After the release of the comedy D.I. Fonvizin, the name of Mitrofanushka became a household name, the word "undergrowth" received a satirical and deeply generalized meaning. This was due to the realism of the comedy, the artistic skill of the playwright.

What features of realism can we note in comedy? First of all, the principle of historicism. In "Undergrowth" the viewer is shown a wealthy noble family of Catherine's time, i.e. DI. Fonvizin made contemporary life the subject of his image. The characters of the heroes are determined by their life circumstances, i.e. the environment that shaped them. The general way of life in the Russian landowner's estate, the imperfect education system, the moral character of the parents and their ideas about life - these are the components that shaped the personality of the protagonist in the comedy.

Mitrofanushka is an undersized, lazy, clumsy bumpkin who is not yet sixteen years old. Favourite hobby his - to drive pigeons. Mitrofan does not particularly favor science. “I don’t want to study, but I want to get married,” he says. Nevertheless, teachers constantly go to him: the seminarian Kuteikin teaches him grammar, the retired sergeant Tsyfirkin teaches him mathematics, the German Vralman teaches him "in French and all sciences." And the son of Prostakova in the sciences "is very successful": from grammar, he knows what is "a noun and an adjective." The door, in his opinion, is an adjective, since it is attached to its place. Another door, which has not yet been hung, is "for the time being, a noun." Mitrofan is just as successful in the study of mathematics - Tsyfirkin has been fighting with him for the third year, and "this undergrowth ... cannot count the sin." Mitrofan is taught history and other sciences by the German Vralman, who previously served as a coachman for Starodum. Vralman does not bother his pupil with classes - instead of teaching him history. Vralman makes the cowgirl Khavronya tell “stories” and, together with Mitrofan, listens to her with pleasure. Mrs. Prostakova, loving her son with all her heart, does not bother him with studies and spoils him in every possible way. She is not able to instill in Mitrofan any positive qualities or concepts of morality, since she herself is deprived of them. The results of such upbringing are deplorable: Mitrofanushka is not only ignorant, but also malicious. He is cowardly, rude to his teachers. At the end of the comedy, he renounces his own mother, who has lost all rights to manage estates. Having failed in her intention to marry her son to Sophia and having lost her estates, Mrs. Prostakova is confused and broken. In the hope of finding solace, she rushes to Mitrofanushka, and in response she hears: “Yes, get rid of it, mother, how it was imposed ...”.

The hero is depicted in many "expressive" scenes: the scene of trying on a caftan, a fight with Skotinin, we see him in a lesson, in the scene of the failed kidnapping of Sophia. All this gives the viewer the opportunity to see the versatility of the personality traits of the character. The author reveals in him such features as complete ignorance, rudeness, cowardice, spoiledness, selfishness, laziness, moral infantilism. Following the traditions of folk satire, the playwright willingly likens his hero to animals. So, for example, Tsyfirkin, in response to Mitrofan's rudeness, answers: "the dog barks, the wind carries."

The life authenticity of the comedy, the versatility of the characters are largely created thanks to the speech of the characters. So, Mitrofan calls his nanny Yeremeevna - “old hrychovka”, Tsyfirkina - “garrison rat”, he doesn’t stand on ceremony when communicating with his uncle, telling him that he “overeat henbane”, and suggesting “get out”.

It is also worth noting the modernity of the play. DI. Fonvizin affects in it eternal problems, problems of upbringing and education of the younger generation. And such "Mitrofanushki" exist at all times. More V.O. Klyuchevsky noted this. “It can be said without risk that the Undergrowth has not yet lost a significant share of his former artistic power over either the reader or the viewer, despite his naive dramatic construction, which at every step reveals the threads with which the play is sewn, neither into an outdated language, nor into the dilapidated stage conventions of Catherine's theatre, even despite the fragrant morality of the optimists of the last century poured into the play.<…>We live in a different environment and in a different way of life; the same vices in us are revealed differently ”(V.O. Klyuchevsky).

Thus, the comedy "Undergrowth" is at the origins of Russian realistic literature. Having paid a certain tribute to classicism (the presence of a traditional love triangle in the plot, the presence of "talking" surnames, schematism in the depiction of some characters, the presence of positive and negative characters(with the versatility of their characters)), the playwright strives for a wide coverage of the phenomena of contemporary reality. “In Fonvizin's play, everything is Russian, national: the theme, the plot ... the characters of the characters. The ideological orientation of the work is due to time ... Fonvizin showed the dependence of the behavior and characters of people on the environment in which they live. All these elements of realism are reflected in the comedy "Undergrowth". That is why the name Mitrofanushka became "a household name for ridiculous underage stupidity and learning ignorance" (V.O. Klyuchevsky).

One of the main characters of the comedy "Undergrowth" by Fonvizin is Prostakov Mitrofan Terentyevich, the noble son of the Prostakovs. The name Mitrofan means "similar", similar to the mother. Maybe with this name Mrs. Prostakova wanted to show that her son is a reflection of Prostakova herself. Mitrofanushka was sixteen years old, but his mother did not want to part with her child and wanted to keep her until the age of twenty-six, not letting him go to work. Mrs. Prostakova herself was stupid, insolent, impolite, and therefore did not listen to anyone's opinion. "While Mitrofan is still underage, while he is to be married; and there, in ten years, when he enters, God forbid, into the service, endure everything." Mitrofanushka himself has no purpose in life, he only loved to eat, mess around and chase pigeons: "I'll run to the dovecote now, so maybe - either ..." To which his mother replied: "Go, frolic, Mitrofanushka." Mitrofan did not want to study, his mother hired teachers for him only because it was supposed to be in noble families, and not so that her son would learn the mind - the mind. As he said to his mother: “Listen, mother. does not love, With his mind, let him sweep far, and God forbid! Only you are tormented, and everything, I see, is emptiness. Don't learn this stupid science!" The worst qualities of character, the most backward views on science characterize such young nobles as Mitrofan. He is also unusually lazy. Mrs. Prostakova herself did not look for a soul in Mitrofanushka. Fonvizin understood the unreasonableness of her blind, animal love for her offspring, Mitrofan, a love that, in essence, destroys her son. Mitrofan ate himself to the point of colic in his stomach, and his mother tried to persuade him to eat more. The nanny said: "He has already eaten five buns, mother." To which Prostakova replied: "So you feel sorry for the sixth, you beast." These words show concern for the son. She tried to provide him with a carefree future, decided to marry him to a rich wife.

