Woe from Wit, the main characters are briefly described. Characteristics of the main characters in the comedy "Woe from Wit"
, Characteristics of Molchalin, Characteristics of Skalozub, Characteristics of Sophia.
Let's consider the minor characters of the comedy. Next to Sophia stands the figure of the lively servant Lisa. She is a little reminiscent of the soubrette of French comedies, but Griboedov managed to give her so much freshness, depicted her national Russian features with such realism, that Lisa is a completely living figure.
Griboyedov’s enormous talent is precisely reflected in the fact that even the most insignificant faces of secular society depicted in “Woe from Wit” are written with genuine realism, each having their own specific character.
Famusov, Sofya, Molchalin, Lisa. Illustration by D. Kardovsky for Griboedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit”
And so you see the large figure of the noble old woman Khlestova, whose “house is full of pupils and mosquitoes”; in society she behaves with the freedom and straightforwardness that her age and position in the world allow; she tells the truth to everyone's face. In order not to get bored on the way to the ball with the Famusovs, she brought with her in the carriage “a blackaa girl and a dog”; and, caring absolutely equally about this blackamoor, which he keeps “for services,” and about the dog, he asks Sophia to order them to be fed - to send a “handout” from dinner. Khlestova, like Famusov, probably never thought about issues of serfdom; It seems natural to her that part of humanity should be subordinate and serve, and the other should accept services and command. With petty curiosity, she inquires about the income and fortune of other nobles, innocently exclaiming:
“I don’t know other people’s estates!”
So you see the intelligent, but weak-willed Platon Mikhailovich Gorich and his eccentric, capricious wife; you can clearly imagine Princess Tugoukhovskaya with her deaf husband and a whole brood of daughters who need to be married off; secular half-jester, rogue and liar Zagoretsky, who is “scold everywhere, but accepted everywhere.”
Woe from the mind. Maly Theater performance, 1977
Somewhat apart from the rest of Famus's society stands the figure of Repetilov, who appears only in the last act. In his person, Griboyedov ridicules the then secret societies, secret meetings of the “Decembrist” youth, with which, apparently, Griboyedov did not sympathize. Repetilov is an empty person who doesn’t even understand what is being discussed at the meetings of the society in which he participates. Talking about " noisy meeting" " most secret union,” he asks Chatsky:
"Please be silent,
I gave my word to remain silent."
And to Chatsky’s question, what are they talking about, what are these “decisive people”, “a dozen hotheads” doing, Repetilov replies:
« We make noise“Brother, we’re making noise!”
“Are you making noise, that’s all?” - Chatsky responds ironically.
But not all young people in Moscow society are like the Repetilovs, Zagoretskys, and Skalozubs. From conversations at the ball, we learn that among the local youth there are those who seek higher ideals, strive for culture and the arts, but always meet resistance, condemnation, and criticism in society.
"...Let one of us"
says Chatsky,
Among the young people there will be an enemy of quest,
Without demanding either places or promotion,
He will focus his mind, hungry for knowledge, on science,
Or God himself will stir up heat in his soul
To the creative, high and beautiful arts, -
They immediately: robbery! fire!
And you will be known among them as a dangerous dreamer.”
This is Skalozub's cousin, who
“...I have firmly picked up some new rules;
The rank followed him - he suddenly left the service,
I started reading books in the village.”
This is the nephew of Princess Tugoukhovskaya, who became interested in science. His aunt speaks of him with contempt, saying that, having graduated from the Pedagogical Institute, he is ready
“...at least now to the pharmacy, to become an apprentice.
He runs away from women, and even from me!
Chinov doesn’t want to know! He's a chemist, he's a botanist,
Prince Fedor, my nephew."
Speech characteristics of characters in Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit”
MKOU "Mogilno-Poselskaya Secondary School"
Teacher of Russian language and literature
Sobolkova Natalya Vladimirovna
1. List of aphoristic expressions of the characters in the comedy
Chatsky
It's barely light and you're already on your feet! and I am at your feet.
- ...And the smoke of the Fatherland is sweet and pleasant to us.
However, he will reach the known degrees,
After all, nowadays they love the dumb.
I wanted to travel around the whole world,
And he didn’t travel a hundredth part.
I would be glad to serve, but being served is sickening.
