Behavior in the scene of Sophia's kidnapping. The Kidnapping of Sophia - a fanfic based on the Institute of Noble Maidens (IBD) fandom

1. How do Sophia, Mitrofan and Mrs. Prostakova characterize their words and actions in the finale of the play “The Minor”?

In his work, the writer also raises the problem of upbringing and education of the younger generation. Mitrofan is the main character of the comedy, spoiled by his mother, an ignorant and stupid teenager. The first feeling that he evokes in the reader is laughter, laughter at the glutton, whom the nanny is still caring for. But over time, the attitude towards the hero changes. Mitrofan turns out to be not so harmless. The feeling of laughter is already mixed with fear, because the future lies behind this ignoramus, and what will happen to the people if their fate is in the hands of people like Mitrofan - stupid, insensitive, caring only about themselves? Growing up in an atmosphere of evil, our hero simply cannot be another, decent and intelligent person. And no teachers will be able to re-educate this blockhead, change his attitude towards life. Mitrofan sees that his mother - an uneducated, ignorant woman - has great power over the serfs, so why should he learn anything?

…..In the finale of the comedy, Mitrofan is simply ugly, devoid of everything human. How can one understand, justify, and even more so forgive a person who, in the most difficult and terrible moment for his mother, pushes her away from himself and does not find words of support for the person closest to him? The son dramatically changes his attitude towards his mother, since she has lost everything: both power and estate. Mitrofan will never get better, because he was not given his mind, but his soul was taken away.

…..Written more than two hundred years ago, the comedy “The Minor” remains relevant in our time. Topical issues of upbringing and education, human moral principles can be classified as “eternal.” And no matter what century it is, what year it is, people like the Prostakovs and Skotinins, their children Mitrofans will never be eradicated. But Fonvizin does not lose hope that something can change, since there are noble, decent people in the world - Pravdin, Starodum, Milon.

Fonvizin "Minor". “These are the fruits worthy of evil!”

The comedy “The Minor” (1782) reveals the acute social problems of its time. Although the work is based on the idea of education, the satire is directed against serfdom and landowner tyranny. The author shows that from the soil of serfdom evil fruits grew - meanness, mental dullness. The bearers of this are the Prostakovs and Skotinins.

Prostakova, nee Skotinina, is a worthy daughter of her father, who used to say: “And don’t be the Skotinin who wants to learn something.” She is proud that she cannot read, and is outraged that girls are taught to read and write (Sophia), because she is sure that much can be achieved without education. “From our surname Prostakovs..., lying on their sides, they fly to their ranks.” Prostakova understands that different times have come, and teaches her son, rejoicing that Mitrofan’s teachers are not in bondage. She “prepares Mitrofan to become a people”, hiring him to teach literacy - the sexton Kuteikin, arithmetic - the retired sergeant Tsyfirkin, French and all sciences - the German Vralman, a former coachman. According to her concepts, “Eorgafia” is not needed by a nobleman: “But what about cab drivers?” She is sure that even without science it is possible to “make enough money.” Prostakova considers studying a torment and indulges her son in his laziness. She calls her husband a “freak” and a “weeper” and beats him. She also beats serfs, considering them “brutes” and “blockheads.” Prostakova is an ignorant, stingy, evil landowner. “From morning to evening, as if suspended by the tongue, I don’t lay down my hands: I scold, I fight.” Verna Eremeevna advises her to “grab her brother by the mug,” calling her “you dog’s daughter,” giving her “five slaps in the face a day.” When Mitrofan failed to marry Sophia, she shouts: “I’ll order everyone to be beaten to death!” Pravdin calls her to order, to which she indignantly declares: “Isn’t a nobleman free to beat a servant whenever he wants?” She loves Mitrofan Prostakov with blind love, making him a real undergrowth.

Prostakova’s brother, Skotinin, is a lover of pigs, whom he considers “a whole head taller than each of us.” “The skotinins are all hard-headed by birth,” and the brother, in whom “what came into his mind, stuck there.” He, like his sister, believes “that learning is nonsense.” He treats pigs better than people, declaring: “People in front of me are smart, but among pigs I myself am smarter than everyone else.” Rude, like his sister, promises to make Mitrofan a freak for Sophia: “By the legs, and on the corner!”

Prostakov is a weak-willed, downtrodden man and says about himself: “I am a wife’s husband.”

Mitrofan is the true son of his parents. He is a glutton, a rude man and a lazy man. Mitrofan used to, in childhood, “see a pig and tremble with joy.” For four years, three teachers have been teaching Mitrofan to read and write, but the 16-year-old teenager does not like to study. The mother threatens: “Dive - remember what your name was!” Declares: “I don’t want to study, but I want to get married!” He calls the teachers names (“garrison rat”) and threatens to complain to his mother about them. He calls Vernaya Eremeevna “old hrychevka.” “I’ll finish them off!” - he threatens her. A failed marriage to Sophia tells Mitrofan that the time has come to “take on people.” Angry at his uncle, he shouts: “Get out, uncle! Get lost!” And in the finale, when Prostakova rushes to her son for consolation, he tells her: “Let it go, mother, you forced yourself on me.”

The Prostakov family raised a worthy son. Starodub correctly says in the finale: “These are the fruits worthy of evil.”

The dictionary gives two definitions for the word "minor". The first is “this is a young nobleman who has not reached the age of majority and has not entered the public service.” The second is “a stupid young man - a dropout.” I think that the second meaning of this word appeared thanks to the image of the undergrowth - Mitrofanushka, which was created by Fonvizin. After all, it is Mitrofan who personifies the denunciation of the half-growing serf-owners, who are completely mired in stupidity and ignorance.

The mother, who indulged all the desires of her child, raised Mitrofan to be a real egoist and despot, incapable of even being responsible for himself and his actions. Already in childhood, Mitrofan “proved himself” as best he could. He didn't talk, he barked. He allowed himself to speak rudely not only to the servants, but also to his own mother. This man, if you can call him that, has a real rat character. He calls his old nanny Eremeevna “old bastard,” although she always protects him from danger, cleans up after him, and feeds him. Mitrofan no longer notices this. For him, everything is as it should be.

In words he is brave. To offend someone is a piece of cake for him. In fact, he shows himself from a completely different side. Mitrofan is terribly cowardly and dependent. Although why should he be independent? After all, there is always a mother, nanny or teachers “at hand”.

Mitrofan is very selfish and selfish. Depending on the change in the position people occupy, Mitrofan’s attitude towards them also changes. He lives only by this principle. He doesn’t even feel sorry for his mother and loses interest in her as soon as power is taken away from her: “Let go, mother, how you imposed yourself!” With these words, the beloved son abandons his mother in a difficult moment for her. Of course, I feel sorry for the heroine Prostakova, but she herself developed and raised Mitrofan to have such an attitude towards people and herself, in the end, she got what she deserved.

I think that it was after the release of the comedy “The Minor in the World” that the name Mitrofan became a household name. Now “Mitrofan” we can safely call a stupid, rude and lazy person, and in our time, unfortunately, there are also many of them. It is thanks to such “Mitrofan” ""The Minor" remains so popular and relevant in our time. This work can make us think and draw conclusions. But am I not such a person?

1. Trying on a caftan.

2. Sophia receives a letter from Starodum.

3. A new meeting between Sophia and Milon after separation.

4. Prostakova’s desire to marry Mitrofan to Sophia. Skotinin's indignation.

5. Arrival of Starodum to Prostakova.

6. Milon asks Starodum for Sophia’s hand in marriage.

7. Attempted kidnapping of Sophia by the Prostakovs.

8. Guardianship of the Prostakov estate.

Summary

Characters:

Prostakov.

Mrs. Prostakova, his wife.

Mitrofan, their son, is an undergrowth.

Eremeevna, mother (i.e. nurse) Mitrofanova.

Starodum.

Sophia, Starodum's niece.

Kuteikin, seminarian.

Tsyfirkin, retired sergeant.

Vralman, teacher.

Trishka, tailor.

Prostakov's servant.

Starodum's valet.

The action takes place in the Prostakovs' house. The comedy begins with a scene of trying on a caftan. Prostakova scolds the tailor Grishka for making Mitrofan’s caftan too narrow.

Skotinin appears in a cheerful mood: an agreement is scheduled for the evening between him and Sophia, who, after the death of her mother, lives in the house of the Prostakovs, her distant relatives, and they manage her estate as if it were their own. She doesn’t yet know that they are going to marry her off.

