In the 10-20s of the last century in Russia, anti-serfdom sentiments intensified among the leading part of the nobility. The first secret societies were created, ideas spread throughout the country bourgeois revolutions. On one side of the barricades there were reactionaries, on the other - progressive nobles, future Decembrists. There were also representatives of the noble class who were not reactionaries, but did not join secret societies and did not have freedom-loving thoughts. It was at such a time that A. S. Pushkin began work on the first chapters of the novel “Eugene Onegin”, and in the same years A. S. Griboyedov created his immortal comedy"Woe from Wit."
Chatsky and Onegin, the main characters of these works, are the same age. These are young and energetic nobles. But the difference between the two images is immediately obvious. Chatsky, like Onegin, was brought up in an atmosphere of reaction, but he learned and became an educated person. Griboyedov's hero “writes and translates nicely.” Work for Chatsky is not a heavy burden; he sees progress in enlightenment. Onegin was brought up in the French manner, and Pushkin himself jokingly notes that he is a home teacher.
So that the child does not get tired,
I taught him everything jokingly,
I didn’t bother you with strict morals...
We all learned a little bit
Something and somehow...
Onegin spent eight years in idle Petersburg, where he went to receptions and balls, went to bed after midnight, and got up after noon. He understood the emptiness and worthlessness of such a life, but did not begin to fight it. Onegin retired to his estate, tried to engage in some kind of activity, but “he was sick of persistent work.” Chatsky also had an estate, but he “managed it carelessly,” that is, he treated the peasants well. His nature is outraged by the forced position of the serfs. Chatsky gives examples of how serf owners treated people who more than once saved the house, honor, and life of their owners.
Onegin is also trying to start organizing his serfs:
In his wilderness the desert sage,
He is the yoke of the ancient corvée
I replaced it with easy quitrent;
And the slave blessed fate.
But the author reports that this was done “just to pass the time.” All the activities of Onegin the reformer were limited to this. Evgeniy does not care about the fate of the peasants; his “chilled mind” inspires the hero that he only needs to take care of himself. He is an individualist.
Both heroes are contemptuous of high society. They are smart and reasonable, so they see all the emptiness and worthlessness of secular St. Petersburg and Moscow. “What new will Moscow show me?” - Chatsky asks on the day of his arrival to the Famusovs. He finds no change for the better. Griboyedov's hero breaks with this society completely, although he loves a girl from an environment he hates. Onegin remained a man of his circle, bearing all his vices. He killed Lensky in a duel, unable to rise above the world that he inwardly despised. Class prejudices took over, Eugene was afraid of the gossip of the “local rulers.” A critical attitude to reality and an extraordinary mind doomed him, in the absence of social activity, to complete loneliness. Chatsky is not alone. Griboyedov speaks about the brother of Colonel Skalozub, an advanced officer who left the service, about the nephew of Princess Tugoukhovskaya, who is enthusiastically studying chemistry and botany.
Chatsky has a more sensitive soul than Onegin. Onegin seems to be a reasonable egoist. He does not understand the depth of Tatyana's requests. The basis of his feelings is selfishness. Chatsky sincerely loves Sophia. He is completely transformed when he sees her. But Sophia is a person of Famus society, and Chatsky finds the strength to leave Moscow.
In the images of Chatsky and Onegin we clearly see different people of the same era. Somewhat similar, they represent the different paths that society took in early XIX century: the path of protest and the path of cold contemplation.
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Onegin and Chatsky: whose character is more significant?
The main character of the novel “Eugene Onegin” is an “extra person” who changes masks throughout the action, constantly chasing an unattainable ideal. He rushes about in search of the meaning of his life, which, unfortunately, Onegin is unable to find.
The main character of the comedy "Woe from Wit" is an intelligent, self-sufficient, categorical and strong-willed person for whom, alas, there is no place within the society to which he returned after a three-year journey.
Both of these characters are “heroes of their time”, living and ageless images that remain unfading marble statues past centuries.
Among these “two lights,” the character of A.A. seems more significant. Chatsky, the hero of the comedy A.S. Griboyedov "Woe from Wit".
The first thing that sets him apart from the general stratum of society of that time is his intelligence. According to I.A. Goncharova, Chatsky is positively intelligent, witty, “with a heart, with feeling.”
