Characteristics of the ball of woe. Characteristics of the guests of the Famusov house

Griboedov's comedy "Woe from Wit" is one of the most famous works of Russian literature. It has not lost its relevance even in our time, two centuries later. The conflict of generations, the relationship between man and society - these problems have existed and will always exist. And now there are people who seem to have stepped out of the pages of Griboedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit.” And now advanced creative thought does not always find the support of others. Young people find the advice of the older generation funny. And old people grumble all the time that in the days of their youth everything was much better. So the main character of Griboyedov was not understood by the people around him.

The ball scene is typical for Moscow of Griboyedov's time. And Famusov’s guests are the most ordinary people of Moscow society of the early 19th century. Some go to balls out of boredom, others to make acquaintances with the right people, and others to arrange the destinies of their children. People of the same circle gather here; there are no strangers here. And the established rules of behavior are the law. Chatsky, with his truth and critical outlook on life, simply could not become one of these people. Famusov's guests condemn him behind his back. But if you tell the countess-granddaughter that she is angry because “there have been girls for a whole century,” or tell Khlestova that she is a quarrelsome, stupid old woman, you can be considered crazy for this. The first people Chatsky meets at the ball are the Gorichi spouses. Platon Gorich, an old acquaintance of Chatsky, a former military man, after his marriage completely fell “under the heel” of his wife. One feels that Chatsky treats Platon Mikhailovich well and is sincerely upset by the change that has happened to his old friend. Although he makes fun of Gorich, he does so with obvious sympathy. And here are the princes Tugoukhovsky with their family, with their many daughters. The first thing the princess is interested in is whether Chatsky is married. And how quickly her interest disappears when she finds out that the candidate for groom is not rich. And here are Countess Khryumina: grandmother and granddaughter. The granddaughter is an evil old maid. Chatsky responds to her caustic remarks no less sharply. He compares her to French milliners.

And, of course, Chatsky is outraged by the fact that Moscow society, condemning such scoundrels as Zagoretsky, does not close its doors to him, but continues to accept him at balls. Khlestova speaks most frankly about this, due to her stupidity: “I even locked the doors from him; yes, he is a master of obliging.”

Griboedov himself speaks through Chatsky. And the characters in the comedy are described by the author as if Chatsky himself wrote it. If he portrays the Gorichys smiling ironically, then the Tugoukhovskys, Khryumins, Zagoretsikiys are already a satire on Moscow society of those times. When the author introduces Khlestova to us, we already hear genuine sarcasm. Griboyedov has a special figure - Repetilov. This, it would seem, is who Chatsky can find a common language with: he talks about new ideas, goes to secret meetings at the English Club. However, Chatsky is smart enough to understand that these are empty words with nothing behind them.

Empty, worthless people who not only do not want any changes, but also do not even want to hear about them. Therefore, Chatsky, who thinks and speaks differently, causes rejection in this society with his truthfulness. That is why the rumor about Chatsky’s madness, invented by Sophia, was so easily accepted as truth by Famusov’s guests. They simply wanted Chatsky to be crazy. And if he is normal, and everything he says is true, then this means that not everything is all right with them. And this is impossible even to imagine.

So, Moscow society pronounces Chatsky a verdict: insane. But Chatsky also pronounces his verdict on Moscow society:

He will come out of the fire unharmed,

Who will have time to spend a day with you,

Breathe air alone

And his sanity will survive.

So how does Griboedov's comedy end? So who won this dispute: Chatsky or Famusov and his entourage? It seems to me that this conflict is insoluble. Chatsky leaves Moscow disappointed. His feelings are trampled, his heart is broken, his hopes of finding understanding here have crumbled to dust. What about Famus society? They didn’t even understand what happened, what Chatsky was talking about. They did not understand either his jokes or his witticisms and, having sentenced Chatsky to madness, they pronounced a sentence on themselves. And these days in such circles they don’t like smart, sharp-tongued people. They are considered troublemakers. It’s more convenient and familiar without them. Chatsky opened a gallery of “superfluous” people in Russian literature. He was followed by Onegin, Pechorin and others. Each in their own way, but all of them did not find a place in the society around them.

The comedy “Woe from Wit” reflected the confrontation between new ideas and old ones. Griboyedov showed the clash of two ideologies: “the present century” and the “past century.”

At Famusov's ball, people who make up the elite of noble Moscow gather. They have many faces, but they all have one thing in common: serfdom, ignorance, veneration for rank, and selfishness.

