Fonvizin's comedy "Undergrowth" was written in the best traditions of Russian classicism. In accordance with the classic canons, the characters in the work are clearly divided into positive and negative, and their names and surnames concisely characterize and reveal the main features of the characters. However, unlike the traditional images of classic plays, the heroes of The Undergrowth are devoid of stereotypes, which is what attracts modern readers and viewers.

The positive actors are Pravdin, Sofia, Starodum and Milon. Each of them supports the ideas of the Enlightenment, considering virtue, honesty, love for the motherland, high morality and education as the main human values. Their complete opposite depicts negative characters - Prostakovs, Skotinin and Mitrofan. They are representatives of the "old" nobility, which with all its might clings to the outdated ideas of serf and feudalism. Their core values ​​are money, position in the social hierarchy, and physical strength.

In Fonvizin's play "Undergrowth", the main characters are divided into peculiar dual pairs, in which the author portrays people with similar social roles, but portraying them in a mirror distortion. So, in addition to a couple of "children" - Sophia and Mitrofan, one can distinguish "educators" - Starodum and Prostakov, "grooms" - Milon and Skotinin, as well as "owners" - Prostakov and Pravdin.

Mitrofan- the undergrowth and the main character of the comedy - a spoiled stupid youth of sixteen years old, for whom everything has always been done by his mother, nanny or servants. Having adopted love for money, rudeness and disrespect for relatives from his mother (Prostakova is ready to deceive her brother in order to settle a marriage that is beneficial for her), and from his father complete lack of will, he behaves like a small child - he does not want to study, while he finds marriage fun fun. The complete opposite of Mitrofan is Sophia. This is an educated, intelligent and serious girl with a difficult fate. Having lost her parents at an early age and living in the care of the Prostakovs, Sophia does not adopt their values, but, in fact, becomes a “black sheep” in their society (Prostakova even resents that the girl can read).

Prostakov appears to readers on the one hand as an uneducated, cunning woman who is ready for almost anything for the sake of profit, and on the other hand, as a practical housewife and loving mother, for whom the happiness and carefree future of her son is above all else. Prostakova brought up Mitrofan the way she was brought up, and therefore she could convey and show by her own example outdated ideas and values ​​that had long exhausted themselves.

At Starodum a completely different approach to education - he does not treat Sophia like a small child, talking with her on an equal footing, instructing her and advising her based on his own experience. In the matter of marriage, a man does not undertake to finally decide for a girl, because he does not know whether her heart is free. In the image of Starodum, Fonvizin portrays his ideal of a parent and educator - an authoritative strong personality who herself has traveled a worthy path. However, analyzing the character system of The Undergrowth from the point of view of the modern reader, it is worth noting that the image of Starodum as an educator is also not ideal. All the time he was away, Sophia was deprived of parental care and left to herself. The fact that the girl learned to read, appreciates morality and virtue is rather the merit of her parents, who instilled this in her at a young age.

In general, the theme of kinship is important both for the positive characters of the play "Undergrowth" and the negative ones. Sofia- the daughter of worthy people, Milon- the son of a good friend Starodum. Prostakova received this surname only after marriage, in fact she is Skotinina. Brother and sister are very similar, they are both driven by greed and cunning, they are not educated and cruel. Mitrofan is depicted as a real son of his parents and a pupil of his uncle, who inherited all their negative traits, including a love for pigs.

Characters whose relationship is not mentioned in the play - Prostakov and Pravdin. Prostakov is fundamentally different from his wife, compared to the active and active Prostakova, he looks weak-willed and passive. In a situation where he must show himself as the owner of the village, the man is lost in the background of his wife. This leads to the fact that the more active Pravdin, who was able to pacify Prostakova, becomes the owner of the lot. In addition, Prostakov and Pravdin act as some kind of "auditors" of what is happening. Pravdin is the voice of the law, while Prostakov is the opinion of a simple (remember the “speaking” names of the play) people who do not like how the “old” nobility in the person of his wife and brother-in-law behaves, but is afraid of their wrath, therefore he speaks only aside and not agreeing.

