“Woe from Wit”: analysis of Griboyedov’s work, images of heroes. Minor characters in the comedy "Woe from Wit" Griboedova A.S. Princess in Griboyedov's comedy Woe from Wit

Briefly:

The idea for the comedy "Woe from Wit" dates back to 1816. During the author's lifetime, despite his efforts, the caesura did not allow the publication of this work. Only small excerpts from the comedy appeared in print. Despite this, “Woe from Wit” was well known in society because it was distributed in lists. Only in 1831 did censorship allow the incomplete text of the comedy to be printed. The most “unreliable” parts of it were excluded. In the same year, the play was staged in St. Petersburg and then in Moscow.

The conflict in comedy is social in nature; its main character is tormented not only by unrequited love, but also by the inability to live in this crazy society. The comedy carries the features of classicism - the unity of action, place and time, the characters are endowed with characteristic names - Chatsky - from the word “child”, Famusov - from the English word “famous”, Molchalin - wordless, Repetilov - retelling the thoughts of others, etc. But behind these external signs of classicism lies realism, which is expressed in the true-to-life characters of the characters, in their ambiguity, characteristic of living people. The deep realism of the comedy is matched by its bright, figurative language. Here living people speak a living language. The language of each character characterizes the image; for example, the accurate and sharp tongue of the maid Liza, the harmonious and logical speech of Chatsky. Repetilov's monologues do not have a core; he constantly jumps from one topic to another. Many expressions from the comedy have become “winged”, people still use them today, for example, “and the smoke of the fatherland is sweet and pleasant to us”, “happy people do not watch the clock”, etc. (For a detailed analysis of the characters in the comedy, see the article “I. A Goncharov").

This work had a great influence on the further development of Russian literature. Almost fifty years after writing the comedy, I. A. Goncharov dedicated a critical essay to it, entitled “A Million Torments,” written as if the comedy had recently been completed.

Source: Student's Quick Guide. Russian literature / Author-comp. I.N. Agekyan. - Mn.: Modern writer, 2002

More details:

"Woe from Wit" (1824) became the first Russian realistic comedy; this work became a landmark for the establishment of realism in Russian drama. However, precisely because it was the first realistic work, one can distinguish in it the influence of the aesthetics of romanticism (even the image of Chatsky, generally realistic, is very similar to the images of romantic heroes, contrasted with circumstances and other heroes), and even the influence of classicism - here is the observance the requirements of “three unities”, and the “speaking” names of the heroes. However, it can be said that Griboedov, in the comedy “Woe from Wit,” creatively reworked all the best that had been created in Russian literature before him, managing on the basis of this to create a qualitatively new work, and this novelty is determined primarily by new principles of creating characters, new approach to understanding the essence of images-characters.

Griboedov's heroes are heroes whose images are socially motivated; they are such because they belong to a certain time and certain strata of society, although this does not mean that they are schematic heroes. It’s just that in each of them the main character traits are formed by the environment, each of them expresses this environment, while remaining an individual.

The language of the comedy "Woe from Wit"

Also, the language of the comedy “Woe from Wit” has become fundamentally new for Russian literature; the linguistic characteristics of the characters are presented to the reader in such a way that, for example, Sophia’s speech cannot be confused with the speech of Princess Tugoukhovskaya, and Molchalin and Skalozub differ in both their characters and their speech . The extreme individualization of the speech characteristics of the characters, the brilliant command of the Russian language, the aphorism of the characters’ remarks, the sharpness of polemics in dialogues and monologues - all this makes the language of Griboyedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit” a unique phenomenon in Russian literature of the 20s of the 19th century, and the fact that many phrases from it became “catchphrases”, confirming that it belonged not only to its time.

Comedy conflicts

The conflicts of comedy are very interesting. The external conflict is obvious: this is a confrontation between a leading man of his time (Chatsky) and a society living in the past and striving to keep this life unchanged. In other words, the conflict between old and new is, in general, a banal conflict. However, it is most closely connected with the internal conflict of comedy, with the contradiction of Chatsky’s image. How could he, the smartest man, not understand that Sophia loves another after she herself told him about it and named this person’s name? Why does he so passionately prove his point of view to people whose value he knows very well, just as he knows that they will not only disagree with him, but will not even be able to understand him? Here it is, the internal conflict of the comedy "Woe from Wit" by Griboyedov. Chatsky deeply and sincerely loves Sophia, and this feeling makes him so incomprehensible and even funny - although can someone who loves be funny, no matter how funny he may seem?.. In some ways, the internal and external conflicts of comedy coincide, although love Sophia’s relationship with Molchalin is not socially conditioned in terms of motivation, rather, on the contrary, but the romantic view of Famusov’s daughter on the latter is also characteristic of the society in which they live.

Famusov's image

Famusov’s world is the world of the Moscow nobility, who live according to the norms of the “Times of Ochakov and the conquest of the Crimea” and do not want to change anything in their lives. “A manager in a government place” Famusov deals with things carelessly (“It’s signed, off your shoulders”...), but he succeeds in organizing his life with all sorts of conveniences, not excluding “monastic behavior”... He knows for sure that for his daughter, “Whoever is poor is not a match for you,” he is well versed in secular gossip and everything that concerns other people’s estates, he can, on occasion, remind Molchalin to whom he owes his current position, and he is undisguisedly servile with Skalozub, seeing in him an advantageous suitor for his daughter... In a conversation with Chatsky, not understanding half of what the interlocutor is saying, he is mortally frightened, believing that he is talking with a “carbonari” (that is, a rebel) who “wants to preach freedom” and “does not recognize the authorities,” demands: “I would strictly forbid these gentlemen to approach the capitals for a shot.” He is not at all that stupid, Famusov, so he is ready to fight by any means to preserve his position and his way of life, he defends his right to see life this way and live exactly this way. His danger lies in the fact that he is ready for just about anything, or maybe he is still very much, for now he and others like him are the true masters of life, and only one person opposes them - Chatsky, who is very lonely in this society, that no matter what they talk about “nephews” and others who supposedly profess other ideals, in Famusov’s house Chatsky is truly alone.

The image of Chatsky in the comedy "Woe from Wit"

The image of Chatsky was perceived by contemporaries as the image of an advanced person defending the ideals of a new life, which was supposed to replace the dominance of “Famusism”. He was seen as a representative of the younger generation, an intelligent, educated, decent person who ardently defended the need to change life and, it seems, was taking some steps in this direction, although the author talks about this in passing. What is indisputable is that Chatsky is a thinking and gifted person, it is not without reason that his judgments about public service and duty frighten Famusov so much, they express ideas of government that undermine the foundations of the existence of Famusov and others like him: “To serve the cause, not individuals... ", "I'd be glad to serve, it's sickening to be served," "And sure enough, the world has begun to grow stupid."

There was a lot of debate about whether the image of Chatsky in “Woe from Wit” can be considered the image of the Decembrist in literature, but there is no doubt that the hero’s ideas are close to the ideas of the Decembrists, to whom the author of the comedy treated with great sympathy. However, Chatsky is not just an exponent of the advanced ideas of his time, in the opinion of the comedy author. This is a living person, he is sincere and deep in his experiences, his actions are determined by the feeling of great love that he feels for Sophia. He is in love, he remembers Sophia as a young girl who, judging by the fact that she makes excuses to Lisa, showed him unambiguous signs of attention, and now he wants to see the same Sophia in her, not wanting to see that dramatic changes have happened to her. Chatsky’s irritation and even some embitterment are caused by the fact that Sophia has changed her attitude towards him, and this prevents the hero from really perceiving circumstances, from seeing them as they are. The hero’s mind and feelings are too busy with love for him to control himself, for him now the whole world is concentrated in Sophia, so everything else and everyone else simply irritates him: Famusov irritates, to whom he still shows a certain respect as Sophia’s father; irritates Skalozub, in whom he is ready to see Sophia’s possible groom; Molchalin is annoyed, who, “with such a soul,” cannot (as he believes!) be loved by the same Sophia.

Chatsky's persistent attempts to find out the truth about Sophia's attitude towards himself border on pathology, and his stubborn reluctance to accept this truth could seem like blindness if it were not for love... However, the scene that he witnesses in the last act gives him the final answer to the most important question for him now is that he receives irrefutable evidence that Sophia not only does not love, but also betrays him, therefore Chatsky’s last monologue is the cry and pain of an insulted soul and an insulted feeling, but here Famus’ society is also murderously accurately described, which took away from the hero the most precious thing in his life - love. Chatsky leaves Moscow, and his departure seems to indicate that he is defeated. True, there is a well-known idea by I.A. Goncharov that “Chatsky is broken by the amount of old strength, inflicting a mortal blow on it with the quality of fresh strength,” but how can this undoubted victory of the hero help him when his heart is breaking with pain?.. Therefore, we can say that that the ending of the comedy is close to tragic - for him, the “eternal accuser”, for whom neither his brilliant mind nor the ability to “make everyone laugh” could help him find ordinary human happiness...

Molchalin

The comedy’s image system is constructed in such a way that the author gives us the opportunity to see Chatsky’s “anti-doubles”: these are the images of Molchalin and Repetilov. Molchalin is Chatsky’s happy rival in love; in his own way, he is a very strong personality who manages to achieve a lot in life. But - at what cost? He sacredly observes his father’s behest: “My father bequeathed to me: First, to please all people without exception...”. He pleases, even with “our deplorable krala” (he calls Sophia) “respectfully” spends his nights, because she is “the daughter of such a person”! Of course, we can say that for Molchalin such behavior is the only possible one from the point of view of achieving “known degrees,” but surely it is not possible to achieve them at the cost of losing self-esteem?

Repetilov

The image of Repetilov was perceived by contemporaries as an obvious parody of the Decembrists, which may seem strange if we remember the attitude of the comedy author towards them and their ideas. However, Repetilov is very similar to... Chatsky, only to Chatsky, deprived of his intelligence, his self-esteem, his ability to behave as his honor requires. The comic double of the main character helps to better understand the image of Chatsky in the comedy "Woe from Wit", to see his strengths and appreciate them, while remaining an original and original artistic image, ridiculing those of the supporters of the Decembrists who preferred "words, words, words..."

Sophia

The image of Sophia in the comedy turned out to be complex and contradictory. She created for herself a romantic image of Molchalin and fell in love with her “creation”, ready to defend her loved one from the unfair, as she is convinced, attacks of Chatsky and succeeded a lot in this (remember, it was with her “suggestion” that gossip began to spread due to Chatsky’s madness!), who became an unwitting witness to how the man she loves mocks her and her love - this is what the heroine of the comedy has to go through, and at the end of the work she cannot but evoke sympathy in the viewer. Sophia is both smart and knows people well - how brilliantly she gives a hint about Chatsky’s imaginary madness to the social gossip G.N., there is nothing to reproach her for on occasion! However, like Chatsky, she was blinded by love, and, bringing suffering to Chatsky, she herself suffers no less from the betrayal of a person whom she believed and for whose love she made certain sacrifices.

