Who is Mitrofanushka in a comedy undergrowth. Composition “Characteristics of Mitrofan in D.I. Fonvizin “Undergrowth. Attitude towards relatives

Mitrofan and Prostakova Influence of father and uncle on Mitrofan Mitrofan's education Why is Mitrofan the central character?

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 story, the main character is

Mitrofanushka is 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 plays an important role in the ideological concept of the play, so 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 young man’s malevolence and all his negative features.
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 upbringing were passed on to Prostakova and Mitrofan - the young man in the play is depicted as a “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 the sake of 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 a worthy son of 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 did the author make the weak-willed, stupid, with a completely negative characterization of the undergrowth the key figure of the play? Fonvizin in the image of Mitrofan showed a whole generation of young Russian nobles.

In addition, in The Undergrowth, Mitrofan's characterization is a composite image of the negative features of modern landlords Fonvizin. The author sees cruelty, stupidity, ignorance, sycophancy, disrespect for others, greed, civic passivity and infantilism not only in outstanding landowners, but also in court officials 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.

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

(No Ratings Yet)

Fonvizin made a real revolution in the development of comedic language. The specificity of the image forms the speech of many characters in the play. Particularly expressive in the work is the speech of the main character Prostakova, her brother Skotinin, the nanny Eremeevna. The playwright does not correct the speech of his ignorant characters, he retains all the speech and grammatical errors: “first”, “goloushka”, “robe”, “which”, etc. Proverbs fit very well into the content of the play […]...
Mitrofan Prostakov is one of the main characters in Fonvizin's comedy "Undergrowth". This is a spoiled, ill-mannered and uneducated young nobleman who treated everyone very disrespectfully. He was always surrounded by the care of his mother, who spoiled him. Mitrofanushka adopted from his loved ones the worst character traits: laziness, rudeness in dealing with all people, greed, self-interest. At the end of this work [...]
The play "Nelorosl" was written by Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin. One of the main characters of this comedy is Mitrofan Terentyevich, the noble son of the Prostakovs. In the image of Mitrofanushka, the playwright showed the unfortunate consequences of a bad upbringing. The young man is very lazy, he only liked to eat, mess around and chase pigeons, because he had no goal in life. Mitrofan did not want to study, and the teachers were hired only because of [...] ...
Mitrofan's teachers The problem of upbringing and education has always been acute in the society of the 18th-19th centuries. Even during the reign of Catherine II, this issue was at the peak of relevance. The comedy "Undergrowth", which today is included in the compulsory reading program for schoolchildren, was written by D. I. Fonvizin under the influence of the current situation in society. Many landowners did not consider it necessary to burden their children with excessive [...] ...
The faithful and selfless service of the nanny was rewarded only with beatings and such names as: dog's daughter, beast, old grunt, old witch. The fate of Eremeevna is difficult and tragic, the serf is forced to serve the ferocious landowners who are not able to appreciate her devoted service. Truthfully and vitally depicted in the comedy are Mitrofan's home teachers: Tsyfirkin, Vralman and Kuteikin. Tsyfirkin - a retired soldier, - [...] ...
The main character of Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin's comedy "Undergrowth" Mitrofan is sixteen years old. This is the age when a young person grows up, his attitude to life is determined, life principles are formed. What are they like in Mitrofan? First of all, it should be noted that his life principles are determined by the environment and the environment in which he is brought up. His parents are serf landowners. They live for [...]
Mitrofan went even further. He flatters his mother, realizing that she is the real mistress of the house. Therefore, he takes pity on her, because she is tired, beating the priest. Prostakova loves her son so blindly that she does not see what he is turning into. She believes that only wealth and idleness can make his happiness, and therefore she tries to marry Mitrofan to Sophia, having learned [...] ...
At the lesson of literature, we got acquainted with the work of Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin “Undergrowth”. The author of the comedy was born in 1745 in Moscow. They began to teach him to read and write from the age of four, and then he continued his studies at the gymnasium. Denis studied very well. In 1760 he was brought to St. Petersburg as one of the best students, where he met with Lomonosov. About it […]...
Mitrofan is the son of the Prostakovs, a minor - that is, a young nobleman who has not yet entered the public service. By decree of Peter I, all undergrowths were required to have elementary knowledge. Without this, they did not have the right to marry, and also could not enter the service. Therefore, Prostakova hired teachers for her son Mitrofanushka. But nothing good comes out of this [...] ...
One of the first Russian comedians of mature classicism was Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin (1745-1792). His plays "Brigadier" and "Undergrowth" are still examples of satirical comedy. Phrases from them became winged (“I don’t want to study, but I want to get married”, “Why geography when there are cabbies”), and the images acquired a nominal meaning (“undersized”, Mitrofanushka, “Trishkin’s caftan”). A. S. Pushkin called Fonvizin “a friend [...] ...
The comedy of D. I. Fonvizin was written in the 18th century, at a time when there was a lot of injustice and lies in the state and in the lives of people. The first and main problem in comedy is bad, wrong upbringing. Let's pay attention to the name: "Undergrowth". It is not for nothing that in modern Russian the word undergrowth means a half-educated person. In the comedy itself, the mother […]
