Minor full version 3 5 actions. Fonvizin Denis Ivanovich. Minor

Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin

Minor

Comedy in five acts

Characters

Prostakov.

Ms. Prostakova, his wife.

Mitrofan, their son, a minor.

Eremeevna, Mitrofanova's mother.

Pravdin.

Starodum.

Sophia, Starodum's niece.

Milo.

Skotinin, brother of Mrs. Prostakova.

Kuteikin, seminarian.

Tsyfirkin, retired sergeant.

Vralman, teacher.

Trishka, tailor.

Servant Prostakova.

Valet Starodum.

Action in the village of Prostakovs.

Act one

Phenomenon I

Mrs. Prostakova, Mitrofan, Eremeevna.

Ms. Prostakova (examining the caftan on Mitrofan). The caftan is all ruined. Eremeevna, bring the swindler Trishka here. (Eremeevna leaves.) He, the thief, burdened him everywhere. Mitrofanushka, my friend! I'm guessing you're dying. Call your father here.

Mitrofan leaves.

Phenomenon II

Mrs. Prostakova, Eremeevna, Trishka.

Ms. Prostakova (Trishka). And you, brute, come closer. Didn’t I tell you, you thieving mug, that you should make your caftan wider? The first child grows; another, a child and without a narrow caftan of delicate build. Tell me, idiot, what is your excuse?

Trishka. But, madam, I was self-taught. I reported to you at the same time: well, if you please, give it to the tailor.

Mrs. Prostakova. So is it really necessary to be a tailor to be able to sew a caftan well? What bestial reasoning!

Trishka. Yes, I studied to be a tailor, madam, but I didn’t.

Mrs. Prostakova. While searching, he argues. A tailor learned from another, another from a third, but who did the first tailor learn from? Speak up, beast.

Trishka. Yes, the first tailor, perhaps, sewed worse than mine.

Mitrofan (runs in). I called my father. I deigned to say: immediately.

Mrs. Prostakova. So go and get him out if you don’t get the good stuff.

Mitrofan. Yes, here comes the father.

Scene III

Same with Prostakov.

Mrs. Prostakova. What, why do you want to hide from me? This, sir, is how far I have lived with your indulgence. What's a new thing for a son to do with his uncle's agreement? What kind of caftan did Trishka deign to sew?

Prostakov (stammering out of timidity). Me... a little baggy.

Mrs. Prostakova. You yourself are baggy, smart head.

Prostakov. Yes, I thought, mother, that it seemed so to you.

Mrs. Prostakova. Are you blind yourself?

Prostakov. With your eyes, mine see nothing.

Mrs. Prostakova. This is the kind of hubby the Lord gave me: he doesn’t know how to figure out what’s wide and what’s narrow.

Prostakov. In this, mother, I believed and believe you.

Mrs. Prostakova. So believe also that I do not intend to indulge the slaves. Go, sir, and punish now...

Phenomenon IV

Same with Skotinin.

Skotinin. Whom? For what? On the day of my conspiracy! I ask you, sister, for such a holiday to postpone the punishment until tomorrow; and tomorrow, if you please, I myself will willingly help. If I weren’t Taras Skotinin, if not every fault is my fault. In this, sister, I have the same custom as you. Why are you so angry?

Mrs. Prostakova. Well, brother, I’ll go crazy on your eyes. Mitrofanushka, come here. Is this caftan baggy?

Skotinin. No.

Prostakov. Yes, I can already see, mother, that it is narrow.

Skotinin. I don't see that either. The caftan, brother, is well made.

Ms. Prostakova (Trishka). Get out, you bastard. (Eremeevna.) Go ahead, Eremeevna, give the child breakfast. Vit, I’m having tea, the teachers will come soon.

Eremeevna. He already, mother, deigned to eat five buns.

Mrs. Prostakova. So you feel sorry for the sixth one, beast? What zeal! Please take a look.

Eremeevna. Cheers, mother. I said this for Mitrofan Terentyevich. I grieved until the morning.

Mrs. Prostakova. Ah, Mother of God! What happened to you, Mitrofanushka?

Mitrofan. Yes, mother. Yesterday after dinner it hit me.

Skotinin. Yes, it’s clear, brother, you had a hearty dinner.

Mitrofan. And I, uncle, almost didn’t have dinner at all.

Prostakov. I remember, my friend, you wanted to eat something.

Mitrofan. What! Three slices of corned beef, and hearth slices, I don’t remember, five, I don’t remember, six.

Eremeevna. Every now and then he asked for a drink at night. I deigned to eat a whole jug of kvass.

Mitrofan. And now I’m walking around like crazy. All night such rubbish was in my eyes.

Mrs. Prostakova. What rubbish, Mitrofanushka?

Mitrofan. Yes, either you, mother, or father.

Mrs. Prostakova. How is this possible?

Mitrofan. As soon as I start to fall asleep, I see that you, mother, deign to beat father.

Prostakov (to the side). Well, my bad! Sleep in hand!

Mitrofan (loosen up). So I felt sorry.

Ms. Prostakova (with annoyance). Who, Mitrofanushka?

Mitrofan. You, mother: you are so tired, beating your father.

Mrs. Prostakova. Surround me, my dear friend! Here, son, is my only consolation.

Skotinin. Well, Mitrofanushka, I see you are a mother’s son, not a father’s son!

Prostakov. By at least I love him as a parent should, he’s a smart child, he’s a sensible child, he’s funny, he’s an entertainer; sometimes I am beside myself with him and with joy I truly do not believe that he is my son.

Skotinin. Only now our funny man is standing there, frowning.

Mrs. Prostakova. Shouldn't we send for a doctor to the city?

