Chatsky and Molchalin: Comparative Characteristics. Comparative characteristics of Chatsky and Molchalin in the comedy Woe from Wit Griboyedov's composition What is common between Chatsky and Molchalin

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In his comedy "Woe from Wit" A.S. Griboyedov depicted the clash of two different worldviews, the struggle between conservatism and the desire for freedom. The first side is expressed by the Moscow "Famus" high society, in which Alexei Molchalin revolves, and on the other side of the barricades is Alexander Chatsky, alone in his convictions.

Outwardly, Chatsky and Molchalin are practically indistinguishable. Young people, nobles, are smart, educated, intelligent. But that's where the similarities end. Chatsky is a maximalist and dreamer, for many years he traveled the world, expanding his horizons. Returning to Russia, he clearly sees all its shortcomings and problems. Bribery, nepotism and careerism, which have struck the whole of society, cause genuine revulsion in it. Being confident in his abilities, he believes that he is able to stir up this swamp, and enters into a tough confrontation first with Famusov, and then with all his entourage.

Molchalin is not at all like that, he is guided only by the desire to rise above those around him, and on this path the hero stops at nothing. If Chatsky is trying to change, cleanse the system, his counterpart uses the vices and shortcomings of society to his advantage. Having suppressed his individuality, he successfully merged into the upper world, where he flattering and sucking up to those in power. When Alexander blows his opponents to smithereens with angry monologues, Alexei keeps his thoughts to himself and completely obeys public opinion. As a result, the Moscow nobility rejected the noble, but alien to her educator, christening him a madman, while the mean, but seductive toady was favored by her in every possible way.

The difference between them becomes even more obvious during their struggle for the heart of Sofia Famusova. Chatsky sees in Sophia the ideal, the love of his life, and in this love he is blind. Until the very end, he could not understand that his beloved had long been a part of the "Famus" society. With his daring, caustic comments about Moscow life and its morals, Alexander turns the girl against himself. She ends up shaming and rejecting him. Another thing is Molchalin, who, with his courtesy and feigned modesty, bewitched Sofya Pavlovna, who in her imagination turned mediocrity into a hero of romance novels. For Alexei, an affair with the boss's daughter is just another way to rise higher on the social ladder. One cold calculation reigns in his head. Fortunately, although our hero defeated his opponent, he himself was exposed and rejected.

As a result of the struggle, Chatsky suffered a complete defeat, but did not break down and remained true to his convictions. So Griboyedov expressed the hope that someday the "Chatskys" will defeat the "Molchalins".

The characters of Chatsky and Molchalin are opposed to each other.

Chatsky is undoubtedly the main character of the comedy, because it is with his appearance that the events in Famusov's house begin to develop.

Chatsky is not a wealthy person by origin, but this is not the main thing for him. Others say well about him: "Who is so sensitive and cheerful and sharp ...". Previously, he served as a bureaucrat, but quit the service because it was “sick” to serve him. He also served in the regiment and did not become a military man, since the military also serve in bad faith, and Chatsky himself understands that he will not be happy in the regiment. Then he travels, but does not find his calling abroad either, and returns to his homeland.

Chatsky does not want to live his life boring and useless. He loves Russia, says "And the smoke of the Fatherland is sweet and pleasant to us," wants to be useful to her, but still does not know what. Raised in the traditions of that society, Chatsky does not know new paths in life, therefore he seems to be an idle talker, simply wrapping around everyone around him.

Chatsky does not want to be an official, because in Famusov's society, career advancement is possible thanks to connections, an attempt to curry favor not with his personal qualities and business skills, but admiration and flattery before his superiors. For a successful career, you need to have such qualities as servility, obsequiousness, and dumbness. For people like Famusov, it costs nothing to humiliate themselves in front of the boss, just to get what they want. None of the Famus society is trying to make life in Russia better, to be useful. They are only looking for benefits for themselves. Even in education Famusov sees bad, he considers "learning is the plague, learning is the reason." Nevertheless, such as Famusov and his guests understand that they are wrong, but they are afraid of some kind of change and the fact that the state will have to be achieved with their own mind and work.

These features of the "past century" and Chatsky does not like, he knows that he has no place in such a society.

His personal drama is that he remains misunderstood in Famusov's house. Sophia, for whose sake he came to Famusov, loves another, the one who is not worthy of her, and Sophia turns all the features of Molchalin, which Chatsky considers humiliating, into virtues. Moreover, Sophia becomes like everyone else, and does not understand Chatsky. Famusovskoe society took Chatsky for a madman, because his opinion differs sharply from theirs. All the same, he boldly expresses his thoughts and denounces liars, calling things by their proper names. So, realizing that nothing has changed in Moscow, Chatsky leaves Famusov's house.

Molchalin is Famusov's secretary, lives in his house and plays a secondary role in the comedy, but through him you can see how he differs from Chatsky. Molchalin's father taught him to please all people, the boss, the owner of the house where he would live, and even the janitor and his dog, so that no one would be angry with him, and he would enjoy the reputation of an educated and well-mannered person.

