Characteristics of Molchalin in “Woe from Wit” (with quotes). Characteristics of Molchalin in the comedy “Woe from Wit” by Griboedov, description of the character of the hero To whom Molchalin reveals his true feelings
But Famusov’s “rootless” secretary, Molchalin, is accepted as one of his own in this world. In his person, Griboedov created an exceptionally expressive generalized image of a scoundrel and a cynic, a “low-worshipper and a businessman,” still a petty scoundrel who, however, will be able to reach “known degrees.”
Creating the character of Molchalin, Griboyedov showed the corrupting influence of serfdom-bureaucratic morality on the development and behavior of a person dependent on the “Famus” society. Molchalin became a common noun for vulgarity and lackeyness. Character traits Molchalina: desire for a career, ability to curry favor, hypocrisy, reticence, fear of expressing one’s opinions. He is sincerely perplexed how in small ranks “you can dare to have your own opinion.” When he commits a vile act, he does not even understand that it is vile. Molchalin became a symbol of slavish silence. Using the example of Molchalin, one can trace the desire Famusov society for personal gain. He is the embodiment of servility, hypocrisy, and meanness. He lives according to the principles of his father, who bequeathed to him:
First, please all people without exception -
The owner, where he will live,
The boss with whom I will serve,
To his servant who cleans dresses,
Doorman, janitor, to avoid evil,
To the janitor's dog, so that it is affectionate.
He flatters and pleases at every opportunity to everyone who could ever be useful to him. The “servant” instinct tells Molchalin exactly what line of behavior to choose with this or that person. With Famusov he is extremely careful, when communicating with the old woman Khlestova, he takes the initiative: he makes up a party for her and strokes her pug. Only for the sake of profit, Molchalin pretends to be in love with Sophia, because she is the daughter of his boss, and her location can be very useful.
He appears before the viewer at the very beginning of the play, when Famusov finds them in the living room. For fear of being caught in a love relationship with Sophia, he does not dare to open his mouth. Sophia alone speaks and invents various fables to divert her father’s attention from Molchalin. And the one who “filled his mouth with water” can only say:
With papers, sir.
I only carried them for the report,
What cannot be used without certificates, without others,
There are contradictions, and many things are not useful.
But his tone and behavior changes dramatically as soon as he is left alone with the maid Lisa. Here he blossoms at the moment, jumps in front of her, tries to hug her, seduces her with gifts, confesses his love and, most importantly, with her he is as he really is, because Lisa seems to him his equal, his own person. With her he is frank in his thoughts and meanness, in front of her he reveals his “game”, because he perceives it as his own. Therefore, to Lisa’s question whether he loves the young lady, he honestly answers that “by virtue of his position”...
Meanwhile, Chatsky is trying to understand what brought Sophia together with Molchalin, “what kind of sorcery this helpful man, who is “always on tiptoe and not rich in words,” was able to get into her heart.” Chatsky’s noble mind cannot come to terms with Sophia’s affection for Molchalin. He cannot understand how one can love a nonentity, and in the approaching twilight before the ball, he questions Sophia and tries to rediscover Molchalin. He feels the gap between his feelings and concepts and their rapprochement taking place before his eyes. He feels on the verge of disaster:
But is he worth you? Here's one question for you.
To make me more indifferent to the loss...
Let me make sure: then
I can guard against madness;
Don't think about love...
Wanting to bring Chatsky to reason, Sophia lists Molchalin’s virtues that will make Chatsky say: “He’s being naughty, she doesn’t love him.” And in fact, how can Chatsky count among his virtues the fact that Molchalin will “disarm” Famusov with silence, “he won’t set foot on the threshold of the old people... he’ll sit with them all day, he’ll be happy, he’ll play.” And at the end of the conversation, Sophia’s love for Molchalin remains a “mystery” for Chatsky.
And in the evening, under the pressure of Chatsky’s questions, Molchalin began to talk, became so conversational that he discovered his principles of life, among which in the first place are “moderation and accuracy,” and further: “after all, one must depend on others”:
Tatyana Yuryevna!!!
Famous, at the same time
Officials and officials -
All her friends and all her relatives;
... often there
We find protection where we do not seek it.
