Sofia Famusova- This real example a good and decent girl. Moreover, it’s not a matter of upbringing, but of Famusova’s personal beliefs. Her character is firm and confident, but in no case can you call the girl callous. The heroine is smart, her intelligence is manifested in many aspects. Sophia loves to dream. She often dreams of things that will never happen. Famusova’s strong character does not manifest itself so strongly because of her warm heart, which makes it clear how good-natured the heroine can be.
The girl is very smart. It’s enough to take one of her statements: “Happy people don’t watch the clock.” This is incredible clever saying, which gives another characteristic about Sophia - if she is happy, then time will not matter to her. But the heroine was not talking about herself at all. It’s impossible to say what the girl’s happiness was, but sometimes she really didn’t have enough happy moments. Sofia received a good upbringing thanks to the French governesses, who gave the girl the right education. The fact that the heroine was quite close to the governesses is confirmed by her phrases, characteristic exclusively of French women. Let’s say, “tell you a dream” - such phrases are not characteristic of the Russian people. However, Famusova’s speech contained many colloquialisms. For example, “make me laugh.” Such phrases, of course, did not emphasize the lady’s intelligence, but there were not so many of them in Sofia’s speech.
It was quite difficult for Sofia, as a positive personality, to develop in Famus society. Upbringing in this society was far from ideal. Lies, hypocrisy - for the people around the heroine, these qualities were quite acceptable. Moreover, the qualities were imposed on Famusova, although she was well aware that such a society was not suitable for her. The generally accepted norms characteristic of the circle of people in which the girl had to “move around” were abnormal. Partly, the heroine realized this, partly not. Still, society had a negative impact on heroin. And no matter how much she wanted to deny all the qualities inherent in her society, some traits were given to the girl against her will.
When Chatsky comes to Moscow, he does not see his beloved in the girl. In three years, Sophia has changed not in better side. And the reason for this is the girl’s environment. In a word, Famusova became a representative of a society that had previously been completely unacceptable to her. Chatsky immediately noticed this, so it was painful for him to observe how much a person’s environment can change.
Despite her strong character, Sophia, as a female representative, was quite soft and open. The heroine did not fully demonstrate her passion, but she was there. Sofia is a real “living mind”, which is not typical of all heroines of the work. Sophia also has a hard time, because she was touched by tragedy the moment she found out who her lover really was. Disappointment in her loved one was a serious blow for the girl, and all because of the conversation between Lisa and Molchanin, which Famusova decides to overhear, and, as it turned out, not in vain.
One of the main characters in A. Griboyedov’s comedy, around whom all the main events develop, is the young girl Sofya Pavlovna Famusova.
The image and characterization of Sophia in the comedy “Woe from Wit” is difficult to perceive. To understand it, to form your opinion about the girl, you need to understand the features of the controversial era.
Contradictory nature
Sophia - only person, who is close to the smart and educated Chatsky, a character opposed to the society of conservatives and people-pleasers. Sophia became the cause of the young nobleman's suffering, a source of gossip, and a creator of intrigue. Such a combination of two contrasts in one image confirms its reality, which the author strived for. A soulless, stupid secular beauty or, conversely, an educated noblewoman who is passionate about science would not have aroused so much interest. It is this inconsistency that can explain the strength of the feelings that Chatsky, an ardent and eloquent young man, experiences for her. Rich bride real daughter her father, she grew up in an atmosphere of care and concern, and learned to find benefits for herself.Sophia's appearance and hobbies
The girl is beautiful and young:“At seventeen you blossomed beautifully...”
It is clear why no one is surprised by the number of gentlemen. Beauty attracts prim (Skalozub), stupid (Molchalin), educated (Chatsky) suitors. The flighty young lady does not value the attitude towards herself, realizing that her beauty will not go unnoticed.
The lovely little girl grew up without maternal affection: her mother died early. Her father assigned her a governess from France, who instilled her taste and helped her develop her individuality. Home education allowed Sophia to become versatile and interesting:
- can sing;
- dances gracefully;
- loves and understands music;
- plays several musical instruments(piano, flute);
- knows French;
- reads books in a foreign language.
The girl is trained in feminine “tricks”: sighs, tenderness, cunning tricks.
