Who is silent what are the details of his biography. Characteristics of Molchalin in the comedy "Woe from Wit" by Griboedov, a description of the character of the hero. The image of famous writers
Here he is, on tiptoe
and not rich in words.
Silencers are blissful in the world.
A. S. Griboyedov
One of the favorite themes of the great writers of the 19th century is the formation of a young man, his choice of a life path. The diversity of human destinies is depicted by such world-famous novels as Pushkin's "Eugene Onegin", "Ordinary History" and "Oblomov" by I. A. Goncharov, "Red and Black" by Stendhal, "The Human Comedy" by Balzac and many others . Among these immortal books is A. S. Griboyedov’s Woe from Wit, 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 are posed, many of which concern us today.
What should be a person? How does he navigate his life path? What can you afford and what should never be allowed along the way? What is more important - human dignity or career? These and many other questions are answered by the author of the comedy in the image of Alexei Stepanovich Molchalin.
By origin and social status, he does not belong to the capital's nobility. “He warmed up the bezrodny and introduced him into his family, gave him the rank of assessor and took the Moscow ace Famusov as secretary. The surname of Molchalin is justified by his behavior: he is a modest young man, handsome, silent, insinuating. He plays the flute, loves sentimental rhymes, tries to please everyone. It would seem that there is nothing wrong with that. But, reading a comedy, we are convinced that Molchalin's decency is a skillfully chosen mask that hides a vile, hypocritical, false person. In a moment of frankness, he admits that he is guided in life by his father's covenant "to please all people without exception", even the janitor's dog.
The goal of Molchalin's life is to make a career, preferably a brilliant one, to achieve ranks, wealth. He sees the highest happiness, his ideal of life, in "taking rewards and having fun." On the way to this goal, all means are good for him. At the same time, Molchalin chooses the surest way to curry favor - flattery, servility, servility. He is respectful and helpful with Famusov, pleases the influential lady Khlestova in every possible way, does not leave the rich old people, plays cards with them.
A flatterer and a hypocrite, he pretends to be in love with Sophia (of course, because she is the daughter of his all-powerful boss) and immediately tells Lisa that he loves the master's daughter "by position". His life "principles" are simple and shameless. This is a rejection of one's human dignity, of 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 judgment." Silent-ling does not know what honor, honesty, sincerity are, and is 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 provided him with "three awards" in the service, the location and support of influential gentlemen.
The reader of the comedy also understands something else: Molchalin's life "experience" is a sentence 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 person, crazy, do not consider it shameful to communicate with a dishonest scoundrel, to patronize him, and this characterizes them perfectly. “Molchalins are blissful in the world,” is one of the most bitter conclusions of Chatsky after a day of communication with the Famus society. material from the site
Molchalin is not helpless and not funny - in my opinion, he is terrible. The role of this hero in comedy is determined by two circumstances. Firstly, we have before us a person who, living in a Famus society, will certainly "reach the known levels." Even exposure will not ruin him, because, bowing humbly and crawling on his knees, the "business" secretary will again find a 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 the social system of Famusov's Russia), the "torturers of the crowd", who are afraid of people with progressive views and firm, unbending characters and accepting as her many silent ones. "Great ability to please" many in this unscrupulous society brought to the people.
Griboedov also convinces of what he does not directly say: he needs the tactics chosen by Molchalin only for the time being. Having achieved his goal, he will throw off the mask of modesty and reverence - and woe to those who stand in his way. Unfortunately, this human type is not a thing of the past. And today, under the guise of decency and modesty, modern Molchalin can be hidden, who knows how to please everyone, does not disdain any means to achieve his goals. The author of the immortal comedy teaches to understand people, to see under the mask, if it is worn, the true face of a person.
