The political comedy “Woe from Wit”, the catchphrases of which people often use today in their speech, was relevant in the days of Griboedov and remained so in the 21st century. The author, with the help of vivid statements that he put into the mouth of the main characters, conveys a description of opportunists, careerists, unprincipled people who made up the majority in Russian society, and those who oppose them.
The image of Chatsky
The representative of progressive youth, striving for change, knowledge and reform is the main character of that time - Chatsky. It is to him that winged phrases exposing the inertness of the tsarist system belong to him in the drama Woe from Wit.
“I would be glad to serve, to be sick of sickness” - this is the position of a smart, educated person who has the desire to be useful, but not in demand in a retrograde society of a young man.
This phrase alone reveals the meaning of the life of contemporaries of Griboedov. People cannot make a career with their mind and achievements in the service. To receive new ranks, it is necessary to serve the highest ranks and be a sneak. In modern society, the same thing happens - nepotism, corruption, the purchase of ranks, as if the author wrote his work only yesterday.
For Chatsky, personal freedom is the main criterion that people should strive for, but, having arrived from abroad to Russia, he sees that "the houses are new and the prejudices are old." This was very characteristic of Griboedov's contemporaries, and is relevant today.
Under the guise of beautiful facades, in society itself there are no visible changes, there is no desire to change, to grow professionally and spiritually. At the head of all are money and power.
The image of the opportunists
In the play “Woe from Wit”, winged phrases and expressions characterize not only Chatsky, but also his antipode Molchalin.
Griboedov remarkably conveyed his “growth” from the rootless Tver tradesman to the secretary Famusov in the rank of assessor: “... he will reach the degrees of the well-known, because now they love the dumb”, - describes Molchalina Griboedov.
Adaptation, pleasing the highest ranks - nothing has changed since the writing of the comedy. In Woe from Wit, winged phrases (action 2) very clearly convey the characterization of that social system. In words, everyone wants change, but at the same time they condemn those who strive for them. “Tradition is fresh, but it is hard to believe,” - they say so today, when they hear reasoning about the need for reforms with the complete inaction of those in power.
Griboedov in his comedy in the image of Molchalin revealed the category of people who are ready to humiliate themselves for the sake of honors, and having achieved them, to humiliate and destroy others in their path.
Modern careerists are not much different from Skalozub, Molchalin and Famusov. “People give ranks” - so in the “Woe from Wit” winged phrases (3 action) convey the possibility of obtaining ranks, ranks and privileges.
Famus society
A separate object in the comedy “Woe from Wit” is considered to be a Famus society, which, as a selection, consists of careerists, opportunists, hypocrites and thieves.
Such vivid images as Skalozub, Famusov, Molchalin and Prince Tugoukhovsky are representatives of the environment in which Griboedov lived. “Friends found protection against the court, and the modern public elite also signs up for the clan.
In the play “Woe from Wit”, whose catchphrases are still relevant today, Griboedov pushed different representatives of society in the same house, revealing his “abscess”. Chatsky is alone with his ardent desire to change the life of society for the better. He has followers that are indirectly mentioned in the comedy, for example, Skalozub's cousin, who quit his military career and left for the estate to equip the life of serfs.
But there are too few such people to influence public opinion. The same thing is happening in modern society. Freethinkers are considered outcasts and are persecuted both by the public and the authorities.
Hero of time
In his comedy, Griboedov was the first of the writers to create the image of an “extra” person in a ossified society. Much later, Pechorin, Bazarov, Onegin will appear. Therefore, for the first time in Woe from Wit, catchphrases characterize the state of mind of a person who cannot use his talents for the good of the country and society.
Understanding that no one needs change, but only power and money, is difficult for an intelligent and enlightened person who is ready for self-sacrifice for the sake of the Motherland.
“And who are the judges?” Where, tell us, the fathers of the fatherland, whom we should take as samples? ” In this phrase that has become popular, Chatsky is trying to find like-minded people, but they are not. There is no one to take an example from and continue the reforms begun. The whole society is frozen in its desire not to change anything.
This is also true in modern society. Personal interests in matters of prosperity, profit and power are placed ahead of the needs of the country and society.
Modern heroes
Unfortunately, in the material world, where money has a great influence on people, in any society will appear those who seek to "climb" to the top of the government at all costs, and those who oppose them.
It is the quantitative superiority of progressive members of society that develops it. Without the “Chatsky” there would have been no changes in the social, cultural and personal sphere of the public. They push other people to take a step towards a better life.