She did not try to provide him with a carefree future, she decided to marry him to a rich wife. If anyone offends her son, she immediately comes to the defense. Mitrofanushka was one of her consolations. Mitrofan was dismissive of his mother: “Yes! Come to your senses, darling!" "Vit here and the river is close. I'll dive, and remember your name." "I'm dead! God has died with you!": these words prove that he does not love at all and he does not feel sorry for his own mother at all, Mitrofan does not respect her and plays over her feelings. And when Prostakova, who has lost power, rushes to her son with the words: You alone remained with me, my heart friend, Mitrofanushka!". And in response he hears a heartless: "Yes, get rid of you, mother, how you imposed yourself." "The whole night such rubbish climbed into my eyes." "What rubbish is Mitrofanushka?" "Yes, then you, mother, then father." Prostakov was afraid of his wife and in her presence he spoke of his son as follows: “At least I love him as a parent is, this is a smart child, that is a reasonable, amusing, entertainer; sometimes I am truly beside myself with joy from him. I don’t believe that he is my son,” and added, looking at his wife: “My eyes don’t see anything in your eyes.” Taras Skotinin, looking at everything that was happening, repeated: "Well, Mitrofanushka, I see you are a mother's son, not a father!" And Mitrofan turned to his uncle: "What are you, uncle, eating henbane? Get out, uncle, get out." Mitrofan was always rude to his mother and snapped at her. Although Eremeevna did not receive a penny for raising a minor, she tried to teach him good things, defended him from his uncle: "I will die on the spot, but I will not give the child away. Sunsya, sir, if you please, stick your head in. I'll scratch out those thorns." I tried to make a decent person out of him: "Yes, teach at least a little bit." "Well, say another word, you old bastard! I'll finish them off; I'll complain to my mother again, so she'll deign to give you a task like yesterday." Of all the teachers, only the German Adam Adamych Vralman praised Mitrofanushka, and even then because of the fact that Prostakov was not angry with him and scolded. undergrowth mitrofan prostakov hero

Of all the teachers, only the German Adam Adamych Vralman praised Mitrofanushka, and even then because of the fact that Prostakov was not angry with him and scolded. The rest of the teachers openly scolded him. For example, Tsyfirkin: "Your nobility always toil around idle, if you please." And Mitrofan snarled: "Well! Come on, let's board, the garrison rat! Ask the asses." "All backs, your honor. We are left with the backs a century behind." Mitrofan's dictionary is small and poor. "Take them with a shot and Eremeevna": this is how he spoke of his teachers and nanny. Mitrofan was ill-bred, a rude, spoiled child, whom everyone around obeyed and obeyed, he also had freedom of speech in the house. Mitrofan was sure that the people around him should help him, give advice. Mitrofan had an inflated self-esteem. No matter how smart and hardworking a person is, there is a particle of such Mitrofanushka in him. Every person is sometimes lazy. There are also people who try to live only at the expense of their parents, without doing anything themselves. Of course, many depend on the upbringing of children by parents. To people like Mitrofan, I am neither good nor bad. I just try to avoid talking to people like that. In general, I think that such people should try to help with their difficulties and problems. We need to reason with him, make him learn. If such a person does not want to improve himself, learns and studies, but, on the contrary, remains stupid and spoiled, treats elders disrespectfully, then for the rest of his life he will remain undersized and ignorant.

Mitrofan and Prostakova

Mitrofan's training

Artwork test

The eighteenth century gave Russian (and world, of course) literature many outstanding names and talented figures. One of them is Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin, writer and playwright. Most of the inhabitants, he is known as the author of the comedy "Undergrowth". How was the most famous work of the author created, from whom did he write his characters and what is special about one of the heroes of the play - Mitrofanushka?

Denis Fonvizin

Before talking about the comedy itself, it is necessary to say at least briefly about its author. Denis Fonvizin lived a not too long (only forty-seven years), but a bright life. Most know him only as the person who wrote The Undergrowth, meanwhile, he wrote the play The Brigadier, many translations and adaptations, treatises and essays.

Despite the fact that he wrote only two plays (and even after “The Brigadier” he did not turn to dramaturgy for more than ten years), it is Fonvizin who is the “progenitor” of the so-called Russian everyday comedy.

"Undergrowth" Fonvizin: the history of creation

Despite the fact that The Undergrowth was completed by the writer and politician in the early eighties, there is reason to believe that Fonvizin conceived his satirical "comedy of manners" back in the sixties: it is to this time that the play belongs, which first saw the light of day only in the past century - during the life of the author, it was never published. Her characters can be called the early prototypes of the heroes of "Undergrowth": familiar features are quite easily captured in each of them.

While working on comedy, Denis Ivanovich used a huge variety of sources - both articles and works of various authors (both modern and past centuries), and even texts written by Catherine the Great herself. Having finished work on The Undergrowth, Fonvizin, of course, decided to stage a play, although he understood that it would be difficult to do this - an abundance of new ideas and bold statements blocked the work’s path to wide audience. Nevertheless, he himself undertook the preparation of the performance and, albeit slowly, albeit with all sorts of delays, The Undergrowth saw the light of day in the theater on Tsaritsyn Meadow and received phenomenal success with the audience. This happened in 1782, and a year later the play was first published.

Who is this imbecile

Many are sincerely perplexed by the title of the work. In fact, why - undergrowth? What is this word anyway? Everything is simple. In the eighteenth century (and it was then that Denis Fonvizin lived and worked), a young man of noble (that is, noble) origin who had not received an education was called a “undergrowth”. A person is lazy, stupid, incapable of anything - that's who such an undergrowth is. Such young men could not get a job, and they were not given permission to marry.

Denis Ivanovich called his work "Undergrowth" because that is exactly what Mitrofanushka is, one of the main characters. He put a little more satire into this word than it had in reality. Undergrowth, with light hand Fonvizin is not only an uneducated, but also a selfish and rude young man. The characterization of the image of Mitrofanushka will be presented in more detail later.

The plot of "Undergrowth" revolves around the modest girl Sophia, left without parents and therefore taken up by the Prostakov family, greedy and narrow-minded people. Sophia is a rich heiress, a marriageable bride, and the Prostakovs want to get a wife with such a dowry, trying to pass her off as their sixteen-year-old son Mitrofanushka, who is undersized, and Prostakova's brother Skotinin, obsessed with the idea of ​​​​a large number of cattle in Sofya's farm. Sophia also has a loved one - Milon, for whom she wants to give her and her only relative - Uncle Starodum. He comes to the Prostakovs and is very surprised to see how the owners curry favor with him and his niece. They try to put Mitrofanushka in the best light, but the uneducated and lazy bumpkin spoils all the attempts of the mother.

