The main issues raised in the work
The author makes fun of the secular society of the 19th century and its morals, so writing such a work was a very bold step on the part of the writer. He was inspired to write by one incident at an aristocratic reception in St. Petersburg, where Griboyedov was outraged by the attitude of society towards one of the foreign guests.
Since the author had progressive views, he spoke about what he thought in front of all the guests. After that, even everyone decided that he was crazy, and this news quickly spread throughout society, after which he began writing a comedy, which was not difficult for him to write.
The comedy shows a life that touches on many themes and problems of its era:
- Philosophical.
- Moral.
- National and cultural.
- Household.
In addition, the problems of serfs, serving the state are touched upon, and the topic of family life and values is widely covered. All this is revealed in the work through the prism of the mind.
The style of writing was adopted from Krylov: it is a living, verbal, literary and realistic language of that time. Each of the heroes has their own destiny, vocabulary, manner of speaking and expressing their thoughts. Chatsky's hero and his conflict with the others is reflected and can often manifest itself in conversation with the characters. One of the features of writing is dramatic and artistic skill.
Despite the fact that the work primarily reflects the spirit of that time, it is modern and relevant today. Because the problems of intelligence and stupidity, everyday life and everyday life, political ideals of the past and the present will always exist. The play's quotation stock contains a large number of catchphrases that are in demand.
The play is innovative and differs from previously written ones in the way it portrays the characters. They are shown as more realistic people, endowed with both negative and positive character traits. The pages of this work show the conflict between the conservative way of life of the nobles and the progressive view of the life of the new noble generation. The secular Moscow society, whose life is shown, is depicted very bright and memorable. A special role is given to supporting characters.
The role of the heroine in a comedy
In the gallery of female images, Sophia’s assistant occupies one of the main places, although she plays a secondary role; without her, this work is simply difficult to imagine. It makes comedy more complex , with deeper meaning, but at the same time more understandable for the reader. The reader is attracted by the cunning, intelligence, calm character of the peasant woman and especially apt characteristics that arise from the heroine in relation to other characters in the comedy.
The girl serves her mistress Sophia. The maid is very attractive and beautiful, even the owner of the house, Famusov, and Molchalin look after her. Lisa is smart, despite her peasant origins, she can deftly lie and get out of even the most difficult and confusing cases. He skillfully hides his intelligence and true nature behind a mask of modesty. The heroine's character easily understands people, feels their nature and easily determines the true appearance of a person. The image of Lisa in the comedy "Woe from Wit" is presented as positive.
Occupying the position of a secondary character, and not the main one, the peasant woman does not act as an extra for the characters, and it is with her help that many endings occur, the work becomes more exciting
Despite the lack of education, the maid knows how to listen carefully to her interlocutor, give useful advice, can carry on conversations with anyone, and always makes the right decision.
The image of Sophia in the comedy Woe from Wit
Sophia is the heroine of Griboyedov’s story “Woe from Wit.” This girl is a very unusual character in Griboedov's story. She is both the product of lies and benevolence and strength, albeit only external.
Sophia is a girl who is the one from whom all the threads came, both the mood and the grief of many people. She, like a puppeteer, skillfully took advantage of their weaknesses and strengths. She is a manipulator, in modern terms. But at the same time, with these qualities and such a character, Sophia is a beautiful girl who also knows how to use her appearance. She has many fans, and for good reason, because she is strong in this.
This girl is a strong personality who will not miss her goal. In addition, by nature, she is also very mocking, her sarcasm reaches many ears, she loves to make fun of her and tell some jokes. But she is not too cheerful, one can more accurately say that she knows how to speak sarcastically, her irony can both offend someone and make her an enemy.
Sophia grew up in a good family, rich, well-off in everything, which did not know the costs of the strong in anything. That is why this girl is young and grew up to be a wealthy, bright and courageous person. She was not afraid of anything, and knew how to skillfully be a hypocrite and lie when necessary. And, to justify her, we can say that she is not entirely to blame for this, since such actions and character traits were not new at that time. That is precisely why she was like that, because she was brought up that way, raised in such an environment where it was impossible to be and act differently. Otherwise, it caused gossip and rumors, as well as contempt and ill will.
The comedy “Woe from Wit” gives examples of a person who is also the main character.
Famous Peasant Woman Quotes
Some of the heroine's quotes have become catchphrases:
- Your conversation went on overnight.
- Sin is not a problem, rumor is not good.
- Do these faces suit you?
- A smile and a few words and whoever is in love is ready for anything.
- For girls, morning sleep is so thin.
- Like all Moscow people, your father is like this: he would like a son-in-law with stars and ranks.