Then Sophia appears. The girl reports that her uncle Starodum, who once left for Siberia and did not give any news about himself for several years, so that he was already considered dead, turns out to be alive and is currently in Moscow. In addition, he has accumulated a fortune of ten thousand and makes her his heir. She learned all this from the letter that Starodum sent her. Having heard such news, Prostakova immediately begins to treat Sophia more favorably, since she planned to marry her son Mitrofanushka to a rich bride.

In a village owned by the Prostakovs, soldiers are staying, led to Moscow by officer Milon. Milon meets his friend Pravdin, who has been living here for three days, because he has been appointed a member of the governorship. Pravdin travels around the district in order to find “evil” gentlemen who inhumanly use their power. Milon, in turn, says that he is looking for his beloved girl, whom he has not seen for more than six months. She was taken by distant relatives to their villages after the death of her mother. It turns out that we are talking about Sophia. A meeting of lovers takes place.

At this time, Skotinin expresses a desire to marry Sophia, because with the money that her uncle bequeathed to her, he will be able to buy pigs from all over the world and build a barn for each one. Pravdin informs Skotinin that Prostakova reads Sophia for her son. Skotinin starts a quarrel with his nephew and attacks him with his fists.

Starodum arrives from Moscow. Talking with Pravdin, he talks about education and service to the Fatherland, recalling stories and giving examples from his own life. Then he meets the owners, who try their best to please him, hoping to become his relatives. After this, Starodum goes to rest from the road, and Mitrofan sits down for a lesson, during which he shows himself to be a complete ignoramus.

After resting, Starodum talks with Sophia, discussing various virtues and moral qualities of a person. Next, Pravdin introduces him to Milon, who asks for his niece’s hand in marriage. The young people receive their uncle's blessing. Then Skotinin and Mitrofanushka woo Sophia, but Starodum refuses them, saying that she has already made an appointment. Then Prostakova decides to kidnap Sophia in order to forcibly take her to marry her son. But this attempt ends in failure, since the girl is saved by Milon. Pravdin takes custody of the Prostakovs' house and villages. The landowner, wanting to find support from her son, rushes to him with hugs, but he rudely pushes his mother away. Prostakova faints. Starodum, Sophia and Milon are going to go to Moscow. The play ends with the words of Starodum, pointing to Prostakova: “These are the worthy fruits of evil!”

Fonvizin’s work “The Minor” was written during the reign of Catherine II, when issues of social relations, upbringing and education of youth were especially relevant. In the play, the author not only raises acute problems of his contemporary society, but also illustrates the ideological concept with vivid collective images. One of these characters in the comedy is Sophia. Fonvizin’s “Minor” is, first of all, a classic comedy that highlights the educational ideas of humanism. In the image of Sophia, the author portrayed a perfect example of a Russian woman of the Enlightenment era - educated, intelligent, concise, kind and modest. The girl respects her parents, treats older and more authoritative people with respect, and is open to receiving true moral guidelines.

According to the plot of the play, Sophia had a difficult fate. At a young age, the girl’s father died, and half a year before the events described in the work, her mother died. Since her uncle, Starodum, was in the service in Siberia, Sophia, by the will of fate, ends up in the care of the rude, cruel and stupid Prostakova. The landowner is going to marry the girl off to her brother Skotinin without her knowledge. However, the news about Sophia's inheritance radically changes Prostakova's plans - the woman decides to woo her underage son Mitrofan in order to receive her share of the inheritance. The climax of the marriage story is the kidnapping of Sophia on the orders of the landowner, while the issue of the girl’s marriage had already been decided - Starodum approved Sophia’s choice to marry the honest and kind Milo. However, the ending of the comedy is happy for the girl - she remains with her loved one.

Sophia and Mitrofan

In “The Minor” the central characters are Sophia and Mitrofan. In addition to the fact that they are both the youngest characters in the play, the heroes also appear as antipodes in the play. Sophia is an orphan who has to take care of herself, while Mitrofan is a spoiled mama's boy. The girl strives for knowledge, takes her future seriously, develops as a person with her own opinion, while the young man is weak-willed, stupid, obeys Prostakov in everything and is an infantile character.

In the play, the author pays special attention to the issue of upbringing each of the characters, pointing out that good, proper upbringing is the basis for the development of a strong independent personality. This becomes clear when analyzing the images of Sophia and Mitrofan within the framework of the storyline. The girl was raised in an enlightened noble family, where the most important values were respect and love for parents, good behavior, honesty, justice and mercy towards those in need, which formed the basis of Sophia’s virtuous nature. Mitrofan was raised by the despotic, cruel, deceitful Prostakova and the weak-willed Prostakov, having adopted all the negative traits from them. In the comedy, Sophia acts as a symbol of purity, modesty, inner beauty and virtue. She is exactly the kind of person that Starodum talks about in his instructions, and whom the author himself admires.

Sofia and Prostakova

The image of Sophia in “The Minor” is also contrasted with the second main female image of the play - Prostakova. The girl and the landowner personify two diametrically opposed views on the role of women in the family and society. Prostakova does not love or respect her husband, she can scold him or even hit him - the wedding itself for her was rather an opportunity to get a large farm in her possession. For Sophia, marriage is an important, thoughtful step, a union of two people who love and respect each other, fully accomplished and congenial individuals. The girl has long loved Milon, remains faithful to him while the young man serves his homeland, is honest and open to him. In marriage, what is important for Sophia is not material wealth, but warm relationships, well-being and understanding.

Prostakova acts as a bearer of the values and foundations of the long-outdated “Domostroy”, according to the norms of which a woman does not need to be educated, understand high matters and talk about serious things; instead, she should only deal with the housework and children, getting bogged down in the daily household routine. The image of Sophia is innovative for Russian literature, as it embodies new, educational views on the role of women in society. In the work, she acts as a bearer of true wisdom, kindness, honesty, cordiality and human warmth. What appears before the reader is not a peasant woman or a cook, but an educated girl with her own views and opinions. The comparative characterization of Sophia in “The Minor” makes it clear that in her image Fonvizin portrayed his own ideal of a renewed, enlightened, harmonious personality of enlightenment.

Just as several centuries ago, so in our time, Sophia remains an example of the best human qualities. This image teaches modern readers to listen to their own hearts, to be honest and kind to others, revealing the brightest sides of their personality.

Work test

The intrigue of the play is built around her. The unexpected inheritance of a girl, the arrival of her uncle Starodum, a failed kidnapping and three suitors who compete with each other form the basis of the plot.

Sophia received a good education and was raised in a family of deeply decent and noble people. She became an orphan early. Since her uncle Starodum lives in distant Siberia, Mrs. Prostakova, as a relative, takes Sophia into her home and manages her small inheritance. Without a twinge of conscience, she robs her ward and seeks to marry her off to her brother in order to finally take over all the girl’s property.

Prostakova knows that Sophia has a fiancé - officer Milon. The young people love each other, but the powerful landowner does not care at all. She is not used to letting go of even small benefits. Prostakova manages to cover her tracks so well that Milon spends six months looking for his beloved in vain, until he accidentally meets her in this house.

Having learned that Sophia has become a rich heiress, the landowner decides to marry her to her son. Now she is courting the girl in every possible way, behaving kindly and helpfully, although before she did not stand on ceremony with the orphan. When Prostakova's plans collapse, she plots the treacherous kidnapping of Sophia in order to force her to marry Mitrofan. All the positive heroes of the play stand up for the girl and save her from a cruel fate.

It was no coincidence that Fonvizin named his heroine Sophia, which in Greek means “wisdom.” The girl is quite smart and reasonable. She also has a wise and kind heart. Sophia forgives Prostakov for the offenses caused, and in the final scene she is the first to rush to the aid of the landowner.

The girl is faithful to her fiancé Milon and does not give in to the Skotinins’ persuasion, although she does not express open protest. When Milon tries to blame the girl for this fact, Sophia explains that at that time she was in the complete power of Prostakova, it would be stupid to irritate her evil relative in vain. When Sophia is forcibly dragged to the crown, the prudent girl does not look like a frightened lamb. She fights back and calls for help.

At the same time, the girl is ready to submit to the will of her uncle when choosing a groom: “Uncle! Do not doubt my obedience." Sophia deeply respects Starodum and appreciates his advice. She reads a French book about raising girls and asks: “Give me the rules that I must follow.”

