The comedy “Woe from Wit” will soon be 200 years old as an adornment of the repertoires of many theaters. Everyone remembers Chatsky's quotes. And everyone knows who wrote it. Diplomat and poet Griboedov, state adviser. For a more complete description of this personality, it should be recalled that this person, highly erudite and competent, was a hussar in temperament. He knew what it was to uphold the laws of honor, and he could defend it in a duel.
Griboedov - in the top three most educated people of Russia at the beginning of the XIX century
And Alexander Sergeevich was the most educated person of his time, who knew most of the languages of Europe and Asia. It is amazing to communicate fluently, except for the mother tongue, in German, French, Italian, English, Greek, Turkish, Arabic. In addition, he served in the great service of Russia as a virtuoso diplomat. The peace treaty he developed with Persia gave Russia 2 khanates. And in this sense, as contemporaries claimed, Griboedov alone was worth a 20,000th army. Despite the disgrace, even Emperor Alexander I could not help but ignore the award of the diplomat’s efforts. That was the power of his education and clear mind!
Is it surprising that the theme of enlightenment was voiced in the main work of the life of Alexander Griboedov? Chatsky’s attitude to education is thesis echoes the point of view of the diplomat-playwright himself. However, first we should imagine what Russia itself Griboedova was.
Uncultured, uneducated Russia at the beginning of the 19th century
According to the famous philosopher Berdyaev, the country of Russia was “a huge, immense peasant kingdom”, led by the local nobility, “uncultured and lazy,” as well as a powerful bureaucratic bureaucracy. At the same time, the layer of educated and cultural people was insignificant. Here is the answer why Chatsky’s expressed attitude to education causes such a negative of Famus society.
Indeed, even Emperor Alexander I, who came to power as a liberal pro-Western, at the time of writing the immortal comedy Griboedov led the anti-European opposition, approached religious mysticism.
Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov - patriot and citizen
What to do when the Famusian words “to collect and burn everything books” become the essence of the tacitly supported tsar of the reactionary position of officials and landlords? They are not only afraid of a remix of the French revolution in their homeland, they are afraid that they will be replaced by Russian authorities on Olympus.
That is why Chatsky’s attitude to education scares them: after all, literacy in the long run will cause a change in the country's course towards anti-serfdom, liberal.
Alexander Griboedov in his "seditious" comedy raises a really acute issue for Russia, which actually affects its future. Moreover, his interpretation of the proper level of the education system deserves close attention.
What Griboedov said through the lips of the main character of the comedy about learning
In 1816, in Russia, among educated military nobles, the Decembrists movement arose . These are those people who during the war with Napoleon saw the liberal life of Europe, noticed the dynamics of the development of Western democracies. They expected emperor Alexander I to adopt a constitution and abolish serfdom.
Chatsky's attitude to education actually coincides with the position of the Decembrists. We bring to your attention the appropriate phrases of the main character of the comedy.
The above-mentioned quotes by Chatsky are sharp and laconic! What did Alexander Sergeevich want to express with these phrases? It shows the failure of the current system of Russian noble education. Firstly, its ostentatious character. Pseudo-governesses were often unrecognized. By hiring them, without control there remained what they could really teach. Chatsky’s attitude towards education and enlightenment, despite his recent visit abroad, is pro-Russian. He does not consider it reasonable, for example, to blindly follow the experience of the Germans. Moreover, the young man is confident that the “smart and peppy” believing Russian people, possessing the instinct of truth, solve many internal problems more effectively than Western advisers.
Who opposes Chatsky on education
The local nobility enjoyed unlimited power over their serf slaves, regularly earning them income. Smart was the master, either stupid, educated or not - there was no difference. He was rich and completely commanded his subordinates. Did such a status create incentives for the local nobility to seriously study? Not at all.
Unlike the classic landowners, the nobles who were in the civil service were forced to have a certain education, although its criteria were, to put it mildly, low. The official is the same Famusov. The question arises: how much intelligence is needed to work with documents, following the principle of “signed, so out of sight”? The highest military rank is Skalozub. It is precisely his education and mental abilities that cause only regret ...
Famusov’s views are opposite to Chatsky’s
Chatsky’s zealous attitude to education and enlightenment, in which a pro-state position is felt, is faced with Famusov’s inert, primitive attitude. It seems that he was personally taught at one time (as Pushkin aptly said) “somehow”. However, this Moscow nobleman with an average fortune, not bothering to read books, does not spare time on empty secular formalities. And that is characteristic, his inner circle of familiar noblemen and officials is in solidarity with him.
Chatsky’s education, in contrast to Famusov and Molchalin, meets the standards of the “present century”. The author does not go into details, but mentions that Alexander Andreevich also went for the cordon in order to “gain some intelligence”.
Instead of a conclusion
However, Alexander Andreevich is not alone in his reverent attitude to education, as Chatsky’s analysis conducted by readers shows, the point of view of which is shared by comedy characters. This, for example, is mentioned by Skalozub, his cousin, Prince Fedor, a botanist and chemist, as well as a professor of the Moscow Pedagogical Institute, "practicing in schisms and unbelief".
Therefore, we do not perceive Chatsky’s departure from the Famus family home as a complete disregard for society’s views on education.