The world-famous comedy “The Minor” has a deep social and satirical orientation. The comedy is written in the best traditions of classicism, but later and more mature. The play is unique because it skillfully combines the tragic and at the same time comical events. Fonvizin's play destroys the usual idea of constructing genre forms. The comedy is filled with contradictory characters, their characters and behavior; they combine virtues and sins.
The beginning, middle and end of the play cannot be unambiguously attributed to either comedy or tragedy; each passage contains both. Many critics have dubbed the play as laughter through tears. Fonvizin's work is a classic comedy, with elements of touching and tragedy. The end of the play is also filled with a mixture of the comic and the tragic.
For example, the sharp turn of events in the fate of Mrs. Prostakova. She devoted her whole life to one man, put him on a pedestal, and in the end he repaid her with burning ingratitude. Mitrofan cruelly pushes away the woman who dedicated her heart to him. The rest of the characters in the play are not unequivocal about Prostakova. Some gloat over her grief, others feel sorry for her and support her. And still others mercilessly pronounce the verdict that she received a well-deserved punishment for violating the moral standards of society.
The author places a strong emphasis on the improper upbringing of children. Mitrofanushka personifies bad taste and tyranny in the play. The author shows what disastrous fruits the lessons of such a teacher can have. He is spoiled by the society around him and by the bad example of his own mother. Fonvizin shows many funny moments related to Mitrofanushka's ignorance. But at the same time, it hints at the tragedy of his actions. The author shows that in the future he will bring upon himself troubles associated with his unworthy behavior.
Fonvizin managed to create a unique and stunning picture, in which the funny and the tragic are mixed in equal proportions. A special niche in comedy is occupied by the degradation of noble society and everything connected with it. The end of the comedy is very unpredictable, but corresponds to the traditions in which the entire play is performed: a harmonious mixture of righteous and sinful.
How do you understand the metaphor “club” people's war"in the novel by L.N. Tolstoy's "War and Peace"?
It cannot be argued that Leo Tolstoy’s most famous and greatest work is the novel “War and Peace.” It combines various themes with red threads, but the theme of war occupies a special place. The author calls war a terrible thing, and he is indeed right. In his novel, some heroes enter into war as if it were a crime, while other characters are forced to defend themselves and loved ones from ruthless attacks. The novel is permeated with deep metaphors. Particularly striking was: “the club of the people’s war.”
I understand this phrase as a symbol of the weapons of the common people. It is not graceful and noble, like a sword. In order to master a club, you do not need to practice the art of fencing, it is enough just to mindlessly wield brute physical strength. Catchphrase“The club of the people’s war”, in my opinion, means that the exhausted people are fighting the furious invaders as best they can, without observing the rules and fundamentals martial art. The people are fighting back without observing military canons and traditions; they are ready to use any means to win, even the most terrible and cruel. Moreover, the people will fight to the end, until their last breath, until the enemy is completely defeated.
The war that Tolstoy depicts in his work leaves no one indifferent. The author does not ambiguously show that this war was for the most part a people's war. Not only the army defended its native lands from the invader, the entire population actively participated in the defense. Peasants and some nobles fearlessly came to the defense native land, merchants gave up most of their income to support the powerful Russian army. Many peasants joined the partisans to contribute to the battle. The partisan detachments included in their composition both ordinary people, and representatives of the nobility, but they were all united by one common and desired goal - to save the Motherland.
Leo Tolstoy is a master of the pen; he deftly paints the reader a powerful image of a people who are ready to do anything to save their native lands. The people, as a rule, are not educated and do not possess military wisdom, but this does not diminish the desire to do everything to save the Motherland. The people take up a simple club and confidently walk towards their enemies.
Fonvizin’s comedy has an “open” ending, although Starodum’s instructive instruction externally closes the situation (and the action as a whole) with the necessary didactic result. The heroes, led by Prostakova, have, in addition to the visible, also potential, “collapsed” personal meanings, that intended, guessable energy that seems to be directed beyond the limits of invented situations, into real historical time.