Well, really, why would you serve with us in Moscow?
And take awards and have fun?
Here is Foma Fomich himself, is he familiar to you?
Three ministers had a department head.
Moved here...
... its syllable is used as a model here!
I don’t dare pronounce my judgment.
At my age I shouldn't dare
Have your own judgment.
After all, you have to depend on others.
Chatsky is surprised: “Why is it necessary?” To which Molchalin can only answer: “We are small in rank.” In this conversation, Molchalin takes Chatsky’s sad irony as the annoyance of a loser and begins to open to him “paths of salvation.” Chatsky is irritated by this condescending tone of his, he becomes harsh and contrasts Molchalin’s humility, the most convenient form of advancement to “honor and nobility” in aristocratic Moscow, with his program of independence, freedom and sincerity: “Why are other people’s opinions only sacred?”, “I am stupid.” not a reader”, “When in business, I hide from fun, when I’m fooling around, I’m fooling around.” After this conversation, it becomes clear to Chatsky who is standing in front of him, and he exclaims with a grin:
With such feelings, with such a soul
We love you!.. The liar laughed at me!
In fact, he opposes Molchalin, relying on that sense of his own human dignity, which in commoners was then developed immeasurably less than in those who had six hundred years of nobility behind them. Molchalin is entirely focused on covering up his rootlessness with a career as quickly as possible, and forgetting about this rootlessness himself. And it is not for his rootlessness that Chatsky completely despises him. The human norm, as it was revealed to the enlightenment consciousness, actually turned out to be realized to a much greater extent in Chatsky than in Molchalin.
In the third act, at a reception in Famusov's living room, Chatsky tries to last time open Sophia's eyes to the image of Molchalin. Now, after talking with him, he knows how different Molchalin’s true face is from the hero of Sophia’s dreams. And Chatsky tries to tell her about this:
Molchalin! - Who else will settle everything so peacefully!
There he will pet the pug in time!
It's time to rub the card in!
Zagoretsky will not die in it!
But no words can open the dreamer’s eyes, because she is a child of the society where she lives. And only in the fourth act does Sophia understand, having gone through shame, how wrong she was in Molchalin. In the “scene on the stairs” Sophia and Chatsky give a moral assessment of this character. “Don’t be mean, stand up,” he hears from Sophia. "Scoundrel!" - exclaims Chatsky, who, like her, became a witness to the secretary’s confession to the maid Lisa. At the time when the comedy was created, the word “meanness” still retained the connotation of its original meaning. For a long time in Rus', people who were near the master were called “vile” (serfs were also included in the “vile” class). In the 19th century, the word “scoundrel” was already offensive and meant a person’s dishonesty and his willingness to endure humiliation. All shades of this word suit Molchalin. He is dishonest, capable of humiliating himself, but most importantly, he is always near someone.
After the scene in the entryway, Molchalin cannot remain the same Molchalin. The mask is pulled off, he is recognized, and like a caught thief, he has to hide in a corner.
The playwright allows some grotesqueness in the depiction of individual characters in order to highlight the prevailing character traits, but this does not make the images simplified or straightforward, but gives them greater artistry. All of them are inextricably linked with the social environment and generated by it. Therefore, no matter how low and insignificant Molchalin is, he evokes not only disgust, but also sympathy: the hero inherited life philosophy father and purposefully follows it. Molchalin moves among the Moscow nobility, hears Famusov’s rantings, calling for groveling before strongmen of the world this. This strengthens his belief in the correctness of the inherited system of life values.
The comedy “Woe from Wit” by A. Griboyedov was created in 1824. Due to the revealing content of the work, it was published only in 1833, and even then selectively. Only in 1862 did a full-fledged comedy see the light. In his work, the author wished to speak out about what pained him after so many years of contemplating the hypocrisy and sycophancy of the people around him. The comedy “Woe from Wit” is a confrontation between an intelligent, thinking, active, open and honest person and vile, vile, immoral people who care only about wealth and rank.
General characteristics of Molchalin A.S.
