Sophia Famustova is the daughter of a wealthy landowner, Pavel. A young beauty "of marriageable age", not just entering the light of high society, but originally born in it. To be more precise: in a family holding a secular society. Sophia is young and beautiful - these are her main distinguishing features. She is trained in all proper manners and conducts the standard girlish duties around the house: she reads French writers aloud, plays the piano, and receives guests with a smile and kindly in her father's house. The young lady was raised without maternal warmth (Pavel was widowed early), however, she is not deprived of care and attention. From childhood, a magnificent nanny was assigned to her, replacing her native person.
Sophia loves her father and named brother, Chatsky. By blood, they are not related to each other, but Famusov raised Chatsky at his home, replacing his untimely departed parents. The fact that Chatsky is crazy about Sofia and his feelings are far from related, the reader will learn from the comedy a little later. As for Sophia herself, it is worth noting that the girl is far from being stupid, not a coward, however, with self-determination, the young lady is really not going smoothly. Although, such behavior can be easily justified by adolescence and, of course, the influence of society, which gave Sophia a comfortable life that does not know real experiences.
Characteristics of the heroine
(Sophia. Artist P. Sokolov, 1866)
Sophia, in spite of her direct relation to the secular society, living in “famustovism”, has her own personal opinion and does not want to merge with the public. The first opposition to everything that happens around is seen in her stubborn love for self-improvement. Sofia Pavlovna - loves to read, which incredibly irritates her father. He is indignant at Sonechka's craving to re-read French literature, he considers this an incomprehensible, empty occupation, especially for a young lady.
Further, the defense against the general opinion goes much deeper: “What is the rumor to me?” Sophia speaks about their secret relationship with Molchalin. At a time when a young man frantically weighs all the pros and cons, the young Famustova shamelessly spends evenings and nights with him on secret dates, knowing full well that such relationships put a stigma on her reputation. In the century described in a comedy by Griboyedov himself, such communication between a man and a woman was considered tantamount to a rash, riotous life on the part of a girl from a family with a loud last name.
(The role of Sophia, artist of the USSR Vera Ershova "Woe from Wit", 1939)
However, no matter how her soul strives for isolation and liberation from human opinion, Sophia rationally stops her heartfelt choice. Molchalin - not because she is in love, but because it is calmer and more profitable than with the blackened Chatsky, who loves her from an early age. Sympathy - sympathy, and the rank was originally to her face, and that was used for its intended purpose.
The image of the heroine in the work
(Anna Snatkina as Sofia Famusova, One Actor Theater - project by E. Rozhdestvenskaya)
Sophia is not an evil character. Moderately open, moderately naive and oh, how good. At 18, she became an almost perfect wife and woman, not deprived of intelligence and quick wits.
Its main role in Griboyedov's work is to show that it is difficult to get away from the general opinion in a small circle. And it doesn't matter: 10 people - neighbors in your house make up this very "public opinion" or, defending your personal opinion, you will have to go against the established iron system of those who need rank, money and the mask of the most ideal person.
Sophia herself, a “front-line comrade” and beloved girlfriend of Chatsky, could not overcome the desire to live in comfort. There is no certainty that Sophia was afraid of rumors or difficulties with gossip. Most likely, this is not fuss and fear, but a thoughtful choice, with an application for a long and happy future, concerning, first of all, herself, and then everyone who stood closer.
The image of Sophia is considered the most difficult in Griboedov's comedy. The interpretation of her character, the identification of the motivations for her behavior - all this caused numerous disputes among critics.
The image of Sophia, as Belinsky noted, is extremely contradictory. She is endowed with many virtues: a lively mind, will, independence and independence of judgment, "energy of character." Sophia does not value the opinion of the Famus society: “What is rumor to me? Whoever wants to, judges ... ”Neglecting secular etiquette, she decides to have a nightly date with Molchalin. In this episode, B. Goller saw a "challenge", a rebellion against the hypocritical moral concepts of the Famus society. “The young lady who violated the prohibitions was expected to break with society. Or removal from society, ”wrote the critic.
