At a literature lesson, 9th grade schoolchildren study the outstanding comedy play in verse "Woe from Wit", which was conceived by the author in St. Petersburg around 1816 and completed in Tiflis in 1824. And immediately you involuntarily ask yourself the question: “Woe from Wit” who wrote it? This work became the pinnacle of Russian dramaturgy and poetry. And thanks to its aphoristic style, almost everything went into quotes.
Quite a lot of time will pass after this play is released without cuts and distortions. This will cause some confusion about the year in which Woe from Wit was written. But this is easy to deal with. It appeared in print with censored processing in 1862, when the author, who died at the hands of fanatics in Iran, had not been in this world for three decades. The play "Woe from Wit" was written in the year that paved the way for freethinkers, just on the eve of the Decembrist uprising. Bold and frank, she burst into politics and became a real challenge to society, a rather original literary pamphlet that denounced the existing tsarist regime.
"Woe from Wit": who wrote it?
Well, back to the main issue discussed in the article. Who wrote "Woe from Wit"? The author of the comedy was none other than Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov himself. His play instantly sold out in manuscript form. About 40,000 copies of the play were transcribed by hand. It was a huge success. Above this comedy, people from high society had no desire to laugh at all.
In the comedy, the author very sharply reveals and ridicules the vices that have struck Russian society. “Woe from Wit” was written in the 19th century (in its first quarter), but the topic touched on by Griboyedov is also relevant for our modern society, because the characters described in it still exist safely.
Famusov
It is no coincidence that the characters of the comedy are described in such a way that they became household names over time. For example, what a bright personality - the Moscow gentleman Pavel Afanasyevich Famusov! Each of his remarks is a zealous defense of the "age of obedience and fear." His life depends on the opinion of society and traditions. He teaches the youth to learn from their ancestors. In confirmation, he cites the example of his uncle Maxim Petrovich, who "not that on silver - on gold ate." Uncle was a nobleman during the time of "Mother Catherine". When he had to curry favor, "he bent over backwards."
The author ridicules the flattery and servility of Famusov (he holds a high position, but often does not even read the papers he signs). Pavel Afanasyevich is a careerist, and serves to receive ranks and money. And Griboyedov also hints at his love for brother-in-law and nepotism. He evaluates people by their material well-being. He tells his daughter Sofya that the poor woman is not a match for her, and prophesies Colonel Skalozub as a suitor, who, according to him, will become a general not today or tomorrow.
Molchalin and Skalozub
The same can be said about Molchalin and Skalozub, who also have the same goals: by any means - career and position in society. They achieve their goal, as Griboyedov himself said, with “light” bread, currying favor with their superiors, thanks to sycophancy, they strive for a luxurious and beautiful life. Molchalin is presented as a cynic, devoid of any moral values. Skalozub - a stupid, narcissistic and ignorant hero, an opponent of everything new, who only chases ranks, awards and rich brides.
Chatsky
But in the hero Chatsky, the writer embodied the qualities of a freethinker close to the Decembrists. As an advanced and reasonable person of his era, he has a completely negative attitude towards serfdom, servility, ignorance and careerism. He opposes the ideals of the past century. Chatsky is an individualist and humanist, he respects the freedom of thought, the common man, he serves the cause, not individuals, stands for the progressive ideas of modernity, for respect for language and culture, for education and science. He enters into a dispute with the capital's Famus elite. He wants to serve, not to be served.
It should be noted that Griboedov managed to make his work immortal due to the relevance of the topic he touched upon. Goncharov in 1872 wrote very interestingly about this in his article “A Million of Torments”, saying that this play would continue to live its imperishable life, passing through many more epochs, and would never lose its vitality. After all, until now, the Famusovs, the pufferfish and the silent ones make our modern Chatskys experience "woe from wit."
History of creation
The idea of this work from its author Griboyedov arose at the time when he had just returned from abroad to St. Petersburg and found himself at an aristocratic reception, where he was outraged by the craving of Russians for everything foreign. He, like the hero of his work, saw how everyone bowed to one foreigner and was very dissatisfied with what was happening. He expressed his attitude and extremely negative point of view. And while Griboyedov poured out in his angry monologue, someone announced his possible madness. That is truly a grief from the mind! Who wrote the comedy, he himself experienced this - that's why the work came out so emotional, passionate.
