Fonvizin’s satirical work remains relevant to this day. The names of the main characters Mitrofan, Prostakova, Skotinin became household names, and phrases from the comedy became catchphrases. Quotes characterizing the heroes of the comedy “Minor” will help the reader better understand what a particular character is like in this work. Some quotes have become quite firmly established in everyday speech, thanks to their brightness, capacity and topicality.

Famous phrases from comedy

“I don’t want to study, I want to get married.” Mitrofan's phrase addressed to his mother. In life, it is applied to those young people who have the wind in their heads. Whose life is nothing but entertainment and pleasure. None of them even thinks about studying or working.

“And then you’ll get married.” Having entered into a marriage union on mutually beneficial terms, you no longer have to worry about your future. A kind of marriage of convenience, not love.

“Don’t do business, don’t run away from business.” This is what they say about those people who are irresponsible about their work and only create the appearance of it in the workplace.

“Cash is not cash worth.” Having money does not mean anything, and even more so cannot automatically make a person good in the eyes of others.

“I ate too much henbane.” This phrase can be classified as those people who commit inappropriate actions, stupid things that cannot be explained rationally.

QUOTES BY CHARACTERS

Pravdin

The direct dignity in man is the soul.

I was born in Moscow, if you need to know, and my villages are in the local governorship.

Excuse me, madam. I never read letters without the permission of those to whom they are written.

Moreover, from my own heart’s struggle, I do not allow myself to notice those malicious ignoramuses who, having complete power over their people, use it inhumanly for evil.

I am striving, however, to soon put limits on the wife’s malice and the husband’s stupidity. I have already notified our boss about all the local barbarities and I have no doubt that measures will be taken to calm them down.

I have been instructed to take charge of the house and villages at the first rabies from which the people under her control could suffer.

I apologize for leaving you.

When only your cattle can be happy, then your wife will have bad peace from them and from you.

Starodum

An ignoramus without a soul is a beast.

All of Siberia is not enough for the whims of one person.

The direct dignity in man is the soul. Without her, the most enlightened, clever woman is a pitiful creature.

An honest person must be a completely honest person

Not the rich man who counts out money in order to hide it in a chest, but the one who counts out his extra money in order to help someone who does not have what he needs.

Everyone must seek his happiness and benefits in that one thing that is lawful.

Have a heart, have a soul, and you will be a man at all times.

I left the court without villages, without a ribbon, without ranks, but I brought mine home intact, my soul, my honor, my rules.

It is much more honest to be treated without guilt than to be rewarded without merit.

Milo

I see and honor virtue, adorned with enlightened reason.

I am in love and have the happiness of being loved.

The judge who, fearing neither revenge nor the threats of the strong, gave justice to the helpless, is a hero in my eyes.

At my age and in my position, it would be unforgivable arrogance to consider everything deserved than young man worthy people encourage.

Sophia

Uncle! My true happiness is that I have you. I know the price.

I will use all my efforts to earn the good opinion of worthy people.

How many sorrows have I endured since the day of our separation! My unscrupulous relatives.

I was now reading a book... French. Fenelon, about the education of girls.

Mitrofanushka

I don’t want to study, I want to get married!

Yes, all sorts of rubbish came into my head, then you are a father, then you are a mother.

He ate too much henbane.

I'll study; just let it be the last time and let there be an agreement today!

Well, say another word, you old bastard! I'll finish them off.

Let go, mother, how you imposed yourself!

For me, where they tell me!

The work of D. I. Fonvizin “Minor” was shown positive features character that every conscientious citizen of the state must have.

Fonvizin endowed the character Starodum with this character in the written play. This is a hero with a big heart, an honest, sympathetic and merciful character. There are no episodes in the comedy when Starodum speaks unflatteringly about someone, steals or deceives. On the contrary, his calmness and poise are always with him. Starodum does not throw his words to the wind, gives practical advice, makes good conclusions and at the same time has a sense of humor - he laughs and jokes.

Characters who have similar character traits: Sophia – Starodum’s niece; Milon - military man, Sophia's fiancé; Pravdin is a member of the city council. Together they represent an example of a law-abiding citizen.