Second, Alexander Andreevich is the harbinger of a new dawn, the leading courier of an unknown future. His thoughts are a step forward not only for the old Moscow noble society, but for all of Russia as a whole. In exchange for the old values and postulates of A.A. Chatsky offers new ideas for the future: with their own merits, prospects, expectations.
Thirdly, Chatsky is a sincere, active and ardent figure, an exposer of lies, a winner in the face of apparent defeat, a victim on the battlefield of “the fresh with the outdated, the sick with the healthy.”
Of all the characters in the comedy, Chatsky is the most alive both as a person and as a performer of the role prepared for him. He is not a callous puppet of the reigning foundations of society, but an original figure, a bright beacon in the dark corridor of fading time.
In general, the character of Alexander Andreevich Chatsky is that of a fighter for his ideas, a decisive and purposeful apostate from rotten laws. His task is only to sow the grain, and I will reap other fruits.
Escape A.A. Chatsky is a visible defeat, behind which stands the eternal victory of the irreconcilable and free Chatskys over the sycophantic Famusovs. This is not a manifestation of some kind of weakness, but a manifestation of the intelligence and instinct of self-preservation inherent in any person.
Onegin cannot be called either positive or negative character. Onegin is a pitiful “son of time”, a product of the upbringing of that society, a worn-out reflection of a man pampered by the pompousness of balls, the beauty of the hall and all social life.
Early disillusioned with the ideals of the society within which he exists, Onegin tries to find himself, changing a thousand masks along the way. However, this leads him nowhere - he is still pathetic. Eugene either puts on the guise of a hypocrite, or a cynic, or a seducer of women's hearts, or a hermit in the shadow of his own home.
Is Onegin smart?.. No, because his mind is sluggish, his range of interests and reading is negligible, and he himself is only an unfortunate parody, a reflection. Onegin is a hostage of time.
Onegin only complains about the amusements of society and, for the sake of entertainment, constantly transforms, trying on different masks. He does not offer alternatives for development, as Chatsky did. Eugene does not bring anything new to himself, but only lives in disappointment within the vicious circle in which he is forced to live.
On the other hand, although there is visible emptiness around Onegin, he is not empty inside. This perhaps justifies him, he has the potential for action, but the wrong fire, that spark that can ignite the fire of Eugene’s feelings and emotions, and his apathy with constant hypocrisy do not allow him to take a step forward.
Tatiana's love letter to Onegin is the spark that awakened the “sleeping” Eugene. But Tatiana’s refusal is a defeat, this is the revelation of Onegin’s true, real face, this is the victory of fidelity over a belated feeling. This eternal lesson Evgeniy, who rushed too late to get his “sweet” happiness from the Moscow social circle.
Onegin is an egoist who cares only about himself, in which his own feelings prevail over the feelings of other people.
His defeat does not carry a hidden victory, but only complicates Onegin’s life and torment. He is doomed to live, not going crazy, but constantly suffering. The character, brought up within the framework of that time and unable to break out of the vicious circle of the era, prevented him from finding his happiness.
The character of Alexander Andreevich Chatsky is more significant than the character of Eugene Onegin. Chatsky is a noble figure of the time, a new generation of thought, and Onegin is a student of old norms, an ironic wraith at social balls, which does not carry anything new in himself.
Pechorin, Chatsky and Onegin are the heroes themselves famous novels of all times. All of them are representatives of the nobility. Each of them stands out for its character, actions and other qualities that are remembered by the reader and stored in memory for a lifetime. All three have one thing in common a common problem- loneliness.
Alexander Chatsky is educated and smart, noble and honest, young and ardent. He boldly speaks out about the problem of serfs and other problems of his time. Despite the fact that his words are not without some truth, no one responds to them. His fellow citizens, Muscovites, present his actions as an element of psychological disorder. Labeled a mad man, he leaves with his head held high, remaining misunderstood.
Evgeny Onegin is the most sympathetic character for many readers. Initially, it seems that he is the same spoiled rake as everyone else in St. Petersburg. He is handsome, so he is in demand among ladies, attends evenings, theaters and leads a free lifestyle. But soon Evgeniy became bored with such a life. It is there that he meets Lensky and kills him. His story with Tatyana Larina leaves nothing in the hero’s soul except indifference. Only when he meets the young widow again does he throw himself into her lap and beg for love. Tatyana, out of conscience, does not reciprocate, dooming Evgeny Onegin, like Chatsky, to loneliness.
