Biography Starodum. The comedy of Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin "Nedorosl"

This famous play Fonvizin was written by him in 1782. Heroes of comedy were people of different social layers of the XVIII century: noblemen, serfs, government officials and self-styled fashion teachers. Before we reveal more fully the topic "The Biography of Starodum", let's dwell a little on the inhabitants of the house of the Prostakovs, because everything began with them.

Prostakov

So, the main characters are: the inexperienced - sixteen-year-old Mitrofanushka - and his mother, Ms. Prostakova, who is the main negative character of this work. She is cruel and willful and wants to marry her mediocre son Mitrofan, who is absolutely indifferent to everything. He does not love his mother, just pretending because of her strong and powerful nature.

Prostakova, having learned that the niece of her husband Sophia (a very respectable and educated girl) became the heiress of the immense fortune that her precious uncle Starodum bequeath to her, decided at all costs to marry her to her lazy Mitrofanushka. However, the relatives of Starodum have long buried him, and now from that very moment his name comes to the fore. In the house of the Prostakovs, everyone starts to go crazy because of the legacy of Sophia, because 10 thousand - the sum for those times is not at all trifling. Who is Starodum and where did he come from?

Biography of Starodum

In his new play Fonvizin introduced Starodum to one of the most noble and most positive characters. He became his adherent. After all, in the work "Nedorosl" a lot of political, social, pedagogical and moral issues are affected.

The writer specially leaves the question open, whether Starodum was a landowner, but it becomes known that he did not take root at the royal court and then went to Siberia. According to the hero's own words, they get money there without changing their conscience, they do not deserve it vilely and do not plunder the fatherland, earning them from the land, which knows no hypocrisy and will be more just than the people, and honestly pays for honest and generous works.

"Trading nobility"

Fonvizin in the business of Starodum reflects the real process of the economic life of the Russian nobility, which attracted his special attention after the writer translated the French treatise titled "The trading nobility opposed to the nobility by the military."

Biography Starodum says that he was enriched at the gold mines, his goal was to provide a comfortable future for his only and beloved niece - Sofyushki. Though the ideas of Starodum are wise and valuable, he tells her that he has made a fortune that she can afford to marry even for a poor, but most importantly - worthy person. He does not connect the welfare of the niece with the possession of serfs.

And this is not accidental: Fonvizin wrote the play just at the time when Russia was trying to learn from the peasant war of 1773-1775. And thought about its causes, which almost led the feudal-noble state to destruction and perdition. But, suppressing popular indignation, the state noblemen of Catherine II further strengthened and expanded the privileges of the ruling class. The poor people in front of the law looked even more powerless and helpless. In the play "Nedorosl" these political questions became very acute and topical.

Free-thinker, revolutionary and reformer

Biography Starodum, which he himself tells his interlocutors, in particular Pravdin and Milo, includes information that he is 60 years old. His name says that he follows the principles of the old era - the era of Peter I. Starodum recalled the words of his father, who always told him that you need to have a heart and soul, and then you will be a man at all times.

In this satirical play Starodum appears only towards the end of the first act. Together with Pravdin and Milon, he relieves Sophia from the mockery of Prostakov and assesses the education of the ignorant and stupid Mitrofan.

Characteristics Starodum says that in his soul he is a great reformer and revolutionary. He is fed up with state injustice, where truth and honest service have long been depreciated, everything is decided by ties, opportunism and servility. The education of Starodum did not allow us to look calmly at the way some of his close friends tried to achieve their goal by cunning and arrogance. That is why he left the service, because he could no longer watch the people climbing up the career ladder, and the smartest and most worthy remained behind the doors.

Aphorisms of Starodum

Thanks to his honest heart, education and moral education, he proclaims the principles of state structure, where all the laws of government will be reasonable and just.

It is also interesting that the aphorisms of Starodum are admirable, because he says very correct things, for example, that without the soul, the most enlightened clever woman becomes a pathetic creature. He does not tire of repeating that the education of a true nobleman is a matter for the state. And this should include the education of the heart and mind. At the same time he puts the education of the heart in the first place.

Characteristics of Starodum testifies that he is straightforward, simple-minded and penetrating. All the rotten family of the Simpletons, he sees right through and in the eyes says everything that thinks about them.

Premiere of the play

In the play "The Minor" Fonvizin gave his personal idea of "honest people" and observations about what they should be in their living personification. And so the image of Starodum is not accidental here. The production of "Minor" for obvious reasons was delayed for some time. Overnight, "evil" arrows fell, with the help of which those persons who saw themselves in the play in an impartial manner, wanted to prevent its exit. And, most likely, Fonvizin himself had to resort to influential patrons to remove all obstacles.

In 1782, on September 24, the premiere of the performance was still held on the stage of the St. Petersburg Free Russian Theater. Directed by the author of the work. And, curiously, the play did not have to change a single syllable, so the success was deafening.

One of those who saw the premiere, said that some comic scenes caused a fleeting laugh, but all the secular public listened to the serious scenes with great hunger and attention, who at that time loved hints and remarks about the secular weakness and savagery of certain customs of that time. The play, thanks to the lively dialogue, humor, aphorisms, interesting quotations and educational character, helped some to see the Prostakovs in themselves, who then expelled from their homes false pedagogues such as Vralman and Tsyfirkin.

Conclusion

The play "Nedorosl" became the only firmly established of all in Russian dramatic art of the XVIII century. In the era of classicism, she condemned the traditional aristocratic education, "savagery" and "malice" of the provincial nobility. All the characters are clearly divided into positive and negative, as their names suggest: Starodum, Pravdin, Prostakov, Skotinin, etc.