Mitrofan. No, no, mother. I'd rather get better on my own. Now I’ll run to the dovecote, maybe…

Mrs. Prostakova. So maybe the Lord is merciful. Go and have some fun, Mitrofanushka.

Mitrofan and Eremeevna leave.

Phenomenon V

Ms. Prostakova, Prostakov, Skotinin.

Skotinin. Why can't I see my bride? Where is she? There will be an agreement in the evening, so isn’t it time to tell her that they are marrying her off?

Mrs. Prostakova. We'll make it, brother. If we tell her this ahead of time, she may still think that we are reporting to her. Although by marriage, however, I am related to her; and I love that strangers listen to me.

Prostakov (to Skotinin). To tell the truth, we treated Sophia like an orphan. After her father she remained a baby. About six months ago, her mother, and my in-law, had a stroke...

Ms. Prostakova (showing as if he is baptizing his heart). The power of the god is with us.

Prostakov. From which she went to the next world. Her uncle, Mr. Starodum, went to Siberia; and since there has been no rumor or news of him for several years now, we consider him dead. We, seeing that she was left alone, took her to our village and look after her estate as if it were our own.

Mrs. Prostakova. What, why have you gone so crazy today, my father? Looking for a brother, he might think that we took her to us out of interest.

Prostakov. Well, mother, how should he think about this? After all, we can’t move Sofyushkino’s real estate estate to ourselves.

Skotinin. And although the movable has been put forward, I am not a petitioner. I don’t like to bother, and I’m afraid. No matter how much my neighbors offended me, no matter how much loss they caused, I did not attack anyone, and any loss, rather than going after it, I would rip off from my own peasants, and the ends would go to waste.

Prostakov. It’s true, brother: the whole neighborhood says that you are a master at collecting rent.

Mrs. Prostakova. At least you taught us, brother father; but we just can’t do it. Since we took away everything the peasants had, we can’t take anything back. Such a disaster!

Skotinin. Please, sister, I will teach you, I will teach you, just marry me to Sophia.

Mrs. Prostakova. Did you really like this girl that much?

Skotinin. No, it's not the girl I like.

Prostakov. So next door to her village?

Skotinin. And not the villages, but the fact that it is found in the villages and what my mortal desire is.

Mrs. Prostakova. Until what, brother?

Skotinin. I love pigs, sister, and in our neighborhood there are such large pigs that there is not a single one of them that, standing on its hind legs, would not be taller than each of us by a whole head.

Prostakov. It’s a strange thing, brother, how family can resemble family. Mitrofanushka is our uncle. And he was a hunter of pigs, just like you. When I was still three years old, when I saw a pig, I used to tremble with joy.

Skotinin. This is truly a curiosity! Well, brother, Mitrofan loves pigs because he is my nephew. There is some similarity here; Why am I so addicted to pigs?

Prostakov. And there is some similarity here, I think so.

Scene VI

Same with Sophia.

Sophia entered holding a letter in her hand and looking cheerful.

Ms. Prostakova (Sofya). Why are you so happy, mother? What are you happy about?

Sophia. I have now received good news. My uncle, about whom we knew nothing for so long, whom I love and honor as my father, recently arrived in Moscow. Here is the letter I have now received from him.

Ms. Prostakova (frightened, with anger). How! Starodum, your uncle, is alive! And you deign to say that he has risen! That's a fair amount of fiction!

Sophia. Yes, he never died.

Mrs. Prostakova. Didn't die! But shouldn't he die? No, madam, these are your inventions, in order to intimidate us with your uncle, so that we give you freedom. Uncle is a smart man; he, seeing me in the wrong hands, will find a way to help me out. That's what you're glad about, madam; However, perhaps, don’t be very happy: your uncle, of course, did not resurrect.

Skotinin. Sister, what if he didn’t die?

Prostakov. God forbid he didn't die!

Ms. Prostakova (to husband). How did you not die? Why are you confusing grandma? Don’t you know that for several years now he has been commemorated by me in memorials for his repose? Surely my sinful prayers didn’t reach me! (To Sophia.) Perhaps a letter for me. (Almost throws up.) I bet it's some kind of amorous. And I can guess from whom. This is from the officer who was looking to marry you and whom you yourself wanted to marry. What a beast gives you letters without my asking! I'll get there. This is what we have come to. They write letters to the girls! The girls can read and write!

Sophia. Read it yourself, madam. You will see that nothing could be more innocent.

Mrs. Prostakova. Read it for yourself! No, madam, thank God, I was not brought up like that. I can receive letters, but I always tell someone else to read them. (To my husband.) Read.

Prostakov (looks for a long time). It's tricky.

Mrs. Prostakova. And you, my father, were apparently raised like a pretty girl. Brother, read it, work hard.

Skotinin. I? I haven't read anything in my life, sister! God saved me from this boredom.

Sophia. Let me read it.

Mrs. Prostakova. Oh mother! I know that you are a craftswoman, but I don’t really believe you. Here, I’m having tea, teacher Mitrofanushkin will come soon. I tell him...

Skotinin. Have you started teaching the youngster to read and write?

