Is Sophia worthy of love? Essay: A.S. Griboyedov “images of Chatsky and Sophia in the comedy “Woe from Wit”

“Woe from Wit” is a multifaceted work. In it one can see a social parody, a criticism of the regime, and a historical sketch of morals. Not the least important place in the book is the love affair. Chatsky’s attitude towards Sophia, their feelings are the core that serves as the basis of the plot, filling it with life and emotions.

Characters through the eyes of schoolchildren

You can analyze “Woe from Wit” endlessly. Consider individual plots

moves with a magnifying glass, compare quotes with the memoirs of contemporaries and biographies of alleged prototypes. But this is the approach of a professional analyst, literary critic. In school lessons the work is read completely differently. And they are analyzed in accordance with the recommendations of methodological publications.

There is a certain type of topic that the Ministry of Education regularly offers students for comprehension and subsequent writing of essays: “Is Sophia worthy of Chatsky’s love?”, “Was Karenina right in making the decision to divorce?”, “Characteristics of the actions of Prince Myshkin.” It is not entirely clear what the education system wants to achieve with this. Such an analysis has nothing in common with the literature itself. This is, rather, a monologue of a grandmother at the entrance, discussing whether Klava from the third apartment was right when she kicked out Vaska the alcoholic, or whether she was wrong.

Yes and life experience a 9th grade student hardly allows us to judge what the character should have done. It is unlikely that he will be able to understand what irritates Sophia in Chatsky and why. Except, of course, for the obvious things - those that the heroine herself talks about.

Peculiarities of perception of the play

Traditional

The interpretation of the play “Woe from Wit” is as follows - principled, noble and uncompromising. Those around him are low, narrow-minded and conservative people who do not understand or accept the advanced, innovative ideology of the protagonist. Chatsky speaks, denounces and mocks, attacks the vices of society with his words, and society writhes from well-aimed hits, is angry and indignant.

It is difficult to say whether this is the effect Griboedov was trying to achieve. There is an opposite version, which explains the construction of the play with endless monologues and appeals of the main character precisely by the fact that the author parodied the image of a liberal who talks a lot and does nothing. And the characteristics of Sophia and Chatsky are largely determined by how the reader perceives the work. In the first case, he sees an idealistic hero and a bourgeois woman who did not appreciate his impulses, in the second - a chatterbox-demagogue and... still not an appreciative of his impulses. Is this true?

Details of plot collisions

Who are Chatsky and Sophia? He is twenty-one, she is seventeen. Separated for three years

back. Chatsky left as soon as he came of age, left his guardian’s house and returned to the family estate. Didn't come, didn't write. He just took it and disappeared. For what reasons is not so important. But how should a fourteen-year-old girl in love feel when the man she considers her lover, her future groom, just picks up and leaves? Not for a week, not for a month. For three years. Even at thirty this is a long time. And at fourteen it’s an eternity. What was he doing all this time? Who were you thinking about? Can she be sure that love is still alive?

At fourteen years old, with teenage maximalism, with teenage emotionality. Critics make demands on the girl that not every adult woman meets. But Chatsky’s attitude towards Sophia is far from an obvious point. It is enough to imagine the situation through the eyes of the girl, and not the omniscient reader to whom Griboyedov told everything. Isn’t it more logical to ask: should Sophia at all retain at least some feelings for Chatsky? And if so, why? He is not her husband, not her fiancé. He is a romantic admirer, who at one point fled away like a moth from a clearing for three whole years. He had an impulse of his soul. Feelings. Offended dignity. What about her? She shouldn't have felt offended, bewildered, angry in such a situation? Disappointment at last? Penelope, of course, waited for Odysseus much longer - but the situation was completely different. Chatsky is far from Odysseus.

Sophia close up

But all this remains behind the scenes. Yes, the attentive reader will understand everything himself if

thinks, but the situation is still presented in hints, snippets of conversations, memories. Therefore, it may well elude a person who is accustomed to seeing only the main storyline works. What's there?