The legend is fresh, but hard to believe.
The houses are new, but the prejudices are old.
Rejoice, they won’t destroy you
Besides honesty, there are many joys:
They scold you here and thank you there.
So! I sobered up completely,
Dreams out of sight - and the veil fell.
Get out of Moscow! I don't go here anymore.
I’m running, I won’t look back, I’ll go looking around the world,
Where is there a corner for the offended feeling...!
Carriage for me, carriage!
Empty, slavish, blind imitation.
Listen, lie, but know when to stop;
- The women shouted: hurray!
And they threw caps into the air.
For mercy's sake, you and I are not guys,
Why are other people's opinions only sacred?
We are used to believing
That without the Germans there is no salvation for us.
Despite reason, despite the elements.
It's good where we are not.
The mind and heart are not in harmony.
Molchalin
Oh! Evil tongues are worse than a gun.
I don't dare advise you.
At my age I shouldn't dare
Have your own opinion...
Moderation and accuracy.
Sophia
Happy hours are not observed.
The hero is not my novel.
Lisa
Pass us away more than all sorrows
And lordly anger and lordly love.
Well, people in this side!
She comes to him, and he comes to me...
And a golden bag, and aims to become a general. (About Skalozub)
Skalozub
You won't be fooled by your learning.
The distance is huge.
I don’t know, sir, it’s my fault;
She and I did not serve together.
Famusov
No other sample needed
When your father's example is in your eyes.
Anyone who is poor is not a match for you.
Read not like a sexton.
And with feeling, with sense, with arrangement.
That's it, you are all proud!
Would you ask what the fathers did?
What an honor for father and son.
Learning is the plague, learning is the cause.
Well, how can you not please your loved one?
Once evil is stopped:
Bah! all familiar faces.
Some dreams are strange, but in reality they are stranger.
To the village, to the wilderness, to Saratov!
You, the current ones, come on!
All Moscow ones have a special imprint.
Well, how can you not please your loved one?
Signed, off your shoulders.
2. The hero’s life position
Famusov is a typical Moscow gentleman of the 19th century, with a characteristic mixture of tyranny and patriarchy. (That's why you are all proud! Would you ask what the fathers did?). His political ideals boil down to the glorification of everything old and established: he lives well, and he does not want any changes. The ideal person for Famusov is one who has made a profitable career; at the same time, it does not matter to him by what means this is achieved. Slavery and meanness are also a good path for him, as long as it leads to the desired result. Careerist Famusov doesn’t even think about the fact that the service is not only “signed, off your shoulders,” but also cares about the people and the state. It is in education that he sees the reason for the young man’s madness, considers enlightenment an evil and proposes a radical means of ridding the country of this evil:
Once evil is stopped:
Take all the books and burn them.
Skalozub is all about the external, humanly insignificant, spiritless: noisy, dressed in a uniform, preoccupied only with military exercises and dancing. This is a typical Arakcheevsky officer: stupid and thoughtless, an opponent of all free thought and enlightenment. (“You can’t faint with your learning”).
Molchalin is a petty official who tries to please all people, spending his time with old people in order to be noticed and distinguished. He wants to be noble, rich, accepted in “high society.” The ideal of his life for him is the following: “And win awards and have fun.” Therefore, Molchalin engages in sycophancy and hypocrisy, which help him advance in his career. He already has awards and is Famusov’s indispensable assistant, although Molchalin, in his own words, has only two talents - moderation and accuracy.
Sophia is a typical Moscow young lady, not stupid, brought up on French novels. Having read sentimental novels, she dreams of a timid, quiet, gentle beloved, whom she will marry and make of him a “boy-husband”, “boy-servant”.
Chatsky is a true patriot, ready to give all his strength and talents to the happiness of his native country: (“And the smoke of the Fatherland is sweet and pleasant to us...”). He returns to Russia with the desire to change the life of Russian society for the better, but sees that no changes have occurred during his absence. The same conservative morals prevail in the country:
The houses are new, but the prejudices are old.
Rejoice, they won’t destroy you
Neither their years, nor fashion, nor fires.