The last couple of characters are Skotinin and Milon. Men represent old and new ideas about marriage and family life. Milon has known Sophia since childhood, they love each other, and therefore their relationship is based on mutual respect and friendship. Skotinin does not even try to get to know the girl better, he is only concerned about his dowry, and he is not even going to arrange good conditions for her after marriage.

In addition to the main characters, there are secondary characters in the play - the teachers and educators of Mitrofan the underage. Characteristics of the heroes of the second plan - Eremeevna, Tsyfirkin, Kuteikina and Vralman- associated with their social role in the play. The nanny is an example of a serf who faithfully serves his mistress all his life, enduring beatings and injustice. On the example of the images of teachers, the author exposes all the problems of education in Russia in the 18th century, when children are taught by retired military men who did not graduate from the seminary or even grooms.

For the 18th century, Fonvizin's innovation consisted in the fact that the author portrayed the characters in The Undergrowth without excessive pathos and stereotypes inherent in many works of classicism. Each comedy hero is undoubtedly a composite image, but created not according to a ready-made “stencil”, but with its own individual features. That is why the characters of the work "Undergrowth" even today remain the brightest images of Russian literature.

Artwork test

Classicism is a literary movement that developed in the eighteenth century. A striking example of it is the comedy "Undergrowth". The characters in this work are the topic of the article.

Issues

What is the story of the comedy "Undergrowth"? The characters are typical representatives of the social strata in Russia of the eighteenth century. Among them are statesmen, and nobles, and servants, and serfs, and even self-proclaimed teachers. The social theme is touched upon in the comedy "Undergrowth". Characters - Mitrofanushka and his mother. Mrs. Prostakova strictly controls everyone. She does not consider anyone, not even her husband. In terms of its problems, the works “Undergrowth” are straightforward. Actors in comedy are either negative or positive. There are no complicated contradictory images.

The work also touches on social and political issues. Even today, after more than two centuries, it does not lose its relevance. The characters in Fonvizin's comedy "Undergrowth" utter phrases that literally scattered into quotes. The names of the heroes of this dramatic work have become common nouns.

History of creation

It is worth a few words to tell about how the work was created before describing the characters. "Undergrowth" Fonvizin wrote in 1778. By that time, the writer had already visited France. He spent more than a year in Paris, where he studied jurisprudence, philosophy, got acquainted with the social life of the country, which gave the world such names as Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau. Consequently, the views of the Russian playwright have changed somewhat. He realized the backwardness of the Russian landlord class. Therefore, the writer considered it necessary to create a work that would ridicule the vices of his contemporaries.

Fonvizin worked on the comedy for more than three years. In the early eighties, the premiere of the comedy "Undergrowth" took place in one of the capital's theaters.

List of actors

1. Prostakov.
2. Prostakov.
3. Mitrofanushka.
4. Sophia.
5. Milo.
6. Pravdin.
7. Starodum.
8. Skotinin.
9. Kuteikin.
10. Tsiferkin.
11. Vralman.
12. Trishka.

Sofya, Mitrofanushka, Prostakova are the main characters. Undergrowth is a concept denoting a young nobleman who has not received an education. They, as you know, in the comedy is Mitrofan - one of the main characters. But other characters in the comedy cannot be called secondary. Each of them plays a specific role in the plot. The works, like other works of the era of classicism, reflect the events that take place within one day. The characters in the comedy "Undergrowth" are endowed with names. And this is another typical feature of the works of classicism.

Plot

Fonvizin's comedy tells about cruel and stupid landowners, who are opposed by educated aristocrats. In the center of the plot is the story of an orphan girl who suddenly turns out to be the heiress of a large fortune. in comedy, they try to take possession of her dowry by forcibly marrying her off. The positive ones come to the rescue, getting rid of treacherous relatives.