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On this page, material on the topics:
- the composition of the silence mask
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- essay on the image of silence
WORSE FROM WITNESS
(Comedy, 1824; published with omissions - 1833; in full - 1862)
Molchalin Alexey Stepanych - the main negative character of the comedy, the role of a stupid lover; heart friend of Sophia, in his soul despising her; the shadow of Famusov, the antagonist of Chatsky, whose fiery volubleness is unfavorably opposed by the silent speechlessness of Molochlin (underlined, moreover, by the “silently speaking” surname). Transferred by Famusov from Tver, thanks to his patronage he received the rank of collegiate assessor; listed "in the archives", but in fact is the personal, home secretary of the "benefactor"; here, in a closet, and lives. M. strictly follows his father’s covenant (directly preceding the one that Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov will receive from his father): “to please all people without exception - / to the Master<...>/ Head<...>/ to his servant<...>/ To the janitor's dog, to be affectionate. In the ball scene (d. 3), he obligingly praises the Spitz of the old woman Khlestova, Famusov's sister-in-law, which deserves her favor. (But not respect: during the trip - D. 4, yavl. 8 - Khlestova scornfully points M. to his place - intermediate between the secretary and the servant: “here is your closet, / No wires are needed, go, the Lord is with you”; M . not offended.)
In a conversation with Chatsky (d. 3, yavl. 3), who decided to figure out why M. captivated Sophia, he formulates his life rules - “Moderation and accuracy”; “At my age, one should not dare / Have one’s own judgment.” These views are fully consistent with the unwritten Moscow norm. The same plot motif of the fall is repeated throughout the comedy; Chatsky, having barely appeared in the house, talks about how he "fell many times" along the way; The Skalozub recalls the story of Princess Lasova, a “rider, a widow,” who recently fell to pieces and is now looking for a husband “for support”; then, during the ball, Repetilov reports his fall: “I’m in a hurry here, / Grab it, I hit it with my foot on the threshold / And stretched out to my full height.” But only M.'s fall from a horse (d. 2, yavl. 7), at the news of which Sophia loses her senses, "rhymes" with the "exemplary" fall of Famus' uncle Maxim Petrovich: "He fell painfully - got up great." This parallel finally inscribes M. in that unchanging Moscow tradition, against which Chatsky rebels.
But, repeating the trajectory of the fall of Maxim Petrovich, M., in turn, is also endowed with a plot double, repeating his negative features in an even more vulgar and reduced form. This is Anton Antonych Zagoretsky - "a man<...>secular, / A notorious swindler, a rogue”, who is tolerated in society only because he is “a master of service”.
The need to tirelessly “please” also gave rise to M.’s romance with Sofia, in which he obediently fulfills the role of a Platonic admirer proposed (if not imposed) by her, ready to read novels with his beloved all night long, listen to silence and speak in a language that is not characteristic of him “philistine” ( “I have three little things ...”), but in the literary-salon, “Karamzinist” language of silent gestures and refined feelings. (So his “talking” surname is read in two ways: it also indicates the role of the “silent man” in love in Sophia’s plot.) This novel does not and cannot pursue “career” goals; M. does not expect to earn even more Famusov's favor in this way. On the contrary, he risks losing his favor as a result of a secret "romance". But he is not able to refuse to “please” the daughter of “such a person”. And, feeling hostility to "our deplorable stole", takes the form of a lover - because she likes it.
And therefore, perhaps, Chatsky is right, who at the moment of M.’s “exposure” (invited by the maid Lisa to Sophia’s room, he again flirts in the dark with the servants and speaks contemptuously about Sophia, not knowing that she hears everything; angry Famusov immediately appears ) sarcastically remarks: “You will make peace with him, according to mature reflection. / To destroy oneself, and for what! / Think, you can always take care of him / Take care of him and swaddle him, and send him away for work. / Husband-boy, husband-servant, from the wife's pages - / The high ideal of all Moscow men.
Molchalin is one of the most memorable images in the comedy "Woe from Wit". He is endowed with a speaking surname. So, what is this character "silent" about?