Chatsky has a lot of merits, but he does not serve anywhere. The reason is the reluctance to engage in hypocrisy and sycophancy, as the hero’s words clearly indicate: “I would be glad to serve, but it’s sickening to be served.” Chatsky always defends his own opinion, he is the enemy of all authorities. Most of all, he hates despotism and slavery, stupidity and dishonor, mental and moral deafness. (“Empty, slavish, blind imitation”).
3. The common worldview of representatives of the Famus society
The images of Moscow nobles in comedy have many common features. These are reactionary people, persecutors of everything progressive. The first characteristics of the representatives of Famus society are given by the names of the heroes of the comedy. Continuing the traditions of Fonvizin, Griboyedov uses the technique of “talking surnames”.
The people gathered in Famusov’s house are staunch supporters of the autocratic serfdom. The past, the “golden age” of the Russian nobility, is dear to them:
Then it’s not like now:
He served under the Empress Catherine.
This society is afraid of everything new. Famusov and his guests are liberal; they speak directly and proudly about their commitment to the “past century”:
It’s not that new things were introduced - never,
God save us! No…
The personal qualities of a person, his soul, are not of interest to these people. Here everyone is judged by their wealth and origin. Everything is determined by money, medals and the number of serfs:
Be bad, but if you get enough
Two thousand ancestral souls,
He's the groom.
Understanding that the number of serfs determines the nobleman’s place in society, Famusov’s guests do not see the peasants as people. Serfs are sold and exchanged for dogs. Khlestova, for example, comes to the Famusovs with a dog and a “blackamoor girl” and asks the owner’s daughter, Sophia:
Tell them to feed them already, my friend.
There was a handout from dinner.
For this Moscow lady, a dog and a living person are equivalent. Famusov, angry at the servants, threatens:
Get to work! to settle down!
The purpose of life of these gentlemen is career, honors, wealth. Maxim Petrovich, “a nobleman in the case” under Catherine, chamberlain Kuzma Petrovich - these are role models. Hypocritical, stupid, but rich and noble people. Famusov dreams of marrying his daughter to Skalozub only because he “is a golden bag and aims to become a general.” Moscow nobles view service as a source of income, a means of achieving rank. Patronage and nepotism are a common phenomenon in the world of these people. The nobles care not about the interests of the country, but about personal gain.
The ignorant lords are ardent persecutors of science and education and are not ashamed of it. Such people were the stronghold of reaction in the fight against reason.
The upbringing received by the Moscow barchuks makes them alien to their people. They do not know their native language, they worship everything foreign. The lordship is cut off from the people's soil.
4. Manifestation of Molchalin’s social position in aphorisms, his dependence on influential representatives of lordly Moscow
Rootless Molchalin is obsequious and modest. He lives according to his father’s behest: “to please all people without exception,” never to express his opinion:
At my age I shouldn't dare
Have your own opinion...
Molchalin is sensitive to any changes and, although narrow-minded, is well oriented in the social structure. He is very cunning, resourceful, always able to find the “key” to every influential person:
There he will stroke the pug in time,
It’s time to rub the card...
He considers his main talent to be “moderation and accuracy.”
Molchalin’s goal in life is to climb the career ladder, slowly but surely. He dreams of becoming rich and powerful. He is not even ashamed of the fact that he will humiliate himself a lot in order to achieve his goal.
5. How is the conflict between the “present century” and the “past century” reflected in the aphorisms of Chatsky and his ideological opponents
“The main role, of course, is the role of Chatsky, without whom there would be no comedy, but there would, perhaps, be a picture of morals.” I. A. Goncharov One cannot but agree with Goncharov that the figure of Chatsky determines the conflict of comedy - the conflict of two eras. It arises because people with new views, beliefs, and goals begin to appear in society. Such people do not lie, do not adapt, and do not depend on public opinion. Therefore, in an atmosphere of servility and veneration, the appearance of such people makes their clash with society inevitable. The problem of mutual understanding between the “present century” and the “past century” was relevant at the time Griboedov created the comedy “Woe from Wit”, and it is still relevant today. So, at the center of the comedy is the conflict between “one sensible person” (according to Goncharov) and the “conservative majority.”
Chatsky perfectly understands his incompatibility with the world of the Famusovs and Molchalins. His aphorisms are sharp and firm: “I would be glad to serve, but it’s sickening to be served,”
“The houses are new, but the prejudices are old. Rejoice, neither years, nor fashion, nor fires will destroy them...” These sharpened replicas of Chatsky seem to delineate the border between him and the “past century,” but not yet outdated, not dead.