"Theme of the Mind"

The “theme of the mind” occupies a special place in comedy. The “grief” that his undoubted intelligence brought to Chatsky is aggravated by the fact that in Famusov’s world a different idea of ​​“intelligence” prevails: here, the one who knows how to achieve ranks and money is valued, so Famusov’s uncle, endlessly falling in front of those who “ranks” gives,” is revered as a model of wisdom, and the smart Chatsky is declared crazy... To be a thinking person in the circle of those who do not understand the difference between intelligence and cunning is Chatsky’s destiny.

Author's position

The image of the author, the author's position in the comedy "Woe from Wit" is manifested primarily in the creation of character images and the main conflict of the comedy. Chatsky is depicted with great sympathy, his moral superiority, his victory over the world of Famusov speak about whose side the author is on. The satirical depiction of the world of old Moscow and its moral condemnation also indicate the author’s position. Finally, the ending of a comedy, when it turns into a tragicomedy (this was discussed above), from the point of view of expressing the author’s position, also clearly tells the viewer which side the author is on. In Griboedov's comedy, the author's principle is expressed both in the stage directions and in the speech characteristics of the characters; the unique personality of the author of one of the greatest comedies in Russian literature is visible in everything.

As already noted, the “catchphrases” from “Woe from Wit” have firmly entered both Russian literature and the Russian language. The work itself also took its place in Russian culture, which gives reason to talk about the folk character of Griboyedov’s comedy.

Minor characters in A. S. Griboedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit”

The comedy “Woe from Wit” by A. S. Griboedov is a kind of “encyclopedia of Russian life” of the first half of the 19th century. Having significantly expanded the scope of the narrative due to many minor and off-stage characters, Griboedov depicts in it the magnificent human types of contemporary Moscow.

As O. Miller notes, almost all minor characters in comedy come down to three types: “Famusovs, candidates for Famusovs and Famusovs-losers.”

The first of them to appear in the play is Colonel Skalozub, a “fan” of Sophia. This is “Famusov in an army uniform,” but at the same time, Sergei Sergeich is “much more limited than Famusov.”

Skalozub has a characteristic appearance (“three fathoms daredevil”), gestures, manners, speech, in which there are many military terms (“division”, “brigadier general”, “sergeant major”, “distance”, “line”).

The character traits of the hero are just as typical. Griboyedov emphasizes rudeness, ignorance, mental and spiritual limitations in Skalozub. Rejecting his “potential suitor,” Sophia notes that he “has never uttered a smart word.” Being not very educated, Skalozub opposes science and education, against the “new rules.” “You can’t faint with your learning...” he confidently declares to Repetilov.

In addition, the author emphasizes another feature in Skalozub - careerism, “a crudely expressed passion for crosses” (N.K. Piksanov). Sergei Sergeich, with barely conscious cynicism, tells Famusov about the reasons for his promotion:

I am quite happy in my comrades,

The vacancies are just open;

Then the elders will turn off others,

The others, you see, have been killed.

In Famusov's house, Skalozub is a welcome guest: Pavel Afanasyevich considers him a suitable groom for Sophia. However, Sophia, like Chatsky, is far from delighted with the “merits” of Sergei Sergeich. Old woman Khlestova also supports her niece in her own way:

Wow! I definitely got rid of the noose;

After all, your father is crazy:

He was given three fathoms of daring, -

He introduces us without asking if we are pleased or not?

Finally, Lisa very aptly characterizes Skalozub: “And the golden bag, and aims to become a general.”

The image of Skalozub has comic elements. The very name of the hero hints at this. Lisa talks about Skalozub’s jokes in the comedy.

And Skalozub, as he twirls his crest,

He will tell the story of fainting, add a hundred embellishments;

He’s also good at making jokes, because nowadays who doesn’t joke!

Sergei Sergeich’s speech is often comical. So, about Moscow, he notes: “Distances of enormous size,” about his relationship with Nastasya Nikolaevna - “We didn’t serve together,” about Molchalin’s fall from a horse - “Look at how he cracked - chest or sideways?”

N.K. Piksanov considered the image of Skalozub insufficiently developed and unfinished. It is not clear to the reader whether Skalozub is going to marry Sophia, and whether he guessed about her affair with Molchalin after seeing Sophia’s reaction to Molchalin’s fall from his horse. However, despite some incompleteness, the image of Skalozub very organically entered the circle of characters created by Griboedov.

Almost all the characters in the comedy are depicted just as vividly and vividly.

Prince and Princess Tugoukhovsky are among the first to come to Famusov. They hope to find rich suitors for their daughters at the ball. Chatsky suddenly comes into their sight, but, having learned that he is not rich, they leave him alone.

The Tugoukhovsky couple are depicted satirically by Griboyedov. Prince Tugoukhovsky (as indicated by the surname itself) hears almost nothing. His speech consists of separate exclamations: “Oh-hmm!”, “I-hmm!” He unquestioningly follows all his wife’s instructions. This hero embodies the aged Famusov. Princess Tugoukhovskaya is distinguished by a rather evil disposition and causticity. So, she sees the reason for the arrogant behavior of the countess-granddaughter in her “unfortunate fate”: “She’s evil, she’s been around girls for a whole century, God will forgive her.” Like all of Famusov’s guests, Princess Tugoukhovskaya does not see the benefit of education and believes that science poses a threat to society: “in St. Petersburg, the pedagogical institute, I think, is called that: there professors practice schism and unbelief!” The Tugoukhovskys quickly pick up the gossip about Chatsky’s madness and even try to convince Repetilov of this.

Among the guests are Famusova and Countess Khryumina with her granddaughter, who are also happy to believe in Chatsky’s madness. The countess-granddaughter tells the news to Zagoretsky. The Grandmother Countess, suffering from deafness, interprets everything she hears in her own way. She declares Alexander Andreevich a “damned Voltairian” and a “pusurman.”

Famusov’s guests are also joined by his sister-in-law, old woman Khlestova. S. A. Fomichev calls this heroine Famusov for the female half of society. Khlestova is a self-confident lady, intelligent, experienced, and insightful in her own way. Just look at the description given to her by Zagoretsky:

He's a liar, a gambler, a thief...

I left him and locked the doors;

Yes, the master will serve: me and sister Praskovya

I got two little blacks at the fair;

He bought tea, he says, and cheated at cards;

And a gift for me, God bless him!

She is also skeptical towards Skalozub and Repetilov. With all this, Khlestova shares the opinion of Famusov’s guests about science and education:

And you will really go crazy from these, from some

From boarding schools, schools, lyceums, you name it,

Yes from lancard mutual training.

Khlestova here has in mind the Lancastrian system of education, however, for her age and lifestyle, this confusion of concepts is quite forgivable and very realistic. In addition, it is worth noting that this statement does not contain the belligerence that is characteristic of Famusov and Skalozub’s speeches about enlightenment. Rather, here she is simply keeping the conversation going.

In Khlestova’s mind, the human dignity of those around her is inextricably fused with their social status, wealth and rank. So, she notes about Chatsky: “He was a sharp man, he had three hundred souls.” Her intonations in conversations with Molchalin are condescending and patronizing. However, Khlestova perfectly understands the “place” of Alexei Stepanych and does not stand on ceremony with him: “Molchalin, there’s your closet,” she declares, saying goodbye.

Like many of Famusov’s guests, Khlestova loves to gossip: “I don’t know other people’s estates!” She instantly picks up the rumor about Chatsky’s madness and even puts forward her version of events: “Tea, he drank beyond his years.”

The image of Repetilov in the comedy is caricatured. This is exactly the type of “Famusov the loser”. This is an absurd, careless, stupid and superficial person, a visitor to the English Club, a lover of drinking and carousing, philosophizing in noisy companies. This character sets the theme of “ideological fashion” in the comedy, as if parodying Chatsky’s social line.

As O. Miller and A. Grigoriev note, “Repetilov... failed to achieve any real professional benefit from marrying the daughter of the influential von Klock, and so he fell into liberal rhetoric....”

Repetilov tries to captivate Chatsky with “free-thinking” and describes to him “secret meetings” in the English Club, where they talk “about Byron”, “about important mothers”. Repetilov tells Chatsky about “smart youth,” including the “true genius” Ippolit Udushev. This description sounds like frank satire:

Night robber, duelist,

He was exiled to Kamchatka, returned as an Aleut,

And the unclean hand is strong;

Yes, an intelligent person cannot help but be a rogue.

When he talks about high honesty,

Some kind of demon inspires:

My eyes are bloody, my face is burning,

He cries himself, and we all cry.

This is what Pushkin wrote about this image: “...What is Repetilov? it has 2, 3, 10 characters. Why make him ugly? It’s enough that he is flighty and stupid with such simplicity; It’s enough that he admits every minute to his stupidity, and not to his abominations. This humility is extremely new in the theater; has any of us ever felt embarrassed while listening to penitents like him?”

Repetilov in the comedy is a kind of parody of Chatsky; he is a double character who comically reduces the ideas of the main character. Repetilov’s literary “brothers” are Grushnitsky from Lermontov’s novel “Hero of Our Time”, Sitnikov from Turgenev’s novel “Fathers and Sons”, Lebezyatnikov from Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime and Punishment”.

Among Famusov’s guests is the “slick socialite” Anton Antonich Zagoretsky. This is also the “Famusov-loser” type. Having failed to obtain ranks and titles, he remains a petty swindler and ladies' man. Gorich gives him an exhaustive description:

Outspoken swindler, rogue: Anton Antonich Zagoretsky.

With it, beware: endure too much,

And don’t play cards, he’ll sell you.

Old woman Khlestova also joins Platon Mikhailovich: “He’s a liar, a gambler, a thief,” she says to Sophia. However, all of Zagoretsky’s “riot” is limited to the everyday sphere. In the “ideological” sense, he is completely “law-abiding”:

...What if, between us,

I was appointed as a densor,

I would lean on fables; Oh! fables are my death!

Eternal mockery of lions! over the eagles!

Whatever you say:

Although animals, still give.

As O. Miller and A. Grigoriev note, Zagoretsky is a candidate for Famusov, but his circumstances turned out differently, and he took on a different role - a universal servant, a pleaser. This is a kind of Molchalin, necessary for everyone.

Zagoretsky is a notorious talker and liar. Moreover, his lies in comedy are practically groundless. He, too, is happy to support the gossip about Chatsky, without even remembering who he is talking about: “He was put away in the insane by his rogue uncle... They grabbed him, into the yellow house, and put him on a chain.” However, he puts forward a different version to Countess Khryumina: “In the mountains he was wounded in the forehead, he went crazy from the wound.”

Visiting Famusov and the Gorich couple. Gorich is an old friend of Chatsky from his military service. Perhaps this is the only comedy character written by Griboyedov with a touch of sympathy. It seems that we cannot classify this hero as one of the types described earlier (Famusovs, candidates for Famusovs, Famusovs-losers). Gorich is a kind and decent person who has no illusions about the morals of secular society (remember the characterization that Gorich gives to Zagoretsky). This is the only hero who seriously doubts after hearing gossip about Chatsky’s madness. However, Platon Mikhailovich is too soft. He lacks Chatsky’s confidence and conviction, his temperament, and courage. Submitting to his wife in everything, he became “weak in health,” “calm and lazy,” and out of boredom he amuses himself by playing the flute. “A boy-husband, a servant-husband, one of the wife’s pages” - it is this type that is represented in the image of Gorich.