Here, before leaving for his estate, Skotinin receives instructions from Pravdin to tell the surrounding landowners about what happened in Prostakova’s house, so that they know “what they are exposed to.” Skotinin (he just uttered the “sister” phrase: “Isn’t a nobleman free to beat a servant whenever he wants?”) answers Pravdin with an ambiguous and sly readiness: “How can you not protect your friends!”
“Beware of friends” is a lesson learned, distilled into the experience of collective struggle. This is an assertion of the legitimacy of tyrannical treatment of subjects, which should only be more hidden from the eyes of government officials. And with what ironic significance he makes a promise to Pravdin: “I will tell them that they people...”. Pravdin almost helpfully picks up, rhyming the supposed “beat”: “They loved more, or at least...”.
When reading this scene carefully, one cannot shake the feeling that Skotinin is condescendingly “playing along” with Pravdin. Only in realistic dramaturgy, which deals with developing, “fluid” character, with the hidden meaning of intention or action, is such a dialogue possible.
Skotinin, unlike his all-powerful interlocutor, does not pick up his phrase and does not add an unctuous ending to it. He waits with gloomy demands for the continuation: “Well?...” And Pravdin, the all-powerful Pravdin, who represents the government here and has just plunged the Prostakov family into horror and confusion with his “important voice” and stern decree, unexpectedly capitulates. He utters words that clearly “remove” all his previous high-flown arguments with Starodum: “At least they didn’t touch him.” That instructive performance, which could have been performed “on behalf of the government” in front of one family, means absolutely nothing in front of “Skotinin with Friends,” that is, in front of the Russian local nobility as a class, united by the unity of proprietary interests. The writer’s alarming thought is directed primarily there, towards the historical “departure” of Skotinin. Where class comrades, “their own people,” are united by hatred of enlightenment, cruelty, animal egoism and greed in order to defend their positions in life.
Valagin A.P. Question and answer: Russian literature. XVIII century. - Voronezh: “Native Speech”, 1995
(423 words) D. Fonvizin’s comedy “The Minor” is evidence that the problem of evil behavior is an old-timer in Russian literature. Every realist writer touched on it in one way or another in his work. However, the most famous work, where the focus is on evil behavior, Fonvizin’s comedy was and remains. The play even ends with the phrase: “These are the worthy fruits of evil.” It is she who indicates that the ending of “The Minor” is tragic and not funny. After everything that happened to Prostakova, Starodum can only state the fact - the consequences of immorality are always worthy of her, she is not funny, but tragic.
What does the reader see at the end of the play? Mrs. Prostakova after unsuccessful attempt kidnapping a rich bride for his son receives forgiveness, but immediately announces his intention to take revenge on the servants for his failure. At the same time, the official Pravdin speaks about the purpose of his visit: he is authorized to take the Prostakov peasants under his guardianship and deprive the masters of the right to govern them. This time, prayers do not help, and the heroine remains with broken trough. She has only one incentive to live - her madly beloved son Mitrofan. But he answers her: “Go away, mother.” In difficult times, the hero turns away from his family and indifferently accepts the invitation to serve: “For me, where they tell me to go.” Mitrofan's behavior is so cruel that even Pravdin reproaches him for his rudeness. Prostakova faints after such words. When she regains consciousness, she says:
I'm completely lost! My power has been taken away! You can’t show your eyes anywhere out of shame! I don't have a son!
Can such an ending be called funny? The description of the life and morals of this family seemed ridiculous and absurd, but the ending of the play no longer seems a reason for fun or even sarcasm. This is the drama in pure form. Rude and cruel, Prostakova sincerely loved her son and pinned all her hopes on him. For his sake, she crossed the law, for his sake she spent money on teachers. But after all this, her son abandoned her. That is, this woman’s whole life was in vain, all her sacrifices were in vain, all her actions were insignificant, since she, the mother, could not raise her child. If the loss of power in the house seems a fair punishment for her, then the betrayal of her son is an undeserved blow. Mitrofan's ingratitude and insensitivity hurt not only her heart, but also the reader, who for the first time sees in the undergrowth not only ignorance, but also inhuman cruelty. This means that he only took it from his mother. This is what Starodum called “the fruit of evil.”