The author showed the Prostakov family of petty nobles as the opposite of these characters. The head of this family is Mrs. Prostakova - a greedy, rude and deceitful woman. It’s not for nothing that Fonvizin calls her Fury, the avenger goddess of the ancient Romans. She loves only one person - her son, Mitrofan, who is lazy by nature, he is distinguished by illiteracy and uncultured behavior, it is not for nothing that his name means “like a mother.”

When talking about Prostakov Sr., one can easily say that life makes him happy only when his wife does not get angry at him. It is clearly visible in the work that he is trying in every possible way to please her and does not have his own opinion. Another negative character is Skotinin - brother Prostakova. For this man great value have a pig than people. He intends to marry Sophia when he learned that she has a rich inheritance.

Drawing conclusions, we can divide the characters of this work into two halves - good, represented by Starodum, Milon, Sophia, and evil - which is represented by the Prostakov and Skotinin families.

Several interesting essays

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  Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov’s novel “A Hero of Our Time” tells us about the story of the young officer Grigory Pechorin - a very controversial personality, however, in the opinion of the writer himself, who represents the most accurate

• The theme of love in Blok's work essay

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• The image of St. Petersburg in the works of Pushkin (grade 10 essay)

  The work of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin describes St. Petersburg as a city of beauty and freedom. Alexander treats him with love, delight, and how the whole world is hidden in him.

Semakova Anastasia

Characteristics of Mrs. Prostakova, Mitrofanushka, Skotinin through the speech of the heroes

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Research work on Russian language

8th grade students

Semakova Anastasia

Swear words are a means of speech characterization of the characters in the play.
DI. Fonvizin "Minor"

Head of work – Fedoseeva S.V.

October, 2013

Introduction

Target - explore swear words in the speech of the characters in the play by D.I. Fonvizin "Undergrowth".

Tasks :

• Determine what swear words are and what marks they have in dictionaries.
• Extract from the text of the play by D.I. Fonvizin's vocabulary, which can be classified as abusive, and analyze the etymology and lexical meaning of these words.
• Determine how the swear words of the characters in the play characterize them.
• Draw conclusions about how abusive language characterizes the characters in the play.

This paper examines the use of swear words by the characters in the play by D.I. Fonvizin “Undergrown”, in order to characterize the characters.

Speech always characterizes the speaker:

Study

“Dictionary of the Russian Language of the USSR Academy of Sciences” (MAS), edited by A.P. Evgenieva indicates that the adjective abusive refers to the word swearing, and the interpretation of swearing gives as “offensive, swear words, swearing” and notes the connotation of this word “condemnation, censure, reproach.”

Let's try to characterize the heroes of the work by D.I. Fonvizin “Undergrown”, using abusive language in their speech. To do this, we wrote out lines containing abusive language from the text of the play, and based on this we compiled a table:

For the etymological analysis of words, we used the dictionary of N.M. Shansky. All words from the list we compiled are marked “Obshcheslav.” and “Original”, except for words fury , borrowed from the Polish language, which got there from the Greek language, and canine , which refers to the word dog, borrowed from the Iranian language.Based on their origin, all the swear words from the play “The Minor” can be divided into groups:

1. Animal origin:

1. Livestock = wealth, money. This is explained by the fact that cattle served as bargaining chips.
2. Mug. Origin unclear. Presumably a contraction of Khavrya Sow. In this case, mug literally means “pig snout.”
3. Bestia. From the argot of seminarians.Is a rethinking of lat. bestia “beast, animal”, Bestia “animal” literally means “breathing”. Dictionary V.I. Dalia points to the Latin origin of this word.
4. Chushka is a suffixal derivative of chukha “pig”, derived from “imitative” chug-chug . Chukha → pig (alternating x//sh). Dictionary V.I. Dalia gives an explanation of the word chukha as "snout, nose, pig's grunt."
5. Canine is an adjective formed from the noun dog.
6. Snout is the front part of the head in some animals.