Having learned that Starodum and Milon are taking Sophia away, at night, on the orders of the Prostakovs, they try to steal her, but Milon prevents the abduction. It all ends with the fact that the Prostakovs lose not only a profitable bride, but also their estates - their greed, anger and self-interest are to blame.

Main characters

The main characters of "Undergrowth" are the already mentioned Mitrofanushka and his parents (it should be noted that everything in this family is run by the mother, who does not consider servants to be people, strongly following the fashion of that time; the father of the family is completely under the heel of his domineering wife, who even raises her hand against him), Sofya, her uncle Starodum, the fiance Milon, the state official Pravdin, whose goal is to expose the atrocities of the Prostakovs (he eventually succeeds in this). Need to pay Special attention to the fact that Fonvizin used “talking” names for his characters - they are endowed with both positive (Starodum, Pravdin, Sofya) and negative (Skotinin, Prostakov) characters. In the characterization of Mitrofanushka, his name also has great value- from the Greek "Mitrofan" means "sissy", which really fully reflects the character of the hero. Only at the very end of the play Mitrofanushka quarrels with her mother and tells her to leave him alone.

Fonvizin pushes foreheads in his work on completely different social strata - officials, nobles, and servants are represented here ... He openly ridicules the nobles with their upbringing, condemns people like the Prostakovs. From the very first words of the play it is easy to understand where are the positive and where are the negative characters and what is the attitude of the author towards each of them. In many ways, it is thanks to the beautifully written images of negative characters (especially the characterization of Mitrofanushka) that the “comedy of manners” brought such success to its creator. The name of Mitrofanushka has generally become a household name. The play was also disassembled into idioms with quotes.

Characteristics of Mitrofanushka should be given special attention. However, first it is necessary to say about three more characters in the play. These are Mitrofanushka's teachers - Tsyfirkin, Kuteikin and Vralman. They cannot be directly attributed either to the positive, or to they belong to a type of people in which both good and bad are equally combined. However, their surnames are also “speaking”: they talk about the main property of a person - for example, Vralman’s is a lie, and Tsyfirkin’s is a love of mathematics.

"Undergrowth": characteristics of Mitrofanushka

The character, in whose "honor" the work is named, is almost sixteen years old. While many of his age are completely independent adults, Mitrofanushka cannot take a single step without her mother's prompting, without holding on to her skirt. He is one of those who are called "sissy" (and as mentioned above, a direct indication of this is contained even in the meaning of his name). Despite the fact that Mitrofanushka has a father, the boy does not receive a male upbringing in the full sense of the word - his father himself is not famous for such properties.

For parents, Mitrofanushka is still a small child - even in his presence they talk about him in this way, calling him a child, a child - and Mitrofanushka shamelessly uses this throughout the comedy. The boy does not put his father in a penny, thus proving once again that he is a perfect "sissy". Very indicative in this respect is the scene where Mitrofan pities his mother, who is tired of beating her father - so she, poor, worked hard, beating him. There is no question of sympathizing with the father.

It is not entirely possible to give a brief description of Mitrofanushka in "Undergrowth" - there is so much that can be said about this character. For example, he really likes to eat tightly, and then - to soak up the pleasure of doing nothing (however, he doesn’t really have anything to do, except for studies, in which, to be honest, he is not diligent at all). Like his mother, Mitrofan is a rather heartless person. He likes to humiliate others, putting them below himself, once again "pointing the place" to the people working for him. So, he constantly offends his nanny, assigned to him from birth, who is always on his side. This is another significant moment in the characterization of Mitrofanushka from the comedy "Undergrowth".

Mitrofanushka is a sneak and insolent, but meanwhile he is a toady: already at that age he feels who should not be rude, who should “show his best qualities”. The only trouble is that with such a mother's upbringing, Mitrofanushka simply cannot have the best qualities. Even to her, the one who so blindly loves him and allows him everything, he threatens, blackmails her in an attempt to achieve what he wants for himself. Such qualities do not honor the characterization of Mitrofanushka, speaking of him as a bad person, ready to go over heads for the sake of himself and his demands, as a person who loves only as long as his will is fulfilled.

Interestingly, Mitrofan is characterized by self-criticism: he is aware that he is lazy and stupid. However, he is not at all upset about this, declaring that "he is not a hunter for smart girls." It is unlikely that such a quality passed to him from his mother, rather he adopted it from his father - at least he had to inherit something from him. Takova a brief description of Mitrofanushka, a hero whose name for several centuries has been called people with similar character traits.

Was it a boy?

It is known that Fonvizin "peeped" scenes for his work in life. But what about the heroes? Are they completely invented or written off from real-life people?

The characterization of the hero Mitrofanushka gives reason to believe that Alexei Olenin was his prototype. Subsequently, he became known as a statesman and historian, as well as an artist. But until the age of eighteen, his behavior was absolutely similar to the characteristics of Mitrofanushka: he did not want to study, he was rude, lazy, as they say, wasting his life in vain. It is believed that it was Fonvizin’s comedy that helped Alexei Olenin “get on the right path”: allegedly, after reading it, he recognized himself in the main character, saw his portrait from the side for the first time and was so shocked that he gained motivation for “rebirth”.

Like it or not, now it is impossible to know for sure. But some facts from Olenin's biography have been preserved. So, until the age of ten, he was raised by his father and a specially hired tutor, he also studied at home. When he went to school (and not to any, but to the Court of Pages), he was soon sent to continue his studies abroad - he was chosen for this purpose, since little Alyosha showed excellent success in learning. Abroad, he graduated from two higher institutions - thus, it is not necessary to say that Olenin was lazy and ignorant, like Mitrofanushka. It is quite possible that some of the qualities inherent in Olenin resembled the characteristics of Mitrofanushka, however, most likely, it is impossible to assert that Olenin is a 100% prototype of Fonvizin's hero. More likely, however, that Mitrofan is a kind of collective image.

The meaning of the comedy "Undergrowth" in literature

"Undergrowth" has been studied for more than two centuries - from the very release of the play to this day. It is difficult to overestimate its significance: it satirically ridicules the social and even state structure of society. And he does it openly, not even afraid of the authorities - and meanwhile, Catherine the Great, precisely because of this, after the publication of The Undergrowth, forbade the publication of anything that came out from the pen of Fonvizin.

His comedy highlights sharp questions of that time, but they remain no less relevant today. The shortcomings of society that existed in the eighteenth century have not gone away in the twenty-first. The play, with the light hand of Pushkin, was called a "folk comedy" - it has every right to be called that today.