The ending of the play "The Minor" is not funny, but tragic. In the latter phenomenon, the image of Prostakova for the first time evokes sympathy and not condemnation. We feel sorry for the mother who has lost the support of her beloved son, and it is not at all fun to watch how Mitrofan turned from a fool into a rude egoist. It’s sad that the fruits of evil are completely consistent with it: they are just as bitter and harmful.
Topics of education and upbringing are always relevant to society. That is why Denis Fonvizin’s comedy “The Minor” is still interesting for readers today. The heroes of the work are representatives of different classes. The comedy is written in the style of classicism. Each character represents a certain quality. For this, the author uses speaking surnames. In comedy, the rule of three unities is observed: unity of action, time and place. The play was first staged on stage in 1782. Since then, there have been thousands, or even millions, of performances of the same name all over the world. In 1926, based on the comedy, the film “Lords of the Skotinins” was shot.
Starodum
Starodum personifies the image of a wise man. He was brought up in the spirit of Peter the Great's time, and accordingly, he honors the traditions of the previous era. He considers serving the Fatherland a sacred duty. He despises evil and inhumanity. Starodum proclaims morality and enlightenment.
Starodum. Fragment from the play “The Minor”These are the worthy fruits of evil.
The ranks begin - sincerity ceases.
An ignoramus without a soul is a beast.
Have a heart, have a soul, and you will be a man at all times.
The direct dignity in a person is the soul... Without it, the most enlightened, clever person is a pitiful creature.
It is much more honest to be treated without guilt than to be rewarded without merit.
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.
All of Siberia is not enough for the whims of one person.
Follow nature, you will never be poor. Follow people's opinions and you will never be rich.
Cash is not cash worth
They never wish harm upon those whom they despise; but usually they wish evil upon those who have the right to despise.
An honest person must be a completely honest person.
Insolence in a woman is a sign of vicious behavior.
In human ignorance, it is very comforting to consider everything that you don’t know to be nonsense.
God has given you all the amenities of your sex.
In today's marriages, the heart is rarely advised. The question is whether the groom is famous or rich? Is the bride good and rich? There is no question about good behavior.
The bad disposition of people who are not worthy of respect should not be distressing. Know that they never wish evil upon those whom they despise, but usually wish evil upon those who have the right to despise.
People envy more than just wealth, more than just nobility: and virtue also has its envious people.
Science in depraved man is a fierce weapon to do evil Children? Leave wealth to children! Not in my head. They will be smart, they will manage without him; and wealth is no help to a stupid son.
The flatterer is a thief at night who will first put out the candle and then begin to steal.
Do not have love for your husband that resembles friendship. Have a friendship for him that would be like love. It will be much stronger.
Is he happy who has nothing to desire, but only something to fear?
Not the rich man who counts out money in order to hide it in a chest, but the one who counts out his extra money in order to help someone who does not have what he needs.
Conscience, like a friend, always warns before punishing like a judge.
It is better to lead life at home than in someone else's hallway.
Everyone must seek his happiness and benefits in that one thing that is lawful.
Pravdin
Pravdin is an honest official. He is a well-mannered and polite person. He conscientiously fulfills his duties, stands for justice and considers it his duty to help poor peasants. He sees through the essence of Prostakova and her son and believes that each of them should get what they deserve.
The direct dignity in man is the soul.
How clever it is to destroy inveterate prejudices in which base souls find their benefits!
Moreover, from my own heart’s struggle, I do not allow myself to notice those malicious ignoramuses who, having complete power over their people, use it inhumanly for evil.
Excuse me, madam. I never read letters without the permission of those to whom they are written...
What is called sullenness and rudeness in him is one effect of his straightforwardness.
From childhood his tongue did not say yes when his soul felt no.
Evil behavior cannot be tolerated in a well-established state... With guilt you will fly to distant lands, to a kingdom of thirty.