Gorich's behavior illustrates in the comedy the theme of men's submission to their domineering wives. Prince Tugoukhovsky is also submissive and silent “before his wife, this efficient mother.” Molchalin is also timid, quiet and modest during his dates with Sophia.

So, Skalozub, Prince and Princess Tugoukhovsky, Countess Khryumina, old woman Khlestova, Repetilov and Zagoretsky, Gorichi... - “all these are types created by the hand of a true artist; and their speeches, words, address, manners, the way of thinking that breaks out from under them is a brilliant painting...” All these images are bright, memorable, original. Griboedov's heroes embody the leisurely “past century”, with its life traditions and moral rules. These people are afraid of new trends, they are not too fond of science and enlightenment, courage of thoughts and judgments. Thanks to these characters, as well as off-stage heroes, Griboyedov creates a wide panorama of Russian life. “The group of twenty faces reflected, like a ray of light in a drop of water, the whole of the former Moscow, its design, its spirit at that time, its historical moment and morals.”

Miller O., Grigoriev A. The environment depicted in the comedy “Grief”

from the mind." - In the book: Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov. His life and writings. Collection of historical and literary articles. Compiled by V. Pokrovsky. M., 1908. P. 51.

Miller O., Grigoriev A. The environment depicted in the comedy “Woe from Wit.” - In the book: Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov. “His life and works.” Collection of historical and literary articles. Compiled by V. Pokrovsky. M., 1908. P. 52.

Pushkin A. S. Letter to A. A. Bestuzhev. - In the book: A. S. Griboyedov in Russian criticism. M., 1958. P. 41.

Nezelenov. Women's society in the comedy "Woe from Wit". - In the book: Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov. His life and writings. Collection of historical and literary articles. Compiled by V. Pokrovsky. M., 1908. P. 7.

Belinsky V.G. Woe from Wit. - In the book: V. G. Belinsky. A look at Russian literature. M., 1987. P. 241.

Goncharov I. A. A million torments.

Phenomenon 3

Lisa, Sofia with a candle behind it Molchalin.

Sofia
What, Lisa, attacked you?
You're making noise...

Lisa
Of course, it’s hard for you to break up?
Having locked yourself until daylight, and it seems like everything is not enough?

Sofia
Ah, it really is dawn!
(Puts out the candle.)
Both light and sadness. How fast the nights are!

Lisa
Push, know that there is no urine from the outside,
Your father came here, I froze;
I spun around in front of him, I don’t remember that I was lying;
Well, what have you become? bow, sir, give it.
Come on, my heart is out of place;
Look at your watch, look out the window:
People have been pouring down the streets for a long time;
And in the house there is knocking, walking, sweeping and cleaning.

Sofia
Happy hours are not observed.

Lisa
Don't watch, your power;
And what in return for you, of course, I will get.

Sofia
(Molchalin)
Go; We'll be bored all day long.

Lisa
God be with you, sir; take your hand away.

(Separates them, Molchalin at the door collides with Famusov.)

Phenomenon 4

Sofia, Lisa, Molchalin, Famusov.

Famusov
What an opportunity! Molchalin, are you brother?

Molchalin
I'm with.

Famusov
Why here? and at this hour?
And Sophia!.. Hello, Sophia, how are you?
Up so early! A? for what concern?
And how did God bring you together at the wrong time?

Sofia
He just came in now.

Molchalin
Now back from a walk.

Famusov
Friend, is it possible for a walk?
Should I choose a nook further away?
And you, madam, almost jumped out of bed,
With a man! with the young one! - Something to do for a girl!
He reads tall tales all night,
And here are the fruits of these books!
And all the Kuznetsky Bridge, and the eternal French,
From there fashion comes to us, both authors and muses:
Destroyers of pockets and hearts!
When the creator will deliver us
From their hats! caps! and stilettos! and pins!
And bookstores and biscuit shops!..

Sofia
Excuse me, father, my head is spinning;
I can barely catch my breath from fear;
You deigned to run in so quickly,
I'm confused...

Famusov
Thank you humbly,
I soon ran to them!
I'm in the way! I scared!
I, Sofya Pavlovna, am upset all day long
There is no rest, I'm rushing around like crazy.
According to the position, the service is a hassle,
One pesters, another, everyone cares about me!
But was I expecting new troubles? to be deceived...

Sofia
(through tears)
By whom, father?

Famusov
They will reproach me
That it’s no use I always scold.
Don't cry, I mean it:
Didn't they care about you?
About education! from the cradle!
Mother died: I knew how to hire
Madame Rosier is a second mother.
I put the old gold woman under your supervision:
She was smart, had a quiet disposition, and rarely had rules.
One thing does not serve her well:
For an extra five hundred rubles a year
She allowed herself to be lured by others.
Yes, the power is not in madame.
No other sample is needed
When your father's example is in your eyes.
Look at me: I don’t boast about my build,
However, he was vigorous and fresh, and lived to see his gray hairs;
Free, widows, I am my own master...
Known for his monastic behavior!..

Lisa
I dare, sir...

Famusov
Be silent!
Terrible century! Don't know what to start!
Everyone was smart beyond their years.
And most of all, daughters, and good-natured people themselves,
These languages ​​were given to us!
We take tramps, both into the house and with tickets,
To teach our daughters everything, everything -
And dancing! and singing! and tenderness! and sigh!
It’s as if we are preparing them as wives for buffoons.
What are you, visitor? what are you here for, sir?
He warmed up the rootless one and brought him into my family,
He gave the rank of assessor and took him on as secretary;
Transferred to Moscow through my assistance;
And if it weren’t for me, you would be smoking in Tver.

Sofia
I can’t explain your anger in any way.
He lives in the house here, what a great misfortune!
I walked into the room and ended up in another.

Famusov
Did you get in or did you want to get in?
Why are you together? It can't happen by accident.

Sofia
Here's the whole case:
How long ago you and Lisa were here,
Your voice scared me extremely,
And I rushed here as fast as I could...

Famusov
Perhaps all the fuss will fall on me.
At the wrong time my voice alarmed them!

Sofia
In a vague dream, a trifle disturbs.
Tell you a dream: you will understand then.

Famusov
What's the story?

Sofia
Should I tell you?

Famusov
Well, yes.
(Sits down.)

Sofia
Let me... see... first
Flowery meadow; and I was looking
Grass
Some, I don’t remember in reality.
Suddenly a nice person, one of those we
We'll see - it's like we've known each other forever,
He appeared here with me; and insinuating and smart,
But timid... You know, who is born in poverty...

Famusov
Oh! Mother, don’t finish the blow!
Anyone who is poor is not a match for you.

Sofia
Then everything disappeared: the meadows and the skies. -
We are in a dark room. To complete the miracle
The floor has opened - and you are out of there
Pale as death, and hair on end!
Then the doors opened with thunder
Some are not people or animals
We were separated - and they tortured the one sitting with me.
It’s like he’s dearer to me than all the treasures,
I want to go to him - you bring with you:
We are accompanied by groans, roars, laughter, and whistles of monsters!
He shouts after him!..
Awoke. - Someone says -
Your voice was; What, I think, is it so early?
I run here and find you both.

Famusov
Yes, it’s a bad dream; I'll see.
Everything is there, if there is no deception:
And devils, and love, and fears, and flowers.
Well, my sir, what about you?

Famusov
It's funny.
They were given my voice, and how well
He is heard by everyone, and he calls everyone until dawn!
He was in a hurry to hear my voice, why? - speak.

Molchalin
With papers, sir.

Famusov
Yes! they were missing.
Have mercy that this suddenly fell
Diligence in writing!
(Rises.)
Well, Sonyushka, I will give you peace:
Some dreams are strange, but in reality they are stranger;
You were looking for some herbs,
I came across a friend quickly;
Get rid of the nonsense from your head;
Where there are miracles, there is little stock. -
Go, lie down, go to sleep again.
(Molchalin.)
Let's go sort out the papers.

Molchalin
I was just carrying them for the report,
What cannot be used without certificates, without others,
There are contradictions, and many things are not useful.

Famusov
I'm afraid, sir, I'm mortally afraid of one,
So that a multitude of them do not accumulate;
If you had given it free rein, it would have settled;
And for me, what matters and what doesn’t matter,
My custom is this:
Signed, off your shoulders.

(He leaves with Molchalin and lets him through at the door.)

Phenomenon 5

Sofia, Lisa.

Lisa
Well, here's the holiday! Well, here's some fun for you!
However, no, it’s no laughing matter now;
The eyes are dark and the soul is frozen;
Sin is not a problem, rumor is not good.

Sofia
What do I hear? Whoever wants to, judges it that way,
Yes, father will force you to think:
Grouchy, restless, quick,
This has always been the case, but from now on...
You can judge...

Lisa
I’m not judging by stories;
He will ban you; - good is still with me;
Otherwise, God have mercy, at once
Me, Molchalin and everyone out of the yard.

Sofia
Just think how capricious happiness is!
It can be worse, you can get away with it;
When sad nothingness comes to mind,
We lost ourselves in music, and time passed so smoothly;
Fate seemed to be protecting us;
No worries, no doubts...
And grief awaits around the corner.

Lisa
That's it, sir, my stupid judgment
You never regret:
But here's the problem.
What better prophet do you need?
I kept repeating: there will be no good in love
Not forever and ever.
Like all Moscow people, your father is like this:
He would like a son-in-law with stars and ranks,
And under the stars, not everyone is rich, between us;
Well, of course, then
And money to live on, so he could give balls;
Here, for example, is Colonel Skalozub:
And a golden bag, and aims to become a general.

Sofia
How cute! and it's fun for me to fear
Listen about the frunt and rows;
He never uttered a smart word, -
I don’t care what goes into the water.

Lisa
Yes, sir, so to speak, he is talkative, but not very cunning;
But be a military man, be a civilian,
Who is so sensitive, and cheerful, and sharp,
Like Alexander Andreich Chatsky!
Not to confuse you;
It's been a long time, can't turn it back
And I remember...

Sofia
What do you remember? He's nice
He knows how to make everyone laugh;
He chats, jokes, it’s funny to me;
You can share laughter with everyone.

Lisa
But only? as if? - Shed tears,
I remember, poor thing, how he parted with you. -
“Why, sir, are you crying? live laughing..."
And he responded: “No wonder, Lisa, I’m crying:
Who knows what I will find when I return?
And how much I might lose!”
The poor thing seemed to know that in three years...

Sofia
Listen, don’t take unnecessary liberties.
I was very windy, perhaps I acted
And I know, and I’m guilty; but where did it change?
To whom? so that they could reproach with infidelity.
Yes, it’s true that we were brought up and grew up with Chatsky;
The habit of being together every day inseparably
She bound us together with childhood friendship; but after
He moved out, he seemed bored with us,
And he rarely visited our house;
Then he pretended to be in love again,
Demanding and distressed!!.
Sharp, smart, eloquent,
I'm especially happy with friends,
He thought highly of himself...
The desire to wander attacked him,
Oh! if someone loves someone,
Why search for the mind and travel so far?