In the house of the Prostakovs

A more detailed description of the characters in "Undergrowth" is presented below. But, as already mentioned, Mrs. Prostakova has a difficult disposition. The reader is convinced of this from the very first pages. The comedy begins with a scene in which Mitrofanushka's mother, in anger, attacks the serf Trishka for sewing a caftan for her beloved son, which is too small for him. This and subsequent events characterize Prostakova as a person prone to tyranny and unexpected outbursts of rage.

Sophia lives in the Prostakovs' house. Her father is dead. Recently, she lived in Moscow with her mother. But several months passed before she became an orphan. Prostakova took her to her.

rich heiress

Prostakova's brother Skotinin appears on the stage. Characteristics of the characters in the comedy "Undergrowth" - a description of the characters, which can be divided into two groups. The first includes the noble, honest and educated. To the second - ignorant and rude. Skotinin should be attributed to the latter. This man expresses his desire to marry Sophia. But he wants to connect his life with this girl not because he likes her. The thing is that he is a big hunter of pigs, as his surname speaks eloquently. And Sophia inherited several villages, on whose farms these animals live in great abundance.

Prostakova, meanwhile, learns exciting news: Sophia's uncle is alive. Mitrofan's mother is angry. After all, she believed that the Starodum had long been gone from the world. It turned out he was alive. Moreover, he is going to make his niece the heiress of the fortune he made in Siberia. Prostakova accuses Sophia of hiding news of a wealthy relative from her. But suddenly a brilliant idea comes to her mind. She decides to marry Sophia to her son.

Justice has triumphed

The village is visited by officer Milon, whom Sophia knew back in Moscow. They love each other, but due to life circumstances they had to leave. Milon, having learned about Sophia's engagement, is at first tormented by jealousy, but later he learns about what Mitrofan is, and calms down somewhat.

Prostakova loves her son very much. She hires teachers for him, but at the same time, by the age of sixteen, he had not even learned to read and write. The lad constantly complains to his mother that the teaching brings melancholy to him. To which Prostakova consoles her son, promising to marry him soon.

The appearance of Starodum

Finally, Uncle Sophia arrives in the village. Starodum tells the story of his life about how he was forced to leave the civil service, went to Siberia, and then decided to return from his native land. Starodum meets with Sophia and promises to save her from unpleasant relatives and marry her to a worthy man, who turns out to be her beloved Milon.

Description of actors

The minor, that is, Mitrofanushka, studies, observing the decree of the king, but does it with great reluctance. The characteristic features of this hero are stupidity, ignorance, laziness. Plus, he's cruel. Mitrofanushka does not respect her father and mocks her teachers. He takes advantage of the fact that his mother selflessly loves him.

Sophia gives a good description of her failed fiancé. The girl claims that, although Mitrofanushka was only sixteen years old, he has reached the peak of his perfection and will not develop further. This characters of Fonvizin's comedy are rather unpleasant. It combines traits such as servility and a penchant for tyranny.

At the beginning of the work, Mitrofanushka appears before readers in the role of a spoiled tough person. But later, when his mother fails to organize his wedding with a wealthy relative, he radically changes his behavior, humbly asks for forgiveness from Sophia, and shows humility towards Starodum. Mitrofanushka is a representative of the Prostakov-Skotinin world, people devoid of any concept of morality. The undergrowth symbolizes the degradation of the Russian nobility, the reason for which lies in improper upbringing and lack of education.

The surname Prostakova symbolizes ignorance and ignorance. The main feature of this heroine is blind love for her son. At the end of the work, Mitrofanushka's mother descends to the point that she begins to use assault on Skotinin. Prostakov - a combination of arrogance, hatred, anger and cowardice. By creating this literary character, the author wanted to show the reader what the lack of education leads to. According to Fonvizin, it is ignorance that is the cause of many human vices.

