Griboyedov wrote the play for two years (1822-1824). Since Alexander Sergeevich served as a diplomat and was considered influential person, he hoped that his creation would easily pass censorship and soon become a full-fledged performance. However, he soon realized: comedy "no pass." It was possible to publish only fragments (in 1825 in the almanac "Russian Thalia"). The entire text of the play was published much later, in 1862. First theatrical performance took place in 1831. However, in handwritten lists (samizdat of that time), the book spread rapidly and became very popular among the reading public.
comedy feature
Theater is the most conservative art form, so while romanticism and realism were developing in literature, classicism still dominated the stage. Griboyedov's play combines the features of all three directions: "Woe from Wit" in form classic, but realistic dialogues and problems relating to the realities of Russia in the 19th century bring it closer to realism, and romantic hero(Chatsky) and the conflict of this hero with society is a characteristic opposition for romanticism. How do Woe from Wit combine the classicist canon, romantic motifs, and a general realistic orientation towards vitality? The author managed to harmoniously weave contradictory components together due to the fact that he was brilliantly educated by the standards of his time, often traveled the world and read in other languages, so he absorbed new literary trends before other playwrights. He did not rotate among writers, he served in diplomatic mission, and therefore his mind was free from many stereotypes that prevented the authors from experimenting.
Drama genre "Woe from Wit". Comedy or drama?
Griboedov believed that "Woe from Wit" is a comedy, but since tragic and dramatic elements, the play cannot be attributed exclusively to the comedy genre. First of all, you need to pay attention to the ending of the work: it is tragic. Today it is customary to define "Woe from Wit" as a drama, but in the 19th century there was no such division, so it was called " high comedy» by analogy with the high and low calm of Lomonosov. There is a contradiction in this wording: only tragedy can be “high”, and comedy is by default “low” calm. The play was not unambiguous and typical, it broke out of the existing theatrical and literary clichés, which is why it was so highly appreciated by both contemporaries and the current generation of readers.
Conflict. Composition. Issues
The play is traditionally distinguished two types of conflict: private ( love drama) and public (contrasting the old and new times, the "famus society" and Chatsky). Since this work is partially related to romanticism, we can argue that there is a romantic conflict between the individual (Chatsky) and society (Famusovsky society) in the play.
One of the strict canons of classicism is the unity of action, which implies a causal relationship of events and episodes. In Woe from Wit, this connection is already significantly weakened, it seems to the viewer and reader that nothing significant is happening: the characters walk back and forth, talk, that is, the external action is rather monotonous. However, the dynamics and drama are laid down precisely in the dialogues of the characters, the play must first of all be listened to in order to catch the tension of what is happening and the meaning of the production.
The peculiarity of the composition is that it is built according to the canons of classicism, the number of acts does not coincide with it.
If the comedies of writers of the late 18th and early 19th centuries denounced individual vices, then Griboyedov's satire fell upon the entire conservative way of life, saturated with these vices. Ignorance, careerism, martinetism, cruelty and bureaucratic inertia - all these are realities Russian Empire. The Moscow nobility with its ostentatious puritanical morality and unscrupulousness in business is represented by Famusov, stupid military careerism and blinkered consciousness - Skalozub, obsequiousness and hypocrisy of bureaucracy - Molchalin. Thanks to episodic characters the viewer and the reader get acquainted with all the types of the "famus society" and see that their cohesion is the result of the solidarity of vicious people. The many-sided and motley clique has absorbed all the vulgarity, lies and stupidity that society is accustomed to worship and yield to. The characters are not only on stage, but also off stage, mentioned in the replicas of the characters (truthmaker Princess Marya Aleksevna, writer of "exemplary nonsense" Foma Fomich, influential and all-powerful Tatyana Yuryevna and others).
The meaning and innovation of the play "Woe from Wit"
In the play, which the author himself considered a comedy, oddly enough, the most actual problems of that period: the injustice of serfdom, the imperfect state apparatus, ignorance, the problem of education, etc. Griboyedov also included, it would seem, in an entertaining work, the burning disputes about boarding houses, jury trials, censorship and institutions.