Sophia's reasoning about moral values is interesting. She believes that the heart is satisfied only when the conscience is calm, and by strictly observing the rules of virtue, a person can achieve happiness. The girl strives to win the respect of worthy people and at the same time worries that unworthy people will become embittered when they learn about her reluctance to communicate with them. She wants to avoid any bad thoughts about herself and believes that wealth should be honestly earned, and being born into a noble family does not make a person noble. After talking with his niece, Starodum is delighted with her honesty and understanding of true human qualities.

In the image of a patient, modest and meek heroine, Denis Fonvizin probably portrayed his ideal woman. Starodum teaches Sophia that she should not only be a friend to her husband, but also follow him in everything: “It is necessary, my friend, that your husband obey reason, and you obey your husband, and you will both be completely prosperous.” The girl sincerely agrees with her uncle.

Everyone is captivated by Sophia’s lively character. She can joke and even make her lover jealous. Her language is sophisticated and bookish, which adds contrast to the rude and ignorant statements of the Skotinins.

In the image of Sophia, the author presented us with the result of the correct principles of raising Starodum, as opposed to Mitrofanushka, whom Prostakova raised. These two characters are exactly the opposite. As smart as the girl is, the landowner's son is stupid. Sophia is grateful to her guardian, and Mitrofan pushes his mother away when she needs support. The girl is always kind and merciful, values honesty and decency in people, the undergrowth is very often cruel and selfish, respects only strength and wealth.

The comedy also contrasts two main female characters: Sophia and Prostakova. The oppressive landowner personifies outdated ideas about the role of women in society. She believes that a decent girl should not be able to read or be interested in many things. For Prostakova, marriage is a means of gaining power and material wealth. She doesn’t care about her husband, she even beats him. Marriage bonds for the young heroine are a union of two hearts, sealed by mutual respect and understanding.

Sarah Gabriel

Sophie's kidnapping

She will find me, I know it.

Let me disappear, disappear without a trace,

I'll rush away without knowing the way,

She will find me, I know for sure.

I can’t distinguish her among the shadows,

But I follow her to who knows where.

Dougie McLane, "She'll Find Me."

Love itself creates miracles.

Inscription on the Duncrieff Cup

Scotland, Perthshire

Spring 1728

Connor McPherson knew the riders were approaching long before they arrived. Although the night darkness and fog hid the narrow mountain valley and hills from view, and the dense, dense darkness distorted the sounds, in the darkness the discordant clanking of harnesses, the creaking of leather saddles and the dull clatter of hooves coming from the direction of the old herdmen's path could be clearly heard. The squad was approaching.

Connor's heart began to pound desperately. The long, painful wait was drawing to an end. McPherson's left hand convulsively clutched the braided hilt of the sword hidden in its scabbard. Catherine Sophia McCarran, Kate. In order to become his wife and turn into a married woman, she is destined to be kidnapped from her parents' home. The wedding will take place whether they both want it or not. The names Connor and Kate are written on carefully folded paper hidden on McPherson's chest under his shirt. The paper is signed by the girl's brother, the Laird of Duncrieff and the head of the Curran clan.

Well, Connor will fulfill his friend's wish. After all, it was because of him that McCarran was captured and thrown into prison, where, according to rumors, Duncrieffe died a few days ago.

Bitter news. The pain was much worse than Connor could have imagined. Unable to stand motionless, he strode forward impatiently. Thick brown grass and heather reliably muffled the sound of footsteps. Connor's two companions lumbered after him like bears. The thickening darkness hid their faces and light shirts, but Connor could still make out the dull shine of pistols and swords. The Scots were forbidden to bear arms, but Macpherson and his men were armed to the teeth.

Hiding behind huge ancient boulders, Connor took out a tightly folded wool blanket hidden between the stones and put it under his cloak.

- All is ready? – he whispered quietly in Gaelic.

“The ropes are in place,” replied Neil Murray, Connor’s servant and comrade-in-arms. “The priest is waiting for us in the old chapel on the hills.”

Connor McPherson nodded grimly as he watched the fog thicken over the narrow valley. He tensed, preparing to jump, like a wild cat, but in the darkness it was impossible to see his prey. Connor touched the cold stone with his hand and frowned.

“This is unnecessary,” Connor snapped. “We’re going to get ourselves into a lot of trouble anyway.”

“There are other ways to find a bride,” Neil grumbled.

“But this one is the fastest,” Connor responded quietly. The creaking of saddles, the clanking of harness and the dull clatter of hooves were heard. They were clearly being approached. Milky-white clouds of fog spread for a moment, revealing a narrow ribbon of the herd workers’ path, and then closed again.

Connor knew the valley like the back of his hand. Even with his eyes closed, he could imagine every bend of the two streams that began high in the mountains and crossed the moorland. Even in thick fog, he could accurately indicate where the bridges were located and how long it would take the squad to reach them.

The clatter of hooves became louder.

“Horses,” Neil whispered. “When the girl and her maid left the house of the justice of the peace, they were accompanied by two Scots on foot and two horse-dragoons.

“Yeah,” Andrew confirmed, “we saw them.” They treated themselves to lunch. Sir Henry sent a whole escort with the girl.

“How polite,” Connor drawled. – Destroy the men, but provide protection for the women. Now disappear. If I get caught trying to kidnap a bride, I want to be hanged alone.

- We will follow you. As always, Kinnall,” Neil countered.

Connor suppressed a bitter sigh. Kinnall. He managed to retain the title, but not the holdings. Sir Henry Campbell settled in his house, and the very thought of it burned Connor with a painful fire.

Macpherson signaled to his companions and moved forward cautiously. He did not bend down to the ground. Lord Kinnall was too tall and too proud for this. Connor slid silently behind a nearby boulder and cocked his head to the side, listening to the sound of the wind, the splash of water and the approaching clatter of horse hooves. He seemed to clearly hear the dull beats of his own heart.

It was not too late to leave and stop this madness. Kate McCarran is a beautiful and brave girl. She's got a lot of character. In this woman, fire and ice merged together. Connor only saw her once, but that was enough. Her brother assured Connor that Kate was secretly a Jacobite. Any robber would dream of such a girlfriend, but Connor McPherson is not the best match for a bride-to-be.

Fool! On such a night, it is best to sit by the fire alone with a melodious violin, a full mug of ale and broken dreams. But despite everything, he decided to carry out this crazy plan. This desire was eating away at him from the inside, like a burning hunger. It turned out to be even stronger than MacPherson’s exorbitant pride.

The squad was approaching. Peering intently into the fog, Connor discerned the vague figures of two Scots on foot, followed by cloaked women and horse-dragoons riding behind them.

Connor didn't need a wife, at least not right now. Yes, even obtained in this way. But the damned letter tied him hand and foot, and MacPherson was used to keeping his word. Even if the one who demanded the promise from him is already dead. Honor obliged Connor to repay his debt to Duncrieff and his clan, and he made his will quite clear: MacPherson must kidnap Kate and make her his wife before anyone has time to intervene.

Connor carefully left his hiding place and squinted into the darkness. On either side of where he was hiding, two streams crossed the moorland, over which wooden bridges rose. The escort was just approaching the first of them. Connor motioned to his companions. Neil and Andrew ran forward silently, lay down on the ground and grabbed the strong ropes hidden in the thick grass and securely tied to the planks of both bridges.

Connor waited until the two tall mountain men crossed the first bridge. Women followed them on horseback. They were easy to recognize by their long dresses and capes. One of the women, dressed in a bright iridescent dress, shone like a star. The dragoons galloped at a considerable distance from the women.

So they came closer. Connor could clearly hear the thud of hooves hitting the wooden planks of the bridge. Voices were heard. One of the men said something, and the woman grumbled dissatisfiedly, complained about something, but her companion answered her softly and affectionately.

Connor's heart began to pound. A gentle female voice bewitched, making you forget about everything in the world.

This is her, his bride. The sudden thought made Connor flinch as if struck. For a moment he forgot about caution. This wonderful voice will henceforth sound in his home and in his dreams, and this lovely head will rest on his pillow. May God help him!

They say that all the McCarrans of the Duncrieff family are akin to fairies and sorcerers. Their magical abilities are passed on from generation to generation. Of course, Connor didn’t believe in such things, but the girl’s voice was truly enchanting, it seemed somehow fabulous, unearthly. MacPherson began to tremble.

“It’s all a fog,” he tried to reassure himself, frowning angrily.

