Description of the heroes of the undergrowth table. Characteristics of heroes. "Undergrown" - satirical comedy

The main characters of the comedy "Minor"

Creating Character Prostakova, D. I. Fonvizin conveys the complexity and inconsistency of human nature. The playwright seeks to provide a “service to humanity” by showing it what the nature of a person is, even an insignificant, evil person who enjoys his right to offend other people. Hating slavery and despising serf-owners, D.I. Fonvizin loved man and grieved when he saw the abuse of him, no matter in what forms it manifested itself.

Prostakova is a rude, despotic and at the same time cowardly, greedy and vile nature, representing the brightest type of Russian landowner, at the same time revealed as an individual character - the cunning and cruel sister of Skotinin, a power-hungry, calculating wife who tyrannizes her husband, a mother who loves without his mind Mitrofanushka. And this individual characteristic allows us to show all the terrible, human-disfiguring power of serfdom. All the great, human and holy feelings of Prostakova are distorted. That's why even love for a son is the most strong passion Prostakova - is unable to ennoble her feelings, because it manifests itself in base, animal forms. Her motherly love is deprived human beauty and spirituality.

The denouement to which D. I. Fonvizin’s comedy leads was conventional. Actions Pravdina, government official who carried out the will of " supreme authority", were not confirmed by the Russian reality of that time. They reflected only the moods and aspirations of a certain part of the enlightened nobility and therefore were perceived as advice to the government about possible way regulation of relations between landowners and peasants. Because of this, the image of Pravdin in the comedy was not real, but conditional, ideal.

The image is more vibrant Starodum. But he also represents a rare phenomenon among the nobility, judging by the attitude of Pravdin, Milon, and Sophia towards him. They see in him not an ordinary nobleman, but a person with special “rules”. And indeed it is. The image of Starodum is associated in the comedy with the expression of the ideas of that part of the progressive nobility that was in opposition to Catherine’s rule and condemned her actions. Externally, Starodum’s dialogues with positive characters were based on a discussion of problems of morality and education, but on the issues raised in them and coverage different sides public life they were broader and contained criticism of the depravity of the modern court (“a crowd of stingy flatterers”), a condemnation of the monarch, whose soul is not always “great,” “to take the path of truth and never stray from it.” Indignation was caused by the abuse of serfdom (“to oppress one’s own kind is unlawful”) and the first estate’s oblivion of its duties.

Although Starodum and Pravdin could not realize their ideals in social practice, their judgments, taken together, made the comedy ideologically consonant with political tragedy. This was the new thing that the playwright introduced with the images of Starodum and Pravdin into the structure of “The Minor.” The comedy was given a socio-political orientation.

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. By at least, Prostakova believes so. 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, tells her 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 oh, very eloquently, Mitrofanushka doesn’t 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 lines 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, about which we're talking about 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 majority of nobles 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 are 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. Milon 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, a 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.

In Russia: statesmen, nobles, serf owners, servants, self-proclaimed fashionable teachers. The main characters: the ignorant Mitrofanushka himself and his mother, the 18th-century lady-serf-owner - Mrs. Prostakova, who controls everything and everyone - in her hands and the household with courtyard servants, who she does not consider as people, and own husband, whom, without hesitation, she can beat, and the upbringing of her son Mitrofan - in fact, she is not burdened with his upbringing and education, but only diligently fulfills the fashionable conventions of society and her position in it: “I scold, then I fight, that’s how the house holds up.” "

A minor is a young nobleman who has not received a written certificate of training from his teacher. Minors were not accepted into the service, they were not given the so-called. coronal memorials - documents permitting marriage.

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  Fonvizin’s idea was formed at the end of 1778 after returning from France, where he spent about a year and a half getting acquainted with jurisprudence, philosophy and social life a country that gave the world advanced educational doctrines. Work on the “minor” will take the writer about three years and will be completed in 1782. There is also a text, presumably from the early 1760s, on the same topic and with the same title, but different characters and plot (the so-called “Early “Undergrowth””); it is unknown whether this play belongs to the young Fonvizin or to some of his anonymous predecessors.