Before the guests arrive, the most welcome guest for the owner, Skalozub, appears in Famusov’s house. This typical martinet, who can be called a blind performer, thinks only of a military career. He, like Famusov, is a staunch supporter of the old order.

The reason for coming to the ball is to find a rich bride. Famusov sees Skalozub worthy of his daughter Sophia, because he is “both a golden bag and aims to be a general.”

The first of the guests to appear at the ball are the Gorich couple. This is a typical Moscow married couple. Chatsky knew Platon Mikhailovich before he got married - they were comrades in the service. He was a cheerful, lively person, but after his marriage to Natalya Dmitrievna, he changed a lot: he fell under the heel, became “a boy-husband, a servant-husband.” Natalya Dmitrievna does not even allow her husband to “open his mouth”; Gorich understands his situation very well and has already come to terms with it. He bitterly says to Chatsky: “Now, brother, I’m not the same.”

The Tugoukhovsky family also comes to the ball. The princess is very concerned about finding grooms for her daughters, she pushes the old prince around, as soon as she sees Chatsky and learns that he is not married, she sends her husband to invite a potential groom to her place. But as soon as she realizes that Chatsky is not rich and does not have a high rank, she shouts at the top of her lungs: “Prince, prince! Back!". In Famus society, grooms are chosen for rich brides according to the following principle:

Be inferior, but if there are two thousand family souls, he will be the groom.

The Khryumina countesses appear at the ball. This is Khryumina’s granddaughter, embittered at the whole world around her, with her half-deaf grandmother. Khryumina's granddaughter cannot find a worthy groom and therefore is dissatisfied with everything that happens around her. As soon as she arrives at the ball, she regrets that she arrived too early. She says: “Well, the ball!.. And there is no one to talk to, and no one to dance with!” She is angry that she has not met anyone here who she could marry. Khryumina’s granddaughter expresses her admiration for everything foreign and discovers a passion for “fashionable shops.” The arrogance of Khryumina the granddaughter outrages Chatsky:

Unlucky ones! Should there be reproaches from wannabe milliners? For daring to prefer originals to lists!

Zagoretsky is perhaps the most vicious person present at Famusov’s ball. Everyone talks about him openly

He is a notorious swindler, a rogue, he is a liar, a gambler, a thief.

But, despite such a destructive characteristic, he is accepted in the world, the doors of Famus’s house are open to him.

Zagoretsky pays off with his helpfulness, this is his baseness. He will do everything to serve the right person at the right time. Chatsky could not help but express his opinion:

And it would be funny for you to be offended; Besides honesty, there are many joys: They scold you here and thank you there.

The sixty-year-old lady Khlestova also comes to the ball. She always has her own opinion, knows her worth, and at the same time is rude and despotic with the serfs. Khlestova takes “a blackamoor girl and a dog” with her to the ball. For her, a serf is the same as a dog. Chatsky was able to annoy even such an imperious and headstrong lady with his remark:

Such praise would make one ill at ease, and Zagoretsky himself could not stand it and disappeared.

The very last one to attend the ball is Repetilov. This man, who vulgarizes and discredits the ideas of the time, he, with his “secret union” and “secret meetings on Thursdays”, where they only “make noise” and “drink champagne to kill”, appears as a good-for-nothing sick person. Tun, for whom all advanced ideas are nothing more than a fashionable hobby. Repetilov uses the favor of authoritative people in the “most secret union,” but all these people cannot bring real renewal to society. Material from the site

There are many other representatives of Famus society at the ball. Griboyedov did not even give them full names. Such, for example, are Messrs. N and D. They participate in spreading gossip about Chatsky’s madness. They don't believe it themselves. But they are interested in what others have to say about it. The images of petty gossips show the goals and interests of Famus society: career, honors, wealth, rumors, gossip.

Chatsky compares favorably with Famus society. His image reflected the typical features of the Decembrists. Chatsky is ardent, dreamy, and freedom-loving. He rebels against serfdom, the dominance of foreigners, the magical power of women in society, sycophancy, and serving persons rather than business. He realized the true values ​​of the crowd in whose circle he spent only one day - and lost hope of finding like-minded people.

Before leaving Moscow, Chatsky angrily throws out to the entire Famus society:

He will come out of the fire unharmed, Whoever manages to spend a day with you, Breathe the same air, And his sanity will survive.

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• characteristics of the ball guests?
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• guests at Famusov's ball

Chatsky's "loneliness" at the ball, or why the hero did not "fit" into the general atmosphere?