Moral aspects, which are no less important for the playwright, give rise to humanistic pathos works. The author shows how under the pressure of the "famus society" die best qualities in a person. For example, Molchalin is not deprived positive qualities, but he is forced to live according to the laws of Famusov and others like him, otherwise he will never succeed. That is why "Woe from Wit" occupies a special place in Russian dramaturgy: it reflects real conflicts and non-fictional life circumstances.
The composition of the drama is sustained in the classic style: the observance of the three unities, the presence of large monologues, speaking surnames actors, etc. The content is realistic, so the performance is still sold out in many theaters in Russia. Heroes do not personify one vice or one virtue, as was customary in classicism, they are diversified by the author, their characters are not devoid of both negative and positive qualities. For example, critics often call Chatsky a fool or an overly impulsive hero. Sophia is not to blame for the fact that during his long absence she fell in love with the one who was nearby, and Chatsky is immediately offended, jealous and hysterically denounces everything around just because his beloved has forgotten him. A quick-tempered and absurd character does not paint the main character.
Its useful to note colloquial plays, where each character has his own speech turns. This idea was complicated by the fact that the work was written in verse (iambic multi-footed), but Griboedov managed to recreate the effect of a casual conversation. Already in 1825 the writer V.F. Odoevsky stated: “Almost all the verses of Griboedov’s comedy became proverbs, and I often happened to hear in society, whole conversations of which most composed poems from Woe from Wit.
Its useful to note speaking names in "Woe from Wit": for example, “Molchalin” means the hidden and hypocritical nature of the hero, “Skalozub” is the inverted word “gnawing”, meaning boorish behavior in society.
Why is Griboedov's comedy "Woe from Wit" now readable?
At present, people often use Griboyedov's quotes without knowing it themselves. Phraseologisms "fresh legend, but hard to believe", " happy hours do not observe", "and the smoke of the fatherland is sweet and pleasant to us" - all these catchphrases familiar to everyone. The play is still relevant today due to Griboyedov's light aphoristic author's style. He was one of the first to write a drama in real Russian, which people still speak and think. The heavy and pompous lexicon of his time was not remembered by his contemporary in any way, but Griboedov's innovative style found its place in the linguistic memory of the Russian people. Is it possible to call the play "Woe from Wit" relevant in the 21st century? Yes, if only because we use his quotes in everyday life.
Interesting? Save it on your wall!The main idea that Alexander Griboyedov put into his comedy is to show the way of life, the customs of his contemporary society, his contemporary Moscow. In the work, two camps collide, two worldviews - old conservative conformist aristocrats worshiping rank, wealth, trying with all their might to preserve the existing habitual way of life and advanced people striving for change, wishing for a better life than they have.
In the work, there is a confrontation between Chatsky and Famusov, and this clash is completely predictable. This conflict should have been, because the old townsfolk like Famusov, accustomed to caring only for their personal welfare, and indifferent to the aspirations of others, cannot stand people like Chatsky, who "sow confusion", violate the established order for everyone, striving to establish justice. In people like Chatsky, Famusov sees a real enemy, a threat to his high position, his comfortable idle-stupefying life. The spirit of pride and arrogance reigns at Famusov's balls. Chatsky, having got to one of the balls, fell into unbearable boredom because of that host living there (even falling in love did not save him from boredom, everything was so depressing). And all because their interests are limited only by banknotes and titles. In addition, all the guests are wary of each other, an atmosphere of hostility and arrogance hovers among them.
What did Griboedov want to tell us with this work? What is the meaning of comedy? It lies in Chatsky's loyalty to his convictions, despite mental anguish and multiple failures. In the vile house of Famusov, he plays the role of a detractor of ignorant inhabitants, retrogrades making every effort to maintain the existing order, not striving for a more honest and just life, thinking about themselves. Such subjects hinder our time, the development of the world, and the likes of Chatsky make our planet spin and progress. People like him are trying to free the common people from unbearable oppression.
In the play Woe from Wit, the essence lies in the conflict between a gifted, progressive personality (prone to Decembristism) and the Famus society (reverence for money, ranks, vanity and hypocrisy), which appears as a struggle for human rights and dignity. Through the lips of Chatsky, the author's position was expressed in relation to his contemporary society. A lot of images from the work have become common nouns, and some passages have become aphorisms.
