The famous comedy "Woe from Wit" A.S. Griboedova was created after the Patriotic War of 1812, when a period of spiritual recovery began in Russia. Therefore, this work discusses the most pressing public topics and issues of public service, serfdom, upbringing and education, imitation of everything abroad and contempt for their nationality.
Chatsky's character
The character of one of the main characters of this work - Chatsky - is quite simple, but his emotional portrait is very diverse, but in general he portrays Chatsky as a positive person who is maximal in all his actions and feelings. He has an extraordinary mind, seeking knowledge and perfection, and has a very ambitious disposition. Chatsky’s attitude to the service should be viewed through the prism of the fact that he was an enlightened man and could soberly assess the problems of politics. He did not remain indifferent when oppressed Russian culture and raised the issue of human pride and honor. However, Chatsky did not understand love affairs at all, was constantly eager for battle, and soon, as usual, was disappointed.
Biography of Chatsky
In order to expand on such a topic as Chatsky’s attitude to service, first you need to figure out who he is. So, Alexander Andreevich is a young nobleman whose late father was a friend of Famusov. He returns from abroad to Moscow to see his beloved Sofia Famusova, whom he had not seen for three years. As children, they were friends and loved each other, but Sofia could not forgive Chatsky for his unexpected departure abroad, which he departed without even notifying her about it. And so their meeting was held in a cold and indifferent atmosphere because of Sophia.
Griboedov’s prototype of Chatsky was Pyotr Chaadaev, who sharply criticized the Russian government and was declared insane because of his writings. His works in the Russian Empire were banned and not published.
Chatsky's attitude to service
Why did Chatsky’s entire conflict with society flare up? It all started with a conversation with Molchalin. Chatsky cannot understand how Sophia could fall in love with such a person. When guests arrive at Famusov’s house, Chatsky manages to communicate with everyone, and with each such conversation the confrontation will increase.
Chatsky openly opposes serfdom and against those people who are considered the "pillars" of the noble society, for example, such as Famusov. He also hates the orders of the Catherine’s age.
Chatsky considers himself a free and independent person who is alien to slavish affiliation. But Famusov and his whole society are the nobles of the Catherine’s age and special “hunters to impersonate”.
Chatsky’s attitude to the service is negative, and therefore he leaves the service. Chatsky with great desire could serve the homeland, but he does not want to serve the authorities, while in the secular society of Famusov there is an opinion that serving individuals and not business is a source of personal benefits.
Attitude to wealth, ranks, etc.
Chatsky’s attitude to ranks and wealth is different in that he wants a person to be evaluated according to his personal qualities and merits. He recognizes the freedom of thought of every person in his statements and beliefs. In turn, secular society does not regard these progressive views of the hero, it evaluates people according to the noble origin and the number of serfs. And the opinion of high society is holy and infallible. Chatsky advocates the enlightenment of the country in literature and art through scientific work, for the unity of the secular intelligentsia with the common people and against imitation of foreigners.
But Famusian society is more comfortable without books and teachings; it slavishly imitates everything abroad, especially French.
In love, Chatsky seeks sincerity of feelings, and in the upper world there is pretense and marriage at a good price.