It was her crazy love for you that brought her the most misfortune.
I apologize for leaving you...
I am striving, however, to soon put limits on the wife’s malice and the husband’s stupidity. I have already notified our boss about all the local barbarities and I have no doubt that measures will be taken to calm them down...
I have been instructed to take charge of the house and villages at the first rabies, from which the people under her control could suffer...
The pleasure that princes enjoy in possessing free souls must be so great that I do not understand what motives could distract...
Scoundrel! Should you be rude to your mother? It was her crazy love for you that brought her the most misfortune.
Milo
Milon is an officer. He values courage and honesty in people, welcomes enlightenment and considers it his duty to serve the Fatherland. Treats others with respect. Milon is an excellent match for Sophia. There are obstacles on their way, but at the end of the work the fates of the heroes are reunited.
At my age and in my position, it would be unforgivable arrogance to consider everything deserved than young man worthy people encourage...
Perhaps she is now in the hands of some selfish people who, taking advantage of her orphanhood, are keeping her in tyranny. This thought alone makes me beside myself.
A! now I see my destruction. My opponent is happy! I do not deny all the merits in him. He may be reasonable, enlightened, kind; but so that you can compare with me in my love for you, so that...
How! such is my opponent! A! Dear Sophia! Why are you tormenting me with jokes? You know how easily a passionate person is upset by the slightest suspicion.
Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin Unworthy people!
The judge who, fearing neither vengeance nor the threats of the strong, gave justice to the helpless, is a hero in my eyes...
If you allow me to say my thought, I believe true fearlessness is in the soul, and not in the heart. Whoever has it in his soul, without any doubt, has a brave heart.
I see and honor virtue, adorned with enlightened reason...
I am in love and have the happiness of being loved...
You know how easily a passionate person is upset by the slightest suspicion...
Sophia
Translated, Sophia means “wisdom.” In “Minor” Sophia appears as a wise, well-mannered and educated person. Sophia is an orphan, her guardian and uncle is Starodum. Sophia's heart belongs to Milo. But, having learned about the girl’s rich inheritance, other heroes of the work also lay claim to her hand and heart. Sophia is convinced that wealth should only be achieved through honest work.
How appearance blinds us!
I was now reading a book... French. Fenelon, about the education of girls...
How many sorrows have I endured since the day of our separation! My unscrupulous relatives...
Uncle! My true happiness is that I have you. I know the price...
How can the heart not be content when the conscience is calm... I will use all my efforts to earn the good opinion of worthy people. How can I prevent those who see me moving away from them from becoming angry with me? Isn’t it possible, uncle, to find a way so that no one in the world would wish me harm?
Is it possible, uncle, that there are such pitiful people in the world in whom a bad feeling is born precisely because there is good in others.
A virtuous person should take pity on such unfortunates. It seemed to me, uncle, that all people agreed on where to place their happiness. Nobility, wealth...
Negative
Prostakova
Mrs. Prostakova is one of the main characters of the work. She is a representative of the noble class, holding serfs. In the house, everything and everyone must be under her control: The mistress of the estate pushes around not only her servants, but also controls her husband. In her statements, Mrs. Prostakova is despotic and rude. But she loves her son endlessly. As a result, her blind love does not bring anything good either to her son or to herself.
This is the kind of hubby God blessed me with: he doesn’t know how to figure out what’s wide and what’s narrow.
So believe also that I do not intend to indulge the slaves. Go, sir, and punish now...
My only concern, my only joy is Mitrofanushka. My age is passing. I'm preparing him for people.
Live and learn, my dear friend! Such a thing.
And I love that strangers listen to me too...
Without sciences people live and lived.
Mrs. Prostakova. Still from the film “The Minor” We took away everything that the peasants had; we can’t rip anything off. Such a disaster!..
I don’t intend to indulge the slaves. Go, sir, and punish now...
From morning to evening, like someone hanged by the tongue, I don’t lay down my hands: I scold, I fight; This is how the house holds together, my father!..