- And a golden bag, and aims to become a general.
- He’s also good at joking, because nowadays who doesn’t joke?
- Tell me better why you and the young lady are modest, but the maid is a rake.
- Pass us away from all sorrows and lordly anger and lordly love.
From the very beginning of the play, it is clear that Lizonka is an extraordinary person; she has a lively intellect, despite the lack of literacy training. Her caustic and apt phrases give the impression of her as a person who has her own point of view on everything.
Sofya and Lisa in Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit”
Female characters in Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit” play an important role in realizing the relevance and artistic originality of the comedy. Sophia and Lisa are typical roles of classic comedy. But these images are ambiguous. They occupy an intermediate position in the character system. Lisa is cunning, smart, quick-witted, i.e. her character meets the requirements of a classic comedy. She is a soubrette, participates in a love affair, and is a kind of reasoner, i.e. gives characteristics to some heroes. She also owns some catchphrases. Sophia, according to the laws of classicism, should have been an ideal character, but her image is ambiguous. On the one hand, she received the typical upbringing of 19th century girls. On the other hand, she is smart and has her own opinion.
Both Sophia and Lisa have a lively mind. Sophia was brought up with Chatsky, she is educated and has her own opinion. For example, he can appreciate the personality of the groom: “He hasn’t uttered a smart word in his life, I don’t care what kind of neg he is.” Lisa may not be as educated as Sophia, but she has a practical mind. She very accurately remarks: “Above all sorrows, both lordly anger and lordly love pass us by.”
Both are true. Sophia openly tells Chatsky that she does not love him, and expresses her dissatisfaction with the groom to her father. Liza openly rejects Famusov's advances.
Both are participants in a love plot. Chatsky Sofya Molchalin Lisa Petrusha.
Both have the same ideals of men - a silent man.
But, despite the fact that both of these heroines are young girls, their ideas about life are very different. Sophia is romantic. She grew up without a mother and was very interested in romance novels. Throughout the book, she imagines herself as the heroine of a French novel. When Molchalin falls from his horse, Sophia behaves like a heroine in love in a novel - she faints. "Fell! Killed!” Sophia is naive, she believes that Molchalin really loves her. He appears to her as timid, modest, gentle and intelligent. Lisa looks at life soberly. She is a simple servant and has seen a lot in her life. She understands people. Lisa understands perfectly well that Molchalin is only playing with Sophia for the sake of the position. She sees his prudence and cunning.
Their further fate will also turn out differently. Sophia will most likely obey the rules of Famus society and marry a rich groom pleasing her father. Lisa will marry a man in her circle, but for love.
Although Sophia and Lisa are similar in some of their personal qualities, their different positions in society and upbringing determine their different future fates.
Characteristics of the maid
Lisa's characterization in the comedy "Woe from Wit" is shown on the positive side; she is like a cheerful ray of light with amazing energy.
Loyalty to her mistress sometimes turns against her. Because of Sophia's antics and love affairs, the peasant woman often finds herself in not the best situations. First, she exposed Molchalin’s two-faced character, because she realized that with him the lady would only be unhappy, and all his love was based on profit.
Lisa’s attitude towards Molchalin and her opinion of him immediately formed as a person with a two-faced and cunning nature. When communicating with a peasant woman, this hero reveals a completely different side, but with the princess he behaves differently, as if wearing a mask. Quote from the maid about Molchalin: “He is a rake, although he is modest in his treatment of the young lady.”
The only person about whom Lisa speaks with a feeling of admiration is Chatsky. She is impressed by his emotionality, sincerity, and devotion to Sophia. She recalls how he sadly left and even cried, as if feeling that he might lose the love of his beloved forever. In the play, the serf gives him a description of a positive hero with a cheerful and witty disposition. The qualities that delight a girl in him evoke completely opposite feelings in her mistress.
When faced with a peasant woman, each of the heroes appears before the readers in their true face; she seems to feel the nature and can quickly and accurately determine one or another character of the characters. Sophia's father Famusov, who is known for his monastic and correct behavior, is dragging after the maid. Not to mention Molchalin, who is interested in Famusov’s daughter only because of his noble status .
From the girl’s attitude towards the bartender, whose name is Petrusha, one can immediately understand who Lisa is in love with in “Woe from Wit”. She does not accept courtship from Molchalin and Famusov, sometimes she can only accept gifts from them. Material values do not occupy the main place in the life of a peasant girl; she chooses and falls in love with a person of her circle and status. This once again proves a noble, unselfish nature, incapable of engaging in any selfish actions to achieve its goal. The commandment of your heart, and not the desire to get rich, is the principle in the heroine’s life.