Mrs. Prostakova. Oh, dear brother! I've been studying for four years now. There’s nothing, it’s a sin to say that we don’t try to educate Mitrofanushka. We pay three teachers. The sexton from Pokrov, Kuteikin, comes to him to read and write. A retired sergeant, Tsyfirkin, teaches him arithmetics, father. Both of them come here from the city. The city is three miles away from us, father. He is taught French and all sciences by the German Adam Adamych Vralman. This is three hundred rubles a year. We seat you at the table with us. Our women wash his linen. Where needed - a horse. There is a glass of wine at the table. At night there is a tallow candle, and our Fomka sends the wig for free. To tell the truth, we are happy with him, dear brother. He doesn't oppress the child. Vit, my father, while Mitrofanushka is still undergrowth, sweat and pamper him; and there, in ten years, when he enters, God forbid, into service, he will suffer everything. As for anyone, happiness is destined for them, brother. From our surname Prostakovs, look - the tissue, lying on its side, is flying to its ranks. Why is their Mitrofanushka worse? Bah! Yes, by the way, our dear guest came here.

Scene VII

Same with Pravdin.

Mrs. Prostakova. Brother, my friend! I recommend to you our dear guest, Mr. Pravdin; and to you, my lord, I recommend my brother.

Pravdin. I am glad to have made your acquaintance.

Skotinin. Okay, my lord! As for the last name, I didn’t hear it.

Pravdin. I call myself Pravdin so you can hear.

Skotinin. Which native, my lord? Where are the villages?

Pravdin. I was born in Moscow, if you need to know, and my villages are in the local governorship.

Skotinin. Do I dare ask, my sir—I don’t know my name and patronymic—are there pigs in your villages?

Mrs. Prostakova. Enough, brother, let’s start about pigs. Let's talk better about our grief. (To Pravdin.) Here, father! God told us to take the girl into our arms. She deigns to receive letters from her uncles. Uncles write to her from the other world. Do me a favor, my father, take the trouble to read it out loud to all of us.

Pravdin. Excuse me, madam. I never read letters without the permission of those to whom they are written.

Sophia. I ask you this. You will do me a great favor.

Pravdin. If you order. (Is reading.)“Dear niece! My affairs forced me to live for several years in separation from my neighbors; and the distance deprived me of the pleasure of hearing about you. I am now in Moscow, having lived in Siberia for several years. I can serve as an example that you can make your own fortune through hard work and honesty. By these means, with the help of happiness, I earned ten thousand rubles in income...”

Skotinin and both Prostakovs. Ten thousand!

Pravdin (is reading). "...which you, my dear niece, I make you an heir..."

Mrs. Prostakova. You as heiress!

Prostakov. Sophia is the heiress!

Skotinin. Her heiress!

Ms. Prostakova (rushing to hug Sophia). Congratulations, Sofyushka! Congratulations, my soul! I'm overjoyed! Now you need a groom. I, I don’t wish for a better bride for Mitrofanushka. That's it, uncle! That's my dear father! I myself still thought that God was protecting him, that he was still alive.

Skotinin (extending his hand). Well, sister, quickly shake hands.

Ms. Prostakova (quietly to Skotinin). Wait, brother. First you need to ask her if she still wants to marry you?

Skotinin. How! What a question! Are you really going to report to her?

Skotinin. And for what? Even if you read for five years, you won’t finish reading better than ten thousand.

Ms. Prostakova (to Sophia). Sophia, my soul! let's go to my bedroom. I have an urgent need to talk to you. (Took Sophia away.)

Skotinin. Bah! So I see that today it is unlikely that there will be any conspiracy.

Scene VIII

Pravdin, Prostakov, Skotinin, servant.

Servant (to Prostakov, out of breath). Master! master! soldiers came and stopped in our village.

Prostakov. What a disaster! Well, they will ruin us completely!

Pravdin. What are you afraid of?

Prostakov. Ah, dear father! We've already seen the sights. I don’t dare show up to them.

Pravdin. Do not be afraid. They are, of course, led by an officer who will not allow any insolence. Come with me to him. I am sure that you are timid in vain.

Pravdin, Prostakov and the servant leave.

Skotinin. Everyone left me alone. The idea was to go for a walk in the barnyard.

End of the first act

Act two

Phenomenon I

Pravdin, Milon.

Milo. How glad I am, my dear friend, that I accidentally met you! Tell me in what case...

Pravdin. As a friend, I will tell you the reason for my stay here. I have been appointed a member of the local governorship. I have orders to travel around the local district; and besides, out of my own deed of heart, I do not allow myself to notice those malicious ignoramuses who, having complete power over their people, use it inhumanly for evil. You know the way of thinking of our governor. With what zeal does he help suffering humanity! With what zeal does he thus fulfill the philanthropic forms of the highest power! In our region we ourselves have experienced that where the governor is such as the governor is depicted in the Institution, there the welfare of the inhabitants is true and reliable. I've been living here for three days now. He found the landowner an infinite fool, and his wife a despicable fury, whose hellish disposition brings misfortune to their entire house. Are you thinking, my friend, tell me, how long did you stay here?

Milo. I'm leaving here in a few hours.

Pravdin. What's so soon? Have a rest.

Milo. I can not. I was ordered to lead the soldiers without delay... yes, moreover, I myself am eager to be in Moscow.

Pravdin. What is the reason?

Milo. I will tell you the secret of my heart, dear friend! I am in love and have the happiness of being loved. For more than six months I have been separated from the one who is dearer to me than anything else in the world, and what is even sadder is that I have not heard anything about her during all this time. Often, attributing the silence to her coldness, I was tormented by grief; but suddenly I received news that shocked me. They write to me that, after the death of her mother, some distant relatives took her to their villages. I don’t know: neither who, nor where. Perhaps she is now in the hands of some selfish people who, taking advantage of her orphanhood, are keeping her in tyranny. This thought alone makes me beside myself.

Pravdin. I see similar inhumanity in here at home. I am striving, however, to soon put limits on the wife’s malice and the husband’s stupidity. I have already notified our boss about all the local barbarities and I have no doubt that measures will be taken to calm them down.