Safely hidden by the darkness of the night, Connor slid forward, choosing the moment to attack. The horses the women rode crossed the first bridge and stepped onto the soft heather, heading towards the second stream. The two Scots were already walking ahead along the planks of the second bridge, and the horses of the dragoons began to carefully cross the bridge over the first stream.

When the women found themselves alone on the narrow isthmus between two bridges, Connor hooted quietly like an owl. His comrades pulled sharply on the ropes hidden in the grass. Both bridges simultaneously tilted with a creak, and the boards fell into the water. The screams of men, the neighing of horses, and the loud exclamations of women were heard. The riders' horses backed away in fear.

Connor rushed headlong into the darkness.

The horse spun around and Sophie McCarran pulled hard on the reins. Suddenly both bridges collapsed, plunging her escort into the water. In the darkness it was impossible to understand how much Sophie's companions had suffered. The confused girl tried to calm the loudly snoring horse. Her companion, Mrs. Evans, screamed shrilly. She could hardly hold the reins in her hands. Old age and growing panic were taking their toll.

- Mrs. Evans, hold the reins tight! – Sophie shouted. She could not manage to turn her horse around to come to the aid of the elderly maid.

Clutching the reins, Sophie peered into the darkness. Almost indistinguishable in the thick clouds of fog, her cousins, Alan and Donald McCarran, splashed noisily in the water and cursed loudly in Gaelic. Behind, two English dragoons, splashing and shouting, tried to free their horses.

Sophie's horse spun in place again, and the girl completely lost direction. Now the noise seemed to come from all directions. Where are the streams? Sophie hesitated to direct her horse towards the shore. Even before she could not be called an experienced rider, and over the past six years spent in the monastery, she had completely lost the habit of riding on horseback.

Attempts to contain the frightened animal took all her strength. Suddenly the horse jerked sharply. Sophie struggled to hold the reins, nearly slipping out of the saddle.

- Be careful, girl.

She felt someone's strong arms tightly grasp her waist. The next moment Sophie was already firmly in the saddle. In the thick milky-white darkness a mighty shoulder, covered with a checkered Scottish plaid, flashed. Sophie could see long dark hair and an unshaven cheek. The highlander took the bridle from the girl’s hands and quietly whispered something soothing in the horse’s ear.

- Alan? Donald? “Sophie took a breath of relief and was about to find out which of her cousins managed to get out of the water safely, but then her savior turned his head, and she saw a stranger in front of her.

“The tenant farmer living next door must have heard the noise and come to the rescue,” she decided.

The stranger stepped forward and pulled the horse behind him.

“Thank you, sir,” Sophie thanked him. He looked at her and silently turned away. The girl only managed to notice a prickly look, a tossed mane of dark hair and a checkered plaid. – The horse has already calmed down. My maid and the people who fell into the water need help.

The stranger did not answer, but only continued to walk silently, leading his horse.

“Maybe he only speaks Gaelic?” – Sophie thought in confusion. She had once known this language as a child, but now she couldn’t remember a word.

Sarah Gabriel

Sophie's kidnapping

She will find me, I know it.

Let me disappear, disappear without a trace,

I'll rush away without knowing the way,

She will find me, I know for sure.

I can’t distinguish her among the shadows,

But I follow her to who knows where.

Love itself creates miracles.

Inscription on the Duncrieff Cup

Scotland, Perthshire

Spring 1728

Well, Connor will fulfill his friend's wish. After all, it was because of him that McCarran was captured and thrown into prison, where, according to rumors, Duncrieffe died a few days ago.

Hiding behind huge ancient boulders, Connor took out a tightly folded wool blanket hidden between the stones and put it under his cloak.

- All is ready? – he whispered quietly in Gaelic.

“The ropes are in place,” replied Neil Murray, Connor’s servant and comrade-in-arms. “The priest is waiting for us in the old chapel on the hills.”

“This is unnecessary,” Connor snapped. “We’re going to get ourselves into a lot of trouble anyway.”

“There are other ways to find a bride,” Neil grumbled.

The clatter of hooves became louder.

“Horses,” Neil whispered. “When the girl and her maid left the house of the justice of the peace, they were accompanied by two Scots on foot and two horse-dragoons.

“Yeah,” Andrew confirmed, “we saw them.” They treated themselves to lunch. Sir Henry sent a whole escort with the girl.

“How polite,” Connor drawled. – Destroy the men, but provide protection for the women. Now disappear. If I get caught trying to kidnap a bride, I want to be hanged alone.

- We will follow you. As always, Kinnall,” Neil countered.

Connor suppressed a bitter sigh. Kinnall. He managed to retain the title, but not the holdings. Sir Henry Campbell settled in his house, and the very thought of it burned Connor with a painful fire.

The squad was approaching. Peering intently into the fog, Connor discerned the vague figures of two Scots on foot, followed by cloaked women and horse-dragoons riding behind them.

Connor's heart began to pound. A gentle female voice bewitched, making you forget about everything in the world.

“It’s all a fog,” he tried to reassure himself, frowning angrily.