Lisa
Where is it running? in what areas?
They say he was treated in sour waters,
Not from illness, tea, from boredom - more freely.

Sofia
And, of course, he’s happy where the people are funnier.
The one I love is not like this:
Molchalin is ready to forget himself for others,
The enemy of insolence is always shy, timid,
Someone you can spend the whole night with like that!
We are sitting, and the yard has long since turned white,
What do you think? what are you doing?

Lisa
God knows
Madam, is this my business?

Sofia
He will take your hand and press it to your heart,
He will sigh from the depths of his soul,
Not a free word, and so the whole night passes,
Hand in hand, and doesn’t take his eyes off me. -
Laugh! is it possible! what reason did you give
Do I make you laugh like this?

Lisa
Me, sir?.. your aunt has now come to mind,
How a young Frenchman ran away from her house,
Darling! wanted to bury
Out of frustration, I couldn’t:
I forgot to dye my hair
And three days later she turned gray.
(Continues to laugh.)

Sofia
(with sadness)
That's how they'll talk about me later.

Lisa
Forgive me, really, as God is holy,
I wanted this stupid laugh
Helped to cheer you up a bit.

Sofia
I wish I could bring you and my aunt together,
To count everyone you know.

Chatsky
And auntie? all girl, Minerva?
All the maid of honor of Catherine the First?
Is the house full of pupils and mosquitoes?
Oh! Let's move on to education.
That now, just as in ancient times,
The regiments are busy recruiting teachers,
More in number, cheaper in price?
It’s not that they are far off in science;
In Russia, under a great fine,
We are told to recognize everyone
Historian and geographer!
Our mentor, remember his cap, robe,
Index finger, all signs of learning
How our timid minds were disturbed,
As we have been accustomed to believe since early times,
That without the Germans we have no salvation! -
And Guillaume, the Frenchman, blown by the wind?
Is he not married yet?

Sofia
On whom?

Chatsky
At least on some princess,
Pulcheria Andrevna, for example?

Sofia
Dancemaster! is it possible!

Chatsky
Well? he is a gentleman.
We will be required to be with property and in rank,
And Guillaume!.. - What’s the tone here these days?
At congresses, at large ones, at parish festivals?
A confusion of languages ​​still prevails:
French with Nizhny Novgorod?

Sofia
A mixture of languages?

Chatsky
Yes, two, you can’t live without it.

Lisa
But it’s tricky to tailor one of them like yours.

Chatsky
At least not inflated.
Here's the news! - I'm taking advantage of the moment,
Enlivened by meeting you,
And talkative; aren't there times?
That I am more stupid than Molchalin? Where is he, by the way?
Haven't you broken the silence of the press yet?
There used to be songs where there were new notebooks
He sees and pesters: please write it off.
However, he will reach the known degrees,
After all, nowadays they love dumb.

Sofia
(to the side)
Not a man, a snake!
(Loud and forced.)
I want to ask you:
Has it ever happened that you laughed? or sad?
A mistake? did they say good things about anyone?
At least not now, but in childhood, maybe.

Chatsky
When is everything so soft? both tender and immature?
Why so long ago? Here's a good deed for you:
The calls are just ringing
And day and night across the snowy desert,
I’m rushing to you at breakneck speed.
And how do I find you? in some strict rank!
I can endure the cold for half an hour!
The face of the most holy praying mantis!..
And yet I love you without memory. -
(A minute's silence.)
Listen, are my words really all caustic words?
And tend to harm someone?
But if so: the mind and heart are not in harmony.
I'm eccentric to another miracle
Once I laugh, then I forget:
Tell me to go into the fire: I’ll go as if for dinner.

Sofia
Yes, okay - will you burn, if not?

Phenomenon 8

Sofia, Lisa, Chatsky, Famusov.

Famusov
Here's another one!

Sofia
Ah, father, sleep in hand.
(Leaves.)

Phenomenon 9

Famusov, Chatsky(looks at the door through which Sofia went out).

Famusov
Well, you threw away the thing!
I haven’t written two words for three years!
And it suddenly burst out, as if from the clouds.
(They hug.)
Great, friend, great, brother, great.
Tell me, tea, you're ready
A meeting of important news?
Sit down, announce it quickly.
(Sit down)

Chatsky
(absently)
How Sofya Pavlovna has become prettier for you!

Famusov
You young people have nothing else to do,
How to notice girlish beauty:
She said something casually, and you,
I am filled with hopes, enchanted.

Chatsky
Oh! no, I’m not spoiled enough by hopes.

Famusov
“A dream in my hand,” she deigned to whisper to me.
So you thought...

Chatsky
I? - Not at all.

Famusov
Who was she dreaming about? what's happened?

Chatsky
I'm not a dream teller.

Famusov
Don't believe her, everything is empty.

Chatsky
I believe my own eyes;
I haven’t met you in ages, I’ll give you a subscription.
So that it would be at least a little like her!

Famusov
He's all his own. Yes, tell me in detail,
Where were you? wandered for so many years!
Where from now?

Chatsky
Now who cares?
I wanted to travel around the whole world,
And he didn’t travel a hundredth part.
(Gets up hastily.)
Sorry; I was in a hurry to see you soon,
Didn't go home. Farewell! In one hour
When I show up, I won’t forget the slightest detail;
You first, then you tell it everywhere.
(In the door.)
How good!

Chatsky
No, the world is not like that these days.

Famusov
A dangerous person!

Chatsky
Everyone breathes more freely
And he’s in no hurry to fit into the regiment of jesters.

Famusov
What does he say? and speaks as he writes!

Chatsky
The patrons yawn at the ceiling,
Show up to be quiet, shuffle around, have lunch,
Bring up a chair and pick up the scarf.

Famusov
He wants to preach freedom!

Chatsky
Who travels, who lives in the village...

Famusov
Yes, he does not recognize the authorities!

Chatsky
Who serves the cause and not the individuals...

Famusov
I would strictly forbid these gentlemen
Drive up to the capitals for the shot.

Chatsky
I will finally give you some rest...

Famusov
I have no patience, it’s annoying.

Chatsky
I scolded your age mercilessly,
I leave it to you to:
Throw away the part
At least in addition to our times;
So be it, I won’t cry.

Famusov
And I don’t want to know you, I don’t tolerate debauchery.

Chatsky
I finished my sentence.

Famusov
Okay, I covered my ears.

Chatsky
For what? I won't insult them.

Famusov
(patter)
Here they are scouring the world, beating their thumbs,
They come back, expect order from them.

Chatsky
I stopped...

Famusov
Perhaps have mercy.

Chatsky
It is not my desire to continue the debate.

Famusov
At least let your soul go to repentance!

Phenomenon 3

Servant
(included)
Colonel Skalozub.

Famusov
(doesn't see or hear anything)
You're going to get screwed.
On trial, they'll give you something to drink.

Chatsky
Someone came to your house.

Famusov
I'm not listening, I'm on trial!

Chatsky
A man is coming to you with a report.

Famusov
I'm not listening, I'm on trial! on trial!

Chatsky
Turn around, your name is calling.

Famusov
(turns around)
A? riot? Well, I’m still waiting for sodom.

Servant
Colonel Skalozub. Would you like to accept it?

Famusov
(rises)
Donkeys! should I tell you a hundred times?
Receive him, call him, ask him, tell him he’s home,
I'm very glad. Let's go, hurry up.
(The servant leaves.)
Please, sir, beware in front of him:
Famous person, respectable,
And he picked up signs of darkness;
Beyond his years and enviable rank,
Not today, tomorrow General.
Please act modestly in front of him.
Eh! Alexander Andreich, it’s bad, brother!
He often comes to see me;
You know, I’m glad for everyone;
In Moscow they will always add three times:
It’s like he’s marrying Sonyushka. Empty!
He, perhaps, would be glad in his soul,
Yes, I don’t see the need myself, I’m big
The daughter will not be given away tomorrow or today;
After all, Sophia is young. But by the way, the power of God.
Please, don’t argue at random in front of him,
And give up these false ideas.
However, he is not there! whatever the reason...
A! know, he came to me in the other half.

Famusov
Dear man, and look - so grab,
Your cousin is a wonderful man.

Skalozub
But I firmly picked up some new rules.
The rank followed him: he suddenly left the service,
In the village I began to read books.

Skalozub
I am quite happy in my comrades,
Vacancies are currently open:
Then the elders will turn off others,
The others, you see, have been killed.

Famusov
Yes, whatever the Lord searches for, he will exalt!

Skalozub
It happens that mine is luckier.
In our fifteenth division, not far away.
At least say something about our brigadier general.

Famusov
For mercy's sake, what are you missing?

Skalozub
I'm not complaining, they didn't bypass me,
However, they kept the regiment under control for two years.

Famusov
Are you in pursuit of the regiment?
But, of course, in what else
You have a long way to go.

Skalozub
No, sir, there are people older than me in terms of body size,
I have been serving since eight hundred and nine;
Yes, to get ranks, there are many channels;
I judge them as a true philosopher:
I just wish I could become a general.

Famusov
And judge well, God bless you
And the rank of general; and there
Why put it off any longer?
Are we talking about the general's wife?

Skalozub
Marry? I don't mind at all.

Famusov
Well? who has a sister, niece, daughter;
In Moscow, there is no translation for brides;
What? breed year after year;
And, father, admit that you barely
Where can you find a capital like Moscow?

Skalozub
Huge distances.

Famusov
Taste, father, excellent manner;
There are laws for everything:
For example, we have been doing this since ancient times,
What honor is there between father and son;
Be bad, but if you get enough
Two thousand ancestral souls, -
He's the groom.
The other one, at least be quicker, puffed up with all sorts of arrogance,
Let yourself be known as a wise man,
But they won’t include you in the family. Don't look at us.
After all, only here they also value the nobility.
Is this the same thing? take some bread and salt:
Whoever wants to come to us is welcome;
The door is open for the invited and the uninvited,
Especially from foreign ones;
Whether an honest person or not,
It’s all the same for us, dinner is ready for everyone.
Take you from head to toe,
All Moscow ones have a special imprint.
Please take a look at our youth,
For young men - sons and grandchildren;
We scold them, but if you figure it out,
At the age of fifteen, teachers will be taught!
What about our old people? - How enthusiasm will take them,
They will condemn deeds, that the word is a sentence, -
After all, the pillars don’t bother anyone;
And sometimes they talk about the government like this,
What if someone overheard them... trouble!
It’s not that new things were introduced - never,
God save us! No. And they will find fault
To this, to that, and more often to nothing,
They will argue, make some noise, and... disperse.
Retired direct chancellors - wisely!
I'll tell you, it's not time to know,
But the matter cannot be accomplished without them. -
What about the ladies? - anyone, try to master it;
Judges of everything, everywhere, there are no judges above them;
Behind the cards, when they rise up in a general revolt,
God grant me patience, because I myself was married.
Order the command in front of the front!
Be present, send them to the Senate!
Irina Vlasevna! Lukerya Aleksevna!
Tatyana Yuryevna! Pulcheria Andrevna!
And whoever saw the daughters, hang your head...
His Majesty the King of Prussia was here;
He marveled not at the Moscow girls,
Their good character, not their faces;
And indeed, is it possible to be more educated!
They know how to dress themselves up
Taffeta, marigold and haze,
They won’t say a word in simplicity, everything is done with a grimace;
French romances are sung to you
And the top ones bring out notes,
They flock to military people,
But because they are patriots.
I will say emphatically: barely
Another capital will be found, like Moscow.