Chatsky suddenly returns to his guardian's house, where he has not been for three years. He's excited, he's excited, he's happy. Chatsky's attitude towards Sophia remained the same. But she already loves someone else. The first one is still forgotten. She is passionate about Molchalin. Alas, the chosen one is very bad. Objectively, he is poor, of lower class, this is an obvious misalliance. And subjectively he is a weak-willed sycophant, a flatterer and a nonentity. Although, it should be noted, his prospects are quite good. Molchalin has already begun to make a career and is coping well with the task. It can be assumed that Sophia's new chosen one will go far

At the same time, the young man himself is not in love at all, he is just afraid to admit it. And the prospect of a profitable marriage is also probably very attractive to him. Often it is this unfortunate choice that is blamed on the girl, answering the question, is Sophia worthy of Chatsky’s love? She traded the eagle for a plucked sparrow, stupid.

Who is Sophia? A girl who grew up without a mother, locked up, almost never leaving the threshold of the house. Her social circle is her father, who has no idea about raising children in general and daughters in particular, and a maid. What might Sophia know about men? Where can she get any experience? The only source of information is books. Ladies' French novels, which daddy allows her to read. How could such a girl discern the insincerity of a person who had gained the trust of much older and more experienced people? This is simply unrealistic.

Sophia is very young, she is naive, romantic and inexperienced. Molchalin is the only young man she sees almost every day. He is poor, honest, unhappy, timid and charming. Everything is the same as in the novels that Sophia reads every day. Of course, she simply could not help but fall in love.

What about Chatsky?

Chatsky’s personality deserves the same close attention. Is this a mistake?

does Sophia do? If you look at the situation objectively, is this marriage a big loss in her life?

Chatsky is twenty-one. He couldn't find a place for himself. Tried there, tried here. But... “I would be glad to serve, but it’s sickening to be served.” But a position that would meet his needs still doesn’t come across. On what means does Chatsky live? He has an estate. And, naturally, serfs. This is the main source of income for the young liberal. The very one who ardently and sincerely condemns it calls it barbarism and savagery. This is such a funny problem.

Does Chatsky have any prospects? He won't make a career, that's obvious. Neither the military - he is not a stupid martinet. Neither financially - he is not a huckster. Neither political - he will not betray ideals. He won’t become another Demidov either - his grip is not the same. Chatsky is one of those who speak, and not one of those who do.

His reputation is already ruined, society is running away from him like the plague. It is very likely that Chatsky will spend his entire life in his family name, occasionally traveling to resorts and the capital. What irritates Sophia in Chatsky already now will only progress; with age, he will become even more caustic and cynical, embittered by constant failures and disappointments. Can marriage with such a person be considered a successful match? And will Sophia be happy with him - just humanly happy? Even if Chatsky really loves her and keeps this love? Hardly. Perhaps the ending of the play is tragic only for the main character. Sophia was just lucky. Got off cheap.

And about posing the question

Although, when Chatsky’s attitude towards Sophia is discussed in the key: is she worthy of such great love or not - that in itself is strange. Unethical. Is it possible to be worthy of love? What is this, a bonus? Promotion? Compliance with the position held? They don’t love for something, they love for no reason. Because this person is needed, and no one else. This is life. And no love obliges its object to experience reciprocal feelings. Alas. The question itself is incorrect. This is not possible. Love is not a potato in the market to tell whether it is worth what they ask for it. And even schoolchildren should be clearly aware of this, not to mention older people.

is a comedy where one of the conflicts is social. This work shows us Famus society with its outdated views and a representative of the progressive views of Chatsky. It also touches on love themes and a love triangle. Let's try to understand Chatsky's relationship with Sophia and try to answer the question of why Chatsky loves Sophia and what kind of relationship connected our heroes.

Relationship between Chatsky and Sophia

So, what are Chatsky’s feelings for Sophia? Reading the work, we learn that Chatsky and Sophia’s history of relationship begins from a young age, when Chatsky was brought up in the Famusov family. There really were friendly relations between them, but there were no hints of love at such a young age. Later, Chatsky leaves for distant lands and nothing is known about him for a long time. Maybe such a long separation awakened Chatsky’s feelings for Sophia, and they became more than friendship. But was it love?