Sofia

Prostakova's niece is a representative of a noble family. But, unlike her relatives, she is educated, has a sense of honor. Sofya laughs at Mitrofanushka and his mother. She despises them. The characteristic features of the heroine are kindness, mockery, nobility.

Other positive characters

Starodum is an educated man of advanced years with great life experience. The main features of this hero are honesty, wisdom, kindness and respect for other people. This character is opposed to Prostakova. Both of them want the best for their students. But their approach to education is completely different. If Prostakova sees in her son a small child who requires constant care and indulges him in everything, then Starodum considers Sophia a mature personality. He takes care of his niece, choosing a worthy man for her husband. A few words should be said about this character.

Milon

The characteristic features of this hero are sincerity, nobility, prudence. Even in difficult situations, he does not lose his sanity. Hearing about Sophia's engagement, he presents Mitrofan as an educated and worthy man. And only later does his opinion regarding the opponent change. It is this hero who, in one of the last actions, is trying to reconcile Prostakov with his brother, reminding them that they are close people.

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

Genre Features

By genre, this work is a classic comedy, it complies with the requirements of the "three unities" inherent in classicism (place, time, action), the heroes are divided into positive and negative, each of the heroes has his own role ("resonator", "villain", etc.). however, it also contains deviations from the requirements of the classic aesthetics, and serious deviations.So, comedy was only supposed to amuse, it could not be interpreted ambiguously, there could not be ambiguity in it - and if we recall "Undergrowth", then we cannot but admit that, raising the most important social issues of his time in the work, the author resolves them by means, far from comical: for example, in the finale of the work, when, it would seem, “the vice is punished,” the viewer cannot but sympathize with Mrs. Prostakova, who is rudely and cruelly repelled by the ungrateful Mitrofanushka, preoccupied with her own fate: “Yes, get rid of it, mother, as imposed. .." - and the tragic element imperiously invades the comedy, which was unacceptable .. Yes, and with the "unity of action" everything is also not so simple in comedy, it has too many storylines that do not "work" in any way to resolve the main conflict , but they create a broad social background that determines the characters of the characters. Finally, Fonvizin's innovation also affected the language of the comedy "Undergrowth", the characters' speech is very individualized, it contains folklorisms, vernacular, and high style (Starodum, Pravdin), which also violates the classic canons of creating characters' speech characteristics. It is possible, summing up, to conclude that Fonvizin's comedy "Undergrowth" 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 him: to angrily ridicule the vices of his contemporary society, to rid him of "malice" capable of destroying both the human soul and public morality.

Image system

Let us analyze the system of images of the comedy "Undergrowth", which, as required by the aesthetics of classicism, represents two directly opposite "camps" - positive and negative characters. Here you can also notice a certain deviation from the canons, it manifests itself in the fact that it carries a duality, it is almost impossible to attribute them purely to positive or purely negative characters. Let's 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 "grab his piece", for which he is ridiculed. Or "Mitrofan's mother" Yeremeevna: she is vilified and humiliated in every possible way by the hostess, she dutifully 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 "Undergrowth"

As already noted, Fonvizin innovatively portrays his main character, Mrs. Prostakova. Already from the very first scenes of the comedy, we have before us 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 the hand" about how "mother" beats "father"? ..), she tyrannizes Sophia, she wants to force her to marry first his brother Taras Skotinin, and then, when it turns out that Sophia is now a rich bride, - for his son. Being herself an ignorant and uncultured person (with what pride she declares: “Read it yourself! No, madam, I, thanks to God, am not brought up like that. I can receive letters, but I always order someone else to read them!”), she despises education, although he is trying to teach his son, he does it only because he wants to ensure his future, and what is the cost of Mitrofan's "education" as it is presented in the comedy? True, his mother is convinced: "Believe me, father, that, of course, that is nonsense, which Mitrofanushka does not know" ...