  Characters

  • Prostakov- head of the family. The person himself is “small” and weak. He tries to please his wife in everything: “Before your eyes, mine see nothing,” he says at the beginning of the work, when she asks about the caftan. Loves his son. “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.” Can't read. When he is asked to read the letter sent to Sophia, he only replies: “It’s tricky.”
  • Mrs. Prostakova- his wife, chief negative character plays. He loves his son very much and strives to marry him to Sophia after he learns about her inheritance. She is a noblewoman, which is why she believes that everything is allowed to her.
  • Mitrofan- their son, a runt. Quite a slack boy.
  • Eremeevna- “mother” (that is, nurse) of Mitrofan.
  • Pravdin- a government official called upon to understand the affairs of the Prostakovs. He learns about Prostakova’s atrocities, as well as the fact that she is robbing Sophia. With the help of Starodum and Milon, he incriminates Prostakova and takes away her estate in favor of the state.
  • Starodum- Sophia's uncle and guardian. It was because of his condition that Prostakova tried to marry Mitrofan to Sophia.
  • Sophia- Starodum’s niece, an honest, decent, educated and kind girl.
  • Milo- a young officer, Sophia’s lover, it was he who prevented her kidnapping.
  • Skotinin- brother of Mrs. Prostakova. He wants to marry Sophia. Loves pigs.
  • Kuteikin- former seminarian, teacher of Mitrofan.
  • Tsyfirkin- retired sergeant, teacher of Mitrofan.
  • Vralman- a German, a former coachman, but pretends to be a scientist. Hired to teach Mitrofan “French and all sciences,” but in fact he doesn’t teach anything, but only interferes with other teachers.
  • Trishka- self-taught tailor.
  • Prostakov's servant.
  • Starodum's valet.

  Productions

  The production of "The Minor" was associated with many difficulties. Having been refused in St. Petersburg, the playwright traveled to Moscow in May 1782 with the actor I. A. Dmitrevsky. But here, too, failure awaits him: the “Moscow Russian theater censor,” frightened by the boldness of many of the lines, does not allow the comedy to go on stage.

  A few months later, Fonvizin still managed to “break through” the production of the comedy: on September 24, 1782, the premiere took place in St. Petersburg (Free Russian Theater, also known as the Karl Knieper Theater), where the role of Starodum was played by I. A. Dmitrevsky himself, Pravdina by K. I Gamburov, Tsyfirkina - A. M. Krutitsky, Skotinina - S. E. Rakhmanov. About the extraordinary success of the play “The Minor” during its first production on stage in Volny Russian Theater on Tsaritsyn Meadow, the unknown author of the “Dramatic Dictionary” testified: “The theater was incomparably filled, and the audience applauded the play by throwing purses.”

  The success of "Minor" was enormous. It was staged by university students on their stage. Many amateur productions appeared.

  In 1926, director Grigory Roshal made the film “Gentlemen Skotinin” based on it.

  The meaning of comedy

  Fonvizin's comedy was read and studied by all subsequent generations - from Pushkin, Gogol, Lermontov to our time. The meaning of the play is enduring:

  • “Everything in this comedy seems to be a monstrous caricature of everything Russian. And yet there is nothing caricatured about it: everything was taken alive from nature...” (N.V. Gogol).
  • “His fools are very funny and disgusting, but this is because they are not creations of fantasy, but too faithful lists from nature” (V. G. Belinsky) (quote: Study of the comedy “Minor”).

  However, Catherine II understood the freedom-loving significance of the work, which dared to offend state and social foundations. “After the publication of a number of satirical works in 1783, Fonvizin’s attempts to publish anything in print were suppressed by the empress herself. In the last decade of her reign, Catherine II openly followed the path of cruel reaction, of which Fonvizin also became a victim. Despite serious illness, he was eager for activity. In 1788, he decided to publish the magazine “Friend of Honest People, or Starodum”, received permission and began to prepare material, but by order of Catherine the magazine was banned. Shortly before his death, Fonvizin asked Catherine for permission to publish a translation of Tacitus, but permission was not given.” He played the role of Prostakova in student performances.

• Thanks to “Nedoroslya” the name Mitrofanushka, like the word itself undergrowth, has become a household word for an ignorant, ignorant or half-educated person.
• The work was written in the village of Strelino (now Solnechnogorsk district of the Moscow region).
• In the materials for the magazine "Friend of Honest People, or Starodum" there are two letters that represent plot continuation“The Minor”: Sophia’s letter to Starodum with a complaint that Milon married her and soon cheated on her, falling in love with a “contemptuous woman,” and Starodum’s response letter, comforting his niece.

