Why does Molchalin take on the appearance of Sophia’s lover? Why does Sophia prefer the fool Molchalin to the smart Chatsky? (essay for the Unified State Examination in Literature)

Molchalin and Sophia. The meaning of images in A. S. Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit”

You will make peace with him, after mature reflection.

A. S. Griboyedov

Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov is a talented author of the comedy “Woe from Wit.” For 180 years now, she has never ceased to amaze and delight more and more generations of readers with the truthfulness of the images created by the author and the bright, rich, unparalleled language.

Two heroes of the comedy - Sophia and Molchalin - played a great role in understanding the author's intention and critical assessment of his contemporary reality. In general, the play presents a classic “love triangle”. Griboedov masterfully managed to draw the tragicomedy of this situation, bringing “eternal characters” onto the stage and showing their experiences, intrigues, and collapse of dreams. Sophia is the daughter of a rich Moscow gentleman, bored in her father’s house, she drew attention to an insignificant man, Alexei Stepanovich Molchalin, imagining him “the hero of her novel.” Chatsky’s departure pushed Sophia towards Molchalin. Because of her youth and inexperience, she chose Alexei Stepanovich as the “object of passion”, and who else could attract her attention, not Skalozub.

She says with resentment about Chatsky who left: He thought highly of himself... The desire to wander attacked him, Ah! If someone loves someone, Why search for the mind and travel so far? Sophia is quite selfish, she wants the world to revolve around her. She takes Molchalin’s servility, pretense and flattery for love and recklessly gives her soul and heart to this cold and calculating “lackey”. Molchalin is ready to forget himself for others, his insolence - always shyly, timidly kissing anyone with whom he can spend such a time!

She is unaware that Molchalin’s restraint is explained not by love and respect, but by the indifference and prudence of an egoist unceremoniously pursuing his goal. He has perfectly mastered the laws of society, into the “higher spheres” of which he will make his way by any means, so he knows: Ah! Evil tongues are worse than a gun. Here, sincerity, ardor of soul, patriotism and conscientious service in the name of the fatherland and cause are not needed, but the price is completely different: the pursuit of money, ranks, profitable parties, and profitability. in some places.

Molchalin knows the rules of this life very well. He has adapted to the “powers of this world” and is confidently moving towards his intended goal. And at the same time, he cannot deny himself “little weaknesses.” He likes Sophia's maid, Lisa. Alexey Stepanovich expresses his favor to her at every opportunity. He is unaware that his baseness is obvious even to the maid. He is so self-confident that he looks after Lisa without any fear. What a face! How I love you!.. Come at lunch, stay with me; I will tell you the whole truth... My little angel, I would like to feel half the same for her that I feel for you...

Blinded by “contrived love,” Sophia does not want to notice Molchalin’s stupidity, insignificance and sycophancy. She elevates his vices into virtues, it’s so convenient for her. She does not want to see real life, but, having read novels, she imparts the necessary traits to the first person she comes across. Sophia is quite smart, but she is flesh of this society and lives by its laws. She knows how to lie, dodge, and slander brilliantly, so she fools even her experienced father around her little finger. Like any spoiled young lady, she does as she wants. Out of boredom, she drew attention to Molchalin, but then she sincerely fell in love, not realizing that he was a liar and a hypocrite, and not in love with her.

At the very first meeting, Sophia admits to Chatsky that she loves Molchalin, but he does not want to believe, to understand the obvious. Look, he gained the friendship of everyone in the house. He serves under his father for three years, He often gets angry to no avail, And he disarms him with silence, Forgives him out of the kindness of his soul, by the way, I could look for favors; Not at all. she won’t step over the threshold from the old people.. Now the already in love Sophia is not afraid of either her father’s anger or the opinions of those around her, her ardent nature longs for happiness, and the more terrible her “sobering up” is, the more she was deceived, seeing an ideal in Molchalin.

I don't remember anything, don't bother me.

Memories! like a sharp knife.

Don't be mean, stand up.

I don't want an answer, I know your answer,

You'll lie...

But Chatsky could also say the same about Sophia; there is more difference in them than in Sophia and Molchalin. It’s not for nothing that Alexander Andreevich says that for Sophia this is not a disaster. You will make peace with him, after mature reflection. Destroy yourself, and why! Think, you can always take care of him, and swaddle him, and send him to work. A boy-husband, a servant-husband, one of the wife's pages - the High ideal of all Moscow husbands. One can only marvel at the insight and ingenious foresight of A. S. Griboedov, who predicted people’s behavior many years in advance. The images of Sophia and Molchalin are key in the comedy “Woe from Wit”. They illustrate the relationships between people connected not by sincere love and respect, but by selfishness and selfish aspirations for their goals.

