The most capacious characterization of Prostakov, the hero of the Fonvizinsky "Little Growth", is given by another hero of the work, the official Pravdin: "The Fool is innumerable." Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin portrayed this image in his comedy very technically. He simply participates in the plot, without developing it. Nevertheless, he is a common type of stupid and lazy person. That is why Fonvizin considered it advisable to introduce just such a mediocre and soulless person in his brilliant comedy.
Noble origin
In essence, he, who has neither acquired experience nor professional qualities, despite his age, can be called "undergrowth." The characterization of Prostakov begins with a noble origin. He belongs to the category of people owning serfs, such people are sure that they will live their lives without putting any effort into anything, without bothering themselves with work, service, or household chores. The underlying reason for the formation of such an amorphous personality is laziness. She prevented the landowner Prostakov from getting a decent education and making a career. According to his wife, he was raised "like a red damsel." He cannot even read.
Ignorance and cowardice
Prostakov’s description on the part of his wife is also capacious: “Humble, like a calf.” The mission of daily organization and control over work on the estate has long been taken away by an energetic and tough wife. Even the fact that she is prone to cruelty, is able to "screw up" to death the disenfranchised and dumb serfs, does not bother him at all. The assault and abuse of the spouse became common in this house. Mrs. Prostakova completely suppressed his identity, making him "henpecked." The phonvizinskaya characteristic of Prostakov is extremely derogatory. The undergrowth Mitrofanushka, a native blood-sucker, and he despises his father. Thus, the landowner Prostakov is constantly in a “guilty-free” position, as he himself says. Even if he knew how to think and express his opinion, this would not have allowed him. In the presence of his wife, he cannot even say a word. He will be immediately interrupted and exposed as an idiot. Therefore, he speaks timidly, constantly "stammering."
Self-education from raising a son
Illiterate and lazy Prostakov practically does not affect the upbringing of his child. He was actually brought up by Yeremeyevna, having absorbed her "slave spirit". The worst thing is that the father does not even realize that his son is uneducated, ill-mannered and rude to people. He is touched by the "pranks" of the offspring, who, from the point of view of common sense, deserve indignation and instruction, and possibly punishment.
Output
The negative attitude of the author to the image of the landlord "henpecked" is obvious. Prostakov’s characterization portrays a degraded, cowardly and lazy person. Such is this man who himself gave himself the most humiliating characterization of all with which he was awarded in the course of the comedy - "husband and wife." The passivity of the owner of the estate becomes one of the reasons for the future troubles for his family: his wife turned into a cruel monster, his son grew up dumb, and the estate itself will soon be requisitioned by the state due to criminally cruel treatment of serfs.