1. Borrowing from Greek mythology- Fury.
2. Devil / Devil - origin unclear. Presumably "he who digs lives in the earth" and further - "underground spirit."
3. Blockhead - origin unclear. Presumably a suffixal derivative oflost balls, balls "log".

Let's consider the lexical meaning (LZ) of swear words (according to the dictionaries of V. I. Dahl and S. I. Ozhegov)

Most of the words that the characters in the play “The Minor” swear at refer to colloquial and colloquial vocabulary and are labeled “abusive.”

conclusions

So, abusive language as an address is most often present in the speech of Mrs. Prostakova (“And you, cattle, come closer”, “Didn’t I tell you, you thieving mug, to let your caftan widen”, “Get out, you cattle” , “Well... and you, beast, were dumbfounded, and you didn’t dig into your brother’s mug, and you didn’t tear his snout to the ears,” “Tell me, idiot, how will you justify yourself?”). Addressing her maids, Prostakova most often calls them beasts and the servants brutes, while when she wants to achieve something from influential people, she begins to humiliate herself in front of them, for example: “Oh, I’m an incredible fool! Father! I'm sorry. I'm a fool". Since she always uses rude words from colloquial vocabulary, which are not diverse and are related in origin to the animal world, it can be argued that Prostakova is uneducated, ignorant, rude, and cruel to those who cannot protect themselves from her rudeness. Prostakova uses abusive language when communicating with her servants, brother and husband or talking about them, for example: “Don’t be angry, my father, that my freak missed you. I was born so young, my father.” The same applies to her son Mitrofan and brother Skotinin, who use swear words of animal origin as addresses, for example: “Oh, you damn pig!”

Throughout the entire play, the author constantly plays in the speech of the characters with words of animal origin, thereby trying to expose the bestial behavior of some characters, even though they are people of noble noble origin. For example, the word livestock appears in the play different meanings. “When only cattle can be happy in our country, then your wife will have bad peace from them and from us,” - in Pravdin’s speech, the word cattle can be understood in different ways: “the general name for domestic farm animals” or “a person similar to cattle " Cattle is the root of the surname of the hero of the play Skotinin. And Prostakova herself, although she now bears the same surname, was also originally Skotinina. It is no coincidence that Kuteikin dictates the words to Mitrofan: “I am cattle” (I am cattle). With the help of these words, Fonvizin constantly ridicules the lack of education and rudeness of the Prostakov and Skotinin family, showing their true essence. The author is trying to convince the reader that, no matter how noble a person’s origin may be, with bestial behavior he will be worse than the cattle itself.

Three teachers, Tsyfirkin, Kuteikin and Vralman, although they are teachers, behave very hostilely towards each other, using the same words of animal origin when meeting. Just like Prostakova herself, she chose such teachers for her son: rude and uneducated.

Consequently, abusive language characterizes the heroes of Fonvizin’s play “The Minor” as rude, vicious, uneducated, ignorant people.

Bibliography

1. Emelyanenko E. M. Predicate nouns with the meaning of a negative evaluation // RYASh, 1990, No. 5, pp. 73 - 76.
2. Kimyagarova R. S., Bash L. M., Ilyushina L. A. Dictionary of the language of comedy by D. I. Fonvizin “Minor”. -http://www.philol.msu.ru/~slavmir2009/sections/?secid=9- International scientific symposium “Slavic languages ​​and cultures in modern world" - Moscow, Faculty of Philology, Moscow State University. M. V. Lomonosov, March 24–26, 2009
3. Krysin L.P. Relationships of modern literary language and vernacular // RYASH, 1988, No. 2, pp. 81 - 88.
4. Full text of “Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language” by Vladimir Ivanovich Dahl (vols. 1-4, 1863-66) in accordance with modern rules spelling.http://slovari.yandex.ru/dict/dal
5. Dictionary of the Russian language S.I. Ozhegova. 10th edition, stereotypical. Ed. Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor N.Yu. Shvedova. Publishing house " Soviet Encyclopedia", Moscow - 1973.http://www.ozhegov.org
6. Dictionary of the Russian language: In 4 volumes /AS USSR, Institute of the Russian Language; Ed. A.P.Evgenieva. - 3rd ed., stereotype. - M.: Russian language, 1985 -1988. T.1. A - J. 1985. - 696 p. T.2. K-O. 1986. - 736 p.
7. Shansky. N. M. School etymological dictionary of the Russian language. Origin of words / N. M. Shansky, T. A. Bobrova. - 7th ed., stereotype. - M.: Bustard, 2004. - 398, p.http://slovari.yandex.ru/dict/shansky/
8. Fonvizin D.I. Minor //Fonvizin D.I., Griboedov A.S., Ostrovsky A.N. Selected works / Editorial Board: G. Belenky, P. Nikolaev, A. Puzikov; Comp. And entry. Article by V. Turbin; Comp. section "Applications" and notes. Yu. Dvinskaya. - M.: Artist. Lit., 1989. - 608 p.