Censors and Judges
Now the meaning of the play "Woe from Wit" certainly becomes clear. Who wrote it really knew very well the environment that he described in his comedy. After all, Griboyedov noticed all the situations, portraits and characters at meetings, parties and balls. Subsequently, they found their reflection in his famous story.
Griboyedov began reading the first chapters of the play as early as 1823 in Moscow. He was repeatedly forced to remake the work at the request of censorship. In 1825, again, only excerpts were published in the almanac "Russian Thalia". Completely uncensored, this play was published only in 1875.
It is also important to note the fact that, having thrown his accusatory play-comedy into the face of secular society, Griboedov was never able to achieve any significant changes in the views of the nobles, however, he sowed the seeds of enlightenment and reason in aristocratic youth, which later sprung up in a new generation. .
The comedy play "Woe from Wit" became a real outstanding achievement of Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov, an original classic of Russian literature of the first half of the 19th century. The creation of the comedy began in 1821, when Griboedov was in military service in Tiflis under General A.P. Yermolov. Upon returning to his native Moscow, Alexander Sergeevich continued to work on a dramatic comedy. Still far from official publication, the local reading society was already able to get the first copies of the play, which in those days were called "lists", that is, what was copied from the original. The Moscow Reading Society received the first lists from the author's manuscript towards the end of 1824.
The first publication of the comedy play, unfortunately, was after the death of Griboyedov. The censorship delayed for a very long time with the decision on the official publication. The widow of the author A. Griboedov, together with his sister, even filed several times a petition for publication, which they also postponed for consideration.
Some time later, in 1833, the tsar, at the request of Minister Uvarov, gave permission to print the comedy, and a few weeks later Alexander Sergeevich's play Woe from Wit was first printed in a separate edition at the Semyon printing house at the Imperial Academy. After 6 years, in 1839, the reader's society saw the second edition, St. Petersburg, with corrections and censorship.
Griboedov several times during his lifetime tried to stage a comedy play, but each of them was never successful. The premiere of the performance was staged in 1831 in St. Petersburg after the author's life.
After the official publication of "Woe from Wit", its demand was an order of magnitude greater than the number of printed editions. The printed book was rather difficult to acquire, not because of its cost, but in limited quantities, so the printing society began to make its own copies. The most interesting thing is that in these "lists", the society kept all the so-called "forbidden" words and places that were corrected by censorship.
The complete edition of the comedy could only be published in 1862, in its present, original form by order of Emperor Alexander II. It is this version of the publication that is known to today's reading society and similar circles. The original edition, that is, Griboedov's author's manuscript, was never found. The comedy came to us only in the form of a certain list.
Option 2
The history of the comedy Griboyedov Woe from Wit: conception, staging, publication
The work of Griboedov "Woe from Wit" was published in 1824 and is a comedy play that describes the society of serfdom and covers the time period from 1808 to 1824. The comedy describes the problems of the society of that time, as well as the theme of love. The love story is well revealed in the description of the life of the main characters. The heroes of the love triangle are Andrei Chatsky, Sofia Famusova and Alexei Molchalin.
Andrey Chatsky is a smart, active young man who strove for development and improvement. At the same time, Andrei is a pronounced romantic. He is gentle, delicate, tactful. Chatsky is in love with Sophia. He saw only positive qualities in her, despite the complex character and eccentric nature of the young girl. Andrei Chatsky is an ideal candidate for Sofia Famusova, but the girl's heart belongs to another.
Sofia Famusova is a bright representative of the young ladies of that era. Sophia is a rich lady who languishes from idleness and boredom in her father's house. She is smart, educated, but because of the youth of her years, in the work she is only 17 years old, she is naive and inexperienced. Due to inexperience, her choice falls not on the smart and modest Chatsky, but on the near-minded Molchalin.
Alexey Molchalin - stupid, did not strive for self-development. The main goal of the hero is to achieve his own well-being. Therefore, it is beneficial for him to communicate with Sophia in order to enter the social circle of Famusov Sr. His behavior towards Sophia is false and feigned.