Yes, this is a different century, father!
My Mitrofanushka doesn’t get up for days because of a book. My mother's heart. Otherwise it’s a pity, a pity, but just think: but there will be a kid anywhere.
It is bad to praise your child, but where will the one whom God brings to be his wife not be unhappy?
Mitrofan
Mitrofan is the son of landowner Prostakova. Actually, in comedy he is an undergrowth. This is what they called those who did not want to study or serve in the 18th century. Mitrofanushka is spoiled by his mother and nanny, he is used to idleness, loves to eat well and is completely indifferent to science. At the same time, the feeling of gratitude is alien to him. He is rude not only to his teachers and nanny, but also to his parents. So, he “thanks” his mother for her boundless blind love.
Let go, mother, how you imposed yourself...
Garrison rat.
You're so tired beating your father.
For me, where they tell me to go.
I don't want to study - I want to get married He ate too much henbane.
Yes, all sorts of rubbish got into my head, then you are a father, then you are a mother.
I'll study; just to have it last time and let there be an agreement today!
Now I’ll run to the dovecote, maybe…
Well, say another word, you old bastard! I'll finish them off.
Vit is here and the river is close. I’ll dive, so remember my name... You lured me in, blame yourself...
Skotinin is the brother of Mrs. Prostakova. He does not recognize science and any enlightenment. He works in a barnyard; pigs are the only creatures that give him warm feelings. It was not by chance that the author gave this occupation and surname to his hero. Having learned about Sophia's condition, he dreams of marrying her profitably. For this he is even ready to destroy his dear nephew Mitrofanushka.
Every fault is to blame.
It’s a sin to blame for your own happiness.
Learning is nonsense.
I haven't read anything in my life, sister! God saved me from this boredom.
Everyone left me alone. The idea was to go for a walk in the barnyard. Don't be the Skotinin who wants to learn something.
What a parable! I am not a hindrance to anyone else. Everyone should marry his bride. I won’t touch someone else’s, and don’t touch mine.
I wasn’t going anywhere, but I was wandering around, thinking. I have such a custom that if you put a fence in your head, you can’t knock it out with a nail. In my mind, you hear, what came into my mind is stuck here. That’s all I think about, that’s all I see in a dream, as if in reality, and in reality, as in a dream.
Eremeevna
Nanny Mitrofanushka. He has been serving in the Prostakovs' house for more than 40 years. She is devoted to her owners and attached to their home. Eremeevna has a highly developed sense of duty, but self-esteem is completely absent.
I have my own grips sharp!
I tried to push myself towards him, but forcibly carried away my legs. Pillar of smoke, my mother!
Ah, creator, save and have mercy! If my brother hadn’t deigned to leave at that very moment, I would have broken down with him. That's what God wouldn't order. If these were dull (pointing to the nails), I wouldn’t even take care of the fangs.
God forbid vain lies! Even if you read for five years, you won’t get better than ten thousand.
The difficult one won't clean me up! I have been serving for forty years, but the mercy is still the same...
Five rubles a year, and five slaps a day.
Oh, you damn pig!
Tsyfirkin
Tsyfirkin is one of Mitrofanushka’s teachers. Speaking surname directly indicates that he taught Prostakova’s son mathematics. The diminutive use of the surname suggests that Tsyfirkin was not a real teacher. He is a retired soldier who understands arithmetic.
The last lines of the comedy have been read. I feel some kind of confusion in my soul. Why would this be? After all, the ending is logical: Pravdin warned that this could happen. Evil must be punished - we have known this from fairy tales since childhood. Why is another feeling mixed with the satisfaction from the restoration of justice - pity? And even to Prostakova?! Everything is clear and simple: I am a person, and I feel sorry for another person who feels bad. I understand that Prostakova deserves pity least of all, but I still feel sorry for her. If only because the biggest insult, the biggest wound is inflicted on her by her son, for whom she lived, for whom she wanted to arrange a life and for whose sake she is collapsing. Her servants and peasants, whom She oppressed and humiliated, could condemn her; Starodum and Pravdin had the right to judge her, but not Mitrofan. This is betrayal and cruelty towards the mother. Maybe that’s why I still feel sorry for Prostakova.
