Chatsky and Molchalin are rivals in the fight for Sophia’s heart
One of the main features of the comedy “Woe from Wit” by A.S. Griboyedov is the presence of two conflicts in it: love and social. Both storylines are closely related, and they are also united by some characters. Chatsky and Molchalin in the comedy “Woe from Wit” are both rivals in the fight for the heart of Sophia, Famusov’s daughter, and opposing sides on many social issues.
The main character of the play, Alexander Andreevich Chatsky, returns to Famusov’s house after a three-year stay abroad. He left his beloved Sophia here and is now coming to her with serious intentions, in love and full of hope. But during Chatsky’s absence, Sophia began to look at their youthful romance differently and now calls it childish. Her heart is occupied by Molchalin, her father's modest and taciturn secretary, who lives in their house.
Chatsky's tragedy begins with the fact that he does not understand why Sophia has lost interest in him, and tries to find the reason for this. The second blow for the main character is that Molchalin was preferred to him, about whom Chatsky sarcastically said: “He just has little intelligence.” The characterization of Molchalin and Chatsky will help to understand why Sophia makes such a choice.
Why does Sophia prefer Molchalin over Chatsky?
Sofya Famusova, although not one of the zealous defenders of the “past century,” is still her father’s daughter. The ideals of noble society were instilled in her from childhood. Although she is not like the conservative nobles of her circle, she absorbed many of the principles of their life with her father’s upbringing.
When in the first act of the comedy between Sophia and Lisa there is a conversation about Chatsky. It becomes clear that for her their love remained only a childhood memory. Of Chatsky’s merits, she singles out only his ability to make everyone laugh, but “you can share laughter with everyone.” With these words, she seems to absolve herself of responsibility for the fact that she is now playing a love game with Molchalin.
How do Chatsky and Molchalin appear before the reader in the comedy “Woe from Wit”?
Sophia herself characterizes Chatsky as follows: “Oster, smart, eloquent, especially happy with friends...” But the girl cannot understand and believe how a man in love can leave his beloved for three years for unknown purposes: “Ah! If someone loves someone, why bother searching and traveling so far?”
Arriving in Moscow, Chatsky arouses Sophia’s anger not only by jeopardizing her happiness with Molchalin. He also begins the conversation with Sophia by attacking her family and friends: “What about your father? All the English club is an old, faithful member to the grave? Has your uncle jumped back his eyelid?”
Chatsky himself does not understand why his words offend Sophia. He finds nothing wrong with them. The hero justifies himself by saying that his “mind and heart are not in harmony.”
But most of all, Sophia is hurt by Chatsky’s words about Molchalin. She sees in him a character from the novels that she reads. In her imagination, he is endowed with the features romantic hero. Chatsky immediately saw through Molchalin and his role in Famusov society. Molchalin is “helpful and modest,” which means “he will reach the famous levels, because nowadays they love the dumb.”
Why will none of the heroes be with Sophia in the finale of the comedy?
In one of the episodes of the comedy “Woe from Wit,” Chatsky and Molchalin collide in a verbal duel, and the reader gradually begins to reveal the true face of Molchalin, who turns out to be not as simple as he seems at first glance.
Molchalin, like all the representatives of the “past century” hated by Chatsky, strives to obtain a high rank and position in society at any cost. Since he doesn’t have all this yet, he “needs to depend on others.” Chatsky doesn’t understand this: “Why is it necessary?” But Molchalin seems to have a clear life plan. He tries in every possible way to serve Famusov’s guests, praising the fur of Khlestova’s dog, which looks ridiculous and humiliating. He lives by the principle: “At my age I should not dare to have my own opinion.”
Molchalin is very proud of even his small successes in the service and boasts of them to Chatsky: “As I work and effort, since I am listed in the archives, I have received three awards.” Molchalin even dares to express sympathy for Chatsky due to the fact that he does not serve. He recommends that Chatsky improve relations with Tatyana Yuryevna, who “gives balls that couldn’t be richer.” She can help in obtaining the next rank or award, because “officials and officials are all her friends and all her relatives.” This is how people in Famusov’s circle are used to earning a position in society. Such is Molchalin.
