Can the comedy ignoramus be considered a classic work? 

The comedy “The Minor” was written by D. I. Fonvizin in 1781 and became the pinnacle of Russian dramaturgy XVIII century. This is a work of classicism, but it also displays certain features of realism, which makes this work innovative.

Classicism is a literary movement based on the principles of philosophical rationalism, the ideal of harmony and measure, strict adherence to normativity in poetics, imitation of examples of ancient literature, and faith in human reason. Harmony of content and form, strict division of heroes into positive and negative, the use of “speaking” surnames, the rules of “three unities”, adherence to the hierarchy of genres - these are the main features of classicism.

Russian classicism is distinguished by the satirical orientation of its works, the predominance of national historical themes over ancient ones.

D. I. Fonvizin observes the unity of place and time in “Nedorosl”: all the events of the comedy take place in the house of Mrs. Prostakova and the action takes place within 24 hours. But the author of the comedy violates the unity of action, since there are two conflicts in the work: love and socio-political. Love conflict is the main one. The heroes of the comedy are divided into negative (Mrs. Prostakova, Mr. Skotinin) and positive (Milon, Starodum, Sophia). The author gives the characters “speaking” surnames: Pravdin, Skotinin, Vralman. Positive heroes - Starodum, Sophia, Milon - speak the right things literary language, their speech is instructive; negative characters use colloquial words, swear words, their speech is more lively (for example, Prostakova says: “And you, brute, come closer. Didn’t I tell you, you thieving mug, that you should let your caftan go wider? Tell me, you idiot, than you will you justify yourself?"). The speech of the heroes is a means of characterizing the heroes. The connection with folklore is clearly visible: the characters in conversation use proverbs and sayings that make the comedy “folk” (for example, “Everyone should marry his bride,” “Live and learn,” “I don’t want to study, I want to get married”).

Comedy has educational orientation, since it touches on the most important issues of upbringing a citizen, education, morality, and the arbitrariness of landowners. The comedy was topical in nature, because D.I. Fonvizin showed all the hardships of serfdom and the shortcomings of education. This play became the predecessor of A. S. Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit.”

The problem of raising children, the legacy destined for the country, played important role in society in ancient times and remains relevant to this day. Members of the Prostakov family are strangers to each other. They don't look like strong ones at all. loving family. Mrs. Prostakova is rude...

The case of “Nedoroslya” is special. Comedy is studied at school so early that by the time the final exams arrive there is nothing left in your head except famous phrase: “I don’t want to study, I want to get married.” This maxim can hardly be felt by those who have not reached puberty...

Mitrofan is an undergrowth, a negative character in a comedy, a young nobleman. He is very similar to his mother, Mrs. Prostakova, and brother Taras Skotinin. In Mitrofan, in Mrs. Prostakova, in Skotinin one can notice such character traits as greed...

(based on the work of D.I. Fonvizin) Magic land! There in the old days, Satires brave ruler, Fonvizin, friend of freedom, shone. A. S. Pushkin The brave master of satire, a writer of great talent, an artist merciless in his truth, Denis Ivanovich...