Cunning and resourcefulness are inherent in Mrs. Prostakova, 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 a man from the "Skotinin family". When she meets a rebuff, she simultaneously tries to beg for forgiveness and promises punishment to those of her people, due to whose oversight the "enterprise" fell through, in which Mitrofanushka is ready to actively support her: "To be taken for people?" The “transformation” of Mrs. Prostakova is striking, who just on her knees humbly begged to forgive her, and, having received a petition, “jumping up from her knees”, promises with fervor: “Well! Now I will give dawn to the canals of my people. "I'll sort it out one by one. Now I'll try to find out who let her out of her hands. No, swindlers! No, thieves! I won't forgive a century, I won't forgive this mockery." How much voluptuousness is in this triple "now", and how truly scary it becomes from her request: "Give me a period of at least three days (Aside) I would let myself know ...".

However, as already noted, there is a certain duality in the image of Prostakova. She deeply and devotedly loves her son, is ready for anything for him. Is she guilty that she compares her love for him with the love of a dog for puppies "Have you heard that a bitch gave out her puppies?"? After all, we must not forget that she is from the Skotinin-Priplodin family, where such semi-animal love was the only possible one, how could she be otherwise? So she disfigures Mitrofan's soul with her blind love, her son pleases her in every possible way, and she is happy that he "loves" her ... Until he throws her away from him, because now he does not need her, and even those people who have just condemned Mrs. Prostakova sympathize with her in her maternal grief ...

The image of Mitrofan

The image of Mitrofan created by Fonvizin is also not quite traditional. "Undergrowth", who likes to be "small", who diligently takes advantage of his mother's attitude towards himself, is not so 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 egoism is the driving force behind his actions, but the hero also has cruelty (remember his remark about "people"), and resourcefulness (which is worth his reasoning about the "door"), and lordly contempt for people, including his mother, from whom he seeks help and protection on occasion. And his attitude to education is so dismissive only because he does not see any real benefit from it. Probably, when he "serves", he - if it is profitable - will change his attitude towards education, potentially he is ready for anything: "According to me, where they are told." Consequently, the image of Mitrofan in the comedy "Undergrowth" also has a certain psychologism, as well as the image of Prostakova, which is Fonvizin's innovative approach to creating negative images that were supposed to be only "villains".

positive imagery

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

The image of Starodum

At the time of Fonvizin, the image of Starodum in the comedy "Undergrowth" evoked special sympathy among the audience. Already in the very "speaking" name of the character, the author emphasized the opposition of "the current century to the past century": in Starodum they saw a person of the era of Peter I, when "In that century, the courtiers were warriors, but the warriors were not courtiers" Starodum's thoughts about education, about the ways in which a person can achieve fame and prosperity, about how a sovereign should be evoked a warm response from a significant part of the audience, who shared the advanced convictions of the author of the comedy, while the fact that he not only proclaimed these advanced ideas caused special sympathy for the image of the hero - according to the play it turned out that with his own life he proved the correctness and advantageousness of such behavior for a person. The image of Starodum was the ideological center around which the positive heroes of the comedy united, who opposed the dominance of morality by the Skotinins-Prostakovs.

The image of Pravdin

Pravdin, a state official, embodies the idea of ​​statehood, which protects the interests of education, the people, which seeks to actively change life for the better. Guardianship of the Prostakova estate, which Pravdin appoints by the will of the Empress, inspires hope that the ruler of Russia is able to defend those of her subjects who need this protection most, and the decisiveness with which Pravdin carries out transformations should have convinced the viewer, that the supreme power is interested in improving the life of the people. But how then to understand the words of Starodum in response to Pravdin's call to serve at court: "It is in vain to call a doctor to the sick is incurable"? It is likely that the System was behind Pravdin, which confirmed its unwillingness and inability to carry out real transformations, and Starodum represented himself in the play, an individual, 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 Milon and Sophia is a typically classic love story of two noble heroes, each of whom is distinguished by high moral qualities, which is why their relationship looks so artificial, although, against the background of the "Skotinin" 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 lighter for my wife”) she really is an example of a high sense of moral, educated, worthy young people, opposed to the “fertility” of negative heroes.