AN APPLE IS NEARLY FALLING FROM THE APPLE TREE (the image of Mitrofan in D.I. Fonvizin’s comedy “Undergrowth”) As V.O. just a household name, and undergrowth own: undergrowth is a synonym for Mitrofan, and Mitrofan is a synonym for a stupid ignoramus and mother's minion. The fate of this young man, […]
Plan Sofia and Mitrofan Sofia and Prostakov Fonvizin's work "Undergrowth" was written during the reign of Catherine II, when issues of social relations, upbringing and education of young people were especially relevant. In the play, the author not only raises the acute problems of contemporary society, but also illustrates the ideological concept with vivid collective images. One of these characters in comedy is [...] ...
D. Fonvizin's comedy "Undergrowth" tells about the events that took place in the Prostakovs' house. Their main participants are Mitrofan, the son of the owner of the house, his mother, Mrs. Prostakova, and Starodum with his niece. Mrs. Prostakova madly loves her son, cares too much and panders to him, indulging all his whims and whims, which is why Mitrofan grows up as an absolutely dependent person, the level of development [...] ...
The issue of education and upbringing of youth has been and remains very relevant. For reasons that are indefinite and incomprehensible to the end, each previous generation considers the next generation to be less educated and well-mannered. Nevertheless, the world somehow exists, moreover, it is quite actively and rapidly developing. However, this problem was still considered everywhere, including in the work of Fonvizin under [...] ...
As noted by V. O. Klyuchevsky, Fonvizin’s comedy “Undergrowth” connected the words “undergrowth” and “Mitrofan” into a single concept, “so that Mitrofan became a household name, and undergrowth became his own: undergrowth is a synonym for Mitrofan, and Mitrofan is a synonym for a stupid ignoramus and mother's darling." The fate of this young man, distorted by historical circumstances, class vices, causes, no matter how strange it may sound, […]
Plan The fate of Prostakova Mitrofan's ingratitude: who is to blame? Prostakova as a bearer of obsolete morality Fonvizin's innovation in the image of Prostakova The comedy "Undergrowth" is Fonvizin's brilliant work, in which the playwright portrayed bright, memorable characters whose names in modern literature and the era have become common nouns. One of the main images of the play is the mother of the undergrowth Mitrofanushka - Mrs. Prostakova. According to the plot [...]
Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin writes his biting and revealing comedy “Undergrowth” during the difficult time of the reign of Catherine II. As the empress herself noted in her memoirs before her accession to the throne: “Laws were guided only in cases where they favored a strong person.” From these words, one can draw certain conclusions about the decadent situation in which the spiritual life was [...] ...
The name Mitrofan is translated as like a mother, like a mother. He was sixteen years old, he should have already gone to the service at fifteen, but Mrs. Prostokova did not want to be separated from her son. He did not have a goal in life, he did not think about the future and about his studies, and Mitrofanushka chased pigeons all day long. He was not [...]
In the era of enlightenment, the value of art was reduced to its educational and moral role. The main problem that D. I. Fonvizin raises in his comedy “Undergrowth” is the problem of education, training of new generations of enlightened progressive people. Serfdom led the Russian nobility to degradation, it was under the threat of self-destruction. A nobleman, a future citizen of the country, is brought up from birth in an atmosphere of immorality, complacency and self-sufficiency. At […]...
In D. I. Fonvizin’s comedy “Undergrowth”, Mrs. Prostakova is the embodiment of cruelty, duplicity and amazing short-sightedness. She takes care of her son, Mitrofanushka, trying to please him in everything, to do exactly as he wants, not caring about the consequences of her excessive guardianship. But she does not care about anyone except her son. She does not care about the servants and even […]
Comedy "Undergrowth" Fonvizin is the brightest work of classicism. The influence of the literary method can be traced both on the features of the construction of the plot (the unity of time and place) and on the formation of images. One of the heroes who can rightly be called a traditional classic character is Skotinin. The minor Mitrofan and Mrs. Prostakova, according to the plot of the play, act as his relatives and the same negative [...] ...
One of the most interesting and satirically illuminated characters in Fonvizin's comedy "Undergrowth" is the son of the Prostakovs - Mitrofanushka. It is in his honor that the work is named. Mitrofanushka is a spoiled undergrowth, to whom everything is permitted. His mother, a cruel and stupid woman, did not forbid him anything. Mitrofan was already sixteen years old, but his mother considered him a child and until the age of twenty-six [...] ...
Talking about the images of the comedy "Undergrowth" by D. I. Fonvizin, I would like to recall the words of the famous German writer and thinker I. Goethe, who compared behavior with a mirror in which the face of everyone is visible. J. Comenius, reflecting on the problem of education, noted that there is nothing more difficult than to re-educate a poorly educated person. These words most accurately characterize the image of the heroine of the comedy [...] ...
The pinnacle of Fonvizin's work is rightfully considered the comedy "Undergrowth". A minor is a teenager, a minor. The work was written in 1781, and in 1782 it was first staged on the big stage. Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin began working on the comedy upon his arrival in Russia from France. In the image of one of the main characters of the work, Mitrofan, the author wanted to show the rudeness, ignorance and degradation of the nobility in [...] ...
It is in vain to call a physician to the sick. D. Fonvizin. The undergrowth Fonvizin lived in times of cruel oppression of the masses, in the era of the heyday of serfdom and the privileged position of the nobles, in the age of the autocratic arbitrariness of the Russian monarchy. The great playwright was a representative of the advanced circles of the noble society and boldly criticized the vices of the time in his works. In this regard, the pinnacle of Fonvizin's work was his [...] ...
