Characteristics of the main characters of the comedy undergrowth. Fonvizin, "Undergrowth": analysis of the work, characterization of the characters D and fonvizin undergrowth characterization of the characters

Fonvizin in his work tried to reflect the vicious mores of the provincial nobility of that time. A separate topic on which the author tried to focus the reader's attention is the problem of educating the younger generation. The image and characteristics of the main characters of the comedy "Undergrowth" will help to understand who is a positive and who is a negative character. Each of them is individual in its own way. Much can be understood by reading their names and surnames. Looking at them, you see what indicators of character they are endowed with and what they are.

Prostakov

Noblewoman by birth. Mitrofanushka's mother. Dislikes people and spouse. At any opportunity, she lets her husband know that he is nobody in the house. Woman commander. Uneducated. Ill-mannered. Differs in special cruelty in relation to serfs. Evil, rude woman. The soul does not cherish in the only son. Has a passion for money. For the sake of profit and profit will go over the heads. Cunning and insidious. It was she who came up with a plan how to circle the orphan around her finger and marry her son to her. The future of Mitrofan is in the first place for Prostakova. Everything is for him beloved, but the son himself is hardly able to appreciate the all-consuming maternal love and care.

Prostakov

Prostakova's husband. Completely matches the name. Such a simpleton. Henpecked. Passive, weak-willed man. I'm used to the fact that the wife rules everything in the house. He always tries to please her, otherwise you can fall under the hot hand of his wife, and she is difficult for her. More than once he himself had to receive slaps in the face from his wife. Loves son. In his heart he is proud of the only heir. True, it is not clear what reasons for pride can be if the son, apart from contempt, cannot cause anything.

Mitrofan

Comedy protagonist. Son of the Prostakovs. Undergrowth. A teenager of sixteen years old. Sissy. Used to the fact that the mother and her entourage fulfill any desire at the snap of a finger, and God forbid, who disobeys the young master. A spoiled, selfish young man. Loves money. Doesn't respect elders. Worthless young man. Studying is hard work for him. The granite of science is too tough for him. Lazy. But the proposal to marry aroused genuine interest in the guy. That would be such zeal and in the right direction. Ignorant and stupid.

Skotinin

Brother of Prostakova. Nobleman. Likes pigs and money. Ignorant. Rough Uneducated. Because of the dowry, he was ready to marry Sophia, not having feelings for her. An uneducated, uncouth man. copy of his sister.

Sofia

An orphan. Noblewoman by birth. Niece of Starodum, whom the Prostakovs took under their wing. Young, pure creation. A rich heiress, which caused a skirmish between the master's son and Skotinin. She received a good education. Honest, fair. Good soul man. Differs in responsiveness. Faithful. She loves her fiancé Milo. Ready to fight for your love to the last.

Starodum

Uncle Sophia. The girl's guardian was forced to leave her niece for a long time in order to improve the situation and get back on her feet for her good. Good mentor. Gives the right advice. Strong, authoritative personality. Wise, thoughtful. Kind. All acquired earned by honest work. Rectilinear.

Milon

Sophia's fiance. Honest, decent guy. Military. Sincerely loves Sophia. Highly moral. Educated. Modest. Honor and courage are not empty words for him. A worthy match for any girl.

Pravdin

State employee. Official. Honest, decent person. He is engaged in punishing landowners who are distinguished by cruelty towards serfs.

Tsyfirkin, Kuteikin, Vralman

Woe to the teachers of the master's son. None received a proper education. All of them are former simple hard workers.

Vralman worked as a coachman. German. Teaches Mitrofan a foreign language. Sly, flattering. Capable of meanness and deceit.

Kuteikin teaches the underage to read and write. Deacon. No teacher from him. Calculating. Cowardly.

Tsyfirkin. From the former military. Teaches arithmetic. Kind, honest man. As a teacher, he is nothing.

Eremeevna

Nanny Mitrofan. Ordinary peasant woman. A woman faithfully and devotedly, like a dog, serves her mistress throughout her life. Patiently endures insults, assault, without expressing discontent. She receives a meager salary, but she does not have the courage to ask for a salary increase, it is not in her character. Accepts life as it is.

