Woe from mind is the age of silence. Characterize Molchalin: what other characters say about him, how he characterizes himself (3 episodes, 3 acts), how he treats Sophia and Lisa, the meaning of his actions

Griboyedov, in his comedy "Woe from Wit" created many characteristic characters. These images remain relevant today. One of these heroes is Molchalin. He is the brightest representative of people who live in our time. Let's take a closer look at his character.

Molchalin is a poor young man originally from Tver, whom Famusov took into his service and gave the rank of collegiate assessor.

We can assume that Molchalin is a rootless man, probably from a family of philistines. Famusov says this about him: “He warmed up Bezrodny and brought him into my family.”

I believe that Molchalin can be described as a cowardly and low person. The most noticeable trait of his character is his silence - which is immediately evident from his last name. (“He is silent when he is scolded,” “Not a free word, and so the whole night passes.”) He never expresses his own opinion; in communication he prefers short, choppy phrases. “At my age I shouldn’t dare to have my own opinion,” says Molchalin. He seems to be afraid of not pleasing his interlocutor with his remarks.

Molchalin lives by the principle bequeathed to him by his father: “to please all people without exception.” His helpfulness goes beyond the boundaries allowed by morality. We see a sharp contrast to this method of communication in Molchalin’s dialogue with Liza. He accepts her as “his own”, so he is not afraid to openly express his opinion, to say what he thinks. He tells her about his frivolous intentions in his relationship with Sophia, claims that he loves her only “by position.” He admits that he is using Sophia for his own benefit. This describes him as a vicious, cowardly person who, trying to get out among people, makes his way through silent lies and helpfulness. We learn about most of Molchalin’s qualities from the remarks of other heroes. At first, Sophia describes him as a wonderful spiritual organization of a person: “Molchalin is ready to forget himself for others,” “The enemy of insolence, always shyly, timidly...”. Her words clearly show how much she loves him. Chatsky, on the contrary, treats Molchalin with the deepest contempt. He openly doubts his abilities and does not believe that he can achieve anything. Chatsky considers Molchalin a fool, a “most pitiful creature”, incapable of any conscious action. But afterwards Chatsky realizes that this is just Molchalin’s mask, that in fact he is a cunning and unprincipled person who knows how to achieve his goals. Chatsky says that Molchalin “will reach the famous levels, because nowadays they love the dumb.” Molchalin also treats other heroes of the comedy differently. With people higher in rank than him, he is helpful and does not dare to say an extra word. With Chatsky, he allows himself not only to express his opinion, but also to give him advice. After all, Chatsky is not only the same age as Molchalin, but also has no ranks. Therefore, Molchalin sees no reason for his usual helpfulness in the presence of Chatsky. The attitude of other heroes towards Molchalin and his attitude towards them characterizes him as an immoral person, seeing in others only ranks and titles, not taking into account the soul of a person.

Thus, Griboyedov created a negative, but interesting to study, image in his comedy. Such silent liars exist in modern society. And it is the duty of every person to eradicate in himself all those qualities that are in him, to develop in himself all that is good, bright, and not base and false. Everyone should try not to be Silent.

Updated: 2017-02-08

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Woe from mind

Molchalin Alexey Stepanych is Famusov’s secretary, living in his house, as well as an admirer of Sophia, who despises her in his heart. M. was transferred by Famusov from Tver.

The hero's surname expresses his main trait - “wordlessness.” It was for this that Famusov made M. his secretary. In general, the hero, despite his youth, is a full-fledged representative of the “past century”, since he has adopted its views and lives by its principles.

M. strictly follows his father’s behest: “to please all people without exception - the owner, the boss, his servant, the janitor’s dog.” In a conversation with Chatsky M. sets out his life principles- “moderation and accuracy.” They consist in the fact that “at my age I should not dare to have my own judgment.” According to M., you need to think and act as is customary in “Famus” society. Otherwise they will gossip about you, and, as you know, “ gossips scarier than pistols" M.'s romance with Sophia is also explained by his willingness to please everyone. He obediently plays the role of an admirer, ready to read all night long with Sophia romance novels, listen to the silence and trills of nightingales. M. doesn’t like Sophia, but he can’t refuse to please his boss’s daughter.