Milo. Happy are you, my friend, being able to alleviate the fate of the unfortunate. I don’t know what to do in my sad situation.

Pravdin. Let me ask about her name.

Milo(excited). A! here she is.

Phenomenon II

Same with Sophia.

Sophia (in admiration). Milon! Do I see you?

Pravdin. What happiness!

Sophia. How many sorrows have I endured since the day of our separation! My unscrupulous relatives...

Pravdin. My friend! Don’t ask about what is so sad for her... You will learn from me what rudeness...

Milo. Unworthy people!

Sophia. Today, however, for the first time the local landlady changed her behavior towards me. Having heard that my uncle was making me an heir, she suddenly turned from being rude and scolding to the point of being affectionate to the point of being mean, and I can see from all her innuendos that she intends me to be his son’s bride.

Milo(eagerly). And you didn’t show her complete contempt at that very moment?..

Sophia. No…

Milo. And you didn’t tell her that you had a commitment from the heart, that...

Sophia. No.

Milo. A! now I see my destruction. My opponent is happy! I do not deny all the merits in him. He may be reasonable, enlightened, kind; but so that you can compare with me in my love for you, so that...

Sophia (grinning). My God! If you saw him, your jealousy would drive you to the extreme!

Milo(indignantly). I imagine all its virtues.

Sophia. You can’t even imagine everyone. Although he is sixteen years old, he has already reached the last degree of his perfection and will not go any further.

Pravdin. How can it not go further, madam? He finishes studying the Book of Hours; and there, one must think, they will start working on the Psalter.

Milo. How! Is this my opponent? And, dear Sophia, why do you torment me with a joke? You know how easily a passionate person is upset by the slightest suspicion.

Sophia. Think how miserable my condition is! I couldn’t answer this stupid proposal decisively. In order to get rid of their rudeness, in order to have some freedom, I was forced to hide my feelings.

Milo. What did you answer her?

Sophia. I said that my fate depended on my uncle’s will, that he himself promised to come here in his letter, which (to Pravdin) Mr. Skotinin did not allow you to finish reading.

Milo. Skotinin!

Skotinin. I!

Scene III

Same with Skotinin.

Pravdin. How did you sneak up, Mr. Skotinin! I would not expect this from you.

Skotinin. I passed by you. I heard that they were calling me, and I responded. I have this custom: whoever screams - Skotinin! And I told him: I am! What are you, brothers, really? I myself served in the guard and was retired as a corporal. It used to be that at the roll call they would shout: Taras Skotinin! And I’m at the top of my lungs: I am!

Pravdin. We didn’t call you now, and you can go where you were going.

Skotinin. I wasn’t going anywhere, but wandering around, lost in thought. I have such a custom that if I get into my head, I can’t knock it out with a nail. In my mind, you hear, what came into my mind is stuck here. That’s all I think about, that’s all I see in a dream, as if in reality, and in reality, as in a dream.

Pravdin. Why would you be so interested now?

Skotinin. Oh, brother, you are my dear friend! Miracles are happening to me. My sister quickly took me from my village to hers, and if she just as quickly takes me from her village to mine, then I can say in front of the whole world with a clear conscience: I went for nothing, I brought nothing.

Pravdin. What a pity, Mr. Skotinin! Your sister plays with you like a ball.

Skotinin (angry). How about a ball? God protect! Yes, I myself will throw it so that the whole village will not find it in a week.

Sophia. Oh, how angry you are!

Milo. What happened to you?

Skotinin. You, smart man, judge for yourself. My sister brought me here to get married. Now she herself came up with a recusal: “What do you want, brother, in a wife; If only you, brother, had a good pig.” No, sister! I want to have my own piglets. It's not easy to fool me.

Pravdin. It seems to me myself, Mr. Skotinin, that your sister is thinking about a wedding, but not about yours.

Skotinin. What a parable! I am not a hindrance to anyone else. Everyone should marry his bride. I won’t touch someone else’s, and don’t touch mine. (Sofya.) Don't worry, darling. No one will interrupt you from me.

Comedy in five acts

Characters

Prostakov. Mrs. Prostakova, his wife. Mitrofan, their son, is an undergrowth. Eremeevna, Mitrofanov’s mother. Pravdin. Starodum. Sophia, Starodum's niece. Milo. Skotinin, brother of Mrs. Prostakova. Kuteikin, seminarian. Tsyfirkin, retired sergeant. Vralman, teacher. Trishka, tailor. Prostakov's servant. Starodum's valet.

Action in the village of Prostakovs.

Act one

Phenomenon I

Mrs. Prostakova, Mitrofan, Eremeevna.

Mitrofan leaves.

Phenomenon II

Mrs. Prostakova, Eremeevna, Trishka.

Scene III

Mrs. Prostakova. So go and get him out if you don’t get the good stuff.

Phenomenon IV

Prostakov. In this, mother, I believed and believe you.

Mitrofan and Eremeevna leave.

Phenomenon V

Skotinin. Only now our funny man is standing there, frowning.

Scene VI

Prostakov. And there is some similarity here, I think so. The same

Sophia entered holding a letter in her hand and looking cheerful.

Scene VII

Same with Pravdin.