Trishka

Fortress peasant. Tailor at the court. Has no professional sewing education. Not stupid. Can stand up for himself and snap in response to the remarks of the hostess. Differs in prudence.

Fonvizin's comedy "Undergrowth" was written in the best traditions of Russian classicism. In accordance with the classic canons, the characters in the work are clearly divided into positive and negative, and their names and surnames concisely characterize and reveal the main features of the characters. However, unlike the traditional images of classic plays, the heroes of The Undergrowth are devoid of stereotypes, which is what attracts modern readers and viewers.

The positive actors are Pravdin, Sofia, Starodum and Milon. Each of them supports the ideas of the Enlightenment, considering virtue, honesty, love for the motherland, high morality and education as the main human values. Their complete opposite depicts negative characters - Prostakovs, Skotinin and Mitrofan. They are representatives of the "old" nobility, which with all its might clings to the outdated ideas of serf and feudalism. Their core values are money, position in the social hierarchy, and physical strength.

In Fonvizin's play "Undergrowth", the main characters are divided into peculiar dual pairs, in which the author portrays people with similar social roles, but portraying them in a mirror distortion. So, in addition to a couple of "children" - Sophia and Mitrofan, one can single out "educators" - Starodum and Prostakov, "grooms" - Milon and Skotinin, as well as "owners" - Prostakov and Pravdin.

Mitrofan- the undergrowth and the main character of the comedy - a spoiled stupid youth of sixteen years old, for whom everything has always been done by his mother, nanny or servants. Having adopted love for money, rudeness and disrespect for relatives from his mother (Prostakova is ready to deceive her brother in order to settle a marriage that is beneficial for her), and from his father complete lack of will, he behaves like a small child - he does not want to study, while he finds marriage fun fun. The complete opposite of Mitrofan is Sophia. This is an educated, intelligent and serious girl with a difficult fate. Having lost her parents at an early age and living in the care of the Prostakovs, Sophia does not adopt their values, but, in fact, becomes a "black sheep" in their society (Prostakova even resents that the girl can read).

Prostakov appears to readers on the one hand as an uneducated, cunning woman who is ready for almost anything for the sake of profit, and on the other hand, as a practical housewife and loving mother, for whom the happiness and carefree future of her son is above all else. Prostakova brought up Mitrofan the way she was brought up, and therefore she could convey and show by her own example outdated ideas and values that had long exhausted themselves.

At Starodum a completely different approach to education - he does not treat Sophia like a small child, talking with her on an equal footing, instructing her and advising her based on his own experience. In the matter of marriage, a man does not undertake to finally decide for a girl, because he does not know whether her heart is free. In the image of Starodum, Fonvizin portrays his ideal of a parent and educator - an authoritative strong personality who herself has traveled a worthy path. However, analyzing the character system of The Undergrowth from the point of view of the modern reader, it is worth noting that the image of Starodum as an educator is also not ideal. All the time he was away, Sophia was deprived of parental care and left to herself. The fact that the girl learned to read, appreciates morality and virtue is rather the merit of her parents, who instilled this in her at a young age.

In general, the theme of kinship is important both for the positive characters of the play "Undergrowth" and the negative ones. Sofia- the daughter of worthy people, Milon- the son of a good friend Starodum. Prostakova received this surname only after marriage, in fact she is Skotinina. Brother and sister are very similar, they are both driven by greed and cunning, they are not educated and cruel. Mitrofan is depicted as a real son of his parents and a pupil of his uncle, who inherited all their negative traits, including a love for pigs.

Characters whose relationship is not mentioned in the play - Prostakov and Pravdin. Prostakov is fundamentally different from his wife, in comparison with the active and active Prostakova, he looks weak-willed and passive. In a situation where he must show himself as the owner of the village, the man is lost in the background of his wife. This leads to the fact that the more active Pravdin, who was able to pacify Prostakova, becomes the owner of the lot. In addition, Prostakov and Pravdin act as some kind of "auditors" of what is happening. Pravdin is the voice of the law, Prostakov is the opinion of a simple (remember the “speaking” names of the play) people who do not like how the “old” nobility in the person of his wife and brother-in-law behaves, but is afraid of their wrath, therefore he speaks only to the side and not agreeing.