No one noticed how a boat made its way through a huge brick pipe, as if under a bridge, into the institute pond. Two men sat in it, dressed like clerks: in caps, vests, jackets and trousers tucked into boots. These were the Turks Aslan and Mustafa. They worked their oars silently and silently swam to the shore. At this time, a curious girl, Sonya, approached the pond, wrapped over her college uniform in a white hijab, which a friend lent her to try on. Sonya went down to the water itself and bent down to look at her reflection. A little further away the Turks disembarked from the boat. Aslan, narrowing his eyes at the prey and preparing a bag, crept up to the girl. His father was holding him up from behind. Sonya tried to imagine how Miriam walked around all the time with a scarf over her lips. The thick fabric made it very difficult to breathe. The girl just wanted to straighten up and climb onto the path, when suddenly the white light disappeared from her eyes. Once! - and there is a bag on the young lady’s head! He smells like sweets, but it's a bag! What? Who caught her? Sonya tried to scream, but the scream came out weak. On top of the bag, a strong hand covered her mouth. She heard Turkish grumbling and was very scared. Turks! She was captured! Someone must be hunting for Miriam! It's good that your friend ran away! The kidnapper's grip weakened, and Sophia screamed at the top of her lungs! Meanwhile, Miriam was already running to the pond with a mirror into which the fashionable Sonya wanted to look. The Turkish woman heard a girl's cry. Running closer, Miriam saw a boat, two men in it, and something blue and white that resembled an institute uniform. “Sonya! It was stolen! The boat cut through the mirror surface of the pond. He's about to reach the pipe - and then remember his name. One swimmer was rowing, the other was holding the girl, who, trying to free herself, kicked the bottom, rocked the boat, and screamed. A stupid Turk tried to persuade a Russian girl in Turkish. Ah, he thought it was the Turkish Miriam! Well, of course, in Turkish! Miriam did not go further, but ran through the park, along a remote part of it, along the lattice fence that separated the institute from the guardian’s estate. If only I could make it in time! Oh, a hole in the fence! What a luck! With her heart beating, Miriam climbed into the yard and rushed straight across the grass to the purple house with columns. If only the Count was at home! If only he could save Sonechka! And the count was really at home, talking with Andre Khovansky about women. Vorontsov admitted his unhappy relationships with women, his reluctance to continue them, and Prince Khovansky assured that women enliven life, like a sip of champagne. At that very moment, Miriam ran into the living room in Sonya’s hat, without a scarf on her face: she was too excited to think that it was indecent to show herself without a hijab to two strangers. She was very afraid for Sonya. - Count! My girlfriend! She's been captured! - Where? - There, near the pond! There are two people on a boat! Vorontsov, not listening enough, cursed and rushed for the saber. As he was in a white shirt, he ran out of the house and, seeing a boat in a gap in the trees, realized where he could meet the bandits, jumped on his horse and rushed along the alley. Miriam only had time to turn her head. Andre also flew out of the house after his friend and followed him in the carriage. A woman's scream was heard in the dark alley. There stood a dark carriage into which Sophia was stuffed with a bag over her head. The carriage went around the bars of the institute and, throwing passers-by onto the sidewalks, rushed along the cobblestone street. Sonya tried to free herself from the bag, but the Turks only squeezed her tighter and clamped her mouth shut, so that there was not enough air. Can a weak girl cope with two men? Suddenly, a daredevil on a white horse appeared from around the corner. He jumped to the ground and blocked the path of the dark cart with his horse. The horses of the Turks became. Vorontsov jumped up to the carriage. The coachman sat like a statue, trying not to “glow.” The count, indeed, did not pay attention to him at first; he pulled open the door, pulled out the Turkish guy and threw him onto the cobblestones, then, having guessed, he grabbed the “coachman”. Rifat - and it was he - like the evil genius Rothbart, flapped his winged wings, kicked Vorontsov, jumped off the irradiator and ran away. Vorontsov is behind him. Mustafa also got out of the carriage and trotted away until no one was looking. Sonya felt freedom and looked out of the carriage, straightening her scarf. “Count Vorontsov! Oh!" Well done girlfriend! It’s good that she thought to run to the count, otherwise who knows what happened to Sophia! A white thoroughbred horse - a Count, no less - stood rooted to the spot on the corner without a hitching post, and the Turk and Vorontsov had already run around the block. The chase continued. Sonya, breathing heavily, looked after the Count. Oh, this is her hero! He saved her! But she... she fell in love with him even earlier! He will defeat the enemy, of course! Sonya began to pray to herself, asking for mercy for the count. And her savior followed the Turk into some alley. In the stinking alley, Rifat finally turned his hating face on the colonel. He leisurely leaned against the dirty, rough wall, so incongruous with his respectable appearance in his top hat and cap, and, breathless, said: “I’m not going to fight with you! Let me go...” Vorontsov, while listening to these speeches, managed to take out a saber. "I'm afraid you have no choice!" - with a fierce face, he drew his weapon and stood in a fighting stance. Rifat finally decided to follow his enemy’s advice and, throwing off his cloak to defend himself, slowly took out his saber. They stood quite far from each other. The Turk rushed to attack with a wild cry, Vorontsov parried the blow. Rifat continued - Vorontsov began to retreat, but then made a couple of deceptive movements, and the Turk was stuck in place. How Vorontsov hated the Dark Turk at that moment! He dodged a direct attack, but the fight continued. The sabers grinded, in the gateway where they moved, the echo amplified the sounds of battle threefold. At the same time, you couldn’t see a damn thing, and the bright light from the yard, on the contrary, blinded your eyes. Rifat pressed the count against the wall and ran the blade of his saber across his shoulder. Vladimir groaned, feeling the pain, released the saber and pressed his hand over the wound. His blade ended up on the ground. Before the enemy had time to rejoice, Vorontsov used his legs. A couple of self-defense techniques without weapons - and the Turk is lying under the count’s feet. The colonel stood guard over the Turk, not allowing him to get up, until the sluggish policemen finally ran up to the scene of the fight. “I am Count Vorontsov,” he told the guards. “This is the kidnapper,” he pointed with his saber at the lying Turk, “and two more escaped.” The police grabbed the criminal, and he hissed: “We will meet again!” The colonel's contemptuous look was his answer. And at that moment a tall young man in a mustard-colored suit, with dark, well-groomed hair, and deep dark eyes ran up to Sophia. Struck by the beauty of the schoolgirl, he slowed down his run and stopped and looked at Sophia. Confused, the girl looked down. Cupid flew over the young people and thought: “Is that where they sent me? Is it right for this pair? No, well, they’re good, of course, but, in my opinion, they don’t suit each other at all!” Finally, Vorontsov appeared. He walked swaying, the sleeve of his shirt was torn and bloody, his disheveled hair stuck together on his forehead. Not a very presentable appearance. But courageous. “Hmm, women liven up life! - He recognized the one who looked in his mirror. - Op-five she is! Where did this eccentric girl fall on my head!” Cupid turned his attention to the Count: “Oh, it seems that he’s really going there!” And he tied the souls of Vladimir and Sophia with a rope, straightening the bow. Now they won't be able to live apart. But the count did not look at Sophia. “What if I wasn’t at home?!” He was very scared for her and was angry with himself for it. Finally, he said: “You, young lady, need to be more careful! Life is much scarier and more dangerous than French novels!” And Sophia looked at the count with anxiety, which seemed to subside with every minute. This time the danger was over. How calm she is next to this, the only person in the world! Vorontsov asked Andrei to take the young lady to the counts' mansion, where Miriam was waiting for her, and the young man put Sophia in his carriage. And the wounded cavalryman himself went home on horseback.

Literally translated from Greek, the name Mitrofan means “showing his mother,” that is, resembling his mother. This is a striking type of spoiled “mama’s boy”, who grew up and developed in the ignorant environment of the feudal landed nobility. Serfdom, the home environment and the absurd, ugly upbringing spiritually ruined and corrupted him. By nature, he is not devoid of cunning and intelligence. He sees perfectly well that the mother is the sovereign mistress of the house, and he plays nice with her, pretends to be a son who loves her tenderly (story about the dream) or scares her with the threat of drowning if he is not saved from his uncle’s fists and tortured by reading the book of hours.

Mitrofan's mental development is extremely low, since he has an insurmountable aversion to work and learning. The scenes of his classes with the teacher and the exam clearly and fully show his mental squalor, ignorance of the sciences and reluctance to understand anything, to learn new things. The dovecote, hearth pies, sweet sleep and the idle life of the barchuk are much dearer to him than mental pursuits. Mitrofan does not know love for anyone, even for those closest to him - his father, mother and nanny. He doesn’t talk to teachers, but “barks,” as Tsyfirkin puts it; He calls Eremeevna, who is devoted to him, “an old bastard,” and threatens her with fierce reprisals: “I’ll get you off!” When Sophia’s kidnapping failed, he angrily shouts: “Take care of people! He rudely pushes his mother, who has lost both power and property, and rushed to him in despair: “Let go, mother, just like you imposed yourself. Mitrofan's speech fully reflects his character and his distinctive qualities. Mitrofan's mental poverty and underdevelopment are reflected in the fact that he does not know how to use words and speak coherently. He expresses himself in one word: Probably, brother. “Which door is which? To hell with everything!” His language contains a lot of colloquialisms, words and phrases borrowed from servants: For me, wherever they tell you to go. And look at that, it’s a task from Uncle”, “Remember Nyrnu as his name was!

Fonvizin’s comedy “The Minor” was staged in the theater in 1782. The historical prototype of the “Miscellaneous” was the title of a noble teenager who did not complete his studies. During Fonvizin’s time, the burdens of compulsory service increased at the same time as the weakening...

All this would be funny if it weren't so sad. M. Yu. Lermontov The last four decades of the 18th century. are distinguished by the genuine flowering of Russian drama. But classic comedy and tragedy far from exhaust its genre composition. Into dramaturgy...

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Minor is rightly considered the pinnacle of D.I. Fonvizin’s creativity. This play is the first socio-political comedy on the Russian stage. The main conflict in it is the clash between the progressive nobles and the conservative part...

Comedy by D. I. Fonvizin “The Minor” about events in the 18th century. Today is the 21st century, and many of its problems are relevant, the images are still alive. One of the main problems raised by the play is the writer’s thoughts about the legacy that the Prostakovs are preparing for Russia...

Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin (1745 - 1792)

The history of the creation of the play “The Minor” (1782)

The play was written in the 2nd half of the 18th century, during the darkest period of the reign of Catherine II. This is the first Russian socio-political comedy in which the author portrayed masters who do not rule by right, nobles unworthy of being nobles, self-proclaimed teachers. The first production of the play took place in 1782 and was a huge success: “the audience applauded the play by throwing purses.”

Characters

Prostakov Mrs. Prostakova, wife

Mitrofan, son Eremeevna, nurse

Pravdin Starodum

Sophia, niece of Starodum Milon

Mr. Skotinin, brother of Prostakova Kuteikin, sexton

Tsyfirkin, retired sergeant Vralman, teacher

Trishka, tailor

Mrs. Prostakova, a loving mother, dreams of finding the best possible place in the life of her underage Mitrofanushka - marrying him profitably. In the Prostakovs' house, Sophia lives as a poor relative and suffers rudeness from the landlady. Prostakova intends to marry her to her brother Taras Skotinin. But when she finds out that Sophia is a rich heiress, her plans change: now she wants to marry her son to her. The landowner is not embarrassed by the fact that Sophia has a fiancé, Milon. She makes plans to kidnap Sophia in order to forcibly marry her to Mitrofan. But at the end of the play, all her plans fail, the loving hearts of Sophia and Milon are united, and the Prostakovs’ estate is taken under guardianship by the state. The ending of the comedy is ambiguous, since in reality this did not happen (it turned out that Fonvizin thus criticized the reign of Catherine II).