We meet Molchalin at the very beginning of the comedy, when we find out that they have mutual love with Sophia, the daughter of the owner of the house. However, in the future it becomes clear that the reciprocity of love exists only in the imagination of Sophia, and Molchalin himself is not as simple as it seems.
Molchalin's life position is most fully revealed during his dialogue with Chatsky . "My father bequeathed to me: firstly, to please all people without exception - the Master, where I happen to live, the Chief, with whom I will serve, his Servant, who cleans the dress, the doorman, the janitor, to avoid evil, the dog of the janitor, so that he was affectionate"- says Molchalin. And indeed, this character will always be able to achieve what he wants precisely because of his ability to find an approach to people. His main goal (like any representative of the "famus society") is to achieve a high position in society by any means. And now he, realizing that Famusov's daughter is in love with him, in order not to offend her, plays a romantic and timid lover. He knows that Sophia reads French romance novels and therefore understands how he should appear in front of her. And it works: Sophia admires his complaisance, modesty, gentleness. He also behaves modestly under Famusov. During the ball, Molchalin tries with all his might to please Khryumina, knowing that she occupies a high position in society ( "Your Spitz is a lovely Spitz, no more than a thimble").
However, it is interesting to observe how his behavior with other people changes. Alone with the maid Lisa, he becomes rude and cheeky. With Chatsky, he talks politely and emphatically restrained, because he understands: Chatsky is an unwanted guest in this house and it is unprofitable to honor him. In addition, Molchalin is amazed that Chatsky is not familiar with one noble lady - Tatyana Yurievna. This shows how important connections and reputation are to Molchalin (and how little they matter to Chatsky). Chatsky's desire to prove to everyone that he was right and Molchalin's restraint are also opposed to each other ( "in my years one should not dare to have one's own judgments").
If Chatsky turned out to be an outcast in this society, then Molchalin feels himself here like a fish in water. It was not in vain that Chatsky said: "The Silent people are blissful in the world." Molchalin is a type of person who, unfortunately, is in demand in any society at any time. It is these people who often achieve a lot precisely because of their hypocrisy. Therefore, it is fashionable to give an affirmative answer to the rather popular question of what will happen to Molchalin after the scandal at the end of the work and exposure: everything will be forgotten pretty quickly and he will continue to live in Famusov’s house as if nothing had happened.
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 the people who live in our time. Let's take a closer look at his character.
Molchalin is a poor young man from Tver, whom Famusov took into his service and gave the rank of collegiate assessor.
We can assume that Molchalin is a rootless person, probably from a family of burghers. Famusov says the same about him: "He warmed up the bezrodny and introduced him into my family."
I believe that Molchalin can be described as a cowardly and low person. The most noticeable feature of his character is his taciturnity - 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, fragmentary phrases. “At my age, one should not dare to have one’s own judgment,” Molchalin claims. He seems to be afraid not to please his interlocutor with his remark. Molchalin lives according to the principle bequeathed to him by his father: "to please all people without exception." His helpfulness goes beyond the limits allowed by morality. We see a sharp contrast to this method of communication in the dialogue between Molchalin and Lisa. He takes her for "his", so he is not afraid to frankly express his opinion, to say what he thinks. He tells her about his frivolous intentions in relations with Sophia, claims that he loves her only "by position". He admits that he uses Sophia for his own benefit. This describes him as a vicious, cowardly person who, trying to break into people, makes his way through silent lies and servility. We learn about most of the qualities of Molchalin from the replicas 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 is always shy, timidly ...”. From her words it is perfectly clear 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, "the most miserable creature" incapable of any conscious action. But after Chatsky realizes that this is just a mask of Molchalin, that in fact he is a cunning and unprincipled person who knows how to achieve his goals. Chatsky says that Molchalin "will reach the known levels, because now they love the dumb." Molchalin also has a different attitude towards other heroes of the comedy. With people above him in rank, he is helpful, he 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 to Molchalin and his attitude towards them characterizes him as an immoral person who sees in others only ranks and titles, not taking into account the human soul.