Pechorin has a successful career - he is an army officer. A socialite he was not and was not interested in politics as well. The character of the novel “A Hero of Our Time” remains a selfish person throughout the entire work. He, without hesitation, destroys the destinies of other people. Pechorin is called Onegin's younger brother. He also gets shot in a duel, which leads to the death of his comrade. He treats Princess Mary just as cruelly, just as Onegin did with Tatiana. Pechorin's act can be called even more daring and cruel.
Of all three characters, critics consider only Chatsky to be a figure, who was subject not only to bold speeches. Another significant difference between Chatsky and Onegin and Pechorin is that Alexander, having fallen in love with Sophia, is truly sincere and tries with all his might to protect her from everything evil in the world.
And yet, everyone is interested in how Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov, Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin and Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov could create such different, but at the same time similar characters. Contemporaries believe that Onegin, Chatsky and Pechorin can be called “superfluous people” in their separate worlds. Another interesting fact is that Pushkin wrote the novel in verse, which gives Onegin more romantic image. Lermontov's work is the first psychological novel, which makes the reader penetrate deeper into the essence of his nature. But Griboyedov has a tragedy, the title of which reveals the whole essence of the work. Summing up, we can realize that all three representatives did not find a place in life and were forced to become lonely and abandoned.
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Similarities and differences between Chatsky and Onegin
The comedy “Woe from Wit” by A. S. Griboedov was written in 1824, and A. S. Pushkin created his novel in verse over the course of eight years, from 1823 to 1831. Griboyedov was older than Pushkin, the authors knew each other, and highly valued each other’s work. The works reflect the same era - on the eve of the Decembrist uprising. Both sincerely sympathized with the Decembrist movement and maintained friendly relations with many of the members of secret societies. The heroes of the works are advanced representatives of the Russian nobility who critically perceive reality.
But most of Eugene Onegin was written after the tragic defeat at Senate Square, which could not but affect the emotional background of the work. The events depicted in both works refer to the period of the collapse of the democratic illusions of the Russian people after an unprecedented rise in the years Patriotic War. Having won a heroic victory over the Napoleonic army, the people longed for liberation from serfdom; advanced representatives of the nobility expected socio-economic reforms from the tsarist regime. However, reforms did not follow, and stratification began among the progressive nobility: the most active, active part created secret societies with the goal of violently overthrowing the regime; the other, socially passive, expressed its protest by demonstrative refusal to cooperate with the regime at all levels.
Chatsky and Onegin are peers and come from the same social circle. True, Onegin was brought up in a metropolitan aristocratic family, and Chatsky was brought up in the house of the Moscow master Famusov. Onegin spent eight years in high society in St. Petersburg. Walks along Nevsky Prospect, exquisite toilets, balls, theaters, “the science of tender passion” - all these attributes of idleness, characteristic of the “golden youth”, are also inherent in Evgeniy. He was valued in society, which, however, set a rather low bar: in addition to noble origin All that was required was to speak flawless French, dance decently and “bow at ease.” Eugene mastered this simple set of virtues to perfection, and “the world decided that he was smart and very nice.” Onegin enjoyed life carefree, not burdening himself with thoughts:
But, tired of the noise of the ball.
And the morning turns to midnight,
Sleeps peacefully in the blessed shade
Fun and luxury child.
Wake up at noon, and again
Until the morning his life is ready,
Monotonous and colorful.
And only having become bored, Onegin did not even realize, but rather felt the incompleteness of his existence - and “the Russian melancholy took possession of him little by little.” An educated man, a critical thinker, he managed to overcome the stultifying influence of his environment, to look abstractly at the quagmire of fruitless vanity. Experiencing mental discomfort, aware of the harmful psychological impact monotonous existence, trying to find an application for his strengths, Onegin tried to put his thoughts on paper, “but he was sick of persistent work.” Hoping to find the meaning of life in someone else's wisdom, Onegin began to read, but his inability to systematically learn (“the poor Frenchman, so that the child would not be tormented, taught him everything jokingly”) did not allow him to collect the seeds of book revelations, and a “sharp, chilled mind” found in they are only flaws. Disappointed and embittered, Onegin painfully perceives the imperfection of the social structure, but does not understand how to change it. Egocentrism and isolation can only criticize, but this path, as a rule, is futile. Onegin can only communicate with those like himself, since only they can calmly relate “to his caustic argument, and to a joke with bile in half, and the anger of gloomy epigrams.” Neither a trip to the estate nor foreign voyages are able to dispel Evgeniy’s pessimism and spiritual loneliness or encourage him to fruitful work. The pinnacle of his social activity is silent protest and demonstrative detachment from the institutions of power.