A.S. Molchalin is Famusov’s secretary and enjoys his trust in official matters. He is not a nobleman by birth, but strives to make a career. Molchalin’s surname is justified by his behavior. “He’s on tiptoe and not rich in words,” says Chatsky. Molchalin is a seemingly modest young man. He plays the flute and loves sentimental poems. Sophia admires his kindness, compliance, meekness. She does not understand that all this is a mask that serves M-nu to achieve his life program.

The goal of M’s life is a brilliant career, rank, wealth. He sees the highest happiness in “taking awards and living a happy life.” For this, he chose the surest path: flattery, servility. If If Maxim Petrovich is a type of sycophant of the previous era , then Molchalin is a saint of the new time, acting more subtly and no less successfully. “He will reach the well-known levels, because nowadays they love the dumb,” Chatsky says about him, speaking contemptuously about his mental abilities. Molchalin knows how he should behave and defines his tactics:

Firstly, to please all people without exception -

The owner, where he will live,

To the boss with whom I will serve,

To his servant, who cleans dresses,

Doorman, janitor, to avoid evil,

To the janitor's dog, so that it is affectionate.

Molchalin is in awe of Famusov, he speaks politely, adding “s”: “with papers, sir.” He curries favor with the influential Khlestova. He carefully prepares a game for her to play cards, admiring her dog:

Your Pomeranian is a lovely Pomeranian, no bigger than a thimble,

I stroked him all over, like silk fur.

He achieves his goal: Khlestova calls him “my friend” and “my dear.”

He behaves respectfully with Sophia, pretending to be in love, cares for her not because he likes her, but because she is the daughter of his boss and her location may be useful in his future career. He is a hypocrite with Sophia and with cynical frankness admits to Lisa that loves Sophia “by position.” Molchalin says that at his age he should not dare to have his own opinion.” And he declares why:

After all, you have to depend on others,

We are small in rank.

Adulation and servility to superiors is Molchalin’s life principle, which has already brought him a certain amount of success.

"Since I've been listed in the Archives,

He received three awards,” he tells Chatsky, adding that he has two talents: “moderation and accuracy.” Ready for the meanness of wealth and rank, he approaches others with the same standard. Thinking that Lisa’s favor is easy to buy, he promises to give her “a toilet of exquisite workmanship.” At the decisive moment, when Sophia interrupts his embrace with Liza, Molchalin begins to crawl humiliatingly on his knees in front of her, not because he felt guilty before Sophia, but because he was afraid for his career. When Chatsky appears, Molchalin, completely chickened out, flees for his life. This causes Chatsky’s indignation. “Silent people are blissful in the world!” Chatsky exclaims with anger and indignation. And just so empty, insignificant person was the culprit of “a million torments” of the smart, noble Chatsky, the culprit of Sophia’s tragedy.

