“Marriage” by Gogol N.V.: analysis of the play

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The play "Marriage" by Gogol Nikolai Vasilievich at one time caused a lot of gossip, criticism and discussion. It was written in 1842, the author was accused of describing the life of "little people", which was not accepted at that time. Nikolai Vasilyevich in most of his works made petty officials or merchants heroes, talked about their problems, concerns, interests and habits, while he did not embellish reality.

The plot of the play "Marriage" by Gogol

The main character of the story is Agafya Tikhonovna, the daughter of a merchant, who decided to find a worthy groom with the help of the matchmaker Fekla Ivanovna. The main contenders for the hand and heart of an enviable bride are the executor Yaichnitsa, the court adviser Podkolesin, the sailor Zhevakin and the infantry officer Anuchkin. Agafya Tikhonovna has her own requirements for her future spouse, because she is not just anyone, but the daughter of a merchant of the third guild. The husband must benobleman.

The writer accurately described the heroine and in her image collected all the typical features of girls of this class. Agafya Tikhonovna did nothing for days on end, sat at home, indulged in dreams of a chosen one and was bored. Nikolai Vasilyevich showed the lack of education and ignorance of the merchant environment, because the heroine without hesitation trusted superstitions and fortune-telling, she built her life, starting only from them.

Gogol chose a very simple and unpretentious theme for his play. "Marriage" - an essay showing the attitude of the "little man" to marriage. From the side of the bride, that from the side of the groom there is not even a hint of feelings, they do not even remember each other's names. Another thing is important - dowry, titles, external dignity. These people approach the choice of a life partner as if they were buying some thing or piece of furniture.

The attitude of the main characters to marriage

Gogol's "Marriage" shows what this significant event in his life means for a petty official. As soon as he decided to marry, Podkolesin constantly thinks about marriage, but the bride does not bother him at all, he is more worried about her dowry, the man cannot even remember the name of his betrothed. The official believes that he has taken a very serious step, elevating him not only in his own eyes, but also in the eyes of others. Podkolesin immediately talks about his decision to marry a shoemaker, a tailor, because everyone around should appreciate and respect his deed.

The bride is also not in the best lightpresented by Gogol. "Marriage", the main characters of which amaze with hypocrisy and falsity, shows the artificiality of the life of "little people". Agafya Tikhonovna chooses a groom, starting from external characteristics, and not the inner world of a person. She treats applicants like things, trying to put together an ideal picture: if you take Ivan Kuzmich's nose, Nikanor Ivanovich's lips, Ivan Pavlovich's corpulence and B altazar B altazarych's swagger, then the bride would not hesitate to get married.

Gogol's "Marriage" reveals the surface and falsity of these people. They have no idea that you need to get married only if you feel sympathy, respect, affection for a person. That is why Nikolai Vasilievich met so few happy people in his environment.