Supporters of the “past century” do not understand Chatsky’s desire to serve “the cause, not individuals.” If Molchalin uses the ball as an opportunity to find channels for promotion career ladder, then Chatsky prefers to separate time for fun and for business: “When in business, I hide from fun, when fooling around, I’m fooling around, and mixing these two crafts is a darkness of masters, I’m not one of them.”
The images of Chatsky and Molchalin in the comedy “Woe from Wit” are completely different. Chatsky has a fresh, active mind. He is brave both in love and in defending his views. Molchalin is unhurried and cautious both in society and in feelings. In his relationship with Sophia, he constantly thinks about how the world will react to their connection if it suddenly opens up, because “ gossips scarier than a pistol." It's amazing that they are like that different heroes could arouse love in the same woman.
This mystery will be revealed at the end of the play. Molchalin achieves Sophia's favor through deception. Under the mask of a silent and modest man hides a two-faced hero who takes on the appearance of a lover only “to please the daughter of such a man.” He has no love for Sophia and no serious intentions towards her, unlike Chatsky.
However, Chatsky, having spent one day in the company of Moscow nobles, understands that his views are forever at odds with the views of Famus society. And Sophia for him is now a part, a child of that world into which he has no entry. He recommends that she make peace with Molchalin, whom she exposed. After all, this hero fully corresponds to the ideal of a husband accepted in the world: “A boy-husband, a servant-husband, one of a wife’s pages - the high ideal of all Moscow husbands.”
conclusions
Chatsky and Molchalin in Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit” are heroes who are completely different in nature and in value guidelines. If society rejects Chatsky and accepts Molchalin, it means that it characterizes itself in accordance with this hero. Moscow nobles want to be worshiped, curried, and won over. They hold ceremonial worship and careerism in high esteem. Molchalin fits these ideals perfectly. Chatsky is superfluous in this society of people “passionate for rank.”
Characteristics of the images of Molchalin and Chatsky, the contrast of these characters can be used by 9th grade students in their essays on the topic “Famus society in the comedy “Woe from Wit””
Work test
The story of Chatsky’s love for Sophia is not the main thing in A. S. Griboedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit,” but, of course, important place. This story introduces the reader to the world of the heartfelt experiences and feelings of the heroes, it gives particular liveliness to the development of the action and explains a lot, since the history of Chatsky’s conflict with the Moscow nobility and the history of his unhappy love Tesso intertwined, connected into a single storyline.
Chatsky grew up in Famusov’s house; from childhood he was raised and studied together with his daughter, Sophia. He considers Sophia his like-minded person and is used to believing that she shares his views. This faith was not shaken in him by “neither distance,” “neither entertainment, nor a change of place” (we know that Chatsky was on military service, spent three years abroad). His feeling is so sincere and ardent that, having returned to Moscow, he hurries to meet his beloved girl, and on the first date he declares his love to her.
But Sophia has changed a lot. She is cold with Chatsky. She is embarrassed by his “quick questions and curious gaze”; she considers the general memories of her youth to be childish. What previously attracted and amused now no longer finds a response in her soul. In Chatsky, Sophia sees a man who is “happy to humiliate and stab” anyone, “envious, proud and angry”, who “abuses the world on the spot” with only one goal, “so that the world will say at least something about him...”. “Your gaiety is not modest, ... you are ready to pour out bile on everyone...” she accuses Chatsky. It is not surprising that, possessing such qualities, he becomes the cause of “... a terrible disorder” for Sophia.