The last couple of characters are Skotinin and Milon. Men represent old and new ideas about marriage and family life. Milon has known Sophia since childhood, they love each other, and therefore their relationship is based on mutual respect and friendship. Skotinin does not even try to get to know the girl better, he is only concerned about his dowry, and he is not even going to arrange good conditions for her after marriage.

In addition to the main characters, there are secondary characters in the play - the teachers and educators of Mitrofan the underage. Characteristics of the heroes of the second plan - Eremeevna, Tsyfirkin, Kuteikina and Vralman- associated with their social role in the play. The nanny is an example of a serf who faithfully serves his mistress all his life, enduring beatings and injustice. On the example of the images of teachers, the author exposes all the problems of education in Russia in the 18th century, when children are taught by retired military men who did not graduate from the seminary or even grooms.

For the 18th century, Fonvizin's innovation consisted in the fact that the author portrayed the characters in The Undergrowth without excessive pathos and stereotypes inherent in many works of classicism. Each comedy hero is undoubtedly a composite image, but created not according to a ready-made “stencil”, but with its own individual features. That is why the characters of the work "Undergrowth" even today remain the brightest images of Russian literature.

Artwork test

This article provides an analysis of the comedy play "Undergrowth", gives a brief summary of the work and features of the characters.

The comedy was written by Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin in 1781.

There are only five acts in the work. Due to the fact that the play was written more than 200 years ago, and the style of the Russian language has changed quite a lot since then, not everyone will be able to read the work in the original.

The main characters of the comedy and their characteristics

Since "Undergrowth" is not a story or novel, but a play, the characters here are the key bearers of the author's ideas.

The main characters are divided into pairs with similar social roles, but opposed to each other.

Children:

Mitrofan is the main character and undersized. A young representative of the nobility, sixteen years old. Spoiled, weak-willed and irresponsible (note: Undergrowth: a young underage nobleman who did not enter the civil service);
Sophia is the opposite of Mitrofan. Educated and serious girl. An orphan who lives in the care of the Prostakovs. White crow in the family.

Educators:

Mrs. Prostakova is the mother of the protagonist. Uneducated and cunning, ready for anything for the sake of profit. On the one hand - a contemptuous fury, on the other - a loving and caring mother. In the work he appears as a “translator” of false and obsolete values;
Starodum is Sophia's uncle. Authoritative and strong personality. Seriously treats his niece, instructs her and gives advice. In the work he is an example of a good parent and educator. Basic principles of life: a fair state system, full-fledged education of the mind, honor and heart (with the heart in the first place), the main principle of education is one's own positive example.

Owners:

Prostakov is the father of the protagonist. A weak-willed and passive person. In the play, he appears as the embodiment of a people who are dissatisfied with the orders of the old nobility, but because of fear of him, they behave quietly;
Pravdin is an official, the embodiment of the law and one of the positive characters.

Grooms:

Skotinin is Prostakova's brother and Sophia's fiancé, whose only goal is the girl's benefit and dowry. The embodiment of outdated concepts of marriage and family;
Milon is Sophia's fiancé and her childhood friend. Really loves the girl. The embodiment of new ideas in the areas of family and marriage.

Minor characters

Secondary characters - teacher Mitrofan:

Eremeevna - Mitrofan's nanny. Devotedly serves the family, despite the humiliation. The embodiment of the image of serfs;
Tsyfirkin is a mathematics teacher. An honest and hardworking man, a retired military man;
Kuteikin is a teacher of Russian and Church Slavonic who left the seminary. Satire on poorly educated priests;
Vralman is a teacher of secular manners. A simple coachman posing as a German.

Brief retelling of the comedy "Undergrowth"

Act one

The Prostakov Manor and the surrounding countryside is the area where the action of The Undergrowth takes place.

The hostess of the family reprimands the servant for the fact that he sewed a caftan for her son Mitrofanushka of poor quality. Her husband supports her.

The Prostakovs are discussing with Skotinin that they want to pass off Sophia as the last.

Sofya says that a letter has come from her uncle Starodum, who has not heard from him for a long time. No one believes her, but when the girl offers to read the letter, it turns out that those present are not literate.

The letter is voiced by Pravdin, who has come in. It states that Starodum bequeathed 10,000 rubles to his niece. The mistress of the house fawns over the girl, wanting to marry Mitrofan to her.