Comedy finale

Starodum ( to Pravdin, holding the hands of Sophia and Milon). Well, my friend! We

let's go. Wish us...

Pravdin. All the happiness to which honest hearts are entitled.

Ms. Prostakova ( rushing to hug his son). You are the only one left with me, my dear friend, Mitrofanushka!

Mitrofan. Let go, mother, how you imposed yourself...

Starodum ( pointing at Ms. Prostakova). These are the fruits worthy of evil!

The meaning of the play's title

In the 18th century, minors were children of the nobility who had not reached 15 years of age, that is, the age appointed by Peter I for entering the service.

In Fonvizin, this word acquired a mocking, ironic meaning.

Mitrofan

Comedy character system

Composition is a construction. Composition elements:

1.Exposition (meeting the characters)

	Everyday conflict	Ideological conflict
2.Commence	Prostakova comes up with a plan to marry her “brother” with Sophia’s “money”; after Sophia’s dowry becomes known and a new plan arises - to marry Mitrofanushka to her	Pravdin has been living in Prostakova’s house for three days with the intention of stopping the lawlessness happening there.
3. Development of action
4.Decoupling	Sophia marries Milo for love	Pravdin takes away the estate from the Prostakovs

NEGATIVE COMEDY CHARACTERS

Mrs. Prostakova

Name meaning: from “simple, simpleton.” In the 18th century, the word “simple” meant “empty, unoccupied.”

Age of the heroine: I would like to call her old, but Mitrofan is 16 years old, and, therefore, "mistress inhuman" a little over 30 and hardly more than 40 years old (this was the era of early marriages). This age-related perception of the heroine is probably due to the fact that everyone is afraid of her and no one loves her (“I love that strangers listen to me”)

Prostakova inherited her lack of moral principles from her parents. She grew up in a family with eighteen children, of whom only two survived, the rest died due to parental neglect. Prostakova's father, having served as a governor for fifteen years, remained illiterate, but managed to get rich, and died of hunger, lying on a chest with money.

Prostakova received neither upbringing nor education, she can neither read nor write (“I can receive letters, but I always tell someone else to read them”) and believes that education is unnecessary: “People live and have lived without science.” Why did she hire teachers for her son? Firstly, “we are no worse than others,” and secondly, she is forced to follow the decree of Peter I on noble children.

She is merciless to those who are in her power, she considers serfs to be her property, she has robbed them to the bone: “Since we took away everything the peasants had, we can’t take anything back. Such a disaster! The main thing for her in life is personal gain.

Prostakova’s character and life attitudes are not her fault, but the result of a bad upbringing: “A nobleman is not free to whip his servants when he wants! But why have we been given a decree on the freedom of the nobility!”
Her speech is rude, it contains many colloquial words and expressions, and she constantly curses. He calls Trishka: swindler, thief, cattle, thief's mug, blockhead. She says to her husband: “Why are you so spoiled today, my father?” “All your life, sir, you’ve been walking around with your ears open.” And only affectionate towards her son: “ Mitrofanushka, my friend”, “my dear friend”, “son”.

He does not stand on ceremony with others. If she doesn't meet resistance, she becomes arrogant. But if she encounters force, she becomes cowardly and is even ready to humiliate herself in front of the strong. Despotic towards her husband, pushes him around: “From morning to evening I’m hanging by the tongue, I don’t lay down my hands: I scold, I fight; This is how the house holds together.”

Autocratic, immoral, " disgusting fury", loves only her son: she is tender and caring with him: “My only concern, my only joy is Mitrofanushka. My age is passing. I’m preparing him to become a people.” The meaning of her life is caring for his happiness and well-being. But blind maternal love does not ennoble, but disfigures Mitrofan. “So is it really necessary to be a tailor to be able to sew a caftan well? What bestial reasoning!”

At the end of Prostakova’s comedy, when her beloved son abandons her, she evokes pity among the heroes and the audience.

Pravdin about Prostakova

“I found a landowner, a countless fool, and a wife, a despicable fury, whose hellish disposition brings misfortune to their entire house.”
(To Mitrofan) “Should you be rude to your mother? It was her crazy love for you that brought her the most misfortune.”

Sophia about Prostakova:

“Hearing that my uncle was making me an heir, I suddenly went from being rude and scolding to being affectionate to the point of being mean.”

Skotinin

Name meaning: derived from “cattle”, “cattle”. On the one hand, it reflects the hero’s love for farm animals (pigs), on the other hand, it characterizes him as a rude, mean person

Ignorant, stupid, greedy. “Don’t be that Skotinin who wants to learn something.”

A typical representative of small landed nobility. A ferocious serf. “If I weren’t Taras Skotinin, if not every fault is my fault”.

Rude, ignorant, tyrannical: “Any loss, rather than going after it, I’ll rip off from my own peasants, and it’ll end up in the water.”

Narcissistic: “I’ll say, without boasting, what I am, really, there are few of them”

First he wants to marry Sophia in order to get her estate, famous for pigs, and “have your own piglets”; then - so that for Sophia's inheritance "all the pigs from all over the world" redeem.

For the sake of the opportunity to marry profitably, he is ready to destroy his rival - Mitrofan’s own nephew. The author takes his image to the point of grotesquery: the main interest in Taras’s life is the barnyard, breeding pigs. Only pigs evoke warm feelings in him, only he shows concern for them. According to his understanding, the Skotinin family “older than Adam, created by the Creator along with the beasts.”

At the end of the comedy, he is tasked with notifying "all Skotinins"(that is, all landowners, of which Skotinin is a typical representative) that they will be punished for their rude attitude towards the servants.

Mitrofanushka

Point out the main evil of the time: serfdom and the arbitrariness of landowners, supported by the authorities at the highest level.

To expose the vices of the nobility: he believed that the nobility was responsible for the situation in the country, but he understood that the overwhelming majority of nobles were not worthy of such a high role.

Find out the reasons that disfigure the personality.

To ridicule ignorance (of the nobles and their children): the fact is that children who had reached the age of 15 were then called “newcomers”, and younger ones were called “minors”, but the law of 1736 extended the right to remain minors until 20 years of age (until receiving education). .

To aggravate the main conflict of time - the conflict between ignorance and enlightenment.

Bring up the topic of education for discussion.

To depict life truthfully, to expand the scope of classicism, to introduce elements of a realistic depiction of reality.

Fonvizin is mentioned in the novel “Eugene Onegin”:

There in the old days,

Satire is a brave ruler,

Fonvizin, friend of freedom, shone,

and the overbearing Prince...

Type of literature - drama

Direction - classicism

Genre - comedy

POSITIVE COMEDY CHARACTERS

Starodum

A person who thinks “in the old way” (gives preference to the previous, Petrine era, preserves its traditions, since he was brought up in the spirit of Petrine times).
An enlightened man, a patriot. Demands to limit the arbitrariness of the feudal landowners: “It is unlawful to oppress one’s own kind through slavery.”
Morality is valued above enlightenment: “Mind, if it is just intelligence, is the most trifle... Good behavior gives direct value to intelligence. Without it, an intelligent person is a monster. Science in a depraved man is a fierce weapon to do evil.”
Indicates the main reason for the appearance of people like the Prostakovs and Skotinins - this is the state. Thanks to the decrees of the empress, which protected the rights of the nobility, “dislocated,” “mute,” “hunchbacked” souls flourish in the country, in which, according to Starodum, "nobility is buried with their ancestors." This is the whole pathos of the accusatory comedy.
He achieves everything through honest work: “I retired for several years to the land where money is obtained without exchanging it for conscience, without vile service, without robbing the fatherland.”
People are assessed by the benefits they bring to the fatherland, and not by their initiatives and position in society
With the arrival of Starodum, the main events of the comedy begin: the matchmaking of Skotinin and Mitrofan, the refusal to marry Sophia, Prostakova’s organization of Sophia’s kidnapping
The inheritance he left to Sophia makes her independent and causes ingratiation from negative characters.
The desire to marry Sophia to a certain young man with the mutual love of Sophia and Milon and at the same time the readiness to obey his uncle in everything forms an intrigue until it becomes clear that the young man whom Starodum expects to be the husband of his niece and Milon are one person.
Through the mouth of Starodum, the thoughts and views of Fonvizin himself are expressed; this is a hero expressing the ideological content of comedy

Starodum's ideals

Starodum's educational and moral ideals were reflected in his aphorisms.