Chatsky opposes the society of ignoramuses and serf owners. He fights against noble scoundrels and sycophants, swindlers, cheats and informers. In his famous monologue “And who are the judges...”, he tore the mask off the vile and vulgar world of Famusov, in which the Russian people turned into an object of purchase and sale, where landowners exchanged people-serfs who saved “both honor and life... more than once" to "three greyhounds". Chatsky defends a real person, humanity and honesty, intelligence and culture. He protects the Russian people, his Russia from the bad, the inert and the backward. Chatsky wants to see Russia literate and cultural. He defends this in disputes and conversations with all the characters in the comedy “Woe from Wit,” directing all his intelligence, wit, evil, temper and determination to this.
Chatsky’s speech is somewhat bookish (“he speaks as he writes”), which indicates his great readiness and education, but the fragile position of his ideas in this mundane society. Syntactically, Chatsky’s speech is more complex than the speech of other characters. She has features of a journalistic style, especially in his accusatory monologues, written as angry satires. He uses a lot of exclamations and rhetorical questions, this is also explained by the fact that the hero is young and in love, his speech is ardent and passionate:
Who are the judges?..
Where? show us, fathers of the Fatherland,
which we should take as models?..
All of a sudden
He traded three greyhounds for them!!!
That Nestor of noble scoundrels...
He will focus his mind, hungry for knowledge, on science...
Chatsky’s speech is most characterized by aphorism and wit:
A , however, he will reach the known degrees,
After all, nowadays they love the dumb...
And the smoke of the Fatherland is sweet to us and nice!
6. How is the aphoristic style connected with the author’s artistic method and the poetic form of comedy?
The author put all the power of his poetic talent into the comedy, creating a play filled with deep content, but unusually easy to read, remember and perceive by the viewer. The comedy owes this property to Griboyedov’s witty and lively language. The play reflects the era that came after the Patriotic War of 1812. Griboedov portrays the Moscow nobility of this period. Both the language and style of the play reflect precisely this era and this society.
The peculiarities of the language of comedy are associated, firstly, with the innovation of the method and genre of comedy. Let us remember that comedy in the era of classicism was considered a low genre, in which colloquial language reduced to the point of rudeness was allowed. Griboedov partially preserves and partially violates this tradition: the play was indeed written in a different colloquial language, but nevertheless literate and literary, harmoniously fitting into the poetic form; the language is not reduced to rudeness and comes as close as possible to literary colloquial speech.
The language of the play is, if possible, freed from borrowed foreign words, as well as from archaisms and Church Slavonicisms characteristic of book speech of the last century, which noticeably “lightens” it, makes it accessible and easy to understand.
Griboedov believed that the literary language should be based on living folk speech. He vehemently protested against the contamination of the Russian language with foreign words and expressions. He fulfilled these requirements in his comedy. The language of the play is simple, colloquial, replete with apt expressions.
Griboyedov showed himself to be a master of aphorisms. The word for him was a devastating weapon, and many expressions from the play, thanks to their accuracy and strength, became popular - they moved from the pages of the comedy into living speech and enriched it.
There are a lot of popular expressions. They serve as one of the means of characterizing the characters. Often the author puts into the mouth of one character the characteristics of another: “And a golden bag, and aims to become a general” (Liza about Skalozub).
Pushkin, having read “Woe from Wit”, was delighted with the language and verse of the comedy. “I’m not talking about poetry: half should become a proverb,” he wrote to Bestuzhev.
Griboyedov took over from Krylov the experience of using colloquial speech in poetry. The comedy is written in iambic hexameter, which is often interspersed with lines of shorter length. In the first four verses of the comedy we observe this diversity:
It's getting light! Oh! how quickly the night has passed! (5)
Yesterday I asked to sleep - refusal. (4)
"Waiting for a friend." - You need an eye and an eye, (4)
Don't sleep until you roll out of your chair. (6)
Elsewhere, iambic tetrameter is replaced by monometer:
...Let me make sure of this;
After..
This is the verse of comedy, conveying the rhythm of living speech in all its diversity of shades.