Mitrofan is 16 years old. This is a healthy fellow, lazy, rude, spoiled by a mother who indulges all his bad inclinations. He is a worthy sissy. In rudeness, he is not inferior to her; his teacher Tsyfirkin says that he "always deigns to bark idle." With his nanny Eremeevna, who is infinitely devoted to him, he is not only rude, but also heartless. He […]...
On the topic: The meaning of the name of the comedy Undergrowth The dictionary gives two definitions for the word “Undergrowth”. The first is “this is a young nobleman who has not reached the age of majority and has not entered the public service.” The second is "a stupid young man - a dropout." I think that the second meaning of this word appeared due to the image of the undergrowth - Mitrofanushka, which was created by Fonvizin. After all, it is Mitrofan who personifies the denunciation of half-growing [...] ...
Plan The ideological meaning of the comedy "Undergrowth" The essence of the comedy "Undergrowth" Denis Fonvizin's comedy "Undergrowth" is one of the most striking works of Russian classicism. The questions that the author focuses on in the play excite the minds of viewers and readers even in our time - more than three centuries after it was written. The work created by Fonvizin is difficult to compare with traditional [...] ...
Vralman in "Undergrowth" is one of Mitrofan's teachers. He appears before the reader as a German, whom Prostakov hired for a small fee to teach her son the wisdom of secular manners. However, the woman does not notice the obvious lies of Vralman, his constant reservations and overt flattery, while the reader immediately reveals a rogue in the teacher. The deceit is also indicated [...] ...
Plan Theme of the comedy “Undergrowth” The idea of the comedy “Undergrowth” The comedy “Undergrowth” was written by Denis Fonvizin in the 18th century. In the work, the author reveals the most relevant topics and ideas for that time - issues of social ideals, morality, personal honor and service to the fatherland, the conflict of "fathers and children" and the importance of parental education in the formation of a conscious personality. The theme of the comedy "Undergrowth" [...] ...
The comedy "Undergrowth" was written by Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin in 1781. One of the central issues was education. At that time in Russia there was an idea of an enlightened monarchy. The second problem is the cruel treatment of serfs. Serfdom was strongly condemned. At that time, only a brave person could write such a thing. At all times, in all works, the main part [...] ...
D. I. Fonvizin wrote his comedy “Undergrowth” at the end of the 18th century. Despite the fact that several centuries have already passed since then, many of the issues raised in the work are relevant to this day, and her images are alive. Among the main problems that are highlighted in the play was the author's reflection on the legacy that the Prostakovs and Skotinins are preparing for Russia. Previously […]...
The second problem of the "Undergrowth" is the problem of education. In the 18th century, education was seen as the most important factor that determined the moral character of a person. Fonvizin highlighted the problem of education from a state point of view, since he saw in proper education the only way to escape from the evil that threatens society, which was the spiritual degradation of the nobility. Much of the dramatic action of the comedy is concentrated on solving the problem of education. […]...
The dictionary gives two definitions for the word "Undergrowth". The first is “this is a young nobleman who has not reached the age of majority and has not entered the public service.” The second is "a stupid young man - a dropout." I think that the second meaning of this word appeared due to the image of the undergrowth - Mitrofanushka, which was created by Fonvizin. After all, it is Mitrofan who personifies the denunciation of the half-growing feudal lords, who are mired in [...] ...
Comedy Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin "Undergrowth" is relevant to this day. One of the dominant themes of the work is education. By decree of Peter I, all the nobles had to master the basics of science. And Mitrofan was no exception. But his family does not believe that knowledge will be useful in life. Therefore, Mitrofan studies only in order to receive ranks in the future. Not […]...
No wonder Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin named the author of the comedy "Undergrowth" Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin. He wrote many honest, courageous and fair works, but the pinnacle of his work is considered to be the Undergrowth, in which the author posed many controversial issues before society. But the main problem raised by Fonvizin in his famous work was the problem of educating a new generation of progressively thinking people. When Russia [...]
The meaning of the name of the comedy "Undergrowth" is considered from two sides. In the dictionary, you can find two interpretations of the word "undergrowth". In the first version, the word has the meaning: "a young nobleman who has not yet reached the age of 18 and has not entered the public service." In the second variant - "half-educated, stupid young man." It should be noted that at the time of Fonvizin, only the first meaning of this word existed, the second [...] ...
The main problem raised by D. Fonvizin in the play "Undergrowth" is the problem of the moral and intellectual level of the nobility. The relevance of the low level of education of the nobility in Russia was especially egregious against the backdrop of the Enlightenment in Europe. D. Fonvizin ridicules the intellectual level of the nobility on the example of members of the Skotinin-Prostakov family. Before the reforms of Peter I, the children of the nobles could enter the civil service [...] ...
Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin, a famous Russian playwright, graduated in 1781 from his immortal work - the sharply social comedy "Undergrowth". He put the problem of education at the center of his work. In the 18th century, Russia was dominated by the idea of an enlightened monarchy, which preached the formation of a new man, advanced and educated. The second problem of the work was cruelty towards serfs. Sharp condemnation […]

