Essay on the topic: Molchalin is ridiculous or scary in the comedy Woe from Wit, Griboyedov. Pity or terrible taciturn

A.S.Molchalin is one of the main characters of A.S. Griboyedov's comedy "Woe from Wit."

The main and only goal of Molchalin is a career for which he is ready for anything: serving, pleasing everyone, humiliation, deception.

For his service, he received the rank of assessor and three awards. Another representative of the Famus society likes his modesty, humility and desire to please everyone, so Molchalin is on friendly terms with the people around him.

Molchalin is very proud of his "moderation and accuracy", achievements in his career and brags about them at the opportunity.

Molchalin keeps to himself and never expresses his personal opinion, he explains this by the fact that "in his age he should not dare to have his own judgment, in ranks he is small." ...

In the work, Molchalin is also Chatsky's rival in a love triangle with Sophia. The girl sincerely loves the secretary for his "shyness, bashfulness, kindness."

Chatsky cannot understand why such an intelligent and educated girl like Sophia fell in love with the empty flatterer Molchalin.

But does Molchalin really love Sophia as she does him? He reveals his true face only at the end of the work, when he is alone with Lisa. Molchalin confesses to the maid that he really loves her, and pretends to be in love with Sophia only for personal gain ...

Molchalin's low, sneaky deception becomes the cause of Chatsky and Sophia's "millions of torments." There are people like Molchalin at all times, and our time, unfortunately, is no exception.

Molchalin in Griboyedov's comedy "Woe from Wit" is a very cunning personality. He goes to meet those people, acquaintance with whom is beneficial for him. He secretly meets with the daughter of his boss in order to marry her profitably. He flirts with her maid for his own pleasure. Under Famusov, he behaves very modestly so as not to lose the patronage of this influential person. Thanks to Famusov's help, he received the rank and nobility. By his own merits, he could never have achieved this. He is ridiculous because he is stupid.

He is scary because he is very cunning and calculating. While it is profitable for him, he works for Famusov and has an affair with his daughter. But I am sure, as soon as he comes across someone more influential, he will immediately leave Famusov and Sophia. He is too calculating to be in the service of Famusov all the time. As soon as he feels that he will not achieve anything else here, he will abandon them.

In life, such calculating people are very scary. They go over their heads for their purpose. They easily step over those who previously helped them.

Therefore, Molchalin is both funny and scary at the same time.

Molchalin and Chatsky. Two poles in Griboyedov's brilliant comedy. Next to the ardent Chatsky, a passionate fighter and a furious denouncer, the wordless Molchalin is completely invisible. Therefore, probably, both readers and viewers do not pay much attention to it. But behind the inexpressive appearance and gray thinking hides a whole life philosophy, very tenacious and persistent.

Think about what Molchalin is? Is he worthy of sympathy or condemnation?

At the beginning, we get to know him mainly due to the characteristics given to him by other characters in the play.

Famusov is pleased with him, instructing the timid but faithful assistant to carry out his simple duties.

Sophia in love notes that he

Compliant, modest, quiet,

Not a shadow of concern in your face

And in my heart there are no actions.

And Molchalin himself says that moderation and accuracy are his main talents.

And only once will Sophia break out with regret:

Of course, this mind is not in him ...

Probably referring to the brilliant and sharp mind of Chatsky.

But how wrong she was! Clever, very clever inconspicuous Molchalin, but prefers to hide it for the time being. After all, it is much more profitable to wear a mask, pretending to be the way others want to see him: tenderly submissive with Sophia, with Famusov obsequiously devoted, falsely humble with Chatsky, familiar with Lizonka.

It seems that only with the servant is he completely sincere, revealing his life position:

My father bequeathed to me:

First, to please all people without exception;

The owner, where he happens to live,

To the chief with whom I will serve,

His servant, who cleans the dress,

Swiss, janitor, in order to avoid evil,

To the janitor's dog, to be affectionate.