Molchalin considers moderation and accuracy to be his best qualities. He always praises someone from the highest ranks or plays cards with them, or serves them for his own benefit. Molchalin also believes that "he does not dare to have his own judgment in him," therefore he does not pep at anyone, depending on others.

Living in someone else's house, Molchalin starts an affair with Sophia, as with the daughter of an influential rank, behaves timidly with her. But he has sincere feelings for Liza, and in relation to her it is clear that he is not at all timid and shy; he is open to her, says his thoughts.

Chatsky despises Molchalin, considers at first that Sophia jokes about her attitude towards Molchalin. Having learned about Chatsky's views, Molchalin is horrified, he sincerely supports the rumor about Chatsky's madness.

In general, Chatsky and Molchalin are completely different. Molchalin lives according to the concepts of the old century, and he plans everything in life according to a well-known proven model, like everyone else, and does not even consider it necessary to think about the essence of what is happening. And Chatsky, on the contrary, strives for everything new, because Chatsky begins a new century, and this is his whole meaning and his whole “mind”.

In ten years, there will be two centuries, as the comedy "Woe from Wit" is playing on the stages of theaters with invariable success. Among the brilliant characters that Griboyedov portrayed in his work are Chatsky and Molchalin. Our article is dedicated to them.

The classic of Russian literature at the beginning of the 19th century was an extraordinary personality: a brilliant diplomat "worth a 20-thousandth army", one of the most educated people of his time. The viewer is mesmerized by the playwright's model of an aristocratic Moscow society of average quality. The characters of the Griboyedov comedy are bright and relevant.

In particular, the life principles of Chatsky and Molchalin, two young people of 23 and 24 years of age, who begin their social life in Russian society, are conceptual. The principles of the first are reduced to the destruction of the foundations of serfdom. The second is fixated on an effective career within a stable state.

Comparison of Chatsky and Molchalin

The nature of the social activity of people is to a certain extent determined by their social status. The origin of Alexander Andreevich Chatsky and Alexei Stepanovich Molchalin is different. Chatsky is an aristocrat, he, not being in the service, has a steady source of income. And not only providing "daily bread", but also allowing you to go "to learn the mind" in Europe. The life principles of Chatsky and Molchalin are the principles of various social groups: aristocrats who despise work and are keen on the French Revolution, and commoners who seek recognition by their work.

Chatsky ironically called "the fiery prophet"

Arriving home, the aristocrat Chatsky, inspired by the European progress he saw, according to Alexander Isaevich Solzhenitsyn, positions himself with the status of a "fiery prophet" who does not even know how the declarative principles formulated by him can be implemented in Russia.

Chatsky's phrases are whipping and correct. Alexander is a utopian and egoist. His communication with other people is reduced to fiery monologues and sharp parries of opposing opinions. Aleksandr Isaevich noticed the communicative incompetence of this hero Griboyedov, his readiness with the words "to whip off the shoulder" of his opponents, and being too carried away by the process.

Pushkin, speaking of Chatsky, was even more ironic - "funny guy."

Chatsky and Molchalin − different attitudes towards society

Unlike his wealthier peer, Alexey has a subtle sense of the society in which he is. His tact and helpfulness earn him social bonuses. is more than a secretary, in fact - the right hand of Famusov. He pleases the friends of his patron who are visiting the Famus house.

Is Chatsky right when he stigmatizes the "two-faced", "creepy", "vile" secretary? After all, he does not even try to understand what kind of person Alexei is. Chatsky and Molchalina expose two completely different personalities with different types of mind. One is bright, imaginative, ideological, the second is practical, economic. Indeed, in fact, Alexey Stepanovich Molchalin acts within the framework of decency and tolerance.

In the end, he can also be moved by gratitude to Famusov - his benefactor, a person who provides work and shelter. Molchalin does not think about things (in the words of Bulgakov's professor Preobrazhensky) "of a cosmic scale and cosmic stupidity." He does more than he says. Moreover, Chatsky also shows that the former is not only loyal to society, but also a useful cog in it. The second should be attributed to the cohort of superfluous people in their homeland, following Eugene Onegin and Pechorin. He, following the logic of the author of the work, positions himself as the only "smart person" among the "fools".

The life principles of Chatsky and Molchalin are incomparable. The ideas of the first are divorced from Russian life, they are just general slogans. Before their implementation - the abyss.

Is Molchalin so "insidious"?

Alexey Molchalin, unlike his opponent, really makes a living by service. His life rules have been tested in practice. He, working as a secretary, lives in the house of his patron Pavel Afanasyevich Famusov, in fact, carrying out all the office work of the manager of the state place for him. In other words, Molchalin is a clerk and accountant. He values ​​his place of work. So is he to blame for his "moderation and accuracy"?

In addition, young people are united by a love conflict. Chatsky likes Famusov's daughter, Sophia; and she, in turn, sympathizes with Alexei Khlestakov. The life principles of Chatsky and Molchalin are different, including in relations with the opposite sex. So, Chatsky, imagining himself to be ideal, has no idea about the reasons that cooled the girl's feeling for him.