Thus, Griboyedov created a negative, but interesting to study image in his comedy. Such silent liars exist in modern society as well. And the duty of every person is to eradicate in himself all those qualities that are in him, to develop in himself all the kindest, brightest, and not vile and false. Everyone should try not to be Molchalin.
In Griboedov's comedy "Woe from Wit", several typical characters are created, well recognizable regardless of the era. Molchalin belongs to such images, so now it would be appropriate to briefly consider the characteristics of Molchalin, paying attention to the features that Griboyedov endowed this character with.
Biography of Molchalin from the comedy "Woe from Wit"
The play says very little about the life of Molchalin before Famusov appeared in the house. The reader learns that Alexei Stepanovich Molchalin is of humble origin, a poor young man.
Famusov took Molchalin to his secretary from Tver, was able to "get" him the rank of assessor, which was highly valued and equated to the army rank of major. Meanwhile, the hero is still listed in the Archives of the College of Foreign Affairs and manages to receive three awards. At the time of Griboedov, the “archival youths” were treated somewhat contemptuously, since young people who wanted to avoid military service in this way were enrolled there. This information is already helping to compile a characterization of Molchalin from the comedy "Woe from Wit".
In the house of his patron, Molchalin lives on the first floor, where the servants' rooms and utility rooms are located. For the sake of his career, Molchalin starts an affair with Sofya, Famusov's daughter, while simultaneously courting the maid Lisa.
Molchalin and Sofia
What else is interesting in the characterization of Molchalin? He admits that Sophia is not interested in him. No matter how Molchalin tries to awaken feelings for her in himself, nothing happens, the hero still remains cold: “As soon as I wake up, I’ll get a sheet.” He's chasing after the boss's daughter, hoping to reap the benefits. Knowing Sophia’s inconstancy (“they once loved Chatsky, they will stop loving me like him”), he is not worried, he is more concerned about Famusov’s reaction to their relationship.
Literary critics have repeatedly wondered: what attracted Sophia Molchalin, why did she prefer him to the smart and noble Chatsky? Probably the answer is in the words of the heroine herself. Talking about Molchalin, she highlights such qualities as helpfulness, attentiveness, shyness, he is ready to foresee Sophia's every desire and shows her his tender feelings.
Another quality that is important in the characterization of Molchalin is his hypocrisy and duplicity: portraying love for Sophia, he courts Lisa, seducing her with gifts and not embarrassed to express his feelings quite brazenly and obsessively. In Famusov's house, Molchalin wears the mask of a timid man in love until an accidental exposure occurs.
The characteristic qualities of Molchalin from the comedy "Woe from Wit"
Griboyedov uses a speaking surname. Molchalin is silent, quiet, he does not dare to have his own opinion, fearing not to please important people. Its main goal is to gain confidence in those who can provide patronage by being helpful and pleasing to them. Chatsky bitterly remarks: "The silent ones are blissful in the world."
To understand the characterization of Molchalin in the comedy "Woe from Wit" by Griboedov, it is necessary to remember what testament the father gives to Molchalin. The young man says that his father advised him to "please all people without exception": the owner of the house where he lives, the boss, the boss's servant, "the porter, the janitor to avoid evil, the janitor's dog to be affectionate." The hero follows this principle. He tries to please Famusov, the "old men" at the balls. For the sake of this, he refuses to dance and have fun, and plays cards all evening with elderly, but noble gentlemen. With helpfulness and modesty, Molchalin achieved a good relationship with the influential Tatyana Yuryevna and even the grumpy Khlestova.
Molchalin considers his main talents to be "moderation and accuracy". Griboyedov in his comedy "Woe from Wit" shows: Molchalin is stupid, his mind is directed only to finding profitable behavior, low, does not have self-esteem, is capable of meanness and lies.
We hope that our article, which briefly presented the characterization of Molchalin from the comedy "Woe from Wit" by Griboyedov, helped you get to know this character better. Read also in our literary blog