There, in the old days, the brave ruler of Satire, Fonvizin, the friend of freedom, shone... A. S. Pushkin Classicism is a literary movement that existed in the 18th - early XIX century. It was characterized by a high civic theme, which demanded that everything personal be sacrificed in the name of national goals; strict adherence to certain norms and rules. Classical writers found examples of beauty in monuments ancient art, unchanged for all times. In classicism there was a clear division of literary genres into “high” and “low”. The subject of high genres (poems, odes, tragedies) was supposed to be a higher, spiritual life, the characters being only kings and aristocrats. The content of low genres (satire, comedy, fable) was reduced to depicting private, everyday life. The characters were representatives of the lower classes - the small nobility, bureaucrats, serf servants. “High” and “low” have never been combined in one work. The character of the hero was dominated by a single trait - positive or negative. As a result, the characters were either completely vicious or completely noble. Classicism solved the problems of educating a citizen. The behavior of others has a decisive influence on the child's personality. Virtuous or vicious, it serves as an example, a role model. The ideal of the era is proclaimed to be a person capable of bringing public benefit, for whom the interests of the state are above personal interests. The comedy's attention was drawn to negative phenomena reality. The purpose of comedies, according to classicism, is to educate, ridicule shortcomings, and educate with laughter. The most outstanding work dramaturgy of classicism in Russian XVIII literature century is Fonvizin’s comedy “The Minor.” In constructing his play, Fonvizin strictly followed the rules of classicism. "Minor" consists of five canonical acts. In each, the rule of trinities is observed - action, time and place. The events depicted by Fonvizin take place over the course of one day and in one place - in the house of the landowner Prostakova. According to the rules of classicism, the characters in the comedy are divided into vicious and virtuous, and in the finale of the play the evil ones are punished, the good ones triumph. Comic heroes are put to shame. Prostakova was deprived of her rights over the peasants for abusing her power, and her estate was taken under guardianship. The clash between “evil” and “virtuous” heroes reflects a deep social conflict advanced noble intelligentsia with reactionary feudal landowners. The playwright deliberately sharpens negative images, thereby achieving greater persuasiveness in denouncing serfdom. Images positive characters comedies are schematic in the spirit of classicism. Pravdin, Starodum, Milon, Sophia do not so much live and act as they talk at length and importantly on moral and political topics, teach lessons about noble virtues. Like these good heroes of the play, negative characters they are endowed with “speaking” names, by which one can immediately judge each of them: Prostakov, Vralman, Skotinin. Three themes run through Fonvizin’s dramatic work: the theme of education, serfdom and government structure Russia. The problem of upbringing and education of young nobles deeply worried the playwright, who dreamed of a new generation of enlightened Russian people. According to Fonvizin, the only reliable source of salvation from the spiritual degradation of the nobility is rooted in proper education. Fonvizin posed the question of what a true nobleman should be and whether he answers Russian nobility to its purpose. Starodum expressed the following thought about this: “A nobleman, for example, would consider it the first dishonor to do nothing when he has so much to do: there are people to help, there is a fatherland to serve!” Another problem of “Minor” is the problem of serfdom: the terrible situation of Russian serfs, given over to the full ownership of the landowners, the monstrous arbitrariness of the nobles. The writer, speaking out in favor of curbing the ignorant landowners who abused their power over the peasants, shows that faith in Catherine II is meaningless. In response to Pravdin’s words that with such rules, “as they are with Starodum, people should not be released from the court, but they must be called to the court... for what a doctor is called to the sick for,” Starodum replies with complete conviction: “My friend, you are mistaken. It is in vain to call a doctor to the sick without healing: here the doctor will not help unless he himself becomes infected.” The author puts another thought into Starodum’s mouth: “It is unlawful to oppress one’s own kind through slavery.” Thus, the comedy “Minor” reflected the most important and the most pressing problems Russian life. Fonvizin believed that the main weapon of a comedian is laughter and vice can and should be portrayed as funny.

Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin came from a Russified German family, original surname which was von Wiesen. The modern spelling Fonvizin was proposed by A.S. Pushkin much later.

At first, Fonvizin studied with private teachers, then he entered the gymnasium at Moscow State University, where he later studied. But he didn’t finish the University; he dropped out to start his military service. While still at the gymnasium, he made his debut as a writer and translator from German: when Fonvizin was a first-year university student, a translator was needed at court, and he was accepted into the service of the College of Foreign Affairs, where he worked all his life. In 1763, Fonvizin moved to St. Petersburg, where he met writers, incl. with Elagin: he joins his circle and becomes a fan of the theory of declinations.

Fonvizin as a playwright

1764 - Fonvizin’s debut as a playwright: he publishes the play Corion. It is poorly written, but in full accordance with the theory of declensions - it is a reworking of the French comedy.

After this failure, Fonvizin did not write for a long time; only in 1769 did he create a comedy Brigadier. From this play it is clear that Fonvizin understood: it is not enough just to give the characters Russian names, you also need to introduce Russian problems into the play. In Brigadier this problem is gallomania- imitation of everything French, this was relevant in Russia in the mid-18th century; Another, no less pressing problem is the education of young nobles. But the influence of the theory of declinations is also felt in the Brigadier, because plot device there it is borrowed from French drama - this is the so-called. symmetry in red tape(situation when two married couples husbands simultaneously court other people's wives). But since the Brigadier was nevertheless intelligently adapted for Russia, it is considered the first Russian play.

At first, the production of The Brigadier in the theater was prohibited, because Elagin and Lukin were afraid that Fonvizin would take away their dramatic fame. And, in order to bring the play to the public, Fonvizin began to organize public readings. At one of them he met Count Nikita Panin, the teacher of the heir to the throne, Paul. Communicating with him, Fonvizin began to become more interested in politics and became bolder.

