Chatsky is the main character of the work. Characteristics of Chatsky in “Woe from Wit” (with quotes)

Alexander Chatsky is the main character of the comedy "Woe from Wit", written by famous writer A. Griboedov in poetic form. The author of this most interesting work already long years in Russian literature is considered a harbinger of a new socio-psychological type, which is given the name “superfluous person”.

The comedy was written during the years of the revolutionary secret organizations of the Decembrists. The author touched upon the struggle progressively thinking people with the society of nobles and serf owners, in other words, the struggle between new and old worldviews. In A. A. Chatsky, the writer embodied many qualities of a progressive person of the era in which he himself lived. According to his beliefs the hero he created is close to the Decembrists.

Brief description of Chatsky

The character of Chatsky in comedy can be defined as follows:

• in emotional diversity and at the same time simple portrait;
• the positivity of the hero, who is a born maximalist;
• in all his feelings and actions.

If he falls in love, then to such an extent that he “ the whole world seems like dust and vanity,” he is the owner of unbearable honesty and an extraordinary mind, constantly thirsting for additional knowledge. Thanks to his knowledge, he soberly sees the problems of politics, the disadvantaged state of Russian culture, pride and honor in people, but at the same time he is completely blind in matters of love. Chatsky - strong personality, a fighter by nature, and he is eager to fight with everyone at once, but often instead of victory he gets disappointment.

Young nobleman son of Famusov's deceased friend, returns to his beloved, Sophia Famusova, whom he has not seen for three long years; Chatsky had known her since childhood. When they grew up, they fell in love with each other, but the unpredictable Chatsky unexpectedly went abroad, from where he did not write a word the entire time. Sophia was offended at being abandoned, and when her lover arrived, she greeted him “coldly.” Chatsky himself says that “he wanted to travel around the whole world, but did not travel even a hundredth part of it,” while main reason his departure served military service, after which, according to his plan, he wanted to meet with Sophia.

His love for this girl is a sincere feeling. He wants to believe in reciprocity, so he cannot believe that she is in love with Molchalin. But he realizes that he is mistaken when he witnesses his explanation with Lisa. After this, Chatsky suffers and calls his love madness. In response to his words, Sophia says that she “reluctantly drove me crazy.” It was this statement that started development of gossip about the hero's madness, and also, according to many, a dangerous person in his beliefs.

Chatsky’s personal drama not only gives movement to the entire plot, but also complicates and deepens the drama of society, which is confirmed in the comedy by the increase in his sharp attacks against noble Moscow. And in such criticism of the views and morals of Famus society, it is clearly visible what Chatsky is speaking out against and what his views are.

In reality, the hero of the picture does not do anything for which he is declared crazy. He speaks his mind but the old world fights against his word using slander. And the problem is that in this struggle, Chatsky’s objectionable views are losing, because the old world turns out to be so strong that the hero sees no point in arguing and runs away from Famusov’s house to another city. But this flight cannot be perceived as a defeat, since irreconcilable opinions put the hero in a tragic situation.

Description of Chatsky

Chatsky is straight, proud and noble man who boldly expresses his opinion. He does not want to live in the past and sees the truth of the future, does not accept the cruelty of the landowners, opposes serfdom, careerism, veneration of rank, ignorance and the wrong attitude of society towards slave morality and the ideals of the past century. Due to the fact that he is a fighter for justice and dreams of benefiting society, it is difficult for him to be in an immoral society, because among deceitful and vile people he cannot find a place for himself.

In his opinion, society remains exactly the same as it was three years ago. He proclaims respect and humanity for to the common man and service to the cause, and not to persons who are against freedom of thought and speech; promotes progressive ideas existing life and modernity, the flourishing of art and science, as well as respect for national culture.

Chatsky writes well, translates, seeks knowledge while traveling and serves in the Ministry. At the same time, he does not bow down to foreigners and boldly advocates domestic education.