Let's look at the features of the comedy created by Fonvizin ("The Minor"). Analysis of this work is the topic of this article. This play is a masterpiece Russian literature 18th century. This work is included today in the collection of Russian classical literature. It affects whole line "eternal problems". And the beauty of the high style still attracts many readers today. The name of this play is associated with the decree issued by Peter I, according to which “minors” (young nobles) are prohibited from entering the service and getting married without education.

History of the play

Back in 1778, the idea of ​​this comedy arose from its author, who was Fonvizin. “The Minor,” the analysis of which interests us, was written in 1782 and presented to the public in the same year. We should briefly highlight the time of creation of the play that interests us.

During the reign of Catherine II, Fonvizin wrote "The Minor". The analysis of the heroes presented below proves that they were heroes of their time. The period in the development of our country is associated with the dominance of ideas. They were borrowed by the Russians from the French enlighteners. The dissemination of these ideas and their great popularity among the educated philistines and nobility was largely facilitated by the empress herself. She is known to have corresponded with Diderot, Voltaire, and d’Alembert. In addition, Catherine II opened libraries and schools, and supported the development of art and culture in Russia through various means.



Continuing to describe the comedy that D.I. Fonvizin created ("The Minor"), analyzing its features, it should be noted that, as a representative of his era, the author, of course, shared the ideas that dominated the noble society at that time. He tried to reflect them in his work, exposing not only the positive aspects to readers and viewers, but also pointing out misconceptions and shortcomings.

"Minor" - an example of classicism



Analysis of the comedy "Minor" by Fonvizin requires considering this play as part cultural era and literary tradition. This work is considered one of the best examples of classicism. There is unity of action in the play (there are no secondary plot lines in it, only the struggle for Sophia’s hand and her property is described), place (the characters do not move long distances, all events take place either near the Prostakovs’ house or inside it), and time ( All events take no more than a day). In addition, he used “speaking” surnames, which are traditional for the classic play, Fonvizin (“Minor”). The analysis shows that, following tradition, he divided his characters into positive and negative. The positive ones are Pravdin, Starodum, Milon, Sophia. They are contrasted with Prostakov, Mitrofan, Skotinin by D.I. Fonvizin (play “The Minor”). An analysis of their names shows that they make it clear to the reader which features are prevalent in the image of a particular character. For example, the personification of morality and truth in the work is Pravdin.

A new genre of comedy, its features



At the time of its creation, “Minor” became an important step forward in the development of literature in our country, in particular drama. Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin created a new socio-political. It harmoniously combines a number of realistic scenes depicted with sarcasm, irony, and laughter from the life of some ordinary representatives of high society (nobility) with sermons about morality, virtue, and the need to cultivate human qualities that were characteristic of the Enlightenment. Instructive monologues do not burden the perception of the play. They complement this work, as a result of which it becomes deeper.

First action

The play, the author of which is Fonvizin (“Minor”), is divided into 5 acts. Analysis of a work involves a description of the organization of the text. In the first act we meet the Prostakovs, Pravdin, Sophia, Mitrofan, Skotinin. The characters' personalities emerge immediately, and the reader understands that Skotinin and the Prostakovs - and Sophia and Pravdin - are positive. In the first act there is an exposition and plot of this work. In the exhibition we get to know the characters, we learn that Sophia lives in the care of the Prostakovs, who is going to be married off to Skotinin. Reading the letter from Starodum is the beginning of the play. Sophia now turns out to be a rich heiress. Any day now, her uncle is returning to take the girl to his place.

Development of events in the play created by Fonvizin (“Minor”)

We will continue the analysis of the work with a description of how events developed. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th acts are their development. We meet Starodum and Milon. Prostakova and Skotinin are trying to please Starodum, but their flattery, falsity, lack of education and enormous thirst for profit only repels them. They look stupid and funny. The funniest scene in this work is the questioning of Mitrofan, during which the stupidity of not only this young man, but also his mother is revealed.