The meaning of the comedy "Undergrowth"

Pushkin called Fonvizin "a bold ruler of satire", and the comedy "Undergrowth", which we analyzed, fully confirms this assessment of the writer's work. In it, the author's position of Fonvizin is expressed quite unambiguously, the writer defends the ideas of enlightened absolutism, he does it extremely talentedly, creating convincing artistic images, significantly expanding the scope of the aesthetics of classicism, innovatively approaching the plot of the work, to creating images-characters, some of which are not simply represents the expression of certain socio-political ideas, but has a pronounced psychological individuality, expresses the inconsistency of human nature. All this explains the great importance of Fonvizin's work and the comedy "Undergrowth" for Russian literature of the 18th century, the success of the work among contemporaries and its significant influence on the subsequent development of Russian drama.

Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin always believed that the nobility should be responsible for the situation in the country. But he saw that most of the representatives of this estate could not cope with this role and were not even worthy of it, since they were inhuman, ignorant and did not think at all about the fate of their homeland. In the comedy "Undergrowth", the author denounces the nobles who are unworthy of bearing this title, and also tries to find out the reasons that disfigure the human personality so much.

The image of Mrs. Prostakova

The mistress of the house, wife, mother, sister - in each of these social roles, Prostakova appears before the reader in different ways. She can be rude, ignorant, autocratic, but for her son she invariably finds kind words and affection. When you read a play, you imagine an aged woman, an elderly, sort of an old evil old woman. But is it? Mitrofan, as we know, is only sixteen years old, and since in those days there was a tradition of early marriages, we can assume that Mrs. Prostakova is about thirty years old! Why does the reader perceive her as an old woman? Maybe because the other characters in the play do not like her, and some are afraid.
Prostakova recognizes only the right of the strong, therefore she holds power in her hands. She constantly argues with everyone, scolds and teaches. Maybe beat. Prostakova is absolutely ignorant, she considers Vralman the best teacher for Mitrofanushka, mainly because he does not overwork his son, and since she understands little from the German’s speech, he inspires respect in her. She would not have invited teachers at all, but she had to be “no worse than others”, and she also had to comply with the decree of Peter I on noble children, mentioned by her. The decree established the order in which every seven-year-old noble boy was obliged to appear in the appropriate place, where he had to tell the simplest information about himself and his parents. After that, the undergrowth, then so they called such boys, went home. The second time he was there five years later, and by that time he should have been able to read and write. After this exam, the boy was sent to the military or civil service. He could be left at home if the parents undertook to teach their son a number of the discussed sciences. At the age of fifteen, the boy again appeared for the exam. Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that although Prostakova “teaches” her son, she is internally convinced of the futility and even harmfulness of this event.

The image of Prostakov

In the comedy, Prostakov is shown as a spineless, stupid person who obeys his wife in everything. Even when the wife herself demanded thoughts from him, Prostakov said that he thought the same way as she did. Prostakov is the negative hero of the comedy. Under the image of Prostakov, the author ridicules stupidity, cowardice and spinelessness.

The image of Skotinin

Skotinin - is one of the main characters of the comedy and, alas, also negative. This is a person who, no matter what, wants to achieve his selfish goal. Skotinin's goal is to marry Sophia. But not because of love for her and not because of the villages that belong to Sophia, but because of the pigs that live in these villages. Skotinin is shown in the comedy as a cruel man. He takes from his peasants everything they have in order to pay their dues. It can be seen from the work that Fonvizin dislikes people like Skotinin.