Mitrofan Terentyevich Prostakov (Mitrofanushka) - undergrowth, son of landowners Prostakov, 15 years old. The name "Mitrofan" means in Greek "manifested by his mother", "similar to his mother." It has become a household word for a stupid and arrogant ignorant sissy. Yaroslavl old-timers considered the prototype of the image of M. a certain barchuk who lived in the vicinity of Yaroslavl, as reported by L. N. Trefolev.

Fonvizin's comedy is a play about an undergrowth, about his monstrous upbringing, which turns a teenager into a cruel and lazy creature. The word "undergrowth" before Fonvizin's comedy did not carry negative semantics. Undergrowths were called teenagers under the age of fifteen, that is, the age determined by Peter I for entry into the service. In 1736, the period of stay in the "undergrowth" was extended to twenty years. The decree on the freedom of the nobility abolished the mandatory term of service and granted the nobles the right to serve or not to serve, but confirmed the compulsory education introduced under Peter I. Prostakova follows the law, although she does not approve of it. She also knows that many, including those in her family, circumvent the law. M. has been studying for four years, but Prostakova wants to keep him with her for ten years.

The plot of the comedy is based on the fact that Prostakova wants to marry the poor pupil Sophia for her brother Skotinin, but then, having learned about 10,000 rubles, the heiress of which Starodum made Sophia, decides not to miss the rich heiress. Skoti-nin doesn't want to give in. On this basis, between M. and Skotinin, between Prostakova and Skotinin, enmity arises, turning into ugly quarrels. M., set up by his mother, demands collusion, declaring: “The hour of my will has come. I don't want to study, I want to get married." But Prostakova understands that first you need to get the consent of Starodum. And for this it is necessary that M. appear in a favorable light: “While he is resting, my friend, at least for the sake of appearance, learn, so that it comes to his ears how you work, Mitrofanushka.” For her part, Prostakova in every possible way praises M.'s diligence, successes and her parental care for him, and although she knows for sure that M. has not learned anything, she nevertheless arranges an “exam” and encourages Starodum to evaluate the successes of her son (case 4, yavl. VIII). The lack of motivation for this scene (it is hardly appropriate to tempt fate and present the son in a bad light; it is also unclear how the illiterate Prostakova could appreciate M.'s knowledge and the pedagogical efforts of his teachers) is obvious; but it is important for Fonvizin to show that the ignorant landowner herself becomes a victim of her own deceit and sets a trap for her son. After this farcical comedy scene, Prostakova, confident that she will push her brother back by force, and realizing that M. could not stand the test and comparison with Milon, decides to forcibly marry M. to Sophia; instructs him to get up at six o'clock, put "three servants in Sophia's bedroom, and two in the hallway to help" (d. 4, yavl. IX). To this M. replies: "Everything will be done." When Prostakova’s “conspiracy” fails, M., at first ready, after her mother, “to be taken for people” (d. 5, fig. III), then humbly asks for forgiveness, and then rudely pushes her mother away: “Get off, mother, how imposed itself” (case 5, yavl. last). Completely bewildered and having lost power over people, he now has to go through a new school of education (“Go serve,” Pravdin tells him), which he accepts with slavish obedience: “According to me, where they are told.” These last words of M. become a kind of illustration to the words of Starodum: “Well, what can come out of Mitrofanushka for the fatherland, for which ignorant parents also pay money to ignorant teachers? How many noble fathers who entrust the moral upbringing of their son to their serf slave! Fifteen years later, instead of one slave, two come out, an old uncle and a young master ”(d. 5, yavl. I).