Qualities that bring Sophia closer to her father’s company
The desire to dominate. Love for Molchalin is not just a youthful feeling. Sophia is looking for a man from those whom she can push around. In it you can see the features of female characters dragging their husband and servants by the hair. Power in the family is a girl’s desire, perhaps still hidden even to her. But it will take a very short period of time, she will understand what she is striving for. In the comedy there is an analogy with the Gorich couple, where the wife disposes of her husband like a thing, turning the other half into a weak-willed creature:“husband-boy, husband-servant, one of the wife’s pages...”.
Immorality. Some literary scholars (P.A. Vyazemsky) consider the girl immoral. One can argue with this position, but there is some truth in it. If we logically construct Sophia’s day, which passed before the readers, then the picture will not be very beautiful: the night is in the bedroom with a man, during the day she pretends to be sick, but asks the maid to bring Molchalin to her, at night she secretly makes her way to his room. This behavior is shameless. He cannot be compared to the modest characters who secretly suffer for their beloved classical literature. No social decency restrains the master's daughter.
Qualities that set her apart from her father's environment
The girl loves to read and tends to spend a lot of time reading books. For Famusov society books are the cause of all troubles. They stay away from them, afraid to gain knowledge that could change their attitude towards life. Sophia is passionate about novels. She looks for prototypes of heroes in reality and is mistaken. The girl becomes a victim of deception and lies, having examined the features of the romantic handsome man in Molchalin. Other qualities that distinguish her among society ladies:Courage. Sophia is not afraid to confess her feelings to her father. She is ready to unite herself with a poor serviceman for the sake of her beloved. The girl is not even afraid of possible rumors and gossip.
Determination. The girl stands up to defend her feelings, sensing a threat from Chatsky. She takes revenge for ridiculing Molchalin. Moreover, he does not choose softer methods. Sophia resolutely spreads the idea of the madness of her childhood friend, even without taking into account his feelings for her.
Gullibility. Having fallen under Molchalin's charm, the girl does not notice the truth of his feelings. Her eyes are covered with a veil. Like a real lover, she falls into the bonds of deceit and becomes funny.
Frankness. Sophia thinks openly, builds her speech, not being afraid to reason and dream. The owner's daughter is not characterized by secrecy, deceit, or florid thinking.
Pride. All the girl's behavior shows her respect for herself. She carries herself with dignity, knows how to get away from a conversation in time, and does not give the opportunity to reveal her secrets. Even in the last scene, she does not lose her pride, which is visible in her indignation and inaccessibility. Molchalin’s phrases were perceived correctly by Sophia. She is bitter and harsh.
Sofya Pavlovna – complex female character, a true heroine of her time. It's hard for her to live among society ladies and not become completely like them, preserve your face and individuality. The reader can judge the girl, but first you need to put yourself in her place and try to determine whether you can become different if there is no such example nearby.
The main idea of the work “Woe from Wit” is to illustrate meanness, ignorance and servility before ranks and traditions, which were opposed by new ideas, genuine culture, freedom and reason. The main character Chatsky acted in the play as a representative of that same democratic-minded society of young people who openly challenged conservatives and serf owners. Griboyedov managed to reflect all these subtleties that were raging in social and political life using the example of the classic comedy love triangle. It is noteworthy that the main part of the work described by the creator takes place over the course of just one day, and the characters themselves are depicted by Griboyedov very vividly.
Many of the writer's contemporaries awarded his manuscript with sincere praise and advocated for permission to publish the comedy before the Tsar.
The history of writing the comedy "Woe from Wit"
The idea of writing the comedy “Woe from Wit” came to Griboyedov during his stay in St. Petersburg. In 1816, he returned to the city from abroad and found himself at one of the social receptions. He was deeply indignant at the Russian people’s craving for foreign things, after he noticed that the city’s nobility worshiped one of the foreign guests. The writer could not restrain himself and showed his negative attitude. Meanwhile, one of the invitees, who did not share his beliefs, retorted that Griboedov was crazy.
The events of that evening formed the basis of the comedy, and Griboyedov himself became the prototype of the main character Chatsky. The writer began work on the work in 1821. He worked on comedy in Tiflis, where he served under General Yermolov, and in Moscow.