Fonvizin's ideals in the comedy Nedorosl

Fonvizin knew how to distinguish and describe any problems Russian society, had a good sense of humor, could think like a statesman. All this was manifested in his main work - comedy Minor, written in 1781. However, the comedy was first published only in 1830, after the death of Fonvizin.

The main problem that is raised in this comedy- education of a young Russian nobleman, ideas of enlightenment. This was very relevant in the 1780s, when even Empress Catherine herself thought a lot about education and was opposed to home education with tutors.

In the 18th century there were several philosophical theories about education. According to one of them, initially a child is not a full-fledged person; he only copies the behavior of adults. Since Catherine shared this theory, she recommended separating children from their parents and placing them in educational establishments. Fonvizin, who was also a supporter of this theory, shows in the comedy Nedorosl the harmfulness of home education.

Fonvizin strives to prove that education is synonymous with happiness.

Comedy protagonist- a young nobleman Mitrofan, who has many negative role models before his eyes. Firstly, his mother, Mrs. Prostakova, is a cruel and willful landowner who does not see the point in education at all. Secondly, his nurse Eremeevna is a slave in spirit, from whom Mitrofan adopts the psychology of admiration for the strong (as well as from his father). Thirdly, his uncle, Taras Skotinin, is a nobleman who does not want to serve his fatherland; most of all, he loves his pigs. It is emphasized that Mitrofanushka learns something from all of them.

Despite the satire, the play was not originally intended to be funny. Contemporaries, reading it, were horrified.

Minor as a work of classicism

The comedy is undoubtedly a work of the era of classicism, but with some deviations from the canonical rules. For example, here only one rule from the trinity- unity of place, because All the action takes place on the Prostakov estate.

Present masked heroes: Sophia is the mistress, Starodum is the father (although he is not stupid!), he is also the hero-reasoner, Milon is the hero-lover, Mitrofan and Skotinin are negative suitors, Pravdin is god ex machina. There is no role of soubrette here.

In the play, as expected, five actions: exposition, plot, development of conflict, climax and denouement (which includes an unjustified denouement and catharsis when we feel sorry for Prostakov).

Classic conflict feelings and duty is expressed in the fact that goodies in this play they live, submitting to reason, the state and the will of their elders. Negative ones become slaves to their feelings, often evil and selfish. Of course, in the end, the positive characters are rewarded with happiness, while the negative ones end up losing.

Comedy contains many speaking names: Skotinin, Tsifirkin, Milon, etc.

The play is written in a low style, easy colloquial language, in prose.

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The success of the comedy “Nedorosl” was predetermined by the ideological atmosphere of the era itself, the need for a high-quality domestic repertoire in the development of Russian theater. But what allows him to go beyond just his time and be relevant now? Does this mean that, like talented artist, Fonvizin went beyond literary tradition of his time and took the next step in the depiction of man, who is the main subject of literature?
The author strictly follows the rule of dramatic trinity in his comedy. His characters match literary types classicism: they are clearly divided into positive and negative, and the latter become the living embodiment of one of human vices. We hear the moralizing intonations of the author in the words of the reasoner Starodum. All these points are obvious. Therefore, we will be interested in what in this work does not correspond to the tradition of classicism.
Comedy plot abounds unexpected turns and interesting in itself. That is, you can watch a comedy not only for the sake of education, but also simply for entertainment. Let us also pay attention to how great the role of chance is in the fate of the heroes.
The comedy language is lively, figurative, aphoristic. The author is distinguished by knowledge colloquial speech, shades and meanings of words, the writer-playwright does not have the opportunity to describe his characters - he must be presented through actions and verbal remarks. That is why, already at the beginning of the work, we have a specific idea about each of characters: from character traits to position in the Prostakovs’ house.

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Minor as a comedy of classicism

1. Conflict of the comedy “Minor.”

2. Traditions of classicism and innovation by D. I. Fonvizin.

3. “The Minor” is a realistic comedy.