1. In the first version of the play, Mitrofanushka is called Ivanushka.
2. The initial version of the comedy is closer to the play "The Brigadier".
3. Fonvizin worked on The Undergrowth for about three years.
4. He drew ideas for writing from life, but talked about the creation of only one scene - the one where Eremeevna protects her pupil from Skotinin.
5. When Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol studied at the gymnasium, he played the role of Mrs. Prostakova in school productions.
6. Fonvizin sketched out the continuation of "Undergrowth" in letters to Sophia and Starodum to each other: according to the author's idea, after the wedding, Milon cheated on Sophia, which she complained to her uncle about.
7. For the first time, the idea of ​​creating such a work originated with Denis Ivanovich when he was in France.

More than two centuries have passed since the creation of the play, and it does not lose its relevance to this day. More and more research is devoted to the study of comedy itself and its individual characters. This means that Denis Fonvizin managed to notice and highlight in his work something that will attract the attention of readers and viewers at all times.

Denis Fonvizin wrote the comedy "Undergrowth" in the 18th century. At that time, in Russia, the decree of Peter I was in force, prescribing that young men under the age of 21 without education were forbidden to enter the military and public service, as well as to marry. Young people up to this age in this document were called "underage" - this definition formed the basis of the title of the play. In the work, the main character is Mitrofanushka the undersized. Fonvizin portrayed him as a stupid, cruel, greedy and lazy young man of 16 who behaves like a small child, does not want to learn and is naughty. Mitrofan is a negative character and the funniest hero of the comedy - his awkward statements, stupidity and ignorance cause laughter not only among readers and spectators, but also among other heroes of the play. The character is playing important role in the ideological concept of the play, therefore the image of Mitrofan the Undergrowth requires a detailed analysis.

Mitrofan and Prostakova

In Fonvizin's work "Undergrowth", the image of Mitrofanushka is closely connected with the theme of education, since in fact it was the wrong upbringing that caused the malevolence of the young man and all his negative traits. His mother, Mrs. Prostakova, is an uneducated, cruel, despotic woman, for whom material wealth and power are the main values. She adopted her views on the world from her parents - representatives of the old nobility, the same uneducated and ignorant landowners like herself. The values ​​and views received through education were transferred to Prostakov and Mitrofan - the young man in the play is depicted " sissy”- he can’t do anything himself, everything is done for him by servants or his mother. Having received from Prostakova cruelty towards servants, rudeness and the opinion that education occupies one of the last places in life, Mitrofan also adopted disrespect for loved ones, a willingness to deceive or betray them for a better offer. Recall how Prostakova persuaded Skotinin to take Sophia as his wife in order to essentially get rid of the “extra mouth”. Whereas the news about the girl’s large inheritance made her a “caring teacher”, supposedly loving Sophia and wishing her happiness. Prostakova is looking for her own self-interest in everything, which is why she refused Skotinin, because if the girl and Mitrofan, who listens to his mother in everything, would marry, Sophia’s money would go to her.

The young man is as selfish as Prostakova. He becomes worthy son his mother, adopting her "best" features, which explains the final scene of the comedy, when Mitrofan leaves Prostakov, who has lost everything, leaving to serve the new owner of the village, Pravdin. For him, the efforts and love of his mother turned out to be insignificant before the authority of money and power.

Influence on Mitrofan father and uncle

Analyzing the upbringing of Mitrofan in the comedy "Undergrowth", one cannot fail to mention the figure of the father and his influence on the personality of the young man. Prostakov appears before the reader as a weak-willed shadow of his wife. It was the passivity and desire to transfer the initiative to someone stronger that Mitrofan adopted from his father. It is paradoxical that Pravdin speaks of Prostakov as a stupid person, but in the action of the play his role is so insignificant that the reader cannot fully understand whether he really is so stupid. Even the fact that Prostakov reproaches his son when Mitrofan leaves his mother at the end of the work does not indicate him as a character with positive traits. The man, like the rest, does not try to help Prostakova, remaining on the sidelines, thus again showing an example of weak will and lack of initiative to his son - he does not care, as it was all the same, while Prostakova beat his peasants and disposed of his property in her own way.

The second man who influenced Mitrofan's upbringing is his uncle. Skotinin, in fact, is a person that a young man could become in the future. They are even brought together by a common love for pigs, whose company is much more pleasant for them than the company of people.

Mitrofan's training

According to the plot, the description of Mitrofan's training is in no way connected with the main events - the struggle for Sophia's heart. However, it is these episodes that reveal many important problems that Fonvizin highlights in the comedy. The author shows that the reason for the stupidity of a young man is not only bad upbringing, but also bad education. Prostakova, hiring teachers for Mitrofan, chose not educated smart teachers, but those who would take less. The retired sergeant Tsyfirkin, the half-educated Kuteikin, the former groom Vralman - none of them could give Mitrofan a decent education. They all depended on Prostakova, and therefore could not ask her to leave and not interfere with the lesson. Recall how a woman did not even let her son think about solving an arithmetic problem, offering "her own solution." The scene of a conversation with Starodum becomes an exposure of Mitrofan's useless teaching, when the young man begins to invent his own grammar rules and does not know what geography is studying. At the same time, the illiterate Prostakova also does not know the answer, but if the teachers could not laugh at her stupidity, then the educated Starodum openly ridicules the ignorance of mother and son.

Thus, Fonvizin, introducing scenes of Mitrofan's training and exposing his ignorance into the play, raises the acute social problems of education in Russia in that era. Noble children were taught not by authoritative educated personalities, but by literate slaves who needed pennies. Mitrofan is one of the victims of such an old-fashioned, obsolete and, as the author emphasizes, meaningless education.

Why is Mitrofan the central character?

As it becomes clear from the title of the work, the young man is the central image of the comedy "Undergrowth". In the system of characters, he is opposed to the positive heroine Sofya, who appears before the reader as a smart, educated girl who respects her parents and older people. It would seem why the author did key figure plays of a weak-willed, stupid, with a completely negative characterization of an undergrowth? Fonvizin in the image of Mitrofan showed a whole generation of young Russian nobles. The author was worried about the mental and moral degradation of society, in particular, young people who adopted outdated values ​​from their parents.

In addition, in The Undergrowth, Mitrofan's characterization is a composite image of the negative features of modern landowners Fonvizin. The author sees cruelty, stupidity, ignorance, sycophancy, disrespect for others, greed, civic passivity and infantilism not only in outstanding landowners, but also in officials at the court, who also forgot about humanism and high morality. For the modern reader, the image of Mitrofan is, first of all, a reminder of what a person becomes when he stops developing, learning new things and forgets about eternal human values ​​- respect, kindness, love, mercy.