MOLCHALIN - central character comedy "Woe from Wit" (1824). The significance of this image was realized over the course of historical time. N.V. Gogol was the first to notice something important in the appearance of the modest secretary Famusov: “this face is aptly captured, silent, low, quietly making its way into people.” M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin, in a series of essays “In an environment of moderation and accuracy,” makes M. an important official with an exotic feature: his hands are stained with the blood of innocent victims of his vital enterprise and “unconscious crimes.” M.’s place in the plot of “Woe from Wit” becomes clearer in relation to other characters in the play. Already in the very first minutes of the action, Griboyedov determines Sophia’s choice in favor of M. This involves all the heroes of the triangle (Chatsky - Sophia - M.) in difficult psychological relationships. M., who recently “was poring over in Tver,” is not understood by Sophia: she mistakes his caution for tact, his coldness for restraint of feelings, his lackey’s calculation for sobriety of mind. M. is also not understood by Chatsky, whose love for Sophia prevents him from assessing the seriousness of his opponent. Deeply interested in maintaining his attractiveness to Sophia and Famusov, M. is more affected by Chatsky's arrival than this shows. Chatsky's presence in the house threatens revelations that are mortally dangerous for him. M.'s accidental fall from a horse, Sophia's fright, and her fainting provoke M.'s activity, seeking to protect his reputation, his already developing career. He enters into a duel, giving Sophia categorical instructions to defend herself from Chatsky’s claims by all possible means and pushes Sophia to choose a method of revenge on Chatsky. Circumstances will prompt the heroine to the moment when the harshness she uttered in a state of long-restrained irritation will take on meaning. public opinion: “He’s out of his mind...” M. is contrasted with Chatsky not only as a rival in a love affair, but also with his entire life position. The conflict between Chatsky and M. accumulates the energy of collision until the third act of the play, when these characters meet in dialogue. She reveals Chatsky’s contemptuous inattention to M., which gives M. the advantage of being completely frank. This is one of the few scenes in the play where M. is sincere to the end. Sincere, but not appreciated by Chatsky as a worthy opponent. And only in the final scene in the hallway, at the denouement, will Chatsky understand what power the apologist of “moderation and accuracy” has achieved over Sophia. In Griboyedov's plot, M.'s love bliss collapses. But this is more an exception than a rule in the life of Famusov’s Moscow, for he is one of the pillars on which it rests. Among the first performers of the role of M. was the famous vaudeville actor N.O. Dur (1831). Productions of “Woe from Wit” in the second half of the 20th century show that M. cannot be considered petty, minor character plays, as has happened over many decades of its stage history. M. is the second hero of Griboyedov’s plot, a serious opponent of Chatsky. This is exactly how this image was shown by K.Yu. Lavrov in the play by G.A. Tovstonogov (1962).

“Silent people are blissful in the world.” Catchphrase still lives today. In changed conditions modern world It’s not difficult to recognize and meet the “Molchalins.”

The image and characterization of Molchalin in the comedy “Woe from Wit” will help you understand which features have not undergone changes, who is hiding under the mask of a two-faced modesty.

Molchalin and Famusov

Alexey Stepanovich Molchalin is the secretary of Famusov, the owner of the house in which the events of the comedy unfold. Famusov sheltered a poor nobleman from Tver, gave him the rank of assessor, and officially placed him in the service of the “Archives”. Molchalin is not young, an adult man (“ you and I are not guys...") I am happy with this situation. He is listed in the archive service, receives promotions, but does not leave Famusov’s house. The owner saw the features in Alexei business man. All the other servants in the house are relatives. The ability to please becomes the basis of Molchalin’s character. Simple by origin, probably from a family of burghers, having received the rank, Alexey acquired the right to hereditary nobility. During his 3 years of service, he managed to receive 3 awards. Such career- an indicator of a man’s patience and desire to rise by any means as high and quickly as possible.

Positive character traits

Griboedov presents real characters, so they have positive and negative qualities. Molchalin is no exception.

Modesty. Not many people can boast of the ability to communicate with people. of different ages and level of education. At Famusov's ball, Molchalin endures the whims and humiliations of grumpy old women, the stupidity of drunken revelers, and the affectation of young ladies.

Shyness and tact. Alexey, being next to the owner’s daughter, does not show arrogant or harsh actions. He tactfully tolerates Sofia’s attitude and skillfully hides his true feelings.

Taciturnity. The ability to remain silent is an unattainable quality for many. They get tired of their chatter. Here the situation is different:

“He will reach the known degrees, /After all, nowadays they love the dumb...”

Good manners and politeness. Molchalin behaves correctly in different situations. He easily apologizes, constructs phrases so that there is no desire to reproach or scold him.

Ability to make friends.

“Look, he gained the friendship of everyone in the house.”