In 1823, work on the play was completed, and the writer began to read it in Moscow literary circles, receiving rave reviews along the way. The comedy was successfully distributed in the form of lists among the reading population, but it was first published only in 1833, after the request of Minister Uvarov to the Tsar. The writer himself was no longer alive by that time.
Analysis of the work
The main plot of the comedy
The events described in the comedy take place in early XIX century, in the house of the capital official Famusov. His young daughter Sophia is in love with Famusov's secretary, Molchalin. He is a prudent man, not rich, and holds a minor rank.
Knowing about Sophia's passions, he meets with her for convenience. One day, a young nobleman, Chatsky, a family friend who has not been in Russia for three years, comes to the Famusovs’ house. The purpose of his return is to marry Sophia, for whom he has feelings. Sophia herself hides her love for Molchalin from the main character of the comedy.
Sophia's father is a man of the old way of life and views. He is subservient to the ranks and believes that young people should please their superiors in everything, not show their opinions and serve their superiors selflessly. Chatsky, in contrast, is a witty young man with a sense of pride and a good education. He condemns such views, considers them stupid, hypocritical and empty. Heated disputes arise between Famusov and Chatsky.
On the day of Chatsky’s arrival, invited guests gather at Famusov’s house. During the evening, Sophia spreads a rumor that Chatsky has gone crazy. The guests, who also do not share his views, actively pick up this idea and unanimously recognize the hero as crazy.
Finding himself the black sheep of the evening, Chatsky is about to leave the Famusovs’ house. While waiting for the carriage, he hears Famusov’s secretary confessing his feelings to the master’s maid. Sophia also hears this and immediately drives Molchalin out of the house.
The denouement of the love scene ends with Chatsky's disappointment in Sophia and secular society. The hero leaves Moscow forever.
Heroes of the comedy "Woe from Wit"
This main character comedy by Griboyedov. He is a hereditary nobleman, in whose possession there are 300 - 400 souls. Chatsky was left an orphan early on, and since his father was a close friend of Famusov, from childhood he was raised together with Sophia in the Famusovs’ house. Later he became bored with them, and at first he settled separately, and then left to wander the world.
Since childhood, Chatsky and Sophia were friends, but he had more than just friendly feelings for her.
The main character in Griboyedov's comedy is not stupid, witty, eloquent. A lover of ridicule of stupid people, Chatsky was a liberal who did not want to bend to his superiors and serve the highest ranks. That is why he did not serve in the army and was not an official, which was rare for the era of that time and his pedigree.
Famusov is an older man with gray hair at the temples, a nobleman. For his age he is very cheerful and fresh. Pavel Afanasyevich is a widower; his only child is Sophia, 17 years old.
The official is on public service, he is rich, but at the same time flighty. Famusov without hesitation pesters his own maids. His character is explosive and restless. Pavel Afanasyevich is grumpy, but with the right people, he knows how to show due courtesy. An example of this is his communication with the colonel, to whom Famusov wants to marry his daughter. For the sake of his goal, he is ready to do anything. Submission, servility before ranks and servility are characteristic of him. He also values society’s opinion of himself and his family. The official does not like to read and does not consider education to be something very important.
Sophia is the daughter of a wealthy official. Pretty and educated best rules Moscow nobility. Left early without her mother, but under the care of the governess Madame Rosier, she reads French books, dances and plays the piano. Sophia is a fickle girl, flighty and easily attracted to young men. At the same time, she is gullible and very naive.
During the course of the play, it is clear that she does not notice that Molchalin does not love her and is with her because of his own benefits. Her father calls her a disgrace and a shameless woman, but Sophia herself considers herself an intelligent and not a cowardly young lady.
Famusov's secretary, who lives in their house, is a single young man from a very poor family. Mine noble title Molchalin received it only during his service, which was considered acceptable in those days. For this, Famusov periodically calls him rootless.
The hero's surname perfectly matches his character and temperament. He doesn't like to talk. Molchalin is a limited and very stupid person. He behaves modestly and quietly, respects rank and tries to please everyone around him. He does this solely for profit.
Alexey Stepanovich never expresses his opinion, due to which those around him consider him quite a handsome young man. In fact, he is vile, unprincipled and cowardly. At the end of the comedy, it becomes clear that Molchalin is in love with the maid Liza. Having confessed this to her, he receives a portion of righteous anger from Sophia, but his characteristic sycophancy allows him to remain in the service of her father further.