...There is a huge gap between the main character and Famusov’s Moscow, it’s like heaven and earth, it’s like a medal with two sides... Their life principles and foundations are different, and, most importantly, Chatsky is several times superior to these people in intelligence. They are afraid of such people, they are angry at their superiority - just like in a comedy. Chatsky is completely different, standing out from the masses, and no one wants to see a person better than themselves. The main character is superfluous at this “celebration of life”.

The dialogue between Chatsky and Molchalin provides clear prerequisites for the hero’s break with those around him, and at the ball this conflict is revealed uncontrollably.

Here guests begin to appear, so typical of Famusov’s entourage. The Gorich couple arrives first, and Natalya Dmitrievna quickly looks for someone who can appreciate her new outfit and husband. Yes, yes, for an imperious lady these things are equivalent: both Platon Mikhailovich and the tulle - everything is one, everything is put on display, all objects of boasting and pride.

The sad, depressed appearance of Natalya’s husband describes his difficult past with his wife; Chatsky does not immediately recognize a cheerful comrade in arms in the swollen, dull man. The wife is happy - her husband is under her complete control, she has molded him into her ideal, primarily for show to the public.

The Tugoukhovsky princes with their six daughters continue the image of the owner of the house. The princess is feverishly looking for suitors for her daughters. Having learned that Chatsky is not rich and has not earned favor, she recalls her husband, who was about to follow him.

Khryumins, Khlestova, Skalozub, Zagoretsky - here almost each of the guests is a rival to the other. There is a competition of vanity going on, and it is going to the death.

The appearance of Chatsky excites those who came, and a shadow of excitement runs through. In a minimal amount of time, Chatsky manages to annoy everyone: Natalya Dmitrievna is afraid that the carefully sculpted ideal of her husband will melt from Chatsky’s hot, “free” words; Khryumina’s granddaughter was offended by his statement that she was just a “milliner imitator,” and Khlestova was offended by the hero’s laughter. Everyone, including Famusov, felt the hostility that was looking for a loophole and finally resulted in rumors of madness.

An interesting fact is that it was Sofia who caused this rumor - she is no less irritated than others and casually drops the phrase: “He is out of his mind.” But, realizing what she said, she decides not to correct anything, and the mistake becomes revenge.

This rumor, as in life, spreads with incredible speed. Speculations are heard from all sides about the cause of Chatsky’s madness. Someone believes that the culprit is alcohol, which the hero supposedly drinks in “glasses, no, bottles, no, barrels.” Others blame heredity, because “his mother went crazy eight times.” But very soon these arguments seemed too innocent. “Learning is the plague, learning is the reason that... there are many... crazy people, and affairs, and opinions... - Famusov finally says what tormented everyone so heavily, and everyone feels hatred for everything close to Chatsky - this lyceums and gymnasiums, professors, and most importantly - books. It turns out that irritation and anger are felt not only towards the main character, but also towards everything that is correct and smart. Ideas to stop the so-called evil are expressed by Famusov: “We should collect all the books and burn them” and Skalozub: “... in schools they will teach in our way: one, two!”

It is not surprising that Chatsky is depressed, and “a million torments” tear his heart. He is outraged by everything that happens here, he talks about the baseness of these people, the stupidity of imitation and worship of others. In the meantime, we know that even greater turmoil lies ahead. His monologue is the only one at the entire ball that talks about significant and worthwhile things.

...Chatsky is lonely. This is probably a loss in the duel between nobility and baseness. The guests are “diligently twirling in the waltz,” and Chatsky stands alone in the middle of the ball, at which he is superfluous and unnecessary. Here he already determines for himself the only correct path: “Get out of Moscow!”

/V.A. Ushakov. Moscow ball. Third act from the comedy "Woe from Wit" (Benefit performance by Mrs. N. Repina). "Moscow Telegraph", 1830, No. 11 and 12./

In his former guardian Famusov, he finds the same man, entrenched in prejudices, the same idolater of wealth and honors, the enemy of everything that, in his opinion, bears the imprint of harmful and dangerous innovations, a man whose soul belongs to the time when the nobleman was without merits and without merits they worshiped like an idol, expecting rich and high favors from him. Chatsky cannot respect Famusov and, with the intemperance characteristic of a young man, refutes all the old man’s judgments with smart, but nevertheless daring antics. In this case, it is clearly visible that Chatsky is tormented by the desire for the best, that he suffers, looking at the imperfections, at the prejudices of his contemporaries, that he eases his soul by expressing bitter truths, and one cannot but agree that in this same case, every person who follows the example Chatsky must necessarily seem strange and even crazy for all his intelligence! This is how it is presented in Griboyedov’s comedy. But now we will see with what extraordinary skill (NB. while observing three unities!) the author gave plausibility to this adventure.