Why pride and self-esteem for people like Molchalin: servility is the main thing in his philosophy.

But all his behavior testifies to the fact that he is deeper than the characteristic given to himself.

He is resourceful and careful; tries to hide from strangers the relationship with the owner's daughter, and unexpectedly meeting Famusov at an inopportune time near Sophia's room, does not get lost and instantly comes up with a plausible explanation.

A conversation with Chatsky shows that Molchalin does not care about an intelligent guest. Having humbly started a conversation, Molchalin soon goes on the offensive: he asks questions, condemns, advises

You were not given the ranks, failure in the service? -

He asks with irony, And here is the advice:

Well, right, so that you serve in Moscow And take awards, and have fun?

Molchalin is not only not in love - he is not even infatuated with Sophia. He says frankly and shamelessly:

Let's go love to share our deplorable stole ...

And later, to Lizin's question about a possible wedding, he coolly answers:

There is a lot of hope ahead

We are wasting time without a wedding.

All his intelligence, cunning and resourcefulness are designed to serve one goal - good, soft, sweet, to get settled in life.

And only the catastrophe that occurred at the end of the play interferes with the implementation of his plans. After the scene in the hallway, Molchalin cannot remain the same: the mask was pulled off, and everyone saw his true face.

But the former Molchalin was too convenient for everyone, even for Sophia. And Chatsky rightly notes:

You will make peace with him, on reflection sober.

So, Molchalin's defeat is most likely temporary. He will be forgiven, And the achievement of the goal of life will become even sweeter.

Molchalin is the antithesis to Chatsky. But how correctly Griboyedov was able to foresee in these images two paths that people will follow: the chatskys will always choose struggle and open battle, the silent ones - humility and peace.

So, we have no one to feel sorry for: not a pitiful, but a cunning and resourceful, surprisingly tenacious type in front of us. Take a look around. Are there no modern taciturns among the people around you ?!

The great comedy of A. S. Griboyedov, "Woe from Wit", which appeared at the beginning of the 19th century, opened a new stage in the development of Russian literature. All characters created by the playwright have not only historical and literary, but also universal significance. One of the author's undoubted finds was the image of Molchalin. This character has absorbed the features of the socio-psychological type, which, unfortunately, was destined to have a long life in Russia.

The Molchalin type is one of the most common in Russian literature. But the first encounter with this image takes place in the play "Woe from Wit". The merit of the author is the creation of the literary type of Molchalin, which became a major acquisition of social thought. Griboyedov showed great power of publicistic generalization. The author elevated the little official, the secretary of Famusov, to a symbol of a significant socio-political group, firmly linking "silence" with "famusism". Creating the character of Molchalin, Griboyedov showed the influence of bureaucratic morality on the development and behavior of a person. From childhood, the hero was taught slavish servility before the mighty of this world. Fulfillment of his father's covenant helped him "take citizenship and live happily." But, on the other hand, as a petty provincial official, he had no other choice. Molchalin is a master in the art of raising a scarf, keeping silent when he is scolded, for this he received three awards, the rank of assessor, and is in friendship with many influential people.

Later D. Pisarev wrote: “Molchalin said to himself:“ I want to make a career, ”and went along the road that leads to the“ famous degrees ”: he went and would not turn either to the right or to the left; die his mother on the side of the road, call his beloved woman to the nearby grove, spit all the light in his eyes to stop his movement, he will go and come ... "

Showing the confrontation between Chatsky and Famusov, A.S. Griboyedov raises the problem of the "present century" and the "past century". These heroes are people of different generations, while Chatsky and Molchalin are of the same age, but the contrast between them is all the sharper. Each of them shows one of the options for the path that young people can choose: the path of truth-seekers and rebels (the path of Chatsky) and the path of the "wordless" who will reach the "degrees of the known" (the path of Molchalin).

