The theme of the mind in the comedy of A.S. Griboyedov "Woe from Wit" ℹ️ the concept of education in the work, the role and significance of education in the life of the main characters

History of creation

Griboedov first thought about creating a comedy back in 1816, when he was in St. Petersburg. He returned from Europe and attended one social evening. He was struck by the splendor of society in front of everything foreign. The public then admired the Frenchman’s speeches, but Griboedov could not resist and said something incriminating about him. At that moment, someone from the community started a rumor that the writer had lost his mind. This gossip quickly spread throughout St. Petersburg.

And as revenge on the hypocritical public, Griboyedov decided to write a comedy. To do this, he went to balls and social events, collecting useful material. In 1823, he began to read excerpts from a play, the title of which was then different - “Woe to Wit.”

The first edition ended a year later, and already in 1825 the first fragment was published in “Russian Waist”.

Then the fate of the comedy developed rapidly:

1828 - Griboyedov left for the Caucasus, took the manuscript with him, but left another text to Bulgarin;
1829 - the author died in Tehran, the notebook with notes was lost;
1831 - the first production took place;
1833 - the comedy was published in Russian;
1875 - publication of the text without distortion.

When the manuscript was first published, many passages were banned by censorship - satire on the military, hints at political conspiracies, attacks against flattery. At that time it was possible to read the text only in lists.

There are cases when fictional parts that were not written by the author were added to the comedy. The complete manuscript was printed and published in Moscow only in 1875.

Critics' opinion

Griboedov himself wrote about his work: “In my comedy there are 25 fools for one sane person.” The society surrounding Chatsky does not understand him and considers him a naive fool. The main problem lies in the young man's relationship with his girlfriend and her family. And although the era of balls and carriages has long passed, in the modern world there are also many people like the main character of the comedy and those around him.

An intelligent person also cannot find like-minded people; it is difficult for him to communicate with his loved ones. We can consider the concept of the mind in the comedy “Woe from Wit” as an ideological and emotional core around which the other themes of the work are displayed - philosophy and politics, patriotism and moral values.

But critics reacted differently to the published manuscript. M. Dmitriev did not like Chatsky. He felt that the main character expressed excessive contempt for others, for which he paid at the end of the comedy. The young man himself does not understand the views of his compatriots, he boasts of his education and enlightenment.

A. Pushkin also spoke critically about Chatsky's character . The poet said that the hero can be called smart. But an educated person must understand people and not throw pearls in front of those for whom he means nothing. P. Vyazemsky called the main character a poser, a loudmouth, albeit quite smart. And V. Belinsky, after some reasoning, replaced his negative opinion with a positive one. According to his statements, Chatsky knows how to conduct a constructive dialogue, understands many topics and clearly shows indignation when communicating with a rotten, insignificant society and even the Famusov family. The life ideals of the old nobles seem ridiculous and absurd to him.

And in the article by I. Goncharov it is said that Chatsky is the smartest character in the comedy. People like him are always found at the junction of two eras. According to the critic, the young man has the ability to recognize people. After all, he came to the Famusovs’ house only on a date with Sophia and was not going to express his views. But he was hurt by the attitude of the girl’s father, and the young man could not restrain himself.

Griboedov himself expresses a positive opinion about Chatsky, and calls the rest of the characters fools.

But the playwright built the key conflict in such a way that it becomes clear what role the theme of the mind plays in comedy. Each side considers itself more educated and enlightened.

Popular writings

Essay based on the painting Moonlit Night.
Bath in Feodosia Aivazovsky (description) Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky traveled a lot in his life, but his main place of residence was Crimea. The artist considered it his home, his homeland. During his 83 years of life, he went on long journeys more than once.
The essay Good Deed in the story Gorky's Childhood
M. Gorky's story "Childhood" was written in 1913, the plot is based on the biography of the writer himself: it tells about the early years of the boy Alyosha, spent with numerous relatives in the Kashirins' house.
Essays based on paintings by V. Makovsky
Vladimir Makovsky - description of paintings

Famus Society

The description of intelligence for the Famusovs and his guests is the ability to adapt to any conditions. The main thing for such aristocrats is to get material benefits in any situation. There are several indicators of success in life:

number of serfs;
rank and title;
entering into a profitable marriage;
state size;
real estate and luxury goods.