Action two

Officer Milon arrives in the village and meets here an old friend of Pravdin, an official. He says that he has heard about the "evil ignoramuses" and the Prostakovs who mistreat the servants.

Sophia appears. She and Milon rejoice at the meeting. This is followed by Sophia's story that they want to marry her off as Mitrofan. However, Skotinin, passing by them, immediately speaks of his plans to marry a girl.

A conflict is brewing between the three "suitors", but his nanny Eremeevna stands up for Mitrofanushka.

Act Three

Starodum arrives with the aim of "freeing" Sophia from the "ignoramuses". He wants to pass her off as one "worthy person". This news upsets everyone, but after Starodum says that marriage completely depends on the will of Sophia herself.

Prostakova continues to praise her son, while his teachers, meanwhile, complain about his laziness and poor progress. That is why Prostakova persuades her son to study for the sake of appearance - in order to please Uncle Sophia and thereby obtain consent to marriage. However, Mitrofan declares that he does not want to study, but to marry.

act four

Milon's uncle, Count Chesten, sends a letter to Starodum about his desire to marry him to Sophia. And Starodum agrees to the marriage. The couple is happy. Having learned about the wedding, Prostakova takes active steps and tries to interfere with what was planned, hoping to pass off the young heiress to Mitrofan.

Act Five

While Starodum is talking with Pravdin, who was instructed to take care of the Prostakovs' estate and their village at the slightest threat, Prostakov's servants lead the resisting Sophia to the carriage to take Mitrofan to marry.

Milon frees his beloved, and Pravdin takes the estate and the village under his supervision.

Power completely passes to Pravdin, Mitrofan's teachers are dismissed, Skotinin leaves the village. Uncle and Milon with Sophia are preparing to leave.

Prostakova hugs her son and complains that he is the only one she has left. However, he is rude to her and the mother loses consciousness. Pravdin wants to send the undergrowth to the service.

Idioms

Phrases that can be written in the reader's diary:

“All fault is to blame” and “Ends in the water” (Skotinin);
“Don’t do business, don’t run away from business” and “The dog barks, the wind carries” (Tsyfirkin);
“Live a century, learn a century” (Prostakova);
“Small souls are found in the big world” (Starodum);
“Guilty Without Guilt” and “Dream in the Hand” (Prostakov);
“I overate henbane” and “I don’t want to study, but I want to get married” (Mitrofan).

Analysis of the work of Fonvizin

Since the abstract does not give a complete picture, for the analysis you should familiarize yourself with the key points.

History of creation

The play was born after Fonvizin's long public service, because of which he did not turn to dramaturgy for a long time.

The first drafts of the work appeared in the 1770s and were closer to the writer's last play, The Brigadier. The first version of the main character's name is Ivanushka.

The date of publication of the final version of the book is 1781.

The very same play made a splash in the theater. However, due to the topicality of the topic, the reviews of those who watched were contradictory.

main topic

The key theme is the upbringing and formation of the new nobility. Fonvizin illuminates it by contrasting characters with outdated feudal views (all negative characters), with heroes who carry educational ideas (positive characters).

The problem of the phenomenon of "lack of spirituality" can be traced not only in the characters' surnames, but also in the relationship between parents and children.

Issues

There are two main problems:

Decay of the nobility. With the words of Starodum, the writer denounces moral decline and tries to find its causes. It is no coincidence that at the end he says: “Here are worthy fruits of evil-mindedness!”. Fonvizin blames the unlimited power of the landlords and the lack of positive examples from representatives of the highest authorities.
Upbringing. Thinkers of that time saw education as a key factor influencing a person's morality. The plot is based on this. Fonvizin saw in the transfer of the right values to the next generation a reliable way to strengthen politics and build a strong, developed nobility.

Thus, the comedy "Undergrowth" is a typical representative of classicism, exposing the mores of the society of that time. Nowadays, the work is studied in schools, starting from the 8th grade, as well as by students of philological and pedagogical universities.

Based on the play in the 18th century, performances were repeatedly staged, the success of which, like the work itself, was enormous. In the 20th century, in 1987, director Grigory Roshal made the film "Lord Skotinina" based on the work.