Mrs. Prostakova (to Sophia). Sophia, my soul! let's go to my bedroom. I have an urgent need to talk to you. (Took Sophia away.) Skotinin. Bah! So I see that today it is unlikely that there will be any agreement. Fonvizin’s comedy “The Minor” was written by Denis Ivanovich in 1782, during the reign of Catherine the Second. This play, consisting of 5 acts, at one time became a real breakthrough and an important step in the development of not only Russian drama, but all literature in general. The stage of the reign of Catherine II (the Great) was marked in Russia by the dominance of the flourishing of science and culture, and the idea of ​​​​enlightening the nobility as ruling class , which she borrowed from the French, seemed too bold. It is known that the Empress of the Russian State herself was a very intelligent woman, she had fascinating correspondence with Voltaire and Diderot, and therefore was an ardent champion of all innovative ideas , existing in the world, among which, in those days, was education. To some extent, she was a continuator of the ideas of Peter I, who completely forbade minor nobles (teenagers) to marry and hold government positions without education. These reforms had difficulty taking root in Russian society

Thus, Fonvizin, in the comedy “The Minor,” managed with the subtlest irony to depict all the misconceptions and negative aspects of the fascinating historical process classicism and in compliance with all literary traditions of that era. Therefore, to a modern reader, the narrative style may seem difficult to understand, but you quickly get used to the text, and then simply enjoy the unsurpassed humor of the work.

The play is divided into 5 acts, which in turn are divided into small scenes - phenomena. Since the book is written in compliance with all the stylistic frameworks of classicism, the author uses so-called “speaking” surnames in the text, dividing the characters into “bad” and “good” at a primitive level. Pravdin, Milon, Starodum and Sophia - goodies, and Skotinin, Prostakov, Mitrofan are negative. Thus, Pravdin, for example, naturally becomes the personification of morality, and Skotinin - falsehood.

The stupid landowner Prostakova, together with her underage son Mitrofanushka, is the personification of an entire era in which the ideals and principles of the nobility were based on low moral principles, greed, lack of education and blind power, and not on thoughtful and wise government and management. The main theme of the story “The Minor,” unfortunately, remains relevant in our time. Power is wielded not by worthy people, but by resourceful people, not by smart people, but by those who have elevated cunning and double-mindedness to the level of art.

Consider the comedy "The Minor" ( summary by actions). Its author is Fonvizin Denis Ivanovich. The first production of this work took place in 1782.
Act one

Phenomenon 1
“The Minor” (summary of the actions) begins with Mrs. Prostakova examining the caftan on Mitrofan, scolding the tailor Trishka, who sewed it wrong, and telling Eremeevna to call him.
Phenomenon 2
Mrs. Prostakova continues to scold Trishka. He, justifying himself, says that in order to sew well, you must first learn how to do it. Prostakova is furious - she calls Trishka’s excuses “bestial reasoning.”
Phenomenon 3
Prostakov appears. Prostakova asks her husband what he thinks about the sewn caftan. Prostakov stammers from timidity, cannot really answer anything - he is afraid of his wife’s anger. Prostakova: “This is the kind of hubby God rewarded me with...”
Phenomenon 4
Skotinin appears. The conversation is again about the caftan. Skotinin believes that the caftan is “rather carefully sewn.”
Prostakova tells Eremeevna to feed Mitrofanushka, to which she replies that Mitrofanushka has already “deigned to eat five buns.” Prostakova attacks Eremeevna - does the nanny really feel sorry for the child’s sixth bun? The nanny says that in the evening Mitrofanushka ate a lot and “was sad until the morning.” Prostakova anxiously asks her son what happened to him. He replies that “all night such rubbish was in my eyes” - either my mother was imagining it, or my father was imagining it. Mitrofanushka dreamed that her mother was beating her father, and he felt sorry for Prostakova: she had beaten off all her hands while she was beating her husband. Mitrofan and Eremeevna leave.
Phenomenon 5
Skotinin asks where his bride is, says that it’s time for her to tell him that she is marrying him. We are talking about Sophia. Prostakov says that they treated this girl like an orphan. She was still young when her father died, and then her mother. Mr. Starodum, her uncle, went to Siberia, and nothing has been heard about him for several years. He is considered dead. Prostakov further says that since this girl was left alone, they decided to take her to their village, and they look after her estate as if it were their own.
Skotinin boasts about how he knows how to run a farm. This man covers any loss at the expense of his peasants. Prostakova asks to teach her this skill, since she has already taken everything she had from her peasants. Skotinin says that he will definitely teach him, but first let them marry him to Sophia, since he likes the villages that belong to her. There, in the villages of Sofia, Skotinin plans to raise pigs, since he loves them very much.
Phenomenon 6
Sophia appears with a letter in her hand. She reports that her uncle Starodum is alive and has recently arrived in Moscow. Ms. Prostakova does not believe that Starodum is alive. She takes the letter from Sophia, and is indignant that “girls can read and write.” Prostakova suspects that the letter is from some officer. Sophia invites her to read the letter, but she cannot read and says that she was “not brought up like that.” Prostakova says that Mitrofan will come and read the letter. She talks about how her son has been studying for four years. The sexton Kuteikin comes to him for literacy lessons. Tsyfirkin, a retired sergeant, teaches him arithmetic. Mitrofan is taught French and various sciences by the German Adam Adamych Vralman. All of them do not really load their student.
Phenomenon 7
Pravdin appears. Reads a letter at Prostakova’s request. From the letter it becomes known that Starodum decided to make Sophia the heir to his fortune. Prostakova immediately rushes to hug Sophia and says that Mitrofan doesn’t need a better bride than her, Sophia. He takes Sophia away to talk alone.
Phenomenon 8
The servant informs Prostakov that soldiers have come to their village. Prostakov and Pravdin leave.
Act two (“Minor”, ​​summary of actions)