Climax and denouement

Act 5 - climax and denouement. It should be noted that researchers have different opinions about what moment should be considered the climax. There are 3 most popular versions. According to the first, this is the kidnapping of Sophia Prostakova, according to the second, Pravdin’s reading of a letter, which says that Prostakova’s estate is coming under his care, and, finally, the third version is Prostakova’s rage after she realizes her own powerlessness and tries to “get back "on his servants. Each of these versions is fair, since it examines the work of interest to us from different points of view. The first, for example, highlights storyline, dedicated to Sophia’s marriage. An analysis of the episode of Fonvizin’s comedy “The Minor,” connected with marriage, indeed allows us to consider it key in the work. The second version examines the play from a socio-political point of view, highlighting the moment when justice prevails on the estate. The third focuses on the historical one, according to which Prostakova is the personification of the weakened principles and ideals of the old nobility that have become a thing of the past, who, however, still do not believe in their own defeat. This nobility, according to the author, is based on lack of enlightenment, lack of education, as well as low moral principles. During the denouement, everyone leaves Prostakova. She had nothing left. Pointing to it, Starodum says that these are “worthy fruits” of “evil morality.”

Negative characters



As we have already noted, the main characters are clearly divided into negative and positive. Mitrofan, Skotinin and Prostakovs are negative heroes. Prostakova is a woman seeking profit, uneducated, rude, and domineering. She knows how to flatter to gain benefits. However, Prostakova loves her son. Prostakov appears as the “shadow” of his wife. This is a weak-willed character. His word means little. Skotinin is the brother of Mrs. Prostakova. This is an equally uneducated and stupid person, quite cruel, like his sister, greedy for money. For him, a walk to the pigs barnyard- the best activity. Mitrofan is a typical son of his mother. This is a spoiled young man of 16 who inherited a love of pigs from his uncle.

Issues and heredity



In the play, it should be noted that Fonvizin (“The Minor”) devotes an important place to the issue of family ties and heredity. Analyzing this question, let's say, for example, that Prostakova is only married to her husband (a “simple” man who doesn’t want much). However, she is actually Skotinina, akin to her brother. Her son absorbed the qualities of both of his parents - “animal” qualities and stupidity from his mother and weak-willedness from his father.

Similar family ties can be traced between Sophia and Starodum. Both of them are honest, virtuous, educated. The girl listens to her uncle attentively, respects him, and “absorbs” science. Pairs of opposites create negative and goodies. The children are the spoiled, stupid Mitrofan and the meek, smart Sophia. Parents love children, but they approach their upbringing in different ways - Starodub talks about truth, honor, morality, and Prostakova only pampers Mitrofan and says that he will not need education. A pair of suitors - Milon, who sees an ideal and his friend in Sophia, who loves her, and Skotinin, who calculates the fortune that he will receive after marrying this girl. At the same time, he is not interested in Sophia as a person. Skotinin does not even try to provide his bride with comfortable housing. Prostakov and Pravdin are in fact the “voice of truth”, a kind of “auditors”. But in the person of the official we find active strength, help and real action, while Prostakov is a passive character. The only thing this hero could say was to reproach Mitrofan at the end of the play.

Issues raised by the author



Analyzing, it becomes clear that each of the above-described pairs of characters reflects a separate problem that is revealed in the work. This is a problem of education (which is complemented by the example of half-educated teachers like Kuteikin, as well as impostors such as Vralman), upbringing, fathers and children, family life, relationships between spouses, relations of nobles to servants. Each of these problems is examined through the prism of educational ideas. Fonvizin, sharpening his attention to the shortcomings of the era by using comic techniques, the emphasis is on the need to change outdated, traditional foundations that have become irrelevant. They drag people into the swamp of stupidity and evil, and liken people to animals.

As our analysis of Fonvizin’s play “The Minor” showed, main idea and the theme of the work is the need to educate the nobility in accordance with educational ideals, the fundamentals of which are still relevant today.

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“The Minor” is a play in five acts written by Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin. Cult dramatic work XVIII century and one of the most striking examples of classicism. It went into school curriculum, was repeatedly staged on the theatrical stage, received a screen embodiment, and its lines were disassembled into quotes, which today live independently of the original source, becoming aphorisms of the Russian language.

Plot: summary of the play “Minor”

The plot of “The Minor” is well known to everyone since school years, however, we will still recall a summary of the play in order to restore the sequence of events in our memory.