Literature of the 18th century, during the general national upsurge, formed civic consciousness in society. The classicists propagated the ideas of equality of people, humanism, the principle of common benefit, and the responsibility of authorities to the people. They considered it their duty to benefit their fatherland. Classicists strove for a truthful depiction of life, talked about current problems society, they are characterized by civic pathos and patriotism. But the dramaturgy of that time was also enriched with works that went beyond classicism. This is the comedy by D. I. Fonvizin “The Minor”. The comedy was completed in 1781. Its pathos was determined by Fonvizin’s political acuity and commitment to the ideals of human freedom.

The main theme of the comedy, its conflict is indicated by the author at the very beginning, this is the arbitrariness of the landowners and the lack of rights of the serf. The struggle of the progressive nobility against the serf owners is the dramatic conflict of “The Minor.” On the side of the progressive nobility are Pravdin and Starodum, the serf owners are the Prostakovs and Skotinins. Fonvizin convinces us that serfdom is destructive and must be fought. It corrupts the serf owners themselves, who lose their human qualities in dealing with serfs, they feel omnipotent. The author wanted to show in his work the actions and morality of serf owners generated by serfdom. It is serfdom's tyranny, and not the struggle for Sophia's hand - main topic"Undergrown." The depiction of the suitors for her hand is another opportunity to carefully consider the representatives of the “noble class” depicted in a comic light. A love plot, according to Fonvizin, cannot be the basis dramatic work. It was based on the conflict of the era.

Literary critic G. P. Makogonenko believes that “Minor” is political comedy, since the innovative features in it were determined precisely by political beliefs author. There is a plot here that conveys a real historical conflict; positive heroes with the features of noble enlighteners.

The play continues the traditions of classicism. According to G. A. Gukovsky, Fonvizin’s artistic thinking always “retained a clear imprint of this school.” “Nedorosl” is a phenomenon of late Russian classicism, which was influenced educational ideology. This work combines touching and comic, destroys the usual genre forms. The characters of the heroes are complex, contradictory, they are not divided only into positive and negative, as required by the principles of classicism. But the positive heroes, following the canons of classicism, in “The Minor” have one characteristic feature. The power of the traditions of classicism was preserved in the speaking surnames of the heroes, in maintaining symmetry in the distribution of negative and positive characters. The speech of the heroes in the play conveys the characters of the characters, but the hero-reasoner, in classic works - the bearer of the author's opinion, is also present, this is the noble Starodum. main idea classicism - the idea of ​​enlightenment. In “The Minor” it receives a different interpretation: enlightenment is important, but virtue more important than the mind. The trinity of time, place and action is broken: instead of one problem, the author touches on a number of equally important ones.

Fonvizinsky realism - truthfulness, historical concreteness of images, especially clearly manifested itself in the creation of the characters of Eremeevna and Prostakova, showing the complexity of their nature. The images of Starodum and Pravdin are also living characters; readers even “recognized” their prototypes, noble enlighteners. Realism helped Fonvizin move away from literary stamps, the author was the first to take the step towards creating a hero-advanced figure. Starodum, Pravdin and Milon were discharged to general outline, without biographical details, inner world. But the image of Starodum is more significant in this regard.

Fonvizin created new type realistic comedy: he based it not on a ready-made plot, but on a real one historical conflict, which affects all heroes. Conflicts in the house, according to the author, are a reflection of conflicts in the country. Prostakova’s behavior, for example, comes from the decree on the liberties of the nobility. Condemning her means that serfdom is condemned in her person. But high content does not mean for the author a rejection of the comic. But this is an accusatory comedy, and sometimes with bitter irony. Russian begins with “Nedoroslya” social comedy. Fonvizin gave the comedy social depth and a sharp satirical orientation. The author denounces the vice - serfdom, noble "evil morality" and seeks to show its causes: improper upbringing, ignorance of people.

According to G. A. Gukovsky, “The Minor” is “half comedy, half drama.” Genre originality The work is that the basis of the play is a classic comedy, updated with serious and touching scenes: Pravdin’s conversation with Starodum, Starodum’s conversations with Sophia and Milon. The ending combines moralizing and touching. Prostakova suffered punishment, but I feel sorry for her.

Fonvizin’s traditions were continued by his followers - A. S. Griboyedov with his “Woe from Wit” and N. V. Gogol with “The Inspector General”. Gogol called the comedies of Fonvizin and Griboyedov the most bright works: “They no longer contain light ridicule of the funny sides of society, but the wounds and illnesses of our society... Both comedies took two different eras. One was struck by illnesses from lack of education, the other from ill-understood enlightenment.”