His beliefs are revealed in disputes and monologues with representatives of Famus society. He confirms his opposition to serfdom in his memoirs about the theater “Carrying the Tore of Noble Scoundrels,” in which he emphasizes the exchange of faithful servants for greyhounds.

Contradictions in the character of the hero

• when he comes to Sophia and begins a conversation with words in which he uses sarcasm and a caustic tone: “Has your uncle jumped off his life?”;
• At the same time, he does not set out to prick his interlocutors and Sophia, so he asks her in surprise: “...Are my words all... tending towards harm?”

The image of Chatsky in the play is a hot-tempered and in some words tactless nobleman, for which his beloved reproaches him. And yet this harsh tone can be justified by sincere indignation at the existing immorality of the society in which he is forced to find himself. And it is a matter of his honor to fight him.

This behavior of the hero is due to the fact that all the issues that affect him do not resonate in the soul of this opposing person, because he is smart and able to analyze and predict a new future, without serfdom and arrogance. That is why he cannot cope with his own emotions and indignation. His mind is not in harmony with his heart, which means that he lavishes his eloquence even on those who are completely unprepared to perceive his beliefs and arguments.

The hero's unique worldview

Chatsky reveals in comedy the worldview of the author himself. He, like Griboedov, cannot understand and accept the slavish admiration of the Russian people for foreigners. The play ridicules several times the tradition according to which it is customary to hire teachers from abroad to raise children; the author emphasizes: “...they are trying to recruit teachers...in larger numbers...cheaper.”

Chatsky also has a special relationship with service. For Sophia's father, Chatsky's opponent, in this work Famusov’s attitude towards him is precisely defined in the following words: “does not serve... and in that... does not find any benefit.” Chatsky’s answer regarding such a statement also clearly reflects his position: “I would be glad to serve, but it’s sickening to be served.”

That is why he speaks with such anger about the habits of society, which outrages him, namely the contemptuous attitude towards disadvantaged people and the ability to curry favor in the eyes of influential people. If Maxim Petrovich, Uncle Famusov, for the pleasure of the Empress at her reception, deliberately sets a role model and tries to serve her, then for Chatsky he is nothing more than a buffoon, and he does not see in the circle of the conservative nobility those who could set a worthy example . In the eyes of the hero of the play, these aristocrats - opponents free life , prone to idleness and extravagance, they are “passionate for rank,” and they do not care about justice.

The main character is also irritated by the desire of the nobles to cling to useful contacts everywhere. He believes that they attend balls precisely for this purpose, and does not agree with this, because, in his opinion, one should not mix business with fun, since everything should have its time and place.

In one of Chatsky’s monologues, the author emphasizes his dissatisfaction with the fact that as soon as a person appears in society who wants to devote himself to art or science, and not to the thirst for rank, everyone begins to fear him. He is sure that such people are feared, because they threaten the comfort and well-being of the nobles, because they introduce new ideas into the structure of an established society, and the aristocrats do not want to part with the old way of life. That is why gossip about his madness turns out to be very useful, because it allows you to disarm the enemy in views that are displeasing to the nobles.

Brief quotation description of Chatsky

All of Chatsky’s character traits and his manner of communication will never be accepted by society, which would like to live in peace and not change anything. But main character can't agree with this. He is smart enough to understand meanness, selfishness and ignorance aristocrats, and vehemently expresses his opinion, trying to open his eyes to the truth. However, the truth is not needed by the established principles of old Moscow life, which the hero of the play is unable to resist. Based on Chatsky’s inappropriate, but at the same time clever arguments, he is called crazy, which once again proves the cause of “woe from the mind.”

Let's give an example of some statements from the main character:

• After listening to what Famusov said about Maxim Petrovich, Chatsky says: “He despises people... he should yawn at the ceiling...”;
• He contemptuously brands last century: “Straight was the age of humility” and approves of young people who do not have a greedy desire to fit into the regiment of aristocrats and “clowns”;
• Has a critical attitude towards the settlement of foreigners on the territory of Russia: “Shall we resurrect... from the foreign power of fashion? So that... the people... don’t consider us to be Germans...”

