Classicism is a literary trend that developed in the eighteenth century. A striking example of it is the comedy "Undergrowth." The characters in this work are the topic of the article.
Issue
What is the comedy "Undergrowth" about? The characters are typical representatives of the social strata in Russia in the eighteenth century. Among them are statesmen, and nobles, and servants, and serfs, and even self-appointed teachers. The social theme is touched in the comedy "Undergrowth". The characters are Mitrofanushka and his mother. Mrs. Prostakova strictly controls everyone. She does not consider anyone, not even her husband. In terms of its problems, the work “Undergrowth” is straightforward. The characters in the comedy are either negative or positive. There are no complicated contradictory images in the work of Fonvizin .
The work also affects socio-political issues. Even today, after more than two centuries, it does not lose relevance. The characters in the comedy Fonvizin's Undergrowth utter phrases that literally scattered into quotes. The names of the heroes of this dramatic work became a household name.
History of creation
It is worth saying a few words about how the work was created before describing the characters. "Undergrowth" Fonvizin wrote in 1778. By that time, the writer had already visited France. He spent more than a year in Paris, where he studied law, philosophy, got acquainted with the social life of the country, which gave the world such names as Voltaire, Didro, Russo. Consequently, the views of the Russian playwright have changed somewhat. He realized the backwardness of the Russian landlord estate. Therefore, the writer considered it necessary to create a work that would make fun of the vices of his contemporaries.
Fonvizin worked on comedy for more than three years. At the beginning of the eighties in one of the capital's theaters the premiere of the comedy "Undergrowth" took place.
List of actors
- Prostakova.
- Prostakov.
- Mitrofanushka.
- Sophia.
- Milon.
- Pravdin.
- Starodum.
- Skotinin.
- Kuteikin.
- Tsiferkin.
- Vralman.
- Trishka.
Sophia, Mitrofanushka, Prostakova are the main characters. Undergrowth is a concept denoting a young nobleman who has not received an education. He, as you know, in the comedy is Mitrofan - one of the main characters. But other characters in the comedy can not be called secondary. Each of them plays a role in the plot. The works, like other works of the era of classicism, reflects events that occur during one day. The characters in the comedy "Undergrowth" are endowed with names. And this is another typical feature of the works of classicism.
Plot
The comedy of Fonvizin tells of the cruel and stupid landowners, who are opposed by educated aristocrats. In the center of the plot is the story of an orphan girl who suddenly turns out to be the heiress of a great fortune. Negative characters in the comedy try to take possession of her dowry, betraying marriage by force. Positive come to the rescue, getting rid of treacherous relatives.
In the simpletons house
A more detailed description of the characters in The Undergrowth is presented below. But, as already mentioned, Mrs. Prostakova is notable for her difficult disposition. The reader is convinced of this from the first pages. The comedy begins with a scene in which Mitrofanushka’s mother angrily pounces on the serf Trishka for having sewed a caftan, which is small for him, to his beloved son. This and subsequent events characterize Prostakova as a person prone to tyranny and unexpected outbursts of rage.
In the house of the Prostakovs, Sofia lives. Her father is dead. Recently, she lived in Moscow with her mother. But several months passed before she became an orphan. Prostakova took her to her.
Rich heiress
The brother of Prostakova Skotinin appears on the scene. The characterization of the characters in the comedy "The Little Man" is a description of the characters who can be divided into two groups. The first includes the noble, honest and educated. To the second - ignorant and rude. Skotinin should be attributed to the latter. This man expresses a desire to marry Sophia. But he does not want to connect his life with this girl because he likes her. The thing is that he is a great hunter for pigs, as eloquently speaks of his surname. And Sophia inherited several villages in whose households these animals live in great abundance.
Prostakova, meanwhile, finds out exciting news: Uncle Sophia is alive. Mitrofan's mother is angry. After all, she believed that Starodum had long been gone. It turned out he was alive. Moreover, he is going to make his niece the heiress of the fortune he acquired in Siberia. Prostakova accuses Sofya of hiding news from her about a rich relative. But suddenly a brilliant thought occurred to her. She decides to marry Sophia for her son.
Justice has triumphed
Officer Milon, whom Sophia knew in Moscow, visits the village. They love each other, but due to life circumstances they had to leave. Having learned about Sophia’s engagement, Milon is first tormented by jealousy, but later he learns about what Mitrofan is like and calms down somewhat.
Prostakova loves her son very much. She hires teachers, but at the same time by the age of sixteen he had not even learned to read and write. The youth constantly complains to his mother that the doctrine makes him sad. What Prostakova consoles her son, promising to marry him soon.
Starodum's Appearance
Finally, Uncle Sophia arrives in the village. Starodum tells the story of his life about how he was forced to leave public service, went to Siberia, and then decided to return from his native land. Starodum meets with Sophia and promises to save her from unpleasant relatives and to marry a worthy man, who turns out to be her beloved Milon.
Description of actors
The undergrowth, that is, Mitrofanushka, learns, observing the decree of the king, but does so with great reluctance. The characteristic features of this hero are stupidity, ignorance, laziness. He is also cruel. Mitrofanushka does not respect her father; she mocks her teachers. He takes advantage of the fact that his mother selflessly loves.
Sophia gives a good characterization to her failed bridegroom. The girl claims that although Mitrofanushka was only sixteen years old, he reached the peak of his perfection and will not develop further. This characters of the comedy Fonvizin is quite unpleasant. It combines traits such as servility and a tendency to tyranny.
At the beginning of the work, Mitrofanushka appears before the readers as a spoiled tough person. But later, when the mother fails to organize his wedding with a wealthy relative, he radically changes his behavior, humiliatingly apologizes to Sophia, and shows humility towards Starodum. Mitrofanushka is a representative of the world of Prostakov-Skotinins, people deprived of all sorts of concepts about morality. Undergrowth symbolizes the degradation of the Russian nobility, the reason for which is improper upbringing and lack of education.
The surname Prostakova symbolizes ignorance and ignorance. The main feature of this heroine is blind love for her son. At the end of the work, the mother of Mitrofanushka falls to the point that she begins to use the assault in relation to Skotinin. Prostakova - a combination of arrogance, hatred, anger and cowardice. By creating this literary character, the author wanted to show the reader what the lack of education leads to. According to Fonvizin, it is ignorance that causes many human vices.
Sophia
The niece of Prostakova is a representative of a noble family. But, unlike her relatives, she is educated, has a concept of honor. Sophia laughs at Mitrofanushka and his mother. She despises them. Characteristic features of the heroine are kindness, mockery, nobility.
Other positive characters
Starodum is an educated man of advanced years, with great life experience. The main features of this hero are honesty, wisdom, kindness and respect for other people. This character is opposed to Prostakova. Both of them wish good to their pupils. But their approach to education is completely different. If Prostakova sees in her son a small child who demands constant care and indulges him in everything, then Starodum considers Sophia to be a formed personality. He takes care of his niece, choosing a decent person as her husband. A few words should be said about this character.
Milon
The characteristic features of this hero are sincerity, nobility, and judgment. Even in difficult situations, he does not lose sanity. Hearing about Sophia's engagement, he represents Mitrofan as an educated and worthy man. And only subsequently his opinion regarding the opponent changes. It is this hero who, in one of his last actions, is trying to reconcile Prostakova with her brother, reminding them that they are close people.