Fonvizin's contemporaries highly valued The Minor; he delighted them not only with his amazing language, the clarity of the author's civic position, and the innovation of form and content.

Features of the genre

According to the genre, this work is a classic comedy, it complies with the requirements of “three unities” (place, time, action) inherent in classicism; the heroes are divided into positive and negative, each of the heroes has its own role (“reasoner”, “villain”, etc.). etc.), however, there are also deviations from the requirements of classicist aesthetics, and serious deviations.So, the comedy was only supposed to amuse, it could not be interpreted in multiple meanings, there could be no ambiguity in it - and if we remember “The Minor”, ​​then we cannot help but admit that, raising in the work the most important social issues of his time, the author resolves them by means far from comic: for example, at the end of the work, when, it would seem, “the vice is punished,” the viewer cannot help but sympathize with Mrs. Prostakova, who is rudely and cruelly pushed away by the ungrateful Mitrofanushka, preoccupied with his own destiny: “Get rid of yourself, mother, how you imposed yourself...” - and the tragic element powerfully invades the comedy, which was unacceptable.. And with the “unity of action” everything is also not so simple in comedy, it has too many plot lines, which do not “work” in any way to resolve the main conflict, but create a broad social background that determines the characters of the characters. Finally, Fonvizin’s innovation was reflected in the language of the comedy “The Minor”; the speech of the characters is very highly individualized, it contains folklorisms, vernacular, and high style (Starodum, Pravdin), which also violates the classic canons of creation speech characteristics characters. We can, summing up, conclude that Fonvizin’s comedy “The Minor” became a truly innovative work for its time; the author pushed the boundaries of the aesthetics of classicism, subordinating it to the solution of the task set for himself: to angrily ridicule the vices of his contemporary society, to rid it of “evil morals.” ", capable of destroying both the human soul and public morality.

Image system

Let us analyze the system of images of the comedy "The Minor", which, as required by the aesthetics of classicism, represents two directly opposite "camps" - positive and negative heroes. Here you can also notice a certain deviation from the canons, it manifests itself in the fact that it carries duality, it is almost impossible to attribute them purely to positive or purely to negative heroes. Let us remember one of Mitrofanushka’s teachers, Kuteikin. On the one hand, he suffers humiliation from Mrs. Prostakova and his student, on the other hand, he is not averse, if the opportunity arises, to “snatch his piece,” for which he is ridiculed. Or “Mitrofan’s mother” Eremeevna: she is reviled and humiliated by her mistress in every possible way, she humbly endures, but, forgetting herself, rushes to protect Mitrofanushka from her uncle, and does this not only out of fear of punishment...

The image of Prostakova in the comedy "Minor"

As already noted, Fonvizin innovatively portrays his main character- Mrs. Prostakova. From the very first scenes of the comedy, we are faced with a despot who does not want to reckon with anyone or anything. She rudely imposes her will on everyone, suppresses and humiliates not only the serfs, but also her husband (how can one not recall Mitrofan’s “dream in hand” about how “mother” beats “father”?..), she tyrannizes Sophia, she wants to force her to marry first her brother Taras Skotinin, and then, when it turns out that Sophia is now a rich bride, her son. Being herself an ignorant and uncultured person (with what pride she declares: “Read it yourself! No, madam, thank God, I was not brought up like that. I can receive letters, but I always tell someone else to read them!”), she despises education, although he tries to teach his son, he does this only because he wants to ensure his future, and what is Mitrofan’s “training” worth, as it is presented in the comedy? True, his mother is convinced: “Believe me, father, that, of course, it’s nonsense that Mitrofanushka doesn’t know”...