Skalozub — minor character comedy, he is an uninitiated colonel who wants to become a general.
Pavel Afanasyevich classifies Skalozub as one of the eligible Moscow bachelors. According to Famusov, a rich officer with weight and status in society - good batch for his daughter. Sophia herself did not like him. In the work, the image of Skalozub is collected in separate phrases. Sergei Sergeevich joins Chatsky’s speech with absurd reasoning. They betray his ignorance and lack of education.
Maid Lisa
Lizanka is an ordinary servant in Famusov’s house, but at the same time she takes up quite a lot of work. high place among the others literary characters, and she is given quite a lot of different episodes and descriptions. The author describes in detail what Lisa does and what and how she says. She forces other characters in the play to admit their feelings, provokes them to certain actions, pushes them to various solutions, important to their lives.
Mr. Repetilov appears in the fourth act of the work. It's minor, but bright character comedy, invited to Famusov’s ball on the occasion of his daughter Sophia’s name day. His image characterizes a person who chooses the easy path in life.
Zagoretsky
Anton Antonovich Zagoretsky is a secular reveler without ranks and honors, but he knows how and loves to be invited to all receptions. Due to your gift - to be pleasing to the court.
Hurrying to be in the center of events, “as if” from the outside, the minor character A.S. Griboyedov, Anton Antonovich, himself, finds himself invited to an evening at the Faustuvs’ house. From the very first seconds of the action with his person, it becomes clear that Zagoretsky is still a “frame”.
Madame Khlestova is also one of minor characters Comedy, but still her role is very colorful. This is a woman of advanced years. She is 65 years old. She has a Spitz dog and a dark-skinned maid - a blackamoor. Khlestova is aware latest gossip yard and willingly shares his own life stories, in which he easily talks about other characters in the work.
Composition and storylines of the comedy "Woe from Wit"
When writing the comedy "Woe from Wit" Griboyedov used the characteristic of this genre reception Here we can see a classic plot where two men are vying for the hand of one girl at once. Their images are also classic: one is modest and respectful, the second is educated, proud and confident in his own superiority. True, in the play Griboyedov placed accents in the characters’ characters a little differently, making Molchalin, and not Chatsky, sympathetic to that society.
For several chapters of the play there is a background description of life in the Famusovs' house, and only in the seventh scene does the beginning of the love plot begin. A fairly detailed long description during the play tells about just one day. The long-term development of events is not described here. Storylines there are two in comedy. These are conflicts: love and social.
Each of the images described by Griboyedov is multifaceted. Even Molchalin is interesting, towards whom the reader already develops an unpleasant attitude, but he does not cause obvious disgust. It's interesting to watch him in various episodes.
In the play, despite the adoption of fundamental structures, there are certain deviations to construct the plot, and it is clearly evident that the comedy was written at the junction of three literary eras: flourishing romanticism, emerging realism and dying classicism.
Griboyedov's comedy "Woe from Wit" gained its popularity not only for the use of classical plot techniques in a non-standard framework, it reflected obvious changes in society, which were then just emerging and taking their first sprouts.
The work is also interesting because it is strikingly different from all other works written by Griboedov.
In the comedy A.S. Griboyedov's "Woe from Wit" presents the morals of Moscow nobles of the early 19th century. The author shows the clash between the conservative views of feudal landowners and progressive views younger generation nobles who began to appear in society. This clash is presented as a struggle between two camps: the “past century,” which defends its mercantile interests and personal comfort, and the “present century,” which seeks to improve the structure of society through the manifestation of true citizenship. However, there are characters in the play who cannot be clearly attributed to any of the warring parties. This is the image of Sophia in the comedy “Woe from Wit”.
Sophia's opposition to Famus society
Sofya Famusova is one of the most complex characters in the work of A.S. Griboedova. The characterization of Sophia in the comedy “Woe from Wit” is contradictory, because on the one hand, she is the only person close in spirit to Chatsky, the main character of the comedy. On the other hand, it is Sophia who turns out to be the cause of Chatsky’s suffering and his expulsion from Famus society.