Phenomenon 1
Pravdin and Milon meet. They are old friends. Pravdin says that he “has been appointed a member of the local governorship.” He admires the governor, considers him a fair man who carries out “the most philanthropic types of supreme power.” Pravdin reports that he has been living here for three days and characterizes Prostakov as a fool, and his wife as a fury with a hellish disposition. Milon says that he must leave here in a few hours. Milon says that he is in love and his feeling is mutual, but he does not know where he is. this moment his beloved, and he is looking for her. Milon sees Sophia entering and says that this is his beloved.
Phenomenon 2
Sophia and Milon are happy to meet. Sophia complains that during the separation she had to endure a lot of troubles, in particular from relatives. She talks about how sycophantic Prostakova began to behave after learning about Starodum’s decision. Sophia says that Prostakova wants to marry her to Mitrofan. The girl conveys to Milon the words that she said to Prostakova - that her fate depends on the will of Starodum, that he promised to come himself in his letter.
Phenomenon 3
Skotinin arrives. He says his sister hastily sent him back to her village. He reports that Prostakova wants to marry him. Skotinin tells Sophia that she will live happily ever after with him. He wants to buy all the pigs with the girl's money. Pravdin says that Prostakova now wants to marry Mitrofan to Sophia. Skotinin threatens to beat Mitrofanushka when they meet.
Phenomenon 4
Mitrofanushka and Eremeevna appear. She persuades Mitrofan to learn “at least a little.” Skotinin calls Mitrofanushka to him. At first he threatens him, but he cannot understand what he has done wrong. Then Skotinin asks his nephew if he wants to get married. When Mitrofan answers that he wants, Skotinin rushes at him. Eremeevna stands up for Prostakova’s son.
Phenomenon 5
Both Prostakovs appear. Mitrofan's mother starts a conversation with Milon and Pravdin, complaining that her husband is a weakling and she has to run the household alone: ​​“I scold, then I fight; that’s how the house holds together.” Prostakova speaks flatteringly about Starodum. Pravdin notes that what is called rudeness and gloominess in him is a consequence of his straightforwardness. Prostakova notes that the only hope of her life is her son, whom she is preparing to become a human being.
Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin, Mitrofanushka’s teachers, appear. In Tsyfirkin, Milon recognizes a retired soldier from his garrison. Tsyfirkin tells Milon that he has been trying to teach Mitrofanushka fractions for three years now, but to no avail. Kuteikin reports that he did not study at the seminary because he “was afraid of the abyss of wisdom.”
Phenomenon 6
Mrs. Prostakova asks Mitrofan to read the assignment. He doesn’t read, complains about his uncle, says that he wanted to beat him. Prostakova scolds Eremeevna for not standing up for her son. Eremeevna makes excuses. Prostakova and Mitrofan leave. Kuteikin feels sorry for Eremeevna and asks how she is paid for her work. Eremeevna: “Five rubles a year, and five slaps a day.”
Act three

Phenomenon 1
Pravdin and Starodum warmly greet each other. Starodum says that he received a good upbringing, which his father gave him. His father constantly repeated that you need to have a soul, a heart, and then you will be a man at any time. Starodum tells how he served and fought. He notes that ranks are often begged for, but real respect must be earned. After Starodum's resignation, he is invited to the court. But court life does not suit him. He decided that it was better to live at home than “in someone else’s hallway.”
Phenomenon 2
Sophia appears. Starodum explains the reason for his arrival: he learned that Sophia lives here against her will. Starodum admits that only this girl is a consolation in his old age, and he must take care of her. He says that he made a big fortune in Siberia and Sophia can now choose a groom, even a poor one. The girl replies that Starodum’s will is law for her. He tells Pravdin that it is not the presence of money that determines whether a person is good. There is a noise.
Phenomenon 3
Prostakova and Skotinin fight and Milon appears, who separates them. Starodum laughs, looking at the fighting, and says that he has never seen anything funnier. Prostakova attacks Starodum. She says that she is fighting because Skotinin offended her son.
She finds out that Sophia’s uncle is in front of her, and immediately changes her tone, calling Starodum “her own father,” that all hope lies in him.
Phenomenon 4
At Prostakova’s call, Eremeevna appears. Prostakova says that she called Palashka. Eremeevna replies that she is sick and has a fever. Prostakova is furious: “He’s delusional, you beast! As if noble.” She is fussing about the arrival of an important guest.
Phenomenon 5
Prostakova, Prostakov and Mitrofan rush to hug Starodum. Introducing themselves. They behave servilely. Starodum tells Sophia that tomorrow he is leaving with her for Moscow. Prostakova is discouraged by the news. Starodum says that he has a groom in mind for Sophia. Milon and Sophia are amazed. Starodum tells Sophia that she herself is free in her choice. Skotinin begins to praise himself in the hope that the girl will choose him. Prostakova describes the merits of her son. She says that they spare no money to teach him, that he doesn’t get up for days because of the book. Represents Mitrofanushka's teachers. Starodum says that he is not able to appreciate the merits of her son, and leaves to rest after the trip.
Phenomenon 6
Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin discuss their lives. They complain about Mitrofan, to whom teaching is not given. They come to the conclusion that Vralman is preventing them from working with the undergrowth. They decide to teach the German a lesson.
Phenomenon 7
Prostakova asks Mitrofan to study, at least “for show.” Mitrofan says famous phrase: “I don’t want to study, I want to get married.” Tsyfirkin tries to teach a lesson, but Mitrofan is rude, and Prostakova stands up for her son. Solving the problems was never successful. The lesson with Kuteikin is also fruitless.
Phenomenon 8
Vralman appears and begins to say that these teachers want to kill the child. Prostakova agrees with him and releases Tsyfirkin and Kuteikin. Vralman tries his best to convince Prostakova that Mitrofanushka is doing well even without this study. The lady favors Vralman: he knows how to say what she will be pleased to hear. He says that Mitrofan will be able to see the world and show himself, and so on.
Phenomenon 9
Kuteikin and Tsyfirkin lie in wait for Vralman. They quarrel with him, and then attack him with beatings.
Act four