Molchalin has become a household name for meanness, servility. He sincerely does not realize how, being a petty official, one can think and feel independently. Sympathizing with Chatsky that he was "unsuccessful in the service", Molchalin tries to help him if he, in turn, follows the path of all the silent. Wordless and always ready to serve, he has such a capital that, under any circumstances, gives him and his descendants the right percentage: moderation and accuracy. He also has one more property - the willingness to please everyone who "feeds and watered, and sometimes will give rite to the grave." He, if necessary, can take on the appearance of a lover "to please the daughter of such a person." And, of course, Molchalin is on the side of "everyone" in the conflict with the troublemaker Chatsky.

Just in the dialogue between Chatsky and Molchalin, the final social and spiritual confrontation between a free-thinking person and an environment of moderation and accuracy is formed, which will be resolved by slandering Chatsky and his exile, Griboyedov forces Molchalin to be frank and with some challenge expound the everyday rules of that circle, to to whom he is close.

in the dialogue between Chatsky and Molchalin, and finally the social and spiritual confrontation between the free-thinking person and the environment of moderation and accuracy is formed, which will be resolved by slandering Chatsky and his exile, Griboyedov forces Molchalin to be frank and, with some challenge, expound the everyday rules of the circle to which he close. "Moderation and accuracy", "I am not a writer", "in my years I should not dare to have my own judgment", "after all, one must depend on others" - these are the foundations of the Tachalin well-being, from which he will never retreat.

But Chatsky was mistaken in his assessment of Molchalin, his true role. For him, Molchalin is a nonentity, "a miserable creature." Chatsky is contemptuously arrogant. But only. He never thought that Molchalin could be his rival. And even when he finds out about the connection between Sophia and Molchalin, he does not take it seriously. Indeed, at the time of Griboyedov, the Molchalins aroused mostly contempt. They could not become worthy opponents of the advanced nobles. Molchalin was an unworthy subject, he did not deserve serious attention.

At the first meeting, it is really difficult to determine the real face of Molchalin. We see a timid and shy young man. Sophia in love gives him a lot of advantages. “The hero of her novel” is “both insinuating and clever”, he “is ready to forget himself for others”, “compliant, modest, quiet”. However, gradually we are convinced that such a Molchalin is just a figment of Sophia's imagination. If Chatsky underestimated Molchalin, then Sophia clearly overestimated him. So who, finally, is Molchalin: a humble modest, clumsy and funny in his servility, or a successful scoundrel? “Warmed up” by Famusov, during the several years he spent in Moscow, Molchalin managed to make a good career: he received the rank of assessor and “three citizenship”, was enrolled in the archives, was able to establish the necessary connections, and make profitable acquaintances. He, like Skalozub, "has many channels to get ranks." Molchalin does not disdain anything:

There the pug will stroke the pug in time,

Here at the time he will rub the card ...

He sacredly fulfills his father's behest "to please all people without exception." Flattery is Molchalin's main weapon. He flatters everyone who can be useful, and is even ready to play the role of a lover, counting on Famusov's mercy. Molchalin is convinced that in his years "you should not dare to have your own judgments." However, the humble mask quickly flies off him when he speaks to those whom he considers inferior to himself. With Liza, Molchalin tries to look like a rake, forgetting about timidity. He does not put Chatsky in anything, so he allows himself to give the latter advice. In the eyes of Molchalin, Chatsky is a loser, so you can behave with him contemptuously and condescendingly. It would seem that we are facing a completely unattractive and useless person, but, alas, for Chatsky we are forced to admit that "The Molchalins are blissful in the world."