Sophia's behavior is natural: she cannot hide her feelings when she sees Molchalin fall from the horse. “I’m afraid that I won’t be able to withstand the pretense,” she remarks to Alexei Stepanovich. To some extent, the heroine is “natural” with Chatsky: she is sincerely angry in response to his witticisms. At the same time, Sophia skillfully lies to her father, hiding her relationship with Molchalin from him.
Sophia is disinterested, she evaluates people not by the presence of rank and wealth, but by their inner qualities. Famusov is busy with a profitable party for his daughter: "I wish he had a son-in-law with stars, but with ranks." Sophia does not accept such morality: she wants to marry for love. In her nature, “something of its own is hiding in the shadows, hot, tender, even dreamy.” Famusov will read Colonel Skalozub as her suitor - Sophia doesn’t even want to hear “about such happiness”: “He didn’t utter a smart word from his life, - I don’t care what for him, what’s in the water.”
Sophia is quite perceptive: she correctly assesses Skalozub, perfectly sees the vulgarity and emptiness of people entering Famusov's house. However, she cannot "see" the "true face" of Molchalin.
What are the motives of Sophia's actions? This image caused the most controversy in criticism. Pushkin also wrote that Sophia "is not clearly drawn." Goncharov believed that Sophia was strongly influenced by her environment:
“It is difficult to treat Sofya Pavlovna not sympathetically: she has the strong makings of a remarkable nature, a lively mind, passion and feminine gentleness. It is ruined in stuffiness, where not a single ray of light, not a single stream of fresh air penetrates. Belinsky, considering the contradictory nature of the heroine unrealistic, wrote that Sophia was “not a real person, but a ghost.”
Let's try to figure out what Griboyedov's heroine really is by analyzing her upbringing and life circumstances.
Famusov is a widower; Sophia, who grew up under the care of Madame Rosier, obviously enjoyed a certain freedom in the house. Like Pushkin's Tatyana, she is dreamy, loves sentimental novels with a happy ending, where one of the characters is poor, but has a number of virtues. It is precisely such a hero, according to Sophia, that Molchalin is: “yielding, modest, quiet, There is not a shadow of anxiety in his face, And there are no misconduct in his soul ...”. Sophia, like Tatyana Larina, loves not a specific person in her chosen one, but her high ideal, gleaned from books. As S. A. Fomichev notes, "Sofya is trying to arrange her fate according to the models of sensitive, sentimental novels."
And already this “external factor” in the choice of the heroine is alarming. Sophia's behavior is also alarming. It is very difficult for a loved one to characterize, and Sofya easily describes the character of Molchalin, not forgetting to add that "he does not have this mind in him ... which is quick, brilliant and will soon oppose." As N.K. Piksanov notes, the heroine is too rational, rational, prudent in her love, capable of subtle calculation, cunning. However, by nature. Sophia is temperamental, wayward.
The nightly date of the heroes itself looks unnatural. And unnatural here, first of all, Sophia. Molchalin plays the role of "Romeo" here, in accordance with his own ideas about the behavior of a lover. Unlike Sophia, Alexei Stepanovich was hardly ever fond of reading sentimental novels. Therefore, he behaves as his intuition tells him:
He takes his hand, shakes his heart,
Breathe from the depths of your soul
Not a free word, and so the whole night passes,
Hand with hand, and the eye does not take my eyes off me ...
However, the behavior of Molchalin in this scene is consistent with his image and character. Sophia, with her ironic mind, causticity, strong character, is hard to imagine here. This sensitive scene is nothing but a romantic cliché, where both “lovers” pose, with the only difference that Sophia is not aware of the unnaturalness of her behavior, while Molchalin understands perfectly.
The story of the heroine about a nightly date causes Lisa to laugh, who in this scene seems to be the embodiment of common sense. She remembers Aunt Sophia, from whom the young Frenchman ran away. And this story, as it were, anticipates the further development of events in comedy.