The struggle for the hand of Sophia, making up the plot of the comedy, puts M. in the center of action. As one of the "imaginary" suitors, M. with his figure connects two worlds - the ignorant nobles, tyrants, the world of "malice" and the enlightened nobles, the world of good morals. These "camps" are extremely alienated from each other. Prostakova, Skotinin cannot understand Starodum, Pravdin and Milon (Prostakova says to Starodum in complete bewilderment: “God knows how you judge you now” - d. 4, phenom. VIII; M. cannot understand , which the same characters demand of him), and Sofya, Pravdin, Milon and Starodum perceive M. and his relatives with open contempt. The reason for this is a different upbringing. The natural nature of M. is distorted by upbringing, and therefore he is in sharp contradiction with the norms of behavior of a nobleman and with ethical ideas about a good-natured and enlightened person.
The author's attitude to M., as well as to other negative characters, is expressed in the form of a "monologue" self-exposure of the hero and in the replicas of positive characters. The rudeness of vocabulary betrays in him hardness of heart and evil will; ignorance of the soul leads to laziness, empty pursuits (chasing pigeons), gluttony. M. is the same tyrant at home as Prostakova. Like Prostakova, she does not consider her father, seeing him as an empty place, and treats teachers in every possible way. At the same time, he holds Prostakov in his hands and threatens to commit suicide if she does not protect him from Skotinin (“To wind here and the river is close. Dive, so remember your name” - d. 2, yavl. VI). M. knows neither love, nor pity, nor simple gratitude; in this respect he surpassed his mother. Prostakova lives for her son, M. for herself. Ignorance can progress from generation to generation; coarseness of feelings is reduced to purely animal instincts. Prostakov remarks with surprise: “It’s strange, brother, how relatives can resemble relatives. Our Mitrofanushka looks like an uncle. And he is a pig hunter from childhood, just like you. As he was for another three years, it used to happen, when he saw a pig, he would tremble with joy ”(d. 1, yavl. V). In the fight scene, Skotinin calls M. "damned ingot." With all his behavior and speeches, M. justifies the words of Starodum: “An ignoramus without a soul is a beast” (d. 3, yavl. I).

According to Starodum, there are three types of people: an enlightened smart girl; unenlightened, but possessing a soul; unenlightened and soulless. M., Prostakova and Skotinin belong to the latter variety. They seem to grow claws (see the scene of Skotinin’s quarrel with M. and the words of Eremeevna, as well as the fight between Prostakova and Skotinin, in which M.’s mother “pierced” Skotinin’s scruff), bearish strength appears (Skotinin says to Prostakova: “It will come to breaking , I will bend, so you will crack" - d. 3, yavl. III). Comparisons are taken from the animal world: “Have you heard that a bitch gave out her puppies?” Worse, M. stopped in its development and is then only capable of regression. Sophia says to Milon: “Although he is sixteen years old, he has already reached the last degree of his perfection and will not go far” (d. 2, yavl. II). The absence of family and cultural traditions turned into a triumph of "malice", and M. breaks even those "animal" ties that united him with his kindred circle.

In the face of M. Fonvizin brought out a peculiar type of tyrant slave: he is a slave of low passions, which turned him into a tyrant. The “slave” upbringing of M. in the narrow sense is connected with the “mother” Eremeevna, in the broad sense - with the world of the Prostakovs and Skotinins. In both cases, dishonorable concepts were instilled in M.: in the first, because Eremeevna was a serf, in the second, because the concepts of honor were perverted.

The image of M. (and the very concept of "undergrowth") became a household word. However, the educational idea of the mechanistic dependence of human behavior on his upbringing was subsequently overcome. In The Captain's Daughter by Pushkin, Petrusha Grinev receives an education similar to M., but develops independently and behaves like an honest nobleman. Pushkin sees in M. something radical, Russian, charming, and with the help of the epigraph (“Mitrofan for me”) raises the narrator - and partly the characters - of “Belkin's Tales” to the hero of “Undergrowth”. The name "Mitrofan" is found in Lermontov ("Tambov Treasurer"). The satirical development of the image is given in the novel by M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin “Lords of Tashkent”.
Prostakova is the wife of Terenty Prostakov, mother of Mitrofan and sister of Taras Skotinin. The surname indicates both the simplicity, ignorance, lack of education of the heroine, and the fact that she falls into a mess.

Hearing the name of the comedy "Undergrowth", the image of an idler and an ignoramus emerges. Not always the word undergrowth had an ironic meaning. During the time of Peter the Great, children of the nobility under the age of 15 were called undergrowths. Fonvizin managed to give the word a different meaning. After the release of the comedy, it became a household name. The image and characterization of Mitrofanushka in the comedy "Undergrowth" are negative. Through this character, Fonvizin wanted to show the degradation of the Russian nobility, when a person ceases to be a person, turning into an ignorant and stupid beast.