Peacefully resolves any problems and disputes, for others he is able to forget about himself.

Calm. Molchalin is difficult to piss off. He does not express nervousness or anxiety even in the most difficult situations: morning meeting with the owner, falling from a horse.

Negative personality traits

Among the representatives high society Alexey Stepanovich is shy and timid, but this is only a mask, a mask. Behind her are hidden features that do not make a man beautiful:

Helpfulness. Molchalin strives to please everyone around him, hoping to make a pleasant impression and benefit. His father bequeathed to him to please all people, but his son went further. He grovels not only before people, but also before the animals of his owners. The purpose of this behavior is to achieve advancement at work and in personal relationships.

Duplicity. A man’s behavior changes depending on the situation and environment. With whom he communicates based on status, he behaves this way. He is polite with Countess Khlestova, and cheeky with the maid.

Not the ability to love. Molchalin builds his relationships for profit. He loves “by position.” This feeling has become very well known in modern era when they start affairs for deception and profit. The secretary skillfully plays the role of a lover, conquers an intelligent and educated girl. Sophia is ready to go against the rumors and opinions of her father for his sake, but the response is deceptive.

Absence own opinion. Molchalin never spoke out. He chose the tactic of silence, which others like. Gradually I lost the opportunity to have my own opinions.

The image of Molchalin easily survived the centuries. For many, the value of money, position and position in society is higher than honesty, patriotism and human dignity. The more clearly the stratification of society by wealth becomes visible, the more “Molchalins” appear, ready to sell their souls for money.

In the comedy “Woe from Wit” A. S. Griboyedov, true to his talent for depicting life in real paintings and images, elects life situation - « love triangle" Chatsky’s love for Sophia is one of the “springs,” according to I. A. Goncharov, on which the development of the action rests. Chatsky comes to Moscow to meet with Sophia. But Sophia’s heart is already occupied by someone else - Molchalin. Chatsky finds it difficult to believe that Sophia might prefer Molchalin to him - the one “who is like all fools”:

With such feelings, with such a soul We love! The liar laughed at me!

Chatsky all the time, right up to final scene, is cruelly mistaken and deceived. But, firstly, love is blind: Chatsky idealizes Sophia, but she does not see any flaws in Molchalin; secondly, Sophia has changed during Chatsky’s absence, and Chatsky does not immediately understand this, and therefore underestimates Molchalin’s chances. Chatsky and Sophia " with different eyes"look at Molchalin. Sophia is in love, while Chatsky evaluates Molchalin primarily with civil positions and only towards the end of the action as a rival. What has changed in Sophia and why?

What is she like now and what attracts her to Molchalin? The situation in Famusov's house, in the Moscow "fashion shops", the atmosphere of secular salons, gossip and gossip could not but influence Sophia. Hence her sentimentality and affectation, hypocrisy and hypocrisy. She is frightened by Chatsky’s bold speeches, but this is what captivates her in Molchalin:

Molchalin is ready to forget himself for others.

The enemy of insolence, always shy, timid

Who can you spend the whole night with like that?

Molchalin’s apparent modesty, shyness, and timidity, combined with his imaginary sensitivity, helpfulness, and humility, prevail in Sophia’s eyes over all his other qualities:

He will take your hand and press it to your heart,

He will sigh from the depths of his soul,

Not a free word, and so the whole night passes,

Hand in hand, and doesn’t take his eyes off me.

Sophia lives in the world of those ideals and ideas about life that were inspired by her reading sentimental novels that are far from reality. This is exactly how the heroes of these novels behave, this is how she imagines her ideal lover. Molchalin met one more condition romantic hero: He was “born into poverty.” This elevates Molchalin in her eyes, warms up her feelings.

