Comedy A.S. Griboedova “Woe from Wit” - summary

In Russian literature there are works whose fate is never to fade, to always be interesting, relevant, topical and in demand by new generations of readers. One of them is the immortal comedy of Griboedov.

Reread “Woe from Wit” again

Griboedov’s comedy “Woe from Wit”, the summary of which, in essence, boils down to describing Chatsky’s three days in Moscow, made a real sensation among readers. Written in 1824, a year before the Decembrist uprising, it literally blew up the public with its seditious content, and its main character, Pyotr Andriyevich Chatsky, was perceived as a true revolutionary, a “carbonarius”, a herald of progressive socio-political views and ideals.

Reading the comedy “Woe from Wit” (short summary), we return to the lordly Moscow of the beginning of the 19th century. Morning in the house of Famusov, a rich gentleman, living according to the traditions of feudal antiquity. He keeps a whole staff of servants who are afraid of him more than fire, his hospitable house is always open for noble families and their offspring, he regularly gives balls and strives to give his daughter Sophia a rich, noble landowner, an “archival youth” with a good inheritance or a brave military at high ranks.

Analyzing the dramatic work “Woe from Wit”, the brief content of which we are analyzing, one cannot but catch the irony with which the poet relates to Famusov. He appears on the stage at the moment when the maid Lisa knocks on Sophia, her young lady, to warn about the morning. After all, Sophia is in love with the secretary of her father, the “rootless” Molchalin, and if he finds a “couple”, his anger will be truly terrible. This is exactly what is happening, but Sophia manages to get out and ward off the discontent of her father from herself and her lover.

Famusov in years, satisfied with himself and considers his persona worthy role model. In this sense, he pronounces a moralizing tirade before his daughter, simultaneously scolding new fashion and laws that give young people too much freedom, and also make them imitate foreign models in dresses, manners of behavior, education.

The actions in “Woe from Wit” - a brief summary reflects this - are rapidly developing according to the laws of drama. One scene dynamically replaces another, and now Lisa and Sophia are alone. Famusov’s daughter will not be praised by Molchalin, his timidity, meek, quiet disposition, and playing music, which they did all night. Liza is much more like the old friend of Madame Chatsky, who has been traveling abroad for three years. According to Lisa’s reviews, he is smart, sharp-tongued, funny and interesting with him. But for Sophia Chatsky - a memory of half-child years, no more, and Molchalin’s sensitivity is now much closer to her stinging wit Pyotr Andreevich.

Suddenly, the servant announces the arrival of Chatsky himself. Having barely appeared in the living room, he throws himself on her knees in front of Sophia, kisses her hand, admires her beauty, asks if she is glad to him, if she has forgotten. Sophia is embarrassed by such an onslaught, because the hero behaves as if there were no three years of separation, as if they broke up only yesterday, they know everything about each other and are as close as in childhood.

Then the conversation goes to mutual acquaintances, and Sophia is convinced that Chatsky is still critical of society, ridicules everyone and everyone, that his language has become even sharper and ruthless. Touching Molchalin, he ironically remarks that he must have already made a career - now "wordless" in esteem and favor. The more enthusiasm in the words of the hero, the drier and more cautious the girl answers him. One of her last remarks is a whisper to the side: “Not a man - a snake!”

Chatsky is puzzled and, going home to change clothes from the road, puzzles over the main question for him: "How does Sophia really relate to him, didn’t she fall out of love, and if her feelings have cooled, then who is her heart busy with now?"

Further, if we analyze in the “Woe from Wit” (summary) actions, then the key episode will be the visit of Skalozub - a soldier who makes a career on the heads of his comrades, a rude ignoramus who does not know how to express his thoughts and does not know anything except the charter. However, Famusov greets him, because the colonel is a great party for Sophia! Chatsky's parish violates the idyll. The hero argues with them, refutes Famusov’s monologue that one must live in the old way, like Maxim Petrovich, the Famusovsky uncle. By way of cringing, bigotry, humiliation and flattery, he gained a profitable place at court. Pavel Afanasevich judges the present time, which does not respect the old days, of the “fathers,” and is afraid of Chatsky when he utters his famous monologue “Who are the judges?” Shouting that the young man is “carbonarius”, wants to preach “liberties” and does not recognize authority, he runs away from the room.

Another important episode - Sophia sees Molchalin fall from the horse, and she almost faints with excitement - by this she gives herself out with her head. But Chatsky does not believe that this girl, with her mind, education and ability to understand people, could get carried away by such a nonsense. Having conversed in private with Molchalin, Pyotr Andreevich became convinced of the meanness, pettiness, cowardice, and toadness of the interlocutor and came to the conclusion: Sophia's chosen one was not him.

In “Woe from Wit” to read the summary of the last action is especially carefully. At the ball to Famusov gathered all the color of the noble Moscow. Each hero was painted by Griboedov masterfully, colorful, and together they represent a generalized picture of the autocratic-feudal society in its worst manifestation: retrograde, servility, ignorance and lack of education, outright stupidity and meanness. Therefore, everyone with such pleasure believes Sophia’s rumor about Chatsky’s madness, picks him up and carries him around the city.

In horror, a young man flees from Moscow, where he does not "ride anymore." Sophia was also confounded, convinced of how insignificant, mean and empty Molchalin. But the most important thing is that Famusov was defeated - the peace of the sedate gentleness was disturbed. After all, Chatsky is the first swallow, and others will come next - the feudal lords will not be able to live as they used to.