As was customary in classicism, the heroes of the comedy "Undergrowth" are clearly divided into negative and positive. However, the most memorable, vivid are still negative characters, despite their despotism and ignorance: Mrs. Prostakova, her brother Taras Skotinin and Mitrofan himself. They are interesting and ambiguous. It is with them that comic situations are associated, full of humor, bright liveliness of dialogues.

Positive characters do not evoke such vivid emotions, although they are reasoners, reflecting the author's position. Educated, endowed with only positive traits, they are ideal - they cannot do lawlessness, they are alien to lies and cruelty.

Heroes are negative

Mrs. Prostakova

History of upbringing and education Grew up in a family characterized by extreme ignorance. Didn't get any education. I did not learn any moral rules from childhood. There is nothing good in her soul. Serfdom has a strong influence: her position as the sovereign owner of the serfs.

Main character traits Rough, unbridled, ignorant. If it does not meet resistance, it becomes arrogant. But if she encounters force, she becomes cowardly.

Attitude towards other people In relation to people, she is guided by rough calculation, personal gain. Merciless to those who are in her power. She is ready to humiliate herself in front of those on whom she depends, who turns out to be stronger than her.

Attitude towards educationEducation is superfluous: "Without the sciences, people live and lived."

Prostakova, as a landowner, a convinced serf-owner, considers the serfs to be her complete property. Always dissatisfied with her serfs. She is outraged even by the illness of a serf girl. She robbed the peasants: “Since we took away everything that the peasants had, we can’t tear anything off. Such a disaster!

Attitude towards relatives and close people Despotic and rude towards her husband, she pushes him around, does not put him in anything.

Attitude towards his son, Mitrofanushka Loves him, is tender to him. Caring for his happiness and well-being is the content of her life. Blind, unreasonable, ugly love for his son brings neither Mitrofan nor Prostakova herself anything good.

Peculiarities of speechAbout Trishka: "Swindler, thief, cattle, thieves' mug, blockhead"; turning to her husband: “Why are you so delusional today, my father?”, “All your life, sir, you walk with your ears hanging out”; addressing Mitrofanushka: “Mitrofanushka, my friend; my friend of the heart; son".

She has no moral concepts: she lacks a sense of duty, philanthropy, a sense of human dignity.

Mitrofan

(translated from Greek "revealing his mother")

About upbringing and education I am accustomed to idleness, accustomed to hearty and plentiful food, spends free time on the dovecote.

The main character traits A spoiled "sissy", who grew up and developed in an ignorant environment of the feudal landed nobility. He is not devoid of cunning and ingenuity by nature, but at the same time rude and capricious.

Attitude towards other people Does not respect other people. Yeremeevna (nanny) calls her an “old bastard”, threatens her with severe reprisals; he does not talk to teachers, but “barks” (as Tsyfirkin puts it).

Attitude towards education Mental development is extremely low, experiencing an insurmountable aversion to work and learning.

Attitude towards relatives close peopleMitrofan does not know love for anyone, even for the closest - to his mother, father, nanny.

Speech features It is expressed in monosyllables, in its language there are many vernaculars, words and phrases borrowed from courtyards. The tone of his speech is capricious, dismissive, sometimes rude.

The name Mitrofanushka has become a household name. This is the name of young people who know nothing and do not want to know anything.

Skotinin - brother of Prostakova

On upbringing and education Grew up in a family that was extremely hostile to education: "Don't be that Skotinin, who wants to learn something."

Main character traits Ignorant, mentally undeveloped, greedy.

Attitude towards other people This is a ferocious feudal lord who knows how to “rip off” quitrent from his serfs, and there are no obstacles for him in this occupation.

The main interest in life is Animal Farm, breeding pigs. Only pigs evoke in him a disposition and warm feelings, only to them he shows warmth and care.

Attitude towards relatives and close people For the sake of the opportunity to marry profitably (he learns about Sophia's condition), he is ready to destroy his rival - his own nephew Mitrofan.

Peculiarities of speech The inexpressive speech of an uneducated person often uses rude expressions, in speech there are words borrowed from courtyards.

This is a typical representative of small landowners-feudal lords with all their shortcomings.