It is not without reason that the main character of the comedy is in love with this girl. Let Sophia now call their youthful love childish, nevertheless, she once attracted Chatsky with her natural intelligence, strong character, and independence from other people’s opinions. And he was nice to her for the same reasons.
From the first pages of the comedy we learn that Sophia received a good education, likes to spend time reading books, which angers his father. After all, he believes that “reading is of little use,” and “learning is a plague.” And this is where the first discrepancy in the comedy “Woe from Wit” between the image of Sophia and the images of the nobles of the “past century” is manifested.
Sophia's passion for Molchalin is also natural. She, as a fan of French novels, saw in the modesty and reticence of this man the features romantic hero. Sophia does not suspect that she has become a victim of deception by a two-faced man who is next to her only for personal gain.
In her relationship with Molchalin, Sofya Famusova displays character traits that none of the representatives of the “past century,” including her father, would ever dare to display. If Molchalin is mortally afraid of making this connection public to society, because “ gossips worse than a pistol,” then Sophia is not afraid of the opinion of the world. She follows the dictates of her heart: “What is rumor to me? Whoever wants to, judges that way.” This position makes her similar to Chatsky.
Traits that bring Sophia closer to Famus society
However, Sophia is her father's daughter. She was raised in a society where only rank and money are valued. The atmosphere in which she grew up certainly had an influence on her.
Sophia in the comedy “Woe from Wit” made a choice in favor of Molchalin not only because of what she saw in him positive traits. The fact is that in Famus society, women rule not only in society, but also in the family. It is worth remembering the Gorich couple at the ball in Famusov’s house. Platon Mikhailovich, whom Chatsky knew as an active, active military man, under the influence of his wife turned into a weak-willed creature. Natalya Dmitrievna decides everything for him, gives answers for him, disposing of him like a thing.
It is obvious that Sophia, wanting to dominate her husband, chose Molchalin for the role of her future husband. This hero corresponds to the ideal of a husband in the society of Moscow nobles: “A husband-boy, a husband-servant, one of his wife’s pages - the high ideal of all Moscow husbands.”
The tragedy of Sofia Famusova
In the comedy "Woe from Wit" Sophia is the most tragic character. She suffers more than even Chatsky.
Firstly, Sophia, having by nature determination, courage, intelligence, is forced to be a hostage of the society in which she was born. The heroine cannot allow herself to give in to her feelings, regardless of the opinions of others. She was raised among the conservative nobility and will live according to the laws dictated by them.
Secondly, Chatsky’s appearance threatens her personal happiness with Molchalin. After Chatsky’s arrival, the heroine is in constant tension and is forced to protect her lover from the caustic attacks of the protagonist. It is the desire to save her love, to protect Molchalin from ridicule that pushes Sophia to spread gossip about Chatsky’s madness: “Ah, Chatsky! You like to dress everyone up as jesters, would you like to try it on yourself?” However, Sophia was capable of such an act only because of the strong influence of the society in which she lives and with which she gradually merges.
Thirdly, in the comedy there is a cruel destruction of the image of Molchalin that has formed in Sophia’s head when she hears his conversation with the maid Liza. Her main tragedy is that she fell in love with a scoundrel who played the role of her lover only because it could be beneficial for him to receive the next rank or award. In addition, Molchalin's exposure occurs in the presence of Chatsky, which further wounds Sophia as a woman.
conclusions
Thus, the characterization of Sophia in the comedy “Woe from Wit” shows that this girl is in many ways opposed to her father and the entire noble society. She is not afraid to go against the light in defense of her love.
However, this same love forces Sophia to defend herself from Chatsky, with whom she is so close in spirit. It was Sophia’s words that Chatsky was denigrated in society and expelled from it.
If all the other heroes of the play, with the exception of Chatsky, participate only in social conflict, defend their comfort and their usual way of life, then Sophia is forced to fight for her feelings. “She, of course, has the hardest time of all, harder even than Chatsky, and she gets her “millions of torments”,” wrote I.A. Goncharov about Sophia. Unfortunately, in the finale it turns out that the heroine’s struggle for the right to love was in vain, because Molchalin turns out to be an unworthy person.
But even with someone like Chatsky, Sophia would not have found happiness. Most likely, she will choose as her husband a man who corresponds to the ideals of the Moscow nobility. Sophia's strong character requires implementation, which will become possible with a husband who allows him to command and guide himself.