A. A. Chatsky is inherently doing a good deed, because... such statements protects human rights and freedom of choice, for example, activities: live in the countryside, travel, “focus your mind” on science, or devote your life to “the arts... high and beautiful.”

The hero’s desire not to “serve”, but to “serve the cause, not individuals” is a hint of progressive behavior determined youth to change society in an educational and peaceful way.

In his statements he does not shy away from such folk words, like “just now”, “tea”, “more”; he uses sayings, proverbs and the following in his speech idioms: “total nonsense,” “not a hair of love,” and easily quotes the classics: “and the smoke of the Fatherland is... pleasant to us.” In addition, he confirms his intelligence and knowledge using foreign words, but only if they have no analogues in the Russian language.

He is lyrical in his stories about his love for Sophia, ironic, sometimes makes fun of Famusov, a little caustic, because he does not accept criticism, which, in his opinion, is criticism of the “last century.”

Chatsky is a difficult character. To use witty phrases, he hits it right in the eye and “scatters” the characteristics he has deduced like beads. The main character of this complex comedy is sincere, and this is the most important thing, despite the fact that his emotions are considered unacceptable. But at the same time, they can be considered the hero’s inner wealth, because thanks to them, his real state can be determined.

The creation of the image of Chatsky is the author’s desire to show the Russian people the brewing split in the established noble environment. Role of this hero in the play is dramatic, because he is in the minority of those who are forced to retreat in this verbal struggle for justice and leave Moscow. But he does not abandon his views even in such a situation.

Griboyedov had no task to show the weakness of his hero, on the contrary, thanks to his image, he showed the absence of a strong society and the beginning of Chatsky’s time. And therefore, it is no coincidence that such heroes are considered “superfluous people” in literature. But the conflict has been identified, which means that the change from old to new is ultimately inevitable.

According to I. A. Goncharov, Chatsky’s role in this work is “passive” and at the same time he is both a “advanced warrior”, and a “skirmisher”, and a “victim”. “The hero is broken by the amount of old strength, but at the same time inflicts a mortal blow on it with the quality of fresh strength,” the writer said.

A. S. Pushkin, after reading the play, noted that the first sign smart person It is believed that at first glance you need to know who you are dealing with and not throw pearls in front of the Repetilovs, but I. A. Goncharov, on the contrary, believed that Chatsky’s speech “seems with wit.”

Comedy “Woe from Wit” by A.S. Griboyedov ranks special place in the history of Russian literature. It combines the features of outgoing classicism with new ones artistic methods: realism and romanticism. In this regard, literary scholars note the features of the portrayal of the characters in the play. If in the comedy of classicism before all the characters were clearly divided into bad and good, then in “Woe from Wit” Griboyedov, bringing closer characters To real life, endows them with both positive and negative qualities. This is the image of Chatsky as the main character of the play “Woe from Wit”.

The background of the main character of the play "Woe from Wit"

In the first act, Alexander Andreevich Chatsky returns from a long trip around the world, where he went to “search for his mind.” Without stopping home, he arrives at Famusov’s house, because he is driven by sincere love for the daughter of the owner of the house. They were once brought up together. But now they haven’t seen each other for three long years. Chatsky does not yet know that Sophia’s feelings for him have cooled down, and her heart is occupied with something else. Love affair subsequently gives rise to a social clash between Chatsky, a nobleman of progressive views, and the Famus society of serf-owners and rank-worshippers.

Even before Chatsky appears on stage, we learn from Sophia’s conversation with the maid Lisa that he is “sensitive, and cheerful, and sharp.” It is noteworthy that Lisa remembered this hero when the conversation turned to intelligence. It is intelligence that is the trait that sets Chatsky apart from other characters.