Chatsky puts forward his own version of the choice of Sofia Molchalin. He believes that the ideal of the heroine is "a husband-boy, a husband-servant, from the wife's pages." At the end of the comedy, having learned the truth about Sophia's choice, he becomes caustic and caustic:
You will make peace with him on mature reflection.
To destroy yourself, and for what!
Think you can always
Protect, and swaddle, and send for business.
Husband-boy, husband-servant, from the wife's pages -
The lofty ideal of all Moscow men.
This accusation of Chatsky is highly unfair. Sophia is an extraordinary, deep nature, in many respects different from the people of the Famusov circle. She cannot be equated with Natalya Dmitrievna Gorich. Finding Molchalin with Lisa, Sophia is offended in her feelings, and reconciliation with Molchalin is impossible for her. And she doesn’t need “the high ideal of all Moscow men”, she needs true love.
The main motive for Sophia's behavior is an insult to Chatsky, who once left her. This is how Isabella Grinevskaya considers the situation in Griboyedov's comedy in her work "Slandered Girl". No wonder Molchalin is endowed with qualities that are directly opposite to Chatsky’s character: Alexei Stepanovich is moderate in everything, neat, quiet, silent, “not rich in words”, he doesn’t have “this mind that a genius for others, but for others a plague ...”, “ strangers and at random does not cut. Frank resentment is heard in the words of Sophia: “Ah! If someone loves whom, Why look for the mind, and travel so far? Hence the slander of the heroine: "... not a man, a snake", her gossip about the madness of Chatsky.
We wonder why Sophia does not want to tell Chatsky the truth about her feelings for Molchalin, but the reasons for this are simple: she keeps the fan in the dark, subconsciously wanting to take revenge on him. Sophia cannot forgive Chatsky for his departure, his "three-year silence." In addition, the heroine herself, apparently, does not believe in the “strength of her feelings”: that is why she does not call her “sentimental ideal” (“yielding, modest, quiet”) by the name of Molchalin in a conversation with Chatsky. Is her affection for Chatsky alive in Sophia's soul? It seems that we cannot find the answer to this question in the text of the comedy. But the resentment and, as a result, the hostility of Sophia - this can be traced clearly and definitely.
Thus, the motives of the heroine's behavior are very complex. A lot is guessed in them: resentment, pity (Sofya sympathizes with Molchalin, knowing her father's "angry disposition"), "patronage, curiosity of a young feeling for the first intimate rapprochement with a man, romanticism, piquancy of domestic intrigue ...". Molchalin, as such, is not really interested in the heroine. She only thinks she loves him. As Vasiliev notes, "under the influence of books, Molchalin aroused in Sophia's heart a completely independent, original novel, which was too complicated to lead to passion." Therefore, Chatsky is not far from the truth when he does not believe in Sophia's feelings for Molchalin. This is not the psychological blindness of the hero, but rather his intuitive insight.
It is precisely because Sophia does not truly love that she was able not to reveal her presence in the scene with Molchalin and Lisa for so long. Therefore, she is so proud and restrained: “Since then, I didn’t seem to know you.” Of course, the heroine's self-control and the strength of her character are manifested here, but the absence of true, deep love is also felt. Sophia is able to analyze her situation, in a certain sense she is pleased with this outcome:
Stop, be glad
That when meeting with me in the silence of the night, You kept more timidity in your temper, Than even during the day, and in front of people, and in reality; You have less insolence than curvature of the soul. She herself is pleased that she found out everything at night, There are no reproachful witnesses in her eyes ...
Thus, Sophia is a complex three-dimensional character, contradictory and ambiguous, in the depiction of which the playwright follows the principles of realism.
V.F. Khodasevich said: "Griboyedov is a man of one book." It seems to me that this is not entirely fair, but, of course, A.S. Griboyedov with his comedy "Woe from Wit". This work is immortal. It has long been dispersed into quotes, and its heroes have become household characters.
Sofia Famusova is the main female character in the play. This is a seventeen-year-old girl with whom Chatsky is madly in love. Yes, and Sophia herself was in love with Alexander Andreevich, but over time everything changed. By the time Chatsky arrived in Moscow, Sophia was irrevocably in love with her father's secretary, Molchalin.