She is ready to patronize her beloved, poor, modest, who does not dare raise his eyes to her. She is ready to sacrifice herself, her position for the sake of unequal marriage with your chosen one. The future “husband-boy, husband-servant” apparently also seduced her. There were no other ideals to be found anywhere. Retelling her dream, she almost confesses her love for Molchalin: “It’s as if he is dearer to me than all the treasures.” Sophia, admiring Molchalin, gives him “darkness of qualities”: he is “nice”, and “timid”, and “smart”. Exactly what is attractive to Sophia in Molchalin repels her from Chatsky: Molchalin is shy, and Chatsky “knows how to make everyone laugh,” Molchalin is “the enemy of insolence,” and Chatsky is “sharp”; Molchalin is timid, and Chatsky “thought highly of himself.”

Sophia experiences a tragedy when, having overheard Molchalin’s conversation with Liza, she sees the person she loves in a new light: “But who would have thought that he would be so insidious!” She says decisively: “From now on, it’s as if I didn’t know you.” But Molchalin was too convenient for everyone, even for Sophia. And Chatsky correctly notes: “You will make peace with him, after sober reflection. Destroy yourself, and why!” How does Chatsky see Molchalin?

Chatsky remembers Molchalin completely by accident. In contrast to his own “talkativeness,” the “wordless” Molchalin comes to mind. It is no coincidence that Griboyedov gives him such a surname. At first, Chatsky does not take Molchalin seriously. For Chatsky, Molchalin is a complete nonentity, “the most pitiful creature.” Helpful, modest, with a blush in his face. Here he is on tiptoe and not rich in words.

Chatsky is outraged by Molchalin’s words: “At my age one should not dare to have one’s own judgment.” He defends freedom of thoughts and opinions, recognizes the right of every person to have his own beliefs and express them openly. For Molchalin, “other people’s opinions are only sacred.”

He sees in Molchalin a person who views service as a source of personal benefits, “service to persons, not to a cause.” Chatsky is ready to serve the Fatherland, and not serve his superiors. “I would be glad to serve, but it’s sickening to be served,” he says. For Molchalin, the main thing is to be noticed by his superiors. Thanks to his talents - moderation and accuracy - he has already “received three awards.” Molchalin's servility is also a means to an end. Chatsky says about him:

The famous servant was here,

Like a thunderbolt...

Who else will settle everything so peacefully!

There he will pet the pug in time!

It's time to wipe the card.

In the last act, Chatsky’s personal drama ends: he lost the one he loved so much. He is very worried, seeing what a nonentity he was exchanged for:

When I think about who you preferred!

Here I am donated to!

I looked and saw and did not believe.

Molchalin is the antithesis of Chatsky, Griboedov was able to foresee in these images two paths that people would take after the end of the war with the French: the Chatskys will always choose struggle and open battle, the Molchalins will choose humility and peace. “Business-like, insinuating, timid Molchalin has already appeared to replace the heroes of 1812” (Yu. Tynyanov). One of the researchers of the comedy “Woe from Wit” wrote: “Molchalin remained invulnerable. The Molchalins turned out to be impossible to defeat - they were strong by someone else’s strength, they could not be killed with contempt or laughter - their dignity lay in someone else’s authority.”

The comedy "Woe from Wit" was never perceived only as a monument artistic history, she always lived modern life, updating and acquiring a new sound. Each era read it in its own way. People different generations and the destinies found in it the answer to their own questions. Looking around, we can see among our acquaintances the modern Famusovs, Silklins, Chatskys! Not only in the time of Griboyedov, but also in our time, “Silent people are blissful in the world,” because they please all their superiors, do not stand on ceremony with those who are lower than them. social status or according to the thickness of the wallet. And therefore, Chatsky’s position in his assessment of Molchalin is closer to me.

Here he is, on tiptoe

and not rich in words.

Silent people are blissful in the world.

A. S. Griboyedov

One of the favorite themes of the greats writers of the XIX century - the formation of a young man, his choice of life path. Diversity human destinies They draw us such world-famous novels as Pushkin’s “Eugene Onegin”, “An Ordinary Story” and “Oblomov” by I. A. Goncharov, “Red and Black” by Stendhal, “The Human Comedy” by Balzac and many others. Among these immortal books is “Woe from Wit” by A. S. Griboedov, not a novel, but a “high” comedy, in which, in my opinion, there is very little funny, except for some situations, but the most important socio-political and moral problems, many of which still concern us today.