Chatsky was traveling to Moscow with good mood, dreaming of meeting Sophia and what did he get? He is met with coldness from Sophia, he sees her passion for others. Who is he, who did Sophia exchange Chatsky for? It turned out to be Molchalin, who turned the girl’s head, and now our heroine is infatuated with him. The only question is: did the girl exchange Chatsky for Molchalin? More likely no than yes. After all, the girl did not promise anything to the hero, they did not swear love. Chatsky was gone for a long time, naturally, the girl’s heart could open to feelings for another. But Chatsky perceives this hobby as a betrayal and begins to mock Sophia’s chosen one.

Chatsky does not try to understand the girl, her feelings, because he is completely blinded by feelings. And this shows the conflict between Chatsky and Sophia. The girl was offended by such ridicule, so Sophia decides to take revenge on Chatsky by spreading the rumor that he is crazy. Having made sure that Sophia loves another and realizing that he is a stranger in this society, where his views are not understood, Chatsky flees from Moscow.

The main motive of A. S. Griboedov’s work “Woe from Wit” is a reflection of the tragedy of Chatsky - a typical representative of the young generation of the 1810-1820s, who in one way or another participated in social activities. This tragedy includes many moments, but one of the most important among them is his unrequited love for Sophia.

We learn about the life and character of the hero even before he appears on stage. So, Sophia’s maid Lisa, hinting at his passion for the mistress, exclaims:

Who is so sensitive, and cheerful, and sharp

Like Alexander Andreich Chatsky,

and Sophia herself gives him the most vivid description:

Sharp, smart, eloquent,

I'm especially happy with friends,

He thought highly of himself...

The desire to wander attacked him...

Chatsky, a native of a noble family, was raised in Famusov's house. He is smart and impeccably honest, sincere and witty. He loves his homeland, and this love gives rise to hatred of slavery and oppression of the people. Chatsky was studying literary work, was in military service, had connections with ministers, but left this because, he says: “I would be glad to serve, but it’s sickening to be served.” He is a restless thinker, a hero of that time, one of those people whose heart “cannot tolerate dumbness,” and therefore reveals everything deeply thought out even to nonentities, “fools.” Chatsky laughs at Famusov and his entourage, sharply jokes about their morals, because he himself is taller than the Famusovs, Zagoretskys, silent ones, skalozubs and other representatives of Moscow society at the beginning of the 19th century. Over the course of three years of travel, the character of the hero undergoes many changes and is finally formed. However, his sincere love for Sophia remains unchanged. That is why he, remembering his youthful affection, is in such a hurry to see his beloved, for whose sake “forty-five hours, without squinting an eye, flew more than seven hundred miles...”, and such sincere joy from the meeting sounds in his words: “It’s barely light - already on your feet! And I am at your feet."

The best personal qualities are revealed in his attitude towards love and marriage. Chatsky loves Sophia and sees her as his future wife. However, Sophia cannot love him, because, although she is not deprived positive qualities, but still completely belongs to Famus’s world. During the years of Chatsky's absence, Sophia's character has changed greatly; now she perceives their relationship as youthful love, which does not oblige her to anything. In addition, she now loves another person - Molchalin, and is cold with Chatsky, and answers his questions with general phrases or jokes:

Who do you love?

Oh! My God! The whole world.

Who is more dear to you?

There are many, relatives...

However, Chatsky still does not understand the real reason Sophia's coldness, he is happy, lively, talkative, asks about old acquaintances, makes fun of them. And here he makes the main mistake, mentioning Molchalin with caustic mockery. By this, he, without knowing it, causes a storm of indignation in Sophia’s soul. It is for these ridicule of the object of her love that she then deals with him so cruelly, spreading rumors about his madness.

Of course, Sophia does not love Molchalin himself, but the ideal created by her sensitive imagination. Chatsky is right when he tells her: “You gave him darkness by admiring him.”

Blinded by his grief, disappointed in his feelings, Chatsky is often unfair, reproaching Sophia even for what is not her fault:

Why did they lure me with hope?

Why didn't they tell me directly?

Why did you turn everything that happened into laughter?!

In fact, Sophia does not hide her feelings from him, she barely talks to him, and sincerely admits her indifference. Chatsky’s trouble is that he, blinded by his feelings, did not stop in time, and splashed out his disappointment on everyone around him, and his personal drama is now burdened by a collision with everything Famusovsky society. Love and intelligence, which lift him above the crowd, bring the hero nothing but grief, and he leaves Moscow, taking into his heart only “a million torments.”

