In 1782, he finished work on his best work - the comedy "The Undergrowth" - D. I. Fonvizin.
Written in accordance with the traditions of classicism, it nevertheless became innovative for its time. This was manifested both in the problematic (the author makes us think about the issues of upbringing, state structure, social and family relations), and in the image of the heroes. Despite the fact that in the comedy "The Young Man" positive and negative characters are clearly delineated, the attitude of the reader (or viewer) towards them is not always unambiguous. Let's try to figure out: why?
Classical traditions in the work
To begin with, in the comedy of Fonvizin, the unity of time (day) and place (estate of the Prostakovs), a love triangle and the presence of a resonator, speaking surnames are noted. The main characters are grouped around Starodum and Prostakova, secondary are adjacent to one or the other. This is how groups are formed: the young uneducated nobleman Mitrofanushka — he is undergrowth — positive and negative heroes who are distinguished by their social status, moral convictions, attitude to others, speech, etc.
"Now I fight, then I fight ..."
The phrase spoken by Prostakova fully characterizes the characters causing a negative assessment. The powerful (until a certain time) owner of the estate is the main negative hero.
"Undergrowth" is a parody of what happened in many noble families, not distinguished by intelligence and literacy, but who had money and power. Mrs. Prostakova reigns supreme over the whole house - even her limp husband is afraid of her. "Fraudster", "blockhead", "harya", "kanalya" and under. - This is her usual appeal to others. She calls only her son “darling” and makes it clear that everything does for his happiness. Prostakova is an uneducated and vicious person who perfectly feels the situation. She knows who the penny is not worth, and who should smile, please.
As the action develops in the comedy "The Little Man," positive and negative characters are characterized from different angles. So, we learn the life story of Prostakova from her communication with Starodum. She inherited all her life principles from the same ignorant parents. In turn, she instilled them in her beloved Mitrofanushka.
Not much different from Sister Skotinin. This hero Fonvizin almost completely deprived of his human appearance. And the surname sounds like not human, and the only hobby that turns into passion is pigs, and the corresponding vocabulary. And when it comes to marriage, his nephew, who also wants to grab the bride’s rich inheritance, turns into a rival for him.
Mitrofanushka - the negative hero
Undergrowth - this is what was called in Russia a young minor nobleman who had not yet entered the service. It is at this age that Mitrofanushka is - "like a mother." He is as illiterate, rude, two-faced, cunning as Prostakova. In addition, lazy, contemptuously referring to all kinds of sciences and teachers, but at the same time fully assimilated the laws of immorality, deception, the ability to please. He already fully tasted the power that the position gave him. Even Mitrofanushka refers to his father as an insignificant person, as evidenced by his “dream”. However, it can be noted that the young will go further than his mother. In this regard, the hero’s behavior in the final scene becomes indicative, when he rather roughly repels her with the words: “Yes, get rid, mother, how she was imposed ...”. By the way, it was after the comedy of Fonvizin that the word "undergrowth" acquired a generalizing meaning with a negative assessment.
Antipodes of Simpletons - Goodies
"Undergrowth" is distinguished by a clearly defined author's assessment of the historical events of the late XYIII century. The role of Starodum plays a significant role in this. This is a sixty-year-old husband who, through his own labor, made a small fortune while working in Siberia. Then he fought, after retirement he served at the court. As a fair man and seen a lot, he gives not quite a hospitable characterization of the state system, officials, public relations. Starodum paid special attention to the need to serve to the benefit of the Fatherland, emphasized the role of education. It is no accident that many of his statements, for example, “Have a heart, have a soul, and you will be a man ...” - immediately became aphorisms.
There were other goodies too - The Undergrowth strictly corresponded to traditions in this regard. This is the Moscow official Pravdin (he came to expose malevolence), the niece and heiress of Starodum Sofya, who had long been oppressed in the house of Prostakova, a young officer who wanted to devote his life to the Fatherland, Milon. Their statements and actions even more expose the vices of such people as Prostakov and Skotinin. They practically have no shortcomings, so they can be called ideal people.
Thus, in the comedy "Undergrowth", positive and negative characters play a strictly defined role. The former expose evil and cruelty, and their speeches affirm the principles of a just social order. The latter embody the most common human vices: ignorance, despotism, selfishness, confidence in one's own superiority, etc.
Author Innovation
With all the traditions, comedy had a number of differences from its predecessors. A commitment to realism is something new that Fonvizin introduced into the play. "Undergrowth", whose heroes are shown vividly and multifaceted, is distinguished by the desire for typification. What happened in the Prostakov family is viewed through the prism of social structure and makes you think about issues such as serfdom , forms of government in the state, and the importance of education. As a result, it is already a violation of the trinity as one of the requirements of classicism.
It also becomes unexpected that in the finale the reader sympathizes with the cruel Prostakova, who has become a victim of her own evil. Against this background, Starodum’s words sound even more eloquent: “Have a heart, have a soul, and you will be a man at all times,” which do not lose relevance today.