Skalozub
In my opinion,
The fire contributed a lot to her decoration.

Famusov
Don’t tell us, you never know how much they’re screaming!
Since then, roads, sidewalks,
Home and everything in a new way.

Chatsky
The houses are new, but the prejudices are old.
Rejoice, they won’t destroy you
Neither their years, nor fashion, nor fires.

Famusov
(To Chatsky)
Hey, tie a knot for memory;
I asked you to be silent, it was not a great service.
(To Skalozub.)
Allow me, father. Here you go - Chatsky, my friend,
Andrei Ilyich's late son:
It does not serve, that is, he does not find any benefit in it,
But if you wanted to, it would be businesslike.
It's a pity, it's a pity, he's small in the head,
And he writes and translates well.
One cannot help but regret that with such a mind...

Chatsky
Is it possible to regret someone else?
And your praise annoys me.

Famusov
I’m not the only one, everyone is also condemning.

Chatsky
Who are the judges? - For the antiquity of years
Their enmity towards a free life is irreconcilable,
Judgments are drawn from forgotten newspapers
The times of the Ochakovskys and the conquest of Crimea;
Always ready to fight,
Everyone sings the same song,
Without noticing about yourself:
The older it is, the worse it is.
Where? show us, fathers of the fatherland,
Which ones should we take as models?
Aren't these the ones who are rich in robbery?
They found protection from court in friends, in kinship,
Magnificent building chambers,
Where they spill out in feasts and extravagance,
And where foreign clients will not be resurrected
The meanest features of the past life.
And who in Moscow didn’t have their mouths covered?
Lunches, dinners and dances?
Aren't you the one to whom I was born from the shrouds?
For some incomprehensible plans,
Did you take the children to bow?
That Nestor of noble scoundrels,
Surrounded by a crowd of servants;
Zealous, they are in the hours of wine and fights
Both honor and life saved him more than once: suddenly
He traded three greyhounds for them!!!
Or that one over there, which is for tricks
He drove to the serf ballet on many wagons
From mothers and fathers of rejected children?!
I myself am immersed in mind in Zephyrs and Cupids,
Made all of Moscow marvel at their beauty!
But the debtors did not agree to a deferment:
Cupids and Zephyrs all
Sold out individually!!!
These are the ones who lived to see their gray hairs!
This is who we should respect in the wilderness!
Here are our strict connoisseurs and judges!
Now let one of us
Among the young people there will be an enemy of quest,
Without demanding either places or promotion,
He will focus his mind on science, hungry for knowledge;
Or God himself will stir up heat in his soul
To the creative, high and beautiful arts, -
They immediately: robbery! fire!
And he will be known to them as a dreamer! dangerous!! -
Uniform! one uniform! he is in their former life
Once covered, embroidered and beautiful,
Their weakness, poverty of reason;
And we follow them on a happy journey!
And in wives and daughters there is the same passion for the uniform!
How long ago did I renounce tenderness towards him?!
Now I can’t fall into this childishness;
But then who wouldn’t follow everyone?
When from the guard, others from the court
We came here for a while -
The women shouted: hurray!
And they threw caps into the air!

Famusov
(About myself)
He'll get me into trouble.
(Loud.)
Sergey Sergeich, I'll go
And I'll be waiting for you in the office.

Sofia
No, stay as you wish.

Phenomenon 9

Sofia, Lisa, Chatsky, Skalozub, Molchalin(with a tied hand).

Skalozub
Risen and safe, hand
Slightly bruised
And, however, it’s all a false alarm.

Molchalin
I scared you, forgive me for God's sake.

Skalozub
Well! I didn't know what would come of it
Irritation for you. They ran in headlong. -
We shuddered! -You fainted
So what? - all the fear out of nothing.

Sofia
(without looking at anyone)
Oh! I really see, out of nowhere,
And now I’m still trembling.

Chatsky
(About myself)
Not a word with Molchalin!

Sofia
However, I will say about myself,
Which is not cowardly. It happens,
The carriage will fall, they will pick it up: I will again
Ready to gallop again;
But every little thing in others scares me,
Although there is no great misfortune from
Even if he’s a stranger to me, I don’t care.

Chatsky
(About myself)
Asks him for forgiveness
What a time I regretted someone!

Skalozub
Let me tell you the news:
There is some kind of Princess Lasova here,
Rider, widow, but there are no examples,
So that many gentlemen travel with her.
The other day I was completely bruised, -
Joke did not support it; he apparently thought it was flies. -
And without that she is, as you can hear, clumsy,
Now the rib is missing
So she is looking for a husband for support.

Sofia
Ah, Alexander Andreich, here -
You appear to be quite generous:
It’s unfortunate for your neighbor that you are so partial.

Chatsky
Yes, sir, I just revealed this,
With my most diligent efforts,
And by sprinkling and rubbing,
I don’t know for whom, but I resurrected you.

(Takes his hat and leaves.)

Phenomenon 10

The same, except Chatsky.

Sofia
Will you be visiting us in the evening?

Skalozub
How early?

Sofia
Home friends will arrive early,
Dance to the piano -
We are in mourning, so we can’t give a ball like that.

Skalozub
I will appear, but I promised to go to the priest,
I take my leave.

Sofia
Farewell.

Skalozub
(shakes Molchalin’s hand)
Your servant.

Natalya Dmitrievna
Platon Mikhailych is in very poor health.

Chatsky
My health is weak! How long ago?

Natalya Dmitrievna
All rumatism and headaches.

Chatsky
More movement. To the village, to a warm region.
Be on horseback more often. The village is paradise in summer.

Natalya Dmitrievna
Platon Mikhailych loves the city,
Moscow; Why will he waste his days in the wilderness!

Chatsky
Moscow and the city... You're an eccentric!
Do you remember before?

Platon Mikhailovich
Yes, brother, it’s not like that anymore...

Natalya Dmitrievna
Oh! my friend!
It's so fresh here that there's no urine,
You opened up all over and unbuttoned your vest.

Platon Mikhailovich
Now, brother, I'm not the same...

Natalya Dmitrievna
Listen just once
My dear, fasten your buttons.

Platon Mikhailovich
(coolly)
Now.

Natalya Dmitrievna
Yes, move away from the doors,
The wind is blowing through there from behind!

Platon Mikhailovich
Now, brother, I'm not the same...

Natalya Dmitrievna
My angel, for God's sake
Move further away from the door.

Platon Mikhailovich
(eyes to the sky)
Oh! mother!

Chatsky
Well, God judge you;
You certainly became not the same in a short time;
Wasn't it last year, at the end,
Did I know you in the regiment? only morning: foot in the stirrup
And you rush around on a greyhound stallion;
The autumn wind blows, either from the front or from the rear.

Platon Mikhailovich
(with a sigh)
Eh! brother! It was a nice life back then.

Phenomenon 7

The same, Prince Tugoukhovsky And Princess with six daughters.

Natalya Dmitrievna
(in a small voice)
Prince Pyotr Ilyich, princess, my God!
Princess Zizi! Mimi!
(Loud kisses, then sit down and look each other from head to toe.)

1st Princess
What a wonderful style!

2nd princess
What folds!

1st Princess
Trimmed with fringe.

Natalya Dmitrievna
No, if only you could see it, my vest is made of satin!

3rd princess
What a charm my cousin gave me!

4th princess
Oh! yes, barezhevoy!

5th princess
Oh! lovely!

6th princess
Oh! how sweet!

Princess
Ss! -Who is that in the corner, we went up and bowed?

Natalya Dmitrievna
Newcomer, Chatsky.

Princess
Retired?

Natalya Dmitrievna
Yes, I was traveling and recently returned.

Princess
And ho-lo-wait?

Natalya Dmitrievna
Yes, not married.

Princess
Prince, prince, come here. - More alive.

Prince
(turns the ear tube towards her)
Oh-hmm!

Princess
Come to us for the evening, Thursday, ask quickly
Natalya Dmitrevna's friend: there he is!

Prince
E-hmm!
(He leaves, hangs around Chatsky and coughs)

Princess
That's it kids:
They have a ball, and father drags himself to bow;
Dancers have become terribly rare!..
Is he a chamberlain cadet?

Natalya Dmitrievna
No.

Princess
Bo-gat?

Natalya Dmitrievna
ABOUT! No!

Princess
(loud as can be)
Prince, prince! Back!

Phenomenon 8

The same And Countesses Khryumina: grandmother and granddaughter.

Countess-granddaughter
Oh! grandmaman! Well, who arrives so early!
We are first!
(Disappears into a side room.)

Princess
This honors us!
Here is the first one, and he considers us to be no one!
The girls have been evil for a whole century, God will forgive her.

Countess-granddaughter
(returning, points a double lorgnette at Chatsky)
Monsieur Chatsky! Are you in Moscow! How were they, were they all like that?

Chatsky
Why should I change?

Countess-granddaughter
Are you back single?

Chatsky
Who should I marry?

Countess-granddaughter
In foreign lands on whom?
ABOUT! our darkness without distant references
They get married there, and we are given kinship
With the mistresses of fashion shops.

Chatsky
Unhappy ones! Should there be no reproaches?
From wannabe milliners?
For daring to choose
Original lists?

Phenomenon 9

The same and many other guests. By the way, Zagoretsky. Men appear, shuffle, move aside, wander from room to room, etc. Sofia comes out of himself, everything is towards her.

Countess-granddaughter
Eh! bon soir! vous voila! Jamais trop diligente,
Vous nous donnez toujours le plaisir de l’attente.

Zagoretsky
(Sofya)
Do you have a ticket for tomorrow's performance?

Sofia
No.

Zagoretsky
Let me hand it to you, it would be in vain for anyone to take it
Another one to serve you, but
Wherever I threw myself!
Everything is taken to the office,
To the director - he is my friend -
With dawn at six o'clock, and by the way!
Since the evening no one could get it;
Besides this and that, I knocked everyone off their feet;
And this one finally kidnapped him by force
One, the old man is frail,
A friend of mine, a known homebody;
Let him sit at home in peace.

Sofia
Thank you for the ticket
And double the effort.
(Some more appear, meanwhile Zagoretsky goes to the men.)

Zagoretsky
Platon Mikhailych...

Platon Mikhailovich
Away!
Go to women, lie to them, and fool them;
I'll tell you the truth about you,
Which is worse than any lie. Here, brother,
(To Chatsky)
I recommend!
What are these people called politely?
Tenderer? - he is a secular man,
Outspoken swindler, rogue:
Anton Antonich Zagoretsky.
With it, beware: endure too much,
And don’t play cards: he’ll sell you.