The action takes place in the village of Prostakovs. Its owners - Mrs. and Mr. Prostakov and their son Mitrofanushka - live quiet life provincial nobles. Also living on the estate is the orphan Sofyushka, whom the lady sheltered in her house, but, as it turns out, not out of compassion, but because of the inheritance, which she freely disposes of as a self-proclaimed guardian. In the near future, they plan to marry Sophia to Prostakova’s brother Taras Skotinin.




The mistress's plans collapse when Sophia receives a letter from her uncle Starodum, who was still considered dead. Stradum is alive and well and is going on a date with his niece, and he also reports a fortune of 10 thousand in income, which he passes on as an inheritance to his beloved relative. After such news, Prostakova begins to court Sophia, whom she has hitherto given little favor to, because now she wants to marry her to her beloved Mitrofan, and leave Skotinin with nothing.

Fortunately, Starodum turned out to be noble and an honest man wishing well for your niece. Moreover, Sophia already had a betrothed - officer Milon, who had just stopped with his regiment in the village of Prostakov. Starodub knew Milo and gave the young man his blessing.

In desperation, Prostakova tries to organize the kidnapping of Sophia and forcibly marry her to her son. However, even here the treacherous mistress suffers a fiasco - Milon saves his beloved on the night of the kidnapping.

Prostakova is generously forgiven and not put on trial, although her estate, which has long been a source of suspicion, is transferred to a state guardian. Everyone leaves and even Mitrofanushka leaves his mother, because he doesn’t love her, like, in general, no one else in the world.


Characteristics of heroes: positive and negative characters

As in any classic work, the characters in “The Minor” are clearly divided into positive and negative.

Negative heroes:

• Mrs. Prostakova is the mistress of the village;
• Mr. Prostakov is her husband;
• Mitrofanushka is the son of the Prostakovs, an undergrowth;
• Taras Skotinin is the brother of the Prostakovs.

Positive heroes:

• Sophia is an orphan, lives with the Prostakovs;
• Starodum is her uncle;
• Milon is an officer, Sophia’s lover;
• Pravdin is a government official who came to monitor affairs in the Prostakov village.

Minor characters:

• Tsyfirkin – arithmetic teacher;
• Kuteikin – teacher, former seminarian;
• Vralman is a former coachman, posing as a teacher;
• Eremevna is Mitrofan’s nanny.

Mrs. Prostakova

Prostakova is the brightest negative character, and indeed the most outstanding actor plays. She is the mistress of the Prostakov village and it is the mistress, who has completely suppressed her weak-willed husband, who establishes the lordly order and makes decisions.

At the same time, she is absolutely ignorant, has no manners, and is often rude. Prostakova, like other members of the family, cannot read and despises science. Mitrofanushka’s mother is involved in education only because this is how it is supposed to be in New World society, but true value does not understand knowledge.

In addition to ignorance, Prostakova is distinguished by cruelty, deceit, hypocrisy, and envy.

The only creature she loves is her son Mitrofanushka. However, the mother’s blind, absurd love only spoils the child, turning him into a copy of himself in a man’s dress.

Mr. Prostakov

The figurative owner of the Prostakov estate. In fact, everything is controlled by his domineering wife, of whom he is terribly afraid and does not dare say a word. Prostakov has long since lost own opinion and dignity. He cannot even say whether the caftan sewn by the tailor Trishka for Mitrofan is good or bad, because he is afraid to say something that is not what his mistress expects.


Mitrofan

Son of the Prostakovs, an undergrowth. His family lovingly calls him Mitrofanushka. Meanwhile, it’s time for this young man to go out into adult life, but he has absolutely no idea about it. Mitrofan is spoiled motherly love, he is capricious, cruel to servants and teachers, pompous, lazy. Despite many years of lessons with teachers, the young master is hopelessly stupid, he does not show the slightest desire for learning and knowledge.

And the worst thing is that Mitrofanushka is a terrible egoist; nothing matters to him except his own interests. At the end of the play, he easily leaves his mother, who loved him so unrequitedly. Even she is nothing to him.


Skotinin

Brother of Mrs. Prostakova. Narcissistic, narrow-minded, ignorant, cruel and greedy. Taras Skotinin has a great passion for pigs; the rest is of little interest to this narrow-minded person. He has no idea about family ties, heartfelt affection and love. Describing how well his future wife will heal, Skotinin only says that he will give her the best light. In his system of coordinates, this is precisely what marital happiness consists of.