In the house of the wealthy Moscow hospitable Famusov, something like a ball is given on the very day that Chatsky arrived, and although Sophia, the mistress of the house, did not invite the newly arrived friend of her youth to this evening, the impatient Chatsky himself appears before everyone else. Tormented by misunderstandings and suspicions, wavering in his guesses about the stupid Molchalin and Skalozub, who is too caressed by Famusov, the hero of the play takes advantage of his former privilege and bothers Sophia with the questions characteristic of a lover and even prevents her from changing clothes. This is very discourteous, and yet how natural it is!

Chatsky, in love, forgot about the three years that had passed and that Sophia was no longer a child, that a young man should not treat her as familiarly as before. This is a passion that drowns out reason and is presented in the most natural form by the author. Offended by this liberty of Chatsky and even more by his caustic ridicule of her lover, Sophia shrugs her shoulders and goes to her room. This is angrier than the most angry answers! This is clear evidence of complete coldness and even contempt! This not only hurt Chatsky’s ambition, but even disturbed his bile, kindled in him some kind of anger, which turns out to be in him when he meets many people he knows who have come for the evening. He regales almost all of them with sarcasms, very witty, but not socially acceptable.

Chatsky does not lag behind Sophia and, carried away by his annoyance, infuriates her with a second evil epigram about her beloved Molchalin. The angry Sophia bursts out with the most ordinary expression: he is out of his mind! This word was picked up by one of those people who live in idle talk, not finding two decent and coherent thoughts in their heads. “Are you crazy?” - asks Sophia the windbag. The annoyed girl now has an idea for a cruel hoax. She confirmed what was asked, and in five minutes the news of Chatsky’s madness secretly spread throughout the entire meeting.

These scenes are written with inimitable skill; a miniature and very true portrait of a hundred-vocal rumor that gives credibility to the most absurd and absurd rumors. Here, apparently, the author adhered to the ill-used proverb: the voice of the people is the voice of God *, and to complete his charming picture he personified another proverb: the news has reached the deaf! — The scene of Countess Khryumina, who did not hear enough, with the completely deaf Prince Tugoukhovsky can be called not only truly comic, but even exemplary. How funny are the misunderstandings of the deaf old woman and her talk about Chatsky’s busurmanism! How funny are the answers of the prince, who cannot say anything except: Akhm and Ekhm!..

The whole company gathers on stage, all the actors talk about Chatsky’s imaginary madness, judge in their own way - and then the hero of the play comes out of another room, irritated by the idle talk of some Frenchman and, due to his passion, inflamed with patriotism. Very inappropriately, but in the most natural way, the arrogant Chatsky begins to talk a lot about love for the fatherland, about the harmful influence of foreign customs and, out of habit, peppers his sermon with sarcasm. Such language cannot be understood by the idle residents of the capital who have gathered to have fun at the ball. All this for them, as they say, is pure gibberish. They shrug their shoulders, step aside and become more convinced of the imaginary madness of poor Chatsky.

But this is not enough: Chatsky is obliged to find out about this absurd news himself. In the last act, he himself hears how six princesses assure the good liar Repetilov about the authenticity of Chatsky’s madness. Masterful trait! But after it comes another. Chatsky inadvertently becomes a witness to the baseness of Molchalin and the indignation of the deceived Sophia. The traitor is punished, but is Chatsky happier because of it?

He is forced to tear out from his heart that love that consoled him, that nourished him with the hope of bliss! What a deep knowledge of human passions is in this case! If the author of the comedy were alive, we would advise him to choose the following epigraph for it: “If you want to have enemies and poison your life with sorrows, then be smarter than others and love the truth!” Such was the fate of the hero of the play. There seems to be no shortage of such cases in this day and age!

Read also other articles by critics about the comedy "Woe from Wit":

• Aphorisms, catchphrases and expressions in Griboedov's comedy "Woe from Wit"

V.A. Ushakov. Moscow ball. Third act from the comedy "Woe from Wit"

• Ball at Famusov's. Chatsky and Sophia
• Society in the comedy "Woe from Wit". The present century and the past century

V. Belinsky. "Woe from Wit." Comedy in 4 acts, in verse. Essay by A.S. Griboedova