Zagoretsky
Original! grumpy, but without the slightest malice.

Chatsky
And it would be funny for you to be offended;
Besides honesty, there are many joys:
They scold you here and thank you there.

Platon Mikhailovich
Oh, no, brother, they scold us
Everywhere, and everywhere they accept.

(Zagoretsky interferes with the crowd.)

Phenomenon 10

The same And Khlestova.

Khlestova
Is it easy at sixty-five years old?
Should I drag myself to you, niece?.. - Torment!
I drove from Pokrovka for an hour, I had no power;
Night is the end of the world!
Out of boredom I took it with me
A little black girl and a dog;
Tell them to feed, already, my friend;
A handout came from dinner. -
Princess, hello!
(Sela.)
Well, Sofyushka, my friend,
What kind of arapka do I have for services:
Curly! hump of the shoulder blade!
Angry! It's all cat tricks!
Yes, how black! Yes, how scary!
After all, God created such a tribe!
The devil is real; she's in her maiden clothes;
Should I call?

Sofia
No, sir, at another time.

Khlestova
Imagine: they are being paraded around like animals...
I heard there... there is a Turkish city...
Do you know who saved it for me?
Anton Antonich Zagoretsky.
(Zagoretsky moves forward.)
He is a liar, a gambler, a thief.
(Zagoretsky disappears.)
I left him and locked the doors;
Yes, the master will serve: me and sister Praskovya
I got two little blacks at the fair;
He bought tea, he says, and cheated at cards;
And a gift for me, God bless him!

Chatsky
(with laughter to Platon Mikhailovich)
You won't get well from such praises,
And Zagoretsky himself could not stand it and disappeared.

Khlestova
Who is this funny guy? From what rank?

Sofia
This one? Chatsky.

Khlestova
Well? what did you find funny?
What is he happy about? What kind of laughter is there?
It's a sin to laugh at old age.
I remember you often danced with him as children,
I pulled his ears, but not enough.

Phenomenon 11

The same And Famusov.

Famusov
(loudly)
We are waiting for Prince Pyotr Ilyich,
And the prince is already here! And I hid there, in the portrait room.
Where is Skalozub Sergei Sergeich? A?
No, it seems not. - He is a remarkable person -
Sergei Sergeich Skalozub.

Khlestova
My creator! deafened, louder than any trumpet.

Phenomenon 12

The same and Skalozub, Then Molchalin.

Famusov
Sergey Sergeich, we are late;
And we waited, waited, waited for you.
(Leads to Khlestova.)
My long-time sister-in-law
It's been said about you.

Khlestova
(sitting)
You were here before... in the regiment... in that...
in grenadier?

Skalozub
(bass)
In His Highness, you want to say,
Novo-Zemlyansky Musketeers.

Khlestova
I’m not an expert at distinguishing between shelves.

Skalozub
But there are differences in form:
The uniforms have piping, shoulder straps, and buttonholes.

Famusov
Let's go, father, I'll make you laugh there;
We have a funny whist. Behind us, prince! I beg.
(He takes him and the prince with him.)

Khlestova
(Sofia)
Wow! I definitely got rid of the noose;
After all, your father is crazy:
He was given three fathoms of daring, -
He introduces us without asking if we are pleased or not?

Molchalin
(hands her a card)
I made up your party: Monsieur Kok,
Foma Fomich and me.

Khlestova
Thank you my friend.
(Rises.)

Molchalin
Your Pomeranian is a lovely Pomeranian, no bigger than a thimble;
I stroked it all: like silk fur!

Khlestova
Thank you my dear.

(She leaves, followed by Molchalin and many others.)

Phenomenon 13

Chatsky, Sofia and several strangers, which continue to diverge.

Chatsky
Well! cleared the cloud...

Sofia
Is it possible not to continue?

Chatsky
Why did I scare you?
Because he softened the angry guest,
I wanted to praise.

Sofia
And they would end up angry.

Chatsky
Shall I tell you what I thought? Here:
All old women are angry people;
It’s not bad if they have a famous servant
It was like a thunderbolt here.
Molchalin! - Who else will settle everything so peacefully!
There he will stroke the pug in time,
It’s time to rub the card in,
Zagoretsky will not die in it!
You have already calculated his properties for me,
But have many forgotten? - Yes?

Princess
No, the institute is in St. Petersburg
Pe-da-go-gic, that’s what their name seems to be:
There they practice schisms and unbelief,
Professors!! - our relatives studied with them,
And he left! at least now to the pharmacy, to become an apprentice.
He runs away from women, and even from me!
Chinov doesn’t want to know! He's a chemist, he's a botanist,
Prince Fedor, my nephew.

Skalozub
I will make you happy: universal rumor,
That there is a project about lyceums, schools, gymnasiums;
There they will only teach in our own way: one, two;
And the books will be saved like this: for big occasions.

Famusov
Sergey Sergeich, no! Once evil is stopped:
They would take all the books and burn them.

Zagoretsky
(with meekness)
No, sir, books are different. What if, between us,
I was appointed censor
I would lean heavily on fables; Oh! fables are my death!
Eternal mockery of lions! over the eagles!
Whatever you say:
Although they are animals, they are still kings.

Khlestova
My fathers, whoever is upset in his mind,
It doesn’t matter whether it’s from books or from drinking;
And I feel sorry for Chatsky.
In a Christian way; he deserves pity
He was a sharp man, he had about three hundred souls.

Famusov
Four.

Khlestova
Three, sir.

Famusov
Four hundred.

Khlestova
No! three hundred.

Famusov
On my calendar...

Khlestova
Calendars all lie.

Famusov
Just four hundred, oh! argue vociferous!

Khlestova
No! three hundred! - I don’t know other people’s estates!

Famusov
Four hundred, please understand.

Khlestova
No! three hundred, three hundred, three hundred.

Phenomenon 22

The same everything and Chatsky.

Natalya Dmitrievna
Here he is.

Countess-granddaughter
Shh!

All
Shh!
(They back away from him in the opposite direction.)

Khlestova
Well, from crazy eyes
If he starts to fight, he will demand to be cut up!

Famusov
Oh my God! have mercy on us sinners!
(Carefully.)
Dearest! You're out of your element.
I need sleep from the road. Give me a pulse. You are unwell.

Chatsky
Yes, there is no urine: a million torments
Breasts from friendly vices,
Feet from shuffling, ears from exclamations,
And worse than my head from all sorts of trifles.
(Approaches Sophia.)
My soul here is somehow compressed by grief,
And in the crowd I am lost, not myself.
No! I'm dissatisfied with Moscow.

Khlestova
Moscow, you see, is to blame.

Sofia
(To Chatsky)
Tell me, what makes you so angry?

Chatsky
In that room there is an insignificant meeting:
The Frenchman from Bordeaux, pushing his chest,
Gathered around him a kind of evening
And he told how he was preparing for the journey
To Russia, to the barbarians, with fear and tears;
I arrived and found that there was no end to the caresses;
Not a Russian sound, not a Russian face
I didn’t meet him: as if in the fatherland, with friends;
Its own province. You'll see in the evening
He feels like a little king here;
The ladies have the same sense, the same outfits...
He is happy, but we are not happy.
Silenced, and here on all sides
Longing, and groaning, and groaning.
Oh! France! There is no better region in the world! -
The two princesses, sisters, decided, repeating
A lesson that was taught to them from childhood.
Where to go from the princesses!
I sent wishes away
Humble, yet out loud,
So that the unclean Lord destroys this spirit
Empty, slavish, blind imitation;
So that he would plant a spark in someone with a soul,
Who could, by word and example
Hold us like a strong rein,
From the pitiful nausea on the stranger's side.
Let them call me an Old Believer,
But our North is a hundred times worse for me
Since I gave everything in exchange for a new way -
And morals, and language, and holy antiquity,
And stately clothes for another
According to the jester's example:
The tail is in the back, there is some kind of wonderful notch in the front,
Despite reason, in spite of the elements;
Movements are connected, and not beautiful to the face;
Funny, shaved, gray chins!
Like dresses, hair, and minds are short!..
Oh! if we are born to adopt everything,
At least we could borrow some from the Chinese
Their ignorance of foreigners is wise.
Will we ever be resurrected from the alien power of fashion?
So that our smart, cheerful people
Although, based on our language, he didn’t consider us Germans.
“How to put the European in parallel
Something strange about the national one!
Well, how to translate madame and mademoiselle?
Really? madam!!” - someone muttered to me...
Imagine, everyone here
Laughter arose at my expense.
« Madam! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Wonderful!
Madam! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! terrible!!" -
I, angry and cursing life,
He prepared a thunderous answer for them;
But everyone left me. -
Here’s my case, it’s not new;
Moscow and St. Petersburg - in all of Russia,
That a man from the city of Bordeaux,
As soon as he opened his mouth, he was happy
Instill sympathy in all princesses;
And in St. Petersburg and Moscow,
Who is the enemy of written out faces, frills, curly words,
In whose head, unfortunately,
Five, six there are healthy thoughts
And he will dare to announce them publicly, -
Lo and behold...

(Looks around, everyone is spinning in the waltz with the greatest zeal. The old people have scattered to the card tables.)

Zagoretsky
By the way, here is Prince Pyotr Ilyich,
The princess and with the princesses.

Repetilov
Game.

Phenomenon 7

Repetilov, Zagoretsky, Prince and Princess with six daughters; a little later Khlestova descends from the main staircase, Molchalin leads her by the hand. Lackeys in the hustle and bustle.

Zagoretsky
Princesses, please tell me your opinion,
Is Chatsky crazy or not?

1st Princess
What doubt is there in this?

2nd princess
The whole world knows about this.

3rd princess
Dryansky, Khvorov, Varlyansky, Skachkov.

4th princess
Oh! keep old ones, who are they new to?

5th princess
Who doubts?

Zagoretsky
Yes, he doesn’t believe it...

6th princess
(Repetilov)
You!

Together
Monsieur Repetilov! You! Monsieur Repetilov! what do you!
Yes, like you! Is it possible against everyone!
Yes, why you? shame and laughter.

Repetilov
(covers his ears)
Sorry, I didn't know it was too public.

Princess
It wouldn’t be public yet, it’s dangerous to talk to him,
It's time to lock it up long ago.
Listen, so his little finger
Smarter than everyone, and even Prince Peter!
I think he's just a Jacobin
Your Chatsky!!!.. Let's go. Prince, you could carry
Katish or Zizi, we will sit in the six-seater.

Khlestova
(from the stairs)
Princess, card debt.

Princess
Follow me, mother.

All
(each other)
Farewell.

(The princely family is leaving and Zagoretsky too.)

Phenomenon 8

Repetilov, Khlestova, Molchalin.

Repetilov
King of heaven!
Amfisa Nilovna! Oh! Chatsky! poor! Here!
What a lofty mind we have! and a thousand worries!
Tell me, what in the world are we busy with?