Teacher of Russian and Church Slavonic. The half-educated seminarian "feared the abyss of wisdom." In his own way, cunning, greedy.

Teacher of history. German, former coachman. He becomes a teacher, as he failed to find a place as a coachman. An ignorant person who cannot teach his student anything.

The teachers make no effort to teach Mitrofan anything. They more often indulge the laziness of their student. To some extent, they, using the ignorance and lack of education of Mrs. Prostakova, deceive her, realizing that she will not be able to verify the results of their work.

Eremeevna - Mitrofan's nanny

What place does she occupy in the house of Prostakov, her distinctive features She has been serving in the house of the Prostakov-Skotinins for more than 40 years. Selflessly devoted to her masters, slavishly attached to their home.

Attitude towards Mitrofan Protects Mitrofan without sparing himself: “I will die on the spot, but I will not give the child away. Sunsya, sir, just show yourself if you please. I'll scratch those walleyes."

What Eremeevna has become over the long years of serf service. She has a highly developed sense of duty, but no sense of human dignity. There is not only no hatred for their inhuman oppressors, but even no protest. Lives in constant fear, trembles before his mistress.

For her loyalty and devotion, Yeremeevna receives only beatings and hears only such appeals as “a beast”, “a dog's daughter”, “an old witch”, “an old bastard”. Eremeevna's fate is tragic, because she will never be appreciated by her masters, she will never receive gratitude for her loyalty.

Heroes are positive

Starodum

About the meaning of the name A person who thinks in the old way, giving preference to the priorities of the previous (Peter's) era, preserving traditions and wisdom, accumulated experience.

Education StarodumAn enlightened and progressive person. Brought up in the spirit of Peter's time, the thoughts, customs and activities of the people of that time are closer and more acceptable to him.

The civil position of the hero This is a patriot: for him, an honest and useful service to the Fatherland is the first and sacred duty of a nobleman. Demands to limit the arbitrariness of the feudal landlords: "It is illegal to oppress your own kind by slavery."

Attitude towards other people He regards a person according to his service to the Fatherland, according to the benefits that a person brings in this service: “I calculate the degree of nobility by the number of deeds that the great lord did for the Fatherland ... without noble deeds, a noble state is nothing.”

What qualities are honored as human virtues An ardent defender of humanity and enlightenment.

The hero's reflections on education Moral education attaches more value than education: “The mind, if it is only the mind, is the most trifle ... Good manners gives the direct price to the mind. Without it, a smart person is a monster. Science in a depraved person is a fierce weapon to do evil.

What traits in people cause the hero’s just indignation Inertia, savagery, malevolence, inhumanity.

"Having a heart, have a soul - and you will be a man at all times."

Pravdin, Milon, Sofia

Pravdin An honest, impeccable official. The auditor, endowed with the right to take custody of the cruel landlords of the estate.

Milon An officer loyal to his duty, patriotically disposed.

Sofia An educated, modest, prudent girl. Raised in a spirit of respect and respect for elders.

The purpose of these heroes in the comedy, on the one hand, is to prove the correctness of the views of Starodum, and on the other hand, to set off the malevolence and lack of education of such landowners as the Prostakovs-Skotinins.

"Written in the best traditions of Russian classicism. In accordance with the classic canons, the characters in the work are clearly divided into positive and negative, and their names and surnames concisely characterize and reveal the main features of the characters. However, unlike the traditional images of classic plays, the heroes of The Undergrowth are devoid of stereotypes, which is what attracts modern readers and viewers.

At Starodum a completely different approach to education - he does not treat Sophia like a small child, talking with her on an equal footing, instructing her and advising her based on his own experience. In the matter of marriage, a man does not undertake to finally decide for a girl, because he does not know whether her heart is free.
In the image of Starodum, Fonvizin portrays his ideal of a parent and educator - an authoritative strong personality who herself has traveled a worthy path. However, analyzing the character system of The Undergrowth from the point of view of the modern reader, it is worth noting that the image of Starodum as an educator is also not ideal. All the time he was away, Sophia was deprived of parental care and left to herself. The fact that the girl learned to read, appreciates morality and virtue is rather the merit of her parents, who instilled this in her at a young age.

The main characters of "Undergrowth" - characteristics of the heroes of Fonvizin's play |