However, Sophia’s character, complex and contradictory, in some important ways matches Chatsky himself. At seventeen years old, she not only “bloomed charmingly,” but also shows an enviable independence, unthinkable for people like Molchalin or even her father. She is not used to hiding her feelings. “What do I care about anyone? before them? to the entire Universe? It's funny - let them joke; annoying? “Let them scold,” she says. Molchalin reproaches Sophia for being too frank, but she is proud, she cannot stand pretense, it is impossible for her to “be nice through tears.”
Sophia received a good education, by nature she is endowed strong character and a lively mind, the ability to deeply experience and sincerely love, but all of the listed positive traits of her character could not properly develop in Famus’s society. Sophia drew her ideas about people from sentimental French literature, which instilled in her dreaminess and sensitivity. And she paid attention to Molchalin only because he reminded her of her favorite heroes in some of his features.
Sophia's dream is very helpful in understanding the inconsistency of her character; it seems to contain the formula of her soul and a unique program of action. He also gives us an idea of the ideal young man, suitable for the role of the chosen one of her heart, who should be “...and insinuating, and smart,” and timid...”, since “he was born in poverty.” Molchalin is exactly like that. He is poor and rootless, “for others I’m ready to forget myself, the enemy of insolence,” always shy and timid, from “the depths of my soul” he sighs, “not a free word...”.
“Why did you know him so briefly?” - asks Chatsky. And Sophia sincerely answers: “I didn’t try, God brought us together. Look, he has gained the friendship of everyone in the house...", "yielding, modest, quiet", "not a shadow of anxiety in his face", "and no offenses in his soul," she lists the "wonderful properties" of her chosen one - "that's why I I love". Sophia fell in love with Molchalin also because she, a girl with character, needed a person in her life whom she could control. So she chooses the one who is most suitable for this role.
However, it cannot be said that Sophia is blinded. She is able to evaluate the chosen one sensibly and critically, she sees perfectly well that “he does not have this mind, that a genius is for others, but for others a plague...”. But “...will such a mind make a family happy?” - she argues further. Yes, Chatsky is smart, educated, capable of passionate, sincere feelings, has his own opinion on any subject and does not hesitate to express it. But what could this cost in the world of the Famusovs and the Molchalins? What benefit can such a lover bring to Sophia?
Sophia, for all her good spiritual inclinations, still entirely belongs to Famus’s world, and she cannot fall in love with Chatsky, who opposes him with the whole tenor of his soul. But Molchalin, who loves Sophia “by position”, “takes on the appearance of... a lover” “... to please the daughter of such a man... who feeds and waters, and sometimes gives rank,” is accepted in this world as mine. In his person, Griboedov created an exceptionally expressive generalized image of a scoundrel and a cynic, a “low-worshipper and a businessman,” still a petty scoundrel who, however, will be able to reach “known degrees,” diligently using his image of a sycophant who does not dare to “have his own judgment.”
Sophia is still so young, so inexperienced, but “the makings of a remarkable nature” are ruined “in the stuffiness, where not a single ray of light, not a single stream of light penetrates.” fresh air" Her upbringing and environment have already left their mark on her views and actions. I. A. Goncharov said very well about it: “This is a mixture of good instincts with lies, a lively mind with the absence of any hint of ideas and beliefs - confusion of concepts, mental blindness... all this does not have the character of personal vices, but is like common features her circle." Molchalin fits into this circle wonderfully, and therefore, no matter how bitter it is to admit it, it was Molchalin who chose this “most pitiful creature” that Sophia chose over Chatsky.
One of greatest works first half of the 19th century century is the comedy by A. S. Griboedov “Woe from Wit”. In the comedy, the author posed a number of the most important problems of his time, which continue to concern humanity to this day.
The main character of the comedy, Chatsky, is seen both in his relationships with representatives of Famus society and with Sophia, whom he loves. That is why Sophia plays an important role in the comedy and her attitude not only to Chatsky, but also to Molchalin.