Khlestova
So God judged him; but by the way
They’ll treat you, they’ll cure you, maybe;
And you, my father, are incurable, no matter what.
Deigned to show up on time! -
Molchalin, over there is your closet,
No wires needed; God bless you.
(Molchalin goes to his room.)
Farewell, father; it's time to get mad.

(Leaves.)

Phenomenon 9

Repetilov with your lackey.

Repetilov
Where to go now?
And it’s already approaching dawn.
Go put me in the carriage
Take it somewhere.

(Leaves.)

Phenomenon 10

The last lamp goes out.

Chatsky
(leaves from Swiss)
What is this? did I hear with my ears!
Not laughter, but clearly anger. What miracles?
Through what witchcraft
Everyone repeats the absurdity about me out loud!
And for others it’s like a triumph,
Others seem to have compassion...
ABOUT! if someone penetrated people:
What's worse about them? soul or language?
Whose essay is this?
Fools believed it, they passed it on to others,
The old women instantly sound the alarm -
And here is public opinion!
And here is that homeland... No, on this visit,
I see that I will soon get tired of her.
Does Sophia know? - Of course, they told me
It’s not that she’s doing me any harm
I had fun, and whether it’s true or not
She doesn't care if I'm different,
In all conscience she does not value anyone.
But this fainting spell? unconsciousness from where??
Nervous, spoiled, whimsical, -
A little will excite them, and a little will calm them down, -
I considered it a sign of living passions. - Not a crumb:
Of course, she would also lose her strength,
When would anyone step
On the tail of a dog or cat.

Sofia
(above the stairs on the second floor, with a candle)
Molchalin, is that you?
(Hastily closes the door again.)

Chatsky
She! she herself!
Oh! my head is burning, my whole blood is in excitement!
She has appeared! she's gone! really in a vision?
Am I really going crazy?
I am definitely prepared for the extraordinary;
But it’s not a vision here, the time for the meeting has been agreed upon.
Why should I deceive myself?
Molchalin called, this is his room.

His lackey
(from the porch)
Kare…

Chatsky
Ss!..
(Pushes him out.)
I'll be here and won't sleep a wink,
At least until the morning. If it's hard to drink,
It's better right away
Why hesitate, but slowness will not get rid of troubles.
The door opens.

(Hides behind a column.)

Phenomenon 11

Chatsky hidden, Lisa with a candle.

Lisa
Oh! no urine! I'm timid:
Into the empty hallway! at night! you're afraid of the brownies,
You are also afraid of living people.
A tormenting young lady, God bless her.
And Chatsky is like a thorn in the eye;
See, he seemed to her somewhere here, below.
(Looks around.)
Yes! of course! He wants to wander around the hallway!
He, tea, has long been out of the gate,
I saved my love for tomorrow,
Home and went to bed.
However, it is ordered to push the heart.
(Knocks on Molchalin’s door.)
Listen, sir. If you please, wake up.
The young lady is calling you, the young lady is calling you.
Hurry up so they don't catch you.

Phenomenon 12

Chatsky behind the column Lisa, Molchalin(stretches and yawns). Sofia(sneaks from above).

Lisa
You, sir, are stone, sir, ice.

Molchalin
Oh! Lizanka, are you on your own?

Lisa
From the young lady, sir.

Molchalin
Who would have guessed
What's in these cheeks, in these veins
Love has not yet blushed!
Do you only want to be on the errands?

Lisa
And to you, bride seekers,
Don't bask or yawn;
Handsome and cute, who doesn't finish eating
And he won’t sleep until the wedding.

Molchalin
What wedding? with whom?

Lisa
What about the young lady?

Molchalin
Come on,
There is a lot of hope ahead,
We are wasting time without a wedding.

Lisa
What are you talking about, sir! who are we?
Other things as your husband?

Molchalin
Don't know. And I'm shaking so much,
And at one thought I’m afraid,
What Pavel Afanasyich times
Someday he'll catch us
He will disperse, he will curse!.. So what? should I open my soul?
I don’t see anything in Sofya Pavlovna
Enviable. May God grant her a rich life,
I once loved Chatsky,
He will stop loving me like he did.
My little angel, I would like half
I feel the same for her as I feel for you;
No, no matter how much I tell myself,
I’m getting ready to be gentle, but when I’m dating, I’ll throw a sheet.

Sofia
(to the side)
What baseness!

Chatsky
(behind the column)
Scoundrel!

Lisa
And you are not ashamed?

Molchalin
My father bequeathed to me:
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.

Lisa
Let me tell you, sir, you have great care!

Molchalin
And now I take the form of a lover
To please the daughter of such a man...

Lisa
Who feeds and gives water,
And sometimes he’ll give you a gift?
Let's go, we've talked enough.

Molchalin
Let's go share love with our deplorable theft.
Let me hug you from the fullness of my heart.
(Lisa is not given.)
Why isn't she you!
(He wants to go, Sofia won’t let him.)

Sofia
(almost in a whisper, the whole scene is in an undertone)
Go no further, I've heard a lot,
Horrible man! I'm ashamed of myself, the walls.

Molchalin
How! Sofya Pavlovna...

Sofia
Not a word, for God's sake,
Keep quiet, I’ll decide on anything.

Molchalin
(throws himself on his knees, Sofia pushes him away)
Oh, remember, don’t be angry, look!..

Sofia
I don't remember anything, don't bother me.
Memories! like a sharp knife.

Molchalin
(crawls at her feet)
Have mercy...

Sofia
Don't be mean, stand up
I don't want an answer, I know your answer,
You'll lie...

Molchalin
Do me a favor...

Sofia
No. No. No.

Molchalin
I was joking, and I didn’t say anything except...

Sofia
Leave me alone, I say, now,
I'll scream to wake everyone in the house,
And I will destroy myself and you.
(Molchalin gets up.)
From then on, it was as if I didn’t know you.
Reproaches, complaints, my tears
Don’t you dare expect, you’re not worth it;
But so that the dawn does not find you in the house here,
May I never hear from you again.

Molchalin
As you order.

Sofia
Otherwise I'll tell you
Tell the whole truth to the priest out of frustration.
You know that I don't value myself.
Come on. - Stop, be glad,
What happens when dating me in the silence of the night?
They were more timid in their disposition,
Than even during the day, and in front of people, and in reality,
You have less insolence than crookedness of soul.
I myself am pleased that I found out everything at night,
There are no reproachful witnesses in the eyes,
Just like before, when I fainted,
Chatsky was here...

Chatsky
(throws between them)
He's here, you pretender!

Lisa and Sofia
Oh! Oh!..

(Liza drops the candle in fright; Molchalin disappears into his room.)

Phenomenon 13

The same, except Molchalina.

Chatsky
Rather faint, now it's alright
There is a more important reason why
Here is the solution to the riddle at last!
Here I am donated to!
I don’t know how I curbed my rage!
I looked and saw and didn’t believe it!
And darling, for whom is it forgotten?
And the former friend, and women's fear and shame, -
He hides behind the door, afraid to be held accountable.
Oh! how to comprehend the game of fate?
A persecutor of people with a soul, a scourge! -
Silent people are blissful in the world!

Sofia
(all in tears)
Don't continue, I blame myself all around.
But who would have thought that he could be so insidious!

Lisa
Knock! noise! Oh! My God! the whole house is running here.
Your father will be grateful.

Phenomenon 14

Chatsky, Sofia, Lisa, Famusov, a crowd of servants with candles.

Famusov
Here! Behind me! hurry up!
More candles and lanterns!
Where are the brownies? Bah! All familiar faces!
Daughter, Sofya Pavlovna! Stranger!
Shameless! Where! with whom! Neither give nor take, she
Like her mother, the deceased wife.
It happened that I was with my better half
A little apart - somewhere with a man!
Fear God, how? How did he seduce you?
She called him crazy!
No! Stupidity and blindness have attacked me!
It's all a conspiracy, and there was a conspiracy
He himself and all the guests. Why am I being punished like this!..

Chatsky
(Sofia)
So I still owe you this fiction?

Famusov
Brother, don’t be a trick, I won’t be deceived,
Even if you fight, I won’t believe it.
You, Filka, you are a real blockhead,
He made a lazy grouse into a doorman,
Doesn't know anything, doesn't smell anything.
Where were you? where did you go?
Why didn’t the seney lock it?
How come you didn’t watch it? and how did you not hear?
To work you, to settle you:
They are ready to sell me for a penny.
You, quick-eyed, everything comes from your mischief;
Here it is, Kuznetsky Most, outfits and updates;
There you learned how to make lovers meet,
Wait, I'll correct you:
Go to the hut and go after the birds.
Yes, and you, my friend, I, daughter, will not leave,
Be patient for two more days:
You shouldn’t be in Moscow, you shouldn’t live with people.
Farther from these grips,
To the village, to my aunt, to the wilderness, to Saratov,
There you will grieve,
Sit at the hoop, yawn at the calendar.
And you, sir, I really ask you
You don’t want to go there either directly or along a side road;
And this is your last feature,
What, tea, the door will be locked for everyone:
I will try, I will ring the alarm bell,
I'll cause trouble for everything around the city,
And I will announce to all the people:
I will submit it to the Senate, to the ministers, to the sovereign.

Chatsky
(after some silence)
I won’t come to my senses... it’s my fault,
And I listen, I don’t understand
As if they still want to explain to me,
Confused by thoughts... waiting for something.
(With fervor.)
Blind! In whom I sought the reward of all my labors!
I was in a hurry!.. flying! trembled! Happiness, I thought, was close.
Before whom am I so passionate and so low
He was a waster of tender words!
And you! Oh my God! who did you choose?
When I think about who you preferred!
Why did they lure me with hope?
Why didn't they tell me directly?
Why did you turn everything that happened into laughter?!
That the memory even disgusts you
Those feelings, in both of us the movements of those hearts,
Which have never cooled in me,
No entertainment, no change of place.
I breathed and lived by them, was constantly busy!
They would say that my sudden arrival was to you,
My appearance, my words, actions - everything is disgusting, -
I would immediately cut off relations with you,
And before we part forever
I wouldn't bother to get there very much,
Who is this dear person to you?..
(Mockingly.)
You will make peace with him after mature reflection.
Destroy yourself, and why!
Think you can always
Protect, and swaddle, and send to work.
Husband-boy, husband-servant, from the wife's pages -
The high ideal of all Moscow men. -
Enough!.. with you I am proud of my breakup.
And you, sir father, you, passionate about ranks:
I wish you to sleep in happy ignorance,
I do not threaten you with my matchmaking.
There will be another well-behaved one,
A sycophant and a businessman,
Finally, the advantages
He is the equal of his future father-in-law.
So! I have completely sobered up
Dreams out of sight - and the veil fell;
Now it wouldn't be a bad thing
For the daughter and the father,
And for a foolish lover,
And pour out all the bile and all the frustration onto the whole world.
Who was it with? Where fate has taken me!
Everyone is driving! everyone curses! Crowd of tormentors
In the love of traitors, in the tireless enmity,
Indomitable storytellers,
Clumsy smart people, crafty simpletons,
Sinister old women, old men,
Decrepit over inventions, nonsense, -
You have glorified me as crazy by the whole choir.
You are right: he will come out of the fire unharmed,
Who will have time to spend a day with you,
Breathe the air alone
And his sanity will survive.
Get out of Moscow! I don't go here anymore.
I’m running, I won’t look back, I’ll go looking around the world,
Where is there a corner for the offended feeling!..
Carriage for me, carriage!