Contradictions in Chatsky's character

If you trace the development of the conflict between the main character of the play “Woe from Wit” and the people with whom he is forced to interact, you can understand that Chatsky’s character is ambiguous. Arriving at Famusov’s house, he began a conversation with Sophia by asking about her relatives, using a sarcastic tone and sarcasm: “Has your uncle jumped off his life?”
Indeed, in the play “Woe from Wit” the image of Chatsky represents a rather hot-tempered, in some moments tactless young nobleman. Throughout the entire play, Sophia reproaches Chatsky for his habit of ridiculing the vices of other people: “The slightest oddity in someone is barely visible, your wit is immediately ready.”

His harsh tone can only be justified by the fact that the hero is sincerely outraged by the immorality of the society in which he finds himself. Fighting her is a matter of honor for Chatsky. It is not his goal to prick his interlocutor. He asks Sophia in surprise: “...Are my words really all caustic words? And tend to harm someone?” The fact is that all the issues raised resonate in the soul of the hero; he cannot cope with his emotions, with his indignation. His “mind and heart are not in harmony.” Therefore, the hero lavishes his eloquence even on those who are clearly not ready to accept his arguments. A.S. After reading the comedy, Pushkin spoke this way about this: “The first sign of an intelligent person is to know at first glance who you are dealing with, and not to throw pearls in front of the Repetilovs...” And I.A. Goncharov, on the contrary, believed that Chatsky’s speech was “boiling with wit.”

The uniqueness of the hero's worldview

The image of Chatsky in the comedy “Woe from Wit” largely reflects the worldview of the author himself. Chatsky, like Griboyedov, does not understand and does not accept the slavish admiration of the Russian people for everything foreign. In the play, the main character repeatedly ridicules the tradition of inviting foreign teachers into the house to educate children: “...Nowadays, just like in ancient times, regiments are busy recruiting teachers, more in number, at a cheaper price.”

Chatsky also has a special attitude towards service. For Famusov, Chatsky’s opponent in Griboedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit,” his attitude towards the hero is determined by the fact that he “does not serve, that is, he does not find any benefit in that.” Chatsky clearly outlines his position on this issue: “I would be glad to serve, but it’s sickening to be served.”

That is why Chatsky speaks with such anger about the habit of Famus society to treat disadvantaged people with contempt and curry favor with influential people. If for Famusov his uncle Maxim Petrovich, who fell on purpose at a reception with the empress in order to please her and the court, is a role model, then for Chatsky he is just a buffoon. He does not see among the conservative nobility those from whom it would be worth following an example. Enemies of a free life, “passionate for rank,” prone to extravagance and idleness - this is what the old aristocrats are for the main character of the comedy “Woe from Wit” by Chatsky.

Chatsky is also irritated by the desire of the Old Moscow nobles to make useful acquaintances everywhere. And they attend balls for this purpose. Chatsky prefers not to mix business with fun. He believes that everything should have its place and time.

In one of his monologues, Chatsky expresses dissatisfaction with the fact that as soon as a young man appears among the nobles who wants to devote himself to the sciences or arts, and not to the pursuit of rank, everyone begins to fear him. And they are afraid of people like Chatsky himself, because they threaten the well-being and comfort of the nobles. They introduce new ideas into the structure of society, but the aristocrats are not ready to part with the old way of life. Therefore, the gossip about Chatsky’s madness, started by Sophia, turned out to be very opportune. This made it possible to make his monologues safe and disarm the enemy of the conservative views of the nobles.