The last phrase of Starodum sounds: “Here are the fruits of evil!” She forces us to return to the very beginning of the comedy in order to find the reason for Prostakova’s fall. You don’t have to look long for examples of cruelty, inhumanity, and stupidity of a landowner who has power and strength over people. She robs the peasants completely, the advice of Skotinin, her brother, helps in this. The servants get it even more, because they are in front of everyone all the time, and she doesn’t even consider them people. “Harya”, “beast”, “cattle”, “dog’s daughter”, “blockhead” - all this is addressed to those who feed the landowner’s family, clean, and look after. What about servants! The simpleton is ready to destroy her own brother when he gets in her way. And all this for the sake of Mitrofanushka, her hope, her little blood! Any mother wants the best for her child and gives him her love and care. But for Prostakova it is blind love, terrible, crazy. She herself is insignificant, dishonest, and she is raising her son to be the same. If it had been her way, she would never have bothered him with his studies. Prostakova lives illiterate, and her brother is illiterate, but they have power and wealth. But the tsar’s decrees force the nobles to teach their children - so she has been teaching her Mitrofan for four years now, but to no avail, because she spared money for good teachers. But the bad ones teach poorly, and Mitrofan cannot be taught. Prostakova’s own ignorance, her immorality have no limits, her conscience has long fallen asleep. Prostakova is terrible for her actions, her lifestyle, and her principles. She is to blame for the fact that with her upbringing she killed everything human in Mitrofanushka and made him a moral monster. Prostakova even lost her sense of danger. She is no longer able to stop even when Pravdin warns of punishment.
They say: “conscience spoke”, “conscience prompted”. But Prostakova’s conscience is no longer a helper. “Conscience, like a friend, always warns before punishing like a judge,” Starodum taught Sophia. Conscience could not warn Prostakova, because she had long been deaf to any moral feeling. Everything goes to a natural ending, because the landowner’s arbitrariness knows no limits, and her ignorance knows no shame.
Mrs. Prostakova was punished severely, but fairly. Her greed, rudeness, hypocrisy gave rise to the fruits of evil, for which she is destined to pay. This is the lesson of the comedy “The Minor,” which teaches and warns everyone who wants to take the path of Prostakova. And I don't feel sorry for her anymore.
FOR THE CURIOUS
1. Name the first play by D. I. Fonvizin. ("Brigadier", 1769)
2. What did D.I. Fonvizin say when he visited abroad? (“Glorious are the tambourines beyond the mountains.”)
3. What is the name of D. I. Fonvizin’s “grammar”? (“General Court Grammar.”)
4. The heroes of which plays by Fonvizin have the same names? (Sofia in “The Brigadier” and Sophia in “The Minor.”)
5. Where and in what year did the premiere of the play “The Minor” take place? (Petersburg, 1782)
6. Premiere of the play “The Minor”: “When the curtain fell, there was thunderous applause, they flew onto the stage...” What flew onto the stage? (Wallets.)
7. Who was the prototype of Mitrofanushka in “Nedorosl”? (A. N. Olenin, 18 years old, later president of the Academy of Arts, director of the Public Library in St. Petersburg.)
8. Who owns the words in the play “The Minor”:
"IN big world there are very small souls."
"The golden idiot is everyone's idiot."
“Cash is not cash worth.”
“Without noble deeds, a noble fortune is nothing.”
(To Starodum.)
9. What phrase is heard in the finale of the comedy “Minor”? Who does it belong to? (“Here are the fruits worthy of evil,” to Starodum.)
10. Who said that in “The Minor” “the excellent satirist executed ignorance in folk comedy”? (A.S. Pushkin.)
11. Which character in the play “The Minor” is mentioned in A. S. Pushkin’s novel “Eugene Onegin” among the Larins’ guests?
(Skotinins, gray-haired couple
With children of all ages...)