Mrs. Prostakova is characterized by cunning and resourcefulness, she stubbornly stands her ground and is convinced that “we will take ours” - and is ready to commit a crime, kidnap Sophia and, against her will, marry her to a man from the “Skotinin family.” When she meets resistance, she simultaneously tries to beg for forgiveness and promises punishment to those of her people, due to whose oversight the “enterprise” failed, in which Mitrofanushka is ready to actively support her: “Take it for people?” The “transformation” of Mrs. Prostakova is striking, who just on her knees humbly begged to forgive her, and, having received the petition, “jumping up from her knees”, fervently promises: “Well! Now I will give the dawn to my people. I’ll take it one by one. Now I’ll find out who let her out of her hands. No, swindlers! I won’t forgive this mockery forever.” There is so much voluptuousness in this triple “now”, and how truly scary it becomes from her request: “Give me at least three days (Aside) I would make myself known...”.

However, as already noted, there is a certain duality in the image of Prostakova. She deeply and devotedly loves her son and is ready to do anything for him. Is she guilty of comparing her love for him to the love of a dog for puppies: “Have you ever heard of a bitch giving away her puppies?”? We must not forget that she is from the Skotinin-Priplodin family, where such half-animal love was the only possible one, how could she be different? So she disfigures Mitrofan’s soul with her blind love, her son pleases her in every possible way, and she is happy because he “loves” her... Until he throws her away from him, because now he doesn’t need her, and even those people who just condemned Mrs. Prostakova sympathize with her in her maternal grief...

Image of Mitrofan

The image of Mitrofan was also created by Fonvizin in a non-traditional way. The “minor” who likes to be “small” and who diligently takes advantage of his mother’s attitude toward him is not as simple and stupid as it might seem at first glance. He has learned to use his parents' love for himself for his own benefit, he knows well how to achieve his goal, he is convinced that he has the right to everything he wants. Mitrofanushka’s selfishness is the driving force behind his actions, but the hero also has cruelty (remember his remark about “people”), resourcefulness (what is his discussion about the “door”), and lordly contempt for people, including his mother, from whom he, on occasion, seeks help and protection. And his attitude towards education is so dismissive only because he does not see any real benefit from it. Probably, when he “serves”, he - if it is beneficial - will change his attitude towards education, potentially he is ready for anything: “For me, where they tell me.” Consequently, the image of Mitrofan in the comedy “Minor” is also characterized by a certain psychologism, as is the image of Prostakova, which is Fonvizin’s innovative approach to creating negative images that were only supposed to be “villains”.

Positive images

The playwright is more traditional in creating positive images. Each of them is an expression of a certain idea, and as part of the statement of this idea, an image-character is created. Practically positive images devoid of individual features, these are images-ideas inherent in classicism; Sophia, Milon, Starodum, Pravdin are not living people, but exponents of a “certain type of consciousness”; they represent a system of views that was advanced for their time on the relationship between spouses, the social structure, the essence of the human personality and human dignity.

Image of Starodum

During the time of Fonvizin, the image of Starodum in the comedy “The Minor” aroused special sympathy among the audience. Already in the very “talking” surname of the character, the author emphasized the opposition of “century this century to the past": in Starodum they saw a man of the era of Peter I, when "In that century, courtiers were warriors, but warriors were not courtiers." Starodum's thoughts about education, about the ways in which a person can achieve glory and prosperity, about what kind of sovereign should be warm response from a significant part of the audience who shared the progressive beliefs of the author of the comedy, while special sympathy for the image of the hero was caused by the fact that he did not just proclaim these progressive ideas - according to the play it turned out that he own life proved the correctness and benefit of such behavior for a person. The image of Starodum was the ideological center around which they united goodies comedies that opposed the dominance of the morality of the Skotinins-Prostakovs.