Feelings and characteristics of the hero’s internal experiences

When characterizing Chatsky in the comedy “Woe from Wit,” you can pay attention to his last name. She's talking. Initially, this hero bore the surname Chadsky, from the word “chad”. This is due to the fact that the main character is, as it were, in the clouds of his own hopes and shocks. Chatsky in the comedy “Woe from Wit” experiences a personal drama. He came to Sophia with certain hopes that did not come true. Moreover, his beloved preferred Molchalin to him, who is clearly inferior to Chatsky in intelligence. Chatsky is also burdened by being in a society whose views he does not share and which he is forced to resist. The hero is in constant tension. By the end of the day, he finally understands that his paths have diverged both from Sophia and from the Russian conservative nobility. There is only one thing the hero cannot accept: why is fate favorable to cynical people who seek personal gain in everything, and so merciless to those who are guided by the dictates of the soul, and not by calculation? If at the beginning of the play Chatsky is in the midst of his dreams, now it has opened up before him true position things, and he “sobered up.”

The meaning of Chatsky's image

Griboyedov was led to create the image of Chatsky by the desire to show the brewing split in the nobility. Chatsky's role in the comedy "Woe from Wit" is quite dramatic, because he remains in the minority and is forced to retreat and leave Moscow, but he does not give up his views. So Griboyedov shows that Chatsky’s time has not yet come. It is no coincidence that such heroes are classified as extra people in Russian literature. However, the conflict has already been identified, so the replacement of the old with the new is ultimately inevitable.

The given description of the image of the main character is recommended for reading by 9th grade students before writing an essay on the topic “The image of Chatsky in the comedy “Woe from Wit””

Work test

/A.A. Grigoriev. Regarding the new edition of an old thing. "Woe from Wit." St. Petersburg 1862/

So I now turn to my second position - to the fact that Chatsky is still the only heroic the face of our literature.<...>

Chatsky first of all - honest And active nature, and also the nature of a fighter, that is, the nature of highest degree passionate.

They usually say that a secular person in secular society, firstly, he will not allow himself to say what Chatsky says, and secondly, he will not fight with windmills, preach to the Famusovs, the Silent Ones and others.<...>

In Chatsky there is only a truthful nature, which will not allow any lies - that’s all; and he will allow himself everything that his truthful nature allows himself. And that there are and were truthful natures in life, here is the evidence: old man Grinev 1, old Bagrov 2, old Dubrovsky 3. Alexander Andreevich Chatsky must have inherited the same nature, if not from his father, then from his grandfather or great-grandfather.

Another question is whether Chatsky would talk to people he despises.

And you forget with this question that Famusov, on whom he pours out “all the bile and all the annoyance,” is not just such and such a person for him, but a living memory of his childhood, when he was taken “to bow” to his master, which

He drove away on many trucks from the mothers and fathers of rejected children.<...>

<...>Chatsky believes in the benefit of his sermon less than you yourself, but bile has boiled in him, his sense of truth is offended. And besides, he's in love...

Do you know how such people love?

Not this one and not worthy of a man love, which absorbs all existence into the thought of a beloved object and sacrifices everything to this thought, even the idea of ​​moral improvement: Chatsky loves passionately, madly and tells the truth to Sophia that

I breathed you, lived, was constantly busy...

But this only means that the thought of her merged for him with every noble thought or deed of honor and goodness. He speaks the truth when asking her about Molchalin:

But does he have that passion, that feeling, that ardor, so that, except for you, the whole world seems like dust and vanity to him?

But underneath this truth lies the dream of his Sophia, as capable of understanding that “the whole world” is “dust and vanity” before the idea of ​​truth and goodness, or, at least, capable of appreciating this belief in the person she loves, capable of loving for it person. He loves only such an ideal Sophia; he does not need another: he will reject the other and broken hearted will do

Search the world, Where there is a corner for the offended feeling.

Look with what deep psychological fidelity the entire conversation between Chatsky and Sophia in Act III is visible. Chatsky keeps asking why he is silent higher And better; he even enters into conversation with him, trying to find in him

A quick mind, a mature genius, -

and yet she cannot, is unable to understand that Sophia loves Molchalin precisely for properties that are opposite to the properties of him, Chatsky, for petty and vulgar properties (she does not yet see Molchalin’s vile traits). Only after being convinced of this, he leaves his dream, but leaves as a husband - irrevocably, he already sees the truth clearly and fearlessly. Then he tells her:

You will make peace with him after mature reflection. Destroy yourself!.. and for what? You can scold him, and swaddle him, and send him to work.