No matter how a person achieves this, he will be considered respected in society. Condition and position are synonymous with intelligence in aristocratic society. An example of such a “smart” person was Famusov’s uncle, Maxim Petrovich. He accidentally fell in front of the empress, which could have completely ruined his reputation and career. But instead of apologizing, he rolled on the floor a second time, which made Catherine laugh. This saved the relative of the owner of the house. They also cited such noblemen as Foma Fomich, Tatyana Yuryevna, Skalozub as examples.

Molchalin and even Sophia behave in a similar way . They consider someone crazy who prefers study to career advancement, who openly expresses his thoughts and views, and does not act hypocritically or flatter. But many representatives of society, gathered in the home circle, recognize the differences between their opinions and Chatsky’s logic.

After all, generations have different life experiences, views and moral values. But the young man’s morality poses a threat to the usual existence of aristocrats.

Chatsky's logic

Intelligence for Chatsky did not lie in the same values as for Famusov. The young man believes that one cannot take unlimited advantage of the privileges given by fate. Although education is a prerequisite for intelligence, it is not enough. It is much more important to freely express your views and thoughts, to try to change the world for yourself.

He is extremely dissatisfied that the head of the academic committee demands that no one know the diploma. You won’t be able to hold out for long in such a position with such views. Chatsky ridiculed Famusov’s servants who tried to save his life and honor. He does not recommend using the benefits provided on your own, because you need to somehow encourage the smart people who saved the monarchy from Napoleon’s attacks.

The young man says that it is impossible to stay at court if you behave like a relative of Famusov. It is no longer enough to simply please and show loyalty to the authorities; you need to mind your own business and carefully fulfill your duties. All this introduces the reader to the point of view of the author himself: a person adapting to life conditions thinks in patterns.

Griboyedov shows differences not just between different generations . After all, Chatsky and Molchalin have a small age difference. Although the latter has made a career and taken a certain place in society, the educated young man does not like the behavior of his rival.

Chatsky says that an intelligent person can at least briefly express his thoughts; he should not depend on others.

According to his opinion, aristocratic society no longer meets the requirements of the time. Most nobles need to change, but many of them cannot or simply do not want to do so. Instead, the Famus Society continues to fight Chatsky’s position. The aristocrats simply declared their opponent crazy. He was expelled from society, after which Famusov began to feel calmer. But this did not last long, because Chatsky is not the only one of his kind.

The comedy “Woe from Wit” teaches us a lot. The Famus Society's creation of fables about an educated young man shows how the nobles cling to their outdated values.

And anyone who comes into conflict with an already established system of principles will become an outcast.

Author: A. S. Griboyedov
Work: Woe from Wit
This essay has been copied 62,705 times

The very name of the comedy “Woe from Wit” is significant. For educators, convinced of the omnipotence of knowledge, intelligence is a synonym for happiness. But the powers of the mind have faced serious tests in all eras. New advanced ideas are not always accepted by society, and the bearers of these ideas are often declared crazy.

It is no coincidence that Griboedov also addresses the topic of the mind. His comedy is a story about innovative ideas and society's reaction to them. At first, the title of the play was “Woe to Wit,” which the writer later replaced with “Woe from Wit.”

Even before Chatsky’s arrival, the idea of madness is in the air in Famusov’s house. It is associated with a negative attitude towards education and enlightenment. Famusov directly tells Sophia that he doesn’t see any benefit in reading. Each comedy hero will express his opinion about learning. But they will all agree on one thing: “Learning is a plague.” This is how simply “Famusov’s Moscow” will explain the reason for Chatsky’s madness, without accepting his criticism and ridicule of their way of life.

Each of the comedy heroes has their own definition of an intelligent person.