Image of Pravdin

Pravdin, a government official, embodies the idea of ​​statehood, which protects the interests of education and the people, which seeks to actively change life for the better. Guardianship of Prostakova's estate, which Pravdin appoints by the will of the empress, gives hope that the ruler of Russia is able to stand up for the protection of those of her subjects who most need this protection, and the determination with which Pravdin carries out the reforms should have convinced the viewer, that the highest authorities are interested in improving the lives of the people. But how then can we understand Starodum’s words in response to Pravdin’s call to serve at court: “It is in vain to call a doctor to the sick without healing”? It is likely that behind Pravdin stood the System, which confirmed its reluctance and inability to carry out real reforms, and Starodum represented himself, an individual person, in the play, and explained why the image of Starodum was perceived by the audience with much more sympathy than the image of the “ideal official” .

Milon and Sophia

The love story of Milo and Sophia is a typically classic love story of two noble heroes, each of whom is distinguished by high moral qualities, that’s why their relationship looks so artificial, although, against the backdrop of Skotinin’s attitude towards the same Sophia (“You are my dear friend! If now, without seeing anything, I have a special peck for each pig, then I’ll find a bright one for my wife”) and in fact represents an example of the high feeling of moral, educated, worthy young people, contrasted with the “fertility” of negative heroes.

The meaning of the comedy "Minor"

Pushkin called Fonvizin “a brave ruler of satire,” and the comedy “Minor,” which we analyzed, fully confirms this assessment of the writer’s work. In it author's position Fonvizin is expressed completely unambiguously, the writer defends the ideas of enlightened absolutism, he does this in highest degree talented, creating convincing artistic images, significantly expanding the scope of the aesthetics of classicism, taking an innovative approach to the plot of the work, to the creation of images-characters, some of which are not just an expression of certain socio-political ideas, but have a pronounced psychological individuality, expressing the inconsistency of human nature. All this explains the enormous importance of Fonvizin’s work and the comedy “Nedorosl” for Russian literature of the 18th century, the success of the work among his contemporaries and its significant influence on the subsequent development of Russian drama.

Denis Fonvizin’s immortal comedy “The Minor” is an outstanding work of Russian literature of the 18th century. Bold satire and truthfully described reality are the main components of this writer’s skill. Centuries later, every now and then modern society heated debates emerge about the main character of the play, Mitrofanushka. Who is he: a victim of improper upbringing or a vivid example of the moral decay of society?

The comedy “Brigadier” written by Fonvizin, which had a stunning success in St. Petersburg, became the basis of one of the world’s greatest literary monuments. After its publication, the writer did not return to drama for more than ten years, devoting himself more and more to state issues and tasks. However, the thought of creating a new book excited the author’s imagination. Let’s not hide the fact that, according to scientists, the first note related to “The Minor” was started back in the 1770s, long before its publication.

After a trip to France in 1778. The playwright had an exact plan for writing the future work. Interesting fact— initially Mitrofanushka was Ivanushka, which naturally spoke of the similarity of the two comedies (Ivan was a character in “The Brigadier”). In 1781 the play was completed. Of course, a production of this type meant coverage of one of the most problematic issues of the noble society of that time. However, despite the risk, Fonvizin became the direct “instigator” of the literary revolution. The premiere was postponed due to the empress's hostility to any kind of satire, but it still took place on September 24, 1782.

Genre of the work

COMEDY is a type of drama in which the moment of effective conflict is specifically resolved. It has a number of signs:

1. does not entail the death of one representative of the warring parties;
2. aimed at “nothing” goals;
3. the narrative is lively and vivid.

Also in Fonvizin’s work, a satirical orientation is obvious. This means that the author set himself the task of ridiculing social vices. This is an attempt to disguise life problems under the mask of a smile.