Famusov's faithful dog, Sophia's dear friend, a sycophant, a hypocrite, a rootless official, Chatsky's main antagonist - that's who Alexey Stepanych Molchalin is. Characteristic central character The comedy shows a typical representative on whom feudal-bureaucratic morality had its corrupting influence. Since childhood, Molchalin was taught to be servile, to please everyone around him: the boss, the owner, the butler, the janitor’s dog, in the end, so that he would be affectionate.
The character's character is fully revealed by his self-explanatory surname. Basically, Alexey Stepanych is silent, suffers humiliation, screams, even unfair reproaches. He understands perfectly well that a rootless official cannot live in this callous and cynical society without the support of those in power, so he pleases everyone around him, trying not to quarrel with anyone, to be good for everyone, and he succeeds excellently. The author of the comedy is sad that society is teeming with such heroes who know how to remain silent where necessary, stroke the dog of an influential lady, say a compliment, lift a scarf and for all this receive formal awards and ranks, while in reality remaining servants.
Quote from Molchalin
Secretary Famusov is characterized different characters comedies: Chatsky, Sofia, Famusov, Lisa. Someone speaks of him as a modest, handsome, quiet and timid person, ready to endure all humiliation and reproaches. Some heroes of the work guess about his low soul, and only a few see Molchalin’s true face.
Sophia sees in Alexei Stepanych a fictitious image: “I’m ready to forget myself for others,” “the enemy of insolence, - always shy, timid.” The girl thinks that Molchalin behaves shyly because he is modest by nature, not suspecting that this is just one of his masks. “He served under his father for three years, he often gets angry to no avail, but he disarms with his silence, forgives out of the kindness of his soul,” Alexei’s slavish obedience speaks of his certain position in life, which involves remaining silent, enduring, but not getting involved in a scandal.
Molchalin reveals his true face to Lisa: “Why are you and the young lady modest, but the maid a rake?” Only her secretary tells her about his true feelings for Sophia. Chatsky also guesses about Alexei’s duplicity and pettiness: “He will reach the well-known levels, because nowadays they love the dumb,” “Who else will settle everything so peacefully! There he will pet a pug at the right time, here he will wipe a card at the right time...” A brief description of Molchalin shows that his silence is not at all a manifestation of stupidity. This is a clearly thought out plan for obtaining benefits.
Speech characteristics of Molchalin
The manner of conversation of Alexey Stepanych very successfully characterizes his inner appearance. Toadying, submissiveness, and servility are the main characters, so in his speech one can discern diminutive words, self-deprecating intonations, exaggerated courtesy, and an obsequious tone. To please people who are richer and higher in rank, the hero adds the prefix “s” to words. Molchalin is mostly silent and tries not to engage in conversation unnecessarily. He shows his eloquence only in front of Lisa, in front of whom he can take off his mask and show his true face.
The hero's attitude towards Sophia
The ability to please helps in moving up the career ladder - that’s exactly what Molchalin thinks. The character’s description suggests that he even started an affair with Sophia for the reason that she is Famusov’s daughter, and a close relative of the boss cannot be denied fulfilling his whims. The girl herself came up with a hero and imposed her feelings on Alexey Stepanych, making him a platonic admirer. In order to please the lady, he is ready to abandon his native bourgeois dialect and communicate in the language of silent glances and gestures. Molchalin sits silently next to Sophia all night long, reading novels with her, only because he cannot refuse the boss’s daughter. The hero himself not only does not love the girl, but also considers her a “deplorable theft.”
Comparative characteristics of the images of Molchalin and Famusov
The problem of bureaucracy is one of the main issues addressed in the comedy "Woe from Wit." Molchalin’s characterization gives the reader an idea of a new type of official early XIX century. He and Famusov belong to the world of bureaucrats, but still are not alike because they belong to different centuries. The master is an elderly rich man with an established opinion and an established career. Alexey Stepanych is still young, so he works as a minor official and is just climbing the career ladder.
In the 19th century, a new type of Russian bureaucrat emerged who abandoned the commandments of the “fathers.” This is exactly what Molchalin’s characterization shows. "Woe from Wit" is a story about a socio-political conflict that expresses the situation of society. Be that as it may, Molchalin still belongs to Famusov’s entourage, and just like his boss, he admires rank and wealth.