For Famusov, the one who is practical is smart. He considers Chatsky smart, but completely unsuitable for his daughter. But Skalozub is what you need: “And a golden bag, and aims to become a general.” It is with Skalozub that Famusov will talk about the danger of such smart people in society as Chatsky. After all, Chatsky, according to Famusov, does not know how to use the acquired knowledge: knowledge did not help him achieve either wealth or rank. Famusov even has an ideal of an intelligent person - Maxim Petrovich. Famusov says about him: “In our opinion, he’s smart.” And the whole intelligence of Maxim Petrovich lay in the ability to bravely sacrifice the back of his head in the hope of royal attention. Thanks to this “cleverness” of his, that is, the ability to “bend over backwards” and serve where necessary, Maxim Petrovich achieved rank and wealth.

Molchalin, Famusov’s secretary, also has his own idea of intelligence. This is a practical mind. Molchalin has a dream: to become some kind of high official or general. For this he is ready to do anything. Not to have an opinion, to show that he is capable of doing any work, to humiliate himself in front of anyone, to flatter everyone. Molchalin is a man without faith, without ideas, without thoughts. Molchalin has his own program of action. And he follows it without thinking about what means can be used to achieve the goal. He is the embodiment of Famusov’s idea: “to please all people without exception,” to live “as our fathers did.” Yes, and he loves Sophia “by position.”

Chatsky is the complete opposite of Molchalin. He is smart, he has a heart, and he is also impeccably honest. Chatsky's speech is apt and expressive, full of irony and indignation. His love for Sophia is selfless and honest. The hero is a patriot who believes in the strength of the Russian people and their talent. He is irritated by imitation of everything foreign. He wants to serve the real cause, and not humiliate himself for the sake of rank. Chatsky's mind is the mind of an advanced person. But society does not accept his views, since they contradict the way of life of the Moscow nobility.

Sophia is not a stupid girl. Her mind is also practical. After all, she draws all her knowledge about life from French sentimental novels. Therefore, Molchalin becomes her lover. Everything is like in the novels: a poor young man who fell in love with a girl from a noble family.

The play presents another type of mind - the natural, everyday mind of a commoner. He is embodied in the image of the maid Lisa. It is she who says about Chatsky that he is “sensitive, and cheerful, and sharp.” About Famusov, Lisa will say that “like all Moscow people, he would like a son-in-law with stars and ranks.” Of course, Lisa is smart, cunning, resourceful, but still very devoted to her mistress.

So, in the comedy “Woe from Wit” Griboyedov presents different types of mind: from the practical mind to the worldly wise one. And Chatsky became the embodiment of the progressive mind. But Famus society is frightened by such a mind, and it is better to declare a representative of a progressive mind crazy and force him to leave Moscow.