The key role in the comedy "Undergrowth" is occupied by Mitrofan Prostakov, a noble son. The name Mitrofan means "similar", similar to his mother. Parents, as in the water looked. By naming the child by this name, they received a complete copy of themselves. An idler and a parasite, accustomed to the fact that all desires are fulfilled the first time. Favorite activities are good food and sleep. Mitrofan is only 16 years old, and when his peers are full of aspirations and desires, they are completely absent from him.

Mitrofan and mother

Mitrofan is a typical sissy.

“Well, Mitrofanushka, I see you are a mother’s son, and not a father!”

The father loves his son no less than the mother, but the father's opinion means nothing to him. Seeing how the mother treats her husband, humiliating the serfs in front of her, either with a word or with a cuff, the guy made certain conclusions. If a man voluntarily allowed himself to be turned into a rag, then what he deserves. The only desire to wipe your feet and step over.

Thanks to his mother, Mitrofan is absolutely not adapted to life. Why fill your head with problems and worries when there are servants and a mother who is ready for anything for him. Her guardianship and doggy adoration irritated me. Maternal love did not find a response in his heart. He grew up cold, unfeeling. In the final scene, Mitrofan proved that his mother was indifferent to him. He refuses a loved one, as soon as he hears that she has lost everything. Rushing to him in the hope of getting support, the woman hears a rude:

"Yes, get rid of you, mother, how imposed"

Self-interest, the desire to get rich quickly and effortlessly became his credo. These traits are also passed down from the mother. Even the wedding with Sophia was at the suggestion of the mother, who wanted to profitably attach her unlucky son.

“I don’t want to study, I want to get married”

These are Mitrofan's words addressed to her. The proposal was accepted by them with a bang. After all, a wedding with a rich heiress promised him a carefree and secure future.

Leisure

Favorite leisure food and sleep. Food for Mitrofan meant a lot. The guy loved to eat. He stuffed his belly so that he could not sleep. He was constantly tormented by colic, but this did not make the amount of food eaten less.

“Yes, it’s clear, brother, you dined tightly ...”

Having dined heavily, Mitrofan usually went to the dovecote or went to bed. If not for the teachers with their classes, he would get out of bed only to look into the kitchen.

Attitude towards learning

Science was given to Mitrofan with difficulty. For four years the teachers fought to teach the stupid guy at least something, but the result was zero. The mother herself, an uneducated woman, inspired her son that it was not necessary to study. The main thing is money and power, everything else is a waste of time.

“Only you suffer, and everything, I see, is emptiness. Don't study this stupid science!"

Peter's decree that noble children should know arithmetic, God's word and grammar played a role. She had to hire teachers not out of love for the sciences, but because it was supposed to be. It is not surprising that with such an attitude towards learning, Mitrofan did not understand and did not know elementary things.

The value of Mitrofan in comedy

Through the image of Mitrofan, Fonvizin wanted to show what can happen to a person if he stops developing, getting stuck in one pore and forgetting about human values such as love, kindness, honesty, respect for people.

The play by Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin is a comedy about the undersized Mitrofanushka (from the Greek “similar to his mother”), about the vices of his upbringing, which turns the young man into a spoiled and stupid creature. Previously, there was nothing bad in this word, and only over time it became a household word. In those days, minors were called teenagers who had not reached the age of fifteen, which was necessary for entry into the service.

The decree on the freedom of the nobility, signed by Peter I, gave the nobles the right to choose: to serve or not to serve. But one way or another, training became mandatory. Mrs. Prostakova tries to follow the law, but wants to keep her son “with her” for another ten years: “While Mitrofan is still underage, while he should be married; and there, in a dozen years, when he enters, God forbid, into the service, endure everything.

Being the only son of the landowners Prostakovs, Mitrofan Terentyevich lives with his parents at the age of sixteen, not knowing worries. The domineering mother decides everything for him: whom to marry, whom to kiss on the hand.

Characteristics of the hero

(Comedy illustration. Artist T.N. Kasterina, 1981)

Our protagonist is a spoiled sissy who behaves as he pleases. However, the undivided love of his mother turned him not only into an egoist, but also into a skilled manipulator. He does not recognize his father at all and does not put him in anything, because he does not indulge his whims. Mitrofan does not like his uncle and is rude in every possible way.

Prostakov throughout the play enjoys home comfort and idleness, instead of serving. Nothing worries him, well, except for tasty and plentiful food and fun.

Mitrofanushka has neither life goals nor lofty aspirations. He also has no desire to study, which he “gave” for four whole years, but he could not learn to read and write or arithmetic. It is understandable, because Prostakov never lived with his own mind, and the caring mother did not want to "torment the child with study", hiring teachers only because it was customary in noble families.