The image of Sofia Pavlovna is complex. She is endowed by nature good qualities: strong mind and independent character. She is capable of deeply experiencing and sincerely loving. For a girl of the noble circle, she received a good education and upbringing. The heroine enjoys reading French literature. Famusov, Sophia's father, says:
French books make her sleepless, but Russian books make it painful for me to sleep.
But, unfortunately, all these positive features Sophia's character could not be developed in Famus society. Here is how I. A. Goncharov wrote about this in his critical sketch “A Million Torments”: “It is difficult to be unsympathetic to Sofya Pavlovna: she has strong inclinations of a remarkable nature, a lively mind, passion and feminine softness. It is ruined in the stuffiness, where not a single ray of light, not a single stream of fresh air penetrates.” At the same time, Sophia is a child of her society. She drew her ideas about people and life from French sentimental novels, and it was this sentimental literature that developed Sophia's dreaminess and sensitivity. She says about Molchalin:
He will take your hand and press it to your heart,
He will sigh from the depths of his soul,
Not a free word, and so the whole night passes,
Hand in hand, and doesn’t take his eyes off me.
Therefore, it was no coincidence that she paid attention to Molchalin, who, with his features and behavior, reminded her of her favorite heroes. However, it cannot be said that the heroine is blinded: she is able to evaluate her chosen one sensibly and critically:
Of course, he doesn’t have this mind,
What a genius is to some, and a plague to others,
Which is fast, brilliant and will soon disgust...
Sophia loves Molchalin, but hides it from her father, who, of course, would not recognize him as a son-in-law, knowing that he is poor. The heroine sees a lot of good in her father’s secretary:
Compliant, modest, quiet,
Not a shadow of worry in his face,
And there are no wrongdoings in my soul,
He doesn’t cut strangers at random, -
That's why I love him.
Sophia also fell in love with Molchalin because she, a girl with character, needed a person in her life whom she could control. “The desire to patronize a loved one, poor, modest, not daring to raise his eyes to her, to elevate him to himself, to his circle, to give him family rights” - this is her goal, according to I. A. Goncharov.
Therefore, Chatsky, returning to Moscow and seeing how Sophia has changed under the influence of her environment, is very worried. It hurt him to see her like this after his three-year absence; it was hard to realize that his beloved had chosen Molchalin. Sophia is also very worried, but because of something else. She involuntarily hears Molchalin’s conversation with Liza and suddenly sees her chosen one in a different light. She realized that in fact Molchalin took on the appearance of a lover only “to please the daughter of such a man.” He needed Sophia only in order to take advantage of her influence at the right moment. His goal was also to get a higher rank, so he, according to the behests of his father, pleased “all people without exception.” Perhaps someday Sophia would have learned about Molchalin’s true intentions and she would not have been so hurt. But now she has lost a man who was very suitable for the role of a boy-husband, a servant-husband. It seems that she will be able to find such a person and repeat the fate of Natalya Dmitrievna Gorich and Princess Tugoukhovskaya. She didn’t need a person like Chatsky, but it was he who opened her eyes to everything that was happening. And if Sophia had grown up in a different environment, she might have chosen Chatsky. But she chooses the person who suits her best, since she cannot imagine any other hero. And in the end, according to Goncharov’s remark, “heavier than anyone, even Chatsky,” it is Sophia.
Griboyedov introduced us to the heroine of the comedy as a dramatic person. This is the only character who is conceived and executed as close to Chatsky. But in the finale, when Sophia becomes an involuntary witness of Molchalin’s “courtship” of Liza, she is struck to the very heart, she is destroyed. And this is one of the most dramatic moments of the entire play.
So, in his comedy A. S. Griboedov managed to show not only the time in which he lived, but also created unforgettable images, interesting and to the modern reader and to the viewer. Therefore, as Goncharov says, “Woe from Wit” stands apart in literature and differs from other works of the word in its youthfulness, freshness and stronger vitality.