In my opinion, Sophia occupies an intermediate position among the heroes of the work. On the one hand, there are qualities in her that sharply distinguish this heroine from the Famusov circle. First of all, it is independence of judgment and contempt for gossip and public opinion. She says: “What is the rumor to me? Whoever wants, so judges ... "
I.A. Goncharov, in his article "A Million of Torments", described Sophia as "a mixture of good instincts with lies." Indeed, in this heroine there are traits that make her capable of both good and bad deeds. Sophia is self-willed, stubborn, but also capricious, and not very well-behaved.
Sofia Famusova is undeniably smart and observant. She perfectly knows the laws of the "famus" society, knows how to predict the actions of people. Therefore, this heroine manages to take revenge on Chatsky so cruelly. Sophia spreads gossip about his madness, knowing that real persecution will begin on her former lover. Although, in fact, this heroine was confident in Chatsky's "clear mind and full health":
He is ready to believe!
Ah, Chatsky! You love to dress up everyone in jesters,
Would you like to try on yourself?
We can say that Sophia in comedy is one of the most intelligent and sensible characters. But she also finds herself in a comical and, at the same time, sad situation because of her love for Molchalin. I think that her love for this "wretched creature" was serious. But did Sophia not see the true essence of this hero? Indeed, in a conversation with Chatsky, she exalts the spiritual qualities of Molchalin to the skies:
of the most wonderful property
He is finally: compliant, modest, quiet.
Not a shadow of worry on your face
And there are no misdeeds in my soul,
Strangers and at random does not cut, -
That's why I love him.
But the heroine does not notice, "how the portrait comes out gone." Molchalin for Sophia is a romantic hero, the height of perfection. Therefore, in the second act of the comedy, when Molchalin falls from a horse, Sophia is so worried that she faints. An insignificant incident grows in her eyes to the size of a real tragedy. She says to Alexei Stepanych:
Molchalin! How intact my mind remained!
After all, you know how dear your life is to me!
Why should she play, and so carelessly?
It seems to me that these words of Sophia are very reminiscent of the words of the heroine of some love story. And it is no coincidence. Recall that the girl was fond of French novels, dreamed of her knight on a white horse. I think that in the person of Molchalin she found such a knight. Rather, she came up with it for herself, because there were no worthy young people surrounded by Sophia. She didn’t have to pay attention to Skalozub! It was clearly "not the hero of her novel."
So, Sophia chose Molchalin as her hero. She thought to herself that this was an ideal, "a model of moderation and accuracy." The girl does not even try to find out what Alexei Stepanych really is. Sophia does not notice his "vulgarity" and pretense. “God brought us together,” says the heroine. She likes to think like that, imagine herself the heroine of her favorite novels. She and Molchalin make them behave like romantic heroes: sit out all nights until morning reading books together, sigh for Sophia:
He takes his hand, shakes his heart,
Breathe from the depths of your soul...
Sophia completely surrenders to her feelings. For the sake of Molchalin, she goes to the violation of all decorum: love for a person from the lower class, night dates, etc. But the girl neglects the opinion of society, and this makes her a person of the “new generation”. After all, for the "fathers" there is nothing more terrible than the "opinion of Princess Marya Aleksevna."
Sophia lives in the world of her illusions. This confirms her attitude towards Chatsky. She does not seek to understand him, to see the real motives and goals of this hero. The girl considers Chatsky callous and heartless (“Not a man, a snake!”), She tries to hurt and humiliate Alexander Andreevich more painfully. So, she says to him: “What are you doing to me?” In relations with Chatsky, Sophia is just as "blind" and "deaf" as in relations with Molchalin.
At the end of the comedy, life makes Sophia see clearly. She finally sees the real face of Molchalin. In this difficult situation for her, the girl behaves very dignified. With contempt, she says to Molchalin:
Reproaches, complaints, my tears
Do not dare to expect, you are not worth them ...
