FAMUSOV SOCIETY AND CHATSKY. Famusian Society: Characteristics

The play "Woe from Wit" is a famous work by A. S. Griboedov. In the process of its creation, the author moved away from the classical canons of writing "high" comedy. Heroes in "Woe from Wit" are ambiguous and multifaceted images, and not cartoon characters, endowed with one characteristic feature. This method allowed Alexander Sergeevich to achieve tremendous likelihood in depicting the "picture of morals" of the Moscow aristocracy. This article will be devoted to the characterization of representatives of such a society in the comedy "Woe from Wit".

The problems of the play

In "Woe from Wit" there are two plot-forming conflicts. One of them concerns personal relations of heroes. It involves Chatsky, Molchalin and Sofia. The other is a socio-ideological confrontation between the main character of the comedy and all the other characters in the play. Both story lines reinforce and complement each other. Without regard to the love line, it is impossible to understand the characters, outlook, psychology and the relationship of the heroes of the work. However, the main, of course, is social conflict. Chatsky and Famusov society oppose each other throughout the play.

"Portrait" of the heroes of comedy

The appearance of the comedy "Woe from Wit" caused a lively response in the literary circles of the first half of the 19th century. And not always they were laudatory. For example, an old friend of Alexander Sergeevich - PA Katenin - reproached the author for saying that the characters in the play are too "portrait", that is, complex and multifaceted. However, Griboyedov, on the contrary, considered the realism of his characters the main advantage of the work. In response to criticism, he replied that "... caricatures that distort real proportions in the guise of people are unacceptable ..." and claimed that in his comedy there is not one such. Having managed to make their heroes alive and believable, Griboyedov achieved an amazing satirical effect. Many unwittingly recognized themselves in the characters of the comedy.

Representatives of Famus society

In response to comments about the imperfection of the "plan" of his work Griboyedov stated that in his play "25 fools for one sane person." Thus, he spoke quite sharply about the capital elite. For all, it was obvious who the author portrayed under the guise of comedic characters. Alexander Sergeevich did not conceal his negative attitude to the society of Famusov and contrasted him with the only intelligent man - Chatsky. The rest of the actors in the comedy were typical images of that time: the well-known and influential Moscow "ace" (Famusov); Loud and stupid careerist-martinet (Skalozub); Quiet and dumb rascal (Molchalin); Imperious, half-mad and very rich old woman (Khlestova); Eloquent chatterbox (Repetilov) and many others. Famous society in comedy is colorful, diverse and absolutely unanimous in its resistance to the voice of reason. Let's consider the character of its brightest representatives in more detail.

Famusov: a convinced conservative

This hero is one of the most influential people in Moscow society. He is a fierce opponent of everything new and believes that it is necessary to live in the same way as fathers and grandfathers bequeathed. Chatsky's utterances for him are the top of free-thinking and debauchery. And in ordinary human vices (drunkenness, lies, servility, hypocrisy), he sees nothing reprehensible. For example, he declares himself that "the monk is known for his behavior," but before that he flirts with Lisa. For Famusov, the synonym for the word "vice" is "scholarship". The condemnation of bureaucratic greed is for him a sign of insanity.

The question of service is the main one in the system of vital values of Famusov. In his opinion, any person should strive to make a career and thereby secure a high position in society. Chatsky for him - a man who is lost, because he ignores the generally accepted norms. But Molchalin and Skalozub are business, reasonable people. FAMUSOV SOCIETY is an environment in which Petr Afanasievich feels himself to be fulfilled. He is the embodiment of what Chatsky condemns in people.

MOLCHALIN: a wordless careerist

If Famusov in the play is a representative of the "century past," then Alexei Stepanovich belongs to the younger generation. However, his ideas about life completely coincide with the views of Pyotr Afanasievich. MOLCHALIN makes his way "into people" with enviable tenacity, in accordance with the laws dictated by the FAMUS society. He does not belong to the nobility. His trump cards are "moderation" and "accuracy", as well as lackey servility and limitless hypocrisy. Alexei Stepanovich is very dependent on public opinion. The famous remark about evil languages, which "is more terrible than a pistol" belongs to him. His insignificance and unprincipledness are obvious, but this does not prevent him from making a career. In addition, thanks to his boundless pretense, Alexei Stepanovich becomes a happy rival of the main character in love. "Silence prevails in the world!" - with bitterness notices Chatsky. Against Famusov society, he can only put his own wit.