Chatsky and Molchalin are rivals in the fight for Sophia’s heart

One of the main features of the comedy “Woe from Wit” by A.S. Griboyedov is the presence of two conflicts in it: love and social. Both storylines are closely related, and they are also united by some characters. Chatsky and Molchalin in the comedy “Woe from Wit” are both rivals in the fight for the heart of Sophia, Famusov’s daughter, and opposing sides on many social issues.

The main character of the play, Alexander Andreevich Chatsky, returns to Famusov’s house after a three-year stay abroad. He left his beloved Sophia here and is now coming to her with serious intentions, in love and full of hope. But during Chatsky’s absence, Sophia began to look at their youthful romance differently and now calls it childish. Her heart is occupied by Molchalin, her father's modest and taciturn secretary, who lives in their house.

Chatsky's tragedy begins with the fact that he does not understand why Sophia has lost interest in him, and tries to find the reason for this. The second blow for the main character is that Molchalin was preferred to him, about whom Chatsky sarcastically said: “He just has little intelligence.”

The characterization of Molchalin and Chatsky will help to understand why Sophia makes such a choice.

Why does Sophia prefer Molchalin over Chatsky?

Sofya Famusova, although not one of the zealous defenders of the “past century,” is still her father’s daughter. The ideals of noble society were instilled in her from childhood. Although she is not like the conservative nobles of her circle, she absorbed many of the principles of their life with her father’s upbringing.

When in the first act of the comedy between Sophia and Lisa there is a conversation about Chatsky. It becomes clear that for her their love remained only a childhood memory. Of Chatsky’s merits, she singles out only his ability to make everyone laugh, but “you can share laughter with everyone.” With these words, she seems to absolve herself of responsibility for the fact that she is now playing a love game with Molchalin.

How do Chatsky and Molchalin appear before the reader in the comedy “Woe from Wit”?

Sophia herself characterizes Chatsky as follows: “Oster, smart, eloquent, especially happy with friends...” But the girl cannot understand and believe how a man in love can leave his beloved for three years for unknown purposes: “Ah! If someone loves someone, why bother searching and traveling so far?”

Arriving in Moscow, Chatsky arouses Sophia’s anger not only by jeopardizing her happiness with Molchalin. He also begins the conversation with Sophia by attacking her family and friends: “What about your father?

All the English club is an old, faithful member to the grave? Has your uncle jumped back his eyelid?”

Chatsky himself does not understand why his words offend Sophia. He finds nothing wrong with them. The hero justifies himself by saying that his “mind and heart are not in harmony.”

But most of all, Sophia is hurt by Chatsky’s words about Molchalin. She sees in him a character from the novels that she reads. In her imagination, he is endowed with the features of a romantic hero. Chatsky immediately figured out Molchalin and his role in Famus society. Molchalin is “helpful and modest,” which means “he will reach the famous levels, because nowadays they love the dumb.”

Why will none of the heroes be with Sophia in the finale of the comedy?

In one of the episodes of the comedy “Woe from Wit,” Chatsky and Molchalin collide in a verbal duel, and the reader gradually begins to reveal the true face of Molchalin, who turns out to be not as simple as he seems at first glance.

Molchalin, like all the representatives of the “past century” hated by Chatsky, strives to obtain a high rank and position in society at any cost. Since he doesn’t have all this yet, he “needs to depend on others.” Chatsky doesn’t understand this: “Why is it necessary?” But Molchalin seems to have a clear life plan. He tries in every possible way to serve Famusov’s guests, praising the fur of Khlestova’s dog, which looks ridiculous and humiliating. He lives by the principle: “At my age I should not dare to have my own opinion.”

Molchalin is very proud of even his small successes in the service and boasts of them to Chatsky: “As I work and effort, since I am listed in the archives, I have received three awards.” Molchalin even dares to express sympathy for Chatsky due to the fact that he does not serve. He recommends that Chatsky improve relations with Tatyana Yuryevna, who “gives balls that couldn’t be richer.” She can help in obtaining the next rank or award, because “officials and officials are all her friends and all her relatives.” This is how people in Famusov’s circle are used to earning a position in society. Such is Molchalin.