Enlightenment elevates one virtuous soul.

An ignoramus without a soul is a beast.

A great sovereign is a wise sovereign.

The ranks begin - sincerity ceases.

Have a heart, have a soul, and you will be a man at all times.

Conscience, like a friend, always warns before punishing like a judge.

For the whim of one person, the whole of Siberia is not enough.

It is in vain to call a doctor to the sick without healing. The doctor won’t help you here unless you get infected yourself.

Insolence in a woman is a sign of vicious behavior.

Cash is not cash worth. The golden fool is still a fool.

Follow nature, you will never be poor.

Pravdin

Pravdin is an honest and impeccable official (an auditor with the right to take custody of estates from cruel landowners).
Serves as an official in the viceroyalty - an institution created in 1775 by Catherine II in each province to oversee the implementation of government decrees locally.
His main task is not only by virtue of his position, but also “from one’s own deed of heart” Pravdin believes that the suppression of the willfulness of the landowners, who “having complete power over their people, they use it for evil inhumanly”
In the finale of the comedy, Pravdin, on behalf of the government, takes custody of Prostakova’s estate, depriving her of the right to arbitrarily dispose of the peasants

Milo

An exemplary officer, brave and selfless
Sincerely loves Sophia, does not seek benefits from marrying her
“And what is the difference between the fearlessness of a soldier who, in an attack, risks his life along with others, and between the fearlessness of a statesman who speaks the truth to the sovereign, daring to anger him. The judge, who was not afraid of vengeance or the threats of the strong, gave justice to the helpless, is a hero in my eyes.”
Claims for Sophia's hand, being the antipode of unworthy contenders - Skotinin and Mitrofan
Becomes Sophia's fiance, thereby causing Prostakova's indignation
Saves Sophia from kidnapping

Sophia

The name translated from Greek means “wisdom” (the highest value of the Enlightenment era)
Modest, prudent, virtuous
Is the embodiment "virtue in the hands of vice"
Thirsts for knowledge, seeks moral guidelines: “Your instructions, uncle, will make up all my well-being. Give me rules that I must follow. Guide my heart. It is ready to obey you"
Prostakova's attitude towards Sophia reveals the thirst for profit and the tyranny of the landowner
The matchmaking of Skotinin, Mitrofan and Milon to Sophia forms the main storyline of the comedy
In the finale of the comedy, an attempt to kidnap Sophia leads to the collapse of Prostakova’s power, whose estate Pravdin takes under his guardianship.

CONFORMITY IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF COMEDY

LAWS OF CLASSICISM

Laws of classicism	Construction of comedy
Rules of the “three unities”
Unity of place	Prostakov estate
Unity of time	within one day
Unity of action	the struggle of three contenders for the right to become Sophia's husband
Dividing all heroes into positive and negative	Positive heroes: Starodum, Pravdin, Milon, Sophia Negative heroes: Prostakov, Prostakova, Mitrofan, teachers (Vralman, Kuteikin, Tsyfirkin)
The purpose of comedy is to execute vices with laughter.
"Talking" names of characters	Skotinin, Prostakova (nee Skotinina). Mitrofan, Vralman, Kuteikin, Pravdin, Starodum, Sophia (Greek “wisdom”)
All of Fonvizin’s favorite (positive) heroes, in accordance with the rules of classicism, speak in “high calm,” the correct literary language, as they talk about the lofty concepts of public service and moral duty.
The main result of the comedy: vice is punished, and virtue triumphs.

Each character is not a diagram, not the personification of any one quality (as was the case in the works of classicism), but a living image.

In addition to comic scenes, the play also contains pictures that reveal the difficult sides of serf life, and in the comedies of classicism, a mixture of the heroic and tragic was not allowed.

The heroes of classicist comedies were people of low class and had base interests worthy of ridicule. In Fonvizin, the difference between positive and negative heroes is so great that comedy became instructive and edifying for contemporaries (a rare case in 18th-century literature).

TUTORS

Eremeevna, Trishka

Pafnutich Tsyfirkin

Math teacher, former soldier

Does not love "to live idlely", accustomed to work, but does not take on his own business

Refuses money for Mitrofan’s education, since the student has not learned anything: “I served the sovereign for more than twenty years. I took money for service, I didn’t take it empty-handed, and I won’t take it.” This earns respect from the goodies too, and they reward him beyond expectations.

Sidorich Kuteikin

Teacher of Russian and Church Slavonic languages

Having not completed his studies at the seminary, he asked to be excused from studying, being afraid "the depths of wisdom", to which I received the answer: “Such and such a seminarian should be dismissed from all teaching: it is written, do not throw pearls before swine, lest they trample him underfoot.”

Cunning, greedy, for which he is punished in the final

Vralman

A history teacher, "in French and all sciences" German

It turns out that he was a former coachman, who, unable to find a place for himself, became a teacher,

According to Prostakova, he is better than other teachers (she understands little of the German’s words, and this inspires her respect, and, most importantly, he does not overwork Mitrofan),

The fact that Vralman became a teacher respected by the owners of the house speaks of the Prostakovs’ ignorance, of their stupid adherence to the fashion for foreign teachers

At this time, a curious girl, Sonya, approached the pond, wrapped over her college uniform in a white hijab, which a friend lent her to try on. Sonya went down to the water itself and bent down to look at her reflection.

A little further away the Turks disembarked from the boat. Aslan, narrowing his eyes at the prey and preparing a bag, crept up to the girl. His father was holding him up from behind.

Sonya tried to imagine how Miriam walked around all the time with a scarf over her lips. The thick fabric made it very difficult to breathe. The girl just wanted to straighten up and climb onto the path, when suddenly the white light disappeared from her eyes. Once! - and there is a bag on the young lady’s head!

He smells like sweets, but it's a bag! What? Who caught her? Sonya tried to scream, but the scream came out weak. On top of the bag, a strong hand covered her mouth. She heard Turkish grumbling and was very scared. Turks! She was captured! Someone must be hunting for Miriam! It's good that your friend ran away! The kidnapper's grip weakened, and Sophia screamed at the top of her lungs!

Meanwhile, Miriam was already running to the pond with a mirror into which the fashionable Sonya wanted to look. The Turkish woman heard a girl's cry. Running closer, Miriam saw a boat, two men in it, and something blue and white that resembled an institute uniform.

“Sonya! It was stolen! The boat cut through the mirror surface of the pond. He's about to reach the pipe - and then remember his name. One swimmer was rowing, the other was holding the girl, who, trying to free herself, kicked the bottom, rocked the boat, and screamed. A stupid Turk tried to persuade a Russian girl in Turkish. Ah, he thought it was the Turkish Miriam! Well, of course, in Turkish!

Miriam did not go further, but ran through the park, along a remote part of it, along the lattice fence that separated the institute from the guardian’s estate. If only I could make it in time! Oh, a hole in the fence! What a luck! With her heart beating, Miriam climbed into the yard and rushed straight across the grass to the purple house with columns.

If only the Count was at home! If only he could save Sonechka!

And the count was really at home, talking with Andre Khovansky about women. Vorontsov admitted his unhappy relationships with women, his reluctance to continue them, and Prince Khovansky assured that women enliven life, like a sip of champagne.

At that very moment, Miriam ran into the living room in Sonya’s hat, without a scarf on her face: she was too excited to think that it was indecent to show herself without a hijab to two strangers. She was very afraid for Sonya.

Graph! My girlfriend! She's been captured!
- Where?
- There, near the pond! There are two people on a boat!

Vorontsov, not listening enough, cursed and rushed for the saber. As he was in a white shirt, he ran out of the house and, seeing a boat in a gap in the trees, realized where he could meet the bandits, jumped on his horse and rushed along the alley.

Miriam only had time to turn her head. Andre also flew out of the house after his friend and followed him in the carriage.

A woman's scream was heard in the dark alley. There stood a dark carriage into which Sophia was stuffed with a bag over her head.

The carriage went around the bars of the institute and, throwing passers-by onto the sidewalks, rushed along the cobblestone street. Sonya tried to free herself from the bag, but the Turks only squeezed her tighter and clamped her mouth shut, so that there was not enough air. Can a weak girl cope with two men?

Suddenly, a daredevil on a white horse appeared from around the corner. He jumped to the ground and blocked the path of the dark cart with his horse. The horses of the Turks became.