Sophia realizes her self-deception. It is very difficult for her, but she only blames herself for everything. “All in tears,” Sophia says: “I blame myself all around.” In the final scenes of the comedy, the image of Sophia acquires tragic features. No wonder I.A. Goncharov said about this heroine that she had "harder than anyone else, even harder than Chatsky, and she gets "a million torments." Clever, well-read, but far from real life, the heroine endures her "woe from wit."
Sofia Famusova makes me sympathetic and sorry. It has many positive features and great potential. The girl craves true love, strong feelings. But she is surrounded by insignificant and unworthy people. It is difficult for her to resist such an onslaught alone. The girl strives to be happy, but no one can help her, give her advice, guide her on the right path. Therefore, the girl is forced to make mistakes on her own and correct them. What's in store for Sophia in the future? It seems to me that she will move into the camp of "children", who, like Sophia, have a great mind and a sincere heart.
In comedy A.S. Griboyedov "Woe from Wit" presents the customs of the Moscow nobles of the early 19th century. The author shows the clash between the conservative views of the feudal landlords and the progressive views of the younger generation of nobles who began to appear in society. This clash is presented in the form of a struggle between two camps: the “past century”, which protects its mercantile interests and personal comfort, and the “present century”, striving to improve the structure of society through the manifestation of true citizenship. However, there are characters in the play who cannot be unambiguously attributed to any of the opposing sides. This is the image of Sophia in the comedy "Woe from Wit".
Sophia's opposition to the Famus society
Sofya Famusova is one of the most complex characters in the work of A.S. Griboyedov. 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.
The protagonist of the comedy is not without reason in love with this girl. Now let Sophia call their youthful love childish, nevertheless, she once attracted Chatsky with her natural mind, 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, loves to spend time reading books, which causes the anger of her father. After all, he believes that “in reading, the use is not great,” and “learning is the plague.” And this is the first discrepancy in the comedy "Woe from Wit" of the image of Sophia with the images of the nobles of the "past century".
Sophia's passion for Molchalin is also natural. She, as a fan of French novels, saw in the modesty and laconicism of this man the features of a romantic hero. Sophia does not suspect that she has become a victim of deceit by a two-faced person who is next to her only for personal gain.
In her relationship with Molchalin, Sofya Famusova shows such character traits that none of the representatives of the "past century", including her father, would ever dare to show. If Molchalin is mortally afraid to make public this connection to society, since “evil tongues are worse than a gun,” then Sophia is not afraid of the opinion of the world. She follows the dictates of her heart: “What is the rumor to me? Whoever wants, so judges. This position makes her related to Chatsky.
Features that bring Sophia closer to the Famus society
However, Sophia is the daughter of her father. She was brought up in a society where only rank and money are valued. The atmosphere in which she grew up certainly had an impact on her.
Sophia in the comedy "Woe from Wit" chose Molchalin not only because she saw positive qualities in him. The fact is that in the Famus society, women rule not only in society, but also in the family. It is worth remembering a couple of Goriches at a 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 as her future husband. This hero corresponds to the ideal of a husband in the society of the Moscow nobles: "A husband-boy, a husband-servant, from the wife's pages - the high ideal of all Moscow men."
The tragedy of Sofia Famusova
In the comedy Woe from Wit, Sophia is the most tragic character. More suffering falls to her lot than even Chatsky's.
Firstly, Sophia, possessing by nature determination, courage, intelligence, is forced to be a hostage to the society in which she was born. The heroine cannot afford to surrender to feelings, regardless of the opinions of others. She was brought up among the conservative nobility and will live according to the laws dictated by them.
Secondly, the appearance of Chatsky threatens her personal happiness with Molchalin. After the arrival of Chatsky, the heroine is in constant tension and is forced to defend her lover from the caustic attacks of the protagonist. It is the desire to save your love, to protect Molchalin from ridicule, that pushes Sophia to spread gossip about Chatsky's madness: “Ah, Chatsky! Do you like to dress everyone up as jesters, would you like to try on yourself? However, Sophia turned out to be 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 developed in Sophia's head when she hears his conversation with the maid Liza. Her main tragedy lies in the fact 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, the exposure of Molchalin takes place in the presence of Chatsky, which hurts Sophia as a woman even more.