It is curious that Mitrofan is also characterized by a certain self-criticism: he is aware that he is lazy and stupid. However, this fact does not upset him at all.

Cruelty towards his teachers and servants was the norm for him, because he was narcissistic and arrogant, as well as Mrs. Prostakova, who also did not consider anyone's opinion, except her own. The young man's nanny, Eremeevna, suffered a lot from him. Mitrofan constantly complained to his mother about the poor woman and they stopped paying her salary.

The whole plot is built around the plan of Mitrofanushka's sudden marriage to the poor orphan Sophia, who (suddenly!) turns out to be a rich heiress. Following the mother's instructions, the hero eventually betrays her: "Yes, get rid of you, mother, how you imposed yourself."

The image of the hero in the work

For his relatives, Mitrofan Prostakov is still a small child - even in his presence they talk about him in this way, calling him either a child or a child - and Mitrofanushka shamelessly uses this throughout the comedy.

Through the image of Mitrofan, one of the main negative characters, the author shows the degradation of the nobility of that time. Ignorance and rudeness, stupidity and apathy are just the tip of the iceberg of the problems of improper upbringing and permissiveness.

Mommy's minion, whose life is burdened with class vices, causes laughter through tears: "Although he is 16 years old, he has already reached the last degree of his perfection and will not go far." He is the slave of his mother, he is her own tyrant. His heart does not know love, pity and compassion.

Thanks to the image created by Fonvizin, the word "undergrowth" in our time is called ignorant and stupid people.

To overcome laziness in yourself, you should read the comedy "Undergrowth" or a brief description from our material.

A significant contribution to the history of Russian literature in the mid-18th century. was introduced by the literary critic D. I. Fonvizin. In his early work, the author was engaged in writing and translating fables. Possessing a wonderful sense of humor, Fonvizin writes works with a pronounced satirical tone. Among the many literary trends, the author prefers classicism. In his comedies, Fonvizin raises important socio-political issues, accompanying them with irony and sarcasm.

The image of Mitrofan in Fonvizin's comedy "Undergrowth"

A new stage in the creative life of the writer D. I. Fonvizin was comedy "Undergrowth". It was customary to call undergrowth noble youths who were not admitted to public service due to incomplete education. Before becoming an officer, it was necessary to pass an exam, but in reality it became just a formality. Therefore, the main part of the army consisted of spoiled and stupid officers. It is precisely such lazy and ignorant young people, uselessly living their years, that the author puts on public display.

The play was presented to the public in 1782 and was a resounding success. Comedy has a socio-political character. The main issues raised in the work- this is ignorance and lack of education, conflict between the older and younger generations, marital relations, unfair treatment of serfs. The author builds various situations of interaction between nobles and serfs, in which he ridicules the inhuman and immoral acts of society in every possible way.

Image from Fonvizin

For his characters, the author selects names that immediately give an idea of the person, dividing them into negative and positive characters. Fonvizin emphasizes their images with the help of different conversational styles, opposing them to each other. The negative characters are representatives of the nobility - Prostakov, Skotinin, Mitrofan. Goodies, who are representatives of the new era of enlightenment, have more pleasant names - Sophia, Pravdin, Milon and Starodum.
action comedy takes place in a wealthy noble family, in which the main character is the uneducated boorish sissy Mitrofan. A young man spoiled by attention is the embodiment of selfishness, rudeness and arrogance. The image of Mitrofan fully conveys the degradation of the young heritage of Russia.

Description and characterization of Mitrofan in the comedy "Undergrowth"

It is no coincidence that Fonvizin chooses the name Mitrofan for the main character. The meaning of his name "similar" emphasizes his imitation of his mother.

The reader is presented with a tall, mature young man in beautiful clothes and a stupid expression on his face. Behind his appearance is an empty, ignorant soul.
Fifteen-year-old Mitrofan is surrounded by a carefree life. He is not disposed to study and does not set himself important goals. The study of science does not arouse interest in a young person.
All he cares about is a delicious lunch and useless leisure. Mitrofan sees his happy pastime in the opportunity to fool around or chase pigeons.
Thanks to the wealth of the family, the young man receives education at home. However, science is given to him with great difficulty. Mitrofan's mother does not require education from her son and allows you to create the appearance of education, in order to fulfill the state order: "... my friend, you at least learn for the sake of it, so that it comes to his ears how you work!".
Without attaching importance to the process of enlightenment, the uneducated Prostakova surrounds her son with useless ignorant teachers. Her greedy nature skimps on expensive education.
With the help of their names, Fonvizin emphasizes the originality of teaching. Mathematical subjects are taught by retired sergeant Tsyfirkin.
Grammar is taught by former seminarian Kuteikin. Vralman teaches French - later it turns out that he worked as a coachman not so long ago.