Griboyedov handles rhyme just as freely, using different methods and rhyme order. All this gives the comedy language a lively, colloquial character. This freedom and diversity is the beauty of the free verse “Woe from Wit.” “It is impossible to imagine,” Goncharov wrote in the article “A Million Torments,” “that another, more natural, simpler, more taken from life speech could ever appear. The rose and the verse merged into something inseparable, then, it seems, so that it would be easier to retain them in memory and put into circulation again all the intelligence, humor, jokes and anger of the Russian mind and language collected by the author.”
Literature:
A.S. Griboyedov "Woe from Wit"
I.A. Goncharov “A Million Torments”
History of Russian literature of the 19th century. Bibliographer. index M - L. 1962.
Kichikova B.Ya. Genre originality of “Woe from Wit” by Griboyedov. // Russian literature. - 1996.
In the comedy “Woe from Wit” by Griboyedov, a confrontation between two different thoughts unfolds: the thinking of the main character Chatsky and the thinking of Famusov’s society, “the present century” and the “past century.” The characters on both sides of the conflict have completely opposite views, but Famusov, unlike the main character, has a significant numerical superiority.
Alexander Andreevich Chatsky- nobleman, representative of the “present century”. Together with Sophia, Famusov’s daughter, with whom he is in love, he lived and was raised for some time in her father’s house. The hero defends freedom, opposes serfdom and the lies of the authorities, he is a true patriot. The desire for freedom and truth is similar to the Decembrists.
Based on Chatsky’s character, we can say that he is an extremely sensitive, ardent and passionate person. This is evidenced by his reaction to Famusov’s views and words, his indignation. He overreacts. Some might say that his arguments and attempts to convince this vicious society are like throwing pearls before swine. However, this also makes Chatsky very honest.
Pavel Afanasyevich Famusov- a wealthy Moscow official, a representative of the “past century,” like almost all the other characters in the play, except Chatsky. Famusov's main ideals are rank and money. He is a supporter of the old foundations, traditions and orders. Famusov pleases the higher ranks, but does not favor the lower ranks. Hates everything related to science, any education and books:
“We would like to collect all the books and burn them.”
Sofya Pavlovna Famusova- his seventeen-year-old daughter. Contrary to his father's ideals, he loves to read, although only French novels. Smart, quick-witted and attractive girl. Because of her strong love for books, she fell in love with the vile Molchalin, seeing in him the hero of the novel, but not seeing his true nature.
Alexey Stepanovich Molchalin- Famusov's secretary. As you can tell from his last name, he is taciturn. A cunning, sneaky liar. He deceives Sophia for the sake of profit, because she is the daughter of a wealthy official, but in fact he also cares for the maid Lisa. Cowardly, very helpful and obsequious:
"My father bequeathed to me:
Firstly, please all people without exception..."
Sergey Sergeevich Skalozub- a colonel obsessed with the army and promotions. He dreams of rising to the rank of general. Famusov wants to marry Sophia to him. By nature, Skalozub is a very shallow and limited person.
Anton Antonovich Zagoretsky- Famusov's acquaintance. Often seen at social events, he is a swindler, gambler, deceiver and gossip.
Repetilov- an acquaintance of Chatsky. A characteristic character trait of this character is the need to repeat what he has heard from others. He completely lacks his own opinion. His words are empty and carry no meaning. Excessive talkativeness comes from an unconscious desire to fill the inner emptiness with something.
Famus society cannot accept Chatsky, for them he is crazy. Chatsky in this society is doomed to loneliness.
Quite a lot of different and interesting characters participate in this comedy by Griboyedov. But despite their large number, the main action is still centered around several main characters. They are, first of all: Alexander Chatsky, Pavel Famusov, Sofya Famusova, Alexey Molchalin.
Chatsky is a positive hero of Griboyedov. Orphaned at an early age, he was raised in the Famusov family. But despite this, having matured and lived for several years separately and away from his former home, Chatsky condemns the opinions and views of Famusov himself and the entire noble society.
He considers himself a patriot, loves his country and will not tolerate the mocking attitude of foreigners towards his native, domestic people. Chatsky is a young nobleman who stands out among the rest with his sharp mind and high morality. In love with Famusov's daughter, Sophia. But having become disillusioned with love, and having also failed to explain to those around him his ideas, principles and goals in life, he decides to leave Moscow, since he already sees another way out.