Molchalin is a "living", mistaken character

Molchalin does not find the courage to immediately admit to Sophia that he does not love her. At the same time, he is delicate in dealing with her and does not compromise the girl. Griboyedov in the image of Molchalin shows a careerist who does not have a noble rank, however, is pragmatic. Step by step he follows to achieve a favorable position in society. The Molchalins are not fond of ideas and criticism. Their element is daily hard work.

Griboyedov brings these two characters into an ideological conflict: Chatsky and Molchalin. After all, they, young people, according to the author, will determine the face of the “coming century”. However, the reader understands: Famusov's secretary is not at all such a calculating monster as Chatsky says. Moreover, Alexey is really confused - on the one hand, wanting a relationship with Lisa, whom he loves, and on the other, trying to be kind to the owner's daughter. By chance Sophia hears his confession to the servant. Chatsky plays into his hands.

Molchalin's career is ruined by "lordly love"

The situation is not in favor of Molchalin. Most likely, he will lose his job as a secretary of a state institution. However, on a large scale, he did nothing reprehensible. Sophia's reaction to the confession she heard can be called "a storm in a glass of water." She liked Alexey, and she fantasized to herself that he loved her. The discrepancy between imagination and reality was presented by the daughter of Famusova as the baseness of Molchalin. Chatsky, on the other hand, is openly gloating.

However, he understands very well that his position in the Famusovs' house is rather precarious. Therefore, the wise phrase spoken by Liza about the disastrous consequences for a person of a simple class of both "lordly anger" and "lordly love" - ​​directly concerns him. It is the "lordly love" that becomes the reason for the future collapse of his career as an employee. Comparative and Molchalina, thus, shows that it is the latter that is inherent in sociability, modesty, self-discipline, and will.

Obviously, these features aroused Sophia's sympathy.

Instead of a conclusion

Chatsky and Molchalin have different types of thinking. Alexander Andreevich expresses his idea very temperamentally, he justifies the chosen position quite vividly, immediately criticizes his opponents and does nothing, and then leaves with an offended look. It is worth remembering that lovers of Russian literature have already met a stormy and fruitless stream of thoughts in one character. This is the familiar Ilya Ilyich Oblomov.

Of course, Chatsky is a more dynamic character. However, he had already taken the first step along the path of Ilya Ilyich - he neglected work. It is not for nothing that Alexei Molchalin encourages him on this score.

At the same time, the characterization of Molchalin and Chatsky, given by the author in the work, gives grounds to deviate from the classical characterization. And it is right. After all, Chatsky is not so positive, and Molchalin, in fact, is not at all a potential villain.

Apr 28 2014

Griboyedov's comedy Woe from Wit is a unique cast of the emerging, but already irreconcilable struggle in society at the beginning of the 19th century between the progressive, progressive-minded youth and the conservative-minded representatives of the serf era. These two different social camps are picturesquely represented by Chatsky and Molchalin - people of opposite life positions, moral norms, worldview. Despite the deep dissimilarity, in Molchalin and Chatsky you can find common features that attracted Sofya Famusova to each of them (at different times). These two young and intelligent people are associated with the Famusov house. Chatsky is the son of a friend of Famusov, brought up in this house.

At a young age he left Moscow, “looked for the mind,” studied, saw and learned a lot. Molchalin works as a Secretary in the Famusov house, enjoys universal love and respect: As I worked and tried, Since I was listed in the Archives, I received three awards. But here he brings them together in a comedy, and we see how different Chatsky and Molchalin are from each other, and this dissimilarity cannot be hidden under the outer shell.

The very appearance of these characters in the comedy can tell about many features of their characters. Chatsky literally breaks into the plot, he is passionately in love and happy to see Sophia after a long separation. Joy and energy fill him so much that he does not immediately notice the girl's coldness.

Molchalin, on the other hand, enters the comedy first silent, and then - justifying and confused. And soon we will learn something about these heroes through their assessment by other actors, in their speeches and actions. How do the household members of the Famusov house and the owner himself respond about Chatsky? Who is so sensitive, and cheerful, and sharp, Like Alexander Andreich Chatsky! Oster, smart, eloquent, He is especially happy in his friends ...

... he is small with a head, And nicely writes, translates. Chatsky is a nobleman and is proud of it. He is distinguished from those around him by his love of freedom and independence of views, frankness and straightforwardness of statements.

Chatsky sees the purpose of his life in serving the fatherland, he is a true patriot of his homeland, however, groveling, the struggle for ranks, titles, awards oppress him and outrage: I would be glad to serve, it is sickening to serve. He is ready to serve “the cause, not the persons,” but this is impossible in Famus society. It is the independence of judgments, the desire to judge a person by deeds, and not by the position he occupies in society, openness and directness that causes in relation to Chatsky a complete misunderstanding of those around him, aggression and rejection on their part: Ah! My God! he's carbonars!

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