Chatsky is a person of a completely different emotional make-up. He is inquisitive, active, vital. His keen mind is concerned with the common good, and the significance human personality he determines not by achieved ranks and honors, not by success in secular salons, but by social activity and a progressive way of thinking. Unlike Onegin, Chatsky does not succumb to the temptations of a carefree social life, and does not limit himself to a sincere and, apparently, initially mutual feeling of love. Onegin used the education he received to gain popularity. secular society, in order to skillfully and naturally demonstrate the erudition hidden behind short remarks, without coercion in a conversation, “touch everything lightly, with the learned air of a connoisseur, remain silent in an important dispute and excite the smiles of ladies with the fire of unexpected epigrams.” Chatsky, also educated and no less witty, never squandered his intellect for fun. His image is in accordance with the famous Pushkin call:
While we are burning with freedom, While our hearts are alive for honor, My friend, let us dedicate our Souls to beautiful impulses to the fatherland!
Chatsky left the world and went to travel to enrich his mind, get an idea of real life countries. Chatsky left Sophia, despite deep love, left friends in whom he was “especially happy”, because he is an altruist, because he spiritual world much wider than the scope of personal happiness. “He thought highly of himself...” - this remark from Sophia testifies not to the hero’s inflated self-esteem, but to the high goals that he set for himself.
Onegin went traveling only at the end of the novel, and Pushkin hypothetically admitted that his hero could become a Decembrist, that his critical perception of reality, supported by evidence of imperfection social order, will give real results. Chatsky, who disdained secular pleasures in his youth, was already an established personality, a Decembrist in his way of thinking, having set the goal of his life as the democratic transformation of society. His travels only strengthened his belief in the need for social reform.
Chatsky is a true educator, passionately defending the rights of reason and deeply believing in the power of the word. He sharply and mercilessly denounces the highest bureaucrats, who have arrogated to themselves the right from the heights of the social ladder to judge young democrats who do not want to “serve” and make a career;
Where, show us, are the fathers of the fatherland,
Which ones should we take as models?
Aren't these the ones who are rich in robbery?
They found protection from court in friends, in kinship,
Magnificently built chambers,
Where they indulge in feasts and extravagance...
In his angry monologues, Chatsky exposes Famusov society. “Having reached known degrees,” they determined domestic policy Russia in the “age of obedience and fear.” Chatsky's anger is caused by the landowner's tyranny. But the hero not only denounces high society, his criticism has a constructive basis: Chatsky claims that the world has changed (“everyone breathes more freely”), that people have appeared “who serve the cause, not individuals.” The time of low flatterers and careerists has passed: Although there are hunters of meanness everywhere, But now laughter is terrifying and keeps shame in check; No wonder the sovereigns favor them sparingly.
Chatsky sincerely believes that useful social activity honest, smart, educated people can transform the social system. The hero is equally naive in counting on the possibility of centralized democratic reforms. He is convinced that the “present century” will not repeat the mistakes of the “past century” and will be a time of enlightenment, creative work and social justice. However, all Chatsky’s passionate appeals are fruitless: Famus society stands very firmly for its social privileges. The hero’s heartfelt monologues cause shock, and those “whose neck was more often bent, not in war, but in peace, were taken with their foreheads; they hit the floor without regret!”, they expel the “madman.”
Was Chatsky right when he preached high ideals “at the ball to Moscow grandmothers”? How could he waste his spiritual fervor in front of such an ungrateful public? Pushkin reproached Chatsky for the lack of a genuine mind precisely because Griboyedov’s hero did not understand the specifics of the audience. But the Decembrists really aimed at widespread propaganda of their ideas. By the time of their speech on Senate Square, their enthusiasm had faded, and the Decembrists moved from words to deeds. To justify Chatsky’s idealistic ideas, N.P. Ogarev wrote: “Remembering how at that time members of the secret society and people of the same convictions spoke their thoughts out loud everywhere and in front of everyone, the matter becomes more than possible - it is historically true. Enthusiasm in all eras and among all peoples did not like to hide their convictions, and we can hardly argue that Chatsky does not belong to a secret society and is not among the ranks of enthusiasts; Chatsky feels like an independent enemy of the order of things of his time.”