Molchalin and Chatsky
A comparative description of Molchalin and Chatsky shows how different they are. Molchalin, Famusov’s secretary, does not have a noble origin, but has developed his own tactics, following which he builds a reliable and comfortable future for himself. You can’t get a word out of him once again, but he knows how to run on tiptoe, work with papers and appear at the right moment, and many people like this. Silent, helpful, spineless people were valued in the era of Nicholas I, so someone like Molchalin was expected to have a brilliant career and awards for services to their homeland. In appearance, he is a modest young man, Sophia likes him with his meekness and compliance, pleases Famusov with patience and silence, curries favor with Khlestova and only shows his true face to the maid Liza - vile, two-faced, cowardly.
Chatsky is the embodiment of the image of the Decembrists, a romantic nobleman who reveals the evils of serfdom. It is his antagonist who is Molchalin. The characterization of the hero shows that he embodies the features of an advanced thinking person of the early 19th century. Chatsky is convinced that he is right, therefore, without hesitation, he preaches new ideals, reveals the ignorance of the current rich, exposes their false patriotism, inhumanity, and hypocrisy. This is a freethinker who fell into a rotten society, and this is his trouble.
The hero's life principles
Griboyedov's hero Molchalin became a common name for lackeys and meanness. The character's description shows that Alexey Stepanych, from childhood, programmed a plan in his head on how to get out into the world, build a career, and achieve a high rank. He walked along his path without turning to the sides. This person is absolutely indifferent to the feelings of other people, he will not lend a helping hand to anyone if it is not beneficial.
The main theme of the comedy
The theme of bureaucracy, which was raised by many writers in the 19th century, runs through the entire comedy “Woe from Wit.” The state bureaucracy kept growing and turning into a serious machine, grinding down all the rebels and working in a way that was beneficial to it. Griboyedov in his work showed real people, his contemporaries. He set himself the goal of ridiculing certain human traits, showing the tragedy of society of that era, and the writer did it perfectly.
History of the comedy
Once a rumor spread throughout Moscow that Alexander Griboyedov University professor Thomas Evans, alarmed by this news, decided to visit the writer. In turn, Griboyedov told his interlocutor a story that happened to him at one of the balls. He was tired of the antics of society praising some Frenchman, an ordinary talker who had done nothing remarkable. Griboyedov could not restrain himself and expressed to those around him everything that he thought about them, and someone from the crowd shouted out that the writer was a little out of his mind. Alexander Sergeevich was offended and promised to create a comedy, the heroes of which would be those unlucky spiteful critics who called him crazy. This is how the work “Woe from Wit” was born.
In Griboedov's comedy "Woe from Wit" several typical characters were created that are well recognizable regardless of the era. Molchalin belongs to such images, so now it would be appropriate to briefly consider the characteristics of Molchalin, paying attention to the features that Griboyedov endowed this character with.
Biography of Molchalin from the comedy “Woe from Wit”
The play says very little about Molchalin’s life before Famusov’s appearance in the house. The reader learns that Alexey Stepanovich Molchalin is of humble origin, a poor young man.
Famusov took Molchalin as his secretary from Tver and was able to “get” him the rank of assessor, which was highly valued and equated to the army rank of major. Meanwhile, the hero is still listed in the Archives of the College of Foreign Affairs and manages to receive three awards. During Griboyedov’s time, the “archive youths” were treated with some contempt, since young people who wanted to avoid military service in this way were enrolled there. This information already helps to create a characterization of Molchalin from the comedy “Woe from Wit.”
In the house of his patron, Molchalin lives on the first floor, where there are servants’ rooms and utility rooms. For the sake of his career, Molchalin starts an affair with Sophia, Famusov’s daughter, while simultaneously caring for the maid Lisa.
Molchalin and Sophia
What else is interesting about Molchalin’s characterization? He admits that he is not interested in Sophia. No matter how hard Molchalin tries to awaken his feelings for her, nothing works, the hero still remains cold: “As soon as I meet, I’ll leave the sheet.” He is chasing the boss's daughter, hoping to benefit. Knowing Sophia’s inconstancy (“they loved Chatsky once, they will stop loving me like him”), he is not worried, he is more worried about Famusov’s reaction to their relationship.