Khlestov: tyranny and ignorance

This is a colorful character from the Catherine's era. A witty and imperious lady-serfress, who does not hide her disgust for enlightenment and education. From nothing to do, she drags along to the receptions "Arapka girl and doggy." Khlestov likes young Frenchmen and helpful persons like Molchalin. Infinite tyranny is her life credo. Who is rich, that is right, she believes. Personal merit has no value at all.

Skalozub: an enviable groom

This hero is the embodiment of ignorance and stupidity. A rough soldier, who "did not pronounce the words of the wise". However, Famusov does not want another daughter of his daughter. Still would! With a relatively short lifespan, Skalozub already "marks the generals" and also the "golden bag". Famusovskoe society demonstratively does not want to notice the roughness and rudeness of the colonel. The "learning" of this character does not "fog." From his point of view, a military drill is much more useful than any books there. Skalozub only interested in the arguments about "pounds and ranks".

Zagoretsky: the rogue and the sharper

This person, despite his disgusting reputation, calmly accepts Fame's society into his ranks. All despised Zagoretsky - "master of service", so his leprosy is looked through. The fact that he is a "liar", "a thief" and a "gambler", speak openly. However, it can not do without it.

Repetilov: the confidant of "noisy" secrets

This is an interesting hero, which allows one to draw a conclusion about Griboedov's negative attitude toward ideological "hollows" that made the "conspiratorial" activity a form of secular pastime. In words of Repetilov, a fan of "learning". However, he himself admits that with pleasure he would have made a career, but "met with failure". Famus society does not see a particular threat from the chatter of the "noisy" conspirator. Despite the fact that Repetilov loudly declares that he and Chatsky have "the same tastes", in fact, he is also a secular bell like all the others.

Inheritable characters

FAMUSOV SOCIETY, whose description is the subject of this article, is not limited to persons participating in the action. In the comedy between the case mentioned a lot of people, which the audience will never be presented. Inheritable characters are "invisible" participants in a social conflict. They have a special function: with their help, the author was able to expand the scope of the work, so to speak, to bring the story behind the scene. Without playing any specific role in the story, the extra-personal characters are inextricably linked with the defenders of the "past century" or, conversely, with representatives of the "present century". It is these invisible heroes that give an idea of the split of Russian society into two unequal halves. Most of them are ideologists, who were warmed by Famusov's society. "Woe from Wit" demonstrates the moral inconsistency of their views. In less - people like Chatsky. He is not alone at all. The brother of Skalozub, the nephew of Princess Tugoukhovskaya, Prince Grigory, the "Petersburg" professors, who studied the main character, and so on, are included in the camp of scholars of truth-lovers. Famusov's guests consider them impractical madmen.

Author's Remarks

In "Woe from Wit" AS Griboyedov actively uses remarks to convey the indifference to which the Chatsky Society responds to the words of Chatsky. Characteristics of the heroes of the comedy, their replicas are accompanied by the dispassionate remarks of the author. For example, during a dialogue with Alexander Andreevich, Famusov "sees nothing and does not hear anything." During the ball, when Chatsky pronounces an accusatory monologue condemning the "alien fashion", the guests "swirl in waltz with the greatest zeal" or "dispersed to card tables." The situation of fake "deafness" strengthens the comic effect of the work, and also emphasizes the degree of mutual misunderstanding and alienation between the conflicting parties.

Conclusion

Thus, the collective character and the main ideological opponent of Chatsky is Famusov's society. "Woe from Wit" shows readers the way of life and mores of the Moscow aristocracy, who lived in the second half of the 1810s. These people are united by conservative views and primitive practical morality. Their main goal - "and take awards, and have fun to live." Chatsky and Famusov society are at different poles of moral self-consciousness. For Moscow aristocrats, "scholarship" is identified with freethinking and insanity. For Chatsky, the morality of "obedience and fear" is a fragment of the past century, a disgusting prejudice that is alien to every normal person. In this confrontation , everyone has his own truth.

The moral deafness of Famusov's society is brilliantly demonstrated in the play "Woe from Wit". Griboedov Alexander Sergeevich entered the history of Russian literature as the author of one of the most topical and realistic works of his time. Many aphorisms from this comedy are very relevant today.