Sophia, in love, does not notice Alexei's shortcomings, perceiving them as dignity. However, Sophia fails to connect her life with Molchalin. Alexey's choice falls on the young lady Liza. Famusov expels Molchalin from the house. Sophia is going through the loss of a loved one. She is morally broken and oppressed. Andrei is disappointed in Famusov's daughter and stops communicating with her. Sophia is completely alone. The real victim of the love triangle is Andrei Chatsky. He is disappointed in society and in life in general. The reason for this disappointment is his romantic nature and the fact that he always puts sincere feelings in the foreground, and not personal gain and career growth, as Molchalin does.
The main purpose of the work is the desire of the author to show that most representatives of the era do not need, and even alien to true, sincere love. And those who have these qualities become redundant in the so-called "Famusov society."
Conception, staging and publication
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Woe from Wit was written by Griboyedov in 1825. The protagonist of Griboyedov's comedy "Woe from Wit" Chatsky, with his perception of the aristocratic society of St. Petersburg, is a reflection of the creator of the work.
A nobleman, a representative of educated young people, with a bright literary and musical talent, who speaks several European and Oriental languages.
Griboedov, leading a secular lifestyle, indignant at one of the aristocratic receptions with the admiration of those present before everything that relates to foreign, a merciless assumption was made about his madness. It was during this period that a satirical comedy in verse appeared, in which a harmonious picture of Russian society was presented.
Acquaintance with representatives of his generation, members of an aristocratic society, Griboyedov begins with an acquaintance with the Famusov family and his entourage.
Action 1
The play begins with a scene where the awakened maid Lizonka complains about a sleepless night. The reason for this was a secret meeting of Sophia, the daughter of Famusov, the owner of the house, with her friend Molchalin. She knocks on the mistress's room, from which the sounds of music are heard to warn her of the new day that has come.
Lizonka tries to speed up Sophia's parting with Molchalin by moving the hands of the clock forward. Famusov, who appeared in the chambers, finds the maid behind this scene and tries to flirt with her, but having heard the voice of his daughter calling Lizonka, he hastily leaves. Under the reproaches of the maid in a carelessly protracted meeting, Sophia says goodbye to Molchalin.
The opinion of the maid that a worthy couple Sofya is Colonel Skalozub, who has both money and rank, as opposed to Molchalin, a poor man from the periphery. The appearance of Famusov and his interest in the presence of his secretary in his daughter's chambers are interrupted by the arrival of Chatsky, with whom Sophia is connected by childhood friendship. Chatsky's departure makes Famusov wonder which of the young people owns his daughter's heart.
Action 2
The next appearance of Chatsky begins with a question to Famusov about his matchmaking with Sophia. The answer of the father of the beloved that for a start it would be nice to go through the state service, earn ranks. The reaction of the young man to Famusov's statement is formulated by Griboedov with the phrase that has become famous: "I would be glad to serve, it's sickening to serve."
On this view of Chatsky, Famusov cites as an example his uncle Maxim Petrovich, who got rich "serving" at court. This skill for Famusov plays a major role in achieving wealth and high rank at the court of a position in society. The arrival of Skalozub continues Famusov's judgment about Chatsky's free-thinking, his unwillingness to serve.
Chatsky's statement that he will not bow to society with outdated judgments, contempt for freedom. The appearance of Sophia, frightened by the fall of Molchalin from a horse, her reproaches to Chatsky for his indifference to the victim, lead Chatsky to understand who the girl’s heart is occupied with.
Action 3
The action begins with Chatsky's explanation of his love for Sophia and an attempt to find out who is more dear to her heart: Skalozub or Molchalin. Sophia avoids a direct answer, mentioning in a conversation that she appreciates gentleness and modesty in Molchalin. A ball will be held in Famusov's house in the evening, the servants are busy meeting high-ranking and influential people in Moscow. With one of them, Sophia shares her reflections on the proud character of Chatsky, inadvertently expressing the opinion that he is "out of his mind."
The news instantly becomes the property of all those gathered in Famusov's house. The appearance of Chatsky switches the attention of the guests to his person, new details about his insanity are born. Chatsky, wandering restlessly among the guests, is trying to talk with Sophia about the Moscow nobility, which is ready to bow before insignificance only because it had the honor of being born in France. The appearance of Repetilov and a conversation with Zagoretsky about his madness Chatsky heard in the next room, before he had time to leave Famusov's house.