A detailed description of Mitrofan, his character and lifestyle will help students in grades 8-9 in preparing a report or essay on the topic “Characteristics of Mitrofan in the comedy “Undergrowth””

Artwork test

Topics of education and upbringing are always relevant for society. That is why Denis Fonvizin's comedy "Undergrowth" is interesting for readers today. The heroes of the work are representatives of different classes. The comedy is written in the style of classicism. Each character embodies a certain quality. For this, the author uses speaking surnames. In comedy, the rule of three unities is observed: the unity of action, time and place. The play was staged for the first time in 1782. Since then, there have been thousands, if not millions, of the same name performances around the world. In 1926, based on the comedy, the film "Lord Skotinina" was shot.

Starodum

Starodum personifies the image of a wise man. He was brought up in the spirit of Peter's time, respectively, honors the traditions of the previous era. He considers service to the Fatherland a sacred duty. He despises wickedness and inhumanity. Starodum proclaims morality and enlightenment.

Here are the worthy fruits of wickedness.

The ranks begin - sincerity ceases.

An ignoramus without a soul is a beast.

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

The direct dignity in a person is the soul ... Without it, the most enlightened clever woman is a miserable creature.

It is much more honest to be bypassed without guilt than to be granted without merit.

It is in vain to call a physician to the sick. Here the doctor will not help, unless he becomes infected.

For the whims of one person, all of Siberia is not enough.

Starodum. Fragment from the play "Undergrowth"

Follow nature, you will never be poor. Follow people's opinions, you will never be rich.

Cash is not cash worth

Evil is never wished on those who are despised; but usually wish evil on those who have the right to despise.

An honest person must be a perfectly honest person.

Insolence in a woman is a sign of vicious behavior.

In human ignorance, it is very comforting to consider everything as nonsense that you do not know.

God has given you all the pleasures of your sex.

With today's marriages, advice is rarely given to the heart. The matter is whether the groom is noble or rich? Is the bride good or rich? There is no question of goodwill.

The bad disposition of people who are not worthy of respect should not be distressing. Know that you never wish evil on those who are despised, but usually wish evil on those who have the right to despise.

People envy more than one wealth, more than one nobility: and virtue also has its envious people.

Science in a depraved person is a fierce weapon to do evil.

Children? Leave wealth to children! Not in the head. They will be smart, they will manage without it; but riches do not help a foolish son.

A flatterer is a night thief who first extinguishes a candle, and then begins to steal.

Do not have love for your husband that resembles friendship b. Have a friendship for him that would resemble love. It will be much stronger.

Is he happy who has nothing to desire, but only something to fear?

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

Conscience always, like a friend, warns before punishing like a judge.

It is better to live life at home than in someone else's antechamber.

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

Pravdin

Pravdin is an honest official. He is educated and polite person. He conscientiously fulfills his duties, stands for justice and considers it his duty to help poor peasants. He sees through the essence of Prostakova and her son and believes that each of them should receive what they deserve.

The direct dignity in man is the soul.

How tricky it is to exterminate inveterate prejudices in which base souls find their advantage!

Moreover, from my own feat of my heart, I do not leave to notice those malevolent ignoramuses who, having full power over their people, use it for evil inhumanely.

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

What is called in him sullenness, rudeness, that is, one action of his straightforwardness.

His tongue never said yes when his soul felt no.

Malice in a well-established state cannot be tolerated ...

Guilt you will fly to distant lands, to the kingdom of thirty.

Her crazy love for you is what has brought her most to misfortune.

I beg your pardon for leaving you...

I caress, however, to soon put limits on the wickedness of the wife and the stupidity of the husband. I have already informed our chief of all the local barbarisms and I have no doubt that measures will be taken to appease them ...

I am instructed to take custody of the house and villages at the first rabies, from which people subject to it could suffer ..

The pleasure that sovereigns enjoy in possessing free souls must be so great that I do not understand what motives could distract ...

Scoundrel! Should you be rude to your mother? It is her mad love for you that has brought her most of all to misfortune.

Milon

Milon is an officer. He appreciates courage and honesty in people, welcomes enlightenment and considers it his duty to serve the Fatherland. Treats others with respect. Milo is great couple Sophia. There are obstacles on their way, but at the end of the work, the fates of the heroes are reunited.

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

Perhaps she is now in the hands of some greedy people who, taking advantage of her orphanhood, keep her in tyranny. That thought alone makes me beside myself.

BUT! now I see my doom. My opponent is happy! I do not deny all the merits in it. He may be reasonable, enlightened, kind; but so that he could compare with me in my love for you, so that ...

How! that's my rival! BUT! dear Sophia! why are you tormenting me with a joke? You know how easily a passionate person is upset by the slightest suspicion.

Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin

Unworthy people!

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

If you allow me to say my thought, I place true fearlessness in the soul, and not in the heart. Whoever has it in his soul, without any doubt, has a brave heart.

I see and honor virtue adorned with enlightened reason...

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

You know how easily a passionate person is upset by the slightest suspicion...

Sofia

In translation, Sophia means "wisdom." In "Undergrowth" Sophia acts as a wise, well-mannered and educated person. Sophia is an orphan, her guardian and uncle is Starodum. Sophia's heart belongs to Milon. But, having learned about the rich inheritance of the girl, other heroes of the work also claim her hand and heart. Sophia is convinced that wealth should be obtained only through honest work.

How appearance blinds us!

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

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

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

How not to be satisfied with the heart when the conscience is calm ...

I will use all my efforts to earn the good opinion of worthy people. But how can I avoid that those who see how I move away from them do not become angry with me? Is it possible, uncle, to find such a means that no one in the world would wish me harm?

Is it possible, uncle, that there are such pitiful people in the world in whom a bad feeling is born just because there is good in others.

A virtuous person should take pity on such unfortunate ones. It seemed to me, uncle, that all people agreed on what to believe their happiness in. Nobility, wealth ...

Negative

Prostakov

Mrs. Prostakova is one of the main characters of the work. She is a representative of the nobility, holds serfs. In the house, everything and everyone should be under her control: the Mistress of the estate pushes not only her servants, but also manages her husband. In her statements, Mrs. Prostakova is despotic and rude. But she loves her son unconditionally. As a result, her blind love does not bring anything good either to her son or to herself.

That's the kind of hubby the Lord has given me: he doesn't know how to make out what is wide and what is narrow.

So believe the same and the fact that I do not intend to indulge the lackeys. Go, sir, and now punish ...