Option 2
A satirical comedy written by one of the famous Russian authors of the 19th century - Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov. Initially, Griboyedov conceived of writing a comedy about rather strange and cruel living conditions. simple peasants during the reign of serfdom.
Since comedy touches on satire, this work makes the reader understand that even the most clever man who did nothing wrong can also become the object of various gossip, discussions, and so on. main topic comedies are the vices of mankind, which both ridicule and try to hide. Hypocrisy and servility makes the reader think about how these two main vices can affect the outcome of the work.
The title of the work, "Woe from Wit" hides in itself little sense, which is revealed in the work itself. After all, it is easier to accuse another person of illiteracy or insanity than to change yourself and try to live in accordance with the new directions and styles of life itself that have come with the advent of the new century.
Also in the comedy touches serfdom, court customs and much more, which affects the very meaning of the work and its essence. When reading this work one can notice his connection with Decembristism, however, Griboyedov himself was not part of the Decembrist societies and did not share the main directions of Decembristism with friends or in literature.
Not the most deep meaning comedy is manifested in the fact that Chatsky, with all his efforts, despite his failures throughout the action of the comedy and despite moral principles and flour did not recede, but remained true to his inner ideals.
Griboedov did not hesitate to add some kind of confrontation to this work, on the one hand, aristocrats who did not want to leave the brightness of life spoke, and on the other hand, a society of progressive-minded people came forward who wanted to fill their lives with vivid emotions and unforgettable memories. In other words, two generations clashed in this comedy - the new generation of the then 19th century and the generation of the past, the 18th century. This disagreement between the two generations has not disappeared even now, in the 21st century.
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Alexander Griboyedov's comedy "Woe from Wit" is considered the first work realistic direction in Russian literature, despite the still tangible influence of classicism. The aesthetics of romanticism is also present in the comedy, especially noticeable in the image of the protagonist.
A characteristic sign of realism in the play is that the characters are socially motivated. They are a product of the society in which they live.
The language of comedy can also be attributed to Griboyedov's innovation. He endows each of his heroes in an individual manner speech. Therefore, they cannot be confused. With the help of sharp polemics in the dialogues, the author shows the character and way of thinking of the characters. Many statements are so aphoristic and unique that they have become winged. Even after many years, they remain relevant to us. For example, the famous remark of the protagonist Chatsky: “I would be glad to serve, it’s sickening to serve.”
The history of the creation of the play
The author worked on the play for several years, from 1822 to 1824. However, the idea to write about the mores of society arose much earlier. According to one version, the impetus for creating the play was one of the aristocratic receptions that Griboyedov attended. He was greatly outraged by the way people bow to a foreign guest, because then there was a fashion for everything foreign. When the writer hinted that such behavior looked ridiculous and wrong, he was considered a crazy person. This story gives reason to consider Griboyedov the prototype of his main character, Chatsky.
When the work was finished, the author thought that he would publish it without difficulty. But it turned out that the comedy "no pass." Therefore, during the life of Griboyedov, it was possible to publish the work only in fragments. Although handwritten versions quickly dispersed among the advanced reading public, and the writer gained fame.
The plot of the work
Alexander Chatsky, a young nobleman, arrives at the house of the Famusov family after long stay Abroad. His goal is to marry Sofya Famusova, with whom they grew up together and were friends in childhood. But the girl meets him coldly, because she is in love with another man. Chatsky does not want to give up, especially since Sophia's chosen one seems to him an unworthy person. There are only two in the play. storylines- romantic and social. The first one subsequently flows into the second. Trying to win Sophia's hand, Chatsky gradually becomes disillusioned with her, because she is no different from the rest of the conservative decaying Moscow society. The protagonist has a brilliant mind, but in this society he is useless, because here only chivalry and cunning are valued. Chatsky's eloquence and his advanced ideas are perceived as the ravings of a madman. As a result main character leaves Moscow.
Themes, problems and the main idea of the play
The main themes of the work include: a realistic depiction of life and customs contemporary author society of nobles; story of unhappy love; opposition of the advanced protagonist to society.
The main idea of the play is to expose the moral baseness and wretchedness of a feudal society in which progressive ideas are not perceived.