Comedy “Woe from Wit”, written by A. S. Griboedov in early XIX century, is also relevant for today’s Russia. In this work, the author reveals in all depth the vices that have struck Russian society the beginning of the last century. However, reading this work...

The comedy “Woe from Wit” by A.S. Griboyedov shows Chatsky’s opposition to the Russian nobility. All characters can be considered insane. Each side thinks the other side is crazy. In all actions, the heroes of A.S. Griboedov gossip and defame each other...

As I continue to look at the site, I often wonder who are the positive characters here and who are the negative ones? And I can’t clearly answer this question. It would seem that the most negative heroes, subsequently, do very good deeds, and the heroes...

Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov is the author of the wonderful realistic comedy “Woe from Wit”. Inheriting the satirical traditions of Fonvizin and Krylov, he managed to create a Russian political comedy based on everyday material, with a broad depiction of modern...

The main character of the comedy is Chatsky. From the moment he appears in the play, he participates in almost all scenes and is everywhere contrasted with other characters.
Chatsky’s love for Sophia is a sincere, ardent feeling. He declares his love for her at his first appearance. There is no secrecy, no falsehood in Chatsky. The strength and nature of his feelings can be judged by his words about Molchalin addressed to Sophia:
But does he have that passion? that feeling? that ardor?
So that, besides you, he has the whole world
Did it seem like dust and vanity?
Chatsky is having a hard time with his disappointment in his girlfriend. He reproaches her for being hot-tempered, even for things for which she is not at all to blame for him:
Why did they lure me with hope?
Why didn't they tell me directly?
That you turned everything that happened into laughter?
“Every word here is not true,” says Goncharov. “She didn’t entice him with any hope.” All she did was leave him, barely spoke to him, confessed to him indifference... Here not only his mind betrays him, but also his common sense, even simple decency. He did such trifles!” But the fact is that Chatsky is distinguished by “sincerity and simplicity... He is not a dandy, not a lion...”. In his feelings for Sophia, he is spontaneous, sincere, and honest. At the same time, blinded by grief, he can be hot-tempered and unfair. But this makes the image of Chatsky closer and more truthful to us. This is a living person, and he can make mistakes. Who is Sophia, whom Chatsky loves so passionately?
Goncharov said very well about her: “This is a mixture of good instincts with the lies of a living mind, with the absence of any hint of ideas and beliefs - confusion of concepts, mental and moral blindness - all this does not have the character of personal vices in it, but appears as general features her circle."
Sophia is young and inexperienced, and her upbringing and environment have already left their mark on her views and actions. And Chatsky has to admit that he was bitterly deceived in her. However, people love all sorts of people, including the vile and the unfaithful. This cannot make you stop loving. Here, human advantages and disadvantages are poorly taken into account, and if they are taken into account, it is very biased. Love, as they say, is evil...
So, Chatsky’s personal drama complicates the public one and hardens him against noble Moscow.

Essay on literature on the topic: Chatsky and Sophia

Other writings:

1. The main motive of A. S. Griboedov’s work “Woe from Wit” is a reflection of the tragedy of Chatsky, a typical representative of the young generation of the 1810-1820s, who in one way or another participated in social activities. This tragedy includes many moments, but one of the most important Read More......
2. The comedy by A. S. Griboyedov “Woe from Wit” is a sad story of a man whose grief is that he is not like the others. Intelligence, honor, nobility, reluctance to curry favor - these are the qualities because of which the doors to the society of the Famusovs, the Silents, Read More ...... are closed in front of Chatsky.
3. The comedy “Woe from Wit” by Griboyedov is undoubtedly a work of great social significance. It reflected the rebellious time when freedom-loving ideas spread throughout Russia. At the center of the play is Alexander Andreevich Chatsky, who embodied the best features of the progressive noble youth of the beginning of the century. Read More......
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7. Sophia Characteristics literary hero Sofya Pavlovna Famusova is Famusov’s 17-year-old daughter. After the death of her mother, she was raised by “Madame,” an old Frenchwoman, Rosier. S.'s childhood friend was Chatsky, who became her first love. But during the 3 years of Chatsky’s absence, S. has changed a lot, like Read More ......
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