Phenomenon 1
Sophia is waiting for Starodum, reading a book, thinking.
Phenomenon 2
Starodum appears. He gives Sophia advice that she needs to be able to distinguish between people. Starodum says that people envy not only nobility and wealth, but also virtue. He calls on Sophia to listen to her conscience, which warns a person before the judge punishes. Good character gives value to the mind. Clever man without it he is a monster.
Phenomenon 3
The valet arrives and presents a letter from Moscow to Starodum.
Phenomenon 4
Starodum reflects that he does not know Milo, but if his uncle says that this fair man, then he can become Sophia's fiance.
Phenomenon 5
Starodum tells Sophia that the letter is mostly for her - we're talking about, perhaps about her future husband.
Phenomenon 6
Milon and Pravdin appear. Pravdin introduces Milon to the Starodum. It turns out that this is the same young man mentioned in the letter addressed to Starodum. Starodum likes Milon, and he is glad that Sophia chose him.
Phenomenon 7
Skotinin appears. He insists that Sophia marry him. Starodum laughs at him.
Phenomenon 8
Prostakova, Prostakov, Mitrofan and Eremeevna appear. Mitrofan demonstrates his “successes” in his studies. He says that "door" is an adjective because it is attached to its place. And that door that stands by the closet has not yet been hung is still a noun.
Prostakova herself considers science to be an empty and useless activity - “people live and have lived without science.”
Phenomenon 9
Mrs. Prostakova asks Starodum if Mitrofan is Sofya’s fiancé. He replies that no and that she has already agreed. Prostakova decides to forcibly marry Sophia to Mitrofan.
Act five

Phenomenon 1
Pravdin shows Starodum the package that arrived the day before. Starodum replies that he now has a way to stop Prostakova’s inhumanity. Pravdin and Starodum say that a sovereign worthy of the throne must elevate the souls of his subjects. There is a noise.
Phenomenon 2
Sophia rushes to Starodum asking for protection - they tried to forcibly take her away. Eremeevna admits that they were going to marry Sophia and Mitrofanushka.
Phenomenon 3
Prostakova and Mitrofan ask Starodum for forgiveness.
Phenomenon 4
Starodum says that he forgives the landowner. Prostakova threatens all her servants with reprisals - they were sluggish in the kidnapping matter. Pravdin says that in the name of the government he orders a gathering of peasants and people to announce an order that for the inhumanity of the landowner Prostakova, the government orders him to take custody of the village and her house. Prostakova believes that this is death for her.
Phenomenon 5
Mrs. Prostakova just can’t come to her senses - she’s no longer the housewife. own home. She says that she has a lot of debts - she has not yet paid the teachers. The teachers are called.
Phenomenon 6
Starodum recognizes his former coachman in the geography teacher Vralman. They pay off debts to teachers. Vralman is again hired as a coachman for Starodum.
Phenomenon 7
The valet reports that the carriage is ready.
The last phenomenon
Starodum says goodbye to Pravdin. They are about to leave. Mrs. Prostakova tells her son that he is the only one left with her. Mitrofan replies: “Go away, mother.” Then Prostakova faints.
This concludes “Undergrowth” (summary of actions).

Book materials used: Zubova E.N., Moshenskaya O.V. and other works school curriculum V summary. LLC "House of Slavic Book", 2015

The topic of today's story is the history of the creation and analysis of Fonvizin's "Minor". The work of the author of Catherine’s era has not lost its relevance today. Fonvizin’s comedy “Nedorosl” was included in the fund classical literature. This work touches on a number of problems and issues that attract readers at all times.

Analysis of Fonvizin’s “Nedorosl” should include brief description heroes of this dramatic work. It is also worth talking about the idea of ​​the Russian writer. What inspired Fonvizin to write a comedy that has been popular for more than two hundred years? What shortcomings of society did the author primarily want to ridicule in his essay? And what was the reaction of contemporaries to this work? The answers to all these questions are contained in the article. But before we begin to analyze Fonvizin’s “The Minor,” we should talk about the main events depicted in the play.

Actions, as in any other dramatic work of the era of classicism, take place over the course of just one day.

The events take place in the village of the Prostakov landowners. What is the meaning of the title of the comedy “Minor” by Fonvizin? Even without knowing the meaning of this word, you can guess that it has a negative connotation. The meaning of the title of Fonvizin’s comedy “The Minor” should be sought in the realities of the 18th century. The writer's contemporaries used this term in relation to young nobles who did not receive a special certificate indicating that they had received an education. This document was issued by the teacher. If the young man did not have a certificate, he was not accepted into the service and was not allowed to marry.

The son is called a minor in the comedy main character- landowner Prostakova. The work begins with a scene taking place in her house. Prostakova is angry with Trishka because he sewed a caftan that was too wide for her son Mitrofanushka. She does not take into account the fact that the servant does not have the necessary skills in tailoring, and giving him such instructions was initially a mistake.

A sixteen-year-old boy does not show much zeal in his studies, which is facilitated by the lack of education and stupidity of his mother. We'll tell you more about these characters later. First, the author introduces readers to Sophia, the positive heroine of the work.

The girl has not been living in Prostakova’s house for long. She is a relative of a landowner, and she has no fortune. At least that’s what Prostakova believes. But one day Sophia receives a letter from her uncle Starodum. Mrs. Prostakova is not able to read the message because she has not been taught to read and write. Pravdin, having read the letter, gives her a summary. In Fonvizin’s “The Minor,” this hero, along with Starodum, is a supporter of enlightenment.