Pavel Famusov, the personality is quite contradictory. On the one hand, he took in an orphaned boy and raised him as his own. But on the other hand, the author describes him as a hypocritical, dishonest deceiver and bribe-taker. He is a fairly wealthy landowner, raising his only daughter, Sophia, on his own. His wife died quite a long time ago. In his views on life and in many disputes he acts as an opponent of Chatsky.
Sophia- the naive daughter of Pavel Afanasyevich. Despite the good education, upbringing and strong character she received, the girl is not able to understand Chatsky’s real and sincere feelings. She loves to spend her time reading good books, despite her father's disapproval. But still, she is her father’s daughter, since she was raised in an environment where only money and rank are important. The climate in which she was brought up certainly influenced the character of the heroine. Sophia chose Molchalin because she wants to rule not only in the world, but also in the family. The character of Sophia is very complex. On the one hand, she is almost the only person who is close to Chatsky in spirit. On the other hand, it was she who became the cause of Chatsky’s suffering and his decision to leave this society.
Alexey Molchalin a simple person by origin, ready to do anything to be recognized and accepted in society. Has exclusively negative qualities. Works as Famusov's secretary. He is a dishonest, vile, hypocritical and stupid person. He pleases Pavel and Sofya Famusov in every possible way.
Minor characters
Repetilov is an old friend of Famusov, who was unable to secure career growth for himself due to his own absent-mindedness. A simple-minded and stupid character.
Sergei Skalozub is an officer who is unable to think about anything other than his own career. The man is a stupid and uninteresting person who dreams of becoming a general.
Anton Zagoretsky is a famous deceiver; he prefers to play cards and actively attend balls, dinners and theaters. A secular person.
Lisa works as a maid in the Famusovs’ house. Because of her beautiful appearance, she is forced to endure the harassment of Molchalin and Famusov himself. A frivolous and cheerful girl.
Anfisa Khlestova is a lonely old woman, sister-in-law of Pavel Famusov. Out of loneliness I started a pack of dogs. She was once a respected lady-in-waiting, but in her old age she became of no use to anyone.
Platon Gorich is a retired military man, a friend of Chachky. Obediently obeys his wife. A kind and sincere person with a gentle character.
Natalya Gorich is a lover of social life, balls and evenings.
Option 2
One of the important features of the author’s work “Woe from Wit” is the finding of two dissonances that are interconnected. The first is love, the second is public. Thanks to this, the role of the characters was determined.
Chatsky, Sophia and Molchalin are responsible for the love line. For the social line - the conservative nobility, where the main one is Famusov, and also, one can note Chatsky, he is for progressive views on the arrangement in society. Molchalin can also be included in the Famus company.
A. A. Chatsky, only recently returned from abroad and immediately decided to visit the Famusovs’ house, where the young man received his education and where he had not been for more than three years. He wants to see his beloved Sophia, Famusov’s daughter. But the girl does not experience mutual emotions. She is cold and reserved, she loves another, she loves Molchalin. Alexander cannot understand the reason for this attitude towards him.
The young man asks the girl what happened, what the changes are in her heart, he also asks her dad. And here the global counterbalance on the issue of decency, traditions and knowledge, and the organization of the public is well shown.
Famusov is presented in the work as “the last century.” A special feature is the way he sees the nobility, and does not want any changes, since they could cause harm financially. In the life of any nobleman, material well-being is very important, and he is no exception. The man is proud of his uncle, who knew how to obey and therefore everyone respected him. The opinion of society is very important to him.
Molchalin behaves the same way. Its important feature is uniformity and punctuality. The young man is worthy to continue the views of the highest nobility of the capital of Russia. Molchalin knows how and to whom one needs to present oneself well, knows with whom one needs to have a good relationship. And communication with Famusov’s daughter is no exception; by this he shows how important the connection with her dad is for him.
Alexander Chatsky himself is a complete counterbalance to the entire character. He marvels at his views on the arrangement of society. His mind is mobile, he needs to create. He wants to be needed by deeds, not by people, because personal freedom is very valuable to him. This is the only character who is shown to be "last century". Chatsky reflects the views of the writer himself - the views of decency and knowledge, which the highest nobility do not want to take seriously.