One of my concerns, one of my joys is Mitrofanushka. My age is passing. I cook it for people.

Live and learn, my dear friend! Such a thing.

And I love that other people listen to me ..

Without science people live and lived.

Miss Prostakova. Frame from the movie "Undergrowth"

Everything that the peasants had, we took away, we can’t tear anything off. Such a disaster!

I do not intend to indulge the lackeys. Go, sir, and now punish ...

From morning to evening, as if hanged by the tongue, I don’t lay my hands on it: either I scold, or I fight; That's how the house holds up, my father! ..

Yes, now the age is different, father!

My Mitrofanushka does not get up for days because of the book. Motherly my heart. It’s a pity, a pity, but you’ll think: but there will be a kid anywhere.

It is bad to praise your child, but where not unhappy will be the one whom God will bring to be his wife.

Mitrofan

Mitrofan is the son of the landowner Prostakova. Actually, he is in comedy and is undersized. So in the 18th century they called those who did not want to study or serve. Mitrofanushka is spoiled by his mother and nanny, he is used to lounging around, loves to eat well and is completely indifferent to science. At the same time, gratitude is alien to him. He is rude not only to his teachers and nanny, but also to his parents. So, he "thanks" his mother for boundless blind love.

Yes, get rid of, mother, as imposed ...

Garrison rat.

You are so tired, beating the father.

For me, where they say.

I don't want to study - I want to get married

Beleny ate too much.

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

I will learn; only that this be the last time, and that today there should be collusion!

I'll run to the dovecote now, so maybe - either ...

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

Vite here and the river is close. I’ll dive in, so remember your name ... Well, you lured me, blame yourself ...

Skotinin is the brother of Mrs. Prostakova. He does not recognize science and any enlightenment. He works in a barnyard, pigs are the only creatures that make him feel warm. The author gave such an occupation and a surname to his hero not by chance. Upon learning of Sophia's condition, he dreams of marrying her profitably. For this, he is even ready to destroy his own nephew Mitrofanushka.

Every fault is to blame.

Blame it on your happiness.

Teaching is nonsense.

I never read anything in my life, sister! God delivered me from this boredom.

Everyone left me alone. Go for a walk in the barnyard.

Do not be that Skotinin, who wants to learn something.

What a parable! I am not a hindrance to others. Everyone marry his bride. I will not touch a stranger, and do not touch my stranger.

I didn’t go anywhere, but I wander, thinking. I have such a custom, as if you put a fence in the head, then you can’t knock it out with a nail. With me, you hear, what entered the mind, it settled here. All I think about is that I only see in a dream, as in reality, and in reality, as in a dream.

Eremeevna

Nanny Mitrofanushka. He has been serving in the Prostakovs' house for more than 40 years. She is devoted to her masters and is attached to their home. Eremeevna has a highly developed sense of duty, but the sense dignity completely missing.

I have my own hooks too!

I was pushed towards him, but by force I carried my legs away. Smoke pillar, my mother!

Oh, creator, save and have mercy! Yes, if my brother didn’t deign to leave at that very moment, then I would have broken with him. That's what God would not put. If these were blunted (pointing to the nails), I wouldn’t even take care of the fangs.

God forbid the slander!

Yes, even if you read for five years, you will never read better than ten thousand.

Not easy will not take me! I have been serving for forty years, but the mercy is still the same ...

Five rubles a year, and five slaps a day.

Oh you damn bastard!

Tsyfirkin

Tsyfirkin is one of Mitrofanushka's teachers. The speaking surname directly indicates that he taught his son Prostakova mathematics. The diminutive use of the surname suggests that Tsyfirkin was not a real teacher. He is a retired soldier who understands arithmetic.

Don't do business, don't run away from business

God gave me a student, boyar son

Himself, not deserving, I will not demand a century ...

I would give myself an ear to take, if only this parasite would be scolded like a soldier ...

I took money for the service, I didn’t take it in an empty way and I won’t take it ...

Illustration for the play by D. Fonvizin "Undergrowth"

And who is to blame? Only he is a stylus in his hands, and the German is at the door. He has a sabbath because of the board, and for me, in jerks.

And our brother lives like this for a century. Do not do business, do not run away from business. That’s the trouble for our brother, how badly they feed, how today the food was gone for the local dinner ...

Why be angry, your noble? We have a Russian proverb: the dog barks, the wind carries.

AND! Your honor. I'm a soldier.

All backs, your honor. Vity with tasks a century ago and remained.

Tsyfirkin closes the group of negative characters for good reason, because, unlike other heroes, he has a lot of good qualities. At the end of the work, he refuses to take money for his work, because he never managed to teach Mitrofan anything. Starodum even calls Tsyfirkin kind person. Thus, the author of the work shows the crisis of education in the contemporary era, when not professional teachers were hired, but soldiers. Consequently, they could not bring up a strong educated personality.

Russian literature of the "pre-Pushkin" period can rightfully be proud of its 18th century: the names of such masters of the word as Lomonosov and Derzhavin, Sumarokov and Trediakovsky. But a special place in it is occupied by the founder of the “light” writing of theatrical drama in the folk spirit, the master of a truly Russian plot and dialogue (despite the fact that he had German roots, which was reflected in his surname), an educator and moralist - Denis Fonvizin.

On September 24 (October 4, according to the new style), 1782, the premiere of the magnificent play "Undergrowth" finally happened on the stage of Volny Russian theater. The Dramatic Dictionary magazine described this event as follows: "Incomparably the theater was filled and the audience applauded by throwing purses." Gossip went, went around the secular halls of Moscow and St. Petersburg - speculation about Highest resolution or, conversely, the non-permission of the play ... Most likely, they were lies, like all the gossip of the world. Why should the play be banned? Because so what was decided for the program of the Soviet school? But what really happened? "Incomparable Filling" auditorium and "purse throwing".

Who was the same Fonvizin who gave rise to so many rumors? .. Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin

With the exception of strokes and paralysis in the sunset years, Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin was a lucky man all his life. Both fate and origin did not let us down, and youth pampered, and maturity pleased ... Well, in old age, God himself ordered to save the soul. Sores, as the gentleman himself said about himself, - as a punishment for the sins of youth. A man of deep faith, at the same time an intellectual, artist and courtier, he may have regretted the bouts of atheism and primitive liberal Voltairianism, to which he paid tribute in his wandering European odyssey ...

His ancestor von Wiesen was originally from the Livonian dukes. He landed in Russian captivity among the soldiers of the famous order under Ivan the Terrible. He was pardoned and left in the Moscow lands. “Russified” by doubling parts of the surname.

