The hero of Griboedov's comedy "Woe from Wit" P. I. Famusov: characteristics of the image

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

A. S. Griboyedov's comedy "Woe from Wit" refers to those works that do not lose their sharpness and relevance over time. Moreover, the more years separate them from the moment of creation, the more valuable they are. This happens with precious wines, paintings, sculptures, buildings, etc.

Plot and plot

Let's first recall what plot and plot are. These are the most important literary concepts, without the knowledge of which it is impossible to analyze any work of art. A plot is usually called a series of events that follow one another in the course of the content. In the comedy, this is morning at Famusov's house, an accidental collision with his secretary in Sophia's apartment. Then the even more unexpected arrival of Chatsky in Moscow, his visits, conversations with Afanasy Pavlovich, an attempt to find out who became a successful rival. Finally, the ball, the culmination of all the intrigues and intricacies, rumors that Chatsky is crazy. The disappointments of Sophia, the horror of Famusov and the flight of the young "carbonaria" out of Moscow. As for the plot andconflict, they are connected, in fact, by two characters: Chatsky and Famusov. Their characterization will help to determine the main parameters of the work. Let's take a closer look at what the latter is.

The personification of lordly Moscow

In comedy, the first capital of Russia is the personification of an ancient way of life that has been formed over the centuries. Glitter and luxury are associated primarily with the past times of Catherine II. This century is considered ideal by Famusov. The characterization of the hero fits well with the meaning of his last name, which Griboyedov chose for the character not by chance. "Fama" in Latin means "rumor". Rumors, publicity, other people's idle talk and Pavel Afanasyevich is afraid. He has two "horror stories": "no matter what happens" and "what will Princess Marya Alekseevna say." However, another meaning of the surname "Famusov" is important. The characterization of the character as a well-known person who enjoys influence and respect in society also corresponds to him. It is not for nothing that they curry favor with the hero, seek his patronage, and listen to his opinion. According to Griboedov's plan, it is Famusov (his characterization in the comedy proves this) that personifies the old lordly Moscow: hospitable, loving to take a walk, gossip, observing etiquette and external rules of decency, the keeper of the house-building, patriarchal, autocratic-serf traditions.

Basic character traits

What role does Famusov play in Woe from Wit? The characterization of Pavel Afanasyevich is completely unambiguous. He is already in yearshe is a widower, but has excellent he alth, which allows him to follow the pretty Liza, exposing himself at the same time as an exemplary, modest, sedate family man and father in front of Sophia. For the sake of fashion and new times, he is forced to teach his daughter “in French”, dances and “all sciences”, dress in foreign stores on Kuznetsky Most, and he himself speaks with righteous anger about the sciences, education. In his opinion, scholarship is “this is the plague”, a source of dissent, revolutionary ideas, everything new that threatens to shift the course of things that is familiar and convenient for the hero, the autocratic system, to break the way on which both Famusov’s power and we alth are based. Clever, cunning and prudent, this “old Russian gentleman” yearns for the times of “Maxim Petrovich”, when high ranks and titles, awards and salaries were distributed not on merit and merit, but on the basis of flattery, servility, servility and flattery. An inveterate serf-owner and a retrograde, looking down on those who are poor, he gladly acts as a benefactor, as in the case of Molchalin. He expresses his firm conviction to Sophia: "Whoever is poor, he is not a couple for you." This is also quite a striking characteristic of Famusov. “Woe from Wit”, in fact, is a portrait of two eras: the “past century” and Skalozub, Princess Marya Alekseevna, the Tugoukhovsky princes, Famusov himself, who rallied around him, as well as the “present century”, the personification of which was the loner Chatsky.

According to critics, Chatsky won the comedy. But very doubtful, resembling more defeat. And the reasonersThe Famusovs, alas, were, are and continue to be, remaining the main, routine part of society.