Sofya Famusova is the most complex and contradictory character in Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit.” The characterization of Sophia, the disclosure of her image and the description of her role in the comedy will be useful for 9th graders when preparing materials for an essay on the topic of Sophia’s image in the comedy “Woe from Wit”
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To understand who Sofya Pavlovna Famusova is, the heroine of the play “Woe from Wit,” you need to know the features of the time in which Alexander Griboyedov lived. The author created a satire in which he showed the obvious vices of those who consider themselves the elite of society, leveling any desire for education, learning, learning new things and insisting on observing the old orders. Sophia is a representative of this class.
Her image cannot be called positive, but if the reader thinks that this girl is completely negative character, may make a mistake in his conclusions. So, let's follow the character and actions of Sofia Famusova.
Characteristics of Sofia Famusova
From the pages of the work we learn that Sophia, unlike her father who opposes the teachings, is an educated girl who loves to read books, mainly French novels. It was thanks to this literature that she became sentimental and sensual.
Compared to the representatives of the nobility of Famus society, Sophia seems smart and developed. The heroine of the play can play the piano and flute. “...Now you hear a flute, now it’s like a piano; Would it be too early for Sophia??”
Sophia's character is domineering and demanding: she commands the house like a mistress, despite young age. A seventeen-year-old girl commands and is obeyed. In addition, Sophia has determination: “...I will scream and wake up everyone in the house and destroy myself and you...” she says.
However, despite these, on the one hand, positive qualities, Sophia, like a sponge, absorbed the lies and hypocrisy inherent in representatives of Famus society.
Alexander Chatsky and Sofia Famusova
Alexander Chatsky initially chose Sophia as his bride, because she was, firstly, close to him in spirit, and secondly, he saw intelligence and a strong character.
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He was also impressed by this girl’s independence from others. However, when Chatsky arrived from St. Petersburg with the intention of marrying Sophia, she greeted him very coldly, because she was already carried away by someone else - Alexei Stepanovich Molchalin, who at that time lived in her father’s house. It remains a mystery that the girl chose the smart and intellectually developed Chatsky over the stupid and narrow-minded man.
Sofya Famusova and Alexey Molchalin
Possessing a romantic nature, Sophia fell in love with a man who, in character and habits, was similar to the hero of her favorite works. The cause of her heartfelt melancholy was Alexey Molchalin, her father’s secretary. But this choice of Sophia is justified not only by this, because Molchalin is a person who can be commanded, and, as you know, Sophia loves to push people around. However, blinded by passion, the girl does not want to notice how pathetic and stupid her chosen one is. On the contrary, the heroine of the play is very worried about Alexei, and faints when he falls from his horse. However, Sophia's dreams of life together with her chosen one is not destined to come true, because marriage with this man is not only disgusting to her father, but also to Molchalin himself. However, another unexpected circumstance indicated the absolute impossibility of connecting Sophia’s life with Molchalin: at the end of the play, the true face of Alexei was revealed, who, secretly from Sophia, also met with the maid Liza.
Molchalin’s feigned modesty was shattered, as it turned out that he was a two-faced and dangerous person.
Sophia is disappointed because the one on whom she pinned her hopes turned out to be a scoundrel and a hypocrite. “Go no further, I’ve heard a lot, Terrible man! “I’m ashamed of myself,” she laments, finally seeing that she wanted to connect her life with an unworthy, insignificant man.
Reader reviews about the heroine of the play
“Sofya Famusova surprises with her dual nature. On the one hand, she is kind, loves and pities Molchalin very much, although she sees that he is intellectually inferior to her, on the other hand, she commands the household with might and main. It's a pity that this girl's fate didn't work out. In my opinion, if she connected her life with Chatsky, she would be happy.”
“In tandem - Sophia, Molchalin, Chatsky - I feel sorry for Alexander Chatsky. He specially came to propose to the girl, wanted to marry her, but she refused him, preferring Molchalin, who did not have high intelligence, to an intelligent man. In addition, she spread rumors that Chatsky was crazy. It's a pity that it's normal and smart person The society where he lives and interacts with people leaves its mark, and few people decide in this case to swim against the tide.”