Literary scholars have repeatedly asked the question: what attracted Sophia to Molchalin, why did she choose him over the intelligent and noble Chatsky? Probably the answer is in the words of the heroine herself. Talking about Molchalin, she highlights his qualities such as helpfulness, attentiveness, shyness; he is ready to predict Sophia’s every desire and shows her his tender feelings.
Another quality that is important in Molchalin’s characterization is his hypocrisy and duplicity: pretending to love Sophia, he courts Lisa, seducing her with gifts and not hesitating to quite brazenly and obsessively express his feelings. In Famusov's house, Molchalin wears the mask of a timid man in love until an accidental exposure occurs.
Characteristic qualities of Molchalin from the comedy “Woe from Wit”
Griboyedov uses a telling surname. Molchalin is silent, quiet, he does not dare to have his own opinion, fearing not to please important people. His main goal is to gain the trust of those who can provide patronage through helpfulness and subservience to them. Chatsky notes bitterly: “The silent ones are blissful in the world.”
To understand the characterization of Molchalin in the comedy “Woe from Wit” by Griboyedov, it is necessary to remember what kind of covenant his father gives to Molchalin. The young man says that his father advised him to “please all people without exception”: the owner of the house where he lives, the boss, the boss’s servant, “the doorman, the janitor to avoid harm, the janitor’s dog to be affectionate.” The hero follows this principle. He tries to please Famusov, the “old men” at the balls. For this reason, he gives up dancing and fun, and spends the entire evening playing cards with elderly but noble gentlemen. Through helpfulness and modesty, Molchalin achieved good relations with the influential Tatyana Yuryevna and even the grumpy Khlestova.
Molchalin considers his main talents to be “moderation and accuracy.” Griboyedov in his comedy “Woe from Wit” shows: Molchalin is stupid, his mind is aimed only at searching for advantageous behavior, he is low, has no self-esteem, is capable of meanness and lies.
We hope that our article, which briefly presented the characterization of Molchalin from the comedy “Woe from Wit” by Griboyedov, helped you get to know this character better. Also read on our literary blog
A character in the comedy “Woe from Wit” (1824) by A. S. Griboyedov (1795 1829). Type of careerist, pleaser, conformist: (Act. 4, Rev. 12): “My father bequeathed to me: first of all, to please all people without exception,” etc. A common noun for flatterers, sycophants,... ... Dictionary of popular words and expressions
The central character of the comedy "Woe from Wit" (1824). The significance of this image was realized over the course of historical time. N.V. Gogol was the first to notice something important in the appearance of the modest secretary Famusov: “this face, silent, low, is aptly captured... ... Literary heroes
Wed. ...My father bequeathed to me, Firstly, to please all people without exception: the Master, where I happen to live, the Chief, with whom I will serve, his Servant, who cleans dresses; To the doorman, to the janitor to avoid harm, to the janitor’s dog, so that it is affectionate... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary
Molchalin. Wed. ...My father bequeathed to me, First of all, to please all people without exception: the Master, where I happen to live, the Chief, with whom I will serve, his servant, who cleans the dresses; To the doorman, to the janitor to avoid evil, to the janitor’s dog, so that... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary (original spelling)
M. 1. Literary character. 2. Used as a symbol of a person who hides his own opinion and wants to please all superiors or influential persons with his silence. Ephraim's explanatory dictionary. T. F. Efremova. 2000... Modern Dictionary Russian language Efremova
Molchalin- Silently Alin, and... Russian spelling dictionary
Molchalin- (2 m) (lit. character; also about a careerist and a sycophant) ... Spelling dictionary of the Russian language
Molchalin- a character in A. S. Griboyedov’s comedy Woe from Wit (1824) a hypocritical, obsequious careerist who declared ch. Its virtues are moderation and accuracy. His name became popular. meaning, and for the first time this happened in the text itself. (formula... Russian humanitarian encyclopedic dictionary
- ... Wikipedia
Books
- Woe from Wit, Alexander Griboyedov. The play takes place in Russia, in the twenties of the 19th century. To the house of the old Moscow master Pavel Afanasyevich Famusov, a government manager, a convinced serf owner and a fierce... audiobook
- Poems for children from younger to older age, Nikolai Aleksandrovich Dobrolyubov. “...In the bibliography of our magazine, it was already mentioned last year about “congratulatory poems” by Mr. Fedorov. All sections are what you would expect from the author of “congratulations.” Despite…
The characterization of Molchalin largely helps to reveal the image of the “past century”. The character strives to please all those in high circles. We invite you to familiarize yourself with brief description image of Molchalin according to plan with quotes.