A distant descendant of the Livonian Duke Denis Fonvizin was born on April 3 (14), 1745. Grew up in a patriarchal setting. Education, according to Russian tradition, until the age of ten received home. However. his teachers knew their business well, because this lad with knowledge of three languages, fairly well-read and not spoiled, entered the noble gymnasium at the university. Then there was Moscow University, just created by the efforts of Lomonosov and Dashkova, young and violent. Since the 1760s, a young nobleman-reasoner has been writing, translating, studying at the Faculty of Philosophy, and making friends with whomever he needs (Lomonosov, Trediakovsky), and marked by whoever he needs, and sent to the right place - by the secretary of the minister to the collegium of foreign affairs. In 1763, at the age of eighteen (!). And at 24, with special merits, he becomes the personal secretary of Count Panin himself.

His translations of Terrason, Rousseau, Voltaire, Gresse appear in magazines ... In 1768, the play Brigadier was written, the author, on the wave of wild success, was invited to Peterhof. He himself reads his creation to the most famous person in the empire. In general, mother Ekaterina favored Denis Ivanovich, forgave the impulsiveness, authoritarianism and self-confidence of his journalism. Although her tone was sometimes impermissible. For example, in “Discourse on indispensable state laws” it would not be necessary for those in power to ask questions, and in “Undergrowth” a simple official in vain so familiarly philosophizes on behalf of the Government ... But nothing, sir, it passed, and no one was hurt. Even without disgrace managed.

And now a smart and talented official and diplomat nobly barrages around European capitals, writes meaningful, finely finished letters, they are travel notes, to her sister. Immediately after the death of the patron, Count Panin, he retires, for he soberly looks at his existence as an adviser, even a civilian one, at the office of the Secret Expedition: he cannot resist without the highest patronage ... But he does not lose heart.

Writes. Travels. Tries to promote plays in the theatre. But the theatrical forces of both capitals and the provinces are too weak to comprehend and apply the fantastic gift of the great Russian comedian, to match Molière. Fights illnesses. He is trying to publish a five-volume edition of his works... But it doesn't work out. And not because Fonvizin is not Rousseau, and Russia is not Switzerland, a monarchy, not a republic. It's just that people still read too little, the interest of those on whom the movement of thought in the country depends is too small. And the master of drama, rowdy and professor, intriguer and gastronome, Russian playwright, creator of a truly folk comedy, Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin, has not yet been appreciated by the honor of dramatic affairs. Illustration for the play "Undergrowth"

Fonvizin died 10 years after his main premiere: December 1 (12), 1792. He was buried at the Lazarevsky cemetery in St. Petersburg. The undersized Mitrofanushka appeared on the St. Petersburg stage in the autumn of 1782 and earned himself a viva and victoria. In May 1783 the play was repeated in Moscow.

In dramaturgy, Fonvizin is graceful in Russian. If German clumsiness slips through in his beloved Starodum, the dogmatist and philistine from The Undergrowth, then this is superficial, fashionable and educational in the gallant 18th century. The post-Petrine era in Russia honestly repaid its debts to Prussian education. If a dashing French note sounds, as in The Brigadier, then wait for the scourge of satire, a monstrous caricature, so that Rabelais and Scarron will envy. Illustration for the play "The Brigadier"

No wonder the homegrown francophone, a fool and an ignoramus, who loves “France itself” in a French coachman, was christened Ivan. Ivan, who does not remember kinship, Ivan with a small letter. Fonvizin knew what he was doing - he was not attacking the Russian nobility, his target was an idiotic, "youth" (!) imitation of everything European at the expense of trampling on the domestic. An old weed, a chaff, deeply rooted in the soil of Russian social and political thought. Incidentally, a soil worker and educator, Fonvizin the playwright, unlike Radishchev, does not decipher his national preferences. "The Brigadier" is a play for the theatre. It is necessary to play it, play the role, buffoon! No wonder the friend and drinking companion of the author, Prince Potemkin Tauride, exclaimed after the premiere of the performance: “Oh, Denis! Die, you can't write anything better!" The sad answer of Fonvizin has been preserved as a historical anecdote: “I am inclined to that ...”

Moral sermons and teachings Denis Ivanovich left for treatises and "Undergrowth". Here the fatal trinity of "cannibals and soul-scientists" appears on the mountain "thick people" and dense okhlamonov Prostakov. Classicism certainly implies speaking surnames. Literal. Now it seems comical and surprising, why the hell did the aged truth-teller, the uncle from the hillock, Starodum, the stray insolent reasoner Pravdin and the completely nonentity in the officer's uniform Milon attack the peaceful barbarians Prostakov like a raider? The estate - in custody, Mitrofan - in the soldiers, Sophia married Milon ... For what ?! For rudeness and ignorance - that's what! Enlightenment of the nobility by the state (read, royal) will is no joke! This is politics, both in literature and in the theater too. Hence the answers to all aesthetic questions - classicism is a sovereign, useful, pleasant style ... Fonvizin did not even think to be rude to censorship, especially to the Empress. After all, the trinity of "punishers" are all state people, which means they "have the right." And censorship as such before French Revolution in Russia did not exist at all. Was - the highest favor or lack thereof. Fonvizin, as a rule, guessed correctly. 1986: "Undergrowth" at the Maly Theater. Photo: AfishaDaily

Fortunately, Fonvizin could write easily and with talent. And his charming, splashing 16-year-old cunning and hormones (I don’t want to study, I want to get married!) Mitrofan Prostakov, to this day on the stage, wins a foolish unexpected victory over the gloomy, inert "masters of truth and reason."

Mitrofanushka is an example of the undergrowth that Peter 1 spoke about in his decree. He issued a decree that such children of nobles without education should neither serve nor marry.

In the Prostakov family, education is not held in high esteem. They are proud that there were no educated people in their family. They forced their son to study according to fashion. But those lessons were useless. Mitrofan only ate.

Once Prostakova wanted to show her son and knock out an enviable bride for him.

So I decided that he needed to important people show your knowledge. Pravdin conducted an exam for the young man.

As it turned out, Mitrofan knew nothing. He could not count and did not understand arithmetic. His teacher Tsyfirkin said with a sigh that he would not even count to three.

When Pravdin began to ask questions about geography, both Mitrofan and his mother found themselves in a ridiculous position. They had no idea what science was. He didn't know history either. But here there is also the fault of the teacher, who deceived everyone, but in fact knew nothing about history.