“Minor” is a work built according to the laws of classicism. One story line, one location, and all events take place within 24 hours. However, this concept is also consistent with realism, as they say individual items and places of action. Besides, characters They are very reminiscent of real landowners from the outback, ridiculed and condemned by the playwright. Fonvizin added something new to classicism - merciless and sharp humor.

What is the work about?

The plot of Denis Fonvizin’s comedy “The Minor” revolves around a family of landowners who are completely mired in immorality and tyranny. Children became like their rude and narrow-minded parents, and their sense of morality suffered as a result. Sixteen-year-old Mitrofanushka is trying his best to finish his studies, but he lacks the desire and ability. The mother looks at this carelessly, she does not care whether her son will develop. She prefers that everything remain as it is; any progress is alien to her.

The Prostakovs “sheltered” a distant relative, the orphan Sophia, who differs from the rest of the family not only in her outlook on life, but also in her good manners. Sophia is the heiress of a large estate, which Mitrofanushka’s uncle, Skotinin, who is a great hunter, “looks” at. Marriage is the only one affordable way to take over Sophia's household, so the relatives around her are trying to persuade her into an advantageous marriage.

Starodum, Sophia’s uncle, sends his niece a letter. Prostakova is terribly dissatisfied with this “trick” of her relative, who was considered dead in Siberia. The deceit and arrogance inherent in her nature is manifested in the accusation of a “deceptive” letter, supposedly “amorous”. Illiterate landowners will soon learn the true content of the message, resorting to the help of the guest Pravdin. He reveals to the whole family the truth about the Siberian inheritance he left, which gives him as much as ten thousand in annual income.

It was then that Prostakova came up with an idea - to marry Sophia to Mitrofanushka in order to appropriate the inheritance for herself. However, officer Milon, walking through the village with soldiers, “bursts” into her plans. He met with his old friend Pravdin, who, as it turned out, is a member of the vicegerental board. His plans include observing landowners mistreating their people.

Milon speaks of his long-standing love for a sweet person who was transported to an unknown place due to the death of a relative. Suddenly he meets Sophia - she is that same girl. The heroine talks about her future marriage with the undersized Mitrofanushka, from which the groom “flashes up” like a spark, but then gradually “weakens” with detailed story about "narrowed".

Sophia's uncle has arrived. Having met Milon, he accepts Sophia’s choice, while inquiring about the “correctness” of her decision. At the same time, the Prostakovs' estate was transferred to state custody due to cruel treatment of the peasants. Seeking support, the mother hugs Mitrofanushka. But the Son did not intend to be polite and polite, he was rude, causing the venerable matron to faint. Waking up, she laments: “I am completely lost.” And Starodum, pointing at her, says, “These are the fruits worthy of evil!”

The main characters and their characteristics

Pravdin, Sophia, Starodum and Milon are representatives of the so-called “new” time, the Age of Enlightenment. The moral components of their souls are nothing more than goodness, love, thirst for knowledge and compassion. The Prostakovs, Skotinin and Mitrofan are representatives of the “old” nobility, where the cult of material well-being, rudeness and ignorance flourish.

• The minor Mitrofan is a young man whose ignorance, stupidity and inability to adequately analyze the situation do not allow him to become an active and reasonable representative of the noble community. “I don’t want to study, but I want to get married” - life motto, which fully reflects the character of a young man who does not take anything seriously.
• Sophia - educated, kind girl, which becomes a black sheep in a society of envious and greedy people.
• Prostakova is a cunning, careless, rude woman with many shortcomings and a lack of love and respect for all living things, except for her beloved son Mitrofanushka. Prostakova’s upbringing is only a confirmation of the persistence of conservatism, which does not allow the Russian nobility to develop.
• Starodum raises “his little blood” in a different way - Sophia is no longer for him Small child, but a formed member of society. He gives the girl freedom of choice, thereby teaching her the right basics life. In it, Fonvizin portrays the type of personality that has gone through all the “ups” and downs,” becoming not only a “worthy parent,” but also an undoubted example for the future generation.
• Skotinin, just like everyone else, is an example of “ speaking surname" The man whose inner essence more like some kind of rude, uncouth cattle than like a well-bred person.