The images of the main characters of “Woe from Wit” and “Eugene Onegin” correspond to two directions in the noble movement of the 10s and 20s of the nineteenth century: active, proactive, revolutionary and passively protesting, lacking initiative, withdrawing from participation in the social struggle. Both heroes are smart, educated, stand above their own social environment, critically perceive surrounding reality, but their relationship with this reality is different: influence and detachment. The heroes have different temperaments: Onegin is melancholic, Chatsky is choleric. Hence the difference in moral character: Onegin is an egoist (albeit forced), the main thing for him is to achieve his own spiritual comfort, however, without infringing on the rights of others; Chatsky is an altruist; the main thing for him is the happiness of all humanity.
Works by A.S. Griboyedov and A.S. Pushkin is often compared to each other. They were created around the same time, but it seems that their main characters have nothing in common. But it is not so. Both writers created literary image « extra person" Onegin and Chatsky are distinguished by their intelligence, they received a good education, but they have no place in their social environment. Love and personal happiness are inaccessible to these characters.
Characteristic features of Alexander Chatsky
Alexander Chatsky, the hero of the comedy “Woe from Wit,” does not want to serve the highest ranks, but would gladly serve society. He is distinguished by honesty and openness, the hero does not wear masks, is proud and does not want to humiliate himself. He has no desire for power or wealth, like, for example, Skalozub. Chatsky is trying to find truly worthy role models. He is unusually brave and can stand up to society.
He is striving to comprehend the world, to search for a truly noble goal. His love for Sophia is great and pure, he is ready to sacrifice himself for her. He is not afraid to be honest, does not hide his thoughts and ideas, trying to open the eyes of others to the truth that he has comprehended. Flattery and meanness, slavish philosophy are alien to him. He is internally free and is not afraid to look crazy among representatives of the “Famus” society.
He is characterized by youthful maximalism, devotion to higher ideals and values, and a desire to benefit others.
Alexander Andreevich Chatsky is a patriot in the highest and truest sense of the word. But his love for the Motherland is effective, he strives to transform it, to correct its inherent vices. The serfdom system and social injustice in general evoke a powerful internal protest in him. He is closer to the ideas of the Enlightenment, he values reason and justice. This leads to the fact that the young man constantly makes speeches filled with righteous anger. And yet he remains lonely and misunderstood.
It is loneliness, the absence of like-minded people, that unites the heroes of the two works. Their lives seem meaningless, since all impulses are doomed to failure and misunderstanding.
Personal characteristics of Evgeny Onegin
The title character of the novel in verse is also lonely in high society. When he had fun at social events, he broke the hearts of women. But the meaningless pastime began to weigh on him. A series of similar balls and dinners could not make him happy.
The hero was overcome by melancholy and lost interest in life. If Alexander Chatsky’s protest is expressed loudly and openly, then in Onegin it is hidden and cold. Detachment and apathy - the most important features personality of Pushkin's character. Even Tatiana's love and the beauty of nature could not return him to active life. Moreover, he kills Lensky during a duel, essentially without meaning to. Why is his suffering so intense?
The reason lies in himself, the peculiarities of upbringing. He did not take into account the feelings of other people, guided only by his own needs and desires. The personality of Napoleon became fatal in Onegin's life. At that time, it was believed that large-scale people were allowed everything. great person equal to God.
Evgeny Onegin is used to constantly wearing a mask and being a hypocrite. His natural impulses have long been suppressed. He does not trust his feelings, is guided only by reason and is unable to trust others. He treats others rather arrogantly, and ultimately brings them nothing but suffering. At the same time, Evgeny Onegin himself suffers. All his ordeals, the search for himself and his place in the world do not lead to results. All attempts to find remain fruitless.
Love for the changed Tatyana comes as a surprise, giving hope for inner rebirth. This feeling helped him open up, stop hiding himself and his true self. The girl revealed to him the world of eternal moral values, giving him a chance to change. But since the ending of the novel in verse is open, we do not know the subsequent fate of Eugene Onegin. Was he able to use this chance?
So, Alexander Chatsky and Evgeny Onegin are related by confrontation with society, internal loneliness. The heroes of both works could not find a way out and turned out to be the first characters in Russian literature to embody the image of the “superfluous man.”