Meanwhile, there is a reason why Chatsky passionately loved this apparently so insignificant and petty nature. What was it about him? Not just childhood memories, but more important reasons, at least physiological. Moreover, this fact is not at all the only one in that strange, ironic cycle that is called life. People like Chatsky often love such petty and insignificant women as Sophia. You could even say that for the most part they like it that way. This is not a paradox. They sometimes meet women who are completely honest, who are quite capable of understanding them, sharing their aspirations, and are not satisfied with them. Sophia is something fatal, inevitable in their life, so fatal and inevitable that for the sake of this they neglect honest and warm-hearted women...

<...>You, gentlemen, who consider Chatsky to be Don Quixote, are especially emphasizing the monologue that ends the third act. But, firstly, the poet himself put his hero here in a comic position and, remaining faithful to the high psychological task, showed what comic outcome untimely energy can take; and secondly, again, you probably haven’t thought about how people with the inclinations of even some kind of moral energy love. Everything he says in this monologue, he says for Sophia; he gathers all the strength of his soul, wants to reveal himself with all his nature, wants to convey everything to her at once.<...>This has an effect last faith Chatsky based on Sophia...; here for Chatsky the question is about the life or death of an entire half of his moral existence. That this personal question merged with a public question is again true to the nature of the hero, who is the only type of moral and manly struggle in the sphere of life that the poet has chosen.<...>

Yes, Chatsky is - I repeat again - ours the only hero, that is, the only positive fighter in the environment where fate and passion threw him.<...>

Chatsky, in addition to his general heroic significance, also has significance historical. He is a product of the first quarter Russian XIX centuries, direct son and heir of the Novikovs 7 and Radishchevs 8, comrade of people

Eternal memory of the twelfth year,

powerful, still deeply believing in itself and therefore a stubborn force, ready to die in a collision with the environment, to die if only because it would leave behind a “page in history”... He does not care that the environment with which he is struggling, positively unable not only to understand him, but even to take him seriously.

But Griboyedov, as a great poet, cares about this. No wonder he called his drama a comedy.

Read also other articles by critics about the comedy "Woe from Wit":

A.A. Grigoriev. Regarding the new edition of an old thing. "Woe from Wit"

• Griboyedov's comedy "Woe from Wit" - a representation of secular life
• Characteristics of Chatsky