Position in society
Alexey Stepanovich Molchalin - Famusov's secretary. The hero works at Pavel Afanasyevich's house, having arrived to him from Tver. At the same time, Molchalin is listed in the Archives, where he ended up thanks to Famusov, who appreciates the character’s helpfulness. Despite the fact that Famusov promotes Molchalin up the career ladder, he does not want Alexei Stepanovich to become the fiancé of his daughter Sophia, because Molchalin is a poor and “rootless” man.
Ability to Serve
The most striking feature of Molchalin is his desire to serve all people who occupy a high position in society. He understands that only flattery and pretense can help him move up the social ladder. Thanks to his main quality, Molchalin manages to receive ranks, as a result of which he achieved the status of a nobleman.
In the work, Chatsky correctly notes that Molchalin “will reach the famous levels, because nowadays they love the dumb.” Main character Having seen the real essence of Molchalin, I am sure of the following: “Molchalins are blissful in the world.” Analysis of this phrase suggests that Molchalin (“Woe from Wit”) is a generalized image that personifies the society of A. S. Griboedov’s time. Chatsky, speaking about Molchalin, says this: “A boy-husband, a servant-husband, a wife’s page—the high ideal of all Moscow husbands.” It is Molchalin who becomes Sophia’s ideal.
The main principle by which Molchalin lives lies in his phrase “At my age one should not dare to have one’s own judgment.” The hero understands that he must please people and humiliate himself in front of them in order to be noticed. Molchalin’s desire to “serve” became the reason for his desire to receive a high rank and a good position in society.
The hero is dependent on public opinion. Molchalin is silent, speaking only to compliment or praise a person from higher circles. It is not by chance that A. S. Griboedov resorts to the technique speaking names. The character, confident that “evil tongues are worse than a pistol,” strives to reveal his essence as little as possible, because then those around him will be able to understand his true intentions, and he wants to receive ranks as soon as possible. To do this, as Chatsky notes, Molchalin is ready to “pat the pug in time” and “rub in the card at the right time.”
The main character evaluates this quality of Molchalin as stupidity and frivolity.
For the sake of his own career advancement, Molchalin, who, according to Chatsky, was “lured by honors and nobility,” is building love relationship with Famusov's daughter Sophia. The hero has no real feeling of love for her. He only thinks about a possible marriage with his daughter famous person in society will help him realize his plans. And if with Sofia Molchalin behaves as in her ideas a real man should behave, then with the maid Liza, as she notes herself, Molchalin is a rake. With Lisa, the hero is persistent and courageous. This shows the character's duplicity, his ability to appearance a polite and modest person to hide passionate feelings and cheeky behavior. The maid evaluates Molchalin negatively, comparing him to stone and ice.
Positive features
It should be noted that in the comedy “Woe from Wit” the characters are not strictly divided into negative and positive. All characters have a dual rating. Positive features The hero lies in his shyness and modesty. Molchalin does not speak badly about anyone, he does not show his disdain for the people around him, as other representatives of the “past century” do. Molchalin independently achieves his own goals, despite the fact that these paths are arrogant and dishonest. The hero is distinguished by his politeness and patience. It is difficult to bring Molchalin into a scandal or any conflict. This calmness aroused Sophia’s sympathy for the hero. She characterizes the hero as follows: “yielding, modest, quiet.” Sophia calls Molchalin “the enemy of insolence.” She is attracted by the fact that Molchalin has become a true friend of the entire Famusov house. Sophia is sincerely in love with Alexei Stepanovich, not noticing his negative traits. The text of the work shows that only when Sophia saw Molchalin’s attraction to Lisa, she realized that he was a real scoundrel.