Check out these essays

“Woe from Wit” in the modern world The Great Woland said that manuscripts do not burn. Proof of this is the fate of Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov’s brilliant comedy “Woe from Wit” - one of the most controversial works in the history of Russian literature. A comedy with a political bent, continuing the traditions of such masters of satire as Krylov and Fonvizin, quickly became popular and served as a harbinger of the coming rise of Ostrovsky and Gorky. Although the comedy was written back in 1825, it was published only eight years later, having outlived its […]
Characteristics of the heroes “Woe from Wit” (table) Hero Brief description Pavel Afanasyevich Famusov The surname “Famusov” comes from the Latin word “fama”, which means “rumor”: with this Griboyedov wanted to emphasize that Famusov is afraid of rumors, public opinion, but on the other hand On the other hand, the root of the word “Famusov” is the root of the Latin word “famosus” - a famous, well-known wealthy landowner and major official. He is a famous person among the Moscow nobility. A well-born nobleman: related to the nobleman Maxim Petrovich, closely acquainted […]
My Chatsky (essay) After reading A. S. Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit” and critics’ articles about this play, I also thought about: “What is he like, Chatsky”? The first impression of the hero is that he is perfect: smart, kind, cheerful, vulnerable, passionately in love, loyal, sensitive, knowing the answers to all questions. He rushes seven hundred miles to Moscow to meet Sophia after a three-year separation. But this opinion arose after the first reading. When in literature lessons we analyzed comedy and read the opinions of various critics about [...]
The meaning of the title of the comedy "Woe from Wit" The title of any work is the key to its understanding, since it almost always contains an indication - direct or indirect - of the main idea underlying the creation, of a number of problems comprehended by the author. The title of A. S. Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit” introduces an extremely important category into the conflict of the play, namely the category of the mind. The source of such a title, such an unusual name, which also originally sounded like “Woe to the Wit,” goes back to a Russian proverb in which the opposition between the smart and […]
The image of Chatsky in the comedy “Woe from Wit” (essay) The image of Chatsky caused numerous controversy in criticism. I. A. Goncharov considered the hero Griboyedov a “sincere and ardent figure” superior to Onegin and Pechorin. “...Chatsky is not only smarter than all other people, but also positively smart. His speech is full of intelligence and wit. He has a heart, and, moreover, he is impeccably honest,” the critic wrote. Apollo Grigoriev spoke about this image in approximately the same way, who considered Chatsky to be a real fighter, an honest, passionate and truthful person. Finally, I myself held a similar opinion [...]
Why Chatsky is doomed to loneliness (essay) A “social” comedy with a social clash between the “past century” and the “present century” is called the comedy of A.S. Griboyedov "Woe from Wit". And it is structured in such a way that only Chatsky speaks about progressive ideas for transforming society, the desire for spirituality, and a new morality. Using his example, the author shows readers how difficult it is to bring new ideas into the world that are not understood and accepted by a society that is ossified in its views. Anyone who starts doing this is doomed to loneliness. Alexander Andreevich […]
Comparative characteristics of Chatsky and Molchalin in the table A. A. Chatsky A. S. Molchalin Character A straightforward, sincere young man. An ardent temperament often interferes with the hero and deprives him of impartial judgment. Secretive, cautious, helpful person. The main goal is a career, position in society. Position in society Poor Moscow nobleman. Receives a warm welcome in local society due to his origin and old connections. Provincial tradesman by origin. The rank of collegiate assessor by law gives him the right to nobility. In the light […]
Scene of the ball in Famusov's house A. S. Griboyedov's comedy “Woe from Wit” consists of a number of small episodes-phenomena. They are combined into larger ones, such as, for example, the description of a ball in Famusov’s house. Analyzing this stage episode, we consider it as one of the important stages in the resolution of the main dramatic conflict, which lies in the confrontation between the “present century” and the “past century”. Based on the principles of the writer’s attitude to the theater, it is worth noting that A. S. Griboyedov presented it in accordance with the traditions […]
Female images in the comedy “Woe from Wit” (essay) In the comedy “Woe from Wit” A. S. Griboedov portrayed noble Moscow of the 10-20s of the 19th century. In the society of that time, they worshiped uniform and rank and rejected books and enlightenment. A person was judged not by his personal qualities, but by the number of serf souls. Everyone sought to imitate Europe and worshiped foreign fashion, language and culture. The “past century”, presented vividly and fully in the work, is characterized by the power of women, their great influence on the formation of tastes and views of society. Moscow […]
Chatsky in the system of images of the comedy “Woe from Wit” CHATSKY is the hero of A.S. Griboedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit” (1824; in the first edition the spelling of the surname is Chadsky). The probable prototypes of the image are PYa.Chaadaev (1796-1856) and V.K-Kuchelbecker (1797-1846). The nature of the hero's actions, his statements and relationships with other comedy personalities provide extensive material for revealing the theme stated in the title. Alexander Andreevich Ch. is one of the first romantic heroes of Russian drama, and as a romantic hero, on the one hand, he categorically does not accept the inert environment, […]