The image of Mitrofanushka

Mitrofanushka is a boy of sixteen, ignorant and restless beyond his years. He is pampered and spoiled by his mother and nanny. He is completely incapable of doing things on his own. He loves to eat and sleep, but does not want to work. Mitrofan is a copy of his mother. He is rude, cruel, recognizes only the right of the strong. He is an ungrateful son, as long as his mother holds power, he is with her, as soon as she loses this power, the son turns away from his mother in difficult times, betrays her. Mitrofan, though ignorant, is far from being a fool. When necessary, he knows how to sweeten himself to his mother, at the exam he is not silent, dodges, although he does not know the subjects, here one cannot deny him quick wits. He imitates his mother only because he understands that it will be more profitable and more convenient for him. Mitrofan is a complete egoist, he neglects the feelings of other people, does not know how to love, sympathize, empathize.

As was customary in classicism, the heroes of the comedy "Undergrowth" are clearly divided into negative and positive. However, the most memorable, vivid are still negative characters, despite their despotism and ignorance: Mrs. Prostakova, her brother Taras Skotinin and Mitrofan himself. They are interesting and ambiguous. It is with them that comic situations are associated, full of humor, bright liveliness of dialogues.

Positive characters do not evoke such vivid emotions, although they are reasoners, reflecting the author's position. Educated, endowed with only positive traits, they are ideal - they cannot do lawlessness, they are alien to lies and cruelty.

Heroes are negative

Mrs. Prostakova

History of upbringing and education Grew up in a family characterized by extreme ignorance. Didn't get any education. I did not learn any moral rules from childhood. There is nothing good in her soul. Serfdom has a strong influence: her position as the sovereign owner of the serfs.

Main character traits Rough, unbridled, ignorant. If it does not meet resistance, it becomes arrogant. But if she encounters force, she becomes cowardly.

Attitude towards other people In relation to people, she is guided by rough calculation, personal gain. Merciless to those who are in her power. She is ready to humiliate herself in front of those on whom she depends, who turns out to be stronger than her.

Attitude towards educationEducation is superfluous: "Without the sciences, people live and lived."

Prostakova, as a landowner, a convinced serf-owner, considers the serfs to be her complete property. Always dissatisfied with her serfs. She is outraged even by the illness of a serf girl. She robbed the peasants: “Since we took away everything that the peasants had, we can’t tear anything off. Such a disaster!

Attitude towards relatives and close people Despotic and rude towards her husband, she pushes him around, does not put him in anything.

Attitude towards his son, Mitrofanushka Loves him, is tender to him. Caring for his happiness and well-being is the content of her life. Blind, unreasonable, ugly love for his son brings neither Mitrofan nor Prostakova herself anything good.

Peculiarities of speechAbout Trishka: "Swindler, thief, cattle, thieves' mug, blockhead"; turning to her husband: “Why are you so delusional today, my father?”, “All your life, sir, you walk with your ears hanging out”; addressing Mitrofanushka: “Mitrofanushka, my friend; my friend of the heart; son".

She has no moral concepts: she lacks a sense of duty, philanthropy, a sense of human dignity.

Mitrofan

(translated from Greek "revealing his mother")

About upbringing and education I am accustomed to idleness, accustomed to hearty and plentiful food, spends free time on the dovecote.

The main character traits A spoiled "sissy", who grew up and developed in an ignorant environment of the feudal landed nobility. He is not devoid of cunning and ingenuity by nature, but at the same time rude and capricious.

Attitude towards other people Does not respect other people. Yeremeevna (nanny) calls her an “old bastard”, threatens her with severe reprisals; he does not talk to teachers, but “barks” (as Tsyfirkin puts it).

Attitude towards education Mental development is extremely low, experiencing an insurmountable aversion to work and learning.

Attitude towards relatives close peopleMitrofan does not know love for anyone, even for the closest - to his mother, father, nanny.

Speech features It is expressed in monosyllables, in its language there are many vernaculars, words and phrases borrowed from courtyards. The tone of his speech is capricious, dismissive, sometimes rude.

The name Mitrofanushka has become a household name. This is the name of young people who know nothing and do not want to know anything.

Skotinin - brother of Prostakova

On upbringing and education Grew up in a family that was extremely hostile to education: "Don't be that Skotinin, who wants to learn something."