Alexander Andreevich Chatsky- a young nobleman who adheres to new, more modern views and concepts. He goes against the old and all hundred-year-old traditions. Chatsky believes that it is precisely because of old customs that Russia cannot become the greatest power.
Alexander has a bad attitude towards submission, lies, bribery and much more. He sees no point in loving and running in search of tender feelings. Chatsky also does not understand why old people adhere to old opinions, forgetting about the present, and cannot understand that it is science that will take the country to heaven.
Pavel Afanasyevich Famusov- one of the most prominent representatives of the old times, who was accustomed to bribes and other vices. Famusov has a high rank, but received it not thanks to his intelligence and ingenuity, but with the help of other people. Paul does not understand new trends and blindly believes in the old orders.
But you shouldn’t think that the hero has some negative traits; he also has others. After the death of his friend, he took custody of his son and raised him as his own. Famusov is an arrogant person who finds love only in money, and therefore believes that you need to get married only if it brings money, otherwise there is no need to worry.
Sofia Famusova- daughter of Pavel Famusov. She is a proud, arrogant, narcissistic woman who does not mind playing with a man’s feelings, either for profit, or simply for her own amusement. At one time, she fell in love with Chatsky, and “played” with him for quite a long time until it was all over. Also, Sophia at the same time “had fun” with Molchalin, who suited her more than his friend.
The main problem, why Sophia did not get along with her relationship with Chatsky, is the different views on life. Like her father, the woman is quite critical of everything new and prefers the older orders and foundations.
Alexey Stepanovich Molchalin- is Famusov’s chief secretary. He is a rather arrogant and cunning person who first tries to find benefit for himself in everything. Alexey is a person who prefers to remain silent and stay away in order to enter into conflict in time, and has adopted a more correct and advantageous position for himself.
Despite his cunning and arrogance, he is quite a dreamy person who believes in a better future. Molchalin is a careerist, and dreams of finding a rich and profitable job, having a high rank, being respected and praised by others, and also ascending to high society. It is thanks to this that a man tries to please every person from high society. Molchalin does not have a noble family, so in these ways he tries to take his place under the stars.
Option 2
The main theme of the work in the form of a confrontation between the present century and the past, combined with a love storyline, is revealed by the writer in the images of the main characters of the comedy Chatsky, Famusov, his daughter Sophia and Molchalin.
Chatsky is presented as a young nobleman who does not recognize the ossified orders of the old society, criticizes the negative vices of officialdom, and shows true patriotic feelings.
He is contrasted with a representative of the nobility in the image of Famusov, who does not accept changes in public life, supporting the existing situation in a country mired in bribery and the use of necessary connections.
Famusov's daughter, Sophia, is a proud and dreamy girl who supports her father's position and considers Chatsky's proposals unreasonable.
In the image of Molchalin, the writer represents a true careerist, trying, with the help of flattery and servility, to gain access to secular society and acquire a high rank.
The secondary characters of the comedy are Repetilov, depicted as an old friend of Famusov, distinguished by stupidity and empty talk, a wealthy middle-aged officer Skalozub, described as an ignorant martinet who dreams of the rank of general, as well as the maid of the Famusov family Lisa, characterized by quick wit, intelligence, but at the same time frivolity.
An important place among the characters in the comedy is occupied by tertiary heroes, some of whom do not appear in the play in person, but their names are mentioned in the dialogues and monologues of other heroes of the work. Among them are Zagoretsky, an active participant in card games, the elderly Tugoukhovsky couple, who attend social events with the goal of marrying off their six daughters, and the Gorich couple, consisting of the head of the family, Platon Mikhailovich, who is henpecked by his young wife, Natalya Dmitrievna.
In addition, among the representatives of Famus society, the writer presents the old woman Khlestova, a pompous woman who became interested in breeding cats in her old age, as well as the bartender Petrushka, a poor servant distinguished by kindness and sincerity.
Several interesting essays
- Father from the story Tolstoy's Childhood, image and characterization essay
Nikolenka’s father, Pyotr Alexandrovich, is a minor character in Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy’s work “Childhood.” Even though the father is not the main character in the story
The title of the painting “Stepan Razin” makes it clear who the main character of this work is, but with him the author also depicts his brothers-in-arms. Cossacks sail along the river in an unknown direction on a boat