Famusovskaya Moscow (essay) It is rare, but it still happens in art that the creator of one “masterpiece” becomes a classic. This is exactly what happened with Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov. His only comedy, “Woe from Wit,” became the national treasure of Russia. Phrases from the work have entered our daily life in the form of proverbs and sayings; We don’t even think about who published them; we say: “Just by chance, keep an eye on you” or: “Friend. Is it possible to choose // a nook further away for a walk?” And such catchphrases in comedy […]
The meaning of the title of Griboedov's comedy "Woe from Wit" (essay) The very name of the comedy is paradoxical: "Woe from Wit." Initially, the comedy was called “Woe to Wit,” which Griboedov later abandoned. To some extent, the title of the play is a “reversal” of the Russian proverb: “fools have happiness.” But is Chatsky surrounded by only fools? Look, are there so many fools in the play? Here Famusov remembers his uncle Maxim Petrovich: A serious look, an arrogant disposition. When you need to help yourself, And he bent over... ...Huh? what do you think? in our opinion - smart. And myself [...]
“Woe from Wit” (essay) The famous Russian writer Ivan Aleksandrovich Goncharov said wonderful words about the work “Woe from Wit” - “Without Chatsky there would be no comedy, there would be a picture of morals.” And it seems to me that the writer is right about this. It is the image of the main character of Griboedov’s comedy, Alexander Sergeevich “Woe from Wit,” that determines the conflict of the entire narrative. People like Chatsky always turned out to be misunderstood by society, they brought progressive ideas and views to society, but conservative society did not understand […]
Genre originality of the play “Woe from Wit” The comedy “Woe from Wit” was created in the early 20s. XIX century The main conflict on which the comedy is based is the confrontation between the “present century” and the “past century.” In the literature of that time, the classicism of the era of Catherine the Great still had power. But outdated canons limited the playwright’s freedom in describing real life, so Griboyedov, taking classic comedy as a basis, neglected (as necessary) some of the laws of its construction. Any classic work (drama) should […]
Sophia is drawn unclearly (essay) In the comedy “Woe from Wit”, Sofya Pavlovna Famusova is the only character conceived and performed close to Chatsky. Griboyedov wrote about her: “The girl herself is not stupid, she prefers a fool to an intelligent person...”. Griboyedov abandoned farce and satire in depicting the character of Sophia. He introduced the reader to a female character of great depth and strength. Sophia was “unlucky” in criticism for quite a long time. Even Pushkin considered the author’s image of Famusova a failure; “Sophia is sketched unclearly.” And only in 1878 Goncharov, in his article […]
Innovation and tradition in the comedy “Woe from Wit” The famous comedy “Woe from Wit” by A. Griboedov was created in the first quarter of the 19th century. The literary life of this period was determined by obvious signs of the crisis of the autocratic-serf system and the maturation of the ideas of noble revolution. There was a process of gradual transition from the ideas of classicism, with its predilection for “high genres, to romanticism and realism. A.S. Griboyedov became one of the prominent representatives and founders of critical realism. In his comedy “Woe from Wit,” which successfully combines [...]
The present century and the past century (table) Characteristics The present century The past century Attitude to wealth, to ranks “They found protection from court in friends, in kinship, building magnificent chambers where they indulge in feasts and extravagance, and where foreign clients from their past lives will not be resurrected the meanest traits”, “And to those who are higher, flattery, like lace weaved...” “Be inferior, but if you have enough souls of two thousand family members, he will be the groom” Attitude to service “I would be glad to serve, it’s sickening to be served”, “Uniform! one uniform! He is in their former life [...]
“Silent people are blissful in the world” (essay) Molchalin - characteristic features: desire for a career, hypocrisy, ability to curry favor, taciturnity, poverty of vocabulary. This is explained by his fear of expressing his judgment. Speaks mainly in short phrases and chooses words depending on who he is talking to. There are no foreign words or expressions in the language. Molchalin chooses delicate words, adding a postive “-s”. To Famusov - respectfully, to Khlestova - flatteringly, insinuatingly, with Sophia - with special modesty, with Liza - he does not mince words. Especially […]
Molchalin in the comedy “Woe from Wit” (essay) The gallery of human characters successfully noted in the comedy “Woe from Wit” is still relevant today. At the beginning of the play, the author introduces the reader to two young people who are completely opposite to each other: Chatsky and Molchalin. Both characters are presented to us in such a way that we get a misleading first impression of them. We judge Molchalin, Famusov’s secretary, from Sonya’s words, as “the enemy of insolence” and a person who is “ready to forget himself for others.” Molchalin first appears before the reader and Sonya, who is in love with him […]
Famusov and his entourage (essay) When you see a rich house, a hospitable owner, elegant guests, you involuntarily admire them. I would like to know what these people are like, what they talk about, what they are interested in, what is close to them, what is alien. Then you feel how the first impression gives way to bewilderment, then to contempt for both the owner of the house, one of the Moscow “aces” Famusov, and his entourage. There are other noble families, from them came heroes of the War of 1812, Decembrists, great masters of culture (and if great people came from such houses as we see in comedy, then […]