It is worth noting that many heroes of the play by A. S. Griboedov “Woe from Wit”, written in 1824, wear comedy masks. However, this is only the surface layer of its voluminous plot. And one of the most important guests who visited Famusov’s house was Sergey Sergeyevich Skalozub - to the marrow of the bones a military man who is in the rank of colonel, who is rapidly moving up the career ladder. He is very boastful and proud, and he is promoted in the service, often using his own comrades. Characterization of Puffer is not too flattering. She even makes a kind of parody of the so-called ranks.
Puffer Characteristic
As a potential bridegroom of Sophia, the maid Liza hints at him at the very beginning of the act. She says he is "a golden bag and marks the generals." Most likely, it was for his sake that Famusov also arranges a ball to introduce him to the guests and especially important socialite Khlestova, who, however, did not like him at all due to the lack of subservient humility and flattering, and he was too tall.
However, all the biographical data of Skalozub are very favorably presented and distinguish him from the impoverished nobleman Chatsky. After all, he is rich, bluntly and expressively expresses himself that, of course, does not fit into the tone of secular courtesy, but, according to others, this does not harm at all. It would be foolish to underestimate the influence of the colonel in the Moscow milieu. He is supported and recognized by secular society.
Puffer: characteristic. "Woe from Wit"
The culmination was the announcement of Colonel Skalozub that schools, lyceums and gymnasiums would soon be converted to a barracks model. He says: “They will only teach in our way: one, two; and books will be kept for great occasions. " But Famusov went further and offered to just burn books.
The quotation from Skalozub says a lot. In general, such a character as Skalozub is a collective image in which contemporaries of that time recognized either the division colonel Frolov, then the Grand Duke Nikolai Pavlovich (the future Russian emperor), etc.
The characteristic of Skalozub is not at all pleasing; he has in the first place a drill, commander’s orders, barracks, ranks. In conversation with Khlestova, he becomes talkative when it comes to the differences between all regiments in their fleeces, uniforms and buttonholes on their uniforms. It’s already clear that he’s not interested in anything else, and he can’t talk coherently, he’s only capable of embellishing secular gossip. By the way, the colonel gossips with great pleasure about the princess. In his conversations, military terms such as distance, feldwebel, rank, etc., slip over and over, and even where there is no talk of military life.
Colonel Skalozub
When Famusov asks him about Nastasya Nikolaevna, whom she tells him, he succinctly replies: "I don’t know, it’s my fault, we didn’t serve her together." But when they start talking about Moscow and Muscovites, Famusov praises everything, Chatsky, on the contrary, denounces, and Skalozub about Moscow notes only a few words that are usual for his concept: "Distances of enormous size."
The colonel tries to be polite with the owner of the house, Famusov, but he does not stand on ceremony with others and can even express himself sharply. Famusov and Skalozub have common views on the service and ranks, however, mentally and intellectually, the latter loses a lot to the first, which is rather intelligent, observant and eloquent.
Sophia, speaking about Skalozub, says that he cannot say the words of a clever, he only says “about the fruit and ranks”, and Lisa agrees with her: “It hurts not cunning”. This quotation characterization of Skalozub speaks for itself.
The mood of the Russian army
The characterization of Skalozub suggests that he studied military affairs at the Prussian-Pavlovsk school of the Russian army, which was very hated by many noble officers of that time, distinguished by free thought, because they were brought up on the testaments of the great commanders Suvorov and Kutuzov. And, which is characteristic, Griboedov contrasts Skalozub with his cousin, who became a representative of the Russian army in a different environment, that part of the officers from which the Decembrist officers left. After the war of 1812-1814, he resigned and went to his village to "read books."
Freethinking
Decembrist P. Kakhovsky testifies to the veracity of this interesting image. He writes that many of these retirees, with their very modest incomes, themselves learn and educate others in their rural houses.
What does the brief description of Skalozub speak about? The fact that at that time many advanced officers resigned, this was also due to the fact that the army was strengthening the Arakcheev regime, which pursued free-thinking and imposed a stupid military drill and servile submission. This became a form of protest, and therefore it was not without reason that the Famusovs looked at the young and non-serving nobles with disapproval. Now it’s clear that in the world of the Famusian aristocracy, besides Famusov and Skalozub himself, there are also servile and attentive officials like Molchalin.
Now we can hope that much will be clear when considering such a person as Skalozub. The characterization (“Woe from Wit” - a work that is included in the school literature program) of this hero was presented in this article.