Meanwhile, the time of the taciturn was already approaching, the era of taciturnity. This is the time of the reign of Nicholas I, the time of ranks and officials. And that's when hatred for the silent comes. She came when it turned out that they were the eternally young old men of Russian history.

there are always young old men of Russian history. After all, Chatsky left the stage - Molchalin remained. Onegin passed - Molchalin remained. Pechorin died - Molchalin remained. Rudin, Rakhmetov, Bazarov left. Molchalin remained invulnerable. The Molchalins turned out to be impossible to defeat - they were strong by an alien force, they could not be killed with contempt, since their dignity was in someone else's authority. And already in 1833 K. A. Polevoy wrote: "... look around: you are surrounded by silent people."

The Molchalins cannot be underestimated, because they are not as harmless and ridiculous in their servility as it seems at first glance. Time has shown that Molchalin is tenacious and invulnerable. Maybe it's not so much the hero himself that is terrible as the situation in which the Chatskys suffer, and the Molchalins are blissful, in which the opportunists win? At the end of the play, Molchalin is exposed, humiliated, frightened. But for how long? People like him are "reborn" quickly, and this is sad. Such people do not repent because they do not realize the depth of their fall. That's what's scary ...

Alexander Andreevich Chatsky has not yet appeared in the comedy, but they are already talking about him: “Sensitive, cheerful and sharp” (Liza), “he knows how to laugh everyone” (Sophia). We know that Chatsky is “Andrei Ilyich's deceased son,” because he grew up in the house of Famusov, who was a friend of his father. “Together with Sophia, we grew up, were brought up.” He went away for "three years," as Sophia says, "to seek the mind." After all, Chatsky, even according to Famusov, "seems to be writing, translating."

Alexey Stepanovich Molchalin is a secretary in Famusov's house, who reminds him:

He warmed the rootless and introduced him to his family,

He gave the rank of assessor and took him to secretaries.

Transferred to Moscow through my assistance,

And if it weren't for me, you would have smoked in Tver.

Molchalin himself confesses to Lisa:

My father bequeathed to me:

First, to please all people without exception,

The owner, where he happens to live,

To the chief with whom I will serve,

To his servant who cleans the dress,

To a Swiss, a janitor to avoid evil,

To the janitor's dog, to be affectionate.

This "covenant" is very much reminiscent of the mandate of Chichikov's father in Gogol's "Dead Souls". Molchalin all the time "with papers, sir" ("one Molchalin is not my own, and then that is business," - as Famusov said). Molchalin sees in himself "two-talent": "moderation and accuracy." He is outwardly modest, respectful, especially with those on whom his career depends. After all, since "he is listed in the archives, he has received three awards." It seems that his ability to please influential people played an important role here. After all, he sits down with the old people to play cards, when all the young people are dancing, stroking the dog of an influential relative of Famusov Khlestova:

Your spitz is an adorable spitz,

No more than a thimble.

I stroked it all,

Like silk wool.

In response, he hears the desired: "Thank you, my dear."

Chatsky is independent in his judgments and actions. He is “the enemy of searching”, does not require “neither places, nor promotions,” he will never be servile, and he will also seek connections. Molchalin advises him to go for patronage to a certain Tatyana Yuryevnei hears the stinging: "I go to women, but not for this."

and hears the caustic: "I go to women, but not for this." Molchalin serves, and Chatsky serves and says: "I would be glad to serve, it is sickening to serve." Molchalin is amazed when he learns that Chatsky had connections with the ministers, which he broke. Molchalin says:

You shouldn't dare in my years

Have your own judgment. ...

After all, one must depend on others.

- Why is it necessary?

- We are small in ranks.

Chatsky objects:

Have mercy! We are not guys!

Why are the opinions of others only holy ?!

Chatsky struggles with groveling, loss of national dignity. He is outraged that “we were born to adopt everything”, that some “Frenchman from Bordeaux” who was traveling “to Russia, to the barbarians, with fear and tears, having arrived,“ found that there is no end to caresses: not a sound in the Fatherland with friends". He is outraged by the "fatherland fathers", whom he set as an example. Chatsky knows that they are "rich in robbery", "they found protection from the court in friends, in kinship, building magnificent chambers where they are poured in feasts and extravagance." Chatsky speaks angrily about a landowner who sold out his serf ballet, about another aristocrat who exchanged his faithful servants for greyhounds.