Supporters of the “past century” do not understand Chatsky’s desire to serve “the cause, not individuals.” If Molchalin uses the ball as an opportunity to find channels for moving up the career ladder, then Chatsky prefers to separate time for fun and for business: “When in business, I hide from fun, when fooling around, I’m fooling around, and there are a lot of skilled people mixing these two crafts, I’m not one of them.”

The images of Chatsky and Molchalin in the comedy “Woe from Wit” are completely different. Chatsky has a fresh, active mind. He is brave both in love and in defending his views. Molchalin is unhurried and cautious both in society and in feelings. In his relationship with Sophia, he constantly thinks about how the world will react to their connection if it suddenly opens up, because “evil tongues are worse than a pistol.” It's amazing that such different heroes could arouse love in the same woman.

This mystery will be revealed at the end of the play. Molchalin achieves Sophia's favor through deception. Under the mask of a silent and modest man hides a two-faced hero who takes on the appearance of a lover only “to please the daughter of such a man.” He has no love for Sophia and no serious intentions towards her, unlike Chatsky.

However, Chatsky, having spent one day in the company of Moscow nobles, understands that his views are forever at odds with the views of Famus society. And Sophia for him is now a part, a child of that world into which he has no entry. He recommends that she make peace with Molchalin, whom she exposed. After all, this hero fully corresponds to the ideal of a husband accepted in the world: “A boy-husband, a servant-husband, one of a wife’s pages—the high ideal of all Moscow husbands.”

conclusions

Chatsky and Molchalin in Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit” are heroes who are completely different in nature and in value guidelines. If society rejects Chatsky and accepts Molchalin, it means that it characterizes itself in accordance with this hero. Moscow nobles want to be worshiped, curried, and won over. They hold ceremonial worship and careerism in high esteem. Molchalin fits these ideals perfectly. Chatsky is superfluous in this society of people “passionate for rank.”

Characteristics of the images of Molchalin and Chatsky, the contrast of these characters can be used by 9th grade students in their essays on the topic “Famus society in the comedy “Woe from Wit””

Work test

Why did Sophia choose Molchalin? One of the greatest works of the first half of the 19th century is the comedy “Woe from Wit” by A. S. Griboyedov. In the comedy, the author posed a number of the most important problems of his time, which continue to concern humanity to this day.

The main character of the comedy, Chatsky, is seen in relationships both with representatives of Famus society and with Sophia, whom he loves. That is why Sophia and her attitude not only to Chatsky, but also to Molchalin, play an important role in the comedy.

The image of Sofia Pavlovna is complex. By nature, she is endowed with good qualities: a strong mind and an independent character. She is capable of deeply experiencing and sincerely loving. For a girl of the noble circle, she received a good education and upbringing. The heroine enjoys reading French literature. Famusov, Sophia's father, says:

She can't sleep from French books,

And the Russians make it hard for me to sleep.

But, unfortunately, all these positive character traits could not be developed in Famus society. This is how I. A. Goncharov wrote about it in his critical sketch “A Million of Torments”: “It is difficult to treat Sofya Pavlovna in a non-personal way: she has strong inclinations of a remarkable nature, intelligence, passion and feminine softness. It is ruined and stuffy, where not a single ray of light, not a single stream of dry air penetrates.” At the same time, Sophia is a child of her society. She drew her ideas about people and life from French sentimental novels, and it was this sentimental literature that developed Sophia's dreaminess and sensitivity. She says about Molchalin:

He will take your hand and press it to your heart,

He will sigh from the depths of his soul,

Not a free word, and so the whole night passes,

Hand in hand, and doesn’t take his eyes off me.

Therefore, it was no coincidence that she paid attention to Molchalin, who, with his features and behavior, reminded her of her favorite heroes. However, it cannot be said that the heroine is blinded: she is able to evaluate her chosen one sensibly and critically:

Of course, he doesn’t have this mind,

What a genius is to some, and a plague to others,

Which is fast, brilliant and will soon become disgusting...

Sophia loves Molchalin, but hides it from her father, who, of course, would not recognize him as a son-in-law, knowing that he is poor. The heroine sees a lot of good in her father’s secretary:

...yielding, modest, quiet,

Not a shadow of worry in his face,

And there are no wrongdoings in my soul,

He doesn’t cut strangers at random, -

That's why I love him.

Sophia also fell in love with Molchalin because she, a girl with character, needed a person in her life whom she could control. “The desire to patronize a loved one, poor, modest, who does not dare raise his eyes to her, to elevate him to himself, to his circle, to give him family rights” - this is her goal, according to I. A. Goncharov.