/AT. Belinsky. "Woe from Wit". Comedy in 4 acts, in verse. The composition of A.S. Griboyedov. Second edition. S.-P.-burg. 1839/
So, in comedy there is no whole, because there is no idea. We will be told that the idea, on the contrary, exists and that it is a contradiction between clever and deep man with the society in which he lives. Excuse me: what kind of new Anacharsis is this, who visited Athens and returned to the Scythians? .. Are all the representatives of Russian society - the Famusovs, the Molchalins, the Sophias, the Zagoretskys, the Khlestovs, the Tugoukhovskys and the like? If so, they are right in expelling Chatsky from their midst, with whom they have nothing in common, nor does he have anything in common with them.<...>No, these people were not representatives of Russian society, but only representatives of one side of it, consequently, there were other circles of society, closer and more related to Chatsky. In that case, why did he climb to them and not look for a circle more on his own? Therefore, Chatsky's contradiction is accidental, not real; not a contradiction with society, but a contradiction with a circle of society.
Where is the idea? The main idea of a work of art can only be the so-called philosophical language"concrete" idea, that is, such an idea that in itself contains both its development, and its cause, and its justification, and which alone can become a rational phenomenon parallel to its own. dialectical development. It is obvious that Griboedov's idea was inconsistent and unclear to him, and therefore was realized as some sort of a half-baked one. And then: what kind of deep man is Chatsky? This is just a screamer, a phrase-monger, an ideal buffoon, who at every step profanes everything sacred about which he speaks. Does it really mean to enter society and start scolding everyone in the face as fools and beasts - does it mean to be a deep person? What would you say about a person who, entering a tavern, would enthusiastically and fervently prove to drunken peasants that there is pleasure higher than wine - there is fame, love, science, poetry, Schiller and Jean-Paul Richter? .. This is a new Don Quixote, a boy riding on a stick, who imagines that he is sitting on a horse ... Someone who said that this is grief, only not from the mind, but from cleverness, deeply appreciated this comedy. Art can also choose such a person as Chatsky as its subject, but then the image would have to be objective, and Chatsky would have to be a comic face; but we clearly see that the poet, in earnest, wanted to depict in Chatsky the ideal of a deep person in contradiction with society, and God knows what happened.
<...>But if you cross out the passages from the monologues where characters they blurt out, to please the author, against themselves - these will be, with the exception of Sophia, typical faces, characters artistically created, although not constituting a comedy by their mutual relations; - let's not talk about Repetilov, this eternal prototype, which given name became a household name and which exposes the gigantic power of talent in the author.
In general, "Woe from Wit" is not a comedy in the sense and meaning artistic creation, a whole single, special and self-contained world, in which everything comes from one source - the main idea and everything returns there, in which therefore every word is necessary, invariable and irreplaceable; in which everything is excellent and there is nothing weak, superfluous, unnecessary, in a word - in which there are no advantages and disadvantages, but only advantages. Piece of art is an end in itself and has no end outside of itself, while the author of Woe from Wit clearly had an external aim—to ridicule modern society in evil satire, and chose comedy as a means for this. That is why its characters so clearly and so often blurt out against themselves, speaking the language of the author, and not their own; that's why Chatsky's love went that way, because it is needed not for itself, but for the beginning of a comedy, as something external to it; That is why Chatsky himself is some kind of image without a face, a ghost, a phantom, something unprecedented and unnatural.
But as not an artistically created face of comedy, but an expression of the thoughts and feelings of its author, albeit inappropriately, strangely and wildly intervening in comedy, Chatsky himself appears from a different point of view. He has many ridiculous and false concepts, but all of them come from a noble beginning, from a source of life that bubbles with a combustible spring. His wit springs from a noble and energetic indignation against what he rightly or wrongly considers bad and degrading. human dignity, - and therefore his wit is so sharp, strong and is expressed not in puns, but in sarcasm. And that is why everyone scolds Chatsky, understanding his falsity as a poetic creation, as the face of a comedy - and everyone knows by heart his monologues, his speeches, which turned into proverbs, sayings, applications, epigraphs, aphorisms worldly wisdom. There are people whose upset or naturally weak heads are unable to digest this contradiction, and who therefore either praise Griboedov's comedy to the skies, or consider it fit only to defend some mugs prone to slaps in the face.