Molchalin "the lover takes on the appearance of pleasing the daughter of such a person." He does not love Sophia, but only despicably pretends. With Lisa, he is frank to the point of cynicism and is ready to buy her favor for trinkets.

Chatsky loves Sophia deeply and sincerely. Returning from abroad, he, without even going home, seeks to see his beloved: “A little light - already on his feet! And I am at your feet! " He does not understand Sophia's coldness, who avoids him. In his feelings, Chatsky is ready to accuse Sophia of what she is not to blame for: "Why did they lure me with hope ?!" This is how Chatsky's drama begins: grief from love, which makes him look more angrily at everything that had previously seemed to him ugly. But if at the beginning of the comedy he says mildly enough:

What new will Moscow show me?

Yesterday there was a ball, and tomorrow there will be two.

He wooed - he was in time, and he made a mistake.

All the same sense, and the same verses in the albums.

At the end of the play, as this ill-fated day comes to an end, he says:

Who have you been with? Where has fate thrown me?

Everyone chases, everyone curses, the crowd of tormentors,

In the love of traitors, in the enmity of the tireless,

The indomitable storytellers ...

Chatsky is experiencing "a million torments." It is no coincidence that I.A.Goncharov called the article about the comedy in this way, who said that Chatsky was a skirmisher and always a victim, who correctly noted that Chatsky was broken by the amount of power of Famus society, striking it with the quality of new power.

It is difficult for him to imagine that Molchalin is dear to Sophia: “Molchalin used to be so stupid ... The smallest creature! Have you really grown wiser? " And yet he understands:

However, he will reach the known degrees,

After all, nowadays they love the dumb.

Chatsky is declared insane. So, starting with Chaadaev and up to the XX century. They dealt with dissidents, with disagreeable people, uncomfortable for the authorities. What are the signs of Chatsky's "madness"? He always speaks the truth, which is unpleasant to hear about himself.

It's nice to hear about yourself. None of the guests deep down believes in Chatsky's "madness". Seeing him as an intelligent person, irritation gradually spreads to everyone. This always happens in Russia: an intelligent person turns out to be crazy.

Chatsky feels well the ugly in a person, is able to give an apt characterization: about Skalozub - "wheezing, strangled, bassoon, constellation of maneuvers and mazurkas", about Molchalin - "always on tiptoe and not rich in words."

Grief from love and grief from the mind, that is, from honesty, courage, independence - everything that is commonly called advanced views merge together. That is why, shocked by what he heard before leaving Famusov's house, Chatsky says:

I will not come to my senses ... I'm sorry ...

And I listen - I don't understand

As if they still want to explain to me;

Lost in thoughts, expecting something ...

Chatsky leaves Famusov's house, believing that he will find "a corner for the offended feeling." Herzen believed that the Chatskys' road through Senate Square to the mines of Siberia, saw in him the future Decembrist.

The comedy of Griboyedov, together with the forbidden verses of Pushkin, was found during the investigation among the Decembrists, who saw in Chatsky an exponent of their views and ideas.

Stealth is a hybrid of stupidity
with a developed sense of life.
V. Borisov.