Theme of the work

• The education of the “new” nobility is the main theme of the comedy. “Undergrowth” is a kind of allusion to “disappearing” moral principles in people who are afraid of change. Landowners raise their offspring the old fashioned way, without paying due attention to their education. But those who were not taught, but were only spoiled or intimidated, will not be able to take care of either their family or Russia.
• Family theme. Family is social institution, on which personality development depends. Despite Prostakova’s rudeness and disrespect towards all residents, she cherishes her beloved son, who does not at all appreciate her care or her love. This behavior is a typical example of ingratitude, which is a consequence of spoiling and parental adoration. The landowner does not understand that her son sees her treatment of other people and repeats it. Thus, the weather in the house determines the character of the young man and his shortcomings. Fonvizin emphasizes the importance of maintaining warmth, tenderness and respect in the family towards all its members. Only then will children be respectful and parents worthy of respect.
• The theme of freedom of choice. The “new” stage is Starodum’s relationship with Sophia. Starodum gives her freedom of choice, without limiting her with his beliefs, which can affect her worldview, thereby cultivating in her the ideal of a noble future.

Main problems

• The main problem of the work is the consequences of improper upbringing. The Prostakov family is a family tree that has its roots in the distant past of the nobility. This is what the landowners boast about, not realizing that the glory of their ancestors does not add to their dignity. But class pride has clouded their minds, they do not want to move forward and achieve new achievements, they think that everything will always be as before. That’s why they don’t realize the need for education; in their world, enslaved by stereotypes, it really isn’t needed. Mitrofanushka will also sit in the village all her life and live off the labor of her serfs.
• The problem of serfdom. The moral and intellectual decay of the nobility under serfdom is an absolutely logical result of the tsar’s unjust policies. The landowners have become completely lazy; they don’t need to work to support themselves. The managers and peasants will do everything for them. With such a social system, the nobles have no incentive to work and get an education.
• The problem of greed. The thirst for material well-being blocks access to morality. Prostakovs are fixated on money and power, it doesn’t matter to them whether their child will be happy, for them happiness is synonymous with wealth.
• The problem of ignorance. Stupidity deprives the heroes of spirituality; their world is too limited and tied to the material side of life. They are not interested in anything other than primitive physical pleasures, because they don’t know anything else at all. Fonvizin saw the true " human form“only in the person who was raised by literate people, and not half-educated sextons.

Comedy idea

Fonvizin was a person, so he did not accept rudeness, ignorance and cruelty. He professed the belief that man is born " blank slate“Therefore, only upbringing and education can make him a moral, virtuous and intelligent citizen who will benefit the fatherland. Thus, chanting the ideals of humanism - main idea"Undergrown." A young man who obeys the call of goodness, intelligence and justice is a true nobleman! If he is brought up in the spirit of Prostakova, then he will never go beyond the narrow confines of his limitations and will not understand the beauty and versatility of the world in which he lives. He will not be able to work for the good of society and will not leave anything significant behind.

At the end of the comedy, the author speaks of the triumph of “retribution”: Prostakova loses the estate and the respect of her own son, raised in accordance with her spiritual and physical ideals. This is the price to pay for miseducation and ignorance.

What does it teach?

Denis Fonvizin’s comedy “The Minor,” first of all, teaches respect for one’s neighbors. The sixteen-year-old young man Mitrofanushka did not perceive the care of either his mother or his uncle at all; he took it for granted as a fact: “Why, uncle, have you eaten too much henbane? Yes, I don’t know why you deigned to attack me.” The natural result of rough treatment in the home is the ending where the son pushes away his loving mother.

The lessons of the comedy “Minor” do not end there. It is not so much respect as ignorance that shows people in the position they are carefully trying to hide. Stupidity and ignorance hover in the comedy like a bird over a nest, they envelop the village, thereby not letting the residents out of their own shackles. The author cruelly punishes the Prostakovs for their narrow-mindedness, depriving them of their property and the very opportunity to continue their idle lifestyle. Thus, everyone needs to learn, because even the most stable position in society can easily be lost if you are an uneducated person.

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