Vralman is the most cunning person among teachers. Seeing the disinterest of the family, he unfairly conducts the learning process, pursuing only material interest. Seeing the stupidity of Mitrofan, Vralman shows reasonableness and never argues, and does not bully the young man in conversation. In his remarks, the teacher emphasizes uncommonness and mediocrity of the student.

Characteristics of Mitrofan identical to the numerous noble youth of that time. For four years of study, nothing useful is deposited in it. The root cause of this was the passivity of the young man. By showing a desire, he could get at least some initial knowledge. The young man's reasoning is so primitive that he confidently classifies the word "door" as an adjective, substantiating his choice with absurd arguments.
Being under the auspices of Prostakova, Mitrofan does not care or worry about anything. He does not feel any responsibility to the state. The young man is confident in his prosperous future, sees himself as a successful landowner. He tries to fulfill all the mother's instructions and derives his own benefit from each act. In cases where Prostakova does not follow the selfish desires of her son, Mitrofan manipulates her mind through unreasonable threats.
All that a son can feel for his mother is a thank you for her attention. Prostakova loves her son with animal love, from which there is more harm than good. In every possible way indulges his human instincts. She is not able to instill worthy human qualities in her son, since she herself does not possess them. Taking all decisions for him and fulfilling his whims, the mother becomes the main reason for the degradation of her son.
Seeing Prostakova's cruel and rude treatment of the serfs, the son adopts her model of behavior and behaves in an impudent manner. Despite the favorable maternal attitude, Mitrofan does not have love and understanding for her, openly showing disdain.
At the moment when Prostakova is shattered by unfulfilled expectations and is looking for support in her son, he calmly moves away from her. And this is after Mitrofan hid behind her skirt in all the difficult situations.
The young man's father, following his wife's lead, is far from reality and expresses admiration for Mitrofan: sometimes I am beside myself with him and with joy I myself truly do not believe that he is my son ... ".
Mitrofan, feeling his mother's dominance, disrespects his father. Seeing in one of his dreams how his mother beats his father, Mitrofan has sympathy not for the beaten father, but for the exhausted mother: "... I felt so sorry for ... you, mother: you are so tired, beating the father ...". Mitrofan's open flattery is visible in these words. Realizing that the mother is stronger and more powerful than the father, he takes her side.

Parents blindly do not recognize the growing up of their son, calling him a child, Mitrofanushka and constantly lisping with him. Excessive attention leads to spoiled and pampered young men.

Exaggerating his importance, Mitrofan allows himself a boorish and cruel attitude towards others. The nurse, who raised him from birth, constantly listens to rude statements and threats addressed to her.
Teachers, dissatisfied with the young man's learning process, are also forced to endure unpleasant things: “...Give me a board, garrison rat! Ask what to write ... ".
Mitrofan does not want to study, but he is attracted by the idea of marriage. The young man’s statement: “I don’t want to study, I want to get married” has become winged and is often pronounced these days. On the issue of marriage, Mitrofan once again relies on his mother and helps her to embody ingenious plans.
Bride, which Prostakova picks up for her son, much smarter than a young man suddenly notices his short-sightedness of mind. Sophia says that more than there is in Mitrofan by the age of 16, one should not expect.
Mitrofan, together with his mother, pursues his own self-interest in all situations. Despite their lack of education, the Prostakovs are smart enough to see the benefit in everything. They quickly adapt to new events and replay the situation.
Mitrofan is ready to kiss the hands of a stranger, feeling his imperiousness and wealth. As soon as the family finds out that Sophia has become the heiress, they immediately change their attitude towards the girl. They begin to show feigned love and worry about her happiness. For the sake of the well-being of her son, mother is ready to fight with her own hands with her brother Skotinin.

Prostakova and Skotinin

In comedy, there is a clash of two different worlds - the ignorant and the enlightened. Nobles are brought up differently and have opposite ideas about morality. When the intentions of marrying Sophia for material gain fail miserably, Mitrofan, tail between his legs, curries favor with his mother.

Faced with a strong opponent, the young man shows cowardice, pacifies his ardor and bows his head. Thanks to the efforts of Starodum, who personifies the author's position, Mitrofan is finally exposed in his uselessness to society and sent to the service. This is the only chance for positive changes in the life of a young man.

At the end of the comedy, Prostakova is deprived of the right to manage property, and the ungrateful son immediately refuses her. The mistress gets what she deserves for her greed and ignorance. Cruel nobles, in whose power the responsibility for the lives of hundreds of nobles, should receive what they deserve.

Mitrofan can be called a victim of the upbringing of his parents. Excessive arrogance and superiority led the whole family to complete failure. On the example of Mitrofan, the author shows how the laziness of young people deprives them of the possibility of self-realization.