Action 4
Leaving Famusov's apartment, Chatsky reflects on what caused him to be convicted of insanity, who is the source of this vicious gossip, whether they reached Sophia or not. Hiding in the porter's room, Chatsky witnesses a showdown between Sophia, Molchalin and the maid Lisa.
Famusov and his daughter determine the fate of the maid Lisa and secretary Molchalin who betrayed them. In this scene, the role of Sophia in the appearance of a rumor about the madness of Chatsky is revealed. The last monologue of Chatsky in this action conveys the collapse of his hopes and feelings that he lived for all these years. Having experienced betrayal, he no longer regrets the breakup and decides to leave Moscow forever, because he does not see himself in the Famus society.
The idea of the work
Each time has its own heroes. Their destinies pass before a society that exalts them or does not understand them. The creator of the comedy "Woe from Wit" left an indelible mark on his time. The conflict between representatives of the developing and losing their positions of social structures, the misunderstanding of the old century of new driving forces, are reflected in the work "Woe from Wit". Griboyedov in his creation denounces the foundations of the existing secular society, which means that it causes too high attention of censorship.
It is known that by 1816 Griboyedov had a comedy plan ready. According to the memoirs of the writer's friends, we can partially reconstruct the original idea. His close friend S.N. Begichev wrote: “... Griboyedov changed it [the idea] in many ways and destroyed some of the characters, and by the way, Famusov’s wife, a sentimental fashionista and a Moscow aristocrat (then still fake sensitivity was somewhat common among Moscow ladies) and along with this already written scenes are thrown out.
Few of the writers of the early 19th century you know did not ever participate in a duel. The last duels between Pushkin and Lermontov turned out to be great tragedies for Russian literature. Griboedov participated in the sensational brutal duel between Sheremetev and Zavadovsky. It was the so-called quadruple duel, that is, after the main duelists, their seconds should fight.
Duels were officially banned, followed by punishment. Mother insisted that Alexander leave Petersburg for a while, until the rumors subsided and the anger of the authorities subsided. Persia became a place of refuge: Griboedov was appointed to the post of secretary of the embassy. After a long journey through Russia, Griboedov arrived in Tehran in the spring of 1819, and then was sent to Tabriz.
What Griboyedov encountered in Tabriz (Tabriz) deeply shocked him. It turned out that dozens of Russian prisoners of war were languishing in Persia, who could not return to their homeland. At the cost of enormous diplomatic efforts, Griboedov rescued them and brought them, hungry and half-ragged, to Tiflis. General Yermolov was shocked by Griboedov's perseverance and mercy. He realized that before him was not just an embassy official, but a person capable of unexpected noble deeds and feeling his life purpose. The general ensured that Griboyedov was appointed "secretary for foreign affairs under the commander in chief in the Caucasus."
It was in Tabriz that the first two acts of the comedy "Woe from Wit" were written in rough form, which he later rewrote in Tiflis. But further work was not easy: Griboedov's isolation from the capital, from literary circles, from Moscow society affected. This honorary exile dragged on for five whole years. Only in 1823 Griboyedov returned to his friends again. In the summer of 1824, at the estate of his friend Begichev, he completed Woe from Wit.
Although at first only the poet's sister knew about the manuscript, it proved impossible to keep the secret for a long time. Reproaches and indignation rained down from all sides. Griboyedov had to remake his favorite comedy, in which he put all his talent. Convinced that there are no hopes for publication, Griboedov encourages distribution in the lists. By some estimates, 40,000 handwritten copies were distributed. This is a huge amount! In 1825, the first attempt was made to stage a comedy on the training stage of a theater school in St. Petersburg.
Griboedov managed to publish only a few scenes from the comedy - in Faddey Bulgarin's almanac "Russian Waist for 1825". According to contemporaries, Griboedov became irritable, bilious, cocky, and his cheerfulness left him forever.
He was friendly with many officers who later became Decembrists. After the arrest of the Decembrists, a handwritten copy of the text “Woe from Wit” was found on many. After the failed uprising, a specially sent courier took Griboedov to the investigators. At first, Griboyedov declared his moral support for the rebels, but then investigators who sympathized with him persuaded Griboyedov to change his testimony. He wrote that he did not know anything about the armed uprising that was being prepared. Finally, in June 1826, Griboyedov was released and returned to the diplomatic service. He was overwhelmed by life's troubles. His mother took an oath from him to return to the service, and Griboedov again went to the Caucasus. He participated in military operations, in the battles of the Russian-Persian war of 1827-1828, but most of all he was useful, as always, in the diplomatic field: having achieved the Turkmenchay Treaty with Persia, which was extremely beneficial for Russia, he was sent to Russia with an extremely honorable mission - be the first to announce the conclusion of a peace agreement.
