme of the mind” occupies a special place in comedy. The “grief” that his undoubted intelligence brought to Chatsky is aggravated by the fact that in Famusov’s world a different idea of “intelligence” prevails: here, the one who knows how to achieve ranks and money is valued, therefore Famusov’s uncle, endlessly falling in front of those who “ranks” gives,” is revered as a model of wisdom, and the smart Chatsky is declared crazy... To be a thinking person in the circle of those who do not understand the difference between intelligence and cunning is Chatsky’s lot.
Author's position
The image of the author, the author's position in the comedy "Woe from Wit" is manifested primarily in the creation of character images and the main conflict of the comedy. Chatsky is depicted with great sympathy, his moral superiority, his victory over the world of Famusov speak about whose side the author is on. Satirical image the world of old Moscow, his moral condemnation also indicate the author's position. Finally, the ending of the comedy, when it turns into tragicomedy (discussed above) in terms of expression author's position also clearly tells the viewer which side the author is on. In Griboedov's comedy, the author's principle is expressed both in the stage directions and in the speech characteristics of the characters; the unique personality of the author of one of the greatest comedies in Russian literature is visible in everything.
As already noted, " catchphrases"from "Woe from Wit" have firmly entered both Russian literature and the Russian language. The work itself also took its place in Russian culture, which gives reason to talk about national character comedy by Griboyedov.
At the center of the comedy image system, of course, Chatsky. His views, thoughts, actions, character are revealed not only in monologues, but also in relation to Sophia, Famusov, Skalozub, Molchalin. And they, in turn, manifest themselves in contacts both with Chatsky and with each other. Thus, to complete the picture of Famusov, it is necessary to take into account both his characteristics and relationships with other characters. As a result, an idea of a living, multifaceted human character. They were called Voltaireans at the end of the 18th century. freethinkers, Jacobins - French revolutionaries. The Carbonari are members of a secret revolutionary organization in Italy.
Famusov shown both as a father, and as an important Moscow gentleman, and as a hospitable host. But he has main feature, giving his image the necessary integrity and unity. He finds support in the unshakable foundations consecrated by antiquity. Famusov is a conservative by conviction, by nature, by habit, finally. Everything that threatens that system threatens him personally. Therefore, Famusov passionately and convincingly defends not just everyday life and morals, but also the ideas of the old world, defending its indispensable attributes: careerism, sycophancy, servility, unprincipledness, immorality.
Another direct antagonist of Chatsky is Molchalin. Pushkin, in his famous review of “Woe from Wit,” believed that comedy should have a clearer, more unambiguous characterization of the characters; therefore, he believed, for example, that “Sophia is drawn unclearly,” and “Molchalin is not quite sharply mean.” But this was the playwright’s intention. Skalozub is immediately visible, while Molchalin is hidden in the shadows for the time being. And Chatsky underestimated the public and social danger of Secretary Famusov. Meanwhile, both Chatsk and Molchaline express two diametrically different worldviews, two opposite life positions. Molchalin is not at all as petty and insignificant as it sometimes seems. He himself deliberately puts on the mask of insignificance and sycophant, but for him this is only a way to achieve a goal that he has long set for himself. And in the name of this goal, he is ready for any meanness, cunning, or deceit. Chatsky's open civic position is alien to him, hostile and even funny.
It is no coincidence that later Russian writers looked with great attention and fear at modifications of the image of Molchalin in life. Dostoevsky in “Winter Notes on Summer Impressions” (1863) wrote that Molchalin had long left his “kennel” and had now risen so high that “you can’t even reach him with your hand.” And Saltykov-Shchedrin called one of his satires: “In an environment of moderation and accuracy (Lord Silent)” (1874).
Very important in the Repetil image system, appearing at the very end of the comedy and introducing it new topic. This is another parallel to Chatsky, whose position is significantly clarified in contrast with Repetilov. Chatsky is amazed and offended; he experiences a feeling of contempt and even anxiety, hearing how Repetilov vulgarizes and humiliates with his chatter those great ideas for which real people (including Chatsky) are ready to sacrifice their lives. Chatsky does not even consider it necessary to seriously polemicize or argue with Repetilov. He limits himself to throwing out mockingly ironic remarks from time to time, one of which is especially significant: “Make noise to them - and that’s all?”
And this is the world including the typical Arakcheev officer Skalozub, who hates all living things, despises science and enlightenment, and the countess-grandmother, and many, many others, this world, united, declares direct war on Chatsky, calling him, the smartest person, crazy. Sophia was the first to start this gossip - the one whom Chatsky loves and for whose sake he appears in Famusov’s house. This is how conflict manifests itself high mind, a mind with darkness afraid of light. Let us remember that in Pushkin, Salieri called the brilliant Mozart “madman.”
Need to download an essay? Click and save - » Images and characteristics of the main characters in Griboedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit”. And the finished essay appeared in my bookmarks.