(Leaves.)

Phenomenon 15

Except Chatsky.

Famusov
Well? Don't you see that he's gone crazy?
Say it seriously:
Insane! What kind of nonsense is he talking about here!
The sycophant! father-in-law! and so menacing about Moscow!
Have you decided to kill me? And that consumptive, your relatives, the enemy of books, who settled in the scientific committee...- The Scientific Committee was established in 1817. He supervised the publication of educational literature and pursued a reactionary policy in educational matters.

And the smoke of the Fatherland is sweet and pleasant to us!- inaccurate quote from a poem by G.R. Derzhavin “Harp” (1789):

Good news about our side is dear to us:
Fatherland and smoke is sweet and pleasant to us...

Minerva- in Greek mythology, the goddess of wisdom.

The deceased was a respectable chamberlain, with a key, and he knew how to deliver the key to his son...- Chamberlains (court rank) wore a golden key on their ceremonial uniforms.

...they won’t nod when they’re stupid- Tupey - an old hairstyle: a bun of hair gathered at the back of the head.

A nobleman in case...- that is, in favor, favorite.

Kurtag- reception day at the palace.

Whist- card game.

Carbonari (carbonari)- members of a secret revolutionary society in Italy (19th century).

For the third of August- August 3 is the day of Alexander I’s meeting with the Austrian Emperor in Prague, marked by celebrations and awards. There were no hostilities on this day; Thus, Skalazub’s “feat” consisted only in the fact that they “sat down in a trench.”

It was given to him with a bow, around my neck.- The same orders differed in degree in the way they were worn. Lower orders (III and IV degrees) were worn in the buttonhole, and the ribbon could be tied in a bow; the highest (I and II degrees) - on the neck.

The times of the Ochakovskys and the conquest of Crimea...- The capture of the Turkish fortress of Ochakov and the annexation of Crimea to Russia took place in 1783.

Grandmother (French).

A! Good evening! Finally, you too! You are in no hurry, and we are always happy to wait for you. (French).

He will tell you the whole story in detail (French).

Yes, from Lankart mutual training...- Lankartachny is a distorted word for “Lancasterian”. The system of the English teacher Lancaster (1771–1838) was that the stronger students taught the weaker ones, helping the teacher. In Russia, this system was carried out by advocates of public education, advanced officers when training soldiers in the army, in particular, the Decembrists. In government circles, Lancaster schools were viewed with suspicion as a breeding ground for freethinking. The same reputation was enjoyed by boarding houses (Noble boarding house at Moscow University), lyceum (Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum) and Pedagogical Institute (St. Petersburg Pedagogical Institute).

In a letter to P.A. Katenin, Griboyedov writes about Chatsky: “Someone out of anger invented that he was crazy, no one believed it, and everyone repeats...” Indeed, in the development of the comedy “Woe from Wit” the invention of Chatsky's madness. But why did such a scandal arise from one word? To understand this, we need to consider the life and morality of Famus society.
In his comedy "Woe from Wit" Griboyedov depicted only one day in the life of Moscow secular society. However, how many people did they manage to discuss during this time in Famusov’s house! These are all Sophia’s relatives, and Molchalin, and Zagoretsky, and Skalozub, and Kuzma Petrovich, and the deceased Uncle Maxim Petrovich, and, of course, Chatsky himself. Since the very morning, Sophia and Lisa have been discussing him, while Sophia says that he “knows how to make everyone laugh.” From this alone it is clear how important outside assessment is for the people of this society. Molchalin speaks directly about this: “Ah! evil tongues are worse than a pistol.”
Therefore, rumor is the main weapon of these people; with its help, they can expel unwanted people from their circle, as they did with Chatsky. Rumor also replaces their memory of the past, the memory of a person, of his deeds. People live only so that “everyone will remember them sadly.”
However, word of mouth is not only their memory and weapon, but simply their main occupation. After all, what the people of Famus society do is mostly chat (Repetilov: “They talk all night, they don’t get bored.”). They know everything about others: their means, life history, gossip about their relatives, and so on (Khlestova: “Shouldn’t I know other people’s estates?”), but despite these efforts, they cannot know everything about others and simply do not have time to find out and understand themselves, understand why they live, and they can only live for the sake of rumor, because otherwise the rumor will turn against them.
People of Famus society find themselves in a cycle: each of them is simultaneously the creator of rumor and its slave, since everything he does, he does for the sake of rumor, otherwise rumor will punish him. Everyone and everything bows to rumors. Rumor is their king and god. For her sake, even friendship is forgotten. Repetilov, who knows for sure that Chatsky is not crazy, first tries to fight off the rumors, calling them “chimeras” and “game,” but when he finds out that “it’s so public,” he falls silent.
Everyone in this society works on word of mouth. Everyone adds their own to the word they hear.
Kh l e s t o v a. He drank glasses of champagne.
N atalya Dmitrievna. Bottles, sir, and big ones.
Zagoretsky. No, sir, forty barrels.
And so the rumor grows like a snowball, and with this lump it knocks down not only Chatsky, but also Sophia, Molchalin, Famusov, etc.
So, rumor reigns in Famus society, and since women still love to chat and gossip more than men, they have more privileges, and it is they who turn out to be the closest minions of rumor. Therefore, the kingdom of rumor can also be called the female kingdom.
Indeed, the role of women in the development of intrigue predominates. The initiative for the invention comes from a woman (Sophya), and its complete acceptance and confirmation also comes from a woman (Princess: “The whole world knows about this!”). Women rule over men not only in words, they completely command them: “My angel, for God’s sake, move further away from the door!” And not even so affectionately: “The Countess deigns to be angry.”
The apotheosis of these two problems, the problem of rumors and the problem of the female kingdom, is embodied precisely in the quote included in the title of the topic. Famusov is not concerned about his daughter’s actions, but only about “what Princess Marya Aleksevna will say.” It is the rumor that worries him, the rumor coming from a woman. In my opinion, the comedy “Woe from Wit” could also be called “woe from rumor”, because rumor brought grief to the heroes of the comedy no less than intelligence, and, perhaps, even more, since not only Chatsky suffered from rumors, but also all the other characters. “Princess Marya Aleksevna will begin to talk about all of them.”

Ladies of the world (based on the comedy by A. S. Griboedov "Woe from Wit")

In the system of characters in A. S. Griboedov’s play “Woe from Wit,” female images occupy an important place. The central image is Sophia, the daughter of Famusov, a Moscow gentleman who manages a government office. Her image is difficult to define unambiguously. Pushkin noted in his critical article: “Sophia is drawn unclearly.”

French books, which Famusov complains about (“French books keep her from sleeping”), piano, poetry, French and dancing - these were what were considered necessary in the upbringing of a young lady of that time. On the one hand, the seventeen-year-old girl is worldly wise (after all, she is the daughter of her father), reasonable, on the other hand, she is blind in her love for Molchalin. After all, she loves not him, but the ideal that she gleaned from sentimental French novels. But this ideal actually turns out to be far from perfect. She is sincere in her desire to patronize the “rootless” Molchalin, in the future hoping to make him a “husband-boy, husband-servant.” After all, Sophia is a girl of her class and time. And in society, the omnipotence of women reigns, so “a husband-boy, a husband-servant from the wife’s pages” is Sophia’s conscious or unconscious dream.

It was Sophia who was to blame for the fact that Chatsky was declared crazy. It was she who branded him, saying: “I reluctantly drove him crazy.” Of course, the heroine with her worldly wisdom is closer to Molchalin, who takes on “the appearance of a lover to please the daughter of such a man,” and with Chatsky she would have to drink her cup of suffering, endure her “millions of torments.” In this case, she is guided by common sense from the point of view of Famus society, she acts as the law of this society dictates.

Images of women in comedy are also represented by secondary and episodic characters. This is the witty maid in Famusov’s house, Lisa, who is the second reasoner in the comedy and plays the role of a soubrette, giving apt characteristics to the characters; and Natalya Dmitrievna Gorich, holding her husband under her thumb, treating him like a child; and Princess Tugoukhovskaya, an ardent opponent of enlightenment, speaking indignantly about the Pedagogical Institute in St. Petersburg, where professors “practice in schism and lack of faith”; and her six daughters, who cannot be married off, thinking only about fashionable “folds” and “styles”. This also includes the Countess-grandmother and Countess-granddaughter of Khryumina, who are forced to travel to balls and guests in search of a groom for their elderly granddaughter. The old woman Khlestova, an ardent serf-owner who condemns education in “boarding schools, schools, lyceums,” has particular weight in this society.

I. A. Goncharov, in his critical sketch “A Million Torments,” wrote about the string of images of guests in Famusov’s house: “The influx of these faces is so abundant, their portraits are so relief that the viewer becomes cold to the intrigue, not having time to catch these quick sketches of new faces and listen closely into their original speech." All of them, of course, belong to Famus society, being its typical representatives.

Griboyedov showed in his work not only the stage characters of the Famusov society, but also off-stage characters, who also embody the features of the “past century”. These are Arina Vlasevna, Lukerya Aleksevna, Tatyana Yuryevna, Pulkheria Andreevna, Praskovya Fedorovna. Catherine II is also mentioned, at whose court Famusov’s uncle Maxim Petrovich served, who “bent over” when he “had to curry favor.” We also learn about the “rider” Princess Vlasova, who fell from her horse and is now looking for a husband “for support.” Tatyana Yuryevna also has considerable weight in Famusov’s society, for whom “officials and officials are all her friends and all her relatives.” It is to her that Molchalin advises Chatsky to go for patronage and receive a rank. Famusov also mentions Chatsky’s late mother, according to whom she “went crazy eight times.” All of Famusov’s Moscow is kept in fear by Princess Marya Aleksevna, whose name the venerable gentleman pronounces in fear: “What will Princess Marya Aleksevna say?” The female society is also complemented by such an off-stage character as Madame Rosier, to whom Famusov entrusted the upbringing of his daughter. Sophia’s “second mother” was smart, “a quiet character, rare rules,” but, according to Famusov, she made the only mistake -

For an extra five hundred rubles a year

She allowed herself to be lured by others.

Thus, the comedy “Woe from Wit” presents a whole gallery of female images, typical representatives of the “past century”. All of them are the product of Moscow life in the first quarter of the 19th century and the embodiment of its most typical features, while each of the images, be it a stage or off-stage character, has its own individuality. It is women who complement the picture of life in patriarchal Russian society, which does not accept any changes and so ardently defends its life principles, which allow them to live comfortably at the expense of the autocratic serfdom system. That is why society is so frightened by the spread of new, progressive ideas of advanced noble youth, seeing in them the danger of changes in their lives.