Updated: 2017-08-15

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In the comedy "Undergrowth" D.I. Fonvizin poses one of the most important problems of society: the upbringing and education of the younger generation. The play caricaturely depicts the "educational process" in the Prostakov family of landowners. Satirically depicting the manners of the local nobles, showing their complete ignorance in how they prepare children for life and work in society, the writer sought to condemn this approach to education. Mitrofan's mother is forced (besides the main concern - about the nutrition of her son) to demonstrate the implementation of the decree on the education of noble children, although of her own free will she would never force her beloved child to "useless teaching".

The author satirically depicts Mitrofan's lessons in mathematics, geography, and the Russian language. His teachers were the deacon Kuteikin, the retired sergeant Tsyfirkin and the German Vralman, who were not far from the landowners who hired them. During the “arithmetic” lesson, when the teacher suggested solving the division problem, the mother advises her son not to share with anyone, not to give anything, but to take everything for himself. And geography, according to Prostakova, the gentleman does not need, because there are cabbies who will take you where you need to go.

The “exam” scene, in which Mitrofan showed all his knowledge, is imbued with a special comic. He sought to convince the "commission" how "he had gone far" in studying, for example, the Russian language. And therefore he sincerely assured that the word "door" can be both a noun and an adjective, depending on the location. Mitrofan achieved such results thanks to his mother, who indulged her lazy son in everything, who was used to doing only what he liked: eat, sleep, climb the dovecote and see from everyone around him unquestioning obedience, the fulfillment of his desires. Studies were not included in the circle of interests.

In the conditions that are displayed in the comedy, children could not differ much from their parents, since ignorant people are not able to instill in their offspring a craving for knowledge, the desire to become educated and intelligent citizens who would consciously prepare to serve the Fatherland. Mitrofan's father and mother cannot even read, and the uncle "had never read anything": "God ... delivered this boredom." The vital interests of these landowners are extremely narrowed: satisfaction of needs, passion for profit, the desire to arrange a marriage of convenience, and not for love (due to Sofya's dowry, Skotinin would like to "buy more pigs"). They have no concept of duty and honor, but the desire to rule is immensely developed. Prostakova is rude, cruel, inhuman towards the serfs. "Cattle, thieves' mug" and other curses are a reward, and the payment for labor was "five cuffs a day and five rubles a year." Mitrofan, who has been taught cruel treatment of serfs since childhood, will become the same master. He considers teachers as servants, wanting them to obey his lordly will.

Mrs. Prostakova is mentally "too simple" and "not trained in delicacy." He solves all issues with swearing and fists. Her brother, Skotinin, belongs to that group of people who, in their image and likeness, are close to animals. For example, Skotinin says: “Mitrofan loves pigs because he is my nephew. But why am I so addicted to pigs? Mr. Prostakov replies to this statement: "And here there is some similarity." Indeed, the son of the Prostakovs Mitrofan is in many ways similar to his mother and uncle. For example, he does not feel the desire for knowledge, but he eats a lot, and at the age of sixteen he is quite overweight. The mother tells the tailor that her child is of "delicate build." Nanny Eremeevna reports Mitrofan's needs: "I deigned to eat five buns before breakfast."

The purpose of D.I. Fonvizin was not only ridiculing, exposing the customs of the local nobility, but also a satirical depiction of the current order in society, in the state. Despotism destroys humanity in man. The writer substantiates his conclusions about the need to abolish serfdom, showing how some landlords understood the “Decree on the Liberty of the Nobility” in their own way, and other royal decrees supporting the serf-owners. The features of the life and way of life of the local nobles are that they take licentiousness of morals for virtue, as they have unlimited power, and therefore rudeness, lawlessness, and immorality flourished in their society.

The comedy "Undergrowth" is aimed at exposing the vices of society. Satirically depicting the mores of the landowners, their "methods of education", Fonvizin reached conclusions about what people should not be like, how children should not be raised so that new "mitrofanushki" would not appear among the nobles. Life principles Mitrofan are directly opposed to the convictions of an enlightened person. The author of the work created not a positive, but a negative image. He wanted to show "evil morality worthy of the fruits", so he displayed the worst aspects of landowner life, the malevolence of feudal lords, and also highlighted the vices of educating the younger generation.

The landowner Prostakova raised her son in her image and likeness (as her parents once raised her) and instilled in him the qualities that she considered necessary, so Mitrofan at the age of sixteen had already set goals and priorities for himself, and they are as follows:
- does not want to study;
- work or service does not appeal, it is better to drive pigeons on a dovecote;
- food for him has become the most important of the pleasures, and daily overeating is the norm;
- greed, greed, stinginess - qualities that help achieve complete well-being;
- rudeness, cruelty and inhumanity - the necessary principles of the landowner-serf;
- deceit, intrigue, deceit, fraud - the usual means in the struggle for one's own interests;
- the ability to adapt, that is, to please the authorities and to show lawlessness with people without rights, is one of the conditions for a free life.

For each of these "principles" in the comedy "Undergrowth" there are examples. The author wanted to ridicule, denounce the low morals of many landowners, therefore, in creating images, he used such techniques as satire, irony, and hyperbole. For example, Mitrofan complains to his mother that he was starved to death: “I haven’t eaten anything since morning, only five buns,” and last night “didn’t have dinner at all - only three slices of corned beef, and five or six hearth (buns).” Also, with sarcasm and hostility, the author reports about Mitrofan's "craving for knowledge", who is going to arrange a "task" for the old nanny because she asks him to learn a little. And he agrees to go to the lessons only if the conditions set by him are fulfilled: “... so that this is the last time and so that today there will be an agreement” (about marriage).

Mrs. Prostakova shamelessly lies to Pravdin that her son "does not get up for days because of the book." And Mitrofan enjoys permissiveness, the blind love of his mother, he has learned well how to achieve the fulfillment of his desires. This undergrowth is self-willed, rude, cruel, not only in relation to the nanny or other serfs, but even in relation to the mother, for whom he is the main joy. “Yes, get off, mother, how imposed!” - the son pushes away his mother when she tries to find support from him.

Starodum’s conclusion, made at the end of the play (“Here are the worthy fruits of evil-mindedness!”), Returns viewers and readers to the previous facts that explain and clearly show how characters like the immature Mitrofan and his mother are formed in society.

The decision of Pravdin to send Mitrofanushka to the service of the noble son is accepted unquestioningly. But a question arises, to which there is no answer in the comedy, although it is implied: “Can Mitrofan be useful in the service of the Fatherland?” Of course not. For this, D.I. Fonvizin created his comedy to show the public what “undergrowths” are brought up by the landowners and in whose hands the future of Russia may turn out to be.