What is the letter Sophia received about? Starodum writes to his niece that he will bequeath her a huge fortune. This excites almost all the characters in the comedy. Prostakova believed that the girl was an orphan. But unexpected turn events suggests that Starodum’s niece can be married off to the careless Mitrofan.

Skotinin also begins to dream about marrying Sophia. However, Sophia's heart is occupied. She is in love with officer Milon, whom she met in Moscow before she was orphaned. Soon she will meet young man again, and he will save her from the claims of the selfish Skotinin and the despotic Prostakova.

Starodum comes to the small town where the main events take place. He recognizes one of Mitrofanushka’s teachers as his former coachman. The teachers of Prostakova’s son deserve special attention.

Kuteikin is a half-educated seminarian. Tsyfirkin is a retired sergeant. Vralman, whose surname speaks of his human qualities very eloquently, Mitrofanushka does not teach anything, because he himself knows little. As already mentioned, he previously worked as a coachman. But he was fired suitable job I couldn’t find one, so I became a teacher. Prostakova does not notice that Vralman is incompetent in teaching, since she herself is extremely ignorant.

History of writing

Fonvizin’s idea for the comedy “The Minor” arose in 1778. The Russian writer spent more than a year in France, where he studied jurisprudence and philosophy. He observed how European aristocrats lived and came to a rather disappointing conclusion: Russian nobility mired in inertia and ignorance. Upon returning home, Fonvizin began writing the work. It took him more than three years.

The idea of ​​the comedy “Minor” by Fonvizin was very original at that time. The writer sought to ridicule the shortcomings of typical representatives of the landowner class. It is not surprising that both in Moscow and St. Petersburg his comedy for a long time refused to install.

Criticism of contemporaries

The theme of Fonvizin's comedy "The Minor" seemed interesting to the censors, but there were too many bold remarks in it. The premiere of the play took place in 1782. Fonvizin's work was a stunning success. True, the theater on whose stage the play was staged was almost closed. In addition, the comedy displeased Catherine II.

Idea of ​​the work

The spiritual decay of representatives of the nobility under serfdom is the main theme of the comedy discussed in this article. According to Fonvizin, pedagogical methods determine the moral character of an entire generation. In the 18th century, landowners often entrusted the upbringing of their children to half-educated sextons, illiterate nannies, and foreigners with dubious education. Such “teachers” are only capable of teaching young men like Mitrofanushka - central character Fonvizin's comedy "The Minor".

The author of this work showed, using simple examples, that the nobles for the most part do not remember either honor or dignity. They do not serve the interests of the state, do not comply with moral and state laws. Sharpness dramatic work Fonvizin is given the victory of good over evil, which, however, is of a random nature. If Starodum had not returned from Siberia on time, and Pravdin had not received orders to take Prostakova’s property, everything would not have ended so well for Sophia. She would not have left the city with the young, educated officer Milon, but would have become the wife of the stupid Mitrofanushka.

Characters

The system of images in Fonvizin’s “Nedorosl” is quite simple. Heroes are divided into positive and negative, almost all of them have speaking names: Vralman, Starodum, Pravdin. Negative characters- representatives of the old nobility, trying with all their might to hold on to outdated ideas serfdom. They are opposed by heroes who support the ideas of the Enlightenment - Pravdin, Sophia, Milon, Starodum.

Positive and negative heroes

Among the characters in the comedy, several dual pairs can be distinguished. So, Sophia is opposed to Mitrofanushka. Starodum is an adherent of educational views. This is a man of new times. And therefore he represents the opposite of the landowner Prostakova. Milo is opposed to Skotinin. If the first is educated and brought up and has sincere feelings for Sophia, then the second wants to marry the girl for selfish reasons. Skotinin dreams of acquiring land where he will be actively involved in livestock farming, namely raising pigs.

Mitrofanushka

An analysis of Fonvizin’s “Minor” cannot do without a description of this bright character. The stupid spoiled young man is absolutely unprepared for independent life. His mother, servants or nannies do everything for him. From Prostakova, the boy adopts an uncontrollable passion for money. He, like his mother, is rude and disrespectful to his family. Mitrofanushka inherited his weak-willedness from his father. A sixteen-year-old boy does not want to study, but wants to get married. He is the opposite of Sophia, an educated, serious, intelligent girl with a difficult fate.

Prostakova

When analyzing Fonvizin’s “Minor,” you should pay attention to the negative heroine. Prostakova is an uneducated, stupid woman, but at the same time very cunning. She is a practical housewife and loving mother. For Prostakova, Mitrofanushka’s carefree future and happiness come above all else. But in education she commits fatal mistakes, because he knows nothing about the correct pedagogical methods. She treats her son the way her parents once treated her. In running the household and raising her son, the landowner uses exhausted values ​​and ideas.

Starodum

When analyzing Fonvizin’s “Minor”, ​​special attention should be paid to the hero, symbolizing educational ideas, which few knew about in Russia in the 18th century. Starodum communicates with Sophia in a completely different way than Prostakova communicates with Mitrofanushka. He uses completely different methods of education. Talking with Sophia as an equal, she instructs and gives advice based on her wealth of experience. Knowing nothing about Sophia’s feelings for Milon, he does not make decisions for her. Starodum wants his niece to marry a smart, educated officer, but does not impose his views on her.

In this image, the author depicted his ideal of a teacher and parent. Starodum - authoritative strong personality, who has come a worthy way. For modern readers this hero, of course, is not an ideal educator. But Fonvizin’s contemporaries, inspired by educational ideas, were greatly impressed by him.