Comedy A.S. Griboyedov "Woe from Wit" - a summary

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

In Russian literature there are works whose fate is to never fade, to be always interesting, relevant, topical and in demand by new generations of readers. One of them is Griboyedov's immortal comedy.

Rereading Woe from Wit again

Griboedov's comedy "Woe from Wit", the summary of which, in fact, boils down to a description of the three days of Chatsky's stay in Moscow, made a splash among readers. Written in 1824, a year before the Decembrist uprising, it literally blew up the public with its seditious content, and its main character, Pyotr Andreevich Chatsky, was perceived as a true revolutionary, a "carbonarius", a spokesman for progressive social and political views and ideals.

Reading the comedy "Woe from Wit" (summary), we return to the master'sMoscow at the beginning of the 19th century. Morning in the house of Famusov, a we althy gentleman who lives according to the traditions of serfdom. He keeps a whole staff of servants who are more afraid of him than fire, his hospitable house is always open to noble families and their offspring, he regularly gives balls and seeks to pass off his daughter Sophia for a rich, well-born landowner, an “archive young man” with a good inheritance or a brave military with high ranks.

Analyzing the playwright "Woe from Wit", a summary of which we analyze, one cannot but catch the irony with which the poet refers to Famusov. He appears on the stage at the moment when the maid Lisa knocks on the door of Sophia, her young lady, to warn of the coming of the morning. After all, Sophia is in love with her father's secretary, the "rootless" Molchalin, and if he catches the "couple", his anger will be truly terrible. This is exactly what happens, but Sophia manages to get out and take her father's displeasure away from herself and her lover.

Famusov in years, pleased with himself and considers his person a worthy role model. In this sense, he utters a moralizing tirade in front of his daughter, along the way scolding new fashions and laws that give young people too much will, and also force them to imitate foreign models in dresses, demeanor, and education.

Actions in "Woe from Wit" - the summary reflects this - are rapidly developing according to the laws of dramaturgy. One scene dynamically replaces another, and now Lisa and Sophia are alone. Famusov's daughter will not praise Molchalin, his timidity,meek, quiet disposition, playing music, which they did all night. Liza, on the other hand, is much more to the liking of the former friend of the madam - Chatsky, who has been traveling abroad for three years now. According to Lisa, he is smart, sharp-tongued, funny and interesting with him. But for Sofya Chatsky - a memory of her half-childhood, nothing more, and Molchalin's sensitivity is now much closer to her than the stinging wit of Pyotr Andreevich.

Suddenly, the servant announces the arrival of Chatsky himself. As soon as he appears in the living room, he rushes to his knees in front of Sophia, kisses her hand, admires her beauty, asks if she is glad for him, has she forgotten. Sophia is embarrassed by such an onslaught, because the hero behaves as if there were no three years of separation, as if they parted only yesterday, they know everything about each other and are as close as in childhood.

Then the conversation turns to mutual acquaintances, and Sofya is convinced that Chatsky is still critical of society, ridicules everyone and everyone, that his language has become even sharper and more ruthless. Touching Molchalin, he ironically remarks that he must have already made a career - now the "wordless" are held in high esteem and favor. The more enthusiasm in the words of the hero, the drier and more cautious the girl answers him. One of her last remarks is a whisper to the side: “Not a man - a snake!”

Chatsky is puzzled and, going home to change from the road, puzzles over the main question for him: "How does Sophia really feel about him, has she fallen out of love, and if her feelings have cooled down, then who is her heart now occupied with?"

Next ifanalyze in “Woe from Wit” (summary) by actions, then the key episode will be the visit of Skalozub, a martinet who makes a career over the heads of his comrades, a rude ignoramus who cannot express his thoughts and does not really know anything but the charter. However, Famusov welcomes him, because the colonel is an excellent match for Sophia! The arrival of Chatsky breaks the idyll. The hero argues with them, refutes Famusov's monologue that one must live in the old fashioned way, like Maxim Petrovich, Famusov's uncle. He, through servility, hypocrisy, humiliation and flattery, received a profitable place at court. Pavel Afanasyevich judges the present time, which does not respect the antiquity, the “fathers”, and is frightened by Chatsky when he pronounces his famous monologue “Who are the judges?” With a cry that the young man is a "carbonari", wants to preach "liberty" and does not recognize authority, he runs away from the room.

Another important episode - Sofya sees how Molchalin falls from the horse, and she herself almost faints from excitement - this she betrays herself with her head. But Chatsky does not believe that this girl, with her intelligence, education and ability to understand people, could be carried away by such a nonentity. After talking alone with Molchalin, Pyotr Andreevich is convinced of the meanness, pettiness, cowardice, sycophancy of the interlocutor and comes to the conclusion: he is not Sophia's chosen one.

In "Woe from Wit" it is worth reading the summary of the last action especially carefully. The whole color of lordly Moscow gathered for the ball to Famusov. Each character is written out by Griboedov masterfully, colorfully, and all together they represent a generalized picture of an autocratic-serf society at its worst.manifestation: retrograde, servility, ignorance and lack of education, outright stupidity and meanness. That's why everyone believes Sophia's rumor about Chatsky's madness with such pleasure, picks him up and spreads him around the city.

A young man flees in horror from Moscow, where he "doesn't travel anymore". Sofya was also put to shame, convinced of how insignificant, vile and empty Molchalin is. But most importantly, Famusov was defeated - the peace of the sedate nobility was violated. After all, Chatsky is the first sign, and others will follow - the feudal lords will no longer be able to live the way they used to.