Main character traits Ignorant, mentally undeveloped, greedy.

Attitude towards other people This is a ferocious feudal lord who knows how to “rip off” quitrent from his serfs, and there are no obstacles for him in this occupation.

The main interest in life is Animal Farm, breeding pigs. Only pigs evoke in him a disposition and warm feelings, only to them he shows warmth and care.

Attitude towards relatives and close people For the sake of the opportunity to marry profitably (he learns about Sophia's condition), he is ready to destroy his rival - his own nephew Mitrofan.

Peculiarities of speech The inexpressive speech of an uneducated person often uses rude expressions, in speech there are words borrowed from courtyards.

This is a typical representative of small landowners-feudal lords with all their shortcomings.

Teacher of Russian and Church Slavonic. The half-educated seminarian "feared the abyss of wisdom." In his own way, cunning, greedy.

A history teacher. German, former coachman. He becomes a teacher, as he failed to find a place as a coachman. An ignorant person who cannot teach his student anything.

The teachers make no effort to teach Mitrofan anything. They more often indulge the laziness of their student. To some extent, they, using the ignorance and lack of education of Mrs. Prostakova, deceive her, realizing that she will not be able to verify the results of their work.

Eremeevna - Mitrofan's nanny

What place does she occupy in the house of Prostakov, her distinctive features She has been serving in the house of the Prostakov-Skotinins for more than 40 years. Selflessly devoted to her masters, slavishly attached to their home.

Attitude towards Mitrofan Protects Mitrofan without sparing himself: “I will die on the spot, but I will not give the child away. Sunsya, sir, just show yourself if you please. I'll scratch those walleyes."

What Eremeevna has become over the long years of serf service. She has a highly developed sense of duty, but no sense of human dignity. There is not only no hatred for their inhuman oppressors, but even no protest. Lives in constant fear, trembles before his mistress.

For her loyalty and devotion, Yeremeevna receives only beatings and hears only such appeals as “a beast”, “a dog's daughter”, “an old witch”, “an old bastard”. Eremeevna's fate is tragic, because she will never be appreciated by her masters, she will never receive gratitude for her loyalty.

Heroes are positive

Starodum

About the meaning of the name A person who thinks in the old way, giving preference to the priorities of the previous (Peter's) era, preserving traditions and wisdom, accumulated experience.

Education StarodumAn ​​enlightened and progressive person. Brought up in the spirit of Peter's time, the thoughts, customs and activities of the people of that time are closer and more acceptable to him.

The hero's civic position This is a patriot: for him, an honest and useful service to the Fatherland is the first and sacred duty of a nobleman. Demands to limit the arbitrariness of the feudal landowners: "It is illegal to oppress your own kind by slavery."

Attitude towards other people He regards a person according to his service to the Fatherland, according to the benefits that a person brings in this service: “I calculate the degree of nobility by the number of deeds that the great master did for the Fatherland ... without noble deeds, a noble state is nothing.”

What qualities are honored as human virtues An ardent defender of humanity and enlightenment.

The hero's reflections on education Moral education attaches more value than education: “The mind, if it is only the mind, is the most trifle ... Good manners gives the direct price to the mind. Without it, a smart person is a monster. Science in a depraved person is a fierce weapon to do evil.

What traits in people cause the hero’s just indignation Inertia, savagery, malevolence, inhumanity.

"Having a heart, have a soul - and you will be a man at all times."

Pravdin, Milon, Sofia

Pravdin An honest, impeccable official. The auditor, endowed with the right to take custody of the cruel landlords of the estate.

Milon An officer loyal to his duty, patriotically disposed.

Sofia An educated, modest, prudent girl. Raised in a spirit of respect and respect for elders.

The purpose of these heroes in the comedy, on the one hand, is to prove the correctness of Starodum's views, and on the other hand, to set off the malevolence and ignorance of such landowners as the Prostakovs-Skotinins.