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 stand against the light, protecting her love.
However, this same love makes Sophia defend herself from Chatsky, with whom she is so close in spirit. It is with the words of Sophia that Chatsky is blackened in society and expelled from it.
If all the other heroes of the play, with the exception of Chatsky, participate only in social conflict, protect their comfort and their usual way of life, then Sophia is forced to fight for her feelings. “She, of course, is harder than everyone else, even harder than Chatsky, and she gets her “million 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. The strong character of Sophia needs realization, which will become possible with her husband, who allows him to command and lead himself.
Sofya Famusova is the most complex and controversial character in Griboyedov's comedy Woe from Wit. The characteristics of Sophia, the disclosure of her image and the description of the role in the comedy will be useful to grade 9 when preparing materials for an essay on the theme of the image of Sophia in the comedy "Woe from Wit"
Artwork test
Sophia is endowed with one of the most controversial characters in the play "Woe from Wit".
By nature, Sophia is endowed with good qualities: a strong mind, an independent character. She is able to deeply experience and sincerely love. This girl received a good education and upbringing. The heroine is fond of reading French literature. But, unfortunately, all these positive character traits of Sophia could not be developed in Famus society. She drew ideas about people from sentimental French novels, this literature developed dreaminess and sensitivity in Sophia. Therefore, it was not by chance that she drew attention to Molchalin, who, with his features and his behavior, reminded her of her favorite heroes. However, it cannot be said that Sophia is blinded: she is able to evaluate the chosen one sensibly and critically.
Sophia also fell in love with Molchalin because she, a girl with character, needed a person in her life whom she could manage.
Chatsky's love for the heroine helps us understand one truth: the character of Sophia is in some way the main match for Chatsky himself. At seventeen, she not only "bloomed charmingly," but also shows an enviable independence of opinion, unthinkable for people like Molchalin or even her father. This is evidenced by such a remark by Sophia: "What is rumor to me? Whoever wants, judges." Chatsky understands this and addresses his speeches primarily to Sophia. It is Sophia that he considers his like-minded person. He used to believe that she shared his views. This belief was not shaken in him by "neither distance", "neither entertainment, nor a change of place." Therefore, Chatsky, having returned to Moscow and seeing how Sophia has changed under the influence of the environment, is very worried. Sophia is also very worried, but because of something else. She involuntarily hears Molchalin's conversation with Lisa and suddenly sees her chosen one from a completely different side. She understands that he needed him only in order to seize the moment, take advantage of her influence and get a higher rank. Sophia gets her first cruel lesson.
Perhaps someday Sophia would have known about the true intentions of Molchalin and she would not have been so hurt, but now she has lost a man who was very suitable for the role of a husband-boy, a husband-servant. She did not need a person like Chatsky, but it was he who opened her eyes to everything that was happening. If Sophia had grown up in a different environment, she might have chosen Chatsky. However, she chooses a person who suits her better, since she does not think of another hero. But, according to the remark of the same Goncharov, "heaviest of all, even harder than Chatsky" is Sofya.
Griboedov introduced us to the heroine of the comedy as a dramatic person. This is the only character that is conceived and executed as close to Chatsky.
Critics N. K. Piksanov and I. A. Goncharov compare Sofia Famusova with Tatyana Larina.
Her dream is extremely important for understanding the image of the heroine. The dream told by Sophia contains, as it were, the formula of her soul and a kind of program of action. Here, for the first time, Sophia herself names those traits of her personality that Goncharov appreciated so highly. Sophia's dream is significant for comprehending her character, as is Tatyana Larina's dream for comprehending the character of Pushkin's heroine.
Comparing Tatyana and Sophia, I. A. Goncharov wrote that "the huge difference is not between her and Tatyana, but between Onegin and Molchalin. Sophia's choice, of course, does not recommend her ..."
N. K. Piksanov quite rightly noted that "the drama experienced by Sofya Famusova in the finale of the fourth act is in Russian literature ... the first and brilliant experience of artistic depiction