Therefore, Chatsky, returning to Moscow and seeing how Sophia has changed under the influence of her environment, is very worried. It hurt him to see her like this after his three-year absence; it was hard to realize that his beloved had chosen Molchalin. Sophia is also very worried, but because of something else. She involuntarily hears Molchalin’s conversation with Liza and suddenly sees her chosen one in a different light. She realized that in fact Molchalin took on the appearance of a lover only “to please the daughter of such a man.” He needed Sophia only in order to take advantage of her influence at the right moment. His goal was also to get a higher rank, so he, according to the behests of his father, pleased “all people without exception.” Perhaps someday Sophia would have learned about Molchalin’s true intentions and she would not have been so hurt. But now she has lost a man who was very suitable for the role of a boy-husband, a servant-husband. It seems that she will be able to find such a person and repeat the fate of Natalya Dmitrievna Gorich and Princess Tugoukhovskaya. She didn’t need a person like Chatsky, but it was he who opened her eyes to everything that was happening. And if Sophia had grown up in a different environment, she might have chosen Chatsky. But she chooses the person who suits her best, since she cannot imagine any other hero. And in the end, according to Goncharov’s remark, “heavier than anyone, even Chatsky,” it is Sophia.

Griboyedov introduced us to the heroine of the comedy as a dramatic person. This is the only character who is conceived and executed as close to Chatsky. But in the finale, when Sophia becomes an involuntary witness of Molchalin’s “courtship” of Liza, she is struck to the very heart, she is destroyed. And this is one of the most dramatic moments of the entire play.

So, in his comedy A. S. Griboyedov not only managed to show the time in which he lived, but also created unforgettable images that are interesting to the modern reader and viewer. Therefore, as Goncharov says, “Woe from Wit” stands apart in literature and differs from other works of the word in its youthfulness, freshness and stronger vitality.

God be with you, I am left again with my riddle.
A. Griboyedov

The comedy “Woe from Wit” occupies an exceptional place in Russian literature. The intense plot, the poetic form and the poems themselves, which instantly scattered into catchphrases - all this makes Griboedov’s comedy a most interesting work. Created almost 180 years ago, it still continues to amaze us with its “eternal” characters - be it the fierce opponent of education Famusov, the insignificant opportunist Molchalin or the fiery denouncer of morals Chatsky.

The comedy “Woe from Wit” has two storylines: the protagonist’s conflict with the “past century” and Chatsky’s personal story, the collapse of his love. Among the comedy characters, Chatsky is, of course, the most attractive. He is witty and eloquent, kind and gentle, proud and sincere, he “writes and translates well,” his love for Sophia is deep and constant. But why did Sophia choose Molchalin over him, this, according to Chatsky, “the most pitiful creature”?

The image of Sophia is quite contradictory. She is endowed with both positive traits that attracted such an extraordinary person as Chatsky, and negative ones that pushed her to Molchalin. What made Sophia stand out in the world of the Famusovs? First of all, independence, independence. Having fallen in love with Molchalin, that is, a man outside her circle, she acted against the rules. And it’s not Sophia’s fault that Molchalin is not at all the way she sees him. Sophia is smart in her own way, she reads a lot. But he reads mostly sentimental novels, far from real life. Under their influence, she gets the impression of some ideal hero whom she would like to love. She sees Molchalin as such an ideal hero.

And this is her fault - her spiritual blindness. During her separation from Chatsky, Sophia did not grow spiritually. Moreover, she was so influenced by Famus’s environment that she was unable to critically comprehend what was happening. Chatsky cannot believe that such an intelligent, extraordinary girl like Sophia fell in love with the flatterer and sycophant Molchalin. He still thinks that Sophia is the same as she was in childhood, when they laughed together at people like Molchalin. But, unfortunately, Sophia takes Molchalin very seriously. Chatsky’s independent, mocking and sharp mind frightens Sophia: “Will such a mind make the family happy?” - she directly declares to Chatsky. Let's not forget that Sophia is Famusova. She rejects Chatsky for the same reasons as her father along with “Princess Marya Aleksevna.” Chatsky is a stranger, “not one of us,” he is incomprehensible, and therefore dangerous. It is Sophia who deals the strongest blow to Chatsky - she announces his madness. Material from the site

Sophia elevates Molchalin's hypocrisy, sycophancy and servility almost to the level of his virtues. What's strange here? In the society in which she lives, everyone survives as best they can. You will be considered crazy if you stand out from the crowd. Sophia is quite selfish, she wants the world to revolve around her, so she mistakes the servility and pretense of Molchalin, who is ready to become a “servant husband,” for love. At the end of the comedy, Sophia comes to sobering up, but it’s not for nothing that Chatsky says that for her this is not a disaster yet, that “after mature reflection” she will make peace with Molchalin, because he will please her in everything, he is “a high ideal of a wife’s pages.” all Moscow men."