The comedy in verse “Woe from Wit” by A.S. Griboyedov, who combines in it the traditions of classicism and romanticism, is one of the most striking works in the author’s work. The play is based on a love conflict involving storyline Sofya-Molchalin-Chatsky. Chatsky returns to his beloved Sophia, whom he has not seen for 3 years. However, during his absence the girl changed. She is offended by Chatsky because he abandoned her, left and “didn’t write three words", and is in love with Father Molchalin's secretary.
So why did Sophia choose the inconspicuous Molchalin over the brilliant Chatsky? There are a number of objective and subjective reasons for this. The first include Chatsky’s long absence, at a time when Molchalin was constantly nearby. In one of the remarks, the heroine expressed her opinion on this matter: “He thought highly of himself... The desire to wander attacked him, ah! If someone loves someone, why travel so far?” Also, objective reasons include the fact that it was easier to love Molchalin in such a society than Chatsky. Compliance, modesty, silence, and the ability to serve could help to survive in such an environment. And intelligence, freethinking, any word spoken against the foundations doomed Chatsky to failure in Famus society. As the hero said: “Silent people dominate the world.”
One of the brightest subjective reasons is Sophia’s passion for novels. “French books make her sleepless” (Famusov). Lover-Servant-" perfect romance", as if from French books. Chatsky humiliates the heroine’s chosen one, thereby causing her displeasure, and then she starts a rumor about his madness.
By showing the love conflict, the author reveals the characters' characters (Sophia, Chatsky, Molchalin). The ending of the play is dramatic - having learned the truth, the characters understand their mistakes, but it is already too late. Although Sophia preferred the inconspicuous Molchalin to the brilliant Chatsky, she was disappointed in this choice due to the fact that her lover turned out to be a scoundrel.
S1- What feeling is filled with A.T. Tvardovsky’s attitude towards the young “guys”?
A.T. Tvardovsky’s attitude towards young “guys” is filled with a sense of patriotism. The author distinguishes such qualities of the Russian soldier as determination, courage and heroism. A comparison helps to reveal this: “Like rafts, the pontoons went, one and the other thundered in a bass, iron tone, like a roof under one’s foot.” The author also turns to history, drawing an analogy between the guys and their predecessors: “Fighters live in war, just like their comrades-fathers did in the twenties,” “They walk the same harsh path that two hundred years ago the Russian worker walked with a flintlock gun -soldier". Through the images of young soldiers, A.T. Tvardovsky shows the determination and patriotism of the Russian man, who is ready to do anything for the sake of his homeland, even death.
/ / / Why did Sophia choose Molchalin? (based on Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit”)
Molchalin’s surname is telling. She completely matches his image. He was used to “keeping silent” both in front of Pavel Famusov and at night rendezvous with his daughter Sophia. The girl believes that “hand in hand” and silence is highest manifestation feelings. In fact, Molchalin simply has nothing to say to his “beloved”. In his secret dreams, there is a completely different girl - Lisa, the Famusovs' housekeeper. But every time the man becomes rejected by the wayward maid. However, he does not give up hope, and if the opportunity arises, he will seek her favor again.
It becomes clear why Sofya chose Molchalin over Chatsky. He is not insolent, does not argue and always acts the way the girl wants. This complaisance captivates Famusova. She takes this not for weakness and sycophancy, but for great respect and “higher feelings” for her own person. She is comfortable with the polite and agreeable Molchalin. Chatsky, with his causticity and insolence, crosses out all the relationships that once existed between the couple.
Sophia, having made the final choice in favor of Molchalin, will soon learn the “shocking” truth about him true attitude To her. She finds the secretary confessing his feelings for Lisa. On the eve of this, the girl released a rumor that Chatsky was “crazy.” And now, it seems to her that it is she who is going crazy. Famusova repents of the “crime” against Alexander, and even perhaps she would like to return him... But, alas. The offended Alexander, having seen the whole nature of his former “bride,” is now glad that she did not choose him in the first place.