Sophia

Positive female image works. A very well-mannered, kind, meek and compassionate girl. Sophia received a good education, she has an inquisitive mind and a thirst for knowledge. Even in the poisonous atmosphere of the Prostakovs’ house, the girl does not become like the owners, but continues to lead the lifestyle that she likes - she reads a lot, thinks, and is friendly and polite to everyone.


Starodum

Sophia's uncle and guardian. Starodum is the voice of the author in the play. His speeches are very aphoristic, he talks a lot about life, virtues, intelligence, law, government, modern society, marriage, love and other pressing issues. Starodum is incredibly wise and noble. Despite the fact that he clearly has a negative attitude towards Prostakova and others like her, Starodum does not allow himself to stoop to rudeness and outright criticism, and as for light sarcasm, his narrow-minded “relatives” cannot recognize it.


Milo

Officer, Sophia's lover. The image of a hero-protector, an ideal young man, a husband. He is very fair and does not tolerate meanness and lies. Milo was brave, not only in battle, but also in his speeches. He is devoid of vanity and low-minded prudence. All of Sophia’s “suitors” talked only about her condition, but Milon never mentioned that his betrothed was rich. He sincerely loved Sophia even before she had an inheritance, and therefore in his choice the young man was not guided by the size of the bride’s annual income.


“I don’t want to study, but I want to get married”: the problem of education in the story

The key problem of the work is the theme of provincial noble upbringing and education. Main character Mitrofanushka receives an education only because it is fashionable and “just the way it is.” In fact, neither he nor his ignorant mother understands the true purpose of knowledge. They should make a person smarter, better, serve him throughout his life and benefit society. Knowledge is gained through hard work and can never be forced into someone's head.

Mitrofan's home education is a dummy, a fiction, a provincial theater. For several years, the unfortunate student did not master either reading or writing. Mitrofan fails the comic test that Pravdin arranges with a bang, but because of his stupidity he cannot even understand this. He calls the word door an adjective, because it is supposedly attached to the opening, he confuses science history with the stories that Vralman tells him in abundance, and Mitrofanushka can’t even pronounce the word “geography”... it’s too tricky.

To show the grotesqueness of Mitrofan’s education, Fonvizin introduces the image of Vralman, who teaches “French and all sciences.” In fact, Vralman (that’s a telling name!) is not a teacher at all, but Starodum’s former coachman. He easily deceives the ignorant Prostakova and even becomes her favorite, because he professes his own teaching methodology - not to force the student to do anything through force. With such zeal as Mitrofan’s, the teacher and student are simply idle.

Education goes hand in hand with acquiring knowledge and skills. Mrs. Prostakova is mostly responsible for him. She methodically imposes her rotten morality on Mitrofan, who (here he is diligent here!) perfectly absorbs his mother’s advice. So, while solving a division problem, Prostakova advises her son not to share with anyone, but to take everything for himself. When talking about marriage, mother speaks only about the bride’s wealth, never mentioning spiritual affection and love. The young Mitrofan is not familiar with such concepts as courage, boldness, and valor. Despite the fact that he is no longer a baby, he is still looked after in everything. The boy can’t even stand up for himself during a clash with his uncle, he immediately starts calling his mother, and rushes at the offender with his fists old nanny Eremeevna.


The meaning of the name: two sides of the coin

The title of the play has a literal and figurative meaning.

Direct meaning titles
In the old days, minors were called teenagers, young men who had not yet reached adulthood and had not entered college. public service.

Figurative meaning titles
The immature was also the name given to a fool, an ignoramus, a narrow-minded and uneducated person, regardless of his age. WITH light hand Fonvizin, it is precisely this negative connotation that has become attached to the word in modern Russian.

Every person is reborn from a minor youth into an adult man. This is growing up, a law of nature. However, not everyone transforms from a dark, half-educated child into an educated, self-sufficient person. This transformation requires effort and perseverance.

Place in literature: Russian literature XVIII centuries → Russian dramaturgy XVIII century → Works of Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin → 1782 → The play “The Minor”.

“The Minor” is a play by D. I. Fonvizin. Analysis of the work, main characters

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