I.A. Goncharov

V. Belinsky. "Woe from Wit." Comedy in 4 acts, in verse. Essay by A.S. Griboedova

In my comedy there are 25 fools for every sane person. And sometimes a person, of course, is in conflict with the society around him, no one understands him, no one wants to forgive him, why is he a little higher than others.
A.S. Griboyedov
In 1824 Griboyedov created immortal comedy“Woe from Wit.” The main character of this comedy is Chatsky.
Chatsky is a young educated nobleman who returned from a three-year journey. He is not rich, although he belongs to the “ famous surname" He spent his childhood in Moscow, in the house of Famusov, a friend of his late father; here he grew up and became friends with Sofia. We do not know where and what kind of education Chatsky received, but we see that he is an enlightened person.
Chatsky returned to Moscow to Famusov’s house because he loves Sofia. “At first light,” without stopping home, he quickly appears at Famusov’s house and expresses his ardent love to Sofia. This already characterizes him as an ardent, passionate person. Neither separation nor travel cooled his feelings, which he expresses poetically and passionately. Chatsky’s speech is emotional, it often contains exclamations and questions:
Oh my god! Am I really here again?
In Moscow!..
Chatsky is smart, eloquent, his speech is witty and apt. Sofia says about him:
Sharp, smart, eloquent.
Famusov recommends Chatsky:
...he's a little guy with a head
And he writes and translates nicely...
A number of aphorisms testify to Chatsky’s sharp and subtle mind: “Blessed is he who believes, he is warm in the world,” “The mind is not in harmony with the heart.” Chatsky stands for true enlightenment. He passionately proclaims:
Now let one of us
Of the young people, there are- enemy of quest,
Without demanding either places or promotion,
He will focus his mind, hungry for knowledge, on science...
The image of Chatsky is new, fresh, bringing changes to the life of society. He despises hypocrisy and inhumane treatment of the people. For him, love is sacred. He “knows no deception and believes in his chosen dream.” And that is why he experiences with such pain the disappointment that befell him when he found out that Sofia loved someone else, that is, Molchalin. Chatsky is alone in Famusov’s house. Everyone turned away from him, calling him crazy. Famus society sees the reason for his madness in enlightenment:
Study- that's the plague, learning- that's the reason
What is worse now than then,
There were crazy people, deeds, and opinions.
Chatsky was forced to leave Famusov's house. He was defeated because the forces were unequal. But in turn, he gave a good rebuff to the “past” century.
Chatsky also speaks indignantly about serfdom. In the monologue “Who are the judges?..” he angrily speaks out against the oppressors:
Where, show us, are the fathers of the fatherland,
Which ones should we take as models?
Aren't these rich in robbery?
They found protection from court in friends, in kinship,
Magnificent building chambers,
Where they spill out in feasts and extravagance,
And where foreign clients will not be resurrected
The meanest features of the past life.
Chatsky believes that it is necessary to serve not individuals, but a cause. He sees a person's value in his personal merits.
The image of Chatsky showed us what it should be like real man. He is the one people should emulate.
This comedy is undoubtedly - best work great playwright.

Characteristics of the hero

Chatsky Alexander Andreich is a young nobleman. Representative of the “present century”. Progressive man, well educated, with broad, free views; true patriot.

After a 3-year absence, Ch. comes to Moscow again and immediately appears at Famusov’s house. He wants to see Sophia, whom he loved before leaving and with whom he is still in love.

But Sophia greets Chatsky very coldly. He is perplexed and wants to find the reason for her coldness.

Remaining in Famusov's house, the hero is forced to enter into a fight with many representatives of "Famusov's" society (Famusov, Molchalin, guests at the ball). His passionate accusatory monologues are directed against the order of the century of “obedience and fear,” when “he was the one whose neck was most often bent.”

When Famusov offers as an example worthy person Molchalin, Ch. pronounces the famous monologue “Who are the judges?” In it, he denounces the moral examples of the “past century”, mired in hypocrisy, moral slavery, etc. Ch. examines many areas in the life of the country: public service, serfdom, education of a citizen, education, patriotism. Everywhere the hero sees the prosperity of the principles of the “past century.” Realizing this, Ch. experiences moral suffering, experiences “woe from the mind.” But to no lesser extent the hero experiences “grief from love.” Ch. finds out the reason for Sophia’s coldness towards him - she is in love with the insignificant Molchalin. The hero is offended that Sophia chose him over this “most pitiful creature.” He exclaims: “The silent ones dominate the world!” Very upset, Ch. ends up at a ball in Famusov’s house, where the cream of Moscow society gathered. All these people are a burden to Ch. And they cannot stand the “stranger.” Sophia, offended by Molchalin, spreads a rumor about the hero’s madness. The whole society happily picks it up, putting forward the hero’s free-thinking as the main accusation against Ch. At the ball, Ch. pronounces a monologue about the “Frenchwoman from Bordeaux,” in which he exposes the slavish admiration for everything foreign and the contempt for Russian traditions. At the end of the comedy, Ch. opens true face Sophia. He is disappointed in her just as in the rest of “Famus” society. The hero has no choice but to leave Moscow.