One can only be amazed at Griboedov’s insight, his ability to foresee the behavior of people connected not by sincere love, but by selfish aspirations.

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(2nd option)

Oh! if someone loves someone,

Why search for the mind and

travel that far?

A. S. Griboyedov.

Among the riches of Russian classical literature, A. S. Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit” occupies a special place. The vivid images of this comedy tell about the distant past, exciting the modern reader as well. In the center of the image is lordly Moscow, but in the remarks of Griboyedov’s heroes there are also words about St. Petersburg, that is, the vast spaces of Russia are touched upon. The comedy represents all layers of Russian society, from the Moscow nobility, whose representatives are Famusov and Khlestova, to serf servants.

In my opinion, the comedy is very interesting for its compositional originality. Here, love and socio-political lines are intricately intertwined, which develop the ideological concept.

The comedy lasts a little less than a day. The plot of the story is of a love nature. The play begins with Chatsky's arrival in Moscow to his beloved girl Sophia. In the Famusovs' house he is cheerful, blinded by the beauty of his beloved. While talking with her, Chatsky draws apt, caustic caricatures of all his mutual acquaintances, but when it comes to Molchalin, Sophia cannot stand it and exclaims: “Not a man, a snake!” This was the last straw that filled the girl’s soul.

From the first act, the relationship between Molchalin and Sophia is shown before Chatsky’s arrival, and from the beginning the author ironically points out the insincerity of Molchalin’s love for Sophia.

So, Sophia is a typical Moscow young lady, not stupid, brought up on French novels. She is often witty and surpasses Chatsky himself in the accuracy of her characteristics.

Rootless Molchalin is obsequious and modest. He lives by his father’s behest: “to please all people without exception”, never to express his opinion. Molchalin is sensitive to any changes and, although narrow-minded, is well oriented in the social structure. He is very cunning and resourceful, always able to find the “key” to every influential person.

There he will stroke the pug in time,

It’s time to rub the card...

Molchalin’s goal in life is to climb the career ladder, slowly but surely. He dreams of becoming rich and powerful. He is not even ashamed of the fact that he will humiliate himself a lot in order to achieve his goal. Molchalin is the embodiment of the ideal of all Moscow gossips.

Sophia, on the contrary, always expresses her opinion. She easily spreads rumors about Chatsky's madness. But Chatsky not only does not reject the rumors, but with all his might, without knowing it, he confirms them, setting up a scene at the ball, then a scene of farewell to Sophia and the exposure of Molchalin. The love line of the play ends with a scene behind a column, of which Sophia becomes an accidental witness. Here Molchalin confesses his love to Lisa. Sophia is deceived, she suffers “a million torments,” especially since Chatsky becomes another random witness. The love conflict and the socio-political conflict are resolved simultaneously. The love fight ends with Chatsky’s rejection, and the socio-political one ends with his flight from Moscow: “Get out of Moscow! I don’t go here anymore!”

In Griboyedov, all the heroes who set a goal in life fail. Woe from the mind, if we understand the mind as a developed plan of action, the desire to “make life” from someone, will befall Famusov, and Molchalin, and Sofya, and Chatsky.

Molchalin, of course, greatly complicated his career by acting very much according to calculation: he courted Sophia, she fell seriously in love, considering Molchalin, not Chatsky, her ideal husband.

So, Sophia, who “cannot sleep from French books,” is trying to live her life like a novel. She dreams of finding herself a “husband-boy”, “husband-servant”, so that he will obey her in everything. However, Sophia's novel is in the Russian style. The story of her love for Molchalin is pure and spiritual, but still it is just a book fiction. There is no agreement in Sophia’s soul either. Maybe that’s why she is shown in the play as Sophia, which means “wise,” and Pavlovna, Famusov’s daughter, means in some way similar to him. Molchalin does not love Sophia, but uses her as a means to achieve his goals.

What happens? As soon as we begin to act according to plan, our life is not ordered, but destroyed.

This means that what emerges victorious from the love triangle (Molchalin, Sophia and Chatsky) is not intelligence, not even narrow-mindedness, but disappointment. The play takes on an unexpected ending; the mind turns out to be incompetent in love, that is, in what is inherent in living life.