Vorontsov jumped up to the carriage. The coachman sat like a statue, trying not to “glow.” The count, indeed, did not pay attention to him at first; he pulled open the door, pulled out the Turkish guy and threw him onto the cobblestones, then, having guessed, he grabbed the “coachman”. Rifat - and it was he - like the evil genius Rothbart, flapped his winged wings, kicked Vorontsov, jumped off the irradiator and ran away. Vorontsov is behind him. Mustafa also got out of the carriage and trotted away until no one was looking.

Sonya felt freedom and looked out of the carriage, straightening her scarf.

“Count Vorontsov! Oh!" Well done girlfriend! It’s good that she thought to run to the count, otherwise who knows what happened to Sophia!

A white thoroughbred horse - a Count, no less - stood rooted to the spot on the corner without a hitching post, and the Turk and Vorontsov had already run around the block. The chase continued.

Sonya, breathing heavily, looked after the Count. Oh, this is her hero! He saved her! But she... she fell in love with him even earlier! He will defeat the enemy, of course! Sonya began to pray to herself, asking for mercy for the count.

And her savior followed the Turk into some alley.

In the stinking alley, Rifat finally turned his hating face on the colonel. He leisurely leaned against the dirty, rough wall, so incongruous with his respectable appearance in his top hat and cap, and, breathless, said: “I’m not going to fight with you! Let me go..."

Vorontsov, while listening to these speeches, managed to take out a saber. "I'm afraid you have no choice!" - with a fierce face, he drew his weapon and stood in a fighting stance. Rifat finally decided to follow his enemy’s advice and, throwing off his cloak to defend himself, slowly took out his saber.

They stood quite far from each other. The Turk rushed to attack with a wild cry, Vorontsov parried the blow. Rifat continued - Vorontsov began to retreat, but then made a couple of deceptive movements, and the Turk was stuck in place. How Vorontsov hated the Dark Turk at that moment! He dodged a direct attack, but the fight continued.

The sabers grinded, in the gateway where they moved, the echo amplified the sounds of battle threefold. At the same time, you couldn’t see a damn thing, and the bright light from the yard, on the contrary, blinded your eyes. Rifat pressed the count against the wall and ran the blade of his saber across his shoulder. Vladimir groaned, feeling the pain, released the saber and pressed his hand over the wound. His blade ended up on the ground. Before the enemy had time to rejoice, Vorontsov used his legs. A couple of self-defense techniques without weapons - and the Turk is lying under the count’s feet.

The colonel stood guard over the Turk, not allowing him to get up, until the sluggish policemen finally ran up to the scene of the fight.

“I am Count Vorontsov,” he told the guards. “This is the kidnapper,” he pointed with his saber at the lying Turk, “and two more escaped.”

The police grabbed the criminal, and he hissed:
- We'll meet Again!
The colonel's contemptuous look was his answer.

And at that moment a tall young man in a mustard-colored suit, with dark, well-groomed hair, and deep dark eyes ran up to Sophia. Struck by the beauty of the schoolgirl, he slowed down his run and stopped and looked at Sophia. Confused, the girl looked down.

Cupid flew over the young people and thought: “Is that where they sent me? Is it right for this pair? No, well, they’re good, of course, but, in my opinion, they don’t suit each other at all!”

Finally, Vorontsov appeared. He walked swaying, the sleeve of his shirt was torn and bloody, his disheveled hair stuck together on his forehead. Not a very presentable appearance. But courageous.

“Hmm, women liven up life! - He recognized the one who looked in his mirror. - Op-five she is! Where did this eccentric girl fall on my head!”

Cupid turned his attention to the Count: “Oh, it seems that he’s really going there!” And he tied the souls of Vladimir and Sophia with a rope, straightening the bow. Now they won't be able to live apart.

But the count did not look at Sophia. “What if I wasn’t at home?!” He was very scared for her and was angry with himself for it. Finally, he said: “You, young lady, need to be more careful! Life is much scarier and more dangerous than French novels!”

And Sophia looked at the count with anxiety, which seemed to subside with every minute. This time the danger was over. How calm she is next to this, the only person in the world!

Vorontsov asked Andrei to take the young lady to the counts' mansion, where Miriam was waiting for her, and the young man put Sophia in his carriage. And the wounded cavalryman himself went home on horseback.

Mitrofan.

He sees perfectly well that the mother is the sovereign mistress of the house, and he plays nice with her, pretends to be a son who loves her tenderly (story about the dream) or scares her with the threat of drowning if he is not saved from his uncle’s fists and tortured by reading the book of hours.

He doesn’t talk to teachers, but “barks,” as Tsyfirkin puts it; He calls Eremeevna, who is devoted to him, “an old bastard,” and threatens her with fierce reprisals: “I’ll get you off!” When Sophia’s kidnapping failed, he angrily shouts: “Take care of people! He rudely pushes his mother, who has lost both power and property, and rushed to him in despair: “Let go, mother, just like you imposed yourself. Mitrofan's speech fully reflects his character and his distinctive qualities. Mitrofan's mental poverty and underdevelopment are reflected in the fact that he does not know how to use words and speak coherently. He expresses himself in one word: Probably, brother. “Which door is which? To hell with everything!” His language contains a lot of colloquialisms, words and phrases borrowed from servants: For me, wherever they tell you to go. And look at that, it’s a task from Uncle”, “Remember Nyrnu as his name was!

The main tone of his speech is the capricious, dismissive, rude rush of a spoiled “mama’s son,” a barchuki, a future despot and tyrant. Even with his mother, he speaks more than cheekily, and sometimes he is insolent to her.

The image of Mitrofan is revealed widely and diversified: his attitude towards his parents, towards his uncle, towards teachers, towards Eremeevna, his activities, pastime, the conditions that shaped his character, the reasons for his attitude towards his mother at the beginning and end of the comedy are shown. The author’s attitude towards him is sharply negative

The image of Mitrofan is an image of enormous generalizing power. The name Mitrofanushka became a household name. The very word “minor,” which before Fonvizin meant a noble teenager under 16 years of age, became synonymous with a complete ignoramus who knew nothing and did not want to know anything.

Updated: 2011-05-08

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Sarah Gabriel

Sophie's kidnapping

She will find me, I know it.

Let me disappear, disappear without a trace,

I'll rush away without knowing the way,

She will find me, I know for sure.

I can’t distinguish her among the shadows,

But I follow her to who knows where.

Dougie McLane, She'll Find Me.

Love itself creates miracles.

Inscription on the Duncrieff Cup

Scotland, Perthshire

Spring 1728

Well, Connor will fulfill his friend's wish. After all, it was because of him that McCarran was captured and thrown into prison, where, according to rumors, Duncrieffe died a few days ago.

Hiding behind huge ancient boulders, Connor took out a tightly folded wool blanket hidden between the stones and put it under his cloak.

- All is ready? – he whispered quietly in Gaelic.

“The ropes are in place,” replied Neil Murray, Connor’s servant and comrade-in-arms. “The priest is waiting for us in the old chapel on the hills.”

“This is unnecessary,” Connor snapped. “We’re going to get ourselves into a lot of trouble anyway.”

“There are other ways to find a bride,” Neil grumbled.

The clatter of hooves became louder.

“Horses,” Neil whispered. “When the girl and her maid left the house of the justice of the peace, they were accompanied by two Scots on foot and two horse-dragoons.

“Yeah,” Andrew confirmed, “we saw them.” They treated themselves to lunch. Sir Henry sent a whole escort with the girl.

“How polite,” Connor drawled. – Destroy the men, but provide protection for the women. Now disappear. If I get caught trying to kidnap a bride, I want to be hanged alone.

- We will follow you. As always, Kinnall,” Neil countered.

Connor suppressed a bitter sigh. Kinnall. He managed to retain the title, but not the holdings. Sir Henry Campbell settled in his house, and the very thought of it burned Connor with a painful fire.

The squad was approaching. Peering intently into the fog, Connor discerned the vague figures of two Scots on foot, followed by cloaked women and horse-dragoons riding behind them.

Connor's heart began to pound. A gentle female voice bewitched, making you forget about everything in the world.

“It’s all a fog,” he tried to reassure himself, frowning angrily.

Connor rushed headlong into the darkness.

- Mrs. Evans, hold the reins tight! – Sophie shouted. She could not manage to turn her horse around to come to the aid of the elderly maid.

Sophie's horse spun in place again, and the girl completely lost