Before the last departure from St. Petersburg in 1828, Griboedov wrote on the Bulgarin list "Woe from Wit" the inscription: "My grief I entrust to Bulgarin ..." - in the hope that he would be able to achieve the publication of the comedy.
At the same time, Griboyedov met the young Princess Nina Chavchavadze, the daughter of his friend, whom he had known as a child. Now in front of him was a girl with whom he fell passionately in love and with whom he proposed very soon.
Happiness did not last long. On January 30, 1829, the Russian mission in Persia was attacked during the war in the North Caucasus (1818-1864). Only one of the employees accidentally escaped. The mutilated body of Griboyedov was hardly identified in a pile of corpses. He was buried as a young widow in Tiflis on the territory of an ancient monastery next to the Church of St. David, from where he had previously admired the view of the city and where he wished to be buried one day.
The first separate edition of "Woe from Wit" appeared after the death of Griboedov, in 1833, and the full edition, not distorted by censorship, was published only in 1862.
Source (abridged): Literature: Grade 9: in 2 hours, Part 1 / B.A. Lanin, L.Yu. Ustinov; ed. B.A. Lanina. - 2nd ed., corrected. and additional - M.: Ventana-Graf, 2016
"Woe from Wit"- a comedy in the verses of A. S. Griboyedov - a work that made its creator a classic of Russian literature. It combines elements of classicism and romanticism and realism, new for the beginning of the 19th century.
The comedy "Woe from Wit" - a satire on the aristocratic Moscow society of the first half of the 19th century - is one of the pinnacles of Russian dramaturgy and poetry; actually completed the "comedy in verse" as a genre. The aphoristic style contributed to the fact that she "dispersed into quotes."
History of creation
In 1816, Griboyedov, returning from abroad, ended up in St. Petersburg at one of the secular evenings and was amazed at how the entire audience bows to all foreigners. That evening she surrounded with attention and care some chatty Frenchman; Griboyedov could not stand it and made a fiery diatribe. While he was speaking, someone in the audience announced that Griboedov was crazy, and thus spread the word all over Petersburg. Griboyedov, in order to take revenge on secular society, conceived the idea of writing a comedy about this.
Gathering material for the implementation of the plan, he went to balls, social evenings and receptions a lot. Since 1823, Griboedov has been reading excerpts from the play (the original title is “Woe to the Wit”), but the first edition of the comedy was completed already in Tiflis, in 1823, it reflects the so-called “Museum Autograph” by Griboyedov. This edition did not yet have an explanation of Molchalin with Lisa and several other episodes. In 1825, Griboedov published a fragment of the comedy (7, 8, 9, 10 events of the first act, with censored exceptions and abbreviations) in the almanac "Russian Thalia". In 1828, the author, going to the Caucasus and further to Persia, left in St. Petersburg with F.V. Bulgarin the so-called Bulgarin manuscript- an authorized list with the inscription: “I entrust my grief to Bulgarin. Faithful friend of the Griboedovs. This text is the main text of the comedy, reflecting the last known author's will: in January 1829, Griboyedov died in Tehran. The author's manuscript of the comedy has not been preserved; her searches in Georgia in the 1940s - 1960s were in the nature of a sensational campaign and did not yield any results.
In January 1831, the first professional production took place, as well as the first publication in its entirety (in German, translated from a not entirely correct list) in Reval.
In 1833, "Woe from Wit" was first printed in Russian, in the Moscow printing house of August Semyon.
A significant part of the comedy (attacks against court flattery, serfdom, allusions to political conspiracies, satire on the army) was banned by censorship, because the first editions and productions were distorted by numerous cuts. Readers of that time knew the full text of "Woe from Wit" in the lists, of which several hundred are now known (and, obviously, much more went at one time). There are several falsified inserts in the text of "Woe from Wit", composed by scribes.
The first publication of a comedy without distortion appeared in Russia only in 1862 or 1875.