Read also other critics' articles about the comedy "Woe from Wit":
- Aphorisms, winged words and expressions in Griboyedov's comedy "Woe from Wit"
V. Belinsky. "Woe from Wit". Comedy in 4 acts, in verse. The composition of A.S. Griboyedov
- The idea and meaning of the comedy "Woe from Wit"
V.A. Ushakov. Moscow ball. The third act from the comedy "Woe from Wit"
The work "Woe from Wit" is the greatest wealth of Russian classics of the 19th century, it was written during the change of centuries.
The meaning of Griboyedov's comedy is to describe the collision of two worlds - the old aristocratic one, represented by Famusov, and the new progressive one, represented by Chatsky. Throughout the story, Chatsky, an educated person, is fighting a backward serf society. The clash of these people, personifying two completely different types society is predictable and inevitable, because the representatives of the old time adhere to the old way of life, do not accept changes, they are comfortable and satisfying and do not care about others. The society of the new generation strives for a new life, for the development of itself and its state.
The idea of the comedy "Woe from Wit" is that the new views and thoughts of Chatsky do not fit into the old aristocratic foundations and the surrounding society considers him insane. Considering a person insane is much easier than adding to your own habitual life new changes, because they will not leave any of the spheres of human life unchanged.
Griboyedov's play "Woe from Wit" at that time inspired society to fight against arbitrariness and meanness, against violence and ignorance. With the help of his hero Chatsky, the author expressed his disgust for the overweight aristocratic environment, for laziness and idleness. The monologues of this man are witty and frighteningly bold. Chatsky knows exactly what he wants. But this comedy not devoid of tragedy. The tragedy of this play is that the smart and courageous Chatsky falls in love with a girl from a society he hates, but his love remains unrequited and not understood. This leads to the fact that Chatsky leaves Moscow.
The name of the comedy speaks for itself. The problem of the mind has always been relevant. At all times smart, diversified, educated people of their time were considered insane. Their ideas, going against the generally accepted rules, were persecuted and harshest criticism. So the accusation of Chatsky of insanity was beneficial to society, because it enables the aristocrats of the old worldview to justify their way of life.
Today, as in past years, the comedy "Woe from Wit" encourages the fight against selfishness, slavery and other negative social phenomena.
Option 2
Alexander Griboedov is one of the most talented and smart people among contemporaries. From his pen came three great works that have remained in history. One of them is "Woe from Wit". The author was able to accurately describe the conflict that arose between two generations, the coming century clashes with the future century, morals and views become the cause of the conflict, which quickly erupted and led to a real confrontation between the heroes.
The main character is Chatsky, who represents the future generation. All other heroes are for him a confrontation. The author emphasizes this idea in the title, for one Chatsky, who had a lively mind, reaching for knowledge, in fact, a genius, there are 25 people who do not have a special mind.
The opposition for him is Famusov, who is a typical aristocrat living on the territory of Moscow. He has various flaws of spirit, which are also found in other former serfs. He is accustomed to spending time in the service, which he considers a very pleasant pastime. For this, he also receives a promotion, and his experience allows him to quickly move up the career ladder.
It was Griboedov who became the founder of the concept of " Famus Society”, which fully describes the state of the youth of that generation. It is quite traditional. Each of them is accustomed to serving the higher authorities, actually worshiping him and following every direction. The most important thing for them is to gain real wealth and understand what is happening, this is the whole meaning of the life of young people of that time, the era in which Griboedov himself lives.
In contrast with Chatsky, he shows that in that society there are people who do not care about ranks and promotions, great wealth. He tries to convey this opinion to the people around him, but they consider him a simple outcast who needs to be eradicated from the surrounding society as soon as possible.
There are very few such people, others do not recognize his genius, the ability to think. There are only a few such people in the surrounding society, they are used to being considered real outcasts.
The author shows that man of genius cannot live in domestic conditions surrounded by such a society. He does not find people who could support him, go to the revolution, gain real freedom of speech and live the way the main character decides for himself, despite the society around him.
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