The comedy "Woe from Wit" was written at the beginning of the 19th century. The idea of ​​the work arose from Griboyedov in the era when the emergence of secret political societies began in Russia. The writer himself, as you know, was a supporter of the Decembrists, and in "Woe from Wit" he depicted the clash of a man of advanced views with the reactionary mass of the nobility.
The main character of the comedy - Chatsky - is opposed to the "Famus society". One of the brightest representatives of this society is Molchalin - the same age as Chatsky, "quiet", striving, however, by all means "to go out into the people."
At first glance, Alexei Stepanovich Molchalin is worthy only of contempt and pity, he seems so insignificant. However, in the finale of the work, we see that he wins a moral victory over the noble and ardent hero. So, is Molchalin funny or scary?
In my opinion, creating the character of this hero, Griboyedov sought to show the influence of bureaucratic morality on the character and behavior of a person. Molchalin is Famusov's secretary, “is” in his department and “is listed in the archives”. From childhood, Alexei Stepanovich was taught slavish servility before the mighty of this world. That is why he grovels in front of his benefactor Famusov and all members of his family. But, besides this, Molchalin elevates into a cult every word spoken by local Moscow "authorities" - Princess Marya Alekseevna, old woman Khlestova and others.
Largely due to this, the hero already has the rank of assessor, "three awards" and continues to go to the "known degrees." "Moderation and accuracy" - these are the companions of this character. Unlike Chatsky, progressive, innovative ideas are not available to him, he does not strive for spiritual and mental development. Molchalin has other ideals, which he puts into practice with all his might.
So, Alexey Stepanovich considers it his duty to please the boss and his household - in all possible ways. It is not for nothing that Griboyedov introduces a scene in Sophia's bedroom into the comedy - Molchalin is ready for anything "to please the daughter of such a person." But he is a coward and does not dare to "go further", but only serves Sophia like a dog. But - and this is very important - the hero does not understand that he is acting deeply dishonestly in relation to Sophia. We remember that the girl is sincerely in love with Alexei Stepanovich, and he only pretends, trying to please the boss's daughter.
Reflecting on the image of Molchalin, the words of Sergei Dovlatov often come to mind: "Born to crawl, does not want to fly." They characterize well the life position of this character. Why strive for high ideals when everything is much easier to solve? Molchalin remembers that "... to get ranks, there are many channels":
There the pug will stroke the pug in time,
Here at the time he will rub the card ...
Alexey Stepanovich follows the behests bequeathed to him by his father: "to please all people without exception." So he is trying - he flatters everyone who can be useful, believes that "in his age should not dare to have their own judgments." But with those from whom it is impossible to get benefits, Molchalin is no longer so accommodating. So, with the servant Lisa, he is a rake, forgetting about timidity and good breeding:
There is lipstick for lips, and for other reasons
With the perfume of a bottle: mignonette and jasmine.
Liza ignores the Famusian secretary, she is unsympathetic to her, she also warns Sophia against loving her father's secretary. In the end, Famusov's daughter becomes convinced of the baseness of her lover and asks him to leave the house before dawn. However, in the eyes of Famusov himself, Molchalin remains flawless to the end. And, apparently, tell Sophia about everything to her father, he would not have believed her. This is, among other things, the strength of the silent - they cannot be exposed!
At first it seems that the essence of the character of this hero lies in his "impeccable" hypocrisy. But in fact, Molchalin ... is sincere! That is why it is impossible to expose it because there is nothing to expose. He is insignificant, but he does not cheat, does not intrigue, he simply lives according to his father's precepts.
The young men of the Griboyedov era, from whom the author wrote his hero, sincerely considered it important not to have their own opinion about anything, in no case to contradict anyone, to be on good terms with everyone. They sincerely believed that it was their duty to be silent, listen and obey. What is the most amazing and terrible thing is that "the silent people are blissful in the world"! In 1833, K. A. Polevoy wrote: "... look around: you are surrounded by silent people."
By the end of the comedy, this "pathetic" hero shows his true - terrible - face. However, in my opinion, the tragedy is not that Molchalin is bad, but that there are many like him. And it is they, these insignificant little people, who are pushed to the fore by the state, it is their stupid, petty, mean and empty humility that is valued more than genuine intelligence and talent. It is not Molchalin who is scary, but the taciturns. They infect and corrupt society, but they were born of this society. This means that in order to get rid of the taciturn ones, it is necessary to re-educate not them, but oneself, to overestimate one's own values, and then it will become unnecessary and shameful to be taciturn.