What should a person be like? How does he lay his life path? What can you afford along this path and what should you never allow yourself? What is more important - human dignity or career? The author of the comedy answers these and many other questions in the image of Alexei Stepanovich Molchalin.

By origin and social status he does not belong to the capital's nobility. “He warmed up Bezrodny and brought him into his family, gave him the rank of assessor and took him on as a secretary,” the Moscow ace Famusov. Molchalin's surname is justified by his behavior: he is a modest young man, handsome, silent, insinuating. He plays the flute, loves sentimental poems, and tries to please everyone. It would seem that there is nothing wrong with this. But, reading the comedy, we are convinced that Molchalin’s decency is a skillfully selected mask hiding a vile, hypocritical, false person. In a moment of frankness, he admits that he is guided in life by his father’s behest “to please all people without exception,” even the janitor’s dog.

Molchalin’s goal in life is to make a career, preferably a brilliant one, to achieve rank and wealth. The highest happiness, your life ideal he sees it as “winning awards and having fun.” On the way to this goal, all means are good for him. At the same time, Molchalin elects the most the right way to curry favor - flattery, sycophancy, servility. He is respectful and considerate with Famusov, pleases the influential lady Khlestova in every possible way, does not leave the rich old men, plays cards with them.

A flatterer and a hypocrite, he pretends to be in love with Sophia (of course, she is the daughter of his all-powerful boss) and immediately tells Lisa that he loves the owner’s daughter “by virtue of her position.” His life “principles” are simple and shameless. This is a renunciation of one’s human dignity, one’s own opinion, self-abasement: “After all, one must depend on others” or: “At my age one should not dare to have one’s own opinion.” Molcha-lin does not know what honor, honesty, sincerity are, and he is being mean just like that, just in case.

This behavior brought him a certain success: the insignificant secretary not only lives in the house of his patron, but is also accepted in his society. Moreover, “moderation and accuracy” have already secured him “three awards” in his service, the favor and support of influential gentlemen.

The reader of the comedy also understands something else: Molchalin’s life “experience” is a verdict not only for him, but also for the society that approves and supports him. The people who organized the persecution of the sincere, honest Chatsky, who declared him, an intelligent, educated man, crazy, do not consider it shameful to communicate with a dishonest scoundrel, to patronize him, and this characterizes them perfectly. “Silent people are blissful in the world,” is one of Chatsky’s most bitter conclusions after a day of communication with Famus society. Material from the site

Molchalin is not helpless and not funny - in my opinion, he is scary. The role of this hero in comedy is determined by two circumstances. Firstly, before us is a man who, living in Famusov society, will definitely “reach the known degrees.” Even exposure will not destroy him, because, bowing humbly and crawling on his knees, the “businesslike” secretary will again find the way to the heart of his boss: after all, Famusov needs him, and there is someone to intercede! No, Molchalin is unsinkable. Secondly, talking about the “formation” of Molchalin, the author exposes the Moscow nobility (and it, in turn, represents social order Famusov’s Russia), “the tormenting crowd”, afraid of people with progressive views and strong, inflexible characters and accepting them as their many silent ones. The “great ability to please” brought many people into the public eye in this unprincipled society.

Griboyedov also convinces of what he does not directly say: he only needs the tactics chosen by Molchalin for the time being. Having achieved his goal, he will shed the mask of modesty and respect - and woe to those who stand in his way. Unfortunately, this human type has not become a thing of the past. And today, under the mask of decency and modesty, a modern Molchalin can hide, who knows how to please everyone, and does not disdain any means to achieve his goals. Author immortal comedy teaches you to understand people, to see under the mask, if it is worn, the true face of a person.

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